Food 'n' Drink – Food and Drink news |

The independent UK-based research group, Leatherhead Food Research, produces reports on trends and innovations in the preferences and consumption of food amongst the general population.  The most recent report on upcoming trends for 2012 indicates that a higher percentage of products and ingredients in demand by people of retirement age will be on offer, as well as a demand from younger consumers for foods free of specific ingredients such as gluten, nuts and milk/dairy products.

The researchers designated ten food and drink trends they say are influenced by concerns about fitness and health, and also by the general atmosphere of ‘belt-tightening’ driven by the present economic situation.  The trends are mostly ongoing from the past few years;and it’s predicted that they will continue to gain popularity in the coming year.

In the category of health and wellness, we will see a continuing effort to reduce sugar, salt and fat content as well as active promotion of specific products as beneficial to good health.  That sort of promotion involves slogans like ‘one of the five foods you should eat every day’ and other incentives for the health-conscious among us.

There is a continuing and growing concern about sustainability that involves a lot of issues like ethical sourcing, recyclable packaging, and the emphasis on locally grown products as opposed to those imported or brought to localities from distant areas of the UK.

The issue of convenience is another rather tricky subject, with the benefits of ‘home cooked’ meals often taking a back seat to the freedom of quick, ready-to-eat-in-minutes packaged meals that are becoming more and more prevalent.  Food manufacturers are expected to continue making more of the quick and easy yet premium quality meals that busy consumers depend upon to save them a lot of shopping and cooking time, not to mention the cost of eating out.

The food industry is constantly working to add more flavour to convenience foods without adding more harmful substances in the form of chemical additives and/or fat, cholesterol, sodium and a whole list of other ingredients that health experts have warned against.  On the other hand, there is a growing demand for more variety in the form of spices such as ginger, lemongrass, lavender and other ‘unusual’ ways of satisfying the taste buds.

The market for ‘free from’ products is also getting larger, not so much because of the number of people who have food allergies but  because of all the information available on the subject of which foods may contribute to one health problem or another.  Products with labels such as ‘gluten-free’ or soy,  dairy, or nut-free, for example, are expected to be in such big demand that they will break out of the ‘niche’ market and into the mainstream.

Older consumers show a growing tendency to look for proucts that advertise ingredients ‘proven’ to improve heart function; the researchers say products that promise to unclog arteries are going to be big sellers with older people in search of  cardiovascular health.   Also in demand are products with extras  such as glucosamine for joint health and added omega-3 for brain health.

The massive emphasis in recent years on ‘natural’ foods has faded somewhat, mostly due to the relative costs involved.  However, the idea of  ’pure, natural’ foods is still a strong attraction for both the older and the younger generations, and companies advertising natural foods are going to be balancing cost and profit with the sustainability of their market suppliers.

Consumers are more aware of where their food comes from, and there will continue to be a strong demand for locally sourced foods like meat/poultry, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruits.  Many chefs are incorporating locally produced ‘specialty’ items into their recipes to add distinction and variety to the menu, and a dish presented as being made of foods grown right in the locality is usually a favourite choice for customers.

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Make your Fridays fantastic with the latest deal from Domino’s Pizza. The pizza delivery expert’s new Free Ice-cream Fridays have just started.  All you need to do is spend more than £20 online with Domino’s on a Friday and you will receive a 500ml tub of irresistible Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream absolutely free.

With four favourite Ben & Jerry’s flavours included in the deal, they’re perfect to polish off after your pizza. Choose from mouth-watering Caramel Chew Chew, moreish Chocolate Fudge Brownie, delicious Cookie Dough and the legendary Phish Food.

Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director at Domino’s, said: “We’re delighted to create another reason for pizza lovers to celebrate the end of the week with Free Ice-cream Fridays. After a piping hot Pepperoni Passion, there’s nothing better than tucking into a tub of ice-cream and this great deal is guaranteed to make Fridays fantastic from now on!”

To grab a slice of the action with Domino’s and Free Ice-cream Fridays, order online at www.dominos.co.uk.

To celebrate its new Domino’s Stuffed Crust(TM), the pizza delivery expert has announced two social platform initiatives to spread the word – a location-based offer integrated with Facebook® Deals and internet-based treasure hunt, Domino’s Stuffed Crust Quest.

The Facebook Deals promotion offers a free garlic pizza bread when Facebook users check in to any UK Domino’s store and order a Domino’s Stuffed Crust. To claim, customers simply need to present the check in screen on their mobile to the order taker. By checking in with their Facebook account, pizza lovers can also publish it back to Facebook and share it with friends.

For budding treasure hunters, Domino’s Stuffed Crust Quest will launch later this week. The interactive quest will challenge Domino’s fans to follow clues around the internet during a limited time period to collect a series of letters. The letters will spell out a secret code that can be redeemed for tasty Domino’s Stuffed Crust bounty. The quest has been integrated with Domino’s Facebook Page, where the first clue will be released in the next few days via a status update.

Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director at Domino’s, said: “We’re delighted to announce the integration with Facebook Deals and Domino’s Stuffed Crust Quest to generate additional buzz across social platforms and encourage pizza lovers to get onboard with our new product. We know that our Facebook fans love to interact with us and hope these activities will really help to whet their appetite for our new Domino’s Stuffed Crust.”

Domino’s Stuffed Crust features mozzarella cheese with a hint of garlic and herbs in Domino’s famous fresh dough. Domino’s Stuffed Crust is now available on all medium and large pizzas in stores across the UK.

Grab a tasty deal by checking in via Facebook or start treasure hunting with Domino’s Stuffed Crust Quest at www.facebook.com/DominosPizza.  The Facebook Deal is valid until 14th August 2011.

Eating out can be a real treat, however sometimes it’s hard to find the money to eat out as often as we’d like. People now have less disposable income to use on such luxuries, so eating out at a nice restaurant may be down on your list of priorities. This article aims to give you a few ideas on how to cut the cost of your food bill when you do treat yourself to a nice meal. Bon appétit!

Use vouchers

Since the start of the recession, discount vouchers have become more and more popular in the eating out industry. Because people have less disposable income, yet still want to treat themselves to a meal out, discount vouchers have become a staple in people’s wallets. You can now get some fantastic vouchers which entitle you to a percentage off the cost of your meal, free drinks, starters or deserts, 2 for 1’s and buy one get one frees. Most of the national chain restaurants regularly offer vouchers to keep custom coming in, but a lot of local restaurants have joined the vouchers bandwagon too. Make sure you do a search for a voucher for the restaurant you’ll be going to, or search before you decide where to go to get ideas on where you can save some money.

Early bird deals

Many restaurants offer special set menus for customers who choose to dine just before their busiest periods. Many restaurants are busiest between 7-11pm and can be quiet between 5-7pm. You can save a lot of money by choosing to eat before the ‘rush hours’, and may get good deals on two or three courses for a set price. Although there will probably be limitations on what you can order, you can save yourself a packet by simply eating out a little earlier. Ask your favourite restaurants whether they accommodate for the ‘early bird ‘customer base if they don’t already advertise it.

Weeknights

Restaurants tend to be busiest towards the end of the week and the weekend, so try to eat out on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesdays. These are generally the restaurant industry’s quietest days and you may find some really great promotions on at the start of the week. You could get a good deal on one or two courses, get a free drink or get buy one get on free on certain dishes. It’s important that restaurants pull in custom early on in the week which is why you’re likely to find a delicious deal.

Loyalty scheme

If you have a few favourite restaurants which you visit frequently, log on to their website and see if they have a loyalty scheme or an online community. By joining an online community, such as their Facebook or Twitter campaign, you are more likely to be notified of upcoming offers and discounts, as well as be offered exclusive discounts which are only given out to its members. You will also be kept informed about any special events the restaurant will be having in the future, and can plan your outings to accommodate them.

BYOB

Sometimes it can be very expensive to enjoy a bottle of wine with your meal in a restaurant, never mind a desert wine, a night cap and then a coffee to round it all off! Some establishments allow you to bring your own bottle (or other choice of beverage) on certain nights, or some restaurants don’t have an alcohol licence at all. This can work out great, because you can stop off at a shop on the way and buy a bottle of wine for your meal for a fraction of the price. Drinks can make your overall bill creep up when ordering a few, so look out for places who allow you to bring your own. You’ll definitely notice the difference when the bill comes!

Written by the Vouchers team at moneysupermarket.com

Restaurant vouchers are now becoming as popular a search term as cashback sites and coupon cutting. All of them helping you spend less when buying every day food / items / goods etc…

We are living in a fast paced environment where the world is online 24/7/365. Everyone has a voice and businesses have a very low cost way of promoting themselves without the overheads of print, marketing and advertising. They simply can update their website with a voucher code / printable voucher and voila.

Great news for businesses but even better news for us. It means that, online, we have an array of ways to save money. Restaurant vouchers are not new but suddenly people have realised that they can buy meals and get another for a friend, partner, husband, wife etc… for FREE – or buy their own meal and the kids eat free.

So far this year alone, restaurant voucher sites – such as Restaurant Vouchers Now – have helped their visitors find:

- 40% Discount Voucher at Yo Sushi!
- Buy One Meal Get One Free Voucher from Las Iguanas
- 2 Pizzas at Pizza Express for £12 voucher
- 2 meals for just £5 voucher
- Free bag of Cadburys Chocolate – (bonus)
- Lots lots more

To find a whole host of restaurant disocunts head over to Restaurant Vouchers . Vouchers and discounts are updated reguarly and includes a listings of over 200 UK restaurants – perfect when you need some inspiration.

Resturant owners are discovering the power of the internet to help fill the empty seats in today’s times. Printable restaurant vouchers are here to stay, so may sure you don’t pay full price – get out there and see how the internet can save you!

Article from – Restaurant Vouchers Now

The Australian theme pub chain Walkabout has launched a  reward programme for its customers, taking advantage of both social media and mobile channels.

The recently launched Walkabout social media site, www.walkabout.eu.com has proved to be a powerful tool in customer loyalty and engagement. The combination of the loyalty programme and niche social community has seen more than 2000 people sign up per week since its launch at the beginning of October.

By registering online, Walkabout customers now become members of their own community – allowing them to check sports and event listings, and comment on all of the latest Walkabout photos and videos. Customers are being encouraged to create their own profile and keep it refreshed with photo albums, videos, blogs and more. The site also integrates with Facebook Connect, allowing users to sign up with their Facebook account and publish content posted to the Walkabout site to their Facebook wall.

To become part of the community, customers simply sign up to the brand’s Boomerang loyalty card, paying a nominal fee of £3. The card can then be used to earn ‘points’ straight away, which can be used for rewards such as; a free queue jump voucher, a VIP birthday package and a 3D TV package with a free beer and best view of the TV for customers and their friends. Customers can register online or alternatively, by sending their loyalty card number and email address to an SMS shortcode to part-register for the programme; which triggers email communication including promotions, offers and events.