Scandi-mania Proving Profitable for Operators

Almondy is encouraging operators to bring a Scandinavian twist to their menus and tap into the growing demand for Nordic cuisine.

With Swedish food and drink sales in the UK growing by 33% in the last three years*, the popularity of all things Nordic has never been greater. From TV detective dramas to 2016’s biggest buzz word, ‘hygge’ – the concept of Scandinavian cosiness – consumers are increasingly embracing this lifestyle, including its cuisine, which has led to a growing demand out-of-home.

Andrew Ely, Managing Director, Almondy UK explains;

“Britain’s love of Swedish comfort food may have started with Ikea’s famous meatballs back in the 80s, but it was renowned restaurant Noma that put Scandinavian food really on the map, winning the World’s Best Restaurant three years in a row. As awareness and demand has grown, we’ve seen retailers expand their offering and a plethora of Nordic restaurants and bakeries opening across the UK. From Michelin-starred restaurant Aquavit to operators such as Faucet Inn introducing the Swedish concept, ‘fika’ – a social coffee break – into its pubs, bars and boutique hotels, the Scandinavian food culture is booming.”

Operators looking to give their dessert and coffee menus the Scandi edge, should look no further than Swedish bakery Almondy and its gluten-free cakes. Its dedicated foodservice range is made using a secret Swedish recipe dating back to the 1890s, with cakes topped with popular confectionery brands Daim and Toblerone. Having supplied the UK for eleven years, Almondy has experienced the trend first-hand.

Andrew continues; “We launched in the UK over a decade ago and as interest in Scandinavian food has grown so too has demand for our cakes. So much so, the UK has become Almondy’s biggest foodservice market in Europe, with a slice of our best-selling Daim cake sold every second out-of-home. We put this success down to the Swede’s reputation for quality – this comes through in our cakes and why today we have a legion of fans.”

Pre-cut for convenience, Almondy’s versatile cakes can help operators easily bring a taste of Sweden to menus and profit in the process, working across a range of dessert occasions from sharing platters and sundaes, to paired with coffee, fika style!

Andrew adds;

“We don’t see Scandi-mania slowing down anytime soon, the Swedish lifestyle trend ‘lagom’ – meaning ‘just the right amount’ – is hotly tipped to take over hygge for 2017. This means Sweden will remain front of mind with consumers, as well as offer a golden opportunity for savvy caterers looking to keep their menus one-step ahead of the competition.”

Baked in Sweden using only the finest natural ingredients, Almondy is enjoyed in more than 45 countries, by 106 million people every year globally. The bakery has spent three decades building its reputation for high quality, delicious cakes with the added bonus of being gluten-free. The range comes frozen and pre-proportioned into 12 slices to avoid waste, as any unwanted slices can be stored in the chiller. The foodservice range also includes a Caramel & Peanut variety, as well as a Chocolate Cake with Roasted Almonds which is both gluten and lactose-free, helping operators widen the appeal of their menu offering even further.

*Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Department for Trade and Policy Department, Swedish Export to UK, food, beverage and tobacco 2016

To find out more about Almondy please call 01604 858 522 or visit www.almondy.com/en