Category: News
-
How to combat food inflation
In the Jan/Feb issue of Stir it up, Andrew Kuyk CBE, director general of the Provision Trade Federation, explained the reasons why food prices are set to increase in the UK. Here, three leading industry experts provide some canny solutions to help caterers combat food inflation… Peter Backman, MD of Horizons John Hyman, chief executive…
-
A fresh approach to hospital catering
With hospital food hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons again this year, why is it so challenging to serve fresh, nutritious and tasty food to patients? It’s not difficult at all, says Hazel Read, FM support services manager, for Solent NHS Trust. According to the Campaign for Better Hospital Food:• 400,000 uneaten hospital meals…
-
Category Focus: Reacting to and catering for food allergies
Food allergies and intolerances affect around 8% of children and 2% of adults in the UK – and the numbers are on the rise. Under EU law, food businesses are required to provide allergy information on all of the food they sell but for many caterers, it’s still a bit of a minefield. To coincide…
-
Restaurants and cafés replace pubs as go-to place for socialising
New research from The Restaurant Club has revealed the great British pub is making way for 6,000 new eateries across England, Scotland and Wales. The largest growth areas included lounge bars (116%), cake makers (51%), juice bars (46%) and speciality restaurants. There was also a 31% increase in the number of coffee shops. Indian, Italian and Chinese…
-
Caterers are “missing out” by not offering vegan dishes
The number of vegans in the UK has risen by 360% in the UK over the last 10 years – but caterers are “lagging behind” in providing vegan options on their menus. According to a recent poll carried out by Ipsos MORI for the Vegan Society and Vegan Life magazine, 542,000 people aged 15 or…
-
Ayrshire College Crowned Country Range Student Chef Challenge Champions 2017
After a gripping live theatre final at ScotHot 2017 on the 15th March, Iona Duncan, Agnieska Dudko and Katarazyna Hospodarewska from Ayrshire College have been crowned Country Range Student Chef Challenge champions of 2017. Competing against college teams from around the UK including Blackpool and Fylde College, City College Norwich, City of Liverpool College, Glasgow Clyde College, Henley College, Hopwood…
-
The Culture Club – Is your hot beverages offering at boiling point?!
Demand for hot beverages spans all areas of foodservice, and catering for the specific needs of your customers is crucial. Whilst hotels, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops need to look at ways to entice and upsell, education caterers may concentrate more on health, cost and sustainability issues. For care caterers, the focus is often on…
-
Workplace wellbeing raged by awareness week
“Workplace wellbeing” is being targeted as a key area of this year’s Nutrition and Hydration Week (March 13-19). The organisers of the awareness week are expanding their reach in a bid to improve employee awareness of their own hydration and nutritional requirements. Derek Johnson, partner, Nutrition and Hydration Associates, explains: “Last year we received numerous…
-
Melting Pot – Pimp it up!
Sizzling suggestions for gourmet burgers and dogs…According to the Horizons Menu Trends report, burgers remain the nation’s top dish but the traditional beef burger is in decline as tastes evolve and consumers seek more adventurous eating out experiences. Mexican and Korean influences are creeping onto the burger and hotdog scene with some fabulously creative results.…
-
MasterChef winner champions college education
After scooping the coveted MasterChef: the Professionals title at the end of last year, many people might have expected Gary Maclean to quit his college job and open his own restaurant. But the City of Glasgow College lecturer is adamant this won’t be the case. He is a staunch advocate for the UK’s education system…