Tues 18th Nov, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London

HSE CALL FOR ACTION FROM BFFF MEMBERS ON ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES USED TO PRODUCE ENERGY FROM FOOD WASTE!

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

The UK Government has committed to rolling out separate, weekly household food waste collections across the UK by the end of 2023 as part of new Environmental Legislation. As a result, this will lead to greater scrutiny for all food waste generation and high potential for new or adaptive processing of this material, both domestic and commercially

The BFFF sit on the Food and Drink Manufacture Forum (FDMF). The subject of adaptive technologies used for producing energy from food waste was discussed. The HSE are interested to find out more on the progress made by BFFF member companies. In particular, around energy processing constructions, that have been repurposed or “adapted” to process newer fuel types, or utilise previous reject material or gases as part of secondary energy recovery.

Pilot visits undertaken by HSE specialists have shown the recovery of energy from food waste appears to be a rapidly developing area, with different processes and technologies to breakdown the organic matter through separation and recovery of:

  • the gas
  • the solids (digestate); and
  • the heat

Some of these technologies are still their infancy, with both large and SMEs experimenting to find the best way to utilise the organic material.

The HSE would like to undertake a series of fact-finding inspections, to help identify current designs, actual working processes, and future concepts – involving energy recovery from commercial food waste. This work would engage with both in-house food manufacturing businesses, or collection and processing by dedicated third-party energy companies.

These visits are intended to be informative and working with companies to enable the safe transition to net zero, as outlined in the HSE Strategy 2022-2032.

In the first instance, HSE would like us to cascade this letter to our member organisations, with a request that they kindly respond to the author and answer the following questions.

  • Are you already undertaking (or intend to undertake) work in-house or via third-party to generate your own energy e.g. electric, gas, heat?
  • What machinery or equipment is being used/ intended in these processes ?
  • What stage of the equipment introduction are you at (concept, design, assembly, commissioning or operation)?
  • Where is the above expertise for installation/ operation being obtained e.g. in house/ consultant/ retrospective?
  • Who is responsible for plant integration?

Please see HSE letter HERE

ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR TRENTHAM FOODS!

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Following a “tremendously successful” IFE , Staffordshire based Trentham Foods have achieved yet another accolade.

At a Gala event at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Stoke on Trent, a proud Managing Director Daren Durkin received Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce ‘Small Business of the Year’ award 2023. The company was recognised for its sustainable growth, outstanding supply chain management and commitment to employees and customers alike. In addition, Trentham Foods was also hailed for its dedication to the community and support for local charities. Company Director Jacob Durkin commented:

“This award is testament to the hard work by all the team at Trentham Foods. Everyone has committed to a culture of service and business excellence. I could not be prouder”.

COMPANY SHOP GROUP BOLSTERS SENIOR TEAM WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Posted on by lee.wood@companyshop.co.uk

Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus stock, has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of industry rising stars Adam King, previously Community Director at Samworth Brothers, and former Morrisons’ Head of Finance (Retail), Sinead Healey.

Joining the Group as Marketing Director, Adam brings with him over 15 years of FMCG experience, having been in supply chain roles before spending much of his career in marketing and creative positions across the industry.

Having also held positions with Mars UK and Noble Foods, Adam has spent the last nine years at Samworth Brothers, first as Creative Director and then Community Director, where he led Samworth Brothers’ community strategy, including close collaboration with Company Shop Group and its award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop. He also a Trustee for charity Leicester Cares, which similarly works in partnerships with communities to ensure those most in need are supported.

In his new role, Adam will be leveraging his expertise to deepen the Group’s collaborative partnerships with retailers and manufacturers to help them unlock social, economic and environmental value from their surplus stock. He will also lead on helping Company Shop Group provide more communities with access to high-quality surplus food.

Joining the team alongside Adam is Sinead Healey, who takes up the role of Finance Director. Sinead brings to the role over 13 years of retail industry experience, with the last three years spent at Morrisons in various senior finance positions, after a decade-long stint with Mamas and Papas.

The latest senior appointments follow a series of exciting developments for the Group in recent months, including Owen McLellan becoming Group Managing Director in January, and the announcement of record-breaking redistribution and impact figures.

Adam King, newly appointed Marketing Director for the Group, said: “Having worked with Company Shop Group for several years in my previous role, I have already seen first-hand the significant difference the business makes by leading the industry in tackling unnecessary waste, and using it to support hundreds of thousands of people across the country. The opportunities to do even more are huge, and I look forward to working with colleagues, members, industry partners and wider stakeholders to champion the redistribution of surplus.” 

Sinead Healey, Finance Director, commented: “Company Shop Group is a fantastic business with strong values, and I am delighted be joining the business at such an exciting time. It is great to be part of a team that is committed to reducing waste and doing the right thing – a challenge the whole industry needs to face into together. We have strong plans for growth, and I look forward to playing a role supporting the delivery of these of the coming months.” 

Owen McLellan, Managing Director of Company Shop Group, said: “At an extremely exciting and ambitious period for our business – and such a critical time in the fight against food waste and food insecurity – we are really pleased to have Adam and Sinead joining our team. 

“Working with retailers, manufacturers and brands, we are committed to reducing food waste and with Adam and Sinead on board we can provide even more expertise to our partners, and deliver more benefits for businesses, people and the planet through surplus redistribution.”

CHICKEN COMBOS THE WINNING TICKET TO BOOST SUMMER SALES

Posted on by Lewis Wantling

The British summer always brings a time to embrace eating out.

Festival season is underway, holiday parks are raising the shutters and beer gardens are filling up as the food service sector prepares for its busiest time of year, serving up the latest and greatest food trends.

This summer, food service is adapting to the ongoing cost of living crisis that has forced people to make more conscious decisions over how they spend their money. Nonetheless, eat-out footfall has not wavered and demand for quality food is still higher than ever.

The main focus for consumers will be reducing the final bill. Visiting a favoured restaurant but ordering less than usual to reduce the cost was a strategy adopted by 15% of UK restaurant customers in the past year.

Appealing to cost conscious consumers by offering food and drinks packages that emphasise value for money whilst maintaining a high-quality menu offering, will therefore be the main aim for chefs in food outlets nationwide this summer.

High quality frozen produce is one avenue operators can take in reducing the cost of cooking from fresh and saving customers money, and we’re here to tell you why Meadow Vale is the one stop chicken shop for doing just that.

Sun in the sky, food on the go

As better weather ushers in active lifestyles and more regular socialising between families and friends, people are still expected to favour food on the go and eat more meals out despite rising prices.

Foodservice operators need to be ready to capitalise on this by offering enticing dishes throughout the day that are suitable for a quick grab-and-go option, and we’ve got the perfect fix.

Meadow Vale’s highly versatile, award winning Homestyle Shredded Chicken range offers the perfect summer delicacy, cooked in as little as 90-seconds from frozen and allowing the caterer to serve a wide range of great tasting dishes quickly.

Coming in a variety of authentic flavours, the shredded pieces are perfect for creating a tasty taco, loaded fries or salad bowl with a fresh appeal using a selection of simple and easy garnishes, providing the ultimate summertime snack satisfaction.

Furthermore, the sale of kid’s meals will be emphasised in the school holidays, so stocking up on the bitesize favourites will be essential.

By choosing our popular Battered Fillet Bites or Pickin’ Chicken using 100% natural breast fillet, chefs can use the same product across a menu, whether it be for the perfect pick and dip kid’s meal, or tasty Thai fusion dish.

Summer combos

Drinks and food packages and tapas style sharers are becoming increasingly popular for groups looking to maximise their hospitality experience and cut the financial burden by spreading the costs between them.

Restaurants are increasingly turning to chicken shop style combos and sharers including strips, wings and bites for food and drinks packages, such as the ever-trending ‘wing Wednesday’ bulk offer, popular with young adults and students.

Offering a buffet style combo package with a wide range of catering-sized dishes allows your customers to mix and match popular options, from mini-tacos and pizzas, to chicken wings, loaded fries and nachos.

Meadow Vale provides everything the caterer needs for a consistently high performing and easy-to-prepare chicken option for sharers and combos, from our award-winning Homestyle Chicken range to our succulent selection breaded and battered mini fillets, all fully cooked and ready to serve in minutes.

A stress-free approach

Alleviating stress on kitchen staff, speeding up service and consistently producing a high-quality food offering will be key during the busy summer months.

Using Meadow Vale chicken is a good way of cutting out risks of cooking from fresh, whilst saving time and providing a consistent premium product for your customers.

Our number counted and weighted bags allow for total control of portion sizes and allows chefs to waste nothing in the process. Why spend more, waste more and use more time, when you can serve up a fresh appeal product in minutes, that cuts out the middle man of preparation?

What’s more, anybody can create a premium chicken dish with Meadow Vale products, meaning kitchens suffering from staff shortage and high demand can achieve a much-needed leg-up, whilst providing a great tasting chicken offering.

Get in touch

Interested in giving your summer menu a boost?

Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss anything from pricing and suppliers to free samples and marketing support.

 

BIDFOOD CELEBRATES THE 12 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS FESTIVE RANGE

Posted on by Billy Moone

To launch this year’s festive range, Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading foodservice providers, is shining a light not only on consumer demands shaping 2023, but on the year long process to bring us all a Christmas to remember.

The festive season doesn’t just start and stop on the 12 day lead up to Christmas. In fact, for the foodservice industry, the preparations begin almost immediately after the celebrations end, making it a year long process. From fresh suppliers to growers and producers, Christmas truly is a 12-month-long team effort.

To support Bidfood in developing this year’s festive range, the wholesaler commissioned research to find out how consumer behaviours would be driving decision making when eating and drinking out of home this Christmas. 

Cost of living

Despite another challenging year due to the cost of living crisis, the good news is that 44% of consumers plan to go out for food and drink at least once a week this year[1]. In fact, with 1 in 3 stating that food and drink is typically their main way of socialising and catching up with loved ones this season[2], tapping into this will be essential.

Unsurprisingly, value for money is once again going to be a top priority for consumers when deciding where to eat out this year, with 57% of people labelling cost as the biggest factor[3]. However there can’t be a compromise on quality, as almost half (47%), say this is also high on their priority list when decision making[4]. To help operators balance the two, Bidfood has developed dishes that provide a sense of luxury without breaking the bank. A slow-cooked short rib of beef with rich French onion gravy lends itself perfectly to this. Or for a sweet treat, a twist on the cult classic, sticky toffee Christmas pudding drizzled with toffee sauce.

Festive offerings

As well as value for money, consumers want to see choice on the menu. With this in mind, operators would benefit from having a range of non-festive options to accompany the more traditional dishes. Bidfood’s range has incorporated a variety of ‘winter warmers’, such as a hearty slow cooked lamb and root vegetable stew.

Operators should be cautious to not discard meat-free options this Christmas. Although many associate this time of year with turkey, pigs in blanket and ham, a quarter of people would find a non-meat dish appealing[5]. And this stretches far further than just vegetarians and vegans, sustainability and health conscious consumers have contributed to the meat reduction trend making it important for operators to provide a strong meat-free offering across their menus. Bidfood’s range taps into this trend with a number of vegan and vegetarian options, such as the wild mushroom & confit onion tartlet, butternut squash, lentil, spinach & almond wellington and the sweet and creamy lemon berry delice.

Vicky Tripp, Campaign & Brand Manager at Bidfood commented:

“It’s great to be able to raise awareness of, and showcase, the hard work that goes into Christmas every year to make it the success that it is. Making sure everything is ready for December truly is a team effort industry wide.

“With over 70 new products across a number of categories ranging from meat-free and seafood, luxury and indulgence to on the go items, there really is something for everyone in our range. And once again we’re partnering with FareShare via Work for Good.

“With a variety of products, both old and new, the Bidfood 2023 range aims to assist operators with their Christmas menu development plans as well as offering great food to consumers as we head into the winter months.”

[1] Bidfood & 3Gem, bespoke consumer research, 2,000 UK adults, February 2023

[2] Bidfood & 3Gem, bespoke consumer research, 2,000 UK adults, February 2023

[3] Bidfood & 3Gem, bespoke consumer research, 2,000 UK adults, February 2023

[4] Bidfood & 3Gem, bespoke consumer research, 2,000 UK adults, February 2023

[5] Bidfood & 3Gem, bespoke consumer research, 2,000 UK adults, February 2023

PARENTS FACE SUMMER HOLIDAY FOOD DILEMMA

Posted on by clare.twiss@brake.co.uk

New research from child food poverty charity, Meals & More, has shown that more than 70% of parents* expect to struggle financially over the summer holidays, with many expecting to miss meals as a result.

With seven out of 10 parents feeling worse off than they did a year ago, there has been a huge impact on food, with more than half of families having to look for cheaper alternatives and 28% no longer being able to afford to buy as much healthy food.

Worryingly, half of all parents have missed a meal so that their children can eat. More than one in five expect to miss a meal over the summer holiday period, with a further 36% saying they will eat less so that they can put food on the table for their children.

Peter McGrath, Operations Director at Meals & More, said: “The findings of our survey are incredibly sad and concerning, with half of parents having had to seek out some sort of support over the past year from friends, family or charities.

“And with more than half of all people thinking it will be at least two years before their financial situation will improve, this is going to be a problem for some time to come. With the school holidays approaching, parents will be having sleepless nights worrying about how they are going to put food on the table. Charities like Meals & More can provide some respite by funding holiday clubs across the country, where children can get a healthy meal. The problem, however, is now so widespread that we can’t help everyone, and we need more help from the Government.”

Around half of parents will not be taking a summer holiday this year, as they are concerned about their finances and cannot afford it, which means that millions of children will miss out on life-enhancing experiences. 50% of parents believe their children are missing out on activities that other children participate in over the summer holidays.

As a result, Meals & More has launched its Big Day Out, which will offer children living with poverty the opportunity to enjoy a day out over the summer holidays through the clubs it supports.

Meals & More was founded by foodservice wholesaler, Brakes, in 2015 when it recognised that millions of children were missing out on nutritious food when schools were closed for the holidays. While there has been greater recognition of the problem in recent years, 90% of people still underestimate or do not know the sheer scale of the problem, which sees more than 4 million children living in poverty in the UK.

What is particularly worrying for charities like Meals & More is that, with the cost of living crisis, it is likely that even more children will be pulled into food poverty in the coming years.

WELCOME THE BFFF TEAM, SARAH COLLISON

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

On Monday 19th June we welcomed our new Marketing and Communications Manager, Sarah Collison.

Sarah has an extensive background in brand, marketing and design having spent much of her career working in full service design and marketing agencies across the midlands ranging from FMCG, Manufacturing, Retail, Tourism, Healthcare, Construction and Service industries.

She has worked with notable brands such as Belvoir Farm, Next, Lyle & Scott, Aldi, Care Fertility, National Trust and Dulux and has gained expertise in all aspects of marketing from market research, customer profiling and user experience through to brand and marketing strategy, campaign planning and the creation of meaningful and engaging user content.

Sarah has previous experience working with membership organisations such as Dulux Select Decorators and the British Game Assurance working to deliver both B2B and B2C brands, campaigns and provide engaging membership tools and communications.

‘ I am hugely excited to start work with the BFFF team and all its valuable members. It’s a challenging time within the sector and for our members, so there is lot to get stuck in to.’

Sarah’s role will be to develop and deliver the BFFF marketing strategy, evolve the BFFF brand and drive a members communications plan that is engaging, informative and insightful.

If you have any comments or feedback on marketing related topics please email sarahcollison@bfff.co.uk

AVIKO SCOOPS SILVER AT BRITISH FROZEN FOOD AWARDS 2023

Posted on by Shah Khan

Aviko’s SuperCrunch Pure & Rustic are proving they’re the chip that has it all after being recognised at the prestigious British Frozen Food Awards. 

Celebrating the best new and innovative products in the frozen food market in what is the federation’s 75th year, Aviko was awarded a Silver in the ‘Best New Potato Foodservice Product’ category for their innovative SuperCrunch Pure & Rustic Chips that offer an extended holding time and unbeatable crunch.

Aviko’s SuperCrunch Pure & Rustic Chips are made with superior spuds which lock in flavour for a delicious tasting chip. With the skin left on, paired with irregular cut sizes, the chips have a rustic, natural look and unrivalled texture. Allowing chefs and operators to serve up a premium feel to any dish, the five-star chip earned the foodservice partner the judges’ recognition at the hotly contested food awards.

Speaking about Aviko’s award, Mohammed Essa, Commercial Director UK & Ireland, said:

“To be recognised amongst the best in the frozen food industry for our Aviko SuperCrunch Pure & Rustic means a huge amount to the team. A lot of work goes into our chips to ensure they perform on every level in the kitchen. We are very proud of our premium chip solution and what it can do for every operation, receiving this award from the BFFF cements all of that.”

Available now in 2.5kg format, Aviko’s SuperCrunch Pure & Rustic Chips are gluten-free and vegan friendly, have a shelf-life of 24 months and can be prepared in both the oven or fryer, ensuring versatile preparation to suit busy kitchens and all menus.

The award-winning chips are perfect for pubs and casual dining restaurants who want to trade up on quality and value, as well as guarantee a satisfying crunch. Whether diners are eating in or ordering a delivery, Aviko’s SuperCrunch coating promises a long holding time and superior crunch.

Aviko has been the resolute potato partner for foodservice for over sixty years, bringing quality and smart solutions to menus all over the world. With a range of chilled and frozen potato specialities made by chefs, for chefs, Aviko’s extensive range includes Hash Browns, SuperCrunch Fries, Mash, Snackables and much more.

*Toluna Survey

**Lumina Food Strategy Forum Q1

For more information on Aviko visit www.aviko.co.uk