Fyne Ales – one of the UK’s most effective brands
Fyne Ales, a Scottish brewery on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyllshire has been named as one of the UK’s most effective brands.
With just seven employees, Fyne Ales held off a host of well known names to win the Design Business Association’s GOLD award for design effectiveness.
The redesign packaging and labelling for its specialist beers was judged to be more effective than those designed for the likes of Guinness, Fairy Liquid and Cadbury’s Buttons.
Fyne Ales was started ten years ago by Jonny Delap and his wife Tuggy on the family dairy farm. On St Andrews Day 2001 the first batch of ale was brewed. Fyne Ales Scottish beers are still made using water sourced from a burn above the brewery overlooking Glen Fyne and the head of Loch Fyne. Over the years, despite winning many quality awards Fyne Ales struggled to find high street sales outlets. Then, with a minimal budget of less than £7,000 Fyne Ales commissioned Glasgow agency Good Creative to redesign the packaging and labelling. Since the redesign sales have more than doubled and the company has been awarded distribution deals with Oddbins. Waitrose and the beers are sold in Wetherspoons pubs.
Jamie Delap, son of the late Jonny Delap, is now chief executive of Fyne Ales. Quoted as saying “The rebrand is the most important thing we have ever done”, Jamie anticipates a further doubling of sales in the next 12 months and is negotiating export opportunities to Hong Kong and Sweden.
News info:
http://forargyll.com/2010/09/fyne-ales-sees-sales-double-and-export-market-on-fast-track/
The Scottish Foodie – In Print
The Scottish edition of Foodies magazine hit the shelves and coffee tables of Scotland’s food enthusiasts in January. An A5 sizes glossy publication, it stood out amongst the plethora of free style and fashion magazines that cover the counters of coffee shops, deli, health clubs etc.
This Scottish edition was packed with inspirational recipes from local and celebrity chefs, lots of news from Scotland world of food and drink including restaurant reviews, new openings and seasonal inspirations. Look out for it next time you’re sipping your flat white, expresso or double latte
The latest online version of Foodies includes articles on Master Chef Claire Lara, Celebrity Chef Gino D-acampo and Crinan Hotel in Argyll.
Claire Lara:
http://www.foodies-magazine.com/meet-the-chefs/274-masterchef
Brewhaha brings ‘Brew’s the Daddy’ Home
Brewhaha, the young Glasgow based tea company, has just launched a range of Super Teas in the UK. The new range offers ten different types of Super Tea which claim to counter the effects of issues like lack of sleep and overindulgence.
The Brewhaha Super Tea range which includes Rose Tea, All-Day Caffeine Free Tea and the uniquely named Brew’s the Daddy has already been launched in the US with great success and recently won a Food Oscar at the great Taste Awards. Brewhaha owner Joanne McLeod is aiming to promote throughout the UK in delis and stores such as Harvey Nichols and will use the concept of ‘pop-up’ tearooms across Glasgow and other Scottish locations.
Joanne’s “tea room with a twist” in Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries serves a wide range of teas, including the Brewhaha Rose Tea which has developed a cult following and is a favourite with actors Jude Law and Jonny Lee Miller.
It is only six years since Joanne launched Brewhaha from her kitchen table in Glasgow. Joanne beleives that tea is a multi-generational drink that needed to refresh its image.
“Brewhaha is all about making tea fun again and young people were the first to catch on, with students holding Brewhaha tea dances and parties. During his time at St Andrews University, Prince William bought Brewhaha from his local deli.”
Further details on Brewhaha Web Site >>>
The Brewhaha Super Tea range has already been launched in the US with great success and recently won a Food Oscar at the great Taste Awards. Brewhaha owner Joanne McLeod is aiming to promote throughout the UK in delis and stores such as Harvey Nichols and will use the concept of ‘pop-up’ tearooms across Glasgow and other Scottish locations.
Joanne’s “tea room with a twist” in Glasgow
Chef’s Chefs – A Scottish Chef’s Resources
A welcome addition to the Scotland’s online food resources is the Chef’s Chefs web site currently focuses on the Scottish Hospitality industry.
With Scotland renowned for its wealth of fresh food produce and top class cuisine with 16 Michelin starred restaurants, the web site originators thought Scotland was an ideal starting point.
Chef’s Chef is an innovative resource for chefs and food lovers enabling them to give opinions of establishments, read the latest articles on kitchen techniques and equipment and to exchange recipes and new food ideas. Their articles on aphrodisiacs, Mediterranean thighs and the 20+ job adverts shows the wide range of interest covered on the web site.
Whether your a foodie, a chef or a restaurant owner it is definitely one to check out.
Sourcing Scottish Food Overseas
It is encouraging to see the growth of small enterprising companies exporting uniquely Scottish food overseas. In recent months we have featured Edinburgh’s Foodieboxes, Cocoa Mountain in Sutherland and the record worldwide exports of Tunnocks . The latest outlet to be spotted by Taste-of-Scotland.com is Scottish Food Overseas. A small but enterprising online resource Scottish Food Overseas offers to export over a dozen types of haggis, Scottish cheeses, food hampers and even a copy of the Scottish Daily Record! (Wot? No Broons?)
http://www.scottishfoodoverseas.com
NOTE: We get regular requests for sources of Scottish food overseas. Our latest was a request from Cyprus for Scottish cheese. It is our intention to create a directory page with links to international sources. So, if you know if a reputable supplier of Scottish produce to overseas destinations please get in touch and leave a comment.
Hotel Du Vin – Scottish Events
The chefs, sommeliers and GM’s at Hotel du Vin Glasgow and Edinburgh have devised a series of food and drink events showcasing wines and local produce. A clever idea which will attract new clientele and promote the hotel’s suppliers.
A Winter Barbecue
The Edinburgh Hotel du Vin is holding a winter barbeque on Friday 25th March. Showcasing homegrown and local produce from Peelham Farm this is billed as an ‘all you can eat pork buffet with plenty of cider’. Warm blankets and appropriate heating will be provided. It should prove a real crowd puller so we suggest you book early to be sure of your place in the queue. Cost £35 per person.
Glasgow Cheese Saturdays
By the time you read this the Cheese Saturday may already have been enjoyed by a lucky few. Pierre from Clarks Cheese and Hotel du Vin’s Chef Sommelier Laurent are scheduled to host a cheese and wine tasting afternoon in the bistro at Hotel du Vin Glasgow on 12th February. Price £15 per person.
Keep an eye out for events at the Hotel du Vin corporate events site:
Well done Hotel du Vin!
