Anila's Authentic Sauces gains Health Store listing

Award-winning premium curry sauce and accompaniments producer Anila’s Authentic Sauces has gained a listing with cooperative wholesaler The Health Store, one of the UK’s leading health food wholesalers.

The Nottingham-based Health Store, which supplies more than 600 stores throughout the UK, Ireland and parts of Europe, has taken six of Anila’s premium concentrated curry sauces, which are handmade in small batches, as well as six of Anila’s chutneys, pickles and dips which are made with single fruits and vegetables.

The move comes as Anila’s Authentic Sauces launches its stylish new branding with peel and reveal labelling that will inspire customers to create fantastic dishes of their own.

“We are delighted to have gained a listing with The Health Store, and pleased that we can offer our customers many more additional outlets from which to buy our award-winning products,” said Anila Vaghela, who founded Anila’s Authentic Sauces in 1997.

“Our sauces contain only natural ingredients, are free from dairy, gluten, added sugar, onion and garlic, and are suitable for vegans and vegetarians, so they are perfect for a health food cooperative such as The Health Store and ideal for families with differing dietary requirements.”

The Health Store also acts as a supplier to retailers that are not members of its cooperative, providing that orders meet certain criteria.

Tracy MacKenzie, product manager at The Health Store, said: “We were familiar with Anila’s products, having seen them at quite a few trade shows, so when some of our members began asking us to list them we were keen to get them on the shelves. We are very pleased that we can now offer our customers the Anila’s Authentic Sauces range.”

Anila’s products, which sell through delis, farm shops, health food stores and quality food retailers, have recently unveiled new labels to reflect the distinct characteristics of the range and to promote the concentrated nature of the superb Indian curry sauces – adding water doubles the quantity of curry sauce. Behind the labels are guides to making the perfect authentic meal using the ingredients of choice, along with serving suggestions and contact details for even more great recipe ideas.

The curry sauces, chutneys, pickles and dips are also being packaged in chic new jars.

Anila’s has won 11 Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food for its products. Its Goan Green Curry Sauce was 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.”

In 2009 Anila’s Spicy Korma Curry Sauce scooped a “Free From” Food Award.

Anila’s Authentic Sauces is based in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, with a unit in Hounslow, and is run by Anila and her husband Dan.

Anila’s products are sold at John Lewis Oxford Street and John Lewis Bluewater, and top quality gourmet stores, such as Harrods, Wholefoods and Planet Organic, plus hundreds of other outlets that include health food stores, garden centres and gift shops, as well as smaller independent stores such as Budgens at Ascot, Shepperton and Crouch End. Anila’s also sells direct to the public at around 20 farmers’ markets across Surrey, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire, including Guildford, Walton, Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Ripley, Reading, Beaconsfield and Farnham, and online via www.anilassauces.com


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

Civil and structural engineer BSP Consulting delighted by award news

BSP Consulting is celebrating the news that a multi-million pound scheme the firm played a key role in has received two accolades in Wakefield Civic Society’s 2011 Design Awards.

Burgage Square, part of the £140 million Merchant Gate development in Wakefield, was one of two schemes to be named Best Build in the awards, which celebrate high quality design in the city.

The apartments at Mulberry House, one of the properties overlooking Burgage Square at Merchant Gate, also received a commendation.

BSP Consulting, which has offices in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Sheffield, was the civil and structural engineer for phase one of the project, working for Clegg Construction and alongside architect Carey Jones.

Phase one, with a value of £22 million, featured a range of developments and is part of a multiple-phase plan which is changing the face of the area.

David Sumner, managing director of BSP Consulting, said: “This was a large, mixed-use development, in a prime site in Wakefield, and we are very pleased to hear that the local Civic Society had such good things to say about the scheme. Phase one of the Merchant Gate development featured a five-storey, concrete-frame residential building with retail space underneath, three separate steel-framed commercial/retail buildings and a public square with a water wall feature.

“It was built on challenging topography, and we are delighted that parts of the scheme have been rewarded with these two recent accolades.”

Speaking of Burgage Square, president of Wakefield Civic Society Kevin Trickett, said: “English Cities Fund, the developers of Merchant Gate, have successfully delivered the first phase of a major project that is helping to change the face of the city. Once the properties are occupied and in use, this square will be an attractive and welcoming feature for people arriving by train.”

The judges felt that Mulberry House, overlooking the square, was an attractive property and also deserved a commendation.

English Cities Fund last year won Large Developer of the Year for the Merchant Gate development at the 2010 Excellence Awards organised by Premier Guarantee- the market leading provider of structural warranties, building control and developer support services.

BSP Consulting provides a comprehensive range of consultancy services across the UK to all sectors of the construction community, from architects, project managers and contractors to developers and estate agents.

www.bsp-consulting.co.uk

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

English as a second language: Nottingham Language Academy launches summer schools

Nottingham Language Academy is expanding by launching its first summer schools.

The academy, which opened its doors last year, will be offering summer school sessions to teach English as a foreign language.

Aimed at people already living in the UK as well as those from overseas, classes will focus on general English, English for young learners and English for people hoping to teach English as a foreign language.

Running throughout June, July and August at the academy’s base in The Ropewalk, Nottingham, classes of no more than ten will learn in a structured and enjoyable way.

Courses include social activities including theatre and film visits as well as trips to London, Cambridge and Oxford. Trips will be tailored to suit individuals in each group, particularly the young learner groups.

For overseas students the academy is also offering to help arrange accommodation – with a local host as part of its Homestay scheme, in a guesthouse or hotel. It can also arrange pick-up services from East Midlands, Birmingham, Luton or Manchester airports.

“Our small class sizes and professional and highly experienced tutors mean students can get the most out of their time with us,” said Linda Walker, who runs the academy.

“We have summer schools to help those learning to teach English for the first time, those wishing to improve their English and youngsters aged from 10 to 17.

“The mix of in-class tuition and social activities will ensure all our students have a great time and staying in a British home can be the perfect way to practise your new language skills.”

The English Teacher Training Summer School offers over-18s 120 hours of tuition over four weeks starting on August 8. The course offers theory, teaching practise and observation. Participation in the whole four-week course is compulsory to achieve academy certification.

The General English Summer School has an ideal balance of structured learning and stimulating activities for the over-18s. It offers 15 hours of tuition and six hours of social activities each week. After initial assessment to place students at the correct level, they will develop all four language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking – alongside grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

The Young Learners Summer School caters for students aged ten to 13 and 14 to 17 from beginner to proficient level. It includes 15 hours of English tuition and 11 hours of social activities each week.

Nottingham Language Academy offers tuition to individuals and businesses, and teaches English as a foreign language, as well as offering classes in the modern languages of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mandarin.

The modern foreign languages courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which now forms the basis of language teaching and learning in most European Union countries.

Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0330 333 6192.

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

Croots Farm Shop celebrates third birthday with 50-mile charity ‘drive’ for children

Staff at Derbyshire farm shop Croots will be stepping forward for charity to mark the store’s third birthday next month.

The team will walk a total of 50 miles up and down their driveway to raise money for their adopted charity Treats, which helps under-privileged children.

On June 15th, they will be celebrating the shop’s third birthday by marching in relay along the quarter-mile driveway at Croots Farm Shop in Wirksworth Road, near Duffield.

Money raised will go to Treats, a charity set up 25 years ago by professional businesswomen to help children in Derbyshire.

“Since first opening our doors three years ago we have had so much support from so many loyal customers. Thanks to them we have gone from strength to strength,” said shop owner Steve Croot.

“We have been able to expand and now have an award-winning butchery counter, deli and café, so we thought it would be good to celebrate our third birthday by giving something back to the community.

“Staff will be put through their paces as they walk from the shop to the main road and back again – all for a cause so close to our hearts. We are appealing to our customers to help support our effort, so that we can raise as much money as possible for Treats.”

The shop has set up a collection bottle at the checkout counter and donations can also be made online at www.justgiving.com/Steven-Croot
Croots’ chosen charities for 2011 are Treats and also The Shire Horse Society. The farm shop is based at Farnah House Farm, which has been the home to Shire horses for many years.

“Our customers have a fantastic history of being generous when it comes to fundraising, and thanks to them we’ve raised hundreds of pounds for these two charities in recent years,” added Steve.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

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

Derbyshire-based lower fat snack firm Crips launches Crips 99Cals in Morrisons

East Midlands snack company Crips has achieved its first national supermarket roll out after securing a deal to launch its new Crips 99Cals lower fat snacks in 300 Morrisons stores nationwide.

The contract follows the success of Crips 99Cals in 50 Tesco stores in the Midlands and 67 Waitrose stores across the country.

It represents a significant step forward for the business, which is also currently negotiating with a number of other household-name retailers, said managing director Gareth Smith.

The firm, which is based at Ingleby, near Derby, and sprang out of the Leicester-based Orange Tree Group of pubs, is now planning a tasting campaign in 100 Morrisons stores.

“This is good news for the company, and good news for fans of Crips 99Cals who will now have more outlets from which to buy the snacks,” said Gareth.

The award-winning crunchy oven-baked wheat and potato snacks, with 70% less fat than traditional fried potato crisps, have been branded to appeal to consumers looking for healthy products.

The move into Morrisons follows strong and positive feedback from customers to its flavours.

“After they became available in Tesco and Waitrose we were constantly being asked why they weren’t on sale more widely,” said Gareth Smith.

“People were telling us they would buy Crips 99Cals more frequently if they were more easily available so we are delighted that we have secured a listing with Morrisons, which is our first national supermarket roll out.”

A spokesman for Morrisons said: “We are pleased that we can now offer our customers Crips 99Cals snacks. This is part of our ongoing commitment to working with individual companies that can provide innovative brands and help satisfy our customers’ demands.”

The inspiration for Crips snacks came from Gareth’s father Brian Smith, from Ingleby, who has been at the forefront of innovation in the food sector for 40 years. Five years ago he shared his ideas for a healthier, oven-baked crisp with Gareth, who jointly runs the Orange Tree Group, which has pubs in Leicester, Nottingham and Loughborough.

Putting together a team of technical experts, the partnership launched Crips in April 2008. It launched its latest brand, Crips 99Cals, in August last year. Available in three flavours - sea salt and balsamic vinegar, mature cheddar cheese and spring onion, and Thai sweet chilli – the 22.5g packs contain just 99 calories.

As well as coming top in independently conducted blind taste tests, beating five leading-brand healthy option snacks on taste, texture and appearance, Crips have also scooped an innovation award from The Food & Drink Forum and an Enterprise Award from the Home-Grown Cereals Authority.

Crips are also sold in Selfridges, Fortnum and Mason and Harvey Nichols, and a range of independent cafés, bars, delicatessens and farm shops across the UK. They are served as club class snacks by British Airways and the firm also exports to Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark.

Visit www.cripsnacks.com

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

Nottingham Language Academy supports the Nottingham European Arts and Theatre Festival 2011

Nottingham Language Academy is supporting the first ever Nottingham European Arts and Theatre Festival.

The language school is sponsoring NEAT 2011 - a cultural celebration involving Nottingham’s major arts venues, which runs from May 26th to June 12th.

The festival will celebrate and showcase the very best European theatre, music, performance, film and visual art for adults and children, and features artists from a range of different countries, including Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland.

“Nottingham European Arts and Theatre Festival 2011 is a cultural celebration of the arts in many different forms, and Nottingham Language Academy is very pleased to support this inaugural festival,” said Linda Walker, who runs the academy, based in The Ropewalk, Nottingham.

“As an organisation that is very much involved with Europe through our modern language courses and our English as a foreign language courses, it was very appropriate that we should back an event like this, and we are very much looking forward to it.”

Giles Croft, artistic director of the festival, said: “It is always pleasing when a sponsor and a project are as perfectly matched as this. We are delighted that the NLA have joined us as partners in neat11.”

Nottingham Language Academy offers tuition to individuals and businesses, and teaches English as a foreign language, as well as offering classes in the modern languages of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mandarin.

Classes are run during the day, evenings and at weekends, and are designed for people who want to improve their job prospects, travel and see the world, live and work abroad, gain a place at university or learn something new for the fun of it.

The modern foreign languages courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which now forms the basis of language teaching and learning in most European Union countries.

Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0330 333 6192.

Nottingham European Arts and Theatre Festival www.neatfestival.co.uk


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Commercial vehicle group Sherwood Truck and Van appoints new workshop manager and workshop controller

Commercial vehicle group Sherwood Truck & Van Ltd has appointed Darren Hill as its new workshop manager at its headquarters at Blackwell, near Alfreton.

Darren, who lives in Nottingham, has 28 years of motor trade experience, spending 14 years with a Ford main dealer and 14 years with an Iveco dealer before joining Sherwood Truck & Van, which also has dealership sites at Lenton in Nottingham, at Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, and in Highfield Lane, Sheffield.

Taking over the running of the workshop and leading a 16-strong team of technicians, he is being supported by workshop controller Philip Pastuszka, 44, who has worked in the motor trade since he was 16 and who also recently joined Sherwood Truck & Van.

Philip, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, began his career working for a waste disposal company with a fleet of trucks and other vehicles where he qualified as a technician. He then spent several years with a car dealership before making the move back to trucks.

Sherwood Truck & Van recently became part of the Guest Group. Regional director responsible for the four Sherwood locations, Helen Waterfall, said: “I am delighted to welcome Darren and Philip.

“They bring a wealth of motor trade experience to our business and I know they, and their team, will ensure the workshop runs efficiently and to schedule and continues to provide excellent service to our customers.”

Darren has replaced Ryan Hemp, who has moved to pastures new.

The acquisition of Sherwood by Ian Guest Holdings confirmed the West-Bromwich-based dealer group’s position as one of the largest independently owned commercial vehicle dealers and the single largest Iveco distributor in the UK.

The Guest Group now covers an area of responsibility for Iveco, which includes the West Midlands, North Wales, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire. Its network includes 12 full service Iveco dealerships, supported by local agreements with an additional eight authorised Iveco repairers.

Sherwood is a leading supplier of new and used commercial vehicles, established in 1978. The company also maintains, services and repairs commercial vehicles across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire and most of Cheshire.

It is now best known as a dealership for Iveco trucks and vans – the second largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Europe.

Sherwood prides itself on its service pedigree with a stock holding of more than 15,000 lines, a fully equipped accident repair centre and 24-hour roadside support.

www.sherwoodtruckandvan.com

Nottingham PR agency Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk