computer cost-cutter
A software system aimed at hotel chains that have a central host computer, can help save money by cutting polling bureau charges on card transactions, says Retail Logic, which has launched the package on the catering market.
Because ASPEN (Automated Schedule Polling Engine) links the host computer directly with polling sites (receptions, restaurants etc) and can call up transaction details itself, there is no need for a "middle man" bureau.
Retail Logic says ASPEN can also collate sales data, be used to update and download pricing information directly to different hotel locations cutting out time-consuming paperwork, or transfer between different systems.
Prices start at about £20,000.
RETAIL LOGIC
Tel: 01276 676772
FOSTER Refrigerator is marketing a "gun"- a battery- powered monitor that, it says, can accurately record food refrigeration temperatures.
The Data Collector 200 works alongside Foster's Supra Cabinets and Plastic Chickens (temperature monitor boxes).
Communication is via an infra-red link - the DC200 is aimed at the cabinet or chicken and the appropriate buttons are pressed. Data can be transferred if required to an IBM-compatible PC. Price is £455 for the DC200; £189 for the Plastic Chicken.
FOSTER REFRIGERATOR
Tel: 01553 691122
A RANGE of frozen chicken dishes based on Mediterranean cuisine has been developed by Alveston Kitchens. The four-dish range uses breast fillets topped with a variety of sauces.
It comprises Chicken Italienne (breadcrumb-coated fillet, topped with a tomato sauce and finished with red pesto sauce, mozzarella and Cheddar cheese); Chicken Margherita (breadcrumb-coated fillet with tomato sauce, sliced fresh tomatoes and mozzarella); Chicken Moutarde (fillet with a creamy grained mustard sauce); and Chicken Provenáale (fillet with sauce made up of herbs, courgettes, onions, aubergines, garlic, red and green peppers).
All four come in cases of 10 individual 170g portions: the Italienne and Margherita cost £17.90 per case and the Moutarde and Provenáale cost £15.90 per case.
ALVESTON KITCHENS
Tel: 01926 880540
crackers about sesame snacks
The Jacob's Bakery is launching its Ritz Sesame Crackers, already successful in the retail sector, on the catering market.
The crackers come in 200g cartons, 24 to a case - price £12.79 per case. Jacob's says the product is suitable either for a pre-drinks snack or as a cheese biscuit.
THE JACOB'S BAKERY
Tel: 01734 492000
mexican movement gathers pace
The expanding Mexican food market sees the launch by The Jenks Group of two new Bick's sauces.
Bick's Salsa Sauce ‘n' Dip comes in two varieties, hot and mild, in 2.35kg jars, four to a case (at about £16). Marketing and distribution for Jenks' catering products is now being done by L Noâl & Sons - both The Jenks Group andL Noâl are subsidiaries of McCormick (UK).
L NOEL & SONS
Tel: 01254 231193
neat tablecloths for banquets
Decor Style has added a pre-cut range of table covers to its non-woven fabric tableware portfolio. Rolla-covers can be used on their own or as protection for linen tablecloths.
Prices start at about £2.91 per table-cover; rectangular Rolla-covers are available in rolls of 4ft x 8ft and 4ft x 6ft: circular Rolla-covers in diameters of 5ft and 6ft; and oval Rolla-covers in rolls of 6ft x 8ft.
DECOR STYLE
Tel: 0181-518 2020
A STAINLESS steel cutlery design has been launched by Oneida as part of its Vogue range.
Featuring a handle shape which Oneida describes as an "elongated water droplet", the cutlery is aimed at caterers operating in the budget and middle end of the market. Price per seven-piece place setting is about £12, and the cutlery comes with a 50-year guarantee.
ONEIDA
Tel: 01895 639452
MCDOUGALLS Catering Foods has capitalised on the retail success of its Bisto Onion Gravy Granules and launched it for the catering sector.
Available in 15-litre boxes (about £5.29 each), the granules, says McDougalls, are ideal for adding to casseroles, pies and sauces and will keep in a bain-marie for up to four hours.
McDOUGALLS CATERING FOODS
Tel: 01734 875383
SC JOHNSON Professional's reformulated Super Pledge is available on the catering market.
It contains, says Johnson, more wax and polishing agents; and to be more environmentally-friendly, the aerosol propellant is now compressed air as opposed to butane. Price is £25.60 per case of 12 x 400ml cans.
SC JOHNSON PROFESSIONAL
Tel: 0800 525525
Fonds for the flavours
A RANGE of stock bases, or fonds, and a new five-cheese sauce have been launched by ItalBrokers Foodservice.
There are three different fonds flavours, available in 420g tins: Balsamic Vinegar, suitable for use with meat or fish (£4.49 per tin); Edible Boletus, a fungi-based fonds (£4.49 per tin) which the company says combines with cream and can be used for pasta sauces; and Fondo Bruno, a mixed vegetable base - (£3.45 per tin) for use with meat, pasta and rice dishes.
The five-cheese sauce (parmesan, Austrian emmenthal, gorgonzola, fontina and taleggio), is fused with butter and has a one-year shelf-life. It comes in 820g tins price £8.38.
ITALBROKERS FOODSERVICE
Tel: 0171-627 0030
THE search is on for the smartest hospitality company in the business. Caterer & Hotelkeeper has teamed up with the Career & Workwear Show to find the uniform worn by the best-dressed hotel, restaurant or foodservice company.
The Career & Workwear Show is to be held at the Business Design Centre, London, on October 17-19, 1995. The winners of the competition will be presented with a trophy and certificate on the opening day of the exhibition.
Two representatives from the winning organisation will be invited to a special lunch and fashion show featuring entries in the 1995 British Clothing Industry Association's career and workwear design awards.
The team of judges will include experts from the clothing and hotel and catering industries as well as an image consultancy. Caterer will report on the shortlisted entries on 7 September and will look in detail at the winning design on 5 October.
So if you think your organisation looks good in uniform, enter by phoning the Caterer & Hotelkeeper/Career & Workwear Show Hotline, 0181-9417979, and ask for an entry pack, or complete the coupon below and post it to the address at the bottom by 4 August 1995.
