Tues 18th Nov, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London

BIDCORP UK ACQUIRES HARVEST FINE FOODS

Posted on by Billy Moone

Bidcorp UK has announced the acquisition of Harvest Fine Foods, an independently run foodservice supplier to more than 1,000 catering establishments  across the South of England, including Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

The business, which opened its doors in 1988, offers an impressive range of 4,500 products including fresh and chilled produce and store cupboard ingredients from over 40 local suppliers.

Andrew Selley, CEO of Bidcorp UK commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Harvest Fine Foods team into the Bidcorp Family where it will join the Caterfood Buying Group, our growing network of independent businesses including Nichol Hughes, Elite Fine Foods, Caterfood, South Lincs Foodservice and Cimandis.

“Harvest Fine Foods is already a thriving foodservice supplier, achieving a compound growth of 20% over the last 12 years. It will continue operating as an autonomous and independent business, in line with the decentralised model we already successfully employ within the Caterfood Buying Group.

“We have been really impressed by their passion, their ethical ethos and their reputation for providing ethically-sourced, fantastic local produce, as well as great service to their customers. We look forward to supporting the team with our financial and strategic strength alongside their local expertise and range.”

Richard Strongman, Managing Director at Harvest Fine Foods added: “We are looking forward to becoming part of the Bidcorp family, which shares our passion for quality products, competitive prices and unrivalled service. The team will continue to focus on the development and growth of our successful, service-led business, under the same identity and culture.”

Harvest Fine Foods will begin operating under Catering Buying Group as of 17th January 2023.

STAR REFRIGERATION SPECIALIST TO PRESENT ON THE NEW F-GAS REGULATION PHASE DOWN PROPOSAL AS EU FAST-TRACKS CLIMATE CHANGE TARGETS

Posted on by Astrid Prado

Cooling expert will address new proposals to decrease F-gases outlined by the European Commission and discuss how they will impact owners and operators of refrigeration equipment.

Star Refrigeration’s Technical Sales Specialist, Adam Strachan, will present a webinar hosted by the Cold Chain Federation on Tuesday 31st January 2023 to discuss the European Commission’s draft revision to the F-gas Regulation. The webinar entitled ‘What does the proposed new F-Gas Regulation revision mean for operators of cooling equipment’ will examine the revised proposals drafted to meet 2050 climate change targets faster and decrease the release of greenhouse gases with high global warming potential into the environment.

Many synthetic fluorinated gases (F-gases), have a global warming impact that can be thousands of times more damaging than CO2 . In the webinar, which runs from 12.30 – 1.15 PM, Adam will look at how the proposed changes will affect businesses, highlighting possible acceleration of the 79% decrease in F-gas usage that could be brought forward from 2030 to 2024. He will also advise on how the quota management and tax introduced by the new  revision will result in a reduction of refrigerant availability over time, while demand is expected to increase, subsequently driving up prices.

At the halfway point of the existing phase-down timeline, the European Commission has proposed a new draft revision to the F-gas Regulation (5th April 2022) to achieve more stringent targets. This includes an acceleration in the current CO2 equivalent reduction targets from 79% to 95% reduction by 2030, with the ultimate aim to cut F-gas quotas by 97.5%, in time for 2050 Net Zero targets. The draft also includes phase down steps beyond 2030 which are reinforced by bans and restrictions on equipment, leak detection schedules, and a stronger plan to trace refrigerants that enter the UK marketplace through customs.

Attendees will also learn about alternative refrigerants, including ammonia and CO2 based technologies, as well as HFOs – the fourth generation of synthetic refrigerant gases.

Adam Strachan, said “It is likely that the new measures proposed in the latest draft  F-gas regulation revision will come into force next year as international pressure to reduce F-gas emissions mounts. However, continuous calls from the EU’s Environmental Committee for an outright ban and an even steeper phase down than the April 2022 proposal, suggest that the latest set of revisions may not be the last.”

“Businesses operating F-gas refrigeration equipment must adapt in response to legislative changes and to do so effectively, they need to stay informed as to what’s coming. I will be examining this in the webinar and answering any questions that arise.”

Experts predict that the revised regulations will result in shaving around 0.5 degree Celsius off the global temperature increase, with a 55% reduction of fluorinated gas usage already being achieved as of June 2022.

The webinar, which is organised by the Cold Chain Federation – the trade body representing the UK temperature controlled storage and distribution industry – is set to offer attendees valuable information to address future challenges in light of forthcoming proposals to the new EU F-gas phase down legislation.

Streaming live on Tuesday 31st January between 12.30 and 1.15 PM, the webinar is open to both members and non-members. To attend the free event, register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6090179941045231704 . Those who register their interest will also receive a copy of the recording for later viewing.

To learn more about The Cold Chain Federation, visit https://www.coldchainfederation.org.uk

To find out more about Star Refrigeration’s F-gas Regulation-compliant refrigeration systems, go to https://www.star-ref.co.uk

AUNT BESSIE’S LAUNCHES NEW MEAT JOINTS RANGE, WITH FIVE NPD HELPING THE BRAND TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE ROAST DINNER OFFERING

Posted on by sam.buckingham@birdseye.co.uk

Aunt Bessie’s has launched a new five-product frozen meat joints range, creating a centrepiece for their existing roast dinner favourites. Available in Iceland & Food Warehouse stores and online now, the move will mean Aunt Bessie’s is now able to offer a comprehensive roast dinner meal to shoppers. The meat joints NPD will include Beef Topside Joint with Salt and Black Pepper (600g), Bacon Topped Chicken Crown (850g), Honey Glazed Gammon (1kg), Crackling Pork Joint with Salt and Pepper (1kg) and Bacon Topped Turkey Joint (700g).

All five of the joints deliver great flavour and come in a ready-to-cook foil tray and can be cooked once defrosted or straight from frozen for ultimate convenience. With the introduction of these meat joints, consumers are now able to enjoy a full roast dinner for just £12* – as part of a new roast dinner bundle that consists of a meat centrepiece and three sides or desserts (options are below).

With 56% of consumers spending less on eating out and a further 23% considering doing so to save money[1], the price of the deal is three times less than that of a family meal of four at a leading carvery[2], allowing for consumers to continue enjoying their favourite roasts for just a fraction of the price. Providing great value for money, the bundle will also help those looking to save money, providing shoppers with great tasting, affordable, and convenient alternatives to their usual trip out to a restaurant helping shoppers and helping to drive the relevancy of frozen during these occasions.

Andrew Dale, Senior Brand Manager at Aunt Bessies, said: “The new frozen meat joints build on Aunt Bessies’ existing category vision, making frozen a destination for meal inspiration and providing simple but complete meal solutions for shoppers. Roast dinners are synonymous with long preparation times and pre-planning – but with the new meat joints from Aunt Bessie’s, consumers can cook a roast dinner with greater convenience and for less cost.

“With frozen in growth at +9.8% in the last 12 weeks[3], it’s launches like this within the frozen category that continue to appeal to shoppers. The new meat joints offer the benefit and convenience of frozen alongside good value for money, which is particularly sought after given the current cost of living situation. We want to be able to help shoppers get maximum taste and value for what they’re buying for minimum cost and preparation time.”

Included in the Aunt Bessie’s roast dinner bundle – one meat joint plus any three of the below:

  • Golden Yorkshires (12)
  • Crispy & Fluffy Roasties (600g)
  • Fluffy & Buttery Mashed Potato (650g)
  • Sage & Onion Stuffing Balls (12)
  • Honey Glazed Parsnips (500g)
  • Sweet & Tasty Carrot & Swede Mash (500g)
  • Cauliflower Cheese (380g)
  • Proper Apple Pie (550g)
  • Scrumptious Apple Crumble (500g)
  • Jam Roly Poly (300g)
  • Sticky Toffee Pudding (300g)

[1] IGD ‘Recession: how could the next differ from 2008 / 09?’ Aug 2022

[2] Toby Carvery website as of 21/11/22

[3] Nielsen Total Market to w.e 08.10.22

FACE DOWN THE JANUARY BLUES AND MAKE EATING IN THE NEW DINING OUT WITH ICELAND’S FAKEAWAY BUNDLES

Posted on by mel.matson@iceland.co.uk

Get a takeaway straight from your freezer this January with Iceland and The Food Warehouse’s fakeaway bundles. Over three quarters of Brits said that eating out is the number one area that they will cut back on in a bid to save money but with the bundles customers can enjoy their favourite dishes, straight from the freezer, without having to compromise on quality or taste.

A table full of food Description automatically generated with low confidence

 No need to worry about FOMO this January, simply head to Iceland or The Food Warehouse to enjoy an Indian dinner from the comfort of your own home. Shoppers can take dining to new levels for just £5.00 per head by picking up Chicken Korma (£2.50 with a Bonus Card, 375g) and Chicken Tikka Masala (£2.50 with a Bonus Card, 375g). It wouldn’t be curry night without the sides; pair the dishes with fluffy Pilau Rice (£1.50, 350g), Naan Bread (£1.00, 220g) and, of course, some classic Onion Bhajis (£2.50, 390g).

Craving a Chinese to enjoy with the family instead? Shoppers can please even the fussiest of eaters with a Chinese bundle serving four people for just £3.56 a head. Families can pick up iconic dishes, including Sweet and Sour Chicken (£3.00, 375g), Chicken Chow Mein (£3.00, 375g), and Beef in Black Bean (£3.00, 375g) all are part of the 2 for £5.00 deal. Pair the dishes with Special Fried Rice (£3.00, 350g) and Sharwood’s Prawn Crackers (£1.75, 60g). A Chinese fakeaway wouldn’t be complete without Vegetable Spring Rolls (£2.50, 480g) which will satisfy customers and not just because they can be cooked in everyone’s favorite kitchen gadget, an air fryer.

Missing your fast-food fix? Delight the family with the American bundle which serves four for just £2.50 a head. Shoppers can grab the American Style Family Box (£5.00, 1.42kg) which includes thin & crispy French fries, chicken wings, chicken strips and chicken popsters in a Southern fried style coating. For an authentic chicken shop experience, grab the mouth-wateringly good Southern Fried Chicken Gravy (£1.00, 300g), perfect for those who like to dunk their chicken and chips. For a bit more on the side, shoppers can get Mini Corn Cobs (£1.00, 625g), Iceland Luxury Coleslaw (£1.75, 300g), and Pepsi Max No Sugar Cola Bottle (£1.25, 1.25l).

Shoppers can get their hands on a whole range of bundle offers, perfect for both family and date nights, to enjoy restaurant quality food at home, with prices starting from £2.38 per head for customers using a Bonus Card.

Some of Iceland’s Eat Out At Home bundles range includes:

Indian Bundle – serves 2, £10.00 (price per head: £5.00) 

  • Chicken Korma (£2.50 with a Bonus Card, 375g)
  • Chicken Tikka Masala (£2.50 with a Bonus Card, 375g)
  • Pilau Rice (£1.50, 350g)
  • Naan Bread (£1.00, 220g)
  • Onion Bhajis (£2.50, 390g)

Chinese Bundle – serves 4, £14.25 (price per head £3.56) 

  • Sharwood’s Prawn Crackers (£1.75, 60g)
  • Iceland Vegetable Spring Rolls (£2.50, 480g)
  • Iceland Special Fried Rice (£3.00, 350g)
  • Iceland Sweet and Sour Chicken (£3.00, 375g)
  • Iceland Chicken Chow Mein (£3.00, 375g)
  • Iceland Beef in Black Bean (£3.00, 375g)

American Bundle – serves 4, £10.00 (price per head £2.50)

  • Iceland American Style Family Box (£5.00, 1.42kg)
  • Iceland Mini Corn Cobs (£1.00, 625g)
  • Iceland Luxury Coleslaw (£1.75, 300g)
  • Iceland Southern Fried Chicken Gravy (£1.00, 300g)
  • Pepsi Max No Sugar Cola Bottle (£1.25, 1.25L)

Piccolinos Bundle – serves 2, 3 for £10.00 (price per head £5.00)

  • Piccolino Meatballs Tomato Sauce (£4.00, 400g)
  • Piccolino Carbonara Spaghetti (£4.00, 370g)
  • Piccolino Tiramisu (£4.00, 160g)

Italian Bundle – serves 4, £9.50 (price per head £2.38)

  • Iceland Stuffed Crust Cheese Feast Pizza (£2.50 with a Bonus Card, 435g)
  • Iceland Stuffed Crust BBQ Meat Feast Pizza (£2.50 with a Bonus Card, 475g)
  • Iceland Garlic and Cheese Pizza Bread (£1.50, 245g)
  • Made in Italy Chocolate Ice Cream (£3.00, 900ml)

Valentine’s Gastro Pub Bundle – serves 2, £13.25 (price per head £6.63)

  • (Choose two) Iceland Luxury 28 Day Matured Aberdeen Angus Rump Steak (£3.70, 227g) or Iceland Luxury 28 Day Matured Aberdeen Angus Beef Sirloin Steak (£3.70, 170g) – 2 for £6.00
  • Iceland Luxury Maris Piper Chunky Oven Chips (£3.00, 1.5Kg)
  • Iceland Luxury Beer Battered Onion Rings (£2.00, 400g)
  • Iceland Chocolate Fudge Cake (£2.25, 450g)
  • Value Steak Gastro Pub Bundle – serves 2, £11.00 (price per head £5.50)
  • (Choose two) Iceland Big Daddy Sirloin Steak (£5.50, 340g) or Iceland Big Daddy Rump Steak (£5.50, 454g) – 2 for £9.00
  • Straight Cut Chips (£1.00, 900g)
  • Garden Peas (£1.00, 800g)

To find out more about the bundles available at Iceland, visit https://www.iceland.co.uk/.

KEPAK ANNOUNCES 200 FUNDED TRAINING COURSE

Posted on by Blathnaid.Nifhatharta@kepak.com

Leading British food manufacturer Kepak has become the first food business in the UK to offer free training places in partnership with The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, encouraging individuals to consider a career the sector.

The Food Passports initiative gives participants the opportunity to complete courses relating to the food and drink industry, which can be used to help kickstart a career at the company thanks to Kepak also pledging to guarantee an interview for every candidate who complete the course.

Kepak has pledged to fund 100 training courses, with an additional 100 places at the company being match-funded by The National Skills Academy, taking the total to 200.

The training places are available across Scotland, England and Wales at four Kepak sites located in Aberdeen, Kirkham, Bodmin and Merthyr – where the company recently announced a £5.5m site investment to help meet rising demand for its products.

On being the first food company to pledge their support for the scheme, Cian Short, Early Careers Manager, Kepak Group said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining the food industry with many opportunities to start a career at Kepak being offered and the Food Passport scheme is a great way of gaining industry knowledge alongside developing necessary skills.

“Being the first food business to pledge training places and through our partnership with the NSA supporting initiatives like the Food Passport scheme, we will hopefully encourage many to consider a career in the industry with long term career prospects. At Kepak we are committed to supporting local communities and being a good employer, and this investment is further evidence of that commitment in action”

“Since it’s national launch last year, the Passport has gained considerable support as an innovative new recruitment route and it’s excellent to have businesses like Kepak on board and pledging preferential recognition including guaranteed interviews for holders,” said NSAFD Chief Executive, Louise Cairns.

FOUR EASY WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF OUR SPECIALIST CONFERENCES

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

The BFFF Technical Conference and Health and Safety Conference are seven weeks away with both the full programmes confirmed, so now is the time to secure your place for the day.

Four easy ways to make the most of the specialist conferences:

  • Take advantage of the Bring Your Team Discount
    Mix and match 4 tickets for the price of 3 between both of our specialist conferences, they are at the same venue on the same date in separate halls. View Discount
  • Check the speaker timings
    Check the programmes for each of the conferences before you attend. The day is full of insightful talks and presentations, so make sure you have a plan to see the presentations you want to see and have time to network in our exhibition hall.
  • Build your network of contacts
    150 attendees regularly experience our specialist conferences with the intention to learn and network throughout the day. Book Ticket
  • Allow time for the Exhibition Hall
    Our conferences offer a day full of discussions and presentations and an exhibition hall showcasing some of the latest technology and services the industry has to offer.

The Technical Conference programme is full of experts in their field, providing the latest insight and knowledge to help you and your team. Having faced some of the greatest challenges in recent years now is the perfect time to join the rest of the Technical professionals in taking a step back and exploring how we can build a better future.

Our Health and Safety team has built this year’s Health and Safety Conference programme with our membership in mind. Using logged queries from members, expert group meeting themes and topics from specialist industry groups, the BFFF team have designed the programme to inspire and support you in the current challenges the industry faces.

YOUNG LEADERS GET AN INSIGHT INTO TOP 10 TRENDS OF 2023/24

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Back in December, the BFFF Young Leaders Forum (YLF) had the great pleasure of meeting with Charles Banks, Co-Founder, of thefoodpeople again. Charles joined the virtual meeting to present the top 10 trends from their 2023/24 Annual Trends Summit which was launched on 22nd November 2022.

thefoodpeople are shifting the future of food and drink for all by working with Champions of Change who connect with the power of trends. They interpret and distil thousands of data points to create directional clarity, enabling you to make transformational impact. They turn today’s trends into tomorrow’s opportunities.

The 2023/24 trends framework is made up of 1 global driver, 4 social and cultural forces, 12 food and beverage mega trends and 64 trend manifestations. During our meeting, Charles focused on the top 10 trends that stem from the global driver: Under Pressure.

  1. Cost of Cooking
  2. Precious Energy
  3. Back to Basics
  4. New Climate New Crops
  5. Phygital World
  6. Precision Fermentation
  7. Real and Recognisable
  8. Mamma Mia
  9. Beige Comforts
  10. Perfect Patisserie

Throughout the meeting Charles focused on key points within these trends, which really highlighted the changes the industry will see due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Consumers are going to be looking for cheaper ways of cooking, using more seasonal produce, reducing their food waste by being creative with what’s in their store cupboard or pantry (or even the freezer!). We will also see an increase in consumers want for comfort food, especially Italian food as it’s affordable and delivers big on sensory enjoyment.

Charles also talked around the popularity of ‘screen to plate’ with TikTok recipes and how you ‘Make it Meta’ with the 3D reality world of gaming, where you can play for real life rewards.

Once again, Charles gave a fascinating presentation with a great overview of the up-and-coming trends, and we would like to say a huge thank you to him for taking the time to present to the group.

If you are interested in joining the BFFF Young Leaders Forum, or finding out more, please contact Harry (harryhinks@bfff.co.uk).

NEW ENERGY BILLS DISCOUNT SCHEME ANNOUNCED

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Following the conclusion of the review into the current ‘Energy Bill Relief Scheme’ (EBRS) for non-domestic customers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a new ‘Energy Bills Discount Scheme’ (EBDS).

The new scheme aims to strike a balance between supporting businesses over the course of the next twelve months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.

The Chancellor has also written to Ofgem asking it to provide an update on the progress of the review into the non-domestic market in time for the Budget. This is to ascertain whether further action is needed on issues such as: the pricing and availability of tariffs, standing charges and renewal terms, and the ability of certain sectors to secure contracts.

The Government has published an explainer, fact sheet and ETII list on Gov.uk. Further information can be found in the press notice.

In addition, the Digital team at HM Treasury has also tweeted a series of useful explainers.