News and Trends

Subway has started 2020 with the introduction of a bargain new addition to its menu - Toasted Bites Subway has followed up the launch of its much-talked about Meatless Meatball Marinara with the unveiling of another new menu addition - Toasted Bites. The famous sandwich chain caused a real stir last week, as, along with Greggs Vegan Steak Bake, McDonald's veggie dippers , KFC's Zero Chicken vegan burger and Costa's vegan ham and cheese toastie , the Meatless Meatball Marinara launched nationwide. And now Subway are keeping the early 2020 momentum going with the launch of the Toasted Bites, which are very easy on the wallet and are priced at just £1.29 each. Each Toasted Bite  comes in a three inch, square ciabatta bread roll, filled with one of four options: Ham & Cheese Toasted Bite : Filled with ham and topped with melted American-style cheese and two veg of your choice. Tuna Melt Toasted Bite : A mini version of a cla...

The Co-op has opened its latest convenience store that specifically caters to the growing trend for consumers shopping for fresh food ‘on-the-go’. The outlet in London’s Moorgate is the society’s first to sell products from sushi and Japanese food brand YO!. Its range includes vegan sushi, chicken katsu bites, crispy salmon rolls and, salmon deluxe sushi packs. Emily Young, the Co-op’s Food-to-Go Concessions Buyer, said: “The aim is to further elevate our sushi proposition for customers in search of more authentic products, bridging the gap between our core sushi offer and sushi counters in the market.” The Co-op stated that the store is focussed on offering “ease, speed, quality and convenience for commuting consumers in the city in search of breakfast, lunch or dinner on-the-go”. It includes a free water refill station, an i-squeeze orange juice machine, and the retailer’s new vegan range, GRO, alongside coffee, an in-store bakery, sandwiches...

After a decade of growth, there is some suggestion that the food to go (FTG) sector is losing its shine, but is that right? Perhaps the dizzy heights of +5% year-on-year growth have been and gone, but we’re still forecasting that food to go will grow by +2.7% in 2020, to a whooping £21.7bn. Of course, there are pockets of growth and decline behind that top-line number, so to ensure you are on top of all the detail, make sure you get hold of your copy of our Food To Go 2020 Market Report . Convenience store grab and go continues to take the largest share of the UK FTG market, but this share is unsurprisingly under pressure as other parts of the market physically expand and offer an increasing array of menu options. So how can convenience retailers fight back? In the report, we identify seven key trends driving the FTG market. These give us clues about the direction of travel and where leading operators will put their focus – here we brief...

Hertfordshire-based Funnybones Foodservice has launched savoury churros. The mini savoury churros are made of choux pastry with a crispy outer shell and will be available in two flavours - melted Manchego Cheese and spicy Chorizo. Inspired by the popular deep-fried Mexican snack, consumers can serve them with a spicy tomato dip, said the company. “Churros are one of those irresistible treats and our sweet versions, which include plain and mini chocolate filled churros, are extremely popular,” said Tom Styman-Heighton, development chef at Funnybones Foodservice. The churros are fully cooked before frozen, so require reheating for a few minutes before serving, said the company. Consumers can cook from frozen, either in the deep fryer or the oven. “Now, we’ve used the same traditional techniques to create savoury varieties and are launching Manchego and chorizo versions of these snacks,” added Styman-Heighton. “We’ve chosen to use smoky, spicy chorizo...

Clean labels, plant-based products and nutrition-packed ingredients have been flagged up among the top health trends for the coming year. Trust, the environment, veganism and taste underpin the healthy food trends of 2020, according to ingredients supplier Puratos. The business has made the predictions following the launch of its global Taste Tomorrow trends report, which it has claimed is the world’s largest bakery, patisserie and chocolate consumer survey. “Brands and businesses that can demonstrate transparency and credible environmental initiatives, as well as offering high-quality products, will be those to benefit,” said Puratos UK sales director Jo Greengrass. “With health only set to rise higher on the agenda, businesses should look to promote ‘power ingredients’, source responsibly and reformulate to maximise chances of success in the 12 months ahead and beyond.” The key health trends identified by the business are: Plant-based ...

France-based Tipiak Traiteur Pâtissier has unveiled a selection of bite-sized canap és for the UK foodservice market. The Mediterranean Canapés Selection features 63 individual pieces in nine different flavours, including: mango apricot chutney; mini cheese and ham rolls; sesame seeds on mini brioche; smoked salmon; tzatziki; cucumber and poppy seeds on mini blini; goat’s cheese and fig on walnut bread; and tuna, stewed piquilloes, capers and black olives on sandwich bread. The ‘thaw and serve’ selection extends the existing range of canapés available in the UK from frozen food distributor Central Foods. “The new Tipiak Mediterranean Canapés Selection brings delicate and flavoursome bite-sized canapés to the table – canapés which are convenient for food professionals, as they just need defrosting before serving,” said Marie-Emmanuelle Chessé, international development project manager at Tipiak. The canapés are packed on 100% recycl...

Morrisons has announced that it is planning to cull 3,000 management jobs across its business as part of a major restructuring of the workforce that will see around 7,000 jobs created in its stores. “The (net) increase of more than 4,000 jobs is after a number of managerial roles are removed,” the group said. The job being created will include butchers, bakers, fishmongers and other fresh food specialists. The supermarket chain said the aim of its decision was to serve customers better within its stores by changing the way they are staffed. The plan will see managers who are retained “concentrate on helping frontline colleagues to do their job and run their stores”. David Lepley, Morrisons Group Retail Director, commented: “This proposal means more frontline colleagues improving product availability and helping customers. “Whilst there will be a short period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals, we will be supporting them through this process...

Veganuary is storming along, with bakeries, retailers and brands across the country launching meat-, dairy- and egg-free NPD to tap into the vegan boom. There has already been a host of new launches including indulgent sweet treats from Dum Dum Doughnuts, Doughnut Time and Deliciously Ella, while retailers including Costa, The Co-op and Marks & Spencer have expanded their vegan ranges. Here’s the latest round of vegan bakery NPD: Tesco Britain’s largest supermarket chain has boosted its on-the-go and frozen vegan options, available under its Plant Chef brand, with new sandwiches, wraps and sausage rolls. First up is the Plant Chef Hoisin Wrap , which claims to have ‘all the flavour without the duck’. Priced at £2.50, the wrap is filled with pea protein, hoisin sauce and slices of cucumber and spring onion. Also joining the range is the Plant Chef Coronation Cauli Wrap , which sees the usual chicken replaced with cauliflower for a plant-base...