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Co-op's The Apiary secures nationwide listing for Manchester's Northern Quarter-based dessert café, Black Milk

Manchester's Northern Quarter-based café, Black Milk, has secured a listing for its products in Co-op stores all over the UK after working with the convenience retailer’s accelerated support scheme for suppliers, known as the Apiary.

Located at 88 Oldham Street, Manchester, Black Milk will see products including its award winning Hazelnut Cream; Pistachio Cream and, White Chocolate sweet spreads stocked in approaching 300 Co-op stores nation-wide, including stores in the North West located in Manchester; Oldham, Ashton, Stockport, Bolton and Rochdale.

Co-op’s Apiary programme searches for new purpose-led small businesses with a unique point of difference. Successful applicants receive valuable tailored support, mentoring and advice on all aspects of the product journey towards gaining a listing in store.

Oliver Taylor who founded Black Milk said: “We're obviously really pleased to work closely with Co-op, especially as a fellow ethical Manchester-based business. This listing sees our spreads stocked in more communities than we have ever been in before, including here in Manchester and across the North West, and it has the potential to significantly raise awareness of our products.

“Since March 2015, our secret sauces and spreads have been developed in our café at the heart of the Northern Quarter, Manchester. These spreads have always been the most popular part of our menu. One day, whilst serving our luxury hazelnut milkshakes a customer asked for an extra shake jar filled with only our hazelnut cream – and we knew then that we had the perfect product to sell. Made with the finest of nuts, these spreads are truly memorable indulgences, we suggest serving them on top of bread, crumpets or croissants, baked into treats or even just eaten off the spoon.”

Kelly Orme, who is the Co-op Community Buying Manager for Local, World Foods & the Apiary, said: “We are really delighted to work with Black Milk, as the dessert café has developed an impressive reputation and following from its Northern Quarter base, and through our Apiary programme we have been able to spend time with owners Andy and Oliver and work closely with them to bring their sweet nut spreads into our stores. 

"We are thrilled to reach this key milestone where the product is now on our shelves - we believe these spreads offer a real point of difference to interest, enthuse and excite Co-op Members and customers in our communities.”

For more information about Black Milk and, to find your local store selling its sweet spreads, visit: blackmilkcereal.com

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Stuck in a culinary rut? Asda has the perfect thing for you

Asda is helping to spice up suppertimes and offer diners restaurant quality meals for less, as it announces two new premium ready meal ranges.

New research reveals the dire state of Brits’ weeknight meals with only a third only cooking their favourite cuisine once a week.

To help shoppers escape this culinary rut, Asda announces the launch of Bom Bahia and House of Yum, a premium Indian and Pan Asian ranges providing restaurant-quality meals without the hassle of cooking or takeaway price tag

Shoppers can find new meals in-store and online now starting from only £2.50.

Whether it's Italian, Indian, or Japanese, everyone has a favourite fare. Yet new information from Asda reveals over a third (37%) of Brits are only cooking their favourite cuisine at home once a week. 

What's even worse, almost a fifth (17%) say they never do. So, to help the nation out of its culinary rut, Asda's launched Bom Bahia and House of Yum a new, premium Indian and Pan Asian range set to provide restaurant quality meals at home, without the price tag or lengthy recipe.

The launches are part of a total makeover of the Asda meal solution range, with over 300 new and improved lines launching across all cuisines. Asda’s research shows just under half (42%) of Brits are bored with their weeknight meals and the majority (54%) rotate a set of recipes each week. 

The reasons cited for not cooking favourite cuisines more at home include thinking a restaurant or takeaway version will taste better (37%) and it being too costly to buy all the ingredients to cook them (22%). But despite Brits feeling their at-home renditions won’t live up to those at a restaurant, shockingly nearly a quarter of people (25%) never visit restaurants that serve their favourite dishes and nearly a third only do once a month (32%), claiming it’s simply too costly to do it. (67%).

Designed to change all of this, the new high-quality ranges each include eight mains and five sides to choose from, with dishes created using authentic cooking methods and traditional recipes to really allow customers recreate their favourite restaurant flavours at home. With minimal prep required, the range is ideal for busy weeknights when meal inspiration may be lacking, without the hefty price tag associated with a meal out or takeaway.

The Bom Bahia range is perfect for those seeking fragrant, flavoursome Indian staples. For those looking to spice up their weeknight dinners, the fiery Goan King Prawn Curry (£4.50) and Lamb Karahi (£4.50) are the perfect warmers as the nights draw in, made with juicy king prawns and succulent slices of lamb, and both of which pair perfectly with a bowl of delicious Gunpowder Potatoes (£2.50). There’s an aromatic, and mouth-watering Royal Chicken Biryani (£4.50), a decadent Indian Mixed Grill (£4.50) and an indulgent Slow Cooked Beef Madras (£4.50) all making for hearty main events, ideal for sharing or enjoying alone.

And leaving no vegetarian behind, the Roasted Cauliflower Makhani (£4.50) is a perfect meat-free alternative to the Smoked Butter Chicken, featuring fresh cauliflower florets in a smooth, tomato-based sauce, perfect for plating with rice or a fresh naan and a spoonful of Black Dal (£2.50) on the side.

For those looking for a pan-Asian taste adventure, the House of Yum range includes dishes such as the finger-kickingly good Black Tiger Prawns with a delightfully tangy, sweet, and savoury Tamarin dip (£2.50). 

For moorishly good mains, shoppers can treat themselves to a Char Siu Pork (£4.50) - pork roasted to perfection in a sumptuously sweet BBQ sauce, a tender Slow Cooked Beef Teriyaki (£4.50), or the Slow Cooked Beef Massamam (£4.50), a rich, fall-apart beef curry perfectly seasoned with mild spice. Vegan Society approved Bang Bang Tofu (£4.50)- soft and succulent pieces of marinated smoky tofu smothered in a fiery chilli and garlic Bang Bang sauce. 

To accompany, consumers can choose to elevate their meals with a choice of divinely Burnt Ginger Fried Rice (£2.50), or Jasmine Sticky Rice with Lime Leaf and Edamame Beans (£2.50), both as equally delicious.

Linsey Taylor, who is Senior Director for New Product Development at Asda said: “Both the Bom Bahia and House of Yum form part of a new, wider meal solution range designed to inspire and delight time-poor Brits who are seeking flavoursome weekday meals. Their release follows a multi-million-pound investment and refresh to improve the quality and variety of convenient pre-prepared meals, as we believe that everyone deserves to enjoy restaurant-quality food, at home, free of fuss or expense.”

The full Bom Bahia and House of Yum ranges are available to buy in-store and online now, with prices starting at £2.50.

www.asda.com

Tesco CEO backs petition calling for new offence to protect shop staff

Tesco’s UK CEO has thrown his weight firmly behind a new petition calling on the Government to make violence or abuse against retail workers a standalone criminal offence.

The petition which has been lodged with Parliament recently by a Tesco staff member, calls for lawmakers to act and toughen up the laws protecting shop staff.

It comes amid a rising tide of verbal abuse and physical assaults on retail workers, with Tesco reporting violent incidents against its store workers are up by a third on this time last year and British Retail Consortium figures showing 850 incidents each day of violence and abuse towards British store staff.

Tesco UK CEO Jason Tarry said: “I'm fully behind the petition to make the abuse of retail workers a standalone offence. We want our colleagues to be safe in their workplaces. Creating a standalone offence not only sends a strong message to the small but violent group of people who abuse and attack shopworkers, but also makes it perfectly clear to shopworkers that as a nation we take protecting them seriously. I'd encourage anyone who wants to see retail workers better protected to sign the petition, as every signature will make a difference.”

The petition was started by Jenny Whyte, who works in Tesco convenience stores in the North of England.

“Nobody should come to work afraid they could be assaulted or abused for just doing their job,” she said. “Things have definitely got worse over the past several years, and some of the incidents colleagues have had to deal with are truly shocking. The Government could show it's serious about protecting retail workers on the front line with a specific offence, and I hope this petition will encourage them to do this.”

To tackle the increasing abuse of shopworkers, Tesco has brought in further measures to protect its colleagues, including body cameras colleagues can choose to wear, and new toughened glass safety screens being fitted in over 300 Tesco Express convenience stores and petrol station kiosks.

Thousands of people across Britain have already backed the petition, and if the number of signatories passes 10,000 then the Government will have to respond to it. If it gathers 100,000 signatures it may be debated in Parliament. To sign the petition visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/647093

We have already signed the petition.

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Tesco and Jamie Oliver team up to create Jamie’s 5 Ingredient Meals, an advertiser funded programme for Channel 4

Tesco and Jamie Oliver are continuing to strengthen their five-year relationship by working together to bring a brand-new advertiser funded series, Jamie’s Five Ingredient Meals, to screens this October. With the ambition to help families get the most out of their weekly shop, making their shopping list shorter and their store cupboard favourites go further.

The 4 x 60” programmes will air at 8pm on Channel 4 from Monday 16th October. Using his bestselling book, Five Ingredients Mediterranean, for inspiration, Jamie will prepare hassle-free dishes that surprise and delight while being easy on the wallet.

With only Five ingredients easily sourced from Tesco, Jamie will show how familiar ingredients from fresh, frozen and store cupboard items can be transformed into recipes ranging from sweet pea orecchiette to a delicious spinach and feta pie.  

The cost per serve of the recipes will start from as little as 50p and the maximum will be £1.70. At least two recipes per show will cost under £1 per serve.

Brand new ‘Tesco idents’ made by Jamie Oliver Productions, will intro and outro each quarter of the show, featuring the mouth-watering 5 Ingredient dishes. The Tesco products being used in each dish will also feature around Jamie’s kitchen. 

In each episode, Jamie is joined by a renowned chef as they share their culinary heritage and influences. In episode one, Jamie is joined by renowned Spanish chef Jose Pizarro and in later episodes he is joined by Alex Ainouz, Itamar Srulovich & Sarit Packer, as well as Jamie’s friend and mentor Gennaro Contaldo!  

Tesco Group Customer Director, Emma Botton, said: “Although families are keeping a close eye on the household budget, they still want to create meals that are delicious and interesting, using ingredients that they already have at home or that they can get by popping down to their local Tesco store. Jamie’s energy and passion is infectious and we’re sure he’ll inspire families up and down the country to have a go at the recipes in their own kitchens.” 

Jamie Oliver Group, Chief Commercial Officer, Megan Van Someren, said: “We're incredibly passionate about inspiring as many people as possible to experience the benefits of cooking. That’s why it’s perfect to partner with Tesco to create this entertaining and engaging advertiser funded programme, demonstrating how only 5 everyday ingredients can be transformed into delicious, affordable dishes.”  

In addition to the new programme, Tesco and Jamie will continue to help the nation create delicious and nutritious meals through their partnership across Tesco and Jamie Oliver channels. 

Tesco and Jamie Oliver are supporting the new series via their own channels, across social and digital platforms. The recipes will be available online at Tesco Real Food. 

www.tesco.com

Asda has Halloween offerings

It’s spooky season, and Asda is revealing its Halloween offering for 2023, with frightfully good deals to get shoppers into the spirit.

With over 30 products in its range, including themed sweet treats, dinnertime ideas and an array of seasonal favourites, there’s everything you need to have the fright of your life.

Looking for spooky sweet treats for all the family?

Shoppers can trick-or-treat themselves to a selection of Halloween-inspired bakery items and snacks. The decadent Miles the Millipede Cake (£6.00) is perfect for sharing and available as a traybake (£6.00), while the Miles themed Cupcakes (£5.00) and Gingerbread biscuit (£0.65) make for a delicious post-trick-or-treating snack.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy, with a range of other themed treats like the brand-new Mummy Loaf Cakes (£2.50) and Ghost Muffins (£2.00).

Expecting a group of little monsters at your door? Asda has you covered. With brand-new products like the Halloween Chocolate Lollies (80p), Stacker Marshmallows (£1.00) and the explosive Eyeballs Popping Candy (£1.00), you won’t be short of goodies to hand out on the big day.

Thinking of throwing a Halloween dinner-party?

The all-new Boo The Bat Pizza (£2.00) makes a deliciously spooky teatime treat for children and adults alike. Topped with delicate mozzarella and a delicious tomato base, this novelty bat-shaped pizza is perfect for those looking to add some excitement to Halloween mealtimes, and completely customizable; a perfect activity for Halloween pizza parties.

Plus, with many on the lookout for nifty party foods, the Firecracker Koftas with Green Slime Sauce (£4.50), Breaded Ghosts (£3.00), Halloween Spicy Breaded White Fish Goujons with a Scotch Bonnet Sauce (£2.75), and the Hot and Spicy Breaded Goujons with Boofalo Sauce (£3.00) are a great way to spice up any spooky celebration, perfect for hosting friends and family.

Also perfect for a pre-trick-or-treat dinner, is Asda’s new range includes the terrifyingly spicy Extra Special Carolina Reaper Pork Footlong Sausages (£3.50). Perfectly seasoned and succulent, the sausages are sizzling with the world’s hottest Carolina Reaper Chilli and packed with flavour. 

Paired with a deliciously soft Extra Special Sliced Brioche Hot Dog Roll (£1.95), they’re sure to spice up your night. For those who can’t handle the heat, the Smoky Garlic Flavoured Steaks (£6.00) are the perfect antidote, with a vampire-repellent smoked garlic aroma.

In search of some frightfully fun creepy crafting ideas?

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a carved pumpkin at the door. Whether you’re getting ready to create a masterpiece or a more understated gourd, the Extra Large (£3.00), Large (£2.50), Medium (£1.00) and Munchkin Pumpkins (£0.79) for little ones will be available to purchase from the 25th September.

For those looking for Halloween baking inspiration, with a selection of cake and biscuit decorating kits, such as the Creepy Monster Cupcake Kit (£4.50), Pumpkin Biscuit Kit (£2.50), and the Cake Décor Edible Eyes Sugar Shaped Decorations (£1.60), you won't be short of spooky activities to get into the spirit.

The full range will be available to buy in-store and online from the 2nd October to the 31st, with a number of Asda Rewards incentives running over the course of the month.

www.asda.com

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