fine food news New festival brings heat to the North
Deli of the Year victory boosts Arch House sales By MICK WHITWORTH
SILLY CHILLIES: (L-R) National Trust events coordinator Alison Forbes, Hot Stuff Chilli’s Mark Deakin, mmm… owner Simone Clarkin and Northumberland County Council chairman George Todd get some practice in for The North East Chilli Festival
Newcastle deli mmm… and local producer Hot Stuff Chilli have teamed up with the National Trust to organise their region’s first chilli celebration. Organisers said some of the UK’s most respected chilli producers have already signed up to The North East Chilli Festival, which will be held on July 7 and 8 at the Trust’s Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland. Visitors to the event will be able to sample the world’s current
As entries open in the third Olives Et Al Deli of the Year competition, last year’s winners have revealed a sales hike of more than 30% since they lifted the trophy in September. David Greenman, who runs Arch House Deli in Clifton with partner Debbie Atherton, said: “In the month we won Deli of the Year we recorded a 45% increase in sales and at least half was directly attributable to the award.” Sales remained up by more than a third for the rest of 2011 and continued at this level throughout January. “Winning the award was key to this increase, through the extra publicity we gained, which brought new people through the door,” said Greenman, adding: “The good thing is that we have managed to keep them as customers.”
Nominations for this year’s Deli of the Year opened on March 24 via Olives Et Al’s website. Shoppers can vote for their favourite stores online, in-store or by post. Over the last two years more than 20,000 votes have been submitted. The 2012 competition is again being backed by FFD and our publisher, the Guild of Fine Food, which will host the trophy presentation at September’s Great Taste Awards dinner. The winning store owners and the runners-up will win a trip to Spain’s Extramadura region, famous for deli foods including olives and Iberico ham. Olives Et Al is also seeking support from other food producers to put together a package of speciality foods to be presented to the regional winners. www.olivesetal.co.uk
Debbie Atherton and David Greenman: sales up by more than a third
hottest specimen, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. There will also be a number of attractions for visitors less keen on chilli including live music, children’s activities and an international food marquee. Hot Stuff Chilli owner Mark Deakin said: “Chilli festivals are held all over the UK, attracting thousands of visitors, and for a long time the North East has been missing out.” www.chillifest-ne.co.uk @chillifest_ne
Asda launches new deli format in Monks Cross, Yorkshire store By PATRICK McGUIGAN
Asda has opened a new deli concept focusing on local sourcing at a store in York, in a move that takes it further into fine food retailers' territory. The new Yorkshire Deli in the Monks Cross store showcases a range of locally sourced products including cheese from Shepherds Purse and the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, pies and scotch eggs from Bradford-based Stobarts and pies and quiches from Doncaster supplier Toppings. The local deli was made a permanent fixture after a successful trial before Christmas and the move has increased the number of Yorkshire ranges at the supermarket by over 20%. CJ Antal-Smith, Asda, category director for emerging markets, said:
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April 2012 · Vol.13 Issue 3
“When we tested this concept out last year we immediately realised the only issue was ensuring we could meet demand, which was phenomenal for a local trial like this. “We’ve invested in special colleague training for the deli – local cheese is cut on the deli, for example. It’s a leap of faith for us but we’re a Yorkshire business ourselves and this feels a natural extension of our identity as a retailer.” The company would not comment on whether further regional delis would be rolled out in other stores. Asda has launched a number of new-concept counters in recent years, including several savoury bakery concessions run by Cornish pasty company Rowe's in Cornwall and a Polish deli concession under the Delicja brand.
Asda won’t confirm if the local deli format will roll out to other regions