Pistachio Holdings increases its stake in Creams.

Creams’ majority shareholder, Pistachio Holdings, and co-investor, Salonica Maroon, have acquired a further shareholding in Creams from the brand’s founders, Adam Mani and Balal Aqil.

Creams, knowns for its flamboyant desserts, was founded in 2008 and employs more than 1,400 employees and works with a variety of franchise partners, empowering them to provide a high quality, distinctive customer proposition in fast-growing market. Customers can enjoy a wide range of freshly prepared desserts ranging from waffles and crêpes to puddings and sundaes. All desserts, many of which can be made vegan, feature Creams’ own premium gelato which is produced daily in East London.

As part of the new move, the founders will move away from the business’s day-to-day operations to focus their experience in key strategic areas, the firm announced in a statement.

Adam Mani steps down as CEO to assume the role of chief innovation officer, having been instrumental in developing Creams as an immersive and market-leading brand (he will now put all his focus on innovation across the Creams value proposition, from guest experience to new product development). Balal Aqil will step down form the board of directors to become an advisor.

Othman Shoukat joined Creams as managing director at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic and has successfully managed the business since March 2020, effectively pivoting it towards delivery and driving business growth through like-for-like improvements and new store openings. He will continue to lead the business and will be supported by Christian Chaumette, recently appointed as COO, alongside other members of the senior leadership team.

Since Pistachio Holdings and Salonica Maroon LP’s investment in December 2020, the new investors have focused on building a stronger organisational structure, enhancing ESG across the brand and promoting sustainable growth using technological tools which will be rolled out in the coming months.

Since the pandemic, Creams has opened more than 10 new restaurants and secured a pipeline of a further 15 sites opening in the next six months. Its focus on quality and innovation was recognised in 2021 with several awards including Best Innovation at the Best Business Awards 2021, Best Brand Partner at the Menu Innovation and Development Awards (Midas) and Best Family Restaurant at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards in October.

“It’s exciting times ahead for Creams. As well as further growth in the UK, we are committed to international expansion with our franchisees. We signed our first overseas partner to open 22 stores in Egypt over the next five years and are seeking partners for new territories,” said Othman Shoukat.

Adam Mani said: “Creams have always been at the forefront of guest experience and product innovation and the realignment of roles, and the strengthened leadership team, means an enhanced focus on this. Othman and the senior leadership team have done exceptionally well and will drive us closer to realising our aspiration of becoming the market-leading global dessert brand.”

200 Degrees Coffee Roasters mark opening with free coffees

Nottingham based coffee roaster, 200 Degrees, opened its third shop in its hometown of Nottingham on 9 May, celebrating by giving its first 200 customers a free coffee.

It marks a significant milestone for the roaster, the opening its seventeenth shop just 10 years after setting up its roastery (located opposite the Notts County Football Stadium at Heston House).

The growing coffee roaster says that it has cemented its place in the city with the new shop located near the Victoria Centre on Milton Street, making it ideally located for people visiting the city for shopping or commuting. The new 60-seat shop comprises a stylish fit out complete with the iconic 200 Degrees fireplace and has created 15 new jobs.

Rob Darby, CEO at 200 Degrees, said: “I am constantly blown away by the support we’ve had from the people of Nottingham. Having studied in Nottingham, going on to build a life and start a family here, the city has so many memories.

“It’s a privilege to build a thriving business and work with countless incredible people in a place that means so much to me. There seems no better way to celebrate 10 years of 200 Degrees than to open a third shop in the city where it all began.”

The popular coffee company is maintaining its extensive food and drink offering with appetising breakfast and lunch options with a menu featuring freshly prepared sandwiches, pastries and cakes. Their coffee offering is centred around 200 Degrees’ signature Brazilian Love Affair espresso blend and is complimented by a range of soft drinks, fruit smoothies and rich milkshakes.

Rob Darby, who was recently awarded Leader of the Year at the East Midlands Leadership Awards, added: “The last two years have been full of unexpected events but our customers continue to love the brand and are as much to thank for our success as our fantastic team.”

Rob Darby and his business partner, Tom Vincent, founded the company in 2012 and have expanded the 200 Degrees footprint across the north now boasting shops in several other major cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, York and Birmingham.

Call for a UK online sales tax

In its response to the government’s consultation on the introduction to an online sales tax, UKHospitality says that due consideration must be given to property-based industries such as hospitality.

The trade body’s submission also calls for such a tax to be ear-marked to provide a targeted reduction to business rates for high street businesses. Business rates remain one of the biggest barriers to recovery for operators looking to rebuild following the pandemic, and the current system results in the hospitality industry overpaying by £2.4bn each year - an overpayment of 300% relative to its turnover, they claim.

An online sales tax must involve exemptions for services that are ordered online but involve delivery from a physical presence that delivers that service in person, for example hotel bookings and restaurant deliveries, so as to avoid a stealth ‘double-taxation’, they propose.

While UKHospitality says an online tax should also be based on revenue through relevant online sales, it also specifies that the system must be designed with an allowance below which no tax is levied. It also calls for rates reductions to be achieved via a reduced multiplier for all relevant businesses and not focused solely on smaller businesses, as this is done through the Small Business Rate Relief.

UKHospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls, said: “We are calling for an online sales tax to be introduced in the UK to cut business rates for highstreet venues and deliver economic regeneration across the UK.

“The basis for an online sales tax must not stifle innovation and the development of online business models but must support our British high streets. This is why government must ensure that an online sales tax avoids double taxation for businesses that deliver product on-premise, such as pubs, restaurants and hotels.

“The taxation system has lagged way behind the changes to the modern economy and while we have long known that business rates is arcane and outdated, there is also an absence of an equitable system of justifiably bringing the digital economy into taxation.”

St. Pierre launch new brioche bagels

Bakery brand, St. Pierre, has launched a new brioche bagel, supporting caterers to tap into the growing bagel sector with a quality, value-adding brioche finish, say the company.

Bagel sales are up 23% in the last two years and whilst the growth is slowing in more recent times, it remains the biggest sub-category within morning goods - worth £144 million, according to Nielsen – report the company.

The new launch adds to an extensive range of St. Pierre brioche products for foodservice including Burger Buns, Seeded Burger Buns, Hot Dog Rolls, Baguettes and Sliced Loaves, supporting operators to tap into the growing trends for premiumisation and speciality breads.

Sharpham Park adds to its product portf olio

Sharpham Park has added two premium organic drinks to its strong portfolio – Spelt Barista and Naked Oats & Spelt Drink.

Curated from organic spelt from the Sharpham Park Farm & Mill in Somerset, these drinks are set to revolutionise the market and provide the latest solution in the alternative drink market (worth an estimated £394 million in the UK according to Mintel 2021 data), claim the company.

Created by Roger Saul in 2005, following his exit from the Mulberry design label he founded in 1971, Sharpham Park was once a rundown dairy farm and is now a mixed economy organic estate with soil health at its centre, having grown to become the largest producer of organic spelt products in the UK.

These latest innovations are set to appeal to consumers who are already familiar with the Sharpham Park food brand as well as those who are looking for a tasty and nutritious plant-based drink. With demand growing for Britishgrown healthy alternatives, these new products also provide the perfect sustainable solution, being grown and produced in a 20 mile radius of Somerset, with zero air miles.

The new drinks have been tried and tested to ensure top quality, and are farmed with a third of the environmental impact of cow’s milk and 42% less water usage than other grains and grown organically to ensure there are plenty of nutrients in the soil with no need for added nasties such as pesticides, antibiotics or hormones.

Organic Spelt Drink – Barista Blend has been developed in partnership with coffee professionals and baristas to create the perfect texture and taste, having already achieved industry recognition with two stars in the Great Taste Awards.

Organic Naked Oats and Spelt Drink brings both Sharpham grown oats and spelt super grains together in a form that is perfect for cereals, smoothies, baking or simply on its own, suggest the company. Packed full of vital vitamins and nutrients, Naked Oats contain up to 20% natural protein compared to 12% in traditional oats. They are also high in beta glucan, antioxidants and lysine, helping to lower cholesterol, avoid heart disease and build muscle.

Roger Saul commented: “We are thrilled to be launching our new organic spelt drinks to the market and expanding our existing food product range. Consumers are increasingly turning to spelt for health and taste benefi ts with demand soaring in recent years.

“We remain committed to producing the fi nest British spelt products using regenerative organic practices from our Somerset based farm and look forward to introducing this special grain to a wider audience across the UK – we’re confi dent they’re going to be well received.”

Belvoir Farm brings alcohol-free passionfruit marti ni to the on-trade

Belvoir Farm is bringing its best-selling NPD to the on-trade in time for summer and al-fresco dining.

Following the success of its 750ml Non-Alcoholic Passionfruit Martini share bottle that launched into the off-trade in 2021, a fully recyclable 250ml pack size is now available from the following wholesalers Matthew Clark, Nectar, Dayla Drinks, Small Beer, Everards, Libra Drinks Wholesale and Swallow Wholesale Drinks

The brand’s Non-Alcoholic Passionfruit Martini was the best-selling NPD in Adult Soft drinks in 2021 and won an innovation Gold award at the Casual Dining show.

“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to our RTD mocktails,” said Belvoir Farm MD Pev Manners. “With the low and no movement gathering pace and more people looking to homegrown brands offering refreshingly real taste with nothing artifi cial, our Passionfruit Martini is a good swap for this classic cocktail. Our grocery customers have been enjoying the drink since last year and we now look forward to introducing it to the on-trade.” Belvoir Farm NonAlcoholic Passionfruit Martini is gently sparkling, made with real tropical fruit juices and Madagascan vanilla extract and contains no artifi cial preservatives, fl avourings, colourings or sweeteners, say the company.

Caffè Nero joins Just Eat

Just Eat and Caffè Nero have announced a new delivery partnership which sees the Just Eat platform offer the Caffè Nero menu from over 400 stores across the UK.

As the UK’s largest food delivery platform, Just Eat reaches 97% of all UK postcodes, meaning the partnership will allow Caffè Nero’s delivery channel to expand significantly and allow more customers to enjoy their favourite menu items delivered to their door.

Caffè Nero first launched a delivery option to customers in April 2020 in response to the pandemic and its popularity has grown significantly over the last two years, the company report. Sales from delivery for the first half of its current financial year June-December 2021 were up 81% year compared to the same period the previous year, and the partnership with Just Eat will greatly help Caffè Nero grow this channel further.

The partnership plans to roll out at pace, with over 400 stores available on Just Eat, as of the end of May 2022. Customers will be able to choose from hot drinks, including Caffè Nero’s signature classico blend, iced drinks, breakfast items, pastries, sandwiches and paninis as well as sweet treats.

The new partnership with Just Eat is another significant step in expanding Caffè Nero’s ‘New Channels Strategy’, launched to create revenue outside its stores. These new channels include delivery, Coffee at Home via its own website and the wider retail partnerships with Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Amazon.

Andrew Kenny, managing director Just Eat UK, said: “Caffè Nero is a welcome addition to the Just Eat family and is one of the most highly regarded high street food brands in the UK. As people continue to work from home, we have seen increased demand for breakfast and lunch deliveries.

“The reach and delivery capabilities from Just Eat, and the premium quality menu from Caffè Nero, means the partnership will provide customers with an excellent choice during these growing meal delivery occasions.”

Will Stratton-Morris, CEO Caffè Nero UK, commented: “Just Eat is a fantastic and exciting partnership for us and we’re delighted to be working with them. We have seen high demand from customers for our products away from our stores, and this partnership allows us to continue to expand those channels. Alongside our resumed new store opening programme, our new channels are a hugely important part of our growth strategy post pandemic. This partnership will allow us to meet the demands of our customers and reach a significant number of people in their own home.”

The partnership signals their continual commitment, say Just Eat, to offer customers the greatest choice, whatever they’re craving. Alongside Caffè Nero, Just Eat’s 18 million UK customers can also order from high street eateries such as the Breakfast Club and Coco Di Mama, as well as order groceries from Asda and Co-op Central England.

Lotus Biscoff becomes part of Costa’s new summer menu

Following the success of the Lotus Biscoff Muffin in 2019, Lotus Biscoff®, has once again partnered with the nation’s favourite coffee shop(Allegra Strategies 2021 data), Costa Coffee, to create a mouth-watering Lotus Biscoff Rocky Road.

The new addition is part of Costa’s limited-edition summer menu which became available in stores from Thursday, 5May. The Lotus Biscoff Rocky Road features Lotus Biscoff spread, Lotus Biscoff crumb, marshmallows, and sultanas and is drizzled with caramel and even more Lotus Biscoff crumb.

Frances Booth, category marketing manager at Lotus Bakeries said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the largest coffee shop brand in the UK on another delicious Lotus Biscoff treat after such a positive response to the Lotus Biscoff® muffin in 2019. The new Lotus Biscoff Rocky Road gives our fans yet another way in which they can enjoy the uniquely delicious taste of Lotus Biscoff out of home, and what better way to enjoy it than with a delicious, crafted coffee.

“The Lotus Biscoff Rocky Road has been developed by Costa Coffee’s talented development team and we’re delighted with the outcome. The way in which it combines both Lotus Biscoff spread and crumb with squidgy marshmallows, sweet sultanas, and silky-smooth caramel all in one mouthful. What’s not to love?”

Naomi Matthews, food and beverage commercial director UK & Ireland at Costa Coffee added: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Lotus Bakeries as part of our new summer menu. Our product innovation team leapt at the chance to capture the unique caramelised flavour of Lotus Biscoff as a Rocky Road, and we are sure it will be a big hit with our customers.”