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STREAMLINING SCHOOL BUDGETS: THE CASE FOR OWN-BRAND FOODOne way to ease the pressure on school budgets is to switch to own-brand food products. Own-brand products are often cheaper than big-name brands without compromising taste and quality. In recent years, financial constraints on school budgets have become a common concern for administrators across the country. One area where schools may be overspending without even realising it is in the realm of food services. Surprisingly, a solution to ease these fiscal pressures could be in the form of switching to own-brand food products.LACA, the School Food People, published a survey with 168 respondents covering 2,632 schools and 722,000 pupils daily. The key highlights from the survey are:90% ...

The Fifa Women’s World Cup is almost upon us, and aside from burgers – which we shared some recipes for recently – there are a few other typical New Zealand and Australian dishes you can make during the month-long World Cup, to really help get your guests into the spirit.AUSTRALIA1. BBQ SHRIMP (PRAWNS)Aussie’s love a BBQ and throwing some ‘shrimp on the Barbie’ is a line you’ve probably heard many times. This dish is quick and simple, with the flavour coming from the smokey BBQ and delicious prawn meat. Don’t worry if you don’t have a BBQ, a grill or griddle pan will do the trick. Serve these with a simple dipping sauce like an aioli or spicy mayo and a wedge of lemon, or put them onto skewers with tomatoes and veg in the ...

As the FIFA Women’s World Cup approaches, anticipation and excitement are steadily growing among fans. Supporters are hoping that Sarina Wiegman’s team will repeat their triumphant victory at the UEFA Women’s European Championship in 2022.Taking place in Australia and New Zealand, from July 20th to August 20th, it will be slightly different from the men’s World Cup in December! A return to warmer weather and beer gardens!You can find a full schedule of all the games here 5 REASONS TO SHOW THE MATCHESIf you’re still undecided about showing the matches, here are five reasons to consider:1. ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS: Broadcasting live sports can draw more patrons in. People enjoy watching sports in a social atmosphere, and a pub that...

We’re looking at the latest innovative trends from the Pizza Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, such as the unique bone marrow pizza that attracted a record crowd. Use these fresh and creative ideas to inspire your UK menus.Each year, hundreds of chefs, caterers and pizza fans come together for one of the world’s biggest Pizza Expos, in Las Vegas. And this year was no different. At the end of March 2023, the International Pizza Expo saw the largest number of enthusiasts in 40 years enjoy three days of everything pizza, from tasting contests to competitions and demonstrations.The Pizza World Championships certainly got people talking, especially the not-so-traditional recipes, which showcased innovative creations like bone marrow pizza. So, let’s...

With the world’s eyes set on the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, we have a delicious opportunity to merge global excitement with a gastronomic adventure. As football unites nations, let our catering services unite palates with a range of unique burgers custom-built for this tournament.If serving awesome burgers is your thing, we did a deep dive into the current burger trends 2023, from bold flavours to saucy patties, vegan alternatives, and the use of innovative ingredients from different cuisines. We also have some brilliant burger ingredients, like soft seeded buns and delicious beef patties. Right, let’s kick off with some fun themed burger recipes and serving ideas – from Brazil to Germany and, of cours...

From British ‘caffs’ with a modern flair to revived American diners and transformed Australian milk bars – we’re exploring it all here.Cafés, Diners, Luncheonettes, and Milk Bars all run on a similar business model; they serve quality food at a reasonable price in a relaxed setting. Often turnover is quick and the menus fairly small, and there’s a hefty hit of nostalgia in many dishes. From the classic cafés to the more upmarket diners, let’s look at the trends driving these popular high street eateries.CAFÉSGreasy spoons used to be on every high street corner, but social media has forced cafés to be more hip in their offering, with food designed to look good on the ‘gram. However, a handful of venues have been fighting to...

Join us as we explore innovative dishes, ingredients, and techniques to elevate your breakfast menu and entice your customers.Even though aspects of breakfast habits might have seen changes, the underlying reasons for customers’ choices persist and span health, indulgence, convenience, and nutrition, so it’s worth ensuring that your offerings cater to these needs.Let’s take a look at the breakfast trends and inspiration.CLASSIC BREAKFASTS WITH A TWISTIt’s still about eggs Benedict, avocado on toast, pancakes and scrambled eggs. Still, many chefs are taking our familiar, much-loved breakfast and putting a twist on them, often with flavours from different cuisines, like sriracha, N’duja, beetroot and more.1) ENGLISH MUFFINS UPGRADED...

Earn Cash Back with AtoZ Catering Ltd's Loyalty Points Program!At AtoZ Catering Ltd, we know that our customers appreciate quality products and great service. That's why we're excited to offer a new loyalty points program that rewards our customers for their continued business. Here are some of the key features of our program:1 - Earn points on every order: Customers will earn loyalty points on every order they place on our website or app. The more they spend, the more points they earn!2 - Convert points to cash: Customers can convert their loyalty points into cash, which can be applied as a discount on their next order. The more points they have, the more money they can save!3 - Automatic point tracking: Our website and app will automatica...

The popularity of fish fingers in Britain has continued for more than sixty years since their introduction to the market on 26 September 1955, priced at 1s 8d.Invented in the Birds Eye factory in Great Yarmouth, Clarence Birdseye (Captain) was a US-born scientist who pioneered frozen food in the 1930s with his quick freeze method. In the first year, 600 tonnes of fish fingers were consumed, growing to 1.5 million daily today.Fish fingers are surprisingly sustainable, according to the Marine Conservation Society. Some 85% of the fish in 48 supermarkets’ own-brand and branded fingers came from sustainable sources.4 FASCINATING FISH FINGER FACTS:In a study, one in five kids in the UK thinks that fish fingers are made from chicken.The world

Join us on a culinary adventure with Yorkshire puddings, we’ll uncover the best recipe trends and hacks for mastering both savoury and sweet variations.When you think of a Yorkshire pudding, your mind immediately goes to a plate piled high with succulent roast beef, crispy potatoes, vegetables drowning in a creamy cheese sauce, and a Yorkshire pudding – depending on which side you’re on – sitting in a pool or gravy… or not. Yorkshire puddings are a UK staple, we hold them as dear as we do our fish and chips, served with every and any roast (not just beef!), and of course, in dishes like Toad in the Hole, which is basically a huge Yorkshire pudding with sausages nestled in. Yorkshire puddings are nostalgic and hearty, and remarka...

Have you seen the rising trend of butter boards? These visually appealing platters feature butter and various toppings; they’re all about creativity in presentation and experimenting with ingredients for a unique customer experience.Towards the end of 2022, butter boards went viral on social platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with chefs and foodies sharing their butter board creations. One of the pioneers of the trend was food writer, blogger and recipe creator Justine Doiron, who shared a butter board on her social media with the caption: ‘A butter board is the next charcuterie board trend. Don’t quote me on it – but if it happens… then you can quote me on it’. Within two weeks, her video had over 8.3 million TikTok views.If...

We’re delving into the world of TikTok to uncover the most popular ice cream hacks that range from cake to pops, sandwiches to loaded scoops, and more.Whether you’re in charge of the school, pub, care home, restaurant or café catering, many of these hacks are surprisingly simple to recreate. Imagine indulging in banana ice cream, ice cream cake, and even air-fried ice cream! So, get ready to experience a whole new level of ice cream innovation.SAVE YOUR MASON JARSNo ice cream machine? No problem. Use a mason jar! Essentially, you add your ice cream mix to a jar (double cream, condensed milk, sugar etc.) and then place it in the freezer, taking it out at regular intervals to shake it vigorously. You can also add in fruit, chocolate, coo...