Food & Drink Matters Issue 176

Bristol Fungarium Healthy Living Matters Page 8

Pius Vita Superfoods Healthy Living Matters Page 9

July 2024 – issue 176

Pages 18-19

EDITOR RECOMMENDS

Gaiago: The soil first F

ollowing on from the successful launch into the UK and Irish market at this year’s Groundswell Festival, Gaiago is encouraged by the interest and commitment to its sustainable products.

Soils – understanding the problem As a global issue, it is clear that there is a need to embrace and engage with a new way of thinking around soils. Soils should be treated as one of the biggest assets we have to avoid the continuing loss of fertility and current negative impacts on nature.

Gaiago’s portfolio harnesses the very latest innovation for revitalising soils, any farmer, grower, horticulturist or land manager’s biggest asset. The solutions consist of unique formulations of natural elements, protecting yields and empowering growers to evolve their practices to a more regenerative farming. Products registered as biostimulants are now available in the UK.

Gaiago is making the change within soils and their whole team is committed to educating and offering solutions to growers for the production of healthy, fertile, and sustainable products.

‘Mankind thrives when soils thrive’ is Gaiago’s mantra

The current portfolio is supported by a strong R&D pipeline developed both internally and externally, notably through a scientific joint-venture with a renowned Agricultural University, UniLaSalle.

Innovative solutions on the ground Alongside Gaiago’s leading soil probiotics FreeN100 & FreePK, its prebiotic biostimulant Nutrigeo® offers improved soil structure in less than 6 months, enhances fertility and growth, and accelerates the humification process – the source of carbon storage in soils.

Find out more at: www.gaiago.eu

Drinkaware launches campaign to check your drinking D

rinkaware kicked off a nationwide campaign on Thursday 4 July, during Alcohol Awareness Week, to encourage people to take the free Drinkaware Drinking Check and ensure they are not putting their health at risk.

Drinkaware's research showed that two-thirds (66%) of adult drinkers in the UK, an estimated 30 million people, have never been asked to check their drinking. Taking the Drinking Check on Drinkaware's website is a quick and easy way to understand how alcohol may be impacting your health. It also provides advice on how to have a healthier relationship with alcohol.

The Drinking Check asks you questions about your drinking and tells you what your drinking habits mean for your health. Studies have shown that it can effectively identify people with risky drinking behaviour. Regularly taking the Drinking Check can help you keep

track of your drinking and stay within the Chief Medical Officer's low risk guidelines of 14 units a week.

Karen Tyrell, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, said, “We are used to regularly checking our eyesight or going to the dentist, so we should be doing the same for our drinking. Taking the Drinkaware Drinking Check is free & only takes a few minutes, you can do it in the time it takes to boil the kettle.

"It is a simple way to ensure your drinking is not putting your health at serious risk and provides advice to help you moderate and keep within the low risk drinking guidelines.

"Whether you're thinking about having a drink to celebrate or commiserate over the next few days, why not take the Drinking Check today."

To take the free Drinkaware Drinking Check, visit: www.drinkaware.co.uk

Inter-action for a sustainable future T

he highly anticipated Groundswell Event in Hertfordshire on 28th and 29th June did not disappoint, with farmers, researchers and experts in the agricultural industry coming together from across the world to learn and share knowledge on sustainable food production through regenerative farming practices.

Interagro (UK) Ltd, leading adjuvant and biostimulant experts, were among the growing number of exhibitors in attendance offering practical solutions to help farmers achieve more sustainable and profitable food production through superior plant health.

Growing in popularity year-on-year the ‘Glastonbury-for-farmers’ style event was full of buzz, learning and positive attitudes, with Interagro part of the Knowledge Trail showcasing how its plant-based seed

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treatment Newton, offers a more natural and eco-friendly approach to crop establishment, by boosting seeds rather than treating plants.

Newton is increasingly being adopted by farmers due to the recognition of its proven abilities to enhance plant growth, productivity, and resilience.

Newton’s potential to improve crop establishment, work in harmony with soil biology, and put plants in the best possible position to acquire moisture and nutrients throughout its lifetime – so they are less reliant on synthetic inputs – has contributed to its increasing use.

To find out more about Newton and Interagro’s adjuvant and biostimulant range visit: www.interagro.co.uk Get in touch on: 01279 714970 or email: info@interagro.co.uk Follow on Twitter: @InteragroUK

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CONTENTS

July 2024 – issue 176

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Inside this issue

Who doesn’t love a good British pub quiz?

Hashtag Hosts Ltd provides all-in-one-browser-based trivia, bingo and pub quiz software to the hospitality sector, as Managing Director, Simon Wilson, explains.

5 Organico Farm Shop & Deli Show Review

14 Rotech Machines Print & Packaging Matters

10 Safety Bug Training Health & Hygiene Matters

15 National Flexible Christmas Matters

11 House of Flavours Food & Drink Expo Review

24 Bluewater Group Water Management Matters 16

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Processing protein powders with the vacuum expansion method from ystral

The air contained in the powder is expanded by a multiple, which significantly enlarges the distance between the particles.

www.foodanddrinkmatters.co.uk The entire content of this publication is advertorial based. To place an advertorial or an advert, please call 01562 756960.

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FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW REVIEW

Farm Shop & Deli Show 2024

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he UK Food & Drink Shows have been awarded the ‘Best UK Tradeshow more than 8,000sqm’ at the AEO Excellence Awards in June. The UK Food & Drink Shows include The Farm Shop & Deli Show, Food & Drink Expo, The Restaurant Show, National Convenience Show and The Forecourt Show under one-roof.

counter and much more. ● Isigny Sainte-Mère – This multi-award winning French independent dairy cooperative has won over 300 medals, making it the most awarded dairy company in the whole of France. Popular products include delicious PDO butter, crème fraiche and cheeses. The cooperative has been producing for 115 years, demonstrating an expert dairy production heritage. ● James White Drinks – The revamped Zinger shot range was launched at this year’s show, with bigger and bolder colours. Now available in 33cl dosing bottles, with five shots included- the range comes in five delicious flavours: Lime & Chilli, Sour Cherry, Turmeric, Ginger and Extra Hot Ginger. The ambient juice shot range has a twelve-month shelf life, doesn’t need to be stored in a chilled environment and is free from preservatives, artificial colours and contains only naturally occurring sugars.

This year’s show was the busiest yet, with over 30,000 record-breaking visitors across all five shows and over 1,500 exhibitors. It was held from the 29th April-1st May 2024 at the NEC Birmingham.

Here at Food & Drink Matters, we selected 12 Top Exhibitors from across The Farm Shop & Deli Show. ● Bullseye Food Packaging – Market-leader in sustainable meal packaging, from full meal packaging system to takeaway food & drink consumables. Customers include large industrial operations to small-scale community meal providers. The fibre-based meal trays can be used in ovens, microwaves and freezers and are all recyclable, compostable or both. With all eyes now on single-use plastic alternatives, Bullseye offers sustainable drink cups, food boxes, soup containers to cutlery, straws and napkins. ● Craft Drink Co (in collaboration with Hawkstone Lager) – Distributor of 170 British drinks brands across beer, cider, wine, spirits, no/low-alcohol and soft drinks.

Suppliers to over 1,000 retail and hospitality businesses across grocery and convenience stores, garden centres, farm shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs. This year, Craft Drink attended with Hawkstone Lager: established by Jeremy Clarkson and Rick & Emma from Cotswold Brew Co. ● Granola Kitchen – This family-run business makes homemade, soft-baked granola with delicious flavours, perfect for breakfast on a snack on the go. Choose from honey & cinnamon, gluten-free honey & cinnamon or vegan apple cobbler flavours. ● HK Interiors – A national design and shopfitting company supplying commercial, retail and public sectors across the UK with full turnkey package shopfitting, refurbishments, new unit fit-outs, business redesign and expansion. Services include: 2D & 3D design, shop re-designs and refurbishment, refrigeration units & counters, dry aging cabinets, bespoke servery

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● Mezze Software – This leading B2B platform has been designed with the food manufacturing industry in mind. With easy operationality features, users experience an Amazon-like experience. High-profile customers include: Samworth Brothers, G.R. Wright & Sons, Pieminister, The Real Wrap Co., Simply Lunch and Tiffin Sandwiches.

Mezze provides optimised ordering and self-serve features for manufacturers so customers enjoy an enhanced all-round experience – without the headache of customer service admin. ● Ninefold Rum Distillery – Established in 2019, this is renowned as the first and only rum distillery in the South of Scotland. The rum is made from scratch, using sugar cane molasses for fermentation to maturation on-site to produce beautifully authentic Scottish Rum. Popular products include Pure Single Rum, Dormont Spiced, Celestial Spiced, alongside Virgin Oak Aged Rums. ● Realfoods by Organico – Renowned for

pioneering organic and sustainable food brands: Organico and Fish4Ever. All sourced food is from small-scale artisan craftspeople with the finest, organic ingredients. With a top global B corp score, all Organico products have been audited by the Planet Score Product Environment Footprint Labelling Initiative and in partnership with GS1 UK, this is the first company to successfully launch a new per SKU traceability program. ● Trefaldwyn Cheese – Trefaldwyn Blue is a multi-award-winning creamy blue cheese is made in the rolling, lush hills of Mid-Wales using only organic milk. The third-generation family company prides itself on animal welfare with free-range cows, producing organic, grass-fed milk, that’s kinder to animals and the land. ● Tuk In Foods – These innovative curry creators have products available in many major Highstreet retailers. The Curry In a Naan is a firm favourite, combining both curry and naan bread, which can be eaten hot or cold. The ambient snack range include the Vegan Mango Chutney Bombay Mix: full of flavour and perfect for snacks on the go. ● Viscose – This leading UK manufacturer produces tamper-proof solutions and caps and closures, perfect for food hygiene measures across the UK food industry. The tamper-proof bands and shrink sleeves protect all food produce from contamination and counterfeiting. Viscose has exclusively made the world’s first biodegradable self-shrinking sleeves which are fully compostable and plastic-free. The heat shrink sleeves are also available in PET, rPET and PLA, offering sustainable material choices.

Save the date: 7-9 April 2025 NEC Birmingham www.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk

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Bullseye launches compostable butchers’ trays B

microwaves and freezers. For businesses looking to increase their revenue by selling meals prepared in-house rather than those bought in, Bullseye’s system offers the perfect solution.

ullseye Food Packaging was delighted to exhibit at the Farm Shop & Deli Show earlier this year, and we enjoyed talking to so many business owners looking to move towards more sustainable packaging, and stay ahead of any potential new regulations in this area.

The highlight of our event was the successful launch of a range of fully compostable and recyclable butchers’ trays, designed to replace the EPS trays traditionally used in such markets.

Made from renewable sugarcane & bamboo fibre, and available with or without fully compostable absorbent soaker pads, these trays can be over-wrapped in the same equipment

Realfoods by Organico

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hat do we mean by the Joy of Real Food?

Organically sourced, thoughtfully curated and specially selected to make your recipes sing and your guests smile -bringing the Joy of Real Food to every table in the country. Our founder Charles Redfern has been along time advocate and supporter of sustainable farming and ethical food systems. This sets the theme of what Realfoods is ultimately about: good food, good ingredients, clean, simple and massively respectful of nature. But also friendly and fun. Food should be nourishing and enjoyable, NOT pretentious.

At Realfoods by Organico, we get joy from curating the best organic ingredients from the finest artisan and small producers around the Med, tasting, visiting and discussing their farms and factories, meeting the founders and family members and picking up the stories of what they grow and cultivate. No nasty additives, just food the way it ought to be made from specially grown raw ingredients. That’s the joy of Realfoods.

Lift the bonnet and what you will find is a company that has pioneered ethical issues for more than 20 years, working with NGO’s and food experts to fight for nature-friendly farming and ethical food systems. To practice what we preach, we have implemented our triple guarantee for sustainability: 1. Organic Certified 2. B Corp Certified and 3. Being the first brand in the UK to feature the environmental footprint tool Planet Score. www.organicorealfoods.com

already in use, and are surely the future of meat packaging.

While we had the opportunity to talk to so many people at the exhibition, it can be easy to miss each other (especially at an event that size!) so if you didn’t get chance to visit us at the show, please contact us for an informal discussion about your requirements.

Also of great interest was our meal packaging system, also based around fully sustainable, fibre-based trays suitable for use in ovens,

T 0800 011 2311 info@bfpuk.com www.bfpuk.com

HK Interiors Ltd H

K Interiors Ltd is a national design and shopfitting company serving retail, commercial, and public sectors across the UK. We specialise in providing a comprehensive turnkey package, including shopfitting, refurbishments, new unit fit-outs, business redesigns, and expansions.

Customer satisfaction is central to our business, from the initial concept through to the site fitting of all trades. Our expert team of designers and installers ensures that every project is tailored to meet each business's specific requirements. We leverage our extensive knowledge and expertise to support clients in producing original and unique concepts, regardless of the project's size. We take pride in our exceptional service and unwavering dedication to client satisfaction.

Our team specialises in fulfilling all shopfitting requirements for the food retail industry.

Catering to both independent retailers and large chain stores, we have the competence, experience, and vision not only to execute the work but also to provide valuable insights on maximising space, creating unique environments, and achieving cost savings without compromising the quality of the finish.

Contact T 01143 177929 F 0844 288 2965 sales@hk-interiors.co.uk www.hk-interiors.co.uk ethical considerations are key tenets of Ninefold Distillery’s mission and philosophy. Quality and richness of flavour come without saying, and the distillery’s attention to detail from liquid production through to award-winning packaging sets the bar high for the rum category.

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inefold Distillery has been making authentic Scottish rums from scratch since 2019. Housed in a beautifully converted cattle byre, the distillery is located on Dormont Home Farm, which was the central historic farm at the heart of Dormont Estate in Dumfries & Galloway.

With UK rum industry firsts under the distillery’s belt, such as the first UK rum cask exclusive for The Whisky Exchange, and being chosen as the inaugural rum brand to partner with wildly successful Craft Gin Club, Ninefold Distillery has firmly established itself as one of UK’s foremost rum producers. www.NinefoldDistillery.com www.fb.com/NinefoldDistillery www.instagram.com/ninefolddistillery

Since launching with an unaged pure single rum (aka a ‘white’ rum) in 2019, the distillery now has a roster of five core rums. From the signature Pure Single Rum, to two spiced rums variants catering for both rum heads and sweet tooths, a double gold award winning Cask Aged rum, and the most recent addition, a 63.5% overproof unaged rum for the serious cocktail enthusiast.

Transparency, approachability, and strong

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FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW REVIEW

James White S

ince the COVID lockdowns health shots have risen rapidly in popularity, reflecting the general shift in consumer interest in wellness. Our small (7cl) Zinger and B'Zest shots (7cl) offer a delicious, invigorating quick and easy healthy boost to the daily diet – resonating particularly well with busy individuals seeking quick, effective solutions – like most of us! Sold fastest from the chilled shelf, our shots have also proved popular in cafes and self-service restaurants accompanying a coffee or a breakfast offering especially with the younger working population.

We have 2 shot options both best sold from the chiller but can be stored at room temperature and with a 12 month shelf life – so no worries about shelf life: ● Zinger Shots are 100% organic – with a big zing! Our most popular Ginger, an extra fierce Ginger, Turmeric, Sour Cherry and Lime and Chilli. The focus here is on taste and spice – retail about £1.70 a shot. ● B'Zest shots are more function focused – Ginger & CBD, Lavender & CBD and Ginger. Turmeric & Collagen – retail about £2 a shot.

Minimum orders are £90 ex VAT with free deliver to the UK mainland. To order, call 01473 890111 or email: info@jameswhite.co.uk - more available on: www.jameswhite.co.uk

Sustainable tamper evident packaging V

iscose is a leading UK packaging manufacturer and supplier of shrink sleeves, caps and closures. Based in Wales, Viscose has been manufacturing tamper evident packaging for over 100 years, so you can trust them to protect your product.

Viscose’s products go all over the world from its Swansea HQ serving a wide range of sectors such as food, drink and pharmaceutical.

Its packaging solutions protect consumable products from dangers such as counterfeiting and tampering.

From your first contact through to the development of your partnership, Viscose seeks to collaborate and support you every step of the way. Viscose works with customers of all shapes and sizes from artisan craft producers right through to mainstream UK brands and supermarket own label products.

Products: ● Plastic-free shrink sleeves – biodegradable, home-compostable, heat & machinery free, an ecofriendly sleeving solution.

● Heat-shrink sleeves & capsules in a variety of eco-friendly materials such as 30% recycled content RPET, recyclable PET and industrially compostable PLA. ● Caps & closures – including natural cork bartops/ t-stoppers, natural wine corks, aluminium ROPPs, metal GPIs, metal oil pourer closures, 1810 flat plastic caps, tethered plastic caps and many more.

Contact them today to find out how they could help you protect your product!

T +44 (0)1792 796393 sales@viscose.co.uk www.viscoseclosures.com

The Home of Soft Granola O

ur story began with a simple desire for a better breakfast. While I'd always loved granola, I found its texture too hard and brittle. My son David, a former chef, crafted a moreish Honey & Cinnamon granola, which quickly became a family favourite. During lockdown, we decided to share our delightful creation with the world.

What makes Granola Kitchen different from the rest of the pack is our soft-baked granola, the only one of its kind in the UK. It offers a delicious mouthfeel and flavour that's truly unforgettable! So much so that we received a Great Taste Award for our Honey & Cinnamon & Apple Cobbler in 2023.

We started at a local artisan market, baking a large batch of our homemade granola and offering tasting samples. We sold out within hours! The next month, we doubled our sales, selling out long before the market closed. A local shop soon approached us, wanting to stock and serve our granola in their cafe. The Granola Kitchen was born!

Our product is now stocked in farm shops across the country. We'd love to bring our granola to your shop for a tasting session - it will greatly boost your foot traffic while introducing customers to our exceptional product! Get in touch to explore wholesale opportunities with Granola Kitchen. https://softgranola.co.uk/wholesale-orders

Tuk In Foods: The UK’s fastest growing food-to-go brand T

uk In Foods has swiftly emerged as the UK's fastest growing food-to-go brand, capturing the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts nationwide. Specialising in Indian street foodinspired dishes, Tuk In is revolutionising the culinary landscape with its innovative and delicious offerings.

The company’s meteoric rise can be attributed to three core pillars that define its mission.

First and foremost, Tuk In Foods is dedicated to delivering restaurant-quality Indian cuisine.

Each dish is crafted with the finest ingredients, ensuring that every bite bursts with authentic flavours reminiscent of India's bustling street food markets. This commitment to quality elevates the brand above its competitors, offering a dining experience that rivals the best

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Indian restaurants.

Secondly, the passionate team behind Tuk In Foods is a driving force of the brand’s success.

Their deep love for Indian cuisine translates into an unwavering dedication to excellence, infusing every product with a touch of authenticity & care. This passion resonates with customers, fostering a loyal & growing fanbase that appreciates the brand's genuine connection to the rich culinary traditions of India.

Finally, Tuk In Foods stands out as an established brand that continues to expand its reach. With a rapidly increasing number of satisfied customers, the brand’s popularity is soaring. This growth is a testament to Tuk In's ability to meet the evolving tastes and

preferences of the modern consumer, who seeks convenience without compromising on quality.

M +44 (0)7968 205954 hello@tukinfoods.com www.tukinfoods.com

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Market-leading ordering and automation for your food manufacturing business M

ezze Software is an Amazon-like B2B ordering and automation platform designed to streamline and enhance operations for businesses in the food and drink sectors.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Mezze addresses a variety of challenges faced by these industries.

At the recent Farm Shop & Deli Show 2024, Mezze showcased its innovative solution for food manufacturing, with features including Order Processing, Cut-off time & Multi-drop Management, Customer Service, Analytics and Reporting and Integration capabilities.

Mezze's technology-driven approach offers a holistic solution to managing business operations, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs and

improved customer satisfaction. This approach ensures that businesses can focus on their core activities while Mezze handles the intricacies of operational management.

Trusted by the UK's leading food manufacturers including Samworth Brothers, Wright’s Flour and Pieminister, Mezze has proven its value in the industry. For instance, Tiffin Sandwiches has reduced phone calls and emails by 70% and saved over £100k since partnering with Mezze.

By optimising resources and boosting revenue, Mezze significantly reduces order processing time, allowing customer service teams to focus on higher-value tasks. As Samworth Brothers noted, “We went from zero to 1000 delivery points in just a few weeks with Mezze.”

his year marks the 10th anniversary of Craft Drink, the Cotswold-based drinks wholesaler that is championing British craft drinks and has established itself as a one stop shop for many of the UK’s best artisanal beverages.

Even though their portfolio has grown, they still endeavour to give every drink their attention and help all their producers to tell their stories and share what makes each drink special.

They supply like-minded retail and hospitality including grocery and convenience stores, garden centres, farm shops and other specialist retailers, cafes, hotels, restaurants and bars & pubs, all of whom are looking to source local drinks, from

producers with passion and integrity, that will wow their customers!

Their expert team can offer advice and support on ranging, seasonal trends and best-in-class drinks.

They have low minimum order quantities and a team of friendly drivers are on hand to deliver to customers in our van area every week, or by pallet or courier through their partners.

T 01451 600800 office@craftdrink.co.uk www.craftdrink.co.uk

Trefaldwyn Cheese Ltd shines T

refaldwyn Cheese, renowned for its exquisite artisanal cheeses, captivated attendees with its diverse range of premium cheeses, including its celebrated traditional Welsh Cheddar, creamy Blue Stilton, and an assortment of innovative new varieties. The company’s stand, which featured interactive tasting sessions, attracted a steady stream of visitors, eager to sample the rich flavours and textures of their awardwinning cheeses.

Trefaldwyn Cheese is renowned for its richly flavoured, golden cheeses. Its standout, Trefaldwyn Blue, made from organic milk, has received top honours including Gold and Best Welsh Cheese at the World Cheese Awards in Oviedo, Spain, in November 2021, as well as accolades at the Artisan Cheese Awards and the Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards.

Trefaldwyn Cheese began its journey as part of a

T 0117 990 1008 sales@mezze.io www.mezze.io

Isigny SainteMère takes home 9 Great Taste Awards

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Starting out with just 5, they now support and work closely with over 150 exceptional British drinks producers and they are on a journey to represent all of the best drinks that Britain has to offer.

With Mezze's powerful in-built AI system, businesses can set automated reminders and receive suggestions based on customer ordering habits, ensuring deadlines are never missed and income potential is maximised.

third-generation dairy farming legacy at Gate Farm in Mid Wales.

Today, the company has entered an exciting new chapter under the stewardship of Glenn and Sandie, who transitioned from their sister company, Daisybank Dairy in Llandyssil. Daisybank Dairy is renowned for supplying high-quality organic milk across Wales.

This pivotal development allows Trefaldwyn Cheese to craft its signature cheese, Trefaldwyn Blue, using this exceptional organic milk, marking a new era of quality and innovation.

The company boasts a strong organic profile and is committed to sustainable practices using no artificial sprays, fertilizers, or anything GM (genetically modified).

Contact M 07855 435104 glenn@trefaldwyn.com www.trefaldwyn-cheese.com

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ounded in 1909 in Normandy, the Isigny Sainte-Mère cooperative is world-renowned for the quality of its dairy products. Located where land meets sea, the Isigny terroir provides cows with ideal pastures for producing top-quality milk.

This milk is collected within a 50 km radius and delivered to the cooperative within 48 hours to preserve its quality.

From this milk, known as the ‘white gold of Normandy’, Isigny Sainte-Mère produces PDO butters, creams and cheeses renowned for their excellence.

The cooperative's products are celebrated the world over, winning numerous awards every year.

Isigny Sainte-Mère recently took home 9 Great Taste Awards for its cheeses, creams and butter including 3 highly prized 3-star Great Taste awards for its 35% fat crème fraîche, 40% fat crème fraîche and unpasteurised salted butter.

Alice Reynolds, UK Marketing Manager, commented, “‘We are delighted with these results which reflect the hard work and skill of our cooperative, our milk producers and our employees who transform milk from our local farms into outstanding products every day,” Contact: Alice Reynolds alice.reynolds@isysme.com

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HEALTHY LIVING MATTERS

The holistic benefits of fungi F

ungi have been an integral element of eastern medicine, as part of a systemic approach to human health for over two thousand years. More and more people in the UK are now discovering the health benefits of mushrooms, as demonstrated through the ongoing ‘shroom boom’.

If you pop into any high-street UK health food shop, you will find fungi supplement products from Bristol Fungarium: the one-stop organic farm, laboratory, extractor, distributor and highend researcher in North Somerset.

After successfully running an organic vegetable farm for many years, Tom Baxter who’s foraged for mushrooms from the Siberian steppes to the Pyrenean peaks set up the Bristol Fungarium in 2019. It is the UK’s only organic certified UK-native medicinal mushroom producer and distributor and this year is predicting to turnover £1.5 million.

benefits of mushrooms are well known among nutritionists and chefs but the far-reaching health benefits are even more illuminating.”

Chinese herbalists have always known the healing properties of Reishi for boosting the immune system and gut health and improving sleep. Most recent cell culture and animal studies have unearthed antioxidant compounds that protect against cell damage with cancer patients. In China and Japan, Turkey Tail has traditionally been used as an immune system regulator in many cancer treatments.

It is worth remembering that penicillin and statin are derived from fungi and moving forward a pharmaceutical approach to isolated fungi compounds could discover more treatments for mild and serious ailments and diseases.

“Other than strawberries, Mushrooms are the most labour-intensive crops to pick”. However, the inclement weather of late rather suits mushrooms, they rather like a wet warm climate and temperatures above 10°,” explained Tom.

“We are a science-led research & development organisation and believe that working intrinsically with nature and science handin-hand can lead to some fantastic benefits for human health. We are paying for a Ph.D. neuroscience student from UWE in Bristol to conduct some research on our behalf and look forward to hearing all about the discoveries.

“We grow and clone UK-native mushrooms like Reishi and Lion’s Mane and turn them into tinctures and package them for health food shops and our online orders. Our fungi extracts can help relieve anxiety, stabilise thyroid function and blood pressure and possibly help with early onset dementia.

Lion’s Mane is our most popular product and has renowned healing properties for relieving Acid reflux and potentially helping with mental focus and compounds that are neuro protective.

In some cases, our customers have found it helps manage ADHD symptoms.”

The science is certainly becoming more compelling every day, with Mycologists around the world finding fascinating results in extrapolated cell cultures.

“There are clinical trials of Lion’s Mane that show extracts can improve cognitive abilities with ‘mild cognitive impairment’ but also with ‘mild Alzheimer’s’. A longitudinal study over forty years in Japan followed 50,000 men who ate five mushrooms every week had a 25-40% drop-in cancer rates (prostate & bowel) in comparison with the groups who only ate mushrooms once a week. The superfood

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Having spent time in China, I’ve seen firsthand the holistic benefits of fungi. The Eastern approach is more interested in treating the body as a whole system whereas here in the West, we work in a medicalised engineered way to isolate problem areas.”

Bristol Fungarium supplies a wide range of organic mushroom tinctures and bundles for one-off and subscription-based online payments, in addition to health food shops. The products include: ● Lion’s Mane ● Reishi ● Turkey Tail ● Chaga ● Cordyceps ● Maitake ● Shiitake ● Menopause support (bundle) ● Festival recovery (bundle) ● Everything (bundle) ● Lion’s Mane (bundle) ● Father's Day (bundle)

The products are all sustainably foraged and extracted, grown, with some wild-harvested or cultivated in the purpose-built laboratory and with an ethical and short supply chain, they offer customers and retailers a greener choice for fungi tinctures.

“We’re delighted to report that over 50 professional athletes are using our Cordyceps products and we have three Olympian customers competing in this Summer’s Paris Olympics. Cordyceps are thought to boost exercise performance through the increased production of the molecule Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for delivering energy to muscles.”

With a 4.9 review rating on its website, Bristol Fungarium customers have shared their positive stories of using the mushroom tinctures with conditions ranging from anxiety, ADHD, brain fog to fibromyalgia and much more. Customers have reported feeling alert, energised, greater concentration and focus, and less anxious, with many feeling ‘the best they have in years.’

To find out more about Bristol Fungarium’s mission, philosophy, science-led research and whole product range, see the website below: https://bristolfungarium.com

Things are starting to change here in the UK with a shift towards holistic and wellness thinking. The vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) sector was valued at £1.5 billion in 2023 and has seen year-onyear growth since 2018. Many consumers are looking for natural and organic products, with science-backed evidence. Despite the cost-ofliving crisis, this is a growth area that is showing no signs of slowing down.

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Pius Vita Superfoods: Just as nature intended Pius Vita Superfoods is dedicated to enhancing health and well-being through nutrient-dense, premium, ethically sourced, and scientifically substantiated superfood products

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he growing rise in plastic free packaging, plantbased diets, interest in natural detoxification, and science-led awareness of gut health has significantly influenced Pius Vita Superfoods’ product development. The leading range of family-friendly products include vegan, gluten-free, and ingredients rich in probiotics and antioxidants to meet the evolving needs of health-conscious customers whilst ensuring all products packaging is plastic free.

The inception of Pius Vita Superfoods was inspired by a profoundly personal experience. The founder's sister's cancer diagnosis sparked extensive research into natural methods to support healing and boost overall health. Recognising the immense potential of superfoods to enhance well-being, our founder embarked on a mission to create a brand offering highquality, organic superfoods to support others on their health and wellbeing journeys.

Since its humble beginnings, Pius Vita Superfoods has evolved from this personal quest to become a trusted name in the health food industry, continually expanding our product range to meet the diverse needs of health-conscious consumers. Through the transformative power of nature's finest offerings: these pure, raw, natural and organic products benefit and protect people and the natural environment.

'Pius Vita', derived from Latin, translates to 'pious life' or 'good life'. This name embodies the commitment to purity, integrity, and the natural goodness of life.

It reflects the brand's philosophy of promoting a wholesome, balanced lifestyle through the power of superfoods, encouraging customers to lead lives of health and vitality.

The key superfoods from the leading Pius Vita Superfoods product range include: ● Organic Chia Seeds ● Organic Maca Powder ● Organic Cacao Powder ● Organic Turmeric Latte ● Organic Moringa Powder ● Organic Camu Camu Powder ● Organic Matcha Powder

standards and Fairtrade practices, guaranteeing the highest quality products for our customers.

We have many testimonials from satisfied customers who have experienced positive health changes using our products. For instance, one customer reported, "Excellent customer service. Great quality products.

I ordered the camu camu powder, chia seeds, and turmeric powder. I've noticed a significant boost in my energy levels since taking the camu camu powder daily". Another mentioned, "Very impressed with the products from Pius Vita Superfoods. They are of great quality, and I started seeing benefits soon after using them".

The benefits of these superfoods are far-reaching and all-encompassing, helping alleviate many conditions and offering protection from others. The versatile products can be easily added to daily routines: try adding Organic Chia Seeds to porridge, blend Organic Maca Powder into your smoothies, use Organic Cacao Powder for a healthy hot chocolate or use in baking delicious healthy chocolate cakes or brownies.

Digestive upset? The Organic Chia Seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and protein and renowned for their intrinsic ability to support digestive health, provide sustained energy, and offer a rich source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

Hormones need balancing? The Organic Maca Powder is another popular product, regarded for its potential to balance hormones, improve stamina, and enhance mood.

Need a pick-me up? The Organic Cacao Powder is packed with high levels of antioxidants, which supports heart health, improves mood, and enhances cognitive function.

Benefits from a vitamin boost? The Organic Moringa Powder is affectionately known as the ‘Tree of Life’ and is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, helping with blood sugar regulations and enhancing digestive health.

In the short term, we aim to expand our product line to include more functional superfood blends and enhance our online presence through strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives. Long-term, we aspire to become a global leader in the superfoods industry, advocating for sustainable and ethical practices while empowering well-being through natural nourishment.

In 2025, we aim to support the 'New Year, New Me' mindset by launching a range of products designed for detoxification and overall vitality. We will offer comprehensive wellness kits and personalised nutrition plans to help customers kickstart their health journeys.

Additionally, we plan to enhance our digital content with motivational guides, recipes, and fitness plans that integrate our superfoods, making it easier for consumers to achieve their New Year goals.” explained Nikky, Director of Operations.

Who says healthy food has to be boring or tasteless?

Pius Vita Superfoods is keen to increase its product awareness and brand presence. If you’re a café, restaurant or business in the food and drink industry and interested in joining their journey to better health, make the smart choice and get in touch below: admin@piusvitasuperfoods.co.uk https://piusvitasuperfoods.co.uk

Heard of turmeric? The Organic Turmeric Latte is famously rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting and warding off chronic diseases.

Want an immune system boost? Why not try the Organic Camu Camu Powder? Known for its high vitamin C content, boosting overall immunity and skin health.

“We source our superfoods from regions renowned for their purity and quality. Our criteria for selecting suppliers include sustainability, ethical farming practices, and stringent quality control measures.

We ensure our suppliers adhere to organic farming

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HEALTH & HYGIENE MATTERS

Safety Bug Training: Training solutions for the UK multi-lingual food sector

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afety Bug Training is an industry-leading provider in multilingual Food Safety Training, offering Level 2 and 3 Food Safety & Hygiene accreditations, alongside Allergen Awareness, COSHH, HACCP, Health &Safety, and Manual Handling. Bespoke solutions for training are also offered. The courses are expertly developed by professional Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and Food Safety Inspectors and meet all UK/EU legal food safety standards.

The training provider was the brainchild of Trevor Tweed: Principal Food Safety Consultant and Trainer, who back in 2013 saw a gap in the market.

“At that time, many Eastern Europeans such as Polish and Lithuanians were working in the UK food industry but there wasn’t a suitable method of Food Safety Training available for them. So, when it came to taking the food safety test, in English they of course kept failing. Most had a limited grasp of English, but it was the intentional ambiguous nature of questions that proved to be the problem. Not only was this frustrating for the learner it was expensive for the employer having to fund additional training, retakes and workers time away from the production line. In addition, it is a compliance issue too, a visiting Inspector will want to see copies of training records and certificates.

That’s a challenge if a sizable percentage of your workforce does not speak or read fluent English” Safety Bug Training offers Food Safety level 2 online courses in 36 different international languages including: Arabic, Farsi, French, Polish and Chinese. These e-learning courses are flexible and can be accessed remotely, with many learning on night shifts.

“The training programme is in convenient and cost-effective eLearning format. Offline and Team Trainer versions are also available where Wi-Fi is a challenge. All translations and voice overs are done by humans not AI or machines.

Online translation is quite good but not accurate enough yet.’’

The Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene course

is the minimum standard required for those working in the food preparing, handling and serving sectors. The certification shows a firm understanding of food quality assurance and commitment to stringent Food Safety Standards.

The Food Safety Level 2 online certification from Safety Bug Training can be completed in one sitting or followed over multiple login sessions, at your pace from a choice of 36 languages. It follows the stringent guidelines as laid down by the UK National Occupational Standards in Food Safety and Hygiene and is compliant with UK and EU Food Safety Standards. The course follows the same syllabus as the of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and learners receive an instant certificate upon successful completion of the course.

The Food Standards Agency through the PAFA Project has reported that there is an estimated 6% of the UK adult population that has a confirmed food allergy, which amounts to 2.4 million adults. The types of foods causing allergic reactions range from nuts (most common), to fresh fruit like apple, peach and kiwi fruit, with many allergies starting in childhood but half also developing in later adulthood.

“We’ve had huge compliments about our Allergen Training Course from Environmental Health Officers, who have remarked on the clarity of the course with meticulous attention to detail.

“Having the Food Safety Level 2 course available in 36 languages is crucial for effective food safety compliance. It effectively ensures that everyone in the food supply chain, from production to consumption, understands and adheres to safety protocols. Our unique multilingual training courses helps bridge gaps among workers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies who may speak different languages, promoting clear understanding of guidelines, hazard prevention measures and critical safety practices.

This inclusive approach minimises the risk of miscommunication, enhances training effectiveness and ensures that safety standards are uniformly maintained, ultimately protecting public health and fostering a safer food environment for all. The Principals of HACCP Level 2 training course consolidates further by examining food safety hazards and how to mitigate food safety risks.”

The Food Allergen Awareness and Allergy

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Training Online for Safer Service Level 2 is a second minimum requirement for high-quality allergen training for food handlers, food production, processing and packaging workers and those who work in the food hospitality trades, care homes or hospitals. The course teaches users to prevent dangerous crosscontamination and how to identify common allergens. It complies with the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulations.

We take great pride in the high-quality of all our courses, with new courses being added all the time such as the Listeria and Level 1 food Safety. We can also offer bespoke courses for companies such as specific food machinerythis includes a thorough on-site visit to see the machine and to understand its function and associated risks. We can then design the course quickly with translations offered in various languages.”

Safety Bug Training will be exhibiting at the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show (HRC) from 17-19 March 2025 at London’s ExCeL. If you have a multilingual food sector workforce and you wish to find out more, contact Safety Bug Training today for more information and your free trial: T 01223 258156 info@safetybugtraining.com https://safetybugtraining.com

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FOOD & DRINK EXPO REVIEW

UK Food & Drinks Shows 2024 – busiest ever! retail, wholesale, foodservice and hospitality, alongside a compelling programme of content set across five stages, provided the perfect draw for a record-breaking audience hungry for inspiration, big names, business building insight and new products.

Exhibitors were quick to express their collective delight at the event turnout, praising both the quality and quantity of visitor.

‘Busiest Ever’ UK Food & Drink Shows Leaves Visitors and Exhibitors Wanting More

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hree days of packed aisles, bustling stages and exhibitor stands inundated with interest typified the 2024 UK Food & Drink Shows experience, as visitors flocked to the Birmingham NEC from 29 April-1 May 2024 in their droves to support the annual event, breaking all records in the process to make it the busiest ever.

“Food & Drink Expo has gone fantastically well. We officially launched on day one, so when the doors opened, Bizzi was open! It’s been wonderful. As someone who is very new and looking for buyers and distribution, we’ve met exactly the right people and I’m so pleased.”

Ashley Verma, CEO, Bizzi, Food & Drink Expo Highlights across the three-day event included the culminations of The Farm Shop & Deli Show Product and Retailer of the Year Award

Following an overwhelmingly positive wave of preregistration interest, the UK Food & Drink Shows, encompassing Farm Shop & Deli Show, Food & Drink Expo, The Restaurant Show, National Convenience Show and The Forecourt Show, lived up to their collective hype. A who’s who of over 1,200 innovative exhibitors from the worlds of grocery, specialist

and gongs for Britain’s Best Cake and Best Loaf, respectively. Elsewhere, industry heavyweights including Aktar Islam, Chef Patron at Opheem, Founder of VBites, Heather Mills, acclaimed actor James Cosmo who is also Company Director at Annandale Distilleries, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Retail Director of SPAR UK, Ian Taylor and Innocent Drinks UK&I Managing Director, Sam Akinluyi, were on hand to draw in the crowds and provide memorable moments.

The shows return next year to the NEC Birmingham from 7-9 April 2025. This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s Food & Drink Expo, listed here in alphabetical order: House of Flavours. Further details can be found on this page. www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk

Flavouring the future: House of Flavours’ culinary innovations F

or those with a passion for food and drink, House of Flavours is a treasure trove of culinary innovation. This global flavour house offers bespoke solutions for a wide range of industries, from vegan and dairy to bakery and beverages. Its approach is rooted in new product development, blending technical expertise with market insights to create unique, high-quality flavours. By fostering long-term relationships based on trust and reliability, House of Flavours ensures that its clients gain a competitive edge through superior service and innovative products.

Operating in the UK for over 25 years, House of Flavours is known for creating a plethora of flavourings from modern and traditional to natural liquids, extracts & oils, floral flavourings, bespoke flavours for limited editions, spice engineering, flavourings to mask offnotes, and somatosensory flavours.

This one-stop flavour shop recently exhibited at The Food & Drink

Expo 2024 from Stand: X218, where visitors were impressed by the comprehensive range of food ingredients and flavours available to match their requirements.

If you’re interested in working with House of Flavours to find new and interesting ways of developing flavour to optimise your individual products, maximise market share and drive return on investment, see below.

Contact T 01594 822885 sales@flavours.co.uk www.flavours.co.uk

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THE LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL REVIEW

Coffee, cocktails, music Wellness brand Enrichd & plenty of good vibes! W of offerings that catered to every palate.

A highlight of the festival was the intense competition at the London Coffee Masters 2024, where baristas showcased their skills in a fast-paced knockout format. Ryohji Hope emerged victorious, demonstrating not only his mastery of the craft but also his dedication to pushing the boundaries of excellence in coffee.

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he London Coffee Festival made a triumphant return to the iconic Truman Brewery on Brick Lane from 11-14 April 2024, solidifying its status as the premier event for Specialty Coffee enthusiasts. With a focus on craftsmanship, innovation, and community, this year's festival surpassed all expectations, offering attendees an immersive experience that celebrated the rich tapestry of the coffee industry.

The London Coffee Festival 2024 brought together leading brands, passionate enthusiasts, and industry professionals to explore the latest trends, technologies, and talents shaping the global coffee scene. From artisanal coffees to gastronomic delights, attendees were treated to a diverse array

At the Latte Art Live stage, Joey Jackson wowed audiences with his skilful pours and hands-on workshops, while The Lab, curated by Lavazza, provided insights into emerging operators and industry trends. Brew School by Brewed by Hand offered attendees a deep dive into the world of coffee, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to elevate their coffee rituals.

The London Coffee Festival returns next year's event at The Truman Brewery, scheduled for May 15-18, 2025. This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: Enrichd.

Further details can be found on this page. www.londoncoffeefestival.com

ellness brand Enrichd was founded by Rich Enion in 2020 as result of years of learning and emersion with Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners.

Becoming obsessed with mushrooms and foods for healing.

Rich went on to source the highest integrity mushrooms and cacao grown in organic and wild crafted conditions, extracted for their highest potency and third party lab tested for quality.

Enrichd mushroom extracts are an incredible addition to your menu in line with growing consumer wellness trends.

Mushroom coffee is becoming popular not only for the associated health benefits of the mushrooms but the more balanced effect that the coffee has on your body when combined with mushrooms.

Studies have shown less caffeine

crashes and a more sustained energy flow. No your coffee wont taste of ‘ mushroom’! The earthy, nutty, bitter, sweet flavour profiles of medicinal mushrooms pair perfectly with coffee adding depth and flavour.

Consumers are looking for wellness products to integrate into their routines with coffee being a core foundation of our daily habits.

From LA to Mexico, Berlin to Beijing, functional mushrooms are appearing on menus as people become more aware and knowledgeable of their benefits.

Enrichd can also assist in menu creation and educating your teams, through point of sale materials, workshops, events and sampling. rich@enrichd.com www.enrichd.com @enrichd

NORTHERN RESTAURANT & BAR REVIEW

Our friends in the North ABK: 700 years of Bavarian perfection NR&B provides a gateway to the lucrative Northern Hospitality market, which is known as a vibrant, diverse melting pot and NR&B 2024 was bigger, brighter and the most successful to date. NR&B 2024 saw an 11% record increase in attendance over the two-day event and exhibitors were delighted with increased sales leads and enquires.

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orthern cities have bucked the trend and are enjoying strong economic growth across the hospitality sector. A report by Northern Restaurant & Bar and CGA saw increased sales across all managed pubs, bars and restaurants in all major northern cities from Sheffield, York, Newcastle, to Manchester. Many of these cities have proved more resilient than London with over 25% of regional new openings and high customer satisfaction rates.

With this thriving backdrop, NR&B 2024 provided the perfect opportunity for market disruptors, innovators and next-level operators to showcase new ideas and experiences with like-minded colleagues across the industry and attentive visitors.

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This year’s event was held from 12-13 March 2024 at Manchester Central Convention Complex and recorded 9,645 visitors. With over 300 regional, national and international exhibitors, it was the calendar event for showcasing food and drink innovation, equipment, tabletop and technology features and was the best show for sourcing new suppliers and keeping up-to-date with industry trends.

Northern Restaurant & Bar returns next year to Manchester Central from 11-12 March 2025. This is our second pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s show, listed here in alphabetical order: Rokit Drinks.

Further details can be found on this page.

Contact https://northernrestaurantandbar. co.uk

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ulti award-winning ABK sits in the medieval town of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria. Dating back to 1308, the brewery first made waves when it was donated to the townspeople by a wealthy local baron, and it quickly became known in the region for its superb beers.

Over the following 300 years Aktienbrauerei grew and expanded in Kaufbeuren to become one of Bavaria’s most important brewers.

The excellence of ABK’s beer is all down to fine, natural ingredients.

Almost 200 years before the Reinheitsgebot (Bavarian Purity Law) was established, the Kaufbeuren Brewers Guild of 1325 declared that all beers produced in

Kaufbeuren could only use the best hops and barley, and the purest, ground-filtered local mineral waters; all other ingredients were banned.

Today, ABK still uses only the finest locally grown Spalt and Hallertau hops and grains from the same local farms they have been using since 1308.

ABK Beer is now available to enjoy in towns and cities across the globe, we pride ourselves that our beers are authentic, truly Bavarian and all imported from our very own brewery in Kaufbeuren. www.rokitdrinks.com www.abkbeer.com

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TRIVIA, BINGO & PUB QUIZ SOFTWARE COMPANY OF THE MONTH

Who doesn’t love a good British pub quiz?

In this issue of Food & Drink Matters, we are delighted to showcase Hashtag Hosts Ltd as our Trivia, Bingo & Pub Quiz Software Company of the Month

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act: British pub quizzes are a national institution. Chances are if you pop into a village or town pub mid-week, you’ll stumble across one, usually involving competitive local teams deadlocked into a winning answer. The winning team of course has bragging rights for the whole week, much to the good-natured chagrin of the losing teams.

Pub quizzes involve two long-standing traditions: ‘beer drinking’ and ‘being unquestionably right’ and have been part of the fabric of British pubs ever since the 1970’s. There are rumoured to be 22,445 regular pub quizzes up and down the country, signalling that this is a tradition that is here to stay.

With the onset of the internet and mobile phones, there has been a growth in pubs now providing technically improved smart quizzes, in the place of paper scorecards with many advantages such as no cheating through internet searches.

Hashtag Hosts Ltd provides all-in-one-browser-based trivia, bingo and pub quiz software to the hospitality sector, as Managing Director, Simon Wilson, explains, “Pubs, restaurants, hotels, wedding venues, cocktail bars and other hospitality companies just need a reliable internet connection, it’s as simple as that. We are already working with 45 venues across the UK from Blackpool to Birmingham, and even as far afield as Tenerife, Isle of Wight and Adelaide, Australia. Our HQ.FM Quiz and Bingo software offers the hospitality sector a huge return on investment through weekly pub quiz attendance and we all know that when Brits go to their weekly quiz night, they will want to have a meal, a couple of drinks and see their mates on the quiz team. We can even offer ‘old school’ paper and

pen options for the most traditional quizzer. Everyone is welcome!”

Simon Wilson is a quiz extraordinaire and understands the British passion for quizzes and bingo. During COVID Lockdown, he took the opportunity to review the quizzes on offer and improve them for both hosts and players and provides users of his software with 2 NEW pre-written quizzes published each Monday. This is not just a day job for Simon but a lifelong interest.

“A good quiz takes time to marinate. It can’t be rushed. Pub managers certainly don't have the time to be writing their own quizzes, so we provide a mixture of themed and bespoke quizzes for quizzers of all ages and backgrounds.

“Some venues like to have the option to write their own quizzes though- for example, a wedding venue can offer a wedding couple the opportunity of writing a bespoke quiz for guests, which is perfect for the lull between the ceremony and the evening meal. There might be some questions that pubs want to amend or make specific for various reasons and we offer that question editing option too.”

The benefits of using Hashtag Hosts are numerous and include the following: ● Plug n’play – Hosts and players just need a reliable internet connection. No downloadable apps required. Just register once, log-in and receive a four-digit code each time to play. It’s brilliantly easy! ● Cost-effective – Pay £20 (+VAT) a week for unlimited quizzes (competitors charge a higher flat fee for one-night quiz access from randomly selected quizzes.) ● Access to professional pub quiz hosts – Good pub hosts are Master of Ceremonies (MCs).

They create great atmospheres effortlessly. Simon has a team of 18 professionals hosts that can run your pub quizzes to the highest standards. ● Social media marketing – Simon & his team run expert social media

marketing across Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.

He also reminds pubgoers about upcoming quizzes through the power of social media, with exclusive video footage of individual member pubs, to help promote the venue and the quiz specifically. ● e-marketing – Hashtag Hosts Ltd are more than quiz providers and hosts, there are many value-added extras for the venue especially as every quizzer signs up with an email, which is stored for e-marketing purposes. ● Inclusive accessibility – For players that have visual impairments or restricted dexterity, the quiz can be modified to easy colour-coded multiple-choice answers. ● Themed nights – Themed nights are marketing dreams. Imagine a Harry Potter, Star Wars or Disney themed-night for your pub or cocktail bar? Quizzers can dress up and customised food and drink can be provided. A fun night out for everyone!

“We love what we do and have a real passion for giving pubgoers the best night out. Quiz nights are great for bringing the community together and pubs are often a lifeline for many people up and down the country. We encourage pub managers to let bar staff join in with the quizzes, as it becomes a talking point for the whole pub. That gathers momentum and creates a whole buzz around the evening. There’s even ‘evil’ and ‘killer’ rounds for added high risk/ high reward adrenalized spice in the quizzes as well as traditional bingo or party bingo, with song accompaniments too. We’ve thought of everything,” Hashtag Hosts Ltd will demonstrating its leading pub and bingo software at The Pub Show, co-located with Food Drink & Hospitality Week: 17-19 March 2025: ExCeL London Interested and want to join the quiz fun? Give Simon Wilson a ring or view the website below: M 07941 322339 https://hashtagquiz.co.uk/ www.facebook.com/hashtagquiz

FDM is sponsored by Hashtag Hosts Ltd – see them on page 13

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PRINT & PACKAGING MATTERS

Join Rotech, the TIJ experts, at PPMA 2024 R

a wide range of industry sectors. They maintain their position as a first-class supplier of the technology by constantly evolving their install techniques based on extensive industry experience.

otech Machines, a pioneer in thermal inkjet technology, is excited to announce that they will be exhibiting at this year's PPMA Show, taking place from 24-26 September 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Well known for their customer-led solutions, Rotech will be at stand A31, ready to showcase their unparalleled range of printers and demonstrate their expertise and knowledge of the increasingly popular coding technology.

Over 20 Years of Innovation in thermal Inkjet technology More than two decades ago, Rotech recognised the potential of thermal inkjet (TIJ) in the packaging industry. Since then, they have been advocating its benefits—clean operation, maintenance-free functionality and ability to produce excellent quality prints.

the same negativity associated with more expensive, service hungry and unreliable technologies.” Says Steve Ryan, Sales Manager at Rotech. “This is where Rotech excel, we have industry leading knowledge, extensive experience with installing and supporting these systems across an array of different industry sectors and can provide a full range of system options.”

The evolution of TIJ technology took a significant leap forward around 2008 with the development of inks that adhere to standard packaging materials.

Rotech was at the forefront, implementing some of the first installations for printing on blister pack foil and flow-wrapper films.

Trusted across the UK With over 1,000 UK installations under their belts, Rotech are well trusted by manufacturers spanning

Expertise and industry-leading support This leap forward in capability has led to many other companies adopting the technology as part of their product ranges, with varying levels of knowledge and aftercare.

“Although we all agree that the technology is an excellent choice for various applications, when not installed correctly, or not supported by a knowledgeable team, it could easily be labelled with

Rotech invites manufacturers to engage with their coding experts to discuss unique challenges related to late-stage product customisation. "Our expertise lies in the correct application of TIJ technology to meet customer needs, from printer and ink selection to installation and interfacing," explained Richard Pether, General Manager at Rotech. "Acquiring a printer is easy; getting it to work to its maximum advantage takes expertise."

Solutions for offline coding Also at the forefront of the Rotech stand, will be a selection of their UK designed and built feeding systems, for applying variable information to packaging off-line.

These feeders are manufactured to handle a variety of flat-form substrates with ease. When paired with a printer and/or labeller, they reliably print and/or label at high speeds, offering a cost-effective solution for coding away from the main production line.

Among the showcased products will be the entrylevel RF Lite, a low-cost solution for automating date coding processes, and the newly redesigned RF Auto, a heavy-duty feeder capable of handling products of varying thicknesses. Both systems can be seamlessly integrated with TIJ coders to provide a complete standalone solution.

T 01707 393700 sales@rotechmachines.com www.rotechmachines.com

Vikings and Goddesses adopts compostable packaging V

ikings and Goddesses is a Minnesota based, wholesale bakery that supplies over 30 restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores with a variety of baked goods and desserts. During the pandemic, they developed a line of frozen products to bring home-made bakery quality and perfection to home ovens.

Since their opening in 2019, the company’s number one priority has been growing a sustainable business, with meaningful employment and liveable wages, while making a high-quality product for consumers.

Over the last year, 80% of the waste produced by the bakery has been diverted from the landfill, and either recycled or commercially composted.

Vikings and Goddesses also pride themselves on sourcing products locally to support other small-business owners, and in turn, minimise their carbon footprint.

In line with their sustainability values and consumer demand, Vikings and Goddesses has now chosen a new compostable packaging sourced from Elk Packaging. The high-performance structure includes a high barrier

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cellulose film layer, NatureFlex™ film sourced from Futamura, laminated to a biofilm ensuring a hermetic seal. This final structure is independently certified compostable by BPI, proving that it will compost in a commercial compost setting.

This new packaging still meets all the technical requirements: excellent pack integrity is maintained throughout the process and distribution, ensuring that the grocery stores can handle the product, and it will remain intact in the end users home freezers. Additionally, the gusset pouch produced takes up less space on grocery store shelves than a cardboard box or the bakery’s previous packaging options. www.futamuragroup.com

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CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Preparing for Christmas and reducing food waste I

t might seem strange to be talking about Christmas in the middle of a (at times) sunny July, but here at National Flexible, we know that planning is key to success. While most people are enjoying BBQs and beach days, businesses that want to thrive during the holidays are already gearing up for the busiest time of the year. From ensuring they have the right packaging solutions to managing supply chains, thinking ahead is the best way to avoid last minute headaches.

At Christmas our supermarkets are bulging with festive food ideas as we all want to make Christmas special for our loved ones and so inevitably buy far too much. Some products have their own natural packaging skins, for example satsumas and nuts. Some products have a long shelf life, like chocolate, but let’s be honest they tend not to last much longer than Boxing Day! Other products need a helping hand from the packaging to make sure food wastage is kept to a minimum.

Food waste is not just hard on our bank balance, it’s extremely bad for the environment.

The third largest contributor to climate change is food waste (behind China and the USA). This is estimated worldwide at 1.3 billion tonnes pa. The use of plastic packaging reduces food waste by 25/30% by extending shelf life, saving millions of tonnes of CO2/methane.

This year research at the University of Sheffield, concluded “Comparing plastic packaging with alternative materials, including metal and paper, in 15 out of 16 applications, plastic had the lower carbon footprint.”

The National ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms, announced in October 2023 under DEFRA regulations, states that all UK businesses, as well as public sector organisations such as hospitals and schools, must implement separate food waste collections by the end of March 2025.

labels, greener materials and traceability.

National Flexible are not tied to any type of packaging, and we believe in helping our customers find the best sustainable option for them, as well as making sure the food is kept at its optimum for the shelf life required.

This means your packaging will need clearer We offer Sustainability Packaging Audits where our packaging engineers will visit your site, work alongside your team, review how you currently pack and offer some alternatives. We also supply FREE of charge trials for you to test the new packaging and we will be on hand to make sure all runs well.

Alongside this, we welcome you to attend our New Academy, a holistic view of the Future of Flexible Packaging. Through our expertise, we provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to protect and preserve products without causing harm to the environment and discover why plastics may not always be the worst option for the planet.

Get in touch to see how our team can help you reduce food waste using the most sustainable packaging.

Contact T 01274 685566 marketing@nationalflexible.net www.nationalflexible.net

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CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Fosters Bakery A

s the holiday season draws near, Fosters Bakery is excited to unveil its premium selection of mince pies, designed to enhance festive celebrations with unparalleled quality. With over 72 years of experience in the bakery industry, Fosters Bakery is renowned for its dedication to excellence and innovation in baking.

Our bakery is buzzing with festive cheer as we prepare a range of mince pies that promise to delight your guests.

Alongside the familiar aromas of our bread, burger buns, hot dog rolls, etc., the enticing scent of mince pies fills the air, signalling the start of a joyful season.

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As we roll out our holiday treats, you might even spot our cheeky gingerbread man keeping an eye on things and ensuring every pie is perfect.

To make your holiday gatherings even more special, we suggest warming the mince pies in the oven before serving. This simple step enhances their flavour and fills the room with the cosy aroma of Christmas. For a festive treat that combines convenience with quality, reach out to Fosters Bakery.

We’re here to help you make this holiday season both delicious and memorable.

Sara 01226 215898 Shaun 01226 215986 salesforce@fostersbakery.co.uk www.fostersbakery.co.uk

Welcome to NOGIH Chocolates W

elcome to NOGIH Chocolates, where we redefine the chocolate experience with boldness and health in mind. Stop risking your health and that of your loved ones with traditional Chocolates—it's time for a healthy change. Our vegan, organic, and sugar-free chocolates are statements of rebellion against the chocolate industry's status quo.

Crafted with the finest organic ingredients, including Extra Virgin Olive Oil, our chocolates ensure a guilt-free indulgence without compromising on taste or quality.

Our mission is to make chocolate a source of pure joy, devoid of the usual regrets. We reject the paternalistic tones typical of health brands. We are empowering our community to take control of their diets and make conscious choices.

Join us in this Sweet Protest. Dive into a world where chocolate

transcends dessert—it's a movement towards sustainability, health, and unadulterated pleasure.

NOGIH Chocolates is for the rebels, the health-conscious, and the environmentally aware.

Welcome to a new era of chocolate. Welcome to NOGIH. hello@nogihchocolates.com www.nogihchocolates.com www.instagram.com/ nogihchocolates

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CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Festive eco-friendly packaging D

elivering products safely to customers is crucial for every business today.

Breakages cost time, money, and reputation, which no one wants to deal with. Luckily, WBC has you covered.

As the festive season approaches, it's the perfect time to protect your sales with our eco-friendly and innovative packaging solutions. Our honeycomb paper bottle protective sleeves offer an elegant, sustainable way to safeguard bottles and jars. These sleeves, which are 100% recyclable, biodegradable, and food-safe, not only enhance your product presentation but also appeal to environmentally conscious customers.

Our premium self-seal e-commerce boxes are ideal for creating hampers or sending standalone products. Ranging from 12 to 20 inches, these boxes can hold a variety of items.

Whether you're crafting housewarming hampers or classic afternoon teas, these versatile boxes are perfect for festive gifts, allowing you to offer themed hampers that cater to different tastes and occasions.

Bottle bags make excellent impulse purchases, especially when displayed near the till. Our exclusive design features wine names in a

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trendy muted red, printed on strong, matt paper with a reinforced base.

Fully recyclable, these stylish bags add a touch of festive cheer to any purchase, making them perfect for last-minute gifts.

Maximise your profits with our 100% recyclable 2-bottle red and blue Christmas front-opening gift box. Made from unlaminated kraft paper, this box features a hinged lid that tucks in neatly, requiring no tape. It’s a quick and efficient way to create attractive mail-order hampers and in-store gifts.

The festive season is a critical time for increasing sales, and personalised packaging can give your business the edge it needs to stand out this Christmas. In mailorder retail, packaging is your storefront and the tangible interaction customers have with your brand. The packaging you choose not only establishes

an in-store identity but also represents your company when it ships. So why settle for plain when you can choose personalised?

WBC's personalisation services help you create branded packaging in small or large quantities at an affordable price, with lead times as quick as 7 to 10 days. Imagine your logo adorning everything from gift boxes and tissue paper to packing tape, gift tags, and tote bags. Our complete suite of 1,600 products enhances brand identity and customer experience, making your festive season packaging unforgettable.

T 020 7737 4040 sales@wbc.co.uk www.wbc.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Bennetts Kombucha M

eet Bennetts Kombucha - a family and veteranowned business that's on a mission to improve the nation's health, one gut at a time, with ouraward winning, unpasteurised, probiotic packed kombucha.

Our journey began with mum - gut health specialist and AfN Reg. Nutritionist - wanting to improve our family's health. It's now run by Dad, Royal Marine turned Boochmeister, and me, Milly, wanting to improve not just our family's health but yours too!

We all need trillions of bacteria to fend off disease, protect our mental health and immune system, invest in our metabolic health and thereby improve our wellbeing.

Our Bennetts Kombucha is packed with live cultures and billions of bacteria in five boochilicious

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flavours: Lemon & Ginger, Berry Burst ('red berries'), Garden Mint, Organic White and Super Berry (a super-blend of 'dark berries' inspired by our collaboration with the University of Exeter).

Oh, and...1 showstopper: BOOCHSECCO®! Our all singing, all-dancing and all-PARTYING sparkling kombucha.

An elderflower and strawberry blend of refreshing fizz. At just 0.3% ABV you can sip and safely steer your way home; and, no sore heads!

So, we are on a quest - for BOOCHSECCO to be the life and party of all your festivities and to get you and your gut partying because Food and DRINK Matters. www. bennettskombucha. com

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or over 25 years we've been providing 20-foot and 40-foot temperaturecontrolled storage units for a diverse range of industries and sectors. These include supermarkets, wholesalers and some of the largest events and venues in the United Kingdom, aiding with seasonal demand.

Seven Refrigeration's entire fleet of temperature-controlled containers are covered by our state-of-the-art monitoring and alarm system. The system monitors your conditions in real time. Should the temperature move out of your defined range, if there's a door that has been left open, or even a small power loss, you'll receive email and SMS alerts.

Our bespoke refrigerated storage solutions are provided on flexible rental terms, from short to long term. We can also offer ISO rated units for purchase.

With more than 700 transportable refrigeration cold stores, and our own engineers working nationwide, businesses like yours all over the country trust us to keep them fully operational.

T +44 (0)1473 261780 sales@sevenrefrigeration.co.uk www.sevenrefrigeration.co.uk www.linkedin.com/company/ seven-refrigeration www.twitter. com/7refrigeration www.instagram.com/ sevenrefrigeration

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DISTILLING MATTERS

All the best things come in small batches U

K micro-distilleries (craft distilling) really came into their own during Lockdown with the number of new small startups increasing by 30%. With many pub and bar closures, Brits started experimenting with the craft sprit industry, notably rum, whiskey and gin. Gin botanicals once banished as a ‘dark art’ quickly became the subject of online forums and food & drink events. With the push to shop local, many consumers are now actively pushing for more craft spirits.

Small craft distilleries are no longer just a ‘Lockdown trend’ but a distinctive artisanal avenue in its own right. These boutique-style distilleries now produce quality premium products, with growing consumer demand for innovative craft spirits.

Sign me up. How can I start my micro-distillery?

The Craft Distilling Business Limited has built and commissioned over 200 craft distilleries in Europe and Asia in the last eight years.

The company was the brainchild of co-founders Matt Servini and Vanessa Rapier and established in 2017. Almost eight years later, Craft Distilling Business is riding the waves of success through building and installing micro-distilleries, developing spirit recipes and supporting emerging craft distillers with crafting premium spirit brands.

“We wish to make it as easy as possible for our clients to set up small distilleries in venues safely. Many of our clients are new to distilling and need a lot of handholding. We help our clients with license applications, health and safety certification, staff training, recipe development, sourcing of botanicals and consumables, and servicing. In short, everything required to set up

a micro-distillery,” outlined Matt.

Spotlight on The Craft Distilling Business The Craft Distilling Business Limited was created to install The Nicholas Culpepper micro-distillery within Gatwick Airport. This was intended to be a one-off project - but unexpectedly acted as a springboard to build a business focusing on installing micro-distilleries in hospitality and retail venues, including five-star hotels and cruise ships.

“We initially focused on putting stills in hospitality and retail venues; however, there has been a demand for building bigger distilleries in standalone sites. Also, in the first two years, we installed exclusively distilleries to produce gin.

Furthermore, in the early years of the business, we got a lucky break from Halewood, an international artisanal spirits producer.

They ordered five substantial stills from us simultaneously, one of which was for the Bath & Bristol Distillery, which produces the awardwinning Dead Man's Fingers Rum. It provided a cash injection into the business that allowed us to invest when the company was in its Infancy.

A more recent collaboration that has attracted considerable attention is the installation of a tiny distillery on the third floor of the Fortnum & Masons Piccadilly Store.

However, roughly half of our business is now for rum and whiskey, and gin is the other half, with 40% from a small number of multinational distilling businesses, and the other 60% is from small start-up craft businesses.”

Works of art Copper pot distillery stills are at the heart of all microdistillery operations and are instrumental in crafting authentic, innovative spirits.

Copper is used because of its exceptional heat conductivity properties, reacting with spirit impurities to create a refined, premium product. The Craft Distilling Business uses copper and steel to create beautiful, bold visually-striking stills, that wouldn’t look out of place in a ‘steampunk orchestra.’

The Bristol & Bath Distillery houses one such 500-litre copper & steel still -beautifully made in traditional Jamaican

double retort rum still design. The result is striking, classically distinct in design and form.

The still has a 500Lt electric boiler with 100Lt retorts and a ‘worm in water’ condenser. The bespoke stills are all designed in-house by Matt, with mini stills made in Ireland and larger ones in their workshop in China “We assemble the equipment on our customer's sites, and as part of the training, we typically run the first batch with them.

“We've created a still specifically for customers who don't have a license to handle dutysuspended alcohol and must use duty-paid spirit.

When the duty has already been paid, there must be a minimum loss of yield, so we constructed a still especially for this need. It's been our most popular model since the company's conception.

“Our 2 Lt "Copper Baby" mini stills are explicitly designed for gin schools, where customers make their own gin within an hour or two under the instruction of a trainer. These are very popular in tourist locations and also in city centres where they cater to corporate events and parties such as hen dos.”

What you waiting for? Take the leap From novice to master distiller, The Craft Distilling Business wants to hear from you. The expert designer, builder and installer of still and distillation equipment can fit equipment into any space and goes the extra mile with its extensive range of support services.

“We’re also looking for field-based sales agents in the Benelux and France, following a distinct growth area in these countries. Ideal candidates would have an existing, successful brewing equipment or coffee machine or other commercial catering equipment business.”

To find out more, contact Matt Servini: M 07717 207331 matt@thecraftdistillingbusiness.com https://thecraftdistillingbusiness.com

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WATER MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Beating PFAs: Planetfriendly water purification and beverage solutions What are PFAS? he Royal Society of Chemistry reported that over a third of English and Welsh water courses contravene the ‘forever chemical’ safeguarding limits. Test results revealed medium to high-risk levels of PFOS and PFOA: type of PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These are dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ due to their life-lasting, toxic properties on the natural world and human health respectively. Recent studies now prove links to some types of cancer (testicular and thyroid), fertility issues, liver damage, increased cholesterol levels and developmental harm to unborn children.

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Under current UK law, water companies are legally bound to only reduce PFAS if they are considered ‘high risk’. High PFAS concentrations, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry are likely caused by water course PFAS contamination from airports, major fire sites, industrial areas, wastewater treatment plants, landfill sites and incinerators.

What can we do about PFAS? Award-winning Bluewater was founded in 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden and is on course to become the world’s most planet-friendly water purification and beverage company.

Bluewater’s state-of-the-art proprietary SuperiorOsmosis™ purification technology removes over 99% of known impurities from water, ensuring pristine drinking water free of increasingly common tap water contaminants like PFAS and microplastics. Purified water is then remineralised to create a balanced and refreshing beverage, as clean as nature intended.

The Kitchen Station is a perfect choice for the sustainable era, mitigating the need for singleuse plastic bottles, whilst adding a distinctive blend of liquidified minerals from ancient Swedish mountains for optimal health.

Customer-led design Bluewater carried out its own survey of 2,000 Londoners regarding attitudes and opinions on the quality of tap water. Four out of ten stated they did not trust tap water, backed up

by Bluewater’s own research that found high levels of PFAS across three areas of London.

These levels far exceed the limits now set by the European Union and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Kitchen Station is the result of years of meticulous R&D: the Spirit under-sink purifier produces up to 900 litres of daily purified water, while Bluewater’s signature proprietary SuperiorOsmosis™ filtration system has been thirty-party verified to remove up to 99.9 % of toxic contaminants like PFAS, microplastics, and BPA specifically from tap water.

Spotlight on The Kitchen Station The new exclusive Kitchen Station has been crafted for both residential and commercial settings and is easy to install and maintain.

The Station fits easily around the existing tap and can be ordered directly from Bluewater or

via a network of dealers for £4,150, including installation, with finance packages available.

Designed for today’s user in tomorrow’s world, the quiet system delivers a powerful flow of three litres per minute, with the added benefit of a Smartphone App enabling customised water mineralisation choices. It is easy to maintain, with a long-life cycle and consumes minimum energy, making this the sustainable product of choice.

Planet-plan business approach: global customer base Bluewater was conceived and launched with a ‘planet plan’ rather than a traditional business plan and is primarily driven by the purpose to end the need for single-use plastic bottles and the pollution they create from production through transportation and end recycling.

This is achieved by enabling customers (both consumers and businesses) to generate purer, healthier water at source rather than transporting bottled water from one side of the world to another. Bluewater water purification technology harnesses reverse osmosis (the gold standard for removing contaminants from tap water) but slashes the water wastage associated with traditional RO water by up to 70%.

“Bluewater’s consumers and business customers are found across the Horeca sector, gym, school

Introducing ‘liquid rock’ mineralisation: Swedish engineering In April this year, Bluewater launched the world’s most advanced Kitchen Purification Solution that included a unique remineralisation system dubbed ‘liquid rock’. The cutting-edge IoT-based infused system removes 99.97% of toxic chemicals from kitchen tap water including PFAS and then remineralises it using minerals harvested from Swedish mountain rock. The Bluewater O control further allows users to seamlessly shift between municipal water for activities like dish washing and then purified re-mineralised water for drinking. The O control also acts as an integrated visual aid for added simplicity: shifting from orange for water that is unpurified to all-blue when it’s purer to drink.

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and hospital markets and events’ industry. The Bluewater Hydration Station and sustainable bottles are used by many leading events such as The Open and AIG Women's tournaments, America’s Cup, Ocean Race sailing, and cricket events, and many their prestigious activities from major business conferences to the COP sustainability summits,” enthused David Noble, Head of PR & Communications at Bluewater.

hydration solutions for home, work, and play, we offer hotel, catering, event and venue, educational institution and private individuals planet-friendly water purification and beverage systems. Our latest coffee brewing solution now offers baristas the opportunity to create the perfect cup of coffee,” David Noble underscores.

Future-proofing Bluewater as the world’s most innovative water and beverage brand David Noble says Bluewater has many exciting innovations in the short-term pipeline that include integrating digital signage options into water dispensing stations, designed for metropolitan areas to enable people to easily refill their reuseable bottles while on the go, plus integrating NFC technology into our premium water bottles to provide consumers vital refill and other hydration information.

From air to water: charting the multi-award-winning success of Bluewater Bluewater’s founder, the Swedish Ecopreneur Bengt Rittri, sold his previous company Blueair to Unilever in 2016. He had successfully built it up over two decades into the world’s leading supplier of mobile indoor air purifiers, sold in over 60 countries around the world.

Bluewater is headquartered in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, with regional offices in London, Cape Town, Denver, Colorado and Shanghai. Bluewater has manufacturing facilities in China and Sweden, marking this a Swedish company with a truly global outlook.

Recognised by industry insiders for its innovation and cutting-edge designs, Bluewater has been the recipient of two Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards and a K&B Kitchen Innovation of the Year Award.

“By innovating and marketing disruptive

“Liquid Rock is the only mineral solution that doesn’t create scaling during water heating, which as all coffee experts will tell you is the cornerstone of exceptional coffee. The Bluewater Café Station is now available across the UK, Sweden and Denmark with later launches planned globally in the Autumn.”

The Bluewater Café Station™ Bluewater exclusively showcased the new The Bluewater Café Station™ at this summer’s World of Coffee in Copenhagen. All the best coffee connoisseurs already know that water quality will hugely impact the brewed taste of coffee.

From independent coffee shops to gastro-pubs, The Bluewater Café Station™ ensures perfectly brewed coffee every time, through purified water and a unique blend of Liquid Rock™ minerals to optimise the flavour of each coffee bean.

“We have taken part in numerous trade events in the Middle East and Europe and are planning to reach out this Autumn to several trade shows in North America – to showcase our innovative and sustainable purification technology and beverages. We continue to grow our presence in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Americas, where we own a water dispensing brand called Flowater.”

For more information, visit: www.bluewatergroup.com or call David Noble on +44 (0)7785 302694.

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MANUFACTURING MATTERS

Processing protein powders with the vacuum expansion method from ystral

By Dr.-Ing. Hans-Joachim Jacob

Equally, with regard to the starch contained in the powder, the prevention of agglomerates is also very important. The degradation of starch usually occurs through enzymes, occasionally also through acids.

If powder particles are already separated before the infeed of liquid, and highly dispersed during powder induction, the enzymatic degradation of the starch is supported and thus accelerated.

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he offer of non-animal food is continuously growing. The most important ingredients of these ‘new food’ products are proteins, which have so far usually been plant-based.

However, processing of these protein powders poses a challenge: In order to ensure optimum product quality, the proteins must be fully unlocked, starches must be degraded to the required degree, and agglomerates and foam must be avoided during production.

All of this is achieved when processing protein powders in the vacuum expansion process.

Senior Expert Process and Applications, ystral gmbh mechanical engineering + process technology

What the alternative proteins used in the new food segment have in common is that they are difficult to process, and they also have very different characteristics: Wheat protein for example is extremely cohesive, while soy protein is extremely adhesive. If protein powders of seeds, grains, nuts and pulses are mixed into water, they are prone to clogging, agglutinating and foaming.

The proteins are shear-sensitive on the one hand, but at the same time, they require high shearing while being dispersed into the liquid. Therefore, shearing under controlled conditions is required, in a very short period of time.

With the YSTRAL Conti-TDS powder wetting and dispersing machine, even hard-to-wet, dusty or sticky powders containing protein can be dispersed without agglomerates.

The particles can be broken down in cold or warm liquid (More pictures: ystral) To achieve optimum product quality, what is crucial is that agglomerates that are contained in powders are instantly broken up fully when mixed into the liquid, and the formation of new agglomerates is prevented from the outset. Otherwise, these agglomerates must be broken down subsequently through long stirring and time-consuming redispersion – with negative consequences for the product quality: Dispersing the agglomerates damages the quaternary and tertiary structure of the already hydrated protein and impairs the viscosity and texture in an uncontrolled way.

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With the vacuum expansion method of the mixing and dispersion technology specialist ystral, the air contained in the powder is expanded by a multiple, which significantly enlarges the distance between the particles. The primary protein particles are separated before they enter the liquid, they are completely wetted on first contact with the liquid, they are dispersed in situ under vacuum, and are subsequently hydrated without agglomerates under pressure.

The most important ingredients of “New Food” products are proteins, so far mostly plant-based (Image: Moving Moment – stock.adobe.com) coalesces to large air bubbles, which can easily escape in the process vessel. Foam, which is usually generated through protein processing, is almost completely prevented this way.

The machine and system design from ystral can be precisely tailored to the requirements of the respective powder type. While for the processing of oatmeal for example – same as for soy and rice – dispersing in the vacuum expansion process with The whole process an inline operated powder takes 2 to 3 hundredths wetting and dispersing of a second, with machine Ystral Conti-TDS minimal heat input. The is sufficient, other powders powder is immediately containing protein (such completely disintegrated. as coconut or some pea No agglomerates are flour) require additional formed. The texture dispersing under high is not damaged or shearing, to fully break destroyed. The process down the product. In these time compared to cases, in addition to the conventional technologies Conti-TDS, Ystral uses a is significantly reduced Z-Inline Disperser, which here. redisperses the protein The Ystral Z-Inline dispersing powder, while the entire Through this intensive machine is used when proteins powder is inducted at the dispersion, significantly require a more intense dispersion same time via the Contiless enzymes are TDS. The Z-Inline Disperser can be operated here needed for the degradation of starch compared either in parallel in a separate circuit, or in series to conventional procedures. The air, which was with the Conti-TDS. previously contained in the powder, is separated from the significantly heavier dispersion through In addition, allergenic and non-allergenic powders the centrifugal effect of the fast-running rotor and can for example be absorbed completely separately and processed in separate liquid circuits. A ContiTDS can also be easily integrated into existing process systems and be piped with several process vessels or storage tanks. The disperser can either be operated inline or in the circuit on large process vessels, or generate a highly concentrated premix in a small batch, which is subsequently diluted in the main process vessels.

Example of a process system with two bag infeeds, one big bag station, one Ystral Conti-TDS Inline dispersing machine and one process vessel with Ystral Jetstream Mixer

The mechanical processing technology has a tremendous influence on the taste, consistency, mouthfeel, and lastly also the visual impression of food – this also and particularly applies to the ‘new food’ segment. To further improve acceptance of ‘new food’ products on the market, it is important that they do not exhibit any deficits compared to traditional products with regard to these factors.

These demands are met by technologies from ystral and the dispersing of protein powders in the vacuum expansion process. www.ystral.com

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DOOR SYSTEMS MATTERS

Major contracts news from Hart

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art Door Systems has completed two more contracts for leading UK manufacturers supplying a range of door systems from Hart’s Speedor range of high speed doors to Hart’s roller shutters.

environments in which pressure differentials need to be maintained and where hygiene standards are high, whereas Speedor Mini is for high traffic, frequent use internal applications. This is a low cost access option.”

“Both clients are leading manufacturers in their respective sectors, one specialising in roofing and cladding, the other in wall, roof and landscaping innovations,” says Gordon Kipling, Hart’s Northern Sales Manager. “Their requirements were dissimilar which resulted in Hart supplying a range of doors for different purposes.

Mr Kipling added. “In all over both contracts were supplied a total of 10 doors.

Once again our range of door solutions gives clients many options and as manufacturers they very often have highly individual needs. Hart is a logical supplier with considerable expertise.

“For example we supplied Speedor Cleanroom high speed doors for one contract and Speedor Minis for another. Cleanroom is designed to work in

“Our product choice is superb and manufactured to required standards. We expect more orders for fast action doors to follow in the near future.”

Contact www.hartdoors.com

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CLASSIFIEDS Beverages

Printing

Tools

Food Hygiene

Ingredients

Contract Drying

Catering Consultancy

Measurement Solutions

Foodservice Consultants

Ingredients

Trade Marks

Halal Foods

We help to make sure food is safe to eat.

That's our passion.

Safe food hygiene solutions for your food company. www.christeyns.com

MACKLE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Bulk supplies for Food Manufacturers BRITISH MADE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR USING BRITISH APPLES No sulphur or additives used with acidity levels to suit your requirements

Ingredients

Brewed in our own BRC approved factory PACKED IN 25 AND 1000 LITRE CONTAINERS or Full Road Tankers Buy Direct from manufacturer Deliver anywhere in the UK Tel 02887 784345 or email anthony.conroy@mackleapple.com

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Packaging

Ingredients

Water Filters

Cannabis Tea

Plastics

Logistics

Packaging Machinery

Packaging

Discover our range of cannabis products grown on certified organic farms

Balance the Body, Calm the Mind Purchase online or find a stockist near you www.bodyandmindbotanicals.com

Food Packaging

Personalised bespoke packaging solutions for a range of speciality food sectors: Confectionery, Dairy, Bakery, Delicatessen & Fish Get in touch 01606 354664 sales@bartecpackaging.co.uk www.bartecpackaging.co.uk

Machines for Food

UK MANUFACTURED PACKAGING MACHINERY EXCELLENCE

Turnkey Solutions | Filling, Capping Labelling Automation | Bespoke, Special Purpose Design Pharmaceutical | Food & Beverage | Chemical Aromatherapy | Medical | Diagnostics Industrial | Ecig | Adhesives To discover more, please visit

www.capcoder.com • Tel 01865 891466

Water Treatment

Uniball Tumbler Mixer Ideal for flapjack mixes and fragile products Capacity 225 litres, 316 stainless steel drum, variable speed

The machines have been sold to clients using a range of different products as coating vegetables in oil, mixing medical powders, Bakery recipes, flapjack mix, mixing different nut types, marinating meat with sauces, mixing coffee beans, food ingredients, coating olives in flavours, flavours on nuts, pasta & mayo. Sold worldwide to USA, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Iceland and Europe.

01761 410345 | 01761 410332 sales@machines4food.co.uk www.machines4food.co.uk

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