Staple Food Group is turning up the heat with its latest launch, Kouzina Halloumi PDO with Chilli (225g), perfect for foodservice, retail, wholesale, and cash & carry customers. This exciting new product combines the authentic, PDO-certified creamy texture of traditional halloumi with a subtle chilli kick, bringing a bold new dimension to an established favourite.

 

A highly versatile ingredient, Kouzina Halloumi PDO with Chilli is perfect for grilling, frying, or baking—delivering the same satisfying golden crispness that halloumi lovers crave, now with an added depth of spice. Ideal for restaurants, cafes, and caterers looking to offer something unique, as well as retailers keen to meet growing consumer demand for premium, high-flavour cheeses.

 

Why Choose Kouzina Halloumi PDO with Chilli? 

• PDO Certified – Authentic halloumi, made to strict quality standards.
• Spicy, Creamy & Delicious – A modern twist on a classic favourite.
• Perfect for Foodservice & Retail – Convenient 225g format for easy portioning.
• Versatile & Easy to Prepare – Grill, fry, or bake for delicious results.

 

“Kouzina Halloumi PDO with Chilli is an exciting addition to our range, offering chefs, retailers, and food businesses a way to differentiate their menus and product offerings,” said Chris McNally, Sales Director at Staple Food Group. “With the growing consumer appetite for bold, flavourful cheeses, this new halloumi variety is set to become a firm favourite in both professional kitchens and home cooking.”

 

Kouzina Halloumi PDO with Chilli 225g is now available form Staple Food Group.

 

For full range details and order enquiries please contact us at sales@staplefoods.co.uk

IFE 2025, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, is set to return to Excel London on 17-19 March, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers for a packed and diverse programme of thought-provoking content.

Central to the event is the Future Food stage, where an array of panel discussions will delve into the pressing issues and transformative trends shaping the future of the sector.

Among the highlights of the seminar programme is a timely discussion on ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The session, titled ‘Ultra-Processed Foods: Do We Need a Tighter Definition?’, will explore the evolving debate around UPFs and the implications for product development and consumer understanding.

Moderated by Siân Yates of FoodBev Media, the panel features experts from across the industry, including Jessica Stansfield of Huel, Kerri Fidler of Greencore, Peter Noy from the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham, and Sarah Bull of Bakkavor.

Another key session, ‘State of the Vegan-nation’, will address the rapid growth of the vegan and plant-based market, examining how brands, retailers, and consumers are adapting to this shift. Freya O’Mara from Ocado will moderate the discussion, with contributions from Indy Kaur of Plant Futures, Karen Spinner of the Vegan Society, and Toni Vernelli of Veganuary.

Commenting on her participation, Spinner said: “IFE is a fantastic opportunity for brands, buyers and retailers to discover the latest innovation and trends in the vegan and plant-based sector. As the market continues to evolve and reach new consumers, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to take part in what promises to be a lively and informative panel discussion.

“As the world’s leading vegan certification standard, the Vegan Trademark has unique insight into how the market is developing – and how brands need to position their products to resonate with an ever-growing audience.”

Innovation will also take centre stage with the session ‘Revolutionising Retail: How Accelerators and Incubators are Shaping the Future’. Moderated by Theadora Alexander of YF, the panel will feature Andrew Allen from Bidfood and Melanie Harris from Iceland, exploring how these programmes are enabling emerging brands to scale, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

Harris comments: “Excited to join this event and discuss how Brands On Ice is at the forefront of bringing innovation to Iceland shoppers, and the success and future opportunities within this accelerator.”

As the importance of digital channels continues to grow, the discussion ‘Online Shopping as a Trend Predictor in the Food & Drink Industry’ promises to offer valuable insights into how online shopping data can forecast trends and drive product innovation. Moderated by Debbie Davies of Contigo Management Limited, with panellists Louise Armour of Rosetta Brands and Stephen Minall of FDReviews, the session will challenge conventional thinking and provide actionable takeaways.

Davies shared her excitement: “With our great panellists, this session should provide food for thought and a great debate. As always with IFE panels, we aim to challenge current thinking and spark meaningful discussions.”

These panel discussions represent just a small selection of the rich and varied content programme planned for the Future Food stage at IFE 2025. Across three days, the stage will host a series of talks, panels, and presentations from industry thought leaders, providing attendees with unparalleled insights into emerging trends, sustainable solutions, and the future of food and drink innovation.

New Products Tasting Theatre

The New Products Tasting Theatre at IFE is the ultimate destination for discovering something new. It’s a chance to meet the passionate people behind our Start-Up Market brands, hear their stories, explore their product ranges, and learn about their future plans while tasting their fantastic creations.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore and learn with a New Product Showcase from the Isle of Man, a Charcuterie Masterclass with FICT – Les Entreprises Françaises de Charcuterie Traiteur, and a tasting with the Free From Food Awards, introducing award-winning producers and industry-leading allergy-friendly products.

As part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, IFE 2025 will run alongside IFE Manufacturing, The Pub Show, HRC, and International Salon Culinaire, creating a comprehensive showcase of the best the industry has to offer.

Register now at ife.co.uk for your complimentary trade ticket and join the conversation shaping the future of food and drink.

 

 

Processing, packing, managing and improving production processes in a seafood manufacturer while relying on paper documentation can lead to errors and resources spent on non-value-added activities.

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Twelve employees at total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International are delighted after qualifying as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA).

 

Delivered by St. John’s Ambulance, the two-day course saw all trainees achieving qualification and taught how to recognise the signs and symptoms of common workplace mental health issues and how to know how to effectively guide a person towards the right mental health support.

 

Oakland International Head of Talent Development Kate Hewitt commented: “We are delighted to confirm that our first group of MHFA trainees are now all fully qualified workplace mental health first aiders.

 

“Whilst we’d rather our employees didn’t experience mental health issues; we’re delighted to know our team are now trained and equipped to provide support when needed.”

 

The course covered factors that can affect wellbeing, how to spot the triggers and signs of mental illness, first aid, and the skills to create a positive mental health culture in the workplace, with the successful trainees awarded a level 3 Mental Health Workplace First Aider qualification, equivalent to an A Level.

 

A Certified B Corporation business and an equal opportunities employer, Oakland International is a specialist and a leader in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for all types of food, servicing diverse markets across the UK and Ireland. They are also experts in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service and aiming to be the first business within their sector to reach net zero.

 

Group HR Director Nicola Harris added: “I would like to thank all our trainees for accepting our invitation to become a Mental Health First Aider as their willingness to participate and share their personal experiences, was humbling, and it’s now good to know we’re closer to our aim of having one MHFA on each shift, at each of our depots.”

 

It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas 2025, and as part of those plans, Pacific West has been reviewing the retailer ranges of Christmas delights, ready to inspire your festive feast planning.

The retailers had a pretty successful festive 2024 trading period, with M&S identified as the best performer, with sales +8.7% in the 13 weeks up to 28.12.24.

M&S is known for its premium quality and innovative products, which showcased a range of value added shellfish and “picky bits”. Here are some of our highlights from the M&S 2024 range, which included:

• Layered seafood towers served as starters
• Lots of Prawns – including a King Prawn medley with paprika sauce & harissa butter
• Mini Wholetail Breaded Scampi & Chips in little cones

Reviewing the other retailers, there was a lot of Smoked Salmon, upgraded Prawn cocktails and seafood platters.
Here are some of our favourites:

• Aldi – King Prawn Selection, with Prawn lollipops, Penang
  style butterfly Prawns and Filo Green Thai Prawns
• Tesco – King Prawn Selection, with spicy firecracker,
  lemon & herb and tempura coatings
• Waitrose – Shimmering Salmon mousse
• There were also festive Bao Buns with various fillings and
  fun looking bites across different categories and ranges

Download the full Festive Seafood Recommendations from Pacific Westfor 2025 – here