Catering@Booker Issue 11 - September 2023

CATERING @ BOOKER

CROWN JEWEL

SHEFFIELD HOTEL SETS ITSELF APART WITH FINEST SERVICE AND STYLE

“In addition to people coming in for shows, we have a strong regular clientele who come in for lunch or coffee and a light snack two or three times a week so it’s important to keep the menu fresh and exciting for them.”

COVER SHOT

“We visited the Booker Catering Show last year specifically to explore all the meat propositions available through Booker and we were really impressed, especially with the butchery and cookery demonstrations.”

Martyn Hartshorne, Category Manager Fresh Produce, Booker

“We select and source products from the best suppliers in the industry and we work really hard with those suppliers to ensure that quality, value and freshness are always at their best.”

Rodger Molyneux, The CryerArts Centre, Carshalton

Emma Stevens, The FatCap Smokehouse Restaurant and Bar, Bedford

BOOKER CATERING SHOW

NEWS

7 Booker Catering Show Hundreds of exclusive deals available.

9 Sales up 6.7% YOY Latest UKHospitality report shows the sector continues to grow.

11 Licensing laws more flexibility needed around major events.

13 Jobs Vacancies continue to fall.

PROFILES

14 Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria Sheffield hotel offers its guests a truly dazzling experience.

officially the UK’s favourite dish and Booker has everything you need.

PRICE

46 Price Lockdown Extensions Booker has extended locked down pricing on a range of key products until October.

SERVICE

55 Booker Clubs Booker’s Fast Food and On Trade Clubs offer no-stringsattached discounted pricing.

Over 4,000 Booker customers are set to descend on Silverstone on 27 September for the Booker Catering Show 2023. With free parking, more than 200 exhibitors and a day packed full of demonstrations, tastings and literally hundreds of exclusive Show deals, it’s set to be a highlight of this year’s calendar once again. Don’t miss out!

18 Cryer Arts Centre Food and drink play a critical role at Carshalton arts venue.

23 Park Café Northampton café leverages its unique setting to maximum effect.

FEATURES

28 Silverstone Preview A full preview of the Booker Catering Show 2023, a must-visit event.

34 The UK’s favourite dish Burgers are

60 Cakes & Bakes Sweet and savoury cakes, bakes and snacks are in growth.

REGULARS

50 Meet The Team Fresh Produce Category Manager Martyn Hartshorne.

65 Range Review Fast serves, fast profits with Ready To Drink solutions.

DON’T MISS THE BOOKER CATERING SHOW 2023!

The Booker Catering Trade Show returns with over 200 exhibitors and hundreds of exclusive Show deals – so don’t miss out.

The annual Booker Catering Trade Show is back on 27 September and is set to once again be a major highlight of the annual industry calendar.

Thousands of Booker catering customers are expected to attend with more than 200 suppliers booked to exhibit at the event across all major food, drink and non-food product categories.

As always, there will be hundreds of exclusive deals available to attendees as well as a host of entertainment, sampling, demos and more across five separate halls and an open-air street food zone.

The Show will include everything from food and drink tastings and master butcher demonstrations to a chef’s stage featuring guest chefs throughout the day.

There will also be the chance for attendees to have a go on a Formula 1 simulator, the kind used by Formula 1 drivers in training. Whoever sets the fastest lap time will win a full track day at Silverstone.

New Zones have been added this year including a dedicated Christmas Zone, an ownbrand showcase and a Dessert Station, while Hall 5 will once again host drinks producers with a huge array of branded and own-brand products available for sampling.

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

WHY ATTEND?

l Free parking

l Iconic views

l 4,000+ attendees

l 200+ exhibitors

l Five Halls

l Hundreds of exclusive deals

l Open-air street food zone

l Sampling and demos

l Win a track day

SHORT-TERM VISA PLAN

The UK government is considering a short-term visa plan to help the hospitality industry in recruiting staff.

The deal would allow people aged 18-30 from a select list of countries to apply for a visa that would let them work in the UK for two years without the needs for sponsors or salary thresholds.

While the number of job vacancies has fallen significantly since its peak, trade body UKHospitality says vacancies are still 48% higher than prepandemic levels.

If you have any news or views you would like to share, we want to hear from you: catering@booker.co.uk

BAR, CLUB AND PUB SPEND ‘KEEPS GROWING’

The resurgence of the hospitality industry appears to be continuing as the latest data from Barclaycard reveals that consumer spend in bars, pubs and clubs and other hospitality venues increased by 8.4% in June and 7.6% in July, the biggest monthly increases since January. Similarly, takeaways saw sales rise by 9.2% in July.

The growth is attributed to the warm weather, rising beer and alcohol prices, Father’s Day celebrations, and respite from industrial action in the transport sector.

While many consumers remain concerned about their budgets being squeezed, total consumer card spending grew 5.4% year-onyear, a significant increase on the previous month’s figure of 3.6%.

Esme Harwood, Director at Barclays, said: “June saw British consumers get into the swing of summer, bringing a welcome boost to several sun-starved categories, with pubs and bars benefitting from customers soaking up the sunshine in beer gardens. July saw wetter weather but was a ray of sunshine for takeaways.”

GOVERNMENT URGED TO KEEP OFFERING RATES RELIEF

Trade body UKHospitality has strongly urged the Government to continue offering rates relief to hospitality businesses beyond next April when the current scheme is scheduled to end.

The Sunday Times has calculated that restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels could face a £630m bill when current rate relief ends, while UKHospitality says that an additional £200m of costs could arise through inflation.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, commented: “We need to see urgent action from government to avoid these upcoming bills with firm commitments that there will be no inflationary increase to the total sum of business rates, and that business rates relief will continue for hospitality businesses.”

The latest data from Barclaycard shows that spend in pubs and bars rose by 8.4% in June and 7.6% in July, the biggest monthly increases since January this year.

SALES RISE 6.7% IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SAYS UK HOSPITALITY REPORT

The latest UKHospitality Quarterly Sales Tracker has found that hospitality turnover was up 6.7% in the last year to £137bn.

WORLD CUP FINAL DROVE SALES

England reaching the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup final saw hospitality venues enjoy sales increases of up to 28%, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

In spite of the Lionesses falling just short of glory, the tournament saw the hospitality industry benefit from increased spend even with restrictions on opening hours.

Sales in the UK hospitality sector grew by 6.7% over the last 12 months according to the latest UKHospitality Quarterly Sales Tracker in association with CGA.

Total sales for the sector rose to £137bn which means that they were 2.3% up on pre-pandemic sales.

Inflation has played a part in that growth and remains a key challenge for the sector and the wider UK economy, says UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls.

She commented: “Demand is good and sales are strong but the rate of inflation means it’s difficult for venues to keep up with the cost of doing business. These figures illustrate precisely the challenge facing hospitality businesses

across the board.

“Persistently high costs of energy mean the task of keeping up with inflation is getting harder. It has been clear for a long time that these rising costs need to be tackled at source to properly bring down inflation.”

Nicholls said the “double whammy” removal of business rates relief and an inflation-linked rise to rates is something that the government must address to support the sector.

She commented: “That needs to be avoided at all costs, with a commitment to maintaining relief and avoiding an inflation-linked rise, to give the sector a fighting chance of keeping up with inflation.”

BBPA has urged the Government to amend the Licensing Act 2003 to reflect the need for widescale licensing changes for important events like this.

TRADE CALLS FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY AROUND MAJOR EVENTS

UK pubs and hospitality venues are calling on the UK government to adopt a more flexible approach to licensing laws around major national events like the recent Women’s World Cup final.

The UK’s hospitality industry is making formal representations to the UK Government to encourage it to take a more flexible approach to licensing laws during high-profile national events, such as the recent Women’s World Cup final.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has described the current rules as “far too prescriptive” when it came to one-off events of national interest. During the Women’s World Cup (WWC) final, for example, many pubs could not begin serving alcohol until the second half of the game, despite the fact it was the first time a British team had reached a World Cup final since 1966.

Under current licensing laws, making temporary blanket amendments requires approval by both the House of Commons and the House

of Lords, something which is impossible to achieve quickly – particularly when Parliament is in recess, as it was during the WWC final. The only remaining option was for Councils to fast-track applications for temporary notices by individual hospitality outlets.

BBPA Chief Executive Emma McClarkin said: “Despite the government’s valuable work encouraging local authorities to support pubs on the WWC Final day, we now need the law to reflect the reality that strict, prescriptive licensing cannot easily flex when key events are taking place while Parliament is not sitting.

“The Licensing Act 2003 was never intended to be so inflexible as to stand in the way of communities coming together to enjoy a beer and celebrate one-off events of national interest”.

TAKEAWAY BEERS EXTENDED

Following a consultation with industry leaders and alcohol licence holders, the Government has announced an extension to the current alcohol licensing laws, brought in during Covid. The announcement means venues without an off-premise alcohol licence will still be able to sell takeaway alcohol within their normal alcohol licence.

The government said “it would continue to look for a permanent solution to best support local pubs and bars” and the extension will now carry on until March 2025.

CUSTOMERS TO ‘SPEND MORE, DRINK LESS’

A new report from Heineken UK has found that customers are planning to ensure they get value for money by spending more but drinking less per visit. Some 34% of respondents said they expected to go to the pub less often but will opt for a higher value or perceived higher value product when they do go. Many are doing so through trade-up options with world and premium lagers remaining key drivers of category growth. World lager sales grew 27% during 2022, up from 21% in 2021, and one in three pints served in the on-trade are premium lagers.

FUTURE LIES IN ‘EVOLVING THE EXPERIENCE’

INBRIEF

VACANCIES FALL AGAIN

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that job vacancies in food service and accommodation fell for the fourth month in a row in July, to 127,000.

Barclays Corporate Banking has published a new report that aims to take stock of the UK hospitality industry today and suggest ways that restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs can both differentiate themselves from the competition and deliver value for money to their customers.

Entitled ‘Evolving The Experience,’ the report ultimately concludes that “creating great experiences” is the way forward for the hospitality sector and finds that there is a “flight to quality”. Average spend per head is up, often by inflation-beating amounts, suggesting that customers are visiting venues less often but spending more when they do.

The report also found that almost half (48%) of businesses surveyed were planning some form of refit or upgrade, despite the economic challenges.

Philip Richardson, Industry Director – Hospitality & Leisure at Barclays Corporate Banking, commented: “Today’s consumers need escapism more than ever. When they plan a night out or a break, they expect value: the cost

may be higher, but the experience must be a five-star one they’ll remember.

“Businesses are responding to the ‘flight to quality’ by upgrading and widening the range of activities they offer. Across the UK, I see operators using their ingenuity to provide the spectacular experiences people crave, at the best possible value.”

The report highlights the huge growth of ‘competitive socialising’ through everything from traditional activities like darts, pool and board games through to reimagined versions of older activities like shuffleboard and even axe-throwing.

Around a quarter of under-45s already take part in these sorts of activities on a regular basis, says the report.

The evolution of working patterns is also recognised in the report, with many customers experiencing changed work routines, resulting in shifting leisure habits.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls commented: “It’s positive that vacancies in hospitality have fallen for the fourth consecutive month but levels are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“Significant investment to attract and develop our own talent continues, through apprenticeships and training, but we urge the Government to open up new immigration routes to help the sector reach its potential.”

A new report from Barclays unveils the latest trends in consumer behaviour in the hospitality sector and offers advice to business on how to differentiate from the competition and deliver value for money.

CROWNING GLORY

The Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria offers its guests a truly dazzling experience, which thanks to a strengthened relationship with Booker and Makro, now shines even brighter.

THE CROWNE PLAZA

Venue Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria

Location Victoria Station Road, Sheffield

Managing Director Hermann Beck

Time as a caterer 40 years

Catering facilities Cunningham Restaurant, Veranda restaurant, Grand Lounge, cocktail bar, plus 14 meeting rooms including a 400 capacity ballroom. Staff 150

Opening hours 24 hours

Ask hotelier Hermann Beck what he most loves about his long and illustrious career in hospitality and he’ll tell you that it’s all about the service. For Hermann, who has risen to the upper echelons of the hospitality ranks since starting out as a hotel food and beverage manager back in 1982, service is everything. “I love delivering excellent service, it’s what drives me and always has. I also love people and I love doing a job well,” he tells Catering@ Booker.

And he’s certainly been putting his passion for people and service to the very best use at the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria in Sheffield

– a landmark building with a reputation to boot. Situated at the site of Sheffield’s historic Victoria train station, the hotel was widely considered one of the most luxurious in the UK when it was built in 1862 and even received a visit from King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1905.

Hermann and his business partner John Conroy bought the site in 2001 – making significant upgrades to the building and its facilities over the years while trading as a Holiday Inn. In 2019, a further investment of more than £3m saw the hotel upgraded to a Crowne Plaza.

The Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria of today offers guests an elegant fusion of grand Victorian architecture with cutting-edge facilities, including a health club, business centre and 105 stylishly appointed bedrooms and suites.

A sumptuous array of different settings for eating and drinking has also rendered the hotel one of Sheffield’s premier venues for events, celebrations, vacations and more. Guests can enjoy a skilful synthesis of classic and contemporary British cuisine in a

TRENDWATCH THE CROWNE PLAZA ROYAL VICTORIA

Consistency and quality

The Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria’s reputation for consistently high quality is what, Hermann says, has helped the hotel emerge from the pandemic so successfully. That consistency of quality is also what keeps on driving the hotel’s high levels of repeat business and new custom. “Emerging from the pandemic, people were looking for brands they could trust to deliver and that is exactly what we did and what we continue to do,” he says. “People know when they come to the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria, they will be treated to a truly high-quality and memorable experience.”

variety of spaces, including its main ‘Cunningham’s Restaurant’.

The Victorian dining room offers an atmosphere of ‘timeless elegance,’ while its ‘A La Carte’ menu offers classic starters such as ‘Maple-Glazed Pork Belly, Apple Puree, Apple Crisp and a Cider Apple Sauce’ for £10. Main course options include ‘Roasted Lamb Rump, Pea Puree, Garlic Potato and Breaded Sweetbreads, finished with Capers and Anchovies’ for £24. Drinks and light meals can also be enjoyed in the Grand Lounge, which features a roaring fire in the winter months. There’s also a beautiful veranda, where tapas-style food is served between 2pm and 9pm.

Guests eager to dine in the comfort of one of the 105 newlyrefurbished bedrooms can also request 24-hour room service. With 14 meeting rooms, the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria also boats one of Sheffield’s busiest events businesses and is able to accommodate gatherings from two to 400 people.

The largest of its event spaces is the spectacular Grade II listed Victorian Ballroom which can accommodate up to 400 guests, making it a popular choice for large seminars, conferences, private

dinners and weddings.

After a successful emergence from the challenging pandemic years, Hermann says the hotel is “doing very well,” thanks to its unwavering commitment to quality products and service. “Business today is very strong,” he says. “We probably have the busiest food and beverage operation in the whole of Sheffield. It’s the quality of our offer that keeps those numbers up. We deliver exactly what you would expect from a Crowne Plaza and more.

“Food and beverage revenue accounts for around 60% of total revenue – more than the rooms revenue. The vast majority of our food and beverage business is return business, with a large part accounted for by conferences, gala dinners and private celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. We hosted more than 500 private dinners in 2022.

“What we offer is great quality products, expertly cooked and professionally served in a friendly and welcoming way. Our customers love it and that’s why they keep coming back.”

HERMAN'S SPECIAL BOARD FLEXIBLE OPERATION

Our kitchen teams tailor-make unique menus for private functions to reflect personal tastes.

WARM AND WELCOMING

We strive to offer all our guests a warm and welcoming service.

PRE-ORDER FOR SUCCESS

We always try to get our orders in early for key seasonal occasions. We ordered all our Christmas stock for 2022 through Makro at the start of October.

The hotel boasts three kitchens – the main restaurant kitchen, a banqueting kitchen and a production kitchen. “We also have a full complement of chefs, including our highly experienced Executive Chef,” he adds.

From a romantic dinner for two, to a wedding banquet for 200, Hermann and his team strive to ensure that every guest enjoys the same high-quality culinary experience – a feat which has become far easier in the last 18 months, since the hotel started buying a far larger share of its supplies from Makro in Sheffield. “Eighteen months ago, the supply chain was struggling,” Hermann recalls. “We faced numerous supply challenges. Deliveries were unreliable – turning up late and with half the stock missing and hardly any attempt to remedy the situation. It was appalling. Something had to change. At the time we were only using Makro ad hoc and spending no more than £30,000 a year with them.

“We arranged a meeting between myself, our head chef, our Makro CDM Tracy Hartley-Gidley and the Makro Sheffield area manager Paul Stenhouse, who also brought the branch’s butchery manager with him. The Makro team laid out exactly what they could offer us in terms of range and service. They really impressed us and so we decided to give them a go and buy a much larger proportion of stock through them. Eighteen months on I can confidently say it was a fantastic decision. We now buy the majority of our store cupboard goods, as well as some meat and fresh produce through Makro and so far, it has been very positive.” Top-selling dishes on the Cunningham’s A La Carte Menu include a grilled Blackgate beef rump steak, served with a caramelised onion sauce, stuffed roasted onion and wild mushrooms for £28.

“Last year we bought all our Christmas stock through Booker and Makro, including our turkeys and Christmas puddings. We preordered everything in October and Makro delivered it on time exactly when we needed it. There was not one product shortage over the entire Christmas period – an excellent result which helped us to ensure that our busiest time of the year ran smoothly.

“Working with Makro is very easy,” Hermann adds. “It offers a hassle-free service. I have a direct line to everyone I need to speak to, and stock is delivered on time and as expected.

“What Makro offers is proper old-fashioned service, which is just how I like it! It’s the same type of trustworthy, quality service we also strive to offer our customers at The Crowne Plaza, so it’s a pretty perfect fit.”

CENTRE STAGE

The CryerArts Centre offers its visitors a jolly good show and food and drink to match.

It’s Friday night in the South London town of Carshalton and the CryerArts Centre is positively thrumming with the sound of happy punters, enthusiastically polishing off meals and drinks before heading into the Theatre’s auditorium to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Tomorrow night, the crowds will be back to enjoy an entertaining evening of live music, great food and quality drinks in the venue’s welcoming Spotlight Bar and Restaurant. The CryerArts Centre’s storming popularity is a far cry from just five years ago, when the iconic Victorian building had lain vacant for a number of years.

The venue’s lease was bought by a group of local entrepreneurs back in October 2018 with a view to transform its empty, echoey interior into a vibrant community hub and arts centre.

Leading the group was local businessman Rodger Molyneux, who also founded The Hope in Carshalton – an award-winning pub that has claimed CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of The Year accolade a staggering five times.

THE LOWDOWN

CRYERARTS CENTRE, CARSHALTON

Venue The CryerArts Centre, Carshalton

Format Theatre Bar and Restaurant with function room

Kitchen open Mon-Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-7pm

Kitchen staff 6

Covers 48 in The Spotlight restaurant

Caterer Rodger Molyneux

“We had a vision to bring this beautiful old building back to life with the creation of a true community hub that would host theatre productions, comedy nights, music and provide space for numerous other creative activities,” Rodger explains.

“At its centre would also be a quality food and drink offer, served throughout the day and in the evenings.”

Rodger’s vision was finally brought to life at the start of 2020, following an extensive £160,000 refurbishment which saw the inside all but gutted to make way for a brand-new auditorium, dance studio, kitchen, and bar and restaurant.

Today, with lockdown restrictions now firmly in the past, the business is operating exactly as Rodger and his team had originally

anticipated it would – its 140-seater auditorium offering a packed schedule of shows, events and performances.

Accompanying the broad menu of entertainment is an equally diverse, high-quality food and drink offer.

The CryerArts Centre boasts four key spaces for dining and drinking: ‘The Spotlight Bar and Restaurant,’ which offers 48 covers; ‘The Watercress Room,’ which can be booked for private functions and buffets for up to 60 people; ‘The Theatre Bar’ for pre and post theatre drinks; and ‘The Quad,’ a smart outdoor area with seating for around 50 that is covered by a tall marquee.

Visitors to The Quad can order drinks, coffees, snacks and food from the restaurant’s main menu and the venue also hosts regular BBQ events during the summer months. “Our food offer centres around quality, and fortunately we have an excellent chef and experienced team helping us to consistently deliver those high standards,” Rodger explains. “Food is a major profit centre for the venue and accounts for around a third of total revenue.

“Variety is important. The venue attracts a very broad mix of people of different ages, so our food needs to reflect that.”

Food and drinks are served throughout the day, with the CryerArts Centre attracting a brisk lunchtime trade as well as dinners and drinks before its evening performances. It also boasts a quality coffee offer – well frequented by local parents and carers. “We’re a popular hub for young parents and carers and some mornings we can have 12 pushchairs in the bar as groups meet for coffees and a snack,” Rodger explains.

“We buy Lavazza coffee beans from Booker and we have a topquality machine. I also invested in a silent grinder which customers really appreciate. It cost almost double the price of a regular grinder but it hardly makes any noise. There’s nothing more annoying for customers than trying to have a conversation over the deafening sound of a coffee grinder.”

Rodger Molyneux

“It’s a great thing to close the doors after a busy Saturday night, knowing that you’ve sent a lot of people home very happy.”

responsibly made for kids

responsibly SolD responsibly deVEloPED We

Our responsibly made for kids logo will appear on all range boards and packs to help your customers find our products, helping you cater for all.

Customers can choose from a broad mix of snacks and light bites including paninis, which are all freshly made to order from a wide range of fillings from Booker, as well as a variety of ‘small plates’ and starters, including Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Chicken Goujons, Halloumi Fries and Whitebait with house tartare sauce – all for under £8.

Mains include classic dishes such as ‘Mac n Cheese,’ Gammon Steaks, and Chicken Milanese – which is served with a fried egg and a rocket and parmesan salad for £11.50.

There’s also a quality 8oz Rump Steak sourced from Booker, which is served with chips, peppercorn sauce and a roasted tomato for £12.50. Whatever the dish, quality is key and the CryerArts Centre sources just over 70% of all its stock from Booker.

The menu also changes regularly to keep the offer as fresh and interesting as possible,

“In addition to people coming in for shows, we also have a strong regular clientele, who come in for lunch or coffee and a light snack two or three times a week so it’s important to keep the menu fresh and exciting for them,” Rodger explains.

“Friday and Saturday nights tend to be our busiest time of the week and the vast majority of people coming in for a show or event will come for a drink before, while around 35% will dine here first.

“For customers seeing a show, speed of service is of course key but thankfully we have a fantastic chef and well-oiled kitchen team,” he adds.

Rodger also chooses to visit his local Booker branch in Croydon up to three times a week.

“I love visiting the branch in person and chatting to my CDM and the Butchery Manager who I have a great relationship with,” he says. “He’s always on hand to show me standout products, new items or great deals.

“I often come back from the branch with extra products that were not originally on my shopping list and it’s always fun to challenge the chefs with those!”

With the venue receiving a steady flow of positive feedback from its many visitors, it’s clear that customers are thrilled with the

results.

“What’s especially lovely is that once a month we always receive at least four or five emails of thanks from people who have enjoyed our hospitality.

“It’s incredibly gratifying to receive those messages. This place clearly means a lot to people and I’m incredibly proud of everything we have achieved and especially proud of our crew.”

RODGER'S SPECIAL BOARD

SPEEDY SERVICE

TAILORED

GOLDEN GRIND

Customers really appreciate our silent coffee grind

Efficient preparation is the key to ensuring fast, quality service.

TO TASTE

Customisation is key. We let our customers choose exactly what they want to fill their paninis with, rather than having set choices. We do get a few quirky requests but that’s ok!

Product Code 28648

• Handmade in Yorkshire to a traditional Japanese recipe

• Extra firm texture

• Pre-pressed and ready for anything Now available in Booker

PARK LIFE

Tony Ansell’s thriving café in the heart of Abington Park continues to see lush growth.

THE LOWDOWN

THE PARK CAFÉ

Format Café

Caterer Tony Ansell

Location Abington Park, Northampton

Opening hours 8am-6pm

Covers 292

Almost no caterer would describe their day job as a ‘walk in the park’ – but then Tony Ansell is no ordinary caterer.

And as the owner of the hugely successful Park Café nestled at the heart of Northampton’s lush and leafy Abington Park, for Tony, each day quite literally begins with one.

Tony, who began his career in catering at the tender age of just 17, when he purchased his first hotdog and burger van, is also a local councillor and presided as the Mayor of Northampton in 2018/19.

He purchased The Park Café when he was just 21 (by which age he had also grown his mobile burger empire to 20 vans) but as he explains, back then, it was “quite a small ramshackle place” and sold “nothing much more than cold drinks and Mars bars!”

The offer has certainly evolved since then – as has the size of the café and

TRENDWATCH

The link between sunshine and sales

“Temperature can have a massive influence on sales,” says Tony. Sunny days are great but when it’s too hot some people will stay away as they don’t want to walk in the heat. The ideal temperature for us is 18 to 25 degrees and a blue sky. That’s the perfect combination and shoppers will flock to us on those days. In the winter, if it’s not raining people will sit both inside and outside. Outside dining really took off during the pandemic and the trend has stuck with many people still choosing to eat outside even in the cooler months.”

its facilities, thanks to a significant extension and refit in 2016.

The Park Café now features 68 seats inside and 224 outside on its picturesque patio which offers sweeping views of the lawns, lakes and historic bandstand. “The location is simply fabulous,” Tony says, “and we have an offer to match. On warm and sunny days, The Park Café goes like the clappers!”

And it’s easy to see why.

Views aside, The Park Café offers its customers a large menu of classic family-friendly dishes which can be eaten on site or taken away. All food and drinks are prepared “with pride, to a restaurantquality standard and presented to look as good as they taste,” Tony explains.

Homemade soups, for example, are served in edible bread bowls, while fish and chips are enrobed in decorative newspaper and served with a silky home-made tartare sauce.

The café also offers its patrons a wide range of homemade sandwiches, prepared on ciabatta or a choice of sliced bread, featuring a selection of classic fillings such as tuna, coronation chicken and piri piri, all of which are sourced through Booker.

There’s also crispy salads plus traditional English breakfasts, including vegan options.

For customers after more indulgent meals, the Park Café also offers a range of ‘Gourmet Burgers’ including a steak burger and a butterfly chicken burger.

Priced at £12.50, the top-selling steak burgers are made using premium-grade half-pound patties from Booker.

Other top-sellers include jumbo sausage rolls and beef and vegetable pasties.

Milkshakes, which are made using Italian ice cream also sourced through Booker, are another fast-seller, as is coffee, which is made using Booker’s premium Lichfields Fairtrade Gourmet Espresso Beans.

“Coffee is a really big business and all our milk for the coffees as well as the milkshakes comes from Booker too – we get through gallons and gallons of milk a month!” Tony adds.

THE PARK CAFE

The café also meets the needs of the park’s feathered and furry friends too – offering dog ice cream, bags of duck food and Squirrel nuts.

“I’ve been working with Booker since the very start of my career and over that time have developed such close bonds with the staff at my local branch,” Tony says.

“The vast majority of my stock now comes from Booker and, with the business constantly growing, I’ve just increased my spend limit to £20,000 a month,” he adds.

“We get three deliveries a week and, because weekends are so exceptionally busy, I still tend to visit the Northampton branch at least once a week too.

“I love going to the branch in person. I know everyone there, so to me it’s not work, it’s a day out and a lovely one at that!” he adds.

The same feeling of familiarity and conviviality radiates from The Park Café itself, with Tony having known many of its regulars for more than 30 years and in a number of cases having employed multiple generations of the same family.

“We really are like one big family and what’s lovely is that many local people feel that they are a part of that family too.

“This café means so much to local people, it’s evolved to become a real local hub for the community as well as a destination and popular meeting point for people from much further afield,” Tony adds.

With such a meaningful offer, Abingdon’s Park Café certainly looks set to unwrap even greater success over the years to come.

TONY’S SPECIAL BOARD

QUALITY COUNTS

From Bacon Butties to Butterflied Chicken, quality is at the forefront of everything we offer at the Park Cafe

CLEAN AND CLEAR

We pride ourselves on our high standards and boast six consecutive 5 Star Food Hygiene Ratings.

ADDED EXTRAS

We also offer a range of non-food items, such as The Park Caf branded reusable cups and footballs to add an extra dimention to our offer.

DISTILLED BOTANICALS FOR THE PUREST FLAVOUR

M251694

M251669

ENJOY A DAY OUT LIKE NO OTHER!

MARTIN AYLWARD CHEF, UXBRIDGE MASONIC LODGE

“I’m the chef at a small Masonic Lodge near Hillingdon and have been a Booker customer for many years. I visit my local branch at least twice a week to buy a wide range of products for my menus, including meat, vegetables and many store cupboard essentials. It’s always a pleasure to see the products on display and talk to the different teams, especially the butchery team as I buy a lot of fresh meat through Booker.

“I really enjoyed my time at the show last year, especially watching the many cookery demonstrations, and the butchery skills demonstrations on Booker’s Blackgate stand.”

WIN A TRACK DAY!

One of the highlights of this year’s Show is the Formula 1 simulator. Show attendees will have the chance to have a go on the simulator – the same kind of professional simulator used by Formula 1 drivers in training – and whoever sets the fastest lap time will win a full track day at Silverstone!

The annual Booker Catering Trade Show has become a hotly anticipated highlight of the annual catering and hospitality calendar, providing the industry with a unique opportunity to gather together, gain valuable insight, share their experiences with industry colleagues and, of course, take advantage of literally hundreds of exclusive show deals.

This year thousands of Booker catering customers are expected to attend the show on 27 September at Silverstone Racing Circuit with more than 200 suppliers exhibiting at the event across all major food, drink and nonfood product categories.

The show extends to five separate halls, as well as an open-air street food zone with attendees able sample the latest products, learn more about the latest trends and find inspiration to take back home with them to their businesses across the UK.

The street food zone was exceptionally popular last year and has been expanded for 2023 with more exhibitors,

and even a steel band to help get everyone into the party mood!

ON TRACK

The Show will include everything from food and drink tastings, master butcher demonstrations and a chef’s stage featuring guest chefs throughout the day. There will also be the chance for attendees to have a go on a Formula 1 simulator, the kind used by Formula 1 drivers in training. Even better, whoever sets the fastest lap time will win a full track day at Silverstone.

A number of new zones have been added this year, in response to feedback from Booker customers, including a dedicated Christmas zone where visitors can sample a wide range of Christmas and festive products. Designed as a German-style christmas market, the zone will feature everything from bratwursts and mince pies to mulled wine.

An own-brand showcase will also feature this year, giving everyone the chance to sample and find out more about the Chef’s Essentials, Chef’s Larder, Chef’s Larder Premium and Blackgate Signature ranges. There will even be an opportunity to sample the brand-new range of Food To Share products.

RACHEL AND ALEXANDRU CAMERZAN THE ITALIAN FARMHOUSE, DURHAM

“We own an Italian restaurant that offers traditional Italian cuisine in a warm and family-friendly environment in Durham. Our menu includes a range of authentic Italian pasta dishes plus handstretched pizzas and grill items. We source a sizeable amount from Booker and are looking forward to being able see so many fantastic suppliers and Booker own brands under one roof today.

“Visting the Show last year was a great way of generating new ideas and sampling new products. The deals and special Trade Show prices were really good, and we benefited from special deals on key alcohol brands for us such as Kopparberg.”

ZHI LI FURAMA, READING

“We run a family-owned Chinese restaurant and takeaway in the heart of Reading. Coming to the show is a really good day out and a great way of meeting different suppliers under one roof. Last year there was a great mix of brands to talk too and some fantastic new products to sample – the sights and smells inside were incredible!”

DEAN AND LORRAINE WOODGATE THE GRAND, FELIXSTOWE

“We’ve run The Grand in Felixtowe for 27 years now. It used to be a nightclub but we’ve adapted the offer since the Covid-19 pandemic and are now offering a range of food and snacking options including burgers, loaded fries, nachos and sharing platters. We’re still very wet-led but food is taking on an increasingly important role and we’re now on Just Eat too.

“Visiting last year was great for meeting key suppliers, seeing all the fantastic deals and special offers available and getting some new menu ideas and tips for tweaking existing dishes. It was a lot of fun!”

CREATE DELICIOUS AND VERSATILE SAUCES WITH EASE AND CONSISTENCY

Saves time, reduces energy usage and provides the same great sauce every time, adaptable to fit your menu

White Wine Sauce

M60654 6 x 1L M60653 1L

Hollandaise Sauce

M60183 6 x 1L M60182 1L

Bechamel Sauce

M15277 6 x 1L M15293 1L

Red Wine Sauce

M60148 6 x 1L M60147 1L

MEISAN AND MOEIN TAVASSOLI TAVASSOLI CAFÉ AND GRILL, LEEDS

“Our family-run restaurant offers a wide range of authentic street-food style Greek dishes including chicken, pork and mixed gyros, plus wraps and burgers and we buy a lot through Booker. The show is a great place to chat to fellow caterers, meet suppliers, sample products and find out about deals.

“Last year there was a wide range of special Trade Show deals and exclusive offers to take advantage of which was fantastic. There was a good atmosphere inside and the cookery demonstrations and steel band really added to the vibe.”

EMMA STEVENS THE FATCAP, SMOKEHOUSE RESTAURANT AND BAR BEDFORD

“My husband Tony and I run a smokehouse in Bedford that we opened four years ago. There’s been a real rise in demand for smokehouse-style cuisine and foods so it’s been great to tap into that. Our most popular item is our signature FatCap Smokehouse Brisket, which is premium beef, cooked low and slow. There’s nothing else quite like us in Bedford so locals have received us very positively.

“We visited last year specifically to explore all the meat propositions available through Booker and we were really impressed, especially with the butchery and cookery demonstrations. It was also great to talk to the many drinks suppliers there. We offer a range of cocktails, so it was interesting to learn about new and emerging flavour trends from them.”

Additionally, a Dessert Station will bring to life Booker’s comprehensive range of dessert solutions while the Demo Zone will return and will feature some fantastic chefs offering tips on making the very most of Booker’s range.

DRINK IT IN

Hall 5, the drinks hall, is likely to be prove popular once again this year with a huge array of branded and own-brand products available for sampling. Booker’s drinks team will be on hand to offer advice and support on every aspect of your drinks offer, and share the latest trends, innovation and fresh ideas.

The Booker Catering Trade Show is an event not to be missed – so make sure you take the time to visit and learn how you can continue to grow your business in future.

Visitors will enter the show this year through the newly built glass bridge in the Hilton Hotel which crosses the racetrack, helping step the excitement up a gear or two before attendees even get to the show.

With the main halls overlooking the pit lane and the finishing straight at Silverstone, visitors are guaranteed some outstanding, iconic views throughout the day.

MAKE MORE OF THE UK’S MOST POPULAR DISH

Despite the often-repeated claims of dishes like Chicken Tikka or Spaghetti Bolognese, there is actually only one winner when it comes to the coveted title of ‘The UK’s Most Popular Dish’: the everpopular burger.

Burgers feature on over 20% of menus and, according to Lumina Intelligence data from March 2022 to March 2023, the burger is the king of the hill and the go-to choice for a huge section of the population.

That’s great news for caterers, because burgers are typically quick and easy to prepare and offer great profit margins, especially when elevated by the addition of accompaniments like cheese, pickles,



Featuring

CHOOSE YOUR BURGER

Here is just a small selection of the burgers available to suit all tastes and all budgets:

M147178 Chef’s Essentials Quarter Pounder Burgers 48x113g £17.99 – 38p each

M286605 Paragon Tenderfill Burger 54x85g £26.99 – 45p each

M259729 Blackgate Signature 10 Aberdeen Angus Burgers 10x113g £8.99 – 90p each

M084626 Chef’s Larder 48 American Style 80% Beef Burgers 48x170g £29.99 per pack –£1.25 each

M282338 Kettyle Guinness Premium Beef Burgers 4x150g £6.29 per pack – £1.58 each

M244512 Blackgate Signature 6 Ultimate Wagyu Burger 6x170g £13.99 – £2.34 each

CHOOSE YOUR BUN

Booker offers huge range of buns:

M281545 Chef’s Essentials Plain White Baps 48s £8.29 per pack – 18p each

M283854 La Boulangère Brioche Burger Buns 10x4pk £9.89 – 25p each

M281539 Chef’s Larder Premium Gourmet Burger Buns 48s £16.49 – 35p each

M243237 St Pierre Seeded Brioche Buns 4pk £1.85 per pack – 46p each

CHOOSE YOUR CHEESE

Pick from a wide array of classic and more exotic cheese slices:

M234176 Chef’s Larder Mild White Cheddar Slices 1kg £6.99 per pack – 14p each

M234185 Chef’s Larder Mature White Cheddar Slices 1kg £7.99 per pack – 20p each

M281465 Monterey Jack Chilli Slices 300g £4.49 – 30p each

M281439 Monterey Jack Smoked Slices 300g £4.49 per pack – 30p each

Featuring on more than 20% of menus, the burger is the UK’s most popular dish – and Booker’s range of burgers provides everything you need to cash in.

on over 20% of menus, burgers are still the most popular dish in the UK

Chef’s Essentials Plain White Baps 48s £8.29 per pack – 18p each

gherkins, onion rings and, of course, fries. Every accompaniment helps increase the sell price and increase the cash profit.

EXCLUSIVE BURGER

To help Booker customers squeeze even more profit out of their burger offer, Booker recently introduced the new and exclusive Paragon Tenderfill Burger, a fantastic quality product that costs just 50p per patty, leaving plenty of room for margin.

At 85g per patty, the Tenderfill Burger makes the perfect platform for a substantial dish and a case of 54 costs just £26.99.

To take profits to the next level, why not create a 9oz Stack Burger, with cheese slices, bacon, lettuce, burger relish, gherkins and tomato?

Best of all, if you sell it for £12.99 it will cost you just £3.55 per serving which leaves you with a cash profit of £7.28 for every 9oz Stack Burger you sell.

BOOST PROFITS

How you and your kitchen team choose to take your burgers to the next level is entirely up to you but Booker offers a fantastic selection of accompaniments that help elevate the dish as well as elevating your margins.

According to the same Lumina data cited above, it’s gherkins and pickles that are the fastest-growing accompaniments to burgers, something well worth bearing in mind. From Kühne cornichons, pickled dill slices and pickled gherkins to Chef’s Larder Cooked Smoked Streaky Sandwich Bacon and KTC Fried Onions, there’s everything you need to create a showstopping burger – in a flash. When it comes to burger sauces, Booker has everything

you need from classic mayonnaise and ketchup for the traditionalists to Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce and Nacho Cheese Sauce for those with more adventurous tastes.

BUNS AND CHEESE

For many customers, a burger isn’t a burger without cheese and again, Booker has you covered with a range of quality Chef’s Larder Cheese Slices available from just 14p each, plus Monterey Jack options including chilli and smoked cheese slices for just 30p each.

Similarly, there’s a great range of burger buns available, from the frozen classic Chef’s Essentials Plain White Baps at just 18p each to the Chef’s Larder Premium Gourmet Burger Bun at just 35p each or the fresh St Pierre Seeded Brioche Bun at 45p each.

MEATY OPTIONS

And if you feel like a more premium burger is appropriate for your customer base, Booker offers a comprehensive range of patties to suit all tastes and budgets, all the way from the Chef’s Essentials Quarter Pounder Burger at 38p per patty up to the ultra-premium Blackgate Signature 6 Ultimate Wagyu Burger at £2.34.

CHOOSE YOUR SAUCES AND ACCOMPANIMENTS

Elevate your burger in style with some great quality, great value options including:

M148278 Chef’s Essentials Mayonnaise 10ltr £12.49

M282678 Chef’s Essentials Tomato Ketchup 4.5kg £4.79

M279819 Macphie Nacho Cheese Sauce 1ltr £4.49

M130018 Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce 3.7ltr £16.69

M283792 Chef’s Larder Sweet Chilli Jam 1.25kg £6.49

M094652 Kühne Pickled Dill Gherkin Slices 2.45kg £9.39

M233729 Chef’s Larder Cooked Smoked Streaky Sandwich Bacon 500g £10.99

M143836 KTC Crispy Fried Onions 6x400g £12.49

Pumpkin Spice

AND ALL THINGS NICE

Infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and autumnal magic, this topping sauce is a versatile superstar in any kitchen. Drizzle it over desserts, transform coffees and hot chocolates or create tastebud tantalising frappes.

Pumpkin spice release dates are getting earlier and earlier, with leading coffee chains releasing this fan favourite as early as the 25th August in 2022!

Pumpkin Spice

Topping Sauce

M287842 £7.99

M281438

Simply Pumpkin Spice Syrup 1ltr £5.99

M280643

Simply Vanilla Frappe Powder 1.75kg £10.99

BE WORLD CUP

WINNER A

HOME NATION FIXTURES

SAT 23RD SEP England v 4.45pmChile, S.Africa v Ireland, 8pm

With 48 games played over 51 days, the Rugby World Cup presents a terrific opportunity for venues to score big with sports fans this autumn.

SUN 24TH SEP Scotland v 4.45pmTonga, Wales v Australia, 8PM

SAT 30TH SEP Scotland v Romania, 8pm

SAT 7TH OCT Wales v 2pmGeorgia, England v 4.45pmSamoa, Ireland v Scotland, 8pm

48 MATCHES ACROSS 51 DAYS

As the pinnacle of international rugby, the Rugby World Cup 2023 is currenly taking place in France, with matches played by 20 teams in nine venues across 10 host cities.

The tournament marks the 10th men’s Rugby World Cup and the second to be hosted by France, after a memorable event in 2007.

To add some extra spice, it takes place in a year when the sport celebrates 200 years since Rugby school pupil William Webb Ellis was credited with inventing the game in 1823.

For pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants across the home nations, it represents an enormous opportunity to grow footfall, sales and profits with England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland all taking part in this year’s showcase global event.

With a total of 48 matches played across 51 days, the tournament presents back-toback opportunities for venues to cash in and deliver winning performances in the run up to the all-important festive period.

SPORT SELLS

For an indication of how important topclass sport can be to sales, it’s worth looking back at the much smaller Six Nations tournament. According to data from CGA by NIQ, hospitality venues that showed live matches generated 28% more sales on matchdays than on the average equivalent day –double the 14% increase seen at non-sports venues. On the tournament’s opening weekend alone, total drinks sales in sports venues increased by an astonishing 38%.

The categories to benefit most were stout (up 85%), world lager and cider while soft drinks also saw a spike of 15%, spirits were

up 24% and wine grew by 15% across all matchdays. CGA client director Paul Bolton commented: “The Six Nations was a reminder of the power of big sporting occasions to loosen people’s spending and encourage brand trial and loyalty.”

PICKING WINNERS

With endless opportunities for heroics and intrigue on the pitch during the Rugby World Cup come extensive opportunities for boosting sales and profits – and it will pay to focus you and your team’s efforts on the products most likely to drive your business forward. Whatever way you look at it, the Rugby World Cup offers endless chances to win over the next couple of months.

Of course, that will mean making sure you’re stocked up on beers, wines and spirits, but here are a few extra ideas to

help you squeeze every penny of profit out of the Rugby World Cup this year.

MADE IN MINUTES / SHARING PLATTERS

With hordes of hungry rugby fans descending on your business for a big match it’s important that you optimise your team’s efficiency and minimise serving times.

Booker offers a full range of top quality, great value solutions that can help you prepare and serve tasty dishes with a minimum of fuss and effort. Tacos, ribs, bao buns, pulled pork – there’s plenty to choose from that will keep sports fans satisfied and ready for the match.

Similarly, you could opt to prepare a range of sharing platters that can be prepared quickly, served even quicker and enjoyed

Sport means spend…

l According to Ipsos data from Jun 2022, 57% of pub-going sport viewers spend more when watching sport than when not.

l According to BT Sport:

o 85% of sports fans spend more on drinks when watching live sport;

o 76% would stop going to their local if it stopped showing live sport;

o 92% of sports fans said that showing live sport during the week positively influences their visit frequency to a pub.

If you show sports in your venue, it’s vital to make the most of the Rugby World Cup to help drive that all-important footfall, plus sales and profits.

With all of the Home Nations represented, caterers who go further than simply sticking a TV on in the corner stand to win big.

Why not get hold of the full list of fixtures for the Rugby World Cup at the official website –rugbyworldcup.com – and highlight the fixtures most likely to draw a crowd on your social media pages as-well as using eye-catching signage both inside and out?

by a group of customers keen to enjoy a delicious meal without taking their eyes off the on-screen action.

BUCKETS FULL

Another great way to maximise spend and reduce serving time is to offer buckets of beers for a set price. Simply put halfa-dozen bottles of beer or cider of your choice in an bucket packed with ice and you have the ideal fast serve that will also attract the attention of other customers and drive more sales – much easier then pulling endless pints.

ALCOHOL-FREE

Not all customers who visit your venue will be looking to consume alcohol so make sure you have a good range of low- and no-alcohol beers, ciders and wines as well as a full complement of soft drinks. Booker offers everything you need.

THEME IT UP

You could offer a themed Rugby World Cup menu around key matches offering,

for example, burgers and loaded hot dogs. Always guaranteed to satisfy as well as being quick and easy to prepare, they could make life a lot easier for your kitchen and service team as well as optimising your sales and profits.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

To grow sales and add some fun, why not run promotions themed around the teams playing in important matches? France playing South Africa? You could offer special deals on a French wine and a South African wine? The options are endless but it all helps boost sales and enhance your customers’ experience.

And, if you do follow any of these suggestions, be sure to shout about them on social media to drive more footfall and create excitement around this global festival of sport.

Wales vs Australia on 24 September and England vs Samoa on 7 October is sure to pull in the punters!

With 48 fixtures during the tournament over 51 days, you certainly won’t be short of mouthwatering clashes to promote. Then, when matchdays come, it’s time to deliver a quality experience.

Flatscreen TVs and dropdown projectors can help you to offer a truly high-quality viewing experience that’s sure to pull in the punters, especially when coupled with quality service and fare.

You could also consider zoning your venue to separate the rugby fans from the rest of your customers.

To avoid the risk of no-shows you could also consider table bookings for part of your venue, insisting that customers claim their table at least 30 minutes before kick-off.

LOCKED DOWN DEALS EXTENDED TO OCTOBER!

Booker has many of its Locked Down Pricing deals running all the way through to October, helping you plan with confidence.

With plenty to look forward to over the coming months including the Rugby World Cup and, of course, the festive period, it’s important to be able to plan ahead with confidence – which is why Booker has extended many of its Locked Down Pricing deals all the way through until 3 October.

Originally scheduled to end on 1 September, the deals have been extended to allow Booker customers to continue to benefit from guaranteed pricing on a wide selection of popular lines across a host of categories.

Locked Down Pricing means locked down profits and the extensions will help ensure that customers approach the all-important festive season in the best possible shape.

CHEF’S

CHEF’S LARDER WHITEFISH FILLETS 170G-220G

CHEF’S

CHEF’S LARDER KING PRAWNS 720G

CHEF’S

CHEF’S

CADBURY DRINKING CHOCOLATE

CHEF’S LARDER SQUASH 1 LITRE

*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.

*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.

SAY HELLO TO...

MARTYN HARTSHORNE

DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER JOURNEY UP UNTIL NOW?

Before joining Booker I was an independent retailer and small wholesaler of fresh fruit and vegetables. I sold the business around 20 years ago with the aim of trying something different, but fruit and veg is in my blood and when Booker asked if I was interested in a 12-week sales and development trial at their Coventry branch, I jumped at the chance. Twenty years later I’m still here, now as a Category Manager, and I’m thrilled to say that I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve been on an incredible journey with Booker and now that it is part of the Tesco Group I feel that another very exciting chapter has begun.

ABOUTMARTYN

CATEGORY MANAGER FRESH PRODUCE

With more than 20 years of valuable experience under his belt Martyn Hartshorne makes it his business to ensure that Booker’s catering customers get the best possible choice, price and service in fresh produce all year round.

Having started out as an independent wholesaler of fresh fruit and vegetables before joining Booker, Martyn loves nothing more than spending time with his catering customers in branch.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF YOUR ROLE?

I’m one of three Fresh Produce Category Managers in the Booker Group. I work with Peter Ireland and Glen Goodall and together we are responsible for offering our retail and catering customers the best possible choice, price and service in fresh produce. We select and source products from the best suppliers in the industry and we work really hard with those suppliers to ensure that quality, value and freshness are always at their best. We are also constantly reviewing the range that is available to retailers and we work very hard on promotions, which are an absolute must these days.

The most important part of the role though is the customer, and a key function of the role is spending time with those customers. We are lucky to be able to spend time with our catering customers in our network of over 190 branches. It’s a massive part of the job for me, especially as I have that ‘hands on’ experience from my past. I have a really good relationship with a lot of our key customers and that really helps me when it comes to planning range and promotional developments.

WHAT KEY TRENDS ARE DRIVING FRESH PRODUCE SALES AT THE MOMENT?

Healthy eating is a big one and is certainly driving produce sales at the moment, as is the movement towards vegan and vegetarian diets which continues to gain momentum.

WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF ACTIVITY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE MOMENT

One of main focuses of activity is what we call our ‘Big and Little Helps’ for caterers. The ‘Big Helps’ are things like our ‘Fresh Five’ promotion. Every promotional period we offer caterers five different fresh lines at market-leading prices. During the summer those lines include more seasonal British produce as well as a great selection of some of the most-shopped products within the category. The last promotional period, for example, included British

WHAT’S MARTYN HEARING...

PRACTICAL PRODUCE

Part- or pre-prepared products that help kitchen staff to save valuable time are in significant growth Martyn says. Booker offers a range of pre- or part-prepared vegetables in both short and long-life formats including menu staples such as readymade mashed potatoes, gratin dauphinoise, fresh ready-to-roast potatoes and even ready-peeled garlic cloves.

TOP-SELLING FRESH

PRODUCTS FOR CATERERS

l Vine Tomatoes

l Iceberg Lettuce

l Closed Cup Mushrooms

l Maris Piper Washed White Potatoes

l Mild Onions

l Cooking Onions

l Florette Crispy Prepared Salad

l Cucumbers

We work really hard with carefully selected suppliers to ensure that quality, value and freshness are always at their best.

Lipton, ready-to-drink tea brand*

Lipton, THE NUMBER ONE ready-to-drink tea brand*

BUY NOW

LIPTON GREW +27% IN VALUE TERMS IN 2022**

LIPTON GREW +27% IN VALUE TERMS IN 2022**

READY TO DRINK TEA IS THE FASTEST GROWING SOFT DRINKS CATEGORY +15.3% IN VALUE***

READY TO DRINK TEA IS THE FASTEST GROWING SOFT DRINKS CATEGORY +15.3% IN VALUE***

M282718 M282717

Grown Iceberg Lettuce; Closed Cup Mushrooms; Mixed Peppers; and Limes and Lemons, which are both huge sellers owing to the fact that they are in cooking as well as drinks. Achieving market-leading availability is also an ongoing focus for the team. Any product that a caterer puts on their menu is vital to them, so availability is always a key focus for us.

WHAT SETS BOOKER APART?

Price stability and availability are what truly set us apart. In terms of price, we strive to be as consistent as we possibly can for our customers, unlike in some wholesale markets where the pricing can be very volatile. This consistency is so important. Customers’ menus are planned, printed and out there for all to see – they can’t be designing new menus every week in line with inflation and deflation, so we try to be as consistent as we can to help them plan ahead with confidence. Our Locked Down prices, which we communicate through our Catering Guide and Catering@Booker, are another big help, as is of course our obsession with ensuring market-leading availability.

HAVE YOU GOT ANY TOP FRESH PRODUCE TIPS TO SHARE WITH CATERERS?

When it comes to top tips, it’s actually my catering

customers who tend to have all the knowledge! So many of our catering customers are incredible fully qualified chefs and listening to them is one of my favourite parts of the job. Their knowledge and expertise when it comes to handling, preparing and cooking produce, along with the latest trends is always such an inspiration.

WHAT TRENDS ARE DRIVING NPD AND SALES AT THE MOMENT?

Pre or part-prepared products which can help our catering customers save valuable time are in significant demand. Booker now offers a range of preor part-prepared vegetables in both short and longlife formats and all are in growth. Our range includes things like readymade mashed potatoes, gratin dauphinoise, fresh ready-to-roast potatoes, to name but a few. Another great example which is selling very strongly is our kilo tub of ready-peeled garlic cloves. Peeling garlic is one of the most painstaking jobs in the kitchen and caterers get through a lot of garlic! Sales of that are growing year on year at a spectacular rate. Any products like that, that help to save caterers time and drive operational efficiencies for them are growing in demand and we’ll be continuing to grow this segment this year and the next.

JOIN THE CLUB WHY WOULDN’T YOU?

Booker’s Fast Food and On Trade Clubs offer discounted pricing to members as well as a host of other major benefits, all free of charge – so why wouldn’t you join the club? START BENEFITTING IN UNDER 24 HOURS!

14% AVERAGE SAVING ON FULL BASKET SPEND

180+ DISCOUNTED KEY PRODUCT LINES

28,000+ ALREADY SIGNED UP TO FAST FOOD CLUB

BOOKER CLUBS – KEY BENEFITS

l Exclusive pricing on over 260 key lines

l An average saving of 14% on the full basket

l Supported by major suppliers including Coca Cola, Britvic, St Pierre and Nestlé

l Fixed pricing to give you confidence and peace of mind

When something seems too good to be true, it usually is – but there are exceptions to that rule and the Booker Fast Food Club and On Trade Club are certainly among them.

Both Clubs were launched with the express intention of helping Booker’s catering customers counteract the rising costs they face in running their businesses.

The Fast Food Club was launched at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and was joined a few months ago by the Booker On Trade Club.

Commenting on the Clubs, Booker Chief Operating Officer Jonny McQuarrie said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We hear the challenges being faced across the trade and we are constantly looking for ways to support them.”

HOW DO THEY WORK?

So, how do the Booker Fast Food and On Trade Clubs work?

Firstly, they are open to all Booker customers. As you might expect, membership of the Fast Food Club is open to all fast-food category customers while membership of the Booker On-Trade Club is open to customers with an alcohol licence, subject to some basic criteria. Secondly, there is absolutely no fee or cost to join.

That goes a long way to explaining why, for example, over 28,000 Booker customers are already signed up to the Fast Food Club!

The purpose of the Clubs is simply to reward customers for their loyalty and for continuing to shop at Booker. There are

absolutely no strings attached.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Members of both Clubs gain access to a vast array of highly valuable benefits, including exclusive discounted Club pricing on more than 260 high volume, key products.

Club members are also offered fixed pricing, allowing them to plan ahead in confidence, safe in the knowledge that their profit margins are secure.

Fast Food Club members benefit from exclusive pricing on over 180 of the most popular lines with an average saving of 14% on the full basket spend.

Similarly, On Trade Club members have access to discounted pricing on more than 80 of the most popular on-trade beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks and snack products. Members gain access to exclusive pricing against normal WSPs, which are only activated when a member’s order is processed at the till.

The exclusive pricing on offer is to reward loyalty and thank customers for shopping at Booker. It’s that simple.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

With benefits like these, there’s no reason not to sign up to the Booker Clubs and it couldn’t be easier to do so. All you have to do is talk to your CDM or register online. Once your request to join has been received and authorised, you will be able to start reaping the benefits of Club membership within 24 hours.

HOW DO I STAY UP TO DATE?

Booker will issue regular weekly updates

to highlight key prices and additional services so make sure that you opt in for digital permissions. Currently, over 89% of Club members have opted in and are benefitting from regular communications about the Clubs.

So why not sign up and start seeing savings within 24 hours? Speak to your CDM who can help you quickly and easily join the Club!

“We’re signed up to Booker’s On Trade Club and the benefits are incredible. The deals are great and run across a really strong range of top-quality brands. We are now buying so much more through Booker since joining the On Trade Club that we have increased our delivery to twice a week. Ordering is also seamless. I access the deals though the On Trade Club brochure and they jump straight into my basket to be added to my main order.”

Simon Parton, Rodeo’s Smokehouse, Wolverhampton

TEA UP MORE SALES

The British tradition of afternoon tea provides a great opportunity to drive sales of cakes, treats, sandwiches and even fizz in a typically quieter part of the day.

to make delicious home-made sandwiches ideal for any time of the day.”

Many things change over time as food and drink fashions come and go but there are some classics that are always on trend and that includes a fantastic cuppa or, increasingly, a freshly brewed, top-quality speciality coffee. The last decade has seen demand for coffee rocket, and we’ve learned that customers are prepared to pay a hefty premium for a wellmade latte, flat white or cappuccino.

That’s great news for the bottom line but the opportunities don’t end there. Why not squeeze even more sales and profit out of the morning and afternoon tea and coffee opportunity by enticing your customers with a range of sweet and savoury cakes, bakes and tasty treats?

NEW CLASSICS

Given the pressures that your customers’ budgets are under at the moment, it’s no surprise that they are looking for great value – but that doesn’t mean they’re prepared to compromise on quality.

To help you cash in on what remains of the summer season, Booker has introduced a host of new products that deliver fantastic quality sweet treats but at superb value prices.

Take the new range of classic muffins including Strawberry & Clotted Cream, Jumbleberry, Chocolate Orange, and White Chocolate & Raspberry. The range comes pre-packaged for ease of use and only costs £8.99 for a box of 12 – just 75p per muffin. Also new this summer is Mrs Crimble’s Individual Chocolate Macaroons which can help you offer something a little different to offer alongside a cuppa. At £10.49 for a box of 20, they come in at just 53p per macaroon.

AFTERNOON TEA

Once the preserve of posh tea rooms, the great British ‘afternoon tea’ tradition has thankfully made its way into a far wider spectrum of pubs, bars and restaurants and provides a great chance to boost takings in a traditionally quieter part of the day.

“Tea and coffee account for a significant part of our business and as such, so do sweet treats such as cakes and biscuits. In-fact, these days it’s incredibly rare for a customer to order a coffee without something sweet on the side. At The Park Cafe we pride ourselves on presentation and always strive to make sure that things look as good as they taste. Sandwiches are another big seller and we use a variety of fillings from Booker

Tony

Ansell,

The Park Cafe, Northampton

Afternoon Tea

Lichfields Classic Mixed Cupcakes 12xSgl £13.25/pack M174529

Margaret’s Country Kitchen Fondant Fancies 12xSgl £11.99/pack M229843

Hovis Simple White Loaf 800g £1.05 M282514

Chef’s Larder Egg Mayonnaise 1kg £6.99/ pack M050058

Chef’s Larder Cheese & Onion Filler 1kg £6.99/pack M280054

SCONES

M079359 Lichfields Marmalade 20x20g £3.79 per case | 19p each

M079360 Lichfields Raspberry Jam 20x20g £3.79 per case | 19p each

M079363 Lichfields Strawberry Jam Portions 20x20g £3.79 per case | 19p each

M100615 Craigmillar Scone Mix 1x3.5kg £8.99

You can bring the afternoon tea vibe to your customers with a minimum of effort and at very little cost. Why not create a specific afternoon tea menu with all of the teas and speciality coffees you offer alongside a tempting list of sandwiches, bakes, cakes, treats and more?

You could post the menu on your social media pages to drive footfall and help add another point of difference for your business and another reason for customers to come along on weekday afternoons.

As highlighted on the panel in this feature, if you sell it out at £20 per person, you will deliver a cash profit of £10.92, representing a profit of 66%. You could even throw a bottle of Prosecco into the deal to increase spend and profit, as well as enhancing the experience for your customer.

Serve it all in a traditional tiered cake stand and it will also become an eye-catching attention grabber which is sure to lead other customers to order an afternoon tea as well.

CAKE CASH

While Booker’s tasty cake and bake range is perfect for afternoon tea, it’s also ideal for use at dessert time or simply to go with a cup of coffee at any time of the day. Recent Mintel research shows, for example, that a huge 47% of customers buy cakes or cake bars as a dessert.

To meet this demand, Booker offers an extensive range of great value, top quality products that will appeal to everyone from those looking for the classics to those looking for something a little more adventurous.

If you’re looking for flavours that don’t go out of fashion, look no

Lichfields Caramelised Biscuits

Lichfields Luxury

Mixed Cupcakes

Chef’s Larder

Belgian Sugar Waffles

Belgian Sugar Waffles are available at only 62p per waffle, providing some great options for continental breakfasts or midafternoon pick-me-ups alongside a tea or coffee.

BISCUIT BOOM

Everybody loves a biscuit and for some of your customers, a drink’s too wet without one.

premium and indulgent options like mint cremes and orange crisps.

Lichfields Caramelised Biscuits are available at just £12.49 for a pack of 225 – just 6p a biscuit – while the Lichfields Mini Biscuit costs just £19.99 for a pack of 100. For something more deluxe, try the Lichfields Luxury Biscuits Packs at just £23.99 for 200 or the Borders Mini packs at £29.99 for 200.

further than Lichfields Luxury Mix Topped Loaf Cake. At just £12.85, the box contains 12 cakes delivering outstanding quality and value for you and your customers.

You could cash in on the salted caramel trend with a Love Chocolate & Salted Caramel Cake which is available for just £11.99 and contains 16 portions which means just 75p per slice.

Similarly, the Chef’s Larder Brownie costs just 75p per slice, while Chef’s Larder

The Lichfields range lets you quickly and easily open up more sales and profit opportunities with a selection of biscuits from the simple caramelised snap to pop on the saucer alongside a coffee to more

For customers who like a minty finish to their meal, you can offer Lichfields Mint Cremes, Mint Crisps, Mint Wafers or even Orange Crisps for just £8.59 per pack, or 4p per biscuit.

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, subject to change without notice. Please note products will be subject to availability and local listing, please check with your branch for details.

QUICK SERVES, QUICK PROFITS

Speed of service is a key factor in maximising sales and profits and serves don’t come much quicker than Ready To Drink (RTD) cans. RTDs have become increasingly popular in recent years, not least because many of the biggest brands have embraced the format including Jack Daniel’s, Grey Goose, Pimm’s, Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi, Malibu and Au Vodka.

Booker now stocks an extensive range of fantastic quality RTD products, all offering customers a quick and easy way of accessing a perfect serve and all in a matter of seconds.

Whether your customers are looking for vodka, whisky, rum, gin or wine, Booker has everything you need, all wrapped up in a fully recyclable single-serve can.

DUTY BENEFITS

Another benefit of RTDs, which only came into being in August, was the fact that the recently overhauled Alcohol Duty system treats RTDS somewhat favourably. What this means is that, relatively speaking, RTD products represent better value than ever.

Quick to serve and presented in ‘perfect serve’ ratios, RTD spiritbased drinks provide your customers with consistent, reliable quality and taste profiles. All your team has to do is provide an appropriate glass with some ice and a slice and the customer is good to go.

There’s even some great wine RTD options available now, with

Ready To Drink solutions offer major time-saving and profit-boosting benefits for you and your team and Booker offers an extensive range to cater for most tastes.

ITEMS IN SELL UNIT - 1 X 70CL

M279512 Mermaid Zest Gin

M286027 Mermaid Spiced Rum

M241504 Mermaid Gin

M251834 Mermaid Pink Gin

M270735 Mermaid Salt Vodka

ITEMS IN SELL UNIT - 6 X 70CL

M279488 Mermaid Zest Gin

M286026 Mermaid Spiced Rum

M241503 Mermaid Gin

M251422 Mermaid Pink Gin

M270734 Mermaid Salt Vodka

a varietal range from Most Wanted giving you the chance to offer your customers great quality white and rosé wines in attractive, eye-catching cans. That way, your customers can enjoy a glass of wine or two with their meal or as an aperitif without having to splash out on a full bottle.

PREMIUM CHOICE

These days, the RTD category in hospitality is dominated by premium brands that customers trust and are prepared to pay a little extra for. That’s great news for you as it allows room to squeeze some extra cash profit out of every serve.

Even at the premium end of the

market, the price that you pay per can leaves plenty of scope for profit. A Bacardi Mojito, for instance, costs just £1.23 a can while super-premium brands like Grey Goose are available for just £1.84 a can.

Another classic that’s worth considering is Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola, a perfect RTD serve from two of the world’s most popular brands, and available at just £1.88 a can.

Whatever your customer base is looking for, Booker offers an array of RTD solutions that look great behind the bar and add interest and choice to your drinks menu.

“The RTD sector started to really boom during the pandemic when people were forced to socialise in outdoor settings such as parks and it has continued to grow ever since. We sell large amounts of RTD cans which we buy through Booker, including best-selling cans of Jack Daniel’s and Coca Cola and Pimms and Lemonade. These are especially popular on busy evenings when we have events on in our courtyard or at the theatre. Customers like the ease and convenience that the format provides and RTD’s also help to speed up service for staff, which is another bonus.”

Rodger Molyneux, The CryerArts Centre, Carshalton

AU Vodka Blue Raspberry 12x330ml

£20.49 per case | £1.71 per can M280463

AU Vodka Black Grape 12x330ml £20.49 per case | £1.71 per can M281757

Dead Man’s Fingers Spiced Rum & Cola 12x330ml £15.99 per case | £1.34 per can

M1020391

Passion Fruit Rum & Lemonade 12x330ml £15.99 per case | £1.34 per can M1020390

Malibu Rum & Cola 12x250ml £15.99 per case | £1.34 per can M247975

Malibu & Pineapple 12x250ml £15.99 per case | £1.34 per can M207458

Pimms & Lemonade 12x250ml £16.99 per case | £1.42 per can M101195

Bacardi Mojito 12x250ml £14.69 per case | £1.23 per can M246705

Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic 12x250ml £20.29 per case | £1.70 per can M254595

Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola 12x330ml £22.49 per case | £1.88 per can M285524

Grey Goose Essences Watermelon & Basil 12x250ml £21.99 per case | £1.84 per can 1020553

Grey Goose Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass 12x250ml £21.99 per case | £1.84 per can 1020554

Most Wanted Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 12x187ml £18.99 per case | £1.59 per can M286398

Most Wanted Pinot Grigio Fizz 12x187ml £18.99 per case | £1.59 per can M283229

Most Wanted Sauvignon Blanc 12x187ml £18.99 per case | £1.59 per can M283228

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