Booze-inspired products were hot on the agenda at the Food & Drink Expo 2014 this week, with a heavy focus on cocktail trends and booze-infused condiments, spreads and snacks.

Popcorn company Joe & Seph’s has launched a range of cocktail-flavoured caramel popcorn, comprising Zingy Margarita infused with tequila & triple sec with lime, Fruity Cosmopolitan with triple Sec & Vodka, cranberry, orange and lime; and Refreshing Mojito infused with white rum, garden mint and lime (rsp: £2.99 per 80-90g bag).

Meanwhile Lakeland condiment producer Hawkshead unveiled its new four-strong range of cocktail condiments, which it said were equally as good with cold cuts as with toast. “The cocktail condiments aim to bring a younger generation to the category who tend to view marmalade as old fashioned,” said Hawkshead.

Man Food also has a twist of the cocktail-condiment combo, with its ‘adult jams’, comprising mojito marmalade, strawberry negroni with orange, bitters, red vermouth & gin, peach bellini with prosecco, and Bramble with blackberry and gin (rsp: £3.95/300g).

The Patchwork Pâté company has partnered with Chase Distillery to launch three new boozy pâtés. These comprise chicken live pâté with Chase Smoked Vodka, chicken liver pâté with Chase Extra Dry Gin, duck liver pâté with Chase Sloe and Mulberry Gin (rsp: £4.25).

New brand That Hungry Chef has launched a new range of meat pickles that can be eaten from the jar as a condiment with cheese, as a sandwich filler, or used as a base to make a curry. The Curious Curries Collection comprises Achari Beef and Pork Vindaloo. It also launched two Mojo Risin’ chili relishes, comprising a chili relish and a chocolate chilli relish.

Merangz has launched two Swiss-style meringue ranges, which contain a collection of six small luxury meringues. The range, which has already been listed by Selfridges from April, comprises three skus, includes ‘classic bites’, ‘fruit bites’ and ‘chocolate and nut bites’ (£4.50/pack of 6). It has also added a range of luxury meringue nests.  

Tiptree Patisserie has launched three cheesecakes in a jam jar after a series of successful trials last year. The four-strong range, which is targeting high-end foodservice and catering and has a shelf life of six days, comprises strawberry, raspberry, lemon curd and chocolate variants. The company has also teamed up with Coles Cakes to launch three new cakes: a marmalade cake, English honey cake and rich fruit cake (rsp: £4.99/ 320g), which are available to fine food retail.

Somerset-based Friary Liqueurs is rolling out a new brand to tap into the trend for spirits and attract a younger, urban crowd to liqueurs. Clink Liqueurs comprise Summer Clink,  a strawberry and vodka, Sloe Gin, Blackcurrant Rum, Ginger Clink with ginger & whisky,  and Christmas Clink with honey & French brandy (rsp: £16-18).

Food & Drink Expo runs from 24 to 26 March at the NEC in Birmingham. It is organised by William Reed Business Media, publisher of The Grocer.

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