Coffee company Cherizena gets a boost from the Food and Drink iNet

A grant from the Food and Drink iNet has helped specialist coffee supplier Cherizena to gain new customers.

The iNet provided a match-funded grant to the Leicestershire-based business to help the company create a new e-commerce website linked to a full-colour label printer.

Amongst other things, this allowed the company to offer bespoke printed labels to its trade customers wanting their own-label coffees to sell in shops.

Within weeks of setting up the system, Cherizena bagged its first new trade customer – a new deli opening in Blackburn which wanted to offer its own-label coffee.

“The grant from the Food and Drink iNet has been great news for Cherizena and is starting to pay dividends for the company already,” said owner Kate Jones. “Not only have we been able to create a much more comprehensive e-shop to sell to our mail order consumer customers via our new website www.cherizena.co.uk, we’ve also been able to offer tailor-made colour printed labels to our trade customers, as well as improve the quality and variety of our own labels.

“I’d like to thank the iNet for its support, as well as advisor Stevie Jackson who’s been very helpful with a number of suggestions of ways in which we can develop Cherizena further and potentially tap into new markets.”

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.

It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

The iNet awarded Cherizena with a grant of just over £3,000, which the company match-funded.

Advisor Stevie Jackson said: “I’m very pleased to hear that Cherizena is already reaping the benefits of the Food and Drink iNet support and hope that the company continues to go from strength to strength.”

Cherizena, which is based at Wartnaby near Melton Mowbray, has been run by Kate Jones and husband Tom since 2005.

The company supplies speciality, premium and flavoured coffee direct to the public via its website and also by attending shows and events around the country. It also sells to trade customers including shops, bars, restaurants and cafés.

The company offers up to 30 single origin coffees and blends, and 20 different flavoured varieties. It is a leading UK specialist producer of coffee, and sources premium, rare and speciality coffees, as well as creating its own range of flavoured coffees.

The new e-commerce website is more sophisticated than Cherizena’s previous website, and the company hopes it will help to expand markets and develop the business.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food and Drink iNet offers free business support to East Midlands food and drink firms

Food and drink firms across the East Midlands are being urged to take advantage of free business support available from the Food and Drink iNet.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the region.

The first element of that support is to meet and discuss business needs and provide impartial advice and guidance on how to grow through innovation. It can then lead to accessing grants and specialist expertise.

Since 2008, the iNet has given hundreds of hours of free advice to food and drink manufacturing firms across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, which has led to innovation projects being launched.

The iNet is urging established small and medium-sized companies who work across the supply chain to get in touch to find out more about the help on offer.

“The free one-to-one initial support for food and drink businesses provides tailored advice and guidance to help companies find their route to growth,” said Food and Drink iNet director Richard Worrall.

“Our advisors are experienced in supporting firms and have a strong network of industry and academic contacts. This means they can signpost businesses to relevant information, expertise and guidance. They can also give information about match-funded grants for innovation that are available to eligible companies.”

In the past, the iNet has provided free ‘business assist’ support to a wide range of companies including bakers, butchers, chocolate makers, snack manufacturers, ice cream makers, and drinks manufacturers, as well as businesses that ‘supply into’ the sector, such as workwear specialists, consultants who work in the food and drink industry and those who manufacture items for the sector.

The one-to-one support aims to help the firms to bring their innovation ideas to life.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk or contact the iNet on info@foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Rochester Cathedral project for Focus Consultants

Heritage and regeneration experts Focus Consultants has won a contract to act as buildings project manager on a £3 million project to conserve and repair England’s second oldest cathedral.

A team from Nottingham-based Focus, which has branches in London, Leicester, Lincoln and Boston, has been appointed as building project managers and quantity surveyors on the scheme at Rochester Cathedral, which was founded in 604.

The project will introduce new visitor displays in the crypt and library, whilst improving access to these atmospheric spaces, and showcase the cathedral’s jewel in the crown - the Textus Roffensis. Older and possibly more significant than the Magna Carta, the manuscript is currently locked away in the archives of Medway Council but the project will give this important piece of history a new home.

“This is an incredibly sensitive project, bearing in mind that Rochester Cathedral is a place of worship and the second oldest cathedral in the country,” said Steven Fletcher, partner at Focus Consultants.

“Our project manager Ellie Clarke and the whole Focus team are honoured to be conserving it for future generations and helping the public enjoy such a fascinating building. The 12th Century Textus Roffensis is a priceless and irreplaceable manuscript, soon to take its place in the cathedral’s treasury.”

The Rochester Cathedral project is the latest heritage and ecclesiastical scheme spearheaded by Focus Consultants, based at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham. Others include Lincoln Cathedral Old Palace, St. Margarets in Bradford, Nottingham’s St. Martha’s the Housewife and Greyfriars Tower, King’s Lynn.

Design work is now underway on the Rochester Cathedral scheme, which has received Heritage Lottery Funding. Work is expected to start on site during the summer of 2013, with completion expected in March 2014.

Focus Consultants specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the Midlands and the UK. Focus has secured more than £800 million of grant assistance, and delivered more than £1 billion of projects and programmes since 1994.

www.focus-consultants.co.uk

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Cherizena Coffee launches Christmas coffee for trade customers

Leicestershire-based speciality coffee supplier Cherizena has launched its popular seasonal Christmas coffee.

Available in packs with own-brand labels or branded as Cherizena, the coffee is available as beans or ground, regular or decaffeinated.

Last year around half a tonne of Christmas coffee was sold by the company.

The flavoured blend is a real Christmas cracker…. with a delicious aroma reminiscent of plum pudding... and has been created by flavouring the Colombian Excelsior medium bean with a tasty combination of rum, hazelnut, cinnamon, vanilla, orange and pecan nut flavours.

Cherizena also has a range of coffee-based gifts to suit all budgets – from 60g packs of chocolate-coated coffee beans to sets featuring a selection of different coffees.

Offering up to 30 single origin coffees and blends, and 20 different flavoured varieties, Cherizena has coffees to suit all tastes. It is a leading UK specialist producer of coffee, and sources premium, rare and speciality coffees, as well as creating its own range of superb flavoured coffees.

The Christmas coffee is one of its limited edition flavours.

Cherizena supplies shops, bars, coffee shops and restaurants and is able to provide full colour label printing at its base at Wartnaby, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

Discounts of 10% are available on the Christmas coffee for trade orders received before the end of September 2012.

Visit www.cherizena.co.uk for more information.

Comedian to host 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards

Comedian Ian Moore will be hosting this year’s Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards, it has been revealed.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony at Athena in Leicester on November 15th. Ian, who has toured with the likes of Jack Dee and Lee Evans, made such an impact in the sell-out Britcom show at Montreal’s Just For Laughs that he was invited to headline the festival's finale.

“We are very pleased to announce that Ian Moore will be the host for the 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards,” said Food and Drink iNet director Richard Worrall. “Ian has experience of hosting award ceremonies, and is also a very funny after-dinner speaker.”

The 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards recognise and reward the brightest ideas in the East Midlands’ food and drink sector.

Being held for the fifth year, the awards recognise and reward the use of innovation in the region’s food and drink sector as a way of boosting development, profitability and growth.

There are four award categories this year – Business Growth Award, the Nottingham Trent University New Product Development Award, the Positive Impact Award, and the Collaboration Award, with the overall winner crowned the Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2012.

A range of sponsorship opportunities are still available, including award categories, table hosting and exhibition space, which will provide valuable promotion in front of food and drink professionals from across the East Midlands.

The deadline for entries has now been extended to Tuesday August 28th. Forms are available to download from the iNet section of the Food and Drink Forum website www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Tickets for the event will be going on sale soon. To secure a place early please contact the events team on 0115 9758810.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.

It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

For further information about the Innovation Awards or sponsorship opportunities call 0115 9758810.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Milestone in social housing for Focus Consultants

The Lincolnshire office of Focus Consultants is marking a milestone after completing work on almost 4,000 social housing units.

Since the Lincolnshire office opened 12 years ago, the practice has been involved in social housing schemes across the county and beyond – stretching north of the Humber and into Norfolk and Leicestershire.

Providing a range of services from energy assessments to the employer’s agent/contract administration role, Focus Consultants has worked on social housing projects that include both small-scale schemes and larger developments.

Now the firm is currently involved in a development of 66 social housing homes in Louth and is poised to start work on 35 homes in Grimsby, where Focus will be the employer’s agent, CDM co-ordinator, Party Wall Act surveyor and is taking care of the energy assessments.

“We have worked with both developers and registered providers on social housing schemes across Lincolnshire and beyond, and were pleased to see just how many individual homes we had been involved in when we looked into it recently,” said Trevor Newton, partner at Focus Consultants’ Lincolnshire offices.

Focus Consultants, which has offices at Endeavour Park, Boston, and Aubourn, Lincoln, offers a range of construction and property services, including project management, surveying, design, party wall services, energy and environmental assessments, CDM co-ordinator, contract administration and employer’s agent.

As well as two Lincolnshire offices, the company has teams in Nottingham, Leicester and London.

The Lincolnshire offices – founded in 2000 – estimated that its staff had helped in the delivery process for 3,900 social housing units over the past 12 years, mainly in the county.

As well as providing construction and property services, Focus Consultants has a national track record of excellence in a range of areas.

Since its creation in 1994, Focus has secured over £800 million of grant assistance, and delivered well over £1 billion worth of projects and programmes - including enterprise support, innovation, culture, health, regeneration, affordable homes and energy carbon sustainability projects.

www.focus-consultants.co.uk

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Craft cider maker hopes to expand after Food and Drink iNet grant

A Leicestershire craft cider maker is raising a glass to the Food and Drink iNet after being awarded a grant to help the company expand.

The Bottle Kicking Cider Company is being given almost £5,000 by the iNet to help the company raise its profile further afield and to introduce innovative new containers to store its drink.

The company, which is based at Hallaton, between Market Harborough and Uppingham, produces two bottled ciders and one draught cider, and supplies to local businesses, as well as Waitrose in the area.

But now it hopes to step up a gear, increase production and begin selling its drinks across the region and beyond.

“The hope is to grow the cider business and make it as successful as we can in the East Midlands, bearing in mind that the majority of production is in the West Country,” said Rob Morton, who runs the Bottle Kicking Cider Company.

The firm, which was launched two years ago, is match-funding the Food and Drink iNet grant.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs. The Bottle Kicking Cider Company aims to use the grant and its own investment to fund marketing expertise.

“We have got to the stage now where we have good presence locally and we need to get some support to help us expand the business and that’s where we are bringing in marketing expertise that can broaden our spread from the local Leicestershire area,” said Rob. “That will really help accelerate our growth plans.”

The second part of the support will help the Bottle Kicking Cider Company to buy specially adapted air-tight containers to store and transport the cider. The company currently rents containers, but buying the recycled, modified containers will be more cost-effective and more sustainable for the business.

The Bottle Kicking Cider Company, named after the famous traditional bottle-kicking gathering that takes place between the villagers of Hallaton and Medbourne every Easter Monday, produces up to 7,000 litres of cider a year using hand-picked apples from Gloucestershire and Leicestershire. It produces Scrambler and Rambler cider in bottles, and a still traditional farmhouse cider on draught.

Food and Drink iNet advisor Stevie Jackson said: “I’m very pleased that the Food and Drink iNet has been able to support the Bottle Kicking Cider Company with its plans for growth and hope that the innovations introduced will help the business to expand and develop.”

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR  www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food industry accreditation under the spotlight at Food and Drink Forum event

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum is teaming up with Giltbrook Workwear to run a session aimed at helping East Midlands food and drink companies get to grips with changes to one of the key food standard accreditations.

Entitled BRC Unravelled, the free event will turn the spotlight on the British Retail Consortium (BRC) accreditation, which has recently been upgraded.

It is being held at the premises of Food and Drink Forum member Giltbrook Workwear at Mercian Close, Manners Industrial Estate, Ilkeston, in Derbyshire on Wednesday September 12th between 8am and 10am.

“Many retailers and food service operators demand accreditations from their suppliers so it makes excellent business sense for manufacturers to invest in gaining the standards,” said Richard Wigley, The Food and Drink Forum’s technical manager.

“This event will look at the recent changes to BRC, how to achieve and maintain BRC the smart way, and will illustrate how BRC can help companies to save money.”

The breakfast meeting, which is open to members and non-members of The Food and Drink Forum, will also look at SALSA – the Safe and Local Supplier Approval certification scheme aimed at micro-sized producers.

As part of the session, delegates will hear about companies who have successfully achieved BRC and other accreditations, and how it has benefited their business.

For more information or to book contact Niall O’Hagan on 0115 9758810 or email Niall.Ohagan@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

It was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.

It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Sausage festival at Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire

Derbyshire farm shop Croots will be staging a sausage festival later this month…featuring some of its award-winning bangers.

The event takes place on Saturday August 25th at the farm shop in Wirksworth Road, Duffield.

Up to 18 different sausages will be on special offer at Croots, including two of its recently launched flavours sweet chilli, and pork and wild mushroom, as well as a number of its award-winning bangers.

To accompany the sausage tasting sessions being held throughout the day, Shottle Farm Brewery will also be offering beer tasting.

The brewery, based near Belper, has a range of beers on sale at Croots.

“Our sausage festivals have become very popular, and give customers the chance to try some of our different flavours before they buy,” said Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop at Farnah House Farm.

“Sausages and ale make ideal partners, so we’re pleased that we can offer both sausage and beer tasting at our festival.”

Croots is renowned for its home-made sausages and has won numerous awards since opening in June 2008, including Great Taste Awards, which are regarded as the Oscars of the food industry.

Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Days left to enter 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards

The East Midlands’ most forward-thinking food and drink manufacturers and researchers are being urged to get their entries in for the 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards.

August 17th 2012 is the deadline for the awards, which are free to enter and recognise and reward the brightest ideas in the region’s food and drink sector.

Last year’s award winners and short-listed candidates received valuable promotion for their innovations.

The overall winner, which was named the Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2011, was a team from the University of Leicester Space Research Centre, who applied space technology to allow the detection of counterfeit whisky through the bottle and without having to open it.

“We’ve had some really exciting entries to our Innovation Awards in the past, and we’re looking forward to hearing about the latest innovations in the sector across the East Midlands,” said Food and Drink iNet director Richard Worrall.

Being held for the fifth year, the awards recognise and reward the use of innovation in the region’s food and drink sector as a way of boosting development, profitability and growth.

There are four award categories this year – Business Growth Award, the Nottingham Trent University New Product Development Award, the Positive Impact Award, and the Collaboration Award.

Winners of all categories will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner in November before one of the winners is crowned Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2012.

Entries are being invited from companies, researchers and individuals across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Forms are available to download from the iNet section of the Food and Drink Forum website www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk and need to be submitted by August 17th 2012.

A range of sponsorship opportunities are also available, including award categories, table hosting and exhibition space, which will provide valuable promotion in front of food and drink professionals from across the East Midlands.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.

It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs. It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

For further information about the Innovation Awards or sponsorship opportunities call 0115 9758810.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Packaging event for East Midlands food and drink firms

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum is teaming up with the Sherwood Press Group to turn the spotlight on the latest innovations in board packaging.

Aimed at food and drink companies across the East Midlands, the event will explore new packaging board options, sustainable wrappings and the issue of ink migration.

It will also provide delegates with the chance to quiz packaging and technical experts from The Food and Drink Forum about the role of packaging in new product development and the support available to help with packaging.

“This event will give a unique insight into packaging for those in the food and drink sector, and we are pleased to be joining forces with the Sherwood Press Group to offer this session not only to our members but also to others in the industry in the East Midlands,” said Lisa Unwin, the Forum’s membership and marketing manager.

“Understanding the packaging process can make a huge difference to unit costs and product success, and we hope this event will provide food and drink companies with the latest information, knowledge and thinking in this area.”

The event on Wednesday September 5th is free to attend and starts at 8.45am at the Sherwood Press Group premises in Glaisdale Drive West, Nottingham. It will include presentations, a factory tour and networking over lunch.

The Sherwood Press Group is at the forefront of environmental packaging innovation and, amongst other things, will be highlighting its Pura® sustainable packaging.

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

It was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region. It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

For more information about the event or to book contact The Food and Drink Forum on 0115 9758810.

Issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Gold Star Award for Anila’s Authentic Sauces’ Hot Mango Pickle

The Hot Mango Pickle produced by Anila’s Authentic Sauces has struck gold in the Great Taste Awards by winning a gold star rating.

Regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food industry, it was the 12th Great Taste Award won by Anila’s Authentic Sauces, which produces premium curry sauces, pickles, chutneys and dips.

The gold star rating means that the judges found the Hot Mango Pickle to be a “virtually faultless food”.

Their comments included “we love the flavour of the raw mango”, “open textured and chunky giving it a rustic appearance. Nice to see the chilli seeds” and “a great aroma”.

“I am very pleased to hear that the Hot Mango Pickle has been rated as gold star,” said Anila Vaghela, who is celebrating her 20th year in the business in 2012.

“It’s a very popular product with our customers and is made with fresh green mangoes. It’s a perfect accompaniment to many different dishes and snacks, including curries, parathas and chappatis.”

Gluten free, dairy free and with no added sugar, the pickle is one of 17 accompaniments and eight curry sauces produced by Anila’s, which is based in Walton, Surrey, with a production unit in Hounslow.

The Great Taste Awards are run by the Guild of Fine Food and received almost 9,000 entries this year. Less than a third received an accolade of one gold star, two gold star or three gold star following the judging process.

Since 2005, Anila’s has won Great Taste Awards for a number of products, including its Goan Green Curry Sauce, the Spicy Mild Curry Sauce and the Spicy Korma Curry Sauce.

The company has also won other awards. Earlier this year the Goan Green Curry Sauce was named a winner in the FreeFrom Food Awards 2012. It was previously named Best Vegan Product in The Veggie Awards 2011 by Cook Vegetarian! magazine, with the judges saying: “Not only one of the best vegan curry sauces we’ve ever tried but one of the best curry sauces available. Its complexity of flavours makes its taste truly sensational.”

At the FreeFrom Food Awards 2012, the judges said: “Anila’s sauces are always so wonderful as she uses such beautifully fresh and pure ingredients in such perfect balance. Lovely, subtle flavours, gently permeated by the coconut milk. Deep green flavour and fantastic ingredients.”

This year Anila’s launched a new Spicy Indian Salsa to mark 20 years since Anila sold her first curry sauce at a local fair.

Anila’s sauces are free from artificial colours, additives and preservatives, are sugar, dairy and gluten free, contain no onion or garlic, and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The accompaniments are made with single fruits and vegetables, and natural ingredients.

Anila’s Authentic Sauces supplies hundreds of outlets that include speciality food halls, garden centres, delis, farm shops, gift shops and also health stores. The firm also sells direct to the public at farmers’ markets and at food shows and festivals as well as online via www.anilassauces.com

Products are on sale at places like Harrods, John Lewis Oxford Street and Bluewater, Chatsworth Farm Shop, and Booths in Penrith and Manchester.

Visit www.anilassauces.com for more information.

Issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Two star gold award for Croots Farm Shop’s home smoked back bacon

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has struck gold by winning a two star gold award in the annual Great Taste Awards for its home smoked back bacon.

The awards are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food industry, and it is the fifth Great Taste Award presented to Croots in the past four years.

Judges described the bacon, which is smoked on the premises at Croots Farm Shop, Duffield, as having “wonderful porkiness. The rind and fat were very tasty as well. Just the right amount of salt. Good meaty texture.”

Farm shop owner Steve Croot said: “We are thrilled to have received another Great Taste Award. The awards are judged by chefs, food writers, retailers and other food experts, and are one of the most highly regarded accolades in the speciality food and drink sector.

“We only started smoking our own bacon at the start of this year, so to have it confirmed that we’re doing it to such a high standard is wonderful for our team at Croots Farm Shop.”

Last year Croots, which is based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, scooped two one star gold Great Taste Awards for its traditional pork pie and its lemon oil. In 2010 one of Croots’ ales, Cow Juice Beer, won a gold star rating in the Great Taste Awards, while the previous year the accolade was given to the farm shop’s Black Pudding Sausage.

This year’s award for the home smoked back bacon is a two star gold award – making it one of the best bacons in the country.

The Great Taste Awards are run by the Guild of Fine Food and received almost 9,000 entries this year. Less than a third received an accolade of one gold star, two gold star or three gold star following the judging process.

“It’s always a fantastic boost for our staff to hear that we’ve won another award, and I’d like to thank them for their role in making Croots Farm Shop an award-winning store,” said Steve Croot. “This particular bacon, which at £10.49/kg compares very favourably with the £14.20/kg price at Tesco online, is one of many products that we make ourselves at Croots. Since buying the smoker, we’ve developed several new products which seem to be going down well with our customers.”

Croots Farm Shop has won many awards since launching just over four years ago, especially for its home made sausages, pies and meat products.

The home smoked back bacon previously received an award during Bacon Connoisseurs’ Week in March.

The farm shop was also recently highly commended in the national Deli of the Year competition.

In 2010 it was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.

Croots opened its doors in June 2008 and has gone from strength to strength. As well as the shop and café, it has a plant nursery and a children’s play area.

It stocks products from around 40 producers within a 50-mile radius of the shop, as well as items from further afield, and employs 21 people. The store is particularly popular with sausage fans and estimates it has made around 8 million handmade sausages since opening.

Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Four healthcare schemes for Nottingham contractor J Tomlinson

Nottingham-based construction company J Tomlinson has secured contracts on four healthcare-related projects worth almost £10 million.

The firm, which was founded in 1950 and employs more than 300 staff and operatives, is currently working on medical and care facilities from Sheffield to Solihull.

J Tomlinson has been appointed contractor on a new £1.5 million extension and refurbishment of the catheter laboratory and X-ray department at Lincoln County Hospital by United Lincoln Hospitals NHS Trust.

The company is also building a new £2.4 million Intensive Support Services Unit in Sheffield for Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Trust. The development is being built to the BREEAM environmental assessment very good rating, including energy efficient renewables and ground source heat pumps.

In addition, J Tomlinson is involved with the design and construction of the new £2.7 million BREEAM very good-rated medical centre in Arnold, Nottingham for MedicX, a client the firm has previously worked for. The company is also providing the design and installation of mechanical and electrical services at the £3 million Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice, Solihull.

Managing director Pat Cassidy said: “Our extensive experience in the health sector has paid dividends to both the company and our clients during the extended pre-contract period; in terms of value engineering. We are delighted to have been successful in securing these four contracts.

“The company won a Gold Award at the Considerate Constructors National Company Awards last year and this has doubtless been a factor in helping us to secure work in the healthcare and other sectors.”

J Tomlinson is based at Scimitar House, Lilac Grove, Beeston in Nottingham, and has a £50 million a year turnover.

Working in partnership with many public sector and blue chip clients, its services include new build, refurbishment, fit out, electrical, plumbing and heating, property maintenance, mechanical and electrical design and installations, solar and zero carbon technologies.

For more information please contact Jeremy Warman at J Tomlinson on 0115 9574072.


Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Past Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards champion urges entries to this year’s awards

Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards which recognise and reward the brightest ideas in the East Midlands food and drink sector.

Last year’s overall winner, which received the title of Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2011, was a team from the University of Leicester Space Research Centre, who applied space technology to allow the detection of fake whisky through the bottle.

Tim Maskell, from the university, said that news of the award win had brought publicity and interest from around the world, as well as potential customers for the technology and additional investment.

“The team at the University of Leicester were very proud and honoured that their Spectral ID counterfeit detection project was chosen as Innovation Champion, as well as Champion of Champions, in the 2011 Food and Drink iNet awards,” he said.

“This is an exciting project for the authentication of high value consumer drinks – such as whisky – that does not require opening the bottle. As a result of winning the awards last November we have received much publicity and interest in our novel test from around the world. In particular we have received serious enquiries from potential early adopters in the whisky and fine wine markets. We have been successful in raising new investment to fund further product development, and have recently established a new spin out company as the vehicle for the wider commercial exploitation of our technology.

“We are very grateful to the Food and Drink iNet for their encouragement and support without which this would not have happened.”

Being held for the fifth year, the awards recognise and reward the use of innovation in the region’s food and drink sector as a way of boosting development, profitability and growth.

There are four categories this year – business growth, new product development, positive impact, and collaboration. Winners of all categories will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner in November before one of the winners is crowned Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2012.

Entries are being invited from companies, researchers and individuals across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Food and Drink iNet director Richard Worrall said: “We are delighted to hear that winning the title of Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2011 at last year’s Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards brought so many benefits to the team at the University of Leicester.

“Our annual innovation awards are free to enter, and create great, positive exposure for the short-listed and winning companies and organisations. We’re looking forward to hearing about the exciting projects and developments that are currently going on, and I’d urge companies, individuals and researchers to enter as soon as possible.”

Forms are available to download from the iNet section of the Food and Drink Forum website www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk and need to be submitted by August 17th 2012.

A range of sponsorship opportunities are also available, including award categories and table sponsorship, which will provide valuable promotion in front of food and drink professionals from across the East Midlands.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

For further information about the Innovation Awards or sponsorship opportunities call 0115 9758810.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk