Food & Drink Matters Issue 164

Cocoa Libre

We are Cocoa Libre, a vegan and free from chocolate company based in North Somerset. Our gorgeous handmade chocolates are free from dairy, nuts, peanuts, and gluten and are suitable for vegans and coeliacs.

Our mission is to produce exciting, delicious chocolates that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of your health, lifestyle choices or beliefs. In short, we believe eating chocolate should be an inclusive experience enjoyed by all.

Our products are made with rice milk, a smooth and creamy alternative to cow's milk that means our chocolate doesn't sacrifice on taste. We sell a vast product range

from chunky and indulgent slabs, conventional chocolate bars to seasonal items like easter eggs and advent calendars.

Every occasion can be covered by us as we also offer corporate gifting and have a lovely wedding favour range too.

Our gift boxes are one of our bestselling lines with Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter coming up why not try one? Chocolate is always a great way to show people you care, especially luxury chocolate that everyone can enjoy.

T 01934 832958 info@cocoalibre.co.uk www.cocoalibre.co.uk

Buck and Birch - award winning producers of craft Scottish spirits, liqueurs, cocktails and wilderness dining experiences

Smashing the mould of ordinary, Buck and Birch are committed to creating ‘genuine expressions of the Scottish landscape in liquid form’, taking all the flavours from their adventures and surroundings in the wild. Since 2016, both Tom and Rupert have been creating drinks to suit a wide range of audiences from cocktail drinkers, to pleasure seekers and fancy tipple users.

The wild flavours available range from BIRCH, a wild botanical spirit harnessing the refreshing taste of the birch tree (think B&T not G&T), to their Flavour First Seasoned with Spirit series of wild liqueurs, championing the fantastic native flavours hidden in our landscape. You will find the entire range across a number of online stockists but also from their beautiful shop and tasting room in the middle of Macmerry Industrial estate just 14 miles east of Edinburgh city centre.

The second arm to the fine dining experiences when you can expect to be greeted and served by Head chef Rupert Waites and creative partner Tom Chisholm.

Throughout the year, Buck and Birch partner with exclusive wine and spirits brands across Scotland to host a fully immersive evening of wild food and drink. Guests are taken on a journey of wild flavour exploration through their

unique multi course tasting menus, showcasing the very best from the seashores, forests, fields and hedgerows of Scotland. Each menu also includes a unique drinks flight showcasing their unique spirits along with a carefully curated wine and soft drinks list to perfectly compliment the dishes on offer. Private events catered for on request.

If you’re interested, see below.

T 01875 444445

www.instagram.com/ buckandbirch/?hl=en www.facebook.com/BuckandBirch www.buckandbirch.com

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First Vegan Toad in the hole hits Asda shelves!

Today marks the launch of the first vegan toad in the hole, exclusive to Asda!

The UK’s leading chilled Yorkshire pudding manufacturer, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Company, has brought an ingenious twist on the quintessentially British centrepiece, just in time for Veganuary.

From oven to plate in only 12 minutes, the easy-toprepare Vegan Toad in the Hole is perfect for those looking to cut down on meat consumption, without sacrificing on taste. Containing two Lincolnshire-style meat free sausages, baked in a light, crisp batter, it’s set to be the star of the plate for Veganuary and beyond.

Bill Hows on, Managing Director of The Real Yorkshire Pudding Company, said the innovation push formed part of the company’s “ambitious plans” to ramp up the accessibility of its premium products.

“We’ve always wanted an inclusive range so those looking to reduce meat consumption don’t have to miss out. There’s been a lot of late nights and love put in to make this recipe perfect”

“With flexitarianism on the rise, we want to keep making products relevant to today’s people. Being first to market with a vegan toad in the hole allows us to put our modern twist on what’s already a traditional British classic”, Bill added.

The new product launches on 3rd January in over 300 stores and on online.

Food Safety – your responsibility as a food business owner or professional

The Institute of Food Science Technology (IFST) - the UK’s leading membership body for food technical professionals has launched a new IFST Food Safety Knowledge Hub to help consumers, food businesses and educators to consolidate advice, regulations and practical guidance on the topic of food safety.

Every day we are reminded of the importance of food safety within the food supply chain. The number of product recalls by the Food Standards Agency has increased over the last twelve months and are highly costly for the industry. Notifications published in 2021/22 rose to 150 from 136 in the previous period. This included 84 allergy alerts and 66 product recall information notices.

Food safety is the responsibility of everyone within a food business including directors. IFST has published a ‘Food Safety Governance Guide For Directors’ outlining the risks and providing tools to manage these risks. Both these resources can be found free online at www. ifst.org/resources-policy and provide reliable, up-todate resources for all those needing trusted scientifically evidence-based information. IFST’s annual conference will be in Cardiff this year - entitled ‘Taming the Perfect Storm - The Power of Food Science and Technology’ non-members are very welcome. Early bird bookings are available until 24 February.

Deborah Kendale, Business Development Director Institute of Food Science & Technology

Meet and interact with other IFST members within IFST Community www.ifst.org

VOG Products submits first sustainability report

Sustainability has been firmly embedded in the DNA of VOG Products since it was founded in 1967. “Our founders’ desire and goal was to give every apple a value – regardless of whether it was too small, too big or didn’t have enough colour – according to the principle: every apple is a good apple,” said Christoph Tappeiner, CEO of VOG Products.

For VOG Products, sustainability is comprehensive: it includes social, ecological and economic aspects. VOG Products’ sustainability strategy is based on six key themes: water, energy and climate protection, health and occupational safety, regional added value, healthy products and innovation. The management and the 210 employees are working hard at every level to achieve their ambitious goals.

Probably the key environmental measure implemented in the 2022/23 financial year is the exhaust vapour compression and reuse project: in addition to saving steam, the performance required of the cooling tower is also reduced, as are CO2 emissions.

The cooling water has already been optimised: VOG Products has calculated a savings potential of 700,000 cubic metres by using water twice as cooling and transport water. VOG Products has also achieved CO2 neutrality for Scope 2 since green energy solely from hydropower is being purchased in the electricity sector.

To read the report in full visit: https://www.vog-products.it/images/pdf/ Nachhaltigkeitsbericht_EN.pdf

Editor Recommends

CardsSafe – Helps to Increase Customer Spending

The CardsSafe system is designed to securely retain customer bank cards while the cardholder runs a tab. As a result, staff can securely keep customers’ cards while they enjoy the facilities, allowing the team to up-sell onsite.

The CardsSafe units are wireless, which means they can sit discreetly behind the bar or POS. In addition, the system does not capture data, so it never breaches GDPR.

Major Brands Trust CardsSafe

Over 5000 venues use CardsSafe. Young’s pubs, Hilton Hotels, Lord’s cricket ground, and many independent restaurants and bards utilise the system.

Benefits to using CardsSafe:

• Managing customer tabs

• Helping to increase spending, therefore profits

• Eliminates walkouts

• Security against credit card fraud

• Wireless - No data capture

“Average spend is up, and chargeback has virtually disappeared after we installed CardsSafe, which really puts our customers’ minds at rest.” Timothy, Young’s Bar Manager

Each CardsSafe unit contains ten card drawers. Each hire comes with customer service troubleshooting, free replacement keys, and additional units can be added at any time.

The question is, can you afford not to have CardsSafe as a part of your business?

T 0845 500 1040

www.cardssafe.com

WEIMA offer economical drainage and compaction solutions

Whether empty and dry or filled and wet, WEIMA has the right pressing solution for production and packaging waste as well as used labels.

Packaging that is no longer usable is occasionally still filled with fluids. This may include beverage cans, PET bottles or milk cartons, among others. These filled items require proper separation, if only for reasons of volume reduction and cost-effective disposal. While aluminium, paper and plastic can be recycled rather easily, WEIMA also offers products for the further use of drained liquids. Presses specially developed for ReWork applications for example are ideal for the reintegration of high-quality production scrap of all kinds. For example, drained milk can be used for cheese production. No valuable resources should be wasted.

With WEIMA hydraulic PUEHLER presses, all common packaging and containers can be drained and compacted. These include soft packaging, plastic bags, tinplate or aluminium cans, foil-wrapped cardboard, plastic cups, plastic bottles and mixed food waste. Due to their complete stainless-steel construction they are appreciated not only by breweries, dairies, soft drink producers and bottling plants, but also by operators of biogas plants, plastic processors and food manufacturers. In addition, WEIMA offers the PUEHLER A series, a fully automatic and cost-effective compaction solution for used labels and caps. The pressed-out lye is collected and can be returned to the cleaning machine.

Fercell Engineering are the UK partner for WEIMA Maschinenbau GmbH shredding and compaction equipment. Contact us to discover how you can reduce the volume of your packaging waste and containers with WEIMA compaction solutions.

01622 791414

www.fercell.com

Decarb it is battling the cost of hospitality crisis

As we see post-Covid financial support for hospitality businesses dwindle, the industry faces yet another crisis, the cost of simply being in business. With costs such as rents, energy, and food rising at an alarming rate while consumer disposable income dwindles, the hospitality industry is being hit yet again. However, Lancashire-based decarboniser company, Decarb It, are doing their bit to reduce the energy bills of commercial kitchens up and down the UK.

Redesigned in 2022, their decarboniser tanks have been specifically developed to be the most efficient on the market, reducing energy consumption by up to 62% vs other like for like decarbonisers available.

Unique features such as adjustable thermostats, 360∞ A-grade insulation, and reduced wattage heating elements mean that commercial kitchens with a Decarb It decarboniser could see real-term savings of up to £1773 per year on energy bills vs kitchens with competitor decarbonisers.*

Providing short-term hire and purchase options, Decarb It provide flexible options to suit any commercial kitchen.

To find out about short-term hire and purchase options available visit www.decarbit.co.uk or call 0161 871 7393

*Based on continuous use of a Decarb It 160 litre Magnus decarboniser vs Vaclensa 160 litre DC35 decarboniser at 0.60p per kWh.

Zero Proof Cane Spirits Company Of The Month

No alcohol needed!

In this issue of Food & Drink Matters we are pleased to announce Myth Drinks as our Zero Proof Cane Spirits Company of the Month.

Discover the award-winning range of rum inspired alcohol-free spirits from Myth Drinks. Choose from Myth Dark Spiced or Myth Coconut for a delicious alcohol-free spirit experience.

“Rum and vanilla on the nose. A liquorice dry and attractive burnt sugar taste,” is what the IWSC judges said about Myth Dark Spiced. Indulge in the spicey spirit that carries a base line sweetness from the molasses and extra flavour from the fiery ginger and black pepper. Priced at just £14.99 per 25cl bottle or £19.99 per 50cl bottle on their website.

“Wonderful notes of coconut, peach, and caramel, almost akin to Malibu. The beguiling finish has a beautiful mouthfeel and is a real delight served either neat or as a great mixer,” another fantastic review from the IWSC judges about Myth Coconut. Delivering a coconut flavoured, light rum inspired flavour, this alcoholfree spirit is perfectly versatile to be drunk on its own or mixed with pineapple or even combined into a weekend mojito or daiquiri. Priced at £14.99 per 25cl bottle or £19.99 per 50cl bottle on their website.

Pre COVID-19, drinking had always been a large part of how we as humans choose to socialise, celebrate or even unwind. The odd tipple here or there were many people’s usual plans when it came to 5pm of an evening. However, throughout lockdown the rise of non-alcoholic beverages and the interest from people choosing not to drink alcohol fast became popular and a trend that most certainly seems is here to stay. The increasing interest in choosing and finding tasty non-alcoholic alternatives has changed the way we choose to be social with our friends and peers. So whether you’re sober-curious, choosing to do a dry month, or have always been a nonalcoholic drinker, Food & Drink Matters think you’ll love this tasty new brand!

As a dedicated non-alcoholic drinker, Colette always felt there were no brands on the market that offered a non-alcoholic beverage that was exciting but also made for grown-ups. Not being a big fan of lighter alternatives such as elderflower fizz or regular pop, she took it upon herself to have a go at making her own. Behind closed doors, Colette began an extensive twoyear R&D program that enabled her to create something really special, and something that was ready to hit the market.

However, this was not Colette’s first business venture. It all started in 2016 when she came up with the brand Goat Drinks producing the product ‘HORNY GOAT’ which is a great tasting, all-natural functional energy drink with added B-Vitamins, Zinc and Co-enzyme Q10 to give you a boost and keep your energy flowing.

“When I launched the business, it was called Goat Drinks as I have another product line (clean label energy drinks). In the summer following a quiet launch I split the company into two as the brands are so different, so now I have two start-ups, Goat Drinks and Myth Drinks. All the drinks are completely zero alcohol 0%, not dealcoholised. Vegan and Gluten-Free permissible. The White Cane can be served neat over ice

which is unusual for AF spirits,” commented Colette. As a psychotherapist by trade with “no real experience of the market,” stated Colette, she has managed to create two British awardwining companies that depict great tasting beverages for two highly popular markets here in the UK. So much so, both her companies have been recognised by the IWSC, a global wine and spirits community that focuses on people and expertise championing the best wine and spirits from around the world. In 2022 Myth Drinks’ Non-Alcoholic Coconut White Cane Spirit won the Gold IWSC Trophy and was voted the number one Christmas Drink Product of the Year at the Free From Christmas Awards. It’s Non-alcoholic Dark Cane Spirit also won the Bronze IWSC Trophy and Bronze at the Free From Christmas Awards. These accolades and awards certainly topped off a fantastic year for the company and especially from an owner who states that her experience in the industry in ‘very new’. The years to come are sounding VERY promising.

With no time like the present, Colette is looking into 2023 and planning for her next big idea. “I am really excited to be bringing a new GOAT drink product in January 2023 to the market which is a sugar-free variant, one that should be quite popular due to the current market demands. For Myth, I am looking to add some RTD to the range as well as someone to partner with so we can start creating mixers. I am a one-man band, so I like to get stuck in. I am based in the market town of Thirsk, North Yorkshire and even though they are produced in other areas of the

UK I co-pack all my products myself. I’m keen to grow rapidly in the UK as our products already cater to a wide customer base of both men and women from the ages of 18-50. We sell to large corporations for trade and events to smaller stockists and individual users who enjoy a simple serve drink. Whoever chooses not to put alcohol in their glass is the perfect person for my drinks!” stated Colette.

For more information, see below. info@mythdrinks.co.uk www.mythdrinks.co.uk

Dates announced for Wales's leading International food and drink trade event

BlasCymru/ TasteWales 2023

Wales' international food and drink trade event, BlasCymru/TasteWales, will take place on 25 and 26 October 2023, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has confirmed.

When: 25 - 26 October 2023

Where: International Convention Centre (ICC Wales), The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales

What: Brokerage between buyers and food and drink businesses; VIP dinner and networking opportunities; seminars, sustainable futures and exhibition.

The two-day event organised by the Welsh Government's Food & Drink Wales division brings together food and drink producers with national and international buyers and food industry professionals.

The event, which will be held at ICC Wales in Newport, has been key in previous years in creating new business opportunities for Welsh businesses and has seen produce from Wales sent around the world for people to enjoy.

Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said: _"Wales is proud to be home to a successful and dynamic food and drink industry. From artisan businesses through to large companies, Welsh products are some of the very best in the world.

"BlasCymru/TasteWales _will be the fourth such event, giving Welsh businesses a platform to showcase the best products Wales has to offer to a global audience, as well as provide a shop window for interested investors and partners.

"We very much look forward to welcoming delegates and sponsors alike, offering an unrivalled opportunity to network with leading industry stakeholders from across the world."

Being at the event allows businesses to gain exposure, network and increase their brand profile with key producers, UK and international buyers, as well as wider industry professionals. All of this will take place within the context of a high-quality food event, conference and expo featuring leading industry players where one to one sessions enable buyers to engage with Welsh producers and discover the passion behind their products.

Welsh food and drink exports hit a record high in 2021 reaching £641m, with Wales also seeing the largest percentage increase in the value of food and drink exports out of the four UK nations between 2020 and 2021 rising by £89 million.

Having built a reputation for quality and authenticity in its export offer, the Welsh food and drink sector's supply chain continues to thrive, reaching a turnover of £23 billion in 2021. With eight of the top ten Welsh food and drink export destinations being within the EU and worth £465m in 2021, Wales is also expanding the Welsh offer to countries outside of the EU, seeing exports to non-EU countries increase to £176m in 2021 from £138m in 2020.

With hundreds of products on show, BlasCymru/ TasteWales has been designed to maximise value for buyers to:

• View and taste sample from a large-scale product showcase - retail, foodservice and private label

• Source Welsh

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Herald launches new printing service for disposables

Quality disposables manufacturer and supplier, Herald has appointed a bespoke packaging manager, Leyla Koroglu to oversee and deliver its new printing service, which means customers can now order a wide range of customised products to support their marketing efforts.

By offering a quick turnaround on printed food boxes and paper bags,

alongside bespoke paper cups, Herald has already ensured a healthy flow of orders and is now promoting this dedicated service to new and existing customers as a sure-fire way to generate new business.

New bespoke packaging manager, Leyla Koroglu is experienced in assisting brand owners, wholesalers, packaging suppliers and retailers in taking products from concept to delivery and is taking a

consultative approach to her new role. Herald’s national sales manager, David Martin sees Leyla’s appointment as the next step to securing the company’s offering, making sure all bases are covered and that Herald stands as the ultimate foodservice packaging one-stop shop.

For further information on Herald and its bespoke printing service, call 0208 507 7900.

Leyla Koroglu, Bespoke Pakaging Manager.

The UK's first non-HFSS nutritionally enhanced cookie lands multiple awards and first major listing

In this issue of Food and Drink Matters, we are pleased to announce Jnck Bakery as our Bakery Company of the Month.

Launched in September 2022 by Alex Brassill and brother and co-founder Sean, Jnck Bakery is on a mission to redefine junk food one guilt-free cookie at a time. “Jnck Bakery has launched a first to market, non-HFSS, nutritionally enhanced cookie designed for the fresh bakery category” stated Alex. With 90% less sugar, and 50% less saturated fat than a standard cookie, Jnck cookies are 'de-junked' from the bad stuff. Including 8g of protein and 8g of fibre per cookie, it is perhaps remarkable that Jnck tastes as good as standard, freshly baked cookies. It has been a busy time at Jnck since launching late last year. The bakery start-up won gold in the ‘Innovation Challenge’ at LUNCH! and a month later won ‘Best Food & Drink’ brand at the Food Entrepreneur Show. The judging panels at LUNCH! commended Jnck for achieving an ‘no-compromise cookie with outstanding taste and texture’

Alex and Sean are no strangers to the world of nutrition, branding and strategy. Alex has vast experience as previous Head of NPD at THG, where he ran the innovation strategy for Myprotein, MyVegan and MyVitamins. Sean comes from a strategy consultancy background, having jumped ship from Accenture where he advised globally recognised clients such as Warner Brothers, Samsung and BP.

Of course, we all want to feel good, eat healthy and treat our bodies well but we are only human and we all get cravings, and these are the moments that Jnck Bakery cookies are perfect for! They are high in gut-friendly fibre and include 3x the amount of protein than a standard cookie. With protein derived from peas and a bespoke protein chocolate, Jnck cookies will make you feel fuller for longer and banish those nasty sugar spikes!

Jnck successfully completed a seed funding round in 2022 to support its ambitions. Sean revealed ”our investor group includes the Global Partnerships Director at Gymshark, previous Managing Director from Accenture and Strategic Partnerships Director at Krispy Kreme, so we’re getting brilliant support along our journey”

Sean added, “for us, it’s just so exciting to set our sights on creating a new sub-category in the fresh bakery space. With 85% of the UK population looking to become healthier, Jncks unique set of nutritional USPs enable our delicious, guilt-free cookies to appeal to a wider audience. In addition to our focus on quality nutrition, Jnck is one of the first cookie brands to use zero palm oil and fully recyclable packaging,”

So what delicious mouth-watering flavours can you expect?

Soon to hit UK shelves, Jnck Bakery has just confirmed its first major listing with GoPuff, the delivery on demand expert. Officially launching in early March, a single cookie will retail at £1.99. So far, the range includes White Gold, Trippple Chocolate, Ruby Chocolate, and Milky Chocolate. Weighing in at 50g and under 200 calories, there is an exciting range of flavours. Let your taste buds go wild with Ruby Chocolate, which is a unique tension of fresh berry fruitiness combined with white chocolate OR lose yourself biting into White Gold, featuring a caramelised dough and creamy white protein chocolate. Jnck also recently appointed Paul Mumford as nonexecutive director. Having built an outstanding commercial acumen at roles in Britvic, General Mills and L'Oreal, Paul more recently moved into the start-up world, growing health and sustainability brands such as Biotiful and Oggs and will be a fantastic addition to the Jnck team. In closing Alex enclosed the company’s future plans and aspirations, “We're looking to disrupt the world of bakery and prove health and indulgence CAN co-exist. We live in a world where ingredient technology should empower the industry to make food better for people. We believe we can trailblaze the bakery category and are looking for distribution partners.”

Catering & Hospitality Matters

For more information, see below. www.jnckbakery.co.uk

Howard Tenens Logistics collaborates with mars for further HVO roll out and immediate environmental results

Howard Tenens Logistics is proud to announce the further expansion of its Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) strategy to now include fleets based in Andover, Swindon, Boston, Ashby, and Manchester.

The move to HVO is part of Howard Tenens Logistics’ strategy to work with its customers to drive down carbon emissions and help speed up the journey to Net Zero. By switching to HVO, the HGVs will emit 92% less carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions than when running on retail diesel (calculated on a well-to-wheel basis).

One of the key customers involved at the Boston site, Mars, is taking positive action across its business as it seeks to reduce its environmental impact through its Sustainable in a Generation Plan. Mars has committed to reduce total (greenhouse gas) GHG emissions across its value chain by 27 percent by 2025 and achieve Net Zero by 2050 (from 2015 levels).

Darren Mackintosh, European Supply Chain IE, at Mars commented: “We cannot achieve our Net Zero commitment without collaborating with our suppliers or embracing new technology, and this is a great example of both. We’re proud of this partnership and our combined commitment to finding new ways to reduce our environmental impact.”

Howard Tenens and Mars have a relationship built over 40 years, covering Confectionery, Food and Petfood. The two have worked together over 10 years at Mars Food’s Kings Lynn site specifically, where Mars produce Ben’s Original & Dolmio, with Howard Tenens supporting Mars’ factory clearance through several dedicated vehicles running 24/5.

With continuous improvement and ESG at the heart of Tenens’ strategy, multiple investments have been implemented to further the relationship. For example, Howard Tenens have invested in CNG, Specialist Extra Long Semi Trailers, Double deck trailers, Solar PV and are now proud to unlock HVO as the latest initiative to deliver mutual value for their customer. A reduction of 902 tonnes of CO2 is estimated for this initiative.

The successful rollout of HVO across Tenens’ sites has led to the logistics business being recognised for their immediate action to reduce their carbon emissions, as part of their wider carbon reduction strategy. They have received multiple award finalist positions for sustainability, low carbon, and environmental impact at a variety of institutions including Multimodal, Motor Transport, Logistics UK, and the Gloucestershire Business Awards.

Jamie Hartles, Chief Executive Officer of Howard Tenens Logistics added: “Howard Tenens’ experience of using HVO has been extremely positive. We have rapidly rolled out this fuel across our bunkered sites, recognising the importance of acting now to

reduce our carbon footprint and progress our journey to Net Zero as soon as possible.

HVO is a key element of our carbon reduction strategy, as there are very few solutions in the short to medium term that can deliver such

significant carbon savings.

The move to HVO across several of our sites could not have happened without the support of our key clients, including Mars. It is this collaborative approach that has allowed us to

create a blueprint that we are optimistic can continue to be rolled out across more of our sites and future environmental developments.”

For more information, see below.

www.tenens.com

Catering & Hospitality Matters

WATTSHOT is our featured Food & Drink Matters Company of the Month in the distilled gin industry.

Master gin-taster extraordinaire Stuart Logan founded the company in 2012 after careful market research on the winning gin recipe and finding the best fit with trading partners. This global business has since exploded in the gin market winning many prestigious awards including

The Gin Masters Spirit Business Award by Global Spirits in 2021. These premium gins are now available to order on the website and through specialist retailers such as Threshers with free delivery on orders over £50. Stuart tells us more about this amazing gin.

“WATTSHOT is the first premium gin shot on the market with superior spirits, refined flavours and the extract of a secret plant that creates a taste experience of the highest level. With a high-voltage shot of electricity, our gins invigorate the senses.

It starts with a strong hint of gin, developing into a rich, cherry blossom flavour with a floral note. And then comes the tingle. Subtle at first, a vibrant, electric sensation floods the mouth, stimulating it and leaving it with a clean, fresh aftertaste. This electric sensation is what gave WATTSHOT its name.”

The gin was a massive hit at last year’s Liverpool Gin Festival where gin-lovers proclaimed this to be the best cherryastic bombastic gin ever. Before that, the company also attended Bar Convent in Berlin where its stand even had its own funky playlist from celebrated DJ Marc Vedo.

Here at Food & Drink Matters we know good food when we see it and we’d like to award the sheer tenacity of Fleming Howden for bringing Scrocchiarella from Italy to British shores.

Imagine tucking into a warm sourdough-based crispy bread with layers of roast pumpkin, spicy chorizo and aromatic spinach. You are transported to stone-baking in Carrara, Tuscany where ancient “lievito madre,” fermented dough and extra virgin olio coppini olive oil makes the perfect sourdough. This is Scrocchiarella: the exclusive Italian-baked bread product from Edinburgh importers Fleming Howden. General Manager Carl Vitty narrates the charming tale from idea to gastronomical wholesaler delight

“We borrowed a pizza oven and pitched our heavenly Italian bread product at The European Pizza & Pasta Show at Olympia London in October 2021. With food, you need to taste it. There are only so many superlatives to describe our mouth-watering bread- and customers who tasted it declared it, ‘best in show.’ Encouraged by such a positive response, we went on to sign three wholesalers by March 2022 and we have just signed our 12th. Dreams really do come true.”

Fleming Howden sells the sumptuous frozen bread to wholesalers who then distribute to restaurants, cafes, street food trucks, pizzerias and cafes around the UK. Customers and wholesalers alike love this traditional Italian sourdough bread product available in both base and sandwich formats.

The sourdough takes 30 hours to make and are hand stretched and comes in three varieties from ‘Classica’ original golden soft wheat, ‘Rustica’ brown rye barley and ‘Riso Venere’ purple hues made from black wholegrain rice. The bread product only takes 10 minutes to bake straight from the freezer for perfect baking. As a certified-vegan product, food outlets can then choose to customise with further vegan toppings for a 100% vegan product or add in a variety of ingredients from ham, pepperoni, chargrilled vegetables, cheese and seasonal vegetables. Carl says the, “only limit is your

Wherever WATTSHOT go the cool people follow for the best gin on the market. Stuart explains how the gin can be served.

“WATTSHOT brings you a high-quality gin shot, that allows our consumers to enjoy gin straight up. We are a versatile product that can be drunk pure, over ice, mixed into a cocktail or added to tonic.”

The WATTSHOT website is full of tasty gin recipes perfect for dinner parties with friends from WATTSHOT Spritzer with added rose wine or WATTSHOT Martini with added passao. A fresh cherry on top is perfection!

The 70cl WATTSHOT gin bottles come in high-end quality packaging and customers can order accompanying shot glasses off the website. As the first company to ever create a gin that is designed to be a shot, we believe at Food and Drink Matters that 2023 is going to be an exciting year for this dynamic, enterprising company as Stuart shares.

“We will soon be launching our WATTSHOT vodka and rum range, offering our clients a full range of options in the premium shot category. Watch this space!

Our company is looking to expand further into Asia and America over the next 12 months. We have suppliers in India, Germany, Portugal and we have just opened a new company in Africa to support our market growth there.

This will be a very exciting year for us all and if there is a market we do not currently cover and one of your readers see an opportunity, we would be happy to consider it.”

To view this cherrytastic range see the website below www.wattshot.com

gastronomic imagination.” The ‘riso venere’ base has the lowest gluten content and sourdough bread is widely known as being highly digestible due to its trademark light content.

Customers up and down the country have been raving about the light, crusty base and feel a sense of nostalgia when they can smell the bakery aromas that are so similar to that of their childhood. Carl added, “The aroma reminds me of the same sensation of when I go to a great Italian restaurant.”

With a national skills shortage in the hospitality sector the light, crunchy sourdough bread doesn’t require specialist pizza chefs to bake it. The products can be baked in all standard industrial products such as Convectional ovens, Rational, Merrychefs and Pizza Ovens in less than 10 minutes.

The proof is in the pudding or in this case the crispy crust as this versatile product can be marketed as a dessert option with chocolate sauce, forest fruit berries and lashing of whipped cream.

Carl Vitty and his gastronomic team will be showcasing these tantalising products at the following trade shows in 2023:

• ScotHot SEC Glasgow 8th-9th March 2023

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Scrocchiarella is truly a gift from the Roman Gods: alchemy for the modern age and as Carl adds, “you start enjoying first with your eyes.”

To view the scrumptious sourdough line, visit the website below:

T 0131 333 6666 www.scrocchiarella.co.uk fleminghowdensales@abmauri.com

BBC Good Food Show Winter Review

The BBC Good Food Show Winter 2022 serves up a feast!

One of the most anticipated food and beverage events of the year, The BBC Good Food Show Winter 2022 was buzzing with exhibitors and visitors from all over the UK and further afield. An entire range of artisan foodie producers came together for a delicious four days of eating, drinking, showcasing, and networking all things food and drink related.

Of course there was also an abundance of professional chefs at the Show delivering recipe inspiration and interviews, all alongside offering their tips and tricks of how to create the ultimate dish. The 2022 line-up included James Martin, Nadiya Hussain, Michel Roux, Ainsley Harriott, Gennaro Contaldo and many more.

The Show hosted many stages including the Let’s Talk Good Food Stage, The Big Kitchen, The Fabulous Food Finds Tasting Theatre, Festive Kitchen, Get Baking! Stage, as well as a whole host of Book Signings where visitors could head to the pop-up book shop to buy the latest

titles from chefs and experts who appeared at the Show. And who could forget the wonderful exhibitors. The Show hosted a mass number of brands who were all on hand to showcase their professional product knowledge, offer taste testing of their best ingredients and products, and all of that of course came alongside some special Show deals that had been uniquely selected for visitors attending the specific four-day Winter Show.

The BBC Good Food Show Winter returns this year from 23-26 November 2023 at the NEC, Birmingham.

www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com/winter/

At D!P, we’re producing fresh flavoured dips for crisps

The idea for a dip company was formed after struggling to find something tasty to put on the table with the crisps and crudites at a Hogmanay party. We wanted something different, so I started experimenting with flavours. After a lot of taste tests amongst friends, we figured that we probably were onto something so in March 2022, the company was formed.

We currently have three different salsa-style, fruit-based dips. And as a nod to the party motivation, all the names are musically inspired!

Papa Don’t Peach features peach and mango with fresh ginger, garlic, chilli and coriander.

Tequila Little Time is a sweet and sour Pineapple salsa, inspired by a cocktail recipe. This one creates lots of fun conversations with people about their tequila stories!

And finally Rasp-beret Chipotle, with locally sourced raspberries that are sweet and tangy, teamed with smoky spice.

These salsas don’t just work with crisps, they can be used as a relish. Have a look at our socials for more ideas.

Insta: @dipclubuk

Facebook: Dip Club UK

Website: www.dipclub.co.uk

We have plenty ideas for more flavours and are really excited for 2023.

What A Pickle! shines at BBC Good Food Show

We were very excited to be selected as one of the top exhibitors at the BBC Good Food Show last Autumn, our colourful stand and equally striking product generated enormous interest and we had our most successful show to date. We launched our Essential Pantry Gift Box which went down a storm and was one of our sell out lines at the show.

Camilla and Emma, who initially were friends are now business partners in What A Pickle! They are growing the brand into one of the most desirable condiment ranges available and featuring on the shelves of good quality food outlets nationwide.

Our Chutney range is now well established and partnered with our four Egg Free Mayonnaises, Sauces for Meat and our most recent launch of two wonderful Salad Dressings.

All our flavours are Gluten free and are produced in small batches, ensuring, that everything is tip top in the flavour stakes. The desire for us to produce great tasting and

CAMRA

After celebrating 50 years of pubs, pints and people in 2021, CAMRA is proud to say that the campaign is still going strong.

Founded by four beer lovers in 1971, today CAMRA represents around 160,000 beer drinkers and pub goers across the UK. Our vision is to have quality real ale, cider and perry and thriving pubs and clubs in every community.

We pride ourselves in promoting the beer industry, campaigning for a more supported beer and pub market, educating audiences through artisanal experiences, and sharing the options of what to drink and where to drink it. Thanks to the help of our volunteers, members and industry partners we have been able to do all this for over 50 years.

As an organisation, we are always looking to work with new partners to celebrate beer and pubs, and find ways to attract new and enthusiastic people who

good looking products continues and we look forward to introducing new exciting flavours in the future!

Please do not hesitate to contact us at emma@what-apickle.com or visit our website at www.what-a-pickle.com.

We would love to help!

can benefit from a membership with CAMRA.

If you’re looking to join the a group of like-minded, pub-loving individuals, or are looking for a new partner to promote the beer and food industry you work within, CAMRA are always open to new opportunities.

Contact: Mike Lovell michael.lovell@camra.org.uk

07939 425471

Leighton Buzzards best loved Tuk Tuk dessert shop takes BBC Good Food Show Winter 2022 by storm

Yummy Chumz is a rarity in the form that it is one of the only companies in the UK to offer a range of homemade sundaes, gelatos, shakes, bubble waffles and churros that are completely free from soya, gluten, dairy, egg and cream and certified Vegan, Vegetarian, High in protein and a good source of pre and probiotics.

Yummy Chumz stunned visitors at the Winter BBC Good Food Show back in November 2022 where its TUK TUK was on hand to serve out a range of flavours of their organic luxury style gelatos and desserts. Some Vegan flavours included Sicilian Pistachio, Christmas Pudding, Saffron Rose N Pistachio Gelato, Black Forest and also a range of Pastries using plant protein.

sugar per 1 litre of gelato, are enriched with probiotics and prebiotic fibre, high in protein – 46gs per 1 litre of gelato, and made using pea protein milk, water and organic cane sugar with the base flavours from Sicily, Italy.

Yummy Chumz products has not gone unnoticed with 2022 delivering an array of awards and accreditations from bodies in the Food and Drink industry. These include being finalists and winning silver at the Free From Christmas Awards 2022, winning The Veggie Awards 2022 in the Vegan Fridge Freezer category, Winning the Great Taste Awards and one notable proud moment was being accepted as an official member to The Guild of Fine Food.

All its vegan gelato bases have under 100g unrefined

www.yummychumz.com

Delicious Juicy Goodness for over 90 years

Ocean Spray® is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 100 countries worldwide.

Ocean Spray® has experienced almost 20% brand growth in the UK since 2019. In recent years, different brands have introduced cranberry beverage options. However, it is important to note that the difference between a common drink and an Ocean Spray® drink is its origin and its cranberry content. Ocean Spray® Cranberry Classic juice drink always provides at least 27% cranberry juice, which is equivalent to the juice from 35 cranberries per 200ml glass or 175 cranberries per litre.

Go Brazil Wines

Established in 2010, Go Brazil is the UK’s only specialist importer and distributor of Brazilian wines. As part of our continued expansion we are delightedto be launching a collection of exclusive, brand new labels, perfect for 2023 spring/summer drinking.

Highlights include an intriguing, high quality Alvarinho/ Assyrtiko blend from the southerly Campanha Gaúcha region, alongside a delicious full-bodied Tempranillo Shiraz. Also joining therange will be our first ever biodynamic wine, a Brut sparkler, together with a stunning Sauvignon Blanc and a barrel-aged Cabernet Franc from the prestigious Don Guerino winery.

These and other wines can be sampled at any of the shows where Go Brazil exhibits (e.g. BBC Good Food Show, Oxford Wine Festival), or purchases

The power of cranberries is strong - antioxidant, prebiotic, heart health, digestion and immunity - and we are committed to the health of people and the planet, driven by purpose to connect our farms to families for a better life.

Be your berry Best with Ocean Spray®

can be made online via our website. Our portfolio includes a wide selection of red, white, rosé, vegan/vegetarian, sparkling and sweet wines.

Trade customers should contact us directly via phone/ email. Please call 01473 722999 or email: nicholas@ gobrazilwines.com

Information and Shop: www.gobrazilwines.com

The Seaweed Food Co.

Cminerals and trace elements and give umami to your food. Umami is often described as ‘savoury’ and is one of the five basic tastes. Making the seaweed into seasonings it can be used in everyday cooking – no special recipes or fancy ingredients are required. Sprinkling seaweed salt onto scrambled eggs, avocado or chips is a good way to start using seaweed. Or, try mixed seaweed flakes into a stew or curry – seaweed is a brilliant flavour enhancer. Our herby seaweed seasoning is favoured by customers who use it on chicken, roasted vegetables and even in salad dressing.

Three of our seasonings were awarded a star in the Great Taste Awards in 2022, receiving some favourable feedback from the judges.

We are now starting to offer whole seaweed for sale –dried, ready to be used as pasta alternatives, in salads or as a snack.

www.seaweedfoodcompany.com

BBC Good Food Show Winter Review

Ginger & Turmeric drinks impress at The BBC Good Food Show

Jinger Drinks were new exhibitors at The BBC Good Food Show (Summer) 2022 and returned with their best-selling organic, concentrate drinks at the Winter show instalment.Available in four scrumptious flavours: ginger and turmeric, ginger & mint, ginger & pineapple and liquid gold for an unforgettable, healthy taste.

Ginger and Turmeric are part of the same family and have been used in cooking and for medicinal purposes around the world for hundreds of years. Ginger has a distinguishable fiery, subtly sweet taste and is widely regarded for its anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric has a discernible vivid orangery, yellow colour and holds valuable antiseptic qualities.

Jinger Drinks has lovingly curated these vegan, Peruvianinspired liquid superfoods using ginger and turmeric as the main ingredients. Drinking just 20ml is absorbed quicker into the blood stream than daily vitamins, allowing for a quicker energy boost.

Whether you’re looking to detox after Christmas and continue ‘Dry January’ with these non-alcoholic alternatives or discover new products during Veganuary, this is the perfect choice for you.

Each flavour can be consumed neat or quickly spritzed with fresh, sparkling water or if you’re after a warmer drink on a cold day;

try mixing with hot water, fresh mint and a thin slice of squeezy lemon.

The Jinger Drinks team have been busy spreading the word at all the major food and drink shows, such as BBC Good Food Show but also the smaller, regional ones like Oswestry Balloon Carnival and Dorset Steam Fair. Visitors were invited to sample the products, which were refreshing antidotes to the hot summer days.

The company Instagram page is full of glowing five-star, testimonials praising the tasty ginger drinks: “I absolutely love these ginger and mint shots. They’ve got the strong ginger kick that I love in these kinds of drinks and I definitely feel a boost after it.”

and others who are grateful for the detox properties, “Check out these pure, potent anti-inflammatory drinks! These are great for a liver detox!”

This Manchester-based company has an online shop on its website, with a handy monthly subscription for those who need a regular fix. The bottles are available in 200ml or 500ml, with the smaller, shot sizes perfect as a surprise gift for loved ones.

The four flavours are perfect for detoxing, energising and

Little Big Flavour Kits: A Sri Lankan Hug

“Sambol will change your life! passionately stated the new girl at Hampton Court Food Fair this summer. As the flavours of desiccated coconut mixed with chillies and spices danced around her palate, it was clear we had a convert. And now we’d like to make one of you!

As a small business based in Kent, our curry kits are a loving nod to our heritage. They come with all the spices, coconut milk powder, optional chilli pack, a shopping list on the back of and a recipe card inside that’s easy to follow, with helpful how to videos on our social media.

Our kits are all vegan friendly & flavoursome with lots of variety. The optional chilli sachet makes them perfect for busy families wanting a convenient, healthier, homemade option and because we love our planet, all our packaging is either compostable or recyclable.

So, whether it’s down to convenience, value for money, or you want to offer curry-lovers looking for a new adventure a choice or you’d like to deliver an impressive

stress-free meal, try our Sri Lankan curry kits– you simply can’t go wrong!

We are actively looking for wholesale opportunities, if you would like to stock our products or talk to us about how we can help your business grow please get in touch.

T 07717315735

www.littlebigflavourkits.co.uk

aliza@littlebigflavourkits.co.uk

Chocolates engineered to perfection…

Hollychocs is a small yet big-hearted, family-run business where chocolates are engineered to perfection by Chocolate Engineer, Holly Garner, and her husband, Sam. Together, their brand vision puts chocolate, science, and people at the heart of everything they do.

Holly’s chocolates are lovingly handmade in small batches and have a complexity of flavour that sets them apart from the rest. With a high cocoa content and low sugar, each chocolate is a blend of passion, chemistry, and exceptional ingredients; all carefully engineered to provide you with the ultimate sensory experience.

With a degree in chemical engineering, Holly’s career took a sweet turn when she took an engineering role inside Cadbury’s Bournville chocolate factory controlling the bubble size inside Wispa bars and the kitchen producing caramel for the UK market.

Today Hollychocs have no fewer than 30 awards for their chocolates and has been crowned a Great Taste Producer. The chocolate menu changes seasonally, currently

featuring gold award-winning Hot Cross Bun as well as their 3-time award-winning Icelandic Lava Salt Caramel.

Holly’s chocolates are a treat to be savoured, relished, and enjoyed – a unique chocolate experience unlike any other. They are, quite simply, engineered to perfection.

Ready to order yours? Shop online: www.hollychocs.com

Eat Game – Discover your wild side!

Game meat is good for you, its ethically produced, and its truly seasonal. It is also superbly versatile and rich in flavour.

It is wonderfully heathy; venison is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids and contains half the saturated fat of beef. It’s also lower in calories, cholesterol, salt, and higher in protein.

Like wild deer, gamebirds enjoy a varied, foraged diet and plenty of exercise. As a result, pheasant, partridge and pigeon are all lower in fat, and offer more protein, iron, zinc and

recovering- so whether you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle or something specific for an ongoing health condition, these are the perfect products for you.

The Jinger Turmeric flavour is good for auto-immune system relieving symptons of arthritis, menopause, lupus and fibromyalgia.

The Ginger & Mint version is perfect for its anti-inflammatory properties and is the perfect choice for a super detox after the revelry of the Christmas festive period. The mint is also good for heartburn, reflux, indigestion and colitis.

The Ginger & Pineapple combination helps asthma, collogen and rheumatism arthritis sufferers as it contains bromlein.

Last but by no means least, the liquid gold offers a quick energy boost and is the perfect choice as an all-round healthy vitamin alternative. The liquid gold is good for nausea, sickness and pregnant women and for those who generally love ginger.

Visit the website today to order your first Jinger Drink!

T 07907622656

info@jingerdrinks.co.uk

www.jingerdrinks.com

www.instragram.com/jingerdrinks

Handcrafted bread saw is a gamechanger in the kitchen

JonoKnife was a worthy recipient of one the top exhibitor mentions at The BBC Good Food Winter Show 2022 for its ingenious bread knife.

The knife can cut bread longitudinally or laterally with an exquisitely designed handcrafted saw made from the finest northern Sheffield steel. Taking design inspiration from the US Appalachian Mountain bow bread saw this captivating saw has a scalloped blade four times thinner than standard bread knives. Perfect for slicing crusty bread, rustic sour dough and gluten free bread the cuts are considerably straighter and thinner.

Customers can choose from the original JonoKnife or The XL JonoKnife and all products come with a magnetic blade guard for added safety. There is even a customised JonoKnife breadboard available to complete the set. This handcrafted range is made from a variety of woods including beech, oak, walnut, sapele and maple lovingly finished with Danish oil.

One also has the option to have it custom engraved or to have it come packaged with bespoke gift wrapping.

JonoKnife has received five-star Google reviews from amazed customers citing it as revolutionary with many marvelling at its beautiful ergonomic design. The range comes in left and righthanded options and the design can also be of great help to anyone with dyspraxia or motor control impairments.

The JonoKnife is so beautiful that you may just want to hang on display on your wall but it really is the best bread knife on the market.

To view the whole range see the details below

T +44 (0) 11 83527343  www.jonoknife.co.uk

Indulgent Chocolates - luxury handcrafted chocolates

After 12 years in Engineering Keith was furloughed and then made redundant in 2020. This is when he started his chocolate journey!

Keith started the business at home whilst caring for his 3 year old twins. Initially selling chocolates at walking markets that Keith set up to support local businesses, as well as to friends and family. Indulgent Chocolates soon expanded online and began shipping across the UK.

In 2021, with lots of support from family, Indulgent Chocolates shop opened in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Production capacity increased dramatically from the initial 700g machinery to a 12kg continuous tempering machine, capable of producing up to 50kg of tempered chocolate an hour! As well as stocking a large range of chocolates, the shop has seating for customers to enjoy their signature Hot Chocolates, Ice Cream Milkshakes, Prosecco or hot drinks alongside cakes supplied by Keith’s wife and mother.

Specialising in filled slabs, gift boxes and hampers, Indulgent Chocolates also supplies to trade and

selenium than chicken.  Typically, game contains fewer calories than other meats (like pork and beef).

Game meat is sustainable and good for the planet with a low carbon footprint, being wild and local the footprint is smaller than farmed meats.

But most of all it is good value for money and makes delicious meals, at Eat Game you will find hundreds of recipes from the easy mid-week meal to the more adventurous dinner party recipe. Alternative you can just swap, your favourite chicken recipe for pheasant, partridge or rabbit and that classic beef

corporate customers. Managing orders of over 3,000 slabs, Indulgent Chocolates can provide personalised and bespoke event favours along with corporate / employee gifts to suit all budgets.

For all enquiries: info@indulgentchocolates.co.uk or call: 07887478998

recipe for venison. We also have a where to buy section where you can find at the stockists near to you or online.

If you would like to learn more about game meat or listen to celebrity chefsl like Tony Singh and Glynn Parnell chatting about why they love cooking with game listen to the Eat Game Podcast https://eatgame.co.uk/podcast/

Eat Game: www.eatgame.co.uk

The Big Hospitality Expo 2022 – A roaring success!

The Big Hospitality Expo came back with a bang earlier this year on the 26-28 September 2022 at the Olympia, London.

Attracting thousands of attendees and exhibitors, this year’s show combined The Restaurant Show as well as the technology-focused event Hostech, Catering Equipment Expo, and Low 2 No Bev. Attendees came to find a range of new innovative products and ideas as well as witness lively discussions from industry leaders on The Stage and at The Workshop.

The Big Hospitality Expo is marked as the lifeblood of the industry and offers attendees and industry professionals the chance to meet other like-minded individuals and see what’s new in the hospitality industry. The event hosted interviews with the likes of Gareth Ward, chef-patron at Ynyshir in Wales, currently ranked the Best Restaurant in the UK, as well as Richard Morris, CEO of Tortilla on winning the burrito war in the UK.

Being such a fast-moving sector, the chance to see the latest technology, software and equipment all under one roof gave visitors the opportunity to see all aspects of each business. Many exhibitors were thrilled with the number of orders placed over the three-day event, and some went as far to state that in terms of investment, The Big Hospitality Expo was by far the best trade show they had attended in 2022.

Save the date for next year’s event for when The Big Hospitality Expo returns to London’s Olympia from 2-4 October 2023.

Mahala Botanical

Introducing Mahala Botanical, an award-winning, alcohol-free spirit from South Africa.

Mahala, meaning “free” in Zulu, is a premium craft spirit that’s free from alcohol, sugar, colourants and artificial flavours; perfect for those seeking a healthy, alternative to alcohol, without compromising on taste or quality!

Created and co-founded by respected Master Distiller, Danielle Schoeman, using her unique triple-distillation process, Mahala is made using nine hand-sourced botanicals, many of which are indigenous to South Africa and some are even foraged from Danielle’s farmland.

With aromas of clove and cardamom, and subtle floral notes of the buchu coming through from the indigenous fynbos of South Africa, this delicious new alternative to alcoholic spirits is designed to be mixed with a premium tonic, soda water or ginger beer/ale and has a refreshing herbaceous and citrus finish.

Mahala was born out of a desire to create a premium, healthy and distinctive alcohol-free spirit in a booming

Plant Based World Review

The Plant Based World Expo Europe 2022: Europe’s best event

The Plant Based World Expo Europe 2022 was held at the National Hall, Olympia from 30 Nov – 1st December and was a resounding success! Billed as the leading European B2B Expo for 100% plant-based food, drink, distributors, investors and manufacturers, this was the perfect place to promote new plantbased products. With a larger venue and 180 exhibitors, there was almost double the number of visitors as the previous year.

With the UK firmly established as Europe’s largest plant-based market, valued at £470m and growing exponentially, this Expo was prime real estate for European and UK-based companies to showcase their mouth-watering products. The Start Up Zone was reserved for new product

Narayan Foods

Narayan Foods, the leading European coconut oil producer with a portfolio of more than 50 organic and vegan products, is set on becoming the next largest vertically integrated organic company in Europe.

Narayan’s strong commitment to sustainable practices, adhering to the highest ESG standards, is reflected in its seed-to-table vertical integration approach, allowing complete ownership over the entire food production process. Narayan Foods applies strict standards to every aspect of its operation – from plantations in the origin to two production facilities in Europe to the end product before it hits the supermarket shelves. This commitment to quality and sustainability is reflected in Narayan Foods' latest innovation, the world's first honey alternative without the use of bees, which is hitting the European market later this year with the same molecular formula as honey, Ohney®, provides all the taste, texture, and benefits of honey, making it the perfect successor to the traditional sweetener.

Ohney®, made in partnership with MeliBio, is the first in the line of Narayan’s scaling platform, that enables the industrialization and commercialization of innovative food solutions. With its vertical integration approach and commitment to sustainability, Narayan Foods is leading the way in pushing next-generation plant-based foods to the market. www.narayanfoods.com

lines, with last year’s hottest new trends including plant-based fish fillets, blended soya, oat, rice and chickpea milk, plant-based cheese and even plantbased whole cuts of meat.

The Culinary Demonstration Theatre was packed with professional chefs serving up awardwinning, imaginative dishes.

The meat industry is expected to slow down by 2035, with a parallel upsurge in plant-based consumerism predicted; making the Plant Based World Expo Europe the ideal location for brand awareness of new upcoming products. Alongside established household names such as ‘Quorn products,’ there was delicious ranges of almond cheeses, vegan soups and plant-based wine.

The Plant Based World Expo Europe 2023 will be at the ExCeL, London from 15 – 16 November. www.plantbasedworldeurope.com

category that offers little choice for consumers looking for quality sugar-free and alcohol-free alternatives

www.mahalabotanical.com

Enjoy meatless snacking!

As producers of veggie appetizers we are physically situated in the middle of onion and potato fields in South-West Netherlands. As lovers of good food we believe in “meatless snacks, without feeling guilty”, as we want to enjoy even longer what nature gives to us.

In a changing world we observe also your customers eating less meat products. We would like to help you to tempt, in an unnoticed way, your customers with a tasty veggie snack filled with all the good ingredients from nature: Vegetables, potatoes, cheese and mushrooms.

Riso gallo - sensationally sustainable!

Riso Gallo is the first international rice brand to have produced its rice from sustainable agriculture, making their premium best-selling risotto completely sustainable from field to fork!

Established in 1856, Riso Gallo is the oldest Risotto rice producer in Italy and has been delivering its premium rice to consumers around the world for over six generations.

Known to many as Italy’s first choice, Riso Gallo is one of the longest surviving rice companies in Italy and is still growing. A family run business, it is now in it’s 6th generation.

The company has uniquely created its own Circular Economy within it’s rice production, collaborating with innovative startups to give new life to the by-products of the rice mill which produces the delicious range of rices of the Riso Gallo Brand - from aged Carnaroli, the choice of award winning chefs around to world to Arborio used every day in risotto lovers homes!

All Riso Gallo plastic vacuum

packaging is now suitable for recycling, following the launch of a new ecosustainable, low environmental impact plastic. Riso Gallo are the first company to adopt this sustainable packaging. The Gallo Risotto Traditional, Arborio, Carnaroli, and the Carnaroli Rustico are now in packs using FSC certified cardboard outer to protect the grains.

Contact: Jason Morrison - MD Riso Gallo UK

T 07557 003261 info@risogallo.com www.risogallo.co.uk

Lovers of cheese snacks or appetizers find a broad range of choices at Le Duc: mozzarella or cheddar, fluid or sticky melting, in combination with spicy jalapenos or with a pure creamy taste, in a variety of crusty forms. Besides our popular cheese snacks you can also select onion or vegetable snacks, from famous snacks like “onion rings” [in many different variations] to fresh vegetable snacks!

Our assortment is 100% veggie, partly vegan.

Make your choice or combo’s on Veggie Appetizers at Veggie Le Duc!

Le Duc Fine Food B.V., Delta-Industrieweg 5, 3251LX, Stellendam

Mark Howarth, Head of Sales (UK)

Mobile and WhatsApp +44(0)7736082622

Markh@leduc-food.nl

www.Leduc-food.nl/en

Italian Compound Gin Company Of The Month

The dawning of the new, Cedro Mediterranean gin: nectar of the Gods

Food & Drink Matters is delighted to award Sea Spirits Trade with our Company of the Month Award for creating a beautiful Italian compound gin.

London is known ubiquitously as the global, 'Capital of Gin,' with more gin bars, and gin hashtags than anywhere else in the world. Londoners have been lovingly brewing gallons of gin in bathtubs since time immemorial.

Giulio Amodio is Chief Alchemist at Sea Spirits Trade, Italian by birthright but now sees London as his adopted home, and an expert in the hospitality trade. For years he has worked in the top London Hotels, including his current residence at: China Tang at The Dorchester Hotel, expertly pouring spirits to the exclusive clientele. In his free time, he has poured his energy into designing the world's first exclusive Cedro quality gin: a stunning gold Mediterranean gin called, "Seatrus Acqua di Mare."

The gin has only been on the market for a few months but has already won the Coveted Spirits Business Global Luxury Masters Gold Award 2022 and with two UK wholesaler distributors and unanimous positive feedback, this gin heralds the dawning of the Cedro gin. We spent time with Giulio and he shared his fascinating

journey of this special spirit,

"Diamante Cedro is grown on the Tyrrhenian coast in Calábria, Southern Italy. Shouldered by the Apennine Mountain region, this unique citrus fruit grows in a micro-climate. The Mediterranean Sea breeze gently flows through this ancient part of Italy, adding a distinctive aroma. The Cedro is considered an antioxidant 'super fruit,' - used in everything from gourmet fish dishes, to sorbet and desserts. This gin is everything I love about Italy- the cedro and the sea, once harvested the cedro is barrelled in the sea for 24 hours. Then the delicate, purification process begins, removing the seaweed and sea water. Juniper berries, dried cedro peel and purified sea water from Sardinia add the final, perfect touch. The perfect synergy between fruit and sea has been accomplished."

The golden colour of this artisan gin matches the cedro: basking in the Italian sun and the blue label of the bottle is reminiscent of the sea: still and majestic. The cork has been handcrafted to include a real compass: Giulio called upon a skilled designer: Solomia Design to incorporate the magnificent design feature. From simple ingredients, to the stunning golden hues and compass design, the motif running through is the beauty of the sea, as Giulio elaborates,

"Aromas and palates in food and drink evoke wonderful memories: of home, love, and family. Seatrus Acqua di Mare, reminds me of Italy, where I'm from and when I drink it, I can taste the cedro oil and the salt of the sea. PAIRED with oysters, clams and other sea food, the perfect sublime, fine dining

accompaniment."

The Sea Spirits Trade team are getting ready to take Seatrus Acqua di Mare on an unforgettable road trip to all the upcoming international gin shows.  Giulio tells us more,

"We're going to be at all the major international gin shows during 2023: Gin Live in London, Tel Aviv Cocktail week, Roma Bar Show in Rome, Imbibe Live in London and BCB Bar Covent in Berlin. Come and try our quality compound gin, lovingly crafted from cedro and the Italian sea."

Seatrus Gin Acqua di Mare is a Mediterranean gift from

Brand Consultancy Company Of The Month

the cedro purveyors to quality gin-lovers everywhere.

For more details, contact Giulio Amodio at Sea Spirits Trade Ltd below:

T 07704483644 trade@theseaspirits.com www.seaspiritstrade.com

Get your brand seen with Distilled Brands

market, Distilled Brands is driven by an experienced team motivated by brand performance. Allan Cunningham and Gary have an extensive level of expertise and experience, both having worked in highly respectable roles within marketing, brand consultancy and sales within the luxury brand sector. Because of this, they have developed a great knowledge as specialists in communication, brand building, brand activation and management, innovation and insight, qualitative research programming, NPD, packaging and launch, distribution and sales, and much more.

“For over 27 years we have built a reputation as an agency that thinks ‘Out of The Box’, creating cutting edge activation, clever merchandising and creative thinking that sets us apart in the market. We strive to source a range of spirits from distillers who have generations of distilling expertise, where their own personal mantra is to produce distillates that are of the highest quality, award winning spirits that are recognised across the globe as World Class,” stated Gary Hazell, Head of Sales & Brand Development. Fuelling focus, growth and immediate impact to the

We talked all things branding with Gary who mentioned, “Our portfolio of brands has all been carefully curated by us to offer something that is unique: Freihof Alpine Schnaps & Vodka, Altitude Gin, Junimperium Estonian Gin, Enso Japanese Blended Whisky, Lambay Irish Malt Whiskey, Mahala Botanical and Mayaciel Tequila and other best in class spirits and wines. We have searched tirelessly across many continents to source some of the best spirit brands to offer the trade and consumer. All our

brands have engaging back stories, and many have been distilled to perfection through generations of distilling.” Known as ‘compelling brand storytellers’, Distilled offers a distinctive solution that works first time, developing a longevity of success. Distilled Brands work to get your brand to market in the most appropriate way, “Our clients are premium brands that are best in class – meaning they have won a gold medal somewhere. Our hands on approach means we grow with the brand and act as an extension of their own team. Because of our years of experience in the industry we have a large black book of contacts that can help any premium brand get to market successfully. We know how to leverage brands and through our consultancy services we have built a multi layered business that gives our clients and their brands a ‘turnkey solution’ in gaining awareness, visibility and reach in the UK market across all channels.

As a new initiative Distilled Brands launched Trade Store in 2022 to allow the independent retailer to access a

range of craft spirits with a low minimum order quantity. This enables them fast delivery from which they should earn good margins giving them something to offer the consumers that they won’t find in many multiple retailers.

One future project includes working alongside James Martin for the distribution of his new Gin. “We are really exciting for this project to begin. We will be injecting our expertise from all marketing angles including fundraising to creating a robust platform for them. In the future, we plan to build on our already strong strategic consultancy service as we believe many brands need help from our expertise and experience to get them to market,” said Gary.

You can visit Distilled Brands at the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show 2023 on the 14-15 March, at Manchester Central on stand G48.

For more information, see below.

T  0333 301 0131

www.distilledbrands.com

Food Entrepreneur Show Review

Food Entrepreneur Show 2022: leading event for food takeaway & restaurants

The annual Food Entrepreneur Show took place at the ExCeL London from the 19 – 20 October.

Organised by the multi award-winning global Fortem International team, this was the biggest event for takeaway and restaurant owners from the UK and across Europe.

There were six sizzling shows under one roof: Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo, Restaurant & Bar Tech Live, Coffee Shop Innovation Expo, Street Food Live, Responsible Packaging Expo 2023 and International Drink Expo (IDE). This was the perfect opportunity to amplify brand awareness, reach new customers and learn about new innovative technologies, to maximise revenue.

Fortune Packaging

Fortune Packaging manufacture and supply environmentally friendly recyclable & biodegradable/compostable food packaging products.  We supply a vast range of products UK wide to the ‘food-to-go’ market : restaurants/take-aways, street food vendors, cafes/coffee shops, and those outlets that require packaging for delivered food.

We can supply a range of Paper hot food meal boxes, salad & poke bowls, hot soups pots, paper straws, sauce pots are just a few products within our range. You can also buy our products from Booker cash & carry or Makro stores who also deliver to you directly.

We can also assist you with bespoke/printed packaging products, ideal for franchises, corporate brands or those that simply want a brand identity which sets them apart from generic products. For further information, you can contact us directly to arrange a discussion & sampling of our products at our showroom.

Contact us: hello@fortunepackaging.co.uk

It was the perfect place to turn up the cooking heat on competitors!

There was a dazzling array of cutting-edge innovative designs from AI food menus, SMART Bluetooth helmets for faster food delivery, recycled cardboard delivery packaging to robotic food waste designs. There was a strong emphasis on sustainable packaging and SMART technology across the hospitality sector.

The Food Entrepreneur Show is a market-leading Expo for everyone from coffee shop owners, street food vendors, wholesalers, head chefs, sustainable food packaging companies, aircon and refrigeration suppliers, artisan snacks and biscuits to non-alcoholic beverages. It is the primary location for showcasing delicious food and drink produce and unveiling next generational sustainable packaging.

Food Entrepreneur Show 2023 will be held at the ExCeL, London from 10- 11 October.

www.foodentrepreneurshow.co.uk

Find your tribe! Have a GOAT whatever you fancy

An energy drink for people who don’t drink energy drinks. Speed knitting, spin-biking, mountain climbing or just finishing a box-set. Whatever you’re into we won’t judge!! If you think Energy drinks are not for you, give GOAT a go, you might just be surprised.

Our Philosophy - To create fun, functional drinks which everybody can feel a part of.

Unique Products - We have created an innovate range of ‘active’ drinks that have functional ingredients, claimable health benefits and provide energy without being marketed simply as an energy drink. Strongly appealing to customers who wouldn’t normally drink energy drinks or see themselves as someone who does. Our drinks don’t contain any artificial ingredients, they are not overpowering in flavour or aroma.

What our customers are saying

“I feel I can make more of my day” - Josh “I got all the way t the end of the film! - Ali “There’s no crash, it’s incredible” - Paul “You forget sometimes that drinks are meant to taste good!” - Steve

“It’s great for women and it doesn’t have flowers on the tin!” - Sharon www.goatdrinks.co.uk

Understanding the importance of sustainability in food packaging!

More often than not, we see products that are eco-friendly and biodegradable while exploring options for food packaging... Subconsciously, these two words make us feel better about our environmental responsibilities, and we eventually buy.

Our joy lasts until we realise how ambiguous and widespread the actual meaning of eco-friendliness and biodegradability remains for sellers. With so many ifs and buts attached to its manufacturing, usage, and end-of-life handling, we as users wonder why this gimmick is happening in the name of global sustainability.

Understanding the product's composition and manufacturing process, as well as its ease of use and home compostability for end-of-life disposal, will help you understand more and choose the right product made of areca palm leaves, natural

sugarcane bagasse, paperboard with aqueous lining, and so on.

At disposable green, we remain steadfast in our commitment to our core values and our promise to be a sustainable food packaging supplier. Get in touch with us to discover an unrivalled range of food packaging that makes a genuine difference.

For bulk enquiry, please contact our sales team at sales@disposablegreen.com or call us at 03301 333 989 Visit www.disposablegreen.com for more information.

Bullseye Food Packaging: Planet-friendly meal packaging without compromise

As the world changes and evolves, so must the way in which we package our food. We are all too aware of the damage being done to our planet by non-sustainable meal packaging, like plastic and foil; fortunately, Bullseye Food Packaging specialise in planetfriendly solutions which don’t compromise usability. Bullseye’s meal packaging is based around a range of paper meal trays. The key difference between theirs and other fibre-based trays is explained by Alex Prior, Sales & Marketing Director:

“What makes our trays so different is the lining; many will be familiar with fibre, or bagasse, trays, but these are unsuitable for long-term food storage or delivery as they are unlined, meaning liquid can seep into the tray, causing damage, and they can be difficult to film-seal, which compromises their performance for meal delivery services. Our trays, however, are lined with either cellulose, making them fully compostable, or a thin layer of PET, which offers very high heat resistance, overcoming these problems

If you’ve been in and around the food and drink industry for a few years you will have heard of Bepoz. For over 40 years it has been at the forefront of developing hospitality and retail point of sale systems and is renowned for supplying products that are customised to meet the demands of running a bar, restaurant, café, hotel or club.

Born and bred in Australia, Bepoz had a busy 2022 exhibiting at an array of food shows across the pond including the 29th Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress, AHA WA Expo 2022, Fine Food Australia and Foodservice Australia. Its UK brand Bepoz UK also enjoyed recent success when it exhibited at the Food

whilst maintaining the trays’ sustainable credentials.

“All of our trays are kerbside recyclable as a minimum, with many being fully compostable. They are also safe for us in ovens, microwaves and freezers, proving that being sustainable doesn’t mean compromising usability.”

www.bfpuk.com

Entrepreneur Show 2022, where the biggest brands in the Food & Drink industry come together to network, harness ideas, and showcase their services to thousands of new customers.

Bepoz UK is extremely active within the Food Service industry working with all customers who are also involved in Restaurant POS, Quick Services POS, Hospitals, Colleges & Universities, Senior Living Centre, Casinos, Cafeterias, Bars & nightclubs POS, and Coffee Shop POS. Its solutions are renowned for delivering seamless solutions saving you time and money across all multilocation food services and operations.

Whether you’re looking for help with menu printing, SmartTab solutions for taking food orders or receiving inventory, integrating and creating customer loyalty schemes or points online, Bepoz can deliver a fully featured solution designed to change the way your business performs.

For more information, see below.

T 020 3151 5688 sales@bepoz.co.uk www.bepoz.co.uk

Get smarter with your money

WyzePay is a revolutionary new digital platform that allows retailers to issue their own digital coins allowing customers to prepay for goods and services. WyzePay’s goal is to put spending power back in the hands of the customer and buying power back to you as the business, WyzePay’s transformational way of acquiring new customers and creating fantastic customer loyalty did not go unnoticed at The Food Entrepreneur Show 2022, where customers flocked to Stand Number CC42 leaving the WyzePay team inundated with potential partners and new customers.

Harked as the Food & Drink industry’s ‘Next Big Thing’, WyzePay is essentially a prepaid digital solution that gives high street businesses the power to engage, reward and drive spend from loyal customers, acquire new customers and simultaneously improve their cash flow. Since COVID-19, supporting local has become very popular and WyzePay has created a platform that lets you support your favourite local business whilst making your money go further.

Whether you’re known as everyone’s favourite coffee shop, bar, restaurant or local hang out, with WyzePay you can attract new customers and reward your most loyal

TISSL

TISSL is an award-winning hospitality technology provider that has been in the business since 2003.

TISSL is committed to bringing together expertise, modern technology, and outstanding customer service to meet the needs of its hospitality customers around the globe. Their goal is to make running a restaurant, bar, or hotel more efficient, allowing staff to concentrate on customer service while we take care of the rest.

To help with this goal, TISSL 4 years ago launched our own EPOS product; TISSL Cloud EPOS. This modern cloud-based solution offers unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and ease of use when it comes to managing the operational side of a hospitality business. With features such as cloud-based storage for data syncing and backup, user-based licensing for cost-effectiveness and flexibility and modern intuitive software updates for continued improvement - this EPOS system is revolutionizing how hospitality businesses are run.

customers by allowing them to prepay for what they want with added discounts, special offers and other incentives.

Customers simply register with WyzePay, set up their prepayment parameters, for example top-up with £50 and get 10% off. It’s also very easy for retailers to become live on the WyzePay platform with their offers including integration with accounting, payments processors and POS platforms. The digital coins are then issued and customers can then use these coins to purchase goods. Simple!

If you’re interested in finding out more go to: www.wyzepay.com

TISSL also provides 365 support from qualified professionals who can assist with any issues or questions about their products and services. Whether you're just getting started or want to enhance existing operationsTISSL is here to provide you with all the tools necessary for success in your hospitality business.

For more information, see below.

www.tissl.co.uk

Food Entrepreneur Show Review

Rangoon provide a one-stop solution to your sustainable food packaging needs

Thriving off its strong conscience to develop and promote a sustainable culture in the food packaging industry, Rangoon is a relatively young company that uses its past experiences of operating in Asia to source the most innovative, environmentally-friendly packaging and containers to a global network of clients and partners.

Using new and innovative solutions that are proven to address current industry challenges is the cornerstone of the company and goes hand in hand with the supreme level of pride it carries in bringing solutions to the customer straight from the source.

Sustainoware is a sustainable food packaging brand that is ideal for use in takeaway, food trucks and

dry food storage, however, Rangoon is finding that its solutions are becoming increasingly more suitable and popular in other spaces too such as candle packaging and the airline industry. Showcased at the Restaurant and Takeaway Innovation Expo last October, the packaging is microwaveable & non-flammable, 100% biodegradable and natural, longer lasting than paper and begasse products, waste mitigating and carbon negative.

There is a wide range of tableware

solutions to cater to every type of business. The available types of disposable tableware and products on offer include Areca Leaf and Cassava/Bamboo Fibre. Both these products are particularly good as waste mitigating solutions as they utilise naturally fallen down tree leaves as raw material and use recycled bamboo fibres from bamboo processing factories.

Whether you are looking for plates, bowels, cups, packaging or trays, each product is designed to the highest quality and can be returned back to nature after use under normal composting conditions.

For more information, see below.

T 07444 241 567 pbhasin@rangoon.uk www.rangoon.uk

Wonky fruit prime ingredient for award-winning seltzer

B

rothers Tom & James Henderson from Grinton in the Yorkshire Dales, came up with the ingenious Yan Tan idea during Lockdown. Yan Tan is local sheep counting Swaledale dialect for numbers one and two, paying homage to the brothers’ Yorkshire roots.Yan Tan is now an award-winning premium alcoholic seltzer, available in two delicious flavours: Damson and Rhubarb and Elderflower & Hawthorn. In 2022 The Damson & Rhubarb flavour won the prestigious The Hard Seltzer Masters: The Spirits Business (Master) Award. The damson adds a classic soft palate to the sharper, distinctive rhubarb taste, whereas the Elderflower blends beautifully with the tart Hawthorn berry.

The distinctive seltzers are 100% natural, gluten free, sugar-free and at only 71kcal, are low on calorie but high on taste. Customers can order multi-packs from the website, with the added bonus of free delivery. The glass bottles can be recycled, as a sustainable extra!

The brothers describe their award-winning drinks as

‘moreishly, fine apple spirit' and are perfect straight from the fridge or poured over ice, for a refreshing, sparkling drink.

Yan Tan is made from ‘wonky fruit’- rejected from supermarkets for their less than perfect appearance but is ideal for this award-winning, premium seltzer. This innovative way of using wonky fruit, protects against needless food waste.

To support this British, independent premium brand, see the website below:

www.yantan.uk

Tapp'd Cocktails

Tapp'd Cocktails is a family run, Essex-based, ready to drink bottled cocktail company. They launched in 2019 with a goal to shake up the ready to drink cocktail industry and have since taken the UK by storm.

Originally set up by James O'Hara, who spent the majority of his professional career in mathematics and software engineering. Noticing a gap in the market for high quality, pre-mixed cocktails, he spent a year in research and development creating the unique mixologist quality bottled cocktail range that is now Tapp'd Cocktails. With a reputation for great customer service and high-quality drinks, the brand has seen great success with their local home delivery service, as well as supplying trade partners nationwide.

Each and every cocktail is developed with industry experts, supply chain partners and their loyal customer base, and then launched for customers to #wakeshakeserve and enjoy within 20 seconds.

Having originally launched bottled ready to drink

cocktails, a more premium offering, the brand has also expanded into the canned market to target younger demographic and increase availability at more portable occasions such as festivals and the grab and go section in supermarkets. New for 2023, each cocktail has been redeveloped with reduced sugar.

For more information, see below.

www.tappdcocktails.com

hundreds of businesses supercharge their last mile delivery and power up

profits

To remain a sustainable, competitive, and viable business within this new era of ‘on demand express shopping, it’s not only important that food and drink businesses are offering this service, but that it is being done in the most cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable way possible.

Nuneaton based electric mobility company, Eskuta, have helped hundreds of businesses to do just that, with their unique market leading e-cargo bike, the Eskuta SX-250d.

Not only are these bikes a great sustainable form of transport, vital with the ever-expanding ULEZ areas, but are built using motorcycle grade

Beverages Matters

Wildjac

components, giving a robustness perfect for delivery, along with added safety features such as indicators and rear-view mirrors.

Crucially, as a road legal e-bike the SX-250d does not require any tax or licence and can be ridden anywhere a regular pedal cycle is permitted, including bus and cycle lanes, omitting sitting in timely traffic jams.

The custom branding option also means that whenever the bike is out and about, so too is your brand, plus at approx. 15p per full battery charge giving a range of approx. 40-50 miles you can also say goodbye to costly fuel bills.

#thefutureofurbanmotion

Be

ildjac is based in the heart of the Wyre Forest in Bewdley and is nestled above six and a half thousand acres of British oak, silver birch and Douglas fir trees. The history of the forest gave us the inspiration for Wildjac and our home at HQ houses our Shop, Gin school and Tasting sessions right next to this incredible forest.We are constantly working to source the very highest quality botanicals & spices for our range of Gin’s, Rum’s, Vodka’s and non-alcoholic botanical blends. Our passion is for homegrown and locally foraged ingredients from deep in the forest, grown at home or organic fruit from our local fruit farmer in Hopton Wafers. Douglas Fir from the forest and Lemon balm from our

garden, the natural world around us influences and inspires us.

As delicious as they are sustainable, Wildjac’s spirits are handbottled using recycled glass bottles featuring recycled labels, FSC certified wood stoppers and biodegradable closures.

Our range of spirits is also available at our Wildjac HQ shop in Bewdley, www.wildjac.co.uk and at Independent retailers and farm shops across the UK. Part of the 1% for the Planet programme, Wildjac donates 1% of all sales revenue back to local charities.

For more information, see below. www.wildjac.co.uk

London Packaging Week Review

London Packaging Week 2022: it’s a wrap!

London Packaging Week 2022, organised by Easyfairs was rebranded from the original Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London to bring a larger, more streamlined exhibition to the capital. The two-day event from 21- 22 September at Olympia, saw a 25% increase in visitors, across three seminar stages, buzzing with 170 exhibitors. The turnout was so good that the organisers have changed this year’s venue to ExCeL, London, to allow for an even smoother floor plan design, with higher delegate capacity.

The leading packaging event showcased the best brands, innovators, designers from across the packaging industry and was laid out with all the giddy glamour of a top fashion show. There were four zones: packaging premiere for the luxury packaging sector, PCD for beauty and personal care, PLD for wine, spirits and premium drinks and food and consumer packaging.

There was a strong narrative on sustainability and inclusivity across the seminars and exhibitor stands. Greener, eco-friendly packaging remains the top priority across the packaging industry, with many prototypes and examples of recyclable glass in the premium drinks

New sustainable packaging from bell for 2023

Following the successful introduction of presentation packaging made using polymers recovered from beaches and riverbanks, Bell are delighted to announce a new grade of PET presentation packaging which contains 100% post-consumer waste.

The standard recycled content for our Retran® product is 70%. The move to 100% has been a challenge and by being more selective about the consumer waste and using good grade discarded bottles, sandwich and food containers we have achieved an excellent clarity solution.

The new polymer can be used to produce formings, presentation folding boxes as well as the world famous Retran® tubing which is widely used to present hardware, DIY and sporting products (see attached images).

Commenting on the development Managing Director Peter Lennie stated “our design team have worked tirelessly through recent months to achieve a 100% recycled product. Rigorous testing has been carried out to ensure the product performs well in the market and we are delighted with the results. To differentiate the 100% from our standard product we have introduced a slight grey tint to the film which adds an attractive feature to the final presentation.”

Samples of Retran® 100 are available and Bell welcome any enquiries for this exciting product.

Please contact our sales team on 01582 459292 or email info@bellpackaging.com for more information.

industry and even, recycled leather packaging. Inclusivity was another hot topic, with designers showcasing inclusive packaging, with high openability and clearer readability for those with visual impairments.

Exclusive new launches included multi-page labelling formats and flip top caps for bottles, with high representation from long-standing paper merchants, software packaging technology and labelling companies.

London Packaging Week 2023 will be held at the ExCeL, London from 21- 22 September.

www.londonpackagingweek.com

Harkwell Labels

On the sunny coast of Dorset is where you will find Harkwell, the UK’s largest independent HP Indigo label and pouch manufacturer. Accredited to BRC AA standard, we pride ourselves on zero non-conformance for the last two years.

Not only do we print digitally, but we also offer various embellishments via our ABG finishing equipment. Foiling, embossing, lamination, and varnish including gloss, matt and textured. We also offer a range of peel and reveal labels, with colour inside and out. Language challenges due to limited space are solved with one label.

In 2022 we invested over £3 million on increasing our capacity which included flexible packaging. We have a team of experienced people to service the needs of brands wanting to take up digital flexible packaging.

At Harkwell we see ourselves as an innovator, but also an educator to our clients. We give

Print & Packaging Matter

“No-label look” appearance

Innovia Films is launching Rayoface™ CSA46, a clear, one-side gloss coated BOPP film, perfect for use in Food and Beverage or Household and Personal Care applications. This 46 micron film is approximately 10 percent thinner than most facestock films, giving this a higher yield and an improved carbon footprint.

• BOPP film offers higher yield and an improved carbon footprint

• New material has EU food contact compliance

Rayoface™ CSA is a high clarity and low haze film which gives enhanced product visibility and the “no-label look” appearance. The material has a very wide print window and is suitable for printing with flexo, gravure, screen offset and letter press. Also with UV, low-migration, and water-based inks.

Alasdair McEwen, Product Manager, Labels explains “the performance of CSA46, means it has excellent cold foil adhesion and appearance, allowing eye-catching graphics and label designs for your product. Whilst reducing carbon impact versus thicker coated facestock films”

McEwen adds “CSA46 provides balanced orientation for enhanced die-cutting and die lifetime and importantly also has EU food contact compliance”.

To find out more contact your local Innovia Films Sales Manager or email labels@innoviafilms.com

them the best experience, whether its labels or flexible packaging.

From day one we work alongside our clients to bring their brands to life!

Large or small, the client is important to us. Just in time deliveries without the stock holding and no upfront origination costs.

We work with you and for you. Harkwell, you won’t be disappointed.

www.harkwell-labels.co.uk

Print & Packaging Matters

Premier Foods Paxo packaging wins award

Premier Foods decided to replace the PVdC coated packaging film on their Paxo stuffing range as part of their commitment to the UK Plastics Pact.

The challenge to the technical team at National Flexible was to supply a film that:

• Provided consumers with a fully recyclable solution

• Incorporated as much recycled content as possible

• Matched the sealing integrity and performance of the PVdC coated film

• Maintained full food packaging compliance

The resulting replacement film developed by National Flexible in conjunction with the polymer supplier and

the film manufacturer, was ‘Highly commended’ in 2 categories at the 2022 UK Packaging Awards held at the London Park Lane Grosvenor Hotel:

• Flexible Plastic Pack Of The Year

• Resource Efficient Pack Of The Year

These awards recognised that the replacement film had 60% recycled content by combining Post-Consumer Recycled waste (P.C.R.) with industrial regrind, to produce a film which met the Premier Foods commitment to the UK Plastics Pact. Research for the project was over a year in the making and the film was also trialled and approved in conjunction with capital investment in new machinery at the Premier Foods site.

In summary the replacement film eliminates the use of PVdC, which is disruptive to the recycling of plastics. The new film is 100% recyclable, has a lower carbon footprint, reduces the use of virgin material, and has many sustainable and environmental advantages.

National Flexible provide (without commitment) FREE

Environmental Packaging Audits. These audits invariably result in a resolution in film usage and / or reduced packaging costs.

Please contact Scott McEvoy on (01274) 685566 for more details.

www.nationalflexible.co.uk

Cutting costs or improving sustainability in coding and marking - is it a choice?

Amid a cost of living and climate crisis, manufacturers are battling to try and cut costs, whilst improving sustainability. Rotech can evaluate your coding and marking processes to help you achieve the best of both worlds.

Often overlooked but hugely important; your production line coding could be a key component to becoming more cost and ecoefficient. Replacing out-dated technology and processes will allow you to reduce your carbon footprint, whilst also removing extra expenses.

At Rotech, we are advocates for newer and greener thermal inkjet printers. The maintenance-free systems, only require recyclable cartridge-based inks that do not contain harmful MEK fluids. Unlike aging CIJ printers, TIJ does not need regular on-site servicing, reducing the overall lifetime value and environmental impact of travel, extra resources, and spare parts.

Where labels are concerned, the environmental impact is obvious. Not only do they promote waste and limit recyclability, they are costly and currently experiencing supply chain disruption. So, are they always necessary? Large area printing offers a greener alternative to labelling, - by removing this extra step in production you are both cutting costs and improving sustainability.

Rotech’s team of experts offer support, advice and solutions to all industries wanting to improve the environmental impact of their manufacturing. This will come hand in hand with dramatically cutting costs and maximising efficiency. Now something that seemed impossible, isn’t so difficult to achieve after all!

For any further information on Rotech, or any one of our solutions, visit our website: www.rotechmachines.com

The worlds first smart, simple and low-height industrial floor cleaning robot sweeper machine.

Short-staffed or looking for a more cost-effective cleaning option for your site? The K900 is a fully autonomous vacuum-sweeper solution that has been built from the ground up to perform in industrial environments.

K900 Industrial Vacuum-Sweeper Robot Hygiene industry experts join forces

With advanced SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) navigation and 3D environmental perception, the K900 not only chooses the most

Hygiene equipment application specialists H&M Disinfection Systems Ltd and specialist hygiene solution provider Christeyns Food Hygiene have today announced the signing of a strategic partnership.

Christeyns Food Hygiene, (CFH), based in Warrington and H&M Disinfection Systems Ltd of Northwich are both industry leaders with over 30 years of experience in their respective fields. Having worked together for three decades, this strategic alliance will allow the two companies to provide a turn-key solution to the food, dairy and beverage industries for effective cleaning and disinfection operations.

The current CFH engineering offering for the optimisation of water, energy consumption, dosing, time and labour will be strengthened, combining both chemical and engineering expertise including a complete equipment portfolio, CIP sets, Washdown Systems, Bulk tanks and bespoke engineering. This unique full-service package will include maintenance and periodic safety inspections.

“We are delighted to confirm this formal alliance with H&M Disinfection. The excellent equipment, control systems and reliable pump-sets they manufacture, combined with formulations created by Christeyns Food Hygiene will ensure our customers can rely not only on the chemistry, but also on the application equipment,” commented CFH Operations Director, Andy Bethel.

For over 30 years Christeyns Food Hygiene has produced effective formulations of detergents and disinfectants for all application in the food, dairy and beverage industries with customers from across a range of household consumer brands and suppliers to the UK’s food retailers. As part of Belgium parent company, Christeyns NV, they are able to draw on international support and expertise as required.

Since 1989 H&M Disinfection Ltd have built a reputation for providing high quality, bespoke hygiene application equipment which is the corner-stone of many customer’s food safety management systems. Their “CIP in a box” solution, where a temporary or stand-in CIP set is required to cover breakdowns or scheduled system maintenance, is one example of their innovative solutions.

Stephen Hall from H&M Disinfection: “This partnership cements our long-term relationship enabling us to better service customers from both companies, with high quality formulations and the equipment to reliably and safety apply them to achieve a hygienic manufacturing unit.” www.christeyns.com

efficient way to clean, but also reacts to a constantly changing environment along with reporting a heat map of the area cleaned to ensure maximum coverage.

Low-height racking or hard-to-clean spaces? No problem, thanks to a super low 35cm design and radio control option for operated use. When it comes to automated cleaning in industrial environments, the K900 is truly superior in design, technology and performance.

T 01789 415695 www.crescentindustrial.co.uk

Christeyns Food Hygiene: Inspiring a world without waste across the food and beverage industry

Christeyns Food Hygiene was recently awarded Hygiene Solutions Company of the Year.

Christeyns Food Hygiene is well known in the industry for its specialised, premium chemicals, reliable equipment, and flexible, customised service. Based in Warrington, the firm offers a wide variety of engineering and hygiene solutions to the food and beverage industry, from central and decentral cleaning and disinfection systems to dosing systems, ultrasonic cleaning installations and access control equipment. Specialities such as dry lubrication and fogging systems, foam generators and washers for moulds complete the range.

We spoke to Graham Hunneman, New Business and Corporate Accounts Director for Christeyns Food Hygiene, who commented, “We are delighted to receive this award, even more of an achievement following an extremely challenging 12 months, not just for CFH but for everyone in the food industry.

“Despite our robust strategies following the year of lockdown, the geopolitical situation has led to an increase in the cost of raw materials and new challenges to conquer, hitting both us and our customers hard. We are however working to mitigate these increases with our customers

by improving efficiency and offering a top-notch customer service with advice on best practice. Working in partnership provides the best outcome for all parties.”

CFH operates as part of Christeyns UK, whose headquarters are in Bradford. Christeyns UK’s business interests cover food hygiene, laundry and professional hygiene with markets across the UK and Ireland. The parent company, Christeyns NV, set up in 1947 in Gent, Belgium, has grown from a family-owned business into a big international player, rooted in local communities to really understand the needs and expectations of its client base.

Keeping a close eye on the global market, and foreseeing some of the potential issues, CFH invested almost a million pounds into additional storage facilities for the caustic soda that is crucial to their food and beverage customers. This ensured a continuous supply for its customers and the continuation of the crucial food manufacturing sector.

During COVID, CFH was able to explore other opportunities and supplied the industry with the first BSI quality assured hand gel. By staying flexible during this period, the company has managed to keep its profits healthy to fuel future growth and investments.

As part of an international group, CFH is able to continue its focus on innovation, and build partnerships with small to medium-sized customers.

Graham continued, “We have recently entered into a partnership with an equipment manufacturer called HMD which enables us to offer better engineering solutions and service packages to our customers, as well as funding some of HMD’s bigger projects to support expansion.”

Christeyns Food Hygiene has achieved Zero Waste to Landfill for the last two years as it puts sustainability at the heart of company policy. By working in partnership with ACM Environmental, the company achieved exceptional environmental performance with Zero Waste to Landfill in 2020, 2021 and is on target for 2022.

Christeyns Food Hygiene are proud to have been awarded the EcoVadis silver medal which is an evidenced-based online platform that enables companies to evaluate the sustainability performance of themselves and their customers.

In the midst of the current economic climate leading to a shortage of raw materials and price increases across the industry, CFH recognises the struggles that its customers are facing, and the company is working harder and harder to drive efficiencies. With this relentless struggle for cost savings, the food industry’s primary role is to produce safe quality food and to ensure that the products leaving the plants are safe. Graham continued, “Our main priority now is to ensure the supply of products to our customers, in spite of a chemical industry supply chains difficulties which is being driven by the Ukraine crisis, drought and floods, COVID pandemic, economic stability, energy and fuel, and labour shortages.”

These struggles represent an opportunity to look more closely at cleaning and disinfection processes and will lead to better monitoring and control of all processes in the long run. This is the only valid method to define potential savings while maintaining a safe food production environment, and the high level of professionalism of the food industry workers and suppliers must be paramount in the interests of food safety.

Regarding competition, Graham had this to say, “While our products are similar to those produced by others, we offer unparalleled technical expertise for customers. As the largest family-owned chemical business in the world, we have relatively little red tape which means decisions can be pushed through faster. We encourage employees to be creative in

order that as a company, we are always moving forwards and staff enjoy working for the company.”

Looking forward, the company has ambitions to expand into larger international groups, an important part of the growth strategy for CFH. A recent partnership with the global company Mondelez, owner of brands such as Cadbury, Toblerone, Philadelphia, was a step in the right direction, and the firm is looking to cement more of these partnerships.

CFH recognises that the next year or so is likely to be very uncertain for all these reasons already discussed, and Graham remarked that, “Normally we can horizon scan the near future, but now everyone is working blind with so much unpredictability. However, as a debt-free, profitable business, we continue to make great progress in data management to manage our costs, and this helps us to make quick decisions based on facts, rather than hope or belief.”

The company projects its UK operation as a centre of excellence throughout the world, being proactive and working closely and encouraging small starter businesses. At the other end of the spectrum, they also work together with partners and retailers to work towards a cleaner tomorrow and develop best practices across the food industry.

Graham concluded, “CFH is honoured to be our Hygiene Solutions Company of the Year, we all have measurable KPIs but any award is a recognition of our entire team who work so hard, we are very proud of them, and this award validates all of our hard work.”

T 01925 234696

UK-foodinfo@christeyns.com

www.christeyns.com

Manufacturing & Machinery Matters

A great way to save labour cost

We all appreciate that one of the most expensive overheads in your business walks on two legs, arrives every day at 9 am, and leaves at 5 pm. I am of course talking about your labour costs. So, when a product comes along that suggests it can save your labour costs and provide a more flexible way of working, it might just be worth investigating.

For example, scaffolding is not usually a subject I would get excited about; however, analysis of the data suggests this particular product requires deeper scrutiny. I would have my knuckles wrapped by the manufacturer if I did not immediately dispel the image conjured up by the word scaffolding. There are significant differences between scaffolding and the LOBO Work Platform System, the subject of this article. The differences are technical and commercial hence the excitement.

Firstly, we are unlikely to see this product on a building site, so can we dismiss the concept of traditional scaffolding with heavy tubes and planks of timber? Instead, think more of an adult’s version of Meccano or Adults Erector Set, which can be assembled without the need for any tools and is used by companies for maintenance. Enough said about the product. Next, let us look at the all-important cost benefit that may save your company thousands.

The people at LOBO have supplied me with countless incidents of companies who use the LOBO System in preference to calling in the expensive and inflexible scaffolding contractor. But, of course, it needs to be said upfront that the LOBO System is not the answer to all your scaffolding requirements. Still, any internal facilities, plant or machinery applications are a strong possibility.

On meeting the brains behind LOBO, great pains are taken to explain how it all works, citing that some of the world’s largest companies have taken the plunge and now use the system. Of course, we all accept that the way data is presented can have different interpretations, but looking closely at the figures, they appear to stack up.

LOBO has documented several case studies (details available on request) that clearly show the costsaving advantages, which reveal impressive results with only a minimal investment. The customers studied are not from the same sector and range from automated distribution, food & beverage, to huge manufacturing multinationals. However, whilst they come from a diverse industrial base, they all appear to have similar cost issues, which may be resolved using a LOBO System.

LOBO cites Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Anheuser Busch & Samsung as some of their best-known customers.

Applications are for Automated Distribution, RADAR Installations, Brewery and SemiConductor Manufacturing Maintenance. The actual use may differ due to the versatile nature of the product, but the cost-saving benefit applies to all. These companies and many more have to employ externally based (outsourced) scaffolding contractors. They must comply with the workingat-height regulations, sometimes for simple maintenance tasks.

This can be expensive, as it takes time, which is where the cost is, to erect a system, and it stays up for the pre-agreed minimum rental time. Often this can be weeks or longer and costs more and more each day which may be counter-

productive. LOBO point out that their system can be assembled by anyone who has been trained quickly and easily and then packed away when not in use in their custom Towerstore cage.

The additional benefit of having your system is that it is available 7 days a week and deployed whenever you want, quicker than traditional scaffolding. The knock-on effect could mean more excellent production uptime, with obvious cost-saving ramifications.

The case studies I looked at revealed a payback time of between 1 to 9 months with a capital spend of

between 10% and 40 % of the existing scaffolding budget. This only applies to the first year, as once you have invested, it is plain sailing from the payback date onwards.

There are ongoing annual operational costs which amount to no more than 5%, for example, 2-year refresher training. But looking at the big picture, this is impressive.

A positive can therefore be drawn on a cost-saving basis alone. It might be that you can cut your scaffolding costs in half or even reduce it to zero. But, on the other hand, big budget holders such as

oil, manufacturing and chemical companies spend millions each year and may feel resigned to paying these vast sums yearly.

Perhaps there is an alternative where the cost-benefit analysis adds up, and your reliance on outsourced scaffolding companies can be reduced into the bargain.

For more information, call UK +44(0)1332 365666 and North America 800 640 5492 or Schedule your online demonstration now!

www.lobosystems.com

Manufacturing & Machinery Matters

Oakley Food Projects

Oakley Food Projects - The turnkey factory design, build and fit-out partner for small and medium sized food manufacturers.

Are you the owner of a food manufacturing business that needs to expand their factory facilities but doesn’t know where to start? You’re not alone!

The majority of SME food factory owners that are facing expansion tell us that:

• They’re busy managing the day-to-day business and lack the time and headspace to focus on a project

• They’re worried about the project becoming a major distraction

• Their lack of experience results in unforeseen pitfalls

which often lead to time and budget overrun

These challenges are at the core of why we exist. Oakley take care of the entire expansion process; from initial scoping and design through to handover of your finished factory. Our turnkey approach means that, as the business owner, you can focus on what is most important, without the stress, distraction and risk of trying to manage the project yourself.

Got growth plans? Get in touch today for a no obligation chat!

T 0118 2280888 sales@oakleyfoodprojects.com www.oakleyfoodprojects.com

Flow sensing challenges in food & beverage production

Titan Enterprises offers a range of highperformance flowmeters in food grade materials where both food hygiene and precision flow measurement are required.

Flow measurement is a critical tool for food and beverage manufacturers, the industry having a diverse range of processes that require the precise control of liquid flow rates. Production processes including filling of vessels or bottles, measuring liquid ingredients, and controlling cleaning processes, require varying degrees of complexity and accuracy to ensure consistent product yield and minimise wastage. Although there are a wide variety of general flowmeters on the market, only a few high-performance measuring devices will ensure the high levels of hygiene and precision are maintained for applications in the food and drinks sector.

“The physical properties of the liquids themselves lend additional complexities to the choice of flow measuring equipment,” says Neil Hannay, Senior Development Engineer at Titan Enterprises. “Consideration of whether the liquid is viscous, volatile, corrosive, flammable, or contaminated with particles, for example, or needs to be maintained at a high temperature, are key factors in deciding a suitable flow meter.”

Monitoring Flow of High and Low Viscosity

Fluids

Flow monitoring of high viscosity liquids, such as cooking oils, sauces and syrups (e.g. syrup injections in beverage lines) require devices such as Titan’s oval gear flowmeters, which provide highly accurate flow measurement. Unlike other flowmeters, measurement accuracy of oval gear flowmeters improves as the liquid viscosity increases, from a nominal 1% to around 0.1% of flow rate at higher viscosities.

Whereas for low viscosity liquids such as water, beer, wine and spirits, Titan’s NSF-approved 800-series and beverage flowmeters provide a low-cost drink dispensing solution. Designed to give high performance over 6 flow ranges from 0.05 to 15 l/min, these devices have totally non-metallic NSF-approved wetted components making them ideally suited for applications where both food hygiene and precision flow measurement are required.

Flow Monitoring at High Temperatures

In processes where ingredients need to be maintained at high temperatures – chocolate for example – a flowmeter designed for applications requiring precise flow measurement at elevated temperatures would be needed. Capable of operating up to 110°C, Titan’s inline noninvasive Atrato® ultrasonic flowmeter is largely immune from viscosity and offers excellent turndown and repeatability.

Titan Enterprises offers a range of oval gear flowmeters in food grade materials for viscous products such as sauces, oils and syrups, as well as NSF-approved mini-turbine flowmeters for drink dispensing. As an experienced OEM supplier, Titan develop customised flow meters for specific customer applications within the food and beverage industry.

To discuss an optimised flow measurement device for your OEM application please contact Titan Enterprises on +44 (0)1935 812790 or email sales@flowmeters.co.uk.

VegfestUk London returns after three years

VegfestUK London was back at the Olympia, London from 12- 13 November 2022, after a long hiatus of three years. The Expo is the UK’s biggest indoor vegan event, with all products 100% vegan certified. With over 200 exhibitors and 8,000 visitors, there was a buzz about the latest trends in plant-based diets, vegan wedding companies, with accompanying delicious vegan canapés and samples.

The vibe was welcoming and inclusive, like an extended family that hadn’t seen each other for three years! There were live cooking demonstrations, Mediterranean deli exhibitors and the latest vegan fashion designs.

In previous years, 70% of the visitors were vegan and 30% were non-vegan, or newly vegan. However, estimates show that those figures reversed at the 2022 Expo, with an astonishing 70% of visitors curious about vegan lifestyles and open to new product ranges.

The focus during the Expo was on outreach: education

How does your garden grow?

and information on vegan philosophy, support and information.

The VegfestUK Awards were voted for by the public, rewarding celebrated vegan businesses, charities and individuals for their outstanding vegan contributions to society.

Next year is the 20th Anniversary for VegfestUK, book a trade space today for this special event:

VegfestUK London, Olympia, London from 11- 12 November 2023.

www.london.vegfest.co.uk

Juliette’s Kitchen

Juliette’s Kitchen and All You Need Superfoods were created by Nutritional Consultant and Superfood Alchemist Juliette Bryant. Her mission is to create amazing superfood products to help inspire people to better health and wellbeing. All of the ingredients used are organic and fairtrade and Juliette works hard to source the best ingredients.

Juliette Bryant is a leading figure in the field of health transformation. She has travelled the world seeking out and studying the most effective tools for achieving good health and healing. Juliette has three published books and written countless articles for magazines, newspapers and journals, all arising from her extensive research into healthy living, wellbeing and nutrition.

She offers her professional services as a Nutritional Health Consultant to individuals and groups within both public and business sectors. Her dynamic, intuitive and evidenced presentations are well received, enjoyable and noted for the simplicity and accessibility.

Her website www.juliettebryant.com features a wealth of original, free content as well as details of her online courses, mentorship work and an extensive range of

Mediterranean products impress at Vegfest Expo

Sustainably produce fruit and veg from home with GroHelper® S

Start-up Grohelper is a revolutionary company that designs horticulture technologies for home-based and large-scale industrial growers. GroHelper® was recently showcased at Vegfest 2022 where visitors were wowed and taken aback by its amazing concept.

“The GroHelper® Ecosystem is a leading edge, fully automated IOT technology that brings together nature and technology remotely controlled by our GroHelper® mobile app. The GroHelper® Hub then controls the growing environment through monitoring and autoadjusting the variables of the grow equipment including: fans, temperature, light, heat, air speed, humidity, CO2, PH levels, and nutrition feeders, all at the press of a button!” stated Christiaan Van Den Heever, Director and Founder.

Fresh to the scene, GroHelper has only been in the market since last year and has already been inundated with orders and interest. With over 280 crops available for selection from the GroHelper® app, dive into the fully automated ecosystem that combines nature and the latest innovative technologies.

Whether you are a budding home gardener, or operate as a large-scale industrial grower, you too can contribute towards a plant powered planet. The GroHelper® plant growing kit is costeffective, sustainable, easy to use and features climate monitoring, gro-on-the-go app, a fully customisable scheduler, HD camera feed that can be operated from anywhere in the world, plant specific environment smart app features, and a modular and simple concept that adapts to all surroundings making it simple for you to ramp up or dial down the volume of fruit and veg you produce.

For more information, see below. www.grohelper.com

unita Foods was a top exhibitor at last year’s Vegfest Expo at the Olympia Grand in London from the 12- 13 November. The delicious, mouth-watering range of natural, vegan and organic Mediterranean products are sourced sustainably by working with local producers that use traditional processing methods without unnecessary additives or preservatives.

Sunita is a registered trademark of Skoulikas Bedford Ltd, founded by George Skoulikas who first imported olive oil to the UK from Greece in 1977. The portfolio may have expanded over the years, but the organic, sustainable roots have remained.

The extensive range includes vegan Greek tahini, halva, sesame and nut spreads, olive oil, gluten-free products, vegan soap and Italian essentials including Easter eggs and cakes.

The Dedicato pasta range is made with 100% Puglia wheat, from the southern Italian olive-oil producing region. The wheat is harvested using traditional, sustainable methods, forging a bond between greener farming and consumer demand. Sunita tahini is produced in Greece using Ethiopian humera sesame seeds, traditionally roasted and ground, resulting in a perfect vegan, plant-based source of protein and calcium.

For those with sensitive skin, the Oliva Olive Oil soap is a perfect choice: the vegan soap is not tested on animals, has just three ingredients and comes packed in recycled boxes. Ideal for birthday gifts for loved ones.

All products can be ordered directly through the Bedford based company. Have a look today for Easter gifts and some delicious vegan and organic products.

T 01234 354783 info@sunitafoods.co.uk www.skoulikasbedford.co.uk www.sunitafoods.co.uk

superfood blends, tonics and supplements – organically produced using plant-based ingredients and sought by customers the world over.

Social Handles

www.facebook.com/julietteskitchen.tv

www.instagram.com/jluietteskitchen27

www.youtube.com/@julietteskitchen

Ecoshe plant-based workshop wins an award at the London VegFest

Heather Drummond flew in from Mauritius to share her 1-hour plant-based workshop with Londoners at the recent VegFest. The event welcomed over 8,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors.

In just 1 hour, participants were taken on a journey with Ecoshe to discover over sixty reasons to consider switching to a plant-based diet, even partially. Through this engaging documentary and quiz app, most felt compelled to join the growing movement in which they won an award in the Eco Solution category.

Ecoshe is on a mission. They are recruiting teachers worldwide, and these teachers don’t necessarily have to be vegan themselves. Instead, they are alleviating their carbon footprint by teaching and encouraging others. A meaningful expedition.

Ecoshe is also reaching out to companies to book their employees on the 1-hour workshop. These workshops, which can be done onsite or online, align with ESG incentives and nurture their human capital.

As a non-profit organisation, Ecoshe’s ultimate goal is to bring a community together to live more consciously and, in turn, feel healthier and happier.

Contact

T +230 57772276

www.ecoshe.com

hello@ecoshe.com

Outstanding Achievement Award

40th year anniversary for Swiftclean duct cleaning and legionella risk experts

Food & Drink Matters is delighted to honour award-winning expert services provider Swiftclean with our Outstanding Achievement Award in building air and water hygiene services, particularly across the education, healthcare, hospitality, facilities management and social housing sectors.

Swiftclean is a family run company with just under 100 employees across the UK. The company provides specialist air and water hygiene services which have, for four decades, had a profound impact not only on ductwork hygiene, but also on fire safety. This has brought positive benefits for the general health and safety of countless buildings and the wellbeing of their occupants.

For professional and commercial catering establishments, Swiftclean provides a number of industry leading services, including kitchen extract fire safety cleaning, ventilation system hygiene, fire damper testing & maintenance, grease traps compliance, Legionella control services, and laundry extract cleaning.

Hygiene in ventilation systems and kitchen extract systems is an essential aspect of facilities management for catering businesses. In order to achieve and maintain compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is necessary to control fire risks such as the accumulation of grease deposits in the kitchen extract ductwork, which can act as fuel for a fire. Grease deposits are an inevitable result of the cooking process and must be regularly removed from the canopy, filters and the entire extraction system, including the full length of the ductwork, which may extend for some distance. Removal of the grease should be carried out in accordance with the BESA specification TR19® Grease ‘Fire Risk Management of Grease Accumulation within Kitchen Extraction Systems’, which requires expert cleaning at regular specified intervals and monitoring the rate of grease accumulation.

Swiftclean Managing Director, Gary Nicholls is widely recognised as an industry expert on this issue and is a co-author of TR19® Grease and its predecessors, TR/19 and TR/17. TR19® Grease is published by the Building Engineering Services

Association (BESA) and is now a widely recognised specification with which building managers should comply in order to meet legal obligations set by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. His input into the formulation over time of this specification has been invaluable and he serves as part of the steering committee which writes and updates this technical document.

A popular misconception is that a grease layer must be very thick in order to pose a serious risk of fire, but the reality is that a very thin layer of grease can provide fuel for a fire. TR19® Grease stipulates that grease levels should not be allowed to exceed 200 microns as a mean between cleaning intervals to ensure adequate fire safety control – about half the thickness of a business card. A relatively small amount of grease can cause a fire to spread through the ductwork to other parts of the building, often causing considerable damage to the roof as well as, potentially, to adjoining properties.

Swiftclean has campaigned to raise awareness of this key aspect of fire safety, and for fully accessible extract systems which allow compliance. Many older systems were designed prior to the publication of TR19® Grease, and do not have sufficient access points to allow the entire system to be thoroughly cleaned. Swiftclean will retrofit additional access hatches to older systems in order to help its clients to comply, and regularly advocates for TR19® Grease to be the standard to which systems are designed, in order to facilitate future compliance.

In addition to TR19® Grease, the BESA also issues TR19®, a sister document which establishes the guidance for hygiene in ventilation systems. Regular expert cleaning in accordance with TR19®

helps to ensure that the air which is circulated through ventilation systems is cleaner, fresher and free from airborne contaminants. This helps to ensure good indoor air quality which is vital for the wellbeing of staff, guests and residents.

Swiftclean helps to raise awareness of the need for compliance in its own industry and across other sectors. The company helped to formulate the BESA’s own apprenticeship programme, and the company is a BESA accredited training centre, and hosts BESA accredited ventilation hygiene competency courses. Members of Swiftclean’s own team deliver some of the training.

Major insurer, AXA Insurance, as part of its Commercial Kitchen Fire Safety Service, names Swiftclean as recommended provider of fire safety kitchen extract cleaning. Compliance with TR19® Grease also helps to protect building managers. Should the worst occur, many insurance companies will now refuse to pay out for a claim for fire damage if the extract system was not compliant. Following a fire, if the building manager cannot demonstrate their compliance, they can be liable to prosecution for negligence, especially if injuries or fatalities have occurred. Swiftclean provides robust before and after photographic evidence of its expert cleaning, which helps to protect the building manager.

The BESA recommends that caterers use members of its Vent Hygiene Elite (VHE) scheme to provide specialist cleaning to TR19® Grease and TR19® VHE members are regularly vetted to ensure that they apply best practice and provide compliant service reports. Swiftclean is a founder member of

the VHE scheme and MD Gary Nicholls serves as Chairman of the VHE scheme user group. Gary is often called upon to be an expert witness in cases of suspected negligence following an extract fire, and his expertise and experience are recognised industry-wide.

Swiftclean is also one of the few UK companies to provide expert fire damper management. In order to provide fresher air throughout a property, ventilation ductwork often passes through an internal fire-resistant wall, creating an opening in the wall through which fire might travel.

To solve this problem, fire dampers are installed at the point of intersection to restore the compartmentalisation provided by the fireresistant wall. This is frequently at a point where the ductwork passes from a side room through a corridor.

Fire dampers are essentially a set of steel louvres which normally remain open to allow the flow of air through the ventilation system, but which automatically close in the event of a fire. Naturally, it is vital to know that they will work as designed, so each fire damper must be ‘drop tested’ at least every twelve months, in accordance with BS:9999, to ensure that the blades will ‘drop’ into their closed position, restoring the barrier against fire. Should any fire damper fail this test, it must be repaired and retested.

Swiftclean’s track record in both service and awareness is exceptional, and we are very pleased to acknowledge this with a Food & Drink Matters Award for Outstanding Achievement.

www.swiftclean.co.uk

Managing Director - Gary Nicholls

Before grease extraction

After grease extraction

Closed fire damper

Open fire damper