Headlines § e-mail § Publisher details § rates & data Est. 1996 Issue 136 June 2008 ISSN: 1357-1168 New Ready Meal Cash & Carry Range     Following the successful launch of its Great British Pudding Company steak & kidney variety in catering packs, Glendale Foods is again targeting the foodservice sector with a 6-product range of frozen ready meals, under its Unique Cuisine banner. Offering an appetising selection of ready meal recipes, including 5-layer lasagnes, chilli con carne and chicken tikka, the range offers caterers six generous meals per sleeved outer, at affordable trade prices from £8.94 per case (6 x 400g), equivalent to £1.49 per meal. The Manchester frozen meals and snacks producer has channelled its considerable food development skills, honed in the retail and bespoke catering sectors, into these new recipes, ensuring the higher quality menu options that today's consumers demand. Unique Cuisine frozen ready meals are being launched exclusively in association with Booker, the UK's largest cash & carry operator, and will be listed in all of its stores nationwide. Booker currently has over a quarter of a million catering customers and regards this as a key area of growth, since the outlook for the foodservice market is considered favourable. According to Government figures, foodservice now accounts for one-third of consumer expenditure on food and non-alcoholic drinks, or around 1 in 6 of all meals consumed, with the expectation that market share will continue to grow by as much as 4% annually. For the nation's 50,000 pubs, food is now becoming a core business activity following the smoking ban; the leisure and tourist trade increasingly regards foodservice as an important additional revenue stream; while many small B&B's, guest houses and hotels are having to compete on meal quality and pricing with the larger chains. This, coupled with declining skill levels and higher wages, as well as ingredients storage issues, has created opportunities for high quality, processed ready meals that are, in the words of the IGD, 'easy to prepare and hard to spoil'. Mindful of this market opportunity and conscious that there is perhaps more scope for premium ingredients and pricing than retail freezer cabinets, Glendale Foods is focusing greater NPD attention on the foodservice sector and the cash & carry distribution channel that serves a growing number of catering businesses. The Unique Cuisine ready meal range has been developed with the needs of the foodservice sector firmly in mind, with a choice of popular menu offerings, restaurant quality ingredients and recipes, convenient reheating by microwave or conventional oven, and the option of plating up each substantial serving either alone or accompanied by a salad, vegetables, rice or fries. Consistency of presentation and flavour should ensure customers ordering again and again, while the six-pack frozen format makes this range ideal for storing as menu regulars or standbys. The current choice includes a deep, 5-layer Beef Lasagne & Pomadoro Sauce, Italian Meatballs, again with a rich tomato and basil sauce, spicy Chilli Con Carne and traditional potato-topped Shepherd's Pie, all made with prime meat cuts and fresh ingredients. There's also a Mediterranean-style Lamb Moussaka, a flavourful Chicken Tikka and, as a vegetarian option, 5-layer Roast Red Pepper Lasagne & Pomadoro Sauce. Unique Cuisine ready meals are now available from most branches of Booker. For nearest stockist or further information, contact Glendale Foods at Cobden Street, Pendleton, Salford, M6 6LX, telephone 0161 743 4100, email info@glendalefoods.com Top

Headlines § e-mail § Publisher details   Mood Food is published by FSR, London, England © 2008  Editors: Peter J. Grove Colleen Grove Editorial office: PO Box 416 Surbiton, Surrey, England, KT1 9BJ Tel: 020 8399 4831 ISSN 1357-1168 email: GroveInt@aol.com