Page 214 — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

CREATE THE MOST DELICIOUS BURGERS

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Ash Hirani

Buns which create the perfect burger.

With summer around the corner and the BBQ to be clean and dusted ready to be used. What better way to start the summer than by creating the perfect burger with a selection of bread specially created for enjoying the best outdoor barbecues, celebrations, and parties.

Burgers have clearly broken out of their former category to take their place among the most prized gourmet cuisines. Ranges of breads play a very important role, as the basis and the starting point, for more innovative creations, helping balance flavours and contrasting textures. The perfect complement.

Europastry brings to the market for you to create the best burger is their own original invention ; Cristallino bread. Bread that is 100% natural and with all the flavour bread can offer. It is crunchy and light which enhances the flavour of the meat and the ingredients. The buns come pre-cut so once thawed, toast in on the barbecue for 2 minutes and they are ready to consume.

Not a huge fan of Burgers? but don’t want to miss out on the barbecue experience. No problem, the Cristallino range of Europastry has more options to offer. Like the Cristallino Ciabatta, in a square format with the beautiful crunchy crust and delicate crumb. The options with variety of flavours and toppings possible for this bread are up to your imagination. It can serve as an ideal bread to dip in sauces during the barbecue or to use for creating sandwiches.

Europastry have also included in their Cristallino range smaller slices of bread. Europastry have a large sourdough bread vertically cut into small slices. Ideal for toasting and creating a new dimension to a bruschetta or other tapas dishes, also ideal for dipping in tasty sauces.

So if you are ready for the barbecue season to begin and want to make the tastiest burgers. Cristallino bread is here to help you enjoy the barbecue season like you have never done before.

Contact the sales agent: Ash Hirani (a.hirani@europastry.com)

Or order the bread online: https://europastry.com/global/en/products/bread/cristallino-bread/burger-buns-cristallino-bread/

NATIONAL ICE CUBE DAY LAUNCHED TO ENCOURAGE IN-PERSON GET TOGETHERS THIS SUMMER

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Lucy Barrow

A new awareness day has been launched by the Official Awareness Days Calendar, initiated by Europe’s largest ice manufacturer and supplier, The Ice Co.

National Ice Cube Day on 21st June aims to get the nation together with their family and friends, in-person, to have a catch-up over a drink. This comes as a recent survey from The Ice Co has revealed that over three-quarters of Brits believe as a nation, we’ve lost the art of conversation – we have become more reliant on instant messaging rather than socialising over a drink in-person.

The survey also uncovered the extent to which Brits announce important, personal news via text, as opposed to a phone call or, better yet, in-person; one in six said they would tell friends and family about getting engaged via text, and a further 11% said they would even text to announce a pregnancy.

Food, drink and lifestyle brands are being encouraged to get involved in National Ice Cube Day by raising a glass and toasting to the occasion and sharing it with #NationalIceCubeDay on their social media channels.

Lucy Redman, Head of Marketing at The Ice Co, commented: “Nothing says summer get together more than the sound of ice cubes clinking in the glass, right? Ice cubes are always present in standout occasions and celebrations as drinks, whether alcoholic or a soft drink, are at the centre of almost everything.

“We campaigned to have this day in the height of summer when the days are longer, people are out and about doing more and it’s a time with lots of social occasions with friends and family – like BBQs, al-fresco dining, picnics in the park, time on the beach and staycations.”

The brand now wants other businesses to get involved in this national day, by sharing their own #NationalIceCubeDay appreciation post with their favourite ice-cold drink in-hand!

For more information on National Ice Cube Day, visit The Ice Co website here.

Transporting Corrosive Products containing Sodium Hydroxide falls under ADR

Posted on June 21, 2023November 7, 2025 by Sarah Collison

Many will be aware of the requirement of ADR deals with the carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. We have recently gained information through a BFFF member query and our Primary Authority of dishwasher cleaners being classed as dangerous goods.

Dishwasher cleaners being corrosive are UN Code 1824 – packaging type 2 and therefore are subject to parts of ADR, Depending on quantity and packaging the following applies.

In ADR this product can be carried in containers up to 1 litre under the Limited Quantity (LQ) exemption, under this exemption, the quantity of 1 litre containers per vehicle would be unlimited,

However, if the dishwasher cleaner containers are greater than 1 litre such as the 5 litres containers used in our industry, you then you would be restricted to 333 litres in total under the Small Load (SL) exemption with an additional requirement to provide Driver Awareness Training and 2Kg powder fire extinguishers (see table below)

Anything of 333 litres would require full ADR.

Fire Extinguisher Requirements

Primary authority recommends Dry Powder for this application

Servicing requirements for extinguishers would follow the schedules within British Standards which include annual checks. Checks should be completed by a competent person, competence includes knowledge and training therefore it is possible for an organisation to provide this to an employee for convenience if using an outside contractor presents difficulties in the maintenance regime.

BFFF SHINES LIGHT ON FROZEN FOOD AWARDS JUDGING PROCESS

Posted on June 19, 2023January 9, 2026 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

At the spectacular BFFF Gala Dinner Dance and Frozen Food Awards held on Thursday 15th June 2023 in London, BFFF launched its frozen food awards judging video aimed at showing everyone how our great awards scheme is actually judged.

Retail products were judged by 14 independent consumer panels each consisting of 12 people from all walks of life across the UK and a 15th panel consisting of a group of professional Chefs.

This means that every retail product was sampled 28 times to ensure all entries were fairly and well judged across a varied and wide spectrum of people.

There is a different process for the Foodservice products – they are subjected to the highest standard of judging by a team made up of members from the highly regarded Craft Guild of Chefs which took place at Barnsley College.

This incredible and complex judging process took place over an 8 week period involving 168 consumers, 8 professional chefs, a guest member judge assessing taste, texture, the cooking process, the packaging, presentation and more.

INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND PIONEERING COMPANIES HONOURED AT BRITISH FROZEN FOOD AWARDS

Posted on June 16, 2023January 9, 2026 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Crop’s Foods Ltd, Pacific West Foods Ltd, and Farmyard Frozen Ltd were amongst the winners of the 35^th annual British Frozen Food Awards, hosted on Thursday 15 June 2023 by the British Frozen Food Federation to celebrate the quality, innovation, and success of the frozen food industry over the past twelve months.

Fourteen independent consumer panels took place across the UK, which blind-tested and marked products for appearance, taste, and aroma before considering innovation, packaging, preparation instructions, likelihood of purchase and value for money. This was then complemented by a further panel of professional chefs who also judged all the excellent products.

Crop’s Foods Ltd secured the prestigious Retail Product of the Year Award with its new Thai Green Chicken Curry produced for Aldi. Meanwhile, Farmyard Frozen Ltd bagged the highly anticipated prize for Retail Innovation Product of the Year for their Farmyard Gold Bar which impressed judges with its technical innovation and premium quality.

Among the winners this year, Aldi and Farmyard Frozen Ltd scooped two Gold Awards each, with Heron Foods, Northcoast Seafoods Ltd and Freiberger UK Ltd also winning trophies for their products. Unconventional Taste took home the Gold Award in the Best New Meat Free Product category for their Unconventional Plant Based Burger.

In the foodservice categories, Pacific West Foods Ltd claimed the Foodservice Product of the Year Award for its Pacific West Lemongrass & Chilli Prawns whilst apetito won the Foodservice Innovation Product of the Year Award for its Chicken Tikka Specialist Nutrition Finger Food Bites. The apetito product received special recognition for its innovative and accessible design for individuals with cognitive diseases such as dementia, allowing for high-quality nutrition in easy to manage finger food bites.

D’Arta and Fleming Howden were also among the foodservice winners for their Greens Cuisin’easy Nordic Soul and Scrocchiarella Sandwich Classica respectively.

The foodservice awards are widely 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.

Rupert Ashby, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation commented: “This is the first Frozen Food Awards I have experienced since starting my role as chief executive last year. I have been amazed to see how thorough the independent judging process is and I am delighted that such high-quality, innovative products have been recognised at this year’s awards.

“The innovation happening across frozen is impressive and incredibly encouraging, especially considering the important role the sector has to play as we look towards a future of increased value for the consumer, which has been illustrated recently with new market data showing that frozen food has been outperforming fresh and chilled during the cost of living crisis.

Mr Ashby added: “Frozen food offers consumers excellent value for money without compromising on quality or taste and I am confident that the industry will continue to go from strength to strength driven by the range and diversity of products entered into the awards this year.”

View the full results here:

Foodservice Awards

Retail Awards

BRITISH FROZEN FOOD FEDERATION NAMED BEST TRADE ORGANISATION

Posted on June 12, 2023June 12, 2023 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has been crowned as the Best Trade Organisation at the prestigious Food Management Today Awards, beating strong competition from associations including the NFU and the Food & Drink Federation.

The awards ceremony, which brings food industry professionals together to celebrate the best of the sector, took place on Tuesday 6^th June at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

The BFFF was delighted to win the Best Trade Organisation category, which recognised the federation for its work to maintain and promote high product and professional standards in the frozen food industry, engage with and challenge the government when necessary, and actively help its members to face issues as they arise.

Rupert Ashby, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation commented: “I am incredibly proud of the entire team at the BFFF for their hard work to make us the best trade organisation, which has rightly been recognised with this brilliant award. Since stating my role at the BFFF last year, I have been impressed to see the amount of work that is put in to supporting our members.

“Each and every one of our staff go above and beyond to ensure that our membership is properly supported with guidance, training, events and detailed information on all policy and information which has a bearing on the frozen food industry.”

In addition to the support offered to members by the federation, the BFFF hosts the annual British Frozen Food Awards as part of its activity to promote the frozen food industry. This year’s awards ceremony takes place on Thursday 15 June and is set to recognise the best new frozen products across retail and foodservice categories.

More information about the services of the BFFF, including information about forthcoming events and the British Frozen Food Awards, can be found here: https://bfff.co.uk/

A few reasons to become a member of BFFF

To find out more about becoming a member call 01400 283 095 or email the team

Join BFFF

Member profile on BFFF website

Free BFFF Member List

Free listing in the annual Member Directory

Access to latest industry news and information

Weekly newsletter, press and media opportunities

Press and media opportunities

Marketing, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities

Networking via opportunities at BFFF events

Free market data provided by Circana and World Panel

Access to industry specialists

Expert guidance from Technical and Health & Safety teams

Access to Primary Authority schemes and assured advice

H&S Audit Service/Advice

Free access to HR and legal guidance and advice line

Training and Education

Member Benefits

Exclusive Partnership deals on key products and services:

BFFF energy deals and rates
Vypr member deals and introduction
Defib Plus deals
Company Shop – membership
Mentor – MHE training health check

Exclusive access to networking opportunities and events:

Meet the Buyer events (retail & foodservice)
Annual Business Conference with networking dinner
Specialist H&S and Technical Conferences
Special interest groups (packaging, frozen food temperatures)
Annual Lunch
Awards Night

Become a member

Sponsorship Packages

We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to BFFF members across our events throughout the year, with flexible packages that can be tailored to suit your business objectives.

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what our members say...

Helen Atkinson

Wakefield Council

“What an amazing piece of work and indicative of how BFFF respond to the concerns of their members and make an impact on the whole industry sector.”

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Paul Duncalf

Sysco

“You guys really ‘Do The Right Thing’ for the good of the industry”

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Co-CEO Dries Talpe

Darta

“The BFFF awards night is becoming an “appointment not to miss” on our calendar and we again enjoyed it immensely together with lots of well-known people from our industry. The…

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Lewis Kain

Kantar Worldpanel

“The Business Conference was an excellent day that was very well organised and allowed so many likeminded individuals in the room to learn so much more around the Frozen industry….

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Lakeside Food Group Ltd

“This Not For EU labelling situation alarmed us and quickly became a major worry to our business. These are times when you really rely on some support and from previous…

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Meadow Vale Foods Limited

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Newberry International Produce Ltd

“I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the outstanding event you organised. I have only worked in this sector for the past nineteen months coming from twenty-five years…

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Liam, Commerical Director

Place UK Ltd

“The BFFF 2024 Conference was compelling and thought provoking, with a many relevant and interesting topics covered at great pace and some depth by excellent speakers – will certainly attend…

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Roswel Spedition GMBH

“Thank you and the team for rushing around so brilliantly before, during and after the conference. It was pleasure to be part of the conference.”

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Alexandre Alves De Mattos

Seara

“The event was great, in my opinion. Not only it was very well organised, but the venue and the catering were excellent too. Furthermore, the content of the presentations was…

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