Carluccio’s and

Carluccio’s and Sainsbury’s to trial new concepts

Carluccio’s (acquired by Boparan Restaurant Group in May 2020) and Sainsbury’s are teaming up to test out three new in-store concepts for the first time.

Opening this month, the first format will be a coffee shop in Sainsbury’s St Albans superstore, offering customers eat-in as well as takeaway options, and will be the first Carluccio’s to open in a supermarket.

The 900 square foot coffee shop will have space for up to 45 customers to sit and enjoy the brand’s signature real Italian coffee, iced coffees, Cremosa blended drinks and granita fruit ices alongside all-day breakfast foods and light-bites, including freshly made ciabatta sandwiches, toasties, filled croissants and pastries. A range of Carluccio’s retail products will also be available including biscuits such as biscotti and cantucci, ground coffee and gianduiotti chocolates. In addition, a Carluccio’s Counter will also launch in June in the Sainsbury’s Leamington Spa superstore, offering the brand’s trademark deli products and pizza. Deli products include pasta, olive oils and sauces alongside chilled stone-baked pizzas. Hot ready to eat items, including madeto-order pizza and rotisserie chicken will be available to take-away, as well as for delivery via Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat. The third concept being trialled is the Restaurant Hub, a multi-brand offer with grab-and-go and delivery options from brands including Caffe Carluccio’s, GBK, Slim Chickens, Harry Ramsdens and Ed’s Easy Diner. The Restaurant Hub will open in July in Sainsbury’s Selly Oak superstore.

Satnam Leihal, managing director at Boparan Restaurant Group, said: “Our customers tell us they love our brands and would like to access them more regularly and be part of their family home occasions. This trial with Sainsbury’s allows us to bring our range of high quality products to more customers, more often, in varied formats.”

Rhian Bartlett, food commercial director at Sainsbury’s, added: “We’re testing these new offers as part of our plan to put food back at the heart of Sainsbury’s – bringing even more innovative and delicious food and drink to our stores. This is the first time we’ve worked with Carluccio’s and we’ll be listening closely to see what shoppers think of the different concepts, which also include GBK, Slim Chickens, Harry Ramsdens and Ed’s Easy Diner.”

Supporting the brand will be Carluccio’s first app, allowing ordering, delivery, menu access and location finding as well providing users with a loyalty mechanic.

Sainsbury’s and Boparan Restaurant Group say that they will listen closely to customer feedback in all three stores before deciding any next steps.

Leeds home to the cheapest pizza

Number crunchers at www.netvouchercodes.co.uk say that they have worked out where Brits can get the cheapest takeaway pizza in the UK, and it’s Leeds.

The team used delivery app price data to look at the cost of best rated takeaways for each cuisine in some 40 cities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, discovering that number-crunching prices around the UK revealed that the best value city to order takeaway pizza in, is Leeds.

12 inch pepperoni pizzas cost around £6.67 in the northern city, nearly £3 less than the national average (which is around £9.15, they claim). As expected, pizzas in London were found to cost the most at £13.83, closely followed by Cambridge (£13.66) and Swansea (£13.09). Other cities that offer the best value pizzas according to the data they analysed include Preston (£6.75) and Wolverhampton (£6.83).

Dairy Partners teams up with Pentadel for new HQ

Dairy Partners, a British dairy company manufacturing mozzarella and pizza cheese products for customers globally, has appointed Pentadel Project Management to design and deliver its new Gloucestershire headquarters.

The 7,000 m2 facility near Stroud has been designed with Dairy Partners’ ambitions in mind. Incorporating production, storage and logistics areas, as well as offices, a test kitchen and café, the building also provides scope for expansion with areas allocated for future production lines and new equipment. It is currently in construction and will be completed in Q1 2022.

Dairy Partners says that it chose Pentadel because of its unique design philosophy. Taking a people-, environment- and community-centred approach, Pentadel has designed a building that will set out to provide a healthy, happy workplace for more than 100 Dairy Partners employees.

Pentadel and Dairy Partners say that they were also determined this new facility should respect the body’s circadian rhythm, providing a connection to the external environment, boosting energy and mood. Roof lights drop natural daylight into the double height production hall and the office spaces, and high internal areas create an airy, spacious feel. An open plan terrace to the office and reception entrance with bespoke staircase brings the outside into the space. Internally, there is no compromise on the space allocated for staff breakout areas – including a café and viewing gallery.

The new design is also a locally specific addition, they point out, recognising and responding to the unique history and character of the site, the building’s central roof apex referencing archetypal industrial buildings, and particularly locally through Stroud Mills.

All aspects of the manufacturing processes are being optimised to maximise energy performance. The building is designed to use solar panels and features a rainwater harvesting system. Heat recovery from thermal emitting plant will be used to provide hot water as well as pre-heating water for the boilers.

“We are delighted to be working with Pentadel on our new facility that will underpin the future of Dairy Partners whilst also attracting people to come and work with us,” said Robert Peel, director, Dairy Partners.

“The Pentadel team brought an intelligent design concept that will deliver engineering and energy efficiency as well as creating an inviting, dynamic place for us all to work. This will help meet future global customer demand whilst demonstrating that we are committed to being a sustainable business and employer.”

Jestic re-opens development kitchens for face to face demos

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that hospitality businesses can welcome back customers for indoor dining, Jestic Foodservice Solutions has fully re-opened its development kitchens in Paddock Wood, Kent and Manchester to continue their popular equipment demonstration and training sessions.

“Demonstrations and training are crucial ways in which we can help to support operators, consultants and our approved dealer network, so we are delighted to be able to welcome current and potential customers back to our development kitchens in Manchester and Kent. Both our kitchens are completely covid-compliant and we will be controlling visitor numbers to ensure that social distancing is maintained,” said Jestic’s culinary director, Michael Eyre.

“Nothing beats face to face interaction and for customers to be hands on with the equipment themselves. The really big win is that customers can once again see, taste and smell the delicious food the fantastic equipment in our portfolio can produce. We would also encourage any customers and dealers to make use of the dedicated meeting facilities at our Manchester and Paddock Wood offices if they are looking to arrange a gathering offsite.”

For customers who are unable to attend either of the two development kitchens in person, Jestic says that it is still offering demonstrations through Zoom using a multi-point live camera system. Product demonstrations are also held throughout the year at trade events like the Cedabond Forum and at customers’ own premises on request.

Jestic also report that Mibrasa® has added to its popular Parrilla open grill range with the new Fire Series (pictured), and which is exclusively available from Jestic Foodservice Solutions to combine charcoal and firewood cooking to create the ultimate live fire grilling appliance, say the company.

Both retail and foodservice predicted to grow in 2021

The latest Eating In vs Dining Out report - produced by insight and analysis providers IGD, in collaboration with foodservice consultant, Peter Backman – and which takes a quarter-byquarter analysis to help businesses in both sectors plan for the year ahead, forecasts 12% growth in 2021, for the UK food and drink market.

The forecasted increase is driven by strong retail growth from January to March and foodservice sales which will begin to strengthen from July onwards as pent-up demand for socialising boosts the sector, say the researchers. Foodservice will grow by 54% (£18.6bn) vs 2020. Some of this growth will impact retail, but elevated levels of home working, at-home social gatherings and financially stretched shoppers who are unable to divert spend to eating out, will see the retail sector continue to grow, they propose.

Nicola Knight, senior retail analyst at IGD, said: “The latest industry growth forecasts, combined with the Office for Budget Responsibility predictions for a slightly quicker than expected economic recovery, are reassuring for both retailers and operators. The reopening of the eating out sector and lifting of social restrictions will increase social dining both in and out of home and will give the market as a whole a significant boost. The value of retail is up £1.8bn on 2020 and £14.5bn on 2019.”

On dining out, Peter Backman, foodservice consultant said: “Foodservice will see low levels of sales for almost half of 2021, due to a combination of lockdown restrictions and alfresco-only eating and drinking. But, as we move into the second half of the year, growth will set in, with pubs and restaurants leading the way. Hotels, leisure and travel-related hospitality will continue to be negatively affected, as will workplace dining, driven by working from home.”

According to the report, the key to unlocking opportunity for both retailers and operators is understanding the K-shaped recovery and its influences on shopper behaviour. The recovery will see higher income households who have accrued substantial savings – estimated to be a significant “pot” of over £100bn (Personal and Economic Wellbeing in GB, ONS, April 2021) – contrast to lower income households who face financial challenge due to the ending of government support and rising unemployment, particularly amongst younger people.

Nicola Knight added: “Discount is likely to be the fastest growing channel in retail as financially-challenged shoppers look for value. Yet, on the flipside, more affluent shoppers, particularly amongst older age groups, will be looking to ‘tradeup’ on both every day and occasion products, to utilise their disposable income. Retailers will need to pay close attention to pricing strategy and product innovation to keep shoppers engaged and loyal.”

Peter Backman added: “Affordability and accessibility will be the two watchwords for the eating out market. Those under financial pressure will be less likely to eat out, but when they do, QSR and food to go are the most likely options. On the whole, operators in these sectors have been in a much stronger position than most during the pandemic, thanks to takeaway and delivery and this continued demand will potentially enable them to prosper.

“In the medium term, people in robust financial positions are likely to benefit higher spend outlets, particularly whilst travel restrictions apply and other spending options are limited.”

Nicola Knight concluded: “The findings from the report show that behaviours and spend continue to shift, creating an evercomplex landscape.”

New Italian-inspired summer cheese

Ilchester®, a UK-based blended and snacking cheese supplier is launching of its first ever truffle cheese.

The Ilchester Truffle Cheddar will be available to buy from 26 July in 90g wheeler formats, and is made to an original West Country recipe that offers a smooth creamy taste with a slight crunch from the calcium lactate crystals.

The addition of Salsa Truffina, sourced from Italy, and the white truffle extra virgin oil, give the cheddar a buttery taste, with a strong truffle aroma, say Ilchester.

HELP US TO HELP YOU

The Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Association aims to ensure the best market conditions for our industry. From lobbying government to its organisation of the prestigious Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Awards, we aim to provide the best environment for you to trade in plus a wide range of bene ts.

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