Sweet Taste of Victory for Marks & Spencer’s Bramley Apple & Blackberry Sponge Pudding

Wendy Larner (center-left) and Angela Wain of H.J. Heinz Company Ltd. receive Retail Product of the Year accolades from Harry Yearsley (left) of the Yearsley Group, and Paul Freeston, president of the British Frozen Food Federation.

And the winner in the British Frozen Food Federation’s (BFFF) Best Retail Product of the Year category is: Marks & Spencer’s Bramley Apple & Blackberry Sponge Pudding, produced by H.J. Heinz Company Ltd. That was the verdict from panels of consumers throughout the United Kingdom who entered products in the Federation’s “Oscars of the Frozen Food Industry” competition. Among criteria used for judging were appearance, taste, innovation, packaging, preparation instructions, likelihood of purchase and value for money.

The Marks & Spencer treat first struck gold in the Best New Dessert/Confectionery Product competition before besting six other first-place finishers in various categories to claim the overall top prize. The other gold winners were:

• Best New Fish-based Product: “2 Sea Bass Fillets with Lemon & Parsley Butter,” marketed by Iceland Foods Ltd.
• Best New Poultry-based Product: “Aldi cook it. Taste it. Love it” – two Chicken en Croute with Mango, Chili and Pak Choi, marketed by Aldi Stores.
• Best New Fish-based Product: “2 Sea Bass Fillets with Lemon & Parsley Butter,” marketed by Iceland Foods Ltd.
• Best New Vegetable-based Product: “Aunt Bessie’s Roast Mix,” produced by H.J. Heinz Company Ltd.
• Best New Meat-based Product: “Asda Extra Special 4 Ultimate Big Eat Burgers,” marketed by Asda Stores.
• Best New Pizza, Savouries and Savoury Bread Product: “Aldi Specially Selected Marinated Vegetable Tarte Fin Pizza,” marketed by Aldi Stores.
• Best New Ice Cream/Ice Cream Dessert Product: “Thorntons Toffee Temptation Stick,” produced by R&R Ice Cream UK Ltd.

Mike Fraine (right) and Sarah Goodhew of R&R Ice Cream UK proudly display the Gold Award won for Best New Ice Cream/Ice Cream Dessert.	Gareth Thomas (left) smiles upon receiving the Gold Award for Best New Fish-based Product on behalf of Iceland Foods Ltd. At right is BFFF President Paul Freeston.

The winners are selling in a retail frozen food market that is charting solid growth, as value has accelerated during the past eight quarters, pointed out Brian Young, BFFF director general. It is now valued at £4.95 billion, according to the latest TNS World Panel data, and growing 7% annually. Market expansion is well-founded with all sectors in value growth, while some segments are achieving double digit growth rates.

Meanwhile, information received from Horizons shows that the market for frozen foodservice/catering products is worth some £2.2 billion in the UK. [See page 40 of this issue to read about the winner of the BFFF’s Catering Product of the Year Award: Schöller Mövenpick’s Cognac VSOP Ice Cream.