Partners

Middleton Foods is the UK’s leading manufacturer of foodservice and bakery pre-mixes, and has a reputation you can trust. Both our main site and bespoke gluten free production facility have achieved the highest possible AA+ certification, following unannounced BRC Global Standards (BRCGS) and Gluten Free Certification Program (GFCP) Audits for Food Safety.

We’re very proud of our dedication to maintaining excellent standards for food safety and our commitment to innovative NPD. Our food mixes are all manufactured in the UK using 100% British wheat and are designed with quality and ease of use in mind. We have over 20 consistent, high quality products to choose from, packaged in a convenient 3.5kg pack size, to which users simply add water.

We understand the importance eating in school has on providing the energy needed for children to maintain concentration for the school day and ensuring they develop an understanding of healthy eating. We also understand the importance of making school meals enjoyable, and how creating an eating experience that looks and tastes delicious is key.

With demand for gluten free foods continuing to grow – Coeliac UK estimate around 1 in 100 people are affected by coeliac disease – our gluten free range features over 20 products in 3kg resealable tubs. It’s an ideal choice for school caterers developing menus for children with specific dietary requirements and allergens. The mixes not only save time and effort but ensure quality and consistency time-after-time. In fact, the appearance and taste are just as indulgent as desserts with gluten – so suitable for everyone to enjoy. Caterers can be assured of their dedication and commitment to food quality, safety and responsibility as they cater for an increasing number of consumers with specific dietary requirements; which is especially important within education catering.

Eating in school should be enjoyable, so creating an eating experience that looks and tastes delicious is key. Our range of gluten free products helps make offering great tasting popular puddings quick and easy, with minimal preparation! Our popular pudding mixes include:

• New Middleton Gluten Free Mousse – deliciously light, airy soft-set dessert available in three delicious flavours; Strawberry, Chocolate and Banana
• Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix – rich, delicious brownies; a real treat
• Gluten Free Flapjack Mix – perfect for oaty, syrupy, chewy flapjacks

Using a high quality pre-mix, school caterers can accommodate the pressures of a busy kitchen. Preparation time is reduced, there’s no need to store a range of ingredients, stock can easily be controlled and, importantly, costs can easily be managed. They ensure consistency – so time after time, the taste and quality remain the same – and, what’s more, any member of the kitchen team can make the products; no specific skills are required. The results are like making from scratch and are still homemade.

For further information and product samples, please visit www.middletonfoods.com.

You can also follow us on social media – we’re @middletonfoods on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Partner Q&A with Justin Clarke, Business Development Chef, Middleton Foods

Summarise your school food sector product/service range.

Middleton Foods is the UK’s leading manufacturer of foodservice and bakery pre-mixes, renowned for its trusted reputation. We have over 50 consistent, high-quality products in convenient sizes, designed with ease-of-use in mind – from school compliant options including reduced sugar, to allergen-aware choices; and products inspired by global cuisines. Our 12 delicious mixes with significantly reduced sugar content provide the same great taste and quality that caterers expect, just with far less sugar.

We’re proud of our dedication to maintaining excellent standards for food safety, and of our commitment to innovative NPD. Our stand-alone gluten free site and Allergen Control Area offer a wide range of products suitable for a variety of specialist dietary requirements, including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Both our main site and bespoke gluten free production facility have achieved AA+ certification, following recent BRC Global Standards (BRCGS) and Gluten Free Certification Program (GSGF ISSUE 4) Audits for Food Safety.

Why is the school food sector so important to your business?

The school food sector is key to Middleton Foods. We’re committed to delivering great quality, great value products for our customers; and working closely with school caterers allows us to showcase the importance we place on ensuring that school meals are enjoyable – how creating an eating experience that looks and tastes delicious is key. It’s something we’re passionate about, and we understand the importance eating in school has on providing the energy needed for children to maintain concentration for the school day and ensuring they develop an understanding of healthy eating.

What do you do as a company to support the school food sector?

Our fantastic team of development chefs work hard to deliver food presentations and sampling opportunities for caterers; offering recipe development to support and inspire innovative menus and concepts which satisfy their health and wellbeing initiatives. This helps us deliver what we believe is important – encouraging the younger generation to understand the importance of health and wellbeing, and to know about quality food and the choices they make when choosing what to consume.

When we reformulated our core range of mixes to meet the 2020 sugar regulations, we didn’t just tweak the recipes to meet the regulations, we took as much sugar out as possible without compromising on taste, flavour or quality. This has been achieved, importantly, without adding any fillers or extra additives.

Using our high-quality pre-mixes, caterers can accommodate the pressures of a busy kitchen – prep. time is reduced, stock can easily be controlled, costs can easily be managed, and they can ensure consistency; so, time after time, taste and quality remains the same. What’s more, any member of the kitchen team can make the products; no specific skills are required.

We are proud to be a The School Food People Partner and have long been involved with the The School Food People Awards for Excellence as sponsor of the Primary School Catering Team of the Year Award. The Awards celebrate those making a real difference to school food and education catering, which is something we’re delighted to support and be aligned with.

What is your lasting memory of school food from when you were at school?

I’ve got so many fond memories of school dinners; sitting with my pals in the lunch hall – I can still remember our dinner ladies! It was always fish on Fridays… ‘Fish Fridays’. I loved fish, chips and peas. And pudding – I really enjoyed pudding, and anything with custard went down a treat!