Food

Cornish artisan confectioner Buttermilk is launching its newest snack bar – an all butter bar of crumbly caramel sea salt fudge enrobed in Belgian milk chocolate!

The new snack bars are now available at BP forecourts, WHSmith and independent retailers across the whole of the UK, making them the perfect on-the-go treat for motorists and commuters.

The new bars are wrapped in a compostable cellulose wrapper which do not pollute the environment. Buttermilk has strived to find a new non-plastic wrapper made of plant-based materials that is hard-wearing, yet sustainable.

When the fudge has been enjoyed, the wrapper can be placed into a home compost bin and will decompose within 26 weeks at ambient temperature.

The new bars are a premium addition to the trend for 'on-the-go' snacking and join Buttermilk's line-up of more than 60 flavours which range from clotted cream to Cornish Gin and Earl Grey tea. The family-run firm's award-winning treats are still created using traditional recipes and methods at the company's production kitchen near Bodmin Moor.

Buttermilk managing director Tracy McDonnell Goad said: “Sustainability is an important part of Buttermilk's ethos and we were keen to find a plastic-free solution so that customers can enjoy an on-the-go treat, knowing that the packaging will not end up in the oceans. Being based in Cornwall means we're surrounded by beaches so we see first-hand the importance of incorporating environmentally-sustainable packaging materials. We very much believe customers will agree with us that this is a step in the right direction.”

Londoners will have the chance to discover Macanese cuisine - one of the world's first fusion foods – through a guest chef residency at the award-winning Carousel restaurant in Marylebone from 9th to 13th October. Chef Antonieta 'Neta' Fernandes Manhão, a specialist in Macanese cuisine from Macao, will be working alongside the Carousel team to bring the unique cuisine of Macao to life through a menu inspired by the traditional Macanese Cha Gordo ('fat tea').

Chef Neta is committed to preserving the unique culinary heritage of this fascinating destination, just 40 miles from Hong Kong across the Pearl River Delta. For her week at Carousel, Chef Neta will be preparing traditional recipes like Minchi, a classic dish of sautéed minced pork and beef whose name is said to derive from the English word 'mince', and Casquinha de Caranguejo (crab meat baked in its shell with olives, spring onion, turmeric and breadcrumbs).

Macanese cuisine reflects Macao's unique history and Portuguese maritime culture. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Portuguese merchants brought exotic spices and flavours to Macao from Africa, India and South East Asia - including curry, coconut milk and cinnamon. These were incorporated, along with local Chinese ingredients and culinary techniques, into traditional Portuguese dishes, giving birth to the uniquely delicious Macanese cuisine of today.  In 2017, Macao was recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy.

Macao is one of Asia's most fascinating destinations, with its exciting mix of east and west, old and new.  Along with its renowned gastronomic scene, including 18 Michelin-starred restaurants, Macao highlights include the World Heritage-listed Historic Centre, world class nightlife and entertainment and a year-round programme of colourful events and festivals. It makes the perfect two- or three-night addition to a Far East holiday or stopover en route “Down Under”.

Eversfield Organic, one of Devon's most visionary food producers, is opening its first farm shop and deli at 2 West Street, in the centre of Tavistock, on Tuesday 16th October. It will provide a one-stop shop for everyone who really cares about what they and their family eat and believes organic is best. The deli will provide a hub for the local community to enjoy food produced locally and sustainably.

The Eversfield business - motto 'Enjoy Food - Enjoy Life' - has enjoyed huge success in recent years providing organic food boxes, which are delivered all over the UK. The Bury family farm, just a few miles from the market town of Tavistock, provides organic meat, raised on grass to the highest welfare standards. Gradually fish, vegetables, fruit, larder, bakery and deli products were added to the Eversfield offering, wherever possible organic, and Eversfield became what it is today: an amazing online emporium of the finest foods produced in the South West.

This month Eversfield celebrates its online success by opening its first shop, in the prosperous market town of Tavistock.  Although the West Country is famed for its fantastic offering of artisanal produce, Eversfield's farm shop is exceptional in that all produce is certified organic, bar fish and game where sources of wild produce is preferable.  Although many shops in the West Country offer organic produce, Eversfield is exceptional in that almost everything on sale is organic.

Mark Bury, who grew up in Yelverton, left the city life in 2002 to pursue his dream of farming in Devon, comments: 'The shop is a natural development of the Eversfield Organic vision. When we arrived at Ellacott [the family farm in Bratton Clovelly] we spent two back-breaking years bringing the land - which had been intensively farmed - back to fertility.  For me and my family, organic means the best for our own health, the animals we keep and the health of our soil and wildlife.”

Customers who wish to enjoy the results of Eversfield's 'enlightened farming' can now spend time browsing in the Tavistock shop. This is much more than a standard farm shop/deli. You can do all your shopping here in the one place, as well as linger and hang out in a relaxed and mindful atmosphere.

• A major draw will be the butchery counter, showcasing Eversfield's multi-award-winning range of organic fresh and cured meats. Often something new, and always seasonal. Look out especially for Eversfield Organic's multi-award winning steaks and pork roasts. You'll also know exactly which farm each cut has come from each day for 100% traceability.
• Fresh fruit and vegetables, sourced locally wherever possible, and all organic.
• Baker Tom's breads, including sourdough and spelt loaves.
• Coffee bar, serving Owens organic coffee, roasted in Ivybridge. Join the battle on single use and bring your own mug to have in or take away.
• Wonderful organic cheeses, both regional and international, plus olives and charcuterie to fill your sharing platters.
• Freshly prepared 'Soul Bowls' to go, nutritious lunches packed with flavor, made with 100% organic produce.
• Carefully curated section of larder staples, such as organic oils, pasta and rice.
• A wine cave - one of the few places in the West Country offering 100% organic wines.
• Wild game in season - wild rather than organic, to ensure the animal has lived as freely and naturally as possible.
• Fresh fish - again, wild rather than organic, sourced from a family run sustainable fishing business in St Ives, Cornwall.

While much of Eversfield Organic's growing fan base will continue to opt for home delivery, the shop will bring under one roof everything that has made the brand famous and won it so many awards over the years. In early September Eversfield Organic's 'Roam and Relish' Honey Smoked Streaky Bacon won Champion Bacon at the Taste of the West Awards. Honey Smoked Streaky (184g/£4.97), Traditional Ham Slices and Honey Roast Ham Slices (both 100g/£3.95) are now being stocked in 16 branches of Waitrose, and other meat and deli products can be found at selected outlets in the South West and London.

'Our arrival in Tavistock is a natural development for Eversfield,' comments Mark Bury, 'but it doesn't stop there. We see the shop as a springboard for our business, and the Eversfield team has all sorts of ideas in development, including one-off events and a series of pop-up dinners. Christmas is a really important time for us - our organic hams and turkeys are incredibly popular - and we are looking forward to the chance of meeting our customers in person, and making new friends to add to our flourishing online community.'

Tesco has today announced further ways to make it simpler for customers to recycle and reuse plastic packaging, and stepped up its commitment to move to a closed loop packaging system. It also calls on Government to introduce a consistent nation-wide approach to recycling.

To encourage customers to recycle plastic bottles, Tesco has today begun trialling in-store recycling machines, which will pay customers for every plastic bottle returned. The trial will take place at selected stores in Borehamwood, Swansea, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. The first machine opens for customers in Borehamwood today (27 September) and will pay 10p for bottles returned.

In addition, from 3 October customers will be able to reuse their own multi-use plastic containers when they buy meat, cheese or fish from deli and fish counters in UK stores. Instead of using single-use plastic bags, products will be weighed and wrapped in recyclable paper then placed inside the customer's container with the price label placed on the paper.

Earlier this year Tesco announced its intention to simplify the number of materials it used in packaging to help improve the ease and rate of recyclability. It also highlighted the challenges of having different collection schemes in different local authority areas making it costly and confusing for customers to recycle.

Jason Tarry, UK and ROI CEO said:

“We are already committed to eliminating single use plastic wherever we can and make recycling simpler for customers. Today is another step in that direction

“However, we know that it is going to take retailers, manufacturers and government to work together to make progress. We would urge the government to move to a single, nationwide approach to waste collection that makes it much easier for people to recycle.”

London's leading healthy eating chain Abokado today announced that it has received 5 star ratings by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), at every one of its 23 stores across London.

The ratings, graded from zero to five, are determined by local authority food safety officers, with a rating of five being the highest and showing that the business has the highest possible food hygiene standards.

Kara Alderin, Operations Director at Abokado, said: “We could not be prouder of this achievement. Food hygiene is of the utmost importance to Abokado and of course to our customers. To have a full house of 5 stars is a great accolade, in what is a technical business with a complex HACCP system.  It's all down to the dedication of our teams, and precise guidance and support through VG Technical.”

Dr Vesna Greaves, Abokado's Food Safety Consultant from VG Technical Ltd, said: “Our company works with many other clients in the food industry and for a business to receive a 5 star rating across the board is almost unheard of. It requires an enormous amount of work and education across the company.  With Abokado, a sushi and sashimi based business, we take an innovative approach to food safety and technology, working in partnership with our Primary authority, London Borough of Newham.”

Around three million meals going meat-free.

Thousands of children have returned to school for the new academic year to new-look menus. A range of healthier, more sustainable meat-free menu options have been introduced as part of the new School Plates programme launched by food awareness organisation ProVeg UK earlier this summer.

A total of 110 primary schools across two local authorities in England have been working on new menus in collaboration with ProVeg UK ahead of their launch this term. Changes include the adoption of Meat-Free Mondays, new daily meat-free meals, and new descriptions for the meat-free and plant-based dishes to make them even more appealing to the students.

“We all want children to thrive and these new-look, healthier menus are a big step in the right direction. Eating more plant-based foods is such a great way to improve children's health in the short term - particularly by helping to reduce childhood obesity - and also in the long term by helping to reduce the risk of all kinds of chronic health conditions including heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” said Jimmy Pierson, Director of ProVeg UK.

“It's so important that children establish healthy eating patterns at an early age - and schools play a key role in this. The fact that plant-based foods are better for the environment and are also cheaper, meaning they can ease the burden on the school budget, makes them a win-win in our minds - and those of a growing number of local authorities!” Pierson added.

Over the next 12-month period, around 3.1 million meat-based meals will now become meat-free - based on commitments from the schools and local authorities currently engaging with School Plates. This is despite ProVeg UK's programme having only been running for a few months.

One school taking part in the programme is Washingborough Academy in Lincolnshire. On School Plates, Headteacher Jason O'Rourke said: “I think School Plates is fantastic, really commendable. It is superb that we are highlighting the benefit of vegetables and giving children greater exposure to that. I would implore all schools, if the can, to get engaged with ProVeg UK and School Plates.”

Many more local authorities and primary schools are set to follow suit next term with new enquiries coming in on a weekly basis. As each new local authority takes up the School Plates programme, millions more meals are changed giving more children access to a healthier, more balanced diet.

“We are thrilled with the level of interest and engagement so far, and it just goes to show that there is real appetite for improving the meal provision within schools. When it comes to improving children's health, helping the planet and saving money all at the same time, there is no better time than now,” said Amy Odene, School Plates Manager for ProVeg UK.

From today, Waitrose & Partners customers can have their food and drink delivered straight to their door within two hours or on the same day for the first time as part of a new trial.

The supermarket has teamed up with On the dot, the last mile retail delivery startup*, to launch 'Waitrose Rapid Delivery' in selected London postcodes (SW5, SW6 , SW10, WC1, WC2, EC1, CR5 and CR8).

Customers in these areas will be able to choose up to 20 items from more than 1,500 products at rapid.waitrose.com.

Before completing their order they will be given the option to receive their shopping within two hours of placing the order or to specify a one-hour time slot on the same day. There is a £10 minimum spend and a £5 charge will apply for using either service.

All products will be hand–picked and prepared for delivery by Waitrose Partners before being collected and delivered by On the dot.

The trial is designed to respond to the increase in customers shopping 'as and when'. According to research carried out for the Waitrose Food Report 2017/18, two thirds of us regularly or occasionally visit a supermarket more than once a day. This trend is particularly prevalent among 18-to 24-year olds who are twice as likely to regularly visit a supermarket twice a day as the over-55s.

Using On the dot cargo bikes as well as vans to make deliveries is predicted to save up to four tonnes of GHG emissions a year.

Richard Ambler, Head of Business Development at Waitrose & Partners, says:

“Customers are increasingly wanting to buy whatever they want when they want it. For many, we have moved away from the weekly supermarket visit to give us more fluidity with our busy lives and give us better control against over-buying and waste. Our trips to the supermarket are therefore much more frequent - Waitrose Rapid Delivery ensures we give our customers even greater flexibility and convenience to get their shopping as and when they want it.”

Santosh Sahu, CEO at On the dot, adds:

“The grocery sector is undergoing its biggest shift for decades – one where convenience and immediacy will win. Customers are shifting away from the routine of the big weekly shop – instead, time-poor and convenience-driven consumers are opting for ultra-fast deliveries of small baskets at a time that suits them. Customers want to take back control and remain informed on the status of their deliveries in real-time. Waitrose & Partners has always put the customer first and this partnership recognises the influence that delivery has on a customer's shopping experience. On the dot enhance this customer experience by delivering great quality food to customers' front doors. We are very excited to be partnering with one of the UK's leading retailers and can't wait to help Waitrose provide the rapid service its customers want.”

It's one of the messiest and potentially dangerous kitchen chores – slicing and scooping out the flesh from an avocado.

But at last help is at hand – Tesco is exclusively launching the world's first ever avocado that easily pulls away from its skin once cut in half.

The fruit, EasyAvo, is grown in South Africa and will go on sale tomorrow in an initial trial to gauge its popularity.

It should go some way to help the growing number of Brits who reportedly suffer 'avocado hand' after cutting themselves accidentally when opening the fruit.

Tesco avocado buyer Laura Marsden Payne said:

“Last year customers bought nearly 60 million avocados from us, so we're sure that this fantastic avocado will minimalise fuss and make life a little bit easier.”

The EasyAvo, developed by key Tesco supplier Westfalia Fruit, is a naturally grown hybrid of different avocado varieties.

The variety was brought to the UK by Tesco's regional sourcing team, who work closely with growers at source.

It has a thicker and corkier consistency to its skin, which gives it an almost shell-like appearance when compared to other popular varieties like Fuerte and Hass.

Laura Marsden Payne explained:

“As the fruit ripens and moisture loss occurs in the process, the thicker, corkier skin separates more easily from the fruit flesh, compared to the thinner and more pliable skin of a Fuerte or Hass.”

This is the first year that growers have produced enough to support a trial, and quantity will be limited.

To discover how Tesco's products are changing to meet the demands of today's customer, look no further than the dairy aisle.

Tesco has launched and revamped 350 dairy products providing customers with an improved range, healthier options and more choice – including those with a specific dietary requirement.

Cheese lovers will be pleased to see an extended Finest selection. A Vintage Coastal Bite Cheddar and Red Leicester Bite will be stocked, alongside a Wensleydale with Cranberries and Blueberries. For customers who like a spicy kick on their cheese board, a new Finest Red Leicester with Chipotle and Peppercorns is the perfect choice.  Yogurt connoisseurs will be impressed by an expanded choice of Finest Greek Yoghurt with both Espresso and Honey recipes added to complement the existing 10% and 0% Fat Greek Yogurt.

The range of cheeses has also been expand further with a new paneer, comte and manchego.

Tesco has also introduced a number of healthier dairy products as a part of its efforts to help customers live healthier lives. When reformulating, Tesco has committed to make products healthier, as long as the taste and quality is improved or, at the very least, maintained. As a result, many of the retailer's new yoghurts now contain less sugar, which will help the retailer meet Public Health England's 2020 goals.

The selection of new, healthier products now includes a 50% less fat mature cheese, ideal for cheese lovers with its rich, savoury flavour but half the fat content of standard cheddar. A Strawberry Quark has also been introduced for customers looking for high protein. Customers will see new, smaller 200 gram portions of zero fat yogurts to help customers control portions and prevent food waste.

Tesco has also made more products accessible for customers with a dietary requirement. Sunflower and olive spreads will become vegan friendly. The lactose free range has been extended with a lactose free semi-skimmed dairy milk. Made from cow's milk, it has the taste of dairy without the side effects associated by lactose intolerance.

Tesco has also taken a “little help” approach to pack design. All blocks of cheddar can now be opened and resealed. Scissors or a knife are no longer required​. And many of its Finest cheese range have being moved into re-sealable trays to help keep cheeses fresher for longer in the fridge

Tesco's Product Development Director, Kate Ewart said:“Customers will soon find a number of new products in our dairy aisle. Some have less sugar, making it easier for customers to live healthier lives. There are more options for vegans or customers with an intolerance. We've also made changes to the pack design, making them a little easier for customers to enjoy.”

With consumers being increasingly interested in more sustainable products, sales of organic wine are shining brighter than ever according to the latest figures from Waitrose. The retailer reports that sales of its organic wine range have increased by a corking 57%, compared to the same time last year.

Maria Elener, wine buyer at Waitrose comments, “We have seen a really strong increase in demand for organic wines in the last year and are thrilled to offer our customers the largest supermarket range, with 54 wines from 18 different countries equating to a 60% market share.”

Lee Holdstock of Soil Association Certification says, “Organic wine is going through a really buoyant period, with growth that is 10 times higher than non-organic wine. Supermarkets, such as Waitrose, have sourced some amazing organic wines from all around the world. Higher certification standards for organic wine mean it is low in sulphates, while research shows that organic crops and products – including organic red wine – have higher levels of antioxidant rich bioflavonoids. Choosing organic also means helping protect our vital wildlife and reducing exposure to potentially harmful pesticides and chemicals.”

Head Winemaker for Bonterra Organic Vineyards, Jeff Cichocki comments: “People care about where there food comes from and in turn, they are interested in where and how their wines are made. Three decades ago, we started with the belief that organic grapes would make outstanding wines. People thought we were crazy, but over 30 years later demand has never been higher – we haven't looked back!”

In a UK supermarket first, Sainsbury's is trialling new scan, pay and go technology that will enable customers in one of its busy London convenience stores to pay for products in-store using their smartphone. The new technology gives shoppers the option to grab their groceries and skip the checkout completely.

Using the latest version of the SmartShop app, customers visiting the Clapham North Station Local can use their smartphones to scan their shopping as they go and then pay for it through the app, from anywhere in the store, using Apple Pay.

Customers can already use SmartShop in 68 Sainsbury's supermarkets. The scan, pay & go trial in Clapham will take this technology to the next level. Instead of paying for your shopping at a designated till point, Clapham customers can pay for their basket even faster and from anywhere in the store. SmartShop is growing in popularity with Sainsbury's customers – there are over 100,000 SmartShop transactions and between 3,000 and 4,000 new customer registrations every week.

With in-store contactless payments predicted to reach $2 trillion by 2020, counting for 1 in 3 in-store transactions , the trial will offer customers another way to pay conveniently in-store.

Sainsbury's Group Chief Digital Officer, Clodagh Moriarty, said: “Technology and changing customer shopping habits have transformed the way people buy their groceries. Our teams are constantly working hard to bring new convenient shopping experiences to customers and we're delighted to be the first grocery retailer in the UK to offer customers the ability to shop checkout-free. The latest version of SmartShop, with its new payment feature, will make it super quick for customers to get in and out of the store for those that want to scan, pay and go."

In addition to paying in the SmartShop app, the store in Clapham will also have both self-serve checkouts and manned checkouts, for customers who might prefer to pay at a till. Sainsbury's will use customer feedback from Clapham to develop and improve the experience before testing the technology in different store types and locations to learn more over the coming months.

The SmartShop scan, pay & go app was developed in-house by a team of experts whose mission is helping customers save time and shop conveniently. It follows extensive research, development and user testing, including a trial at Sainsbury's convenience store in Euston train station which allowed customers to use the SmartShop app to scan and pay for the three items making up a lunchtime meal deal.

The Jewellery Quarter-based Vegan Society is moving into a larger Birmingham city centre office this Monday (20 August), demonstrating the tremendous growth of the vegan movement.

The charity’s previous premises were unable to accommodate all of its staff, the number of which has quadrupled from just 10 a decade ago to almost 40.

Staff were previously split between two buildings and it is hoped that the new technological infrastructure will provide better communications and work efficiency.

George Gill, CEO at The Vegan Society, said: “When I joined the Society back in 2009, I was one of just 10 members of staff.

“We now have a 40-strong team of talented and hard-working vegans, and it feels like the time is right for us to move to accommodate the expansion of the charity.

“Once everyone is housed under the same roof, we will have space to pursue our plans for the growth of The Vegan Society and the vegan movement.”

The Vegan Society was founded in 1944 by Donald Watson and his friends, who also coined the word ‘vegan’. There were just 25 members when the first magazine, Vegan News, was published in November 1944.

According to research by Ipsos Mori for The Vegan Society, the number of vegans in Great Britain has quadrupled in the past four years: from up to 150,000 in 2014, to 276,000 in 2016, to 600,000 in 2018.

Spice up lunchtimes with a Caribbean vibe, as Levi Roots Caribbean Snack Pots hit the shelves this Summer.

Available in four delicious flavours and packed with Caribbean spices, this exciting new range uses natural, wholesome ingredients to create four mouth-watering dishes, each with an authentic, home-cooked flavour.

Super easy to prepare and ideal for moments when you haven’t got time to step away from your desk or are on-the-go. Just add hot water, stir and enjoy with a fork or spoon. The taller pot also makes them easier to stir and eat, minimising any mess!

Each recipe has been developed in conjunction with Levi Roots in his ‘rastaraunt’ kitchen, and the range includes:-

Reggae Reggae Noodles

A best selling flavour in marinades. Sweet BBQ profile with subtle tomato and smoke notes with a Caribbean lilt of allspice, thyme and scotch bonnet which gives this product its stamp of authenticity.

Levi’s Curry Noodles

An aromatic blend of turmeric, chilli, coriander, fennel to name but a few spices, mixed with onion, garlic and parsley that gives this noodle snack the taste of the Caribbean.

Caribbean Coconut Rice

An authentic Caribbean rice with creamy coconut milk and an infusion of black pepper and chilli for a spicy yet indulgent flavour.

Rasta Pasta

A spicy tomato jerk style theme for those who like a mild kick. Chilli combined with pimento, nutmeg, cassia, parsley and basil gives this pasta pot its recognisable flavour.

All the products use natural ingredients, low levels of salt and sugar, and don’t contain MSG.

Levi Roots Caribbean Snack Pots are suitable for Vegetarian diets and are available from Nisa, Costcutter and selected Spar stores.

Thwaites brewers are back in action after moving to a new site in Ribble Valley, Lancashire. They started officially brewing again this morning – more than two months after they were forced to stop after trespassers caused substantial damage to the Blackburn brewery where they have been brewing beer for over 200 years.

They were due to move to the new site in September, along with the company's head offices and stables, but they brought the move forward so they could get back to brewing.

Thwaites Director of Pubs and Brewing, Andrew Buchanan, said: “We are delighted to be back to brewing – we've been doing it for over 200 years, so it's a craft we are particularly proud of.

“The new brewery looks fantastic and it's just what we need to create our next 200 years of history.”

The purpose built brewery will have the capacity to brew 1.5m pints a year but it'll be a while before they reach that. Initially Thwaites' five brewers will be brewing Thwaites Best Cask (TBC), Nutty Black and the seasonal range that changes every week. That will expand as the year goes on to also include Thwaites Original and a new core range of beers that is currently in development.

A Birmingham City University graduate has opened a unique coffee shop, evoking the culture, individuality and character of his native Indonesia.

Alumnus Birama Gladini and his wife Elmira Hamdi have established Ngopi – meaning ‘let’s have coffee’ in Indonesian – in order to offer an individual alternative to the uniform coffee shop chains found elsewhere in Birmingham city centre.

The majority of Ngopi’s coffee is made using the Indonesian bean, Toraja Sapan, which Birama and Elmira roast in-house using their Indonesian-made machine, Froco. Indonesian coffee is renowned for its high quality and the country is the fourth largest producer of coffee in the world.

Situated underneath The Square Shopping Centre on Dale End, Birama and Elmira are also offering light meals from their homeland, including bakwan, curry puffs and martabak. Originally from Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, Birama and Elmira previously ran a coffee shop in their native country.

Birama completed his Enterprise Systems Management MSc at Birmingham City University in 2016, and has since been endorsed by the institution to remain in the UK through the Government’s Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa programme. This allows Birama and his family to remain in the UK for two years in order to set-up and run the business. Later, they can apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa which allows them to remain in the UK to run their business for another three years.

Birama Gladini said: “We are beyond grateful for the opportunity Birmingham City University has given us since the beginning of our venture until now. It is through the support of Birmingham City University that me and my family have been able to achieve our dream of opening an Indonesian coffee shop here in Birmingham.

“It was not without any problems opening a new business in a new environment but we sorted it all out with the help of our mentor at the University, Richard Leighton. Richard has been wonderful throughout the process and he has been more than supportive with his actions and encouraging words that keep us going forward.

“Certainly, having three year’s worth of experience running in running a coffee shop business in Indonesia is helping us a lot. We are staying to our roots and offering a modern yet authentic Indonesian feast to fill the void of dedicated Indonesian cafes or restaurants in the Midlands. We hope that everyone, including locals and Indonesians living in the UK, love what we have to offer. ”

Birama and Elmira are now hoping the success of their UK coffee shop will allow them to open a second outlet in London in the near future. Another aim of theirs is to be the only supplier of Indonesian unroasted green coffee beans in the UK and to eventually expand across Europe.

Richard Leighton, Enterprise Manager, Birmingham City University, said: “Birama and Elmira are brilliant examples of the power of the Tier 1 visa – in that it allows individuals born outside of the UK the opportunity to live and set-up a businesses here that brings in great cultural experience and add real social and economic value to the country.

“On a visit to Southeast Asia a number of years back I noticed the diversity and uniqueness off its traditional coffee shops and as soon as Birama applied to the scheme with a fantastic business plan and experience of setting-up and running a coffee shop in Indonesi,a we immediately realised the potential for the business and its success.

“Both Birama and Elmira, as well as their little son Ralden, are exceptional and I am really proud of the work done to date and the plans for the future – we can see lots of Ngopi coffee shops right across the UK because it really offers customers something very different that you cannot get elsewhere.”

The Love British Food campaign is working with young farmers to promote British food to consumers in the build-up to British Food Fortnight which this year runs from 22nd September to 7th October.

Founder of Love British Food, Alexia Robinson said, “Collaborating with the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC) makes so much sense.We are so lucky as an industry to have the most incredible network of inspirational young farmers, so many of whom are natural leaders with a strong voice in their communities and on social media, and who are the very best advocates for British food.”

Young farmer and NFYFC AGRI Chairman, James Hutchinson, said: “The NFYFC is delighted to be working with Love British Food. British Food Fortnight is a great platform to remind consumers of the high standard of British farming and to appreciate the great taste of home produced foods. Working together, our Young Farmers' Clubs have a powerful and influential voice nationally and I urge members to do what they can to support this campaign.”

Earlier this year Love British Food worked with fourteen young farmers in a '#BritishFoodisGreat' social media campaign in the build-up to the key food shopping period of Easter. Now the NFYFC is asking YFC members from across the UK to get involved in phase two of the campaign which includes a challenge to young farmers to do ONE thing during British Food Fortnight to promote British food.This could be as simple as posting a tweet or displaying a #BritishFoodisGreat foam sign or banner at farm gate; or, for the more ambitious, visiting their local school to give a talk; or helping a local establishment, such as their local pub, set up a new British supply chain.

Josh Dowbiggin, Love British Food Farming Ambassador (also Junior Agricultural Manager, Co-op and member of Co-op's Young Farming Pioneers) said: “I am incredibly passionate about British food and farming, so am really looking forward to working with NFYFC and encouraging other young farmers to get involved with the campaign.We should all be proud to be involved with British food and farming and this gives us the opportunity to promote what we do.”