Category Archives: Food and Drink

Food and Drink

Britain’s first air fryer ready meal range – and it will only set you back £1.99 and just over 500 calories

MJ’s Diner, a food brand hailing from Birkenhead, is launching its first-to-market range of 14 frozen ready meals specifically developed for the air fryer.

  • 14-strong frozen product range with five new products arriving this week
  • Everything you need for the perfect ‘fakeaway’ in one pack
  • Frozen ready meals cook in under 20 minutes
  • Developed for the air fryer but can be cooked in a conventional oven
  • All meals contain under 915 calories
  • Priced from £1.99 to £2.49

The range includes an array of ‘fakeaways’ such as Salt and Pepper Chicken, Katsu Chicken Curry, Kebab, and chip-shop favourites such as Steak Pie and Sausages, Chips and Gravy. All products are priced between £1.99 and £2.49 per pack, have fewer calories than ‘ordering in’ – every meal in the range comes in at under 915kcals with the lowest just 531kcals – and all meal items come in one easy pack.

The range – a British first for the company owned by Noel Davis, 50, who lives in Formby – cooks in less than 20 minutes, with some meals ready to eat in just 15. It’s already available in Farmfoods, Noel’s own Oops Food Clearance in St Helens, and over 300 independent retailers nationwide, as well as being about to hit the shelves in Poundland.

Noel, who has over 30 years of experience in food manufacturing and distribution across several different businesses, saw a market gap. The ingenious idea was sparked over a meal with his three children: Dara,18, Aoife,17 and Rory,15.

“Over 12.5m households are using air fryers and after a discussion with my family in which they were championing air fryers and how many times a week they use them – I just suddenly thought we have the perfect products, the development and distribution network,  and the contacts to launch this and with much success,” said Noel.

“We’ve ensured that we have selected some top British ‘fakeaway’ favourites in the range and included everything you need, so the gravy comes in its own sachet, as does the salt and pepper seasoning for you to sprinkle over after just 15 minutes cooking time. The range is a no-brainer. It’s cheaper, quicker, healthier, and far higher quality than ordering in – every time.

“This is already a record-breaking range for us, and it only launched last week! Rates of sale are up to 500% greater than the leading brands, which is seven or eight times more than the best-selling products such as Bisto, which have been on the market for many years.”

Due to the instant success, Noel has already recruited 50 staff members in his Birkenhead facility to cope with the demand.

The 14 products in the frozen range, are:

  • Chicken Nuggets and Fries (Made with 100% Breast)
  • Fish Fillet and Straight Cut Chips
  • Mixed Starter: 2 Potato Skins, 6 Garlic Mushrooms & 4 Hot & Spicy wings
  • All Day Breakfast – 2 Sausage, 2 Hash Browns, 3 Gammon Grill / Steak, 2 Black Pudding
  • Katsu Chicken & Crinkle Cut Chips – 100% Breast Fillet
  • Sweet & Sour Chicken & Crinkle Cut Chips (100% Breast Fillet)
  • Shortcrust Steak Pie and Steak Cut Chips
  • Southern Fried Popcorn Chicken and crispy fries
  • Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings and Crinkle Cut Chips
  • Breaded Fish Fingers with Chips
  • 2 Beef Grillsteaks with Chips
  • Crispy Chicken Goujons and Crinkle Cut Chips (100% Breast Fillet)
  • Salt & Pepper Chicken Chunks and Crinkle Cut Chips
  • Beef Meatballs with Chips & Gravy

Noel continued: “This product range hasn’t been designed to be a healthy meal for the family. It’s here to help those who are time-poor and want something that won’t blow their calorie count but is a quick, tasty, and cheap option for an evening meal or breakfast.

“Air fryers are now a kitchen staple. They’ve proven they are not a gimmick or a fad. They are here to stay and are helping us Brits enjoy those treat meals more regularly because nothing is deep fried – so you still get that desired crunch and crispiness, just without the oil and fat.”

Noel and his team have developed a British first – with no other brand yet creating a ready meal designed for the air fryer. “Most ready meals are, of course, what we call in the industry ‘wet’, which means sauce-based,” continues Noel.

“Ours will not disappoint, won’t stick to the side, and are a step away from a sauce-based meal. We’ve reinvented the takeaway meal – and you know what, I have to say, it tastes much nicer!”

Noel is already in talks with the likes of Home Bargains, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s to supply the air fryer-ready meals. New options are also on the way, including Chips with Chip Shop Curry Sauce, Kebab Meat and Chips with Sriracha Sauce (hot and spicy chilli sauce), Salt & Pepper Pork Ribs and Crinkle Cut Chips, Pork Sausage in Gravy and Chips, and Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings and Crinkle Cut Chips.

Noel and his team are ready to produce 350,000 meals per week and feel the new range is perfect for students, busy individuals, and families on the go. He also suggests splitting a packet for an easy kids’ meal for two.

Business, Charity, Charity News, Food & Drink, Food and Drink, Wales

Peter’s gets a new look for Velindre campaign

PETER’S, the leading Welsh pastry baker, is proudly partnering with The Charity of Velindre Cancer Centre for its 2024 Wear Red campaign.

 

Peter’s has committed to changing the colour of their brand and packaging for the first time ever to red from the classic green in support of Velindre. Peter’s will also be sponsoring Velindre’s Wear Red event on 2nd February to help raise vital funds and awareness for Wales’ largest cancer centre.

 

Peter’s is a long-standing supporter of Velindre, with donation bins located across their canteens and restaurants. They sponsored last year’s Castle 2 Castle event which marked Velindre’s biggest amount raised to date for the event, totalling £53,023.97.

 

In addition to local fundraising, Peter’s Managing Director Mike Grimwood along with key members of the management team, has participated in number of gruelling charity bike rides and hikes for Velindre, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, cycling from Paris to Bordeaux, completing the Las Vegas’ 3 Canyons ride and conquering Sa Calobra in Majorca.  In total, the events raised over £1,595,185.84. The next challenge to be undertaken by the Peter’s team is a 625km ride to Florida Key West.

 

In addition to converting over their flagship products to red packaging, Peter’s will be launching a radio campaign spanning 3 weeks on Heart South Wales and Smooth Radio Wales to support #PaintWalesRed.

 

Known as the ‘Hospital of Hope’, The Charity of Velindre Cancer Centre funds projects that improve the experience of patients receiving treatment and care at the hospital. The charity hosts a range of events and campaigns every year, and funds ground breaking research programmes into many areas of cancer.

 

Mike Grimwood, Managing Director at Peter’s, said: “As a brand deeply rooted in our community, Peter’s are proud to support Velindre Wear Red campaign.

 

“Velindre holds a special place in our hearts, as some of our own team members, family and friends have experienced the exceptional care and support provided by the Velindre Cancer Centre first-hand. Together, we aspire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those battling cancer, championing hope, and contributing to a brighter future for our community.

 

Kylie McKee, Head of Fundraising at Velindre, said: “The generous ongoing support of Peter’s is one we are incredibly grateful for. We want to spread the word about this campaign to as many people, organisations and groups as possible and encourage everyone to get involved to raise vital funds for Velindre.

 

“All money raised via donations allows us to support the funding of ground breaking research, specialist equipment and nurses which enables us to go above and beyond for our patients and their families.”

 

To continue their commitment to Velindre, Peter’s will once again be sponsoring Velindre’s annual Castle 2 Castle run in September on their 10th year anniversary.

 

In 2023, 450 participants joined in the Wear Red campaign and helped raise £75,000 for the charity, now, with Peter’s on board to help push awareness the charity are targeting £100,000 for this year’s campaign.

 

For more information on how you, or your organisation can get involved, click here.

Food & Drink, Food and Drink, News

Intelligent food & drink sourcing brand Sorsco delivers over £140k in cost savings for Truffle Burger chain 

Industry leading provider in logistics and procurement for the hospitality sector, Sorsco, has helped reduce a popular London burger chain’s costs by over £140,000, after implementing a new and improved supply chain model.  

With 8 locations across London, Truffle Burger is a group of ‘finer diner’ burger restaurants aiming to elevate the burger into something much more than just a “quick fix” – without compromising on quality. 

With continued growth firmly in sight, Sorsco was brought in to assess Truffle Burger’s complex pricing and supply chain model which had been in place since the business started trading in 2019.  

Boasting an in-depth understanding of suppliers in this sector, Sorsco reviewed its complex combination of wholesalers and direct deals and was able to apply its strategic sourcing model, mapping out the exact route for products to be delivered directly to store, whilst organising the spend into packages to maximise efficiency and cost savings.  

As a result, the revised supply chain delivered £146,000 in savings – the equivalent to 13% – across the board. The establishment of a new network of specialist non-food, food, dairy and drink wholesalers is now being utilised for the direct sourcing from manufacturers, instead of using the restaurant’s basement as a warehouse. This has meant a reduction in the number of stock items into the business, alongside improved product quality across multiple categories.  

In addition, the new supply chain has led to closer relationships with key supply partners and greater integration with partners where there is obvious brand synergy, as well as access to very significant commercial support from brand owners. With roots in street food, and inspired by dishes from around the world, Truffle Burger now has ambitious plans to double its turnover within the next two years. 

 

Tom Bickers, Founder of Truffle Burger, commented: “Since we started working with Sorsco, they have reviewed our entire food, drink and non-food categories. In less than 3 months, they have delivered an annualised saving on our current spend of 14%. The Sorsco team are highly professional and have over-delivered given where I thought our pricing was. Their expertise and experience has allowed us to focus on other areas of the business and build a supply chain that will support our future growth.”  

 

Nigel Draper, Founder and Managing Director of Sorsco, added: “At Sorsco, our goal is to find ways to strategically improve the profitability of hospitality establishments and restaurants such as Truffle Burger, helping them build a resilient supply chain which they can scale and grow. Working with Tom and his team has been extremely rewarding – especially in terms of the cost savings we have helped them achieve – and we can’t wait to see how the business grows in the coming months and years.”   

 

Originally established in 2012, Sorsco prides itself on a fresh and results-driven approach for the food service and wider hospitality sector, with a growing client portfolio of well-known high street restaurant chains including Dishoom and Turtle Bay. 

A game-changer in the procurement industry, the Sorsco team tailors its services to match its clients’ specific needs whilst providing proactive support to ensure long-term success. 

For more information, visit: http://sorsco.co.uk 

Food and Drink

Discovering the Best Beer Kit From The Top Supplier: Home Brew Shop UK

In the captivating realm of beer-making, nothing compares to the thrill of brewing a mug of frothy ale. Whether an individual is an amateur enthusiast eager to delve into the magic of home brewing or an experienced brewer aiming to refine their toolkit, the quintessential question emerges: which is the best beer kit from the top supplier?

Introducing Beginners to the Art: Starter Home Brewing Kit

Delving into the myriad options of starter kits can be formidable. For those embarking on their brewing journey, the plethora of choices might appear bewildering. Starter kits have risen to this challenge, ensuring all the essentials are in place for that initial batch.

Beer Kits: Foundation Stones of Home Brewing

Beer kits capture the soul of specific beers, offering a simplified approach by packaging vital ingredients. Depending on the brew’s character, a beer kit might encompass malt extract, hop pellets, priming sugar, and yeast. The hallmark of these kits? Predictability and precision, making them an ideal fit for novices.

Essential Tools & Equipment: Home Brewing Kits

Home brewing kits come equipped with all the gear required for the brewing adventure. Northern Brewer, a renowned name in the home brewing landscape, promises excellence with every instrument.

However, it’s essential to recognize that not all kits are identical. Some might feature a five-gallon bucket, while others might favor a glass carboy for primary fermentation. Often, the choice between plastic buckets and glass carboys is a matter of individual taste.

Tailoring the Perfect Brew Beer: Recipe Kit

A niche within beer kits, recipe kits are tailored for distinct brews – from pale ales to brown ales or even exotic craft beer blends. Accompanied by detailed instructions and all the requisite ingredients, it’s akin to having an expert brewmaster overseeing the brewing process, guiding towards that perfect pint.

Showcasing the Northern Brewer Brew Share Enjoy Kit

The “Brew Share Enjoy Kit” from Northern Brewer is the talk of the town in the home brewing circles. This kit symbolizes the trend of crafting superior brews at home, boasting both equipment and recipe kits. It caters to both beginners and aficionados.

The Home Brew Shop UK: The Pinnacle of Quality

The homebrewshop.co.uk emerges as the UK’s leading supplier. Their diverse collection, encompassing beer brewing kits and wine kits, underscores their dedication to the home brewing fraternity. Their meticulously crafted beer kits guarantee that each brew day culminates in a delightful glass of quality beer.

Their expansive inventory ranges from essential fermenting buckets to the vital bottle brush, meeting all brewing requisites. Their kits, especially the beginner-centric ones, have garnered admiration for their straightforwardness and thoroughness.

Optimizing the Brew Day Experience

Crafting an exceptional beer goes beyond mere instruction-following. It’s a fine art. Each stage, from steeping grains to maintaining apt fermentation temperatures, shapes the resulting beer. But with a superior kit, this intricate procedure evolves into a pleasurable, rewarding hobby.

Contrary to popular belief, home-brewed beer can indeed rival, if not surpass, commercial brews. Especially with the top-tier kits from esteemed suppliers like The Home Brew Shop UK, home brewers are now crafting beers that challenge the norms.

The bottom line? With an elite kit, a dash of zeal, and a sprinkle of patience, brewing beer transitions from an intricate task to a joyful pastime. For those yearning to fully immerse in this rewarding hobby, selecting the best beer kit from a premier supplier is paramount.

Enhancing Your Brewing Prowess: The Art & Science Behind Every Kit

As this deep dive into brewing unfolds, it’s crucial to discern the elements elevating a decent brew to a stellar one. Amidst a sea of beer kits, what sets the elite apart? The devil is in the details.

From Grain to Glass: Ingredient Insights

  • Malt Extract: The crux of numerous beer kits. Depending on the chosen kit, one may encounter both liquid and dry malt extracts, derived from malted barley. A premium malt extract ensures the beer’s richness.
  • Hop Pellets: These impart beer’s signature bitterness and scent. Most kits come with hop pellets – condensed hop flowers. Different brews lean on diverse hop varieties, infusing them with unique flavors and fragrances.
  • Yeast: The unsung hero, yeast metamorphoses malt sugars into alcohol. The yeast variety in a kit can significantly shape the beer’s final flavor and texture.

The Brewing Journey: Beyond Mere Combining

While brewing may appear simple, minute details in the procedure, from the boiling water temperature to fermentation duration, can profoundly impact the final brew.

Cold Water vs. Hot Water

Most brewing journeys commence with boiling water for malt and hop steeping. But it’s vital to swiftly cool this concoction before introducing the yeast. Yeast thrives in cold water, ensuring successful fermentation.

Twin Fermentation Phases

Majority of kits recommend a dual fermentation. The inaugural batch undergoes primary fermentation, either in a fermenting bucket or a glass carboy. This is succeeded by secondary fermentation, refining and aging the beer, and amplifying its flavors.

Unveiling the Premier Home Brewing Experience with The Home Brew Shop UK

For those diving into the effervescent world of home brewing, The Home Brew Shop UK emerges as the beacon of superior offerings. This esteemed supplier presents a diverse range of kits, guaranteeing unmatched brewing experiences for both novices and seasoned aficionados.

For the Budding Brewer

Embarking on the brewing journey can be filled with uncertainties, but The Home Brew Shop UK’s starter kits sweep aside all apprehensions. These kits, replete with all the essentials, are meticulously crafted to ensure that a brewer’s initial batch radiates success.

For the Advanced Enthusiast

Beyond the basics, The Home Brew Shop UK showcases a collection of sophisticated kits. Delving into diverse brewing styles – from the full-bodied brown ales to the refreshing pale ales, they serve as a canvas for brewers to push their boundaries.

Craft Beer Kits Take Centre Stage

For those with discerning tastes, the craft beer kits stand as an epitome of perfection. These kits capture the spirit of iconic brews, allowing enthusiasts to craft their favorite beverages in the comfort of their sanctuary.

Spotlight on Northern Brewer

Among the pantheon of brewing marvels, Northern Brewer’s Brew Share Enjoy Kit deserves a special accolade. A testament to the essence of home brewing, this kit is not just a mere assembly of tools and ingredients. It is an invitation to embrace the rich tapestry of beer-making, where quality components meet insightful guidance.

Home brewing transcends being a mere activity – it is a soulful journey. With the optimal kit in hand, it transforms into an odyssey filled with exploration, elation, and the joy of crafting exquisite beer.

Immersing in the Craftsmanship of Home Brewing

At the heart of home brewing lies a harmonious blend of age-old traditions, artistic expression, and contemporary techniques. In this ever-evolving milieu, dedicated brewers constantly quest for the pinnacle of perfection. The plethora of options at their disposal underlines the importance of discerning the jewels from the ordinary.

Savouring the Symphony of Flavours with Recipe Kits

Beer’s rich repertoire has witnessed an exponential expansion. Ranging from timeless lagers and stouts to avant-garde blends, the spectrum is astonishingly vast. Recipe kits emerge as the guiding star for the aspiring brewers in this expansive universe. These kits, precision-engineered with handpicked ingredients, ensure that every desired flavor profile, be it the zesty punch of a pale ale or the profound resonance of a brown ale, is within reach.

Decoding the Brewing Apparatus

Glass Carboys vs. Plastic Buckets: A long-standing debate in the brewing world centers around the choice between glass carboys and plastic buckets. While glass carboys win accolades for transparency, offering a clear view of the fermentation process, plastic buckets often gain favor for their robustness and hassle-free maintenance.

Bottling Excellence: As one transitions to the culmination of the brewing journey, instruments like bottling buckets and bottle cappers become pivotal. Bottling buckets simplify the beer’s voyage into beer bottles, and cappers ensure each bottle’s pristine seal, capturing the beer’s essence.

Brewing’s Ethereal Essence

Beyond the tangible tools and techniques, brewing’s true essence is anchored in unwavering patience, fiery passion, and relentless pursuit of perfection. Whether one commences with a simple brewing kit or embraces advanced apparatus, the real enchantment blossoms when the brewer’s expertise synergizes with top-tier ingredients.

The Home Brew Shop UK: A Beacon of Excellence in the Brewing Realm

In the vibrant brewing landscape of the UK, The Home Brew Shop UK has risen as an indispensable ally for countless brewing enthusiasts. It isn’t merely the expansive inventory that distinguishes them but their unwavering fervour for the brewing art.

An All-Encompassing Brew Journey

The Home Brew Shop UK’s catalogue is a harmonious blend of time-honoured practices and cutting-edge innovations. From comprehensive starter kits tailored for neophytes to specialised recipe kits for the adept, they are committed to fulfilling every brewing aspiration.

More Than Just a Store – A Learning Hub

A hallmark of The Home Brew Shop UK’s ethos is their dedication to community upliftment. Beyond being a premier supplier, they shine as educators, frequently disseminating invaluable brewing insights, techniques, and tips.

Brewing: An Odyssey of Lifelong Learning

To term brewing merely as a hobby would be an understatement. It is, in essence, a journey of perpetual discovery and delight. As the home brewing culture flourishes, it’s heartening to witness torchbearers like The Home Brew Shop UK charting the path for future brew maestros.

Demystifying Beer Kit Selection:

In the vast universe of brewing, zeroing in on the perfect beer kit can be a daunting quest. Be it novices taking their initial steps or seasoned brewers broadening their horizons, there’s an impeccably tailored kit awaiting each.

  • Starting Right: The beginner’s delight, starter kits are meticulously engineered to ensure a smooth initiation. Encompassing everything from malt extracts to concise instructions, they set the stage for a memorable first brew.
  • For the Adventurous Palate: As one’s brewing prowess advances, the allure of specialty beers beckons. Whether it’s the allure of a hearty pale ale or the depth of a brown ale, there’s a specialty kit ready to meet the call.

Brewing Unveiled:

At first glance, brewing may seem intricate, but it’s truly a sequence of coherent phases:

  1. From Grain to Gold: Beginning with the steeping of grains, this stage extracts the pivotal sugars for fermentation.
  2. Wort’s Elixir: The extracted liquid, termed ‘wort’, is boiled, with hop pellets introduced to impart distinct bitterness and fragrance.
  3. Magic in Fermentation: Upon cooling, the wort moves to a fermenting vessel, and yeast comes into play, marking the beer’s birth.
  4. Enhanced Fermentation: An optional phase, secondary fermentation, accentuates nuances in flavours and transparency.
  5. The Final Pour: The culmination sees the beer being bottled, carbonated, and sealed for optimal enjoyment.

A brewing mantra to swear by? Cleanliness. Employing a no-rinse sanitizer can be pivotal, warding off undesirable flavours.

Crafting Masterpieces with The Home Brew Shop UK:

Venturing into home brewing becomes a breeze with stalwarts like The Home Brew Shop UK lighting the path. Their exhaustive collection, coupled with an earnest passion for brewing excellence, serves as an invaluable resource for brewers of all calibers.

  • Spotlight on the Northern Brewer Kit: Among the treasure trove of offerings, the Northern Brewer Brew Share Enjoy Kit shines brilliantly. It encapsulates the zenith of craft beer crafting, promising brews that rival artisanal excellence.
  • A Quality-driven Ethos: Every offering from The Home Brew Shop UK, be it a basic kit or an elaborate setup, underscores their commitment to quality. Each brew, hence, is a stride towards unparalleled perfection.

Brewing: A Journey of Empowerment:

Brewing stands as a testament to individual empowerment, a canvas to innovate, relish, and celebrate one’s endeavours. With luminaries like The Home Brew Shop UK forging ahead, brewers are equipped with unparalleled tools, knowledge, and zest.

Navigating the Kit Spectrum:

Selecting the perfect beer kit is akin to curating a personal journey. With evolving brewing finesse, the horizon of possibilities broadens. From dark ales to IPAs, The Home Brew Shop UK ensures a kit for every brewer’s aspiration.

Equipment Mastery for the Perfect Brew:

A beer kit’s brilliance shines brightest with impeccable equipment. While starters often receive the basic essentials, delving deeper reveals the transformative power of quality apparatus.

  • The Carboy Conundrum: Plastic buckets offer simplistic charm, but glass carboys elevate the experience with enhanced clarity and flavour preservation. The Home Brew Shop UK’s inventory ensures every brewer finds their fit.
  • Bottling Brilliance: Precision in bottling is paramount to capturing the beer’s soul. The Home Brew Shop UK stands ready with an arsenal of bottling essentials, ensuring every brewer’s vision is flawlessly bottled.

The Home Brew Shop UK Introduces Advanced Brewing Kits for Enthusiasts

With the growth of home brewing expertise, The Home Brew Shop UK understands the allure of advanced homebrew kits that offer intricate flavour profiles and heightened brewing experiences. Their range kit includes recipe kits that mirror professional breweries with carefully pre-measured ingredients and detailed guidelines.

One of the standout features of The Home Brew Shop UK lies in its matchless passion coupled with superior product quality. Their commitment stretches from providing the simplest beer kit to advanced brewing systems, making them an indispensable asset in a brewer’s journey. Additionally, their unwavering dedication to customer service ensures that queries, ranging from malt extract subtleties to brewing process details, are handled with unmatched expertise.

The wave of craft beer has globally captured the attention of beer aficionados. Recognising this trend, The Home Brew Shop UK offers a vast collection of craft beer kits, enabling enthusiasts to recreate their favourite craft brews or even establish their unique signature flavours.

Beyond the classic lagers and ales, The Home Brew Shop UK opens the doors to the world of speciality brews. Their kits encompass everything from the malty sweetness of brown ales to other nuanced beverages. Their brown ale kits, for example, guarantee a brew day resulting in a glass brimming with rich, delightful flavours.

Understanding that the essence of beer largely depends on the quality of its ingredients, The Home Brew Shop UK prioritises high-grade components in their kits. Every ingredient, whether it’s the malt extract, hop pellets, or yeast, plays a decisive role in the final beer’s taste, aroma, and texture. Their mantra seems clear: Quality trumps quantity, and their kits reflect this commitment, ensuring beers that stand out in taste and character.

The realm of home brewing has witnessed significant evolution, with modern-day kits promising clarity and an enhanced brewing experience. Catering to all, from novices to seasoned brewers, The Home Brew Shop UK offers a spectrum of options that satisfy every brewing ambition.

Brewing might initially seem complex, but The Home Brew Shop UK is dedicated to simplifying the process. From understanding the pivotal role of ingredients like malt extract, hops, and yeast to the nuances of boiling and fermentation, they provide guidance every step of the way. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of sanitation during bottling and carbonation, ensuring that every pint brewed is perfect.

In the expansive world of home brewing, where every kit unboxed presents a new adventure, having a dependable ally like The Home Brew Shop UK can indeed make the journey exhilarating and rewarding.

The Home Brew Shop UK Guides Enthusiasts to Their Ideal Brewing Kit

The Home Brew Shop UK recognises that every brewing adventure is as unique as the individual embarking on it. Understanding that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to brewing, they offer a range of kits tailored to cater to each brewer’s journey.

For novices just venturing into the world of home brewing, The Home Brew Shop UK suggests starting with their beginner brew kits. Comprehensive and user-friendly, these kits encompass everything from fermenting buckets to bottle cappers, accompanied by in-depth guidelines. This ensures that even a newcomer’s maiden brew can stand shoulder to shoulder with those of seasoned brewers.

More seasoned brewing aficionados might find the allure of advanced kits hard to resist. Tailored to meet the evolving needs of experienced brewers, these kits pave the way for experimenting with nuanced techniques, ranging from grain steeping to exploring varied hop profiles and even venturing into secondary fermentation.

Moreover, with craft beer’s ever-growing popularity, The Home Brew Shop UK has seized the moment. They offer a curated selection of craft beer kits, enabling beer lovers to emulate their cherished craft brews or even pioneer their own unique blends at home.

Incorporating Essential Brewing Wisdom

The Home Brew Shop UK believes that while equipment and ingredients are vital, knowledge and best practices truly set a brew apart. Their key brewing insights include:

  • Prioritising Sanitisation: A clean brew is a successful brew. The company stresses the importance of meticulously sanitising every piece of equipment.
  • Valuing Patience: Giving beer its rightful time to ferment and carbonate can transform its quality.
  • Monitoring Temperature: Ensuring optimal temperature during fermentation and storage can be pivotal to achieving the desired beer flavour and character.

Exploring the World of Diverse Beer Styles

Understanding that a brewer’s quest often lies in discovering diverse beer styles, The Home Brew Shop UK offers insights into the myriad of options:

  1. Dive into Pale Ales: From the quintessential English Pale Ale to the hop-dominant American variant, pale ales offer a spectrum of flavours and aromas. The Home Brew Shop UK showcases an array of pale ale kits, opening a world of possibilities.
  2. Unravel the Brown Ale Mystery: Bridging the gap between light pale ales and robust stouts, brown ales tantalise with their malty, caramel-infused profiles. With roots in England, the style has now been embraced and adapted globally.
  3. Join the Craft Beer Movement: Craft beers, synonymous with innovation and superior quality, have globally resonated with beer enthusiasts. The Home Brew Shop UK’s craft beer kits provide the tools and ingredients for recreating some of these distinctive styles, from fruit-infused IPAs to rich barrel-aged sours.

In the vast realm of home brewing, The Home Brew Shop UK emerges as a guiding star, ensuring every brewer, novice or seasoned, finds their perfect pint.

The Home Brew Shop UK Champions Cost-Efficient and Sustainable Brewing Solutions

In today’s brewing landscape, The Home Brew Shop UK knows that home brewing extends beyond crafting that impeccable pint—it’s also a marriage of passion, sustainability, and economic sensibility.

While the upfront costs of a high-quality starter kit might give pause to budding brewers, The Home Brew Shop UK underscores the long-term savings inherent in home brewing. When pitted against the per bottle price of off-the-shelf beers, especially artisanal crafts, the economics of home brewing becomes hard to contest. This positions brewing at home as not just an engaging pastime, but also a wallet-friendly one.

In an era of increasing environmental mindfulness, The Home Brew Shop UK highlights another compelling facet of home brewing: its sustainable nature. From recycling beer bottles to diminishing the carbon footprint tied to commercial beer transport, choosing to brew at home resonates with eco-aware enthusiasts.

Elevating the Brewing Experience with Premier Add-Ons

As brewers evolve in their craft, their thirst for innovation and perfection intensifies. The Home Brew Shop UK, staying attuned to this progressive journey, offers solutions:

  1. Advanced Tools: Seasoned brewers understand that transcending basic brewing may call for enhanced equipment. Be it the clarity a glass carboy provides during fermentation or the efficiency a racking cane offers for transfers, the right tools can redefine the brewing odyssey.
  2. Ingredient Exploration: There’s a universe of flavours that novel ingredients can usher in. Whether the allure lies in rare hops, bespoke malts, or even eclectic additives like fruits and spices, The Home Brew Shop UK hosts a vast assortment. This ensures that brewers can bring even their most daring beer visions to life.

A Toast to the Spirit of Home Brewing

Embarking on the home brewing voyage—be it as a leisure pursuit or a fervent passion—ushers in boundless innovation, surprises, and naturally, exquisite beers. Coupled with superior kits and resources from stalwarts like The Home Brew Shop UK, each brewing day transforms into an event.

Home brewing, in essence, is an expedition of exploration, innovation, and unparalleled satisfaction. And with every freshly brewed batch, the euphoria of sculpting something from the ground up is incomparable. The journey, made even more memorable with the unwavering guidance, expertise, and provisions from The Home Brew Shop UK, ensures that brewers relish every moment.

FAQs

1. What is the best starter brewing kit?
For beginners, the best starter brewing kit is one that offers simplicity, comprehensive instructions, and all the essentials needed to brew. The Home Brew Shop UK provides a variety of beginner-friendly kits tailored to ensure a successful first brew.

2. Are beer kits worth it?
Absolutely! Beer kits offer convenience, consistency, and a cost-effective way to produce high-quality beer at home. They eliminate guesswork, making the brewing process more accessible, especially for newcomers.

3. Can you make good beer from a kit?
Yes, with the right kit and following the instructions diligently, you can produce beer that rivals commercial brews in taste and quality. The key lies in selecting quality kits from reputable suppliers and maintaining sanitation throughout the brewing process.

Business Advice, Food and Drink

Three ways that restaurants can stand out through sustainability

Sustainability is a hot topic for all prudent restaurants today, and for good reason. With 90% of consumers saying that in general, sustainability matters to them, it’s within your best interest to practise sustainability.

Billy Tannery was founded as a solution to the needless waste of goat hides in the UK, and sustainability influences everything we do. Although not within the hospitality sector directly, our hides are sourced directly from the food industry, and we work closely with restaurants to bring them luxury sustainable leather accessories, such as branded leather aprons and menu covers.

Sustainability can impact all aspects of how a restaurant operates. It’s a win-win scenario: practising sustainability makes you a greener, more responsible business, while improving brand identity and appealing to the 57% of consumers who say restaurant sustainability influences their choices when dining away from home.

Here are three ways restaurants can align with their diner’s values and stand out through sustainability.

Take the farm to table approach

The farm to table approach is a full-scale mission for a healthier planet and population through sustainable food production and the reduction of food waste. But what can this huge movement look like at your restaurant?

Implementing a farm to table approach means opting for local, seasonal produce and cutting out the middlemen by buying direct from the farm. Think about how our great grandparents would have shopped and eaten, no supermarkets, no online food shopping and no imported food from far and wide, just honest local ingredients.

And luckily for any brand conscious eatery, the farm to table strategy can become a key aspect of your brand story and restaurant design. Diners are spoilt for choice in today’s competitive market, therefore separating your restaurant from the crowd should be a priority.

Say no to needless food waste

Food waste is bad for the planet, bad for your wallet and bad for your bins. Britain’s hospitality sector creates a horrifying 920, 000 tonnes of food waste every year, but perhaps even more shocking is that three quarters of this is perfectly edible food.

Silo is a pioneering zero waste eatery based in East London that is paving the way for restaurant food waste reduction. Douglas McMaster, owner of Silo, champions the farm to table approach and the idea of a sustainable circular economy.

Our values at Billy Tannery align with those of McMaster, so much so that he chose our goat leather branded aprons for staff at Silo. Not only are our bespoke aprons made from a sustainably sourced material, they save both energy and water, seeing as they don’t need to go in the washing machine.

Take a leaf out of Silo’s book by composting food scraps and using whole ingredients. Analyse and assess your menu regularly to identify where portion sizes can be altered, and create specials to use up surplus ingredients.

A flexible and responsive menu that changes depending on the ingredients you have at hand is a key way to reduce food waste, and this will certainly help you to stand out from competitors.

Invest in quality sustainable accessories

Sustainability goes hand in hand with quality. Investing in long lasting accessories and décor for your restaurant has the bonus of adding class and style, which in turn will help you to stand out.

Disposable menus and napkins and low cost uniforms may be convenient, but they are bad for the environment and do nothing for your restaurant’s vibe. Instead, opt for hardwearing menus, reusable straws, organic cotton napkins, and quality stylish uniforms for your staff such as branded leather aprons. Sustainable materials such as vegetable tanned goat leather from our microtannery can add a luxe edge to your restaurant’s ambience.

Eco-friendly products for your restaurant can even extend to the cleaning products you use, the soap you choose for the diner’s bathrooms, and how you furnish the space.

Second-hand furniture is a great way to make your restaurant stand out through sustainability. Vintage pieces often add far more character and are very well made compared to flat packed modern tables and chairs. Plus, you can usually stay local when buying second-hand as opposed to ordering online.

Choose sustainability as a cornerstone for your restaurant

Choosing a sustainable approach for your restaurant can profoundly influence every aspect of how you operate.

Sustainability is a fantastic cornerstone for your brand story that will help you be a greener business, serve the freshest ingredients, improve your restaurant’s decor and make you stand apart from competitors.

Sources:

Datassential, Keynote Reports, Oct. 2022

https://simplotfoods.com/blog/what-do-consumers-really-think-about-restaurant-sustainability

https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/britains-hospitality-sector-generates-920k-tonnes-of-food-waste-annually/

 

Food and Drink, News

The Ivy Asia, Cardiff, set to open in the heart of Cardiff this summer

The Ivy Asia is set to open the doors to its first Asian-inspired concept in Wales this summer. Located within the heart of Cardiff on The Hayes at St David’s Cardiff, and catering for 166 for both indoor dining and across its beautiful terrace, the restaurant will be open seven days a week, offering everything from lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, late-night cocktails, and weekend brunch.

Serving theatrical drinks and cocktails alongside a delicious menu of tantalising dishes and DJ performances, this vibrant and playful destination will entertain, inspire, and excite guests from the moment they step inside.

On arrival, diners will be met by the now infamous, luminous green onyx flooring, whilst the restaurant will feature two large cherry blossom trees and bespoke Paul Clifford artwork. Fitted beautifully with striking artwork, luxurious Asian fabrics, colourful wallpapers, and antiques, the space is designed to be elegant yet vibrant. Alongside the main restaurant and bar, guests will also be able to experience mezzanine level seating and a sushi bar, where dishes and delights will be prepared before their very eyes.

The Ivy Asia, Cardiff’s kitchen will be overseen by Executive Chef Simon Gregory, whilst dishes will take inspiration from cuisines spanning the continent of Asia. The menu will incorporate much-loved favourites from sister restaurants The Ivy Asia, Chelsea and The Ivy Asia, Brighton, with highlights including an extensive sushi and sashimi selection, including wagyu beef tataki, salmon sashimi, spiced yuzu and avocado salsa, and yellowtail three ways. Vegetarian and plant-based options will include avocado crispy tofu, with a lime and ginger dressing, and roasted aubergine miso and masago arare.

Accompanying the menu will be a delicious selection of cocktails, sakes, wines, Champagnes and Jing speciality Asian teas. Cocktails will transport guests with a series of exciting flavours and colourful garnishes. What’s more, diners will be able to enjoy live DJs late into the night with our Ivy Asia lates programme from 10pm.

 

Simon Gregory, Executive Chef at The Ivy Asia, says: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing The Ivy Asia to Cardiff, the first in Wales. Cardiff is known for its vibrant atmosphere and rich culture, making it the perfect place for this new Asian inspired concept. The team we have in place is fantastic and the restaurant itself will offer a beautiful setting for all occasions.”

 

Helen Morgan, Centre Director at St David’s, said: “The Ivy Asia will be a fantastic addition to our restaurant offering and we expect it to be very popular. We know our guests will enjoy The Ivy Asia’s high-quality food and drink, served in a gorgeous setting.”

About St David’s Cardiff

St David’s shopping centre provides over 1.4 million sq ft of retail and leisure space and over 180 stores. Since opening its doors in 2009, it has put Cardiff firmly on the map as one of the UK’s best shopping cities.

St David’s has secured a continuous stream of high calibre retailer and restaurant openings over the past five years, including many brands that have made their debut or introduced new concept stores into Wales such as Superdry opening its first dedicated Superdry Sports entrance in the UK. Recent brands also include Bershka, Slim Chickens and Daniel Wellington.

St David’s is anchored by Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, and the largest John Lewis outside of London.  The centre is also home to a mix of national and international retailers, such as Primark and River Island, in addition to premium brands and independents.  These include Hugo Boss, Radley, Vivienne Westwood, and Jo Malone.  The dining offer at St David’s is equally impressive, with brands such as Wahaca and wagamama.

www.stdavidscardiff.com

Food & Drink, Food and Drink, News

Four in A Row For HAPPi in Top Food Awards

Plant-based oat mi!k chocolate brand, HAPPi, is celebrating after winning four top awards in this year’s hugely competitive Great Taste Awards.

Launched earlier this year as a delicious, vegan alternative to milk chocolate, HAPPi picked up four coveted gold awards for all four of its main flavours: Plain M!lk, Orange, Salted Caramel and Cacao Nibs Crunch and was the only oat milk chocolate brand in the competition. 

“This is a fantastic achievement for HAPPi, which we only launched at the start of 2021,” says Gavin Cox. “When it comes to creating plant-based alternatives, taste is the absolute most important thing so to pick up these awards for flavour alone is a huge pat on the back for the whole team.”

“The flexitarian chocolate market is becoming increasingly competitive so awards like these will really help us stand out from the crowd,” adds Gavin.

The Great Taste Awards is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink awards, with a panel of expert judges that include chefs, buyers, food writers and retailers. All products are blind tasted and marked accordingly, meaning that the awards are also a positive way to receive honest, impartial feedback on products from the best figures in the food and drink industry.

During vigorous taste testing, the judges described HAPPi as “A very well made chocolate bar. The texture was creamy and velvety, and the cacao content was well balanced with the sweetness,” adding, “The flavour profile is excellent: the chocolate is rich with fruity dark notes with the well judged salted caramel bringing a very well judged further dimension to this tasty, indulgent chocolate bar.”

HAPPi produces a range of oat mi!k chocolate products including its core range of bars, HAPPi nibbles, buttons, HAPPi Oat Drinks and also new this month its advent calendar and selection box. For more information on HAPPi visit www.happifreefrom.com

THE HAPPI FACTS 

  • Happi Free From produces a range of oat milk chocolate bars in six flavours, as well as oat milk chocolate buttons and chocolate Nibbles.
  • Happi Oat Drinks are its newest launch.
  • Happi uses fully sustainable packaging. All Happi packaging is from sustainable sources and is either fully recyclable or compostable.
  • Happi buys its cacao directly from farmers and growers with a full ‘farm-to-bar’ supply chain. This means they know who grows its chocolate and what they get paid. 
  • Happi gives 1% of our annual net sales revenues to youth projects and mental health organisations. 
Food & Drink, Food and Drink, News

Luxury Brownie Baker Unveils Brand New Vegan Treat

B is For Brownie adds Madagascan single-origin chocolate vegan brownie to its growing product range.

B is For Brownie based in Rutland is renowned for their use of luxury single-origin chocolate in their recipes, and to the delight of the vegan community – who up until now, could only stare longingly at pictures on B is For Brownie’s Instagram – Lou Cox, founder and Head Brownie Baker has confirmed that the vegan addition is now available online.

Early taste tests for the new recipe have been universally positive, with rave reviews from some very well-respected foodies.

Chocolate writer and award-winning bean to bar chocolate maker Dom Ramsey writes, “I’m very happy with them. The flavour is good and rich, and I like the texture, it’s the perfect balance of cakey and fudgy. I wouldn’t have known they were vegan!”

Influential food writer and editor, Sophie Farrah said, “Recently Lou has been working long and hard to create the ultimate vegan chocolate brownies.”

Sophie continues, “And I confirm that she has nailed it. It’s rich, fudgy, and seriously chocolatey. Completely and utterly delicious!”

When asked about the baking process, Lou, who founded the company back in 2015 with a mission to create a luxury brownie using only the very best ingredients, had this to say, “it’s been very tricky with lots of versions and test bakes!”

“It’s especially tricky with a vegan brownie, as the eggs and butter are no longer present, and they are normally so key to flavour and texture.”

Lou goes on to explain that the vegan butter alternative and oat milk were carefully chosen to provide the textures and flavours that brownie fans will instantly recognise.

“Of course, the single-origin Madagascan chocolate is the main focus of the final recipe. It’s incredibly flavourful, and because terroir contributes to the final flavour of the cacao, each harvest will result in an exciting tweak to flavour. An element of surprise which translates very well when baked into a vegan chocolate brownie.

To learn more, visit https://www.bisforbrownie.co.uk/

Finance and Banking, Food and Drink, Investment News, News

London food wholesaler acquires two new warehouses with HSBC UK funding

An international food wholesaler based in London has purchased two new warehouses in Park Royal, after securing a six-figure commercial mortgage from HSBC UK.

Garousca distributes a wide range of high-quality food products to retailers across the UK and overseas. The company has used the funding to purchase two new sites adjacent to its existing premise in Park Royal, totaling over 4,000 sq.ft. The additional space will enable Garousca to increase its stock capacity by 30 per cent. Allowing Garousca to distribute greater volumes of food, to meet the surge in demand from its customers across the UK and Europe.

As well as holding greater amounts of stock, the new sites will allow the company to test new product lines and expand its product portfolio with the introduction of fruit juices and drinks.

 

Shafiz Garusana, Director of Garousca said: “We are pleased to be able to continue to grow the business with the acquisition of these two new sites. The increase in capacity not only allows us to scale up operations, but it will also enable us to compete for bigger customers as part of our wider business growth strategy.

We are grateful for the continued support from HSBC UK and our Relationship Manager Daniel Gibbs, who have been an instrumental part of our business since we purchased our first warehouse nearly 20 years ago.”

 

Chris Chambers, HSBC UK Area Director for London City Business Banking, added: “Garousca has continued to grow this year despite the challenging conditions, and we are pleased to be able to support the future expansion of the business. We look forward to continuing to support the business on its growth journey.”

 

Food and Drink

Taking Wales to the world in a virtual way . Welsh food and drink companies seeking to enter the Far East market

An international export cluster programme for Welsh food and drink businesses is underway as part of the Welsh Government’s strategy for the food and drink sector to develop and access new markets in new ways overseas.

The Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Export Cluster Lead Generation programme is intended to support suitable companies who are interested in exporting, and setting them up with buyers and distributors by product category in order to develop and strengthen business, trade and export relationships.

This export cluster lead generation programme aims to support efforts to develop and harness vital partnerships for the Welsh food and drinks sector with chosen target markets in Japan and, for the first time, in Taiwan and South Korea.

This week(21-25 June) the programme will focus on South Korea, with 15 Welsh companies taking part in the virtual visit to South Korea with 80 meetings planned throughout the week with 28 buyers. Participating companies have a webinar scheduled for the first morning where they will have an introduction to the South Korean market and gain an understanding of buyers’ expectations. Samples of products from the respective companies have already been sent overseas and planned meetings throughout the week will offer the opportunity to discuss in more detail.

The Welsh companies participating cover a broad range across the food and drink sector, from dairy, drinks, fine foods and pet foods.

Daniel Jones, Head of UK Sales & Marketing of Daioni Organic is one producer taking part,

“This virtual export visit to South Korea provides us with a great opportunity to build contacts and access new markets.

“Securing new and maintaining current export markets is crucial to our ambition for 2021 and beyond, so we can continue growing Daioni’s international footprint.”

Another company embarking on the virtual visit is Cradocs, producers of vegan and vegetarian friendly savoury biscuits. Commenting ahead of the visit owner of Cradocs, Allie Thomas says,

“There is no easier market than the one on our doorstep, but that is not available to us, therefore we need to do what we have to in order to access new markets.

“We are a small company and are thankful to the Welsh Government for giving us this opportunity, and for the many meetings they have managed to arrange for us. I am very excited to see how it will work and look forward to dialling in next week to talk with potential buyers – and hopefully making some deals.”

COVID-19 has made for a very challenging environment for business. In addition, businesses have also been faced with the end of the EU transition period, which has proven to be a source of major disruption with trading partners.

Unlocking new markets brings even greater opportunities for Welsh food and drink businesses to not only showcase the quality produce around the world, but also generate more revenue and increase profits. With Wales’s reputation and provenance, there is a strong platform for further growth that will benefit everyone.

Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths MS believes that with Wales’s reputation and provenance, there is a strong platform for further growth that can benefit everyone.

The Minister said: “Virtual trade visits are a great way for many of Wales’ food and drink companies to showcase their excellent products and capabilities to international audiences in a format that is suited to the current climate.

“This is the third virtual visit in this export cluster programme the Welsh Government has supported and provides businesses with a chance to explore accessing new markets. I wish them every success.”

This virtual visit follows on the back of visits to Japan and Taiwan earlier this year.

For further information about Food and Drink Wales please visit www.gov.wales/foodanddrinkwales