News and Trends

  Source: Waitrose No.1 Pistachio Croissant Waitrose is introducing more than 30 new breads, pastries, and sweet treats to its in-store bakery (ISB) counters this month. The high-end retailer reports ISB sales growth of 14% from the last year. Its latest innovations (see full list below) are said to improve the freshness and quality of existing favourites whilst promising to deliver the best and most authentic recipes for all comfort eats this autumn. Waitrose revealed it was refreshing more than a third of its bakery and savoury snacking range, with 15 new products offering trending flavour combinations including a Cheese and Onion Tear & Share Bread and Jalapeno & Cheddar Breadstick. A Sourdough Baguette, Seeded Ancient Grains Bread, and Dark Chocolate & Orange Sourdough Bloomer are being rolling out as part of its premium tier  No.1 range, which underwent a relaunch  back in July with new French-style pastries, Italian desserts, and British pies and sandwiches added. The

© Aldi Aldi UK  has unveiled its biggest ever vegan Christmas range, featuring a variety of new products alongside old favourites. The range includes what is claimed to be a “supermarket first”, the Plant Menu Ultimate Footlong Vegan Pig in Blanket. The product is made with Aldi’s Ultimate No Pork Sausage and wrapped in smoky vegan bacon. The chain’s regular-sized Plant Menu Vegan Pigs in Blankets will also return this year. As a starter, customers can opt for the Let’s Party Vegan Bites, featuring no duck spring rolls, cauliflower popcorn bites with buffalo dip, and sweet potato bites with katsu sauce. Several new plant-based mains are also on offer: Specially Selected Nut Roast —  A vegan melting centre roast with a cranberry sauce filling. Plant Menu Stuffed No Turkey Crown —  A plant-based joint with a caramelised onion, sage, and herb stuffing, finished with umami basting stock melts. © Aldi Specially Selected No Beef Wellington —  Features a plant-based beef centre topped with mu

By  alisonbarlow | Oct 31, 2024 | Over 100 days passed between  Labour’s election victory  in July and the new Government’s  first budget , delivered on October 30th. Chancellor Rachel Reeves spent that time managing expectations and setting the stage for a budget that meets the Party’s promises to “invest, invest, invest” without resorting to a return to austerity or increasing taxes for working people – though the definition of ‘ working people ’ became something of a sticking point in the days before the Chancellor stepped up to the despatch box. The result was protracted speculation around the contents of Labour’s first budget and widespread trepidation from business owners, particularly within the hospitality industry. Most were fearful that the Chancellor’s £40bn in tax rises would be laid at their door. While yesterday’s Autumn Budget saw those fears borne out, it also included an unexpected cut to draft alcohol duties and confirmation around business rate relief. The hospitalit

Nottingham-based 200 Degrees adds 21 stores to The Nero Group ’s UK business , which includes the 625-store Caffè Nero chain, 100-strong Coffee#1 and 40-site Harris+Hoole London-based The Nero Group will seek to scale 200 Degrees across the UK | Photo credit: 200 Degrees   The Nero Group has acquired Nottingham-based coffee roaster and café chain 200 Degrees Coffee for an undisclosed sum.    Founded in 2012 by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent, 200 Degrees currently operates 21 stores across the UK alongside a 500-customer wholesale channel and strong e-commerce offering.  The business, led by  Managing Director Stephen Fern  since January 2023, will now trade alongside the  Caffè Nero ,  Coffee#1  and  Harris+Hoole  coffee chains and its wholesale division,  Aroma,  under The Nero Group umbrella.    In a press release, The Nero Group said the acquisition is in line with its ongoing strategy to develop premium, high-quality, specialty coffee brands. The London-based coffee group will seek to s