specialityfoodmagazine.com February 2019 £3.25 SPECIALITY FOOD NEWS, COMMENT AND BUYING IDEAS FOR FINE FOOD RETAILERS P24 PLASTIC OPINION VIEWPOINT P32 SIAN SUTHERLAND, ROSE GRIMOND, RENÉE ELLIOTT, A PLASTIC PLANET: NETTLEBED PLANET ORGANIC 2019: A YEAR OF RADICAL CREAMERY: & BELUGA BEAN: DISRUPTION IN FOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW MY ORGANIC AND DRINK P. 8 DIVERSIFICATION P. 25 JOURNEY BEGAN P. 30 2 OPINION 22 30 4 John Shepherd EDITOR’S MD of Partridges LETTER 6 Charles Campion food writer and critic 8 Sian Sutherland A Plastic Planet 25 Michael Smales Lyburn Creamery elcome to the 25 Rose Grimond February issue of Nettlebed Creamery Speciality Food. 38 Anna Haugh WThis has been an inspiring London-based chef issue for us to put together, as, like many people in the UK, REGULARS the team is becoming more and more conscious of the impact 11 Food Matters: 28 that our decisions have on the Sustainable Retail environment (and ourselves). We've looked at the ethical side 12 Trend Watch to the food and drink industry on page 22, where we talk to eco- 24 Counter Point: minded businesses and those Sampling using their position to do good. We've spoken to Renée Elliott, 26 Cheese Uncut founder of Planet Organic and co-founder of Beluga Bean, about 30 The Interview: her pioneering business and Renee Elliott, Planet how her journey in recognising Organic and Beluga Bean the benefits of an organic approach began (p. 30). This 38 Last Words issue also contains a piece about sustainable retail, and the steps FEATURES you can take to get started (p. 11). You'll also find a preview of 14 Follow the Crowd BlasCymru/Taste Wales 2019 (p. 16), my picks of the products 16 BlasCymru/Taste on show at the upcoming IFE Wales 2019 (p. 6), a selection of delightful afternoon tea treats (p. 20) 17 Essential Products and so much more. 20 Centre Spread: Afternoon Tea Holly [email protected] 22 The New Ethics 28 Are Markets the Future of Retail? 31 The Big Chill 34 In From the Cold 36 Champagne Comes In this issue to England @specialityfood 3 rexit fatigue is giving way Great Britain is considered export to contingency planning as I'm being forced to rethink. Imagine tensions build over supply not being able to trade with part of Blogistics, according to reports from a your country!” Others agree. “It's number of fine food businesses. Stockpiling: business as usual,” says Sheffield For indie retailers in the fine food baker Jane Stammers of Tipple Tails. sector, the question 'to stockpile “I can't afford to stockpile enough to or not?' is as divisive an issue as make a difference, and what will be membership of the EU itself. “I have will be. I'm more interested in the actually built a warehouse and filled a Brexit dilemma changing retail environment on our it with months of grocery supply,” high streets, but don't think anyone is said Andreas Georghiou, who runs A Brexit-weary industry is divided in its paying much attention to that!” a premium greengrocers in Chelsea The British Retail Consortium has Green. “However, that will not preparations for possible disruption ahead, previously pointed out the challenges help with our fresh fruit and veg.” of leaving the EU at the end of March, Others are taking similar measures. according to Speciality Food readers when British seasonal produce has “We're likely to stockpile at least yet to hit shelves and pre-Easter on best sellers,” tweeted The Red that stockpiling is part of its Humphrey of whisky subscription Larger manufacturers are also taking stocking will be at its height. “Except Beetle, an e-tailer specialising in contingency planning; Iceland retailer Summerton Club, “so we steps; cereal bar brand Eat Natural is for early December, it’s hard to think authentic Italian food. “It's not ideal and Sainsbury's are reportedly not made sure two years ago that it reportedly importing extra Belgian of a more problematic time for Brexit for cashflow, plus it's always risky holding extra stock. didn't matter. As alcohol doesn't chocolate to ensure a steady supply to be scheduled for and this will only to have too much stock sitting there, Despite the arguments for making move freely in the EU currently, but won't be stockpiling for its exacerbate the impact on our supply but unless there's an agreement and extra provision, some point to the what happens in the long run doesn't made-to-order bars. Others are more chains and British consumers,” a plan before mid to late February, economic difficulties of this short- impact us as much as others, we fatalistic. “I refuse to waste time and blogged the BRC's director of food I have no other choice. I can't term strategy. “We will not be are just talking to more non-EU energy on something so uncertain and sustainability, Andrew Opie, have an empty store and need stockpiling,” said a spokesperson at suppliers now.” as the Brexit outcome,” says Kalina back in October. happy customers.” Millars General Store, a wholefood For manufacturers, guaranteeing Halatcheva, founder of snack brand In the absence of a clear picture Last month it emerged that Tesco shop in South London specialising access to raw materials – especially Nouri Health. “When it comes we of how the next few months will pan has retained its extra provision of in vegan food and drink. “With perishable items that rely on will deal with it in the best way out, many food and drink businesses freezers, originally rented to increase sales flat-lining and costs rising we frictionless transit across EU possible, but meanwhile it's business are taking each days as it comes. capacity for Christmas, to stockpile wouldn't have the money to do so. borders – is a real headache. “We've as usual with so many other things “It's business as usual for us,” says extra frozen foods. The retailer's Or the space. It's probably best for been stockpiling for sometime now to worry about.” Sanjay Aggarwal of West Midlands' contingency planning for Brexit will the shelves to have empty spaces as and will be ordering more to store “I'm not stockpiling as the outlay spice blend maker Spice Kitchen. see the extra storage running for the quick as possible; it would keep us after last nights result,” said Adam is prohibitive and I can't buy enough “There's no point in worrying about rest of 2019, with chief executive on our toes regarding new routes Barlow, founder of indulgent snack to make a difference,” says Northern Brexit when we have no idea what Dave Lewis telling reporters Tesco to different produce earlier.” Not brand Simply Trios, the day after the Ireland-based confectioner Linda is happening. It feels a little like the is “working with our suppliers to everyone has been affected; traders Government's Withdrawal Bill was McGibbon, whose company Sea Millenium bug for us!” think through sensible opportunities in non-perishables may escape the defeated. “We've run out of room in Sugar retails online. “Plus, there are Are you stockpiling? Share your to improve stockholding closer to worst of the stress. “This drama our own storage facility and will be more pressing issues. The island of story with us via email to editorial@ the market.” M&S has also revealed was easy to predict,” says Daniel having to rent our further space.” Ireland is my main market and now specialityfoodmagazine.com specialityfoodmagazine.com 4 FRA annual JOHN conference SHEPHERD OF PARTRIDGES approaches The annual conference of the Farm Retailing Association “We need to talk about (FRA), previously known as FARMA, will take place in Oxford this month, bringing a Christmas” network of farm retailers and n the final article I wrote at the end When mariners at sea in years gone suppliers together for a packed of last year I suggested it could be by, including Christopher Columbus, programme of conference I a successful Christmas based on looked for land they analysed clouds, seminars, workshops, trade the fact that there were four ‘good’ rainfall, floating sticks and telltale birds stands and a roving networking shopping Saturdays before the big for signs of its proximity. Are there dinner. Workshops include day. Another theory bites the dust! similar signs to suggest that Christmas a host of current industry The general opinion is that it was a remains as significant as it has always issues, including emerging bad Christmas, based on numerous been for retailers? Gourmet food takes centre technologies, margins and trading results from the big retailers. Although it seems likely that the manpower, influencer Two other narratives seem to have rush is coming later, by looking at our stage at TuttoFood 2019 marketing, HR advice, and emerged along the lines that the rush sales figures I have noticed that the customer experience. starts later and later each year and Christmas week in 2018 provided 34% In only six editions, TuttoFood gourmet pizza will be under the A keynote speech on 'Cutting that Christmas is no longer the force of the monthly sales. In 2010 it was has become an essential show spotlight alongside special breads, Through the Noise' by Sticky it used to be. (As for the four ‘good’ 36%, in 1999 it was 38% and in 1995 it to discover the most original ready-made bases or snacks. Marketing will kick off the event, Saturdays theory – RIP). contributed 40% of the total monthly food innovations. The 2019 If your focus is on natural and there will also escorted At first glance these two narratives sales.