Speciality Food April 2025

specialityfoodmagazine.com 45 Time to experiment No barbecue spread is complete without flavourful rubs and marinades, and Field Blends’ range – complete with tried and tested flavour combinations – is ripe for foodie exploration this summer. “We try not to make too many specific pairing suggestions as we want the tins to inspire impromptu flavour combos on the campsite and kitchen,” begins Connor Field, director. “I don’t think sweet and spicy is going anywhere. Hot honey has been doing the rounds for some time but I still think it’s going to be huge for 2025. We have our Maple Chilli Salt, where smokey chipotle and organic driedmaple just pop off together and I honestly just eat it straight up on FIREFLY BBQ BLACK MAGIC CHARCOAL BEEF RUB Elevate your grilling with this sweet, caramelly, subtly garlicky rub, made with activated charcoal to give steaks and briskets a distinctive colour. fireflybbq.co.uk SPICE KITCHEN RAS EL HANOUT An award-winning blend of warm, fragrant spices that works perfectly with fish, meat and vegetables. spicekitchenuk.com BORNIBUS AIOLI The perfect summery accompaniment to fish and seafood for a Mediterranean touch. augustenoel.co.uk TRACKLEMENTS SWEET MUSTARD KETCHUP This sauce has everything. A thick texture that clings to burgers and hot dogs, a bright sweetness, and an undercurrent of heat from smooth and wholegrain mustard. Great in a potato salad too. tracklements.co.uk COTTAGE DELIGHT HICKORY SMOKED BARBECUE SAUCE Velvety, sweet and sticky, this rich, indulgent barbecue sauce combines juicy tomatoes, sticky honey and a delicate blend of herbs and spices. cottagedelight.co.uk CONDIMANIAC SMOKEY DRAGON SEASONING & RUB The flavour experts’ most popular sauce as a seasoning. The rub contains a serious amount of quality chipotle flakes, bringing spice and smoke to meat, fish, vegetables and halloumi. condimaniac.com STOCK CHECK RETAILER VIEWPOINT Lord Newborough of Rhug Estate explains how the estate’s retail team are approaching barbecue season this year TOP SELLERS Our top-selling BBQ-related products in summer include marinated chicken kebabs, spare ribs, steak boxes and gourmet burgers. These items are incredibly popular due to their ease of preparation and suitability for outdoor cooking, which aligns perfectly with summer gatherings. KEY FOCUSES FOR SUMMER 2025 This season, we are keen on capitalising on trending flavours such as spicy and smoky BBQ sauces and marinades, as well as plant-based alternatives to cater to the growing vegetarian and vegan market which are offered at our takeaway in the farm shop. Additionally, we are offering specials cooked and presented by our chef in the farm cafe at Rhug Estate. HOW TO SELL BARBECUE FOOD Effective selling techniques for BBQ products include engaging in-store displays that highlight our bestsellers, offering samples, and utilizing seasonal promotions. Point-of-sale (POS) materials featuring recipe ideas and pairing suggestions create excitement and encourage impulse purchases. Social media promotions and interactive cook-along events also enhance customer engagement and drive sales during the peak BBQ season. Social media promotions and interactive cook-along events enhance customer engagement and drive sales during the peak BBQ season buttered bread sometimes.” Corn on the cob, charred on the barbecue, is a great vehicle for seasonings. “We’ve mixed up a maple chilli butter to glaze things like that before. You could also prettymuch burn (or one might say delicately char) some leeks on an open campfire and hit themwith our Lemon Sumac blend for a fresh and zingy hit on the smoky sweet leek. “Our Coffee BBQ blend adds an amazing crust to slow cookedmeats, while the Soy, Ginger & Sesame blend can be used as an instant noodle finisher to take it up a level, or as a marinade onmushrooms/ poultry if you have more time.”