AAK UK Ltd, Hull, East Yorkshire, England - News

Lion Fields A Match-Winning Combination

Simon Chrismas — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:14:15 +0100

The great British barbecue has become as much a part of the summer scene as strawberries and cream or rain during the Wimbledon fortnight. Whether the sun is splitting the trees or peeping reluctantly from behind the clouds, the sizzling sounds of al fresco cooking are sure to be in the air.

Although the vagaries of our climate mean that barbecues tend to be spontaneous rather than planned events, the ready availability of awning and patio heaters means that pubs and restaurants are often well placed to make the most of this increasingly popular style of eating.

Barbecue foods were worth around £371m in retail sales in 2008 in the UK, following annual average growth of over 10% for the previous five years(1). Consumer interest in outdoor living and al fresco dining is also stimulating the consumption of a wider range of barbecue foods.

Burgers, sausages and chicken remain the favourite components of the British barbecue according to market research experts Mintell(2), but prepared kebabs, fish and seafood grew substantially over the past four years. Perhaps most surprisingly, barbecued vegetables and fruit showed the largest growth in 2008, albeit from a small base. Vegetarian options too are on the increase.

All will benefit from AAK Foodservice’s Lion range, whose condiments, sauces and dressings – the Three Lions! – which add both value to a meal and offer a point of difference. This winning team provides the perfect accompaniment to any World Cup barbecue and echoes the pride and passion felt by fans across the country.

Just like the premier league, Lion draws its inspiration from across the globe. It seeks out the highest quality ingredients to create tastes that make its products stand out from the competition. Whether you’re looking to add that extra flavour or texture to your meal ideas, Lion is sure to serve up the authentic solution you’ve been searching for to create that perfect dish.

The Lion International Kitchen offers operators the most comprehensive range of sauces and salsas on the market with some really innovative flavours which cater for the British taste for more exotic foods.

Diners can literally eat their way round the world. Kick off the tour in the USA, with either American Smoky BBQ, Sticky BBQ or Hickory BBQ Sauce, cross over to Africa to sample Piri-Piri Hot Sauce, before hot footing it over to Thailand to savour the taste of Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce. Then there is Lion Very Hot Chilli Sauce, the perfect partner for burgers, chicken goujons and duck wraps crying out for a fiery, South American kick. Lion also offers a selection of table sauces and mustards; these include a wide selection of mustards and sauces, as well as a Premium range which includes the likes of Wholegrain Mustard with Real Ale. The sauces are extremely versatile as they can be served straight from the bottle as an accompaniment as well as being used as a recipe ingredient to produce the more exotic dishes the public is crying out for these days.

The latest additions to the Lion range of salad dressings include two healthy new offerings. Balsamic & Herb Dressing with its rich vinegary flavour is a free-flowing vinaigrette with the health conscious in mind, while Lion House Dressing contains White Wine Vinegar and French Dijon Mustard has a wonderfully enriched flavour.

“The two new low-fat additions to the Lion range both offer less than three per cent fat without comprising on taste, less than one percent saturated and a level of sodium that complies with FSA 2010 targets,” said AAK Foodservice marketing manager Rachel Neale. “Side orders of salads and jacket potatoes will benefit from the addition of other Lion dressings with a difference such as Sour Cream & Chives, Garlic & Herb Dressing, Honey & Mustard and Ranch Dressing, make them into a gourmet experience in themselves.”

Salad dressings are also available in traditional formats such as Real or Thick & Creamy Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Blue Cheese and Thousand Island and Prawn Cocktail.

A–Z of Lion’s match-winning sauces

(A)merican Smoky BBQ Sauce – add a smoky flavour to pizzas and bbqs
(B)lue Cheese Dressing – a wonderfully strong complement to quarter pounders
(C)aesar Dressing – great with pizzas and salads
(D)ijon Mustard - this flavourful French sauce typical from Dijon has indeed become a leitmotiv in Gastronomy, as a tasty accompaniment for chicken, salmon, grilled steaks, roast beef and sausages, as well as a classic dressing for salads, burgers and hot dogs.
(E)nglish Mustard – great for beef dishes.
(F)rench Mustard – a milder tasting mustard great to serve with meats
(G)arlic Mayo - a flavour that is growing in popularity as the Mediterranean diet continues to favour among consumers
(H)ickory BBQ Sauce – ideal for marinating meats for a traditional BBQ flavour
(I)nternational Kitchen – Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce, Cool Salsa, Sticky BBQ Sauce and Very Hot Chilli Sauce – turn any dish into a King!
(J)am (Red Peppa) – a thick chutney product ideal for sandwich fillings
(K)etchup – a traditional favourite for chips!
(L)ight Mayo – ideal for the health conscious
(M)ango Chutney – ideal to compliment Indian dishes
(N)ewest Additions – Lion Reduced Fat Balsamic & Herb Dressing and Lion Reduced Fat House Dressing
(O)riental (Thai) Sweet Chilli Sauce - a sweet, sticky and spicy sauce for a zesty zap of intense flavour, ideal for outlets offering Oriental dishes
(P)iri Piri Hot Sauce - its fiery blend of chilli, garlic, oregano and paprika make it ideal for basting Chicken Wings
(Q)uality range – offering the perfect complement to any menu item
(R)anch Dressing – classic from America, perfect for chicken dishes and Tex Mex
(S)alsa – from one end of the spectrum to another with a cool and hot variety, ideal for tortilla wraps
(T)artare – traditional accompaniment to UK’s favourite take-away, fish and chips
(U)nique range – wide range offering a point of difference to keep your customers coming back for more
(V)ersatile - ideal for marinating, dipping or as a table sauce
(W)holegrain/Coarsegrain Mustard - a popular accompaniment to hot dogs and pretzels. It can also be used as an ingredient in mayonnaise, vinaigrette, marinades and barbecue sauce as well as for a base for salad dressing when combined with vinegar and/or olive oil.
(X)TRA Very Hot Chilli Sauce - the perfect partner for doner and chicken kebabs crying out for an intense, fiery kick
Yoghurt and Mint - As the yin to Very Hot Chilli’s yang, why not try a Yoghurt and Mint Dressing – after all a traditional kebab is often served with Tzaziki?
Zesty Hot Sauce – a hot and spicy addition for ribs!

For more information please contact AAK Foodservice on 01482 332100.

(1) Barbecue Foods, Market Intelligence, November 2008
(2) Barbecue Foods, Market Intelligence, November 2008

Dressing Up For Salad Days

Simon Chrismas — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:56:58 +0100

Mintel(1) reports that 74% of consumers now eat salad throughout the year and that it is particularly popular with women who tend to eat salad for lunch in an attempt to be healthy. Salads may well be a year round favourite but they really do become even more popular in the summer when the basic components are in season. However, whether they are ordered as a main or side dish, like some of the would-be healthy women who consume them, they look better when they are dressed up.

When it comes to those sauces and dressings, according to Mintel(2), the definition of a healthy diet has moved beyond one that delivers simple weight loss to a broader definition that encompasses a wide range of products that claim to deliver more general health benefits. Mayonnaise accounts for 50% of the market with the remaining value share split equally between salad cream and salad dressings. Consumer concern over healthy eating means that reduced fat and calorie products account for over 55% of the market’s value. Pointing to the future, Mintel predicts that innovation is likely to focus on exotic flavours.

Lion from AAK shows itself to be ahead of the game in respect of adding exoticism with its range of delicious dressings and sauces that can also be used as dips and marinades. “Lion’s Cajun and Tomato dressing, for example, is also ideal as a dip and in sandwiches and marinades – you could have this product on the menu in four different places,” said Rachel Neale Marketing Manager of AAK. “Dressings now have so many applications. Exciting flavours can be added to numerous dishes – not just salads – and Lion’s quality ambient dressings and sauces offer excellent cost in use because of their long shelf life – there is no waste so operators can have as many varieties as they wish.

The Government’s Change4Life TV and advertising campaign ‘Eat Well, Move More, Live Longer’ can’t help but put health and wellbeing at the forefront of diners’ minds which operators can cash in on by extending their salad and ‘lighter bites’ offerings and add value and profit with a range of quality dressings and sauces. “Side orders of salads and jacket potatoes will benefit from the addition of other Lion dressings with a difference such as Sour Cream & Chives, Garlic & Herb Dressing, Honey & Mustard and Ranch Dressing, make them into a gourmet experience in themselves,” said Neale.

The latest additions to the Lion range of delicious salad dressing include two healthy new offerings. Balsamic & Herb Dressing with its rich vinegary flavour is a free-flowing vinaigrette with the health conscious in mind, while Lion House Dressing contains White Wine Vinegar and French Dijon Mustard has a wonderfully enriched flavour.

Lion salad dressings are also available in traditional formats such as Real or Thick & Creamy Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Blue Cheese and Thousand Island and Prawn Cocktail.

Prep Premium oils are also a great option for salads. They are the only premium infused oils in 1 litre catering packs. “AAK is committed to diversifying and bringing consumer favourites to caterers in a convenient and cost effective manner. They are very reasonably priced compared with small amounts of deli oils in glass bottles and the plastic catering packs are much safer to have in the kitchen,” said Neale.

For information about the Lion, Lion International Kitchen range and Prep Premium oils, call 01482 332100.

1 Dieting, Market Intelligence, February 2008
2 Salad Accompaniments, Market Intelligence, August 2007

Derek Does The Business At Chef's Oscars

Simon Chrismas — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:16:48 +0100

Derek Reilly, executive chef at Sodexo, was presented with his prestigious ‘chef’s Oscar’ at a glittering ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel on June 24th.

Since taking the helm at Sodexo’s Hibernian Aviva contract in Dublin two years ago, Derek Reilly has made a significant positive difference to the business, increasing gross profit from 45 percent to just under 60 percent.

He has also improved the food offering, using local produce where possible and changing menus frequently, and he has developed a range of concepts to satisfy the client’s diners – from a quick service pasta bar and gourmet sandwich bar to offer healthy, tasty grab and go options to reduce queuing times to a high quality seasonal fine dining menu to suit the business and entertaining carried out on this site.

A keen competitor himself, representing Ireland at many culinary competitions, Reilly’s strong mentoring skills have also helped his brigade achieve a host of medals and awards. He has also encouraged workshops and field trips to further develop his team.

As chairman of the Irish Craft Forum, he is a member of the Sodexo National Craft Forum that enables him to have access to all development and support programmes.

Recognising the wealth of skill in Sodexo’s business, he set up the Sodexo ‘swap shop’, whereby businesses needing support in developing skills or an opportunity to see another operation could come on site and reap the benefits of such an experience.

Narrowly missing out on the title were runners up Mark Wetherill, a head chef also from Sodexo who has delivered consistent food excellence and high quality service at AstraZeneca in Macclesfield since the contract began in August 2008, and Gary McKechnie from Harbour & Jones, a ‘field to fork’ ambassador who was promoted to the position of director of food after just one year working for the business.

Contract Catering Chef was one of 13 gongs, plus a special achievement award, up for grabs from the leading chef’s association in the UK, with each finalist scrutinised by an 18 strong panel of expert judges after being nominated by their peers.

In addition to the 13 categories, there is also a 14th award reserved for one exceptional personality, who judges believe has made an outstanding contribution to the industry.

This year, more than 600 culinary professionals gathered at the awards to celebrate with their peers. Master of the Royal Household and president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Air Vice Marshal David Walker OBE, attended this year’s ceremony.

AAK Foodservice provides quality ingredients for a host of professional cooking requirements. The range includes Prep high performance long life oils, Prep Premium infused and speciality oils, Lion condiments, dressings and sauces and Whirl, the number one alternative to butter in foodservice.

Contract Caterers Ready for Recognition

Simon Chrismas — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:08:39 +0100

The winner will be announced at a glittering ceremony on June 24th at the Lancaster London Hotel, which has become an unmissable industry event since its inception 17 years ago.

The accolade is one of 13 gongs up for grabs, with 40 finalists on tenterhooks to find out whether they have won critical acclaim from the leading chef’s association in the UK.

To make the cut, each one was scrutinised by an 18 strong panel of expert judges from across the industry after being nominated by their peers.

Craft Guild of Chefs chairman Andrew Green, who will be hosting the awards for the first time after taking over from Nick Vadis in March, said: “The wonderful thing about these accolades is they don’t discriminate, rewarding passionate chefs from across the industry.

“This year, we had an incredibly difficult task before us, with an exceptional choice of candidates all gunning for what is now known in the industry as a chef’s Oscar. Each coveted gong not only brings with it kudos and prestige, but recognition from the leading and most respected chef’s association in the UK. We look forward to revealing who, from a diverse and hugely talented group of finalists, has the edge on the night.”

This year, more than 600 culinary professionals are expected to gather the awards to celebrate with their peers. Master of the Royal Household and president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Air Vice Marshal David Walker OBE, will be attending this year’s ceremony.

In addition to the 13 categories, there is also a 14th award reserved for one exceptional personality, who judges believe has made an outstanding contribution to the industry.

For more information please contact AAK Foodservice on 01482 332100.

Lion Gives a Kick To Summer Menus

Simon Chrismas — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:48:51 +0100

Operators aiming to cash in on this bonanza can field a winning team of their own, in the shape of AAK Foodservice’s Lion range of delicious condiments, sauces and dressings. Appropriately re-named the ‘Three Lions’, after the emblem on the England team’s shirts, this game trio provides the perfect partnership to any mid-match meal or snack.

Many outlets will be looking to capitalise on the opportunity by decorating their premises with World Cup balloons and bunting, as well as cooking up some patriotic meal ideas. A Blistering Beckham Burger covered in Lion Blue Cheese sauce, or a selection of St George’s snacks served with Lion Cool Salsa would be enough to tempt even the most diehard fan away from the TV screen for long enough to re-fuel.

Others will be celebrating the international nature of the competition by putting together a menu based on the countries of the qualifying teams. For example, Messi Milanesas served with Lion Very Hot Chilli Sauce for Agentina, and a Ronaldo’s Rip Roaring Chorizo served with Lion Piri Piri Hot Sauce for Portugal.
Just like the World Cup, Lion draws its inspiration from across the globe. It seeks out the highest quality ingredients to create tastes that make its products stand out from the competition. Whether you’re looking to add that extra flavour or texture to your meal ideas, Lion is sure to serve up the authentic solution you’ve been searching for to create that perfect dish.

Lion also offers a selection of table sauces and mustards; these include a wide selection of mustards and sauces, as well as a Premium range which includes the likes of Wholegrain Mustard with Real Ale. The sauces are extremely versatile as they can be served straight from the bottle as an accompaniment as well as being used as a recipe ingredient to produce the more exotic dishes the public is crying out for these days.

“The two new low-fat additions to the Lion range both offer less than three per cent fat without compromising on taste, less than one per cent saturated fat and a level of sodium that complies with FSA 2010 targets without compromising on taste,” said AAK Foodservice marketing manager Rachel Neale. “Side orders of salads and jacket potatoes will benefit from the addition of other Lion dressings with a difference such as Sour Cream & Chives, Garlic & Herb Dressing, Honey & Mustard and Ranch Dressing, make them into a gourmet experience in themselves.”

Salad dressings are also available in traditional formats such as Real or Thick & Creamy Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Blue Cheese and Thousand Island and Prawn Cocktail.

A–Z of Lion’s match-winning sauces

For more information please contact AAK Foodservice on 01482 332100.