Author: Shawon Hannan

The Portobello Pub Company, the pub and restaurant operator, has completed on a deal to purchase the London-based, award-winning neighbourhood bar-restaurant business, Darwin & Wallace. The acquisition will add seven high-volume venues located in some key London ‘villages’ including Battersea Power Station, Clapham Old Town, Wimbledon and Richmond. Darwin & Wallace will continue to operate under the same name, and continue to provide guests with its high-quality, all-day drinking and dining offer that has become revered for its high standards and award-winning design, as well as its sustainability credentials and commitments. The acquisition means the enlarged Portobello Pubs business now…

Brits waste a staggering 37 hours a year agonising over what to eat, equating to 43 minutes of meal indecisiveness per week, with dinner being the most challenging choice of all (57%). In fact, the average adult starts to feel stressed about what to eat at 3:10pm each day, aka when ‘dinnertime doom’ kicks in, the confusion over what to put on your evening plate. And this “food-fuss” is causing friction in homes across the country, with two-thirds (66%) admitting they argue with their partners over what to cook. The poll by Dolmio has exposed the root of the dinnertime…

Maison Ruinart is delighted to announce the 2024 UK edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge is open for entries.  This year’s seventh edition of the UK seminar and blind tasting competition will take place on 20th May at 67 Pall Mall in central London. The Challenge has two objectives; to explore some of the more technical aspects of the art of winemaking; and to choose the winning Sommelier who will attend the all-expenses-paid trip to Champagne later this year. Candidates will be selected by a panel of judges headed by Ruinart Chef de Cave Frédéric Panaïotis, alongside 2023 winner Matteusz Kowlczyk, and…

The wait is nearly over for chicken lovers in the Granite City as Popeyes® prepares to open on Monday 15th April Next Monday (15th April), New Orleans-inspired chicken restaurant, Popeyes® UK, will officially open the doors and lanes to its newest restaurant located at 111-115 Union Street, Aberdeen. To celebrate the launch of the new Aberdeen restaurant, Popeyes® UK will be pulling out all the stops to showcase its New Orleans hospitality. On opening day the first 3 people queuing will win free Chicken Sandwiches for a whole year*. Additionally, the first 25 customers will also be rewarded with a free Chicken…

Senoptica seeks to reduce food waste by 11 million tonnes annually, the equivalent of 240 million tonnes of CO2 Senoptica Technologies, a sensor technology and analytics company has today announced approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Agency (FDA) in the United States to enter the market. This is significant in that it means the company can kick start its plans for US expansion. Senoptica’s patented sensor technology, which has recently completed trials with a large UK retailer, monitors the oxygen in modified atmosphere (MAP) food packaging enabling food manufacturers to identify faulty goods before they reach retailers shelves.…

Researchers have been diligently working to enhance our understanding of potential sources of cross-contamination in ready-to-eat food production facilities and the factors influencing the survival of bacterial populations in these settings. Scientists from the Quadram Institute and the UK Health Security Agency have uncovered that bacterial populations persist on the factory floor despite cleaning efforts in ready-to-eat food production facilities. In 2019, six fatalities resulted from a listeria outbreak caused by contaminated ready-to-eat foods served in numerous hospitals across the UK. In response, scientists are conducting crucial research to grasp how these pathogens endure in ready-to-eat food preparation environments. Listeria…

British foodservice company SSP Group has broadened its footprint in Finland by inaugurating four new food and beverage outlets at Helsinki central rail station. This move builds upon its established presence in the Finnish airport market. The first two establishments, a Starbucks and an Upper Crust sandwich outlet, have commenced operations. Another two outlets are slated to open in the latter half of 2025. These openings align with Helsinki rail station’s major infrastructure redevelopment endeavor. The initial phase of this expansion will generate 20 jobs, with an additional 20 during the subsequent phase. Helsinki’s art nouveau central station, a prominent…

Tsingtao Brewery from China has introduced its 0.0 Non-Alcoholic Beer to the US market, joining the expanding segment of zero-alcohol beers and aiming to extend the brand’s appeal. Distributed by Paulaner USA, this non-alcoholic iteration is designed to complement the well-received Tsingtao Premium Lager, targeting health-conscious consumers with its low calorie count of just 63 per bottle. Commenting on the launch, Steve Hauser, President and CEO of Paulaner USA, stated: “With the launch of Tsingtao 0.0, we are tapping into consumers who are reaching for non-alcoholic drinks in their bid to lower their caloric intake. Tsingtao 0.0 provides a great…

An illicit haul of wine, estimated to be worth approximately €60,000, has been confiscated at Rosslare Europort in County Wexford, Ireland. The intervention at this contemporary maritime port in Ireland was initiated after Irish Tax and Customs officials, following risk profiling, impounded around 4,860 litres of wine, valued at nearly €59,200. The illegal consignment of red wine, labelled ‘Doppio Passo Primitivo Rosso 2022’, was found within an accompanied trailer that had arrived on a ferry from Cherbourg, France. This seizure represents a potential loss of over €31,700 to the Exchequer. The individual responsible for transporting the wine is currently under…

AB InBev’s Bud Light is joining forces with the National Football League (NFL) in an effort to stimulate new sales for the lager brand. This collaboration will launch a campaign titled “Easy to Sunday,” featuring fresh television and digital advertisements scheduled for the NFL’s traditional season in the autumn and winter of 2024/2025. Moreover, the brand plans to unveil special edition cans for 23 NFL teams, adorned with the respective team colours, logos, and player illustrations. With the NFL comprising 32 teams, it’s noted by USA Today that not every team has chosen to participate in this Bud Light initiative,…