FINE FOOD SHOW NORTH: EDITORS’ CHOICE

FINE FOOD SHOW NORTH 2022 Best in show

As always, the FFD editorial team perused the stands at Fine Food Show North to nd some interesting new lines. Here is their pick of the bunch.

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Pinsa-style Pizza Base

TENUTA MARMORELLE

One of the quirkier legacies of Covid lockdowns has been the boom in pizza-making at home. Whether it was people building their own pizza ovens or just perfecting their dough, millions of Brits spent their downtime seeking the perfect slice.

As we return to a more timepoor way of life, these bases from Tenuta Marmorelle might be hitting a newly forming gap at exactly the right time. They are ideal for consumers that want a high-quality pizza, even if they only have 15 minutes to assemble and cook one.

tenutamarmorelle.com Roasted Peanuts with Proper Job Cornish IPA

MR FILBERT’S

Cast aside the healthy eating agenda for a second. Your customers still want the odd treat and when it comes to snacking, they want that treat to be moreish. These nuts do that in spades.

It’s quite a unique flavour, citrussy and salty with some sweetness all while retaining those nutty notes. These certainly work with beer (as all nuts should) but they’re very tasty in their own right. And Mr Filbert’s packaging always hits the mark – both practically and aesthetically.

mrfilberts.com Milk Orange Hot Chocolate

GUPPY’S CHOCOLATES

Don’t quote us on this, but chocolate orange might just be the new salted caramel. Plenty of the mainstream confectionery brands have added this flavour to their repertoires as limited-edition lines. It seems that it’s not just Terry’s anymore.

Guppy’s has always done a good job of being classy but accessible for consumers. The chocolate itself is decent and renders a drink that tastes exactly as you would expect it to. That bold packaging really draws the eye, too.

guppyschocolates.co.uk Wild Mushroom sauce concentrate

SA SAUCES

When it comes to “cheat code” ingredients, merchandising tends to be a problem. Unwieldy packet mixes, poly bags of dusty seasoning and large chilled tubs of sauces all present their stacking challenges, but SA Sauces has come up with a small-but-perfectlyformed solution. These little pots will fit neatly on shelves, sit comfortanly on counter tops and slot into merchandising spots with ease. Just for good measure, this little pot also renders a cracking sauce for steak or pasta.

sasauces.co.uk

Aji condiment

CHIMILOVE

Chimilove makes a range of products based on the classic South American chimichurri. It’s a condiment that works well on burgers, with steak or for pepping up a sandwich.

This version adds a little more chilli kick to the herby concoction and the packaging gives maximum prominence to the jar’s contents – which is a bonus for attracting impulse buys or merchandising on the butchery counter.

chimi.love ‘It’s a Rum Do’ Dark Spiced Gin

WILD FOX DISTILLERY

“Rum is the new gin,” is one of those recurring statements we hear at FFD, but the craft gin market continues to thrive and it doesn’t look like shifting from its top spot just yet.

Wild Fox Distillery’s ‘It’s a Rum Do’ cleverly taps into the market for those flirting with the sugarcane spirit. It is sweet but also complex – with notes of cardamom, cloves and vanilla coming through – while the subtle hint of dandelion makes it great for sipping on ice, perhaps with a slice of lime.

wildfoxdistillery.co.uk Top Deluxe Pork Jerky

TOP MEATS

Without wishing to look too much like pub-crawling journalists, there’s a second bar-style snack on our list. Being completely honest, the branding needs a little bit of a shift from behind-the-bar clip strip to a classier deli look, but you can’t fault the contents. The jerky has a good balance of salty and sweet, and it encourages just enough chewing to maximise the flavour in the mouth. Given their clear USP (i.e. not beef), it might be worth making some space in your impulse or snacking area.

topmeats.uk Rhubarb & Ginger Yan Gin with Ginger Beer

HERDWICK DISTILLERY

The big spirit brands have offered ready-mixed drinks for the last decade. But Herdwick’s canned range is a great example of how a regional distillery can tailor this concept for independent retailers. Based on flavour alone, our pick was this variety for its balance of spicy ginger, sweetness and gin warmth. But the whole range has appeal. The branding is a good mix of modern bold colour and countryside charm, which will sit ideally in the grab-and-go chillers at most farm shops.

herdwickdistillery.co.uk