Latest news with #BritishFoodWeek
Arab News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
LuLu's ‘British Food Week 2025' shines a spotlight on prominent UK brands
LuLu Retail has officially inaugurated 'British Food Week 2025' across all its stores in Saudi Arabia, offering customers a week-long celebration of British products and exclusive in-store promotions. The event highlights the strong trade ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK, emphasizing the quality and heritage of British brands. The launch ceremony took place at LuLu's Diplomatic Quarter branch in Riyadh and was officiated by British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton. He was joined by Shehim Mohammed, director of LuLu Hypermarkets Saudi Arabia, as well as senior representatives from the British Embassy and LuLu management. Running until May 27, British Food Week 2025 features more than 3,438 British products representing 367 established and trusted UK brands. The diverse range includes fresh and frozen foods, dairy items, snacks, beverages, packaged groceries, and health-focused options such as organic and gluten-free products. As part of this year's campaign, LuLu has introduced 40 new items from seven leading UK brands, offering customers in Saudi Arabia exclusive early access to innovative products entering the market. This initiative reflects LuLu's commitment to delivering high-quality international products through strong sourcing partnerships and seamless logistics. Ambassador Crompton said: 'I'm delighted to be part of the opening of British Food Week 2025 at LuLu. It's wonderful to see so many familiar UK products available here in Saudi Arabia, from classic teas and cheeses to new innovations. Events like these remind us that trade is not just about numbers, but about people, tastes, and shared experiences. I thank LuLu for their continued support in bringing British products closer to Saudi consumers.' Mohammed added: 'British Food Week is one of our most anticipated events, and we're proud to bring it back across all LuLu stores in Saudi Arabia. It's a celebration of British quality and a reflection of our strong sourcing partnerships with UK suppliers. With the continued support of our logistics and packaging center in Birmingham, we're able to ensure that a wide variety of British products reach our shelves smoothly and consistently, offering our customers the best of the UK every year.' British Food Week 2025 is currently live across all LuLu outlets in the Kingdom, featuring exclusive promotions and a curated selection of premium British products.
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
LuLu launches British Food Week across all its outlets in Qatar
Tribune News Network Doha LuLu Group, the region's leading hypermarket chain, has officially launched British Food Week across its stores in Qatar. Running until May 21, the promotion showcases a diverse selection of premium food products imported directly from the United Kingdom—bringing the finest of British culinary excellence to shoppers in Qatar. The much-anticipated event was inaugurated at LuLu Mall, Giardino – The Pearl-Qatar, by Duncan Hill, deputy head of Mission at the British Embassy in Qatar. Speaking at the event, Duncan Hill said, 'LuLu works closely with our excellent UK suppliers, and through such partnerships and their distribution networks, they support UK-based businesses in reaching global markets. This aligns with one of our embassy's core missions: to facilitate UK exports, support the British community abroad, and encourage Qatari investments intothe UK.' He said, 'This is a wonderful tradition that not only promotes culinary and cultural exchange but also reinforces the strong and enduring ties between the United Kingdom and Qatar. LuLu's British Food Week is a living testament to the thriving relationship between our twonations.' Hill also highlighted that Qatar currently plays a positive role in the UK economy, contributing to the creation or sustenance of approximately 600,000 jobs—equivalent to one in every 44 jobs in the UK. 'Our British community here in Qatar has grown from 21,000 to over 23,000 in the past year and a half. This reflects the expanding opportunities for professionals seeking global experience and contributing to international development. Schools, families, and children are key pillars of this vibrant growth,'he added. Director of LuLu Group International Dr Mohamed Althaf also addressed the gathering, noting: 'This festival has been a longstanding initiative that signifies a strong and strategic partnership between LuLu, the UK, and Qatar. Our journey began in Birmingham 12 years ago in a modest rented space. Today, we operate from a cutting-edge, 170,000 sq. m. facility in the Smart Manufacturing Zone in the Midlands—Europe's leading distribution centre.' He proudly added, 'Our facility is the first net-positive distribution centre, fully powered by renewable energy and built on sustainable principles. We're proud to have received the prestigious Queen's Award for International Trade within the first five years of our UK operations.' Dr. Althaf emphasised that LuLu is setting a new standard in international retail logistics, ensuring the consistent availability of high-quality, safety-tested food products across the region. Shoppers can enjoy the best of British summer delights during the promotion—from a wide array of cheeses, freeze-packed berries, and teas to organic milk, rich yogurts, and specialty breads. The event is live across all LuLu Hypermarket branches in Qatar. As part of Lulu's annual events calendar, Lulu Hypermarkets across the region are proud to host the British Food Festival once again. Lulu Group has been organized this festival over a decade. This event aims to celebrate the rich culinary traditions and food culture of the Western world, introducing them to the local population and the diverse expatriate communities we serve. As one of the region's leading retailers, Lulu Group has consistently championed global food cultures through vibrant and innovative festivals. The British Food Festival has become a much-anticipated annual event, drawing enthusiastic participation and appreciation from customers year after year. Shoppers can look forward to a comprehensive showcase of British-made products across categories such as groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, frozen foods, bakery items, delicatessen, fish, hot meals, household goods, and health & beauty products. More than just a food festival, this event is a celebration of cultural exchange—offering our customers a chance to discover, enjoy, and connect with British culinary heritage in an inclusive and welcomingenvironment. Adding vibrance to the event, students from King's College Doha performed live musical pieces during the inauguration ceremony. The store was decorated with British flags and iconic visuals, creating an authentic ambiance that celebrated British culture, architecture, andtradition. The success of this promotion is backed by LuLu's award-winning logistics and warehousing facility in Birmingham, which supplies a wide range of high-quality British products to their stores at affordable prices—further reinforcing LuLu Group's commitment to excellence in global retail.
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘Extraordinary' doner kebab concoction crowned Britain's best pie
A doner kebab concoction has been crowned Britain's best pie. The 'extraordinary' recipe saw off competition from 900 other entrants to become supreme champion at the 2025 British Pie Awards. The pie was created by Boghall Butchers, in West Lothian, Scotland, where it has already become a firm favourite with locals. The third-generation, family-run business bakes 500 pies a week to keep up with demand. Mariesha Boyle, 45, cooked up the idea following requests from regulars and then tweaked the recipe to 'perfect' it. The pie is made with chicken and beef kebab meat, along with white and red onions, a chilli marinade and a sweet chilli sauce, with cheese on top. Ms Boyle said: 'We were looking for something new, something different that would give us a wee bit of variety. 'They've been very popular – we can't make enough of them.' The creation is a 'fusion pie' which the chief judge at the awards, held in Melton Mowbray, described as having an excellent overall bake with a tasty and well-seasoned filling that 'definitely had the wow factor'. Some 35 other entries in the fusion pie category included chicken tikka, salmon 'chai-matchai', Caribbean-style jerk spiced turkey with cranberry sauce, and a butternut Malabar pie. The overall winners have now been invited to Japan in October to showcase their pie as part of British Food Week at Hankyu Department Store in Osaka. Boghall Butchers, which was previously run by Ms Boyle's grandfather, William Boyle, and her 68-year-old father Paul Boyle, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in May. She said: 'To win this award is absolutely amazing. Especially this year, it's an amazing accolade. 'It gives my father something a wee bit special to celebrate.' The family's passion for the business is further demonstrated by Ms Boyle's great aunt, Mabel Brown, who is still working at the shop at the age of 93. Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Pork Pie Association and host of the awards, said: 'The pie is Britain's most important contribution to world food heritage. 'The British eat over £1 billion of pies every year; hot, cold, sweet, savoury and now gluten-free, vegan and fusion. 'These awards celebrate the skills and ingenuity of all those involved in pie-making, from traditional recipes to more exotic creations. It's been wonderful to be immersed in the collected passion for pies – traditional British fare, often showcased with a modern twist.'
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
British Pie Awards 2025: Naan better as kebab pie wins UK title
A pastry inspired by a takeaway favourite has taken the plaudits in a competition with the upper crust of the British pie kebab pie, created by Boghall Butchers of Bathgate in West Lothian, pitta-ed its wits against more than 900 entries at the British Pie a hangover-friendly filling made up of "principally chicken, beef and a chilli marinade with a sweet chilli sauce", it was described as having "an excellent overall bake and presentation" by the chief British Pie Awards took place in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, home to renowned pork pies. The Turkish-tinged creation by Boghall Butchers - which is celebrating its 50th year in business - won through in the newly-formed fusion category, which also featured entries such as a chicken tikka pie, a jerk-spiced turkey filling with cranberry, and a "butternut and Malabar" their win, the supreme champions will be invited to Japan, where their prize-winning pastry could be featured as part of British Food Week in O'Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Pork Pie Association and host of the British Pie Awards, congratulated the winners for mixing traditional pastry-based talents with culinary invention."The pie is Britain's most important contribution to world food heritage," he said."These awards celebrate the skills and ingenuity of all those involved in pie-making, from traditional recipes to more exotic creations."It's been wonderful to be immersed in the collected passion for pie - traditional British fare, often showcased with a modern twist."
