Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Supercharged Sandwiches
Thought to have been invented in 1762, sandwiches have stood the test of time and are one of the nation’s favourite lunch options.
They are quick and simple to make, can be adapted to suit any dietary preference and they can be as extravagant or as basic as you wish.
Many people shy away from sandwiches when they are trying to eat more healthily, opting for salads or lighter options instead, but the humble sandwich can be a heart-healthy option when we take the time to plan out its components.
The bread
Choose wholewheat options which contain more fibre and are higher in vitamins than their white equivalent.
Fibre is an essential part of a heart-healthy diet, so it is a great idea to select higher fibre options when choosing bread. You can always switch up the bread for wholemeal pittas, wraps or bagels to add variety. Just be sure to look for lower salt options where possible.
The filling
It is important to make sure we include a source of protein in our sandwiches. Protein helps us feel fuller for longer and will keep our energy consistent throughout the day.
Avoid processed deli meats which usually contain high levels of salt, and opt for healthier options such as roasted chicken, salmon, egg, beans, lentils, or low-fat dairy options such as lighter cheddar or cottage cheese.
The veggies
No sandwich would be complete without some vegetables! It can be tempting to skip these, but adding some colour will make sure you receive a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals and add some more all-important fibre.
Ensuring we eat some plants at every meal makes it much easier to consume our five-a-day. Great options include roasted veggies, grated carrot, cucumber, pepper, spinach, rocket and any other leafy greens.
For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at:
9 places to eat & drink this Fringe to support the local community
This August, the Edinburgh University Students’ Association hosts a variety of dynamic Fringe Festival spaces. These spaces support Edinburgh students, as well as local businesses, charities and sustainable commerce.
As a registered charity, income earned from the Associations’ Fringe venues and food & drink outlets go towards its student services, providing advice, representation and welfare support to its 49,000 student members.
These include services such as the Advice Place (professionally trained advisors giving free, confidential and independent advice for students across a broad range of issues), Student Opportunities (student societies, volunteering and peer learning), and Student Voice (empowering students to make a change and run campaigns).
The Association’s Fringe food partners (hosted in Students’ Association venues) also contribute to local business, while supporting charities and campaigns that help the community, such as free hot meals, tackling homelessness and promoting sustainable food.
The Students’ Association employs local staff to run its venues. In 2022, around 300 temporary staff were hired, 70% of which were Edinburgh University students. Over half of these then stayed on to work during term time.
“Our Association’s integral part in the festival means we can generate funds to support our students. We hope everyone who visits enjoys the city and has a great time visiting our venues!” – Sharan Atwal, Students’ Association President.
9 Places to Eat & Drink this Fringe to Support the Local Community:
Pleasance Courtyard The Pleasance Courtyard will be packed with city favourite bars and food vendors such as Pizza Geeks, Harajuku Kitchen, Smash & Stack and Mimi’s Bakehouse. The bustling area is a great spot to enjoy the festival come rain or shine, sitting under a canopy of umbrellas and stretch tents in the traditional cobbled courtyards.
Mimi’s Bakehouse (Pleasance Courtyard) This renowned bakehouse has many charity endeavours to accompany its delish cakes. It has a charity partnership with CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) where it sells rainbow cupcakes every year (all proceeds to charity), hosts families of children in respite care for afternoon tea at the Leith store (providing cake for children’s and family birthday parties), and has a “pay it forward” cake box (£5) where it delivers cakes straight to CHAS for each customer donation
Each Monday, Mimi’s Bakehouse donates leftover cake to a local food kitchen in Leith for those in need called Empty Kitchens Full Hearts. They also sponsor local football teams Leith Athletic and Hibs Ladies, regularly providing cake for events and during matches. This year, they have special “boob” cupcakes to raise awareness of breast cancer with proceeds donated to charity.
“As a family business, Mimi’s Bakehouse is always excited to launch charity partnerships which support the local community. By embracing new opportunities like these, we hope to make our family business an Edinburgh institution for generations to come by spreading joy through cake and making someone’s day,” Michelle Philips, Owner and Founder.
Pizza Geeks (Pleasance Courtyard) On top of their geeky theme, Pizza Geeks are incredibly community driven. Their Pizza for the People initiative is a way to give back to the community by giving hot meals to those in need, as well as the heroes who help them. Since opening in 2016, they have made and donated 30,000 pizzas across Edinburgh. This Fringe, they’ll be returning with their delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas, including the ever-popular Chorizard with a tomato base, mozzarella, chorizo, black Pudding, fresh chillies, and hot honey.
“Our PFTP initiative is a way to give back to the community. Every week, we make and donate pizzas to those in need all across Edinburgh. You can very easily get involved just by eating our pizzas!” Pizza Geeks
Harajuku Kitchen (Pleasance Courtyard) The Harajuku Kitchen gives customers the option to donate £2 per purchase to Edinburgh charity Social Bite, which will buy a meal for a homeless person. Harajuku Kitchen also donates directly to the charity from the profit they make from the Fringe.
Mint (Potterrow Plaza) Named one of Fringe 2022’s top places to be, the Potterrow Plaza will return outside the Pleasance Dome, this time with an extended space. It will host Mint, which offers its renowned Chicken and Halloumi Wrap and plenty of meat-eater and vegan options.
Teviot Row House Teviot Row House is home to one of the city’s oldest bars, The Library Bar, which serves a varied menu both day and night (including its student-favourite cheesy nachos!). It will also host Gilded Balloon, one of Scotland’s leading festival companies.
Garden at Teviot The Garden at Teviot is a hidden gem next to the busy Bristo Square. The garden offers colourful beach huts (each seating 6), two full-service bars, coffee from Edinburgh’s Throat Punch and delicious local produce from Ròst Eats. There is also a large, covered area to avoid Edinburgh’s likely showers!
Throat Punch (Garden at Teviot) If you’re looking to stay green this Fringe, visit Throat Punch. This local coffee outlet doesn’t use any unnecessary plastics, opting instead for biodegradable wherever possible. It also only uses milk and oat milk that is delivered in glass and collected again for reuse by the manufacturer.
The Screaming Peacock (Charles Street Lane) The Screaming Peacock offers a variety of sustainable food. Their Wild venison comes from their family hunting business, and their Pheasants are sourced through local estates in Fife, making their food 100% sustainable. They even source their salad toppings from friends down the road, working with a local Fife merchant. The burgers are wrapped in recyclable greaseproof paper and a compostable meal box. So, when it comes to ditching the rubbish, all you’ll need is a recycling bin.
Students getting their exam results today should be very proud of their achievements, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has said, with pass rates remaining above pre-pandemic levels.
Data published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) showed the overall pass rate for National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers has increased from the 2019 pre-pandemic level, with a record number of passes in an exam year achieved at National 5.
The number of vocational and technical qualifications achieved has also grown to a record high this year – with more than 72,000 qualifications awarded in 2023, an increase of 12.3% from 2022.
The poverty-related attainment gap remains narrower than it was in 2019 across National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “I want to offer my congratulations to all of you who have worked so hard and demonstrated so much resilience not just this year but over the course of your studies. Today is all about celebrating your achievements and you should be incredibly proud of all you have accomplished.
“I would also like to send my sincere thanks and gratitude for the continued dedication and commitment of those in our education system – thank you to all of Scotland’s teachers, lecturers, support staff as well as parents and carers for supporting our young people.
“There is much to celebrate in what is another strong set of results showing a clear and continuing recovery from the pandemic – with pass rates at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher above the 2019 pre-pandemic level, a record number of passes at National 5 and the highest number of vocational and technical qualifications ever awarded.
“While we know that the pandemic has disproportionately impacted young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds, these results show that the gap in attainment levels between the least and most deprived areas remains narrower than it was in 2019. We are determined to build on the progress that has been made and we are investing a record £1 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge during this parliamentary term.
“For those who don’t get the results they were looking for, a free and direct appeals service will give all young people the right to request a review of their marked exam papers or coursework for their National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results this year. Additionally, as you consider your next steps there is help available to guide you.
“The Skills Development Scotland Careers Helpline can offer practical information and careers advice as well as support for wellbeing. The SQA helpline is also open and can help students and their families with queries relating to the Scottish Qualifications Certificates.”
As exam results arrive this morning students are being assured that things may not be as bad as they seem – and that help and advice is at hand:
Adeniyi Alade, Service Head Helplines (Childline), Scotland, said: “At Childline we know that results day and the period running up to it can be a really stressful time for young people and it is vital they feel supported and listened to.
“Young people often tell us they are worried they will get lower grades than they need to get into their preferred course or University, and they feel anxious and unsettled because it’s out of their control.
“Often, they have high expectations for themselves, or they feel their family is putting them under pressure to perform well.
“Some young people think their whole future depends on these results and this is their last chance to get into the further education course of their choice, or an apprenticeship that they have applied for. But it is important they know there are many options, whatever their grades are.
“It’s possible the young person could appeal their results or resit their exams the following year. They could also look at alternative courses or universities through clearing, and there’s the option of taking a gap year. Speaking to a teacher could be very helpful in assisting a young person to decide on which is the best option to take.
“If any young person is feeling apprehensive and worried about their results, I’d urge them to talk to someone about it.
“It can be very upsetting for a young person not to get the grades they had hoped for or expected, and it can affect their confidence. But it’s important for them to know that many others are going through the same thing and there are a range of options to explore.
“There are also lots of trusted adults they can turn to for help and support, whether that’s a teacher, careers advisor, parent, carer or Childline.
“Every year our specially trained counsellors carry out counselling sessions with hundreds of children across the UK who are worried about their exams and results. They listen to the young person’s concerns, offer advice about dealing with anxiety and help explore the different options available for those who don’t get their desired results.
“The conversation is confidential and no worry is ever too small.”
One student said: “It’s my first results day this week and I’m so nervous. I don’t want to let my parents down. They push me so hard to study and excel that I can’t even imagine how they’ll react if I get bad grades.
“I worry everyone at school will see me as a failure. I try to distract myself but when I remember results day is coming, I’m overwhelmed by anxiety and fear. I just wish someone would tell me it’ll all be ok.“ (Gender unknown, aged 16, from Scotland)
Another explaned: “I don’t know what will be of me if I don’t do well on my exams. I feel so stupid I didn’t prepare enough for them.
“My parents told me I shouldn’t stress too much, but I can feel the pressure since my siblings all did super well in their exams and are off to great careers. I didn’t have a good night sleep in over a week, and I worry I may pass out when the results are out.” (Girl, aged 16, from Scotland)
Young people under the age of 19 can get free, confidential support and advice from Childline at www.childline.org.uk or by calling 0800 1111 for free.
Top Italian American restaurant Frankie & Benny’s is giving away FREE pizza and Coke Zero to students celebrating their Scottish Highers results.
No matter what your exam grades are Frankie & Benny’s, the ultimate family friendly restaurant, will help you celebrate your hard work.
This offer entitles guests on Tuesday August 8 results day who show their exam results to a member of staff to a free Margarita Pizza (Vegan & Gluten Free Available) and a regular Coke (Coke Zero, Regular Coke, Diet Coke).
The free meal offer is available on August 8 in Scotland only and additional pizza toppings can be bought from the menu. There are no catches, you don’t have to buy anything just come in and celebrate with Frankie & Benny’s.
Frankie & Benny’s Marketing Director, Andreia Harwood, said: “We recognise that the cost of living crisis is hard on us all but we wanted to make sure our hard working students can celebrate their exam results day on us. This summer has all been about our customers still being able to enjoy great meals out with the family particularly over the summer months when kids are at home and we look for treats to entertain them.
“The summer savings and the exam results FREE offers are all about Frankie & Benny’s putting our customers at the forefront of everything we do and making sure they can have an amazing summer.”
This summer, Frankie & Benny’s, the popular Italian restaurant, want families and friends to enjoy meals out on a budget and have announced a series of summer saving meal deals
The deals were introduced to help families facing the cost of living crisis.
Frankie & Benny’s is offering two ‘always on’ summer promotion offers which are available now and until the end of August.
The first is a weekday offer available Monday to Friday after 7pm allowing guests to have two main courses of pizza, burgers and or pasta dishes for just £20. This will give a saving of up to £15.
Main courses available include the double bacon cheeseburger with fries, and the creamy chicken and ‘nduja fettucine- both solid favourites with Frankie & Benny fans.
The second deal is designed for family and friends dining out at the weekend. Throughout the summer Frankie & Benny’s is offering two for the price of one main meals all day Sunday, saving up to £21.90!
Dishes include the New York BBQ chicken loaded up with bacon, cheese, onion rings and fries, as well the classic Mac & Cheese (with, or without, bacon!).
Mexican favourite Chiquito is putting the fiesta fun in results day by giving away FREE Garlic Tortilla Bread and Coke Zero to students celebrating their Scottish Highers.
No matter what your exam grades are Chiquito, known for delicious food and tasty cocktails, will help you celebrate your hard work.
This offer entitles guests on Tuesday August 8 results day who show their exam results to a member of staff to get a free portion of Garlic Tortilla Bread and a regular Coke (Coke Zero, Regular Coke, Diet Coke).
The free meal offer is available on August 8 in Scotland only and additional dishes can be bought from the menu. There are no catches, you don’t have to buy anything just come in and have fun with Chiquito.
Chiquito Marketing Director, Andreia Harwood, said: “We recognise that the cost of living crisis is hard on us all but we wanted to make sure our hard working students can celebrate their exam results day on us.
“This summer has all been about our customers still being able to enjoy great meals out with the family and friends. The summer savings and the exam results FREE offers are all about Chiquito putting our customers at the forefront of everything we do and making sure they can have an amazing summer.”
This summer Chiquito has helped families and friends with a series of super saving meal deals.
Chiquito, which has been delivering the best of Mexican cuisine for over 30 years, has two amazing ‘always on summer deals’ designed to make dining out more affordable until August 31.
Between Monday to Friday (after 7pm) Chiquito is offering two main meals for £20, which includes delicious sizzling fajitas, tasty burritos, Tacos, chimichangas and enchiladas. This will save guests up to £15.
Chiquito is also offering a summer always on promotions two for the price of one main mealsall day Sunday which will help out those dining out at the weekend. This will save guests up to £21.90.
The tents are up, the sun is out and we are now counting down the days until we bring you our 2023 festival!
We open the gates to our site in the Lodge Grounds at 10am on Friday and we can’t wait to welcome you inside.
Fringe by the Sea is for everyone: big people, little people, four-legged friends so, whether you’re coming to see a show or not, you can still soak up the festival atmosphere at the North Berwick Trust Festival Hub with free live music and performances from the Lighthouse Live Stage, have a wander round the stalls at the Coulters Makers’ Market, grab a bite to eat at our Street Food Village or Pincho tapas bar, or a drink from our new container bars.
All the big headline shows have now sold out but with more than 225 events in the programme, there is a lot more to uncover whether you’re looking for family fun, musical gems or inspiring talks.
Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter launches Frankie & Benny’s Big Kids Birthday parties – Celebrate your birthday anytime!
Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter has launched the first Frankie & Benny’s Big Kids Birthday parties. And as her own birthday is on Christmas Day, she decided her Half Birthday on July 25th would be a cracker!
As you can see, the I’m A Celebrity favourite’s bash had all the bells and whistles and that’s just what other Big Kids will get.
The popular Italian restaurant is showing diners in need of fun that they can celebrate their birthday any time. And if they have as much fun as Jorgie, there are sure to be many happy returns!
There are on average 1,400 people born in the UK on Christmas Day and is one of the rarest days to be born. So, if your Big Day is December the 25th, or any other day, you can take back your day and celebrate anytime.
The new Big Kids Birthday Bundles, in partnership with delicious Project D Doughnuts, have been Inspired by the nostalgia of the parties we had as children and the joy those memories bring.
Frankie & Benny’s birthday packages are available from August 4 and are open to book from today including all the essentials needed for a good time. To book please go to: https://www.frankieandbennys.com/birthdays
The bundles include FREE Frankie’s playing cards, Birthday postcard, Birthday crowns, Stickers,Trolley Coin Birthday sign, when you buy a Project D Homer giant doughnut. You can even celebrate with a rum Big Kids Birthday milkshake!
We’ve all been dreaming of a summer of sun but we’ve given up on the British weather so let’s party anytime like it’s Crimbo!
Jorgie and six of her friends went to Frankie & Benny’s Manchester Printworks and celebrated with the new Frankie & Benny’s birthday pack, the grown up shakes and the delicious Project D doughnuts.
TV star Jorgie, 35, who has just become a mum for the first time, said: “I’ve never liked having a Christmas Day birthday so when I was asked to get involved in this campaign I jumped at the chance!
“Growing up it was just me, my Mum and my Gran so not seeing my friends on my birthday always felt pretty lonely. When I met my partner Ollie I made clear my expectations to be spoilt on my birthday – no joint Christmas / birthday presents – I wanted double presents!
“Celebrating my six month birthday in the summer makes so much sense and I’ve really enjoyed the night, being child-free and care-free and enjoying some me time with Ollie and our friends. It’s so important for parents to get that time and the 00’s nostalgia is a vibe! Thank you Frankie & Benny’s for giving me a proper birthday!”
Frankie & Benny’s Marketing Director, Andreia Harwood, said: “ We are thrilled to announce we are bringing back birthday parties at Frankie & Benny’s in partnership with Project D Doughnuts.
“We know our guests have fond memories of celebrating their birthdays in our restaurants when they were in their teens, so what better way to feel young again than with our Big Kid’s Birthday Bundles at affordable prices, all to the tune of a classic birthday jingle and a birthday cocktail!”.
Frankie & Benny’s serves up the best of Italian American favourites, offering you big flavours and broad choice. Whether you fancy a juicy chicken burger or an Italian classic, we’ve got something for everyone!
We’ve been a much-loved restaurant for over 20 years and offer a place to go for a fun, relaxing meal where you can enjoy some well-deserved, chill-out time served by our amazing teams.
We cater for all needs with a huge gluten free menu, a wide offering of vegetarian & vegan dishes and host of healthier, lighter bites. Our menu is also available for delivery or collection at https://www.frankieandbennys.com/takeaway
The two alcohol-free companies collaborate for the first-time to create the ‘WilMore Spritz’, a refreshing alternative spritz cocktail with notes of ginger, grapefruit and rosemary – all the complexity of the perfect spritz, but without the alcohol
In celebration of National Spritz Day on 1st August, Edinburgh’s Talonmore is teaming-up with Wilfred’s for the first-time to create a limited-edition non-alcoholic spritz cocktail, the ‘WilMore Spritz’.
On Talonmore’s website, the companies are offering a special bundle deal with 20% off both brands for consumers to purchase the bottles and make the delicious spritz cocktail at-home.
Talonmore’s distinctive taste is fired by the spice of ginger and Assam tea whilst complemented with malty notes and fruit sweetness. Pairing with Wilfred’s complex bittersweet orange & rosemary aperitif, the ‘WilMore Spritz’ offers an exquisitely crafted, impeccably refreshing non-alcoholic spritz.
‘WILMORE SPRITZ’ – Fill a large wine glass with plenty of ice – Add 50ml – Wilfred’s NA Aperitif, then 50ml – Talonmore NA Spirit – Add a dash of Premium Light Tonic Water (100ml) and stir briefly – Garnish with Grapefruit & Rosemary
The popularity of the spritz serve has swept the nation, with CGA data reporting that 78% of consumers would choose a spritz serve at least occasionally. The spritz is a longer drink, meaning it can be consumed over a greater period of time, confirming the narrative of cocktail lovers wanting less, yet more premium drinks.
Talonmore is a Scottish based, family run business established in Edinburgh in 2020. The latest batch of Talonmore includes a brand-new look & feel, with an upgraded label and eye-catching flagship red foil.
Using a mix of rooted and plant-based ingredients and inspired by Edinburgh’s festival spirit and history of innovation, Talonmore was created to provide an exceptional alcohol-free drink that can be enjoyed without compromising health, control and taste.
Choosing brewing methods of manufacture, rather than distilling, Talonmore have developed a unique beverage that ensures flavour is at the forefront, replicating the experience of drinking a dark spirit.
Talonmore can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with a mixer or in a multitude of non-alcoholic cocktails such as the WilMore Spritz. In 2022, Talonmore was awarded Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition scoring an impressive 92 points out of 100.
Wilfred’s was created by founder Chris Wilfred Hughes after being increasingly frustrated by the uninspired, overly sweet and usually unhealthy non-alcoholic options available, both at home and when out.
Aiming to reinvent the spritz, he decided flavour, quality and complexity were of the utmost importance. Inspired by travels around the world his journey eventually led him back home to the authentic flavours he associates most with London – freshly picked rosemary from his mother’s garden, and the bitter oranges in his father’s homemade marmalade.
Made in Britain with natural botanicals, 0% alcohol and only 20 calories per serving, Wilfred’s aperitif pairs impeccably with Talonmore and premium tonic water to create the refreshing ‘WilMore Spritz’.
Lewis Kennedy, Managing Director at Talonmore Drinks Company, said: “Talonmore has admired Wilfred’s for some time now. We always thought the flavours of both brands would work perfectly together. After an exciting chat with Chris and a delicious spritz sampling session, we were absolutely right.
“We only see the popularity of alcohol-free serves getting more and more popular. Talonmore is all about offering choice and versatility and with National Spritz Day coming up, what a perfect opportunity to partner with another forward-thinking alcohol-free brand to create the ‘WilMore Spritz’. We hope this will become a household serve for alcohol-free fans this summer, and many summers to come.
“The ‘WilMore Spritz’ offers the perfect serve for all day summer fun. Enjoying the sun in style, with a mix of refreshing notes of ginger, grapefruit and rosemary – a gorgeously refreshing and complex spritz, just without the alcohol.”
With over 8 million adults in the UK looking to reduce their alcohol intake, Talonmore is designed to shake up the non-alcoholic drinks market through championing the adventurous lifestyle that could normally be sacrificed with traditional alcohol.
A brand new menu item is due to land in the nation’s favourite noodle bar, Chopstix, on August 1st.
The Smoky Seoul Chicken takes its inspiration from the flavourful delights of South Korean cuisine and is packed to the brim with smoky Korean-inspired flavours, along with mouth-watering peppers and tantalising fried onions.
It will launch as a limited edition dish, across the UK.
Bursting with flavour, the Smoky Seoul Chicken joins the renowned Chopstix menu which also includes Caramel Drizzle Chicken, Teriyaki Beef, and Salt ‘n’ Pepper Chicken and a range of sides and desserts.
Plus, the noodle chain has a number of deals and bundles designed to pack a punch, with guests able to choose numerous toppings for a true taste of Pan-Asian cuisine.
Rob Burns, Marketing Director for Chopstix, said: “We’re delighted to introduce this new Korean-inspired dish to the Chopstix menu.
“We invest heavily in recipe research and development and this dish is something we’ve had in the pipeline for a while, listening to customer research and demand from some of our most loyal supporters.
“A perfect summer addition to the menu, with a variety of distinctive smoky flavours, we truly believe the Smoky Seoul Chicken is going to be a sure-fire winner, and a mouth-watering inclusion to our already delicious menu.”
The Pan-Asian noodle chain also recently celebrated its 100th store opening, making it one of the most popular high street noodle brands in the country.
Along with being available in stores across the UK, the noodle bar’s popular dishes are also available to order from Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat.
Chopstix is focused on delivering a faster, fresher, tastier alternative to the high street. Wok Master chefs deliver nourishing noodles, wholesome chicken, beautiful beef and perfect prawns with fresh vegetables and superb sauces to make Chopstix the ‘go to guys’ for boxed fresh flavour.
The countdown is on for acclaimed bar-and-restaurant The Botanist to open its doors at St. James Quarter in Edinburgh.
Cocktail lovers will be able to get their hands on the venue’s famous innovative drinks from Monday 7th August, when the venue is set to welcome in guests for the first time.
The brand is looking for a full team to run operations at its new venue, with 50-60 roles available including both front and back of house staff, from Chefs to Servers to Bartenders, and encourages creativity, individuality and personal flair from its employees. Roles are also advertised for a Duty Manager and Sous Chef to join the growing team.
Edinburgh’s winers and diners can look forward to The Botanist’s fresh seasonal flavours, reviving botany-inspired cocktails and signature hanging kebabs that they’ll want to keep going back for.
Live music is another key ingredient in helping to create a relaxed and atmospheric experience-led social space, ideal for family meals, after-work drinks, sophisticated evenings with friends and celebrating special occasions.
The interior fit-out of the space is currently underway and the brand is renowned for its grand botanical-inspired interiors.
Guests can expect to enjoy beautiful installations of greenery and exposed brick walls adorned with impressive hand painted artwork whilst they drink and dine. The bar will also feature a dedicated outdoor seating terrace.
Rachel Guy, Operations Manager at New World Trading Company said, “Our stunning new flagship venue brings the opportunity for exceptional individuals join us. Joining the business at the start of our journey means you’ll be bringing our unique brand to life in Edinburgh with the help of award-winning training.
“Our in-house Management Academy & Future Managers programme offers transparent career pathways and the chance to progress across our nationwide brand family.”
To stay up to date with The Botanist Edinburgh’s opening and be the first to know about, sign up to its newsletter to be the first to know about exclusive invites and offers for the opening week.
Evidence to date indicates high food price inflation has not been driven by weak retail competition, but competitive pressure is important as input prices fall
Next phase of CMA probe will examine competition and prices across the supply chain for the product categories identified
Rules on unit pricing should be tightened and retailers must comply to help shoppers compare prices easily
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today published an initial update on its ongoing work to tackle cost of living pressures in groceries with the publication of two reports: an assessment of retail competition in the groceries sector and a review of unit pricing practices across major retailers.
At a time when food and other grocery prices are rising it is crucial that people can be confident that competition is working effectively to keep price rises as low as possible and that people can shop around and compare prices easily and with confidence.
Groceries
Over the past two months, the CMA has assessed how retail competition is working in the UK grocery sector, particularly between supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco as well as discounters, including Aldi and Lidl. Looking at the effectiveness of retail competition across the market, this stage of the CMA’s review has focused on the extent to which rivalry between retailers ensures they keep their prices as low as possible and whether consumers can shop around to get the best deals.
Although food price inflation is at historically high levels, evidence collected to date by the CMA indicates that competition issues have not been driving this.
In particular:
Operating profits in the retail grocery sector fell by 41.5% in 2022/23, compared with the previous year while average operating margins fell from 3.2% to 1.8%. This is due to retailers’ costs increasing faster than their revenues, indicating that rising costs have not been passed on in full to consumers.
Consumers are shopping around to get the best deals, and the lowest-price retailers – Aldi and Lidl – have gained share from their competitors. This suggests retailers are restricted in their ability to raise prices without losing business.
However not everyone is able to benefit fully from strong competition, particularly those who cannot travel to large stores or shop online, and therefore may rely on higher-priced convenience stores.
Now that some input costs are starting to fall, there are some signs that grocery retailers are planning to start rebuilding their profit margins. The CMA will monitor this carefully in the months ahead, to ensure that people benefit from competitive prices as input costs fall.
The CMA’s review so far has focused on overall indicators of effective retail competition. It has not yet examined competition for individual product categories or across the wider grocery supply chain. This will be an important focus for the next phase of its work. Today’s update identifies 10 indicative product categories (including milk, bread, and baby formula) that merit further analysis to gain a deeper understanding of competition and price dynamics. Our choices are not an indication of any provisional concerns that competition for these products is ineffective.
As part of its ongoing work, the CMA could make recommendations to address any competition issues it finds or take a closer look at any areas which justify further scrutiny.
Unit Pricing
At a time when shoppers are looking for the most competitive deals, unit pricing provides critical information to ensure people can compare prices effectively.
The review looked at 11 supermarkets and 7 variety retailers (stores that sell homeware and household goods with a more limited range of groceries) that operate in the UK .
The CMA has found compliance concerns with the Price Marking Order (PMO) amongst all those it reviewed, however for some retailers these were relatively minor. The CMA has identified that compliance is worse amongst some variety retailers.
Some of the problems stem from the unit pricing rules themselves, which allow unhelpful inconsistencies in retailers’ practices and leave too much scope for interpretation. As a result, shoppers may be finding it hard to spot and compare the best deals.
The CMA’s concerns relate to:
Consistency – different measurements are being used for similar types of products, making it hard for consumers to compare deals on a like-for-like basis. For example, tea bags being priced per 100 grams for some products and others being unit priced per each tea bag.
Transparency – missing or incorrectly calculated unit pricing information both in store and online. For example, 250ml handwash costing £1.19 but unit priced at £476.00 per 100ml and unit pricing information unavailable online until items were selected.
Legibility – unit pricing information being difficult to read, for example text on labels being too small or shelf edge labels being obscured by promotional information or by shop fittings.
Promotions – some retailers not displaying unit prices for any products on promotion.
In its report, the CMA has set out recommendations on the unit pricing rules and is calling on the government to reform this legislation, to help shoppers spot the best deals. The CMA has also written to those that are not fully complying with the PMO and expects them to make changes to address its concerns or risk enforcement action.
More broadly the CMA is calling on all retailers to give consumers the unit pricing information they need to make meaningful comparisons, particularly for products on promotion, even before any reforms to the PMO are introduced.
The CMA will publish the findings of its consumer research into the use of unit pricing in Autumn 2023.
Sarah Cardell, CEO of the CMA said: With so many people struggling to feed their families, it’s vital that we do everything we can to make sure people find the best prices easily.
“We’ve found that not all retailers are displaying prices as clearly as they should , which could be hampering people’s ability to compare product prices. We’re writing to these retailers and warning them to make the necessary changes or risk facing enforcement action . The law itself needs to be tightened here, so we are also calling on the government to bring in reforms.
“We’ve also looked at how competition is working across the grocery retail market more widely. The overall evidence suggests a better picture than in the fuel market, with stronger price competition between all of the supermarkets and discounters. In the next phase of our work, we will examine competition and prices across the supply chain for the product categories we’ve identified.
“We’ll also continue to monitor the situation to ensure that competition remains effective as input costs start to fall.
More information and full reports can be found on our
Gary Maclean provides the perfect recipe for families to start baking in support of Mary’s Meals
MasterChef Gary Maclean is encouraging families to get baking over the summer holidays and raise vital funds for Mary’s Meals.
Scotland’s national chef, who won MasterChef: The Professionals in 2016, is supporting the charity’s Raise Some Dough campaign which asks people to host a fundraising bake sale to help feed hungry children.
Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to more than 2.4 million children in 18 of the world’s poorest countries – including Ethiopia, Syria and South Sudan. The promise of a daily meal attracts children into the classroom, where they can gain an education and hope for the future.
For first-time bakers and kids keen to get involved in the kitchen this summer, Gary suggests biscuit making as the best way to get started.
He says: “It’s great to do this with kids because it should only take 15 to 20 minutes for a biscuit to bake, and it doesn’t really matter what shape they come out.
“I’ve got great memories of making biscuits with my mum.
“We can now introduce that side of it to our kids and it’s an entry point for them to start enjoying cooking and baking.”
Gary, who is executive chef at the City of Glasgow College, has been a long-time supporter of Mary’s Meals. He says: “Initially what brought Mary’s Meals to my attention was that connection between education and food.
“Obviously, we need both. But to bring that together, it really helps families getting children fed, but also getting them educated, because education can be their route out of poverty.”
And when asked which biscuits he’ll be enjoying with his family over the school summer holidays, the celebrity chef admitted: “I probably make more biscuits than I eat them! I like things with coconut, I do like dark chocolate.
“Over the summer holidays, I’d encourage parents and kids to get involved in Raise Some Dough. Any money raised goes a long way with Mary’s Meals, so every penny counts!”.
People across the UK can download a free Raise Some Dough fundraising pack from the charity’s website, which includes a book packed full of tasty biscuit recipes from some of the UK’s favourite celebrities – including Stephen Fry, Dame Joanna Lumley, Ellie Taylor, Rosemary Shrager and Judy Murray.
The charity will also send bakers a free mug-shaped cookie cutter, based on the mugs from which many children eat their daily serving of Mary’s Meals.
It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a whole school year, which means every penny raised through baking will help to transform young lives around the world.
To order your free Raise Some Dough fundraising pack, please visit:
Perkins biscuits are not to be confused with the Yorkshire biscuit called Parkins. They are similar, but not the same. Perkins are worth a go if you like your biscuits with an oaty texture. This is my type of biscuit, another very easy one to make and I think they look amazing. You could also add your own twist by topping them with some dark chocolate.
Ingredients:
120g / 4 ¼ oz Plain Flour/All-purpose
120g / 4 ¼ oz Rolled Oats
60 g / 2 ½ oz Unsalted Butter, diced and cold
85 g / 3oz Caster Sugar
1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda/Baking powder
½ tsp Ground Ginger
½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
¼ Mixed Spice
100g / 3 ½ oz Golden Syrup
100g / 3 ½ oz Blanched Almonds.
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180°C/350˚F.
Take the flour, bicarbonate of soda/baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and spices and sift them into a large bowl.
Add the butter and rub until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the oats, sugar, and mix.
Take a small pan and warm the golden syrup until it is of a pouring consistency, try not to heat it too much.
Pour the golden syrup into the bowl and mix to form a stiff dough.
Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
Split the mixture in half and roll into a long sausage shape.
Cut the sausage shape into 12 equal parts, do the same with the other half of the dough, you should end up with 24 pieces.
Roll each piece up into a ball, split the balls between the two trays leaving a gap between the balls.
Gently press the tops of your biscuits with your thumb and top each with a blanched almond.
Bake in your oven for 10 minutes, until the biscuits have spread and are golden.
Leave to cool on the tray until cool enough to touch before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
