20 minute read
CATEGORY FOCUS LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS IDEAS, AND STORECUPBOARD & INGREDIENTS
Shopping for the season… …or just seasonings
If you’re still looking to order stock for the festive selling season, then look no further. We’ve got plenty of Christmas items in this product roundup. For those retailers who have December sorted, it’s always a good time to upgrade your ingredients o er. Check out our summary of the new launches for storecupboards (from page 40).
Compiled by Lynda Searby
The Singing Spice Company’s organic Indian spice blends offer a shortcut to recreating authentic Indian dishes at home. A sustainable gift case containing all five blends - Curry Powder, Biryani Masala, Garam Masala, Masalan and Meat Masala - has an RRP of £22.99 (trade, £13.79) and will be joined by a Punjabi truck art-inspired spice tin range for Christmas.
thesingingspicecompany. com
Jiddler’s Tipple and By The Horns have collaborated to launch a panettone stout. Hints of sweet pastry, candied citrus fruits, brandy, caramel and chocolate notes can be detected in this 7% ABV festive stout, which has been brewed with real vanilla and citrus to exude the flavours and aromas of traditional Italian Christmas cake. RRP £4.50 for 440ml; trade price £2.50.
jiddlerstipple.com
Burren Balsamics has introduced two new kits for Christmas. The Christmas Roasting Tin (RRP £13.50) combines four seasoning mixes and a recipe booklet. The Mulled Wine Kit (RRP £15) contains everything you need to make and serve two bottles of mulled wine: whole spices, dried orange slices and spiced sugar mixes, as well as a recipe booklet, muddler spoon and Irish coasters.
burrenbalsamics.com
Paxton & Whitfield has introduced four new condiments for Christmas. Spiced Apricot & Cranberry Chutney pairs with Stilton, territorials, Alpine and other hard cheeses; Beetroot & Horseradish Chutney complements blue and goats’ milk cheeses; Paxton’s Proper Pickle is a ploughman’s pickle; and Black Garlic Pickle (£5.00/110g) is recommended with Alpine cheeses and territorials. All have an RRP of £5.
paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk
Smoothness beyond its years
Whisky connoisseurs and collectors will appreciate this gift of organic single malt Welsh whisky, produced as a limited edition, single cask batch, from Dà Mhìle Distillery in Ceredigion. Maturation in a firstfill Tawney Port cask has given the whisky a “beautifully rounded palate and smoothness beyond its years”, says the distillery. Gifting formats include a 70cl bottle presentation box (RRP £99) and a 70cl gift pack containing two branded nosing glasses (RRP £110). .
damhile.couk
Barbara’s Kitchen has partnered with fellow Dorset producer Southbourne Ales to produce a chutney it describes as “the ideal Christmas gift for the man in your life”. Chilli Chutney & Dorset Ale pairs well with classic pub dishes, cheese and charcuterie.
barbaras-kitchen.co.uk
Cateritaly has brought together three of its EPRONTO ragùs in gifting format for Christmas. The Italian style lamb, Bolognese and venison ragùs are handmade from fresh ingredients and locally sourced meat, providing a fast-food option that is authentic and healthy, says the Scottish producer. RRP £15.
cateritaly.co.uk
Somerset producer As Raw As is offering home-compostable gift packs filled with festive chocolate shapes (RRP £6.95; trade price £4.36). Each bag contains 18 shapes made from three different varieties of dairy-free, organic, raw chocolate: Caramac, 65% Cacao and 78% Cacao.
asrawas.com
Chococo’s chocolate Christmas Trees are said to be the perfect centrepiece for the Christmas table. With an RRP of £25 for 265g, the trees are hand decorated with a holly leaf design and have six chocolates nestling inside. There are two trees to choose from: the 45% Venezuela origin Milk Chocolate Tree containing Dorset Sea Salt Caramels, Spiced Rum and Gold chocolate gems with cocoa nibs & hazelnuts; or 67% Madagascar origin Dark Chocolate Tree with Spiced Rum, Chilli Caramels and Cashew Nut Butter gems inside.
chococo.co.uk
For independent retailers looking for a third-party hamper service to offer their customers, Delicario’s 2021 line-up includes gourmet Christmas hampers for all palates, presented in wicker lined with linen printed with the Delicario logo.
The flagship Royal Hamper is the ultimate luxury gift. It presents 40 delicacies including Cuvée L’Élixir du Champagne Premier Cru from Damien-Buffet, Ascolana Tenera EVOO condiments, Balsamic vinegar pearls from Modena, sea salt from the Balearics, Leccino Olives antipasti, pâtés, creams and confits, Wagyu beef and chocolate truffles from Frederic Blondeel.
Delicario has also sourced new products to enhance its 2021 range. These include artisan panettone, architecture-inspired chocolate tiles, organic vegetable antipasti, closed cycle cured ham and handmade cheeses from Italy and Spain.
delicario.com
Mrs Picklepot has three new ‘must-have’ accompaniments for enhancing cold cuts and cheeseboards. The producer’s Piccalilli is packed with cauliflower, gherkins and baby onions; Sticky Onion Pickle is a sweetened blend of onions cooked in Balsamic vinegar and oil; and Chilli Jam delivers sweet, jammy heat through chillies, red peppers and apple cider vinegar.
mrspicklepot.co.uk
New to Snowdonia Cheese Company’s Christmas line-up for 2021 is Rock Star Vintage CaveAged Cheddar. This latest wax-wrapped addition completes its 18-month maturation in underground caves in a former slate mine. This gives the cheese a deep, rich flavour and dense, creamy texture. Complex umami flavours and caramel notes lead to a long finish. RRP £4.50 for a 150g truckle.
snowdoniacheese.co.uk
80Noir Ultra has created an advent calendar for lovers of its 79.3% cacao content chocolate. Housing 24 dark hot chocolate bars and a celebratory treat for the last day, the calendar has an RRP of £25. Suitable for drinking or eating, 80Noir Ultra is said to be rich in antioxidants and serotonin owing to its high cacao content.
80noirultra.com
Dorset’s What A Pickle! is offering three gift boxes this season. The Mini Triple (RRP £9.95) brings together cheeseboard accompaniments Red Onion Marmalade, Fig & Mustard Sauce and Chutney for Cheese; The Mini Chilli Duo (£6.50) is a twin set for chilli lovers, featuring Tomato Chilli Jam and Hot Chilli Jam; then there is the Gift Box (RRP £12.50), containing four of the producer’s original recipes.
what-a-pickle.com
Stokes Sauces has boxed up some of its best sellers for Christmas gifting. The Joyous Jam Collection, The Magnificent Marmalade Collection and The Perfect With Cheese Collection have an RRP of £15 (for four jars), while in The Ultimate Ketchup Collection (RRP £12.95), a 300g bottle of the Suffolk producer’s flagship tomato ketchup is the centrepiece, flanked by four mini jars.
stokessauces.co.uk
Fairfields Farm has gone traditional this Christmas with the launch of Roast Turkey & Stuffing Crisps. Said to combine the flavours of succulent British turkey and sage & onion stuffing, the crisps are made from potatoes grown on the farm and are cooked in a factory that uses 100% renewable energy. RRP £0.80 for a 40g bag; £1.99 for a 150g bag.
fairfieldsfarmcrisps.co.uk
Listed with Selfridges, Niederegger’s Mini Loaves Box (RRP £55) is an assortment of its finest marzipan flavours, including espresso, pineapple, rum, orange and pistachio. Its German marzipan is made with Mediterranean almonds to a recipe that has remained unchanged since 1806.
niederegger.de
Smith & Sinclair has translated gin cocktails into confectionery with its Gin Obsessed box (RRP £15). Edible tipples include Gin & Tonic with Lemon Sugar, Hibiscus & Negroni with Hibiscus Sugar, Elderflower Gin Spritz with Thyme Sugar and Cherry & Hibiscus Bramble with Cherry Sugar.
smithandsinclair.com
Each ToyChoc box in PLAYin CHOC’s Festive Gift Set (RRP £15) contains two organic and natural chocolates, a festive card puzzle to build and a fun fact card. The zero-waste, plastic-free brand is pitched as a sustainable and ethical alternative to mainstream toy-chocolate options.
playinchoc.com
Rosebud Preserves of Masham and Two Dales Bakery of Reeth, in the adjoining dales of Wensleydale and Swaledale, have collaborated to create a true Yorkshire mince pie. Handmade all butter shortcrust pastry, using organic flour from Shipton Mill in Gloucestershire and free-range eggs from Wensleydale, is filled with Rosebud Preserves’ Almond & Orange Mincemeat. The pies are presented in an eight-piece grey gift box with an RRP of £9.95/400g. The pies can be ordered for delivery from 1st November from Rosebud Preserves.
rosebudpreserves.co.uk
The Pished Fish has launched a ‘three hero’ Christmas selection box, said to be “jam-packed with boozeinfused salmony joy”. With an RRP of £44.99, the recycled cardboard giftbox showcases the producer’s ability to pair slow-cured salmon with spirits and botanicals through three ‘flamboyantly flavoured” products: The Sozzled Santa (brandy, clementine zest, demerara sugar, salt, nutmeg & oak smoke), Erik The Red (Aquavit, beetroot, star anise, juniper & apple & alder smoke) and Classic (whisky, maple syrup & oak smoke).
The Pished Fish uses sushi-grade, Scottish-farmed salmon that is filleted and slow-cured with a blend of Dead Sea salt and demerara sugar, before being sliced sashimi-style.
thepishedfish.com
For the first time this year, Morton’s Family Farm is rearing a limited number of Norfolk Bronze/ Black turkeys. These crossbreed birds are slower maturing and will have a slightly stronger and gamier flavour than Norfolk Bronze, which are considered the gold standard of turkeys. Morton’s turkeys are reared for six months, during which time they roam freely.
mortonsfarm.co.uk
Popcorn Shed’s Christmas-themed 400g tins are back in stock, with two new designs – Jingle Bell Pop and Season’s Greetings – in addition to the Merry Christmas tin. The popcorn brand has also added two limitededition festive varieties to its 80g Shed line-up: Christmas Pudding (festively spiced caramel popcorn) and Cookies & Cream (white chocolate caramel popcorn with cookie crumb).
popcornshed.com
Wirral-based Seasoned Pioneers has created several new gift collections for Christmas. Worldwide Salt (RRP £21.95) is an assortment of ten salts from around the globe, featuring Hawaiian Red Salt, Australian Murray River Salt and Fleur De Sel; while Summer BBQ (RRP £26.95) brings together ten spice blends, including Shawarma Spice, Mexican Adobo Rub and Harissa Spice and Chermoula.
seasonedpioneers.com
The Free From
Bakehouse says it wants to reassure retailers that great-tasting gluten-free stollen does exist. Its own recipe features marzipan, nuts and Amaretto, and is available as a 400g sharing loaf or an 85g mini loaf, with respective RRPs of £11.50 and £3. The Battersea bakery also supplies gluten-free, vegan Lebkuchen Cookies and Boozy Christmas Cake.
thefreefrombakehouse. com
Rich with fragrant almond
Modern Italian food label Crosta & Mollica has added Amaretti biscuits to its Christmas collection for 2021. These quintessentially Italian festive almond treats are handmade in batches and baked until golden for a soft and delicate texture. They are available alongside the producer’s panettone range, which includes Apricot Panettone, Classic Pandoro and Chocolate Panettone. Each panettone is slow proved for 40 hours to develop a rich flavour and light texture and then baked in a traditional tunnel oven.
crostamollica.com
These edible drink stirrers from Hollie’s Lollies are a novel stocking filler. There are nine varieties. Some, such as Irish Cream and Amaretto, are for hot drinks, whereas others, like Sloe Gin and Gin & Elderflower, are for cocktails. They dissolve like sugar and have an RRP of £5.95 (trade price £2.80).
hollyslollies.co.uk
Christmas 2021 sees the return of Roots & Wings’ selection of organic Christmas puddings. These include its Family Christmas Pudding (RRP £6.99), Ceramic Christmas Pudding (RRP £13.59) and Single Serve Christmas puddings (RRP £2.89). All are available with no gluten-containing ingredients.
rootsandwingsorganic.com
A truly artisanal gift for chilli lovers, this gift pack from Deelicious contains three 190ml “jars of joy”: Habanero Chilli Jam, Classic Chilli Jam and Chipotle Chilli Jam. Dionne Darnell makes all of her jams by hand in her home kitchen in Dorset. RRP £14; trade price £9.50.
deeliciouschillijam.com
Year-on-year bread flour sales growth of 84% (source: Kantar Worldpanel) has prompted Doves Farm to launch two new organic flours for making seeded breads. Heritage Seeded Bread Flour blends wholemeal, spelt, emmer, einkorn and seeds, while Seedhouse Bread Flour is a light flour packed with five seeds. Both varieties launch this month with RRPs of £2.69 for 1kg.
dovesfarm.co.uk
Pico Sauces is dispelling the perception that Indian flavours can only be enjoyed as a traditional curry, with a range of condiments to bring the flavours of modern India into everyday eating. The five sauces – which include Naga Ghost Pepper Sauce, Konkan Mango Chilli Sauce and Punjabi Ketchup – can be added to anything from barbecue food to bacon butties. RRP £2.50; trade price £1.50.
picosauces.com
The Wasabi Company is now offering its own-label range to the independent trade. This includes Japanese-inspired store cupboard ingredients such as Organic Soy Sauce (RRP £6.50 for 200ml), Sudachi Kombu Vegan Ponzu - a umami sauce that combines sudachi juice with kombu seaweed stock (RRP £9 for 300ml), and Wasabi Powder made from home-grown wasabi. RRP £4.50 for 23g.
thewasabicompany.co.uk
Cornwall’s Artisan Vinegar Company has launched a range of vinegars made from 100% whole fruit or honey. The raw ingredient is fermented into wine then into vinegar, which is barrel-matured, then drawn straight from the barrel. Choose from Raspberry, Strawberry, Blackberry, Cider, Mead and Damson & Sloe. Trade prices are £25 for 12 x 250ml bottles.
artisanvinegar.co.uk
Changing consumer habits as a result of the pandemic have prompted Olives Et Al to launch its bestselling ingredients and deli counter products in jars, providing a long shelf life, sealed container alternative to loose deli lines. The Simply Brilliant range features products such as Lilliput Capers, Nocellara Olives, Artichoke Hearts and HMJ Apple Cider Vinegar, with more lines arriving soon.
olivesetal.co.uk
Handpicked and sourced direct from the farmer, Mahbir’s Kashmiri Saffron is prized for its richly warm, clean flavour, generous stems and even appearance. The Coventry-based purveyor of teas, herbs and spices is offering Fine Food Digest readers a 12.5% discount (trade price £4 instead of £4.50) for every order of 20 retail packs. RRP £6.50 for 1g.
mahbir.com
The Barbadillo family, a key player in the Spanish sherry trade, has devoted one of its bodegas in Sanlúcar to ageing and making vinegars that share the same pedigree as its nutty, salty Manzanilla sherry. Available via Vinegar Shed in the UK, the vinegars are made using the traditional Criaderas y Soleras method to develop a yeast veil on top of each barrel. RRP £12.50.
vinegarshed.com
Pasta Plant promises to deliver the flavour and texture of traditional pasta, but without the carbs. Conceived by three Italian entrepreneurs, the pasta is made from organic legumes, roots, greens and seeds, for a high protein content. There are two varieties: for people who are very active, Proactive packs 64g of protein per 100g, while Prosper contains a “powerhouse” of vitamins, minerals and omega 3.
pastaplant.com
Using fresh produce at its freshest
The Slow Vinegar
Company has just launched its Winter Collection, which features Ginger, Sweet Winter Spice and Orange & Lemon. As the name suggests, the process for making these vinegars is slow: the fresh ingredients are fermented into wine, then after maturing, they are fermented back into vinegar, resulting in vinegars with complex flavours and versatile culinary uses. All flavours are available in 50ml and 200ml, with respective RRPs of £4 and £10; and trade prices of £2.50 and £6.25.
theslowvinegar company.co.uk
Side Oven Bakery has added three new bread mixes in biodegradable packaging to its organic home baking range. The Organic White Cob, Organic Honey & Sunflower Bread and Organic Focaccia with Herbs & Sea mixes contain all you need to make an artisan loaf. RRP £3 for 500g; trade price £2.10.
sideoven.com
Raman Spice Garam Masala is a concoction of nine different spices, curated using traditional family recipes that have been around for generations, to enhance the flavour of everyday Indian cuisine. It can be used as a seasoning or ingredient and has an RRP of £3.95 for 50g.
ramanspice.co.uk
South Devon Chilli Farm’s chilli-based portfolio has been treated to a packaging redesign. Lines such as Aleppo Chilli Flakes, Dry Spice Rub and the Chilli Oil/ Vinegar Kit for making your own chilli oil or vinegar at home are all sporting the new livery.
southdevonchillifarm.co.uk
Zeet has crushed organic olives with EVOO and sea salt to create two versatile tapenades. Made from Arbequina olives, Green Olive Paste can be used to dress pasta, fish or veggie dishes. Organic Black Aragon Empeltre Olive Paste can be spread over a steak or used as a base for hors d’ouvres. RRP £3.30.
basteandbray.co.uk
Launched earlier this year, Ghee Apétit’s range of six ghee infusions – including 2-star-winning morel pâté and original ghee are all organic, grass-fed and made to an ancient Ayurvedic recipe. Lactose and casein-free, the range has RRPs from £9.90.
gheeappetit.co.uk
Fish4Ever was founded on the idea of bringing organic values to sustainability in fish.
Rated a world beating 89% by Greenpeace, our Skipjack isn’t only the best option in ethical terms, it’s also the best for quality. That’s because our little island factory in the Azores only works from whole fish rather than frozen pre processed loins and we only add really good, natural and organic ingredients. Using named, locally owned and operated pole and lines boats this is tuna you can trust for taste and sustainability
Seggiano says its new ‘semi-fresh’ range of single-estate organic herbs combines the “potency and aroma” of freshly picked herbs with the convenience and extended shelf life of a dried product. Freshly picked herbs are cured in Sicilian rock salt and EVOO to capture and preserve their essential aromatic essences and keep them moist. Semi-fresh leafy green basil, coriander, dill, mint, parsley, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and a classic Italian Mix are available. The herbs can liven up soups, sauces, salads, bruschetta and baking, or season cooked vegetables, meat & fish. All the organic herbs are grown on the Bartolomeis family farm inland from the Amalfi coast.
RRP is £3.45 for a 18g jar; trade price £2.15. Each jar has a 14-month shelf life from production; once opened it should be stored in the fridge.
seggiano.com
Brindisa has taken on a 700g jarred beans and pulses range from Perelló. The line-up includes Alargada White Beans, Castellana Lentils and Judion Butter Beans, as well as two types of chickpeas. Lechoso are creamy large chickpeas that are best for making hummus or adding to stews and soups, while Pedrosillano Chickpeas have a rich nutty flavour that goes well with salads.
brindisa.com
The Garlic Farm has moved four of its products from Italian sourced packaging to 30% recycled UK glassware. Rapeseed Oil with Garlic, Rapeseed Oil with Garlic and Chilli, Garlic, Rapeseed Oil and White Wine Vinaigrette and Honey, Mustard and Garlic Dressing are all available in the new bottles. Case price is £22.14 for the oils and £34.20 for the dressings.
thegarlicfarm.co.uk
Retailers looking for a chilli brand with a story should check out Schoolyard Chillies, whose mission is to help end child labour and exploitation in Ghana. This social enterprise provides farmers with affordable chilli seeds and a guaranteed route to market and reinvests its profits in education. Product lines include Chilli Herb Rub, Chilli Meat Rub and Chilli Sea Salt.
schoolyardchillies.com
Who said pasta must be made in Italy? The
Fresh Flour Company
in South Devon is stonemilling local einkorn and emmer wheats to make its own rustic, nutty pasta. The flours are mixed with Dartmoor water and Cornish sea salt to make a dough that is extruded through bronze dies and air dried. The range currently includes Fettuccine, Fusilli, Reginette and Casarecce.
freshflour.co.uk
Tubby Tom’s has developed a trio of seasonings that promise to taste as bold as they look. Space Dust is described as an “intergalactic blast-your-tastebuds-intospace kinda seasoning” for dusting chips and wedges; Gold Dust is a South Carolina golden BBQ glaze; and Pink Dragon Salt is a smoky takeaway style salt & pepper seasoning for fried rice and stir fry dishes.
tubbytoms.com
West Yorkshire producer Aagrah Foods has added two new recipes to its range of tarka cooking bases. The Kashmiri Korma and Lahsen tarka bases are based on restaurant recipes and have an RRP of £2.95 for 270g. Lahsen Tarka originates from the Peshawar region of Pakistan and takes its name and flavour from pickled garlic, which packs a powerful punch with a sweet edge.
aagrahfoods.com
This Welsh Cask Vinegar was born out of the need to prevent the waste of Welsh beer with the closure of hospitality in March 2020.
When the pandemic hit the UK, Bluestone Brewing Co in North Pembrokeshire, in common with breweries across the UK, faced the prospect of wasting 3,500 litres of beer that had no market. Then Alex Jungmayr, director of the nearby In The Welsh Wind Distillery, came up with the idea of a Welsh cask vinegar.
With support and vinegar ‘mother’ from Orkney Craft Vinegar, the distillery transformed the beer into a beer malt vinegar. The team sourced oak casks from another Welsh whisky distillery to house the beer as the ‘mother’ worked its magic. This cask-aged vinegar is said to be softer and more complex on the palette than industrially produced vinegar, allowing uses in both cooking and cocktails. RRP £14.95; trade price £10.68.
inthewelshwind.co.uk
Conchita’s Chipotle brings to life a 100-year-old Mexican chilli chipotle sauce recipe. The sweet, hot and smoky concoction doubles up as a condiment for traditional tacos or breakfast eggs, and a marinade for chicken, meat, and fish. RRP £6.
conchitaschipotle.com
Stefania Calugi has added a truffle twist to the classic Italian Cacio e Pepe combination. Pecorino Cream with Pepper and Truffle can be used to dress pasta, gnocchi and rice and has an RRP of €10.50 for 100g.
tartufi.it
This Chinese-Filipino version of a chilli oil from RoniB’s Kitchen is aromatic, garlicky and chunky, with medium heat. It can be teamed with dim sum, noodles, soups, pizza and pasta and has an RRP of £5.75 for a 190ml glass jar.
ronibkitchen.co.uk
