The Marketplace

Yorkshire Tea has become the only major standard black tea brand to offer the same strength across all its products following a move to increase the tea bag weight of its One Cup lines to match its retail offering.

The brand, which is produced by Taylors of Harrogate, has moved all of its One Cup products to its standard bag size, increasing the tea bag weight of the Yorkshire Tea One Cup bags from 2.5g to 3.125g.

The aim is to guarantee a proper, consistent brew for all customers both in and out of the home, in line with consumer demand for taste and quality. Yorkshire Tea will also remove the ‘One Cup’ wording from packaging.

Commenting on the decision, Greg Harvey, channel controller at Taylors of Harrogate, said:

“We’re delighted to announce this change, a first for the industry. Yorkshire Tea is known for its big flavour, so we’re saying ‘goodbye’ to One Cup and ‘hello’ to a proper brew every time. It brings our catering standard in line with our retail offering to guarantee the strength and quality we’re famed for.”

Lamb Weston has launched a brand new fries concept, Hot2Home, that ensures fries are delivered hot and crispy to the consumer at home, every time.

A stunning combination of product and packaging innovation, Hot2Home is set to boost repeat sales from happy consumers and in turn drive profits for operators across the industry. From fully loaded dirty fries to single portioned sides, fries are one of the most popular additions to any casual dining menu, but with the UK home delivery market growing 10 times faster than the total eating out market (NPD Group UK Food Delivery Market, March 2017), services such as Deliveroo and Just Eat are increasingly looking to improve consumer reviews, particularly with regard to fries.

Outlets which offer home delivery have come to accept that the temperature and crispiness of fries deteriorates rapidly after an order leaves the kitchen, and that consumers never really receive the quality they deserve.

The unique Hot2Home concept deals with the two main problems that make fries cold and soggy during delivery. It introduces a revolutionary type of fry and specially developed packaging, with the combination of the two innovations creating fries that can be delivered to the consumer in the best possible condition.

Andrea Deutschmanek, country marketeer UK & ROI at Lamb Weston, says: “At Lamb Weston, we understand the potential disappointment facing consumers when ordering fries for delivery and we know chefs want to stay proud of the dishes they create. With many businesses delivering within miles from their premises, there are a number of factors that can produce the delays, such as traffic jams, or even consumers living on the top floor of a block of flats. Customers want hot and crispy fries with their meal and Hot2Home is the first overall solution for delivering fries with the guarantee that fries stay in optimal condition for up to 20 minutes.” In addition, the disposable Hot2Home fry packaging has been created with sustainability in mind. The wood used for the carton board is harvested under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the greaseproof coating on the cardboard is also fully recyclable; enabling the consumer to dispose of the packaging at home.

Mademoiselle Desserts are launching two new vegan desserts.

A tempting Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake and a decadent Vegan Raspberry and Chocolate Tart have been specially created to meet the growing demand for FreeFrom products that taste delicious enough to appeal to all.

A classy and indulgent option, the tart features a crisp chocolate pastry disc topped with a rich dark Belgian chocolate ganache studded with juicy raspberries, which are revealed when cut, and finished with freeze-dried raspberry pieces.

The fudge cake consists of a light chocolatey sponge generously filled with a creamy chocolate buttercream, finished by hand with more chocolate buttercream in a swirled paddle effect.

J2O’s limited-edition flavour, J2O Glitterberry, is back, allowing operators to add a festive sparkle to their drinks menu.

The limited-edition Glitterberry is a blend of grape, cherry and winter spice flavours fused with edible gold glitter to provide an exciting festive drinking experience.

Last year Glitterberry took the market by storm and climbed the ranks to be the third best-selling SKU in the Adult Soft Drinks category over the festive period.

Britvic is supporting the launch with a variety of J2O Glitterberry and orange and passionfruit inspired tools available through www.sensationaldrinks.com

Tilda Foodservice has launched a new partnership with the charity Mary’s Meals.

For every bag of Tilda Brown & White rice caterers purchase, a meal will be donated to a child in need.

Mary’s Meals provides life-changing daily meals to impoverished schoolchildren in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, attracting them into the classroom to receive an education, which could be their route out of poverty.

Tilda Foodservice’s new charitable initiative means UK caterers will not only be able to use Brown & White to provide balanced meals for their own pupils, but will also be supporting the valuable work of Mary’s Meals around the world, with Tilda donating 7p from the sale of every 5kg bag of Brown & White.

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has launched three new authentic Japanese dumpling products for foodservice to help tap into the trends for street food, sharing platters and tapas. 

The new Gyoza are available in duck, chicken, as well as vegetable to suit the growing demand for vegetarian and vegan options. 

Perfect for Asian food outlets, tapas restaurants, street food specialists or foodservice venues wishing to capitalise on the street food trend, the Gyoza are produced by Ajinomoto – the number one brand in Japan for Gyoza. 

Central Foods managing director Gordon Lauder said: “Ajinomoto is the biggest brand in Japan for Gyoza, and we are very pleased to be offering such a great product, which is truly authentic in terms of how it looks and tastes.” 

The Gyoza are half-moon shaped dumplings, approximately 20g each in size. The duck variety features a duck, vegetable and hoisin sauce filling, while the chicken version features a chicken, vegetable and soy sauce filling. The Five-vegetable Green Gyoza contains cabbage, peas, edamame beans, carrots, white radishes and soy sauce in a spinach dumpling pastry for a pop of colour and flavour. 

The products are supplied pre-steamed and can therefore be reheated by deep frying or further steaming, for a healthier option. They are available in packs of 30. 

Dr Oetker Professional – the pizza and bakery specialist – is making its vegan Raw Dough Pizza Base available to universities for the first time. 

Richard Cooper, senior brand manager, says: “The launch of our Raw Dough Pizza Base alongside our already popular Takeaway Pizzas means caterers now have a pizza solution to suit every outlet. Whether it is the university bar providing takeaways, the canteen offering pizza by the slice or the campus cafe wanting to enhance their menu with innovative pizza toppings, university caterers are now fully equipped to offer the ultimate pizza hit.” 

With students playing an increasingly important role in shaping the latest food trends, from all-day breakfasts to street food, the Raw Dough Pizza Base offers the perfect canvas for caterers to get creative. 

Richard continues: “Students want to be excited with new flavour combinations and are fully aware of what is hot on the high-street and expect these taste trends to be reflected in the food they enjoy on campus.” 

Lakeland Dairies has relaunched its range of dairy creams to meet chef demand for premium and practical ingredients. 

Moving from Millac to Lakeland Dairies branding to emphasise its farmer-owned dairy credentials, Lakeland Dairies Dairy Whipping Cream and Dairy Single Cream join the brand’s comprehensive portfolio of premium dairy solutions following research with the nation’s chefs. 

Lakeland Dairies Dairy Whipping Cream is a luxury indulgent cream, adding depth and richness to the flavour and texture of any dish. Removing the worry of over-whipping, it stays exceptionally stable when whipped and does not split during cooking. 

Lakeland Dairies Dairy Single Cream is perfect for pouring over desserts or adding a creamy richness to any sauce or soup, all the while without splitting. 

Independent research identified a clear demand for robust, stackable packaging allowing chefs to maximise storage space. 

Lakeland Dairies new Tetra Edge square packaging proves easy to store in the fridge or on the shelf until opened. The larger opening cap is easier to open, quicker to pour and re-seals to maximise freshness in the fridge and avoid spillages. 

Love Taste Co. has announced the launch of eight new delicious smoothie flavours, widening its already diverse product portfolio. 

Four new variants join the fruit smoothies range, and both 24 Carrot Gold and Avo Go-Go will complete the core six vegetable collection. The final two additions are part of a new venture for the brand in the form of protein smoothies. 

The Veggie-Nator is a magnificently green drink containing banana, kale, spinach, passion fruit, mango, broccoli and protein pellets while Fruitasia is a more fruity number, comprised of blueberry, blackberry, banana, strawberry and protein pellets. 

Black Magic is a combination of blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, banana, cherries and activated charcoal for a deliciously purifying – and instagrammable – smoothie. 

The Breakfast Smoothie contains gluten free rolled oats, flax seeds, blueberry, raspberry and banana, and is one of your five a day. 

In addition, Coco Loco (coconut, pineapple, mango, mint and lime), Blueberry Thrill (blueberries, raspberries, banana and flax seeds), 24 Carrot Gold (carrot, sweet potato, mandarin and turmeric) and Avo Go-Go (avocado, broccoli, spinach, mango, coconut, ginger and lime) complete Love Taste Co.’s core fruit and vegetable collections. 

Bottlegreen has unveiled a range of delicious new pressés and cordials to tap into the adult soft drinks market.

The cordials can be mixed with still, sparkling or hot water or used in cocktails, whilst the press. range is great served simply over ice, or as a mixer with your favourite spirit. The presses are 750ml and all cordials are 500ml.

The new launches include:

• Blood Orange & Bergamot Pressé – a deliciously zesty blend of blood orange, scented floral notes of bergamot and lightly sparkling Cotswold spring water

• Rhubarb & Ginger Pressé – combining the delicate tartness of rhubarb with the subtle warmth of ginger and lightly sparkling Cotswold spring water

• Rhubarb & Ginger Cordial

• Blood Orange & Bergamot Cordial

For serving suggestions visit www.bottlegreendrinks.com/recipe/.

New research shows around 3.5million people in the UK (that’s 7% of the population) are now vegan and as the nation becomes busier, they’re looking for convenience – that still fits in with their dietary lifestyles.

In response Fruitypot have created a range of fruit based snacks, in handy packaging to eat on the move. Fruitypot offers six fruit in juice and fruit in jelly, individually packed, with a disposable spoon inside.

Perfect for those on the lookout for a grab and go snack, Fruitypot is made with real fruit – plus they are suitable for everyone with their FreeFrom credentials.

In addition, JellySqueeze is a range of innovative no added sugar, squeezable jelly in a resealable pouch.

Available in three delicious flavours, JellySqueeze are bursts of goodness in a pocket-sized, easy to hold pouch.

The Handmade Cake Company has launched their first ever vegan traybake – a gluten-free vegan blackcurrant crumble.

Sandwiching a sticky blackcurrant jam between a shortcake base and a crunchy oaty crumble, the new crumble is handmade and baked from scratch in their ‘AA grade’ BRC certified bakery in Berkshire.

Social media front-runner Pinterest has released their 100 report predicting the biggest food trends of 2018 and vegan desserts are set to be one of the winners. Pins for vegan desserts are up 329%, particularly classical desserts with a vegan twist.

Indulgent and luxurious desserts are a fundamental part of Christmas menus – and by getting them right, you can make a real impact on customer sentiment as well as sales.

New from Suncream Dairies for the festive season is an Italian-style Gelato Gold Winter Spiced Fruit ice cream which delivers all the flavours of Christmas – and more!

Made with fresh double cream for a rich and creamy flavour and texture, it contains juicy raisins, sultanas and currants, slivers of glac. cherries and candied mixed fruit peel plus a hint of mixed spices and cinnamon.

“It’s perfect as a stand-alone dessert or when added to hot mince pies or Christmas pudding, it’s a decadent take on the traditional Christmas favourites and is guaranteed to spice up your winter menus!” comments Rebecca Manfredi, managing director of Suncream Dairies. “It’s like having all your favourite Christmas flavours at once!”

Like all the other flavours in Suncream’s Gelato Gold range, the new Winter Spiced Fruit flavour is suitable for vegetarians and made in a nut-free factory. It comes in 5 litre resealable tubs, each containing approximately 45 scoops.

With 78% of consumers wanting to see more exciting desserts available on menus, Dr Oetker Professional is satisfying demand with the launch of two new sweet pizzas.

The latest research shows that over half of UK consumers are bored with traditional dessert options and three out of four people would like to see menus refreshed.

Using the Chicago Town’s iconic Deep Dish base, the Chocolate Dessert Pizza has a signature chocolate crust that is topped with gooey chocolate sauce and a trio of dark, white and milk chocolate chunks.

Starting with a sweet dough base, the Salted Caramel Dessert Pizza includes a delicious combination of milk and white chocolate chips with chunks of salted caramel.

Individually portioned, the fully-loaded dessert pizzas simply cook in the oven with no special equipment or kitchen skills required and hold for 45 minutes, making them the ideal addition to dessert menus.

Cofresco Foodservice is expanding its award-winning range of Wrapmaster dispensers, with the launch of the new Wrapmaster 3000.

Designed for small, busy kitchens who want all the benefits of a large professional dispensing kit, the new Wrapmaster 3000 is just 30cm wide and developed for high volume users of film, foil, as well as baking parchment.

The Wrapmaster 3000 is the latest catering dispenser to be updated as part of Cofresco Foodservice’s ongoing commitment to chefs. 17% lighter and 28% smaller than its predecessor, it is now more portable and even easier to use and reload to meet the demands of a tough kitchen environment.

Pan’Artisan’s innovative dough ball collection has two new additions, extending the range to a total of seven different varieties. 

The new 100% Spelt Dough Ball, made using flour derived from ancient whole grain spelt, addresses a consumer demand for a more wholesome, cleaner and healthier way of eating. 

Traditional baking methods and grains have gained in popularity, lauded for their nutritional properties and enhanced flavour. Pan’Artisan’s 100% Spelt Dough Ball produces a light-textured dough that has a wholesome and characteristic, nutty taste that is perfect for breads, pizza and whole range of dough-based products. 

The second new introduction is the ‘Power Sour 2+2’ Dough ball, which will deliver a stronger, more intense flavour kick to your dough-based recipe creations. 

The combination of two types of sour – 2% sourced from rye flour and 2% from fermented wheat flour – blends to provide a punchier, stronger flavour. As the pizza market continues to demonstrate a high demand for sour dough bases, the new ‘Power Sour 2+2’ Dough Ball will offer the perfect base to complement a wide range of trending toppings. 

Soreen – the original energy bar – is celebrating its 80th birthday. 

The nation’s much-loved malt loaf came into being in 1938, fuelling hardworking Britons in need of an affordable and nutritious snack. 

The origins and heritage of Soreen began in Manchester and the UK born company continues to operate from the North West today. 

It has firmly established itself as Britain’s number 1 malt loaf with a growing family of fruit and malted products. Over 108million units are consumed annually by the nation. 

High in vitamins, minerals and trace elements too, it is perfect for boosting energy levels and has a strong affiliation with the professional cycling community. 

The Robinsons cordial range has been extended to include a premium soft drinks alternative for adults. 

Combining real fruit and botanical flavours, Robinsons Cordials are available in glass bottles to stand on the back bar. The range, which falls below the threshold for the sugar levy, comprises of three unique and premium flavours: Pressed Pear & Elderflower, Raspberry, Rhubarb & Orange Blossom and Crushed Lime & Mint. 

Nowadays, one in three consumers moderate their alcohol intake and one in five claim to be teetotal (increasing to one in four in the under 25s). 

To celebrate National Ice Cream Week this month, ice cream manufacturer Suncream Ice Cream is giving Stir it up readers the chance to win one of five Gelato Gold Point of Sale packages. 

Whether you’re a leisure site, café or restaurant POS can really enhance your ice cream offering and maximise your ice cream potential. 

Suncream’s Gelato Gold ice cream range offers an array of 17 innovative ice cream flavours for customers to choose from, enabling establishments to offer ice cream as a stand-alone dessert option or by stepping up their dessert offer by adding a scoop of an indulgent ice cream flavour to puddings. New to the range are Cookies & Cream ice cream, and Clotted Cream ice cream. 

The affordability and competitive pricing of ice cream means that consumers will always afford this treat whilst operations can enhance their menus and increasing their margins at the same time! 

To be in with a chance of winning a point of sale pack worth over £60, simply email the flavour of your dreams to stephanie@suncreamdairies.com. Closing date 31st July 2018. 

To help the casual dining sector put the vegetable trend onto drinks menus, Monin has announced two new root vegetable purees: Le Fruit de Monin Beetroot and Le Fruit de Monin Carrot. The new syrups are the first vegetable flavours in the range. 

Le Fruit de Monin Beetroot can be used to give a number of drinks a natural, sweet flavour and its standout deep purple colour, which is widely predicted to be trending in food and drink across 2018, is perfect for creating Instagram worthy signature serves. 

Lee Hyde, beverage innovation manager, Monin UK says: “Beetroot has long been a popular ingredient in healthy smoothies, but it’s versatility is often underrated. It makes a great addition to cocktails, mocktails and even hot drinks. For example, a beetroot latte, which is just steamed coconut milk and Le Fruit de Monin Beetroot, is very simple to serve but its bright purple appearance will be sure to impress customers.” 

Le Fruit de Monin Carrot has delicately sweet notes and gives classic cocktails a natural, earthy twist. Try a twist on a classic mojito made with Le Fruit de Monin Carrot and lots of fresh parsley. 

Britvic Soft Drinks has announced the launch of a new range of infused sparkling waters, offering feel-good sparkle that tastes good. 

Made simply with sparkling water infused with fruity flavours, Aqua Libra offers a drink that is crisp, clean and unsweetened. 

The new Aqua Libra range is available in a premium 330ml can format in three flavours – Raspberry & Apple, Tangerine and Grapefruit & Pineapple – all of which contain no added sugar, sweeteners or artificial flavourings, meaning it falls below the sugar levy threshold. 

At under three calories per can, this product range offers health-conscious consumers the perfect solution for a refreshing uplift. 

Coldpress has unveiled five fantastic ‘free from heat’ (HPP) juices. Available in 250ml servings, the flavours are: Pink Lady Apple Juice, Valencia Orange, Pumpkin Power, Mean Greens and Berry Beets.  Coldpress is the undisputed pioneer of HPP (high pressure processed juices). 

Says founder Andrew Gibb: “Unlike most mainstream juices we put the needs of our ingredients first by choosing HPP over traditional pasteurisation. We refuse to sap or suppress their rich flavours or nutritional integrity by resorting to heavy-handed heat treatments. As a result each and every one of our juices bristle with flavour and beneficial nutrients.” 

Macphie’s latest innovation is new Sicilian Lemon O.T.T dessert sauce, which is set to shake up your desserts menu.

Made with the juice of real Sicilian lemons, its zesty flavour adds a touch of summer to ice cream sundaes, cheesecakes, milkshakes and cocktails – or even breakfast pancakes and waffles.

Easy to squeeze but thick enough to stay on desserts without sliding off or melting away, it’s the latest addition to the range of luxury Macphie O.T.T dessert sauces. Other flavours include Chocolate, Strawberry, Toffee Flavoured, Salted Caramel and Maple Flavoured Syrup.

Kara, the foodservice brand of the Finsbury Group, offers a broad array of nutritious flavoursome bakery products to cater specifically for the education sector.

With this in mind, the company has recently launched the Glazed Oval Bun. The bun is pre sliced to aid with convenience in the kitchen and has a perfectly glazed top to add for extra visual appeal.

Its oval shape makes for the perfect fit for a variety of hot and cold sandwich fillings such as chicken fillets, which can be served with seasonal salad for a nutritious balanced meal.

This carrier has been specifically designed for the education sector, meeting FSA salt guidelines for the bread category as well as being low in fat and saturated fats.

Lakeland Dairies has introduced a new range of dairy ice cream to its portfolio to meet consumer demand.

Available in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, the high quality ice creams are made with locally sourced, 100% fully-traceable milk and cream collected on a daily basis from the co-operative’s very own dairy herds.

Simon Muschamp, head of marketing, Lakeland Dairies, explains: “In recent years there’s been a shift in consumer attitudes and growing demand for natural products, we’ve experienced it with butter and now the focus is ice cream. We wanted to create a dairy ice cream range that pays homage to our farming heritage and supports operators who are committed to offering their customers quality dairy ice cream.”

Lakeland Dairies Dairy Ice Cream meets the new PHE 2020 guidelines on sugar reduction and is lower in calories than most ice creams on the market. The new range is available in 6 x 4 litre cases.

Nestlé has launched a brand new product for coffee fans in the UK and Ireland. Nescafé Azera Nitro is a coffee drink infused with nitrogen for a smoother taste and is be available in Americano or Latte flavours.

Best served chilled, Nescafé Azera Nitro Americano is a refreshing and smooth black coffee infused with nitrogen. Nescafé Azera Nitro Latte – a milky drink with coffee – offers a smooth and creamier tasting option.

Nestlé Professional managing director George Vezza said: “Non-alcoholic beverage options are increasingly important for the UK and Irish consumer, especially younger generations. Nescafé Azera Nitro means Nestlé Professional can help our partners across all the catering and hospitality sectors make the most of these changes with our novel, attractive and great tasting chilled coffee drink.”

A range of non-dairy ice cream-style desserts – suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs – is now available nationwide from frozen food distributor Central Foods.

Branded Food Heaven, the selection is available in four different flavours; blueberry, chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla, with each flavour supplied in 900ml tubs, offering approximately 18 scoops.

Gordon Lauder, managing director of Central Foods, said: “The demand for free-from items, including products suitable for those avoiding gluten and who are vegetarian or vegan, is increasing all the time and this non-dairy ice cream-style dessert range ticks a number of boxes. As well as being really creamy and tasty, the range is free from wheat, gluten, eggs and nuts.”

Futura Foods has launched new Yamas Halloumi Fries to bring street food to the table in style.

With this highly desired cheese emerging more and more into the limelight, Yamas Halloumi Fries are a great extra profit generator for caterers everywhere. They’re quick to prepare, extremely versatile and perfect as a street food snack, starter or side dish, not to mention crispy and incredibly delicious.

It’s now even easier for operators to serve up halloumi fries with Futura Foods supplying them ready-cut in either chilled or frozen formats. Both formats will help operators combat the growing industry food wastage concerns.

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has added to its free-from range with the introduction of three flavours of falafel. The falafel bites are suitable for vegans, vegetarians and those avoiding gluten – and perfect for a range of current trends in the foodservice sector, including demand for healthy options.

Available in authentic Moroccan, beetroot, and sweet potato, the falafels are also halal and kosher approved.

Kraft Heinz Foodservice has unveiled two exciting new launches for the foodservice sector. Heinz [Seriously] Good Professional Mayonnaise and Heinz Light Mayonnaise work brilliantly across a full range of recipes and applications, both front and back of house, and can be used as a base to create signature sauces and condiments.

New Heinz [Seriously] Good Professional Mayonnaise marries the taste and quality that consumers love with the hold and performance needed in a professional kitchen. Importantly, it has no added flavours, colours or preservatives and is made from 70% oil and 6% free-range egg.

New Heinz Light Mayonnaise has just 25% fat, free-range eggs and is perfect for creating flavoured mayos and signature sauces. Again, there are no added flavours or colours, it’s kosher certified and suitable for vegetarians. Both are available in 5 litre pails and Heinz [Seriously] Good Professional Mayonnaise is also available in a 10 litre pail.

In a perfect world, chefs would have fully staffed teams and enough time to carefully make every ingredient from scratch – but that’s not always possible. To lighten the burden, Nestle Professional’s CHEF range of products has set out to make sauces with similar to scratch-made flavours in a convenient ambient format.

The result is a range of sauces that will consistently deliver authentic flavour to diners’ dishes and allow you to focus on what matters in your kitchen. The latest additions to the range are CHEF Hollandaise and Red Wine Sauces, and can be used as a finished sauce or easily customised for chefs wishing to add their creative flair.

Carte D’Or has unveiled a new range of great-tasting desserts, which are ideal for the care & hospitality sector. The five easy-to-use desserts are Chocolate, Mango & Lemon Mousse, Panna Cotta and Crème Brulee, can be used on their own or as a base for other desserts.

Unilever Food Solutions’ chef Alex Hall commented: “We have spent a lot of time playing with the products and creating some really easy, great quality dishes, ranging from a simple stem ginger crème caramel to a set lemon cream, that can be served from any kitchen. The brand was formed by patisserie chefs, which shows through in the products. You don’t just have to serve them in a glass – you can pipe, shape or cut to get the presentation you require.”

Kara have extended their successful Indulgent Cake Collection by launching four new additions:

• Lemon and Raspberry Meringue Cake – filled and topped with a layer of smooth lemon buttercream, a fruity raspberry jam, and finished with a swirl of sweet lemon curd, meringue pieces and crunchy biscuit crumb

• Strawberry and Raspberry Sensation – a soft vanilla sponge filled with a strawberry frosting and raspberry jam, topped with strawberry frosting and hand finished with freeze dried strawberry and raspberry pieces

• Strawberry Shortcake Rocky Road Slice – a yoghurt based rocky road with mini marshmallows, biscuit and freeze-dried strawberries inclusions

• Pretzel Brownie – a moist brownie base topped with pretzel pieces and finished with a caramel drizzle

Kara has also launched two celebration cakes, which are perfect for out of home celebrations. The Chocolate Celebration cake is made of a moist chocolate sponge, and filled and covered in chocolate ganache buttercream, with a side decoration of milk chocolate drops and finished with marbled chocolate curls. For customers with a sweet tooth, the Sponge Confetti Cake comprises a soft white sponge, filled with sweet cake filling and raspberry jam, all covered in candy cake filling and decorated with multi-coloured confetti sprinkles.

The latest addition to Lakeland Dairies’ portfolio of dairy solutions, new Barista Milk has been developed to help caterers deliver the ultimate long-lasting frothy coffee.

Barista Milk’s foaming capabilities means operators are guaranteed a smooth, dense and longlasting frothy beverage every time it’s used. From cappuccino and lattes to hot chocolate, this new generation of milk can be foamed and re-foamed, and is enhanced to ensure a consistent foam texture is guaranteed throughout the year.

Containing just 1% fat, Barista Milk is suitable for use in all barista style coffee machines and can be stored ambient until opened – making it especially ideal for those with limited fridge space including mobile caterers. It also reduces the wastage associated with using fresh milk, helping to boost the bottom line.

Panesco Food has added two vibrant new croissants to its viennoiserie portfolio. With the ‘on the go’ breakfast market continuing to flourish, croissants are a popular choice. The two new additions are double coloured, filled butter croissants available in two popular flavours: raspberry and chocolate. The inclusion of a layer of naturally coloured dough gives the eye catching striped appearance.

• Double coloured, filled croissant Raspberry – Naturally red coloured pastry layer filled with raspberry jam. 90g ready to bake.

• Double coloured, filled croissant Chocolate – Filled with chocolate hazelnut filling. 90g ready to bake.

Due to the popularity of its Vanilla Lower Sugar Ice Cream, Suncream Dairies have extended their range to include two new flavours: Strawberry and Mint. Suncream’s Lower Sugar range contains at least 49% less sugar than its Summertime ice cream and is 99% fat free.

The two lower sugar flavours work well served on their own as a healthy dessert option, or can be blended with fruit to make a healthy milkshake or smoothie. With less than 125 calories per 100g scoop, it’s a great choice for restaurants as well as schools, care homes and hospitals.

Alpen has launched a new variant to its range of light cereal bars. The new Salted Caramel Bar combines deliciously smooth salted caramel pieces with creamy rolled oats, and is topped with a delicate dark chocolate drizzle.

Helena Blincow, marketing manager for Alpen Bars, comments: “At less than 70 calories, Alpen Light bars are packed with flavour and allow consumers to make a positive snacking choice.”

Dr Oetker Professional – the pizza and baking specialist – has joined the Soil Association’s Food for Life Supplier Scheme to help caterers put tasty and sustainable meals at the heart of their menus.

Chicago Town Balanced Choice Pizza, Raw Dough Pizza Base and Wellcare mixes have all been recognised as meeting the Food for Life Served Here standards. Caterers can now use these products to help them achieve a Food for Life Served Here award.

Fine food and ingredient specialist Cooks&Co has launched its first mango chutney. The 2.7kg premium offering features only the finest ingredients, including a high mango content (43%), chilli puree, authentic spices (paprika powder and cayenne pepper), onion seeds, and ground cumin.

Approved by both the Vegan and Vegetarian Societies, Cooks&Co Premium Mango Chutney joins the brand’s Chef’s Range line-up, which includes a host of top quality, pulses, purées and speciality oils, as well as catering size olives and antipasti.

Cooldelight’s new pre-portioned vegetarian mousse slices are a unique, cold-dessert idea.

Perfect for spring/summer menus and aimed at the education and healthcare sectors, as well buffet catering, these gelatin-fee slices are available in three flavours: raspberry, lemon and chocolate.

They consist of 40g slices of creamy mousse on a sponge base, with a sauce topping. Cooldelight Vegetarian Mousse Slices also have a guaranteed “nut-free” status – manufactured in a nut-free environment.

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has boosted its FreeFrom range with the introduction of a gluten-free sausage roll.

The Menuserve unbaked, unglazed gluten-free puff pastry sausage roll is filled with lightly seasoned British pork and is ideal for a wide range of catering and hospitality outlets.

Perfect for a plated meal or a light lunch, as well as a grab-and-go or takeaway option, the sausage roll is the latest in a wide range of free-from items supplied by the distributor, which include both savoury and sweet products.

Britain’s leading shortbread brand Paterson’s has announced a new addition to its foodservice mini pack range.

Paterson’s Scottish Cream Mini Packs feature the brand’s same authentic and treasured recipe, but with the addition of fresh double cream sourced from Edinburgh’s Pentland Hills. Ideal as part of the complimentary service throughout the catering and hospitality sector, as well as for sale in cafés or coffee shops, the launch meets the growing market demand for mini pack and portion controlled biscuit options (Allegra, 2016), whilst offering provenance – a key purchasing factor for consumers (Mintel, 2017).

• Paterson’s Scottish Cream Shortbread Fingers – 40g x 48 (two fingers per pack, presented in a display SRP)

• Paterson’s Scottish Cream Mini Pack Assortment – 100 x two biscuit mini packs, comprising of three varieties; Shortbread Fingers, Shortbread Thistle Rounds and Chocolate Chip Shortbread Thistle Rounds.

Callebaut has launched new Gold Caramel Callets to tap into the ongoing trend for caramel desserts.

The Belgian chocolate callets have an intense yet well balanced caramel chocolate taste with rich notes of toffee, butter, cream and an exciting dash of salt.

Warm caramel and pale amber in colour, they’re perfect for moulding pralines, piping decoration, mousses, garnaches, tarts, ice cream and glazes.

Pidy have launched an innovative mussel-shaped pastry case to help caterers create inventive canapés. They’re available in three flavours – black mineral, butter and parsley butter – and measure 67 x 32 x 10mm.

Also available from Pidy are new shortcrust straightsided 8.5cm tartlets, which come in three different flavours black cocoa, speculoos and chocolate.

Lion has unveiled its full range of World Flavours sauces for the foodservice market.

The collection of sauces, dressings and mayonnaises has been developed to give caterers and chefs a quick and simple way to bring the authentic flavours of popular food trends and cuisine influences to UK menus. The range comprises 17 sauces inspired by American, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Pan Asian foods.

Lion World Flavours is available in 1-litre bottles and can be used across the menu as dips, toppings, marinades, glazes and cooking ingredients to bring a world of flavours to dishes.

McCain Foods is launching New Menu Signatures Staycrisp Medium and Julienne Skin-on Fries, helping caterers to ignite the senses of their customers and stand out from the competition with fresh-style, crispy fries that stay hotter for longer.

The two new cut options extend the popular Staycrisp range of fries, giving caterers the opportunity to deliver a thrilling dining experience with a choice of rustic-style gluten-free, hot and crispy fries to match their any menu.

Catherine Rigg, McCain Foods senior brand manager, said: “Offering seasoned fries is on-trend right now and an easy way to meet consumer demand for unique flavour experiences without drastically changing the menu, but it also increases profits as you can charge a premium for your fries.”

Hot beverages specialist JDE Professional is introducing a new premium hot chocolate to help vending operators make the most of rising sales.

Cocoa Fantasy, which contains 15% Utz-certified cocoa, is made with larger cocoa beans that are carefully selected from the world’s top cocoa growing regions, guaranteeing a richer, fuller flavour. Closely monitored from blossom to dried beans, cocoa beans selected for Cocoa Fantasy are then gently cleansed and roasted at individual temperatures to create the perfect cup of hot cocoa.

Research shows that hot chocolate and mocha are the second most popular hot drinks in outlets – second only to latte. It is also the fastest growing hot beverage in coffee shops, compared to all the other coffee alternatives, such as milk, fruit and herbal teas, chai lattes and smoothies.

CSM Bakery Solutions has introduced a new range of doughnuts and muffins in conjunction with Cadbury.

The two new muffins and two doughnuts tap into the chocolate brand’s most popular products:

• Cadbury Chocolate Muffin Made made with Cadbury chocolate and filled with a smooth chocolatey centre.

• Cadbury Caramel Muffin A caramel flavour muffin made with Cadbury chocolate and filled with a gooey caramel centre.

• Cadbury Chocolate Doughnut Made with Cadbury chocolate and filled with a smooth chocolatey sauce.

• Cadbury Caramel Doughnut A caramel flavour doughnut made with Cadbury chocolate made filled with a gooey caramel sauce.

CSM Bakery Solutions has refreshed its Pantique Ancient Cereals bread mix with new point of sale – a new name, Ancient Grains Ultimate, and a more bold baked appearance.

The 50% mix is perfect for artisan and craft bakers who want to offer something extra special for their customers and enables them to feature ‘true’ ancient grains in their bread and rolls.

CSM has a free POS kit available to help bakers communicate the advantages of their bread to their customers.

Vimto Soft drinks is venturing into the flavoured water category for the first time with its exciting new product, Vim2o – a still spring water drink, flavoured with the unique taste of Vimto and containing no added sugar.

The new flavoured water is available in a 500ml sportscap format and will be followed by a 250ml sportscap variant that’s perfect for lunchboxes later in the year.

Vim2o is aimed at health conscious consumers who don’t like the taste of plain water, but want to make sure that they (and their children) stay hydrated throughout the day without compromising on taste.

Vamp up your salads, pizzas and pasta dishes with new Roasted Red Peppers
from Cooks&Co.

Available in a convenient re-sealable plastic jar, these Roasted Red Peppers are grown under the Mediterranean sun until perfectly ripe and are deliciously succulent, with an intense, sweet flavour.

DaVinci Gourmet has unveiled two new hot chocolate flavours, milk and white chocolate.

With the trend of premiumisation very much in mind, the new hot chocolate powders are a great addition to any hot beverage menu.

The hot chocolate powders are made with Belgian Chocolate and both flavours are dairy-free and whey -free, so they appeal to health-conscious customers, as well as those who want to treat themselves.

Artisan crisp producer, Burts Chips, is strengthening its ‘Better For You’ range with the launch of its new lighter snack, Quinoa Crinkles.

With less than 90 calories per packet, Quinoa Crinkles come in two enticing flavour varieties – Sweet Pepper & Chorizo and West Country Cream Cheese.

Royal Smilde is launching Bebo Butterich portions in the UK. This 60% rich buttery spread with buttermilk delivers a genuine dairy taste at a far reduced price and has proved a big hit in Germany.

The 10g portions are in cups and stable to at least 15°C but will spread straight from the fridge so no more messy used and part used foils on your breakfast tables. These are packed 400 to a case. The 10g portion is obviously significantly bigger than a 6.2g butter wrap and may mean that your customers only take one for their toast rather than the current two. If this is the case then your savings are doubled!

Bebo Butterich portions are also artificial trans-fat free, lower in salt and contain 65% less saturated fat than butter so you’ll be doing your customer’s hearts a favour as well as your bottom line.

Food ingredients company Macphie has announced that its branded product portfolio now complies with the salt targets set by the Department of Health.

The action on salt has evolved since early discussions in 2003 following a report by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SACN) on the impact of salt on our health. Research suggests that reducing salt intake by just 1g per day prevents 4,147 premature deaths, saving the NHS £288million each year.

Paul McKnight, senior research and development manager, said: “There has been significant core investment from Macphie as the salt targets have evolved over the years. Since 2007, an estimated 430 tonnes of salt have been removed from the Macphie product portfolio.”

Premier Foods has announced that it has joined the Soil Association’s prestigious Food for Life Supplier Scheme.

This means caterers awarded The Food for Life Catering Mark, or looking to achieve the Mark, can purchase some of the UK’s biggest brand names, including McDougalls, Paxo and Ambrosia, with the knowledge and reassurance that they meet Food for Life Catering Mark entry level criteria.

Kara has launched a new range of indulgent sliced cakes and mallow bombes.

The new sliced cakes follow on from the success of Kara’s existing twelve 10 inch round cakes, which includes the 2016 award-winning Amazing Apple and Blackcurrant Crumble Cake, further expanding their truly Indulgent Cake Collection.

Jane Deegan, Kara marketing manager, said: “Industry research has shown just this year alone coffee shops have accounted for 15% of total consumer eating out visits which is forecasted to have grown by 6.5% at the end of 2016. With 80% of consumers now visiting a coffee shop once a week and 55 million cups of coffee sold in the UK everyday the indulgent cakes are a delicious accompaniments for any visit occasion.”

CSM Bakery Solutions has launched an exciting addition to its doughnut range: an Oreo Doughnut.

The Oreo Doughnut features cocoa dough, vanilla cream filling, white icing and Oreo cookie crumble on top and is the perfect indulgent treat for consumers to enjoy across a number of occasions.

Tetley has launched online tea training, specially designed for the out of home industry.

Tea Masters aims to improve industry standards and give caterers the knowledge and confidence to offer advice on the variety of tea blends they offer. To register visit www.tetleyteamasters.co.uk

Macphie has announced the launch of a reduced sugar range of cakes and frostings which is trimming a healthy 30% of sugar from some of its favourite products – equivalent to more than three cubes of sugar in a regular sized muffin.

Not only does this figure beat the government’s recently announced sugar reduction target for food and drink manufacturers of 20%,but the company is also over three years ahead of those guidelines which companies are being asked to meet by 2020.

The Macphie reduced sugar range includes Mississippi plain and chocolate cake mixes and Rainbow vanilla and chocolate frosting.

Schwartz has captured the mood of the moment with its latest launch – Sriracha Seasoning, a new kind of heat. Food lovers are obsessed with heat right now, but their hearts are ever hungry for exciting new experiences.
Sriracha [See-rah-chah] is a spicy and tangy chilli and garlic paste, which has become the newest must-have sauce. Now Schwartz Sriracha Seasoning is set to stir up a flavour sensation storm that will enable caterers to serve up authentic tasting dishes simply and easily, and increase margins. With its garlicky, vinegary notes and hot finish, Schwartz Sriracha Seasoning is versatile and simple to use. It’s perfect for marinating and basting meat, fish and vegetables, and sprinkling onto finished dishes such as pizzas.

McCain Foods is helping operators to stay hot and ahead with the launch of new Menu Signatures Staycrisp Thin Cut Skin-on Fries and Staycrisp Thin Cut Fries.

Made to McCain Foods unique Staycrisp recipe using the very best of the British potato crop, fresh tasting, hot and crispy fries are guaranteed when cooked fresh and after holding.

The special Staycrisp recipe ensures caterers that they can now serve customers with a chip that stands out, and is fresh, hot and crispy, whether held or served fresh in the restaurant or for takeaway.

McCain Foodservice has launched a new interactive website tool to provide instant recipe inspiration tailored to meet the needs of busy chefs. www.mccainfoodservice.co.uk/content/menu-mixer

Walkers has added a brand new flavor to its premium Market Deli range.

Developed specifically to meet demand in the out of home sector, Cayenne Chilli with Spanish Tomato joins the line-up of four other popular flavours, and is available now in a 40g single serve format.

The new flavour has been created to appeal to consumers looking for more exciting crisp flavours when snacking on the go or in cafés, sandwich shops, workplace canteens and other foodservice establishments.

Iconic foil brand, Bacofoil, has launched a unique baking paper featuring a 3D textured structure – the only one of its kind on the market.
The baking paper has an innovative textured surface which allows for less surface area for the bake to stick enabling the non-stick capabilities.

Britvic has unveiled new sparkling variants to extend the Drench range into the carbonated segment.

With this latest launch, Britvic is offering adult consumers a more sophisticated carbonated soft drink choice and the perfect product tenable operators to take advantage of this growing segment.

The new flavour combinations, Raspberry & Cranberry and Grape & Elderflower, are available ina 330ml can format to meet the needs of the 30+ target consumer.

Instant coffee brand Maxwell House is being re-launched this month (January) with an exciting new look.

The brand, which began in 1892 in Tennessee, USA, and has its roots firmly in the out of home catering market, has a full range of six products. Maxwell House Rich has an intense, deep coffee flavour and comes in both in a tin and a refill pouch, whilst Maxwell House Mild offers a smooth, more rounded flavour profile.

Maxwell House Cappuccino has a rich smooth and creamy speciality coffee mix, and for the first time in the UK the brand is introducing Maxwell House Sticks, both smooth and decaf blends.