Speciality Food Magazine - April 2026

26 33 52 4 Welcome . EDITOR'S LETTER THE WORLD IS A CHALLENGING PLACE, BUT BY PLAYING TO THE STRENGTHS OF THE FINE FOOD SECTOR AND ITS COMMUNITY, TOGETHER WE CAN WEATHER ITS STORMS CONTENTS O ne of the things I love the most about the fine food and drink industry is that it always seems to be on the cusp of something exciting. The passion that feeds the people thatworkwithin it and the constant appetite for doing things better –making ourwork more sustainable and healthy for the planet and peoplewe rely on, creating exciting newtakes on traditional favourites, and creating an ever-more supportive environmentwithin the sector itself – is hugely inspiring tome and, I'd imagine, toyou too (not tomention thosewho are not so fortunate in their line ofwork). At present these positive factors certainly still apply – read on to uncover some of food and drink's most needle-moving and delicious innovations –but there's also an air of nervousnesswhile theworld's issues playout around us. Thewar in Iran is a case in point. While our everyday habits remain relatively unscathed, slowly but surely impacts are creeping in. The higher cost of fuel is impacting many, not tomention businesses which relyon transportating their goods long distances to operate. Of course, costs have been jumping up for a long time – this is hardly a short-term issue – but the extra uncertainty that's spreading throughout theworld as events in theMiddle East unfold is bringing its own problems. Astudy showed that people weremore stressedwhen they were told theymay get an electric shock than if theywere told they would definitely be getting one, demonstrating that simply knowing what lies in the future – even if it's negative – can help people cope. If people knowwhat's coming they canmake efforts tomake the impact less sizeable, too. If you knowyou're about to receive an electric shock, you can tense or softenyour body tomanage the discomfort. If you knowyour energy costs are about to soar, you can look into sourcing your electricity fromanother supplier. But if you don't knowwhat lies ahead, the path ismuch harder to navigate. This situation plays to some of themany strengths of sustainability. Shorter supply chainsmean closer Simply knowing you're not alone inmanaging whatever the world throws at you – good or bad – is an invaluable thing connections and a stronger and more resilient support system, not tomention fewer transportation and environmental costs. And building stronger relationshipswith the individuals and businesses inyour orbit is a smartmove anyway; I'm forever inspired by the open- mindedness of start-ups to seek out connections, even if they're not of direct benefit to their businesses. Simply knowing you're not alone inwhat theworld throws at you is an invaluable thing. Supportmay come fromunexpected corners of your network,which gives all themore reason to reach out,mind open, and offer aid in turn.We're right therewithyou. 6 The Feed 1 • News 1 • Technology 1 • Operations 1 • On the Go 1 • Fresh 1 • Start Ups 1 • Retail 19 An Invaluable Tool: 1 Square 20 FarmShops' 1 Best Friend 22 The Spread: 1 Store Cupboard 24 The Latest 26 Women in Food 27 TrendWatch: 1 'Fricy' 28 TheValue of Fine Food 29 Cash in on Nostalgia 33 Counterpoint: 1 The Art of Affinage 34 The Cut 38 Cheese 1 Communication 101 40 A Lucky Dip 42 Time for Tea 44 The UK Food &Drink 1 Shows 2026 52 Britain’s Best Delis: 1 Idle Hands 54 Last Words