Best Brands 2021-22

NEVER MIND TH HE SUPERMARKET HERE’S THE

2021-22

2021 WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY FINE FOOD DIGEST GUILD OF FINE FOOD GILLINGHAM, DORSET SP8 5FB

2 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

UTES TO LET’S TAKE A FEW MIN

STICK TWO FINGERS UP AT ANY DOOM EBRATE AND GLOOM, AND CEL SOME OF THE FINE FOOD RETAIL EDITORIAL Editor: Michael Lane Assistant editor: Tom Dale Art director: Mark Windsor Contributors: Nick Baines, Patrick McGuigan, Lynda Searby,

TS DURING SECTOR’S ACHIEVEMEN G YEAR. N I G N E L L CHA ANOTHER

NEVER MIND TH HE SUPERMARKET HERE’S THE

2021 WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY FINE FOOD DIGEST GUILD OF FINE FOOD GILLINGHAM, DORSET SP8 5FB

ADVERTISING advertise@gff.co.uk Sales director: Sally Coley Sales manager: Ruth Debnam Sales executives: Becky Haskett, Sam Coleman GUILD OF FINE FOOD Managing director: John Farrand Special projects director: Tortie Farrand Operations & marketing director: Christabel Cairns Operations managers: Claire Powell, Meredith White Marketing manager: Sophie Brentnall Events manager: Stephanie Hare-Winton Financial controller: Stephen Guppy Accounts assistant: Julie Coates Chairman: Bob Farrand Director: Linda Farrand GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: +44 (0) 1747 825200 editorial@gff.co.uk Printed by: Blackmore, Dorset ADDRESS

Guild House, 23b Kingsmead Business Park Shaftesbury Road, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5FB United Kingdom

Published by The Guild of Fine Food Ltd www.gff.co.uk © The Guild of Fine Food Ltd 2021.

Reproduction of whole or part of this magazine without the publisher’s prior permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in articles and advertisements are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.

MICHAEL LANE, editor If you’ve read a few of these Best Brands special editions of FFD then you will probably have noticed that we pick a different retro design theme each year.

Although we just follow history, I have been wondering whether a few other eras would’ve been more appropriate for this magazine.

Perhaps our ‘Dig for Victory’ cover, evoking the wartime spirit, might have been a better match for the mood of the sector (and the country) over the past couple of years. Or, given the constant pandemic plot twists in 2021, maybe the film noir poster would have been more in keeping.

Instead, we’ve landed on the punk era of the late ‘70s – and I think it’s a good fit. Setting aside the nihilism and snarky tone that is sometimes associated with the movement, I think it’s better to draw upon this movement’s vibrancy and spirit of inclusive rebellion.

This is, after all, the 10th anniversary of Best Brands. Let’s take a few minutes to stick two fingers up at any doom and gloom, and celebrate some of the fine food retail sector’s achievements during another challenging year.

Read about the big winners in this year’s Farm Retail Association Awards (page 29), and how they have grown their successful operations in the face of ever-changing times.

Reframe the COVID conversation and hear from optimistic businesses (see page 41) about what they

INSIDE:

S’ ‘MUST-STOCK H T N O M E H T DELI OF

2021 BEST BRANDS SU RVEY RESU LTS RDS OCIATION AWA S S A IL A T E R FARM

29

A PUNK APPROACH TO PRODUCT TIPS FOR 2022

FINE FOOD DIGEST

think the pandemic’s legacy has been – so far!

There’s also been plenty to celebrate for producers in 2021. We’ve rounded up as many food & drink awards as we could find (page 49), had a look at some spirited and forward-thinking branding (see page 61) and also sought some industry tips on which products to look out for in 2022 (page 39). Even the FFD editorial team has chipped in with some items they’ve been impressed with this year (see page 73).

And finally (or should that be firstly?) there’s the main event. The results of our Best Brands Survey (starting on page 4), the cornerstone of this magazine, also offer up a great deal of positivity however you interpret them.

There are familiar names that continue to sell well and support the independent retail market – many of whom have featured in the rankings since we began carrying out this annual poll back in 2011.

Just as encouragingly, there are new names that have made their way onto the podiums, demonstrating that there is plenty of continuous improvement from the supply chain too.

Then, it’s worth considering all the brand names that we don’t end up printing but feature in the survey data. There are a lot, take it from me.

Looking at this spreadsheet of names always reminds me that we’re all in this together: suppliers and retailers all making a difference to one another.

That’s something worth celebrating raucously.

39

4

FFD’S PICKS OF THE YE AR BRANDING

67

73

61

INNERS W D R A AL AW REGION & L A N NATIO

43

BEST BRANDS 2020-21 3

For the tenth year, Fine Food Digest has surveyed independent retailers to uncover what the best-selling products are in the speciality food sector. Here are the results of our 2021 Best Brands Survey, along with some further detail on our findings this time around.

4 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

IT HOW DOES

WORK?

Every brand ranked in this section is here because independent retailers put it here.

We asked buyers in delis, farm shops and food halls around the country to name their top-selling lines in around a dozen categories.

The survey was conducted by email and telephone during September, October and November 2021.

The top-scoring brands in each category – in other words, those most mentioned by FFD readers – are revealed here.

Where brands achieved very similar scores we have given them a joint position.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

y s e n t h U C

survey

& S E L K PIC

1ST TRACKLEMENTS 2ND ROSEBUD PRESERVES

est in the B d n fi l e you’l cert as ne it again. Th ries d a e d to a s do victo a thing cklements ha e it 10 esh e d s a lo m c As now , Tra ts Fr Survey cer has argin. I re were Brands based produ y a decent m e b t but th ple & ec ir g u h in s d t n o il r W win Ap dp , again sh and t-name in a row was the mos Sticky Fig Reli am r its the Chilli J tions fo too. n e s again t a m w le , s y ip e e v lt n n mu Preser differe y Chut f d d o u n a b a r r e B s o as o h Cider tney w ased R k, with a plet u b h C e ir m h pac d Plu Yorks chasing llers. Its Spice e h t f o best anaged best-se , though. m s e a v d a e h lines cit ost frequently Darlington’s king the s a m and Mr cutive year m ves category, named d u b e s e o s s R n e r er co Both weet p econd s s e a h t e v cut is and to achie ade the . both th t. m in e s v g a one r to h n fea rankin unique anothe no mea a is is is o h le C own ic b wh Cheese t its own dou mpany has sh e in F The ries, bu ackers, the co nts offer is by catego o w its cr t nime ots in wn for compa of the top sp o c n a k d y n ll on h its ll-rou Usua ng its a votes to claim mainly throug o r t s w ho e– ugh first tim ing eno ue garner egory for the s contin y . e s n t y t a e u c n h chut sed c ts in this d onion and onion-ba e responden ller n a h c h t it f pea m u s a nal fr most o al and c lo f o Traditio st sellers for ata. lenty e be were p e across the d e r e h to be th t , t always odd vo and, as s gaining the er produc

3RD MRS DARLINGTON’S

4TH THE FINE CHEESE CO.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 5

survey

a Sn cks

The one-two of Pipers and Torres is a well-established trend in this category, with the former covering off the traditional crisp flavours and the latter’s Black Truffle crisps taking care of the more decadent end of the snacking spectrum.

The Spanish brand is now a regular in the Best Brands Survey having started off a few years ago as an outlier. The remainder of the ranked brands here are all relative newcomers and they will hope to establish themselves in a similar way.

Two Farmers has turned plenty of heads with its innovative eco packaging in the last couple of years, and that is now translating into best-selling spots on shelves. Fiddler’s is another brand that has been around for a while but is clearly liked beyond its native Lancashire.

Cambrook is the only non-potato snacking producer here and it’s worth noting that pre-COVID, the majority of its trade was in hospitality, before the pandemic saw the nut brand seek more retail business.

1ST PIPERS 2ND TORRES 3RD TWO FARMERS

JOINT 4TH FIDDLER’S OOK CAMBR

6 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Premium Foods, Premium Service.

DELIVERED. At Holleys we’re delighted to have been nominated in the Best Brands survey again this year, and would like to say a huge THANK YOU to our customers and suppliers for their support!

HERE’S WHY OUR CUSTOMERS RATE US SO HIGHLY RANGE

A comprehensive, handpicked selection of 4000+ ambient lines to delight your customers.

AVAILABILITY

Despite the challenges of this year we’ve averaged 95% availability across the range, bringing you the certainty you need for your business success.

DELIVERY

We make it easy for you with a low minimum order and free delivery nationwide, with our own fleet delivery area set to be expanded in 2022!

CUSTOMER SERVICE

In a recent survey 98% of our customers said that we resolve any problems well or very well. Thank you so much again!

OVER

50 YEARS

0117 938 0084 | www.holleysfinefoods.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 7

TIME WELL SPENT At Peter’s Yard, we know good things take time. Our sourdough crackers are made from a 45-year-old sourdough starter, fermented for 16 hours before each batch is baked. Crafted without shortcuts or artificial ingredients for award-winning flavour and crunch.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 7

s a

M J

& PRESERVES

survey

The sweet preserves category is one of the most competitive in independent retailing, so it’s no surprise to see a few positions alter, even if the names remain the same in the top three.

Wilkin & Sons' Tiptree brand has reclaimed the top spot after being a runner-up last year – propelled by its classic strawberry jam.

Conversely, it was votes for raspberry jam that ensured last year’s winner Mrs Darlington’s still performed strongly. The Cheshire-based company also made the rankings for Pickles & Chutneys (see page 6).

Another supplier to make both this and the savoury preserves list was Rosebud Preserves, which took second place again this year – thanks to plenty of mentions for its marmalades and traditional jams.

Continuing a trend from 2020’s results, marmalades seem to be top sellers for more retailers than in preCOVID times. Could consumers still be prioritising breakfast after picking up the habit during lockdown?

Jams are still very popular, though. It was Hawkshead’s more modern recipes (raspberry & vanilla) and Sarah Gray’s more traditional (blackcurrant) that propelled them both into the rankings in 2021.

1ST TIPTREE 2ND ROSEBUD PRESERVES TON’S 3RD MRS DARLING 4TH HAWKSH EAD RELISH 5TH SARAH GRAY’S FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 9

Award winning cheese from Bavaria

WWW.HAWKSHEADRELISH.COM 10 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

l s Oi

survey

& VINEGARS Thanks to its e ve of bals amic vin r-popular Lun aio oliv e again t e his yea gars, Seggian r. The It o has c oil and its ran front, b a o ge li me ut an food are rep the other ma speciali out on top jor oliv res e oil-pr st was out in denom ented here t oducin o inator a o g na mong a . But there is Brindis a comm tions ll of the a, and G m. on re Branch all com ek oil brands Spanish who lesaler e in cla Honest bottles ssily lab Toil and –o ell Olive from th ne reason th at pres ed, clearly br e more anded umably traditio Contin s nally st ent. yled of ets them apa Scotlan rt f e rs from the Doone d-based bals am is long be a new entry in ic dressing p ro en a po t pular fi he survey ran ducer Little retail s helves. xture o kings, b n many u indepe t it has ndent

1ST SEGGIANO JOINT 2ND BRINDISA HONEST TOIL JOINT 3RD OLIVE BRANCH LITTLE DOONE

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 11

SURVEY

ChArcuteRie

NO RESULT

One of the new areas explored by this year’s survey, this category didn’t feature any brands with enough votes to determine a credible ranking or winner.

That said, there was a heartening number of British charcutiers mentioned. Tempus, Cornish Charcuterie, Suffolk Salami and Cobble Land Cured all received multiple votes from retailers while a host of other names from the UK scene were in the responses, too.

Continental items were also present. Brindisa was the most frequently mentioned supplier, with Italian brand Negroni also getting several nods.

In terms of style, the data suggests that salamis are the most popular form of charcuterie on counters – especially those flavoured with fennel. Hams, both traditional British and air-dried Continental varieties, are also clearly top sellers in many delis and farm shops.

Ch

oColate

1ST TONY’S CHOCOLONELY

JOINT 2ND BOOJA BOOJA INT SUMMERDOWN M MONTY BOJA NGLES

12 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

& CONFECTIONERY

This category is often one of the most unpredictable and it’s rare to see a settled line-up from year to year.

However, Tony’s Chocolonely has cemented its position at the top with its combination of striking branding – which hints at a certain fictional chocolatier – and ethical credentials. The Dutch brand’s 180g bars are especially popular in independents and the most nominated variety is its Milk Caramel Sea Salt.

A trio of British brands completes the rankings, and they all have very strong selling angles. Booja Booja’s vegan chocolates tick the dietary requirements box, Summerdown’s upgrade of the after-dinner mint has bags of provenance and Monty Bojangles has very recognisable branding and packaging.

Beyond these companies, there were a lot of other names in this data, which reflects the wealth of options for retailers in this area and indicates that it’s a much more shop- and location-specific category than others.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Bring quality, value and exclusive cheeses to your counter, all while championing expertly sourced artisan producers.

www.rowcliffe.co.uk 10 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

Part of AMBROSI Group FINE FOOD DIGEST

Naturally Spanish Half page ad OUTPUT.pdf

1

28/05/2021

09:36

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

utors of UK distrib ave Torres h t s u m e th more.

Crisps and

K

Contact Daniel for catalogue and prices. tel: 01722 580166 sales@naturally-spanish.com www.naturally-spanish.com ai163915434171_CF_FFD_Dec2021.pdf

1

10/12/2021

16:39

AMBIENT 2022 CATALOGUE OUT NOW C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

03452 606 060 sales@cotswold-fayre.co.uk www.cotswold-fayre.co.uk

14 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

s e h e E C BRITISH

survey

1ST SNOWDONIA C HEESE COMPANY 2ND FEN FARM (BARON BIGOD) 3RD COLSTON BASSETT 4TH MONTGOMERY

Snowdonia Cheese Company has topped this category for another year, almost entirely due to the volume of nominations for its Black Bomber waxed cheddar – a cheese that continues to have broad appeal and transcend all demographics and regional preferences.

The appearances of two classics, Colston Bassett and Montgomery (for their Stilton and farmhouse cheddars respectively), will not be any surprise to long-time readers of FFD and Best Brands. That said, both should be pleased given that other excellent makers of these cheese styles are available to independents – many of whom were also mentioned in smaller volumes in the survey.

Generally, cheddars accounted for the lion’s share of British best-sellers on respondents’ counters.

Baron Bigod continues to go from strength to strength, and few would dispute that Suffolk-based Fen Farm’s creation is now a stalwart of the British artisan cheese scene.

Beer

Photo by Anomaly on Unsplash

NO RESULT

FINE FOOD DIGEST

R E D I C &

Although a ranking could not be determined from the survey responses in this category, that isn’t to say the data is worthless. The fact that not a single brand name was repeated across all of the responses suggests that this is an area where delis and farm shops can really differentiate themselves.

There were namechecks for several modern craft breweries, with colourful cans and hop-driven modern styles. For other retailers, the best-seller is an ale supplied by a more traditional, local name or, in some cases, a Continental lager was the go-to beer.

A smaller proportion of retailers plumped for ciders, but it was a similar mix local of makers and the odd younger upstart producer.

It is worth noting that not all of the respondents answered this question, with some confirming that they don’t stock alcohol via a simple ‘n/a’, so it’s not a category that all independents choose to sell.

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 15

SURVEY

e e o F C f

JOINT 1ST D ARK WO ODS LITTLE’S 2ND GRUMPY MULE

CONTINENTAL

c hE eSe

NO RESULT

16 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

When it comes to coffee, many independents choose their local roastery – especially if they are using them in their café operations, rather than just taking retail formats.

While this is a sensible business move, it can make it harder for the Best Brands Survey to establish a result.

That’s exactly what happened this year. The data set is filled with the names of different roasteries and suppliers, which is a good indicator of a healthy market and a big positive for retailers in terms of choice.

What those that ranked this year have in common is their very strong retail offer. Dark Woods, whose Great Taste 3-star Under Milk Wood coffee received several mentions, has much more shelf presence than your average brown bag, as does Grumpy Mule’s range.

Little’s range of premium instant varieties in jars is very good at catching the eye, too.

Given that the survey is concerned with specific brands, rather than product types, this category can be problematic when it comes to rankings.

As has always been the case, Brie de Meaux was the most popular Continental cheese in our poll of independent retailers – but this success cannot be attributed to one producer or affineur. Many respondents simply don’t name their brand of choice when it comes to European cheeses.

France’s Alpine classic Comté also garnered plenty of votes, as has the Italian soft blue Gorgonzola Dolce, but again this success is not down to just one name.

Further down the top five, there is a bit more specificity. Délice de Bourgogne, made in Burgundy

by Lincet, and Montagnolo Affiné produced by Germany’s Käserei Champignon, are both regularly seen in the upper echelons of the results for this survey question – but they are also unique to these producers.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Fifty tiny berries in every jar make it jam-packed with taste We’ve been growing Little Scarlet strawberries here at Tiptree for over 100 years. Today, our founder’s great grandson still insists on picking and sorting these tiny, rare, and

intensely flavoured berries entirely by hand.

It’s estimated that each jar of Little Scarlet Conserve contains over fifty tiny berries, ensuring you can really taste the difference.

The Preserve of Good Taste

WILKIN & SONS LIMITED

14 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

TIPTREE

COLCHESTER

ESSEX

CO5 0RF

W W W.TIPTREE.COM

FINE FOOD DIGEST

AWA R D -W INNING C HEESE At Snowdonia Cheese Company, we craft our award-winning range to perfection, using the finest natural ingredients to create outstanding textures and flavours.

BEST BRITISH CHEESE BR AND as voted by the Fine Food 2021-22 Digest Survey 2020-21 BEST BRANDS 14

@snowdoniacheese

FINE FOOD DIGEST

s i u t c s Bi

SURVEY

SWEET & SAVOURY

YARD 1ST PETER’S 2ND THE FINE CHEES E CO.

UITS 3RD MILLER’S / ARTISAN BISC 4TH FARMHOUSE BISCUITS 5TH BORDER B ISCUITS uits he bisc t s i t i , tegory n of this ca n i r portio e e s g a r c a l e e h aken th sually t s As is u e that have t ard ha Y s e ’s r e e h t c for s. nd Pe veral rs’ vote ispbread bra nkings for se roduct. e l i a t e r the ra ugh cr iginal p ister Sourdo e top spot in arity of its or nd s e Co. a of its ed th opul s i p e p e u e h c h t c C o on g all Fine purely re The ich is bringin ’s Toast a s l years, e e its h , wh mer Hot on tisan Biscuits ame. The for crackers r n ss A msel ller’s busine the Mi he latter’s Da dents, and r e d n u t pen s. ranges e range and in inde s r ranking s e l e l e e e v i s h t c C p e r o fo sp nt er their re ng bee y, Bord have lo contribute to f the categor tain o rs main ly e e n i g d i a n i s t r r G e c its. sweete k Chocolate p biscu o t r On the a ’s r D o s t t s and i the sec ear is the reered Biscuit us as one of e this y s, which garn such t c a n t s e r r i e f f s, uit the gest di se Bisc weet creation The big of Farmhou s l itiona ence ts trad i five. r emerg o f s he top ote t v e h k a g u to m eno t Flips, a O s t i as

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 19

SURVEY

Drinks SOFT

1ST SANPELLEGRINO

2ND FENTIMANS ARM F R I O V L 3RD BE 4TH KARMA DRINKS

20 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

Sanpell egrino and its in the t Italian op spo sparkli t o Best Br f t h ng drin is catego ands p ks a r y havin oll in 2 has be 015. Th g last t re back en in th oppe e Ne er victory but it h ankings every stlé-owned b d the as regu r Northu larly be year since its and mb last en a ru years, w erland-base nnerd Fentim h ans for up behind last five ile Belvoir ha s also w t yea on this he last two Aside f rs. catego ry in th Brands rom occupyin e g the to Survey regular p spots three b ly in ra f in the in nds have also or the last de the Best cade, t all main depen he dent se superm ctor de tained their p se arkets o spite su and va It’s a te rious o ccess in pularity s t a t m h t er chan en he as an in ne dicator t to the qualit y of the ls. of how share is produc ha in the s ts as w oft drin rd NPD and Althou ell g k a s in gh Kar s e in c g tor. market ma Drin ranking st ks is a n around his year, the compa ew entrant to for mo ny h the re t brandin g, orga han 10 years as actually be . n en to ethic Its blen ic ingre d al d combin sourcing cert ients and a co of quirky ainly so mmitm ation. und lik e e a goo nt d

FINE FOOD DIGEST

A YEAR TO BE PROUD OF This time last year we were so proud to be voted as a Best Brand by the readers of Fine Food Digest.

Since then we have experienced a momentous 12 months.

Discovered new ways to best serve our customers.

And responded with innovation to match your creativity.

How we look forward to building our business alongside yours in the peace and calm of a more settled 2022.

Oh, and of course, we would love to win again!

020 8772 1600 | sales@brindisa.com | brindisa.com 14 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

CRISPS THAT

PACKAGING 100% PLASTIC FREE 100% COMPOSTABLE USES RENEWABLE ENERGY HOMEGROWN POTATOES LOW FOOD MILES LOCAL INGREDIENTS 6 GREAT FLAVOURS

Helping protect the environment one crunch at a time

www.twofarmers.co.uk 01989 253 133

22 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

a t

survey

e

1ST TAYLORS OF HAR ROGATE 2ND TEAPIGS D JOINT 3R PUKKA CLIPPER 4TH BIRCHALL

s rt

sPi I As with its fellow alcohol category (see beer & cider on page 15), the data on best-selling spirits did not render a full result for a similar reason. No one brand or producer received enough nominations to justify creating a ranking.

It won’t come as a shock, but gin still appears to be the spirit of choice on most independent shelves. And the wealth of distilleries in the UK is reflected in the survey data, with very few even gaining two votes.

Anecdotally, FFD tends to discover a new local gin on every visit it makes to a retailer. And

FINE FOOD DIGEST

There’s a wealth of teas and infusions on display in every UK retailer, but it seems that the best-sellers are always breakfast or everyday varieties – even if the brands and names do vary.

Yes, there was the odd Earl Grey or nettle infusion nominated but it is a standard brew that works best for our surveyed retailers.

Taylors of Harrogate’s Yorkshire Tea is a ubiquitous product in multiples and independents but its popularity (in conjunction with its Yorkshire Gold blend) has seen the producer take the top spot yet again in the category. Teapigs is another stalwart of the independent market, and it was its Everyday Brew tea that had the most mentions.

Clipper and Birchall also both made it into the rankings on the strength of their breakfast teas.

Flying the flag for quirkier infusions is Pukka – another brand that has featured regularly in the results of this poll over the years.

NO RESULT

why not? It makes good business sense to stock something unique or different in this category because that’s in step with the way consumers like to approach the category too – with a sense of exploration.

It wasn’t all mother’s ruin in our poll. Some retailers named highend whiskies, flavoured vodkas and rums. There were even a couple of nods for limoncellos.

Of course, not every retailer stocks alcohol, so there were plenty of ‘n/a’ responses, even if it does seem like an area where buyers can experiment quite successfully.

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 23

r iCe C eA m SURVEY

This is the first year FFD has questioned retailers about their frozen cabinets and it has crystalised into a result.

There were quite a few blank and ‘n/a’ responses in this category, though, so it’s not a product that works for every independent out there.

The inaugural winner Marshfield Farm has done well to expand its appeal outside of its native West Country in what is so often a regional category. Perhaps this is down to the options its offers. One retailer cited the producer’s mini-tubs range as the big hit with customers while another even nominated its Scoop’s Ice Cream for Dogs!

Simply Ice Cream is another producer that has stockists well beyond its home county of Kent while Hackney Gelato has not been confined by the M25 and is available nationally.

Dairy-free specialist Booja Booja, which also placed in the confectionery category, has certainly carved a good niche for itself in the independent food retail market.

And now for the scoop you’ve really been waiting for: the most popular flavour was vanilla, with honeycomb in second and salted caramel, third.

Di

StriBUtors

1ST THE CRESS CO

SSSSSSSSSAS

YRE 2ND COTSWOLD FA DGE O 3RD HOLLEYS L N O R 4TH CAR

24 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

1ST MARSHFIELD FARM 2ND SIMPLY ICE CREAM OJA JOINT 3RD BOOJA BO HACKNEY GE LATO

It may have been another challenging year for logistics and fulfilment but that has not had any impact on the rankings in this category, which are identical to last year’s results.

The Cress Co continued to establish itself as a truly nationwide wholesaler in 2021, with the addition of a new base in Telford, Shropshire. This is the fifth year in a row that the distributor has topped the survey, so it’s clearly getting its offer and its customer service right.

One of the first companies in fine food to gain B-Corp status, Cotswold Fayre has also expanded in 2021 – by moving into retail. Its Flourish Food Hall in Somerset will surely only further its understanding of how to meet retailers’ needs.

Bristol-based ambient specialist Holleys continues to make the cut here year after year, while Carron Lodge once again pipped a few other cheese wholesalers to make the top four.

For a second year running, there was thankfully not even a hint of a negative answer in this category.

Perhaps those who historically grumbled about distributors have chosen to highlight the work of other suppliers instead, because several producers were name-checked here.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

A tremendous Tracklements thank you to our farmers & growers who help us ensure that Tracklements are always tip top quality.

22 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

WWW.TRACKLEMENTS.CO.UK/TRADE

FINE FOOD DIGEST

26 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Made with love, loved by many

Mrs Darlington’s Voted One of the Best Brands We are thrilled, once again, to be nominated as one of the Best Brands in both chutneys and preserves by Fine Food Digest readers. Mrs Darlington started making her unique Lemon Curd in her farmhouse kitchen more than 40 years ago, and we have never looked back. We now have more than 90 delicious family favourites from which to choose. We are incredibly excited to introduce our new aromatic Ginger Curd to our award-winning range.

To find out more please visit our website - mrsdarlingtons.com Find us on social media search “Mrs Darlington’s” 26 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

01270 250710 FINE FOOD DIGEST

26 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

S S E N T A E R a G R O F b rn [strap] FRA awards [with logo]

The Farm Retail Association’s annual awards seek out the exemplary in rural retailing.

FFD talks to 2021’s big winners and discovers the thinking behind some of the country’s top farm shops.

Interviews by Lynda Searby

THE YEAR RISING STAR OF

Minskip Farm Shop / Yolk Farm York, North Yorkshire Ben and Emma Mosey have cracked the farm shop business, thanks to their strong proposition and clever branding.

It might seem inconceivable that the cornerstone of a £1.6m retail business could be something as basic as eggs, but this Yorkshire farm shop knows what it does well and maximises it.

When husband-and-wife duo Ben and Emma Mosey took over the 16-hectare egg farm and farm shop in 2017 after the previous owners retired, they were concerned that its niche focus might be a disadvantage.

However, in the five years that have followed, they have found that an emphasis on free-range eggs has proved to be a strength rather than a limitation.

“The consumer likes to know what you are good at. The number of people who come in here for a box of eggs and then bring a basket full of other items to the till is unbelievable,” says Emma Mosey.

But it’s not just a case of selling box after box of eggs. The “show-stopping” fresh fruit & veg display that greets customers as they enter the shop is another big draw.

“We grow a lot of produce in our market garden and our fruit & veg display is a mountain of colour and freshness,” says Mosey. “I think it is an evolutionary thing. We see bright colours and we want to eat them.”

The couple has also been smart in how they have capitalised on their USP, from their branding strategy to the way they have staked their claim as the world’s first egg restaurant on a working farm.

The business has two brands – Minskip Farm Shop and Yolk Farm. In the wrong hands, this could result in confusion but the way the brands interact with one another and engage different audiences amounts to a savvy marketing strategy.

Yolk Farm is the umbrella brand for the business. Mosey adds: “It’s centred around the eggs and is all about fun and learning about farming. It’s modern and very instagrammable, reaching a younger audience.”

Minskip Farm Shop, meanwhile, represents values that engage an older demographic of customers who tend to visit the shop.

Both brands have separate social media accounts so that messaging can be audiencespecific.

She says the strong branding they have

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31 FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 29

26 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

211213 Fine Food Digest.indd 1

FINE FOOD DIGEST

13/12/2021 13:49

ABOUT FUN LL A IS D N A S G EG E TH IT’S CENTRED AROUND S MODERN AND VERY AND LEARNING ABOUT FARMING. IT’ INSTAGRAMMABLE, REACHING A YOUNGER AUDIENCE. created also helps when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff. “I think they really buy into the brand and what it stands for.”

Managing a team is something Emma and Ben have had to get used to fairly quickly, having expanded rapidly from employing a few members of staff five years ago to a team of 35 today. Fortunately, people management is something else they seem to do well. The FRA judges described their focus on staff development as “outstanding”, illustrated by the number of staff members who started in junior roles and have worked their way up.

Both the front-of-house manager and the shop manager started as shop assistants, for example. The Moseys take a meritocratic approach to progression. If people go “above and beyond”, that will be recognised and rewarded, and they give staff plenty of autonomy.

“If we are breathing down their necks they can’t do their jobs properly,” says Emma Mosey. We give them direction where they need it, but we give them as much autonomy as possible.”

With turnover on track to top £1.6m this year (versus £300,000 in 2019 and £1m in 2020), the owners have clearly cracked retail. Not even COVID put a spanner in this trajectory. Mosey says that the pandemic has had a positive effect on the business, with the farm shop four times as busy as it was previously. But that’s not to say they are immune from the challenges that face retailers across the board. At present, Mosey says they are honing their margins and staffing costs, looking at high- and low-performing products and wastage, in an attempt to maximise profits. In terms of future plans, Emma says the business is “at a crossroads”.

“We have achieved a lot of what we set out to, so our next stop is potential expansion of the shop and café,” she says. yolkfarm.co.uk

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Stuart Beare, Tulleys Farm, West Sussex After a six-year hiatus from farm retail, Stuart Beare was quick to innovate at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, launching a drivethrough farm shop to minimise contact while servicing the demand in the area.

Beare had closed the popular Tulleys Farm Shop in 2014 to focus on the growing events side of the business – including pick-your-owns, mazes, escape rooms and the award-winning Shocktoberfest – but reopened as Tulleys DriveThru when those operations were forced to close.

After hundreds of former customers began turning up in search of the long-closed farm shop, Beare reopened old supply lines, installed marquees and began offering packages of essentials including meat, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables. The offer quickly FINE FOOD DIGEST

expanded to include fresh fish, pies and cakes, alcohol and even home entertainment and garden plants.

Founded in 1937 by his Grandfather Bernard, Tulleys – based just outside Crawley in West Sussex – was originally a dairy and salad/herb farm selling direct to markets in the Capital. Once one of the largest PYO’s in the country, growing over 40 different crops on around 120 acres, Stuart joined the business in 1991, opening a farm shop in 1992.

Stuart then moved into the seasonal entertainment business, opening a maize maze in 1998 and escape rooms in 2017 as well as launching Shocktoberfest in the late 1990s, for which he has won the annual Screamie awards, going up against the likes of Alton Towers and Chessington.

In 2020 he managed to further pivot the business and run a pumpkin festival attracting 80,000 visitors, the drive-thru farm shop, a drive-in cinema and sunflower festival. tulleysfarm.com BEST BRANDS 2021-22 31

www.suffolksalami.co.uk 32 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

F THE YEAR O P O H S M R A F L SMAL & CAFÉ / RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR The Farm Stratford, Snitterfield, Warwickshire With its playful props and creative merchandising, The Farm is right at home in a town that is a mecca for theatre-lovers.

The authentic Indian tuk tuk parked just inside the entrance is the first clue that The Farm Stratford might sit at the quirkier end of the farm shop spectrum.

“I always say we are not your average farm shop,” says director Charlie Wells.

“We have lots of good props. As well as the tuk tuk, which we bought on eBay, we have a red cart we use for our Italian display, a French bicycle we dangle from the ceiling, whisky barrels and butcher’s blocks. We also bought a tractor, but that wouldn’t fit inside the building, so we have had to keep it outside.”

These artefacts are artfully styled by the company’s visual merchandiser, Kitty Greenwood, into unconventional displays that are a visual treat and talking point.

FINE FOOD DIGEST

The feature-rich building that houses the shop, cookery school and the now-award-winning Nourish café is the perfect stage for this theatre.

“The Farm used to be eight derelict buildings, each with its own character,” says Charlie Wells. “We knocked them all through to create a space that is both open plan and intimate, with small department areas.”

When The Farm opened its doors in 2017 on a disused pick-your-own fruit farm in Snitterfield, it was looking to offer luxury treats rather than grocery staples. However, since the pandemic, this balance has shifted and it has become more of a “weekly shop” destination.

OW TRIAL AND ERROR IS H WE LEARN AND GROW, AND ANY IDEAS

ARE VALID. WHETHER SUGGESTIONS ARE NAGER, FROM OUR POT-WASHER OR OUR MA WE WILL GIVE THEM A GO.

Wells says the past 18 months have also seen increased demand for take-outs, prompting it to launch its ‘Deli at The Farm Food to GO’ counter, with items like sausage rolls, veggie rolls, toasties and bean pots on the menu.

Fortunately, this is a business that thrives on change and new ideas. The monthly team meeting is not only an opportunity to brief, debrief and update staff on any changes, but also a forum for sharing ideas.

“Trial and error is how we learn and grow, and any ideas are valid,” says Wells. “Whether suggestions are from William, our pot-washer, or Kay, our manager, we will give them a go.”

For example, The Farm started stocking hot sauces after a staff member, India, noticed they were trending on Instagram. She was then enlisted to research and build the range, which has gone on to be very popular.

Wells admits that she is “Instagram obsessed” and says that the social media site serves as a source of inspiration for everything from products and displays to events.

“We are very up to date on everything. I am constantly reading food magazines and following trends on social media.”

This keenness to embrace new ideas motivates staff, keeps the shop fresh and is the lifeblood that makes The Farm more than “your average farm shop”. thefarmstratfordshop.com BEST BRANDS 2021-22 33

EMMA

Co-ow

LARGE FARM SHOP OF THE YEAR Calcott Hall Farm Shop, Brentwood, Essex It may be a big premises but this farm shop remains very much a family-run affair, where the staff are the key ingredient for success.

ANAGEMENT M D N A E R E H IN WE ALL MUCK OR. ARE OFTEN VISIBLE ON THE SHOP FLO IF STAFF SEE US GETTING OUR HANDS RK DIRTY, IT BUILDS A SENSE OF TEAMWO

FROM THE GROUND UPWARDS.

OTHER WINNERS

YEAR SUPPLIER OF THE Appetite Me appetite.me.uk

PYO OF THE YEAR Cammas Hall Fruit Farm, Essex

FARMERS MARKET OF THE YEAR Hampshire Farmers Market

hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk 34 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

cammashall.co.uk

When FFD interviews Peter McTurk, one of the directors at Calcott Hall Farm Shop in Essex, he has just finished stacking cauliflowers.

“People are sometimes taken aback when they ask to speak to the manager and I say they can speak to me,” he says. “We all muck in here and management are often visible on the shop floor. This is something my parents instilled and is fundamental to how we operate today. If staff see us getting our hands dirty, it builds a sense of teamwork from the ground upwards.”

This focus on teamwork, highlighted by the FRA judges, is something this family business works hard at, through social events such as bingo and an annual summer party, and, more recently, one-to-ones to boost flagging morale.

“Morale never used to be an issue, but since the pandemic, it has dipped,” says McTurk.

“We’ve sat down with each staff member individually to reassure them and give them the opportunity to have a moan if they want to, or itemise things that would help them to do their jobs. It felt like the right thing to do.”

Calcott Hall might be winner of the ‘Large Farm Shop of the Year’ category, but it is evident that it maintains a deeply personal touch.

“Just because we are bigger than the average farm shop, there is no reason why we can’t have the same values as a small village shop,” says McTurk.

And this extends beyond its staff to its customers. As Peter points out, customer service is one area where supermarkets, with banks of 50 tills, simply can’t compete.

“Our butchers and fishmongers are very good at asking questions like, ‘how was your joint of beef or your fish last weekend?’ They will open a dialogue even if the customer says it wasn’t perfect.”

Thanks to the generous proportions of the high-ceilinged 200-year-old barn it inhabits, the shop isn’t limited when deciding what products to carry, which is reflected in the breadth of its offer. For example, Peter says it has the biggest range of Tiptree preserves outside of the Tiptree shop.

A strong connection with the land is apparent; two of its bestsellers are homegrown sweetcorn and honey from a local supplier who keeps hives on the farm.

“People see the sweetcorn growing and ask when it is going to be ready,” adds McTurk.

A fishmonger, butchery counter, on-site brewery and café are four additions that have expanded Calcott Farm’s proposition since McTurk and his brother Stuart joined the family business in 2005.

“We have expanded rapidly over the last five to six years and sales have been growing by 5-8% a year on average,” says McTurk.

In normal times, he says the business would have “all sorts of plans” for the future, but that in the current climate, they will just be happy to “consolidate and see the back of this difficult period.” calcotthall.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

Stornoway Black Pudding

Stornoway White Pudding

EVERYTHING HAS LED TO THIS... www.deans.co.uk

01851 702 445 | sales@charlesmacleod.co.uk

www.charlesmacleod.co.uk

SEGGIANO Best in Category Italian Larder Essentials

For more than 25 years over 150 best in category products from Italy’s greatest artisan producers

info@seggiano.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 35

123 GREAT TASTE AWARDS #WINNER

Great repeat trade and good margins, your customers will come back again and again for Mr Vikki’s.

Unique secret recipes with authentic Indian techniques, made by an award-winning chef.

Please contact us today for a product list of super tasty Mild to Wild Chilli Chilli condiments. Catering sizes also available.

CONTACT ADAM TODAY. WWW.MRVIKKIS.CO.UK OR 01768 210102

of Golden Fork North

36 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

England

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Sweet and sharp… …rich and mellow GREAT LOOKS GREAT TASTES - GREAT SALES A big thanks to all our stockists for their support - it’s a pleasure to work with you.

If you would like to join the Little Doone family of stockists, we would love to hear from you.

Info@LittleDoone.co.uk

BEST763 BRANDS 36 01259 890 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Fish4Ever was founded on the idea of bringing organic values to sustainability in fish.

See us on stand Q14

Rated a world beating 89% by Greenpeace, our Skipjack isn’t only the best option in ethical terms, it’s also the best for quality. That’s because our little island factory in the Azores only works from whole fish rather than frozen pre processed loins and we only add really good, natural and organic ingredients. Using named, locally owned and operated pole and lines boats this is tuna you can trust for taste and sustainability

www.fish4ever.co.uk sales@organico.co.uk // 01189 238760 36 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS

TIPS FOR 2022

After another busy year of product launches, FFD caught up with retailers and industry experts to discover the new lines they think will break through next year.

GHEE APPÉTIT

MALLIKA BASU,

Food communications consultant & founder, Sizl Spices basuconsulting.co.uk

This brand of flavoured ghee has already rightfully claimed a Great Taste 2-star for its Morel Pâté Ghee.

I am a big fan of its variety laced delicately with a hint of chilli, which I discovered at Fine Food Show North.

I happen to know they are working on a range of raw, clarified cultured butter for 2022 and my money is on it being a huge success.

Most ghee products available in the UK are clarified butter, where it is heated until water evaporates and milk solids separate. Clarified cultured butter (what is often called desi or asli ghee) starts with fermented double cream and is even easier to digest. It is full of probiotic goodness not to mention a rich nutty intensity for garnishes. I can see a great market for this among discerning food lovers. gheeappetit.co.uk

We don’t have a massive range of plant-based products, and I’m not sure we’ll ever be huge in that market as we sell a lot of meat, but for Christmas we launched a plant-based roast joint from a Scottish brand called Sgaia and that is selling so well. It surprised me because we’re not a traditional vegan retailer, but they are fantastic.

These days everyone has someone in their family who’s a vegan or veggie, and this is a great centrepiece for a roast dinner that kicks the old nut roast to the kerb. It did seriously well for us this Christmas and I see that continuing in 2022, as veganism continues to grow. It’s a great small Scottish business that we’re proud to be backing. sgaiafoods.co.uk

We’ve recently brought on board this really small brand called Fat Man Chilli. He makes a range of hot sauces and other chilli products that are sold at farmers’ markets and in farm shops and delis around his area in Hertfordshire.

They’re really great products – he makes a range of sauces, jams, oils and rubs, but his recent Spicy Tomato Ketchup is a standout. fatmanchilli.co.uk

BURREN BALSAMICS – BLACKBERRY & THYME BALSAMIC

Owner, Indie Füde, Belfast indiefude.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

This fresh, citrusy aperitif has been designed to pair with Indian food as a lower alcohol alternative to gin. Alcohol with Indian food can be a challenge owing to the bold union of spices, heat and fulsome flavours like tomatoes, yoghurt and caramelised onions.

Sollasa would neatly replace the Crémant or Champagne that I would serve at the start of the meal. It also slots clearly in between the no-alcohol and high-ABV categories, as a low-alcohol and yet premium beverage choice, for not just Indian food but also South East Asian and South Asian food more broadly. sollasadrinks.com

FAT MAN CHILLI

SGAIA

JOHNNY MCDOWELL

SOLLASA

PEARLS

Burren Balsamics have been around a while, but they are really innovative with their NPD. This product is a spherification of a line they already make. The way they pop in your mouth and release flavour is something a bit different and this format is actually very cheeseboard-friendly too, rather than a vinegar running all over the place!

The pearls are a perfect match for Templegall, an Alpine-style cheese made in Cork, but work well with classics like Le Gruyère or Comté too. burrenbalsamics.com

HANNAH ANDERSON,

MD, 44 Foods online farm shop 44foods.com

CHIMAC

SAUCE CARAMEL A H C A IR – SR

Chimac is a South Korean fried chicken restaurant in Dublin but they also sell their sauces in bottles.

This has become my goto sauce on everything.

Yes, it’s great on fried chicken but it’s not just for fast food. I’ve used it to make sticky ribs and I even used it in a recipe for pork belly the other day.

The producer says it’s also good on pancakes! chimac.ie

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 39

36 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

VIRAL Shif t

COVID'S LEGACY

While many sectors have not fared as well as independent food & drink during the global COVID-19 pandemic, ours has not been immune to change. FFD sought views from across the industry on the indelible marks coronavirus has left on the sector.

NIGEL BOGLE,

MD, The EPOS Bureau

During its height, the pandemic had – if you can use the word – a positive effect on food retail, and it seems to have had a lasting impact on the way people shop. Since March 2020 we’ve had increased turnover in the shop. It has grown and shrunk, but we remain in a good position.

There seems to have been a shift in the way people buy – supporting small businesses and embracing independent brands. Throughout lockdown, there was a massive shift because restaurants were closed – treats like truffle oil, chocolate and cheese were big sellers. While this hasn’t sustained at the same levels, those trends have continued.

One big mark that COVID has left on the business is the closure of our café and scaling back of our foodservice operation. We closed it during the first lockdown to increase our retail space and haven’t gone back since – it’s just worked. We still do takeaway coffee. Our event and corporate catering has changed, too. We’ve dropped the corporate side of things in response to a huge drop in demand, and in search of an easier life. To balance things out, we’ve got a lot more people

FINE FOOD DIGEST

We’re not out of it yet, so it’s difficult to say what the true impact of COVID will have been, but a lot has changed.

The fine food world has had to recognise that it can no longer do business in the way that it used to. Overnight, all those plans that people had been talking about carrying out “one day", got turned into “right now”. A lot of those businesses launched e-commerce operations and are now operating online.

Even over these last 12 months where restrictions have been slacker, those food ordering apps, online stores, and other new technologies have remained. A lot of businesses that pre-COVID would have claimed that this is not their way of operating have seen that they now have the facility to serve the customers who prefer the old style of more personal service, as well as a new customer who prefers technology and doesn’t require the same level of service.

It has made our sector think about how it is engaging with its customers. They have had to find new and innovative ways, and while some have gone back to more face-to-face interaction, that tech remains and provides an invaluable service to those businesses by

allowing them to still offer that additional service.

Consumers are changing, and the buzzword is convenience. People who were in their 20s are now in their 30s and they have grown up with online shopping and convenience retailing and the reality is that if it doesn’t suit the consumer these days, they’re going to shop elsewhere.

HAS HAD THE FINE FOOD WORLD TO RECOGNISE THAT IT CAN NO

LONGER DO BUSINESS IN THE WAY THAT IT USED TO

working from home in the area, so we’ve seen an increase in people picking up a nice lunch from us.

As a result of these changes, we’ve now got a smaller workforce, but profit has not been impacted – we must be running a tighter ship.

ALLER WE’VE NOW GOT A SM WORKFORCE, BUT PROFIT HAS

NOT BEEN IMPACTED – WE MUST BE IP. RUNNING A TIGHTER SH

SIMON MACDONNELL MD, Papadeli

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 41

ONE FAMILY. ONE FARM. ONE HERD AWARD-WINNING DAIRY ICE CREAMS WITH PROVENANCE A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO ANY FARM SHOP OR DELI

made on our

british family farm

not in any

major multiple

FREE FROM ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURS & COLOURS

pos & freezers available

SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS

CONTACT OUR TEAM FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.MARSHFIELD-ICECREAM.CO.UK/TRADE-ENQUIRY

A confectionery ~ range to perfectly suit all ~ occasions From the fastest selling ~ chocolate truffle brand ~ in the UK Delivering ~ incremental sales ~ and high margins www.curiouslymoreish.com www.montybojangles.com info@montybojangles.com 42 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

COVID'S LEGACY This period has no doubt shaken everything up and caused much disruption. What we manage to create as we emerge is up to us, collectively. As speciality cheesemakers – with our strong connection to the land, animals, and agriculture, as well as to the kitchen table, hospitality, and retail – we have an important role to play.

KEN THIS PERIOD HAS SHA

EVERYTHING UP AND CAUSED MUCH DISRUPTION. WHAT WE MANAGE TO E IS CREATE AS WE EMERG Y. UP TO US, COLLECTIVEL

PAUL HARGREAVES,

CEO, Cotswold Fayre

FINE FOOD DIGEST

There has been a resurgence in the interest and commitment to speciality cheese from the public. A connection has been forged to great quality cheese and to those who produce it with passion and commitment, and there is an increased desire to support and appreciate locally made produce.

The legacy for us here at Shepherds Purse is a renewed vision and sharper focus on who we are, and the ways in which we can have a positive impact on all our stakeholders via our core purpose of making and distributing world-class artisan cheese.

Health, great taste, and connection have been defined in our core values for a long time, and we’re working on ways to ensure that we express them in everything we do.

I see “connection” as being of increasing importance. Food has such an important role in our traditions and rituals and in bringing people together, and cheese is such a beautiful reflection of our relationship with the land, and animals, nature’s cycles, and our own health.

We speciality cheesemakers and artisan producers have an important role to play in demonstrating how that relationship and interconnectedness is to be honoured, treasured and valued going forward.

Some obvious marks have been left on the industry, like the move towards e-commerce and the growth of speciality food and independent retail. However, there is no doubt that sustainability has become much more than a rather vague buzzword over the past couple of years, and if retailers and producers aren’t evidently demonstrating what they are doing to protect our planet, then they will see consumers vote with their feet.

I think the time to reflect and enjoy increased time in nature that many had at the beginning of the pandemic has bought this change on, and it is undoubtedly here to stay.

The public has been, and is still, ahead of retailers on sustainability, but I don’t think this trend in our industry is wholly driven by consumers. Retailers like the ones we deal with know that they need to reduce carbon in their supply chains and increase their sustainability. So, anything that allows them to do that ticks a box.

We are now being asked more about what plastic-free lines we sell, and next year we’re going to be highlighting those in our catalogues because we’re getting asked these questions more and more.

It is likely that carbon labelling will become increasingly important. Some manufacturers are already declaring carbon neutrality and consumers will start to want to know more about the carbon impact of the

CAROLINE BELL,

MD, Shepherds Purse

AT THERE IS NO DOUBT TH

SUSTAINABILITY HAS BECOME MUCH MORE THAN A RATHER VAGUE BUZZWORD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS

food they are eating.

In a recent survey of the new suppliers that have joined us this year, 57% of them said they were attracted to working with Cotswold Fayre because of our B Corp credentials. The certification has benefited us commercially in the last year or so, whereas that wasn’t something we’d seen going back.

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 43

COVID'S LEGACY

EDWARD BERRY,

Owner, The Flying Fork food and retail consultancy

COVID has transformed the shop and the size of the business in a positive way, and that looks set to continue from what we’ve seen from our figures. It seems to have balanced out at about double the trade we were at before and it looks stable.

We opened our restaurant last July, and we also did a rebrand in March 2020, so we’ll never quite know the impact of those measures, but COVID has been kind to the business in many ways.

We would have never started doing deliveries, but the chaos of the first lockdown forced us into it, and we’re still doing them now. We were doing around 100 deliveries a day, Monday to Friday, in the first lockdown with two vans on the road. Now we’re doing a maximum of 10 per day, but we also deliver eggs locally – we were doing that anyway to cafés and restaurants – so it ties in with that delivery day. The costs were already there, we’re just making better use of the van.

We’ve been doing everything we can to get back to normal inside the shop and restaurant – we’ve only ever operated the café under COVID so it’s going to be great to run the restaurant now without any restrictions.

We’ve made a success of it during COVID, so hopefully, that bears well for the future.

In some ways, it’s been enjoyable to have to meet these challenges, but it will be nice to have fewer of them.

44 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

The big winner of the past two years has to be the farm shop. The failure of the supermarket supply chains gave an opportunity to the more nimble farm shops, who not only had stock but thought of interesting ways to engage with a new customer.

Those that found these people, showed they had stock and did it in a way that wasn’t going to scare them, offered a nice discovery for lots of people. Consumers found that these shops weren’t full of weird and wonderful overpriced stuff, they’re full of stuff that you really do want to buy, is tasty and isn’t eye-wateringly more than they would usually pay.

The biggest challenge of the legacy is holding on to these new customers. As predicted the multiples have come back fighting, but, as ever, most of the advertising and promotions are based on price, and our world is much more about everything else – flavour, provenance, sourcing, seasonality, health. We still have the advantage that these are nice places to shop, and there’s a real person on the till or the butcher’s counter. People enjoyed being exposed to experiential retail again.

Supporting local has become a big trend during the pandemic, and you shouldn’t shy away from exploiting that. The trend

grew because these people were there, they had stock when the multiples didn’t, they were prepared to be flexible, and they were prepared to deliver. So, we shouldn’t shy away from guilt-tripping people into supporting independent food businesses.

Because, if we don’t, they will disappear.

AY FROM WE SHOULDN’T SHY AW GUILT-TRIPPING PEOPLE INTO

SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT FOOD USE, IF WE A C E B .

S E S S E IN S BU DON’T, THEY WILL DISAPPEAR

IN SOME WAYS IT’S BEEN MEET THESE ENJOYABLE TO HAVE TO

CHALLENGES, BUT IT WILL BE NI CE EM TO HAVE FEWER OF TH

EMMA MOSEY,

Co-owner, Minskip Farm Shop

FINE FOOD DIGEST

FF Ad Food Digest 230x315_Layout 1 15/11/2021 09:45 Page 1

TRY OUR Delicious, Loose frozen food Your customers can pick exactly what they want but not more than they need, giving choice and flexibility and, because we’re frozen, we help you and your customers reduce food waste.

With our freshly frozen loose fruit and vegetables, pick-your-own pastries, show stopping centre pieces and delicious desserts, it’s simple!

as much as you want, the choice is yours

bring your own or use ours

Get in touch: e: enquiries@field-fare.com t: 01732 864 344 FINE FOOD DIGEST

you’re in control

Whenever you’re ready

field-fare.com BEST BRANDS 2021-22 45

29 Gr

Taste a

rds wa

t ea

A BIG THANK YOU FROM THE PEPPERMINT PEOPLE

We’re proud to have been voted one of the top three chocolate brands by Fine Foods Digest readers. For 25 years we’ve been bringing the taste of the finest English peppermint to your shelves, from our family farm in Hampshire.

Find out more about our award-winning chocolates and teas at www.summerdown.com

46 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

A truly healthy crisp!

Low carb, low sugar, high fibre... yet uncompromisingly DELICIOUS.

Stoney Cross suits a very broad section of customer.

Winner of a Great Taste 2020 1-star info@8foods.co.uk www.8foods.co.uk @8foods

Even those that like a strong cheese will enjoy the subtle flavours and the smooth texture of this little cheese.

www.lyburncheese.co.uk 01794 399982

Importing Highest Quality Italian Products

Limoncello Panettone

“I have been dealing with Tenuta Marmorelle for over 5 years and have seen the company grow but still maintain the same high quality and ever increasing range of products accompanied by wonderful service.

A pleasure to deal with!!!”

Maria, owner of Mainsgill Farm Shop (Trade customer)

“The loveliest of pastas and the sauces are just divine. Will not buy anything else now.”

Mags Whyler (Private customer)

Winners of 6 Great Taste awards in 2021 – with a 3 star for our Limoncello Panettone

Call today 01635 744600 or visit our website

www.tenutamarmorelle.com

Directly from Italy, Stocked & Distributed in the United Kingdom FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 47

The HOME of NEVER ORDINARY

At Arden’s, our aim is to make life more delicious.

We are a family of foodies who love great food and have travelled the continent to bring you irresistible nibbles that will delight and satisfy your taste buds. our Mouth-wateringly moreish Savoury Selection. from All-Butter puff pastry twists to baked to perfection bites . always delicious and award-winning... now that’s what we call a tasty recipe!

All our products are made with passion in Italy, and they are best enjoyed as the Italians do – around a table with family and friends!

OUR PREMIUM SWEET BISCUITS RANGE IS A DELIGHT FOR EVERY SWEET LOVER. FROM BUTTERY SWEETHEARTS TO NUTTY NIBBLES .

FINE FOOD DIGEST

w.aRES.c.k

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 47

Y a G N I WINN W S

AWARD WINNERS

To ensure you fill your shelves with the best of the best in 2022, Fine Food Digest has brought together a host of this year’s national and regional award winners. We kick things off with the Great Taste 2021 Golden Forks...

Supreme Champion & Great Taste Golden Fork from Scotland Jaffy’s Mallaig Kippers J. Lawrie & Sons www.jaffys.co.uk

STE GREAT TA

www.greattaste.co.uk

Great Taste Golden Fork from London Ridiculous No55 Lobster & Crab Butter Sublime Butter sublimebutter.com

Great Taste Golden Fork from the South East Sussex Dry Gin Slake Spirits www.slakespirits. com

Great Taste Golden Fork from East Anglia Temple Farm Bronze Free Range Turkey S J Frederick & Sons www.sjfrederick.co.uk FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 49

AWARD WINNERS Great Taste Golden Fork from the Midlands Willy’s Live Apple Balsamic Vinegar Willy’s www.willysacv.com

Great Taste Golden Fork from the North of England

Apple Crumble Edition Three Wrens Gin www.threewrensgin.com

Great Taste Golden Fork from Northern Ireland

Caramelised Hazelnut Ice Cream Morelli Ice Cream www.morellisices.com

Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales Hogget Shoulder Pembrokeshire Lamb www.pembrokeshirelamb.co.uk

Great Taste Golden Fork from Ireland

Louet Feisser Select Carlingford Oysters Carlingford Oyster Company www.carlingfordoystercompany.ie

Great Taste Golden Fork from the South West

Tropical Marmalade The Artisan Kitchen www.theartisankitchen. co.uk

Small Artisan Producer of the Year The Artisan Kitchen www.theartisankitchen. co.uk

Golden Fork for Best International Food and Drink Freeze-dried Green Kampot Pepper .pepper..field www.pepperfield.com

Great Taste Startisan of the Year

Charcuterie Product of the Year Chipotle Coppa Prices Spices www.pricesspices.com

Pistachio and Honey Sesame Butter Simsom www.simsom.co.uk

Nigel Barden Heritage Award

Stornoway Black Pudding Macleod & Macleod www.macleodandmacleod.co.uk 50 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

PROUD PRODUCERS OF THE FINEST SMOKED SCOTTISH SEAFOOD SINCE 1944

Our work is never hurried, our flavour never compromised.

JAFFY’S MALLAIG KIPPERS

JAFFY’S PEAT SMOKED SALMON

JAFFY’S MALLAIG KIPPERS ORDER ONLINE FOR HOME DELIVERY

Cocoa Bean, Damask Rose Damask Rose Buds & Lemon Buds, Verbena Lemon Verbena, Lavender & Greek Mountain Tea

JAFFY’S OAK SMOKED SALMON

www.jaffys.co.uk

Red Amaranth & Lemon Thyme

Kykeon (Traditional)

Kykeon (Modern) & Chamomile

Mountain Mint & Olive Leaf

Adopting the same meticulous approach reserved for tea and coffee, and applying it to herbal infusions, Nazani Tea was born.

Partner with the UK’s only luxury herbal brand based on transparency and ethical sourcing for the finest collection of caffeine-free infusions.

The Nazani Tea family is here to work alongside you to ensure your clientele or guests experience the most exclusive and memorable infusions either in or out of the home.

www.nazanitea.com • contact@nazanitea.com • FINE FOOD DIGEST

@nazanitea BEST BRANDS 2021-22 51

AWARDS 2018

WINNER

The Craft Drink Co is a ‘one-stop’ supplier of over 150 exceptional British craft drink brands including beers, ciders, English wine, spirits & liqueurs, mixers and soft drinks.

We specialise in supplying independent retailers and the on-trade, with a low minimum order, split cases on all wines and spirits, and excellent knowledge, customer service and retail support.

Visit craftdrink.co.uk for info on all our brands.

Nationwide delivery by pallet & courier

And by our vans here

Exceptional British Drinks. Excellent Service.

Visit craftdrink.co.uk

Call 01451 600800 for friendly advice

Follow us on

R FE F O er ER ord M t TO rs de S o CU OFF g c 121 n i W % s D1 NE 10 u FF

AWARD-WINNING COOKING SAUCES

MEALS MADE EASY info@seasonedpioneers.co.uk 0151 343 1122 www.seasonedpioneers.com

52 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

AWARD WINNERS

TASTE

OF THE

WEST

Champion Free From Product

Ketogenic Lasagne Majesty 7 Ltd t/a Eat West Country eatwestcountryfood.co.uk

tasteofthewest.co.uk

Champion Sweet Preserve Extra Raspberry Jam Clare's Preserves clarespreserves.co.uk

Champion Non-Alcoholic Hot Drink Gorgeous Grey Tea Exmoor Tea Company exmoortea.co.uk

Champion Pickle, Chutney or Relish Sweet Chilli Jam Just Like Mumma's justlikemummas.co.uk

Champion Meat & Poultry

28 Day Dry Aged Organic Beef Rib Eye Steaks Eversfield Organic eversfieldorganic.co.uk

Supreme Champion

Salted Honey Ice Cream Granny Gothards grannygothards.co.uk

Champion Cured Meat

Black Down Ham Somerset Charcuterie somersetcharcuterie.com

Champion Ice-Cream & Sorbet

Champion Sausage

Reserve Supreme Champion

Champion Sauce & Accompaniment

Salted Honey Artisan Ice Cream Granny Gothards grannygothards.co.uk Maple Cured Streaky Bacon Duchy Charcuterie duchycharcuterie.co.uk

Champion Savoury Bakery

Winfrith Wild White Sourdough Winfrith Bakery winfrithbakery.co.uk

Champion Sweet Bakery Oaties Just Like Mumma's justlikemummas.co.uk

Champion Confectionery Salt Caramel Fudge Baytree Candies baytreecandies.co.uk

Champion Chocolate Blackcurrant Split Hollychocs hollychocs.com

EER WORLD B AWARDS m worldbeerawards.co

World's Best IPA Wanderer Whalers Brewing Company whalers.com World’s Best Stout/Porter Stout Salto salto.rs World's Best Pale Beer Blonde Anosteke brasseriedupaysflamand.com

World's Best Dark Beer

Qualified Taxman Brewing Company taxmanbrewing.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

Pork & Black Pudding Sausage Lyme Regis Butchers lymeregisbutchers.co.uk

Salted Caramel Fudge Sauce Roly's Fudge rolysfudge.co.uk

Champion Dessert

Luxury Handmade Christmas Pudding Figgy's figgys.co.uk

Champion Bacon

Champion Non-Alcoholic Cold Drink

Cucumber, Lime & Mint Kombucha Curious Kombucha curiouskombucha.co.uk

Champion Dairy Product

Maple Cured Streaky Bacon Duchy Charcuterie duchycharcuterie. co.uk

Salted Cornish Butter Trewithen Dairy trewithendairy.co.uk

Champion Burger

Champion Wines/ Spirit/Liqueur

Fresh Westcountry Premier 6oz Beefburger RD Johns rdjohns.co.uk

Cornish Sea Salt Vodka Tan Dowr tandowr.co.uk

Champion Fish

Champion Cider

Champion Ready Meal & Light Eat

Champion Beer

Oak Smoked Breakfast Kipper Tregida Seafood tregida.com

Veggie Scotch Egg Surf n Turf Kitchen surfnturfkitchen.co.uk

Dabinett Organic Cider Dunkertons Organic Cider dunkertonscider.co.uk Plymouth Pale Ale Steel Brew Co steelbrew.co

Champion Egg

Very Large Free Range Eggs Little Hollacombe Farm freerangeeggs.shop

Champion Snack

The Mix Olives The Cornish Olive Stall thecornisholivestall.com

Champion Vegan Product

Vegan Chocolate and Pistachio Cake Truly Treats trulytreats.com

WORLD CIDER

Champion Cheese

Cornish Blue Cornish Cheese Co cornishcheese.co.uk

AWARDS

worldciderawar ds.com

World’s Best Keeved Cider Bio La Chouette lachouettecider.com

World's Best Speciality Cider 0.0% Apple Cider Smashed

World's Best Still Cider Farmhouse St Ives Cider drynks.co.uk

World's Best Sparkling Cider Iconique Brut Loïc Raison loicraison.fr

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 53

AWARD WINNERS

AWARDS WORLD CHEESE

TROPHY WINNERS gff.co.uk/wca

Best British Cheese

Gorwydd Caerphilly Trethowan’s Dairy trethowanbrothers.com

World Champion Olavidia Quesos y Besos quesosybesos.es

Best Le Gruyère Cheese

Le Gruyère AOP Premier Cru Cremo SA cremo.ch

Best Norwegian Cheese

Dovre Ysteri Norsk Camembert TINE tine.no

Best Female Cheesemaker Olavidia Quesos y Besos quesosybesos.es

Best South African Cheese Mature Gruberg Klein River Cheese kleinrivercheese.co.za

Best American Cheese

Queen Bee Porcini Beehive Cheese Company beehivecheese.com

Best SCA Member Cheese Best Italian Cheese

Gorgonzola Dolce DOP Caseificio Brusati Caseificio Brusati caseificiobrusati.it

Best Welsh Cheese

Trefaldwyn Blue Trefaldwyn Cheese trefaldwyn-cheese.com

Best Spanish Cheese Olavidia Quesos y Besos quesosybesos.es

Best Latin American Cheese Kabry Sierra Encantada sierra-encantada.com

Gorwydd Caerphilly Trethowan’s Dairy United Kingdom trethowanbrothers.com

Best Scottish Cheese

Arran Brie The Island Cheese Company arranscheeseshop.co.uk

Best Smoked Cheese

Queso Puro de Oveja Al Pimentón Ahumado con Toque Picante De La Huz Grimaldos Industrias Lacteas delahuzgourmet.com

Best Australian Cheese

Oak Blue Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese berryscreekcheese.com

BRITISH

SUPER GOLDS

Blue Stilton Half Cropwell Bishop Creamery cropwellbishopstilton.co.uk Trufflyn Goats Cheese Harvey & Brockless harveyandbrockless. co.uk Pitchfork Cheddar, Gorwydd Caerphilly Trethowan’s Dairy trethowanbrothers.com Blue Stilton Long Clawson Dairy clawson.co.uk

Best French Cheese Best Japanese Cheese Hisui Atelier de Fromage a-fromage.co.jp

Epoisses Berthaut Perrière Savencia Fromage & Dairy savencia-fromagedairy.com

Spenwood Village Maid Cheese villagemaidcheese.co.uk Harrogate Blue Shepherds Purse Cheeses shepherdspurse. co.uk Buffalo Blue Shepherds Purse Cheeses shepherdspurse.co.uk

Best New Cheese

Postel Reserve NV Fromunion - Kaasmakerij Passendale

Best Unpasteurised Cheese

Vorarlberger Bergkäse über 10 Monate Dorfsennerei Schlins-Röns dorfsennerei.at 54 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

The Ann-Marie Dyas Award for Best Artisan Cheese Baracska semi-hard cheese Csíz Sajtműhely Kft csizsajtmuhely.hu

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Silent Pool Gin Gifting Luxury English gin handcrafted in the Surrey Hills

Silent Pool Gin miniature G&T Pack

Gin in a Tin with coaster

Silent Pool Gin Presentation Gift Box

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin Presentation Gift Box

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin miniature G&T Pack

Silent Pool Distillers Small Batch Miniatures Gift Box

Silent Pool Distillers Small Batch Odyssey Box

@silentpoolgin

@silentpooldistillers

52 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

silentpooldistillers.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

MORE WINNERS

Our Longhorn Beef and Jalapeño & Dill WIN Great Taste Awards

Winners of 53 Great Taste Awards since 2007 across complete range

52 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

4735 Pipers Best Brands Advert ART.indd 1

FINE FOOD DIGEST

13/12/2021 16:33

AWARD WINNERS

WORLD’S N I A M E L DA ORIGINAL MARMALADE AWARDS

dalemain.com

Blas na h’Eireann irishfoodawards.com

Supreme Champion Wild About wildabout.ie

Best New Product

Raspberry Bramble Fruit Flavoured Whey Drink Tullahay Farm tullahayfarm.ie

Double Gold Savoury

Spicy Orange Marmalade Marmella Deli instagram.com/marmella.deli

Double Gold International Yuzu Marmalade Confiture Kajyu-Kobe kajyu-kobe.com

Best Artisan Producer

Temptation patisserie temptationpatisserie.ie

Rogha na Gaeltachta (Choice of the Irish) West of Dingle info@westofdingle.ie

Seafood Innovation

Double Gold Traditional

Dublin Bay Prawns with Garlic & Herb Butter Morgan’s Fine Fish morgansfinefish.com

Speyside Malt Whisky Marmalade Rose Cottage Country Kitchen rosecottagekitchen.co.uk

Best Start-up

Temptation patisserie temptationpatisserie.ie

KENT TASTE OF tasteAWARDS

ofkentawards.co.uk

Kent Food Product of the Year Scottish Smoked Salmon Tankerton Smokeshed instagram.com/ tankertonsmokeshed

Kent Ambient Product of the Year

Kent Beer of the Year Session Pale Ale Cellar Head Brewing Company cellarheadbrewing. com

Ketchup Smoké Brisket & Barrel brisketandbarrel.co.uk

M FOOD FREE FRO AWARDS freefromfoodawards.co.uk FINE FOOD DIGEST

Product of the Year

Sheese Smoked German Style Bute Island buteisland.com BEST BRANDS 2021-22 57

AWARD WINNERS

KSHIRE DELICIOUSLYOR

TASTE AWARDS

deliciouslyorkshire.co.uk

Best New Business

The Yorkshire Pasta Company yorkshirepasta.co.uk

Best Bakery

Apple & Blackberry Caramel Tart Shutishuti Patisserie shutishuti.co.uk

Best Beer

Best Sweet Preserve

Yorkshire Greens Pennine Brewing Co pennine-brewing.co.uk

Harewood Honey Harewood Food & Drink Project harewoodfoodanddrink.com

Best Free From

Charlie & Ivy’s Plant Based Mayonnaise Charlie & Ivy’s charlieandivys.co.uk

Best Ice Cream/Dairy Supreme Champion Product Yorkshire Pecorino Fiore Yorkshire Pecorino Cheese yorkshirepecorino.co.uk

Yorkshire Lemon Curd Ice Cream Yorvale yorvale.co.uk

Best Beverage

Common Grounds Barrel Aged Coffee Dark Woods Coffee darkwoodscoffee.co.uk

Best Spirit

Special Edition Fairfax Distillery Rum Fairfax Distillery fairfaxdistillery.co.uk

Best Confectionery Chocolate Box Ryeburn of Helmsley ryeburn.com

Best Pantry

Best Fish & Seafood

Smoked Mackerel The Yorkshire Smokehouse at Mackenzies mackenziesyorkshirefarmshop. co.uk

S LONDON SPIRIT

COMPETITION Dingle Distillery Fourth Single Pot Still Release The Dingle Distillery dingledistillery.ie

Spirit of the Year

BLAS CYMR U tastewales.com

Most Exciting New Product Welsh Kimchi Jones -Trust Your Gut jonestrustyourgut.co.uk

BRITISH PIE

Nutty Spelt Not So Sweet Granola Yockenthwaite Farm yockenthwaitefarm.co.uk

AWARDS

britishpieawards.co.u k

Supreme Champion

Meat and Potato Pie Bowring Butchers bowringbutchers.co.uk 58 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

Ramsbury Single Estate Vodka, Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Ltd

Runners-up

Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin Mt. Uncle Distillery mtuncle.com Rum Nation Guatemala XO Rum Nation International rumnation.com

Muyu Vetiver Gris De Kuyper Royal Distillers dekuyper.com Eau De Vie De Poire Williams Vrp 40% vol Distillerie Massenez massenez.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

Find six different varieties of savoury biscuits in our Cheeseboard Selection Box. www.stagbakeries.co.uk

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 59

Born in Italy. Made in Cornwall TiramisUGO

07918 427976

Fine Food Digest BEST BRANDS 21.pdf

4

16/07/2021

16:15

ciao@cornishitalian.com www.cornishitalian.com /tiramisugoofficial @UgoTiramis

/tiramisu.ugo/

UK’s No.1 Tiramisu & artisan ready meals. Call UGO now to place the order and USE CODE: WELCOME21SHOP for a 20% discount your first order.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

60 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BOLD BRANDING

P U G N I R A TE

S N O I T I TRAD

FFD explor es how new wave brand ing is being applied to traditional food & drin k – like beer, wine and coffee – to engage with the modern con sumer

By Nick B aines

Whether thro ugh vibrant colour, hand typefaces or -drawn disruptive m essaging, fo drink packa od & ging has take n a dynamic turn in recent new ye taking somet ars. With heritage brand hing of a bac ing kseat, a new of creative d wave irection has bee eye in the re tail and direc n catching the t-to-consum However, w er space. hile many in are arriving novative pro on the marke ducts t with excitin packaging an g d Millennial appeal – par in the free-fro ticularly m also being ap sector – a fresh approac h plied to exis ting categori is Illustrator N es. ick Dwyer is responsible arguably for something o when it com es to how bee f a revolution r is now mar His iconic la keted. bel designs for London’s Beavertown Brewery feat ure a nostalg theme, popul ic sci-fi ated with sp aceships an d ray FINE FOOD DIGEST

guns, to del more of a gen iver erational shift recognisable a unique and powerfully .

“Slightly old artistic vision. and producer er generations of consum “I studied ill ustration, so s are used to ers rules and pri what they se it’s hard for nciples of bra I don’t have the them to dem e an d nding and d agnetize,” he says Dwyer, “There’s noth esign,” who ditched says. ing wrong w the traditiona beer label ap ith that, and do some gre l you can proach in fa at marketing vour of com pieces of art that’s relativ risk there. B plete that wrap ar ely low ut th er e’ s a o generation co und the can. move catap through that ulte This ming ’s had enoug then-burgeo d the brewery’s status in h of that.”

A s p ro ducers look ning craft bee the towards new r scene, with products lik it’s clear that markets, e Gamma R core newer breed ay and Neck prominent o s of consum ha vi ng O to il now be consider n shelves ac er are ed. W ross the coun where label “It meant th try. ling is curren ine is a category at we didn’t tly experienc advertising, need to do an substantial in and hardly an ing y novation. “W y marketing had these b ine has for a tim e b ee , n as we right labels st long ig m at is ed as being that w based on tryi pretentious,” elitist and ng to sell bee eren’t actually sa ys Se rg io r at all,” he sa Verrillo, co-f of Battersea Dwyer adds ounder ys. ’s Blackbook that the succ Beavertown’ Winery. “I th modern win ink s aesthetic ap ess of e has helped proach is no to a wholesa bre barriers, and td le change in part of that jo ak down those consumer ha own urney is youn w in e en th bits, usiasts looki ger ng for thing appeal to th s that em.”

But Verillo, w hose output Y N A O Disco Sauvig D includes Slo TO D EE N ’T no N w n ID D Blanc and Tr E W Pinot Noir, sa ys that excitin ouble Every Day g needs to be ADVERTISING, AND HARDLY ANY MARKETING, balanced with branding still other aspec “Look, it’s gre ts. at to have th being broug e consumer ht in by aesthetic to be backe s, but it need AS WE HAD THESE BRIGHT LABELS THAT d up by qua s lity,” he says need that as . “You so G ci IN at Y io TR n to N be p we’re an Eng Y BASED O lish producer ositive. For us, WEREN’T ACTUALL first, and we need to have really the liquid in th ch e bottle be th am pion.”

TO SELL BEER AT ALL e When looking at the rebellious Brewery approach Beavertown Nick Dwyer, BEST BRANDS 2021-22 61

BOLD BRANDING

BRIGHT, I WANTED IT TO BE ILLUSTRATION-LED AND HAVE A BIT

ll right past.” ht thanks to people scro unique insig a s ha g, en ri O’B in advertisin background e iv ns te ex an n. d art directio tor,” branding an shelf disrup a e b OF A PUNK ETHOS. HENCE WE DON’T SHY to s ed ne Grind, ly al ho re W t “I arted Girls st e w n he and simple RING she says. “W brown bags f o t lo a AWAY FROM SWEA as there w . everywhere ted to black designs ry masculine, and I wan ON OUR PACKAGING. at ve l al ffe “It was k like co e e at didn’t loo e and th ff d o ng le C hi nd et io n ri m at do so ls Who G ght, illustr ir ri G b , e n b e ri to n’ ’B it Fi O we do t all. I wanted ethos. Hence w k ra un d p g.” a to f o sy it , it’s ea our packagin have a b nk branding swearing on the d d m o o an o fr st it s ay n 0 to food & dri ee aw ‘7 e ections betw movement of the shy bculture of th uo with tactics deeper conn The punk su q punk us al at in st g ri m so o al ea e s tr es the mains now, there’ t attitude of th ht ns ese respons ai ig R Th ag . s.

0 ed 8 early d be notic lity and an ua il ta eq ke r re vo late 70s and fo e ro g th p to fter in nds standin ing h hly sought-a a wave of bra which is further broaden are now hig fresh approac a ng ks ki e, o ic ta lo st y g B in , t. nd ed en ra nt b nm social inju l se fu enviro ng pre f what succes & drink is bei is d t o ke fo ar the scope o w m ho e to at th e proving th rind Coffee like. producers ar Girls Who G up t ey se as C en ri er Fi O’B iness partn with her bus lt on in Somerset usiness is bui b r 017. Thei omen w f o t en m LaLonde in 2 e empower th g eir in th en th ith streng ustry, w e coffee ind ale th m ut fe ho e th ug f thro e name o th ng ri e ea th b f l o ahead coffees al inently – even m ro p er uc prod rigin. brands that country of o g the rise of in ss at cu is d n Whe rien warns th bjective, O’B o l ra ed o m ey a nv have be co ges need to from ethical messa tinguish them is d to y rl ea cl d an lly carefu e thing, the crowd. ying the sam le, the sa ’s ne yo er “If ev r sustainab . “I charitable, o whether it’s mb,” she says nu it b u n get a consumer ca on social media that if yo say, nd to ha st ng fir know u’re tryi y on what yo av he o to in go

62 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

WINE HAS FOR A LONG TIME B EEN STIGMATISED AS BEING ELITIST AND PRETENTIOUS. I THINK ED BREAK MODERN WINE HAS HELP DOWN THOSE BARRIERS. Sergio Verr

illo, Blackbo

ok Winery

ach tional appro ore unconven ss m le a r tle fo lit y a ad ith re perhaps w ut b – g in to brand anarchy. k rewery.co.u beavertownb y.com er in blackbookw dcoffee.com girlswhogrin

FINE FOOD DIGEST

KALTBACH Creamy

KALTBACH Gouda

KALTBACH Le Gruyère AOP

The Kaltbach Cave Expertise: Our cheeses are aged in a 22-million year old sandstone cave in Switzerland where our cavemasters have been refining cheese for more than 60 years.

Natural Climate: Rainwater seeps into the layered rocks keeping the cave climate constant at the exact humidity and temperature required for aging cheese.

Trusted Brand: The Kaltbach brand gives consumers a trusted and recognisable family of Swiss cheeses to explore.

For more information on our Kaltbach range of cheese and where to find them go to www.emmi-kaltbach.com/international or email info.uk@emmi.com

60 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

La Bandiera Extra-Virgin Olive Oil What makes it so delicious?

JOY ON A PLATE For generations now, our family has been making a real commitment to taste and excellence, hoping to help you add a bit of magic to every mealtime.

Introducing this year’s 3-star award-winner Slow Braised Shortrib

Dipping into La Bandiera extra virgin, organic olive oil is one of life’s great pleasures. The golden colour of the oil is reminiscent of Tuscany and the summer light. The flavour is fruity, robust, well rounded and delicious with all dishes. For further information, please visit our website www.labandieraoliveoil.com or contact info@labandieraoliveoil.com

www.jameswhelanbutchers.com | Info@jwb.ie 64 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

FINE FOOD DIGEST

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 65

LOOKING FOR LOYAL CUSTOMERS? The unique taste of my cheese will transport your customers to beautiful Swiss landscapes with fresh grass, crystal water and typical chalets.

An experience that they will want to relive again and again. My cheese assures your customer loyalty!

More than 150 years of family-expertise in cheese-production: Affineur Walo has received more awards than Switzerland has mountains.

Exclusively distributed in UK by

The Fine Cheese Co. • BATH ENGLAND

FROM AMATEUR TO CHEESE WORLD CHAMPION

www.finecheese.co.uk 01225 424212

Walo von Mühlenen LTD • walo@affineurwalo.ch +41 79 217 54 11

MADE IN ITALY

ITALIAN DURUM WHEAT PASTA

ITALIAN GLUTEN FREE PASTA

THE UNMISTAKABLE GOODNESS OF GAROFALO PASTA FOR EVERYONE ITALIAN ORGANIC WHEAT PASTA

All shapes and ranges of Garofalo Pasta are stocked in the UK for immediate delivery

Contact the info@garofalouk.com Garofalo UK team: 01438 813444 / 07970 295806 66 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

ITALIAN WHOLE WHEAT PASTA

@pastagarofaloUK www.pasta-garofalo.com FINE FOOD DIGEST

MONTHLY

s r n N

Wi

e

MUST-STOCKS

All retailers have a list of lines that are crucial to their offer. Here’s a rundown of those rosters from the shops FFD profiled for Deli of the Month in 2021 SSSSSSSSSAS

MARCH

Oats (Infinity) Basmati rice (Infinity) Hodmedods British Quinoa Red lentils (Infinity) Chickpeas (Infinity) Dried mango (Infinity) Ombar chocolate buttons Peanut butter (Infinity) Maple syrup Rerooted plantmilk

Earth. Food. Love. The Zero Waste Shop Totnes, Devon .uk thezerowasteshop.co

FILL laundry & household products Unpackaged zero-waste refills Purity Beers Neals Yard Dairy cheese Fresh orange juice from our Zumex machine Tubby Toms Hot Sauce The Slabb chocolate bars Cacklebean Eggs Blackfords Limoncello Diforti cannoli

APRIL The Farm Stratford Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire m o hop.c tfords a r t s rm thefa

MAY Barney’s Delicatessen Brighton, East Sussex barneysd eli.co.uk

Seven Sisters (High Weald Dairy) Sussex Brie with Truffles (Allsop & Walker) Brighton Blue Sussex Gourmand Venison Bresaola Barney’s House Chutney Rowdy & Fancy chocolate bars Bartie’s Chilli & Garlic Chutney Shamembert (Honestly Tasty) Haynes Candied Jalapeños Dr Trouble hot sauces The Woolf’s Kitchen Tamarind Ketchup Rebel Charcuterie salamis Weald Smokery Sussex Ham Horsham Gingerbread Purple Pod Seaweed Oil JORGE Pesto EVOO JORGE Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar Whole truffles JORGE fresh Nocellara olives Colston Bassett Stilton Handmade Seville marmalades JORGE ceramics Myers Lincolnshire plum loaf Handmade pasta from Puglia JORGE Moroccan Hummus ’Nduja JORGE Smoked Salmon Pâté Tuscan Ragu Sauce JORGE Lime EVOO

FINE FOOD DIGEST

JUNE Jorge Artisan Foods Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire uk .co. ods o f n tisa e-ar jorg

BEST BRANDS 2021-22 67

Extraordinary Nuts Specialists at baking, seasoning and caramelising the best grades of nuts WINNERS OF TEN GREAT TASTE AWARDS

“A beautiful leaf, orange-tipped. The infusion is coppery, bright, gently malty, markedly astringent, but takes milk well to produce a smooth, rounded liquor with good structure. An excellent example.”

Great Taste 2021 judges.

www.cambrookfoods.co.uk | Tel: 01264 319980

sales@teafields.co.uk | www.teafields.co.uk /Teafields | @teafields WWW.GINMAYOGINCHUP.COM

68 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

MUST-STOCKS Kendal Creamy cheese Extensive range of fresh tomatoes Cumberland Farmhouse (Thornby Andreas

by Campo Lisio Olive Oil –Moor) Primofiore Cartmel Village Shop Sticky Toffee Pudding Pastificio Dei Campi Pasta Oven Bakery organic flour I Side Sapori di Corbara jarred tomatoes Lakeland Brewhouse Damson Beer English Asparagus Kin Vodka Toffee + Vodka Avocados Hawkshead Relish Westmorland Andreas

by Campo Lisio Olive OilChutney - Delicato Hodmedod canned pulses Mangoes Herb Fed Poultry free range chicken French Peaches Higginson's of Grange Cumberland sausage Prosciutto Arrosto

by Cypressi in Chianti Organic vegetables grown on site French Tulameen Raspberries Low Sizergh Barn pies French Blueberries Low Sizergh Barn frozen readyOil meals Andreas

by Campo Lisio Olive - Peperoncino

JULY Andreas of Chelsea Green Chelsea, London .uk sveg.co andrea

Maiden Castle dry-aged beef sirloin Watercress sausages Dry-cured smoked bacon Creedy Carver chickens Local leg of lamb Ford Farm Costal Cheddar Traditional sausage rolls Honey Roast ham Dorset Blue Vinny cheese Sliced smoked duck breast Local organic eggs Evershot Bakery bread Fresh fruit & vegetables Local watercress Local honey

lowsizerghbarn.co.uk

DECEMBER

Gillions of Crosby Crosby, Liverpool om gillionsofcrosby.c

FINE FOOD DIGEST

Brace of Butchers Poundbury, Dorset braceofbutchers.co.uk

Kendal Creamy cheese Cumberland Farmhouse (Thornby Moor) Cartmel Village Shop Sticky Toffee Pudding Side Oven Bakery organic flour Lakeland Brewhouse Damson Beer Kin Vodka Toffee + Vodka Hawkshead Relish Westmorland Chutney Hodmedod canned pulses Herb Fed Poultry free range chicken Higginson's of Grange Cumberland sausage Organic vegetables grown on site Low Sizergh Barn pies Low Sizergh Barn frozen ready meals

SEPTEMBE R-OCTOBE R Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop Kendal, Cumbria

Landue sirloin steaks reared on the farm Nippers fresh Cornish fish Coombeshead bakery sourdough Hugo’s Cornish Granola Hugo’s Cornish Muesli Cornish Chilli co.

Jellyfish Gin Jacob Sheep Skins – from our own flock Made by Ma natural Cornish skincare Atlantic Brewery Azores Pale Ale

AUGUST

NOVEMBER Tre, Pol & Pen Launceston, Cornwall o.uk ndpen.c trepola

Border Biscuits Dark Chocolate Gingers Mrs Darlington’s Lemon Curd Duskin Pure English Apple Juice Tiptree Strawberry Jam Gillions of Crosby honey Gillions of Crosby traditional pork sausages Gillions of Crosby lasagne Gillions of Crosby scouse Lancashire Crisps (Fiddlers) Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses Blacksticks Blue Clotton Hall Fresh Luxury Custard BEST BRANDS 2021-22 69

Rennet & Rind is an award-winning cheesemonger and supplier.

We select and grade outstanding artisan cheese, made by the best British cheesemakers, and then lovingly aged in our maturing rooms and delivered to the finest cheese counters in the country.

BESPOKE PROFILES | BATCH SELECTION | FRESHLY CUT FROM OUR MATURING ROOMS | WHOLESALE & RETAIL

www.rennetandrind.co.uk | @rennetandrind | 01480 831 112 ORGANIC - VEGAN - GLUTEN FREE

REDFERN’S TORTILLA CHIPS

Redfern’s Ancient Grain tortilla chips begin with a unique wholegrain cereal blend base comprised of rice, corn, amaranth, quinoa and millet. High in fibre, very low in sugar and saturated fat, GM-free certified this is a nutritionally powerful “no nasties” alternative that tastes great too.

www.redfernsorganic.com // sales@organico.co.uk // 01189 238760 70 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

CARBON BALANCED PRINT

Looking for fast-turnaround printed packaging?

Enjoy 3-week delivery on our Carbon-Balanced printed packaging

Sleeves – Boxes – Wallets Carbon Balanced Printed Packaging Specialists for Lower Runs (1,000–300,000)

Get in touch to find out more 01626 368986 | hello@newtonprint.co.uk www.newtonprint.co.uk/packaging

70 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

trio to a savoury delight!

We also have our new McCoo range available.

To find out more, contact Sarah Gray’s Direct – info@ sarahgrays.co.uk or order through our wholesaler The Cress Co 0845 643 1330.

MADE BY ME ON OUR ANGUS FARM

Available from Sarah Gray’s Direct info@sarahgrays.co.uk or through our wholesaler The Cress Co 0845 643 1330

RASPBERRY JAM “A lovely set and a deep pink colour.

An absolute blast of raspberries hits the nose and then explodes on the tongue. Lots of seeds add texture and are perfectly distributed within the jam, which we find irresistible. We felt we could not have got any closer to the raspberries if we had rolled in the patch ourselves.”

A Great Taste Judge

CHILLI JAM “Vibrant, sticky chilli jam with aroma from both the peppers and chillis. The sweetness of roasted peppers matches the spicy warmth of chillis.

Well judged and well made.”

A Great Taste Judge

Proud to have been nominated for the Golden Fork from Scotland

FIND OUT MORE www

72 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

sarahgrays.co.uk

/sarahgrays.co.uk

@sarah_grays

FINE FOOD DIGEST

E W T A H W A B I T OF It’s become an annual Best Brands tradition for the FFD editorial team to step out from behind the keyboards and reveal their inner foodies, by sharing their own personal favourites of the year

e i Lk D

STAFF PICKS

LYNDA SEARBY

TOM DALE

Features writer

Assistant editor

GHERKIN RELISH

SACHERTORTE GELATO

HALEN MÔN

HOUSE OF GELATO

When I first tried this relish at home we demolished nearly half the bottle. That’s how much of a hit it was! The soft, yielding gherkins – enhanced with just the right amount of dill – made me realise this relish from Anglesey Sea Salt maker Halen Môn is the burger ingredient that has eluded me all these years. It gives you the essence of what makes a certain fast-food chain’s hamburgers taste so good – but without the conscience. You could say, I’m loving it. halenmon.com

Inspired by the classic Viennese cake, this frozen version comprises a chocolate gelato base rippled with dark chocolate fondant and apricot preserve. It’s a great idea and has been very well executed – all the flavours work well together, with the fruity apricot preserve cutting through the richness of the chocolate gelato and fondant. Decadent and refined, this is a brilliant product as exemplified by the 3-star award it picked up in this year’s Great Taste. houseofgelato.co.uk

ELAKA M A L U G MADAM CHANG’S I could’ve picked any of Madam Chang’s kayas – curd-like Malaysian coconut preserves, but I opted for the caramel-hued Gula Melaka, made with sugar derived from coconut flower nectar.

Super smooth and rich, the sweetness stays on the right side of cloying, and it is a surprisingly versatile product. It’s great spread lavishly on buttered toast, but I’ve found it’s pretty incredible paired with any dessert that calls for a bit of added caramel sweetness. Dolloped on an apple pie or swirled on the top of a vanilla cheesecake are two that spring to mind. madamchangs.co.uk

A product with a great story that also tastes incredible has the makings of something truly special – and Capreolus’ New Forest Pannage Ham is just that.

Made from the legs of rare-breed British lop pigs that have feasted on the New Forest’s annual glut of acorns, this air-dried ham is an alternative to Jamón de Bellota, but with an extra layer of richness from the English acorns – Quercus robor, not the Mediterranean Quercus ilex – and gorgeous, melt-in-the-mouth fat.

For me, it’s such an impressive product because it reflects its terroir and the charcutier’s skill beautifully. capreolusfinefoods.co.uk

E HAM G A N N A P EST CAPREOLUS NEW FOR FINE FOOD DIGEST

KOLD SAUCE ORIGINALE C KOLD SAU

This bright red, Americaninspired, fermented hot pepper sauce is visually striking – both the product itself and the branding – and taste bud smacking. The verging-on-fluorescent colour had me searching for artificial nasties, but there are none. And just as impressive is the complex flavour they have achieved with a relatively simple list of ingredients.

Bright, floral heat is tempered with an umami sweetness and gentle spiced notes, making what is now unquestionably my favourite hot sauce.

Simple, delicious, spicy perfection. koldsauce.com BEST BRANDS 2021-22 73

Delighted to have been a nominee for the Great Taste Golden Fork from the South East

Our award-winning flour is produced from the finest ancient grains which are sustainably grown in the beautiful British countryside.

Our entire range carry the highly sought after Great Taste 2 and 3 star awards, in recognition of outstanding quality and flavour.

Available in 1kg and 20kg bags. Minimum order 2 boxes of 10 × 1 kg bags. No delivery charges.

Call or email today for a trade price list Sustainably farmed

BRC certified products

High in protein & fibre

Competitive & stable pricing

01740 629 529 | info@craggsandco.co.uk | www.craggsandco.co.uk 74 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

FINE FOOD DIGEST

STAFF PICKS

MICHAEL LANE Editor

OAT CHEESE G D E T A IN R A M Y MEREDITH DAIR THE FIN E CHEESE CO.

When it comes to sourcing, The Fine Cheese Co. has a very long history of unearthing gems. On paper, a jarred goats’ cheese that’s come all the way from Australia might not appeal but the minute you see this product in the flesh, your curiosity levels should start rising.

Out of the jar, this cheese is soft and dense and the natural goats’ milk notes are elevated by a marinade of garlic, thyme, peppercorns and the olive oil it is suspended in.

Of course, it’s got plenty of potential in salads or mixed through dishes but it is savoury and interesting enough in its own right that its works well on crackers or crusty bread. finecheese.co.uk

T PEPPER GREEN O P M A K D IE R -D E FREEZ .PEPPER..FIELD

PATRICK MCGUIGAN Cheese writer

ST HELENA ST JUDE CHEESE Loosely based on St Nectaire, with a fabulous bulgy texture beneath its mottled rind, St Helena is a collaboration between cheesemakers Blake Bowden and Julie Cheyney.

They use the same raw milk from Montbeliarde cows that goes into Baron Bigod to make a cheese that is full of warm milky flavours and earthy notes from the rind. Try it with medium cider and a handful of nuts. Melts like a dream, too. stjudecheese.com

Decent seasoning can make such a difference to home cooking and this ingredient is a real cheat code for lifting meals in your own kitchen. Cambodia has been recognised for some time as one of the world’s top producers of pepper, so it’s little wonder that several of the country’s Kampot varieties have won Great Taste 3-star awards via various suppliers, just like this one. .pepper..field’s freeze-drying process renders a pepper that’s easy to use in a pestle and mortar, and its fragrant, complex flavour is enhanced further by the touch of salt they add during preparation. So far, I’ve used it with great success in pasta and seafood dishes. kampot.co.uk

OTLE CONCHITA’S CHIP

LADY GREY

EESE ST JUDE CH

CONCHITA’S CHIPOTLE

instagram.co

m/thebeakbr ewery

Anyone that’s read this section of Best Brands before, will know that you’re guaranteed to hear from me about beer (see below) and some kind of hot sauce.

Well, this year’s selection in the latter category is not what I would call hot but it is incredibly flavoursome. Chipotle condiments and their inherent smokiness can often feel a tad synthetic or overdone.

This is not the case here.

Conchita’s recipe has a very natural, non-uniform texture (whole chillies float around with pieces of other vegetables) and it has a balance of sweetness, sharpness and smokiness that compelled me to take spoonfuls from the jar in between adding it liberally to sandwiches. conchitaschipotle.com

FINE FOOD DIGEST

AMBLE IPA

Cumbrian cheesemakers Martin Gott and Nicola Robinson have developed a range of new goats’ cheeses after buying Innes Cheese’s herd when the company closed down during the pandemic. Lady Grey is one of the best. An unusual ashcoated, semi-soft cheese, it has a grassy flavour when young, becoming sweeter and more mushroomy as it matures. stjamescheese.co.uk

WERY BEAK BRE

This Lewes-based operation is a relatively new addition to the UK’s brilliant craft beer scene but it is already turning heads, including mine. I saw a photo of Amble on social media and the look of this beer in the glass was enough for me to place an order. Every beer I tried was excellent, but this 6.5% IPA has texture (it really does live up to its “pillowy” billing) and tons of flavour thanks to the use of Enigma and Mosaic hops. Bonus points for the branding, which is jazzy without being busy. beakbrewery.com BEST BRANDS 2021-22 75

A BIG

THANK YOU RA

NDS

2

0

B

BEST

e re ade rs o f d dig est

0

y th

foo

202

fine

17-

N Dist o1 ribu as v tor ote db

TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS & SUPPLIERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2021 WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN IN 2022 FROM ALL AT CRESSCO D E L I V E R I N G F I N E F O O D, A L W A Y S

Tel: 0345 307 3454

74 BEST BRANDS 2021-22

www.thecressco.co.uk

@thecressco

FINE FOOD DIGEST