Catering@Booker Issue 17 - July 2024

CATERING @ BOOKER

OXFORD BAR MAKES EVERY DAY A PARTY

P L U S N E W B L A C K G AT E C L U B S T E A K , S E A S O N A L S E R V E S & S A L A D S , P R O F I T F R O M S A N D W I C H E S , C A S H I N O N N P D A N D U P - S E L L I N G

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HIGHLIGHTS l CONTENTS

14

Christian Taylor, Taylor Made Kitchen, Shambles Market, York

“It’s fast food, but we put a lot of pride and passion into the food. Our standard burger is a 6oz buffalo patty with Swiss cheese, tomato and rocket, in a pink brioche bun and we season everything.

I wouldn’t put anything on the menu we didn’t think was great.”

25

Christopher Andrews, North Hill Noodle Bar, Colchester

“People are very keen to try authentic Asian food. The consumer definitely knows what they’re eating nowadays, and they appreciate good quality food so there’s not tons of salt and sugar and we avoid colourings associated with Chinese restaurants.”

52 COVER SHOT

Isabel Mulligan, Category Manager Designate BWS, Booker

“I’ve been working on alternative packaging, and I think that trend may grow in future. One project I was involved with was bringing the Vinca Organic canned range of wines into Booker earlier this year. There is a big opportunity for packaging formats like this.”

18

Creating a venue where there’s ‘a party every day’ has served Hank’s Bar well in Oxford.

CATERING@BOOKER SHARE YOUR NEWS If you've got news, tips or feature ideas, get in touch with Catering@Booker Email:Catering@booker.co.uk DISCLAIMER All rights reserved. Prices and information are correct at time of going to press, but may be subject to change.

4

JULY 2024

CONTENTS

41

36 RANGE FOCUS

59

NEWS

FEAT URES

7

28

Pricing lockdown – Pricing on more than 700 products are locked

BBQ – New Blackgate bone-in line makes BBQ success easy.

down all the way through until 10 September.

36

Seasonal serves – Make the most of summer with seasonal serves and

9

Consumer confidence grows –

salads.

Consumer confidence continues to grow, according to the latest Barclays

41

Sandwiches – Get creative with the humble sandwich to drive fresh sales

data.

PROF I LES

PRICE

14

48

Taylor Made Kitchen – York Market

Locked Down Pricing – More than

Nothing gets your customers’ juices

food stall takes US fast food to a new

700 products locked down until 10

flowing in summer quite like the smell of

level.

September.

sizzling bone-in steak, fresh off the grill.

18

Booker has launched a new Blackgate

Hank’s Bar – Oxford bar throws ‘a party every day’ to wow customers.

Club Steak that lives up to the well-

59

deserved reputation for fantastic quality

25

the Blackgate range has established

North Hill Noodle Bar – Exquisite,

over the years. The Club Steak means

authentic Southeast Asian cuisine is

Booker’s On The Bone range now

a winner in Colchester.

extends to four separate options, all perfect for firing up sales.

28

S ERV IC E New and improved – Lift profits with new products and up-selling.

REGULAR 52

Meet The Team – Category Manager Designate Isabel Mulligan talks wine.

JULY 2024

5

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BOOKER NEWS

BOOKERNEWS NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS BOOKER

700 LINES LOCKED DOWN UNTIL 10 SEPT

With summer upon us, Booker is committed to helping its catering customers maximise sales and profits by locking down pricing on over 700 products until 10 September!

INBRIEF CHEAPER BY THE CASE The 700+ products included in the pricing lockdown include a big range of ‘Cheaper By The Case’ options, providing catering customers with the chance to access even better pricing by buying high volume products by

Making the most of the vital summer sales opportu-

the case.

nity is key to all Booker catering customers which is why Booker is continuing to help them plan ahead

These deals feature across

by locking down the pricing on over 700 popular

many key categories such as cleaning products and

products right through until 10 September.

disposables and include products such as:

The Euro Finals 24 helped launch the summer season in style and England progressing all the way through to the final helped ensure that

guaranteed on a huge list of products.

interest in the tournament remained huge all the

l

Washing-up liquid

l

Antibac hand soap

way through to the last minute of the festival of

The pricing guarantee covers all main product

l

Disinfectant

football. The result may not have been what most

categories from beers, wines and spirits to fresh,

l

Kitchen towel

were hoping for, but the success of England in

frozen and ambient lines. The guarantee even

l

Kitchen foil

reaching the final meant pubs, bars and restau-

extends to non-food lines like essential cleaning

rants saw big sales spikes for the full month of

equipment and disposables.

l

Cling film

l

Blue roll

l

Vinyl gloves

the tournament.

As always, the lockdown includes an extensive With the Olympic Games next on the list, there’s

range of high quality, great value own-brand

l

Napkins

plenty to look forward to, so the new pricing

products as well as an extensive selection of

l

Pizza boxes

lockdown lets catering customers plan ahead in

branded lines, helping you deliver the quality

l

Burger trays

confidence, knowing that their profit margins are

and value that your customers expect.

l

Disposable wooden cutlery

What are you doing different to stand out in your local market?

Share it with us and your fellow Booker colleagues at catering@booker.co.uk

JULY 2024

l

Paper plates

l

Coffee cups

7

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BOOKER NEWS

INDUSTRYNEWS NEWS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND OPINIONS FROM ACROSS THE INDUSTRY

PUB AND CLUB SPEND GROWS DESPITE DROP IN CARD SPENDING

Bar, pub and club spending grew in June, partly driven by the Euros, despite total card spending in the UK falling for the first time since February 2021.

INBRIEF ENGLAND FIXTURES ‘DELIVER 21% GROWTH’ England fixtures during the Euro Finals 24 delivered an average

June’s mixed weather had a major impact on

year-on-year sales boost

UK spending, which fell 0.6% year-on-year that

of 21% to the hospitality

month, the first decline in card spending since

sector across Great Britain.

February 2021. Despite this, however, spending

New sales data collected

in pubs, clubs and bars grew by 0.5%, partly

by CGA’s Trading Index

driven by consumers flocking to venues to watch

prior to the final reveals

the Euro Finals 24.

the huge boost for Britain’s pubs and bars, peaking with a 33%

That’s according to the latest monthly

increase in sales for

Barclays Consumer Spend report which combines

England’s final group

hundreds of millions of customer transactions

game vs Slovenia.

with consumer research to provide an in-depth

Fixtures against Denmark,

view of UK spending.

Serbia and Slovakia delivered a 28%, 12%

To put this growth in context, June also saw

and 11% sales boost,

supermarket spending fall (by 2.6%) for the first

respectively.

time in two years, highlighting the strong perfor-

The matches saw

mance of the on-trade sector during the period.

Sales of takeaways and fast food also returned to Encouragingly, consumers’ confidence in their

growth in June, up 4.4%, although it was another

ability to manage their budgets and live within

challenging month for restaurants as sales fell

their means also grew, reaching 73%.

11.5% YOY.

increases of at least 40% to drinks sales during each of England’s matchdays.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “We saw huge demand from fans to cheer

What are you doing different to stand out in your local market?

Share it with us and your fellow Booker colleagues at catering@booker.co.uk

JULY 2024

England on from the pub, with full venues."

9

INDUSTRY NEWS

KING’S SPEECH PROMISES SIGNIFICANT CHANGE

The recent King’s Speech set out the new Labour government’s key priorities, many of which will impact on the hospitality and catering sector.

INBRIEF KING’S SPEECH: DIGEST As well as key priorities, the King’s Speech also addressed a number of legislative changes that will affect hospitality and catering including: l

A new law will make spiking a specific criminal offence.

l

A new law will require venues and events to take steps to mitigate the impact of a potential terrorist attack.

l

Labour pledges to reform the apprenticeship levy to give businesses more

King Charles III has set out the priorities and

opers. A new Employment Rights Bill will be intro-

aims of the new Labour government in the first

duced “within Labour’s first 100 days in office”

King’s Speech since Prime Minister Keir Starmer

which the government says will be “the biggest

took power. An expansive 35 Bills were set out

upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation”.

flexibility on how funds are spent and how courses are run. l

Skills England, will

in the speech with many of them having direct or indirect impacts on the UK hospitality and

It will affect many areas of working practices and

catering sectors.

will include a ban on zero-hours contracts, and

work with employers, training providers and other organisations

will require employers to give staff “reasonable To the disappointment of many, the legislative

notice” of changes to shifts and compensation

agenda conspicuously did not include reform

for any cancelled or shortened shifts.

of business rates, an issue the sector has been challenging for many years.

Parental leave, sick pay and protection from

A new organisation,

to assess the current and future needs of businesses. l

Restrictions on advertising of High

unfair dismissal will be made available to all

Fat, Sugar and

The speech did, however, outline the govern-

workers from day one on the job, although a

Salt products and

ment’s ‘taking the brakes off’ approach to

probation process to assess new employees will

restrictions on the sale

planning reform which will be welcomed by many

still be permissible.

of high caffeine energy drinks to children.

businesses, particularly those who have had their growth plans stymied by council delays.

The promise of a “genuine living wage” also

l

New laws on financial

raises the prospect of further hikes in wage bills

reporting and the

New laws will modernise planning committees,

for business. Minimum wage age bands will be

conduct of company

improve decision making and provide a more

abandoned, moving those under 21 up to the

directors.

“predictable” service for investors and devel-

same hourly rate as older staff.

JULY 2024

11

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INDUSTRY NEWS

CHANCELLOR PUTS GROWTH ‘AT CENTRE OF PLANNING SYSTEM’ In news welcomed by hospitality and catering, new Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that Labour is fully committed to putting growth at the centre of a reformed planning system.

INBRIEF HOMELESS RECRUITMENT CHARITY HITS 500 Only A Pavement Away, the industry charity which helps people facing homelessness to rebuild their lives through employment in

In news welcomed by the hospitality and catering

Planning approvals are in freefall with the level of

the hospitality sector, has

sectors, new Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed

applications decided within statutory time limits

announced the placement

that the Labour government is fully committed

falling every year since 2013. “Too many hospi-

of its 500th member into

to putting growth at the centre of a reformed

tality businesses with ambitions to expand and

work.

planning system.

grow are held back and frustrated by the current

The charity launched in

system. Planning reform is desperately needed,

2018 to connect forward-

She reiterated Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s

to unlock business ambitions and develop local

thinking employers

‘taking the brakes off’ approach to planning

infrastructure.

with individuals facing homelessness.

which will see planning committees modernised, decision making speeded-up and, ultimately, a

“The two go hand-in-hand, with many hospitality

The charity calculates

service that is more predictable for businesses,

businesses often finding recruitment challenging

that the impact of

investors and developers.

due to the lack of housing available, particu-

placing 500 people into

larly in rural areas. Putting growth as a central Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospi-

aim of the planning system can allow hospitality

tality, said: “It was encouraging to hear from

businesses to create new jobs, drive economic

the Chancellor that the government intends to

growth and contribute to the regeneration and

put growth at the centre of the planning system.

renewal of our towns and cities.”

employment has added £25.6m to the British economy so far through a mixture of reduced government support, financial independence and increased household expenditure.

Figures show that 60% of members have remained in employment for more than a year, which is higher than the average tenure of a hospitality professional.

Only A Pavement Away also aims to change perceptions about ‘typical’ candidate profiles and has recently expanded into Manchester and Scotland.

JULY 2024

13

PROFILE l THE TAYLOR MADE KITCHEN, YORK

THE TALK OF YORK Christian Taylor started out with a truckful of ideas and his passion for finger-licking food and sterling sauces have fuelled a loyal following.

Surrounded by a family of food lovers, full sides of lamb being butchered in the kitchen were a regular sight for Christian Taylor growing up. He enjoyed experimenting with ingredients from a young age and gleefully recalls adding herbs and spices to the water in his mother’s kettle in an attempt to boil up a broth. “It ruined the kettle, but it was all in the spirit of cooking,” he chuckles.

Kickstarting his career with a restaurant apprenticeship, he spent 15 years finetuning his culinary skills at various eateries throughout Yorkshire, in addition to producing and selling flavoured mayonnaise products at farmers markets and food festivals. Then in late 2016, Christian had a conversation with his wife about setting up his own catering business. They started with a business loan and by 2017 were buying equipment. “We spent six months looking for a specific style of food truck, like an American postal van,” he explains. “We were fascinated at the time with American street food culture.”

THE LOWDOWN

THE TAYLOR MADE KITCHEN (TMK) Location Shambles Market, York Format Market food stall Caterer Christian Taylor Opening hours 12-8 Friday-Saturday, 12-5 Sunday-Thursday Staff 7

14

JULY 2024

PROFILE l THE TAYLOR MADE KITCHEN, YORK

TREND WATCH THE TAYLOR MADE KITCHEN (TMK)

American fast food done right American fast food has been a long-term megatrend in the UK and Christian takes great delight in impressing tourists with his hearty dishes that pay tribute to their motherland. “In America I fell in love with ranch sauce and buffalo sauce,” he says.

“It’s great when people come in from these places around the world and try our take on something that’s originated from their part of the world.”

One Rotherham-based American who discovered TMK on a trip to York has rated its food as “better than the States”. In fact, he’s such a big fan that he bulk buys dishes so that he can freeze them for later!

The Taylor Made Kitchen (TMK) was born at the same time as Christian found out his wife was expecting, so success was the only option and the only way to get there was hard graft. “It all happened really quickly,” he says. “We started out doing the events circuit – festivals and farmers markets.”

In the autumn of 2018, he committed to a permanent pitch at Shambles food market in York city centre, but the magic didn’t happen overnight. “The first couple of years were really hard,” he says. “I’d had a great full-time job as head chef at a country pub before. Now there were times in the middle of winter where we’d be open from 9am till 5pm and we’d only sold a can of pop the whole day.”

But with the support of family and friends and a belief he had something different to offer, Christian slowly built up his business.

“It’s fast food, but we put a lot of pride and passion into the food,” he says. “Sometimes I get someone asking for a cheeseburger with onions – but we’re not that sort of venue. Our standard burger is a 6oz buffalo patty with Swiss cheese, tomato and rocket, in a pink brioche bun and we season everything. I wouldn’t put anything on the menu we didn’t think was great.”

Whether it’s Cowboy Fries with homemade Texan-style chilli con carne, chipotle mayo and chilli spiked Jack cheese; or Duckaroni

JULY 2024

15

C O M P E T I TO N E XC LU S I V E TO

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PROFILE l THE TAYLOR MADE KITCHEN, YORK

featuring confit duck, truffle oil, and parmesan crumb, every TMK

Having weathered the Covid storm and with TMK still very much in

dish offers comforting familiarity and top-quality ingredients, with

demand, the business switched to a converted shipping container in

the added zing of Christian’s creative flair and homemade sauces.

February last year, having outgrown the truck. “Before, we had one frier, a small grill, a couple of fridges and nowhere for storage, so

While the pandemic rang the death knell for numerous caterers, it

during busy periods we’d often run out of produce,” says Christian.

was a lifeline for Christian. “Covid was the best thing that happened to us,” he says. “Nobody knew what was going to happen. Then we

The new custom-built shipping container has bespoke cladding

realised, ‘we’re outdoors and takeaways can still open’.”

and is kitted out with two friers, a “massive” grill, a prep station, heat lamps, a ducting system – and oodles of storage.

All the food traders in the market slowly but surely started to open.

“The market became a hub because people could safely socially

The smart container certainly looks the part, but poor weather and

distance,” he explains. “Every day we could see increased footfall

industrial action has made for tough trading. “With the amount

coming through.” Word of Christian’s offer quickly spread on

of rain we’ve had and the rail strikes it’s made business very, very

social media. “We do Loaded Pizza Fries and they were all over

difficult,” concedes Christian.

Snapchat,” he says. “It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, it was really hard, but from a business growth point of view it was fantastic.”

Nevertheless, customers keep coming back for the tasty food and the jumbo portions. “The small portion is a meal for one, the large is enough to feed a family of four!” he laughs.

Loaded fries are the most popular order, made with Chef's Larder Premium Super Crisp Skin On Gourmet Fries. Top sellers include Parmo Fries, Katsu Fries, Buffalo Chicken Fries and Swine Fries.

“We buy the chicken and chips ready made, and we make quite a lot of sauces ourselves, including the chilli, the cheese sauce, buffalo and ranch sauces, garlic and herb sour cream, katsu sauce, and tomato sauce,” says Christian.

About 85-90% of his stock is sourced from Booker. “Skin on fries from Chef’s Larder are second to none, I’d never go anywhere else for chips,” he says. “They hold their shape, they’re not too crispy, not too floury and they hold the heat well.”

The business gets a delivery every Monday and Christian visits Booker six days a week. “I know 75% of the floor staff by name,” he says. “The food and beverage manager, Victoria Robinson, is really good. She comes to my venue for food, as do a lot of their staff.

Every member of staff at Booker York goes above and beyond.”

He credits his success to his supplier and customers. “I’d like to thank all the staff at Booker for their continued help and support and our customers for their loyalty – without them we wouldn’t be who we are.”

Christian might have ditched his truck for a shipping container, but TMK doesn’t need wheels to be a runaway success.

JULY 2024

17

PROFILE l HANK’S BAR OXFORD

SHAKING THINGS UP From the heady days of London’s cocktail renaissance in the nineties, to the gruelling costof-living crisis, Rob Opher has used his experiences to pull off a pocket-friendly party venue with plenty of panache.

Rob Opher’s parents didn’t know what to do with him as a teenager. “I was the unacademic worry child of the family at age 16,” he sighs.

Thankfully, he enrolled onto a four-year management course with Trust House Forte, which ran a series of hotels and service stations. His first placement was in a kitchen in the Cavendish Hotel in Jermyn St, but he wound up working at venues across the UK, from Harvester in Bournemouth to Turnberry Golf Course in Ayrshire. “I did it all,” he says. “It was badly paid, but THE LOWDOWN

HANK'S BAR Location Oxford Format Bar Caterers Rob Opher (pictured) and Al Thompson Opening hours Mon-Wed 9pm-2am, Thurs 9pm-3am, Fri & Sat 5pm-3am, Sun closed Staff 22

it gave you a great grounding.” Afterwards, he went travelling for two years with now business partner, Al Thompson, before returning to his hometown of Oxford and managing city centre restaurant and bar, Maxwell’s, in 1990. His boss, Suat Yumusak, continued Rob’s education in catering. “He told me: ‘You’re only as good as your last shift’.”

In the late nineties, he was asked to come to London to set up Navaja Joe’s in Covent Garden. It was during the boom of the London cocktail scene and Rob continued to hone his skills alongside some of the best in the

18

JULY 2024

PROFILE l HANK’S BAR OXFORD

business. “Maxwell’s Group had the depth to employ some great bartenders, one being the late Wayne Collins, the person behind the white Negroni,” says

TRENDWATCH HANK'S BAR, OXFORD

Rob. “He was a lot of fun!”

Eventually, Rob took the decision to set up his own

Cocktails after Brexit and Covid

business. “It was time to take a pay cut, sell the sports car and go it alone with a business partner,” he grins.

Covid caused cocktail menus to downsize, notes Rob. “Since the

“Fifty per cent of something is better than 100% of

pandemic, the offerings have got smaller,” he says. “Because of the

nothing!”

shortages on many products after Covid, businesses were keen not to list drinks they couldn’t complete.”

In 1999, Rob set up Thirst bar with Al in Oxford, and a

Leaving the EU has also impacted cocktail making. “Brexit created huge

second venue followed in Soho in 2004, run by general

problems in terms of finding staff,” says Rob. “Businesses have shrunk

manager Ruben Aguirre.

their offerings so it’s easier to train people and easier to control costs as there’s less waste.”

Operations manager, Yas Hunter, is another company linchpin. “Cut him in half and he’d have Thirst running through him!” says Rob. With a solid team in place, Rob was in a good position to take on his old workplace, Maxwell’s, when the opportunity arose almost seven years ago. They renamed the venue Hank’s Bar in memory of Al’s ravenous stray cat who was so-called because he was a ‘starvin’ Marvin’.

Rob’s eyes light up like mirror balls when asked to sum up the Oxford bar scene. “I can only describe what we do as the equivalent of throwing a house party every day of the year for your friends, their friends and a load of strangers!” he laughs.

Indeed, anyone and everyone is welcome to hang out at Hank’s. “The largest employer in Oxford is NHS, there are lot of hospitals, a BMW car plant and older students coming to learn English, so we have a broad church of customers,” he explains.

But no matter who they are, customers want to feel special. “It’s about the product, about the drink, about the experience,” says Rob. “As Al says – ‘It’s not rocket science, it’s kickass service’.

“We produce a drink with a smile. It’s really important that the people who serve you are engaged with you.

Buying a drink should be a fun, positive experience. You should be able to ask your bartender for their advice.”

JULY 2024

19

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PROFILE l HANK’S BAR OXFORD

Cocktails made from scratch are Hank’s heartland. “We invest a lot

He claims that the defendable areas concept was central to the

of time and training to create a product with all its ingredients,”

brief for interior designers Dave Knight and Dominic Taylor of

says Rob. “Customers appreciate the drink making; part of the

Dtwo, who help to ensure the venue stays on trend. “We’re not

experience is providing the theatre.”

designers, we’re operators,” states Rob. “We’ve learnt to use the resources that are out there.”

The most requested drink – a Pornstar Martini – is a cocktail gracing bar menus the UK over. But customers choose Hank’s because of

Another top resource is Booker, which supplies 60% of the

the skill with which they are prepared, as well as the fair pricing.

group’s stock. Rob has a close relationship with sales manager

“We had a tag when we first started which was ‘affordable style’.”

Annie Conlon. “We buy spirits, wines, beers and soft drinks from Booker,” he says. “Annie smooths over any issues. We have these

Times have been challenging lately, but Hank’s continues to deliver.

longstanding working relationships with many people and it’s the

“When we came out of Covid it was like New Year’s Eve every night

reason for our success. You find a person that is that link between

– there was a definite uplift,” says Rob.

that big business and yours.”

“Then the hangover came with the cost-of-living crisis: high interest

He once phoned Annie when a manager overslept and forgot to

rates, rent, mortgage payments. You have to be good at what we

place an order and she literally went the extra mile and delivered

do to get that spend.”

items in her car. “Price is long forgotten, but service isn’t,” he says.

Regular investment and attention to detail have helped Hank’s win

Hiccups aside, Rob is a champion of online ordering. “Booker is

over customers. The interior of the first-floor building has an eclectic

great because our managers can place an order online and the

mix of flora- and fauna-themed artwork, featuring an armadillo, a

drivers rock up, deliver it and go, it’s really simple. We have two

pineapple and all manner of birds. A high ceiling provides a feeling

deliveries a week, on Tuesday and Friday, and we spend half a

of space, while the deep teal brickwork and velvet chairs create an

million quid with them.”

air of comfort.

With the bar fully stocked and the music pumping, it would be easy “A key thing is having defendable areas – spaces that you can sit

for Rob to embrace the party lifestyle, but this is by no means the

with your friends at a table or sofa area,” states Rob, adding that

case. While the cocktail ingredients are well muddled, you can be

larger venues, such as recently closed local competitor Atik, are

sure that Rob remains focused on looking after his patrons. “Suat

losing their appeal. “People don’t want to come to a big barn of

always said to me: ‘Have a vision, work hard, have lots of fun, but

a place that’s empty.”

never more fun than your customer!’”

JULY 2024

21

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M275323

Always on hand to help. www.premierfoodservice.co.uk

*Source: Circana Foodservice data (c.52% Coverage) : 52we 5.4.24 : Value sales

M275318

PROFILE l THE NORTH HILL NOODLE BAR, COLCHESTER

USING THEIR NOODLES Christopher Andrews and Ting Tsang have put a huge amount of thought into their recent refurb, expanding their restaurant whilst retaining a welcoming environment for customers to chow down on their exquisite Southeast Asian fare.

A mesmerising medley of succulent chicken breast pieces, Thai flat rice noodles, fresh chilli and chives dances fitfully around a sizzling wok, immersed in a spicy shrimp and garlic sauce. A traditional Chicken Char Kway Teow is one of the many fragrant concoctions being cooked up in the new kitchen at The North Hill Noodle Bar in Colchester.

“People are very keen to try authentic Asian food,” says owner Christopher Andrews, who has been running the outlet with business partner Ting Tsang for nigh on 20 years. “The consumer definitely knows what they’re eating nowadays, and they appreciate good quality food.”

That means clean recipes with minimal additives made using local ingredients where possible, he explains. The ever-popular Sweet and Sour Chicken is expertly seasoned for its discerning audience.

“There’s not tons of salt and sugar,” says Christopher. “And we avoid colourings that get associated with Chinese restaurants.”

THE LOWDOWN

THE NORTH HILL NOODLE BAR Location Colchester Format Restaurant Caterer Christopher Andrews and Ting Tsang Opening hours Mon-Sat 12-9.30, Sun 12-9 Staff 14 full-time chefs and 36 front of house staff Covers 112

JULY 2024

25

PROFILE l THE NORTH HILL NOODLE BAR, COLCHESTER

North Hill noodles, Sriracha King prawns, and Panko Chicken Yakisoba are all favourites among the venue’s loyal customer base.

Each dish goes through several development phases before making it to the menu.

“There might be three of four variations before we reach the final,” says Christopher.

He claims that the restaurant is able to continuously produce food of a high standard thanks to its disciplined and committed workforce. “We have a really good team of just over 50 staff,” he says.

“Because we don’t have a high turnover front of house, people get to know the staff. And because the kitchen turnover is low, the consistency is always there.”

A closeknit, supportive environment helps to keep staff motivated. “Our team is well looked after,” says Christopher. “Because Ting and I are working directors it’s very rare that one of us isn’t there. Staff aren’t getting emails from someone they never see. We are keen to congratulate people if they do a good job. It’s a bit of a family, everyone gets on very well.”

This hands-on approach has been applied to the restaurant’s recent renovation, which took place in the second half of last year.

“We were fortunate

People are very keen to try authentic Asian food and they appreciate good quality food.

enough to take over the adjoining property, so we expanded and re-opened in October

area and toilets.

and a smaller room, we’ve worked with the

2023,” says Christo-

“The olde worlde

designer to add screens to make it cosy

pher. The restaurant now

side has low ceilings

rather than canteen-y.”

comprises the original 17th

and beams and the

century building and a newer

newer side has higher

Covers almost doubled from 64 to 112

mid-19th century property, that

ceilings, almost a courtyard

and a conscious decision was made to

feel, with lots of expose brickwork,

add more comfortable seating. “Pre-refit

Ting worked hard with an interior designer

an olive tree in the corner, and lots of natural

it was predominantly bench seating, now

to marry the two, as well as doubling the

light,” explains Christopher. “Although the

we’ve got padded benches and chairs to

size of the kitchen and creating a new bar

new part of the restaurant has one big room

become more of a destination restaurant,”

was formerly a registry office. He and

26

JULY 2024

PROFILE l THE NORTH HILL NOODLE BAR, COLCHESTER

and the Mercury Theatre a few hundred metres away,” he enthuses. “And there’s lots going on at Charter Hall and Colchester Arts centre.”

TRENDWATCH THE NORTH HILL NOODLE BAR

Despite the carefully planned refit, and the

Designer diets

addition of around 15 new staff members,

Christopher has seen plenty of

the team quickly became overwhelmed

changes in the two decades he’s

by the high demand. “It was absolutely a

been running the restaurant. “One

learning curve,” says Christopher. “We were

massive thing I’ve noticed is the

possibly a bit naive when we first reopened.

amount of dietary requirements

We quickly learnt that a lot of the procedures

people come to us with,” he says.

had to be improved, more so front of house than back.

“What we struggled with was that we couldn’t keep up with phone bookings. It became a big problem very quickly. A piece

“Demand for vegetarian and vegan food has increased a lot. We look after people with all sorts of different dietary requirements no problem because everything is cooked fresh to order.”

of paper, pencil and rubber worked very well for a long time, but when you almost double

around 50 kilos a week of top side beef, as

capacity you need to evolve. So we got an

well as shrimps, ribs, pork collars and eggs,

online booking system through a company

plus squid which is North Hill Noodles’

called Dojo. Now 98% of bookings come

most popular side order. “The accuracy of

online which enables us to have staff looking

the Booker picks is very high, it’s very rare

after tables.”

that we have mis-picks, which makes our life much easier,” observes Christopher.

The company has also teamed up with

says Christopher.

online food ordering platform Uber Eats

He has formed strong relationships with

to offer a delivery service, but Christopher

branch manager Ben Mead and account

is mindful to ensure that this doesn’t come

manager Terry Thompson. “If anything

at the expense of restaurant diners. “We

is unavailable or if promos come up he’ll

do lots of collection takeaways and we also

let me know directly,” he says. “They’ve

use Uber Eats for deliveries,” he says. “But

always been very helpful to us with extra

not on a Friday or Saturday evening as we

deliveries and I’d like to think the pricing is

wouldn’t be able to cope with the demand.

reasonable. Ben comes in the restaurant to

We are primarily a restaurant. The last thing

eat quite regularly as do quite a few of the

we’d want to do is delay table time.”

Booker staff so it’s nice to get that level of

It didn’t take long for the extra seats to

local support.”

fill up, thanks to the enticing menu and

Booker has proven itself as a trusted

the noodle bar’s enviable location. “It’s

partner too, providing around a third of

For now, Christopher and Ting are focus-

absolutely perfect,” says Christopher.

the restaurant’s stock. “We get four deliv-

sing their attentions on developing their

“We’re within 100 metres of a sixth form

eries a week from Booker. We buy a really

team and skilling up more management.

college, so we do reasonable trade with

wide range – blue roll, cleaning products,

But might there be another premises

students at lunchtime.” There are numerous

fruit juice, mineral water, and Asahi beer,”

further down the line? “Who knows? Maybe

attractions to draw in a decent evening

says Christopher. “Foodwise, Booker has a

you’ll see a number two noodle bar in the

crowd too. “There’s a cinema very close,

fantastic butchery department.” He orders

future!” he grins. We certainly hope so.

JULY 2024

27

SERVICE l BBQ ON THE BONE

GET YOUR GRILL ON Booker’s quality range of bone-in cuts are perfect for firing up your sales and profits this summer.

Summer’s here – or at least it’s meant to

100% Money Back Guarantee, meaning

be – and when the sun does choose to

that if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll

make an appearance, you can be sure that

get your money back with no quibbles.

customers will be itching to make the very most of it. Dishes that celebrate summer

Booker’s succulent Blackgate On The Bone

are likely to prove popular picks and

range also includes three other premium

nothing says summer like a sizzling bone-in

beef products sure to help fire up your

steak, fresh off the grill!

sales and profits this summer, including a classic Cote De Boeuf.

Helping you to summon up summer in a flash is a fantastic range of premium

For just £17.99 per kilo, it’s sure to add a

bone-in cuts from Booker – including a

dash of French flair to your menu boards.

brand-new Club Steak from the stellar Blackgate brand.

Widely regarded as the king of steaks, the range also includes a juicy Blackgate On

The prime bone-in cut is sourced from

The Bone T-Bone for just £18.99 a kilo.

British and Irish farms and costs just £18.49 per kilo, allowing you to create a show-stop-

Other options also include the Blackgate

ping serve that’s sure to turn heads when

On The Bone Tomahawk for £15.99. With

it hits the table.

its long French-trimmed bone, this cut can help you to create a striking summer dish

And, as with all Blackgate products, the

that tastes as good as it looks. Why not also

new Club Steak is covered by Booker’s

think about adding a lighter option to your

VISIT WWW.BOOKER.CO.UK FOR THE FULL RANGE 28

JULY 2024

BLACKGATE ON THE BONE

CLUB STEAK £18.49/KILO

T-BONE £18.99/KILO

TOMAHAWK £15.99/KILO

COTE DE BOEUF £17.99/KILO

JULY 2024

29

M CODE M738203 RRP £1.25 | POR 68% | WRSP £7.99 M CODE: M307017 RRP £1.25 | POR 68% | WRSP £7.99

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CLAIM YOUR OUTLET POS KIT BY SCANNING THE QR GB 18+ only. 100 POS kits available. Max of 1 POS kit per outlet. Registration & a valid email address are required. While stocks last. Visit sensationaldrinks.com for full terms and details. Promoter: Britvic Soft Drinks

SERVICE l BBQ ON THE BONE

PROFIT FROM

HOI SIN WINGS

WINGS The Booker bone-in range also includes a tasty selection of flavour-packed chicken wings, perfect as starters, sharers or as indulgent sides – perfect for pairing with steak mains.

The range includes Hoi Sin Wings, Hot Honey Wings and Salt and Pepper Wings (pictured) – firm favourites with caterers across the country, especially in the Tyne & Wear region, where the salt and pepper flavour profile remains a firm favourite. With a suggested sell price of £9.50 for a sharer serve, each of the three wing variants delivers a cash profit of £5.42.

Team up with a range of bottled beer for as little as

HOT HONEY WINGS

75p

SALT AND PEPPER WINGS JULY 2024

31

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SERVICE l BBQ ON THE BONE

SANTA MARIA SEASONINGS AND RUBS

KINGSTON STYLE JAMAICAN JERK SEASONING & RUB

SAN ANTONIO STYLE ZESTY DUST

AUSTIN STYLE MILD SMOKE HOUSE

BBQ RUB STEAKHOUSE

6x545g/1x545g

6x545g/1x545g

6x565g/1x565g

£20.99/4.99 M294845 /M294844

6x510g/1x510g

£49.99/8.99

£49.99/8.99

£49.99/8.99

£49.99/8.99

M294716/M294717

M294714/M294715

M294712/M294713

ROQUITO HOT HONEY 6x565g/1x565g

M294719/M294722

menu in the form of the Tomapork? A great

the most of the summer grill occasion,

from bone-in beef cuts to chicken wings,

alternative to beef, the Tomapork costs just

including Ishaan Halal Beef Sausages and

thighs and breasts, and much more. The

£7.99 per kilo and is likely to prove popular

Ishaan Halal Smash Beefburgers. You could

range includes four flavours – Kingston

with customers seeking out a great value

also consider adding a taste of the sea to

Style Jamaican Jerk Seasoning & Rub, San

option that still packs a flavour punch.

your grill bars with a Whole Salmon Side.

Antonio Style Zesty Dust, Austin Style Mild

New to the Chef’s Essentials brand, the 1kg

Smoke House and BBQ Rub Steakhouse –

Don’t forget, if you’ve got any questions

farmed salmon side costs £16.99 and paired

all of which are available in cases of 6 for

about the fantastic products mentioned

with the right rubs and sides is sure to create

£49.99 or £8.99 individually. You could also

here, Booker’s team of expert butchers are

a splash with customers.

think about cashing on the current “swicy”

always on hand to help and brimming with

trend by adding a dash of Roquito Hot

advice, top tips and even assistance with

FULLY LOADED

Honey to your grilled dishes. Offering a

your menus and costings. With more than

Should the sun fail to show its face,

balanced blend of sweet honey and spicy

20% of the UK’s Master Butchers working at

caterers can still deliver a fully loaded taste

chilli, Roquito Hot Honey pairs perfectly

Booker or Makro branches across the UK,

of summer and far-flung shores, thanks to

with the smoky flavour of BBQ foods.

you can be sure that your needs will be well

a brand-new range of flavour-packed rubs,

met this summer.

seasoning and sauces. The new Santa

So what are you waiting for? Now really is

Maria range includes four products, all of

the time to fire up those grills and enjoy a

Booker’s range also includes a number of new

which are perfect for adding a summer-fla-

taste of smoking hot sales and profits this

halal products, all equally perfect for making

vour injection to a wide range of products,

summer – come rain, or hopefully, shine!

VISIT WWW.BOOKER.CO.UK FOR THE FULL RANGE JULY 2024

33

SERVICE l SEASONAL SERVES & SALADS

DRIVE SALES WITH SEASONAL SPECIALS

Booker can help you add some oomph to your menu with these seasonal showstoppers and salads.

SERVING SUGGESTION

MOROCCAN LAMB M231485 M292493 M327621 M294733

Fontinella Chick Peas in Salted Water Chef’s Larder Couscous Lamb Chumps, Halal Moroccan Mari Base

SELL PRICE £10.00

days than sitting down to a sensational seasonal serve.

When the weather warms up, demand for lighter dishes typically grows, so it’s a great idea to take a fresh look at your menu to ensure that you are meeting this important demand. To help inspire you,

2.5kg 2kg 1kg 1.25L

% PROFIT 70%

£3.49 £5.49 £9.99 £22.99

CASH PROFIT £5.83

SERVING SUGGESTION

As we hit peak summer, everyone will be hoping for a few golden rays, and what better way for your customers to spend those hazy

£4.10

PER SERVING

MOROCCAN LAMB M231485 M292493 M327621 M294733

Fontinella Chick Peas in Salted Water Chef’s Larder Couscous Lamb Chumps, Halal Moroccan Mari Base

2.5kg 2kg 1kg 1.25L

£3.49 £5.49 £9.99 £22.99

our development chefs have created some great lighter dishes that pack plenty of punch – and deliver strong margins into the bargain.

£2.50

With just three ingredients, this Piri Piri Salmon is a surefire winner

PER SERVING

and a good example. At a sell price of £14.50, you’re looking a cash profit of £7.98 – that’s 66%! All you need to put together this delicious dish is Piri Piri Mari Base at £22.99; Tilda Pure Original Basmati Rice, priced at £15.99; and Booker’s Chef’s Larder 10 Farmed Salmon Fillets (£37.99), which come frozen so you don’t need to worry about wastage.

WINE RECOMMENDATION M292496 Flagstone Poetry

To help push spend up, why not encourage customers to wash it

Pinotage 6x75cl

down with a lovely bottle of something that complements the dish well like the Vinabede Albarino? The peach and citrus notes of this

SELL PRICE £10.00

% PROFIT 70%

CASH PROFIT £5.83

delectable wine pair beautifully with this serenely summery dish.

36

JULY 2024

SERVICE l SEASONAL SERVES & SALADS

SERVING SUGGESTION

CHICKEN FAJITAS M252089 M283509 M294726 M273434

Chef’s Larder 6” Mini Plain Tortilla Wraps Chef’s Larder Guacamole Fajita Mari Base Chef’s Larder Soured Cream

80pk £7.99 500g £2.59 1.25Ltr £22.99 890g £4.99

£2.10

PER SERVING

WINE RECOMMENDATION M291248 Fiano Molino a Vento 6x75cl

WINE RECOMMENDATION M292737 Vinabede Albarine 6x75cl

SELL PRICE £9.00

The Moroccan Lamb featured opposite, for instance, delivers a tasty cash profit of £5.83, when sold at a very reasonable £10. Even if the weather doesn’t play ball, this North African-inspired recipe captures all the warmth of the season. With pink succulent lamb at its centre and a playful scattering of green mint leaves, and golden cous cous and chickpeas, it really is summer on a plate. To further elevate the

CASH PROFIT £5.40

SERVING SUGGESTION

Not only do these seasonal additions help to invigorate your menu, but they are also an unmissable opportunity to grow customer spend.

% PROFIT 72%

GRILLED PORK LEG M294722 M272298 M932350 M431106 M071407

Kingston Style Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Rub 510g Blackgate Signature British Boneless Leg of Pork Av3kg Tilda Pure Original Basmati Rice M932350 5kg Chef’s Larder Red Kidney Beans in Water 800g KTC Pure Creamed Coconut 200g

£8.99 £5.49 £15.99 £2.49 99p

experience, why not encourage your customers to pair this with a bottle of fruity Flagstone Poetry Pinotage from South Africa?

£3.10

PER SERVING

Nothing says summer like fajitas. A pack of Chef’s Larder 6" Mini Plain Tortilla Wraps for £7.99 are just the ticket to wrap up your flavoursome chicken coated with Fajita Mari Base. A helping of Guacamole and Sour Cream from our trusty Chef’s Larder range, and you’re well on your way to delivering a Mexican feast. Costing just £2.10 per serving, this dish provides a whopping 72% profit.

WINE RECOMMENDATION

Not sure what drink to match it with? We’ve got you covered. We

M231239 Calvet Rosé

recommend a bottle of refreshing citrus Fiano Molino a Vento.

For customers in need of heartier fare, a grilled pork leg on a

D’Anjou 6x75cl

SELL PRICE £10.50

% PROFIT 65%

CASH PROFIT £5.65

bed of rice and peas could be just the ticket. Use Kingston Style

JULY 2024

37

MAKE TASTE NOT WASTE Wasted food costs the industry £3.2 BILLION a year – that’s why Hellmann’s & Guardians of Grub are working together to help operators optimise their menus.

With their free Cost Saving Skills course you’ll be provided with the tools, knowledge and skills to take a stand against wasted food.

Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise 10L M270264

Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo 2L M294739 & M291285

To help us rise up against food waste scan here

SERVICE l SEASONAL SERVES & SALADS

SERVING SUGGESTION

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Rub to pep up our Blackgate Signature British Boneless Leg of Pork and mix Tilda Pure Original Basmati Rice with our Chef’s Larder Red Kidney Beans and KTC Pure Creamed Coconut to create a rich and moreish side. The whole dish comes in at £3.10 per serving and you’re looking at 65% profit on a sell price of £10.50.

SALAD DAYS

APOLLO SALAD WITH AVOCADO, SALMON & FETA M294437 M272329 M177475 M234199

Little Leaves Apollo Lettuce Hotos Original Feta Cubes Cheese in Brine Craigellachie Smoked Atlantic Salmon AvoGrande Avocado Slices

450g 800g 500g 500g

£2.49 £13.49 £12.29 £2.79

In years gone by, a few wilted lettuce leaves topped with rounds of dried out cucumber and a few tomato wedges might have passed for a salad. But with health high on the agenda of modern-day

£3.49

PER SERVING

consumers, a soggy salad just doesn’t cut it any more.

A Savanta Grocery Eye survey showed that seven in 10 UK Consumers are feeling healthy in 2024, with a third feeling healthier than last year. This is a well up on 2023 when 25% felt their health had improved on the previous year, and Savanta’s research shows that this is being driven by younger generations. What’s more, with

WINE RECOMMENDATION

TikTok constantly swamped with videos of cool kids promoting

M291248 Fiano Molino a Vento 6x75cl

healthier lifestyles, salads have become well and truly trendy. When it comes to actually creating these dishes, most consumers can’t

SELL PRICE £12.50

% PROFIT 66%

CASH PROFIT £6.93

find the motivation to drag themselves to a supermarket to search for all the ingredients.

SERVING SUGGESTION

Here’s where you come in, inspiring them with freshly prepared, exciting salads that provide an easy and enjoyable way to eat more greens, whilst providing you with a healthy profit. Just grab a Little Leaves Apollo Lettuce, some Hotos Original Feta cheese cubes, some AvoGrande Avocado Slices and a portion of Craigellachie Smoked Atlantic Salmon, and hey presto you’ve whipped up an Insta-ready Apollo Salad dish of green goodness. For a sell price

SWEET LEAF SALAD WITH PARMA HAM & MOZZARELLA M294656 M282849 M337641

Florette Sweet Mix Parma Prosciutto Di Parma DOP Galbani Italian Mozzarella Cheese

300g 230g 125g

£2.49 £6.99 £1.45

of £12.50, you’ll make a scrummy 66% profit of £6.93.

ITALIAN TWIST Or put an Italian twist on the menu with a Sweet Leaf Salad of

£2.30

PER SERVING

Parma Ham & Mozzarella. A pack of Florette Sweet Mix at £2.49, tossed with Galbani Italian Mozzarella Cheese priced at £1.45 and topped with Parma Prosciutto Di Parma DOP (£6.99) is all you need to bring together this vibrant and stylish salad that costs just £2.30 per serving and delivers a 72% profit when sold at £10.

WINE RECOMMENDATION

So why not take full advantage of the warmer weather and pimp

M180024 Ponticello Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave 6x75c

up your salads this summer?

VISIT WWW.BOOKER.CO.UK FOR THE FULL RANGE JULY 2024

SELL PRICE £10.00

% PROFIT 72%

CASH PROFIT £6.03

39

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SERVICE l SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY | SANDWICHES

PROFIT FROM… SANDWICHES Quick and easy to prepare, convenient and with endless variety, the humble sandwich offers plenty of opportunities to boost summer sales and profits.

SERVING SUGGESTION

DID YOU KNOW?

DEEP FILLED EGG MAYO & BACON ON WONDERLOAF

The sandwich we know and love today was created in 1762 in England for John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich.

The Earl was a gambler spending hours upon hours at the card table. During one of his long days of playing, he requested something from the kitchen that he could eat with his hands without needing to get out of his seat.

He was brought two pieces of bread filled with meat.

The new dish was named the sandwich, after his hereditary title, and has since been incorporated into virtually every cuisine of the West thanks to its simple preparation, portability, and endless variety.

JULY 2024

SELL PRICE £5.00

% PROFIT 62%

£1.58

PER SERVING

CASH PROFIT £2.59

Let’s be honest, everybody loves a good

serve for your teams. So why not throw a

sandwich. First invented more than 260

little more focus onto your sandwich offer

years ago to provide an inveterate problem

as autumn approaches?

gambler (the 5th Earl of Sandwich) with a quick and easy dish he could eat without

You could, for example, add a dedicated

cutlery and without leaving the card table,

sandwich section to your menu, if you don’t

the humble sandwich is now among the

already do so. You could go super premium,

most ubiquitous dishes on menus across

if that’s appropriate for your customer base,

the globe – and it’s easy to see why.

or you could stick with traditional classics, maybe with an added twist to set you apart.

They can range from plain and simple – two bits of bread, a spread of butter and a slice

You can choose to make everything from

of ham – to indulgently luxurious and they

scratch, or you can make life simple by

are quick and easy to both prepare and

choosing pre-made fillings.

41

SERVICE l SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY | SANDWICHES

Whichever road you choose to go down, you can’t go far wrong with a sandwich. Best of all, Booker has everything you need to make a sandwich menu to have your customers coming back for more.

BUILDING BLOCKS

SERVING SUGGESTION

CHICKEN BACON & AVOCADO ON BRIOCHE

£1.63

PER SERVING

Sandwiches, are, of course, as simple as it gets in terms of concept.

Some bread, rolls or wraps with some tasty fillings. The nature of those fillings is limited only by the imagination of your kitchen team but if you’re considering taking your sandwich menu to the next level for the first time, it perhaps makes sense to go with classic flavour combinations. There’s nothing to stop you adding some bells and whistles but having something on the menu that your customers recognise instantly is a solid platform to build on.

Then, as you go, you can monitor sales, see what your specific customer base is finding most appealing and build on that knowledge as you develop your repertoire and your menu.

When it comes to bread, rolls or wraps, Booker has what you need.

From simple Hovis Batched Loaves and St Pierre Brioche Bagels to Warburtons Half & Half Wonderloafs, you can find it all online or in a branch. Don’t forget too that Booker offers a fantastic label of great

SELL PRICE £5.50

% PROFIT 63%

CASH PROFIT £2.89

quality and amazing value own-label options too, with everything from Chef’s Larder Brioche Bun, Grill Marked Paninis and Tortilla

BREAD MEATS BREAD

Wraps to Chef’s Essentials Plain White Baps.

When it comes to core fillings, you won’t go far wrong with charcuterie and cheese. Again, Booker has an enormous selection

BREADS, ROLLS AND WRAPS M261294

Hovis Seeded Batch 1x800g

M282514

Hovis Simple White Loaf – Medium 1x800g

M293493

Hovis Simple Wholemeal – Medium 1x800g

M258108

Warburtons Half & Half Wonderloaf – Medium 1x800g

£1.05

M264863

Warburtons Half & Half Loaf – Thick 1x800g

£1.05

M275593

St Pierre Brioche Bagels 1x4s

£2.09

M205316

St Pierre Brioche Burger Buns 1x6s

£2.09

M256712

Chef’s Larder Premium Brioche Bun 1x48pk

£18.99

M281546

Chef’s Larder Floured Baps Sliced 1x48pk

£9.75

M281542

Chef’s Larder 5in Seeded Burger Buns 1x48pk

£11.99

M281545

Chef’s Essentials Plain White Baps 1x42pk

£8.29

M283467

Chefs Larder Garlic & Herb Ciabatta 1x42pk

£15.99

M281538

Chef’s Larder Ciabatta 1x30s

£17.59

M176692

Chef’s Larder Grill Marked Panini 1x30 x135g

£13.99

M251965

Chef’s Larder Tortilla Wraps 96pk

£15.95

JULY 2024

£1.19 89p 89p

43

SERVICE l SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY | SANDWICHES

to set your creative team’s juices flowing and set your customers salivating as they wait for their sandwich to be delivered to the table. Options range from classic ham and chicken breast to slightly more adventurous Prosciutto Crudo, chorizo, Serrano ham and pastrami. You are similarly spoiled for choice when it comes to

SERVING SUGGESTION

£1.40

MEXICAN CHICKEN BAGEL

PER SERVING

cheese with endless choices of cheddar, Emmental, mozzarella, halloumi and a whole lot more besides.

MAKE IT EASY To keep prep work to a minimum, however, you could consider making use of Booker’s fantastic selection of Chef’s Larder sandwich fillers which are available in 1kg tubs and come in a mammoth array of varieties.

Go traditional with tuna sweetcorn, cheese & onion, egg mayo or chicken & bacon, or go a little more exotic with Mexican chicken, BBQ pulled pork, piri piri or coronation chicken. Prepared sandwich fillers take almost all of the prep work away while guaranteeing tasty sandwiches and even tastier profits.

SELL PRICE £5.00

DELI

% PROFIT 66%

CASH PROFIT £2.77

CHEESE

M286579

Houghton Hams Sliced Cooked Ham 550g

£4.99

M234172

Chef’s Larder Emmental Slices 800g

£7.99

M278177

Sliced Chicken Breast 1kg

£7.49

M234176

Chef’s Larder Mild White Cheddar Slices 1kg

£7.99

M224656

Charcuti Prosciutto Crudo 500g

£8.99

M234185

Chef’s Larder Mature White Cheddar Slices 1kg

£8.49

M202046

Charcuti Diced Chorizo 500g

£5.49

M234202

Chef’s Larder Medium White Cheddar Slices 1kg

£8.29

M243308

Charcuti Serrano Ham 500g

£9.99

M234207

Chef’s Larder Mozzarella Slices 800g

£7.99

M187642

Imokilly Full Fat Soft Cheese 2kg

£8.45

M272329

Hotos Feta Cubes 800g

£12.49

M294997

Belas Salad Cheese 800g

£7.99

M252113

Oumi Grilling Cheese Block 900g

£7.99

SANDWICH FILLER M280055

Chef’s Larder Tuna Sweetcorn 1kg

£7.99

M280056

Chef’s Larder Chicken & Bacon 1kg

£7.99

M280054

Chef’s Larder Cheese & Onion 1kg

£6.99

M193835

Chef’s Larder Mexican Chicken 1kg

£7.99

M193836

Chef’s Larder BBQ Pulled Pork 1kg

£7.99

M977157

Clover 2kg

£6.69

M260255

Chef’s Larder Piri Piri 1kg

£7.99

M275375

Summer County 2kg

£4.99

M050058

Chef’s Larder Egg Mayo 1kg

£6.99

M251198

Chef’s Essentials Soft Spread 2kg

£3.49

M280058

Chef’s Larder Coronation Chicken 1kg

£7.99

M269017

Butterific 2kg

£4.99

M259886

Chef’s Larder Coleslaw 2kg

£3.49

M084619

Lichfields Butter Portions 6x100s

£5.49

JULY 2024

SPREADS

45

PREMIUM RANGE 12

SLICES

M294883

18

SLICES

12

SLICES

M295558

HOVIS SEED SENSATIONS IS THE BEST SELLING LOAF OF BREAD WITH BITS.* ®

M258448

Serving Suggestion Shown.

Scan QR code for more Hovis recipe inspiration.

*Source: NIQ Scantrack, pre-packaged bread with bits (excl. Private Label), unit sales, total coverage, incl. discounters, MAT to 18/05/24.

HOVIS SIMPLE RANGE ®

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY TO TESCO BOOKER GROUP 20

20

SLICES

SUITABLE FOR

VEGETARIANS

ROLLS

SUITABLE FOR

VEGANS & M282514

6

SLICES

VEGANS & M293493

OFFERING A NEW VALUE RANGE FOR CATERERS

VEGETARIANS

SUITABLE FOR

M293616

VEGETARIANS

PRICES l LOCK DOWN PRICING

HEAT UP SALES WITH 700+ UNTIL 10TH

SEP 2024

Prices won’t move until 10 September 2024, thanks to Booker’s pricing guarantee!

With pricing locked down on a whopping 700+ products,

planning your next showstopping seasonal dishes, safe in

there’s every opportunity to send sales soaring this summer.

the knowledge that these prices are locked in. And with

From deli lines to BBQ-style fodder, there’s a wealth of

Booker taking the worry out of pricing, you are free to focus

products available across every major category with guaran-

on what you do best – delivering great food and value for

teed fixed prices until 10 September. So now you can get

your customers.

SUNBLUSH SLOW ROASTED TOMATO WEDGES

CHARCUTI PREMIUM PEPPERONI/ SERRANO HAM

HOUGHTON HAMS SLICED COOKED HAM

£4.79

£9.99

M286579

500G

M241573

LICHFIELDS THICK & CREAMY YOGURTS 20X125G

£8.99 M286943

1KG/500G

550G

£4.99

M202048/ M243308

CLOVER

CHEF’S LARDER CHEESE & ONION/ EGG MAYO 1KG

£6.99

M280054/ M050058

6X2 KG/ 1X2 KG

CHEFS BRIGADE PESTO VERDE

OAK CROWN HAM STAMP

M977132/M977157

£4.99 M162210

£5.05

£39.99 £6.69

1KG

1KG

M260032

*Prices and products are correct at time of going to print and are not guaranteed unless stated, errors expected. Subject to changes without prior consultation. Recipes, serves and idea are suggestions only and for illustration only. Please note products will be subject to availability and local listing, please check with your branch for details.

48

SEPTEMBER 2022

PRICES l LOCKED DOWN PRICING

PRICES FROZEN ALL SUMMER LONG LA BOULANGÈRE BRIOCHE BURGER BUNS

ST PIERRE BRIOCHE BURGER BUNS

ST PIERRE SEEDED BRIOCHE BUNS

£9.39

£14.29 £2.99

£16.35 £1.85

ST PIERRE BRIOCHE BURGER BUN

CHEF’S LARDER PREMIUM GOURMET BURGER BUNS

CHEF’S ESSENTIALS PLAIN WHITE BAPS

£16.49

M281545

10X4PK M283854

9X4PK

£15.99 M276819

7X6S/1X6S M205315/ M205316

1X48PK

9X4PK/ 1X4PK M275977/M243237

1X48S

£8.29

M281539

CHEFS LARDER GARLIC & HERB CIABATTA *

CHEF’S LARDER GRILL MARKED PANINI *

£8.79

£15.99

£13.99

M290268

1X42PK M283467

8X4S

£10.89 M035021

CHEF’S LARDER 5IN SEEDED BURGER BUNS 1X48PK

£11.99 M281542

CHEF’S LARDER GARLIC BREAD SLICES * 1X72PK

BAKER STREET 4 HOT DOG ROLLS PRE-CUT

CHEF’S LARDER HOT DOG ROLLS JUMBO SIDE *

1X30S

1X48PK

M176692

M385161

£14.29

*Prices and products are correct at time of going to print and are not guaranteed unless stated, errors expected. Subject to changes without prior consultation. Recipes, serves and idea are suggestions only and for illustration only. Please note products will be subject to availability and local listing, please check with your branch for details.

SEPTEMBER 2022

49

GO PLANT BASED STAY CHEESY Product Code

Product Description

Pack Size

M270848

Violife Mature Slices

200g

M288978

Violife Mild Grated

500g

M296892

Violife Mozzarella Style Grated

1kg

M296894

Violife Greek White Block

200g

Learn more at violifeprofessional.com/en-gb

violifepro_uk

violife-professional-uk

violifeprofessionaluk

PRICES l LOCKED DOWN PRICING

CHEF’S LARDER FROZEN RASPBERRIES

CHEF’S LARDER FROZEN SUMMER FRUITS MIX

£91.09 £11.39

£79.89 £7.99

8X1KG / 1X1KG M255068/ M255069

CHEF’S LARDER DAIRY VANILLA ICE CREAM 6X4LTR / 1X4LTR

£41.89 £6.99 M195249/ M195250

CHEF’S LARDER PREMIUM MADAGASCAN VANILLA ICE CREAM

10X1KG / 1X1KG M255065/ M255066

CHEF’S LARDER VANILLA ICE CREAM

CHEF’S LARDER VANILLA/ CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM 2X10LTR / 1X10LTR

£22.95 / £11.49

CHEF’S ESSENTIALS VANILLA ICE CREAM 2X10LTR / 1X10LTR

£21.75 / £10.89 M283636/ M283637

M195169/M195226/M195223/ M195227

6X4LTR / 1X4LTR

CHEF’S LARDER CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

CHEF’S LARDER STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

M195252/ M195253

£29.89 £4.99

£29.89 £4.99

£29.89 £4.99

6X4LTR / 1X4LTR M195259/ M195262

6X4LTR / 1X4LTR M283616/ M283617

6X4LTR / 1X4LTR

CHEF’S LARDER PREMIUM STRAWBERRIES & CREAM DAIRY ICE CREAM

CHEF’S LARDER PREMIUM LUXURY DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM 6X4LTR / 1X4LTR

CHEF’S LARDER PREMIUM SALTED CARAMEL & HONEYCOMB ICE CREAM

M283618/ M283619

£73.99 / £12.49

M223758/ M223759

£73.99 / £12.49

£49.99 / £8.49

6X4LTR / 1X4LTR M243856 / M243858

£73.99 / £12.49

6X4LTR / 1X4LTR M283634/ M283635

*Prices and products are correct at time of going to print and are not guaranteed unless stated, errors expected. Subject to changes without prior consultation. Recipes, serves and idea are suggestions only and for illustration only. Please note products will be subject to availability and local listing, please check with your branch for details.

JULY 2024

51

SERVICE l MEET THE TEAM

SAY HELLO TO...

ISABEL MULLIGAN CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

and external stakeholders and it was pretty

I’m a Category Manager Designate,

sity, this was my first time working in a

which essentially means I’m a trainee

wholesale business.

full-on! Having come straight from univer-

buyer. I’ve been working with Booker in the Beers, Wines and Spirits (BWS)

THEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MOVE OVER TO BOOKER?

team, focusing on wine buying. I’m now

I was very lucky because, when I joined

in the second year of a two-year graduate

Booker about 10 months ago, it was

programme and I spent the first year of

actually the first year that Booker had

the programme in group communications

taken Tesco graduates. I felt it was the

at Tesco working in the press office and

perfect opportunity for me because I

on internal communications.

was keen to get more involved in buying.

for around 10 months now and I work

ABOUTISABEL CATEGORY MANAGER DESIGNATE

Isabel Mulligan is a Category Manager Designate at Booker working within the Beers, Wines & Spirits buying team specialising in wine.

I joined the wider BWS team but have

SO, A BIG CHANGE THEN?

specialised in wine buying, project work

Yes, a huge change – but that’s why the

and helping the team.

graduate programme was so attractive to me. I wanted the chance to see all sorts of

HAVE YOU ENJOYED IT?

different parts of the wider Group, so it was

Absolutely! I like to push myself, try new

fantastic to spend a year in group commu-

challenges and get out of my comfort zone

nications at Tesco then be able to move

so moving to Booker meant I had to get to

She joined Booker 10 months ago

over to Booker and into the buying teams.

know a whole new business, albeit part of

as part of a two-year Tesco graduate

It’s given me a really good insight across

the same Group. There are lots of similari-

lots of parts of the Group and has helped

ties between the two businesses but there

me develop different skillsets.

are also a lot of major differences.

WAS THIS YOUR FIRST ROLE?

SUCH AS?

Yes, I did English Literature and French

Well, one of the most obvious differences

at the University of Leeds and spent a

is that with Booker I get the chance to work

year in France then came back and pretty

in the on-trade, something I didn’t experi-

much went straight into the graduate

ence within Tesco. It’s been really exciting

programme. The year with Tesco was fasci-

to work with our catering customers and

nating and it was really exciting to learn

help them grow their footfall, sales and

so much about Tesco’s communications

profits through wine. I’ve really enjoyed

strategies first-hand. It involved dealing

getting experience across both retail and

with everyone from journalists to internal

wholesale.

programme having spent the first year of the programme working in the Group Communications department within Tesco. Isabel has focused on wine buying for the last 10 months. Her graduate programme ends in the next few months and she will then be ready to consider her options moving forward.

Isabel is a graduate of the University of Leeds where she earned her degree in English Lit and French, spending a year in France as part of her course.

52

JULY 2024

SERVICE l MEET THE TEAM

One project I was involved with was bringing the Vinca Organic canned range of wines into Booker earlier this year.

involved in buying products that I can physically see and touch when I walk into Booker branches. I can see a specific wine and say, ‘I was involved in getting that onto that shelf!’ which is really rewarding. It’s very real-world and practical.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST? Probably the amount of creativity that goes into buying. I’m a creative kind of person so I enjoy that aspect. From the outside it probably looks like buying is just spreadsheets and number crunching and sales figures – and there is definitely a bit of that involved – but there’s also huge scope for creativity. You can bring yourself to the job and Booker allows you to shape your role to suit your skillsets. It’s hugely enjoyable.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE? As everyone says, there’s no such thing! I do a lot of research, I spend a lot of time watching our competitors and, in a typical day, there’s a good mix of group work and solo work. I often set aside a block of time to dedicate myself to one specific

HOW HAS YOUR WINE BUYING JOURNEY BEEN?

gradually progressed onto bigger projects

challenge that I own, but I do spend a lot of

in bigger categories.

time collaborating with other teams within

I started off on smaller projects in smaller

the BWS buying function and, indeed,

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST?

across the wider business.

faced the same challenges and opportunities you face across all categories: pricing,

I think I would have to say the fact that it’s

range, dealing direct with suppliers when

all so real and tangible. Within a couple

DO YOU MEET WITH EXTERNAL SUPPLIERS?

working on trade plans and so on. Then I

of years of leaving university, I’m actually

Yes, regularly! We try to keep up to date

sub-categories as part of my training, but I

JULY 2024

53

SERVICE l MEET THE TEAM

Bag-in-box, cans and paper bottles are likely to become more prevalent because they’re lighter and easier to transport as well as delivering sustainability benefits when done well.

like jammier or fruitier wines.

ANY OTHER TRENDS WORTH FLAGGING UP? I’ve been working hard this year on alternative packaging, and I think that trend may grow in future. Solutions like bag-in-box, cans and paper bottles are likely to become more prevalent because they’re lighter and easier to transport as well as delivering sustainability benefits when done well. One project I was involved with was bringing the Vinca Organic canned range of wines into Booker earlier this year. There is a big opportunity for packaging formats like this.

As part of the moderation trend, we've also seen a lean towards premiumisation – customers choosing higher-quality with key suppliers to find out how sales are

the various teams within the business to

products on the occasions that they do

going and what exciting NPD is coming

help them deliver strong, effective decision

drink. This means it's important to stock

up. It's always great to learn what they’re

making. We do a lot of PowerPoint decks!

more premium wines for those 'treat'

thinking about in terms of promotions and

occasions.

WHAT TRENDS HAS YOUR RESEARCH IDENTIFIED?

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

We’re always trying to get the best-pos-

As far as our catering customers are

I don’t actually know! My graduate

sible products, prices, packages and deals

concerned, a big trend at the moment is

programme is due to end in the next few

for our customers. We also get out and

still towards low-and no-alcohol products.

months but the end date is flexible, so I

about to engage with suppliers face to

The market is still moving that way and the

have a little time to try to figure out what

face, which really helps us get under the

increase in alcohol duty has accelerated

I’d like to do next within the Group.

skin of the suppliers that we work with.

that trend, as many suppliers have worked

so on.

hard to reduce the ABV of their products

It's such a wide business so there are many

AND LOTS OF PRESENTATIONS?

to meet price points that work for their

opportunities. I really like variety, so will be

Oh yes! We do a lot of research and

shoppers. So we’re seeing a lot more

exploring a range of roles. I’ve loved it so

generate a lot of data, so a key part of

9% ABV wines, for instance, and they are

far though, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy my next

our role is understanding that data and

popular with shoppers, especially younger

role, whatever it ends up being.

presenting it in the most efficient way to

shoppers with different taste profiles who

JULY 2024

55

ARE YOU PROMOTING MINDFUL DRINKING IN YOUR OUTLET? Promoting hydration in between alcoholic drinks can help consumers moderate their drinking and maximise water sales!

500ml Sparkling pack 24 x 500ml M081291

500ml Still Sparkling pack 24 x 500ml M081271

750ml Sparkling pack 12 x 750ml M081301

750ml Still Sparkling Glass pack 12 x 750ml M081311

*

Enjoying life’s moments since1571

1 .

O N U K’S Y J E RK D N A BR

BILTONG MIDAS NO M212309 M212336 M292046

DESCRIPTION JACK LINKS ORIGINAL JERKY JACK LINKS SWEET & HOT JERKY JACK LINKS ORIGINAL BILTONG

SIZE 12x25g 12x25g 12x20g

Value Sales, Nielsen MAT data to June 2024

Come and meet us at the Silverstone Event on Wednesday 25th September

SERVICE l NEW & PREMIUM DRINKS

NEW AND IMPROVED

Tempting your customers with new lines and trading them up to premium options is a quick and easy way to grow margins – and Booker has everything you need.

NEW LINES AU Strawberry Burst 6x70cl / £142.69 M294324 70cl / £23.79 M294325 WKD Vibe Blue Raspberry 50cl / £6.49 M294825 WKD Vibe Tropical 50cl / £6.49 M294828 WKD Vibe Strawberry 50cl / £8.49 M294832 WKD Vibe Piña Colada Creamy 50cl / £8.49 M294834 Cîroc Limonata 70cl £25.99 M294422 Cîroc Passion Fruit 12x250ml / £19.49 M293524 Cîroc Summer Citrus & Lemonade 12x250ml / £19.49 M293525 Vinca Organic Red 12x187ml / £24.99 M294689 Vinca Organic White 12x187ml / £24.99 M294703 Vinca Organic Pale Rosé 12x187ml / £24.99 M294688 Wakefield Estate Riesling 6x75cl / £52.99 M292719 Beefsteak Malbec 6x75cl / £33.49 M294273

Making the most of the summer period and whatever warm

Strawberry Burst which is available now from Booker and helps

weather it brings is all about maximising sales and driving

you target the growing and loyal band of followers that AU has

margins as high as you can push them.

built in recent years, largely through social media.

Two simple but effective strategies of achieving just this are

In a similar vein, there are some fantastic new options from

by bringing in new, premium lines to generate excitement and

premium vodka brand Cîroc available too, including new Cîroc

footfall, and also to focus your team on up-selling customers to

Limonata in 70cl bottles and two new Cîroc RTDS: Passion Fruit

more premium options. More premium options usually mean

and Summer Citrus & Lemonade.

more premium profits, after all.

With RTDs the fastest-growing part of the beers, wines and Booker has introduced a selection of exciting new lines

spirits category, these 250ml cans can help you target a growing

recently that can help you set your offer apart from that of

audience of RTD drinkers who prefer a more premium option.

the competition and grow your sales. A great example is AU

JULY 2024

59

SERVICE l NEW & PREMIUM DRINKS

Other new RTDs include two new WKD variants – Blue

UPSELL OPTIONS

Raspberry and Tropical – both available in 70cl bottles, and two

As highlighted above, another simple way to boost margins

new WKD Vibe variants, Strawberry and Piña Colada Creamy,

is by up-selling your customers to premium spirits. To help

also in 70cl bottles.

make that task easier, it’s a great idea to add some very simple mixed drinks to your list, highlighting the fact that you use

For wine fans, Booker has added some new lines and some new

premium spirits like Patron Silver Tequila, Grey Goose Vodka

packaging options. The Vinca Organic range is available in 187ml

and Jim Beam to craft them.

ready-to-drink can format and is available in three varieties: red, We’ve included some easy serving suggestions here to help

white and pale rosé.

elevate the experience – and the profit margins.

For traditionalists, some of the new wines that catch the eye are the Beefsteak Malbec and the top-notch Wakefield Estate

And don’t forget to enhance the presentation with some fresh

Riesling.

fruit garnishes and plenty of ice. The suggestions in this feature can help generate profits of up to 90% for very little extra effort.

£1.24

£2.22

£57

P PER SERVING

PER SERVING

PER SERVING

SERVING SUGGESTION

SERVING SUGGESTION

SERVING SUGGESTION

Blood Orange Margarita

Grey Goose Southside Soda

Jim Beam Apple Cooler

PATRON SILVER TEQUILA 70CL / £32.99 M118719

GREY GOOSE 70CL / £28.99 M266271

JIM BEAM 70CL / £13.49 M290545

CAMPARI 70CL / £14.49 M951327

FUNKIN LEMON JUICE 1LTR / £7.99 M183469

TROPICANA APPLE JUICE 6X850ML / £4.99 M293604

FUNKIN MARGARITA MIX 1LTR / £4.49 M184882

CATERS SODA WATER 12X1LTR / £7.59 M254374

R WHITE LEMONADE BIB 7LTR / £45.65 M178463

SELL PRICE £10.00

% PROFIT 73%

CASH PROFIT £6.11

SELL PRICE £7.00

% PROFIT 79%

CASH PROFIT £4.59

SELL PRICE £7.00

% PROFIT 90%

CASH PROFIT £5.26

VISIT WWW.BOOKER.CO.UK FOR THE FULL RANGE JULY 2024

61

VERSION

1 ARTWORK SPECIFICATION

FINISHES

VARNISHES

Foiling Embossing Debossing

Matt Satin Gloss

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

- Barcode and Mandatory info to be updated Client KP SNACKS at Repro Project POPPED POPPED_OFFPACK_LOGO_2Colour_PrimaryMarqueA_AW_v1.ai File Name Description OFF PACK Logo Version 1 Program Illustrator CC FONTS USED Substrate White - Gotham Cutter Guide None Date 27.05.20 Operator Nicola Kirk

GENERAL NOTES Fonts will not be supplied with this artwork. All colours specified are from the Pantone© Matching System unless otherwise stated. The colours on this print-out are not accurate and are intended to be used as a guide only. Do not use for matching purposes unless otherwise stated. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this artwork, Bloom Design Limited shall not be responsible for any errors or ommissions in the artwork, which has been accepted by the client. Bloom Design Limited 25 The Village 101 Amies Street London SW11 2JW T +44 (0)20 7924 4533 W bloom-london.com

APPROVAL - PLEASE SIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Dion Fowler

DESIGN MANAGER Tim Reynolds

ACCOUNT MANAGER Annabel Niania

AN EXCLUSIVE BOOKER INCENTIVE!

50 chances to WIN £100 follow these 3 Simple steps for your chance to win

1 3

Stock a qualifying KP Snacks Brand*

2

Scan QR code and enter your customer number

For each qualifying product purchased during NP05 & NP06 you will be entered into our free prize draw to win £100! *Qualifying Brands: KP Nuts, Butterkist, McCoy’s, Pom-Bear, Skips, Popchips, Tyrrells & Hula Hoops

SCAN TO

ENTER! All Entries must be received from 19/06/2024 to 13/08/2024

*T&Cs apply. UK, 18+, registered Booker Ltd and Makro Self Service Wholesalers Limited customers only. 50 x £100 cash prizes. Only one P Purchase necessary; at least one qualifying brands and products as detailed in the full t&s’s (‘Qualifying Product’). For automatic entry int

WIN £100 WITH THE HUNDRED X

STOCK UP TO WIN!

Prize per Participant. No other prize alternative is available. Between 0:00 19/06/24 - 23:59 13.08.24 (‘Competition Period’). to the prize draw, scan the QR code to register/enter during the Competition Period. Participants only need to register/enter