Celebrate this Spring with Kara’s new Celebration Cakes

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Celebrate this Spring with Kara’s new Celebration Cakes

Kara, the innovative Food Service brand of the Finsbury Group, has launched two Kara Celebration Cakes; 9 inch unsliced cakes that are perfect for any Out Of Home celebrations.

With 37% of consumers ordering cakes in a Pub or Restaurant for either a celebration or a get together with family or friends, Kara’s new Celebration Cakes enable outlets to sell a whole cake which are ideal for the end of meal celebration. The first of this delightful duo is the Chocolate Celebration cake, 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; this cake is the perfect party piece for any chocolate lover’s extravaganza. For customers with a sweet tooth, our Sponge Confetti Cake is a real family favourite. Made of a soft white sponge, filled with sweet cake filling and a delicious raspberry jam, all covered in candy cake filling and decorated with multi-coloured confetti sprinkles; it’s ideal for any festivity.

Kara’s new Celebration Cakes both come unsliced, allowing for chefs to add personalised decorations to cater to individual occasion. Chefs may wish to simply add candles or hand pipe messages to cater to each celebration, further personalizing and enhancing the customers dining experience. Kara asked 200 people if they would order the Celebration Cakes when dining out, 90% of consumers said they would purchase the Chocolate Celebration Cake and 75% would order the Sponge Confetti Cake*; chefs need to get a sweet slice of this dessert sales action.

Jane Deegan, Kara Marketing Manager said, ‘The new Celebration Cakes are a great addition to the Kara product range. With 95% of chefs stating they would add the two Celebration Cakes to their menus* the cakes are a great way for vendors to offer customers a complete dining out package.’

To see the full Range of Kara cakes or for more information on Kara, visit www.karafs.co.uk or call 0161 351 2399 to speak to a member of the Customer Care team

Keep up-to-date with Kara’s latest news by following us on Twitter @karafsbakery

GridBeyond, the new name for Endeco Technologies

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

GridBeyond, the new name for Endeco Technologies

Transforming energy demand into opportunity

GridBeyond, formerly Endeco Technologies, recently unveiled their new brand. The transition to GridBeyond marks the evolution of the company, its technology and the growth of opportunities available within energy.

Michael Phelan, CEO & co-founder commented “As part of our brand ethos, we aim to simplify the complex energy market for the frozen food sector. We bring together demand response services including peak avoidance like Triads and DuOS, smart tariffs, National Grid revenue schemes such as balancing services, capacity, energy trading and energy optimisation into one unified platform.” He continued “This enables our clients to generate new revenues, make huge energy cost savings and boost their sustainability credentials, all without impact on operations.”

For more information on how your frozen food, refrigeration or logistics business can take advantage of new opportunities with demand side response technology, contact GridBeyond on 01923 431 638, or visit: http://www.endeco-technologies.com/gridbeyond .

BIRDS EYE PUSHES FROZEN CHICKEN UP THE PECKING ORDER WITH NEW CAMPAIGN

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

BIRDS EYE PUSHES FROZEN CHICKEN UP THE PECKING ORDER WITH NEW CAMPAIGN

Birds Eye’s new campaign – Winner Winner Birds Eye Chicken for Dinner – sees the introduction of two new exciting ads backed by an unprecedented £8m spend – a 100% increase on spend vs. 2017
Winner Winner Birds Eye Chicken for Dinner campaign is set to focus on the versatility of Birds Eye frozen chicken, tapping-into the value of wholesome family entertainment
Introduction of new products and revamped recipes across drippers, chargrills, saucy grills and nuggets

Leading frozen food brand, Birds Eye, is launching a new multi-channel campaign aimed at celebrating the versatility, quality and flavour of its frozen chicken. Launching across its iconic Chicken Dippers and Chicken Chargrills ranges, the campaign explores how every Birds Eye frozen chicken dinner is a winner, with the campaign seeing the largest investment in frozen chicken in a decade.

Winner Winner Birds Eye Chicken for Dinner

Launching on Monday 26^th March with its iconic Chicken Dippers, the new multi-channel campaign sets a different tone for the brand as it explores the tastier way to enjoy 100% chicken breast, as told through a fun, family-themed setting.

Filmed with excitement and flair, the advertisements are a shift-change from the brand’s previous turnaround campaign from 2017, with the move reminding consumers of the authentic, versatile qualities Birds Eye frozen chicken provides for any meal. Set during family dinnertime, the ads see flavour-seeking kids “transform” their way to a tasty dinner, with wholesome family entertainment including cheerleaders and retro disco vibes injecting added life into the meal – an experience found in every bite of Birds Eye chicken products.

Andrew Elder, Birds Eye Chicken marketing manager, comments: “The new campaign is another exciting step forward for both the brand and category, aiming to reinforce Birds Eye as a trusted, credible brand providing quality, flavoursome food.

Frozen chicken has come a long way in the last year, with Birds Eye’s growth attributing significant uplift to the category, which grows as we do. We hope the new campaign further reminds and reassures the nation that our products are made with 100% chicken breast, perfect for wholesome, delicious meals.”

In the last 12 months, the brand’s chicken portfolio saw incredible uplift and has experienced a year-on-year value growth of 7.6% [Nielsen, 52 w/e 24.02.2018]. The new campaign is predicted to further drive penetration in frozen chicken in 2018 as Birds Eye reminds the nation of the quality and taste of its products.

With a total investment of £8m, the new Birds Eye campaign will run across TV, online video and social platforms and marks a 100% increase vs. 2017 spend.

Unprecedented spend & Multi-Channel Marketing

Winner Winner Birds Eye Chicken for Dinner is Birds Eye’s biggest investment in poultry in a decade, with a total investment of £8m – a 100% increase on spend in 2017. The campaign also marks the first time the brand’s iconic Chicken Dippers will be on-air in 5 years, championing the teatime favourite as the ‘dippiest’ way to enjoy chicken.

Rolling-out across TV, digital, social and VOD channels, the campaign stretches multiple platforms, tapping-into the nation’s desire for quality, versatile products they understand and trust.

Elder continues: “Poultry is one of the fastest-growing categories within frozen, with consumers increasingly turning to the protein because of the convenience and versatility these products offer.

As the leading brand in frozen, we have an opportunity to interact with consumers with this campaign through multiple touchpoints, putting an unprecedented spend behind our TV ads and engaging with shoppers through popular channels such as VOD and on social.

Last year’s campaign proved incredibly successful in communicating the re-assuring message of product quality. This year, we wanted to build on this product quality message by highlighting the fact that a Birds Eye chicken dinner is a winner on many levels”.

Winning, new products

Alongside the new campaign, Birds Eye is introducing three new products that tap into new flavour trends to ensure that taste is top of the agenda.

These are:

Katsu Curry Saucy Chicken
Soy, Ginger and Garlic Chicken Chargrills, and;
Mexican Nacho Crumb Chicken in Breadcrumb

In addition to the new products, Birds Eye is revamping the recipes of its Chicken Nuggets with Golden Wholegrain, and Peri Peri Chicken Chargrills to add even more flavour on these two favourites in the range.

The new campaign airs from Monday 26^th March 2018, with new products already available.

NewCold looks for additional premises as Brexit heralds’ storage opportunities for the UK

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

NewCold looks for additional premises as Brexit heralds’ storage opportunities for the UK

NewCold, the deep-frozen storage and logistics specialist is looking at possibilities for a new UK site to accommodate increased UK market activity and in anticipation of the demand expected to be triggered by the ‘Brexit effect’ in European Supply Chains.

According to NewCold Country Director Jon Miles, the movement of goods from central European hubs into the UK will become more complex, based on the likelihood that we will leave the Customs Union and the impact that will have on Supply Chains.

“Currently, it is possible for a food producer to store product in a warehouse close to the coast in Belgium or France and deliver directly into UK Distribution Centres within acceptable lead times. However, a recent study by Imperial College London has indicated that even an additional 2-minute stop at customs checkpoints could lead to the final 40 miles of the journey to the Channel Tunnel taking 5 hours. The time and risk associated with these increased journey times will mean that the most obvious solution is to store the products closer to the market in the UK.”

NewCold has already bolstered its UK deep-frozen storage and handling capability with the addition of 600,000 cubic metres of fully automated deep-frozen capacity to its Wakefield site and expects to be fully operational by April 2018.

“Frozen food handling in the UK is already in peak demand,” adds Jon “and we have developed the Wakefield facility in line with the projected long-term requirements of our key customers, and positive market outlook. Kantar World panel reported volume up by 2% in 2018, and this annual growth is expected to continue for at least the next 5 years. Phase two of the Wakefield site expansion lifts our capacity to 143,000 pallets but even so, we expect to be 70% full by June 2018. Add this to the increase in storage demand which is likely to be caused by Brexit and it is clear to see why we need to make provision for an additional UK facility.”

NewCold’s vehicle fleet, which includes auto-loading double-deck trailers, has also been recently increased to 50 tractor units and 75 temperature-controlled trailers.

ARYZTA Food Solutions UK Brings Filled Colour Croissants to Breakfast and Snacking Menus

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

ARYZTA Food Solutions UK Brings Filled Colour Croissants to Breakfast and Snacking Menus

Foodservice operators can premiumise their breakfast and snack offering with the latest pastry innovation from ARYZTA Food Solutions UK – Coloured Croissants.

A profitable twist on a much loved classic, the colourful croissants are made using specialist technology which intricately layers coloured dough and plain, resulting in a striking pattern.

Supplied frozen and available in two varieties, ‘Raspberry’ and ‘Chocolate-Hazelnut’, the croissants are made to a unique recipe using pure butter for an authentic taste and wheat yeast to accentuate the flavour of the dough. A longer than average resting period improves the product’s structure, making for a crispier croissant with clearly defined layers.

Both filled; the Raspberry Croissant offers a fruity filled surprise with its raspberry centre and eye catching red layers, created through the use of natural colours. The Chocolate-Hazelnut Croissant is a truly indulgent pastry, made using rich, dark cocoa to create deep chocolate layers and luxurious chocolate and hazelnut filling that consumers will love.

With coloured croissants the preserve of upmarket patisseries until now, the launch brings these creations into the remit of the wider foodservice market and allows cafes and restaurants to step up their offering and charge a more premium price point.

Paul Whitely, Head of Marketing at ARYZTA Food Solutions UK, comments: “With operators increasingly looking for a competitive edge, these colourful twists on the early morning classic are ideal for enhancing breakfast or snacking menus, and are truly Instagram worthy. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as we’ve already had rainbow bagels and unicorn cereals – now the market is ready for something new, and the coloured food trend is showing no sign of going away anytime soon.

“We’ve based our Coloured Croissants on traditional lamination processes, utilising the same skills and quality ingredients, so that mainstream cafés and restaurants can replicate this offering with ease, giving their customers an exciting new breakfast and snacking option.

Crucially, croissants are bucking the trend for a move away from sweeter snacking treats, and are actually in growth in the snacking category*. This is further evidence of our commitment to developing quality products to help operators capitalise on key trends.”

ARYZTA’s frozen Coloured Croissants are available in 45g and 90g sizes. They simply require defrosting at room temperature before baking at 165-175°C for 18-22 minutes. They will keep in the freezer for 12 months and have a baked shelf life of 16 hours allowing cafes and restaurants to offer on-the-go snacks whatever the time of day.

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 UK also supplies beverage concepts from ProJuice.

For more information on the range call 0844 499 3311, email marketing.uk@aryzta.com,

visit www.aryztafoodsolutions.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @aryztafoodsolutionsuk

and Twitter: @AryztaFoodUK

BLUE CUBE PORTABLE COLD STORES FULFILS ORDER FOR NINE BLAST FREEZERS FROM RICK BESTWICK

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

BLUE CUBE PORTABLE COLD STORES FULFILS ORDER FOR NINE BLAST FREEZERS FROM RICK BESTWICK

Cold storage specialist chooses high performance BFT28 62kW models for energy saving, cost and efficiency benefits

Rick Bestwick – part of the Magnavale Group – has recently installed three blast freezers from Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores (www.bluecubepcs.co.uk; tel: 0333 3202620) at its state-of-the-art Warrington and Scunthorpe facilities. Representing an order of nine blast freezers in total, the contract packer and cold storage specialist chose the high performance 28-pallet 62kW and 115kW units for their energy saving, cost and efficiency benefits.

Rick Bestwick offers some 1.5 million sq ft of warehouse space and approximately 200,000 pallet spaces across all temperature regimes. It provides a complete range of supply chain solutions and added value services including frozen, chilled and ambient storage, blast freezing, microwaving, order picking and despatch, rapid air tempering, repacking, labelling and date coding.

Blue Cube – one of the UK’s leading providers of rental temperature controlled storage solutions for the food and logistics industries – has supplied five 28-pallet blast freezers offering 39.49m² of usable space to Rick Bestwick’s Chesterfield site and another four units across the Liverpool, Scunthorpe and Warrington facilities where they are attached to the cold store areas.

Jonathan Gagg, Engineering and Procurement Director at Magnavale Group comments: “It became obvious that we needed to increase our blast freezing capacity to meet the demands of our expanding customer base. We reviewed the blast freezer market and Blue Cube’s systems offered the highest energy efficiencies and best value proposition for us and our customers. We also liked the more personal service approach we receive from them”.

He continues: “Blast freezing is a key part of our service and helps ensure that our customers’ products maintain the highest quality and the longest shelf life possible. It also increases production efficiency and minimises waste.

“The service from Blue Cube has been very good and we’re pleased to be able to offer additional capacity to our customers in these areas from now on,” Jonathan concludes.

Rick Bestwick has four sites located in Chesterfield, Scunthorpe, Liverpool and Warrington and offers one of the largest blast freezing capacities in the UK. The company has been using blast freezers since 2000, and provides the service under BRC Accreditation against the Global Standard for Storage and Distribution.

Blue Cube’s blast freezers are available in cross or end flow designs and in 7, 19 and 28 pallet capacities. The systems offer blast freeze, chill and temper functionality and can be ground based or elevated.

The latest generation screw compressors ensure greater efficiencies at lower temperatures. Plus LED lighting provides up to 300 lux of light meeting the standard required for loading and unloading.

Each blast freezer is fitted with impact bars, lockable doors and locking door bars whilst emergency lighting, externally mounted audible and visible man trap and temperature alarms provide all the necessary safety features.

In addition, side doors, ramps, dock level platforms and racking are available as optional features. The units can be linked to either a building or each other in order to help improve workflow.

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