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27th November 2015

Lovely day for a Guinness®

Food Service Agency - Guinness Settle and Savour. The words of one of the world’s favourite drinks brand – Guinness® – a brand which claims that not everything in black and white makes sense. And they are right…

A recent adventure of mine took me to the Guinness® Storehouse in Dublin where I explored my way through the history and production of the brand we all know and love so much.

The Guinness® Storehouse offers a one-of-a-kind adventure, which can be enjoyed by all, and where I consumed my FIRST Guinness®, yes that’s right my first glass of the dark stuff!

Now, working at a leading foodservice marketing agency such as Jellybean Creative Solutions, I have an undeniable love for advertising from the original Coca Cola Christmas campaign right through to the new John Lewis television adverts, but undoubtedly, Guinness® is one brand that never let me down.

Guinness® claims that imagination is something they have never been short of – and I can’t deny that. The Storehouse displays an entire floor of past and present advertising campaigns, which you can’t help but fall in love with all over again. Campaigns which take you back in time and always leave you wanting more. Going back over 80 years the range of print, digital and TV campaigns in the Guinness® World of Advertising can keep you entertained for hours!

What did I learn on my adventure you ask? Let me tell you…

Some see Guinness® as a brand; some see Guinness® as a drink… I see Guinness® as a love affair. As marketers we pride ourselves on our work and the work we do for our clients, but to have pure admiration of the creative, the branding, and the slogans means it must be good. Not just good, great! For Guinness® I have only two more words for you… well done!

A site worth visiting the Guinness® Storehouse is located in St James’s Gate, Dublin 8, Ireland – make sure to visit The Gravity Bar on the top floor to enjoy your Guinness® with a view!

www.guinness-storehouse.com

Jellybean Creative is a leading food service agency. We help top brands with food service pr, food service marketing, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

25th November 2015

Where would we be without mobile?

Where would we be without mobile - Jellybean - Foodservice Marketing Agency It’s a daunting thought I know. One almost too unbearable to think about. Is that the 21 year old in me saying that? Or is it the consumer and creator of information in me?

I’d like to argue that it’s not just the adolescent in me, as my Grandad would say. It is quite possibly the truth of the world we live in today.

With ever more hectic schedules, deadlines more demanding, responses to situations and messages required far more instantly (and that’s without taking in to consideration how active we’ve become as consumers and our desire to respond to the media and produce our own content) you wonder how we’d cope without mobile now.

Well, let me try and put it in to perspective.

The total population stands around 7.2 billion. There are just over 3 billion active internet users and almost 3.7 billion unique mobile users. That’s give-or-take half the world actively living in the same digital realm.

In Europe alone, approximately 70% of the population are active internet users with 57.3 million of the 64.1 million UK citizens actively using the internet. 38 million of us have active social media accounts and 32 million of these accounts are accessed via a mobile. So again, I repeat, we are living online!

For those of you reading this thinking, ‘that’s not me. I haven’t been absorbed by the digital realm’…let me share this with you.

In an average day, a UK citizen spends 4 hours on the internet, accessed through a computer, and 1.9 hours on the web, accessed via a mobile device. The average daily use of social media in the UK stands at 2hrs 13m.

And if that doesn’t shock you enough, on average the UK now spends more time on media devices per day (8 hours 41 minutes) than we do sleeping (8 hours 21 minutes).

The capabilities of the digital world accessed via mobile mean – amongst many things – that we are able to connect with whoever we want, whenever we want, from wherever in the world that we want. Whether it’s a phone call, text message, whatsapp, snapchat, facebook message, linkedin connection, skype…I could go on for a while here.

It also means that we are in demand a hell of a lot more than we were only a decade ago. There is no ‘off’ switch as we have access to email, social accounts, PDF files, spreadsheets, mobile banking…all from the device that sits in our back pocket (#BendGate). There is no excuse for not emailing back, texting back, reading and approving that all-important document.

But there are oh-so-many perks to living digitally. Immediate feedback and in-depth analytics of how far your video of a cat sliding down the stairs has gone. Who’s seen it, who’s liked, shared, unliked it. Being able to find that perfect outfit online Thursday night and having it delivered to the office the next day, just in time for the weekend. Paying for your Costa with your iPhone (thank you Apple Pay!). Reserving Friday night’s table for 2 at the local Italian. The opportunities are endless – or at the very least, a million and one more than life without mobile.

So I conclude, where would we be without mobile?

Behind schedule, behind the trends, behind the next generation. So here’s to the digital world, and loving every minute of it!

Sources:
We Are Social
Mail Online

Guest Blogger

25th November 2015

A Winning Week

Jellybean is a Top 50 Agency - Foodservice Marketing Agency It’s been a great week at Jellybean, a week when the very bedrock of our agency has been recognised and rewarded. For over 28 years we have been a fiercely independent agency conceiving and activating fully integrated communication campaigns for our clients. We have also been entrenched in foodservice, a specialist B2B sector. This week we have been recognised for both our integrated approach and our dedication to B2B marketing and I could not be more proud of the hard working team at Jellybean.

Firstly, yesterday morning I opened the B2B agencies benchmarking report 2015 to find that we have retained our position in the top 50 B2B agencies in the UK sitting at No 46. This is quite an achievement in a marketing sector dominated by the mega high-tech equipment brands, the big spending pharmaceutical companies, not to mention the fast growing financial, data, security and IT business services sector, with multi million pound marketing budgets. So I am immensely proud that we are holding our own in such auspicious company and without doubt the reason we are able to hold our head up is because of our truly integrated and collaborative approach to foodservice marketing and our fantastic clients, with whom we create and maintain genuine strategic partnerships and as a result deploy their budgets to achieve an impressive return on investment.

This latest accolade came hot on the heels of last Friday’s win, when we were awarded Gold for the Best Integrated Campaign by The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards, arguably the most credible in the public relations industry, for our multi-faceted campaign “For the Love of Chocolate” with our client, Callebaut. The judges recognised the inspiration and integration at its heart, from our stunning creative design, right through to the strategy, tone and message crafted by the marketing and PR teams. Here you can see an overview of the campaign.

As the founder of Jellybean I have always championed a fully integrated and business accountable approach to communications, to ensure that we help our clients achieve their commercial goals. We were never about the fluffy stuff or massaging our own ego with “edgy” creative, but rather about hard hitting, effective and creative communications that delivered against specific business objectives. And as we come to the close of 2015 I can truly say that never before have we had to be so multi-skilled, always “on” and accountable for real results – and quite rightly so. That is why this latest gong in our trophy cabinet means so much to us all, it validates the very heart and soul of the agency.

Frankly, nearly 30 years from the start of this journey I couldn’t be more proud of my team or more excited about the fresh challenges 2016 has to offer this industry.

Fiona Rickard

24th November 2015

Integration. Integration. Integration.

Food Service PR - Pride Awards 2015 - Gold Winner It’s a word often spouted by PR and marketing bods the country-long, but what does it actually mean? I mean, I know what it means, but what does it really mean when an agency figurehead talks about a ‘specialist integrated approach’. It’s easy enough to pick words and phrases like ‘harmony’, ‘equality’ and ‘shared goals’ out of the sack, but in the case of our beloved agency what the word really represents is simple: a bunch of creative-minded souls pooling often very different skillsets and worldviews into one salient, sellable idea, all for the good of the client.

Earlier this year, PR Week talked of a ‘tipping point’ for agencies – heralding 2015 as the advent of an integrated future. The article claimed that because of the rise of digital and clients becoming ‘much more agnostic about how they spend their money and think about marketing and communications’ that agencies needed to ready themselves to offer smarter combined services. Thankfully it’s something we’ve known for many years; that with channels of communication becoming so much more fragmented, the joined-up approach simply works better.

Last week our efforts were rewarded with the joyous news that Jellybean has been awarded the Best Integrated Campaign gong at The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) South of England PRide Awards. The awards are the most credible in the public relations industry and, as such, are judged by a high calibre of experts drawn from the very top of their fields. Those same judges saw fit to award us Gold for our work with client, Callebaut, in creating the multifaceted (and highly integrated) ‘For the Love of Chocolate’ campaign.

With inspiration and integration at its heart, ‘For The Love of Chocolate’ was a labour of love for all involved, from our dedicated studio, which turned out stunning creative, right through to the strategy, tone and message crafted by the marketing and PR teams. As well as inspire, the campaign looked to educate and engage chefs, focusing specifically around the disconnect between the consumer demand for chocolate desserts and the amount currently offered on menus.

The seven-month campaign – seen by almost 6.5m people in the foodservice industry – employed a mix of bespoke consumer research, PR and marketing, creative and a highly successful industry competition, to drive an extraordinary 15% YOY uplift in Callebaut’s foodservice sales. A truly incredible result, one that could only have been achieved through our tried and tested joined-up, Jellybean approach.

To really hit it home, here’s what the judges had to say: “We thought this campaign was literally chocolate. A holistic approach was taken, with research really informing the strategy and tactics. It successfully segmented the target audiences and the concept was universal across all audiences. The design work was beautifully executed and it delivered impressive results with 15% uplift in sales against a target of 10%. This campaign demonstrated that the brand really understands its UK market.”

Amen to that, and to Callebaut for trusting Jellybean with its reputation. Look out for more of the same in 2016 as year-two plans take shape.

Be sure to check out the ‘For the Love of Chocolate’ case study here: and while you’re there why not take a look at some of our other work to really get yourself integrated with Jellybean.

Jellybean Creative is a leading food service marketing and communications agency. We help top brands with food service pr, food service marketing, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Nick Clancy

24th November 2015

FSM Awards 2015

Food Service Marketing - FSM Awards 2015 From event catering to healthcare, CSR to marketing, the FSM Awards (Foodservice Management Awards) aim to celebrate the best and the brightest in the field of contract catering. This year the glittering awards night, was held at the Lancaster London and hosted by Mark Durden-Smith (a foodservice favourite it would seem). The awards were dispersed between courses, prepared by leading contract caterers Elior, Sodexo, CH&Co and of course our hosts for the night, The Lancaster London – all of which were equally delicious.

The format worked well and as the evening progressed the conversation flowed along with the wine, as we welcomed onto the stage the well-deserved winners to receive their awards. The charity nominated for the evening was Sue Ryder who offers support to those suffering from life changing illnesses, offering hospices and neurological care. The charity was one close to the heart of Robyn Jones who sadly passed away earlier this year and in tribute to the outstanding work Robyn did in the contract catering industry she was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award which her husband Tim Jones collected for her. It was a poignant moment which honoured a hugely respected and much missed figure in our industry.

The full list of winners can be found here FSM Awards 2015. Congratulations must go to all the nominees and winners, along with the sponsors of the evening (which included our client Pritchitts) and of course the great team at H2O headed up by Alan Dewberry. Another great event celebrating the best talent in the realm of contract catering.

Jellybean Creative is a leading food service marketing and communications agency. We help top brands with food service pr, food service marketing, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Susan Wickes

17th November 2015

Alternative CV – Clare Fellowes-Freeman

What was your favourite subject at school?
French.

What was your best subject at school?
P.E. – mum was a PE teacher, it was always a dead cert.

What was your first-ever job?
Waitressing at the local golf club

What was the first music single you bought?
Sophie Ellis Bextor – Murder on the Dancefloor

What is your motto in life?
Everything happens for a reason

If you were allowed one dream perk what would it be?
Unlimited cake

What’s your favourite movie and why?
The Parent Trap – when I was little I watched it constantly with my best friend, but I still haven’t found my long lost twin!

If you could pick a celebrity to join the agency who would it be and why?
Michael McIntyre I think, for the endless laughs

What luxury would you have on your desert island?
A kindle

What animal best reflects your personality and why?
Probably a cat. I’m very independent but do like my creature comforts!

If you could be anybody in the world (alive or dead) who would you be and why?
JK Rowling, not only did she create the books which represent my childhood, she is a fantastic human being

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing, foodservice pr and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, foodservice marketing, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Clare Fellowes-Freeman

13th November 2015

Propel Multi Club Event

The Propel Multi Club events are a must attend for those in the pub and casual dining world. Offering a range of expert industry speakers covering everything from the economic outlook to practical case studies, these events throughout the year have to deliver solid content in order to justify a day out of the business for these key players in the industry. The programme is very much aimed at multiple operators looking to build and grow a successful business and as such they offer a great opportunity for brands to highlight their products and services and even get to sample their wares. With an exhibition area used for breaks and lunch there is ample time to get face to face with the kind of individuals that are very difficult to pin down any other way.

With an attendee list that reads like a who’s who of the pub and high street dining world the day kicked-off with a look at the current economic trends and how they may impact on the eating and drinking out market. Speaking with no notes (quite an achievement) Ian King of Sky News talked knowledgably about the past twelve months and what might be in store for the months ahead, in what he termed as currently a pretty ‘benign’ market, as the impact of the national living wage takes effect.

The day went on to cover the headline grabbing world of mergers and acquisitions, synonymous with the pub sector, with Peter Hansen from Sapient Corporate Finance looking at the structure of the market and the impact of the MRO (market rent only) option. He ran through and what models are available in the market, from free of tie leases like Duck and Rice, to joint ventures with pub co freehold and Managed Expert Programmes like Hippo, where everything apart from the labour is controlled by the pub co and the manager receives a percentage of income. With low food inflation, low interest rates and a recovering economy the pub sector is looking good for the moment despite uncertainty over the possible impact of the MRO and growing competition from casual dining and retail. However with rates in London soon to rise and the possibility of food and energy costs increasing we will have to see what happens. Although it is fair to say that with more flexible options available there are still opportunities in the sector, although those with less than five years on their leases face an uncertain future and would be well advised to look at what deals can be done with their pub co’s property director.

Keeping with the finance theme, accountancy firm haysmacintyre took to the stage to advise the audience on the best way to manage their tax liability. My main take out…I think I’m in the wrong job, as there looks like there is some serious money to be made in pubs! Then it was on to hear from Enterprise Inns about building an 800-strong managed pub estate and the investment and progress in the leased and tenanted part of the business. Paul Harbottle talked us through the profiling of the Enterprise Inn estate and threw in some top tips when opening a site, such as getting prominent PTA, WI or Parish Council individuals on-side to help ensure its a success. In his experience it takes twelve months for a pub to get up and running and you should never expect to change history, if a site has a drug or violence problem then the chances are it still will have when you take over. But most importantly he stressed getting the right people who were ‘up for the challenge’ and made the point that often a good landlord doesn’t make for a good pub manager.

Then it was time for delegates to catch-up and network over lunch and take a stroll around the sponsors’ stands and after a delicious meal from the team at The Lancaster London it was time for the afternoon session. Toby Smith of Novus Leisure showcased their makeover of the Balls Brothers concept along with their real time social media feedback loop employed in everyone’s favourite nightspot – Tiger Tiger. He was followed by the irrepressible Martin Wolstencroft of Arc Inspirations whose passion for his business came across from the off. With thirteen (and one in the pipeline) bars/restaurants, predominately in the North, he’s been building his operation for the last thirteen years and has a portfolio of nine brands, ranging from sophisticated cocktail bars in city centre locations like Manahatta to American inspired craft beer and ribs concept ‘The Pit’. By ensuring all his staff really care, sourcing locally and insisting on consistency across the estate, he has built up an extremely successful business with concepts to match any location. Run on home-grown talent, many of his senior team started out as part time bar or restaurant staff as students, but by offering a culture they love (not to mention the odd performance related ski trip or jaunt to Ibiza) Arc have managed to keep staff engaged and motivated to deliver the very best for their customers.

Event Sponsor Fishbowl then took to the stage in a double header to take us through the technology behind sophisticated menu engineering which can help maximise both profit margins and customer base. With impressive case studies from the US, some of the more techy elements may have met a few blank faces, but the message was clear – with the use of the right programmes you can ensure you have the best money making menu possible. Whereas once gutfeel was all there was, now technology can let light in on the magic of a successful menu.

Loungers was next up to share their learnings. With seventy one sites and another four planned before Christmas the chain, which started with three friends and a vision, is big business now with venture capital backing. Their all day dining concept and strategic decision to go for secondary high streets has worked well. They even have their own in-house build team which means they can streamline fitting-out a site in five to six weeks. They also have the Cosy Club brand which although smaller is doing well with seven to eight opening every year. With Loungers seeing 100% overtrading honeymoon period for new sites, that can last up to four months, they are certainly doing something right and Nick Collins MD plans to continue the journey for a long time to come.

Another operator who seems to have made a niche for themselves is Brewhouse & Kitchen. With an actual craft brewery on every site they offer not just a bar and restaurant but an experience. With brewing days and masterclasses hosted by their master brewers, not to mention gift ideas I might very well have to take a trip up to Islington (the nearest one to us in leafy Leatherhead).

The day ended with an insight into what makes a great leader with Anne Elliott, event sponsor, sharing the outputs of many a conversation with some of the most successful individual in the industry. The answer? Vision, listening, asking why?, engaging, surrounding yourself with the best, helping people achieve what they never thought possible, saying thank you, putting yourself in others shoes, being yourself and leading from alongside your team. Indeed, many felt they were still learning every day. A topic which was then taken up by the panel discussion with business leaders from Spirit, Ego Restaurants and Thorley Taverns to get their thoughts on the principles of high quality leadership – and on that inspiring note the day came to a close.

Well done to Paul Charity, Jo Charity, Sharon Dickinson and Adam Dickinson, the team behind this great day, not to mention the sponsors who make it all possible. To find out more about Propel or sign-up to their e-newsletter visit www.propelinfonews.com

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Susan Wickes

12th November 2015

Ischia – A Foodie’s Paradise

Having forgotten what sunshine feels like after a typically awful British summer, I escaped to Ischia – a small island in the Bay of Naples – this autumn, to bask in the Mediterranean heat and enjoy the foodie delights on offer.

We stayed in Ischia Ponte, a town on the north-coast of the island boasting spectacular scenery, beautiful beaches and a plethora of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Dining in Aglio Olio E Pomodoro was by far the highlight of our trip. Based in the heart of Ischia Ponte, the restaurant is obviously a favourite among locals as nabbing a table proved difficult! Tempted by the delicious dishes we saw fellow diners tuck into, we rashly ordered enough food between us to feed a small family; gnocchi in a butter and basil sauce, Zucchini pesto linguine and – of course – a Neapolitan pizza each, which I can confidently say was the best pizza I have ever eaten.

Never too far from a gelateria, I indulged in ice cream beyond my wildest dreams; Nutella, Cioccolato, Pistachio, Frutti di bosco and – my favourite –hazelnut gelato, Nocciola. Severe brain freeze was a small price to pay for this frozen delight which I’m not ashamed to say I enjoyed every day I was there!

It was with a heavy heart and a very full stomach that I waved goodbye to Naples. The withdrawal symptoms are severe – I imagine it’ll take a while for food to taste good again. But rest assured I’ll be back for more gelato!

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

11th November 2015

The Delicious Eternal City

Where would be the perfect destination to take your food, wine and ancient history loving daughter? Rome of course! So that is where I went with my daughter, Rachel, when she was on a recent visit from New Zealand where she now lives. One of the downsides of living in such a wonderful country is that you can’t just ‘pop’ across to Europe – New Zealand is just such a long way away from anywhere else!

We enjoyed the perfect break in the Eternal City. I had my very own guide who could put all the Roman Emperors into context when wandering around The Forum and could explain the importance of Hut Urns (literally Urns shaped like huts) for the Etruscans – I always knew that degree in Ancient History would come in useful one day. But I think what really made our trip was the food, the lovely B&B we stayed in and the Prosecco on tap.

Our B&B – Bibi & Romeo’s ( http://www.bberomeo.com) – was a ten minute walk from the Vatican and the owner, Romeo, took the time to show us the easiest ways to get to all the sites, the best restaurants nearby and little tricks to get the most out of our visit. His first restaurant recommendation, Hostaria Dino e Tony, Via Leone IV, was just around the corner. We strolled there on our first evening and waddled back. No menus, we were just offered the antipasti, plates of meats and breads, followed by pasta – ‘red’ and ‘white’, one would have been enough, but two bowls each just about finished us off. We had to turn down the meat or fish course, but the desserts were too good to refuse.

I think our other favourite was actually a recommendation from one of Rachel’s uni friends, La Prosciutteria (http://www.laprosciutteriaroma.com), which is in the Trastevere area of Rome, all small cobbled alleys just south of The Tiber and full of bars and restaurants, lovely to explore in the evening. The restaurant is tiny and at the back of a delicatessen. You just find a space on one of the wooden tables, pull up a crate to sit on and order the meat platter, which was piled high with olives, salad, meats, cheeses, bread and fruit, all for €10 each, washed down with Prosecco – it was simply divine.

I would like to think we walked off all this food by exploring all the ancient sites, the Vatican and simply strolling around the streets, but somehow I doubt it!

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Sue Foulsham

2nd November 2015

Alternative CV – Rebecca Lordan

What was your favourite subject at school?
I loved PE.

What was your best subject at school?
Hmm, probably best at Science or English Lit.

What was your first-ever job?
A waitress in a little local bakery/café.

What was your worst ever job?
Without a doubt, a terrible telesales job over the summer whilst at Uni. I lasted a day!

What was the first music single you bought?
Aqua, Barbie Girl.

What is the most entrepreneurial thing you have ever done?
I used to buy loads of really popular music festival/concert tickets and sell them on for a lovely profit.

What’s the funniest thing you have ever done to a work colleague?
Rugby tackled a male colleague by accident.

What is your motto in life?
Be able to laugh at yourself.

If you were allowed one dream perk what would it be?
A top of the range company car.

What’s your favourite movie and why?
“Catch Me If You Can”. Just an unbelievable story of Frank Abagnale Jr’s life and his mischievous ways. I love “Meet Joe Black” too, there is something magical about that film and the soundtrack.

If you could pick a celebrity to join the agency who would it be and why?
I think it would have to be The Two Greedy Italians, chefs Gennaro Contaldo and Antonio Carluccio! I love their chemistry and they would make amazing lunches for us all.

What luxury would you have on your desert island?
Not so much a luxury item, but I would be very happy with a lilo – perfect way to catch the sun whilst floating in the sea all day long. Maybe throw in a few cocktails to keep me company too.

What animal best reflects your personality and why?
I think a dog. Very happy, loves to be around people and is extremely trusting and loyal.

If you could be anybody in the world (alive or dead) who would you be and why?
I’m quite happy being me, thanks.

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, foodservice marketing, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

2nd November 2015

Alternative CV – Jess Clare

What was your favourite subject at school?
Biology – my teacher was hilarious.

What was your best subject at school?
Maths

What was your first-ever job?
Barmaid at a golf club!

What was your worst ever job?
Waitress at a fancy hotel restaurant. The maitre d’ made me cry because I couldn’t serve round bread rolls with the back of two spoons (it’s impossible).

What was the first music single you bought?
Some Sugababes single, I was given it at a school disco so technically I didn’t buy it but it’s the first CD I remember!

What is the most entrepreneurial thing you have ever done?
The golf club I worked at didn’t sell cigarettes anywhere on site. When they hosted the PGA one year I bought a load of cigarettes before I came to work and then sold them on for £10 a packet… Easy money!

What is your motto in life?
It can always be worse

If you were allowed one dream perk what would it be?
An unlimited supply of money (and time!)

What’s your favourite movie and why?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, probably the second one if I had to choose.

If you could pick a celebrity to join the agency who would it be and why?
Tom Hardy. Eye candy during stressful times.

What luxury would you have on your desert island?
Sad to admit but probably my phone.

What animal best reflects your personality and why?
An owl, not because I’m wise but because I can never sleep!!

If you could be anybody in the world (alive or dead) who would you be and why?
Angelina Jolie – she’s incredible.

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, foodservice marketing, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Jess Clare

28th October 2015

The Lovely Lisbon

Feeling like we needed to get away from rainy old England, my boyfriend and I went on a quest to find a nice cheap break to somewhere that neither of us had been to before – here’s where we stumbled upon Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and boy am I glad we did!

We started off by walking around the town to see what it had to offer and to our delight we came across what would be our first taste of traditional Portuguese life. Unsure of exactly what we were queuing for, we joined a big line to what seemed like a little shop, where people were coming out with a shot of drink – excited to see what all the fuss was about we continued to queue! It was a big triumph when the shot ended up being the traditional Portuguese liqueur – Ginjinha – which is made using sour cherries and sugar – from this night forward this fruity shot became tradition after every meal!

As for the food, it was absolutely delicious, from chicken to shrimp cakes to steaks, all covered in my favourite…garlic. What topped it off for me though was their traditional ‘pastel de natas’ – a Portuguese egg tart pastry. This mouth-watering, delicate treat, which is not only offered as dessert but also sold across their traditional ‘pastelerias’ – little coffee houses full of tasty treats – was truly one of the highlights of my holiday.

Lisbon was full of culture, beautiful sights and great night life but what really made it for me was the small, picturesque restaurants, bars and cafes.

All in all we had a fantastic break and I’ll definitely be looking to go back to Lisbon to do more exploring!

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

28th October 2015

Afternoon Tea at The Goodwood Hotel

Last weekend, I took a trip down to Chichester with a few friends where we decided to treat ourselves to an indulgent afternoon tea at The Goodwood Hotel. Anyone who knows me will know just how much I love cake and so for me this was a perfect day out!

We arrived at the hotel and decided to have a wander around the grounds to make the most of the unexpected sunshine. The grounds are beautiful and you can see why many people choose it as a wedding venue. After our walk we made our way inside where we were shown to our table. Within a few minutes we were each sipping a glass of prosecco and presented with a choice of teas. We kept it simple and all went with traditional English Breakfast tea, which was topped up generously throughout our stay.

The afternoon tea itself was a delight and looked too good to eat! The finger sandwiches included truffle egg mayonnaise, hot smoked salmon with pickled cucumber and lime Crème Fraiche as well as traditional ham and mustard.

Once we had finished the sandwiches, we moved onto the next tier which was freshly baked golden raisin scones served with homemade clotted cream and raspberry jam which we all agreed were well up to Mary Berry’s standards!

Although by this point we were pretty full, there was of course still room for more. We finished our afternoon tea off with a selection of mini treats including chocolate brownie, banana loaf and vanilla posset – my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

We had a lovely time at The Goodwood hotel and I would highly recommend it for an afternoon of indulgence and a day off from the diet.

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, foodservice strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

27th October 2015

How is it that mums always make the best tasting food?

I recently moved back home to save money to buy a house of my own and my mum has very kindly taken to making my lunches and cooking my dinners. I was feeling rather guilty about how much time she was spending on all this food prep for me, but I just can’t bring myself to say ‘stop’ and stem the stream of such tasty food.

Menu items to date have included a summer fruit salad – it’s all in how she cuts the mango chunks – and turkey mince stewed with mushroom and potato – so greyish but so moreish.

But, I was thinking the other day, are they actually the best tasting meals or is it just my brain tricking me with nostalgic memories of home cooked food? Although my mum is a great cook, I have a sneaky suspicion it’s the latter. Apologies Mother.

My case-in-point being that I was once forced to eat Lemon Meringue Pie at school by a cruel, cruel prefect and now, although I literally love soft gooey meringue and creamy lemon curd, I can’t stand the sight of the pie itself. Probably for the best to be honest!

I’m just hoping the mum-cooked meals aren’t a phase and we move on to ‘if it’s’ – if it’s in the freezer, we’re having it! That will be a day of food mourning for me.

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

26th October 2015

Jellybean’s Lunch Box Day

Throughout the calendar year Jellybean shows its support for various deserving causes – Hospitality Action’s Lunch Box Day being our most recent fundraiser. On Friday 23^rd October we joined many a business in the hospitality and foodservice sector to raise money for the charity. Supporting all those who work or have worked within the industry in the UK and find themselves in crisis, we stuffed our faces, dug deep in our pockets – and snapped some selfies!

For Hospitality Action’s first ever Lunch Box Day, the charity asked participants to donate the money they would have spent on lunch that day. Thankfully the beans were lucky enough to be treated to a range of goodies all kindly supplied by Jellybean MD, Fiona! Subway sandwiches, crisps, fruit, cookies and cake (any excuse for a good cause) were all on the menu. A group #SandwichSelfie later and we were all tucking in.

Hospitality Action is one of the charities Jellybean is proud to actively support and its first ever Lunch Box Day was a great way in which everyone could get involved to help raise some money for a fantastic cause. Here’s to next year’s!

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

19th October 2015

EDUcatering Awards 2015

When it comes to unsung heroes school caterers are definitely up there. Juggling challenging budgets, picky pupils, government guidelines, special dietary requirements and of course forever doing all they can to keep parents and governors happy. But every year the EDUcatering Awards seeks to give these hard working individuals the recognition they deserve with a gala awards night. This year the awards took place at the prestigious Royal Garden Hotel. With over two hundred and fifty entries across fourteen categories and twenty eight judges, only the highest quality entries made it through to the list of nominees and then only the very best were lucky enough to walk away with a coveted EDUcatering Award.

The evening kicked-off with the irrepressible Alan Dewberry, who began proceedings in his inimitable fashion, however this year he handed the compere baton over to Tim Baker, Head teacher of Charlton Manor Primary School, which is known for its standout school meals programme. The evening flew by in a haze of good company and fabulous food from the team at the Royal Garden headed up by Steve Munkley, but some of the highlights included…founder of Mary’s Meals, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow being honoured with The Special Award (which was collected by London Mary’s Meals fundraiser Gerrard McMahon), a standout performance from the renowned Sylvia Young theatre school pupils and of course Jeanette Orrey, founder of the Food for Life Partnership at the Soil Association, receiving her Lifetime Achievement Award. You can of course view the full list of winners here, but without naming them all, suffice to say congratulations must go to all the nominees, winners and of course the sponsors and organisers H20. A great night for a great sector!

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Susan Wickes

13th October 2015

The Alchemist

Last weekend, I met up with some of my old University friends in London for a day spent doing what we do best – catching up, eating and drinking cocktails!

After a few recommendations from friends, we decided to go for dinner at The Alchemist near Liverpool Street station and it certainly lived up to its great reviews.

After spending 15 minutes deciding on which cocktail to have (the cocktail menu is huge!) we all picked something from the ‘Molecular Madness’ section and what we were served was brilliant. Each cocktail is carefully made using a molecular drinks-making technique so each cocktail is like being served a mini science experiment. As expected we had to have a few each to sample more of the fun on the menu – our favourites were the ‘Lady Marmalade’ which was served over dry ice and the ‘Bubble Bath’ which bubbled up as you sipped.

In addition to the amazing cocktails, we also had some delicious food – the menu offers something for everyone with a real variety to choose from. A snapshot of our dishes we enjoyed below…

Starters – We shared mini Yorkshire puddings with pulled pork as well as duck spring rolls with Hoisin sauce.

Main – I chose steak frites with salt and pepper fries and the girls had satay salmon with an Oriental vegetable salad and a Japenese ramen with beef fillet.

Dessert – The best part of any meal – we shared a peach Melba Mess and a salted caramel cheesecake.

The Alchemist combines lovely food and cocktails with a great atmosphere – I will definitely be returning.

Address: The Alchemist, 6 Bevis Marks, London, EC3A 7BA
Reservations : 0207 283 8800
Twitter: @TheAlchemistLon
Facebook: The Alchemist Bevis Marks

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger

13th October 2015

Lifting the Lid on The Out of home Opportunity

The out of home market, foodservice, eating out, away from home, catering, HORECA – whatever you call it, it’s a growing market that has long been the poor cousin to retail.

This comes down to a number of reasons, one, retail, although highly competitive and hard on margins, is a bigger market and realistically the number of trade buyers you need to convince to make your brand a success can fit into one room (although you probably wouldn’t want them to be). Then, once you understand your consumer, it’s all about reaching them wherever they may be, with a strong (ideally emotionally engaging) message and then prompting them to purchase with effective shopper marketing during their retail journey. Whereas with the out of home market, although margins can be healthier, it is a complex and fragmented beast, which, when viewed by the untrained eye, can be rather daunting. First there’s the route to market listings that need to be secured through the national big hitters as well as the myriad of regional wholesalers, then there’s the challenge of communicating to thousands upon thousands of buyers with vastly different agendas, both independent and group and ensuring that messaging is tailored to them and their particular needs. You might manage to get listed at head office in a huge organisation, but if it’s an undisciplined multiple (not working off a centrally developed menu) pulling those sales through is quite another challenge. Whilst the independents can be fickle creatures opting for whatever is on promotion at the time. Sounds fun doesn’t it! (And that’s just the start).

So why bother? Why not just ignore it? Well, as the out of home market accounts for over a third of consumer spending on food (38.8p in the pound), is valued at £85.3bn and growing at 2.8%*, I think you’ll agree that although it might be a tricky nut to crack it’s well worth it! However, when it comes to convincing the board and colleagues who may not appreciate the out of home opportunity there is nothing quite like facts and stats (and of course the accompanying ‘so whats?’) to give credence to your argument for budget, resource and focus on the out of home market. That’s why we’ve created our ‘Out of Home Facts in a Flash’ infographic – lifting the lid on the out of home opportunity in an easy to digest format which is available to download here. We hope it helps you fight the foodservice corner and of course you know where to come when you decide to go for it!

*M&C Allegra Eating Out Report 2015

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and foodservice design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Susan Wickes

5th October 2015

Arena Face2Face with Ch&Co

It speaks volumes that the very first external event to be held at Lambeth Palace was this week’s Arena Face2Face. A key date in the calendar for any food and drink pr agency, this year Alistair Stewart was face to face with not one but two industry heavyweights. With the big news in contract catering being the merger of CH&Co and HCM Group; to have both, Bill Toner – Group CEO and Tim Jones – Chairman, there in person was quite a coup for Arena.

The day started with a tour around the historic Lambeth Palace and its stunning grounds. Home to archbishops through the ages, the palace was stunning and the talk very informative. Then it was onto the main event – the Face2Face. The fact that Tim made it along at all was a real achievement and testimony to his professionalism, in the light of the sad passing of his wife Robyn Jones last week. Alistair paid tribute to Robyn as the hugely respected business woman with a passion for the industry and the driving force behind the merger which it turns out was really her vision.

Alistair Stewart kicked off the interview with a question on how the merger was received by the banks. Predictably with the city, they needed convincing and reassuring that the current brands would retain their brand equity and that the whole would, as they say, be greater than the sum of its parts. Bill, Tim and Robyn were confident that merger was the right course and went to great lengths to ensure the team dynamic worked and the business strategy benefited both parties with high performing brands remaining managed by their separate MDs. The message was clear to the banks and the industry it would be business as usual, but with a tougher business edge.

The interview then turned to what advice Bill and Tim had for the rising stars of the industry. Tim advocated gaining a range of experience in your twenties across a portfolio of companies without jumping around too much. Then looking to set up on your own to reap the substantial rewards, both financial and personal. Whilst Bill, who was very happy as a corporate man, also recommended the startup root, as having experienced both he was happy to say that going out on your own is far more fun.

When it comes to recruitment they of course want people who are driven and ambitious, but equally they have to care about the business and understand it. They look to get exactly these kinds of people onboard and by delegating effectively they have built strong teams where people have the opportunity to shine and show initiative, responsibility, and challenge the business to do better. Of course renumeration is an important part of attracting quality people and the national living wage can pose a challenge for business, but it’s one that is welcomed by both Tim and Bill. Plus, as part of their CSR commitment (which is even written into their investors contract), they support both Hospitality Action and Springboard and offer apprenticeships, as well as a comprehensive staff development programme, which gives them an enviable retention rate and helps attract the best and the brightest.

At the heart of their business is of course the food and with Tupperware their biggest enemy (as consumers often choose to bring in food from home over eating at work – including much to his continuation, Bill’s lawyer son) they have to ensure their food offer is on trend, high quality and offered at a reasonable price. With menu fatigue a constant danger they also have to keep things fresh when it comes to staff feeding with innovation and pop-ups to trial new cuisines and concepts.

As for the ideal supplier…It has to be a partnership where trust is paramount. Innovation and quality are of course very important, but honesty is key, as nobody likes nasty surprises. Whilst purchasing tends to specify supplier partners for each of the operating brands, Tim was keen to stress that clients can be specific if there is a particular product they want, as in his words, “the client is king”.

The interview then turned to the wider world and how the economy affects business. Working in so many sectors of staff feeding they believe their sales offer a fair measure across different sectors, but overall consumers seem to be more confident and are spending with a stabilised economy. As much as things do change, people will always need to work and eat when they are there. So with a growth strategy aiming to get them to £300million in the next 3-5 years and a growth strategy ‘somewhat different to big boys’ it will be interesting to see how Robyn Jones’ legacy develops under the guiding hands of Tim and Bill in the coming years.

With the interview drawn to a close by Alistair, Lorraine took to the stage to announce the winner of the charity raffle along with a new trial format for the rest of the event, based around bowl food and crucially more opportunity to network. Then it was time to adjourn to the great hall to enjoy five delicious dishes (not to mention the amazing canapés) and some rather stunning cheeses courtesy of sponsors, Futura Foods.

With conversation and wine flowing, the afternoon went by in a flash, as yet another successful Arena event came to a close. Well done to Lorraine and her team on breaking new ground and trying both a new venue and new format. The jury will soon be in as to its popularity as the new format was gauged via live feedback on tablets at the event so everyone got to have their say.

But here’s a worrying thought – the next event on the Arena calendar is the Christmas Lunch at the Mandarin Oriental on 7th December which will doubtless be with us before we know it so I’d get booking now if I were you! Maybe see you there?

Jellybean Creative is a leading food and drink pr agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Susan Wickes

29th September 2015

Southbank Centre Food Market

Lost in a crowd of tourists on London’s Southbank on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I was beginning to wonder whether the promise of an unrivalled international food market was worth the trip to the capital in peak tourist season.

Having extricated myself from the throngs heading towards the London Eye, I made it up to the Royal Festival Hall and the Southbank Centre Market (open weekends until the end of October). Hit by a hundred different sights and smells, I wondered where to begin. Never having been one to make a quick decision (especially where food is concerned) I allowed myself to wander for a while, taken in first by mammoth sized dishes of paella, then turning to a stand selling pulled pork and apple sauce burgers before spotting a stall which cooked stir fry to sample, as hungry customers looked on.

Having circled the market at least twice, I found myself drawn to an Indian stall specialising in slow-cooked lamb curry.

Having previously spied a stall brimming with cakes, brownies, traybakes and other sweet delights, I was conscious not to overeat in my first sitting and therefore opted for the ‘regular’ rather than ‘man size’ naan bread wrap that would constitute lunch.

Finding a sunny spot on the steps behind the market I tucked in, not disappointed by the tender, spicy lamb and mint-yoghurt dressing. It is of course impossible to enjoy such fantastic food without paying certain consequences though and sure enough, a momentary lapse in concentration resulted in a slightly distressing curry stain on a pair of white jeans. Water and napkins to the rescue, I finished the wrap in record time, not wanting to risk any further dangerous spillages!

Intent on a square of millionaire’s shortbread, I headed back down into the market, still marvelling at the range of delights on offer and, ever fickle, gave in to the temptation of a salted caramel cupcake instead.

For anyone in London looking for a taste of the world, the market at the Southbank Centre is a great place to start. It provided me with a wonderful afternoon of food that not even a curry-splodged stain could deter from.

Find out more about the market at the Southbank centre at http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/markets

Have you visited a food market recently? Tweet us @JellybeanAgency

Jellybean Creative is a leading foodservice marketing agency and communications agency. We help top brands with foodservice pr, food and drink pr, digital and design. If you feel we could help you with your marcomms, strategy, public relations, creative or digital then drop us a line today.

Guest Blogger