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If you have any news about your business you’d like to see here, including recruitment, please contact our News Editor, Carolyn Moss, at [email protected] or call her on 01305 575155. Follow us on Twitter @BreadButterNews for updates.
Robin Alway
Editorial Director
INDUSTRY NEWS
Desserts bakery acquired for £12m
Multinational food manufacturer the Bakkavor Group has acquired Wiltshire-based Haydens Bakery in a £12 million deal.
Haydens was a subsidiary of Real Good Food and employs nearly 500 people at two sites in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Agust Gudmundsson, chief executive of Bakkavor, said: “It is a business which shares Bakkavor’s passion for providing outstanding service, quality and value to its customers and has a reputation for supplying some of the best tasting sweet treats to the UK’s leading retailers.
“This acquisition will grow both our capacity and product offering in the Desserts category, and we are delighted to be welcoming Haydens’ management and the wider team to our business.”
In the financial year ending 31 March 2017, Haydens reported revenues of £31.3 million and recently invested around £15 million to expand the production capacity of its range.
Great Taste Golden Fork goes to Pipers Farm
The Saddleback Neck Steak from Pipers Farm in Devon won the Great Taste Golden Fork for the best food or drink from the South West.
They now go on to the grand finale at Great Taste Golden Fork Dinner held on Sunday 2nd September at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel, London.
Pipers Farm’s product, which is slow-grown and hung on the bone for three weeks, was praised for being “deliciously juicy, beautifully soft and fabulously piggy.”
Also nominated this year in the South West was a Great Taste 3-star Seville Orange Marmalade & Vino del Naranja from Gloucester-based The Artisan Kitchen and Todenham Manor Farm’s 3-star winning 28-Day Dry Aged Rib of Beef on the Bone, which is produced in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Dorset Sea Salt lands Seed Fund
The Dorset Sea Salt Co. has been named The Seed Fund 2018 champion. The award, supported by Great Taste and The Collaborators, will see company founder Jethro Tennant receive a year of business development and mentoring to “transform his big idea into big business.”
Tennant started the company a year ago to revive the tradition of hand-harvesting sea salt on the Jurassic Coast. He now produces eight flavours including Celery, Chilli and Beetroot & Apple.
He said: “…Alongside the support and guidance of The Seed Fund’s mentors, the ideas, challenges and experiences of other Academy members has been both invaluable and inspiring. I can’t quite believe how far I’ve come with my geeky hobby over the past 12 months, but it just goes to show what can be achieved with a good idea and the right people around you. I’ve got big plans for Dorset Sea Salt Co., from expanding distribution in the short-term to building an education centre further down the line, and I know that this prize will bring all of those ambitions that bit closer.”
Chewton Glen wins Best Spa Hotel
Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in Hampshire picked up the Best UK Spa Hotel 2018 at the Condé Nast Traveller 21st annual Readers’ Travel Awards.
Andrew Stembridge, executive director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, said: “We were thrilled last year to be the runner-up in this category, but this year with an amazing score of 87.59 the perceptive readers highlighted our skilled therapists, our holistic programmes and the bedrooms at this iconic luxury country house hotel in Hampshire. The luxury health spa at Chewton Glen embodies the unique purity of its New Forest and coastal location. Our staff are dedicated to ensuring guests receive the highest levels of personalised service, holistic lifestyle programmes and indulgent spa experiences within the environments of a world-class retreat.”
The Spa at Chewton Glen was also listed in the World’s Top 100 in the awards. Chewton Glen was the only property in the UK to be listed in the top 60 of this listing of the readers’ favourite destinations, hotels, villas, spas, airlines, airports, cruises and tour operators around the globe.
Healeys Cyder open ‘press your own’ facilities
Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm have laughed a new juice and cider-making experience that they hope could save hundreds of community apples from being wasted.
Locals with homegrown apples will be able to ‘press their own’ juice and cider at the farm with an easy-to-use mill and press. Using containers and kits available to purchase from the farm shop, visitors will be able to craft up to 30 pints of their own homebrew.
Joe Healey, managing director, trading, at Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm said: “We are really excited to launch this new initiative for the community and visitors. Apples are our passion so knowing that there are hundreds out there in peoples’ gardens and orchards going to waste, we wanted to invest into this project to continue the apple life cycle further. Not only do you get fresh apple juice which can be made into cider, but the pulp can be used to feed animals like the pigs and goats we have to visit here at the farm.”
The facilities will be free to use with a donation to Healeys’ chosen charity, Cornwall Community Foundation.
World Beer Award for Dartmoor ale
Dartmoor Brewery’s flagship Jail Ale received a bronze in the World Beer Awards, Bitter category.
The brewers describe it as “a deep golden-brown beer, with a well-rounded flavour and a rich, moreish aftertaste.”
Dartmoor Brewery MD Richard Smith commented: “Jail Ale is one of the country’s premium ales, and has won numerous UK awards for quality, consistency and provenance. This latest recognition, in the World Beer Awards, sees Jail Ale sitting in good company with some of the best beers in the world – as well as promoting Dartmoor itself to new overseas audiences.”
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
Pickled quails eggs
The Traditional Free Range Egg Company have launched Picklies, a new range of flavoured pickled quails eggs.
Unveiled at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair, the product uses the company’s Foraging Free free-range quail eggs. The quails are kept in huge ovaries which go above and beyond the industry standard of ‘free to fly’.
Flavours include Persiana, containing cardamom, coriander seeds and rose, and Down the Pub, “packed with spring onion to make a perfect pairing for a pint of ale.”
Dan Wood, co-founder of Picklies, comments: “After so much time pickling, testing and packing, it was great to get onto the stand at Speciality & Fine Food Fair, talking to potential buyers who are looking to be inspired by new ingredients and trends. The quail egg is small but always feels like a treat, making it the perfect egg for entertaining, which I think has a lot to do with its enduring popularity. Ready to eat, and requiring no preparation, Picklies will help broaden this little egg’s horizons, and we look forward to seeing our colourful jars gracing many shelves across the country very soon.”
APPOINTMENTS
De Vere Tortworth Court appoints new GM
De Vere Tortworth Court in Gloucestershire have announced the appointment of Raphael Herzog as general manager and Neil Parry as deputy general manager.
The appointments follow the multi-million-pound refurbishment of the hotel, which is part of the De Vere portfolio of country estate hotels. It included the opening of the new 1853 Restaurant and Library Bar, renovation of The Orangery and enhancements to the property’s meetings and events spaces.
Raphael joins the hotel with more than 15 years’ experience in the industry. He has previously held general manager roles at the Holiday Inn Bristol, the Bristol Hotel and the five-star Courthouse Doubletree by Hilton.
Neil Parry joins De Vere Tortworth Court as deputy general manager from his position as Hotel Manager at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham.
PROPERTY NEWS
Westbury hotel on market for £1.2m
Chalford House Hotel in Westbury, Wiltshire, is for sale with offers in the region of £1.2 million.
The 18th Century hotel has 20 en-suite letting rooms, a bar and restaurant and owners accommodation in the form of a two bedroom ‘eco bungalow’.
Ed Jefferson, from the Hotels team at agents Colliers International, said: “This Grade II listed hotel on the Warminster Road was acquired by our clients in 2013. Formerly known as the Cedar Hotel, the property has now been completely refurbished.
“Our clients have worked hard to re-establish the business as one of the premier hotels in the area with the emphasis very much on mid-week business customers alongside some weekend trade. This success is borne out by net sales of £518,000.
“They have also added excellent owner’s accommodation, but with retirement beckoning, they have decided to place the hotel on the market.”
New Forest hotel on sale for £1.6m
Woodlands Lodge Country House Hotel, near Ashurst in the New Forest, has been brought to market by Christie & Co with an asking price of £1,600,000 for the freehold interest.
The three-story detached building has 17 en-suite guest rooms, lounge bar, function and conference rooms, commercial kitchen, and the AA-Rosette-awarded Cattle Grid Restaurant. Owners’ accommodation is also provided in the adjacent Woodlands Lodge Cottage, which is available with a guide price of £550,000.
There will be an opportunity to grow the business with planning permission granted for a two storey extension to create eight additional bedrooms, an enclosed glazed link to the existing hotel, a single storey health & fitness centre, wedding pavilion and a roof extension over an existing garage for two additional staff bedrooms.
Ed Bellfield, Regional Director at Christie & Co’s Winchester office is handling the sale and comments, “Woodlands Lodge presents a unique opportunity to acquire a successful freehold hotel in what is a highly sought-after location in the heart of the New Forest National Park. Lying only six miles to the west of Southampton and just 10 minutes from Junction 2 of the M27 motorway, it is very easily accessible, and we expect strong interest.”
INDUSTRY EVENTS
September
Taste of the West Awards Ceremony Lunch
13th September 2018
The Great Hall of Exeter University
“A fantastic networking opportunity for anyone involved in the South West’s thriving food and drink industry. The Champions of each product, hospitality and retail category, the 2018 Supreme Champion Product, the No. 1 Place to Go and the South West Producer of the Year will be announced at this event.”
https://www.tasteofthewest.co.uk/
Lunch! 2018
20th – 21st September 2018
ExCel, London
“A unique trade show that brings together the entire food-to-go industry under one roof.”
https://www.lunchshow.co.uk/
Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“The ultimate marketplace for restaurant and takeaway owners.”
http://www.takeawayexpo.co.uk/
Hotel & Spa Tech Live
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“Connecting hotels & spas with the technology of tomorrow.”
http://www.hoteltechlive.co.uk/
Restaurant & Bar Tech Live
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“The event for the technologies & innovations transforming the Restaurant & Bar sector.”
http://www.restauranttechlive.co.uk/
Hotel Facilities Management Expo
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“Transform the way you manage your hotel facilities.”
http://www.hfmexpo.co.uk/
Restaurant & Bar Design Show
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“The Restaurant & Bar Design show is the UK’s most comprehensive event dedicated to the very latest and most stylish designs for restaurants and bars.”
http://www.restaurantdesignshow.co.uk/
Coffee Shop Innovation Expo
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“The UK’s leading event for coffee shop business owners.”
http://www.coffeeshopexpo.co.uk/
Street Food Live
25th & 26th September 2018
ExCel, London
“Street Food Live is Europe’s ONLY event dedicated to revolutionising your street food business.”
http://www.streetfoodlive.co.uk/