Catering news

• Prue Leith backs universal free school meals in interview

  18-11-2019 11:04
  She told interviewer Sian Griffiths: “If the government was brave enough to say this is a free lunch, everyone has to sit down and have a healthy, two-course meal, and no one will be allowed to bring a packed lunch into school, it would work wonders.”
  Prue was recently appointed by the Department of Health to work alongside the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) as an ambassador for the hospital food review, which is currently being carried out by former HCA chair Phil Shelley.
  She
  
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• Last chance to register for Public Sector Catering Expo

  18-11-2019 10:41
  The aim of the two-day event is to bring together buyers, influencers and decision makers across the entire industry. You can register in advance for the PSC Expo to gain fast track entry but you can also turn up on the day.
  The PSC Expo is FREE to attend and includes live demonstrations, over 100 suppliers and the opportunity to network with industry colleagues. There are several keynote speakers including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Prue Leith, Alexia Robinson, Amy Fetzer and Charlie Huson.
  W
  
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• New school kitchen opens during NSMW

  18-11-2019 10:01
  Wolsey House celebrated the official opening of its new kitchen, which means schools meals can now be prepared on the premises. 
  On 13 November staff served up roast chicken with roasted potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, as well as a vegetarian alternative. This was part of Roast Dinner Day, which aimed to bring people of different generations together for a roast dinner.
  Roast Dinner Day falls during National School Meals Week and it is an opportunity to showcase nutritious scho
  
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• Chesterfield College student crowned Chesterfield’s Young Chef of the Year

  18-11-2019 09:52
  He beat off competition from two fellow catering students to take the title at the glittering awards ceremony. As part of the competition he designed a menu earlier this year which he cooked and presented to a panel of judges, which included this year’s Chesterfield Food Hero, Chris Mapp, Owner of The Tickled Trout.
  Accepting the award, Parkin said: “When I heard my name get called out, I was absolutely thrilled. I was confident I’d done well in the cooking element of the
  
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• Facebook beats Instagram as restaurant owners’ preferred social media marketing platform

  15-11-2019 11:07
  Givex, a cloud-based operations management solution, spoke to 202 people in a senior management position in a restaurant to understand their business priorities. A third said they would invest in sales and marketing activities on Facebook and Instagram.
  Also one third of those surveyed stated they were planning to develop loyalty programmes. The most popular suggestion was discounts (48%), followed by a free meal or drink (40%) and 21% said exclusive invites to events. Over one quarter of those
  
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• Christmas carol service to raise money for Hospitality Action and The Clink Charity

  15-11-2019 09:59
  The carol service features a main address from Reverend Jonathan Aitken, readings and poems by ‘key’ hospitality figures.
  Hospitality Action is a charity that supports the UK’s Hospitality industry workers when they find themselves in a crisis. A £10 donation covers the cost of a trip to Santa’s Grotto for a hospitality family facing financial hardship this Christmas.
  The Clink Charity offers prisoners the chance to learn new skills of how to cook and prepare food.
  
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• Fun Friday Food Facts 2019 Vol. 40

  15-11-2019 09:22
  The Bible’s forbidden fruit was never explicitly stated as an apple.
  Hákarl is the national dish of Iceland. It is shark meat that has been fermented and left to dry for several months.
  Humans have hunted and eaten animals to extinction including the mammoth, moa and the passenger pigeon.
  You can eat banana peels (it makes up 35% of the fruit but it is mostly thrown away). A banana peel contains potassium, dietary fiber and amino acids.
  Calcium, found in milk, cheese and soya beans,
  
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• Aramark Northern Europe launches Plant Market at client sites

  15-11-2019 06:00
  Plant-based eating is growing as research shows 79% of Generation Z are ‘eager to go meatless’ and vegan dishes saw a growth of 237% in 2018.  
  Aramark is aiming to promote this offering at all of its client sites throughout the UK and Ireland, including in the public sector.
  Plant Market places a strong emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes while still offering a small quantity of animal protein to maximise both flavour and nutritional value.
  Gayler, said: &l
  
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• Aramark Northern Europe launches Plant Market

  15-11-2019 06:00
  Plant-based eating is growing as research shows 79% of Generation Z are ‘eager to go meatless’ and vegan dishes saw a growth of 237% in 2018.  
  Aramark is aiming to promote this offering at all of its client sites throughout the UK and Ireland, including in the public sector.
  Plant Market places a strong emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes while still offering a small quantity of animal protein to maximise both flavour and nutritional value.
  Gayler, said: &l
  
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• The Soil Association launches manifesto for the 2019 General Election

  14-11-2019 10:50
  The Soil Association priorities include tackling climate change, restoring nature and soil health, along with trying to normalise healthy diets.
  One of the key parts to The Soil Association manifesto is to use government-buying power to make healthy and sustainable diets the norm in the public sector (schools and hospitals). The Soil Association wants to learn from Denmark’s 60% and France’s 50% organic food procurement.
  The Soil Association is calling for children to be given a &lsq
  
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• Soil Association launches manifesto for 2019 General Election

  14-11-2019 10:50
  The Soil Association priorities include tackling climate change, restoring nature and soil health, along with trying to normalise healthy diets.
  One of the key parts to The Soil Association manifesto is to use government-buying power to make healthy and sustainable diets the norm in the public sector (schools and hospitals). The Soil Association wants to learn from Denmark’s 60% and France’s 50% organic food procurement.
  The Soil Association is calling for children to be given a &lsq
  
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• Subway opens store at West Middlesex Hospital with ISS

  14-11-2019 06:00
  The new store is located in the food hall at West Middlesex Hospital giving people access to a menu of freshly prepared Subs, wraps and salads.
  Subway currently has 15 stores at hospital locations throughout the UK and Ireland.
  Colin Hughes, country director for Subway UK and Ireland, said: "We are delighted to see ISS open its second Subway store in the UK, strengthening our partnership further. ISS shares the Subway passion for serving quality, delicious food, along with a key focus on providi
  
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• Hospitality bosses failing to acknowledge employee feedback

  14-11-2019 06:00
  The research found 100% of bosses in the UK hospitality sector claim to act on employee feedback but only 67% of employees agree. Also the research showed a growing sense of disconnection from people under the age of 24 with half believing their feedback does not lead to action.
  Mark Williams, senior vice president product at People First, said: “Trouble is brewing because although employers say they put feedback into action, it doesn’t ring true with workforces.
  &ldqu
  
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• British hospitality workers lack food safety, says research

  14-11-2019 06:00
  This is a concern for customers with allergies and intolerances. There have been several allergy-related deaths in recent years including Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette.
  The research also found over half of hospitality leaders (53%) think that UK hospitality staff lack the work ethic of their European colleagues.  
  The eight ‘Art of Hospitality’ skills that hospitality managers believed UK workers were behind on
  
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• Next government urged to step in to curb fast food on high streets

  13-11-2019 10:24
  The charity has warned that local planning policies to combat obesity are ‘already under attack’ and that existing policies still don’t go far enough.
  The report, Hot Food Takeaways, recommends that the next government explores options such as restricting sales of unhealthy food to children on the school run.
  It also calls on the next Government to require planning policies to restrict new hot food takeaways near schools, following evidence from some local authorities that even
  
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• First Mile launches recycling service for long-life cartons

  13-11-2019 09:21
  RecycleBox is a low-cost courier service offered to businesses and consumers that can be filled with hard-to-recycle items.
  Long-life food and drink cartons are used to package plant-based milk, chilled soups and fruit juices. The Cartons are made from paper, plastic and aluminium, which are layered together. All three materials can be recycled but the challenge is separating them.
  First Mile’s new RecycleBox service will send these cartons to the UK’s dedicated beverage carton recyc
  
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• Support hospitality to provide half a million more jobs, says industry trade body

  13-11-2019 06:00
  Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics show that hospitality businesses created nearly 46,000 jobs in the last year, nearly 1-in-6 across the UK, and half a million since 2009.
  UKHospitality has called on politicians to provide support as a priority to ensure the continued growth of the industry.
  UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: "Despite some difficult trading conditions, rising costs and struggles on high streets, hospitality has still added half a mill
  
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• NSMW kicks off in style with roadshow

  13-11-2019 06:00
  Running from 11-15 November, the week aims to celebrate all that is good about school food.
  Beginning on Monday at Highfield Community Primary School in Chester, the NSMW van will make its way across the country, ending at Stratford Manor Hotel on Friday at the annual Autumn Seminar.  
  At its visits in each region, it will be encouraging people to #tasteforyourself and showcase the school meals in each area.
  LACA’s national chair Stephen Forster said: "LACA's National School Meals Wee
  
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• Six in ten catering professionals feel isolated in the workplace, research reveals

  12-11-2019 10:48
  New research from independent jobs board CV-Library also found that a further 62.5% attribute loneliness to having nothing in common with their colleagues. 
  The study, which surveyed 2,000 British professionals, also reveals that 79.2% of catering workers felt that people’s attitudes towards them changed after getting a promotion, with a further 20.9% claiming they lost friends in the process. 
  Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, said: “Humans are naturally sociable
  
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• University of Leeds removes one million pieces of single-use plastic

  12-11-2019 10:38
  Last year the University of Leeds made a pledge to eliminate sing-use plastics by 2023.
  Dr Louise Ellis, director of sustainability at Leeds University, said: “It’s hard to believe it has been a year since we made the #2023plasticfree pledge. This is a fantastic achievement – colleagues across the University have really taken the plastic-free pledge on and accomplished some brilliant things.
  “Some great progress has been made, but we know there are more challenges th
  
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• Public Sector Catering Expo doors open in one week

  12-11-2019 10:02
  The inaugural event is FREE to attend and includes live demonstrations, an opportunity to network with industry colleagues and over 100 suppliers.  
  The aim of the event is to bring together buyers, influencers and decision makers across the entire industry.
  Within the public sector almost three billion meals are served each year to people in schools, hospitals, universities, prisons, care homes and the Armed Forces.
  Fearnley-Whittingstall will present his keynote address on Tuesday 19
  
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• JJ Foodservice wins IGD Supply Chain Excellence Award

  12-11-2019 09:12
  Nearly 500 food and drink consumer goods colleagues attended the IGD Awards to celebrate the industry achievements over the last 12 months.
  Mushtaque Ahmed, chief operating officer at JJ Foodservice, said: "This is an incredible achievement for our team – we would like to thank the judges and everyone involved in developing the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) feature, which has helped to dramatically improve service for our customers." 
  JJ Foodservice received the accolade for it
  
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• New standards introduced for British barn egg producers

  12-11-2019 06:00
  The British Lion Quality Code of Practice prohibits the use of intensive systems such as the combi system, which are deemed too intensive. It includes measures such as maximum stocking density of 16.5 birds per m2, two enrichments per 1,000 birds, a maximum colony size of 6,000 birds and superior nest boxes to encourage nesting.
  Andrew Joret, chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, said: “We are delighted to have had such a constructive dialogue with CIWF which has allowed us to
  
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• Crussh announces partnership with The Felix Project

  12-11-2019 06:00
  As part of the Christmas partnership Crussh employees will volunteer to deliver surplus food from Crussh outlets to those in need over the festive period.
  The smoothie will be sold at £4.25 and contains frozen yoghurt, coconut water, blueberries, pineapple, banana and ginger.
  Helen Harrison, brand director for Crussh, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Felix Project as part of our Christmas campaign this year. We’ve been working with the charity for some time on food
  
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• Crussh announces Christmas partnership with The Felix Project

  12-11-2019 06:00
  As part of the Christmas partnership Crussh employees will volunteer to deliver surplus food from Crussh outlets to those in need over the festive period.
  The smoothie will be sold at £4.25 and contains frozen yoghurt, coconut water, blueberries, pineapple, banana and ginger.
  Helen Harrison, brand director for Crussh, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Felix Project as part of our Christmas campaign this year. We’ve been working with the charity for some time on food
  
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• #RDA gives Compass the VIP treatment at the O2 arenahttp://dlvr.it/RJ36nf 

  11-11-2019 12:38 via twitter.com
  #RDA gives Compass the VIP treatment at the O2 arenahttp://dlvr.it/RJ36nf 
  
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• What we thought was our Grand Finale vote on Fav Ingredient of all time ended up a draw Who's up for another round and any ingredient suggestions welcomed https://twitter.com/HandCNews/status/1192845956104040450 …

  11-11-2019 12:31 via twitter.com
  What we thought was our Grand Finale vote on Fav Ingredient of all time ended up a drawWho's up for another round and any ingredient suggestions welcomed https://twitter.com/HandCNews/status/1192845956104040450 …
  
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• #Host 2019 attracted more than 200,000 visitorshttp://dlvr.it/RJ34gl 

  11-11-2019 12:23 via twitter.com
  #Host 2019 attracted more than 200,000 visitorshttp://dlvr.it/RJ34gl 
  
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• Ed’s view: Connecting #connectivityhttp://dlvr.it/RJ32Td 

  11-11-2019 12:09 via twitter.com
  Ed’s view: Connecting #connectivityhttp://dlvr.it/RJ32Td 
  
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• #Convotherm goes full steam ahead with compact launchhttp://dlvr.it/RJ317q 

  11-11-2019 12:03 via twitter.com
  #Convotherm goes full steam ahead with compact launchhttp://dlvr.it/RJ317q 
  
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• Blackadder - Although a comedy, brought the realism of the price millions of brave men and women paid for us to enjoy our freedoms today home. #ArmisticeDay #LestWeForget Thank youpic.twitter.com/Qe4Fr0XOxe

  11-11-2019 11:56 via twitter.com
  Blackadder - Although a comedy, brought the realism of the price millions of brave men and women paid for us to enjoy our freedoms today home. #ArmisticeDay #LestWeForget Thank youpic.twitter.com/Qe4Fr0XOxe
  
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• Labour manifesto will pledge to expand school meals

  11-11-2019 10:49
  At the time of writing, the party had not yet confirmed how the plans would be paid for.
  However, it made the same pledge during the 2017 campaign trail – and said at the time that it would be funded by the introduction of VAT on private school fees.
  The coalition government, in power from 2010-2015, introduced free school meals for all infants (UIFSM), and some older children from disadvantaged backgrounds are also currently entitled to them.
  Labour said
  
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• A reminder - the Catering Insight Awards are a closed vote to ensure fairness. If your name's not on our list, your vote will not be counted! #CIAwards19

  11-11-2019 10:41 via twitter.com
  A reminder - the Catering Insight Awards are a closed vote to ensure fairness. If your name's not on our list, your vote will not be counted! #CIAwards19
  
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• Prices stabilising after three years of inflation, foodservice index reports

  11-11-2019 10:24
  Aside from a slight rise over the summer due to poor conditions for seasonal fruit and vegetables, there has been a month-on-month drop in prices in eight of ten food and drink categories.
  However, uncertainty over Brexit and challenges to some categories of food and drink mean more turbulence is possible.
  One exception to the ongoing decline has been the Fish category, where year-on-year inflation stood at 13.3% in September. Much of the pressure on prices can be traced back to quota changes la
  
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• School Food Matters nominated for Charity Film Award

  11-11-2019 06:00
  School Food Matters is on a mission to ensure every child has a sustainable school meal and that children are aware of the origins of their food.
  Since 2007 School Food Matters has been developing education programmes across London and beyond.
  The Schools to Market film explores the partnership with Whole Kids Foundation which brings together children from local schools to experience cooking with fresh fruit and vegetables that they picked from British farms. 
  By selling homemade chutneys a
  
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• JJ Foodservice launches eco-friendly straws campaign

  11-11-2019 06:00
  The #EcoForSchools campaign runs from 11-15 November 2019 highlighting different products from the JJ Foodservice range. 
  To enter the competition, school caterers need to post 50 words or less on JJ’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page about why eco-friendly options are important to their school using the hashtag #EcoForSchools.
  In the last seven months eco packaging sales at JJ Foodservice have increased 92%. The group recently launched eco-friendly hygiene products including vegan
  
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• Chefs to host Christmas fundraising dinner for Hospitality Action

  11-11-2019 06:00
  The four chefs are James Cochran banquet winner on BBC2’s Great British Menu 2018; Ben Tish from Norma; Phil Howard from Elystan Street and Frederick Don executive head chef for three of Sketch’s restaurants.
  Howard will kick-off proceedings with a  beetroot starter followed by a fish dish by Cochran. Don will prepare the seasonal mains before Ben Tish rounds off the evening with a Sicilian inspired dessert.
  The Christmas fundraiser is an opportunit
  
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• gorgeous chops

  10-11-2019 23:46 via twitter.com
  gorgeous chops
  
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• A chronological view of the impact assessments of Brexit on the UK hospitality industry https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/11/chronological-view-impact-assessments-brexit-uk-hospitality-industry/ …pic.twitter.com/L5IsqhgLUp

  10-11-2019 16:35 via twitter.com
  A chronological view of the impact assessments of Brexit on the UK hospitality industry https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/11/chronological-view-impact-assessments-brexit-uk-hospitality-industry/ …pic.twitter.com/L5IsqhgLUp
  
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• pic.twitter.com/LCSmzVT9nM

  10-11-2019 12:34 via twitter.com
  pic.twitter.com/LCSmzVT9nM
  
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• Today is Remembrance Sunday, when we honour and remember the countless men and women who lost their lives in conflict, so we could enjoy ours. #LestWeForget #WeWillRememberThem #RemembranceSunday Thank you pic.twitter.com/weH1ORlYpk

  10-11-2019 11:56 via twitter.com
  Today is Remembrance Sunday, when we honour and remember the countless men and women who lost their lives in conflict, so we could enjoy ours.#LestWeForget#WeWillRememberThem#RemembranceSunday
  Thank you pic.twitter.com/weH1ORlYpk
  
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• Applications to Trade at Glastonbury 2020 close on 14th November | Glastonbury Festivalhttps://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/applications-to-trade-at-glastonbury-2020-close-on-14th-november/ …

  09-11-2019 15:44 via twitter.com
  Applications to Trade at Glastonbury 2020 close on 14th November | Glastonbury Festivalhttps://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/applications-to-trade-at-glastonbury-2020-close-on-14th-november/ …
  
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• WooHoo! Congrats! Do you think I should be allowed this as an early 50th birthday pressie? It’s on the 11th July next year & my copy is wrapped & hidden by my naughty son! @GLASTO50?

  09-11-2019 15:36 via twitter.com
  WooHoo! Congrats! Do you think I should be allowed this as an early 50th birthday pressie? It’s on the 11th July next year & my copy is wrapped & hidden by my naughty son! @GLASTO50?
  
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• Reflections on #HandCSocial 2019 @CoworthParkUK from Majella @pavlovaandcream https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/10/measuring-product-lifecycle-witnessing-innovation-social-media/ … Thanks all... pic.twitter.com/EfPeorhMmH

  09-11-2019 13:51 via twitter.com
  Reflections on #HandCSocial 2019 @CoworthParkUK from Majella@pavlovaandcream https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/10/measuring-product-lifecycle-witnessing-innovation-social-media/ … Thanks all... pic.twitter.com/EfPeorhMmH
  
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• Keeping it hot in your kitchen https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/11/keeping-hot-kitchen/ … Thanks team @OpenKitchenLiv pic.twitter.com/aadTGAQAbS

  09-11-2019 13:24 via twitter.com
  Keeping it hot in your kitchen https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/11/keeping-hot-kitchen/ … Thanks team@OpenKitchenLiv pic.twitter.com/aadTGAQAbS
  
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• Lots of luscious #glutenfree and #vegan cakes for Christmas from @countryrangeuk and all available from @birchallfood @Caterite_Food @creedfs @Dunnswholesale @TLHFF @HendersonFoods @ThomasRidleyFS @TrevorsFoodserv @TurnerPriceFood pic.twitter.com/zXhcy

  09-11-2019 13:22 via twitter.com
  Lots of luscious#glutenfreeand #vegancakes for Christmas from @countryrangeuk and all available from @birchallfood @Caterite_Food @creedfs @Dunnswholesale @TLHFF @HendersonFoods @ThomasRidleyFS @TrevorsFoodserv @TurnerPriceFood pic.twitter.com/zXhcy7yMmI
  
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• Well done @Hayden1974 and all taking part in #GT15 @GT_15_ ‘Back in the Saddle’ with a 2020 £250,000 vision https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/11/hayden-groves-back-saddle-2020-250000-vision/ … pic.twitter.com

  09-11-2019 13:01 via twitter.com
  Well done @Hayden1974 and all taking part in #GT15 @GT_15_‘Back in the Saddle’with a 2020 £250,000 visionhttps://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/11/hayden-groves-back-saddle-2020-250000-vision/ … pic.twitter.com/mD6gKul240
  
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• Dear Chefs and all who LOVE food... What is your all time favourite food ingredient If other please use reply

  08-11-2019 17:46 via twitter.com
  Dear Chefs and all who LOVE food...What is your all time favourite food ingredient
  If other please use reply
  
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• What an incredible honour David, well done

  08-11-2019 17:18 via twitter.com
  What an incredible honour David, well done
  
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• Well done, the BIG final poll will run over the weekend. Butter and Eggs for both winning one poll, not sure of third ingredient yet?

  08-11-2019 14:48 via twitter.com
  Well done, the BIG final poll will run over the weekend. Butter and Eggs for both winning one poll, not sure of third ingredient yet?
  
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