24 May 2016
Frozen Food distributor Central Foods gears up for summer dessert menus
With increasing demand for free-from foods, distributor Central Foods is expecting its range of non-dairy, ice cream-style desserts to feature strongly on foodservice menus this summer.
The frozen food distributor offers the dessert in five different flavours and says that it proves popular because of its wide appeal for consumers and its versatility.
“An increasing number of people avoid certain ingredients such as gluten, dairy products, nuts or eggs due to allergies or for other health reasons,” said Gordon Lauder, managing director of Central Foods. “The ‘free-from’ market is huge - estimated to be worth £365 million and is forecast to grow 50% by 2019*. With 13% of the UK population estimated to be avoiding gluten*, it makes good commercial sense for operators to think about this when compiling their dessert menus for the summer.”
According to IPSOS Mori 2016, there are also now more than half a million vegans and 1.14million vegetarians in the UK, figures that are growing all the time.
“It’s a ‘given’ now that menus should cater for all,” explained Gordon. “It makes it more simple for operators to have items on the dessert menu that will appeal to a broad range of consumers. So something like a non-dairy, ice cream-style dessert is a great choice because it will suit customers with differing dietary needs and is the perfect summer menu item, as it’s light and refreshing. Being dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, cholesterol-free, vegan and kosher, it ticks a lot of boxes and is still deliciously creamy! We’re expecting it to be very popular this summer.”
This type of dessert is also versatile because it goes down well with all ages, can be served up as a stand-alone dish or as an accompaniment, and is suitable for the grab and go market if served in a suitable tub or container.
“There is a range of flavours available from traditional vanilla and chocolate through to more unusual flavours such as blueberry or mango and raspberry, offering something to suit all tastes,” added Gordon.
“Frozen desserts are great for operators because they reduce waste and provide handy ‘back-up’ supplies, but an item like a non-dairy, ice cream style dessert is incredibly convenient because it doesn’t require any defrosting time. It’s served straight from the container.”
Northamptonshire-based Central Foods offers a one-stop shop to the foodservice sector, supplying more than 400 different lines, including, desserts and puddings, as well as products suitable for those with specific dietary requirements.
*Mintel/Coeliac UK 2017