Tuesday, 3 October 2023
That's Christmas: Exploring the Magic of Worldwide Christmas Markets
That's Christmas: Exploring the Magic of Worldwide Christmas Markets: Introduction As the holiday season approaches, cities and towns around the world transform into enchanting wonderlands filled with twinkling...
Monday, 2 October 2023
Warrendale Wagyu Launches Gourmet Wagyu Sausages Into Waitrose
The new addition to its range will launch in 200 Waitrose stores this Wednesday (4th October) in what is thought to be the only Wagyu beef sausage to be sold in a major supermarket.
The gourmet sausage launch follows six months of rigorous product development and recipe testing and tweaking to introduce a beef sausage with the best taste and texture possible.
The new sausages are available in Original and Horseradish and are produced using 90% and 86% premium British Wagyu Beef. What's more, both varieties are gluten and dairy free.
Yorkshire-based Warrendale Wagyu was founded on an unwavering commitment to supply chain transparency, product quality and total consistency.
The team their works in close partnership with a 750-strong collective of farmers to rear herds of a Wagyu cross dairy cattle breed known as F1 Wagyu.
The brand has been running its unique business model to produce high quality marbled Wagyu beef since 2017. They now supply to Waitrose, premium restaurants including Hakkasan and Ivy Asia and online to meat lovers across the UK.
Tom Richardson, MD over at Warrendale Wagyu says: “At Warrendale, we're clearly very passionate about Wagyu and, of course, we want to find new ways for people to enjoy it.
"And we're very proud of the new Wagyu Sausage. Every care has been taken at each step of the process to ensure the taste, texture and traceability are the best they can possibly be.”
The launch comes just in time for the start of comfort food season in the UK, with the new Wagyu Sausages here to upgrade autumn and winter meals. (That's Food and Drink says: "We're actually thinking of using Warrendale Wagyu Sausages with our turkey at Christmas dinner!")
John Topham, Chef at one of Yorkshire's finest restaurants, the Alice Hawthorn said: “I'm a big fan of the new Warrendale Wagyu sausage. It's an elegant sausage with a rich, smooth, beefy taste. I believe it's the perfect choice for a toad-in-the-hole with beer caramelised onion gravy!”
Krystina Houghton, Waitrose's sausage buyer said: "We're really very excited to be adding these British wagyu sausages into our range. Not only are they packed full of incredible umami flavours, but they're made with British beef so it's fantastic to see more support for our farmers, too.
“The sausages will be perfect for those looking to add something delicious to their Bonfire Night get-togethers at home and will make a great addition to warming meals during the winter months, too"
Wagyu Sausages, Original and Horseradish, will be sold exclusively in Waitrose stores, Waitrose online and at www.warrendale-wagyu.co.uk. The RRP is £5.99 for a 400g pack of six, with an introductory offer of 25% off from Wednesday 4th October.
Salcombe Gin Partners With the Heroic RNLI to Launch 'Four Seas' Gin With Every Bottle Helping Save Lives at Sea
Commemorating the charity's upcoming 200th anniversary, the new classic London dry gin is a true celebration of British and Irish coastal community spirit.
Available now and for the next two years, every bottle of 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin will help save lives at sea, with 10% of the net price of every bottle sold proudly donated to the vital work of the RNLI.
'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin is available in a 70cl bottle, at £39.50, ABV 40% from salcombegin.com, Salcombe Gin's Dartmouth and Salcombe stores, plus via Master of Malt, Amazon and leading independent retailers throughout the country.
It's a relaxed and inclusive gin, 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin is crafted for everyday heroes, everyday occasions and for those who love to be close to the sea. Adhering to the same exacting London Dry standard as their iconic and global award-winning citrus led Salcombe Gin 'Start Point', 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin draws inspiration from their journey around the British coastline to where the four seas that surround our island nation, the Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea, English Channel and North Sea, all meet our shores. The same four seas served and protected by the heroic RNLI.
Beautifully balanced, 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin showcases four key botanicals and is led by lemons smoked over Scottish whisky barrel wood chips, tangy sea buckthorn from where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Cornish coast, sugar kelp foraged from the Irish sea providing a richness and a hint of salinity and elderberries from wildest Wales, giving an earthy floral sweetness.
On the nose there's zesty fresh lemons, smoky citrus and classic juniper, followed by a citrusy tang and sweetness from the sea buckthorn with underlying floral and earthy layers on the palate, too.
The finish is reportedly smooth, rich and warming, with a slightly saline tone, reminding you of its coastal influence and origin. 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin contains no colourants and no added sugar.
Appealing to gin drinkers both old and new, just serve 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin in a highball glass with four ingredients; gin, premium Indian tonic, ice and lemon or in a cocktail to showcase the subtle notes of smoked citrus and the hint of sea salt.
Like all the products in Salcombe Gin's portfolio, it contains no plastic packaging and has biodegradable cellulose tamper proof seals, 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin uses a totally natural cork and wooden stopper.
Commenting on the partnership, Co-founder and Director of Salcombe Distilling Co., Angus Lugsdin says: “Spending years working at sea and having grown up learning to sail in Salcombe and watching with fascination as a child when the Salcombe Lifeboat was called out, it's hard to express just exactly how thrilled I am about the collaboration between Salcombe Gin and the RNLI.
"Having spent years offshore myself and having undergoing sea survival training myself, I have the utmost respect for the RNLI and its dedicated volunteers who generously devote their time to safeguarding and rescuing lives at sea, ensuring a safer environment for us all."
Angus went on to say: “It obviously fills the Salcombe Gin team with immense pride and pleasure to join forces with the RNLI, knowing that the sale of 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin will contribute to our coastal communities and support the RNLI in their crucial missions. What's more, as part of our special two-year partnership, we'll also contribute 10% of the net price of every bottle sold of our Salcombe Rum 'Island Street' to the RNLI, too.”
Mark Dowie, RNLI CEO adds: “We're delighted to partner with Salcombe Gin and welcome their kind support. And because Salcombe Gin is made in my hometown, I'm obviously hoping for great things!”
Mark went on toy say: “For almost two centuries the RNLI has been saving lives at sea. All of the essential training and equipment for our lifeboat crews and lifeguards is only possible because of the donations we receive from our generous partners and our supporters. Our partnership with Salcombe Gin will raise vital funds to help us continue our lifesaving work.”
The perfect partnership, Salcombe Gin draws influence from the coastal vitality of Salcombe and its shipbuilding heritage. They produce internationally acclaimed gins at their waterside distillery on Island Street in Salcombe, one of the world's only distilleries directly accessible by boat. 'Four Seas' by Salcombe Gin joins Salcombe Gin's outstanding line-up of Salcombe Gin 'Start Point', Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie', Salcombe Gin 'Start Point - Offshore Strength' and their exclusive Voyager Series.
Since 1824, the story of the RNLI is one of courage and dedication. Across their almost 200-year history, RNLI lifesavers have answered the call to rescue, day or night, on calm seas or in ferocious storms. If someone is in peril at sea, the RNLI will do all they can to save them. Since the charity launched its first lifeboat in 1824, the RNLI has saved over 144,000 lives at sea.
For further information about Salcombe Gin, visit www.salcombegin.com, follow Salcombe Gin on Instagram and Facebook. For further information about the RNLI's work, visit www.rnli.org or follow RNLI on Facebook.
That's Food and Drink believes this will make a superb Christmas gift or birthday present this year.
Clearspring Launches Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Organic Okumidori Matcha
The special, limited-edition Organic Okumidori Matcha has been specially selected by Clearspring's tea master Nagata-san. Okumidori, meaning 'deepest green', is a superior, artisanal matcha from Wazuka, in Uji, Kyoto, a place steeped in eight centuries of matcha history. Of all the tea fields in Japan, less than 5% are dedicated to growing Okumidori Matcha, which makes it so absolutely valuable.
The tea leaves used have been shade-grown for 20 days before being harvested which increases chlorophyll levels which gives the matcha its vibrant green colour and its utterly unique flavour.
Only the freshest and youngest tea leaves have been selected from this year's first harvest. Once picked, the leaves are stone-ground to create a fine, bright green powder which has a naturally smooth taste, whilst also delivering a rich umami flavour.
Clearspring's limited-edition Okumidori Matcha is sustainably grown and produced to the highest of organic standards, whilst working with nature and encouraging biodiversity. This allows the tea leaves to develop a full, rounded and natural flavour and offer all the benefits of organic green tea.
The limited-edition launch, which is a first for Clearspring, offers Clearspring's supporters and Matcha connoisseurs the wonderful opportunity to enjoy the taste of a unique, ceremonial grade Organic Okumidori Matcha and mark 30 years of Clearspring.
The brand will be donating £1 from the sale of each pack of its Limited-Edition Matcha to long-term charity partner and community cookery school Made in Hackney.
Says Maria Dawson, who is the MD Clearspring: “We've been working with our tea master Nagata-san for the past three decades and we're absolutely delighted to be launching this Limited Edition Organic Japanese Okumidori Matcha together. We wanted to offer something extra special for our 30th anniversary, and this Matcha delivers on taste, quality, uniqueness and sustainability."
She went on to explain: “This limited edition, Okumidori Matcha is best enjoyed when made to a traditional matcha recipe, simply with warm water, to fully enjoy the delicate flavour nuances it offers. We'd love to invite you to join us in celebrating 30 years of Clearspring with this Limited Edition Matcha”
Clearspring Limited Edition Matcha is available to purchase from selected independent stores from September, plus also online at www.clearspring.co.uk.
We at That's Food and Drink believe this will make an excellent Christmas present for the Matcha and tea lovers in your life.
Sunday, 1 October 2023
Finalists unveiled for annual Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards
ARTA 2023 will welcome a guest list of the nation’s most popular Asian restaurateurs alongside MPs, dignitaries, and celebrities. The ceremony will be hosted by BBC presenters, Samantha Simmonds and Paul Martin.
The finest Asian restaurants and takeaways from all over the UK will come together in the Capital city in the hope of being recognised as the best restaurant in their region or nationally and honoured with a jewel in the crown of the UK Asian restaurant industry award sector.
Following the public nominations drive, a formal assessment was undertaken to determine the leading Asian culinary establishments based on criteria including quality of service; quality of product; value for money; and food hygiene ratings in tandem with the number of nominations provided from members of the public. Following the rigorous vetting process, finalists have been announced across ARTA categories.
ARTA 2023 Finalists
Newcomer of the Year:
Savci, Stopsley, Luton
Tanishq Restaurant & Bar, Ongar, Chelmsford
Shimlas, Attleborough, Norwich
Coco Buffer, Weston-Super-Mare
Fine Dine Restaurant of the Year:
Dhoom, Dunfermline, Kirkaldy
Dining Room, Sheerness, Rochester
Blue Jasmine, Ocean Village, Southampton
Chaskaa Indian, Bruntsfield, Edinburgh
Korean Restaurant of the Year:
Cafe Andamiro, Newington, Edinburgh
Bento Bab, Aldgate, London
Yori, Piccadilly Circus, London
Bullgogi Restaurant, Notting Hill, London
Japanese Restaurant of the Year:
Tanakatsu, Camden, London
Maneki Ramen, Worcester
Sakura, Weston-super-Mare
Sapporo Teppanyaki, Castlefield, Manchester
Street Food Restaurant of the Year:
Mowgli Street Food, Brighton
Streetly Balti, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
Twisted Indian Street Food, Blackpool
My Delhi, Newcastle upon Tyne
European Restaurant of the Year:
Kashmir House, Paris, France
New Delhi, Milano, Italy
Tamasha, Playa Blanca, Spain
Royal Indian Restaurant, Munich, Germany
Sri Lankan Restaurant of the Year:
Copper Ceylon, Bromley, London
The Pier Ceylon, Herne Bay, Canterbury
Colombo Kitchen Restaurant, Worcester Park, Kingston upon Thames
Rathiga Restaurant & Bar, Luton
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Northern Ireland:
Yaks, Bangor
Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge, Belfast
Bangla, Bangor
India Gate, Belfast
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Scotland:
The Royal Bengal, Dunfermline, Kirkaldy
Qismat, Elgin, Inverness
Sylhet Brasserie, Grantown-on-Spey, Perth
Carron to Mumbai, Stonehaven, Aberdeen
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Wales:
Benllech Tandoori Restaurant, Benllech, Llandudno
Belfoi, Carmarthen, Swansea
The Grand Sultan, Port Talbot, Swansea
Mango Tree, Whitchurch, Cardiff
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North West:
Spice Valley, Horwich, Bolton
The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, Rochdale, Oldham
Achari, Bolton
Paneer, Wallasey, Chester
Regional Restaurant of the Year – West Midlands:
Delhi 45 Indian Streatery, Rubery, Birmingham
Titash Indian Restaurant, Sheldon, Birmingham
Shifnal Balti, Shifnal, Telford
The Royal Bengal, Earlsdon, Coventry
Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Midlands:
Royal Tandoori, Corby, Northampton
Sylhet Spice, Ripley, Derby
The Bridge & Bayleaf, Gunthorpe, Nottingham
Nazreen, Kettering, Northampton
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North East:
Jays Indian, Durham
Ahad Tandoori, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Bayleaf Indian Restaurant, Cramlington, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Hertfordshire:
Mint Leaf, Stortford, Chelmsford
Zaffran One, St Albans
Cumin Bar & Restaurant, Broxbourne, Enfield
Raj of India, Welwyn Garden City, St Albans
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Essex:
The Polash, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea
Cinnamon, Epping, Chelmsford
Village Indiya Restaurant, Benfleet, Romford
Pride of Sylhet, Dunmow, Chelmsford
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Surrey:
Trishala, Redhill
Tiffin Wala, Camberley, Guildford
The Rajdoot, Guildford
Tarana, Lingfield, Redhill
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Central:
Burghfield Spices, Burghfield, Reading
Jalpari of Woodley, Woodley, Reading
Madhuban Tandoori, Liss, Guildford
House of Flavours, Reading
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North London:
Ruhit's Indian Cuisine, Brent
The Rajdoot, Hampstead
Pinos Warung, Chalk Farm
The Spice, Kentish Town
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South London:
Samrat, Tooting
Gandhi’s, Kennington
Pure Indian Cooking, Fulham
Saka Maka, Hither Green
Regional Restaurant of the Year – West London:
Haweli of Ealing, Ealing
Durbar Tandoori Restaurant, Bayswater
The Rajdoot, Marylebone
Takaa Tak, Ealing
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South West:
Denley's Essence of India, Topsham, Exeter
Drgnfly Pan Asian Restaurant, Poole, Bournemouth
Daaku, Falmouth, Truro
Iford Tandoori, Iford, Bournemouth
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Sussex:
The New Curry Centre, Horsham, Redhill
Calcutta 16, Shoreham-by-Sea, Brighton
Darchini, Horsham, Redhill
Tamasha, Lindfield, Redhill
Regional Takeaway of the Year – North East:
The Jewel In the Crown, Birtley, Chester-le-Street
Zeera Tandoori, Durham
Balti Hut Indian Takeaway, Middlesborough, Cleveland
Spice Junction, Boldon Colliery, Newcastle upon Tyne
Regional Takeaway of the Year – North West:
Arong Tandoori, Waterloo, Liverpool
Bombay Cuisine, Prestwich, Manchester
Akash, Accrington, Blackburn
Bradshaw Tandoori, Bradshaw, Bolton
Regional Takeaway of the Year – West Midlands:
New Royal Balti, Audley, Stoke-on-Trent
Chutney Express, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham
Mahim Indian Takeaway, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury
Karma Lounge, Tamworth, Birmingham
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Essex:
Pathari's, Wickford, Southend-on-Sea
Kismet, Colchester
Spice Boys, Harlow, Chelmsford
Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Surrey:
Hampton Tandoori, Hampton, Twickenham
Vindaloo Indian Takeaway, Farnborough, Guildford
Mohini Balti House, Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton, Sutton
Chipstead Tandoori, Coulsdon, Croydon
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent:
Shumi Tandoori, Frindsbury, Rochester
Mahan Indian Takeaway, Bexley, Dartford
Naims Tandoori, Bedford, Milton Keynes
Sher E Bangla, Longfield, Dartford
Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Anglia:
Kairali South Indian, Poringland, Norwich
Eastern Spice, Suffolk, Ipswich
Bhujon, Tring, Hemel Hempstead
Lime Takeaway, Saint Edmunds, Ipswich
Regional Takeaway of the year – East Midlands:
Little India, Desford, Leicester
Agra Cottage, Bingham, Nottingham
Miah's Takeaway, Heanor, Derby
Rikshaw Urban Indian Kitchen, Sherwood, Nottingham
Regional Takeaway of the year – Wales:
Masalla, Port Talbot, Swansea
Tiffin Rasoi, Barry, Cardiff
Kalimirch, Barry, Cardiff
Shaan Tandoori Takeaway, Ammanford, Swansea
Also additional awards will be presented on the night for Champion of Champions; National Chef of the Year; and National Takeaway of the Year.
ARTA 2023 will continue to honour one of the most lucrative sectors of the UK hospitality industry in the face of continued business and operational challenges during the current cost of living crisis.
Says ARTA Founder Salik Mohammed Munim, “The UK’s popular Asian restaurant industry, known for its resilience in weathering operational and business challenges such as staff shortages and the Covid pandemic, now faces a new set of challenges during the current cost of living crisis.
"The prices of products, ingredients and energy have risen significantly while customers are also facing the pinch. In this tough situation, ARTA will once again be honouring the UK’s best Asian restaurants and takeaways who are committed to delivering the best in restaurant and home dining in these tough circumstances.”
Local pubs deliver invaluable socio-economic value, ministers must act to save them, new report reveals
In a report entitled ‘Inn-Valuable: unlocking the socio-economic potential of our nation’s pubs’, Localis also argues a minister for pubs role be reinstated to join up help for the country’s pubs sector, which supports 936,000 jobs, generates £28bn in GVA to the economy and delivers £15bn in tax revenues to the Exchequer, annually.
According to polling undertaken by YouGov for the report, 75% of people believe pubs have a positive impact on community life.
When asked if pubs are important in bringing people together, over four-in-five (81%) of British adults agreed with this idea, with just14% feeling they aren't.
Polling for the report showed 68% of British adults felt pubs have a part in helping to combat loneliness in their local area.
Among pro-community activities supported by local pubs, almost half (44%) of people are aware of pub events that bring the community together, a quarter (25%) knew of local pubs that supported charitable causes and 17% knew of local pubs offering to support vulnerable people in their local area.
The research identified from case studies taken pubs across the whole country some dominant themes on how the sector supports local people and communities, namely by:
combatting isolation
supporting local causes
reflecting local culture
bringing local business together
supporting community through generations.
Pollsters also learned among social uses of pubs in the last three months, over half of the population (51%) had met a friend in one, while nearly two-in-five (37%) of people had visited the pub to meet up with family, a quarter (25%) had enjoyed Sunday lunch in one and 10% of the public had attended a pub-held birthday party in that timespan. In addition, 6%s of the public had used pubs for dating purposes and 13% watched a sporting event in a pub.
A key recommendation of the report calls for the re-establishment of a Minister for Pubs position to co-ordinate a cross-government taskforce responsible for long-term strategy for the British pubs sector and to lead on help with tax and regulation, alongside an emergency fund for energy bill support.
The report authors also make the case for business rates rebates for those pubs which take on socially valuable roles like foodbanks or in providing warm spaces for vulnerable people, with a call for a modest £4m cashpot to help 1,000 pubs to diversify at a cost of only £4,000 per pub.
Joe Fyans, who is head of research at Localis said: “Across Britain, pubs consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion.
“In fact, pubs are the beating heart of many communities, playing multifaceted roles in local daily life. This is why the decline of pubs is obviously a great cause for concern. With each closure, both tangible and intangible voids are left behind.
“The lessons are clear: pubs, in all their forms and across all locations, remain integral to British social cohesion as hubs of activity, community, and social capital. This makes their presence all the more crucial as community safety nets and beacons of light, offering a lifeline hope for many people looking for a real sense of local belonging.”
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The stories highlighted in this report truly are just a snapshot of the hugely positive impact pubs have in communities across the whole country every single day.
“There are few businesses that can say they add both social and economic value and pubs are delivering that value in neighbourhoods from Lanarkshire to Liskeard, and everywhere in between. Pubs provide solace to people in tough times and a place to celebrate in others and to lose them would have a serious impact on people’s lives.
“With closures continuing to rise and pubs under threat from further duty and business rates cost hikes we hope the Government will giver serious consideration to the proposals put forward by this report so the foundations can be laid to help pubs continue to do this brilliant work in their communities long into the future.”
Becky Barnett who runs The Lamb Inn in Swadlincote, which features in the report, said: “We support our local community in a number of ways, including offering free food and drinks to people on Wednesday mornings. People can come into the pub, have a free hot meal, and in winter, sit by our log fire in comfy chairs, no questions asked.
“When times are tougher, we want to be a place where people can come for help and local people have been incredibly grateful of us opening our doors at no cost. At the same time, we are also facing challenges with higher energy bills and other rising costs so it’s a scary time for our business too. But we want to continue to provide a non-judgemental warm space for people, but we’re facing our own difficulties as well.”
Pub is The Hub chief executive, John Longden, said: “Pubs and publicans are the heroes at the heart of community life that provide essential local services and activities that create social value.
“They are a valuable lifeline for many rural areas providing vital local services and activities like village stores, allotments and community cafes, plus offering a safe space to tackle the major societal issue of loneliness.
“Pub is The Hub now estimates 1,000 more pubs and local areas could benefit from services if they can be directly supported in the future to diversify."
https://www.localis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/InnValuable_Localis_WEBAWK.pdf
(Image courtesy of Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay)
Tesco is first UK supermarket to give kinship carers same support as adoptive parents
The kinship leave, which will apply to grandparents or other relatives who take on a child of a family member, is intended to help kinship carers to be able stay in the workforce, while managing their extra responsibilities.
The new policy, which makes the grocer one of the first UK retailers to support these carers, is among a raft of family-friendly policies Tesco announced that will benefit more than 300,000 colleagues from this week.
Tesco also announced:
Improved maternity leave to 26 weeks with full pay
Up to 12 weeks paid neonatal leave
Fertility leave extended to partners as well as birth mothers of up to 5 days paid leave per treatment cycle
Adoption leave improved to 26 weeks on full pay, and
Paid leave for two weeks for the loss of a baby pre 24 weeks of pregnancy
The charity Kinship, which has been campaigning for kinship carers to have the same rights to paid leave as parents and adopters, has welcomed the move by Tesco. There are 152,000 children in the UK growing up in kinship care and they estimate that hundreds of kinship carers work for Tesco.
The pioneering new policy will apply to Tesco colleagues who have obtained an SGO from a family court, which allows a child to be brought up by people such as grandparents, relatives or family friends while maintaining contact with birth parents.
Lucy Peake, CEO of Kinship, the leading national charity for England and Wales, said: “We are really thrilled that Tesco is stepping up for kinship carer Special Guardians in its workforce by introducing paid kinship care leave on a par with adoption leave.
“Tesco’s new policy will really make an enormous difference to many Special Guardian kinship carers across the country, who will now be able to take paid time off when to support children who have often experienced trauma and focus on their needs, knowing they will have a job to return to.
“We’re very proud to be working with Tesco as they implement this industry-leading support for Special Guardians and hope over time it can extended to all kinship carers. We urge other retailers to follow their lead and will soon be launching our Kinship Friendly Employers scheme to encourage employers of all sizes to better support kinship carers in the workforce”
Taylor Kershaw, who works in the Employer Brand team at Tesco, found her life turned upside down when she stepped up at the age of 25 to look after her brother’s newborn daughter.
Taylor was able to raise awareness of the issue facing kinship carers with colleagues in the Tesco People team, which led to the new policy being introduced.
Taylor said: “This is a gamechanger for all colleagues who are facing up to such a major life change. I was just 25 years old when I stepped up to become a guardian to a child that was only five days old.
“I was heartbroken for my brother and his partner, but suddenly I had to navigate becoming a guardian while still living at home and working full-time. This leave would have taken a lot of pressure from my shoulders and given me time to bond with baby and settle into my new role.”
In addition, the grocer has improved its maternity and adoption leave benefits substantially, increasing from 14 weeks with full pay followed by 14 weeks half pay, to 26 weeks with full pay. This is a significant improvement for over 2000 colleagues a year at Tesco who take maternity leave.
Tesco is also introducing paid neonatal leave for the first time, ahead of Government legislation due to come into force in 2025. The retailer will allow colleagues whose child has been unwell and spent seven days or more in hospital during their first 28 days since birth, to extend maternity or shared parental leave by up to 12 weeks on full pay.
Tesco also recently agreed new flexible working rights giving more than 300,000 colleagues the right to request a flexible working pattern from their first day in the job, rather than having to wait six months.
In July, Tesco announced a new benefit for colleagues and their immediate family - unlimited appointments with a virtual GP, seven days a week to give them added flexibility in managing their health. Tesco colleagues are also able to access to sleep therapists, nutritionists, counsellors, exercise coaches and physiotherapists to support their wellbeing.
This expanded focus on colleague wellbeing comes after Tesco made its biggest-ever investment in colleague pay over the past year, with an increase totalling a more than 15% pay rise to bring the hourly rate to £11.02. Tesco also gives colleagues a 10% discount on groceries, which increases to 15% every pay day weekend.
James Goodman, Tesco UK People Director, said: “We've been really focused on our colleagues’ wellbeing this summer. As well as improving maternity leave for thousands of colleagues, we've introduced a raft of new benefits to help colleagues strike a healthy work-life balance.
“Relatives who take on the care of a child often feel forced to reduce their hours or even leave their jobs as they try to juggle extra responsibilities, and we wanted to really step up to offer kinship carers the same support as colleagues who adopt a child.”
Daniel Adams, USDAW National Officer said: “Following ongoing discussions between Tesco and USDAW, we are pleased that the company is making these improvements which will provide valuable, additional support for our members when they need it most.”
Tesco introduces new safety measure to protect staff
The retailer, which has already introduced body worn cameras across its stores as part of a range of measures to protect and look after colleagues, is making the move amidst a rising tide of retail crime, with British Retail Consortium figures showing violence and abuse towards retail workers has doubled over the last four years.
The toughened glass screens, which fully enclose the colleague side of the till and stand above head-height, have already been installed at over 110 Tesco sites, and are now being introduced to over 250 additional stores as part of a multi-million-pound investment in colleague safety.
The screens places a defensive barrier between colleagues and any potential attackers, protecting shop workers against both physical assault and from the threat of having liquids or other items thrown at them.
Tesco UK CEO Jason Tarry said: “The rise in retail crime has been widely talked about during recent weeks, but the most troubling aspect is the surge in assaults and abuse we have seen against our colleagues in stores.
“This is something that impacts the entire retail industry, and something too many of my colleagues have had to endure first-hand, incidents of violence against our colleagues up by a third year-on-year.
“The safety of our colleagues is our top number priority. And that's why we've rolled out a number of safety measures, including these screens, to help protect our colleagues from the small minority of people who would wish to do them harm, and offering our colleagues additional peace of mind when they come into work each day.”
Nisa Wickramasinghe, the manager of an Express store in Southwark, is among the Tesco colleagues glad to see the screens put in place. She had found herself shaken up by an incident in which an attacker jumped over the counter and behind the till, forcing her to jump over the counter herself to make her escape.
“Now we have the screen I feel a lot safer to come to work and so do my colleagues too,” she said.
Last year, the Government made attacking shopworkers an aggravating factor in convictions, thus meaning stronger sentences for those who assault retail workers. But Tesco’s Group CEO Ken Murphy recently asked the Government to go further and make violence against retail workers an offence in its own right.
Retail union Usdaw’s National Officer Daniel Adams backed the latest move by Tesco and the calls for a specific offence. He said: “Usdaw has been working closely with Tesco on measures the business can take to improve safety and welcomes the introduction of these additional security measures for employees."
He went on to say: “However, this is not something that can be solved by employers and unions alone. With such appallingly high levels of violence and abuse much more needs to be done to help protect shopworkers and give them the respect they deserve. Part of this has to be the introduction of a specific offence for acts of violence against shopworkers.”
Tesco adds air fryer cooking instructions to products for first time from Monday
Four lines of new chilled potato products: Maris Piper Chips with salt & pepper seasoning, Skinny Fries, BBQ Sweet Potato Wedges and Hasselback Potatoes with Garlic and Parsley Butter will have labels featuring the air fry symbol as part of the back-of-pack cooking instructions.
Following from this, three new Tesco Own Brand Frozen Breaded Chicken products Salt and Chilli Chicken Strips, Southern Fried Chicken Strips and Breaded Chicken Strips, will also feature a label with air fryer cooking instructions.
This marks the start of a major rollout over the coming months, which will see air fryer cooking instructions on the back of more products including frozen chips and potato products, burgers and BBQ products, frozen bakery products, chilled bacon, sausages, chicken and salmon, chilled prepared produce and frozen & chilled party food.
Last year, research indicated air fryers are one of the cheapest cooking appliances to use in the home and they also employ much less oil than traditional deep fat fryers or frying pans, thus making them a healthier option, too.
For customers yet to have bought air fryers, Tesco has a selection on offer which start at £50 for a 4-litre unit, running up to a 9-litre dual draw unit at £139 – while currently there are FIVE air fryers available on Clubcard Prices, starting at just £45.
Breige Donaghy, Tesco’s Director of Product Innovation, said: “We know our customers are enjoying experimenting with their air fryers for family favourites and new recipes. Putting specific air fryer cooking instructions on packaging will help them to get the best results, which is why we’re rolling this out across more than 100 Own Brand products. There’s also fun and exciting recipes to try on our Real Food page.”
For inspiration on other delicious things to prepare in the air fryer, customers can visit Tesco’s Real Food page for easy to follow, delicious recipes.
https://realfood.tesco.com/category/air-fryer.html
Air fryers currently available at Tesco are:
Go Cook 4L Digital Air Fryer: £50
Tower 4L Manual Air Fryer: £58
Tower 4L Digital Air Fryer: £74
Tower- 6L Vortx Digital Air Fryer With Window: £89
Tower 11L Digital Air Fryer Oven: £119
Tower 5.6L Smokeless Grill Air Fryer: £139
Tower 8.5L Vortx Dual Draw Digital Air Fryer: £139
Air fryers we currently have on Clubcard prices are:
Tower 4L Manual Air Fryer at £45 with a Clubcard
Go Cook 4L Air Fryer at £50 with a Clubcard
Tower Vortx 6L Digital Air Fryer With Window at £69 with a Clubcard
Tower 5.6L Smokeless Grill Air Fryer at £104 with a Clubcard
Tower 8.5L Vortx Dual Deaw Digital Air Fryer at £114 with a Clubcard
(EDITOR: As all air fryers are non-stick they are not safe for families with pet birds to operate, so regretfully, That's Food and Drink will not be able to buy an air fryer, at least until a pet bird friendly air fryer is introduced.)
Aldi’s giant filled Yorkshire Puddings are back in stores by popular demand, for just £2.99
Aldi's revolutionised the nation’s comfort dinner experience with the return of its Inspired Cuisine Filled Yorkshire Puddings (£2.99, 400g/380g). Available in two hearty options: Chicken Roast Dinner and Sausage and Mash, these Autumn dinner staples are now back in stores by popular demand.
For those looking for a fun twist on the classic Sunday roast, the generously stuffed Roast Dinner Filled Yorkshire Pudding (£2.99, 400g) is available in a Roast Chicken Variety. Complete with stuffing, veg and gravy. This is the ultimate roast dinner, and for a very modest £2.99!
Also returning is the ultimate Autumn comfort food, the Inspired Cuisine Sausage and Mash Filled Yorkshire Pudding (£2.99, 380g) which consists of two succulent pork sausages nestled in fluffy mash with peas, covered in a delicious rich onion gravy, all contained within one yummy, scrummy Yorkshire.
Aldi’s transformation of the humble Yorkshire pud, recently voted as Britain’s favourite regional delicacy, has caused a flurry of social media excitement surrounding their return to stores. One excited shopper begged “PLEASE can we have these all year round” with another exclaiming “oh wow, Aldi smashing it again!”
These delicious all-in-one delights will satisfy any Sunday lunch craving at an unbeatable price.
Shoppers can bag the Filled Yorkshire Puddings in store or online via Click & Collect now!
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