Paulig PRO goes all-in on the Levant
Paulig PRO, the company behind the Santa Maria brand, has launched a range of eastern Mediterranean inspired sauces, seasonings and pastes. The company says its latest world flavour concept presents a compelling commercial opportunity following recent research that found 86% of UK consumers want to eat more food from the area when dining out. Referred to as the Levant, the eastern Mediterranean region spans Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan – and extends into North Africa. Suitable for vegans and lactose free, the range includes shawarma seasoning, zaatar seasoning, tahini sauce, harissa sauce, preserved lemon paste and chermoula pesto.
Bidfood renews partnership with Natasha Allergy Research
Foodservice giant Bidfood has renewed its four-year strategic partnership with the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. This continued collaboration supports the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation’s mission to #MakeAllergyHistory and reflects Bidfood’s dedication to creating safer, more inclusive food experiences across the hospitality and foodservice industry. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation was founded in 2019 by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse OBEs after their daughter Natasha died aged 15 from a severe allergic reaction to sesame. Through campaigning, education and research, the charity’s mission is to #MakeAllergyHistory, in particular food allergy, and improve the lives of the millions of people in the UK with food allergies. The couple have both been awarded OBEs for their work around food allergy.
Crunchtime unveils new research
Crunchtime Information Systems, Inc., a provider of operations management solutions for the restaurant industry, has shared the findings of its first-ever research study focused exclusively on the UK market, conducted in partnership with Technomic. Drawing on insights from 100 multi-site restaurant operators across the UK, the report sheds light on both the momentum driving expansion and the operational challenges threatening to slow it down. The findings highlight that while expansion plans remain amid economic uncertainty, operational blind spots and vendor friction are significant growth challenges. Key findings from the report include 89% of operators saying real-time visibility into daily operational task completion is extremely or somewhat important, but only 31% of these operators have complete real-time visibility. Additionally, 86% of UK operators strive to partner with vendors who can support their growth, but 90% who opened new locations experienced vendor-related challenges during growth, including cost increases, poor support and lack of integration. UK operators say their sales forecasts are, on average, only 62% accurate, even though 82% are using some form of tech-based forecasting tools.
Stampede partners with Square
Stampede, a provider of unified guest engagement technology for hospitality brands, has partnered with payments and POS company Square. The collaboration has resulted in the development and launch of the Stampede PayOS module within Stampede’s hospitality tech platform. Powered by Square, Stampede PayOS enables restaurant operators to unite orders, payments and guest data within a single platform, equipping operators to increase revenue and guest loyalty against the backdrop of today’s challenging business environment. Operators can use the Square Restaurant POS and Stampede PayOS together to capture valuable insights about guest purchases, values and frequency both during and after their visit. The data is seamlessly merged with guest profiles stored in the Stampede system and is visible to front-of-house teams on the Square Restaurant POS system.
Brakes launches premium bakery brand
Brakes has launched La Boulangerie Premium Bakery, bringing together its range of breads, pastries and cakes under a new banner. The company says the range of more than 150 products has been crafted for quality, convenience and consistent performance to provide professional kitchens with a bakery offer throughout the day. Brakes has also added 10 new products to the range to coincide with the launch. Inspired by global flavours, evolving food trends and creative formats, the products are designed to enhance menus, with variety, quality and added value. Paul Nieduszynski, chief executive of Brakes parent company Sysco GB, says: “We understand how important bakery is to the success of the outlet, from early morning croissants to lunchtime sandwiches to afternoon tea and beyond, bakery is the backbone of many foodservice operations.”
BRITA Professional now offers remote filter monitoring
Water filtration specialist BRITA Professional has launched the iQ Meter, a new remote monitoring system designed to improve operational efficiency and reduce equipment downtime. The iQ Meter connects directly to the BRITA iQ Portal, enabling operators to remotely access real-time filter data across multiple locations. This visibility allows for proactive maintenance and precise water adjustments, helping to prevent scale build-up – a common cause of machine disruptions and costly engineer callouts. Designed with ease of use in mind, Brita says the meter’s plug-and-play technology ensures straightforward installation and minimal ongoing maintenance. By optimising filter performance, the system also helps reduce waste and extend equipment lifespan, delivering long-term cost savings and high-quality water.