Bone Appetit! Aldi's sell-out doggy ice cream is back at just £2.99!

Back by popular demand, Aldi’s Doggy Ice Cream hits stores nationwide from today, 8th August. 

It's available in two delicious flavours of Pea & Vanilla and Carrot & Apple.

Dogs across the country will be training their owners to go fetch, as Aldi has announced the return of its sell-out Dog Ice Cream just in time for the expected warmer weather.

Last year, the popular treat sold out in record time with nearly 30 tubs every minute zooming out of the freezer when it launched in June 2022.. And now, Aldi's popular canine treat is back and will be sure to get tongues licking and tails wagging when it hits the shelves.

Priced at just £2.99 (pack of 4, 110ml each) your furry friends can get involved in the ice cream action with a choice of the two delicious flavours: Pea & Vanilla and Carrot & Apple. The Doggy Ice Cream is 100% plant based and boasts real fruit and vegetables to offer a nutritious snack whilst also keeping pets cool during the warm weather.

With summer finally here and searches of #dogicecream hitting 31.8M on TikTok alone, Aldi’s Doggy Ice Cream couldn't have returned at a better time!

Julie Ashfield, the MD of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “Last year we became the first UK supermarket to launch a doggy-friendly ice cream, and it was a huge hit with our pet owners. We’re delighted to bring back a product that's both nutritious and cooling for dogs, just as the sunshine returns!”

Aldi’s Langham’s Doggy Ice Cream will be available in the freezer aisle and can be found in stores nationwide from today. Pet owners will need to run and fetch quickly though, because as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

www.aldi.co.uk.

A Lidl bit of good news for tea lovers!

Lidl's revealed all its own-brand tea bags will become fully compostable, helping tea lovers across the whole  country make more sustainable shopping choices.

This means customers can enjoy their favourite cuppa knowing they'll be able to dispose of the tea bags in food or green waste bins. 

The transition to fully compostable tea bags is expected to divert up to 800 million per year from traditional waste bins, and subsequently, landfill.

The material - a special plant-based plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) - not only ensures the composability of the tea bags but also maintains the exceptional quality and flavour that Lidl customers expect. 

From its Deluxe Fairtrade Assam Tea (£1.09) to its Knightsbridge Gold Blend Tea (£1.19) or Knightsbridge Red Label Tea (£2.39) – the change will be made across all of Lidl GB’s own-brand tea range.

In line with its wider commitment to improving the recyclability of all its products, the move follows a recent announcement from Lidl to transition its milk range to clear tops. These combined efforts mean Lidl shoppers can savour every cup of tea knowing they’re helping cut the amount of single-use plastic that are destined for landfill.

Said Shyam Unarket, who is Head of Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade at Lidl GB “Those buying tea bags from Lidl are supporting our efforts to reduce single-use plastic going to landfill. We understand even a few relatively minor changes to our products can benefit our customers, whilst also helping us improve our impact on the planet, one cup at a time.”

Lidl’s new compostable tea bags will turn in store over the coming months, while existing stock gradually sells through. Today’s announcement comes as part of Lidl’s ongoing efforts to reduce its own-label plastic packaging by 40% by the end of 2025.

Other recent initiatives include becoming the first UK supermarket to incorporate Prevented Ocean Plastic™ into its water bottles and announcing plans to introduce new vacuum-packed, recyclable packaging across its beef mince range, resulting in a plastic reduction of almost two thirds (63%).

Tesco’s move to highlight marked down food bargains now expands to 300 stores

A move by Tesco to help customers find marked-down yellow sticker food items more easily has proved so popular Tesco has decided to expand to 300 stores all over the UK.

For the revamp the supermarket has made bold, new signage for its mark-down section in stores to help shoppers find food bargains and at the same time help reduce food waste.

The new signage which states, ‘reduced in price, just as nice’, is now up in just under 300 stores and plans are currently being discussed to roll it out even further across all Tesco branches.

The mark down areas feature a wide range of products from fresh produce like salads, meat, bread and sweet treats which are near to their expiry date, so they're ideal for tonight’s supper or for popping in the freezer for another day, to end of season as well as discontinued grocery and non-food products, also.

Tesco Group Quality, Technical and Sustainability Director Claire Lorains said: “At Tesco we have no time for food waste and we are doing everything we can to reduce this.

“Our customers are always on the lookout for great value food, and our rebranded ‘reduced in price, just as nice’ signage makes it easier than ever before to spot a short-dated and top-quality bargain.” 

The initial move last October was made after a survey revealed shoppers would pick up more yellow sticker food items if the marked down area where they are placed would look nicer.

Tesco’s Hatfield Extra store in Hertfordshire was the first to feature the revamp last October.

Hatfield store manager Ravi Aloysius said: “The new signage has had an immediate effect and we are seeing more people wishing to buy from our reductions area, particularly on fresh food, meaning there are far fewer items left at the end of an evening.” 

Tesco has already achieved a 45 per cent reduction in food waste across own operations since 2016/17. However, it knows there is still more to do despite just 0.35 per cent of food it handled, last year, ending up as waste.  

Tesco closely follows the food waste hierarchy to ensure that no food goes to landfill. Where possible surplus food is given to humans through Fareshare.  

Pizza-free cooking in pizza ovens from Witt?

Award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been impressing customers and publications like BBC Good Food, Ideal Home, and Independent since its launch earlier this year. 

With its stylish design and ultra-fast heating technology, the Etna Fermo Pizza Oven does more than render perfect pizzas. It does so much more, besides!

Geoff Johnson Sales Director and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland said: "The Etna Fermo Pizza Oven is fast heating and has a large cooking space meaning that not only can it produce perfect pizzas, it’s also great for roasting or searing meats, fish, vegetables as well as baking bread or delicious desserts.” 

“Firstly, I really recommend that you invest in a good quality cast-iron skillet, it can handle intense heat and will work perfectly for many dishes. But you should never food directly onto your pizza stone, or it could become saturated with meat fats and also smaller foods like vegetables need to be contained during the cooking process.”

Geoff’s favourite things to cook in a pizza oven other than pizzas?

Roast Chicken with Lemon, Garlic, and Herb Butter 

“My go-to for roast chicken is always lemon, garlic and herb butter - spatchcocking is a great way to reduce cooking time, and it’ll fit on a cast-iron pan in your Witt pizza oven.” 

Focaccia 

“Using pizza dough, garlic, Rosemary, salt, pepper and plenty of olive oil, you will have delicious homemade Focaccia in 30 minutes.”

Vegetables

“Even delicate vegetables such as tender stem broccoli can be cooked in your pizza oven. Most vegetables will benefit from a light coating of oil, salt, and pepper before you add them to the hot skillet. Keep an eye on them and make sure to turn them regularly. They really don't take too long to cook.”

(EDITOR: I feel turkey (perhaps breasts or wings?) and Christmas dinner vegetables would cook up nicely in a Witt pizza oven.)

https://www.wittpizza.com

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witt-Etna-Fermo-Pizza-Rotating/dp/B0BJW8Q2PZ

Sharpham Cremet Cheese earns Top Rating in World's Largest Food and Drink Awards

Soft-cheese specialists, Devon's Sharpham Cheese, was recently awarded the heralded 3-stars in the Great Taste Awards, putting them in the top 2% of the largest and most trusted food and drink awards on the planet. 

Revealed on Tuesday 1st August, their Cremet, handcrafted from goat's milk and cow's double cream, achieved 'exquisite' and 'extraordinary' in the judges' blind taste tests. Out of 14,195 entrants, only 248 received the coveted rating of 3-stars. 

The top rated products, which includes Sharpham Cremet, will now go on to be judged in the prestigious Great Taste Golden Forks awards. The Golden Forks and Supreme Champion will be announced at the ceremony and tasting on the 11th September.

Sharpham Cremet is a wonderful soft mould ripened cheese, made with goat's milk with added double cow's milk cream. There is nothing else like it produced in whole of the UK. 

Cremet has a creamy, mousse like texture when it's younger, but it deepens to a full, rich flavour with earthy undertones when it ripens.

This spectacular cheese, produced by the UKs  first B Corp cheesemakers, has already won a number of important and significant awards, including, Best Cheese Award and British Product of the Year, at the Great British Food Awards. 

The cheese category was judged by acclaimed chef Marcus Wareing who chose Sharpham Cremet as the winner. All winning products went on to be judged by a panel of tasters at Partridges. Partridges selected Cremet as the overall product of the year.

In 2023 alone, Cremet has also won a Gold Taste of the West Award, Gold at the Artisan Cheese Awards and Gold at Devon County Show.

Judges notes:

This is so rich and creamy, it feels ridiculously indulgent - but who doesn't need a bit of indulgence! This is a clever, expertly made soft cheese, in which you can really taste the goats cheese and the rich cream. The mould is minerally and flavourful, and the paste is so creamy that it melts in the mouth. One special aspect of this cheese is the peppery notes that come through right on the finish. This may be unique to this producer - congratulations on a very special cheese. 

This is a wonderful cheese. We loved the appearance - the enticing rind and pure white paste, the clean yet luscious creamy texture, the combination of dairy creaminess with the fresh lemon element from the goats cheese and the soft rind. Beautifully balanced and cleverly crafted.

A very well-constructed cheese. From the subtle hint of goat on the nose to the very well balanced length of flavour on the palate, it is really well done. Not a hint of ammonia to be found. The balance of goat and cow delivers an amazing creaminess. Silky smooth. Absolutely delicious. 

It's certainly an innovative and pleasing cheese. 

Said a 'delighted' Greg Parsons, who is co-owner of Sharpham Cheese: “Britain is renowned world-wide for producing some of the highest standard cheeses, so we're really very thrilled to see Cremet recognised as one of the nation's favourites."

He went on to add: "The awards are testament to the hard work that goes into our high quality products, from the farmers who supply our milk to the drivers who deliver it and everyone else in between. 

"Great Taste Awards are revered for their experienced and knowledgeable judges, so the award with such complimentary feedback is high praise indeed.”

Nicky Parsons, co-owner of Sharpham Cheese said: “Although originally created by Debbie Mumford, Peter Haworth and the cheese making team have not only continued the high quality standards but they've excelled to bring Sharpham their first ever Great Taste 3-stars.” 

This year, judging took place over 89 days in Dorset and London, with a panel of in excess of 500 judges putting the products to the test. The line-up saw food and drink products submitted from an extraordinary 109 different countries across the world. 

The Great Taste 3-star Sharpham Cremet costs £14.85 for 480g and is available from www.sharphamcheese.co.uk

That's Christmas: Over the next few months That's Christmas will com...

That's Christmas: Over the next few months That's Christmas will com...: Yes, over the next few months That's Christmas will come out of hibernation and we will be bringing our readers all the latest news on C...

Fridge for our conservatory

My wife and I are thinking of purchasing a fridge or a cooler unit for use in our conservatory.

Not a huge fridge, but a small to medium sized fridge that would be able to house snacks, some bottles of white and sparkling wine and also some cans and bottles of beer.

We are at the moment looking at several manufacturers and examining a number of buying options.

Should we go with Amazon, or Currys? Or perhaps check out several local high street retailers?

After all, we got a very good deal on a turntable free Sharp microwave/convection oven from a local family-owned business, so I think as trip into town over the next several days sounds like an excellent idea. 

If we go ahead with the purchase, I'll let you know how it goes.

(Image courtesy of tookapic from Pixabay)

Would you like to visit a farm?

Would you like to visit a farm? If you did, you would be able to learn more about where the food you cook and eat comes from.

And many farmers would love for you to visit their farms either in person or virtually.

LEAF (Linking Environmental And Farming) is all about brining this kind of meeting about.

LEAF have recently held an LEAF Open Farm Sunday and you will be able to have at look at their 2023 Feedback Scrapbook which details and demonstrates some of the marvellous feedback they received from both visitors and also from farmers, showing the good, positive impact of LEAF Open Farm Sunday, which took place on Sunday 11th June 2023. https://issuu.com/linking-environment-and-farming/docs/lofs_2023_feedback_scrapbook?fr=sNDk5MjYzNTEzNjU

However for people who cannot get to a farm you can also enjoy virtual farm visits and, if you are a farmer, you can learn how you can open your own farm to visitors (either in person or virtually) at the link here https://farmsunday.org/online-farm-sunday

You can get in touch with LEAF here:-

Phone:

024 7641 3911

Email:

lofs@leaf.eco 

Address:

LEAF, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG.

(Image courtesy of Goran Horvat from Pixabay)

Aldi has healthy snack ideas for your summer holidays!

No summer holidays car journey is complete without some serious snacking opportunities and Aldi’s Organic Mamia range is perfect for those on-the-go bites. 

For a sweet flapjack style treat, shoppers can pick up the Oaty Bars for just £1.95 (6 pack) with a choice of Strawberry and Apple, Banana, and Carrot Cake flavours. And as there are absolutely no added salt or preservatives, these tasty bars will go down a real treat.

For a crisp style snack without added preservatives, parents can pick up the Tomato Wheels (20g, 55p) and Carrot Puffs (20g, 55p). These are more than ideal for a quick bite.

These organic snacks will make for happy tummies. Don’t forget to keep your children (and yourselves!) hydrated on long journeys without any added sugar with Aldi’s Sun Quench Fruity Blasts (8x200ml, £1.59).

Clean and Clear

Car rides can quickly get messy and when toilet stops are few and far between, parents can prepare with Aldi’s Mamia essentials. For young ones still potty training, no travel bag is complete without the award winning Mamia Ultra Fit Nappies (sizes 4-6+, from £2.99).  Or, for when sticky hands go wandering over windows, be sure to pick up the Mamia Baby Wipes (65p per pack).With 60 wipes per pack, these fragrance-free wipes are formulated for even the most sensitive of skin.

Aldi’s Travelling Checklist:

Travel Magnetic Scribbler, £6.99

Licensed Bumper Stationery Wallet, £4.49

Oaty Bars, £1.95

Tomato Wheels, 55p

Carrot Puffs, 55p

Sun Quench Fruity Blasts (8x200ml, £1.59)

Mamia Ultra Fit Nappies (sizes 4-6+, from £2.99)

Mamia Baby Wipes (65p per pack)

TOTAL: £19.76

 Aldi’s Licensed Products are available in store from 27th July, but shoppers will need to be quick as with all Specialbuys once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Sainsbury’s brings more shopping choice to Wapping with exciting new local store

Sainsbury’s has launched its newest store with the opening of Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local in Tower Hamlets, London. 

Open from 7am to 11pm seven days a week, the 1,658 sq. ft store has created new jobs for local people and supporting regeneration in the neighbourhood, whilst providing a much-needed boost to retail options for local people.

Customers now have the opportunity to sample Sainsbury’s latest convenience range, from fresh fruit and veg, healthy snacks and food-to-go to sweet, savoury and frozen staples. 

They'll also be able to choose from an absolutely delicious selection of freshly baked bread and pastries every day, plus pick up Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing products ordered online via the in-store Click and Collect service. (EDITOR: I love my Tu jacket!)

Conveniently located on the corner of Wapping Lane and Green Bank, it's a mere two minutes’ walk from Wapping Rail Station.

Sainsbury’s new store is located on the ground floor of a former office building, the upper floors of which have been converted into a suite of luxury apartments by Malins Group. 

The two companies have worked closely together to ensure, like the flats above it, the new Local has been sensitively designed to stay in keeping with the local area. This included updating some of the external elements originally proposed in response to community feedback.

The colleagues making up the new store team will play an active role in the local community whilst also participating in Sainsbury’s national charitable programmes and initiatives. 

For example, through Sainsbury’s partnership with Neighbourly, the new Local will work with local food donation partners to help ensure any surplus food items from the store will go to those who need it most.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said: “It’s been a real pleasure to welcome Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local to our estate this week. We’ve recognised the very real chance a new convenience store would represent for the local community in Wapping for some time now and we’ve really pulled out all the stops to bring our plans to life, making the most of an unique space in a fantastic redevelopment project. We’re delighted with the result and we think our customers will be too."

Jamie Buckland, Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local Store Manager, went on to say: “I felt privileged to join members of my team to cut the ribbon on our brand new store this week and we were thrilled to see a queue of customers patiently waiting outside before we opened. We know our neighbours have been looking forward to our arrival and we're really pleased to be able to welcome them for the first time today.”

Lauren Atkins, MD with The Malins Group, said: “It’s always a privilege to repurpose underutilised spaces and transform them into vibrant new ones. 

"The benefits of permitted development are clear at Green Bank Lofts, where the collaborative efforts of The Malins Group and Sainsbury’s have enabled a speedy transition from unused office building to 18 apartments and thriving retail space.”