South Caernarfon Creameries (SCC) has had its best year at the International Cheese Awards (ICDA) claiming five golds, one silver and four bronze awards for its wide range of Cheddar cheeses, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester and Caerphilly cheese.
Attracting over 5,500 entries every year, the ICDA is the world’s biggest platform championing world class producers of cheese and dairy products and success brings high profile recognition not only with UK retailers but on the international stage.
After recently winning the prestigious ‘Food Producer of the Year’ award at the 2023 Wales Food and Drink Awards, the farmer owned dairy co-operative is going from strength to strength. To date this year, SCC has also secured 11 awards at the Devon County Show, seven at the Cheshire Show and a bronze at the Highland show.
The string of awards follows a busy first half of the year for the creamery, with the launch of its TV advert for its flagship brand Dragon, its new and improved Dragon website and breaking into the lucrative US dairy market.
SCC Managing Director, Alan Wyn Jones said, “We’ve had an incredibly successful year at the ICDA awards, the best ever. This is a testament to all the hard work put in by the SCC team, from the farmers producing the high quality milk, to our highly skilled cheese production team.
“Winning one of these renowned awards means being part of an elite group and a 125 year old tradition of the very best in class, but claiming 10 awards overall is outstanding.
“This year we smashed last years’ hat-trick of gold awards and won five, a true reflection of the exceptional quality of cheese we produce here at South Caernarfon Creameries.”
A leading North West & Wales brewery and pub retailer has acquired premises in Heswall, on the Wirral, Merseyside, and is set to open a new pub restaurant that will create at least 35 jobs.
Salford-based Hydes brewery has acquired the building in Heswall on Telegraph Road, which will see the conversion of the town’s former police station into a premium dining and drinking establishment. Hydes have also chosen to name the pub ‘The Harry Beswick’ in honour of the original architect of the building.
Born in Chester in 1856, Harry Beswick was county architect for Chester from 1895 until 1926, responsible for designing over 40 buildings including numerous police stations and school buildings.
The £1.3million acquisition of the building is Hydes’ first property acquisition in over five years. The building has been empty for several years and over the next few months will be transformed into a premium pub dining venue serving both quality food and drinks.
Hydes intends to invest over £2.3million in the restoration and refurbishment. It will open in late 2023 with a 35-strong team of fully trained staff.
Heswall police station was originally built in 1911 from red brick with sandstone and regional detailing including the county flag of Cheshire corn sheafs at the centre of the County Constabulary plaque.
The transformation of the building will be carried out by WHB Construction and designed by DV8 Architects. The iconic building will undergo a sympathetic and complementary renovation programme, retaining many of the original features, with design enhancements and touches reflecting the station’s history.
Part of the renovations will be to extend the building to create new dining zones, including outside dining with the addition of a welcoming sun facing terrace and the provision of car parking, resulting in a positive contribution to the street scene, and vibrancy of the town centre.
Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs ranging from Lancaster in the North to Stoke-on Trent in the Midlands and across to North Wales including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets, craft style bars and traditional community pubs. Hydes currently operates one other establishment on the Wirral, the Boat House in nearby Neston.
Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers said: “The Harry Beswick is a great location in a stunningly designed building boasting real history and character. Heswall is a thriving area and launching the Harry Beswick opens us up to new audiences.
“We are working hard to make sure The Harry Beswick will deliver a great experience for customers in the area with a quality, contemporary new design scheme and feel combined with a premium dining and drinking experience and Hydes’ standards of customer service.”
The acquisition forms part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme across the Hydes’ estate over the next few years. Last year, Hydes committed over £4.5m to refurbishments of pubs across its estate and it intends to increase that investment substantially throughout 2023.
Adam Mayers continued: “It’s great to see after years of closure the building being developed, fully retaining its heritage and history, which is very important to us and our customers. As one of our premium pub dining pubs we’re confident that customers will love the Harry Beswick and also see it as a lasting honour to one of the area’s famous local residents.
“Hydes remains totally committed to all of the pubs across its estate and this latest investment is part of an ongoing programme of planned investment, redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is a top priority, and we’re delighted to have secured such a stunning presence in Heswall.”
Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.
Pictured: Artists impression of The Harry Beswick, Heswall
Pizza, a delightful combination of bread, cheese, and a variety of toppings has become a popular dish all around the world – including among office staff working late. An easy evening snack or a tasty group dinner, you can enjoy pizza at any time of the day.
The increasing popularity of this Italian dish has given rise to numerous pizza joints in London. So, whether you are planning for a weekend pizza party with your amigos, or a working lunch with your colleagues, we have some of the best options lined up for you.
To make things even better, we are going to suggest you pizza outlets that accept tastecard. So you can enjoy your favourite pizza meal at 50% discount.
Whenever we think of ordering pizza, Domino’s is probably the first name that comes to our mind. With over 18,000 locations worldwide, it is one of the best places to have pizza.
The brand is known for its large variety of pizza and other side dishes. The best pizzas to try at Domino’s include Double Cheese Margherita, Spicy Beg Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, and many more.
Although Domino’s is an affordable brand, you can save more on your order with your tastecard membership. You can get up to 50% off your total bill by spending a minimum of £30. The discount will be automatically applied at the time of checkout.
Pizza Hut Restaurants
Another pizza brand that you must try in London is Pizza Hut. Established in 1958, it has grown to be a grand international success. Pizza Hut is not just present in London but in 12,000 locations worldwide.
There’s no doubt that Pizza Hut makes the best gourmet pizzas in the world. Besides pizza, they also offer a diverse range of sides including garlic rolls, breadsticks, and many more. They also provide excellent customer service and high-quality standards.
The best thing is that Pizza Hut Restaurants in London is a tastecard accepting pizza store. It means you can get exclusive discounts on your order. To redeem your tastecard offer you need to spend at least £30.
Papa John’s
When talking about delicious pizzas, we simply cannot miss out on Papa John’s. They have been serving delicious pizzas since 1984. Like the other two brands in this list, Papa John’s is also an international pizza brand.
If you are in the mood to taste something tasty and cheesy, you should try Papa John’s. They offer a wide range of pizza options with a variety of add-ons and toppings. You also get many side dishes like garlic rolls, breadsticks, and more.
If you are a fan of Papa John’s Pizza, you should sign up for tastecard membership for an exclusive 50% off. This offer can be redeemed by spending a minimum of £30.
What is a tastecard?
Although tastecard offers are quite popular in the UK, many of you may still not be aware of it. tastecard is a UK-based subscription that gets you amazing offers on food, restaurants, cinema tickets, and many other activities.
To take advantage of this service, you need to become a tastecard member. It takes just a few simple steps to complete the signup process. Once that is done, you can enjoy your tastecard membership benefits at places that are associated with the company.
Speaking of which, all three pizza brands mentioned above offer tastecard benefits.
Pizza is a universal food that is loved by people of all ages. If you are in London and in the mood to try pizza, you can go to these places. With your tastecard membership, you can save a lot of money on your order.
The nation’s most loved Malt Loaf brand, Soreen, today announced the launch of their brand NEW Soreen Lift Bars, which include three delicious flavours – Blueberry, Raspberry & Vanilla and Chocolate Orange.
Made for those moments when most in need of a boost, the delicious soft bakes make for a convenient tasty snack – perfect for on-the-go and a healthier alternative to the average snack bar.
Bursting with flavour the juicy Blueberry, tantalizing Raspberry & Vanilla and indulgent Chocolate Orange Soreen Lift Bars contain naturally occurring B12, proven to reduce tiredness and fatigue. As well as Soreen’s key ingredient Malt, which is a natural source of energy and a heart-healthy mix of fibre, potassium, folate and vitamin B. So, whether studying hard, in-between meetings, on the way to the gym, or struggling to focus on the day ahead, these bundles of energy are ideal for moments when a boost is needed most.
With a sharp rise in on-the-go occasions, Soreen Lift Bars make for a popular, healthy and convenient snack at under 140 calories and are Vegan friendly.
Mark Simester, Managing Director at Soreen added: “We know that consumers aged between 18 and 24 are most likely to buy a sweet snack based on the taste, price and flavour. That’s why we took the time to carefully select the flavours to ensure that our Soreen Lift Bars perfectly deliver on taste. In fact, our taste test group identified that consumers were delighted to be able to enjoy indulgent flavours in a much healthier way.
“Our Soreen Lift Bars will enable shoppers to grab a healthy, tasty choice fast – whatever the occasion – and are made for those moments when consumers are most in need of a boost.”
These new cake bakes are also pipped to gain wide appeal given that they’re HFSS compliant and at 42g, they’re filling as well.
Liz Jacobs, Soreen Marketing Director added: “Given the rising popularity of healthy on-the-go snacks fueling everyday energy, we took the decision to create these new soft bakes and flavours that would appeal to a different palate.
“We’re immensely proud to bring a vegan product to the market that contains naturally occurring B12. A vegan diet can often lack B12 so we’re delighted to offer a tasty bar that’s not only packed with flavour but also makes it easier for shoppers to consume B12 and boost their energy levels in a vegan friendly bar.
“Soreen Lift bars also have a treat like taste without being high in sugar or fat – important for a healthy and nutritious diet. There isn’t a product like this out there at the moment within the cake category, so this could be the recipe to lift it and recruit a younger shopper.”
Soreen Lift Bars will be available to consumers in Morrisons and Asda this month, with a RRP of £2.25 for a Multipack of four. The soft bakes will also be hitting further stores throughout the summer.
On Wednesday 29th March the first Nourish food & drink innovation conference was held at Barnham Broom, bringing together a group of speakers and attendees committed to shaping the future of food and drink in the Norfolk and Suffolk. Hosted by The Broadland Food Innovation Centre Project , a dynamic new project with the aim of making a bold difference
to local food and drink producers by supporting and nurturing with people, services and funding that will enable them to flourish. The sell-out conference saw over 120 attendees come together from across the region with many more joining virtually.
The Conference was curated by the University of East Anglia’s (UEA) Food Innovation Cluster , who brought together an inspiring roster of entrepreneurs, thought leaders and brand builders from the world of food and drink. Attended by local SMEs and start-ups this inaugural collaborative and innovative think tank event tackled ideas, issues and decisions facing small businesses today. From environmental and sustainable considerations; the impact of rising costs; the food supply chain, to advice around the skills and tools that will help businesses grow and develop.
Speaker James Averdieck, Gü and The Coconut Collaborative said:
“UEA have created a thriving entrepreneurial cluster of food companies in East Anglia, which will really help startup companies in their early years. It was a very successful event – Good speakers , great debates and an engaging audience with bundles of energy.”
Hannah Springham, speaker and co-founder of Farmyard Frozen said: “It was a totally wonderful event! By far the best I’ve been to in this sector. This is Edinburgh Film & Tv Festival for Food & Drink. A genuinely inspiring day with so much to take away from it.”
Highlights from the Conference:
Cassandra Stavrou, Founder of PROPER Snacks inspired the audience with the story of her success and shared advice about how to embrace creativity and emotion within all aspects of your business.
James Averdieck, Founder of Gü & Coconut Collaborative told his story from a job in middle management to founding a number of successful global brands – as well as being open about the things that haven’t always gone so well.
Hannah Springham, Founder of Farmyard Frozen in Norwich shared the journey that she and her chef partner took in lockdown to innovate the frozen food sector with restaurant quality food and how they look after the welfare and mental health of their team.
Joseph Cordy, Head of Commercial at Paddy & Scott's Coffee demonstrated how the business sustainability and ethical values are central to how they do business and how the brand decided to invest in the farms and community they work with in Kenya. This sustainable and ethical approach feeds into the wellbeing of the business.
Professor Andrew Fearne of Norwich Business School, UEA, started his presentation with an energising dance to House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’ whilst following with a fascinating talk on the tools they have developed to help small businesses.
The afternoon session included a series of hands-on workshops so that attendees could deep-dive into a number of key areas from how to innovate and develop your food and drink products with Fergus Fitzgerald of Adnams and how the Broadland Food Innovation Centre Project can support local business, amongst other things.
The event concluded with a drinks reception that encouraged all guests to network and make vital connections. Throughout the day, over £600 was raised for Nourishing Norfolk and Suffolk Community Foundation with a raffle full of local food and drink and a silent auction.
North West family-owned brewery and pub retailer Hydes is celebrating 160 years of success with a programme of commemorative activities planned throughout the year.
Hydes originated when brothers Alfred and Ralf Hyde acquired a small brewing concern in Manchester from their grandfather Thomas Shaw in 1863, beginning a brewing dynasty that would go on to mark its 160th anniversary this year.
As Hydes’ business developed it was managed by a variety of family members from different generations, increasing success led to it outgrowing its premises several times.
In 1899, with William and Annie Hyde in control, the business moved to its long-term home at the Queens Brewery site in Brooks Bar, Manchester. It was under their leadership that the company began acquiring an estate of public houses through which to distribute more of Hydes’ products.
In 2012, after over 100 years, the company ended its tenure at the Queens Brewery and relocated to its existing site in Salford’s Media City, the Beer Studio.
To mark the 160th milestone, Hydes will be staging a number of commemorative activities and promotions throughout 2023. Planned activities include: commemorative 160th anniversary branding which will appear on bar pump clips and across the pub estate; charity and fundraising initiatives; new products including an anniversary cocktail and the launch of a specially brewed Anniversary Ale; pub dining and drink promotions with pints available for just £1.60, and the introduction of Ralf & Alf’s Summer Ale Trail to coincide with the 160th anniversary month in July.
Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers said: “2023 is a big year for Hydes as July marks our 160th anniversary. Reaching 160 years is an achievement to be immensely proud of especially in the current economic climate with all the challenges facing the brewing and pub retail industry. Everyone in the business can be proud of helping us to achieve this significant milestone.
“This year we really want to celebrate success and to share this with our pubs and customers. The last few years have been very difficult and although we continue to face challenging conditions, as a business we are taking great strides forward and are in great shape to face the future. 2023 and our 160th anniversary is certainly cause for celebration.”
Hydes is fully committed to supporting all of the pubs across its estate and throughout 2022 invested over £4.5m in improving its establishments. This investment activity is part of an ongoing programme of multiple redesigns and refurbishments which will continue throughout 2023 and over the next few years.
Adam Hyde, company secretary and board member, who has spent over 40 years working for the family business, commented: “160 years marks another significant step forward on our successful journey. The North West has always been well represented by long-established successful independent family brewers. We are proud to be in that group and continue to provide great pubs, food and beers to our loyal customers throughout our North West heartland.
“The family is also very proud of Hydes’ distinguished heritage and reputation as a first rate employer which respects and values its employees. A strong focus on running the business in accordance with the traditional values that have guaranteed its survival since 1863 is still very much in play, along with the ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape.”
“The brewery and pub business has been part of my life as far back as I can remember and my passion for it is as strong now as it was when I first visited the brewery with my father, as a child. I’m also thrilled that my nephew, Tom, is continuing the family brewing tradition as an apprentice brewer, learning the trade from an expert team with over 160 years of collective experience, further strengthening the heritage for another generation.”
Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of over 40 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.
Are you looking for ways to store and transport your dry goods safely? Whether you own a small business or are an individual, you must keep your goods safe when transporting them. With so many options available today, knowing what will work best for you can be tricky. But don’t worry—this article has all the tips and tricks to ensure your supplies stay secure.
In this article, you’ll learn about the popular container types, several benefits of proper storage, the importance of labelling and tracking, and many more. By following the guidelines below, you’ll soon be able to rest assured knowing that your cargo is securely stored and transported without compromising its integrity or quality.
Types Of Containers
It’s common for food waste to occur in the production and distribution stages. One way to reduce this costly waste is by properly storing and transporting dry goods. The type of container used for storage can significantly preserve quality, shelf life, and freshness.
When selecting containers for your products, look for something designed specifically for dry goods. Stainless steel or plastic-coated metal are excellent choices as they promote air circulation, which helps keep moisture away from the product.
While you can also use glass containers for an attractive display piece, ensure it has tight-fitting lids to prevent dust and other contaminants from entering. If you want something more engineered to keep your goods safe, consider products made by FIBC bag manufacturers. Depending on your product and situation, they can adjust and tailor-fit their bulk bags.
For transportation purposes, many insulated shipping boxes are available today.
They help protect fragile items like glassware or delicate pastries from temperature fluctuations. Some even come with built-in dividers that divide large orders into smaller packages. It makes them easier to transport without getting damaged en route to their destination.
With so many options, finding one that fits your budget and needs should be relatively easy. Having a proper container for a specific product type makes all the difference. For example, you’d want a snug and secure fit for your baked goods in a container. Moreover, there are other benefits to adequately storing your goods, which the next section will discuss.
Benefits Of Proper Storage
Transitioning from the previous section on types of containers, proper storage, and transport of dry goods is essential for maintaining their quality. When stored safely, it increases shelf life and prevents spoilage or contamination. It also ensures that customers receive products in excellent condition when delivered.
There are several benefits to properly storing and transporting dry goods, which include convenience, cost savings, and safety.
Convenience
Convenience is a primary benefit of storing and transporting dry goods correctly. Properly organizing supplies saves time by eliminating clutter and allowing quick access to items needed quickly. This improved workflow makes tasks easier as workers know exactly where everything is located.
Additionally, having an efficient system reduces stress levels because employees can find what they need without wasting time searching through messes or piles of products.
Cost Savings
Cost savings come with proper storage since it helps businesses lower expenses associated with buying more materials than required due to misplacing them during inefficient organization processes.
Furthermore, using appropriate containers for correct amounts preserves freshness, so products don’t have to be replaced frequently due to damage or expiration dates passing prematurely. Knowing how much material will last until restocking eliminates overspending on unnecessary purchases.
Safety
Lastly, the good’s safety is another advantage of proper storage, ensuring food stays at optimal temperatures for its entire journey from source to destination. By utilizing hygienic packaging that removes dirt and dust particles, cleanliness standards are maintained while preventing cross-contamination between different foods or areas in a warehouse.
Companies can guarantee that their products meet all necessary guidelines before reaching consumers. They can apply practical knowledge about safe storage practices, such as temperature control and appropriate container selection. It helps ensure every item remains pristine throughout its travels while avoiding potential liabilities!
Having established these essential benefits of proper storage techniques, to attain the benefits fully, you have to accurately label and track these parcels to ensure nothing spoils in transit.
Labelling And Tracking
Knowledge is power, which applies to safely storing and transporting dry goods. Businesses, manufacturers, or entities regularly transporting food items must know their products’ labelling requirements to ensure safe transit.
Labelling can help identify potential problems with shipping and provide clear instructions on handling a product before, during, and after its delivery.
The first step in adequately labelling your goods is to mark all packages containing hazardous materials as such clearly. It includes listing the contents inside each package and any necessary warnings about handling these items correctly.
Additionally, you should always have basic information on packaging, including who sent it and where it should go. It helps keep track of shipments more quickly if something goes wrong somewhere down the line.
Tracking also plays an essential role in keeping your dry goods safe while being transported from one place to another. By utilizing tracking software, you can monitor the progress of each shipment throughout its entire journey – ensuring that everything arrives at its destination intact and on time.
It also allows you to quickly resolve issues if there’s ever a problem with a shipment by pinpointing exactly where things went wrong so that you can take corrective action right away. By combining proper labelling practices with effective tracking systems, businesses can guarantee their cargo will arrive securely and safely regardless of the destination.
Security Measures During Transport
Moving dry goods is an integral part of managing a food business. Having suitable security measures in place while transporting them is essential to keep your product secure and avoid contamination. Here are some tips on how to protect your cargo during transit:
Use tight seals on any containers you carry your products in. It ensures that nothing can get inside or out without you knowing. You should also ensure all lids and covers are securely fastened and sealed before transport. Additionally, consider using tamper-evident labels that show if someone has attempted to open the container.
Maintain a logbook for each shipment to track who had access to the goods at what times. That way, if anything goes wrong with the cargo, you can determine who was responsible for it quickly and easily. It’s also wise to invest in surveillance cameras or other monitoring devices that will record activity near your shipment while it’s being delivered.
Lastly, always choose reliable carriers when transporting your dry goods. Ensure they offer insurance coverage and GPS tracking services so you always know where your shipments are. Furthermore, inquire about their driver screening process and background checks.
These measures help ensure that only trustworthy individuals handle your valuable merchandise throughout its journey from origin to destination.
Conclusion
In conclusion, proper storage and transportation of dry goods are essential for food safety. You can ensure your products are safe during transport and storage with suitable containers, labels, tracking systems, and security measures.
Additionally, when storing and transporting dry goods safely, think of yourself as an architect constructing a building – each component must be carefully planned before construction begins.
If not done correctly, the whole structure could come crumbling down. You wouldn’t want to put someone’s health at risk just because you didn’t take the time to plan things out correctly! These steps will help protect your reputation and your customer’s product.
The distillery beat off competition from Stirling Castle and the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum to win the award. Stirling Distillery is situated in a converted Victorian building on Lower Castlehill just a short walk from the Castle and has been awarded a Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award for their gin and whisky experiences for several years.
Boasting over 600 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor, a 3 star VisitScotland rating and a popular destination for coach tours, thousands of people visit the distillery to enjoy their whiskies and award-winning gins and gin liqueurs every year as well as attending their weekly gin school. The distillery also hosts monthly cocktail masterclasses and can be hired out for events for 60 people. Visit https://stirlingdistillery.com/ for more information.
More than 16,000 votes were cast for the companies nominated in the ten categories for the inaugural awards which are run by Go Forth Stirling BID. The event was headlined by Celtic rock band Red Hot Chilli Pipers and hosted by Central FM.
Stirling Distillery is well known for celebrating the rich history and folklore of the famous Scottish city through their product range. To celebrate their win, Stirling Distillery are offering 50% off tours until the end of March. Use code Winner50 at check out. Book here: https://stirlingdistillery.com/visit-our-distillery/
About Stirling Distillery
Stirling Distillery, established in 2015, is steeped in Scottish history. Located in the shadow of Stirling Castle, central Scotland, it is the city’s first legal distillery. Offering a range of gins and whiskies all with historic relevance, the distillery is open daily for gin experiences, tastings and a weekly gin school.
Whether it’s a daily commute, a quiet gathering of friends, or simply waking up in the morning, coffee is an immutable part of most of our lives. So pervasive is coffee culture throughout the world that most people in the UK consume an average of two cups of the bean brew every day (often many more cups). Instant coffee is quite popular in the UK as well, so it makes sense that a drinking vessel in which to hold coffee might offer some value to businesses and consumers alike. Utilizing them to help your business (for marketing, sales, and strategy) is a unique way to build engagement with your customers and keep them coming back regularly. And they can help your business grow. Here’s how:
The Coffee Mug Industry Great Has Economic Potential
Believe it or not, coffee mugs are a big business. They’re not merely the domain of mom & pop shops and solopreneurs; small businesses can use them to their own economic advantage as well. The industry itself is worth over $12 billion and only continues to grow. Coffee mugs are extremely popular (and widely used), giving them an edge over other types of promotional materials. Whether you decide to sell them or brand them and use them as giveaways, you can help promote your business in a cost-effective way by using them effectively.
How The Industry Has Evolved
The coffee mug industry has evolved significantly over the past several years. New technologies, such as 3D printing and laser engraving, make customization personalization more accessible to everyone. Coffee mug manufacturing and production has also shifted from traditional stores to more of an e-commerce thing. This approach makes it easier to get coffee mugs into the hands of customers faster. In turn, this has also increased the accessibility and affordability of coffee mugs for both businesses and consumers. Because screen printing is so inexpensive and buying items in bulk provides significant discounts, it’s easier than ever to either start a coffee mug business or use coffee mugs to promote your business. The market dynamics do fluctuate, but the industry continues to experience innovation as time goes by. Using that to your advantage is good for brand awareness and keeping people interested in your business long-term.
Benefits of Offering Coffee Mugs
Coffee is the nectar of life, keeping us awake and alert throughout the day. It’s a wonderful thing. And one of the benefits of a coffee mug is that it allows people to drink their coffee anywhere and anytime. People love to drink coffee on the go. Recent studies show that coffee is more popular than ever and that most people do, in fact, buy it for the purpose of drinking it while traveling/commuting. Coffee mugs are also cost effective when it comes to production. They don’t cost much to buy in bulk or have them customized with logos or images.
Marketing Opportunities
Promote your brand and get the word out about your business. Offering coffee mugs with your logo or slogan is an effective way to create brand awareness, as people will associate it with you whenever they use their mug. Not only that, but when someone uses their mug in public places like work or school, other people tend to take notice. When that happens, it could pique their interest in the business. ot. This increases brand visibility for you and can lead to more customers down the line. Furthermore, a branded item stays in a customer’s memory for a while, ensuring your brand remains at the top of their mind often. Fantastic custom coffee mugs do that well, making them a popular item for marketing and sales.
Using Them For Future Success
The potential benefits of using customized coffee mug s for your business doesn’t stop at giveaways or marketing campaigns. Offering a range of different designs gives people options. When they decide to buy your mugs, they’re making an investment in your brand. When customers give them to friends as gifts, they’re effectively promoting your brand for free. On top of that, you should consider creating some branding strategies to advertise your mugs (so you can get them into customer’s hands in the first place). Online stores, custom coffee mug side businesses, events, giveaways, partnering with influencers, and social media contests are all good places to start.
Pivotal year sees green credentials boosted amid investment for the future
CELEBRATED ice cream maker Mackie’s of Scotland has achieved its highest ever UK market share after adding almost half a million customers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The major breakthrough came despite a tough time in the ice cream sector, as the overall market contracted by 7.4% over the same period.
Record increases in the cost of ingredients, haulage, feed and fertiliser have combined to make the outlook a challenging and unpredictable one for Scotland’s most popular ice cream company.
Mackie’s says the growth of UK customers outwith its traditional Scottish market and its early adoption of renewable energy has helped it offset rising cost pressures and to build for the future.
Kantar Worldpanel reported that the ice cream maker’s customer numbers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland climbed from 939,000 in 2021 to 1,424,000 in 2022.
Mac Mackie, Executive Chairman and one of three family owners at Mackie’s, said: “We are putting in place the foundations to be a bigger business and one that is even better equipped for growth in the years ahead.
“It’s been a pivotal year in our history. We witnessed this encouraging step change in our sales and cut-through south of the border, predominantly as a result of us winning and building on second-line listings for our honeycomb ice cream with a number of supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s.
“For a long time, it’s been the case that our Scottish customers have been able to choose from a wide range of our ice cream flavours, but those in the rest of the UK could typically only reliably get their hands on our best-selling Traditional flavoured real dairy ice cream. We’re thrilled to be reaching new customers and determined to build on the success of these new listings.
“It’s also been a very difficult year due to the scale of the cost increases we have been subject to. While this looks set to continue and worsen, we have robust plans in place to ensure the family business rides out the storm and is here to be successful for generations to come.”
The Aberdeenshire firm posted revenue of £17.7 million and profit before tax of £1.7 million according to annual accounts to the year ending 31 May 2022. While down 59% on the record highs of the previous year (£4.1 million), this profit represents a positive return above initial forecasts. Revenue has since rebounded due to strong sales, with the calendar year rivalling previous record levels of turnover, though profit is forecast to fall further in light of steep cost increases.
The significant wider ice cream market shrinkage over the same period has been attributed to increases in cost pressures and a market rebound following surging take-home ice cream sales during the pandemic.
The audited period also saw Mackie’s continuing commitment to investment being made back into the business, most notably the culmination of a £4.5 million spend into the one of Europe’s most efficient and advanced low carbon refrigeration systems.
Currently partly operational and set to be fully deployed in the coming weeks, the cooling system will slash the firm’s refrigeration-related energy usage by up to 80% along with its carbon footprint. It will enable Mackie’s to make more efficient use of its vast renewable energy generation capacity, courtesy of its on-site 7000 panel solar farm, four large-scale turbines and biomass plant, which combined produce twice as much energy as the business uses overall.
Further investment has seen Mackie’s upgrade its filling machines to significantly increase capacity, while also bringing most of its sauce making in-house with an investment in state-of-the-art machinery, allowing it to purchase the fruit required for its compotes from local farms.
The programme of investment also encompasses further improvements to its packaging plant as well as the implementation of a market-leading enterprise resource management tool to streamline internal processes.
Newly appointed Managing Director, Stuart Common, commented: “Like all businesses we’re facing major challenges resulting from rising costs throughout our operations which has led to careful negotiations with our trade customers while we do our best to manage and absorb increases that may otherwise be passed on to the wider public.
“Despite the restrictions associated with the pandemic, we have maintained export sales of over £2 million, which includes increased export to the US, which poses an exciting opportunity for growth.
“We’ve committed to unprecedented levels of investment into our operations to make us a more efficient and sustainable business as well as being better insulated from some rising costs and position us for further future growth. 2022 saw more than £850,000 invested in plant and machinery, which included a new ice cream filler which will give us more options for new products as well as increasing our capacity as we look to continue to grow.
“I believe that our long-term strategy of doing right by the planet and investing so significantly in renewable energy is now giving us the tools to create a competitive advantage, allowing us to continue to offer shoppers a premium dairy product at what we think is an affordable price, particularly when compared to many other premium products in the market which have had to rise higher and faster.
“Our sustainable investments are now paying dividends by helping us to overcome this challenging period, expand our market presence and boost our contribution to the local and national economy over the years ahead.”
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