We know you have fantastic products and are delighted that, as members of QSP, we are able to offer you a 25% discount on the standard entry price. Why not take the plunge and enter at www.qualityfoodawards.com. Just mention that you are members of QSP….

munching on a bag of rather nasty pork scratchings in my local pub!

Our product is twice fried to make it very light and crispy and is seasoned

only with sea salt from the Isle of Anglesey.” Tom

Please get in touch with us at Claire@qualityfromsmallproducers.com to book in more dates throughout the year to give your products a fantastic profile.

Joe & Sephs Popcorn was recently featured in the Evening Standard as being available in Whistlestop – fantastic news!  Click on the link below to read more: http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/londons-best-salty-sweets-8518850.html?action=gallery&ino=3

Eight producers belonging to Quality from Small Producers, a brand that celebrates fabulous food produced by small, artisan, often family-run businesses came together over two days to offer sampling sessions to customers in store.

Customers turned out to meet the producers who were delighted with the positive feedback to their award-winning products. Vince Maloney, owner of the store, is a passionate supporter of quality products from small producers and he now stocks over 400 lines. The idea of a Food Fair stemmed from his desire to bring local people together in celebration of great food and this is now the third year he has held such an event.

Said Vince: “We received great feedback from customers who loved meeting the people behind these delicious foods and were keen to learn more about how the food is made using natural processes. These are unique products and are now easily available for customers to try. Sales have certainly increased and we will look to run another event later on in the year.”

Ascot Food Fair
Vince distributed a newsletter to 10,500 homes in Ascot on April 27th. He had a fantastic response to the small producers and the Food Fair that took place on Friday / Saturday. Thanks to all of you who attended.

It was poor weather which did not help the sales of BBQ products but the feedback was great. He will be planning one day fairs in Shepperton from now on and is looking to run a sampling programme twice a month with two producers max each time in both stores – Claire will be in touch with more news shortly.

Vince will be implementing a relay in Shepperton where many of the QSP products will be reallocated to more prominent space.

Let us know what else he can be doing to improve sales of your products in-store.

Caldesi Seasonal Lunch
Maloney’s Budgens of Ascot teams up with Caldesi in Campagna to host seasonal lunch.

Following the success of their last two lunches, Maloney’s Budgens of Ascot  teamed up again with top local restaurant, Caldesi in Campagna to host their  seasonal lunch on 3rd February 2012.

Caldesi in Campagna, owned by husband and wife team Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi created a delicious eight course taster menu with coffee for an inclusive set price of only £20, using local and seasonal ingredients from small producers of quality food, provided by Maloney’s Budgens of Ascot.

Said Vince Maloney, owner of Maloney’s Budgens of Ascot: “We wanted to showcase the great range we have as well as the fabulous local and quality small producers’ products available in Maloney’s Budgens. We could think of no better way than teaming up with a great local restaurant to promote these fantastic tasting products to customers at a heavily discounted price.”

Customer Bev Walton said of the first event:
“Please let us I know as soon as you know when the next lunch will be – we had a super time, with lovely food!”

The next lunch in set for Friday 14th September – do bring your friends!  See www.maloneysbudgens.com for more details.

RETAIL GURU MARY PORTAS, THE SPECIAL GUEST AT A TRADE SHOW IN TELFORD, RECEIVES A PERSONALISED “MARY QUEEN OF SHOES” CHOCOLATE STILETTO SHOE FROM CHESHAM CHOCOLATIER ANNE SCOTT OF AUBERGE DU CHOCOLAT   - 

Chesham-based Chocolatier Anne Scott is pictured presenting a personalised chocolate stiletto shoe to retail guru Mary Portas at the Palmer & Harvey (P&H) Pro Retail trade show in Telford.

Mary Portas is understood to have said to journalists at the show that receiving the shoe had been her highlight of the show. Auberge was invited to the trade show as part of the P&H Plus Extra small supplier initiative which is promoting small producers on a national basis.

Auberge Managing Director Anne Scott said “we have been developing our business through our own outlets and direct sales to retailers (mainly in the Chiltern area) but we have now reached the stage where we can grow more quickly by having some of our chocolate products distributed on a national level.   

Quality from Small Producers managing director, Stephanie Rice who arranged the involvement of over 40 small producers (including Auberge) in the Pro Retail show said “We have worked with Auberge for over 12 months and believe they have some really good products. Their stall at the show was very professional and Mary Portas was obviously delighted to receive her chocolate shoe from Anne.”

There was strong competition from 10 other premium yogurt brands including major High Street names which made winning the award a great achievement and a major milestone for the product.

Tims Dairy is a family run business owned by brothers Chris and Pete Timotheou. The company, which has a strong Greek heritage and has been making yogurts since 1949, is based in the beautiful Chiltern Hills in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire.

The Tims Dairy retail range includes low fat, whole milk and Greek style yogurts and there is also a large foodservice sector offering. The yogurts are made in batches using fresh milk, natural ingredients, hand-blended fruits and live cultures. The company believes in quality without compromise.

“This is the best possible start to 2012 for Tims Dairy” said Managing Director Chris Timotheou. “We are truly delighted to have won a blind test of so many great products and would like to thank all the staff at the Financial Times weekend paper and magazine. We are very proud of our products and are hugely passionate about making great tasting yogurts.”

We here at QSP are delighted at their winning such a prestigious award – but not at all surprised; their products are truly delicious!

Market research predicts that around a third of shoppers expect to increase their purchase of locally produced (37%), higher animal welfare (34%) and Fairtrade (31%) foods by 2012, particularly AB shoppers. Shoppers correctly predicted growth for these ethical products a year ago, so there’s no reason to believe they will perform a U-turn now.

QSP retailer Maloney’s Budgens teamed up with Katie and Giancarlo to host their third seasonal lunch at Caldesi en Campagne in Bray on February 3rd. Using quality ingredients from QSP producers, Giancarlo created a delicious 8 course taster menu for the incredible price of £20 per head.

Bookings had increased five fold since the first lunch in 2011 and customers were able to benefit from Giancarlo’s vast knowledge as he humorously informed and educated them throughout the meal with titbits of information regarding the ingredients and how to best create the dishes on offer.

Said Vince Maloney, owner of Maloney’s Budgens of Ascot: ”We wanted to showcase the great local and quality food available in Maloney’s Budgens under the Quality from Small Producers brand. We could think of no better way than teaming up with a great local restaurant to promote these fantastic tasting products to customers at a heavily discounted price, thanks to the donations from our small suppliers.”

A further lunch is being planned for later in the year – keep an eye on the website for details which will be posted as they come in.