MAKE SURE IT PLATTERS
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“We’re always looking at new ways and formats to communicate what suppliers are o ering.”
Over the many years I’ve worked at Fine Food Digest, thousands of products have graced our pages. Showcasing what’s available to independent retailers is a key function of the magazine. Call me biased but I think we do a decent job of it. That said, we’re always looking at new ways and formats to communicate what suppliers are offering to our deli & farm shop readership.
Sometimes our product coverage can be quite densely populated and in other instances, items are shown in isolation and free of all other food & drink context. While neither of these are bad approaches, this publication you’re about to read is about piloting a slightly different treatment.
By staging and photographing items in small groups and giving over full pages for this, our Deli Selections supplement is meant to show items (some you may recognise, others you may be less familiar with) in a different light.
My hope is that you’ll find this approach more tangible than more typical cataloguing or product news formats. Every item you’ll find in this publication has been given space to expand but this different perspective also places them in a bit of context, perhaps in the way a customer would experience them when they get them home and open up all the packaging.
For those buyers out there who want all the facts, don’t worry, we haven’t skimped on the usual details and these photo-led pieces will still very much be actionable.
It’s still Fine Food Digest, just through a different lens.
Bush Barn Farm Elder ower Cordial
Bush Barn Farm is a family run operation just outside Robertsbridge in East Sussex, where founders Nick and Maria Oliver grow elder trees organically and harvest the elderflowers and elderberries.
Its Elderflower Cordial is available to retailers in cases of 6 x 500ml glass bottles (£20.22, RRP £6.50 per bottle) and can purchased directly or via Mahalo Supplies and Love4Local.
The producer recommends simply diluting this all-natural cordial with still or sparkling water at a ratio of 1:10. bushbarnfarm.co.uk
Tempus Charcuterie Smoked Coppa
The coppa, or pork collar, is a classic cut for charcuterie and British producer, Tempus, has put a twist on this by simply curing with black pepper and then smoking the whole muscle over chestnut wood. It is then air-dried for 3-4 months.
This Great Taste 2023 3-star product’s deep, rich flavour and texture is ideal for pairing with melted cheese dishes such as raclette, but it can also be enjoyed on its own with a drink. On that front, it’s a good match for white wines like Riesling and Gewürztraminer, as well as sherries or stout.
Available in 60g packs with an RRP of £5.99. tempusfoods.com
Lomito Chimi Clusters
Chimichurri is the classic Argentinian condiment and now its essence has been captured in snack form by producer (and restaurant chain) Lomito. Pitched as a healthy alternative to potato crisps and drinks accompaniment, these Chimi Clusters (available in 90g and snack sized 25g bags) feature Lomito’s unique blend of Latin flavours infused into cereal clusters with a hint of caramel for what it describes as “the ultimate sweet & spicy combination”. lomitorestaurants.com
“The pork collar is a classic cut for charcuterie and this British producer has put its twist on this. ”
Shepherds Purse
Mrs Bell’s Salad Cheese
Made in Yorkshire since 1989 using British ewes’ milk, Mrs Bell’s Salad Cheese hasn’t always gone by its current name. It was first created as “Yorkshire Feta” and then had to be renamed “Yorkshire Fettle” due to the Greeks securing a PDO for Feta before its current moniker was adopted in 2022.
Needless to say it’s a creamy cheese, with a soft, slightly crumbly texture and a sweet piquant flavour. As you would expect, it’s ideal for adding to salads but also holds its own in hot dishes and on a cheese board.
This sheep’s cheese’s most recent awards are the overall Supreme Product at the DeliciouslyYorkshire Taste Awards 2023 and Best Ewe’s Milk Cheese at the Virtual Cheese Awards in 2023.
Supplied to the trade in cases of 12 x 150g slices or 2kg blocks, Mrs Bell’s Salad Cheese is available through wholesalers, including Harvey & Brockless, Carron Lodge, Michael Lee, Cryer & Stott, Class One and Delifresh. shepherdspurse.co.uk
Windmill Organics Biona Aubergine Pesto
Biona’s award-winning organic Aubergine Pesto is billed as a “a melting pot of Mediterranean flavours”. Smoky aubergines and sweet Italian sun-dried tomatoes are blended into an organic, vegan, mezzeinspired take on a classic pesto.
It contains no added sugar, making it an ideal choice for health-conscious consumers who value taste, and is produced in a solarpowered kitchen for extra environmental credentials.
Named Best New Food Product at the Natural & Organic Products Expo 2024 Innovation Awards, this product can be stirred through pasta just like a traditional pesto. But it can also be served alongside a salad, tossed through roasted vegetables or spooned onto bruschetta.
Available in wholesale cases of 6x 140g jars, it has an RRP of £3.29 per jar. biona.co.uk
“An ideal choice for healthconscious consumers who value taste”
King Peter Ham
Garlic and White Wine Salami
Smoked Coppa
Country Paté
British Bresaola
Original Beef Frankfurter
Spiced Loin Porkfurter
Tempus Number 8
Rare & Pasture Saveloy
The Fine Cheese Co.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Sea Salt Crackers
One of The Fine Cheese Co.’s first lines in what is now a formidable line-up of branded accompaniments, these crackers were created “to make eating cheese a new experience, without overwhelming it”.
Made exclusively with extra virgin olive oil at The Fine Cheese Co.’s own bakery in Derbyshire, this variety is particularly effective when eaten with hard cheeses such as Pecorino.
Available in cases of 6 x 125g boxes (RRP £3.10 per unit) directly from the producer or via The Bay Tree Food Co. finecheese.co.uk
Snowdonia Cheese Company Tru e Trove
Truffle Trove combines Italian Black Summer truffles with extra mature cheddar – all encased in white wax. This cheese – with its undertones of wild mushroom and hazelnut leading to notes of garlic – won a Gold at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards in 2022.
It is sold to the retail trade in cases of 6 x 150/200g truckles, which have an RRP of £5.50 each.
snowdoniacheese.co.uk
Tempus Charcuterie King Peter Ham
This speck-style ham is cured with juniper, black pepper and dried bay leaves and then smoked over chestnut wood, before being aged off the bone with the skin on.
It is also Tempus’s signature ham, made in honour of co-founder Tom Whitaker’s late father Peter. Although it is only aged for a year, King Peter Ham (60g packs, RRP £6.99) offers up an interplay of natural sweetness with smoke and aromatics to create plenty of complexity on the palate. Using older sows also adds plenty of depth of flavour despite the relatively short ageing process.
It can be enjoyed on its own or served with other deli items but it is equally useful in the kitchen – served with asparagus and hollandaise, with melon or wrapped around scallops.
Recommended drinks pairings include dry martini, English rosé, and white wines like Pinot Gris, unoaked Chardonnay or Riesling. tempusfoods.com
Shepherds Purse Yorkshire Blue Organic
Made to the 30-year-old Yorkshire Blue recipe with cows’ milk from Acorn Organic Dairy just up the road from the Shepherds Purse Farm in North Yorkshire, this cheese differs slightly from the original cheese.
Organic Yorkshire Blue has all the mellow, rich, creamy characteristics of Yorkshire Blue but with extra herbaceous notes.
It can be purchased by retailers in a variety of formats: cases of 8 x 180g wedges, 2 x 750g half-moons and in individual 1.5kg wheels and 3kg truckles.
Wholesaler stockists include Rowcliffe, Michael Lee, Organic North and Acorn Dairy in Yorkshire & the North East. shepherdspurse.co.uk
Hawkshead Relish Cheeseboard Chutney
Packed with apples, figs, cranberries and a good glug of Pinot Noir, Hawkshead Relish’s bestselling Cheeseboard Chutney has become a staple in the Cumbrian producer’s large range over the past couple of years. This is mainly down to its versatility.
Unsurprisingly, Cheeseboard Chutney is great with cheese, but is also ideal for sandwiches, mixed with olive oil for a fruity salad dressing or for adding to a hearty stew. It comes in 200g jars, with an RRP of £4.65. hawksheadrelish.com
“Has all the mellow, rich, creamy characteristics of Yorkshire Blue but with extra herbaceous notes.”
ME M BER
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We are a family-run farm growing elder trees on 25 acres at our organic farm in East Sussex.
Our elderflowers and elderberries are lovingly hand-picked from our orchard to create 4 delicious cordials made with only natural ingredients.
bushbarnfarm.co.uk @bushbarnfarm
An elegant cinnamon-infused sweet and tangy pickle that pairs beautifully with cheese and charcuterie…or why not use it to top your next salad for a sweet and tangy flavour contrast.
Contact us on 07424 748333 or email pickles@gardenofeva.co.uk www.gardenofeva.co.uk | @gardenofeva.uk
Stock lightly spiced, bite-sized real poppadoms, mouthwatering chutneys, flu y, hand-pulled naan breads, easy-to-make spice mixes from Onion Bhaji to Seekh Kebab, and Pilau Rice. Our colourful, eye-catching, new packaging is sure to attract attention on shelf.
To enquire, please contact Shezad Aslam on 07917523595 or shezad@aagrah.com
- chorizo - pepperoni - smoked
- bresaola
and ethical charcuterie made in the heart of the Scottish Highlands from locally sourced wild venison.
in retail packs with a three month shelf life and whole to slice instore.
Aagrah Hydrabadi Aagrah Balti
Onion Bhaji Mix
American Southern Pickled Watermelon Rind
Horgans Delicatessen Supplies
Sliced Corned Beef
Conveniently sliced and packaged for grab & go retail customers, this 100% premium thickcut corned beef from Horgans is sandwichready.
For three generations, the Co Cork-based supplier has refused to compromise on the sourcing, preparation and quality of its deli products – and this traditional corned beef is produced to the same exacting standards. Pack weight is 120g. horgans.com
Sheffield Dragon Renegade Mango Habanero Hot Sauce
Made with mangoes and fiery yellow habanero peppers, this Great Taste 2-star sauce (2023) delivers what its maker describes “a perfect balance of sweetness and heat”.
Renegade Mango is a medium heat sauce (clocking in at Scoville 20,000 SHU on the heat scale) and can be served with a range of foods from grilled meats and tacos through to sandwiches. But Sheffield Dragon says its unctuous creation can be used as a salad dressing, a marinade or even in stir-fries.
The Oil Merchant Team Tartu Tru e Ketchup
Team Tartufi was originally set up as a business supplying fresh truffles to top restaurants both in Italy and further afield. When they discovered that some truffles were being rejected by chefs due to their size or irregular shape, they decided to put these unwanted Italian gems to good use.
As well as 100g bottles for retail, Renegade Mango can also be supplied in catering sized formats. sheffielddragon.com
The result was this Truffle Ketchup, which is both sweet and tangy while offering a punchy hit of truffle. While the fun, eye-catching branding stands out on shelf, the contents are said to elevate all manner of sandwiches –especially a bacon sarnie.
Distributed by The Oil Merchant in the UK, the ketchup is available to retailers in cases of 6 x 220g bottles for £44.40. Per bottle, that works out at £7.70, while the RRP is £12.50-£15. oilmerchant.co.uk
“For three generations, this supplier has refused to compromise on the quality of its products ”
Snowdonia Cheese Company
Rock Star Cheddar
The newest addition to Snowdonia’s stable of waxed truckles, Rock Star is a rich cave-aged cheddar, is matured within Welsh slate caverns in the heart of the Snowdonia area. It offers up a savoury aroma alongside a smooth and creamy texture with the occasional crunchy crystal. On the palate, its umami flavours mix with sweet caramel notes leading to a long finish with a savoury tang.
The cheese is supplied in cases of 6 x 200g cobalt-coloured waxed truckles (RRP from £5.50 each).
Encased in cobalt-coloured wax to celebrate the rocks of these historical mines, it is the star of any cheeseboard. snowdoniacheese.co.uk
Great Glen Charcuterie Green Pepper Venison Salami
Made in the Scottish Highlands with pure wild venison and gently spiced with green peppercorns, this salami has won some top awards over the last decade. In 2013, it won a 3-star award and the Golden Fork for Best Charcuterie Product in Great Taste. It won another 3-star in Great Taste 2017 and claimed the title of Best Game Product in the British Charcuterie Awards 2019.
Supplied to retailers in 80g sliced packs (RRP £5.50), the product is ideal for deli platters alongside cheese, other cured meats and olives – but it is also ideal for sandwiches or in a salad with roasted peppers and cream cheese.
greatglencharcuterie.com
The Fine Cheese Co Toast For Cheese –Dates, Hazelnuts & Pumpkin Seeds
Few deli products achieve the iconic status of The Fine Cheese Co.’s Toast For Cheese, which has been a staple on specialist retailer’s shelves for many years. These crackers are made with buttermilk, extra virgin olive oil and only natural ingredients – including around 55% fruits, nuts and seeds. Produced at the supplier’s own bakery in Derbyshire, each Toast For Cheese is baked twice like biscotti to achieve its signature thin, light and crisp texture.
As well as the variety shown here, which has been designed as the perfect pairing for creamier cheeses, the Toast For Cheese range features a number of recipes that have been specifically developed with certain cheese partners in mind.
“A rich caveaged cheddar matured within Welsh slate caverns ”
All varieties are available to the trade –directly from The Fine Cheese Co. or The Bay Tree Food Co. – in cases of 6 x 100g, with an RRP of £4.50 per box. finecheese.co.uk
Stag Bakeries
Cocktail Seaweed Water Biscuits
Stag Bakeries says its Seaweed Water Biscuits should evoke memories of coastal holidays, Scottish islands, and the brisk sea breeze.
Made by skilled craft bakers with decades of experience in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, these crackers have a unique flavour thanks to the blend of seaweeds that features in their recipe.
They pair well with all manner of cheeses as well as being ideal to serve with cured meats, fish and pâté – or even as a base for canapés.
Available in wholesale cases of 12 x 100g boxes, which have and RRP of £3.20 each. stagbakeries.co.uk
Treur Kaas
Chevretta Blue Goat Cheese
The Chevretta range from Dutch supplier Treur Kaas is made using pasteurised goats’ milk produced in North Holland. Thanks to the herd’s diet of special grasses, flaxseed and straw, the resulting cheese is rich in flavour and very creamy.
Its Chevretta Blue variety marries this signature creaminess with the piquancy of blue mould, with the veins standing out well against the cheese’s white paste.
Available via wholesaler Hamish Johnston, whole cheeses weigh in at 3.5kg. treurkaas.com
Horgans Delicatessen Supplies Sliced Corned Beef
Famed across Ireland for the quality of its deli products, Horgans supplies its corned beef in handy 120g pre-sliced packs.
Whether deployed in a sandwich or as part of a deli platter, these thick cut slices ensure a generous helping every time. Every pack is produced to the Co Cork business’s unwavering quality standards for that signature consistency. horgans.com
“This cheese marries a signature creaminess with the piquancy of blue mould”
Renegade Mango
Liquid Fire
Hot Fuzzz
Perrys of Eccleshall Porchetta
Aagrah Foods Mint Chutney Mix
“Hand-made by a Master Butcher
