Posted: 07/10/2021

Product focus: North of England

Rather than concentrate on a single category, FFD has gone geographical this month. We’ve rounded up a host of new launches from the North of England. Whether it’s cheese, coffee or even rum, this bountiful region has buyers covered.

The Yorkshire Pasta Company says it has taken a sustainable approach to a classic product, using locally milled wheat flour and solar power to produce artisan pasta that is packaged in recyclable paper bags. The pasta is bronze drawn and slow dried to deliver a wholesome flavour and robust texture. There are five shapes – Fusilli, Penne Rigate, Conchiglie Rigate, Tortiglioni and Mezze Maniche Rigate – available in 500g format (RRP £3.50).
yorkshirepasta.co.uk

Mr Vikki’s is showing that it is more than a hot sauce producer with its latest introductions. The Cumbrian producer’s take on an Ecuadorian Aji Criollo is a refreshing, mild passion-fruity condiment, while Black Garlic Roast Habanero Relish is said to be ‘fiercely hot…with masses of umami’, and doubles up as a jerk paste for fish/meat or a chilli condiment. RRP £4.50.
mrvikkis.co.uk

Lakes Ice Cream has collaborated with fellow Lake District producer, the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Company, to create a Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream. Lakes Ice Cream has signed a five-year exclusivity deal with Cartmel, giving it sole rights to produce authentic ice cream with the iconic sticky toffee pudding.
lakesicecream.com

Whittaker’s Distillery in North Yorkshire has crafted two new gins. Rather English Camomile Gin (RRP £36) is a London dry with a base of juniper, coriander and angelica root overlaid with camomile flowers for a bright, grassy gin with fragrant summer aromas. Rampant Raspberry Gin (RRP £37.50) is a slightly sweetened compounded gin made by macerating raspberries in the distillery’s Original Gin.
whittakersgin.com

Kendal-based Penningtons has taken the view that great coffee shouldn’t cost the earth, launching its 250g hand roasted coffees in 100% recyclable packaging. The bag is no longer pre-printed to help reduce its carbon footprint.
penningtonscoffee.co.uk

Libations claims to be Yorkshire’s most decorated rum brand, having won Gold at the World Rum Awards and Rum and Cachaca Masters 2021 for its Original Spiced Rum. The rum starts its journey in the Caribbean before being distilled and perfected in Yorkshire using heather, vanilla, cinnamon, clove and orange peel and North Yorkshire honey. RRP £37 for 70cl.
libationsrum.com

Butlers claims to have become the first speciality cheesemaker to make all of its packaging fully recyclable. This includes the Lancashire producer’s ‘This is Proper’ range, which takes in six farmhouse cheeses in 250g portions: three varieties of Lancashire, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester and Goats’ Cheese.
butlerscheeses.co.uk