Food and Drink Matters Issue 176

Bristol Fungarium

Healthy Living Matters

Page 8

Pius Vita Superfoods

Healthy Living Matters

Page 9

July 2024 – issue 176

Pages 18-19

EDITOR RECOMMENDS

Gaiago: The soil first

Following

on from

the successful

launch into

the UK and

Irish market

at this year’s

Groundswell

Festival,

Gaiago is

encouraged

by the

interest and commitment to its

sustainable products.

Gaiago’s portfolio harnesses

the very latest innovation for

revitalising soils, any farmer, grower,

horticulturist or land manager’s

biggest asset. The solutions

consist of unique formulations

of natural elements, protecting

yields and empowering growers

to evolve their practices to a more

regenerative farming. Products

registered as biostimulants are

now available in the UK.

The current portfolio is supported

by a strong R&D pipeline

developed both internally and

externally, notably through a

scientific joint-venture with a

renowned Agricultural University,

UniLaSalle.

Inter-action for a

sustainable future

he highly anticipated

TGroundswell Event in

Hertfordshire on 28th and 29th June

did not disappoint, with farmers,

researchers and experts in the

agricultural industry coming together

from across the world to learn and

share knowledge on sustainable food

production through regenerative

farming practices.

Interagro (UK)

Ltd, leading

adjuvant and

biostimulant

experts, were

among the

growing number

of exhibitors

in attendance

offering practical

solutions to help

farmers achieve

more sustainable

and profitable food production

through superior plant health.

Growing in popularity year-on-year

the ‘Glastonbury-for-farmers’ style

event was full of buzz, learning and

positive attitudes, with Interagro

part of the Knowledge Trail

showcasing how its plant-based seed

Soils – understanding

the problem

As a global issue, it

is clear that there is

a need to embrace

and engage with a

new way of thinking

around soils. Soils

should be treated as

one of the biggest

assets we have to

avoid the continuing

loss of fertility and current

negative impacts on nature.

Gaiago is making the change

within soils and their whole team

is committed to educating and

offering solutions to growers

for the production of healthy,

fertile, and sustainable products.

‘Mankind thrives when soils thrive’

is Gaiago’s mantra

Innovative solutions on the ground

Alongside Gaiago’s leading soil

probiotics FreeN100 & FreePK,

its prebiotic biostimulant Nutrigeo ®

offers improved soil structure in

less than 6 months, enhances

fertility and growth, and accelerates

the humification process – the

source of carbon storage in soils.

Find out more at: www.gaiago.eu

treatment Newton, offers a more

natural and eco-friendly approach

to crop establishment, by boosting

seeds rather than treating plants.

Newton is increasingly being adopted

by farmers due to the recognition of

its proven abilities to enhance plant

growth, productivity, and resilience.

Newton’s

potential to

improve crop

establishment,

work in harmony

with soil biology,

and put plants in

the best possible

position to

acquire moisture

and nutrients

throughout its

lifetime – so they

are less reliant on

synthetic inputs –

has contributed to its increasing use.

To find out more about Newton

and Interagro’s adjuvant and

biostimulant range visit:

www.interagro.co.uk

Get in touch on: 01279 714970

or email: info@interagro.co.uk

Follow on Twitter: @InteragroUK

Drinkaware launches

campaign to check your

drinking

rinkaware kicked off a nationwide

Dcampaign on Thursday 4 July,

during Alcohol Awareness Week, to

encourage people to take the free

Drinkaware Drinking Check and

ensure they are not putting their health

at risk.

Drinkaware's research showed that

two-thirds (66%) of adult drinkers in

the UK, an estimated 30 million people,

have never been asked to check their

drinking. Taking the Drinking Check

on Drinkaware's website is a quick and

easy way to understand how alcohol

may be impacting your health. It also

provides advice on how to have a

healthier relationship with alcohol.

The Drinking Check asks you questions

about your drinking and tells you what

your drinking habits mean for your

health. Studies have shown that it can

effectively identify people with risky

drinking behaviour. Regularly taking

the Drinking Check can help you keep

track of your drinking and stay within

the Chief Medical Officer's low risk

guidelines of 14 units a week.

Karen Tyrell, Chief Executive of

Drinkaware, said, “We are used to

regularly checking our eyesight or

going to the dentist, so we should be

doing the same for our drinking. Taking

the Drinkaware Drinking Check is free

& only takes a few minutes, you can do

it in the time it takes to boil the kettle.

"It is a simple way to ensure your

drinking is not putting your health at

serious risk and provides advice to help

you moderate and keep within the low

risk drinking guidelines.

"Whether you're thinking about having

a drink to celebrate or commiserate

over the next few days, why not take

the Drinking Check today."

To take the free Drinkaware Drinking

Check, visit: www.drinkaware.co.uk

2

FDM is sponsored by Hashtag Hosts Ltd – see them on page 13

CONTENTS

July 2024 – issue 176

13

Inside this issue

5 Organico

Farm Shop & Deli Show Review

Who doesn’t love a good British pub quiz?

Hashtag Hosts Ltd provides all-in-one-browser-based trivia, bingo and pub

quiz software to the hospitality sector, as Managing Director, Simon Wilson,

explains.

14 Rotech Machines

Print & Packaging Matters

10 Safety Bug Training

Health & Hygiene Matters

15 National Flexible

Christmas Matters

11 House of Flavours

Food & Drink Expo Review

24 Bluewater Group

Water Management Matters

26 16 18

Follow us on X or follow us on Linked In o

Download our iOS app and Android app

Processing protein powders with the vacuum expansion

method from ystral

The air contained in the powder is expanded by a multiple, which significantly

enlarges the distance between the particles.

www.foodanddrinkmatters.co.uk

The entire content of this publication is advertorial based. To place an advertorial or an advert, please call 01562 756960.

FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW REVIEW

Farm Shop & Deli Show 2024

The UK Food & Drink Shows have been

awarded the ‘Best UK Tradeshow more

than 8,000sqm’ at the AEO Excellence

Awards in June. The UK Food & Drink Shows

include The Farm Shop & Deli Show, Food &

Drink Expo, The Restaurant Show, National

Convenience Show and The Forecourt Show

under one-roof.

This year’s show was the busiest yet, with over

30,000 record-breaking visitors across all five

shows and over 1,500 exhibitors. It was held

from the 29th April-1st May 2024 at the NEC

Birmingham.

Here at Food & Drink Matters, we selected 12

Top Exhibitors from across The Farm Shop &

Deli Show.

● Bullseye Food Packaging – Market-leader

in sustainable meal packaging, from full

meal packaging system to takeaway food

& drink consumables. Customers include

large industrial operations to small-scale

community meal providers. The fibre-based

meal trays can be used in ovens, microwaves

and freezers and are all recyclable,

compostable or both. With all eyes now on

single-use plastic alternatives, Bullseye offers

sustainable drink cups, food boxes, soup

containers to cutlery, straws and napkins.

● Craft Drink Co (in collaboration with

Hawkstone Lager) – Distributor of 170

British drinks brands across beer, cider,

wine, spirits, no/low-alcohol and soft drinks.

Suppliers to over 1,000 retail and hospitality

businesses across grocery and convenience

stores, garden centres, farm shops, cafes,

hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs. This

year, Craft Drink attended with Hawkstone

Lager: established by Jeremy Clarkson and

Rick & Emma from Cotswold Brew Co.

● Granola Kitchen – This family-run business

makes homemade, soft-baked granola with

delicious flavours, perfect for breakfast on

a snack on the go. Choose from honey &

cinnamon, gluten-free honey & cinnamon or

vegan apple cobbler flavours.

● HK Interiors – A national design and

shopfitting company supplying commercial,

retail and public sectors across the UK

with full turnkey package shopfitting,

refurbishments, new unit fit-outs, business

redesign and expansion. Services include:

2D & 3D design, shop re-designs and

refurbishment, refrigeration units &

counters, dry aging cabinets, bespoke servery

counter and much more.

● Isigny Sainte-Mère – This multi-award

winning French independent dairy

cooperative has won over 300 medals,

making it the most awarded dairy company

in the whole of France. Popular products

include delicious PDO butter, crème fraiche

and cheeses. The cooperative has been

producing for 115 years, demonstrating an

expert dairy production heritage.

● James White Drinks – The revamped Zinger

shot range was launched at this year’s

show, with bigger and bolder colours. Now

available in 33cl dosing bottles, with five

shots included- the range comes in five

delicious flavours: Lime & Chilli, Sour

Cherry, Turmeric, Ginger and Extra Hot

Ginger. The ambient juice shot range has a

twelve-month shelf life, doesn’t need to be

stored in a chilled environment and is free

from preservatives, artificial colours and

contains only naturally occurring sugars.

● Mezze Software – This leading B2B

platform has been designed with the food

manufacturing industry in mind. With easy

operationality features, users experience

an Amazon-like experience. High-profile

customers include: Samworth Brothers, G.R.

Wright & Sons, Pieminister, The Real Wrap

Co., Simply Lunch and Tiffin Sandwiches.

Mezze provides optimised ordering and

self-serve features for manufacturers so

customers enjoy an enhanced all-round

experience – without the headache of

customer service admin.

● Ninefold Rum Distillery – Established in

2019, this is renowned as the first and only

rum distillery in the South of Scotland. The

rum is made from scratch, using sugar cane

molasses for fermentation to maturation

on-site to produce beautifully authentic

Scottish Rum. Popular products include

Pure Single Rum, Dormont Spiced, Celestial

Spiced, alongside Virgin Oak Aged Rums.

● Realfoods by Organico – Renowned for

pioneering organic and sustainable food

brands: Organico and Fish4Ever. All sourced

food is from small-scale artisan craftspeople

with the finest, organic ingredients. With

a top global B corp score, all Organico

products have been audited by the Planet

Score Product Environment Footprint

Labelling Initiative and in partnership

with GS1 UK, this is the first company

to successfully launch a new per SKU

traceability program.

● Trefaldwyn Cheese – Trefaldwyn Blue

is a multi-award-winning creamy blue

cheese is made in the rolling, lush hills of

Mid-Wales using only organic milk. The

third-generation family company prides itself

on animal welfare with free-range cows,

producing organic, grass-fed milk, that’s

kinder to animals and the land.

● Tuk In Foods – These innovative curry

creators have products available in many

major Highstreet retailers. The Curry In a

Naan is a firm favourite, combining both

curry and naan bread, which can be eaten

hot or cold. The ambient snack range include

the Vegan Mango Chutney Bombay Mix: full

of flavour and perfect for snacks on the go.

● Viscose – This leading UK manufacturer

produces tamper-proof solutions and caps

and closures, perfect for food hygiene

measures across the UK food industry. The

tamper-proof bands and shrink sleeves

protect all food produce from contamination

and counterfeiting. Viscose has exclusively

made the world’s first biodegradable

self-shrinking sleeves which are fully

compostable and plastic-free. The heat

shrink sleeves are also available in PET,

rPET and PLA, offering sustainable material

choices.

Save the date: 7-9 April 2025

NEC Birmingham

www.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk

4


Bullseye launches compostable butchers’ trays

Bullseye Food Packaging was delighted to

exhibit at the Farm Shop & Deli Show

earlier this year, and we enjoyed talking to so

many business owners looking to move towards

more sustainable packaging, and stay ahead of

any potential new regulations in this area.

The highlight of our event was the successful

launch of a range of fully compostable and

recyclable butchers’ trays, designed to replace

the EPS trays traditionally used in such markets.

Made from renewable sugarcane & bamboo

fibre, and available with or without fully

compostable absorbent soaker pads, these trays

can be over-wrapped in the same equipment

Realfoods by

Organico

already in use, and are surely the future of meat

packaging.

Also of great interest was our meal packaging

system, also based around fully sustainable,

fibre-based trays suitable for use in ovens,

HK Interiors Ltd

HK Interiors Ltd is a national design

and shopfitting company serving retail,

commercial, and public sectors across the UK.

We specialise in providing a comprehensive

turnkey package, including shopfitting,

refurbishments, new unit fit-outs, business

redesigns, and expansions.

microwaves and freezers. For businesses looking

to increase their revenue by selling meals

prepared in-house rather than those bought in,

Bullseye’s system offers the perfect solution.

While we had the opportunity to talk to so

many people at the exhibition, it can be easy

to miss each other (especially at an event that

size!) so if you didn’t get chance to visit us at

the show, please contact us for an informal

discussion about your requirements.

T 0800 011 2311

info@bfpuk.com

www.bfpuk.com

What do we mean by the Joy of Real Food?

Organically sourced, thoughtfully curated

and specially selected to make your recipes

sing and your guests smile -bringing the Joy of

Real Food to every table in the country. Our

founder Charles Redfern has been along time

advocate and supporter of sustainable farming

and ethical food systems. This sets the theme of

what Realfoods is ultimately about: good food,

good ingredients, clean, simple and massively

respectful of nature. But also friendly and

fun. Food should be nourishing and enjoyable,

NOT pretentious.

At Realfoods by Organico, we get joy from

curating the best organic ingredients from the

finest artisan and small producers around the

Med, tasting, visiting and discussing their farms

and factories, meeting the founders and family

members and picking up the stories of what

they grow and cultivate. No nasty additives,

just food the way it ought to be made from

specially grown raw ingredients. That’s the joy

of Realfoods.

Lift the bonnet and what you will find is a

company that has pioneered ethical issues for

more than 20 years, working with NGO’s and

food experts to fight for nature-friendly farming

and ethical food systems. To practice what

we preach, we have implemented our triple

guarantee for sustainability: 1. Organic Certified

2. B Corp Certified and 3. Being the first brand

in the UK to feature the environmental footprint

tool Planet Score.

www.organicorealfoods.com

Customer satisfaction is central to our

business, from the initial concept through to

the site fitting of all trades. Our expert team

of designers and installers ensures that every

project is tailored to meet each business's

specific requirements. We leverage our extensive

knowledge and expertise to support clients

in producing original and unique concepts,

regardless of the project's size. We take pride

in our exceptional service and unwavering

dedication to client satisfaction.

Our team specialises in fulfilling all shopfitting

requirements for the food retail industry.

Ninefold Distillery has been making

authentic Scottish rums from scratch since

2019. Housed in a beautifully converted cattle

byre, the distillery is located on Dormont Home

Farm, which was the central historic farm at

the heart of Dormont Estate in Dumfries &

Galloway.

Since launching with an unaged pure single

rum (aka a ‘white’ rum) in 2019, the distillery

now has a roster of five core rums. From the

signature Pure Single Rum, to two spiced rums

variants catering for both rum heads and sweet

tooths, a double gold award winning Cask Aged

rum, and the most recent addition, a 63.5%

overproof unaged rum for the serious cocktail

enthusiast.

Transparency, approachability, and strong

Catering to both independent retailers and

large chain stores, we have the competence,

experience, and vision not only to execute the

work but also to provide valuable insights

on maximising space, creating unique

environments, and achieving cost savings

without compromising the quality of the finish.

Contact

T 01143 177929

F 0844 288 2965

sales@hk-interiors.co.uk

www.hk-interiors.co.uk

ethical considerations are key tenets of Ninefold

Distillery’s mission and philosophy. Quality

and richness of flavour come without saying,

and the distillery’s attention to detail from

liquid production through to award-winning

packaging sets the bar high for the rum

category.

With UK rum industry firsts under the

distillery’s belt, such as the first UK rum cask

exclusive for The Whisky Exchange, and being

chosen as the inaugural rum brand to partner

with wildly successful Craft Gin Club, Ninefold

Distillery has firmly established itself as one of

UK’s foremost rum producers.

www.NinefoldDistillery.com

www.fb.com/NinefoldDistillery

www.instagram.com/ninefolddistillery

FDM is sponsored by Hashtag Hosts Ltd – see them on page 13 5

FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW REVIEW

James White

Since the

COVID

lockdowns

health shots

have risen

rapidly in

popularity,

reflecting the

general shift

in consumer

interest in

wellness. Our

small (7cl) Zinger and B'Zest shots (7cl) offer

a delicious, invigorating quick and easy healthy

boost to the daily diet – resonating particularly

well with busy

individuals

seeking quick,

effective solutions

– like most of

us! Sold fastest

from the chilled

shelf, our shots

have also proved

popular in cafes

and self-service

restaurants

accompanying a coffee or a breakfast offering

especially with the younger working population.

We have 2 shot options both best sold from the

chiller but can be stored at room temperature

and with a 12 month shelf life – so no worries

about shelf life:

● Zinger Shots are 100% organic – with a big

zing! Our most popular Ginger, an extra

fierce Ginger, Turmeric, Sour Cherry and

Lime and Chilli. The focus here is on taste

and spice – retail about £1.70 a shot.

● B'Zest shots are more function focused

– Ginger & CBD, Lavender & CBD and

Ginger. Turmeric & Collagen – retail about

£2 a shot.

Minimum orders are £90 ex VAT with free

deliver to the UK mainland. To order, call

01473 890111 or email: info@jameswhite.co.uk

- more available on: www.jameswhite.co.uk

Sustainable tamper evident

packaging

iscose is a leading UK packaging

Vmanufacturer and supplier of shrink

sleeves, caps and closures. Based in Wales,

Viscose has been manufacturing tamper

evident packaging for over 100 years, so

you can trust them to protect your product.

Viscose’s products go all over the world

from its Swansea HQ serving a wide range

of sectors such as food, drink and pharmaceutical.

Its packaging solutions protect consumable products

from dangers such as counterfeiting and tampering.

From your first contact through to the development

of your partnership, Viscose seeks to collaborate and

support you every step of the way. Viscose works with

customers of all shapes and sizes from artisan craft

producers right through to mainstream UK brands

and supermarket own label products.

Products:

● Plastic-free shrink sleeves – biodegradable,

home-compostable, heat & machinery free, an ecofriendly

sleeving solution.

●

●

Heat-shrink sleeves & capsules in a variety of

eco-friendly materials such as 30% recycled

content RPET, recyclable PET and industrially

compostable PLA.

Caps & closures – including natural cork bartops/

t-stoppers, natural wine corks, aluminium ROPPs,

metal GPIs, metal oil pourer closures, 1810 flat

plastic caps, tethered plastic caps and many more.

Contact them today to find out how they could help

you protect your product!

T +44 (0)1792 796393

sales@viscose.co.uk

www.viscoseclosures.com

The Home of Soft Granola

ur story began with

Oa simple desire for

a better breakfast. While

I'd always loved granola,

I found its texture too

hard and brittle. My son

David, a former chef,

crafted a moreish Honey

& Cinnamon granola,

which quickly became a

family favourite. During lockdown, we decided to

share our delightful creation with the world.

We started at a local artisan market, baking a

large batch of our homemade granola and offering

tasting samples. We sold out within hours! The

next month, we doubled our sales, selling out

long before the market closed. A local shop soon

approached us, wanting to stock and serve our

granola in their cafe. The Granola Kitchen was

born!

Tuk In Foods: The UK’s fastest

growing food-to-go brand

Tuk In Foods has swiftly emerged as the UK's

fastest growing food-to-go brand, capturing

the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts

nationwide. Specialising in Indian street foodinspired

dishes, Tuk In is revolutionising the

culinary landscape with its innovative and

delicious offerings.

The company’s meteoric rise can be attributed

to three core pillars that define its mission.

First and foremost, Tuk In Foods is dedicated

to delivering restaurant-quality Indian cuisine.

Each dish is crafted with the finest ingredients,

ensuring that every bite bursts with authentic

flavours reminiscent of India's bustling street

food markets. This commitment to quality

elevates the brand above its competitors,

offering a dining experience that rivals the best

Indian restaurants.

Secondly, the passionate team behind Tuk In

Foods is a driving force of the brand’s success.

Their deep love for Indian cuisine translates

into an unwavering dedication to excellence,

infusing every product with a touch of

authenticity & care. This passion resonates with

customers, fostering a loyal & growing fanbase

that appreciates the brand's genuine connection

to the rich culinary traditions of India.

Finally, Tuk In Foods stands out as an

established brand that continues to expand

its reach. With a rapidly increasing number

of satisfied customers, the brand’s popularity

is soaring. This growth is a testament to Tuk

In's ability to meet the evolving tastes and

What makes Granola

Kitchen different from

the rest of the pack is

our soft-baked granola,

the only one of its kind

in the UK. It offers a

delicious mouthfeel

and flavour that's truly

unforgettable! So much

so that we received a

Great Taste Award for our Honey & Cinnamon &

Apple Cobbler in 2023.

Our product is now stocked in farm shops across

the country. We'd love to bring our granola to your

shop for a tasting session - it will greatly boost

your foot traffic while introducing customers to

our exceptional product! Get in touch to explore

wholesale opportunities with Granola Kitchen.

https://softgranola.co.uk/wholesale-orders

preferences of the modern consumer, who seeks

convenience without compromising on quality.

M +44 (0)7968 205954

hello@tukinfoods.com

www.tukinfoods.com

6


Market-leading ordering and automation for your

food manufacturing business

ezze Software is an Amazon-like B2B

Mordering and automation platform

designed to streamline and enhance operations

for businesses in the food and drink sectors.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Mezze

addresses a variety of challenges faced by these

industries.

At the recent Farm Shop & Deli Show 2024,

Mezze showcased its innovative solution for

food manufacturing, with features including

Order Processing, Cut-off time & Multi-drop

Management, Customer Service, Analytics and

Reporting and Integration capabilities.

Mezze's technology-driven approach offers a

holistic solution to managing business operations,

leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs and

his year marks the 10th anniversary of Craft

TDrink, the Cotswold-based drinks wholesaler

that is championing British craft drinks and has

established itself as a one stop shop for many of

the UK’s best artisanal beverages.

Starting out with just 5, they now support and

work closely with over 150 exceptional British

drinks producers and they are on a journey to

represent all of the best drinks that Britain has to

offer.

improved customer satisfaction. This approach

ensures that businesses can focus on their core

activities while Mezze handles the intricacies of

operational management.

Trusted by the UK's leading food manufacturers

including Samworth Brothers, Wright’s Flour

and Pieminister, Mezze has proven its value in

the industry. For instance, Tiffin Sandwiches has

reduced phone calls and emails by 70% and saved

over £100k since partnering with Mezze.

By optimising resources and boosting revenue,

Mezze significantly reduces order processing

time, allowing customer service teams to focus on

higher-value tasks. As Samworth Brothers noted,

“We went from zero to 1000 delivery points in just

a few weeks with Mezze.”

producers with passion and integrity, that will

wow their customers!

With Mezze's powerful in-built AI system,

businesses can set automated reminders and receive

suggestions based on customer ordering habits,

ensuring deadlines are never missed and income

potential is maximised.

T 0117 990 1008

sales@mezze.io

www.mezze.io

Isigny Sainte-

Mère takes

home 9 Great

Taste Awards

Even though their portfolio has grown, they still

endeavour to give every drink their attention and

help all their producers to tell their stories and

share what makes each drink special.

They supply like-minded retail and hospitality

including grocery and convenience stores, garden

centres, farm shops and other specialist retailers,

cafes, hotels, restaurants and bars & pubs, all of

whom are looking to source local drinks, from

Their expert team can offer advice and support on

ranging, seasonal trends and best-in-class drinks.

They have low minimum order quantities and a

team of friendly drivers are on hand to deliver to

customers in our van area every week, or by pallet

or courier through their partners.

T 01451 600800

office@craftdrink.co.uk

www.craftdrink.co.uk

Trefaldwyn Cheese Ltd shines

refaldwyn Cheese,

Trenowned for its

exquisite artisanal

cheeses, captivated

attendees with its diverse

range of premium

cheeses, including its

celebrated traditional

Welsh Cheddar, creamy

Blue Stilton, and

an assortment of innovative new varieties. The

company’s stand, which featured interactive tasting

sessions, attracted a steady stream of visitors, eager to

sample the rich flavours and textures of their awardwinning

cheeses.

Trefaldwyn Cheese is renowned for its richly

flavoured, golden cheeses. Its standout, Trefaldwyn

Blue, made from organic milk, has received top

honours including Gold and Best Welsh Cheese

at the World Cheese Awards in Oviedo, Spain, in

November 2021, as well as accolades at the Artisan

Cheese Awards and the Guild of Fine Food Great

Taste Awards.

Trefaldwyn Cheese began its journey as part of a

third-generation dairy

farming legacy at Gate

Farm in Mid Wales.

Today, the company

has entered an exciting

new chapter under the

stewardship of Glenn and

Sandie, who transitioned

from their sister

company, Daisybank

Dairy in Llandyssil. Daisybank Dairy is renowned

for supplying high-quality organic milk across Wales.

This pivotal development allows Trefaldwyn Cheese

to craft its signature cheese, Trefaldwyn Blue, using

this exceptional organic milk, marking a new era of

quality and innovation.

The company boasts a strong organic profile and is

committed to sustainable practices using no artificial

sprays, fertilizers, or anything GM (genetically

modified).

Contact

M 07855 435104

glenn@trefaldwyn.com

www.trefaldwyn-cheese.com

ounded 1909 in Normandy, the Isigny

FSainte-Mère cooperative is world-renowned for

the quality of its dairy products. Located where

land meets sea, the Isigny terroir provides cows

with ideal pastures for producing top-quality milk.

This milk is collected within a 50 km radius and

delivered to the cooperative within 48 hours to

preserve its quality.

From this milk, known as the ‘white gold of

Normandy’, Isigny Sainte-Mère produces PDO

butters, creams and cheeses renowned for their

excellence.

The cooperative's products are celebrated the world

over, winning numerous awards every year.

Isigny Sainte-Mère recently took home 9 Great

Taste Awards for its cheeses, creams and butter

including 3 highly prized 3-star Great Taste awards

for its 35% fat crème fraîche, 40% fat crème fraîche

and unpasteurised salted butter.

Alice Reynolds, UK Marketing Manager,

commented, “‘We are delighted with these results

which reflect the hard work and skill of our cooperative,

our milk producers and our employees

who transform milk from our local farms into

outstanding products every day,”

Contact: Alice Reynolds

alice.reynolds@isysme.com


HEALTHY LIVING MATTERS

The holistic benefits of fungi

Fungi have been an integral element of

eastern medicine, as part of a systemic

approach to human health for over two

thousand years. More and more people in the

UK are now discovering the health benefits

of mushrooms, as demonstrated through the

ongoing ‘shroom boom’.

If you pop into any high-street UK health food

shop, you will find fungi supplement products

from Bristol Fungarium: the one-stop organic

farm, laboratory, extractor, distributor and highend

researcher in North Somerset.

After successfully running an organic vegetable

farm for many years, Tom Baxter who’s foraged

for mushrooms from the Siberian steppes to the

Pyrenean peaks set up the Bristol Fungarium

in 2019. It is the UK’s only organic certified

UK-native medicinal mushroom producer

and distributor and this year is predicting to

turnover £1.5 million.

“Other than strawberries, Mushrooms are the

most labour-intensive crops to pick”. However,

the inclement weather of late rather suits

mushrooms, they rather like a wet warm climate

and temperatures above 10°,” explained Tom.

“We grow and clone UK-native mushrooms

like Reishi and Lion’s Mane and turn them into

tinctures and package them for health food

shops and our online orders. Our fungi extracts

can help relieve anxiety, stabilise thyroid

function and blood pressure and possibly help

with early onset dementia.

Lion’s Mane is our most popular product and

has renowned healing properties for relieving

Acid reflux and potentially helping with mental

focus and compounds that are neuro protective.

In some cases, our customers have found it helps

manage ADHD symptoms.”

The science is certainly becoming more

compelling every day, with Mycologists

around the world finding fascinating results in

extrapolated cell cultures.

“There are clinical trials of Lion’s Mane that

show extracts can improve cognitive abilities

with ‘mild cognitive impairment’ but also

with ‘mild Alzheimer’s’. A longitudinal study

over forty years in Japan followed 50,000

men who ate five mushrooms every week had

a 25-40% drop-in cancer rates (prostate &

bowel) in comparison with the groups who only

ate mushrooms once a week. The superfood

benefits of mushrooms are well known among

nutritionists and chefs but the far-reaching

health benefits are even more illuminating.”

Chinese herbalists have always known the

healing properties of Reishi for boosting the

immune system and gut health and improving

sleep. Most recent cell culture and animal

studies have unearthed antioxidant compounds

that protect against cell damage with cancer

patients. In China and Japan, Turkey Tail has

traditionally been used as an immune system

regulator in many cancer treatments.

It is worth remembering that penicillin and

statin are derived from fungi and moving

forward a pharmaceutical approach to

isolated fungi compounds could discover more

treatments for mild and serious ailments and

diseases.

“We are a science-led research & development

organisation and believe that working

intrinsically with nature and science handin-hand

can lead to some fantastic benefits

for human health. We are paying for a Ph.D.

neuroscience student from UWE in Bristol to

conduct some research on our behalf and look

forward to hearing all about the discoveries.

Having spent time in China, I’ve seen firsthand

the holistic benefits of fungi. The Eastern

approach is more interested in treating the body

as a whole system whereas here in the West, we

work in a medicalised engineered way to isolate

problem areas.”

Things are starting to change here in the UK

with a shift towards holistic and wellness

thinking. The vitamins, minerals and

supplements (VMS) sector was valued at

£1.5 billion in 2023 and has seen year-onyear

growth since 2018. Many consumers are

looking for natural and organic products, with

science-backed evidence. Despite the cost-ofliving

crisis, this is a growth area that is showing

no signs of slowing down.

Bristol Fungarium supplies a wide range of

organic mushroom tinctures and bundles for

one-off and subscription-based online payments,

in addition to health food shops. The products

include:

● Lion’s Mane

● Reishi

● Turkey Tail

● Chaga

● Cordyceps

● Maitake

● Shiitake

● Menopause support (bundle)

● Festival recovery (bundle)

● Everything (bundle)

● Lion’s Mane (bundle)

● Father's Day (bundle)

The products are all sustainably foraged and

extracted, grown, with some wild-harvested or

cultivated in the purpose-built laboratory and

with an ethical and short supply chain, they

offer customers and retailers a greener choice

for fungi tinctures.

“We’re delighted to report that over 50

professional athletes are using our Cordyceps

products and we have three Olympian

customers competing in this Summer’s Paris

Olympics. Cordyceps are thought to boost

exercise performance through the increased

production of the molecule Adenosine

triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for

delivering energy to muscles.”

With a 4.9 review rating on its website, Bristol

Fungarium customers have shared their positive

stories of using the mushroom tinctures with

conditions ranging from anxiety, ADHD, brain

fog to fibromyalgia and much more. Customers

have reported feeling alert, energised, greater

concentration and focus, and less anxious, with

many feeling ‘the best they have in years.’

To find out more about Bristol Fungarium’s

mission, philosophy, science-led research and

whole product range, see the website below:

https://bristolfungarium.com

8


Pius Vita Superfoods:

Just as nature intended

Pius Vita Superfoods is dedicated to enhancing health and well-being

through nutrient-dense, premium, ethically sourced, and scientifically

substantiated superfood products

T

he growing rise in plastic free packaging, plantbased

diets, interest in natural detoxification,

and science-led awareness of gut health has

significantly influenced Pius Vita Superfoods’ product

development. The leading range of family-friendly

products include vegan, gluten-free, and ingredients

rich in probiotics and antioxidants to meet the

evolving needs of health-conscious customers whilst

ensuring all products packaging is plastic free.

The inception of Pius Vita Superfoods was inspired

by a profoundly personal experience. The founder's

sister's cancer diagnosis sparked extensive research

into natural methods to support healing and boost

overall health. Recognising the immense potential

of superfoods to enhance well-being, our founder

embarked on a mission to create a brand offering highquality,

organic superfoods to support others on their

health and wellbeing journeys.

Since its humble beginnings, Pius Vita Superfoods

has evolved from this personal quest to become a

trusted name in the health food industry, continually

expanding our product range to meet the diverse

needs of health-conscious consumers. Through the

transformative power of nature's finest offerings: these

pure, raw, natural and organic products benefit and

protect people and the natural environment.

'Pius Vita', derived from Latin, translates to 'pious life'

or 'good life'. This name embodies the commitment

to purity, integrity, and the natural goodness of life.

It reflects the brand's philosophy of promoting a

wholesome, balanced lifestyle through the power of

superfoods, encouraging customers to lead lives of

health and vitality.

The key superfoods from the leading Pius Vita

Superfoods product range include:

● Organic Chia Seeds

● Organic Maca Powder

● Organic Cacao Powder

● Organic Turmeric Latte

● Organic Moringa Powder

● Organic Camu Camu Powder

● Organic Matcha Powder

The benefits of these superfoods are far-reaching and

all-encompassing, helping alleviate many conditions

and offering protection from others. The versatile

products can be easily added to daily routines: try

adding Organic Chia Seeds to porridge, blend Organic

Maca Powder into your smoothies, use Organic Cacao

Powder for a healthy hot chocolate or use in baking

delicious healthy chocolate cakes or brownies.

Digestive upset? The Organic Chia Seeds are rich in

omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and protein and renowned

for their intrinsic ability to support digestive health,

provide sustained energy, and offer a rich source of

plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

Hormones need balancing? The Organic Maca Powder

is another popular product, regarded for its potential

to balance hormones, improve stamina, and enhance

mood.

Need a pick-me up? The Organic Cacao Powder

is packed with high levels of antioxidants, which

supports heart health, improves mood, and enhances

cognitive function.

Benefits from a vitamin boost? The Organic Moringa

Powder is affectionately known as the ‘Tree of Life’

and is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, helping

with blood sugar regulations and enhancing digestive

health.

Heard of turmeric? The Organic Turmeric Latte is

famously rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory

properties, supporting and warding off chronic

diseases.

Want an immune system boost? Why not try the

Organic Camu Camu Powder? Known for its high

vitamin C content, boosting overall immunity and skin

health.

“We source our superfoods from regions renowned

for their purity and quality. Our criteria for selecting

suppliers include sustainability, ethical farming

practices, and stringent quality control measures.

We ensure our suppliers adhere to organic farming

standards and Fairtrade practices, guaranteeing the

highest quality products for our customers.

We have many testimonials from satisfied customers

who have experienced positive health changes using

our products. For instance, one customer reported,

"Excellent customer service. Great quality products.

I ordered the camu camu powder, chia seeds, and

turmeric powder. I've noticed a significant boost in

my energy levels since taking the camu camu powder

daily". Another mentioned, "Very impressed with the

products from Pius Vita Superfoods. They are of great

quality, and I started seeing benefits soon after using

them".

In the short term, we aim to expand our product

line to include more functional superfood blends

and enhance our online presence through strategic

partnerships and marketing initiatives. Long-term,

we aspire to become a global leader in the superfoods

industry, advocating for sustainable and ethical

practices while empowering well-being through natural

nourishment.

In 2025, we aim to support the 'New Year, New Me'

mindset by launching a range of products designed

for detoxification and overall vitality. We will offer

comprehensive wellness kits and personalised nutrition

plans to help customers kickstart their health journeys.

Additionally, we plan to enhance our digital content

with motivational guides, recipes, and fitness plans

that integrate our superfoods, making it easier for

consumers to achieve their New Year goals.” explained

Nikky, Director of Operations.

Who says healthy food has to be boring or tasteless?

Pius Vita Superfoods is keen to increase its product

awareness and brand presence. If you’re a café,

restaurant or business in the food and drink industry

and interested in joining their journey to better health,

make the smart choice and get in touch below:

admin@piusvitasuperfoods.co.uk

https://piusvitasuperfoods.co.uk


HEALTH & HYGIENE MATTERS

Safety Bug Training: Training solutions

for the UK multi-lingual food sector

Safety Bug Training is an industry-leading

provider in multilingual Food Safety

Training, offering Level 2 and 3 Food

Safety & Hygiene accreditations, alongside

Allergen Awareness, COSHH, HACCP, Health

&Safety, and Manual Handling. Bespoke

solutions for training are also offered. The

courses are expertly developed by professional

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and

Food Safety Inspectors and meet all UK/EU

legal food safety standards.

The training provider was the brainchild of

Trevor Tweed: Principal Food Safety Consultant

and Trainer, who back in 2013 saw a gap in the

market.

“At that time, many Eastern Europeans such

as Polish and Lithuanians were working in the

UK food industry but there wasn’t a suitable

method of Food Safety Training available for

them. So, when it came to taking the food safety

test, in English they of course kept failing. Most

had a limited grasp of English, but it was the

intentional ambiguous nature of questions that

proved to be the problem. Not only

was this frustrating for the learner

it was expensive for the employer

having to fund additional training,

retakes and workers time away from

the production line. In addition, it

is a compliance issue too, a visiting

Inspector will want to see copies

of training records and certificates.

That’s a challenge if a sizable

percentage of your workforce does

not speak or read fluent English”

Safety Bug Training offers Food

Safety level 2 online courses in 36

different international languages

including: Arabic, Farsi, French,

Polish and Chinese. These e-learning

courses are flexible and can be

accessed remotely, with many learning on night

shifts.

“The training programme is in convenient and

cost-effective eLearning format. Offline and

Team Trainer versions are also available where

Wi-Fi is a challenge. All translations and voice

overs are done by humans not AI or machines.

Online translation is quite good but not

accurate enough yet.’’

The Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene course

is the minimum standard required for those

working in the food preparing, handling and

serving sectors. The certification shows a firm

understanding of food quality assurance and

commitment to stringent Food Safety Standards.

The Food Safety Level 2 online certification

from Safety Bug Training can be completed

in one sitting or followed over multiple login

sessions, at your pace from a choice of 36

languages. It follows the stringent guidelines as

laid down by the UK National Occupational

Standards in Food Safety and Hygiene and

is compliant with UK and EU Food Safety

Standards. The course follows the same

syllabus as the of the Royal Society for Public

Health (RSPH) and the Chartered Institute of

Environmental Health (CIEH) and learners

receive an instant certificate upon successful

completion of the course.

“Having the Food Safety Level 2 course

available in 36 languages is crucial for effective

food safety compliance. It effectively ensures

that everyone in the food supply chain, from

production to consumption, understands

and adheres to safety protocols. Our unique

multilingual training courses helps bridge gaps

among workers, suppliers, and regulatory

bodies who may speak different languages,

promoting clear understanding of guidelines,

hazard prevention measures and critical safety

practices.

This inclusive approach minimises the risk

of miscommunication, enhances training

effectiveness and ensures that safety standards

are uniformly maintained, ultimately protecting

public health and fostering a safer food

environment for all. The Principals of HACCP

Level 2 training course consolidates further

by examining food safety hazards and how to

mitigate food safety risks.”

The Food Allergen Awareness and Allergy

Training Online for Safer Service Level 2 is a

second minimum requirement for high-quality

allergen training for food handlers, food

production, processing and packaging workers

and those who work in the food hospitality

trades, care homes or hospitals. The course

teaches users to prevent dangerous crosscontamination

and how to identify common

allergens. It complies with the EU Food

Information for Consumers Regulations.

The Food Standards Agency through

the PAFA Project has reported that

there is an estimated 6% of the UK

adult population that has a confirmed

food allergy, which amounts to 2.4

million adults. The types of foods

causing allergic reactions range from

nuts (most common), to fresh fruit

like apple, peach and kiwi fruit, with

many allergies starting in childhood

but half also developing in later

adulthood.

“We’ve had huge compliments about

our Allergen Training Course from

Environmental Health Officers, who

have remarked on the clarity of the

course with meticulous attention to

detail.

We take great pride in the high-quality of all

our courses, with new courses being added all

the time such as the Listeria and Level 1 food

Safety. We can also offer bespoke courses for

companies such as specific food machinerythis

includes a thorough on-site visit to see the

machine and to understand its function and

associated risks. We can then design the course

quickly with translations offered in various

languages.”

Safety Bug Training will be exhibiting at the

Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show (HRC)

from 17-19 March 2025 at London’s ExCeL.

If you have a multilingual food sector workforce

and you wish to find out more, contact Safety

Bug Training today for more information and

your free trial:

T 01223 258156

info@safetybugtraining.com

https://safetybugtraining.com

10


UK Food & Drinks Shows 2024 – busiest ever!

retail, wholesale, foodservice and hospitality,

alongside a compelling programme of content

set across five stages, provided the perfect draw

for a record-breaking audience hungry for

inspiration, big names, business building insight

and new products.

Exhibitors were quick to express their collective

delight at the event turnout, praising both the

quality and quantity of visitor.

FOOD & DRINK EXPO REVIEW

‘Busiest Ever’ UK Food & Drink Shows Leaves

Visitors and Exhibitors Wanting More

Three days of packed aisles, bustling stages

and exhibitor stands inundated with

interest typified the 2024 UK Food & Drink

Shows experience, as visitors flocked to the

Birmingham NEC from 29 April-1 May 2024

in their droves to support the annual event,

breaking all records in the process to make it the

busiest ever.

“Food & Drink Expo has gone fantastically

well. We officially launched on day one, so when

the doors opened, Bizzi was open! It’s been

wonderful. As someone who is very new and

looking for buyers and distribution, we’ve met

exactly the right people and I’m so pleased.”

Ashley Verma, CEO, Bizzi, Food & Drink Expo

Highlights across the three-day event included

the culminations of The Farm Shop & Deli

Show Product and Retailer of the Year Award

and gongs for Britain’s Best Cake and Best Loaf,

respectively. Elsewhere, industry heavyweights

including Aktar Islam, Chef Patron at Opheem,

Founder of VBites, Heather Mills, acclaimed

actor James Cosmo who is also Company

Director at Annandale Distilleries, Hugh

Fearnley-Whittingstall, Retail Director of SPAR

UK, Ian Taylor and Innocent Drinks UK&I

Managing Director, Sam Akinluyi, were on hand

to draw in the crowds and provide memorable

moments.

Following an overwhelmingly positive wave

of preregistration interest, the UK Food &

Drink Shows, encompassing Farm Shop & Deli

Show, Food & Drink Expo, The Restaurant

Show, National Convenience Show and The

Forecourt Show, lived up to their collective

hype. A who’s who of over 1,200 innovative

exhibitors from the worlds of grocery, specialist

Flavouring the future:

House of Flavours’

culinary innovations

or those with a passion for food

Fand drink, House of Flavours

is a treasure trove of culinary

innovation. This global flavour

house offers bespoke solutions for

a wide range of industries, from

vegan and dairy to bakery and

beverages. Its approach is rooted

in new product development,

blending technical expertise with

market insights to create unique,

high-quality flavours. By fostering

long-term relationships based

on trust and reliability, House of

Flavours ensures that its clients gain

a competitive edge through superior

service and innovative products.

The shows return next year to the NEC

Birmingham from 7-9 April 2025. This is our

pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s Food

& Drink Expo, listed here in alphabetical order:

House of Flavours. Further details can be found

on this page.

www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk

Expo 2024 from Stand: X218,

where visitors were impressed by

the comprehensive range of food

ingredients and flavours available to

match their requirements.

Operating in the UK for over 25

years, House of Flavours is known

for creating a plethora of flavourings

from modern and traditional

to natural liquids, extracts &

oils, floral flavourings, bespoke

flavours for limited editions, spice

engineering, flavourings to mask offnotes,

and somatosensory flavours.

This one-stop flavour shop recently

exhibited at The Food & Drink

If you’re interested in working with

House of Flavours to find new

and interesting ways of developing

flavour to optimise your individual

products, maximise market share

and drive return on investment, see

below.

Contact

T 01594 822885

sales@flavours.co.uk

www.flavours.co.uk


THE LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL REVIEW

Coffee, cocktails, music

& plenty of good vibes!

he London Coffee Festival made

Ta triumphant return to the iconic

Truman Brewery on Brick Lane from

11-14 April 2024, solidifying its status

as the premier event for Specialty

Coffee enthusiasts. With a focus

on craftsmanship, innovation, and

community, this year's festival surpassed

all expectations, offering attendees an

immersive experience that celebrated

the rich tapestry of the coffee industry.

The London Coffee Festival 2024

brought together leading brands,

passionate enthusiasts, and industry

professionals to explore the latest

trends, technologies, and talents shaping

the global coffee scene. From artisanal

coffees to gastronomic delights,

attendees were treated to a diverse array

of offerings that catered to every palate.

A highlight of the festival was the

intense competition at the London

Coffee Masters 2024, where baristas

showcased their skills in a fast-paced

knockout format. Ryohji Hope emerged

victorious, demonstrating not only

his mastery of the craft but also his

dedication to pushing the boundaries of

excellence in coffee.

At the Latte Art Live stage, Joey

Jackson wowed audiences with his

skilful pours and hands-on workshops,

while The Lab, curated by Lavazza,

provided insights into emerging

operators and industry trends. Brew

School by Brewed by Hand offered

attendees a deep dive into the world

of coffee, equipping them with the

knowledge and tools to elevate their

coffee rituals.

The London Coffee Festival returns

next year's event at The Truman

Brewery, scheduled for May 15-18,

2025. This is our pick of the best

exhibitors from this year’s show, listed

here in alphabetical order: Enrichd.

Further details can be found on this

page.

www.londoncoffeefestival.com

NORTHERN RESTAURANT & BAR REVIEW

Our friends in the North

orthern cities have bucked

Nthe trend and are enjoying

strong economic growth across

the hospitality sector. A report by

Northern Restaurant & Bar and

CGA saw increased sales across all

managed pubs, bars and restaurants

in all major northern cities from

Sheffield, York, Newcastle, to

Manchester. Many of these cities

have proved more resilient than

London with over 25% of regional

new openings and high customer

satisfaction rates.

With this thriving backdrop,

NR&B 2024 provided the perfect

opportunity for market disruptors,

innovators and next-level

operators to showcase new ideas

and experiences with like-minded

colleagues across the industry and

attentive visitors.

NR&B provides a gateway to the

lucrative Northern Hospitality

market, which is known as a vibrant,

diverse melting pot and NR&B 2024

was bigger, brighter and the most

successful to date. NR&B 2024 saw

an 11% record increase in attendance

over the two-day event and exhibitors

were delighted with increased sales

leads and enquires.

This year’s event was held from 12-13

March 2024 at Manchester Central

Convention Complex and recorded

9,645 visitors. With over 300

regional, national and international

exhibitors, it was the calendar event

for showcasing food and drink

innovation, equipment, tabletop and

technology features and was the best

show for sourcing new suppliers and

keeping up-to-date with industry

trends.

Northern Restaurant & Bar returns

next year to Manchester Central

from 11-12 March 2025. This is our

second pick of the best exhibitors

from this year’s show, listed here in

alphabetical order: Rokit Drinks.

Further details can be found on this

page.

Contact

https://northernrestaurantandbar.

co.uk

Wellness brand Enrichd

Wellness brand Enrichd was

founded by Rich Enion in

2020 as result of years of learning

and emersion with Traditional

Chinese Medicine practitioners.

Becoming obsessed with

mushrooms and foods for healing.

Rich went on to source the highest

integrity mushrooms and cacao

grown in organic and wild crafted

conditions,

extracted

for their

highest

potency

and third

party lab

tested for

quality.

Enrichd

mushroom

extracts

are an

incredible addition to your menu

in line with growing consumer

wellness trends.

Mushroom coffee is becoming

popular not only for the associated

health benefits of the mushrooms

but the more balanced effect

that the coffee has on your body

when combined with mushrooms.

Studies have shown less caffeine

crashes and a more sustained

energy flow. No your coffee wont

taste of ‘ mushroom’! The earthy,

nutty, bitter, sweet flavour profiles

of medicinal mushrooms pair

perfectly with coffee adding depth

and flavour.

Consumers are looking for wellness

products to integrate into their

routines

with coffee

being

a core

foundation

of our daily

habits.

From LA

to Mexico,

Berlin to

Beijing,

functional

mushrooms

are appearing on menus as

people become more aware and

knowledgeable of their benefits.

Enrichd can also assist in menu

creation and educating your teams,

through point of sale materials,

workshops, events and sampling.

rich@enrichd.com

www.enrichd.com

@enrichd

ABK: 700 years of

Bavarian perfection

Multi award-winning ABK

sits in the medieval town

of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria. Dating

back to 1308, the brewery first

made waves when it was donated

to the townspeople by a wealthy

local baron, and it quickly became

known in the region

for its superb beers.

Over the following

300 years

Aktienbrauerei

grew and

expanded in

Kaufbeuren

to become

one of

Bavaria’s

most

important

brewers.

The excellence

of ABK’s beer is all down

to fine, natural ingredients.

Almost 200 years before the

Reinheitsgebot (Bavarian Purity

Law) was established, the

Kaufbeuren Brewers Guild of 1325

declared that all beers produced in

Kaufbeuren could only use the best

hops and barley, and the purest,

ground-filtered local mineral

waters; all other ingredients were

banned.

Today, ABK still uses only the

finest locally grown Spalt

and Hallertau hops

and grains from

the same local

farms they

have been

using since

1308.

ABK Beer

is now

available

to enjoy in

towns and

cities across the

globe, we pride

ourselves that our beers

are authentic, truly Bavarian and

all imported from our very own

brewery in Kaufbeuren.

www.rokitdrinks.com

www.abkbeer.com

12


TRIVIA, BINGO & PUB QUIZ SOFTWARE COMPANY OF THE MONTH

Who doesn’t love a good British

pub quiz?

In this issue of Food & Drink Matters,

we are delighted to showcase Hashtag

Hosts Ltd as our Trivia, Bingo & Pub

Quiz Software Company of the Month

act: British pub quizzes are a national

institution. Chances are if you pop into a

Fvillage or town pub mid-week, you’ll stumble

across one, usually involving competitive local teams

deadlocked into a winning answer. The winning team

of course has bragging rights for the whole week,

much to the good-natured chagrin of the losing teams.

Pub quizzes involve two long-standing traditions: ‘beer

drinking’ and ‘being unquestionably right’ and have

been part of the fabric of British pubs ever since the

1970’s. There are rumoured to be 22,445 regular pub

quizzes up and down the country, signalling that this is

a tradition that is here to stay.

With the onset of the internet and mobile phones, there

has been a growth in pubs now providing technically

improved smart quizzes, in the place of paper

scorecards with many advantages such as no cheating

through internet searches.

Hashtag Hosts Ltd provides all-in-one-browser-based

trivia, bingo and pub quiz software to the hospitality

sector, as Managing Director, Simon Wilson, explains,

“Pubs, restaurants, hotels, wedding venues, cocktail

bars and other hospitality companies just need a

reliable internet connection, it’s as simple as that. We

are already working with 45 venues across the UK

from Blackpool to Birmingham, and even as far afield

as Tenerife, Isle of Wight and Adelaide, Australia. Our

HQ.FM Quiz and Bingo software offers the hospitality

sector a huge return on investment through weekly

pub quiz attendance and we all know that when Brits

go to their weekly quiz night, they will want to have

a meal, a couple of drinks and see their mates on the

quiz team. We can even offer ‘old school’ paper and

pen options for the most traditional

quizzer. Everyone is welcome!”

Simon Wilson is a quiz

extraordinaire and understands

the British passion for quizzes and

bingo. During COVID Lockdown,

he took the opportunity to review

the quizzes on offer and improve

them for both hosts and players and

provides users of his software with 2

NEW pre-written quizzes published each Monday. This

is not just a day job for Simon but a lifelong interest.

“A good quiz takes time to marinate. It can’t be

rushed. Pub managers certainly don't have the time to

be writing their own quizzes, so we provide a mixture

of themed and bespoke quizzes for quizzers of all ages

and backgrounds.

“Some venues like to have the option to write their

own quizzes though- for example, a wedding venue

can offer a wedding couple the opportunity of writing

a bespoke quiz for guests, which is perfect for the lull

between the ceremony and the evening meal. There

might be some questions that pubs want to amend or

make specific for various reasons and we offer that

question editing option too.”

The benefits of using Hashtag Hosts are numerous and

include the following:

● Plug n’play – Hosts and players just need a reliable

internet connection. No downloadable apps

required. Just register once, log-in and receive a

four-digit code each time to play. It’s brilliantly

easy!

● Cost-effective – Pay £20 (+VAT) a week for

unlimited quizzes (competitors charge a higher

flat fee for one-night quiz access from randomly

selected quizzes.)

● Access to professional pub quiz

hosts – Good pub hosts are

Master of Ceremonies (MCs).

They create great atmospheres

effortlessly. Simon has a team of

18 professionals hosts that can run

your pub quizzes to the highest

standards.

● Social media marketing – Simon &

his team run expert social media

●

●

marketing across Facebook,

LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.

He also reminds pubgoers about

upcoming quizzes through the

power of social media, with

exclusive video footage of

individual member pubs, to help

promote the venue and the quiz

specifically.

● e-marketing – Hashtag Hosts Ltd

are more than quiz providers and

hosts, there are many value-added extras for the

venue especially as every quizzer signs up with an

email, which is stored for e-marketing purposes.

Inclusive accessibility – For players that have visual

impairments or restricted dexterity, the quiz can

be modified to easy colour-coded multiple-choice

answers.

Themed nights – Themed nights are marketing

dreams. Imagine a Harry Potter, Star Wars or

Disney themed-night for your pub or cocktail

bar? Quizzers can dress up and customised food

and drink can be provided. A fun night out for

everyone!

“We love what we do and have a real passion for

giving pubgoers the best night out. Quiz nights are

great for bringing the community together and pubs

are often a lifeline for many people up and down

the country. We encourage pub managers to let bar

staff join in with the quizzes, as it becomes a talking

point for the whole pub. That gathers momentum

and creates a whole buzz around the evening. There’s

even ‘evil’ and ‘killer’ rounds for added high risk/

high reward adrenalized spice in the quizzes as

well as traditional bingo or party bingo, with song

accompaniments too. We’ve thought of everything,”

Hashtag Hosts Ltd will demonstrating its leading

pub and bingo software at The Pub

Show, co-located with Food Drink &

Hospitality Week: 17-19 March 2025:

ExCeL London

Interested and want to join the quiz

fun? Give Simon Wilson a ring or view

the website below:

M 07941 322339

https://hashtagquiz.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/hashtagquiz


PRINT & PACKAGING MATTERS

Join Rotech, the TIJ experts, at PPMA 2024

otech Machines, a pioneer in thermal inkjet

Rtechnology, is excited to announce that they

will be exhibiting at this year's PPMA Show, taking

place from 24-26 September 2024 at the NEC in

Birmingham.

Well known for their customer-led solutions, Rotech

will be at stand A31, ready to showcase their

unparalleled range of printers and demonstrate their

expertise and knowledge of the increasingly popular

coding technology.

Over 20 Years of Innovation in thermal Inkjet

technology

More than two decades ago, Rotech recognised the

potential of thermal inkjet (TIJ) in the packaging

industry. Since then, they have been advocating

its benefits—clean operation, maintenance-free

functionality and ability to produce excellent quality

prints.

the same negativity associated with more expensive,

service hungry and unreliable technologies.” Says

Steve Ryan, Sales Manager at Rotech. “This is where

Rotech excel, we have industry leading knowledge,

extensive experience with installing and supporting

these systems across an array of different industry

sectors and can provide a full range of system

options.”

a wide range of industry sectors. They maintain their

position as a first-class supplier of the technology by

constantly evolving their install techniques based on

extensive industry experience.

Rotech invites manufacturers to engage with their

coding experts to discuss unique challenges related

to late-stage product customisation. "Our expertise

lies in the correct application of TIJ technology to

meet customer needs, from printer and ink selection

to installation and interfacing," explained Richard

Pether, General Manager at Rotech. "Acquiring a

printer is easy; getting it to work to its maximum

advantage takes expertise."

Solutions for offline coding

Also at the forefront of the Rotech stand, will be

a selection of their UK designed and built feeding

systems, for applying variable information to

packaging off-line.

The evolution of TIJ technology took a significant

leap forward around 2008 with the development of

inks that adhere to standard packaging materials.

Rotech was at the forefront, implementing some of

the first installations for printing on blister pack foil

and flow-wrapper films.

Expertise and industry-leading support

This leap forward in capability has led to many

other companies adopting the technology as part

of their product ranges, with varying levels of

knowledge and aftercare.

“Although we all agree that the technology is an

excellent choice for various applications, when

not installed correctly, or not supported by a

knowledgeable team, it could easily be labelled with

Vikings and Goddesses

adopts compostable

packaging

ikings and Goddesses is a

VMinnesota based, wholesale bakery

that supplies over 30 restaurants, coffee

shops, and grocery stores with a variety

of baked goods and desserts. During

the pandemic, they developed a line of

frozen products to bring home-made

bakery quality and perfection to home

ovens.

Trusted across the UK

With over 1,000 UK installations under their belts,

Rotech are well trusted by manufacturers spanning

These feeders are manufactured to handle a variety

of flat-form substrates with ease. When paired with

a printer and/or labeller, they reliably print and/or

label at high speeds, offering a cost-effective solution

for coding away from the main production line.

Among the showcased products will be the entrylevel

RF Lite, a low-cost solution for automating

date coding processes, and the newly redesigned

RF Auto, a heavy-duty feeder capable of handling

products of varying thicknesses. Both systems can be

seamlessly integrated with TIJ coders to provide a

complete standalone solution.

T 01707 393700

sales@rotechmachines.com

www.rotechmachines.com

Since their opening in 2019, the

company’s number one priority has

been growing a sustainable business,

with meaningful employment and

liveable wages, while making a

high-quality product for consumers.

Over the last year, 80% of the waste

produced by the bakery has been

diverted from the landfill, and either

recycled or commercially composted.

Vikings and Goddesses also pride

themselves on sourcing products locally

to support other small-business owners,

and in turn, minimise their carbon

footprint.

In line with their sustainability values

and consumer demand, Vikings and

Goddesses has now chosen a new

compostable packaging sourced from

Elk Packaging. The high-performance

structure includes a high barrier

cellulose film layer, NatureFlex film

sourced from Futamura, laminated to

a biofilm ensuring a hermetic seal. This

final structure is independently certified

compostable by BPI, proving that it

will compost in a commercial compost

setting.

This new packaging still meets all the

technical requirements: excellent pack

integrity is maintained throughout

the process and distribution, ensuring

that the grocery stores can handle the

product, and it will remain intact in the

end users home freezers. Additionally,

the gusset pouch produced takes up less

space on grocery store shelves than a

cardboard box or the bakery’s previous

packaging options.

www.futamuragroup.com

14


CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Preparing for Christmas

and reducing food waste

It might seem strange to be talking about

Christmas in the middle of a (at times)

sunny July, but here at National Flexible,

we know that planning is key to success. While

most people are enjoying BBQs and beach

days, businesses that want to thrive during the

holidays are already gearing up for the busiest

time of the year. From ensuring they have the

right packaging solutions to managing supply

chains, thinking ahead is the best way to avoid

last minute headaches.

At Christmas our supermarkets are bulging

with festive food ideas as we all want to make

Christmas special for our loved ones and so

inevitably buy far too much. Some products

have their own natural packaging skins, for

example satsumas and nuts. Some products

have a long shelf life, like chocolate, but let’s be

honest they tend not to last much longer than

Boxing Day! Other products need a helping

hand from the packaging to make sure food

wastage is kept to a minimum.

Food waste is not just hard on our bank

balance, it’s extremely bad for the environment.

The third largest contributor to climate change

is food waste (behind China and the USA). This

is estimated worldwide at 1.3 billion tonnes

pa. The use of plastic packaging reduces food

waste by 25/30% by extending shelf life, saving

millions of tonnes of CO 2 /methane.

This year research at the University of Sheffield,

concluded “Comparing plastic packaging with

alternative materials, including metal and paper,

in 15 out of 16 applications, plastic had the

lower carbon footprint.”

The National ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms,

announced in October 2023 under DEFRA

regulations, states that all UK businesses, as well

as public sector organisations such as hospitals

and schools, must implement separate food

waste collections by the end of March 2025.

This means your packaging will need clearer

labels, greener materials and traceability.

National Flexible are not tied to any type

of packaging, and we believe in helping our

customers find the best sustainable option for

them, as well as making sure the food is kept at

its optimum for the shelf life required.

We offer Sustainability Packaging Audits where

our packaging engineers will visit your site,

work alongside your team, review how you

currently pack and offer some alternatives. We

also supply FREE of charge trials for you to test

the new packaging and we will be on hand to

make sure all runs well.

Alongside this, we welcome you to attend our

New Academy, a holistic view of the Future

of Flexible Packaging. Through our expertise,

we provide you with the tools and knowledge

needed to protect and preserve products

without causing harm to the environment and

discover why plastics may not always be the

worst option for the planet.

Get in touch to see how our team can help you

reduce food waste using the most sustainable

packaging.

Contact

T 01274 685566

marketing@nationalflexible.net

www.nationalflexible.net


CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Fosters Bakery

As the

holiday

season draws

near, Fosters

Bakery is

excited to

unveil its

premium

selection of

mince pies,

designed

to enhance

festive

celebrations

with

unparalleled

quality. With

over 72 years

of experience

in the bakery

industry,

Fosters Bakery is renowned for

its dedication to excellence and

innovation in baking.

Our bakery is buzzing with festive

cheer as we prepare a range of

mince pies that promise to delight

your guests.

Alongside the familiar aromas of

our bread, burger buns, hot dog

rolls, etc., the enticing scent of

mince pies fills the air, signalling

the start of a joyful season.

As we roll

out our

holiday treats,

you might

even spot

our cheeky

gingerbread

man keeping

an eye on

things and

ensuring every

pie is perfect.

To make

your holiday

gatherings

even more

special,

we suggest

warming the

mince pies

in the oven

before serving. This simple step

enhances their flavour and fills

the room with the cosy aroma of

Christmas. For a festive treat that

combines convenience with quality,

reach out to Fosters Bakery.

We’re here to help you make this

holiday season both delicious and

memorable.

Sara 01226 215898

Shaun 01226 215986

salesforce@fostersbakery.co.uk

www.fostersbakery.co.uk

Welcome to

NOGIH Chocolates

Welcome to

NOGIH

Chocolates, where

we redefine the

chocolate experience

with boldness and

health in mind. Stop

risking your health

and that of your loved

ones with traditional

Chocolates—it's time

for a healthy change. Our vegan,

organic, and sugar-free chocolates

are statements of rebellion against

the chocolate industry's status

quo.

Crafted with the finest organic

ingredients, including Extra Virgin

Olive Oil, our chocolates ensure

a guilt-free indulgence without

compromising on taste or quality.

Our mission is to make chocolate

a source of pure joy, devoid of

the usual regrets. We reject the

paternalistic tones typical of health

brands. We are empowering our

community to take control of their

diets and make conscious choices.

Join us in this Sweet Protest. Dive

into a world where chocolate

transcends dessert—it's a

movement towards sustainability,

health, and unadulterated pleasure.

NOGIH Chocolates is for the

rebels, the health-conscious,

and the environmentally aware.

Welcome to a new era of

chocolate. Welcome to NOGIH.

hello@nogihchocolates.com

www.nogihchocolates.com

www.instagram.com/

nogihchocolates

16


CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Festive eco-friendly packaging

Delivering products safely

to customers is crucial

for every business today.

Breakages cost time, money,

and reputation, which no one

wants to deal with. Luckily,

WBC has you covered.

As the festive season

approaches, it's the perfect

time to protect your sales

with our eco-friendly and

innovative packaging

solutions. Our honeycomb

paper bottle protective

sleeves offer an elegant, sustainable way to

safeguard bottles and jars. These sleeves,

which are 100% recyclable, biodegradable,

and food-safe, not only enhance your product

presentation but also appeal to environmentally

conscious customers.

Our premium self-seal e-commerce boxes

are ideal for creating hampers or sending

standalone products. Ranging from 12 to 20

inches, these boxes can hold a variety of items.

Whether you're crafting housewarming hampers

or classic afternoon teas, these versatile boxes

are perfect for festive gifts, allowing you to offer

themed hampers that cater to different tastes

and occasions.

Bottle bags make excellent impulse purchases,

especially when displayed near the till. Our

exclusive design features wine names in a

trendy muted red,

printed on strong,

matt paper with a

reinforced base.

Fully recyclable,

these stylish bags

add a touch of

festive cheer to any

purchase, making

them perfect for

last-minute gifts.

Maximise your

profits with our 100%

recyclable 2-bottle red and blue Christmas

front-opening gift box. Made from unlaminated

kraft paper, this box features a hinged lid that

tucks in neatly, requiring no tape. It’s a quick

and efficient way to create attractive mail-order

hampers and in-store gifts.

The festive season is a critical time for

increasing sales, and

personalised packaging

can give your business

the edge it needs

to stand out this

Christmas. In mailorder

retail, packaging

is your storefront and

the tangible interaction

customers have with

your brand. The

packaging you choose

not only establishes

an in-store identity but also represents your

company when it ships. So why settle for plain

when you can choose personalised?

WBC's personalisation services help you create

branded packaging in small or large quantities

at an affordable price, with lead times as quick

as 7 to 10 days. Imagine your logo adorning

everything from gift boxes and tissue paper to

packing tape, gift tags,

and tote bags. Our

complete suite of 1,600

products enhances

brand identity and

customer experience,

making your festive

season packaging

unforgettable.

T 020 7737 4040

sales@wbc.co.uk

www.wbc.co.uk

18


CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Bennetts Kombucha

Meet Bennetts Kombucha

- a family and veteranowned

business that's on

a mission to improve the

nation's health, one gut

at a time, with ouraward

winning, unpasteurised,

probiotic packed kombucha.

Our journey began with

mum - gut health specialist

and AfN Reg. Nutritionist

- wanting to improve our

family's health. It's now

run by Dad, Royal Marine

turned Boochmeister,

and me, Milly, wanting

to improve not just

our family's health but

yours too!

We all need trillions

of bacteria to fend off

disease, protect our

mental health and

immune system, invest

in our metabolic health

and thereby improve

our wellbeing.

Our Bennetts

Kombucha is packed

with live cultures and

billions of bacteria

in five boochilicious

flavours: Lemon &

Ginger, Berry Burst

('red berries'), Garden

Mint, Organic White

and Super Berry (a

super-blend of 'dark

berries' inspired by our

collaboration with the

University of Exeter).

Oh, and...1 showstopper:

BOOCHSECCO ® ! Our

all singing, all-dancing

and all-PARTYING

sparkling kombucha.

An elderflower and

strawberry blend of

refreshing fizz. At just

0.3% ABV you can sip

and safely steer your

way home; and, no

sore heads!

So, we are on a quest

- for BOOCHSECCO

to be the life and party

of all your festivities

and to get you and

your gut partying

because Food and

DRINK Matters.

www.

bennettskombucha.

com

For over 25 years we've

been providing 20-foot

and 40-foot temperaturecontrolled

storage units for

a diverse range of industries

and sectors. These include

supermarkets, wholesalers

and some of the largest

events and venues in the

United Kingdom, aiding with

seasonal demand.

Seven Refrigeration's entire

fleet of temperature-controlled

containers are covered by our

state-of-the-art monitoring

and alarm system. The system

monitors your conditions

in real time. Should the

temperature move out of your

defined range, if there's a door

that has been left open, or

even a small power loss, you'll

receive email and SMS alerts.

Our bespoke refrigerated

storage solutions are provided

on flexible rental terms, from

short to long term. We can

also offer ISO rated units for

purchase.

With more than 700

transportable refrigeration

cold stores, and our own

engineers working nationwide,

businesses like yours all over

the country trust us to keep

them fully operational.

T +44 (0)1473 261780

sales@sevenrefrigeration.co.uk

www.sevenrefrigeration.co.uk

www.linkedin.com/company/

seven-refrigeration

www.twitter.

com/7refrigeration

www.instagram.com/

sevenrefrigeration

22


All the best things come

in small batches

DISTILLING MATTERS

K micro-distilleries

(craft distilling) really

Ucame into their own

during Lockdown with the

number of new small startups

increasing by 30%. With

many pub and bar closures,

Brits started experimenting

with the craft sprit industry,

notably rum, whiskey and

gin. Gin botanicals once

banished as a ‘dark art’

quickly became the subject

of online forums and food &

drink events. With the push to

shop local, many consumers

are now actively pushing for

more craft spirits.

Small craft distilleries are no longer just a

‘Lockdown trend’ but a distinctive artisanal

avenue in its own right. These boutique-style

distilleries now produce quality premium

products, with

growing consumer

demand for

innovative craft

spirits.

Sign me up. How

can I start my

micro-distillery?

The Craft

Distilling Business

Limited has built

and commissioned

over 200 craft

distilleries in

Europe and Asia in

the last eight years.

The company was

the brainchild of co-founders Matt Servini and

Vanessa Rapier and established in 2017. Almost

eight years later, Craft Distilling Business is

riding the waves of success through building and

installing micro-distilleries,

developing spirit recipes

and supporting emerging

craft distillers with crafting

premium spirit brands.

“We wish to make it as easy

as possible for our clients

to set up small distilleries in

venues safely. Many of our

clients are new to distilling

and need a lot of handholding.

We help our clients

with license applications,

health and safety certification,

staff training, recipe

development, sourcing of

botanicals and consumables,

and servicing. In short,

everything required to set up

a micro-distillery,” outlined

Matt.

Spotlight on The Craft

Distilling Business

The Craft Distilling Business

Limited was created to install

The Nicholas Culpepper

micro-distillery within

Gatwick Airport. This was

intended to be a one-off

project - but unexpectedly

acted as a springboard to

build a business focusing on

installing micro-distilleries in

hospitality and retail venues,

including five-star hotels and

cruise ships.

“We initially focused on putting stills in

hospitality and retail venues; however, there has

been a demand for building bigger distilleries in

standalone sites. Also, in the first two years, we

installed exclusively distilleries to produce gin.

Furthermore, in the early years of the business,

we got a lucky break from Halewood, an

international artisanal spirits producer.

They ordered five substantial stills from us

simultaneously, one of which was for the Bath &

Bristol Distillery, which produces the awardwinning

Dead Man's Fingers Rum. It provided

a cash injection into the business that allowed us

to invest when the company was in its Infancy.

A more recent collaboration that has attracted

considerable attention is the installation of a tiny

distillery on the third floor of the Fortnum &

Masons Piccadilly Store.

However, roughly half of our business is now

for rum and whiskey, and gin is the other half,

with 40% from a small number of multinational

distilling businesses, and the other 60% is from

small start-up craft businesses.”

Works of art

Copper pot distillery stills

are at the heart of all microdistillery

operations and

are instrumental in crafting

authentic, innovative spirits.

Copper is used because of its

exceptional heat conductivity

properties, reacting with spirit

impurities to create a refined,

premium product. The Craft

Distilling Business uses copper

and steel to create beautiful,

bold visually-striking stills,

that wouldn’t look out of place

in a ‘steampunk orchestra.’

The Bristol & Bath Distillery

houses one such 500-litre

copper & steel still -beautifully

made in traditional Jamaican

double retort rum still design. The result is

striking, classically distinct in design and form.

The still has a 500Lt electric boiler with 100Lt

retorts and a ‘worm in water’ condenser. The

bespoke stills are all designed in-house by Matt,

with mini stills made in Ireland and larger ones in

their workshop in China

“We assemble the equipment on our customer's

sites, and as part of the training, we typically run

the first batch with them.

“We've created a still specifically for customers

who don't have a license to handle dutysuspended

alcohol and must use duty-paid spirit.

When the duty

has already been

paid, there must

be a minimum

loss of yield, so we

constructed a still

especially for this

need. It's been our

most popular model

since the company's

conception.

“Our 2 Lt "Copper

Baby" mini stills

are explicitly

designed for gin

schools, where

customers make

their own gin

within an hour or

two under the instruction of a trainer. These are

very popular in tourist locations and also in city

centres where they cater to corporate events and

parties such as hen dos.”

What you waiting for? Take the leap

From novice to master distiller, The Craft

Distilling Business wants to hear from you. The

expert designer, builder and installer of still and

distillation equipment can fit equipment into any

space and goes the extra mile with its extensive

range of support services.

“We’re also looking for field-based sales agents

in the Benelux and France, following a distinct

growth area in these countries. Ideal candidates

would have an existing, successful brewing

equipment or coffee machine or other commercial

catering equipment business.”

To find out more, contact Matt Servini:

M 07717 207331

matt@thecraftdistillingbusiness.com

https://thecraftdistillingbusiness.com


WATER MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Beating PFAs: Planetfriendly

water purification

and beverage solutions

What are PFAS?

The Royal Society of Chemistry reported

that over a third of English and

Welsh water courses contravene the

‘forever chemical’ safeguarding limits. Test

results revealed medium to high-risk levels

of PFOS and PFOA: type of PFAS (per and

polyfluoroalkyl substances). These are dubbed

‘forever chemicals’ due to their life-lasting,

toxic properties on the natural world and

human health respectively. Recent studies now

prove links to some types of cancer (testicular

and thyroid), fertility issues, liver damage,

increased cholesterol levels and developmental

harm to unborn children.

Under current UK law, water companies

are legally bound to only reduce PFAS if

they are considered ‘high risk’. High PFAS

concentrations, according to the Royal Society

of Chemistry are likely caused by water course

PFAS contamination from airports, major fire

sites, industrial areas, wastewater treatment

plants, landfill sites and incinerators.

What can we do about PFAS?

Award-winning Bluewater was founded in

2013 in Stockholm, Sweden and is on course

to become the world’s most planet-friendly

water purification and beverage company.

Bluewater’s state-of-the-art proprietary

SuperiorOsmosis purification technology

removes over 99% of known impurities from

water, ensuring pristine drinking water free of

increasingly common tap water contaminants

like PFAS and microplastics. Purified water is

then remineralised to create a balanced and

refreshing beverage, as clean as nature intended.

Introducing ‘liquid rock’ mineralisation:

Swedish engineering

In April this year, Bluewater launched the

world’s most advanced Kitchen Purification

Solution that included a unique remineralisation

system dubbed ‘liquid rock’. The cutting-edge

IoT-based infused system removes 99.97%

of toxic chemicals from kitchen tap water

including PFAS and then remineralises it using

minerals harvested from Swedish mountain

rock. The Bluewater O control further allows

users to seamlessly shift between municipal

water for activities like dish washing and then

purified re-mineralised water for drinking. The

O control also acts as an integrated visual aid

for added simplicity: shifting from orange for

water that is unpurified to all-blue when it’s

purer to drink.

The Kitchen Station is a perfect choice for the

sustainable era, mitigating the need for singleuse

plastic bottles, whilst adding a distinctive

blend of liquidified minerals from ancient

Swedish mountains for optimal health.

Customer-led design

Bluewater carried out its own survey of 2,000

Londoners regarding attitudes and opinions

on the quality of tap water. Four out of ten

stated they did not trust tap water, backed up

by Bluewater’s own research that found high

levels of PFAS across three areas of London.

These levels far exceed the limits now set by

the European Union and the US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA).

The Kitchen Station is the result of years of

meticulous R&D: the Spirit under-sink purifier

produces up to 900 litres of daily purified

water, while Bluewater’s signature proprietary

SuperiorOsmosis filtration system has been

thirty-party verified to remove up to 99.9 %

of toxic contaminants like PFAS, microplastics,

and BPA specifically from tap water.

Spotlight on The Kitchen Station

The new exclusive Kitchen Station has been

crafted for both residential and commercial

settings and is easy to install and maintain.

The Station fits easily around the existing tap

and can be ordered directly from Bluewater or

via a network of dealers for £4,150, including

installation, with finance packages available.

Designed for today’s user in tomorrow’s world,

the quiet system delivers a powerful flow of

three litres per minute, with the added benefit of

a Smartphone App enabling customised water

mineralisation choices. It is easy to maintain,

with a long-life cycle and consumes minimum

energy, making this the sustainable product of

choice.

Planet-plan business approach: global customer

base

Bluewater was conceived and launched with a

‘planet plan’ rather than a traditional business

plan and is primarily driven by the purpose

to end the need for single-use plastic bottles

and the pollution they create from production

through transportation and end recycling.

This is achieved by enabling customers

(both consumers and businesses) to generate

purer, healthier water at source rather than

transporting bottled water from one side of the

world to another. Bluewater water purification

technology harnesses reverse osmosis (the gold

standard for removing contaminants from tap

water) but slashes the water wastage associated

with traditional RO water by up to 70%.

“Bluewater’s consumers and business customers

are found across the Horeca sector, gym, school

26


and hospital markets and events’ industry. The

Bluewater Hydration Station and sustainable

bottles are used by many leading events such

as The Open and AIG Women's tournaments,

America’s Cup, Ocean Race sailing, and cricket

events, and many their prestigious activities

from major business conferences to the COP

sustainability summits,” enthused David Noble,

Head of PR & Communications at Bluewater.

From air to water: charting the

multi-award-winning success of

Bluewater

Bluewater’s founder, the Swedish

Ecopreneur Bengt Rittri, sold

his previous company Blueair

to Unilever in 2016. He had

successfully built it up over two

decades into the world’s leading

supplier of mobile indoor

air purifiers, sold in over 60

countries around the world.

Bluewater is headquartered

in Stockholm, the capital of

Sweden, with regional offices in

London, Cape Town, Denver,

Colorado and Shanghai. Bluewater has

manufacturing facilities in China and Sweden,

marking this a Swedish company with a truly

global outlook.

Recognised by industry insiders for its

innovation and cutting-edge designs, Bluewater

has been the recipient of two Fast Company

World Changing Ideas Awards and a K&B

Kitchen Innovation of the Year Award.

“By innovating and marketing disruptive

hydration solutions for home, work, and play,

we offer hotel, catering, event and venue,

educational institution and private individuals

planet-friendly water purification and beverage

systems. Our latest coffee brewing solution

now offers baristas the opportunity to create

the perfect cup of coffee,” David Noble

underscores.

The Bluewater Café Station

Bluewater exclusively showcased the new The

Bluewater Café Station at this summer’s World

of Coffee in Copenhagen. All the best coffee

connoisseurs already know that water quality

will hugely impact the brewed taste of coffee.

From independent coffee shops to gastro-pubs,

The Bluewater Café Station ensures perfectly

brewed coffee every time, through purified

water and a unique blend of Liquid Rock

minerals to optimise the flavour of each coffee

bean.

“Liquid Rock is the only mineral solution that

doesn’t create scaling during water heating,

which as all coffee experts will tell you is

the cornerstone of exceptional coffee. The

Bluewater Café Station is now available across

the UK, Sweden and Denmark with later

launches planned globally in the Autumn.”

Future-proofing Bluewater as the world’s most

innovative water and beverage

brand

David Noble says Bluewater

has many exciting innovations

in the short-term pipeline that

include integrating digital

signage options into water

dispensing stations, designed

for metropolitan areas to enable

people to easily refill their

reuseable bottles while on the go,

plus integrating NFC technology

into our premium water bottles

to provide consumers vital refill

and other hydration information.

“We have taken part in

numerous trade events in the

Middle East and Europe and are planning to

reach out this Autumn to several trade shows

in North America – to showcase our innovative

and sustainable purification technology and

beverages. We continue to grow our presence

in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Americas,

where we own a water dispensing brand called

Flowater.”

For more information, visit:

www.bluewatergroup.com or call David Noble

on +44 (0)7785 302694.


MANUFACTURING MATTERS

Processing protein powders with the

vacuum expansion method from ystral

By Dr.-Ing. Hans-Joachim Jacob

T

he offer of non-animal

food is continuously

growing. The most

important ingredients of

these ‘new food’ products

are proteins, which have so

far usually been plant-based.

However, processing of these

protein powders poses a

challenge: In order to ensure

optimum product quality, the

proteins must be fully unlocked,

starches must be degraded

to the required degree, and

agglomerates and foam must

be avoided during production.

All of this is achieved when

processing protein powders in

the vacuum expansion process.

What the alternative proteins used in the new food

segment have in common is that they are difficult

to process, and they also have very different

characteristics: Wheat protein for example is

extremely cohesive, while soy protein is extremely

adhesive. If protein powders of seeds, grains, nuts

and pulses are mixed into water, they are prone to

clogging, agglutinating and foaming.

The proteins are shear-sensitive on the one hand, but

at the same time, they require high shearing while

being dispersed into the liquid. Therefore, shearing

under controlled conditions is required, in a very

short period of time.

With the YSTRAL Conti-TDS powder

wetting and dispersing machine,

even hard-to-wet, dusty or sticky

powders containing protein can be

dispersed without agglomerates.

The particles can be broken down in

cold or warm liquid (More pictures:

ystral)

To achieve optimum product quality, what is crucial

is that agglomerates that are contained in powders

are instantly broken up fully when mixed into the

liquid, and the formation of new agglomerates

is prevented from the outset. Otherwise, these

agglomerates must be broken down subsequently

through long stirring and time-consuming

redispersion – with negative consequences for

the product quality: Dispersing the agglomerates

damages the quaternary and tertiary structure of the

already hydrated protein and impairs the viscosity

and texture in an uncontrolled way.

Senior Expert Process and

Applications, ystral gmbh

mechanical engineering +

process technology

Equally, with regard to the

starch contained in the powder,

the prevention of agglomerates

is also very important. The

degradation of starch usually

occurs through enzymes,

occasionally also through acids.

If powder particles are already

separated before the infeed of

liquid, and highly dispersed

during powder induction, the

enzymatic degradation of the

starch is supported and thus

accelerated.

With the vacuum expansion

method of the mixing and

dispersion technology specialist

ystral, the air contained in

the powder is expanded by a

multiple, which significantly enlarges the distance

between the particles. The primary protein particles

are separated before they enter the liquid, they are

completely wetted on first contact with the liquid,

they are dispersed in situ under vacuum, and are

subsequently hydrated without agglomerates under

pressure.

The whole process

takes 2 to 3 hundredths

of a second, with

minimal heat input. The

powder is immediately

completely disintegrated.

No agglomerates are

formed. The texture

is not damaged or

destroyed. The process

time compared to

conventional technologies

is significantly reduced

here.

Through this intensive

dispersion, significantly

less enzymes are

needed for the degradation of starch compared

to conventional procedures. The air, which was

previously contained in the powder, is separated

from the significantly heavier dispersion through

the centrifugal effect of the fast-running rotor and

Example of a process system with

two bag infeeds, one big bag

station, one Ystral Conti-TDS Inline

dispersing machine and one process

vessel with Ystral Jetstream Mixer

The Ystral Z-Inline dispersing

machine is used when proteins

require a more intense dispersion

The most important ingredients of

“New Food” products are proteins,

so far mostly plant-based (Image:

Moving Moment – stock.adobe.com)

coalesces to large air bubbles, which can easily

escape in the process vessel. Foam, which is usually

generated through protein processing, is almost

completely prevented this way.

The machine and system design from ystral can

be precisely tailored to the requirements of the

respective powder type. While for the processing of

oatmeal for example – same as for soy and rice –

dispersing in the vacuum

expansion process with

an inline operated powder

wetting and dispersing

machine Ystral Conti-TDS

is sufficient, other powders

containing protein (such

as coconut or some pea

flour) require additional

dispersing under high

shearing, to fully break

down the product. In these

cases, in addition to the

Conti-TDS, Ystral uses a

Z-Inline Disperser, which

redisperses the protein

powder, while the entire

powder is inducted at the

same time via the Conti-

TDS. The Z-Inline Disperser can be operated here

either in parallel in a separate circuit, or in series

with the Conti-TDS.

In addition, allergenic and non-allergenic powders

can for example be absorbed completely separately

and processed in separate liquid circuits. A Conti-

TDS can also be easily integrated into existing

process systems and be piped with several process

vessels or storage tanks. The disperser can either

be operated inline or in the circuit on large process

vessels, or generate a highly concentrated premix in

a small batch, which is subsequently diluted in the

main process vessels.

The mechanical processing technology has a

tremendous influence on the taste, consistency,

mouthfeel, and lastly also the visual impression of

food – this also and particularly applies to the ‘new

food’ segment. To further improve acceptance of

‘new food’ products on the market, it is important

that they do not exhibit any deficits compared to

traditional products with regard to these factors.

These demands are met by technologies from ystral

and the dispersing of protein powders in the vacuum

expansion process.

www.ystral.com

28


Major contracts news

from Hart

Hart Door Systems has

completed two more

contracts for leading UK

manufacturers supplying a

range of door systems from

Hart’s Speedor range of high

speed doors to Hart’s roller

shutters.

DOOR SYSTEMS MATTERS

environments in which

pressure differentials need

to be maintained and where

hygiene standards are high,

whereas Speedor Mini is

for high traffic, frequent use

internal applications. This is a

low cost access option.”

“Both clients are leading

manufacturers in their

respective sectors, one

specialising in roofing

and cladding, the other in

wall, roof and landscaping

innovations,” says Gordon

Kipling, Hart’s Northern

Sales Manager. “Their

requirements were dissimilar

which resulted in Hart

supplying a range of doors

for different purposes.

“For example we supplied

Speedor Cleanroom

high speed doors for one

contract and Speedor Minis

for another. Cleanroom

is designed to work in

Mr Kipling added. “In all

over both contracts were

supplied a total of 10 doors.

Once again our range of door

solutions gives clients many

options and as manufacturers

they very often have highly

individual needs. Hart

is a logical supplier with

considerable expertise.

“Our product choice is

superb and manufactured to

required standards. We expect

more orders for fast action

doors to follow in the near

future.”

Contact

www.hartdoors.com


CLASSIFIEDS

Beverages

Printing

Tools

Food Hygiene

We help to make sure

food is safe to eat.

That's our passion.

Ingredients

Contract Drying

Safe food hygiene solutions for your

food company.

www.christeyns.com

Catering Consultancy

Measurement Solutions

Foodservice Consultants

Ingredients

Trade Marks

Halal Foods

MACKLE APPLE

CIDER VINEGAR

Bulk supplies for Food

Manufacturers

BRITISH MADE APPLE CIDER

VINEGAR USING BRITISH APPLES

No sulphur or additives used

with acidity levels to suit your

requirements

Brewed in our own BRC approved

factory

PACKED IN 25 AND 1000 LITRE

CONTAINERS or Full Road Tankers

Buy Direct from manufacturer

Deliver anywhere in the UK

Tel 02887 784345 or email

anthony.conroy@mackleapple.com

Ingredients

30


Packaging

Ingredients

Water Filters

Cannabis Tea

Discover our range of cannabis products grown

on certified organic farms

Plastics

Logistics

Balance the Body,

Calm the Mind

Purchase online or find a stockist near you

www.bodyandmindbotanicals.com

Food Packaging Packaging Machinery Packaging

Personalised bespoke

packaging solutions for a

range of speciality food

sectors: Confectionery, Dairy,

Bakery, Delicatessen & Fish

Get in touch 01606 354664

sales@bartecpackaging.co.uk

www.bartecpackaging.co.uk

Machines for Food

Water Treatment

UK MANUFACTURED PACKAGING MACHINERY EXCELLENCE

Turnkey Solutions | Filling, Capping Labelling

Automation | Bespoke, Special Purpose Design

Pharmaceutical | Food & Beverage | Chemical

Aromatherapy | Medical | Diagnostics

Industrial | Ecig | Adhesives

To discover more, please visit

www.capcoder.com • Tel 01865 891466

Uniball Tumbler

Mixer

Ideal for flapjack

mixes and fragile

products

Capacity 225 litres,

316 stainless steel

drum, variable speed

The machines

have been sold

to clients using a

range of different

products as coating

vegetables in oil, mixing medical powders,

Bakery recipes, flapjack mix, mixing different

nut types, marinating meat with sauces,

mixing coffee beans, food ingredients, coating

olives in flavours, flavours on nuts, pasta &

mayo. Sold worldwide to USA, New Zealand,

Hong Kong, Iceland and Europe.

01761 410345 | 01761 410332

sales@machines4food.co.uk

www.machines4food.co.uk


Food and Drink Matters Issue 176

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