Valentine’s Day is sinfully wasteful – next time, buy bread February 16, 2021 As we survey the aftermath of Valentine’s Day – the already-wilting flowers, the extravagantly-boxed chocolates, the pithy cards bought from some trendy online retailer – it’s not difficult to spot the wastefulness associated with the most romantic day of the year. London’s first zero-waste floral bakery is doing its bit to reduce this mountain of [...]
The fight for the future of British fish and seafood February 15, 2021 As the fishy issue of seafood continues to cloud the waters between the EU and post-Brexit Britain, fishermen and suppliers are clamouring to reinvent the industry. Local & Independent has launched a Be Unshellfish campaign highlighting the difficulties faced by fishermen and explaining how both professional chefs and consumers can buy direct from the nets. [...]
New Ocado finance chief to take helm next month February 15, 2021 British online grocer Ocado said on Monday that its new chief financial officer Stephen Daintith will start his role on 22 March. Ocado had announced in August that Daintith, the current finance chief of Rolls-Royce, would be joining the group. Daintith has previously held senior roles at Daily Mail and General Trust, Dow Jones and [...]
Last orders: US private equity giant calls time on bid to buy pub chain Marston’s February 11, 2021 Platinum Equity Advisors today announced its intention to pull out of its bid to buy British brewer and pub chain owner Marston’s. Marston’s, which runs around 1,400 pubs, rejected a £690m takeover offer from the US private equity firm last month, claiming that the bid undervalued the company. The British Hobgoblin brewer has seen shares [...]
Rusty Rabbit is Europe’s first black female owned Champagne February 10, 2021 Lapin Rouillé Champagne, which means “Rusty Rabbit” – has become the first and only female black-owned Champagne brand in Europe. Sourced from a small single estate producer near Reims, Nichole Johnson’s Rusty Rabbit is made from 100 per cent Pinot Meunier grapes. Johnson’s Rusty Rabbit Drinks portfolio includes Brentingby True Craft Gin, Revel Spirits, California’s [...]
Spirited away: The Brits making their own brand of tequila February 8, 2021 Two Englishmen have founded one of the first British tequila brands, creating their own line of super-premium, 100% agave spirit. VIVIR is distilled in collaboration with the multi-award-winning Casa Maestri, using natural volcanic spring water and traditional production processes. “I worked for a food company and brought Bircher muesli to the UK,” says co-founder Paul [...]
Special wines to treat your beau this Valentine’s Day February 8, 2021 “We sold a bottle of Sine Qua Non The Hussy Roussanne 2000 to a customer for Valentine’s Day. It currently retails for £1,580. The most expensive bottle we have in the shop is the Macallan Lalique 2 55YO, which sells for £145,000.” Established in 2012 in the heart of London’s Mayfair by Russian mobile phone entrepreneur [...]
Don’t let Covid spoil Valentine’s Day – bring the party home February 6, 2021 Usually the first busy night of the year for bars and restaurants, this Valentine’s Day promises to be a more subdued affair thanks to ongoing restrictions. But don’t let that spoil the romantic fun – here’s a list of some ways to bring the party to you on 14 February. Boisdale Valentine’s Night Dinner Kit [...]
Best of travel: The town made famous by Bruce Springsteen February 5, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. This week we revisit Laura Millar’s trip to the downbeat seaside town in New Jersey made famous by Bruce Springsteen. Read more: Jaguar XF P300 review: revitalised luxury at a surprisingly low price ••• On the boardwalk of [...]
Cadbury returns to Birmingham in post-Brexit production shift February 5, 2021 The owner of Cadbury, Mondelez International, is planning to shift more Dairy Milk production back to its historic Bournville factory in Birmingham. The company announced a £15m investment at the Birmingham site, and from 2022 125m more Dairy Milk bars are to be manufactured there. Mondelez’ UK managing director Louise Stigant said Bournville is still [...]