Sunday 25 March 2012
That's Health: Increased alcohol prices will NOT help dependent d...
That's Health: Increased alcohol prices will NOT help dependent d...: Raising the price of alcohol will not change the behaviour of dependant drinkers warns Alastair Mordey, a specialist in alcohol and drug a...
That's Business: UK consumers react to the budget
That's Business: UK consumers react to the budget: - 8% say that the recession is building a community spirit and a “we’re all in it together attitude” - 52% of consumers agree that division...
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Is Britain going Vegetarian? New report says we are
It’s official, roast beef loving Brits are starting to shun Sunday roasts, the British banger and milk on their cereal for plant-based swaps, a survey from Alpro reveals.
The power of plant-based eating is a fast-growing trend. In fact, four out of 10 of us are eating more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods than we were a year ago. And six out of 10 of us are eating more of these types of foods than we were five years ago.
People of all age groups are fuelling this trend, although it is younger consumers – those aged between 18 and 30 – who are looking to change their diets and turn to alternative eating regimes in the greatest numbers.
In fact, the independent survey commissioned by Alpro revealed that more than half of 18 to 30 year olds surveyed have added more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods into their diets in the last year alone, pointing to a major change in the UK’s dietary habits for generations. Meanwhile, of all those surveyed, one in five admitted they ate meat and dairy-based foods merely ‘out of habit’.
Plant-based eating conjures up images of a strict vegan diet, but enjoying the benefits of more plant-based choices doesn’t mean becoming a full-time vegan or vegetarian. It’s about reshaping what’s on the plate by making a few simple swaps, while still treating yourself to your favourite meat or dairy products every now or then.
While many of us are already eating more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods for health reasons, a growing section of society is also becoming concerned over the affects that the production of meat and diary-based foods has on the environment. For example, it takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat, while it takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce one gallon of milk.
In contrast, plant-based crops and foods, meanwhile, are much more water efficient, with an average of 25 gallons of water needed to produce one pound of food.
Despite more and more people becoming more commonly aware of such facts, it appears there is still a lack of knowledge in some quarters about the effect that the production of meat and dairy products has on the world around us.
Six out of 10 people are still unaware that plant-based foods offer the most environmentally sustainable option for food production. Even so, four out of 10 of us are already determined to cut down on the amount of meat and dairy currently in our diets.
Alpro has a range of delicious and healthy plant-based products that help you feel uplifted and enlightened. That’s because, all of Alpro’s milks, drinks, yogurts, desserts and creams are made from soya beans, almonds or hazelnuts
New Alpro Almond milk and new Alpro Hazelnut drink do not contain soya and are created using a simple blend of nuts and spring water.
www.alpro.com/uk
The power of plant-based eating is a fast-growing trend. In fact, four out of 10 of us are eating more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods than we were a year ago. And six out of 10 of us are eating more of these types of foods than we were five years ago.
People of all age groups are fuelling this trend, although it is younger consumers – those aged between 18 and 30 – who are looking to change their diets and turn to alternative eating regimes in the greatest numbers.
In fact, the independent survey commissioned by Alpro revealed that more than half of 18 to 30 year olds surveyed have added more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods into their diets in the last year alone, pointing to a major change in the UK’s dietary habits for generations. Meanwhile, of all those surveyed, one in five admitted they ate meat and dairy-based foods merely ‘out of habit’.
Plant-based eating conjures up images of a strict vegan diet, but enjoying the benefits of more plant-based choices doesn’t mean becoming a full-time vegan or vegetarian. It’s about reshaping what’s on the plate by making a few simple swaps, while still treating yourself to your favourite meat or dairy products every now or then.
While many of us are already eating more vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods for health reasons, a growing section of society is also becoming concerned over the affects that the production of meat and diary-based foods has on the environment. For example, it takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat, while it takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce one gallon of milk.
In contrast, plant-based crops and foods, meanwhile, are much more water efficient, with an average of 25 gallons of water needed to produce one pound of food.
Despite more and more people becoming more commonly aware of such facts, it appears there is still a lack of knowledge in some quarters about the effect that the production of meat and dairy products has on the world around us.
Six out of 10 people are still unaware that plant-based foods offer the most environmentally sustainable option for food production. Even so, four out of 10 of us are already determined to cut down on the amount of meat and dairy currently in our diets.
Alpro has a range of delicious and healthy plant-based products that help you feel uplifted and enlightened. That’s because, all of Alpro’s milks, drinks, yogurts, desserts and creams are made from soya beans, almonds or hazelnuts
New Alpro Almond milk and new Alpro Hazelnut drink do not contain soya and are created using a simple blend of nuts and spring water.
www.alpro.com/uk
Otto Pizza announces New Seasonal Toppings Menu
The UK’s only cornmeal crust pizza restaurant – situated in Notting Hill – announces the seasonal changes to its menu.
The brainchild of self-confessed slackers Tom and Rich, who discovered the recipe whilst on a GAP year road-trip through Portland in a camper van called Otto, cornmeal provides a much sturdier, more filling base for pizza crust – which can then be piled generously with toppings.
Otto is also famous for using unusual ingredients – often pairing vegetables with more traditional pizza favourites, making the restaurant a popular choice for vegetarians.
Pizza topping combos making an appearance this Spring include:
Spinach and Artichoke
Cauliflower Cheese
Leek and Bacon
Red Lentil Kofte
Leek and Potato
Otto’s pizzas are sold by the slice – or as a 6 slice taster platter. The chef also makes a base without gluten.
In addition to the new toppings on the menu, Otto also serves a daily special, details of which can be found on twitter @ottopizzauk.
Otto pizzas can be taken away and enjoyed at home or restaurant diners can pair pizza with one of Otto’s selection of American craft beers or a glass of New World wine.
The brainchild of self-confessed slackers Tom and Rich, who discovered the recipe whilst on a GAP year road-trip through Portland in a camper van called Otto, cornmeal provides a much sturdier, more filling base for pizza crust – which can then be piled generously with toppings.
Otto is also famous for using unusual ingredients – often pairing vegetables with more traditional pizza favourites, making the restaurant a popular choice for vegetarians.
Pizza topping combos making an appearance this Spring include:
Spinach and Artichoke
Cauliflower Cheese
Leek and Bacon
Red Lentil Kofte
Leek and Potato
Otto’s pizzas are sold by the slice – or as a 6 slice taster platter. The chef also makes a base without gluten.
In addition to the new toppings on the menu, Otto also serves a daily special, details of which can be found on twitter @ottopizzauk.
Otto pizzas can be taken away and enjoyed at home or restaurant diners can pair pizza with one of Otto’s selection of American craft beers or a glass of New World wine.
Monday 19 March 2012
Sainsbury's Exceeds 165,000 Orders A Week To Become UK's Second Largest Online Food Retailer
Sainsbury's has reported its online grocery orders are exceeding 165,000 a week, resulting in a yearly turnover of over £750m positioning the retailer second in the UK market.
The 20 per cent year on year rise in orders a week, makes Sainsbury's the fastest growing online grocery business and has been driven by industry leading customer service. This was demonstrated by a new Ipsos Mori study on online customer service, commissioned by Sainsbury's, which showed Sainsbury's industry-leading position across the key service measures of:
- Quality of products
- Availability of delivery slots
- Customer service from the delivery person
- Speed of placing an order
- Contact centre staff
Accessed via www.Sainsburys.co.uk, groceries are hand-picked by colleagues in nearby Sainsbury's stores, reducing the distances drivers travel to customers' homes and therefore food miles. The company's 3,000 delivery drivers also have dedicated training with a sharp focus on customer service.
Jon Rudoe, Director of Online, Sainsbury's said: "Thousands of new customers are choosing Sainsburys.co.uk each week because it's simple to use and like our stores, people are assured of the service they'll receive.
"We're proud of our successes so far, but it doesn't stop here, we've got ambitious growth targets which we'll reach by continuing to deliver the best possible experience for our loyal and new customers."
In addition to groceries, Sainsbury's also has a fast-growing general merchandise site including home and garden, appliances, technology, toys, games and sports and leisure products, as well as a new entertainment site.
Growing numbers of shoppers are also taking advantage of Sainsbury's market leading Click & Collect service. Sainsbury's offers the largest number of Click & Collect points, now available in over 900 supermarkets and convenience stores, allowing customers to place general merchandise orders online by 2pm for next day delivery from the store of their choice.
General merchandise online now offers more than 10,000 products, spanning everything from cookware to entertainment. Top brands including Apple, Le Creuset and Sony can all be purchased online.
FACTFILE:
Quality of products
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Asda Joint 3rd - Ocado Joint 3rd - Tesco
Availability of delivery slots
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Tesco 3rd - Asda 4th - Ocado
Customer service from the delivery person
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Tesco 3rd - Asda 4th - Ocado
Speed of placing an order
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd- Tesco 3rd- Asda 4th- Ocado
Contact centre staff
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Asda 3rd - Tesco 4th - Ocado
Ipsos Mori - 1912 online interviews were conducted by Ipsos MORI between 14 February 2012 - 21 February 2012 with a sample of GB online grocery customers aged 16+. Sainsbury's supplied a sample of 912 of its customers and 1,000 were customers of other supermarkets sourced through online panels including Tesco: N=400, Asda: N=400 and Ocado: N=200.
The 20 per cent year on year rise in orders a week, makes Sainsbury's the fastest growing online grocery business and has been driven by industry leading customer service. This was demonstrated by a new Ipsos Mori study on online customer service, commissioned by Sainsbury's, which showed Sainsbury's industry-leading position across the key service measures of:
- Quality of products
- Availability of delivery slots
- Customer service from the delivery person
- Speed of placing an order
- Contact centre staff
Accessed via www.Sainsburys.co.uk, groceries are hand-picked by colleagues in nearby Sainsbury's stores, reducing the distances drivers travel to customers' homes and therefore food miles. The company's 3,000 delivery drivers also have dedicated training with a sharp focus on customer service.
Jon Rudoe, Director of Online, Sainsbury's said: "Thousands of new customers are choosing Sainsburys.co.uk each week because it's simple to use and like our stores, people are assured of the service they'll receive.
"We're proud of our successes so far, but it doesn't stop here, we've got ambitious growth targets which we'll reach by continuing to deliver the best possible experience for our loyal and new customers."
In addition to groceries, Sainsbury's also has a fast-growing general merchandise site including home and garden, appliances, technology, toys, games and sports and leisure products, as well as a new entertainment site.
Growing numbers of shoppers are also taking advantage of Sainsbury's market leading Click & Collect service. Sainsbury's offers the largest number of Click & Collect points, now available in over 900 supermarkets and convenience stores, allowing customers to place general merchandise orders online by 2pm for next day delivery from the store of their choice.
General merchandise online now offers more than 10,000 products, spanning everything from cookware to entertainment. Top brands including Apple, Le Creuset and Sony can all be purchased online.
FACTFILE:
Quality of products
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Asda Joint 3rd - Ocado Joint 3rd - Tesco
Availability of delivery slots
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Tesco 3rd - Asda 4th - Ocado
Customer service from the delivery person
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Tesco 3rd - Asda 4th - Ocado
Speed of placing an order
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd- Tesco 3rd- Asda 4th- Ocado
Contact centre staff
1st - Sainsbury's 2nd - Asda 3rd - Tesco 4th - Ocado
Ipsos Mori - 1912 online interviews were conducted by Ipsos MORI between 14 February 2012 - 21 February 2012 with a sample of GB online grocery customers aged 16+. Sainsbury's supplied a sample of 912 of its customers and 1,000 were customers of other supermarkets sourced through online panels including Tesco: N=400, Asda: N=400 and Ocado: N=200.
Sunday 18 March 2012
That's Gardening: Grow You Own made easy with the new Edible Border ...
That's Gardening: Grow You Own made easy with the new Edible Border ...: Due to the huge and continuing interest in Grow Your Own, Gardenonaroll has launched a new Edible Border kit – a mix of soft fruit, aromat...
Get Your Hands on £10,000 with the YAZOO Shake Squad
YAZOO has launched a Facebook competition offering fans of the milkshake brand a chance to enter and win one of eight weekly cash giveaways of £250 and a grand prize of £10,000. The winners of the weekly cash giveaways will all receive their cash in time to shake up their weekend!
Entrants are encouraged to upload a photograph of their own Shake Squad style pose which will be voted for by other Facebook users in order to win. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/yazoo or follow @TheShakeSquad on Twitter.
The new competition supports YAZOO’s new TV ad, ‘What A Difference A Shake Makes’, which is running from Monday across a number of terrestrial and digital TV channels for three weeks and features ‘The Shake Squad’.
The Shake Squad is a crack 1970’s style undercover cop team, hell bent on bringing fun to the nation’s streets. As a sworn enemy of anything mundane, they’ll stop at nothing to get a laugh and to brighten up someone’s day, just like a bottle of YAZOO can do. They’re ready to give Britain a real shake up - which in today’s serious world is exactly what it needs.
With a campaign slogan of ‘What A Difference A Shake Makes’ the new campaign highlights the lift YAZOO gives you when you need it most, a treat for that afternoon lull, a handy snack on-the-go, or a thirst quenching accompaniment with sandwiches at lunch time.
Entrants are encouraged to upload a photograph of their own Shake Squad style pose which will be voted for by other Facebook users in order to win. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/yazoo or follow @TheShakeSquad on Twitter.
The new competition supports YAZOO’s new TV ad, ‘What A Difference A Shake Makes’, which is running from Monday across a number of terrestrial and digital TV channels for three weeks and features ‘The Shake Squad’.
The Shake Squad is a crack 1970’s style undercover cop team, hell bent on bringing fun to the nation’s streets. As a sworn enemy of anything mundane, they’ll stop at nothing to get a laugh and to brighten up someone’s day, just like a bottle of YAZOO can do. They’re ready to give Britain a real shake up - which in today’s serious world is exactly what it needs.
With a campaign slogan of ‘What A Difference A Shake Makes’ the new campaign highlights the lift YAZOO gives you when you need it most, a treat for that afternoon lull, a handy snack on-the-go, or a thirst quenching accompaniment with sandwiches at lunch time.
Saturday 17 March 2012
That's Health: I am diabetic
That's Health: I am diabetic: Yes, the test results confirm that I am diabetic. Next week I have my first appointment with the diabetes nurse to discuss what type of di...
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Hotel Chocolat To Give Away 190,000 Prizes This Easter!
Luxury British chocolatier and cocoa grower, Hotel Chocolat, is launching its biggest and most exciting promotion yet with 190,000 prizes to be given away in stores across the UK, from 12th March to Easter Sunday.
Customers will be given an exclusive Room Key inviting them to check-in and collect their prize from the nearest Hotel Chocolat store. Every Room Key will win a prize, which also allows customers to enter the Prize Draw – to win an all-expenses-paid, dream holiday to The Hotel Chocolat on the stunning Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.
Prizes on offer range from irresistibly cute, bite-sized Egglets, through to Hotel Chocolat’s signature Extra Thick Eggs and the magnificently large Ostrich Eggs – the company’s flagship Easter egg that regularly stuns people into silence!
What’s more, 70 chocolate lovers will win what could be their ultimate dream come true, a year’s supply of chocolates. Customers can also enter the exciting giveaway online at Hotel Chocolat’s Facebook page facebook.com/hotelchocolat and find their nearest store online at www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/stores
Customers will be given an exclusive Room Key inviting them to check-in and collect their prize from the nearest Hotel Chocolat store. Every Room Key will win a prize, which also allows customers to enter the Prize Draw – to win an all-expenses-paid, dream holiday to The Hotel Chocolat on the stunning Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.
Prizes on offer range from irresistibly cute, bite-sized Egglets, through to Hotel Chocolat’s signature Extra Thick Eggs and the magnificently large Ostrich Eggs – the company’s flagship Easter egg that regularly stuns people into silence!
What’s more, 70 chocolate lovers will win what could be their ultimate dream come true, a year’s supply of chocolates. Customers can also enter the exciting giveaway online at Hotel Chocolat’s Facebook page facebook.com/hotelchocolat and find their nearest store online at www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/stores
Shaken Udder Celebrates The Best Of British
Shaken Udder’s Strawberry Stash milkshake is made with all natural ingredients including creamy, whole, British milk and real strawberries – what sums up Britain in summer better than strawberries and cream?
Co-founder of Shaken Udder Jodie Farran explains: “With all the excitement this summer we thought we should celebrate being a British milkshake. All our shakes use only the best-quality, fresh, British milk and only the very finest natural ingredients, like real strawberries, Belgian chocolate pieces, and the real vanilla beans that you can see in the shake”
Now available in Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's nationwide.
How it all began…
Jodie and Howie met at agricultural university in 2003, both sharing a passion for fab food, groovy tunes and the great outdoors. With buoyant post-grad enthusiasm, the pair made plans to start their own business, but weren't quite sure what that might be. Then, whilst dancing away at V festival, Howie had a sudden craving for a fabulous, thick, fresh chocolate and banana milkshake.
He closed his eyes visualised a rather funky cow, loads of fresh fruit, great chunks of chocolate and lashing of fresh milk. So in 2004, Shaken udder milkshakes was born as a top-notch event based brand, bringing fresh, tasty and healthy milkshakes to festival goers across the country.
The pair travelled far and wide to all the major music events (what a hardship) and served up 1000s of fresh creamy thick shakes. On tour, Shaken Udder's loyal fan base grew. Seeking them out at each event, people started asking where they could get there milkshake fix 365 days of the year.
In search of a place for their funky cow brand, Howie and Jodie took a long, hard look at the retail shelves and were thoroughly disappointed with what they found. Marvellous milk was being ruined with ingredients like modified maize starch, butter milk powders, e-numbers, artificial flavours and, what's more, they tasted like plastic fruit glue! So that was it, the pair decided to give milk what it deserved and create Britain’s best milkshake….
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