When people think of Pennsylvania (PA), they often think of cheesesteaks and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, steel and sports in Pittsburgh, and of course between the two cities…farms. To me however, this is what I called home before I moved to England.
The spring equinox has come and gone, the clocks are poised to spring forward this weekend and with the sun shining it feels, dare I say, that winter may be behind us. With the changing of the seasons, there’s also natural shift in the food we eat, as talk of soups, stews and casseroles fades out and a wave of comms around Easter and even BBQ arrives.
‘I never wanted to be employed simply because I was a token woman to fulfil a quota.’ This was what jellybean CEO Fiona said when asked about barriers in her career. Many women still feel this way and insight suggests there is still inequality in many industries. Even now, in 2022, it is likely to take 30 more years to reach gender parity at senior levels of the financial services industry*. In the advertising industry, 45% of women sit in leadership roles, however, a 10% pay gap still exists, with this gap rising to 24% as a whole**.
As creatives we are continuously absorbing every type of media, in search of new inspiration and perspective. Books will always be a wonderfully rich source for this.
As the leading foodservice marketing agency, keeping a close eye on market developments is part of our bread and butter. And although the Coronavirus pandemic was an incredibly tough period for our industry, it also inspired chefs, suppliers and operators to get creative and adapt their businesses, resulting in a multitude of new trends.
I can’t believe it’s Pancake Day again. Honestly, it just crêped up on me. Joke aside – if anyone was to ask me what my favourite holiday was, my answer is always the same – Pancake Day. A day of fluffy goodness where you can eat as much as you like – guilt-free – with a wide range of toppings. What could be better?
Social media marketing is often treated as a numbers game. The bigger the figure, the better you’re doing, but we understand that when it comes to effective marketing, quality always trumps quantity.
Valentine’s day is a popular holiday to celebrate with our loved ones – whether this is a partner, family or even a pet (27% of people would buy a present for their pet and one third would rather spend the day with their pet than their partner (National Retail Federation) – Whisky, will you be my valentine next year?
Between inflation, supply chain issues and energy prices, it seems price rises are never-ending. And sadly, the brewing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is signalling yet more price increases for their primary exports: wheat, gas, and fertiliser.
With Veganuary ending and reports that ten times as many people tried plant-based food last month (I was one of them), The Caterer’s Plant-Based Summit 2022 provided an insightful look at the vegan market, as well as fascinating discussions on the challenges and opportunities for operators, manufacturers and chefs.
November 2021 saw the climax of an exciting cooking competition – Golden Tomato Cook – which we developed for our client Mutti, the Italian’s favourite tomato brand*. Inspired by Mutti’s Pomodorino d’oro award which is presented to the famer who supplies the best quality produce each year, this new consumer culinary competition recognises and rewards the UK’s best tomato cook. Menus were judged on making the tomato the hero of the dish, originality, presentation, menu appeal and taste. Mutti’s mission is to raise the tomato to its highest expression and this contest challenged consumers across the UK to do exactly that by creating a three-course tomato-based menu using the Mutti Essentials range.
1st February marks the start of the Year of The Tiger under the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This is known as the Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year or Spring Festival and celebrations will typically last for 16 days, from the New Year’s Eve up until the Lantern Festival (this year is the 15th February). It is a celebration that over 2 billion people get involved in all over the world.
Veganuary 2022 is already a record year for the non-profit organisation that is calling for us to ‘protect the planet with our plates’. Just halfway into the campaign month, Veganuary reported more than 600,000 people had pledged to go Vegan across the world – the most ever! Plus, the campaign’s research suggests that potentially 10 times as many people participate, and a significant number continue with plant-based diets beyond the end of the month.
After two years away The Caterer Supplier Awards returned in December to recognise hospitality’s most exciting manufacturers, producers, and suppliers.
The 2021 awards were even more crucial considering the pandemic and the challenges that our industry is facing. As well as providing operators with details on the essential products that could help their menus and business, the awards were also a celebration of the best foodservice manufacturers and suppliers who – despite facing their own trials during Covid – continued to innovate to support hospitality as it navigated the new normal and rebuild.
TikTok is dominating consumer social media and continues to grow, with 1 billion users internationally, up from 54 million in 2018. With such an impressive reach, TikTok viral food products and recipes have the power to monumentally influence business and consumer purchasing.
An international experience even the pandemic can’t get in the way of
Brazil is a vast and diverse country, with strong regional characteristics, looks and tastes. But if you are planning a visit – or just curious and can’t wait until the pandemic is over to try the South American flavours – you can easily find Brazilian restaurants in England. These are a few dishes you must not leave without trying.
Every day at Great Ormond Street Hospital, young lives hang in the balance as patients, families and staff battle the most complex illnesses. Every day, the brightest minds come together to achieve pioneering medical breakthroughs that change the lives of thousands of children.
When Fiona our CEO asked which charities we would like to support as part of jellybean’s initiative – 12 Days of Giving, one immediately sprang to mind – A Passion to Inspire.
I have chosen WaterAid as my nomination for jellybean’s 12 days of giving. This is a charity that is close to my heart as it was the one that my Grandad donated to every month until he unfortunately passed this year. This has made me want to showcase what life-changing work they do.
I first picked up a golf club when I was eight years old. I wanted to spend more time with my dad, and that meant going to the local driving range every week. At that age I just thought it was a way for me and Dad to bond and have some fun, I was a really active child but dance and music never fully captured my imagination nor interest. Little did I know what golf had in store for me…
More than just a way to hang out with Dad, golf took me around the country – eventually around many parts of the world, too – teaching me discipline, focus, responsibility, sportsmanship and more. At any ability and any age, golf is a networking game. You’re constantly drawn to play against different people from different walks of life, at different stages in their life. With every new game that passed, my confidence and love for the sport, flourished.
