We’ve picked out a few of our Easter best sellers below, which are sure to provide a weekend full of feasting!

Our smoked salmon pairs perfectly with Deli Tubs Cream Cheese, to give an indulgent breakfast or brunch to kick start the day.  Display alongside one another in the chiller to encourage customers to pick up as a pair.

For a quick and easy light lunch or as part of a larger grazing board, our Curd & Cure Mixed British Meat Selection and Mixed Continental Meat Selection are pre-portioned and ready to serve, presented in attractive retail-ready packaging.  Or for the full Tapas experience, Delicasa Tapas Packs include Meat & Cheese or Olives, Meat & Cheese.

We’ve of course also got an extensive cheese offering, with options to create local, British and continental cheeseboards, as well as plenty of vegan cheeses to choose from too.  Why not put together a selection of cheese which will complement each other on the cheeseboard as part of your display?  We’ve picked out a few of our favourites below, but the combinations are endless with plenty to suit every palate!

British cheese board: Ashmore Farmhouse, Blue Clouds, Winslade, St Giles, Lyburn Garlic Nettle & Ellie’s Chilli.

Vegan cheeseboard: Nero Minded, G.O.A.T. with herbs, Sacre Bleu (pre-order) & Mouldy Goaty (pre-order).

Then for the main event, we’ve got the essentials for creating a Sunday roast that’s extra special!  Kentish Oils’ Rapeseed Oil is fantastic for the crispest roast potatoes, with their Rosemary and Garlic & Herbsblends adding plenty of extra flavour.  And for simple, no hassle gravy, Potts gravies are a must, available in a variety of flavours.

Plus, not forgetting the sweet treats!  The Devon Cream Company’s Clotted Cream is a delicious addition to any dessert, or for something extra special why not give their Strawberry & Prosecco flavour Cream a try?  And for the finishing touch (or just as a sweet snack), Flower & White’s Meringue Bites are available in a choice of Raspberry & Salted Caramel.

And for those not in the mood for cooking, Kent Crisps’ Lamb & Rosemary flavour Crisps are the perfect choice.  Produced using real Romney Lamb, to give a real taste of a traditional Sunday lunch!

All of the products above may be found in our Retail & Deli Brochure, or speak to one of our sales team on 01580 212949 to add on to your next order.

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Earlier this year we welcomed two new team members, Kevin Rose and Alanta Hale, who will be your dedicated foodservice points of contact, with Kevin as our Foodservice National Account Manager and Alanta as Foodservice Telesales Executive.

Kevin has over 20 years of experience of business-to-business food wholesale, is a passionate ‘foodie’ and enjoys speaking about food and learning from experienced chefs about their latest creations.  Working in the food and drink industry for this time has given him a real love and understanding of Regional and British products. He prides himself on his reliability as an Account Manager and takes pride in his ability to respond to customer needs professionally and efficiently.

Since joining Curd & Cure, he has worked hard to develop and build a new range specifically designed for the hospitality sector in mind, which we will be launching later this month.  If you would like a preview of the range, please get in touch with Kevin on 07493 423547.

Alanta brings with her a passion for all things food and has thrown herself into her role at Curd & Cure, developing an in depth understanding of our product ranges.  She is on hand Sunday – Thursday to take orders and answer any queries you may have on the foodservice range. 

Alongside developing our foodservice range, we have also used our experience supplying our Retail & Deli customers over the past year to improve our service, including increased delivery areas and more regular deliveries, an additional Sunday telesales day, additional Monday delivery round and a new Whatsapp for business number.

Our delivery areas are now as follows, having also expanded to include Hampshire & South Essex:

Monday – All CT, TN, DA, BR, SE, ME, KT, RH, RG, GU & SW, RM, CM, IG, AL, WD & EN postcodes

Tuesday – ALL TN, ME, DA, BR, SE, SM, RM, IG postcodes & CT 1-5

Wednesday – All TN, CT, DA, BR, RH, RG, CR, KT, GU & BN postcodes

Thursday – All TN, ME, DA, BR, SM, SE, SW, RM, CM & IG postcodes

Friday – All TN, ME, CT, RH, RG, KT, GU, BN, DA, BR & SE postcodes

Saturday- All TN, ME, BN, GU, RG, CR, RH, SL, KT, PO, SO & SP postcodes

UK-wide delivery is available via courier as usual, please order by 1.30pm for next day delivery Tuesday – Friday (excludes frozen)
Minimum order is just £50 for deliveries on our own vans and £100 (carriage paid) for courier deliveries.

We have a friendly telesales team who can call you the day before your delivery day to take an order, or you can place your order by calling 01580 212949 or emailing orders@curdandcure.co.uk

Our phones are manned from 8.30am–5pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am-4.30pm on Friday & 10am – 5pm on Sunday, with the option to leave an order on the answerphone overnight.  We also have a new Whatsapp for business number, making it even easier to get in touch with our telesales team, who will be on hand during office hours to answer any product queries & provide a quick response as we know it’s not always easy to pick up the phone when you’re busy. Add 07423130950 to your contacts and use to contact us via Whatsapp.

We look forward to working with you and are always happy to discuss how Curd & Cure may be able to support you and your business, whether as a new customer or one of our much valued long standing customers.

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We would also like to say thank you for your support, suggestions, patience and kindness that you have shown our team who have worked so hard trying to deliver the best customer service possible. We are so grateful to be a part of such a supportive and friendly industry and are constantly looking at improvements we can make to help our customers and ways to introduce you all to new and inspiring ideas and products. 

Despite the challenges that last year brought, our team managed to produce and launch a new brochure in summer 2020. This included many new products that were hugely successful additions to our range. Following this we asked our customers to complete a customer survey to help guide us on what you would like to see next. It was so humbling to hear some of the positive stories for independent retailers in our industry that have come out of such a difficult time.

 Apart from the stories of success, we had many suggestions of new products you would like to see in our range. In the 2021 Retail and Deli Brochure we have paid attention to food trends and listened to what you have asked for and hope you are as excited as we are about the ranges we have chosen. These include many new local products, speciality cheeses, an expanded Deli Tub range, increase in vegan & plant-based products and a few other exciting treats that we just could not help bring in for you! All this alongside our core range of cheese, charcuterie and specialist food & drink.

 Thank you again for supporting us in to 2021, from all the Curd & Cure team.

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Tell us a brief history of the company
The Farmer’s Son was established in 2016 on the belief there are fewer things in life more important than the food we eat. We believe in producing exceptional quality food, sustainable and ethically produced with outstanding flavour. My family have been farming and producing food in Fife, Scotland for 300 years and we still farm today, so you could say it is in my blood.  

Why is your black pudding special? 
We use the finest locally sourced ingredients in our award winning range of products. Our Black Pudding and White Pudding are handmade to fresh to a 100 year old recipe from all natural ingredients, free from additives and preservatives.  They are also dairy & sugar free. 

 
What tips do you have for the best way to enjoy your puddings? 
Our Black Pudding and White Pudding are incredibly versatile ingredients that taste great in pasta dishes, crumbled over pizza, added to pies,  salads,  sauces or even for stuffing seasonal vegetables!  

 
What tips would you give to retailers stocking Farmer’s Son products?
Taste! Taste! Taste! If you have the opportunity to offer your customers a sample the product will sell itself. We also have product sheets, great point of sale  shelf talkers & leaflets available. 

What does a ‘normal’ day look like for you? 
We typically start early in the morning, no two days are the same, I usually start with planning my day before breakfast and then speak with the team to see what’s happening. Whether that is on the farm or with production & orders. We have livestock on our farm which need to be cared for 365 days a year and there is also field work to do so if I’m not outside on the farm, it could be answering the telephone or email enquiries and working on new product and marketing developments. There is always so much to do! 

 
If you weren’t in your current role, what you like to do instead? 
I started The Farmers Son with the goal of owning my own Farm, so one day I hope to be full time Farming. I also love conservation & wildlife, so perhaps more time spent on tree planting & conservation projects. 

What is your favourite product in your range? 
Our Black Pudding is just superb 

Where is your favourite place to visit & take some time out (when that’s possible!)? 
I love anywhere with a great view or great sunset. Whether thats somewhere here in Scotland, Europe or North America. Eating great fresh food & seafood with some fine wine or beer. 

Who do you take inspiration from in the food & drink industry? 
There are a number of Farming Family “Brands” based here in Central Scotland, West Country & Northern Ireland who are doing a great job. I try and listen out for any tips or advice they have when I see them at Roadshows & food shows. Often as family run businesses they’ve been there and done something before and are open to giving advice which is always invaluable. 

What is the question you are asked most often about your products? 
Where can I buy it? 

 What food/drink trends do you think we are going to see over the next 12 months? 
Local, low food miles, sustainable and ethical food trends  

If you had to eat just one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
Definitely Black Pudding! Not only does it taste great, it’s also a super food full of iron and zinc.  

Any additional information you would like to tell us? 
Family, Food & Farming obsessed! 

You can find more information on Farmer’s Son’s range of puddings in both retail & deli sizes on page 33 & 73 of our Retail & Deli 20/21 Brochure.

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Despite the challenges that this year has brought with it, we have been working hard to source the most delicious food & drink from even more unique & emerging food & drink producers, including the very best of both British & continental brands.

We’ve added numerous new gifting options and an extensive range of British & artisan cheeses, so there’s sure to be something for everyone, whether looking for retail, the deli counter or foodservice.

The Curd & Cure Christmas 2020 Brochure may be downloaded here, with order forms and full price list available on request by emailing christmas@curdandcure.co.uk or by calling 01580 212949.

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Ploughman’s Board
With so many seeking out comfort foods and a taste of their childhood, a ploughman’s board is a great way to give a little bit of nostalgia whilst delivering a British classic.  We’ve chosen the following products to make up this board, simply add a good wedge of crusty bread and some vine tomatoes and it’s ready to serve:

Woodchurch Ham
Gala Pie
Ashmore Cheddar
England Preserves piccalilli
Deli Tubs balsamic onions
Netherend Farm butter portions

The Picnic Pack
The return of the hot weather means al fresco eating is back on the cards, though this can equally be enjoyed as an indoor feast too.  Serve in a hamper or basket to add a bit of extra theatre.  All of the products listed are available in retail size pre-packs, meaning they can be supplied to the customer in-pack or presented unpacked on a board.

Deli Casa meat, cheese & olives tapas pack
Deli Tubs red cabbage coleslaw
Deli Tubs peppers stuffed with Feta
Red onion marmalade & walnut Great British Biscotti
Ramona’s Me Too! Coriander hummous
Kingsdown pressés
Kent Crisps

Meat & Cheese Platter
Highlighting the best cheese & charcuterie, serve as a grazing board to be shared between a group, or slice & portion into individual boards so everyone has their own mini platter to dig in to.  Why not use our suggestions below as a starting point, then introduce different meats & cheeses weekly or monthly to keep customers’ interest but without having to make big menu changes.

Wookey Hole cave-aged Cheddar
Whitelake Bagborough Brie
Ellie’s Dairy chilli goat’s cheese
Fennel Salami
Prosciutto
Cornichons
Bay Tree spiced apple & onion chutney
Miller’s charcoal crackers
Captain’s Crackers Kentish ale & rosemary 

The Speciality Selection
We pride ourselves on offering a range of food & drink which includes both firm favourites and new discoveries.  This selection delivers bold flavours from some exciting new producers creating products which are not only innovative, but delicious too.  

Feltham Farm Renegade Monk
Blackwoods original Graceburn
The Real Cure Dorset Aberdeen Angus bresaola
Capreolus Coppa
Captain’s Crackers cracked pepper & sea salt
Bay Tree garlic pickle
Cornichons

For further information on any of the products listed above, please refer to our 20/ 21 Retail & Deli Brochure or get in touch to receive our full Retail & Deli or Foodservice price list.

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We spoke to David Richards, Technical & Sales Director at Capreolus, about the story behind their delicious range, tips on the best ways to serve their charcuterie and more…!

Tell us a brief history of the company
My wife Karen and I started the business in 2009. I had been working for a nanotechnology company which went bust shortly before the banking crisis and it coincided with me turning 50. Nobody wanted to employ a 50-year old sales director, so after 18 months working as a labourer on a building site (I was called ‘Posh Dave’) Karen suggested turning my hobby of curing meat into a business. Now we produce a wide range of award-winning charcuterie (20 Stars at the Great Taste Awards 2019!).

Why is your charcuterie special?
I can give you all the normal answers like ‘we use the best meat available’, or ‘our recipes are completely individual’ or other such answers – everyone says that. But at the end of the day I think that it is down to a whole range of things: yes, we do use the best meat that we can find, but we also use the best spices and we grind them fresh for each recipe because when they are freshly ground the flavours and aromas are SO much better. We also ferment all of our air-dried meats which very few other producers do – it’s an extra step that takes time but it makes so much difference to the final product: making the fat feel silky in the mouth (like melting chocolate!), keeping the air-dried product soft and not dry. But I think that what really makes the product special is the care that my small team take in making them. Robert, Aaron, and Kirsty are as proud of our products as Karen and me.

Do you have any tips for how to serve your charcuterie products?
ALWAYS serve charcuterie at room temperature. It’s much easier to separate the slices when the meat is at room temperature – and it tastes so much better. If it’s too cold, you lose so much of the flavour.

With the Smoked Duck try serving it with fruit – it goes so well with a fine English pear or ripe mango. The Smoked Mutton is fantastic when you pair it with a sharp apple like a Granny Smith.

If you weren’t in your current role, what you like to do instead
I’d be retired! I have so many things that I would love to do but simply don’t have the time. I used to be a very good Target Rifle shooter but do not have the time to practice; I would love to do more deer stalking – just watching them is good enough! I gave up fishing years ago but would love to take it up again. Oh, and I would love to take my wife to all the countries I have visited (both for work and shooting) but left her behind to look after the kids

What is your favourite product in your range?
That is an impossible question. Every piece of charcuterie matures differently and every now and again we find a piece (doesn’t matter what it is) that just sings and that is my favourite – until the next time!

Where is your favourite place to visit?
France – I love the food and wine; it’s not ‘too foreign’ so I don’t feel uncomfortable; the markets…..Oh, the markets!

If you had to eat just one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
FISH!

The full Capreolus range includes Dorset Coppa, Cold Smoked Mutton, Dorset Air Dried Pork Loin, Rosette Salami and Smoked Duck Breast. Full information can be found on page 37 of our 20 / 21 Retail & Deli Brochure.

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We’re big picnic fans here at Curd & Cure and have all the essentials needed to pull together an impressive spread with minimum effort; perfect whether you’re looking to create an enticing farm shop or deli display or putting together a picnic box to be enjoyed in the pub garden or as a takeaway add-on to a café or coffee shop offering.

We’ve pulled together some of our favourite products with a few of our top tips to get the most out of picnicking over the Great British summer:

1. It will come as no surprise that the first thing we reach for when it comes to prepping for a picnic is cheese!  Try to pick a variety of different cheeses; cheddar style, blue, soft and goats, for example, to give a range of tastes & textures to suit all palates.  When displaying in the chiller or cheese counter, why not curate an example picnic board to sow the picnicking seed and give customers a quick & easy way to pick out cheeses that would complement one another.

2. Cured meats give a more continental feel and by being creative with presentation (think prosciutto piled high, salami ‘flowers’ and chopped chorizo) this is an easy way to begin to build the spread.  Alternatively, add a slice or two of Gala pie, traditional home cured ham & salt beef for a very British picnic.

3. Simple snacks add additional flavour with minimal hassle.  Kent Crisps’ range all showcase Kentish landscapes & landmarks on their pack fronts, and so look attractive served as an open pack for everyone to dig in, or for something a little different, Snackling comes in two flavours, sea salt & smoked bacon, and is sure to be a firm favourite!

5. Stay hydrated – in the summer heat it’s easy to forget to drink as much water as is needed.  Make sure the fridge is well stocked and drinks are chilled and ready to go!  Kingsdown’s presses are our go-to drink for when the mercury starts to rise.  Made using lightly sparkling natural Kentish spring water blended with real fruit juice, their refreshing range includes Cloudy lemonade (serve with ice & a slice) and Elderflower sparkle (truly the taste of summer) to name just a couple.  For those looking to support a business with purpose, Karma Cola’s range comes in cans – great for on the go – as well as glass bottles and each sale gives something back to the Cola growing communities in Sierra Leone.  Place paper straws alongside your drinks chiller, giving a nod to the ever-growing demand for more eco-friendly products and creating an upsell alongside colourful paper plates in a farm shop setting.

6. Summer means salad!  There’s little better than a crisp salad made using fresh Kentish produce.  Add instant flavour by drizzling with a little Olive Branch Olive Oil, or pouring over Harrington’s strangely addictive Benenden Sauce.  Our new range of dressings from A Little Bit are all made using fresh herb and will add instant flavour, making it easier than ever to make even the simplest salad a little bit special.  Top off with some edible flowers to take your salad to the next level!

7. Picnicking without the preparation… Our range of Deli Tubs provide a quick & easy way to add coleslaw & potato salad to the mix, without having to spend hours making them.  Red cabbage coleslaw adds instant colour, whilst potato salad will always be a crowd pleaser.  Serve straight from the tub (which is resealable too, not that there’s likely to be anything left over!) or decant into a bowl to give a more homemade look.  For foodservice, our Luxuryslaw is available in 1kg tubs, and provides all the flavour without any fuss.

8. Carbs, carbs, carbs.  There’s no getting away from it, there really is no better vehicle for cheese & meats than a good chunk of bread.  Slather with butter (Netherend individual portions are the ideal size for a picnic box) and pile it high!  Our bakery section offers all the options you could need, including Italian ciabatta & tomato focaccia as well as more unusual Schioches; supplied frozen and ready to bake fresh to order.

9. Last, but by no means least, dips & toppings are a must.  Me too! hummus is available with 20% off throughout August and comes in 6 delicious flavours, great on bread or as a dip for crisps.  We’re loving Olive Branch’s tapenades, packed full of flavour and delicious as mini mouthfuls on top of GB Biscotti’s Jalepeño & Cheddar savoury biscotti, whilst England preserves’ Pear, Date & Ale chutney is a real taste of the English countryside and makes for a delicious accompaniment to cheese.

10. Presentation is everything.  It’s well known that customers buy with their eyes, and so by creating in-store displays which both are eye-catching but also prompt the thought of picnicking, you’re far more likely to inspire picnic themed purchases.  Group items together to encourage add-on buys – such as positioning cured meats adjacent to the cheese selection already mentioned, deli tubs and hummus in the same section.  Use prompts as the customer moves around the shop “Perfect for picnics”, “Enjoy al fresco”, “why not try x dip with your crisps”.  Also make sure the whole team are fully on board – identify some key products which would be good to upsell alongside one another and give customers recommendations.  People buy from people too!

From a foodservice point of view, it’s important that people understand what they are going to get – use visual prompts or perhaps display a sample picnic box.  Use of inventive names will also encourage buy in; “The Great British picnic box” or “Kent summer picnic hamper” will sound more attractive than just a “takeaway picnic box”.  Little touches will make all the difference; include some information on the products, package in a specific box or tray or if making a picnic to eat on-site, make sure that it’s presented attractively when served.  In a day where social media is such an integral part of day to day life, people are constantly looking for shareable moments and ‘instagrammable’ images. The hastag #picnic has over 6.3million uses on Instagram, whilst #picnicking has 16.4k uses, so make sure you are making the most of the opportunity that the exposure this sort of offering can bring!

For more help on choosing the best products for your picnic offering, our team are always on hand and will be more than happy to help pull together the perfect picnic selection for your outlet.  We always love to see your Curd & Cure displays, so don’t forget to share them with us on social media tagging @curdandcure.

01580 212949
orders@curdandcure.co.uk

Find the products mentioned on the following pages in our Spring/Summer 2019 brochure:
A Little Bit: New listing – please get in touch for more details
Bakery: 59 & 114
Benenden Sauce: 12
Cheeses: 47-56 (retail), 64-87 (deli), 98 (foodservice)
Charcuterie & sliced meats: 43-46 (retail), 93-94 (deli), 100 (foodservice)
Deli Tubs & Luxuryslaw: 37 (retail), 112 (foodservice)
England Preserves: 19
Gala pie: 93
GB Biscotti: 27
Hummus: 39 – special offer page 7
Karma Cola: 32 & 106
Kent Crisps: 23 & 109
Kingsdown Pressés: 31
Netherend Butter: 98
Olive Branch: 16 & 103
Snackling: 21 & 109

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1 star: Simply Delicious. A food that delivers fantastic flavour – approximately 25% of entries will achieve this rating each year.
2 stars: Outstanding.  Above & beyond delicious – less than 10%of entries will receive this rating.
3 stars: Exquisite.  Extraordinarily tasty foods – around 2% of products are awarded 3-stars each year.  Don’t leave the shop without buying it!

We were split into tables of 3-4, each with a co-ordinator who would lead & write up our comments along with a couple of fellow judges.  In my afternoon session I was lucky enough to judge alongside Linda Farrand, co-founder of the Guild of Fine Foods & Great Taste Awards and endless in her knowledge when it comes to food & drink.

Each session lasts a couple of hours and we tasted a minimum of 20 products per session, ranging from bacon & sausage rolls to ice cream & honey, drinks and oils as well as what seemed like an endless supply of cakes to name just a few of the hugely varying products!

I was really impressed with how thorough and also how fair the judging process was.  Every product is tasted blind, with the entrant supplying details on what the product is and a brief description.  The products are also mixed, so we were never tasting one product directly against a similar product.  Although for the majority of products it is immediately obvious what they are, we had great fun guessing others and unveiling hot foods from under their foil, before hearing the full description, which at times was quite a surprise!

For everything judged, we would be looking at the appearance & presentation, the smell and of course the taste.  From here judges’ comments are collated and we would make a decision on whether each of us felt the product was 1, 2 or 3 star, or perhaps if there could be some tweaks which would push it up to star level if it was not quite there yet.

Should a product be judged as not achieving a star, it would be re-tasted by another table so as there is no ‘one strike and you are out’ as such.  Those products deemed to be a two or three star product would be tasted by many tables, ensuring that they really are up to the outstanding standard that the Great Taste Awards aim to recognise – I’m hopeful that we may have found & tasted a few 2 & 3 star products during the day and will be waiting eagerly to see the results!

Another element which makes these awards special is the variety of judges that take part on any one day.  To be in a room judging alongside people from all across the food & drink industry, all of whom are clearly extremely passionate about all things food & drink but equally are all excited to learn from one another and discover new food & drink was a real pleasure.  This ranged from food writers, journalists & marketeers, to producers, retailers & wholesalers such as Curd & Cure, as well as the founders themselves and many long-standing judges, with all of us bringing our own thoughts and ideas to add in to the Great Taste mix. A real privilege to have been a part of this year’s awards and I look forward to judging again in coming years.”

The Great Taste Awards are announced in August 2019 with one supreme champion being crowned in September. To find out more about the Great Taste Awards visit www.greattasteawards.co.uk

We’re proud to stock a wide range of star-winning products from producers including:
Olive Branch, Flower & White, Kentish Oils, Kentish Condiments, Kent Crisps, Creative Nature, Global Harvest, La Tua Pasta, Mustchup, The Great British Biscotti Co, Joe’s Tea Co and The Yorkshire Provender

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