Taking Dad out for Father's Day? Here's an idea! A Wetherspoon lunch

Every Wetherspoon pub in the United Kingdom (852 of them!) will be having one very special item returned to the Wetherspoon menu only for Father's Day 18th June. 

The menu item is the Wetherspoon Brunch Burger. 

The Brunch Burger is made up of a three-ounce beef burger, American-style cheese, maple-cured bacon, free-range fried egg and topped with a hash brown.

With a soft drink it costs £7.15 and with an alcoholic drink the cost is £8.55.

Obviously other meals are available including steaks, curries, burgers, vegan burgers, salads, etc.

So, why not take Dad out to your local Wetherspoon pub for a Father's Day lunch?

By the way, this isn't a sponsored post. I'll probably be enjoying a Wetherspoon brunch burger myself, tomorrow!

Shopping at Waitrose just got a bit cheaper

Waitrose has reduced the prices on over 200 everyday, summer favourites as part of a £100m investment to lower customers’ bills. 

The new lower prices are to be found in every aisle and include cupboard staples like British butter and tomato ketchup to Fairtrade golden caster sugar, plus as British cocktail sausages, salads and ice cream for your summer barbecues and picnics.

Half of these products are now at least 10% cheaper than previously. The price cuts have been made without compromising on the usual exceptional quality or Waitrose values, which include sourcing higher welfare meat and commitments to our British farmers.

A spokesperson said: "This is the second time we’ve lowered hundreds of prices this year. In February, we cut prices on over 300 products at the start of a record £100m investment. This move has already attracted new customers to shop with us."

Charlotte Di Cello, Commercial Director for Waitrose, commented: “We’re investing millions in lowering the prices of everyday food across our aisles so our customers will benefit every time they shop with us. 

“But it’s summer, so our customers are telling us they also want delicious treats for picnics and barbecues to be more affordable, so we’ve lowered the prices of British double cream, ice cream, ice lollies, and meringues made with free range eggs.

“We’ve made these cuts with absolutely no compromise on the high quality, high welfare, and delicious recipes our customers expect from us. 

“We’ll still react to any drops in food inflation and pass on savings to our customers as soon as the prices we pay begin to fall, and we’ll continue to pay farmers a fair price for their products too.

"Besides our investment in prices, our Essential Waitrose range of over 900 products is the largest value range of any UK supermarket."

www.waitrose.com

Looking for Father's Day gifts? Asda has the answers!

For those looking for perfect Father’s Day gifts, Asda has revealed a series of wonderful products and deals, from confectionary to booze, and everything in between.

Finding a gift for the father-figure/s in your life can be a bit difficult, so Asda is offering deals including bargains on beer and whisky, a range of sweet treats and savings on your steak dinners.

Father’s Day Steak Deal

Until Thursday 22nd June, shoppers can treat dad to a steak dinner – rump, sirloin or ribeye - plus a Viaplay Sport Streaming Voucher, for just £8.00. Some of the delicious steaks included in the mouth-watering deal are the ASDA Flavoursome Beef Rump Steak, 255g at £4.75 each, ASDA Succulent Prime Beef Sirloin Steak, 227g at £4.60 each and ASDA Ribeye Steak, 227g, £5.20 – or 2 for £8.00.

Father’s Day Pizza

For Father’s Day, Asda's launched a special Father’s Day Pizza at its Pizza Counters too, until Sunday 18th June. The Detroit Base pizza with BBQ sauce, cheese, pepperoni, meatballs & spicy beef topped with jalapenos and a bourbon whisky BBQ drizzle costs only £5.00.

Amber Pepper, Product Development Manager at Asda, said: “We know our customers love an Asda Pizza Counter creation, and this is no different. This Father’s Day special is a great option to treat dad. If you’re lucky, he might even give you a slice!”

Gift of Booze

Whisky is a staple gift, with big savings up to £17.00, to be made on branded favourites until Wednesday 21st June 2023. Great deals include but aren’t limited to:

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, 70cl, £18.00 (WAS £26.00)

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire Whiskey, £17.00 (WAS £26.00)

Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky, 70cl, £20.00 (WAS £30.00)

Talisker Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl, £25.00 (WAS £42.00)

Glenmorangie The Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl, £27.00 (WAS £37.00)

If Dad's more of a beer drinker, customers can pick up cases of Birra Moretti Premium Lager Beer Bottles, 18x330ml, for just £20.00 (WAS £23.00).

The supermarket is running 2 for £20 deal on selected favourites too, such as –

Corona Extra Premium Lager Beer Bottles, 12x330ml, £14.00 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £8.00

Magners Original Apple Irish Cider Cans, 18x440ml, £14.00 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £8.00

Stella Artois Unfiltered Lager Beer Bottles, 12x330ml, £14.00 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £10.00

Doom Bar Amber Ale, 10x440ml, £11.50 or 2 for £20 – a saving of £3.00 (ends 21st June 2023)

Sweet treats

For those father figure/s who’d prefer something sweet to nibble on, Asda has some delicious treats too. Toblerone Chocolate Large Bar, 360g, just £4.00 whilst Cadbury Roses Chocolate Carton, 290g, are £3.50 – both with 50p in Asda Rewards cash pots, too.

If dad prefers sweets over chocolate, then Barratt Wham with Sour Crystals, 300g, Barratt Liquorice Novelties Pick 'n' Mix Sweets Carton, 400g, are just £2.50 each (WAS £3.00 each.)

Some other fantastic deals on sweets include, previous sweet deals and the ones below run now until 18th June:

Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Pralines Gift Box 16 Pieces, 200g, £4.50 (WAS £5.75)

Toblerone Orange Twist Sharing Chocolate Bar, 360g, £4.00 plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Pralines Gift Box 24 Pieces, 300g, £6.50 (WAS £9.50) plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Cadbury Heroes Chocolate Carton, 290g, £3.50 plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

NEW Guylian Temptations Mixed, 200g, £4.50 (WAS £6.00)

Toblerone White Sharing Chocolate Bar, 360g, £4.00 plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Large Gift Bar, 360g, £3.50 (WAS £4.00) plus 50p in Asda Rewards cash pot

Maltesers Chocolate Box, £2.50

NEW Guylian Seashells Dark 225g, £4.50

Terry's Chocolate Orange Milk, 157g, £1.50

Hundreds of products are Price Locked at Asda this summer until 31st August, providing customers with value for money on key summer favourites across chilled, frozen, produce, drinks and more. Price locked products include Asda 4 Strawberry & Vanilla Ice Cream Cones (£1.45), Asda Beef Burgers (£3.00) and Asda Juicy & Sweet Pineapple Chunks (£2.00). Find out more here - https://groceries.asda.com/cat/price-locked/1215686354018

Shop in store and online now for all your Father’s Day needs at www.asda.com/fathersday before 18th June.

Asda partners with Avery Berkel and Hanshow to promote refillable solutions for UK supermarket shopping

Asda is embarking on a strategic project to create their first sustainability trial store, and Avery Berkel, a long-standing partner and leading provider of retail scales, was obviously a natural choice for the collaboration. 

Avery Berkel's team and its digital labelling solution partner Hanshow worked very carefully and closely with Asda to develop a sustainable solution for the Middleton-based store, leveraging their expertise in retail scales and unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. 

The collaboration has resulted in a successful solution that will have the potential for a meaningful impact on the retail industry and the wider environment.

Although zero-waste stores are gaining popularity amongst independent retailers and smaller chains on our high streets, they're still viewed as a niche concept in the market of larger consumer stores. 

Asda recognised the significance of this trend and aimed to develop a solution that will assist customers in the initial stages of their sustainable shopping journey. The result is a truly remarkable achievement brought to fruition by the combined efforts of Asda, Avery Berkel, and Hanshow, marking a milestone in the pursuit of sustainability in the retail sector.

The Avery Berkel Solution.

To advance the zero-waste solution and cater to shopper's needs, Avery Berkel partnered with Asda to develop a bring-your-own-container solution. Drawing on their specialised knowledge and expertise, Avery Berkel's team developed a comprehensive solution which includes customised enhancements to meet Asda's specific requirements.

This holistic solution comprised of weighing solutions, Avery Berkel’s enterprise scale management system, and electronic shelf labels powered by Hanshow. 

All three components were designed to work seamlessly together, providing shoppers with an enriching refill experience. 

Compared to standard printed shelf and product labels, the total refill solution presented additional product information, such as refill instructions, ingredients, allergens, and storage details to name but a few.

The simple, intuitive shopper interface was accessible to customers who might not have previously engaged in this kind of technology. To further support the shopper experience and deliver reassurance messaging, Avery Berkel also created a sophisticated set of screen graphics that can be used to deliver messaging direct to the consumer and which would remind them of the effect of their behaviour change.

Asda's concept store in Middleton was the site of the initial consumer trials for their zero-waste solution, which received highly positive customer feedback following its installation in 2020. Within just over a year, three more stores were added to the green roster. Asda continues to support and develop these refill trials, using Avery Berkel technology, with the goal of reducing the amount of single use plastic their customers take home as part of their overarching ambition to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2040.

(EDITOR: Personally I am excited in this opportunity to help protect our environment by how we shop.)

Don’t Forget About Dad on Father's Day

Give your Father a gift that he will absolutely love, if he is a foodie. Tickets to the Great British Food Festival. 

With a fantastical array of top chefs, artisanal bakers and musicians from across the whole of the UK, he'll have the time of his life!

From brownies to cheese, noodles to churros, they have it all at the Great British Food Festival.

They'll have hundreds of top artisan producers, street food stalls and bars (including vegan and gluten free options)

Choose from 6 beautiful UK locations, create some priceless memories and show your Dad some proper foodie fun! With up to 35% OFF on our website and delivery by email in less than a few minutes, it's a no brainer for your Fathers Day gift!

https://greatbritishfoodfestival.com/tickets.php

Locations are: Knebworth House, Hardwick Hall, Wentworth Woodside, Margam Park, Borde Hill and Arley Hall.

Ganley & Naish Wins Unique Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards 2023

The results are now in for this year's Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards and the 2023 gold winner is Ganley & Naish with silvers being awarded to Palmers Upland Cyder and Tinston Wines and Cider. 

The Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards, now in their third year, are truly remarkable awards that offer aspiring cider makers advice, guidance and guaranteed listings in the on and off trade and offering genuine support of the future of cider in the UK.

Barny Butterfield, who is the Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards and founder of the awards comments: ”After the success of last year's competition, we were genuinely thrilled and pleased to see even more interest in the awards this year. 

"We had a total of 24 entries, from counties all across the UK, with all styles of cider represented. Naturally sweet to single variety, session ciders to bottle fermented ciders. The judges were so impressed with the quality of all of the ciders that were entered, which is a real compliment to the standard of cider now being produced all over the UK.”

The esteemed panel of judges included renowned drinks writer, Pete Brown, cider producer and director of The Cider House London, Mary Topp, 2020 Masterchef Professionals winner, Alex Webb, food and drink editor for Hearst Magazines, Emma Franklin and Sandford Orchards' very own Barny Butterfield.

Ganley & Naish's winning cider, Hell and High Water (ABV 5.5%) is a single variety, Browns apple cider in a 440ml can. A medium dry, sparkling cider that the judges described as unique, beautiful, impressive and drinkable. 

They described it as: “ This is a crisp and gently complex cider with a lovely sweetness to acid balance. Ridiculously moreish, light on the palate -fault free, an amazing single variety with an apple notoriously difficult to nail down! The branding is sensational, breaks the mould and brings a contemporary and classic feel to an amazing drink.”

Andy Jenkins at Ganley & Naish was delighted to receive the gold award and commented: “To get this cider out had been very trying; COVID, new packing type, new branding, new artwork, working with new people and building those relationships. So to win this award, with a product I'm incredibly proud of, has made it even more special and more rewarding.”

Ganley & Naish's impressive prize package includes a £500 Vigo voucher, a listing at their local Stable Pizza, a listing at The London Cider House, a Sandford Orchards collaboration limited edition cider and a visit by Sandford Orchards' cider makers to offer practical help and advice about setting up.

The gold and silver winners will all receive mentoring from Sandford Orchards' cider makers, a yearlong listing at Devon's Darts Farm and a listing on www.sandfordorchards.co.uk. In addition, the silver winners both receive a £200 voucher from Bag in Box Shop UK

Barny went on to say: “The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards are nothing like any other cider competition. It's the competition I wish I could have entered and won when I was starting out. Without a budget, without much help and support it can be really daunting trying to get started in any career, let alone cider making!

"It feels great to be able to give something back to the industry that has given me so much. This is an award with the kind of bankable bonus that doesn't grow on trees! We're really keen to ensure all these cider makers go on to fulfil their part in our quest to bring the joy of cider to as many people as we possibly can!”

He went on to say: "Sandford Orchards would like to thank the generous sponsors of this year's competition: Vigo Ltd who are providing a £500 voucher for the gold winner, The Stable and The London Cider House who are giving the gold winner a listing and The Bag in Box Shop who are giving away £200 vouchers to the two silver winners.

"The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards were launched by Sandford Orchards at the end of 2019 and aim to recognise and celebrate excellent quality whole juice ciders from around the UK. For further information on the Sandford Orchards Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk/cider-awards or follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and  Instagram. For more information on Ganely & Naish visit www.ganleyandnaish.co.uk

Major drinks firm London Cocktail Club backs down in trademark row with Brand Relations

Specialist food and drinks marketing company, Brand Relations has come out on top after a David v Goliath trademark battle with The London Cocktail Club (LCC).

The two firms went head-to-head over a 10-year-old trademark which has resulted in LCC withdrawing in an out-of-court agreement.

Richard Horwell, who is the CEO of Brand Relations launched his company, London Cocktail in 2012 in a joint venture with a former business partner.

They set out to create high-end ready-made cocktails, without the necessity for an extensive drink’s cabinet or the know-how and skills of a trained mixologist.

But the partners parted ways and it was only during a scroll through Companies House records last year that Richard discovered his former partner had dissolved the company they had created together.

After buying the name back from The Treasury, Richard found LCC had registered its trademark in three crucial categories (32, 33, 21) which gave them the option to trade in Ready to Drink (RTD) drinks under their name.

This meant London Cocktail, the very trademark Richard created would not be able to trade in the same categories under its company name.

A six-month legal battle ensued with LCC, a major player in the drinks industry which has the backing of chef Raymond Blanc and Dragon’s Den judge, Sarah Willingham (an investor in the Craft Gin Club, one of the largest alcohol delivery companies in the UK).

As a result, LCC has agreed to give up the three categories and will now not trade ready-made drinks or accessories under the LCC name.

Brand Relations has developed over 150 successful brands over the years and Richard says it is fitting that his original trademark for London Cocktail is now back under his own business umbrella in the year of the King’s Coronation.

“I launched the company during the year of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond jubilee. It all started during a Royal celebration and it has now ended with a Royal celebration,” he said.

And he adds: “The timing is perfect now for the brand. The market for RTD cocktails is set to explode as the Hospitality Industry struggles to find staff to make high quality cocktails on site.

“But more importantly consumers are now looking for that high end Cocktail experience at home rather than paying excessive prices in cocktail bars.

“It’s very satisfying when the little guy wins but I have always believed that this brand will become one of the biggest RTD cocktail brands in the world.

“It’s an iconic brand, known and recognised across the globe and I am delighted to have it back.”

(Image courtesy of Rebecca Humann and Pixabay)

Naksha Recipe Kits Launch in Uk With Bold Flavours & Emerging Artist Pack Designs

Those of us who like cooking at home and making delicious homecooked meals will be seeking out the Naksha Recipe Kits which has taken its first strides into the UK by securing stardust listings of its delicious and beautifully-designed recipe kits at Whole Foods Market, Harrods and John Lewis.

 Naksha's UK-made range include both savoury and sweet (baking) dishes, encouraging users to discover and cook off-the-beaten-track cuisines in their own home kitchens.

First launched by Nisha Ramisetty and her husband Sam Williams in Dubai back in 2020, Naksha quickly gained traction by winning the prestigious Spinneys and Waitrose Local Business Incubator and has been listed in Spinneys and Waitrose stores in the UAE ever since.

Naksha's arrival in the UK in June 2023 is shaking up the cooking experience of UK home-chefs by redefining store-bought, shelf-stable recipe kits. With whole, small-batch ingredients, authentic local recipes, and original hand-drawn artwork by emerging artists, Naksha's kits prove simplicity and convenience are compatible with premium look-and-feel and gastronomic wow-factor. Kits suit weekdays, special occasions and gifting, too.

According to co-founder Nisha Ramisetty, Naksha is solving the problems of cooking inspiration and accessibility.

“Many people want to cook more often but can find themselves struggling to keep their menu varied,” she points out. “At the same time, many tempting cuisines are perceived to be far too complex, expensive or wasteful to cook at home. At Naksha we tackle these apparent problems by curating recipes from amazing places and giving customers the specialist ingredients they'll require to cook them without waste or fuss. UK consumers are hungry to cook food with engaging origin stories, and we're  here to feed that appetite.”

Arranged in regional collections, Naksha's recipe kits give customers an immersive cooking experience encompassing great flavours, thoughtful storytelling, stunning packaging, and simple cooking methodology. 

The recipe kits focus on cuisines with strong appeal but which currently suffer from limited visibility, looking beyond the predictable world of Mexican, Thai and Indian. Naksha's kits instead bring to life dishes from countries such as Cuba (Ropa Vieja), Singapore (Lemak Cili Padi), Turkey ((Dark chocolate fondant with Turkish coffee), Jamaica (Curried Goat) and Lebanon (Milk chocolate blondies with Lebanese tahini); meeting demand for international food which - according to a recent Waitrose & Partners report – is growing rapidly in the UK.

Naksha kits are also vegan-friendly as they don't include perishable ingredients. Instead, the shelf-stable products include easy recipe cards and specialist ingredients such as spice blends, herbs, grains, noodles, sauces and other extras. The fresh items (i.e. veg and protein) that a customer needs to complete the dish are easily obtainable as part of a normal weekly shop, maximising choice and flexibility. Customers aren't locked into costly commitments, yet, thanks to Naksha's diverse range, they can access a multitude of flavours. Most of Naksha's recipe kits are also gluten free and contain organic ingredients.

Naksha is based between London and Brighton and has manufacturing facilities in Derbyshire.

https://nakshacollections.com.

Witt's Pizza expert reveals his top cleaning tips

The award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been wowing reviewers and customers with its ultra-fast heating and rotating technology since its launch earlier this year. And as the weather heats up, it’s a good time to give your pizza oven a clean so you can continue serving delicious homemade pizza all summer long.

Witt’s pizza expert has revealed his top pizza oven cleaning tips for pizza aficionados. Info below for editorial consideration.

“A quick brush down after every use to remove food scraps is usually enough, but after a busy summer season of pizza parties, a deep clean might be required,” says Geoff Johnson, who is the Sales Director, and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland.

“When you leave remnants of dough, cheese, and sauce behind on your pizza oven, your oven will be less effective the next time you use it, the dough is more likely to stick, and the result won’t be quite so good. I recommend keeping your oven clean so it’s always ready to go, perfect for those spontaneous pizza nights with family and friends!”

Step 1. Turn it up

“Once you have cooked your pizzas, keep the oven burning at full temperature for 30 minutes. This will turn any leftover food to ashes.”

Step 2. Allow to cool 

"Once your oven is fully cooled, you can use a brush, like the special, dedicated Witt Pizza Oven Brush, to sweep any ash from the oven. Then wipe out any remaining ash with a soft, dry cloth.” 

Step 3. Wipe the oven exterior 

"Use a soft damp cloth to clean your oven's exterior. Mildly soapy warm water will do but do take care to dry it immediately and avoid paint diluters, abrasive cleaning products or any harsh chemicals, and remember, if you leave your oven wet, it can result in rust developing.

Top tip: If you want to keep your pizza oven clean for longer, I suggest that you should invest in a Witt Pizza Oven Cover.”

Step 4. Cleaning the pizza stone

“The pizza stone must only be cleaned with water; soap will leave soap residue in the joints of the stone. Remember you must never try to cool the stone down with water when the stone is hot as it can cause cracks and breakage.”

Step 5. Enjoy perfectly cooked pizza every single time!

https://www.wittpizza.com.

Food industry is helping those in need

The food industry is proudly helping those in need. With retail prices souring ever higher and with no end to this unhappy situation in sight, more and more people are seeking help from food pantry schemes and food banks. Even those who wouldn't have considered themselves in need or desperate, now realise that they are, indeed, in need and desperate. 

Many people who are in the food industry read That's Food and Drink and That's Food and Drink is asking if you could, please, help out your local food banks or food pantry schemes by providing them with stocks of food.

Generally speaking they require tinned and dried goods, bakery items, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, salad items, seasoning, soft drinks, cordials, teas, coffee, etc, etc.

How do you learn where your nearest food pantry scheme or food bank project is based? Just Google "Food bank nearest me" or "food pantry schemes near me" and Google will assist you. If you are a buyer or PR officer working for a nationally based supermarket or wholesaler and you'd like to get your company involved on a national scheme we'll include some resources for you.

That's Food and Drink is involved with a couple of food banks local to us.

https://www.givefood.org.uk

https://www.yourlocalpantry.co.uk/pantry-listings

https://foodcycle.org.uk

https://www.trusselltrust.org

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/foodbanks

https://www.feastwithus.org.uk

https://www.bankuet.co.uk/find-a-foodbank

https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/using-a-food-bank

https://feedingbritain.org

https://fareshare.org.uk

Helping foodbanks or food pantry schemes is also a good way of reducing food waste, so it's good for the environment, too.