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How’s the fare up there?

With FFD taking a trip to Harrogate for Fine Food Show North, it seemed only right to round up the latest product launches from counties in the North of England.

Compiled by Lynda Searby

York-based Allotment Drinks says it has “veered off the well-trodden soft drinks path” to invent low-sugar sodas with home-grown flavours inspired by the British vegetable plot, garden and hedgerow. Barbarilla Soda (rhubarb & anise) and Hipstar Soda (rosehip, starflower & meadowsweet) are said to be bursting with natural botanical extracts and flavours. RRP £2-3.50 for 330ml.

allotmentdrinks.co.uk

Davenport’s has overhauled its entire range, curating some new collections, including ‘The Dessert Trolley’ and ‘A Shuffle of Truffles’, collaborating with likeminded producers to launch lines such as Droitwich Salt Truffles and Hepple Gin Truffles, and rolling out a 100g bar range in flavours such as Ginger & Lavender and Strawberry Waffle Cone.

davenportschocolates. com

Handcrafted in Derbyshire,

So Good Kombucha’s

‘living’ drinks have scored listings in around 50 independent retailers after trading for only one year. As well as brewing unfiltered kombucha using organic and natural ingredients, the BIPOC women-owned social venture has pledged to support and employ refugees. It recently developed a Blueberry, Blackcurrant & Lemon drink to raise money for Ukrainian refugees.

sogoodkombucha.com

Peak District roastery SeaMoor Coffee has collaborated with Thornbridge Brewery to develop its latest barrel aged coffee. The beans are aged for 16 days in a barrel that has been used to age the brewery’s Necessary Evil imperial stout. Aromas of citrus and oak from the wood combine with chocolate, malts and caramel from the stout, to produce a richly layered coffee. RRP £11 for 250g.

seamoorcoffee.co.uk

Inspired by Japan’s popular alcoholic sour tipple

Retailers on the lookout for an alternative to the usual soft drink options should check out Manchester label Chu Lo. Inspired by Japan’s popular alcoholic sour tipple, Chuhai, Chu Lo fuses the same freshly squeezed fruit juice and delicious flavours into a lower sugar, alcohol-free, super sour soda with a fizzy kick. Trade price £27.60 for a case of 24 cans (£1.15 per unit) via LWC.

chu-lo.com

WL Distillery’s new Wilson’s Gin Club Watermelon & Liquorice is crafted with refreshing flavours of watermelon and mint balanced with lime and finished with a twist of liquorice. Its is available from the County Durham distillery with an RRP of £37.99.

wldistillery.com Northumbrian Pantry’s

latest introductions are three preserves made by hand in small batches in the village of Simonburn using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Fiery Red Onion Relish, Rhubarb & Strawberry Jam and Beetroot & Orange Chutney all have an RRP of £4.50.

northumbrianpantry.com

Wirral spice purveyor Seasoned Pioneers is targeting the independent trade with its new collection of spice tins. There are 13 blends in the range, from Middle Eastern classics like Shawarma and Ras-el-Hanout to Zanzibar, Korma, Sri Lankan and Pasanda curry powders. RRP £4.50.

seasonedpioneers.com

Despite being just 24 and 25 when they launched No.1 Fairham Gin last year, Liam Stemson and Ellis McKeown know a fair bit about gin distilling.

The pair started developing their Signature Edition in 2020 using a three litre still in an outbuilding at their home on Fairham Avenue - the inspiration for their name. The business has since moved into a small unit in Lancashire, which is home to a 60 litre copper pot still. Its two expressions, Signature Edition and Ochre Edition, are described as a contemporary take on a traditional dry gin, with both being vapour infused, non-chill filtered and standing at 45% ABV. The distillery works with the Ribble Rivers Trust to plant trees in Lancashire for every 70cl bottle purchase. RRP £35; trade price: £22.50.

no1fairhamgin.com

Responding to increasing requests from younger customers for vegan bars, Newcastle upon Tyne producer North Chocolates has launched an oat milk range.

“The majority of my dark bars are dairy free but a lot of people who have decided to go vegan are younger, simply like the taste of milk chocolate and really miss it,” says owner Bev Stephenson.

She says oat milk delivers the mouth taste and creaminess that people look for from milk chocolate.

There are three bars in the line-up: Popping Candy, Raspberry & Coconut and Spiced Nut & Seeds.

While the Popping Candy and Raspberry bars have universal appeal, the Spiced Nut version is a little more “grown up”, as the cayenne, rosemary, lemon zest and salt gives it a savoury dimension, according to Stephenson.

The bars, which have an RRP of £2.60, are already on sale in Fenwick.

northchocolates.co.uk Mr Fitzpatrick’s Vintage

Cordials has created a gift pack range that showcases the breadth of its 28-strong cordial collection. Each pack contains 5 x 100ml miniatures, united through a common theme, whether that is ‘Roots & Spices’, ‘Fruits & Flowers’ or ‘No Added Sugar’. RRP is upwards of £16.99. Trade price is £8.50 per unit via Cotswold Fayre and The Cress Co.

mrfitzpatricks.com

Ananda Foods has launched a marshmallow gift box, providing a new presentation option for its gelatine- and allergen-free marshmallows. Made by hand in a vegan, nut-free kitchen in Derbyshire, the marshmallows are flavoured with natural mango, strawberry and peach, coloured with carrots and turmeric extract, and set with agar. The box has an RRP of £13.

anandafoods.co.uk

True North Brew Co has infused liquorice Nipits from Simpkins with its original Sheffield Dry Gin recipe to create its take on an Old Tom - a traditional gin usually made with sugar or liquorice. The collaboration marks the Sheffield confectionery producer’s 100th birthday. RRP £39 for 70cl; £3.50 for 5cl. Trade price £25.50 for 70cl.

truenorthbrewco.uk

Table is a newcomer to the bean-to-bar chocolate scene, making bars from scratch in micro-batches in a kitchen in the basement of Ropes and Twines in Liverpool. The inaugural range takes in four 70g bars – Tanzania Dark 72%, Nicaragua White 43%, Haiti Milk 61% and Madagascar Dark 84%– all packaged in compostable cellulose pouches. RRP £6.50.

tablechocolate.com

Last month saw the launch of a new range of sustainably sourced frozen seafood from Grimsbybased Chapman’s Seafoods. The Chapman’s Choice range, which comes with the promise of a 33% margin for retailers, includes lines such as Breaded Whitebait (RRP £4 for 454g), Crevettes (RRP £18.50 for 900g) and Mussels in Half Shell (RRP £11.70 for 800g).

chapmans-stockists. co.uk

Beau-T-Full’s new organic herbal tea range is right on trend as consumers look for products that support both physical and mental wellbeing. The York-based team has chosen herbal adaptogens and active ingredients as the basis for five wellnessfocused infusions - Wide Awake, Deep Sleep, Tummy & Mind, Immunity and Relaxing. RRP £3.50 for a box of 15 bags.

beau-t-full.com

Growing interest in home baking has prompted Side Oven to branch out into bread mixes. The East Yorkshire bakery has created three organic mixes, based on its own tried and tested recipes and providing everything that is needed to make a bakery-quality loaf at home. RRP £3.

sideoven.com

Bringing welcome innovation to a rather stale category is LoCho - a new low carb fresh bread brand that will be distributed to the trade via Haighs Bakery in Guisley. LoCho launches this month with a range of fresh low carb bread loaves and rolls made from natural, vegetarian ingredients.

locho.life

Thornleys’ sauce and recipe mixes are sporting newly designed packaging, with new colours and more emphasis on their natural and glutenfree status. All lines are made in small batches by hand in Lancashire. RRP £1.95-2.30; trade price £1.36-1.54.

thornleysnaturalfoods. co.uk

Durham Coffee is hoping to capture a slice of the tourist economy with a new range that connects with the North East’s culture and history. The Heritage range takes in seven different roast profiles, each available in beans or ground in 100g or 250g kraft bags, with respective RRPs of (£4.204.70 and £8.20-9).

durhamcoffee.co.uk

Liverpool’s Spice Kitchen says its World Tin is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to cook. Dressed in a silk sari wrap, the 19cm diameter stainless steel tin contains a selection of “great all-rounders” for adding flavour to BBQs and a variety of dishes. The World Spice and BBQ Rub Tin has an RRP of £35; trade price £21.30.

spicekitchenuk.com

Balefire in County Durham uses the power of fermentation to balance taste and heat in the production of its craft beer-based hot sauces. Chillis are aged via fermentation for several weeks, then blended with craft beer and vinegar to create “an impact of flavour and fire”. RRPs range from £5-8 for a 160ml bottle, with a 3540% reduction for trade sales.

balefire.uk

This “soil to spirit” vodka from Edwards 1902 is a marriage of Yorkshire produce, distilled from King Edwards potatoes grown in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and flavoured with rhubarb from E Oldroyds & Son in the Rhubarb Triangle. The result is a smooth, fruity vodka that can be consumed neat or in cocktails. RRP £40; trade price £26.

edwards1902.co.uk

Wigan-based iLOVE SNACKS has released a range of 100% recyclable and reusable tins. Smoked Almonds, 70% Belgian Chocolate, Rosemary & Sea Salt Pistachios, Hot Chilli Corn Nuts and Sea Salt & Black Pepper Fava Crisps are all available in the new tins, which contain 35-44g of product and have an RRP of £1.502 (trade price £1-1.34).

ilovesnacks.co.uk

Lancashire-based Crave has created concentrated, dry versions of its signature marinades, packaged in pouches with an RRP of £2.95. There are three mixes in the line-up - Classic Spicy, No Added Sugar Spicy and Mild - all of which can be used directly as a coating or mixed with yoghurt and vinegar to make a marinade.

cravemarinades.com

Altrincham-based soft drink brewer Hip Pop is branching out beyond kombucha while keeping the focus on gut health, with the launch of Apple Cider Vinegar Soda. Initially available in Ginger, Turmeric & Black Pepper flavour, with an additional two flavours - Peach and Pink Grapefruit - due to launch this month, the low-sugar soda provides a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per 330ml can. RRP £2.

drinkhippop.com

Following the successful launch of Yan Gin launched last year, Herdwick Distillery has added two new gins to its range. Marmalade Yan Gin is blended with Cumbrian Delights’ St Clements Marmalade for a citrus punch, while Berry Yan Gin is crammed full of cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. RRP £35 for 70cl; wholesale price £21.00.

lakelandartisan.co.uk

Made by steeping dried hibiscus flowers

Calyx Drinks has created its take on Zobo, a Nigerian drink made by steeping dried hibiscus flowers. The Lancashire beverage producer’s recipe blends white grape with hibiscus flower and four “ferociously fiery” spices. For those who prefer their drinks a little less spicy, Calyx has launched Zobo Lite, which uses “warming” spices such as ginger, cloves and juniper berries. There are six floral brews in the Calyx range, all with an RRP of £1.99 for 250ml. Trade price £0.85.

calyxdrinks.co.uk

Clotton Hall Dairy’s Fresh Luxury Custard and Clotted Cream Rice Pudding are now available in a new smaller (330g) pot. Both products are made in small batches at the on-farm dairy in Cheshire using milk from the Clotton Hall Farm’s own herd of free-range cows. RRP £2.95.

clottonhalldairy.co.uk

Stokes Tea & Coffee has launched a new blend inspired by he afternoon teas it serves at its destination cafés in Lincoln. Each 40g carton of Afternoon Tea Blend contains 20 individually wrapped, plasticand bleach-free tea bags. RRP £2.99; trade price £8 for four cartons.

stokescoffee.com

Truffle Pig Vegan has rebranded as Trupig Vegan, to reflect its values as a “vegan brand made by vegans”. The Sheffield chocolate company makes small-batch vegan versions of popular chocolate bars, as well as hand-painted bonbons. The bars have a trade price of £1.90.

trupigvegan.com

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Hartington Creamery has launched a semi-soft, creamy blue cheese that will become a permanent addition to its line-up. Platinum Blue Cheese is handmade in the Pikehall Farm artisan creamery in the heart of the Peak District using Derbyshire Dales milk.

hartingtoncreamery.co.uk

Following on from the success of its 220g vegan black pudding in 2017, The Bury

Black Pudding Company

is launching a bigger 1.36kg pudding for the foodservice sector. The producer claims its black pudding is the healthiest on the market, with a fat content of just 3%.

buryblackpuddings.co.uk