Speciality-Food-Magazine-September-2024

specialityfoodmagazine.com 31 CHRISTMAS 2024 adds. “We go to them because we trust them to have curated a quality offering for us. That is such an important thing to remember.” And there’s more choice than ever before for the retail sector, says The Hawkshead Relish Company founder Maria Whitehead, adding that this category has come a very long way since she started her business more than 25 years ago. “It’s not just the standard ploughman’s pickle now. There are so many different variations on flavour, texture, colours and ingredients. In years gone by people would cook a chutney down for hours on end and it would be dark brown and all very standard. When What’s hot to stock in the chutney aisle this season? Speciality Food investigates... MARIA WHITEHEAD THE HAWKSHEAD RELISH COMPANY MARKUS ENDT RH AMAR COMMENTATORS BECKY VALE TRACKLEMENTS JARS TOBE RELISHED you look at what’s being made now it’s incredible. There is so much to choose from.” Maria believes both shoppers and retailers have “woken up” to the fact a chutney can add something to a dish, rather than just being something you put on the side of the plate. “They form a component of a lot of meals,” agrees Markus Endt, senior technical manager at RH Amar. “There’s a big movement for charcuterie boards at the moment and chutneys and spreads are interchangeable here, allowing people to add extra characteristics to what they’re eating. They are quite important.” cleaner labels, reduced sugar and additives, and more fruit and veg. The importance of chutneys in retail They might not have the instant ‘wow’ factor of, say, the cheese counter, but chutneys remain a key product for independents, and deserve lots of love and attention, says Tracklements’ Becky Vale, who explains that shoppers rely on speciality stores to give them a greater breadth of choice than supermarkets. “We did a bit of research recently, and we know people buy based on flavour, quality and taste in this category. It makes sense for speciality retailers to stock brands that deliver on those three things,” Becky says. We have expectations when we visit an independent shop, Becky C hutneys. They’re the condiment that just keeps on giving. When our cooking efforts fall flat, or inspiration fails us, unleashing the contents of our favourite jar can provide that punch of flavour we’ve been reaching for in an inexpensive and impactful way. Changing tastes and global influences have ensured the category remains fresh, with tantalisingly new and exotic combinations landing on shelves on a monthly basis, appealing to a broad spectrum of shoppers. But, as in the entire food and drink sphere, it’s tradition and the classics that are currently reining. Home cooks are combining experimental ingredients and tastes with a generous spoonful of relishes that spark comfort and nostalgia. They’re also looking for better quality preserves from brands that are taking stock of their desire for