CORNWALL foodfinder August 09 No.8

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Cornwall Foodfinder Bites

Welcome to the August edition of Foodfinder Bites.  Enjoy!
CASE STUDY & PRODUCT FOCUS

Case Study

Lynher Dairies - Have you Yarg-ed yet?

Lynher Dairies is a family business run by Catherine Mead from the family farm in Pengreep, near Ponsanooth in Cornwall. The farm processes 2 million litres of milk a year and makes nearly 200 tonnes of cheese. 

Lynher dairies are renowned for their award winning Cornish Yarg - a delicious semi-hard Cornish cheese that is made by hand in open round vats. After pressing and brining, the cheese is wrapped in nettle leaves. These leaves - picked wild from neighbouring properties and frozen for use throughout the year - are carefully brushed onto the cheese in a traditional pattern, attracting wonderful, naturally occurring moulds of various colours which help the cheese ripen. As the cheese matures, these edible nettles impart a delicate, slightly ‘mushroomy’ taste. The final product has an attractive, lacy pattern of leaves in blue and green, making the cheese look as lovely as it tastes. 

The dairy has now branched out with another product in the line – Wild Garlic Cornish Yarg.  Expert pickers go into the woods around Pengreep Farm in mid- March to mid-April and collect around a tonne of the finest wild garlic leaves.  The Yarg is then handmade using milk from the Dairy’s own herd of Ayreshire, Jersey and Fresian-cross cows and topped up with milk from neighbouring farms.  

The cheese is brined for 24 hours and dried for 48 before garlic leaves are arranged around each individual truckle to add a subtle flavour and help the Yarg mature. The natural white moulds that naturally form break down the cheese proteins, giving the Yarg its fresh, creamy taste and slightly crumbly texture. 

Matured wild garlic-wrapped Yarg is quite different in character from the traditional nettle-wrapped Yarg – the wild garlic leaves hold more moisture in the cheese than the nettles, giving a creamy texture with a slightly crumbly core. 

For information on the original Cornish Yarg, or the new garlic variety, contact Lynher Dairies on 01872 870789, email: sales@lynherdairies.co.uk, or click here to visit their website



Product Focus

The Atlantic Brewery - Atlantic Gold              

The Atlantic Brewery is a specialist micro-brewery based in an 18th century farmhouse on the outskirts of Newquay, on the North Cornish coast. Its owner and head brewer, Stuart Thomson, established the brewery in 2005 with the clear vision of producing pure quality ales without compromise.   

All of the brewery’s beers are hand crafted and produced entirely on site - from the brewing, hop growing and oasting* through to the bottling, labelling and packaging. 

Stuart believes in using the best quality ingredients including organically grown barley and hops.  The Atlantic Brewery received the Soil Association’s full organic certification in early 2006 and take pride in maintaining the standard established by this accolade.  

If the weather warms up (as we hope it will!) in coming weeks, take the time to try one of Atlantic Brewery’s favourites: their organic summer ale – Atlantic Gold. This golden ale, brewed using pale and wheat malt, is light on the palate with a subtle malt flavour. It is lightly spiced with ginger – adding a freshness and ‘zing’ to the malt without dominating or overpowering it. 

For further information on Atlantic Brewery, contact Stuart Thomson on 08700 421714, or via email at stuart@atlanticbrewery.com. Alternatively, visit the Atlantic Brewery’s website at www.atlanticbrewery.com.

* Oasting is the process used to dry hops.
 

In each issue of Foodfinder Bites we like to focus on any new and exciting products.  We want to hear from you if you have new lines, especially if you can provide a picture of the product. Email: help@enterprise-edge.co.uk.
Market Research
Chilled Foods


The chilled prepared foods market is one of the most dynamic areas of the food market.  The chilled cabinet in a supermarket was once dominated by milk and cheese, however in the last 15 years suppliers and retailers have placed increasing emphasis on developing its contents and it is now one of the largest areas in supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience stores -- packed with high-value, convenient products that tend to have a healthy image and appeal to time-pressured and health-conscious consumers. 

Key Note states that the chilled foods market grew at a healthy pace in recent years with sales increasing by 20.9% from 2004 - 2008. Growth was well above the rate of inflation each year and a number of factors helped to drive this, including an increased demand for convenience foods and growing interest in health and wellbeing.  Cheese comprises the largest sector of the market, accounting for 23.2% of sales in 2008, followed by yogurts, yogurt drinks, chilled desserts and ready meals.

According to Key Note,  suppliers - keen to enhance the healthy image of the market, have developed functional products such as yogurts and yogurt drinks that claim particular health benefits (eg: improving digestion or reducing bloating). In the years preceding 2008, there was an explosion in the convenience market with time poor consumers looking for chilled ready meals and pizzas - perceived as more flavoursome, healthy and exciting than similar products in the frozen cabinet.  However, in 2008 the recession affected sales in both the ready meals and pizza sectors, with consumers more likely to save money by cooking from scratch or buying lower priced products in the freezer cabinet.

Key Note forecasts that the value growth of the chilled foods market will slow in 2009 and 2010. This will largely reflect falling dairy prices around the globe, as increased supply meets weakening demand. The recession will also encourage UK consumers to trade down to lower-cost products. Growth will gradually pick up in the following years as the UK and global economy recovers.
EVENTS & USEFUL INFORMATION

NEWS AND EVENTS

The Specialty and Fine Food Fair, Olympia, London, 6 - 8 September
An essential date for restaurateurs, chefs, retailers, wholesalers and distributors. The Fair is dedicated to delivering the best fine food and drink the industry has to offer. www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk


The British Food Fortnight, Nationwide, 19 September - 4 October
The event will celebrate the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces with promotions and tastings in shops, all-British menus in pubs and restaurants, food and cookery lessons in schools and glorious food festivals. http://lovebritishfood.co.uk/ 
 

Great British Cheese Festival, Cardiff Castle, 26 - 27 September
Britain's biggest cheese market where you can taste over 460 sheep, cow, goat and even buffalo cheeses. Visitors can also taste and buy artisan wine, cider, perry and beer. www.thecheeseweb.com





                                          
                                            




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