A new report highlighting the acute labour shortages across the food industry has been published and delivered to Ministers across Government.

Our colleagues over at The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association have announced the launch of a major campaign to promote breakfast sandwich sales this Autumn as people are expected to return to their offices.

After a difficult 18 months for hospitality, Caffè Culture Show is bringing everyone back together. It’s time for you to reconnect with your industry and get your business set for the coming year.

The eagerly anticipated Caffè Culture will be throwing open its doors to welcome back 1,000’s of industry professionals to celebrate the first speciality coffee event of the year since the lockdown began. The show, which will host over 100 innovative brands will be taking place at the iconic Business Design Centre on 2-3 September and will provide an extensive and compelling programme packed with new feature content and sponsors.

The new Giorik Movair countertop combi oven, brought to the UK market by Euro Catering, combines innovative performance, automatic wash system, easy-to-use controls and a compact size for small kitchen spaces.

TikTok’s army of fans will be delighted as Social Shakes, the brand-new ice cream shake bar set to open its first store in Lakeside Shopping Centre, announces it’ll recruit its entire team through a week-long open audition on the social media platform – starting 22nd June.

With the sector re-opening and summer on its way, is it time to rethink your cake and ‘sweet treat’ menu? The sector’s suppliers have plenty of ideas and creativity to offer.

With the hospitality sector set to re-open, and the café and coffee shop sector in particular seeking to make the most of outdoor and takeaway opportunities, it’s more important than ever before to make sure that you have a stand-out tea offering, emphasise the sector’s suppliers.

After a testing year for a UK café sector now planning its re-opening, Café Life caught up with Lincoln and York’s CEO, James Sweeting (pictured), on a range of topics, the company having recently unveiled their investment in a new packaging line, while, like most other enterprises large and small, negotiating the effects of Brexit and Covid.

As café and coffee shops re-open, water quality and, in turn, consumer appreciation of beverage quality, should not be neglected, point out BRITA.

Now more than ever, as the world emerges from COVID-inspired lockdown, food truck owners need solid, smart marketing to entice customers to resume food-truck dining at large. As you take this unprecedented opportunity to get back out there and claim your corner of the market, literally and figuratively, implement as many of the following pivotal tips to rope in those customers and keep them coming back for more.

The Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the UK’s trade association for the ice cream sector, is mobilising its members, the wider industry and other parts of the hospitality sector to promote their products to all those holidaying in the country this summer.  The campaign is called the Great British Ice Cream Staycation and is encouraging businesses of all types and sizes to get involved.  A free, downloadable DIY Marketing Toolkit is available now at www.ice-cream.org/webform/great-british-ice-cream-staycation 

Owners of ice cream parlours, cafes, food service, doughnut shops and small independent bakeries can now turn to Bling for exciting ingredients that will take desserts to the next level, thanks to the launch of a new website that will make sweet dreams become a reality.

The Coffee Shop Innovation Expo is back, and better than ever! On the 9th & 10th of November at London’s ExCeL, we will welcome back Europe's leading event for coffee shop business owners, showcasing the tools, techniques and solutions that are changing the face of the coffee sector forever!

Read all of the latest news on Government guidelines for reopening, testing and VAT.

Portion Solutions, the UK’s leading portion provider, has joined forces with Moostix to meet a gap in the market for semi skimmed milk sticks.

UK in-cup drinks specialist Brupac has moved over to using Greiner Packaging’s K3® cardboard-plastic packaging solution for its 12oz in-cup drinks range. 

Brupac Drinks & Machine Company Director Tim Worthington talks about why the change was made and the advantages it brings.

As the weather warms up and we move towards release of the grip of the Coronavirus pandemic, a mobile coffee business is the perfect way to serve great coffee at wide-ranging outdoor venues. 

Food services supplier adds double and ripple wall cups to its eco-friendly range

Quality disposables manufacturer and supplier, Herald has launched a selection of 100 per cent compostable hot cups as part of its environmentally-friendly range – with both double and ripple wall options.

Following a year that brought the out of home coffee industry to a standstill, a leading UK coffee manufacturer, Lincoln and York, has announced a multi-million-pound investment in a market-leading coffee packing line at its base in Brigg, North Lincolnshire.

• On average 70% of a company’s revenues are spent with their-party suppliers

• Less than 75% of third-party spend is actively managed

• Effective management of spend can on average release savings of between 7-12%

• Gain full control of every part of the procurement cycle to support recovery and growth

La Cimbali has added to the multi award winning S Series, with the launch of the S15, a fully automatic and super compact entry level model, capable of producing up to 150 top quality beverages a day.

Following the announcement of the third lockdown and the rollout of the vaccine, the UK Food & Drink Shows comprising Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, The Ingredients Show, Foodex, National Convenience Show and The Forecourt Show have been postponed until 5-7 July 2021.

Herald has reinforced its business development team with two key appointments, marking a period of substantial growth. Experienced managers, Sarah Warn and Shelley Cruz have joined the manufacturer and importer of high quality disposables with the brief to drive new business and forge new links across all sectors, while supporting the efforts of the current sales team.

Food to Go Trends to Watch in 2021 – free member presentation by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) - Wednesday, 27th January at 3 pm

St Pierre shares new data revealing a third of Brits say their festive menu is more important this year than ever before 

Food services supplier introduces disposable soup cups, chicken boxes and smoothie cups

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Mark Twain

 Taking back control

Adrian Kilby, creative director of the Formation Creative Consultants, has overseen his branding agency through many a crisis over the last 26 years and knows now is not the time for navel gazing or self-pity...

A recent, and very well attended, online meeting, organised by the BSA in conjunction with the Café Life Association, heard the latest on the introduction of Natasha’s Law, the allergen law change that comes into force in October 2021.

Scott Oakes is commercial manager for St. Pierre, a UK-based European bakery brand. Here he talks about the impact of coronavirus on the food to go category, how it has shaped new product development, and how cafés can drive impulse purchases in these challenging times.

It might be UK Coffee Week, but it’s not all about the coffee… as the creamiest, most frothable soy milk on the market, Bonsoy is the Barista’s choice of soy milk this week. But don’t take our word for it. Having first come across Bonsoy in Australia nine years ago, Ariana Huecherig from Perky Blenders in London has never looked back:

Bradford-based Dominion Print has launched a new service supplying protective face masks with bespoke branding for businesses and organisations in the hospitality sector.

Individually wrapped bakery products creating sales opportunities in post-COVID era 

St. Pierre is giving caterers the chance to tap into changing demand for food on the go with a range of individually wrapped bakery goods, new to the foodservice sector.

Cllr Dr Paul John Birch J.P. is mentioned in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. He is to be awarded The British Empire Medal by Her Majesty the Queen. His name appears in this weekend’s publication of the London Gazette. He is being recognised with the medal for his work in the Community*, alongside his work in Fairtrade**.

Market leader says kitchen staff deferring cleaning routines is leading to increased service call outs

Rational’s iProductionManager delivers flexibility and lowers running costs

Revolver are delighted to announce that our Fairtrade and Organic Ceylon Mixed Berry Tea Bags have won over judges at the Great Taste Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

Maria Nata is launching a Portuguese Custard Tart wholesale business unit in the UK which will start operate from second week of September 2020.