Alara Wholefoods are undoubtedly one of the most environmentally friendly and forward thinking food companies in the UK, having become the first food company in the country to go ‘zero waste’. They were also the first cereal company in the world to be certified organic, the first to be licensed for gluten-free production and the first to make Fairtrade mueslis.

Over the last five years they have developed numerous organic garden projects at their factory site at Kings Cross; including an orchard, a vineyard and a demonstration Permaculture forest garden, as well recently as winning prestigious awards recently including Fast Growth Green Business of the Year, Small Food Manufacturer of the Year and Resource Management Company of the Year

They now hope that by re-branding their entire product range they can encourage customers to share their values and vision for a greener planet.

Alara’s motto is to ‘Welcome the Sun’, which is a shorthand way of signifying the profound move from an unsustainable society relying on fossil fuels to a sustainable one using solar energy – and this is the message they hope to spread through the new branding.

“Over the 35 years we’ve been around we’ve introduced numerous ranges to the Alara brand with the result that, at the moment for instance we have four different logos in the market. We feel that to move Alara forward we have to bring these ranges together under a common message. Given that enhancing the environment is our passion it makes sense to utilise this within the new branding; we also hope it will help our sales effort.

Research confirms that consumers do want that bit more from an organic and natural brand and like to see what we’re doing behind the scenes to enhance the environment – that we’re walking the walk as well as talking the talk. Our marketing last year focused on our green work, and whilst the organic sector saw a drop in sales our own brand saw an increase of 20% turnover; so along with our good prices this seems to be a worthwhile message. We believe the new brand will both reflect what we’ve been doing, act as a continuation of it, and through our ‘Welcoming the Sun’ message allow us to influence those in contact with the company to move, if only a step or two, in the same direction.”- Alex Smith MD and founder

The new branding, which utilises the image of a sun rise is also packaged in recyclable card and film and includes links to the Alara website which has hints and tips on how to become more sustainable as well as green competitions and an environmental blog.

The newly branded products include the ‘Everyday’, ‘Into the Garden’ and ‘OT’ ranges, bringing a total of 17 products to market, all with the same sustainable message – to ‘Welcome the Sun’

Alex Smith also says –

‘This rebrand is building on the experience and volumes we produce which enable us to offer a fantastic range of organic, Fairtrade and gluten free products at prices similar to ordinary run of the mill muesli. In short these are products that allow customers to maintain their values without making a financial sacrifice.’

The new branded products are now available and for more information or to stock visit www.alara.co.uk

Available from the various Peyton and Bryne stores (and lucikly for those outside the capital, via their online store) are a new range of chocolate bars.

Self-confessed chocoholic, Oliver Peyton has put his passion for all things British into chocolate, creating a delicious range of Peyton and Byrne chocolate bars in a host of exciting flavours such as elderflower and English rose. Each deliciously rich, velvety bar has a high cocoa content, with even the milk chocolate boasts 40%, and is flavoured using quintessentially British ingredients.

While the Cornish Sea Salt and Milk Chocolate bar was deliciously morish it was the Elderflower and Dark Chocolate bar that blew me socks off! Initially subtle the Elderflower flavour really bloomed on the finish with the flavour lasting for an age. Needless to say the bar didn’t last long at all, even in this seasonal moment of chocolate excess! Expecting the Marmalade and the Toffee versions to be equally as divine.

When elderflower bloom it’s a very pretty but all too brief sign that summer’s arrived. At Peyton and Byrne we think their sweet citrussy fragrance is too good to miss, so we’ve added it to our favourite rich dark chocolate to create a truly British treat, all year round.

The chocolate bars are priced from £1.60 and are available at Peyton and Byrne Bakeries as well as www.peytonandbyrne.com.

Back in September we reported on the Wedge card a London only inititive/loyalty scheme that aims to support local businesses via a discount card for consumers.

The company has recently expanded is reach by opening up discounts, for Wedge Card holders, in Pimlico and Victoria with 36 new establishments shops now accepting the card. Several of these are of interest to the food-lover:

For all the most delicious Italian delicacies, including freshly baked pizzas, Italian wine and coffee visit Gastronomia Italia. If you spend over £25 you will receive a complimentary box of Bolero (chocolate-covered pistachios).

John Norris’s Fish Stall in Upper Tachbrook Street, open every Thursday – Saturday now offers 10% off when you spend £10 or more.

Ivano Delicatessen and Take Away a delicattessen serving English and Continental food: tortillas, pastas, sandwiches, charcuterie, speciality produce, tapas. Sandwiches, salads and savoury items to take away. Spend £10 on food and receive a complimentary coffee.

The Contented Vine Restaurant, Wine Bar & Brasserie in Pimlico, London SW1 offers a complimentary glass of Prosecco for each diner on presentation of one Wedge Card per table or 10% discount on the food bill from 5-7pm.

Since January this year the Crème de la Crème Delicatessen has been ‘open’ on-line allowing over 850 products to be delivered direct to your door with quality and freshness guaranteed.

Crème de la Crème opened for the first time in 1992 as a small family business in Tarleton, Lancashire. Since then, it has steadily grown by providing quality fresh products from local and specialist artisan producers across the continent. The products and suppliers are very carefully selected and they take great pride in guaranteeing quality and freshness with continued consistency.

“Crème de la Crème delicatessen is striving to reassure the consumer that it is possible to have the “Best of the Best” in fresh food. We are very passionate about our products and will not compromise on the quality of our food, which is why; if the product carries a Crème de la Crème label, they can have confidence that the quality is second to none!

In March 2008 Crème de la Crème Delicatessen was recognised as Independent Retailer of the Year at the Be Inspired Business Awards. This prestigious award encourages us to continue with our vision of creating Crème de la Crème Delicatessen as a recognised brand name in quality fresh foods.”

Creme de la Creme Delicatessen
20 Mark Square
Tarleton
Preston
Lancashire
PR4 6TU
Tel: 01772 816052

Fowey Fish in the heart of my favourite Cornish village has launched a website for online ordering. Ninety per cent of the fish comes from local boats, including owner Karen’s brother’s boat, and from the fish market at Looe.

We are a traditional retail and wholesale fishmongers. Alongside the fresh fish we have a wide selection of fine wines. Local fresh fish and shellfish arrives into the shop every day, mainly from the day boats in Looe so it is really really fresh. If you are not local to Fowey we operate a nationwide mail order service for fresh fish, shellfish and fine wines. We dispatch mail-order deliveries four days a week, Monday to Thursdays, for next day delivery to where ever you live or work in the UK!

A quick look at the website shows wild Mackerel at £5.50 per kg, Dover Sole £15.95 and Red Mullet at £14.95. Plenty of deli produce are listed in addition to the fresh fish and seafood. If you are after samphire, you can order that too (£8.95 per kg).