OUTDOOR DINING SPECIAL: OILS & VINEGARS; DRESSINGS & SAUCES; ICE CREAM; BEERS, WINES & SPIRITS; MIXERS & MOCKTAILS

It will soon be that time of year again when your customers will want to be eating in the sunshine – whether it’s on your premises or at home. Over the next 10 pages, FFD covers NPD from some of the key categories for the season: oils & vinegars (page 33), sauces & dressings (35), ice cream (39), beers, wines & spirits (43) and mixers & mocktails (48) There are also some handy guides on picnic merchandising, plant-based barbecues, cocktail making and how to range your chilli sauces.

Compiled by Lynda Searby

Time to get outside

The current generation of the Cristiano family has rebranded Oro Don Vincenzo EVOO as Tenute Cristiano and redesigned the bottle. The new design is a reinterpretation of the ceramics of Magna Graecia (400BC) that were found close to the Calabrian estate where the family has been producing olive oil since 1919. Tenute Cristiano uses only estate-grown olives from centenary trees. The olives are handpicked at an early stage of ripening and the oil is cold extracted. In the UK Tenute Cristiano is distributed by Just Gourmet Foods. All oils come in 500ml bottles with the following RRPs: BIO Organic £23.03; Grand Cru £22.11; Bio £15.92; Carolea £13.85.

tenutecristiano.com

For years, Golden Raspberry & Apache Chilli Vinegar has been Womersley’s “flag bearer” but, following worldwide fruit shortages last year, the Oxfordshire producer was unable to source any golden raspberries to continue making this three-star Great Taste Award-winner.

This resulted in the development of a new Raspberry & Apache Chilli Vinegar with more readily available red raspberries. RRP £5.69 for 100ml; wholesale price £22.20 for a case of 6.

womersleyfoods.faire.com

Yorkshire’s Wharfe Valley Farms is bringing Mediterranean sunshine to the British rapeseed oil space this summer with two new infused oil flavours. The new Orange and Lime flavoured oils have been packaged together with the brand’s popular Sicilian Lemon in a new spring gift pack. The Citrus Collection has an RRP of £10 for 3 x 100ml. Trade price £6.

wharfevalley.co.uk

The Slow Vinegar

Company’s fruit vinegars are now available in a 100ml bottle as well as its standard 200ml size. The range takes in 12 seasonally aligned varieties which are handcrafted via a double fermentation process and matured over twelve months. They are distributed via The Fine Cheese Company, and have an RRP of £12 for 200ml; £7 for 100ml.

theslowvinegarcompany. co.uk

Pitched as a finishing oil for fish dishes, Ross & Ross Gifts’ new Lemon & Dill Oil can be bought individually or as part of the Cotswolds producer’s salmon Homemade Curing Kits. Coldpressed Cotswold rapeseed oil is infused with lemon and dill. RRP £3.75 for 100ml.

rossandrossgifts.co.uk

The Wasabi Company’s Sanbaizu Pure Rice Vinegar is fermented and aged in 100-year-old cedar wood casks, resulting in a quintessentially Japanese umami-rich flavour. This vinegar is said to be ideal for marinating vegetables and adding to dressings and sauces. RRP £9 for 300ml, trade £6.60.

thewasabicompany.co.uk

The newest addition to the Kentish Oils range is coldpressed rapeseed oil blended with black truffle. It can be used as a finishing oil for pizza, pasta or risotto, drizzled over scrambled eggs or stirred through mac & cheese. RRP £9.50 for 250ml; trade price £6.65 from Curd & Cure.

kentishcondiments.com

Aspall Vinegar has relaunched its Raw Apple Cyder Vinegar with Honey with a new recipe at a more competitive price point. The Suffolk vinegar-maker says it has created a recipe that offers better value for consumers without any compromise on quality or taste. Unfiltered and unpasteurised, Aspall’s raw cider vinegars retain the ‘mother’. RRP £3.99 for 500ml.

aspall.co.uk

Retail outlets looking to sell olive oil on tap should check out Aeithalis, which claims to be the first closed loop olive oil maker in Europe. A partnership between William Uden and Greek olive farmer Ilias Panagiotakopoulos, Aeithalis supplies outlets with PDO certified Greek EVOO in 20l tubs ready to dispense with the tap provided. Trade price £137 for 20l; RRP £1.40 for 100ml.

aeithalis.co.uk

ageing in steel maintains its colour

London importer The Oil Merchant has added a new vinegar from Italian label La Vecchia Dispensa to its portfolio. Rose Balsamic Condimento is obtained from red grape must, combined with red wine vinegar from Modena Grasparossa grapes. To maintain its colour, the condimento is aged in steel rather than wood, which would lead to oxidation. RRP is £10.50.

oilmerchant.co.uk

Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil

has added Rosemary & Sea Salt to its flavoured oil collection and relaunched its Chilli & Spice oil with a new recipe. Both products are made on the Palmer family farm at Breckenholme from coldpressed rapeseed and are designed for roasting and drizzling. They come in a new smaller size (250ml) and have an RRP of £4; wholesale price £2.50.

yorkshirerapeseedoil. co.uk

Oils and vinegars are a key category for Golden Virgin, a new Londonbased business that has set out its stall to become ‘the UK’s number one Greek organic food brand’. Its portfolio includes Organic EVOO in 500ml and 1l bottles, Organic Balsamic Vinegar with no added sugar, and no added sugar Organic Balsamic Glazes flavoured with pomegranate, fig and chilli.

goldenvirginfoods.com

Stefania Calugi has launched two condiments in a 100ml spray format, allowing truffle lovers to enhance meat, fish and salads with a spritz of flavour. Gocce el Tartufo (olive oil with white truffle) has an RRP of £10.52, and Condimento a base di Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP (Truffle flavoured dressing with Balsamic vinegar) has an RRP of £7.57.

tartufi.it

Portuguese label Chilli Boy has created its new Piri Piri Salad Oil as a milder alternative to its stronger, more intense Piri Piri oils. Fresh chillies steeped in garlic, ginger and pepper result in an oil with a warm fruity flavour that can be used in salad dressings or as a stand-alone dipping oil for bread. RRP is €5.95; trade price €3.

chilliboy.com

Responding to consumer demand for plant-based alternatives to soya, fish and oyster sauces is Sozyë, with its Nish, Noya and Noyster sauces. Sozyë uses organic-certified seaweed from the remote shores of Wick in Scotland to brew its sauces. Only the tops of the leaves are harvested so they regrow within weeks, making this a more sustainable base material than soya. RRPs £2.99-£4.99 for 250ml.

sozye.com

Zeet has taken organic EVOO from picual olives and combined it with sugar and xanthan gum to create a marmalade. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Marmalade can be spread on toast or crackers or eaten with cheese, yogurt or fruit. RRP £5.20 per 100g jar.

evoozeet.com

Cretan Liquid Gold Organic, an EVOO obtained from organic koroneiki olive trees, is one of the star products at Richmondbased Greek food importer Liquid Gold Products. The oil is produced from the latest harvest, with very low-acidity fruit that are rich in polyphenols.

liquidgoldproducts.co.uk

Three siblings - Chan, Ezda and Dashal Beevers - have put their heads together to create a new vegan mayonnaise brand. BeSaucy’s recipe uses aquafaba, otherwise destined for waste, along with organic soya milk and Cotswold Gold rapeseed oil. There are three varieties – Garlic, Basil and Black Truffle – now listed in around 60 independents across the UK. RRP £3.95 for 180g (trade £2.53).

besaucy.co.uk The Welsh Saucery

has added Pineapple Habanero to its table sauce line-up, which already includes Tomato Ketchup, Brown Sauce, BBQ Sauce and Sweet Chilli & Garlic Sauce. Pineapple Habanero begins very sweet and mild, with a delayed heat onset that tricks the taste buds. The producer recommends it as a dipping sauce for chicken, pork and prawns. RRP £5; trade price £3.76.

thewelshsaucery.co.uk

Lakes producer The

Hawkshead Relish

Company has created two new products for adding bold flavour to barbecued meat and fish. Sticky Chilli Marinade imbues fish and white meat with luxurious stickiness, whereas Sriracha Ketchup is a smooth, sweet, hot sauce for dolloping onto burgers. RRP £3.55; trade price: £13.90 for a case of six bottles.

hawksheadrelish.com

Made for tacos and fajitas

Jalapeño is the star ingredient in the two latest lines from The Foraging Fox. Smoked Jalapeño Mayo (RRP £3.49, 240g) blends smokiness with a subtle chilli kick in a no-sugar, dairy- and gluten-free recipe that is made for tacos and fajitas. Spicy Tomato Ketchup, meanwhile, balances smoky jalapeño with coconut sugar and tomatoes. It is vegan and coeliac friendly, free from artificial sweeteners and lower in sugar and salt than regular brands. RRP £2.99 for 255g.

foragingfox.com

Confident there is room in its range for two BBQ sauces, Sauce Shop has launched Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce. This new addition is sweet and smoky with a little heat - in contrast to the producer’s Kansas-city style Original BBQ Sauce. RRP £2.99 for 260g.

www.sauceshop.co

ChicP, the hummus brand that uses surplus vegetables, has launched its best-selling Beetroot & Horseradish variety in a 300g sharing pot. The producer says the new larger sized pot aligns with the demographic of its customers, who enjoy sharing meals, events and picnics. RRP £4.69.

chicp.co.uk

The Coconut Kitchen has treated its entire range of Thai-style sauces and marinades to new livery. Miso, Sesame & Yuzu Dressing, Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce and Honey, Garlic & Pepper Sauce are among the creations in the line-up. RRP £4.35 for a 250ml bottle (trade £3.15).

thecoconutkitchen.co.uk

Pip’s Hot Sauce has collaborated with Birmingham’s Home of Metal to develop a sauce that celebrates the city’s heavy metal music culture. The marriage of black garlic, chillies and roasted onions yields a complex, layered flavour and a deep, slow building heat. Black Mass is said to pair well with sauteed sprouts and bacon, cold cuts, sandwiches and cheese. RRP £8.

pipshotsauce.co.uk

Labuyo Hot Chilli Sauce is RoniB’s take on the famous Filipino hot pepper sauce, with the addition of mango and pineapple to give a tropical feel to the heat. The Surrey producer says it wants to celebrate the chilli varieties that are predominant in the Philippines. The sauce launched in February with an RRP of £4.95; trade price £2.90.

ronibkitchen.co.uk

The Smokey Carter says its latest creation taps into a trend for Koreanstyle barbecue products. Released last month, Korean BBQ Sauce packs in umami notes via classic ingredients, such as gochujang (fermented soyabean hot red pepper paste), sesame oil and low sodium soy sauce, with the addition of white miso, roasted garlic and spices. RRP £3.95 for 200g jars.

thesmokeycarter.com

Wild & Fruitful has introduced a Sauce of the Lakes Collection, celebrating the tastes, history and spirit of the Lake District. Keswick Ketchup is made with local tomatoes and slow roasted garlic; Cumbrian Spice Sauce is a rich brown sauce; and Sharp Edge Hot Chilli Sauce is a hot spicy sweet sauce loaded with chilli, garlic and ginger. RRP £3.99 for a 270g bottle; trade price £2.65.

wildandfruitful.co.uk

Made in small batches in Ajar Of’s Dorset kitchen using local and UK-grown black garlic, this versatile condiment balances umami and earthy notes with a hint of sweetness. It doubles up as a ketchup for chips, steak, burgers and halloumi and a secret ingredient for risottos and casseroles. RRP £5.25; wholesale price £18.90 for a case of six.

ajar-of.co.uk

Yoyo, which claims to be the only UK producer making Laos style sauces, has added an Asian hot green chilli sauce known as Lan Xang (‘one million elephants’) to its line-up. The Southeast Asian style sauce is made by hand in Yoyo’s kitchen in Halifax, West Yorkshire, from fresh ingredients including carrot, garlic and chilli. RRP £8; trade price £5.50 for 250ml.

yoyolaossauce.co.uk

Detecting a dearth of curry mustards on the UK food scene, Ginger Beard’s Preserves has made its own. Medium heat from the mustard combines with the Bristol producer’s own blend of curry powder to give warming and fragrant flavours. RRP £4.50; wholesale £2.50.

gingerbeardspreserves. co.uk

Mr Organic has redeveloped its vegan mayo to deliver a richer, creamier texture and improved taste profile, with a new jar design to boot. Available via Cotswold Fayre, Holleys Fine Foods, Springvale Foods, Suma and Cress Co, Mr Organic Egg Free Organic Mayo has an RRP of £2.79.

mr-organic.com

The name Mama Nati, which translates to ‘Mother Nature’ in Creole, is well known on the London farmers’ market circuit for its Caribbean hot sauces (RRP £5.99). Paprika & Orange Chilli Jam blends several different peppers and works well with halloumi and avocado.

mamanatiltd.com

Turn up the heat

Learn your Scotch Bonnet from your sriracha, with Jay Webley of the Clifton Chilli Club

Once upon a time, consumers had little choice regarding availability, but the UK hot sauce scene continues to grow rapidly.

In general, most supermarkets stocked Tabasco or Encona sauces, but little else, and while these products still have their place in today’s market, the average hot sauce consumer is now better informed, aware of the options and, most importantly, they know their chillies.

Stocking the right products can be baffling due to the number of sauces on the market, so here are some pointers to help you get the best on your shelves.

Consumers have become knowledgeable about the flavour profiles of chillies. We see less people asking about heat levels and more asking whether products have a specific pepper in them. Popular chillies include Habanero, Scotch Bonnet, Naga Jolokia (aka Ghost Pepper), Jalapeño, Scorpion and Carolina Reaper. Stocking products that clearly state the pepper on the front label can be help your customers.

There are so many sauce styles and they are ever evolving, and moving with trends. Here are five styles that are ‘hot’ right now:

• Sriracha – Traditionally made with red jalapeño, lots of garlic and sugar. • Wing sauce – Aged chillies, vinegar, butter/oil and salt. • Fermented – Often a non-cook sauce where some or all ingredients are fermented together over time and then blended. • South East Asian-style – Look out for aromatics such as lemongrass, ginger and garlic. • Bajun/Caribbean – Mustard and scotch bonnet chillies are the most common ingredients in this style.

Well spiced with a hint of acidity.

Hot chilli products are judged separately at the Great Taste awards. Judges are given training on sauce styles, chilli flavours and heat profiles. Stocking Great Taste award-winning products is a great way of finding wellmade items that have been assessed by people with strong industry knowledge and experience.

Clean, simple and clear labelling is making a comeback. There was a point when hot sauces were receiving comical names, often related to hell or the devil due to the fiery heat. But we seem to have curbed our desire to invoke the fiery pits, and now prefer good descriptors such as ‘Jalapeno & Lime sauce’.

Please do utilise the free service of Clifton Chilli Club. We have tried thousands of chilli products over the past 15 years and have extensive knowledge of chilli products. If you have questions, get in touch:

cliftonchilli@yahoo.co.uk

Hunter & Gather has extended its ‘clean condiments’ line-up to take in 100% Olive Oil Mayonnaise. Free from seed oils, sugar, grains and milk, the mayo is made in the UK from a blend of olive oil, free-range egg yolk, apple cider vinegar and pink Himalayan salt. It is available in Classic, Olive and Lemon & Horseradish varieties, with an RRP of £4.49 for 240g.

Also new from the brand is a duo of olive oil dressings with no added sugar, sweeteners, grains or gluten. 100% Olive Oil Greek Dressing and 100% Olive Oil Ranch Dressing are made from olive oil, lemon juice, herbs and vinegar. RRP £4.49 for 250ml.

hunterandgatherfoods.com

Med Cuisine has brought some much-needed innovation to tahini, breaking out of the conventional jar format and creating three products that make it easier for home cooks to work with this versatile sesame paste.

The range comprises three SKUs in squeezy bottles: Organic Tahini Sauce is a roasted sesame spread made from 100% Humera sesame seeds (RRP £4.25; wholesale £2.55); Black Tahini is a smooth paste made from 100% black sesame seeds (RRP £4.99; wholesale £2.99) and Sweet Sesame Butter Tahini is a creamy Humera sesame sauce with vanilla accents (RRP £4.99; wholesale £2.99).

medcuisine.co.uk

Salcombe Dairy’s retail range now includes three vegan flavours that are said to taste as decadent as its Devonshire cream flavours. The three dairy-free varieties – Rainforest Nectar (mango, passionfruit, coconut & lime); Cloudforest Cacao (bean-to-bar chocolate) and Madagascan Vanilla – are available in 500ml tubs, priced at £3.25 for the trade; RRP £5.50.

salcombedairy.co.uk

Simply Ice Cream cites customer demand for dairy-free alternatives and its mission as a brand to operate more sustainably as the drivers behind its new vegan offer. The Kent producer has opted for a coconut base for its Strawberry, Dreamy Vanilla and Mango nondairy flavours. RRP £5.99 for a 500ml tub, with 120ml mini pots, and 2 and 4.75 litre scooping tubs also available.

simplyicecream.co.uk

Following a change of ownership in 2020, Just Rachel has been rebranded as Berry’s Luxury Ice Cream. The Herefordshire producer makes dairy ice cream from cream, sugar and fresh ingredients (RRP £6.50-7.50 for 500ml), as well as offering three coconut-cream based vegan flavours (passionfruit, chocolate and lime & coconut liqueur). It also produces sorbets, with Pear & Earl Grey Tea the latest flavour.

berrysicecream.co.uk

Purbeck Ice Cream has taken inspiration from the Harry Nilsson song to create Lime & Coconut Ice Cream, available as a limited-edition flavour in 500ml retail tubs (RRP £6.35) as well as 2l and 4l catering tubs. The Dorset producer will also launch its Vegan Chocolate & Raspberry Ice Cream in 125ml single serve pots (RRP £2.50) this summer.

purbeckicecream.co.uk

The avours of an Indian summer

Now Indian food lovers can buy dinner and dessert from Surreybased Mandira’s Kitchen following the launch of its ice cream and sorbet range. Made exclusively for the brand by Gray’s Gelato, the collection features traditional Indian flavour combinations: Fig & Almond Gelato, Lychee Martini Sorbet and Mango & Cardamom Gelato in 500g tubs.

mandiraskitchen.com

Little Moons has added Chocolate Hazelnut to its mochi line-up. The vegan-friendly bites encase chocolate and hazelnut flavoured ice cream in mochi dough, finished with a dusting of cocoa. RRP is £4.50 for a pack of 6 x 32 mochi.

littlemoons.com

Organic ice cream and sorbet brand Luscious has partnered with Terra Organica Prosecco to launch Luscious Prosecco & Strawberry Sorbet in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The limited-edition flavour is available in 500ml, 120ml and foodservice sizes. RRP £6.99 for 500ml.

lusciousorganics.co.uk

Lakes Ice Cream has signed a five-year deal with fellow Cumbrian producer, the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Company, giving it exclusive rights to make Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream. This flavour blends ice cream from Lakes with Cartmel’s toffee sauce and pudding crumb.

lakesicecream.com

Seeking new grills?

With the warmer months approaching, FFD uncovers ways to offer plant-based options for al fresco diners, who are cutting back on meat.

By Nick Baines

MUSHROOM SHAWARMA This is an easy way to turn those tired old veg kebabs up to eleven. Hefty Portobello mushrooms are stacked and pressed down on a metal skewer before being rubbed and marinaded in freshly grated garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and chilli flakes. After being slowly cooked on the grill, the shawarma stack can be carved, delivering thin slivers of spicy mushroom that can be stuffed in a pitta, or plated with salad. Amsterdam eatery Bardak serves its own take with creme fraiche, sumac onions and a chilli-garlic sauce.

PLANT-BASED BURGERS & BANGERS There’s now no shortage of impressive looking meat substitutes, from Vivera to Beyond Meat. These protein-dense patties have been a game changer in recent years, bringing both depth of flavour and texture to the table. However, there’s also a cry for more traditional veggie burgers, those made from chickpeas, pulses and minced vegetables. Use this as an opportunity to bring in more complex flavours, use leftfield ingredients, and explore regional spice blends. CORN RIBS AND ELOTE Corn on the cob is set for an upgrade this year. Whether as a meat alternative or a side dish, it’s a cheap and efficient way of increasing the offering. A lot of new influences are coming from Mexico where elote is a popular street food dish. Corn is grilled over coals before being slathered with mayonnaise and dusted with chilli powder, salt, lime juice and fresh coriander. However, some meat-dodging chefs have begun cutting “ribs” from corn – slicing long sections part way into the core – and grilling on the barbecue, before smothering in sauce like you would with sweet pork ribs, or sharp, spicy Buffalo wings.

SEITAN ‘CHICKEN’ Long relegated to the dusty shelves of health food shops, seitan now has a rightful place in the plant-based arsenal. Right now it is being used to great effect as a chicken substitute, everywhere from popular vegan fast food outlets like Temple of Seitan to food bloggers like romylondonuk.com, who shares a barrage of plant-based alternatives, including the pictured BBQ grilled seitan. Offering the same versatility as chicken, this can be marinaded and grilled. Stick it on a skewer as a satay alternative, create-Thai inspired patties, or sear and toss through a salad. PULLED JACKFRUIT With potential to sway even the most carnivorous of barbecue snobs, pulled jackfruit is proving a force to be reckoned with. When cooked, the jackfruit has an uncanny resemblance to the texture of its pork-based counterpart, falling into shredded heaps with a little help from a fork. After being anointed with sweet, smokey barbecue sauce, it’s ready to be loaded into fluffy white buns with a rough-cut slaw. Alternatively, deploy the shredded jackfruit to tortillas for veggie burritos and tacos.

CAULIFLOWER STEAKS There are few things more satisfying than cooking steak over coals. But that primal ritual is being replicated, to a degree, with the humble cauliflower. Yes, you read that right. Chefs have been cutting large inch-thick sections through the brassica and giving it the same tender treatment. The cauliflower retains a bit of bite in the centre, charred on its exterior, and delivers hungry diners something they can sink their teeth into. All sorts of rubs and marinades will work but, when the vegetable has smoky charred notes to it from slow-cooking on the grill, sauces like chimichurri really come into their own.

Silent Pool Distillers claims to have brought to market the world’s first spirit packaged in a 100% recyclable cardboard bottle with the launch of Green Man Wildwood Gin.

Made from 94% recycled paperboard by a company called FrugalPac, the Frugal Bottle is said to be 80% lighter than a glass bottle, resulting in a carbon footprint that is six times lower.

The Surrey distillery has also partnered with Tree Nation to plant a tree for every bottle sold.

The gin itself is characterised by top notes of pine, fir and birch leaf, which give way to a more herbal midpalate, including Macedonian juniper, rosehip, and apple. It has a long finish with woody, rooty notes coming from Bosnian juniper, fennel seeds, dandelion and burdock.

silentpooldistillers.com

According to husband-and-wife duo Andy and Zoe Arnold-Bennet, who co-founded Shed 1 Distillery in 2016, once they discovered chuckleberries it became their mission to use them in gin.

“We knew we had to make a bathtub gin so as not to lose the beautiful colour,” says Zoe.

The chuckleberry is a cross between a gooseberry, redcurrant and jostaberry. It has a unique tart sweetness, which the Ulverston distillery complemented with the herby notes of meadowsweet and hyssop.

Shed 1 Distillery created Chuckleberry Gin with tonic in mind and recommends serving one part gin, to three parts tonic. The gin is already on sale in Booths. RRP is £29.95 for 70cl; trade price £17.50.

shed1distillery.com

Gin Bothy’s new Smoked Gin is an expression that reconnects with North East Scotland’s historic bothy smokehouse culture. Rich in flavour and full in strength, the gin is pitched as the perfect companion to Scottish smoked salmon and Highland game. It is hand-bottled, handbatched and hand-labelled at the producer’s bothy in the Angus Glens. RRP £38; trade price £24.99.

ginbothy.co.uk

Roses from the

Chatsworth Garden

impart a sweet subtle flavour to Peak Artisan Drinks’ new Chatsworth Rose Pink Gin, the second gin expression to come out of the Derbyshire distillery. The distillery, which sits in the foothills of the Chatsworth Estate, already has an established following for its smallbatch Chatsworth gin. Both are available in 50ml and 700ml bottles.

chatsworthgins.com

Last month, Withers Gin launched G Force, a London dry gin in memory of founder Sarah Withers’ father, a decorated fighter pilot. G Force has the same botanical line-up as the East Midlands producer’s original G1 gin, but an export strength ABV of 47%. Both expressions utilise heartsease, a flower of remembrance, as the lead botanical. RRP £41.95 for 70cl.

withersgin.co.uk

Jiddler’s Tipple has dressed up its session strength craft beers in vintage shirt patterns to make them as easy on the eye as they are on the palate. The London start-up, which launched in 2019, now has a three 3.8% ABV beers in its core range: Everyday Pale Ale, Bog Standard Lager and Another IPA. RRP £2.693.30.

jiddlerstipple.com

Enjoy neat or in cocktails

Crab apples can be wincingly sour, but

Ballyvolane House Spirits Company

has found a way of transforming them into a smooth spirit that can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails. The Co Cork distiller ages the fruit with Irish milk gin for several months and then filters it before adding local honey, jaggery cane sugar syrup and cloves to create a 31% ABV crab apple gin that immortalises Bertha – a legendary Irish cow that lived to the age of 48. RRP €35.00 RRP for 50cl.

ballyvolanespirits.ie

British Polo Gin, the brand created by former professional polo player Rich Hine, has launched a gift set containing its core range of ‘proudly British’ organic gins. The pack is soft touch matt laminated with silver foil, delivering both shelf appeal and weight in hand. RRP £26; trade price £15.

britishpologin.co.uk

Apple Black is Honey’s take on a ‘cider & black’, blending real Somerset cider with blackcurrant in a fruity 4% ABV drink. The Honeys make their own cider on their farm in Midford, near Bath, where they have revived the grazed orchard tradition.

honeyscider.co.uk

Staffordshire fruit wine maker Clive’s has created a new gift box. The presentation pack accommodates three 187ml bottles, with eight varieties to choose from: Cherry, Damson, Elderflower, Gooseberry, Plum, Raspberry, Rhubarb and Strawberry & Elderflower. RRP £11.99; trade price £6.25.

cliveswines.co.uk

In the Welsh Wind

Distillery’s Signature Style dry gin is a smooth, oil-rich gin whose botanical profile is inspired by cargoes imported into the Welsh port of New Quay a few miles north of the distillery: oranges, baking spices and tea-soaked currants. RRP £42 for 70cl.

inthewelshwind.co.uk

Rhubarb Cream Tea Gin is the upshot of Fox Gins’ desire to create a Yorkshire-inspired expression. Using fresh rhubarb and a tea blend from the Metropolitan Tea Company, the distillery has crafted a gin that balances the tartness of rhubarb with the sweet taste of cream. RRP: £34.95 for 50cl, £10 for 10cl.

foxgins.co.uk

Making Japanese saké more accessible is Kanpai, with its RTD Yuzu & Cucumber Session Sake (250ml can, trade £2). This lightly sparkling 5.5% ABV beverage is naturally fermented, brewed from rice in London by Kanpai, and infused with Japanese yuzu and British cucumber.

kanpai.london

Negroni 58 is Thunderflower Distillery’s take on a classic recipe, blending the Devon distillery’s FireShip 58 gin, with Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino, and Amaro Montenegro liqueur. The bitter-sweet 31.5% ABV cocktail comes in 20cl and 70cl bottles, with respective RRPs of £15 and £38.

thunderflower.co.uk

Wolftown’s second creation is a London dry, crafted to be reminiscent of holidays in the Med. The Citrus Gin combines lemon and grapefruit with a silky mouthfeel thanks to the use of organic British oats from the producer’s home county of Cumbria. RRP £3639 for 70cl; £9 for 20cl.

wolftown.uk

Five steps to picnic success

Retail design and merchandising specialist Eve Reid, of Metamorphosis Group, looks at how shopkeepers can maximise their sales as customers look to take their food outdoors – both on and off the premises

THE RIGHT FOOD OFFER To start off with, don’t forget your retailing basics. Think about who your customers are and what they will be looking for as the weather improves. There’s no point in stocking up with Champagne and strawberries for picnicking romantic couples when most of your footfall is coming from families seeking out sandwiches and crisps.

Try to draw up some customer profiles – almost like imaginary friends. Think about what they want, the time (of day and week) that they want it, and where they’re going to eat it (at home, out and about). NON-FOOD OPPORTUNITIES Try to work out where your customers are taking the food & drink after they’ve bought it from you. If they are going home to eat in the back garden, then merchandise items like salad bowls, glassware and cutlery. And if they are heading to a picnic spot then try to carry those useful items that are often forgotten: disposable plates, picnic blankets, rubbish sacks, wet wipes. Stock sun cream for the optimists and umbrellas for the pessimists. and smart branding opportunities for you. Suppliers like WBC have plenty of options for retailers, such as those pictured.

PROMOTING THE OFFER Visual merchandising is a vital part of snaring potential picnickers, so decide on your key promotional locations. Start with outside the shop. If you’re in a high footfall location, entice people in with an eye-catching display and signage that sums up your offer.

Indoors, make sure you map out the typical customer’s walk through the shop. Promote items in displays near the entrance and at busy “junctions”, such as toilets and counters (especially for hampers). The till points are also so-called “hot spots” but make sure there are easy-to-grab items, like napkins or crisps.

The more effort you put into all of these contact points the more reward you will get in terms of sales.

Try to work out where your customers are taking the food & drink a er they’ve bought it from you.

CREATING SOME ‘WOW’ Despite what you might think, anyone can present and package food with a bit of pizazz. Don’t be afraid of using a traditional hamper as a starting point for your displays or as an upsell on the humdrum shopping bag. Or you aim somewhere in between with card lunchboxes or a re-usable hessian bag, which offer practicality GET THEM TO STAY… AND RETURN You may be lucky enough to be next to a park, or in the middle of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If so, you should achieve this one easily, provided you follow the points above and the weather stays good!

But, failing that, try to create your own inviting space for customers to eat their purchases on site. Shade, comfortable benches and dog water bowls will encourage repeat visits.

metamorphosisgroup.co.uk

Something & Nothing

has taken the botanicals and natural fruit flavours from its non-alcoholic seltzer range and blended them with French wines from a small estate in the Côtes de Gascogne to create a new kind of spritz. It launches in 330ml cans in two 4% ABV flavours: French Rosé + Hibiscus & Rose and Sauvignon Blanc + Cucumber Seltzer. RRP £3.50.

somethingandnothing.co

High Hops and Navigator, the two newest products from Purple Moose Brewery in Porthmadog, are the first beers the Welsh brewery has ever canned. A full-bodied and refreshing hazy, pale, tropical IPA, High Hops was designed to be a modern style summer thirst quencher, whilst Navigator is a red IPA inspired by a US beer style.

purplemoose.co.uk

Since winning a Golden Fork Award in 2019 for its Heather mead, Afon Mêl Meadery has been busy developing a range of session meads. The outcome is a trio of 5% ABV easy-drinking meads: Nectar (pure mead with a light sparkle), Moon Juice (cyser fermented from apples and honey) and Bramble (a cross of blackberries and honey). RRP £4; trade price £24.60 (case of 12).

afonmel.com

Lakeland Artisan in Kendal has unveiled its ‘gin in a tin’ proposition: a range of four 6.3% ABV RTD mixes made with 100% natural ingredients and gin from Herdwick Distillery. The 250ml cans come in Yan Gin & Fell Tonic, Berry Yan Gin with Pink Lemonade, Marmalade Yan Gin with Lemonade and Rhubarb & Ginger Yan Gin with Ginger Beer (RRP £3.50; trade price £1.90).

lakelandartisan.co.uk

All-natural, pure juice rosé cidre

With the rosé category booming, but all-natural options in short supply, Galipette has raided Brittany’s natural larder to create a 100% pure juice 4.0% ABV rosé cider from local, redfleshed apples. The apples produce an amber-coloured cider with balanced acidity and light bitterness, without adding any sugar, water, sweeteners, colours or additives. Galipette Cidre Rosé launched last month in cases of 24 x 330ml bottles.

galipettecidre.com

Paxton & Whitfield has added an English sparkling to its wine portfolio. Described as a “light and effervescent anytime English fizz”, this 2015 vintage is a mix of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in Fox & Fox Mayfield’s East Sussex vineyards. RRP £35; trade price £26.

paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Following the success of its Rostrevor Ruby Irish Gin in the Northern Irish market, Mourne Dew Distillery has introduced the berry flavoured spirit to the trade in Great Britain. This summery gin fuses raspberries, strawberries, mint and rose. RRP £29.99 for 70cl; trade price £18.95.

mournedew.com

Vintage Roots, a supplier of organic and biodynamic wines, beers & spirits, has tracked down an organic spritz mixer from Italy. Walcher Veneziano Organic Spritz is distilled from organic fruit and contains no colourants or artificial flavours. RRP £13.95 for 70cl.

vintageroots.co.uk

Summer serves

Industry veteran and founder of Hello Gubs, a drinks brand strategy consultancy focused on smaller brands, Jonny Shields selects five summer cocktails to tempt your customers.

NEGRONI A classic that just hits different in the sunshine. With a bittersweet blend of gin, sweet vermouth & bitter amaro, this drink packs a punch. Being so simple, the Negroni is ripe for some flavourled twists. I love using a bright, citrus-forward Gin in mine, like a blood orange gin, perhaps.

SCOTCH HIGHBALL This one might sound a little dated but, trust me, whisky highballs are back. And for good reason. They’re incredibly refreshing and, with the right balance of ingredients, they’re delicious. Add a large measure of scotch whisky to a highball, fill to the top with cubed ice and top with soda. Finish with a fresh lemon slice for garnish.

STRAWBERRY MOJITO Nothing says British summer time quite like a plump, ripe strawberry. Muddle a couple of them in a tall glass with mint, sugar & lime. Add a large measure of white rum and fill the glass with crushed ice. Top with a splash of soda, garnish with a mint sprig and half a strawberry.

BITTER SPRITZ There’s more to a spritz than bubbles & bright colours. A good spritz is, of course, effervescent, bright and refreshing, yet should also have a nuanced bitterness and complexity. And when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, they should feel adult, not dumbed down and overly sweet. Grab a couple measures of a non-alcoholic aperitif – I love Æcorn Bitter, fill a wine glass with ice and top with soda.

GINGER SWITCHEL & SODA The summer tipple you didn’t know you needed, this zippy drink is led by the use of fresh ginger. You can make your own Ginger Switchel using fresh ginger, vinegar & honey but why not grab a pre-made bottle for ease of use – I’d go for Mother Root. Then, to lengthen the drink, add soda and plenty of ice.

Dunnet Bay Distillers, the UK mainland’s most northerly distillery, has mixed its Holy Grass Vodka with apple tonic to produce a 5.5% ABV RTD spirit and soda combo.

Holy Grass Vodka is infused with vapour of Highland apple juice to complement the sweetness of the main botanical, Holy Grass, making it a perfect match for apple tonic.

Wonders of the Wilderness Holy Grass Scottish Vodka with Apple Tonic comes in a 250ml can that is fully recyclable, including the label, which is made from uncoated wood-free paper and residue from apple production.

RRP £2.50. rockrosegin.co.uk

Orkney Gin Company has taken inspiration from the island’s scenery, history and folklore in the development of Aatta, the distillery’s first London dry gin. The name ‘Aatta’ means ‘eight in Orkney’s historic Norse language. This juniper led gin is distilled eight times with eight whole botanicals including whole oranges and rose hips collected on the island of Burray, Madagascan vanilla and cinnamon. This slow distillation with whole fresh ingredients creates a rich and complex 44% ABV gin. The bottle’s design is a nod to the folklore tales told on the island - a ‘selkie wife’ (mermaid) appears to be moving inside the bottle next to kelp and a shoal of fish. RRP £39.90 for 70cl.

orkneygincompany.com

Amsterdam beverage brand Soof stemmed from the idea of making cordials and sodas from 100% pure fruit, vegetables and herbs – targeting people who are into pure food and mindful ways of living. There are three flavours in the 250ml canned soda range: Rose, Cardamom, Pear, Apple & Water; Blackcurrant, Lavender, Apple & Water; and Lemon, Mint, Apple & Water.

soofdrinks.com

Barn Farm Drinks has ventured beyond its core pure fruit juice business to launch a presse range in 250ml glass bottles. The gently sparkling Rhubarb & Apple, Strawberry & Cucumber and Sicilian Lemonade presses can be used as mixers or enjoyed on their own. Much of the fruit used in the drinks is grown on the third generation family farm, situated on the Essex and Suffolk border.

barnfarmdrinks.co.uk

The Dorset Ginger

Company has added two new flavours to its readyto-drink beverage line-up. Raspberry with a Hint of Ginger is fruity with subtle ginger, while Rhubarb with a Ginger Kick is tart and crisp and packs a more powerful ginger punch. Both flavours are available in 33cl and 75cl bottles, with respective RRPs of £2.50 and £5.

dorsetginger.ltd

Belvoir Farm has taken a ‘garden to glass’ approach with its latest NPD, crafting a trio of sodas that blend botanical infusions with sparkling water. Providing less than 4.5g of sugar and fewer than 20 calories per 100ml, the sodas offer a healthier alternative to alcoholic and sugary soft drinks. Choose from Floral Fizz, Bitter Orange Spritz and Spicy Ginger Fizz. RRP £2.25 for 500ml.

belvoirfarm.co.uk

Made from natural soda crystals

While mixers often come in 150ml cans, Folkington’s has recognised an opportunity for a larger mixer size. This has prompted the soft drink producer to launch its 100% natural club soda water in 330ml cans, sold in multi-packs of six cans (RRP £6; trade price £3.50). Folkington’s makes its soda using natural soda crystals instead of the industry norm of factory-made soda.

folkingtons.com

This month sees the launch of a Pink Grapefruit Soda from Britvic-owned London Essence Co. Lime leaf distillate contrasts with grapefruit sharp to produce a soda that promises to elevate any tequila, vodka or rum, or allows mixologists to craft Paloma, Vodka Soda or Mojito cocktails.

londonessenceco.com

Kefir water brand Agua de Madre has launched a new 25cl bottle with an easy-to-open ring pull lid, with Selfridges’ London food hall the first outlet to sell the new format. Agua de Madre is a naturally fermented sparkling water drink, said to host a similar amount of live culture as milk kefir.

aguademadre.co.uk

Smoothie brand Love Struck has developed a range of frozen mixers for consumers who want cocktails at home without the faff. The sachet contents can be blended with juice and a spirit to produce a “bar quality” Pornstar Martini, Pina Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri or Raspberry Collins.

love-struck.com