Brakes launches new range of prepared meals

The range features eleven meals incorporating Asian, modern European and North African flavours, which foodservice supplier Brakes said it had identified as the highest expanding growth sectors in the prepared meals market.

Louise Hatch, category manager for meal solutions and deli, said: “As customers continue to broaden their interest in foods from around the world there is huge potential for caterers to capitalise on modern world cuisine and trends such as slow cooking.”

Slow-cooked​

Individual dishes featured in the range include slow-cooked venison lasagne with port and red wine, Moroccan beef with apricots and coriander, freekeh chicken, paneer saag and gobi masala, Panang chicken curry, and chicken casserole and root vegetables.

“This new range allows chefs to create authentic meals quickly and easily, with minimum labour and costs and therefor increased profit. At the same time it is entirely flexible, allowing them to add their own touches for maximum menu appeal,” said Hatch.

Several of the products could be used as a base ingredient to create tagines, casseroles and stews as well as dishes in their own right – providing an easy and cost-effective way of expanding the menu, she added.

Beers​

Earlier this year, the supplier announced it would begin distributing beers​ and ciders for the first time, a move it said would allow its customers to order more comprehensively.

It now stocks lager brands including Heineken, Kronenbourg, Asahi, Tiger, Sol and Peroni.

The company also announced the inception of a Scotland-only business arm​, delivering to approximately 11,000 customers.