Dr. Oetker retains Reed Boardall as logistics partner

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Dr. Oetker retains Reed Boardall as logistics partner

Leading German food company Dr. Oetker has renewed its contract with Reed Boardall to provide all of its UK cold storage and distribution needs for its full range of frozen products for the next three years.

The company, which produces a wide selection of baking and cooking products, is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of frozen pizzas with its popular ‘Ristorante’ and ‘Chicago Town’ brands. From its food processing facility in Leyland, Lancashire, Dr. Oetker supplies the full spectrum of retailers and food service outlets throughout the country.

Reed Boardall began working with the group, whose UK head office is in Leeds, 15 years ago and has again been selected by Dr. Oetker following a competitive tender. The company will continue to collect all frozen product from the Leyland processing site and transport it to the Reed Boardall cold storage facility in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, before delivering it on to the distribution centres of retailers and food service operators nationwide.

“We have enjoyed a close and constructive relationship with Dr. Oetker and are extremely pleased to have once again have been chosen by the company,” comments Andrew Baldwin, managing director of Reed Boardall’s cold storage division. “Over the years, we have got to know the team well, we understand their business and genuinely care about providing the best service we can. Like Dr. Oetker, we are a long-established family business which prides itself on quality and being customer-focussed.

“To have retained the business is testimony to the fact that what we do for Dr. Oetker is great for them and they know they can rely on us to continue to deliver on our promises.”

Jonathan Stokoe, executive head of supply chain at Dr. Oetker UK, said: “Reed Boardall have proved to be a reliable partner, consistently providing an integrated cold storage and distribution service and able to respond swiftly to our needs, so ensuring supply to our customers.

“Having reviewed our logistics needs and looked at other suppliers, we felt that Reed Boardall was the right partner for us.”

Doors set to open for new community kitchen

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Doors set to open for new community kitchen

A Burnley business is going the extra mile for a community foodbank by donating a refrigerated van conversion.

CoolKit, based in Farrington Place, have converted the Mercedes Vito panel van into a refrigerated vehicle with the help of their supplier GAH.

The project, called Burnley Community Kitchen, has been set up by Burnley FC in the Community.

It will be based at the former J3 former clothing shop in Market Square and will feature a supermarket-style foodbank, community café, discount sportwear shop and library. It will also provide cookery classes and staff will be on hand to help assess people’s needs.

CoolKit’s van will be used to deliver food to school breakfast clubs, refuges and other causes. It will also collect donations of surplus stock and food nearing its best before date from shops and transport them to the warehouse.

Loredana Emmerson, Marketing Manager at CoolKit, said: “It’s a pleasure to be involved with such a worth project. As ‘friends of Burnley FC In The Community’ we have decided to announce this project as our charity of the year.

Throughout the year staff will be taking part in several events, raising money towards this one goal, as well as the chance to volunteer some of their time to work at the site and interact with the community.”

Shaun O’Farrell, Refrigeration Director at GAH, explains their decision to support the project.

“When GAH were made aware of CoolKit’s commitment to make a difference we did not hesitate in getting involved and with the weight of Burnley FC behind the project, we could immediately see this was a charity opportunity which would actually make a difference.”

Paul France, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Burnley FC in the Community, thanked CoolKit and other businesses such as Calico, Community Re-Paint, Quorn, Warburtons and Bright LED for their support.

He said: “Twenty of Burnley’s 27 wards are classed as socially deprived, with some of the highest levels of childhood obesity and children suffer from ‘holiday hunger’ when they don’t get free school meals.

“The power of Burnley FC’s brand opens doors and makes a difference. The supermarket-style foodbank will offer people dignity and choice rather than just a food hamper.”

The community kitchen, painted in claret and blue, is expected to open in June and will be open six days a week. For more information visit www.burnleyfccommunity.org

FROZEN FOOD INDUSTRY RECOGNISES PIONEERING PRODUCTS OF 2018

Posted on June 8, 2018January 9, 2026 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

FROZEN FOOD INDUSTRY RECOGNISES PIONEERING PRODUCTS OF 2018

The best new frozen food products in both retail and foodservice were recognised last night (7 June 2018) at the British Frozen Food Federation’s (BFFF) Annual Product Awards.

Iceland Foods Ltd and KK Fine Foods Plc took home the prestigious Retail Product of the Year and Foodservice Product of the Year awards respectively. The awards were presented during the glittering Annual Gala Dinner Dance event which was hosted at the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel.

The competition received entries from across the industry with the overall winners being selected from 13 categories across both the retail and foodservice categories, which included Best Main Course, Best New Pizza, Best New Meat-Free Product, and Best New Poultry-Based Product.

Winning the Retail Product of the Year award for its Luxury Triple Dipped Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sticks, was Iceland. Consumers adored the combination of flavours and textures and branded it as brilliant “value for money.”

The retail awards are unique in that the winners are judged by panels of independent consumers from across the UK who mark the products for appearance, taste, innovation, packaging, preparation instructions, likelihood of purchase and value for money.

In the foodservice awards, KK Fine Foods Plc’s Gluten Free Butternut Squash, Brie, Beetroot & Truffle Infused Oil Tart was crowned Foodservice Product of the Year. The product, which provided exceptional flavour and texture appealing to gluten-free and non-gluten-free consumers alike, was described as ‘tasty, light, crispy’, ‘well-seasoned’ and with a ‘very good, interesting filling’, earning it this prestigious award.

The Frozen Food Awards are well respected throughout the catering industry as all the entries are impartially judged by representatives of the prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs, who, as executive chefs, catering managers and recipe developers, are expert in their field and uncompromising in their assessments of the entries.

Commenting on the winners, John Hyman, BFFF chief executive, said: “These awards are a real victory for all the winners and their companies and teams should be incredibly proud of their achievements.”

He added: “The Product Awards celebrate new product development excellence and innovation that continuously drives the frozen food industry to be the dynamic and developing sector that it is. The standard of entries we received was exceptional and it was really encouraging to see how many companies put products forward, which serves as a sign of the confidence they have in their products. In their 31^st year, the Annual Product Awards proves that frozen food is still at the top of its game when it comes to innovation, which will only help the industry grow further and reach the £10bn target we’re aiming for.

“As always, these award wins are a team effort and we look forward to having the opportunity to recognise the people behind the products as the entries for the BFFF People Awards open later this summer, with new categories added following the success of last year’s inaugural awards.”
For more information about the BFFF Product Awards, please visit www.bfffproductawards.co.uk.

Click Here to view the Retail results list.

Click Here to view the Foodservice results list.

BIRDS EYE LAUNCHES NEW INSPIRATIONS BURGERS FOR SUMMER

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

BIRDS EYE LAUNCHES NEW INSPIRATIONS BURGERS FOR SUMMER

Birds Eye raises the bar in frozen burgers with its new range of Inspirations Burgers
3 new products in the range including a 2x 5oz Steak Burger, 4x Parmesan, Cracked Black Pepper & Parsley Quarter Pounders and 4 x Mozzarella, Sundried Tomato & Basil Quarter Pounders
Supported by Birds Eye Inspirations’ sponsorship of Channel 5 Drama

Birds Eye has introduced three new burgers to its Inspirations range, catering to the growing appetite for premium, tasty meals inspired by restaurant quality dishes.

Inspired by the premium burger market, Birds Eye Inspirations new punchy, yet delicious flavours include:

4 x Parmesan Cracked Black Pepper and Parsley Quarter Pounders
4 x Mozzarella, Sundried Tomato and Basil Quarter Pounders
2 x 5oz Steak Burgers

For those looking to create bigger and meatier burgers at home, the new 5oz Steak Burgers are generously sized and are 25% bigger than the traditional Quarter Pounder alternatives, made with five simple ingredients: steak, salt, pepper, rosemary and crumb.

Sean Staunton, Brand Manager at Birds Eye, comments: “We worked hard to pack the burgers full of flavour, making them perfect for all occasions – whether a summer barbeque with family, or as a special midweek meal inspired by eating out.

Our Birds Eye Inspirations range is created for consumers looking to treat themselves and indulge in incredible tasting restaurant-quality food, but without the restaurant price tag.”

Birds Eye Inspirations Steak Burgers are available in Tesco now and in Sainsbury’s and Asda on 25^th June for £2.50.

Birds Eye Inspirations Quarter Pounders are available in Asda and in Sainsbury’s on 25^th June for £3.25.

Canny Caterers Set to Score with New Limited Edition Football Muffin

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Canny Caterers Set to Score with New Limited Edition Football Muffin

With the mother of all football tournaments kicking off this June, iconic American sweet bakery brand, Otis Spunkmeyer, is giving caterers the chance to net those all-important profits by introducing a limited edition Football Chocolate Muffin.

Sites can use the rich, moist chocolate chip muffin, with a decadent chocolate style filling topped with natural green coloured icing and an iced football decoration, to drive all-important footfall throughout what promises to be a scintillating summer of sport.

ARYZTA Food Solutions UK is the brand owner of Otis Spunkmeyer, the company’s Head of Marketing, Paul Whitely, comments: “With the action and drama set to kick-off this summer, sites can use this latest sweet bakery innovation to drive sales right up until the final whistle. The Otis Football Chocolate Muffin is fun, eye catching and, most important of all, delicious. Not only that, it comes from an iconic brand with bakery in its DNA. Because they’re limited edition, we expect that demand will be high. Our advice for sites is to grab them while they can.”

Supplied frozen, cases of 30, sites simply need to thaw and serve. The muffins are available for a very special tournament price of £23.66 per case, or just 79p per unit. Availability is limited.

ARYZTA Food Solutions is a UK foodservice specialist – parent to a family of brands to meet the needs of modern hospitality. Sub-brands include: high-end frozen patisserie and viennoiserie brand, Coup de pates; essential ingredients and ready meal solutions from everyday bakery brand,

La Carte; gourmet Swiss bakery brand, Hiestand; American sweet bakery brand, Otis Spunkmeyer and inspirational ingredients and garnishes from Bouquet Garni. ARYZTA Food Solutions also supplies beverage concepts from ProJuice.

Caterforce appoints new Group Marketing Manager

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Caterforce appoints new Group Marketing Manager

Cheshire-based foodservice group strengthens marketing team

Leading foodservice buying & marketing consortium, Caterforce, has appointed Claire Williams as Group Marketing Manager, further strengthening its Cheshire-based team.

Claire brings with her a wealth of experience having worked with brands such as Nestle Professional, Kellogg’s, AB World Foods and Pernod Ricard and joins from Big Brand Ideas, an integrated marketing agency based in Macclesfield.

Caterforce reported record sales growth in 2017 and further success is predicted in 2018/19. Claire will manage the overall marketing strategy for the group with a key focus on developing Caterforce’s own-brand, Chefs’ Selections by Caterforce and supporting members with their marketing activity. She will also be looking to raise the Caterforce profile and promote Flavour Photography, its in-house food photography service.

Having worked in-house and within agencies, Claire’s experience will be vital in working with multiple clients as each Caterforce member is independently owned and has a bespoke approach to marketing. Her specific knowledge of digital marketing offers Caterforce the chance to explore new opportunities in this space.

Claire, who will be based at Caterforce’s Macclesfield Head Office, comments: “Joining Caterforce is an extremely exciting challenge for me. It’s a hugely ambitious company and the opportunity to play a leading role in developing its marketing strategy and raise the profile of the group was one I had to take. I was lucky enough to work with their talented team during my time in agencies and I look forward to bringing this experience and knowledge to my new role.”

Nick Redford, Managing Director of Caterforce, said: “As a group we’re experiencing record growth and we’re delighted to welcome Claire to Caterforce. She brings with her some great experience which will only strengthen our marketing team and help us to achieve our goal of developing the Caterforce brand. I have no doubt that she will be a tremendous asset to the team and business as a whole.”

For more information visit www.caterforce.co.uk

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