Monday, 11 September 2023
That's Christmas: Make Christmas Christmas for everyone
That's Christmas: Make Christmas Christmas for everyone: Christmas has many different meanings to many different people. Obviously, there's the celebration of the birth of Christ, obviously. Bu...
Got food and drink items to give away? How about a food bank?
Nobody is happy with throwing food out and it's distressing to see examples of this when (usually US-based) dumpsterdiver YouTube channels show that retailers, etc have thrown away perfectly good food, even though it's sometimes nowhere near the best before or use by date.
However! There is an alternative to throwing good food away, food can be donated to food banks and other charitable groups.
Here is a list of some groups who would be pleased to take surplus stocks of food to make sure they are used to help people who are going through hard times:-
https://www.yourlocalpantry.co.uk/pantry-listings
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
Incidentally, we at That's Food and Drink are involved with a couple of food banks local to us. You can Google "local food banks" to check out your area. Some churches run food pantry schemes.
That's Christmas: Connected BBQs for Christmas
That's Christmas: Connected BBQs for Christmas: With more and more people firing up the BBQ for their festive feasts at Christmas time, Masterbuilt has everything you could possibly need f...
Matthews Cotswold Flour Signs Foodbod as Brand Ambassador This Sourdough September
Elaine Boddy is a world-renowned sourdough baker, who has published three books all about sourdough, has a large and loyal international baking community, and is a big supporter of Matthews Cotswold Flour.
All of Elaine's recipes and sourdough creations have been made and tested using Matthews Cotswold Flour, so she has a wealth of knowledge and expertise about the company's high-quality products. Elaine knows how all their flours feel, taste and behave, plus she knows all about how best to use them when making sourdough and other recipes.
Elaine says: “I am so excited to be taking on this role, to be uniting my sourdough world with a business I really love, and to be formalising my relationship with Matthews Cotswold Flour. I have used and recommended their flours for so long now, I know exactly how they behave in sourdough baking and how to maximise my recipes for home bakers using this great range.
“I think this is a fantastic opportunity for myself and Matthews Cotswold Flour, and I look forward to unveiling our new VIP Super Sourdoughers Club - check the website for more details and sign up now!”
Bertie Matthews, who has, in our opinion, the absolutely to job of being Managing Director at Matthews Cotswold Flour, says: “We've worked closely with Elaine for some time already, and have always been impressed by her sourdough recipes and her undoubted expertise. It's really absolutely fantastic to have her on our team, and we're looking forward to creating lots of new Sourdough content and resources for our home baking community together!”
Elaine will be of great assistance help to Matthews Cotswold Flour's home bakers, with her extensive experience of being a home baker herself. Elaine bakes everything in her home kitchen, using only standard domestic ovens and apparatus.
She offers real, straightforward, useable advice for home bakers, because they are from a home baker, herself. Elaine also hosts a food podcast, The Foodbod Pod, which is all about food!
Elaine has been a part of the Matthews Cotswold Flour family for a while now, using their flours in all of her baking. She has supported the artisan miller, both online and in person, and they are absolutely thrilled and delighted to be working together to develop an exciting new Cotswold Flour Sourdough Experience.
www.cotswoldflour.com or follow @CotswoldFlour on Instagram or Facebook.
That's Christmas: Opies Fruits With Alcohol. Make them part of your ...
That's Christmas: Opies Fruits With Alcohol. Make them part of your ...: Opies Fruits with Alcohol are genuinely vital kitchen cupboard ingredients, which according to leading chefs, pack a real punch in home styl...
Sunday, 10 September 2023
Co-op further extends use of anti-theft ‘dummy display packaging’ to deter prolific and persistent offenders
The move is aimed at helping curb bulk-shoplifting, -described as ‘looting’ in the worst cases.
Industry reports indicate nearly 63% of crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders, with drug or alcohol addictions and, local organised crime gangs, among the main drivers of offending.
The empty packaging will be employed across higher value products on its shelves which are, unfortunately, frequently targeted by criminals for re-sale, in stores where there's a local issue.
Products include: coffee; higher-value chocolates, washing powder and laundry gels. Shoppers merely need to take the dummy item to the colleague on the till who will exchange it for the real product. Co-op has previously used the anti-theft packaging in a limited number of stores, and expects it to 'continue to become a more familiar feature in retailing'.
A freedom of information (FOI) request showed, on average, 71% of serious retail crime isn't responded to by police forces, and the Co-op is calling on all police forces and crime commissioners to target prolific offenders and local organised criminal gangs to reverse the existing environment where they operate with no fear of being caught or charged.
Kate Graham, Director of Operations, Co-op, said: “Crime in many communities is increasing, and it is known that repeat and prolific offenders and, local organised criminal gangs are driving serious incidents of brazen and violent theft in stores.
"It is an ongoing challenge for all retailers, and often a flashpoint for attacks and abuse towards our colleagues. Co-op continues to invest significantly in keeping colleagues and stores safe. This includes extending our use of dummy display cases to deter the incidents of ‘bulk-shoplifting’ or, ‘looting’, as it has been described, where criminals sweep products off shelves for re-sale.
"While we are doing all we can, we also need the police to play their part as too often, Forces fail to respond to desperate calls by our store teams and criminals operate in communities without any fear of consequences.”
Saturday, 9 September 2023
Holland and Barrett launches new food range
The first 500 products are hitting the shelves this month, September, and this marks the beginning the biggest transformation of its food category in its entire 150-year history.
Consisting in excess of over 300 entirely new own brand lines, designed from scratch and over 200 branded lines, the new range will see the return of over 70 fresh, chilled food and drinks to H&B’s high-street stores.
In a market first, the new H&B range will also offer customers foods by key wellness need or specialist diet, with new lines designed by Holland & Barrett’s expert nutritionists, chefs and in-house experts for gut health, women’s health and skin health.
From fresh foods to healthy snacks, and food cupboard items, the range is designed to complement its customers’ weekly grocery shop with simple, easy swaps that are packed with nutritious benefits.
The launch sees Holland & Barrett become the first high-street retailer to include the concept of ‘Plant Points’ on food labelling, helping encourage customers to eat at least 30 different plants a week to support their overall wellbeing.
In what is another first, customers can have free conversations with trained advisors in all stores and online who will be able to personalise a menu that includes the best nutritional solutions based on the goals of their a customers.
Alex Dower, who is the Chief Commercial Officer, Holland & Barrett, said: “We want to make wellness a way of life for everyone and what you eat is the starting place for a healthier life.
"That’s why we’ve spent two years redeveloping and completely overhauling our food offering. We’ve brought together a team of nutritionists, chefs, ingredient specialists and in-house scientific experts, alongside 50 new artisan and small food suppliers to create a truly pioneering and diet-inclusive range.
"Our priority has been on creating delicious food, bursting with benefits. This coupled with significant investment in a new proposition, range identity and marketing support will see H&B regain its place as the go to for the latest in healthy food on the high street.”
Alex Dower continues, “We're proud to be the first retailer to include Plant Points on our food labels. Plant Points are a handy way to make sure you're eating a nutrient-packed diet. We’re encouraging our customers to aim for at least 30 different plants a week to support their overall wellbeing.
"There’s growing and emerging evidence that we need to go beyond five-a-day and focus on getting plant variety into our diets to support our gut health, and in turn our overall health. That’s why we’re adding plant points to our labelling, as part of our focus on raising awareness of the benefits of good gut health.”
Holland & Barrett has been a leader in health and nutrition for over 150 years. Established in 1870 as a grocer in Bishop’s Stortford, it has grown to 800 stores in the UK and Ireland alone, and healthy food has remained core to its proposition.
"Known for supporting millions of people in the UK who follow specialist diets, from introducing the first vegan ranges to foods for lower carb, low and no sugar as well as those with food allergies or intolerances. The new range caters to over 10 different allergies and dietary intolerances as well as support for specific conditions and wellness needs including gut health, women’s health, immunity, energy and more.
As a specialist retailer, H&B’s size means it can work with small, artisan producers across the UK and Ireland to bring local, first to market products to its shelves. This includes Jess’s Dairy, a third-generation dairy farmer from Gloucestershire who H&B has partnered with to bring a kefir drinking yogurt to market. Hodmedods, who supply the range with British quinoa, flamingo peas and further grains and pulses, work directly with farmers committed to increasing biodiversity and are leading the way in regenerative farming.
The new No 42 vegan sausages are created by Simplicity in partnership with chef, Ian Rankin, and are made with six plants and the power of fermentation to offer a healthier alternative.
The re-launch of H&B Food is being supported by a £5m marketing campaign, across out of home, print, digital, social and PR. It comes at a time when the retailer has also been investing in its store estate, opening 19 new stores and refitting 16 in the last calendar year (Oct ’22 – Sept’ 23).
(EDITOR: I feel a trip to our nearest Holland and Barrett store in the very near future to stock up on some goodies!)
Waitrose Food & Drink Festival back for 2023 – with 20% saving on standard tickets now
Showcasing the best British of suppliers and producers, the Festival returns to London’s Tobacco Dock and runs across the weekend of Friday, 24th November to Sunday, 26th November 2023.
Tickets are on sale now, with an early bird saving of 20% on standard tickets for those booking between now and 18th September.
Visitors will be transported to absolute foodie heaven, as they experience festive food and drink tastings with delicious products from i n excess of 150 producers and suppliers, inspirational cooking demos, wreath making workshops and expert masterclasses, too.
New for this year is a dedicated sensory Cheese Room for all cheese lovers with Castello, and cocktail connoisseurs will love mini golf and a live DJ with Absolut Vodka.
Hosts will love the Waitrose Christmas Room, showcasing this year’s must-have products and food trends, table dressing workshops with John Lewis Home Stylists, workshops with Waitrose Cookery School, cocktail making workshops with Waitrose beers, wines & spirits experts, and more.
You can get inspired for Christmas with their ‘Meet the Experts’ stage, where there will be demonstrations from chefs and producers including Tom Warner from Warner’s Distillery; plan your Christmas wine list with their exclusive Waitrose Cellar blends, and finish it all off with a glass of Mirabeau mulled rosé or bubbles at the Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Bar.
Tickets for the Waitrose Food & Drink Festival 2023 are now on sale at waitrosefestivals.com. Book between now and 18th September to save 20% off standard tickets. And what's even better, MyWaitrose customers can save 10% off standard tickets with no time limit!
Ticket information:
Standard tickets £30 (£25 on Sunday)
Early bird offer - save 20% on standard tickets by using code WRFESTIVAL20 at checkout
VIP tickets £40 (£35 on Sunday) - VIP tickets include complimentary glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, fast track entry and several additional items in the goody bag
All tickets include a goody bag.
Waitrose to launch new own-brand range - Japan Menyū
Their new own-brand range will include new products which will span across ready meals, centrepieces, sides and snacks, and offers customers familiar flavours and dishes for all eating occasions.
Japanese cuisine is a growing trend, growing +15% compared to last year on social discussions (Tastewise), with Google searches also growing rapidly compared to previous months.
Waitrose have also seen a significant growth in traffic on waitrose.com to their dedicated Japanese recipes page and searches on their website for ‘tempura prawns’, ‘tonkatsu’, ‘soba noodles’ and ‘matcha’ are all up 113%, 75%, 69% and 37% respectively, compared to last year, showing the growing demand for Japanese foods and flavours amongst our customers.
Said Charlotte Di Cello, who is Waitrose's Commercial Director: “I’m particularly excited about our new Japan MenyÅ« range, having enjoyed so much of it growing up, because my mum is Japanese.
"So much care and consideration has gone into each dish to ensure we’re offering the very best Japanese-inspired selection. We’ve seen significant growth in customer demand for Japanese foods, so to be launching this delicious and high quality curated range that can be enjoyed by anyone in the comfort of their own home is hugely exciting for all of us at Waitrose.”
Their range, which will be available in their shops, online, Uber Eats and on Deliveroo, offers their customers convenience while still allowing them to create the restaurant experience in their own homes.
With versatility across all of the dishes, customers will be able to pair different centrepieces and meal bases to suit all taste buds.
While the Japan Menyū range has exclusively been created by their team of chefs and product developers, Waitrose also consulted with Yuki Gomi and the Asian Leadership Collective to ensure they considered cultural traditions in the development of their range and designs and included the most incredible dishes for their customers.
Yuki Gomi, who is a Japanese chef, food writer & cookery teacher, said: “It’s been such a great pleasure to collaborate with the Waitrose team on their new Japanese range.
"From the name of the range to the delicious selection of dishes that have been developed, so much care and consideration has been taken to deliver an amazing range that I know their customers will love.”
Zoe Simons, who is the Waitrose Senior Development Chef, said: “Our team had an absolutely brilliant time building our Japan MenyÅ« range.
"We’ve taken familiar flavours twe know our customers will love and created them into a range of brilliant products, including 13 vegetarian dishes, 10 of which are suitable for vegans. From the trends our team has seen and the data that’s been gathered, we know our customers are looking to expand their dining options even further and already enjoy delicious Japanese food."
Zoe wen t on to say: “Whether customers are looking for a convenient Friday night dinner that’s already prepared or some extra additions to complement their own cookery creations, our Japan MenyÅ« range has something for all eating occasions.”
A spokesman said: "Waitrose already sells over 200 Japanese products, including brands like as Itsu, Wagamama, Kikkoman and Taiko Sushi, plus the 124 Sushi Daily kiosks we have available across our shops.
"We also offer Japanese ingredients within our own Cooks’ Ingredients range, including the Yuzu Juice, Shichimi Togarashi and Japanese Rice Vinegar - our new Japan MenyÅ« complements our existing offering perfectly.
"To allow customers to create the full Japanese experience at home, we will also be launching Reusable Bamboo Chopsticks, as well as a selection of John Lewis cookware that make the perfect serving dishes for the Waitrose Japan Menyū range.
"Also, as part of the range we will be launching three new No.1 Bonsai plants within our horticulture range, as well as a first to market Ikebana flower bouquet. Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging, a symbol of refinement - with minimalist and precise arrangement, Ikebana is an ancient Japanese tradition of artisan floristry."
Highlights from the range:-
Centrepieces
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Pork Tonkatsu 350g £6.00
Tender pork with a crumb coating, ready to shallow fry and serve with rice. Fruity, tangy, and truly tasty. Their fresh pork is always British and always outdoor bred or free-range.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Slow Cooked Chili Miso Beef 318g £7.50
Their meltingly tender beef has been slow cooked for 10 hours to allow the chilli miso flavours to infuse. Warming, with a hint of spice, it’s best served with stir fried rice. All of our beef is British.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Miso Cod 274g £6.50 (MSC certified)
Delicately umami and slightly sweet, our miso cod goes perfectly with rice and stir fried veg to make a satisfying main.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Slow Cooked Chilli Jackfruit (V) 314g £6.00
A texture and taste sensation. Their slow cooked jackfruit is delicious stirred through rice, or stuffed into steamed buns, and it comes with a Japanese inspired barbecue sauce for a rich flavour.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« 6 Teriyaki Pork Belly Slices 380g £6.00
Six melt-in-the-mouth pork belly slices with a teriyaki glaze. Savoury-sweet, they make a great topping for ramen, or stuffed into our new steamed buns alongside the new slaw.
Their pork comes from British outdoor bred pigs, housed in straw bedded airy barns. Their fresh pork is always British and always outdoor bred or free-range.
Ready Meals
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Chicken Katsu Curry 350g £5.00
The ultimate comfort food: crispy breaded chicken with steamed rice and a mild curry sauce. All their chicken is higher welfare and we have a bespoke set of high standards that our poultry farmers adhere to.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Sweet Potato Katsu Curry (Veg/V) 390g £5.00
A vegan take on the familiar favourite. Breaded sweet potato, served with steamed rice and a mild katsu curry sauce.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Miso Aubergine Rice Bowl (Veg/V) 350g £5.50
Cooked sushi rice, miso roasted aubergine pieces, pickled vegetables and spring greens in a miso, black bean sauce with leek, garlic and ginger.
Sides & Snacks
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Chicken Karaage 150g £3.60
Crispy fried chicken thigh, seasoned with garlic, ginger and pepper. This is a very popular dish with our customers and pairs perfectly with our new Japan Menyū Dip selection. All our chicken is higher welfare and we have a bespoke set of high standards that our poultry farmers adhere to.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Cauliflower Tempura & Dip (Veg/V) 180g £3.40
A delicious vegan alternative to our karaage, these Cauliflower florets are coated in crispy batter, with spring onions and a soy yuzu dip. Great for sharing.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« 4 ‘No Chicken’ Drumsticks (Veg/V) 170g £3.75
Tender jackfruit drumsticks coated in a crunchy panko crumb, served with a spicy soy glaze.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Vegetable Steamed Buns (Veg/V) £2.50
These steamed buns are filled with mild katsu curry flavoured veggies. Soft, fluffy bites of deliciousness.
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Shredded Cabbage & Edamame Slaw with Ponzu Dressing (V) 140g £2.50
Finely cut pink and white cabbage with coriander, carrot, edamame beans, salad onions and black onion seeds with a creamy ponzu dressing. A zesty side to go with any mains and centrepieces
Waitrose Japan MenyÅ« Edamame Beans with Garlic & Chilli Salt (V/Ve) 200g £3.50
Who doesn’t want a big pot of Edamame beans to pop out of their shells and devour? These whole edamame beans are served with garlic and chilli salt.
(EDITOR: Looks interesting! It's worth looking at using Japan Menyū foodstuffs for your Christmas and New Year's feasting?)
Aldi opens its 1,000th store and aims for 500 more!
Aldi is now Britain’s fourth biggest grocer and one in every ten pounds spent at British supermarkets goes through its tills. It is also the fastest-growing supermarket in the UK, attracting customers from every major competitor as people switch to Aldi for its low prices.
With two thirds of British shoppers now shopping with Aldi, so Aldi is aiming to open more stores in more parts of the UK to meet growing demand. It will open another 20 new stores before year's end, as part of its £1.3bn two-year investment plan.
Its aim to open 500 new stores to reach its target of 1,500 means Aldi is on the hunt for more locations across the UK.
Aldi UK and Ireland CEO, Giles Hurley, said: “Opening our 1,000th store is a massive milestone and it really wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and utter hard work of our 40,000 incredible colleagues.
“Our popularity is growing, and there's huge demand for people to have an Aldi store near to them to increase shoppers’ access to our unbeatable prices.
“The next phase of our expansion will involve another 500 new stores over the coming years. It's a long-term target and shouldn't be seen as a ceiling to our ambition to have an Aldi store close to everyone in the UK.”
The Woking store is one of over 150 sites Aldi now has in the South East of England, as it continues to attract new customers across the region.
Incidentally, Aldi opened its first UK store in Stechford, Birmingham, back in 1990.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)