Marchwood Store Manager

Pumpkin muffins

Posted on by Adam Page

These spicy teatime treats are easy to make, and freeze really well too – a great way to use up Halloween pumpkins!

  • Feeds 12Feeds 12
  • Ready in 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 250g Co-op self raising white flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 large Co-op British free range eggs
  • 150ml Co-op sunflower oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 100g Co-op Fairtrade light brown soft sugar
  • 100g Fairtrade golden caster sugar
  • 1 Co-op British pumpkin, peeled and chopped (seeds reserved), roasted and mashed or blitzed to make a purée
  • Co-op crème fraîche, to serve (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4
  2. Line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases
  3. Mix the flour, mixed spice, cinnamon and ginger in a large bowl
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, sunflower oil, vanilla and both sugars until you have a smooth batter
  5. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined
  6. Add the pumpkin purée and mix again until fully combined
  7. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases, scattering the reserved pumpkin seeds on top and pushing in lightly
  8. Bake for 20 mins, or until the tops are golden
  9. Leave to cool on a wire rack for 15 mins, then serve with crème fraîche, if you like

Each serving contains

  • Energy 14% 1154kj 276kcal
  • Fat Med 20%14.1g
  • Saturates Low 10%1.9g
  • Sugar Med 20% 18.2g
  • Salt Low 4% 0.24g

% of adult’s reference intake | Carbohydrates per serving : 33g

This World Mental Health Day, we’re taking stock

Posted on by Adam Page

It’s World Mental Health Day and we’re taking the time to stop and think about how we can do our bit.

Welcome Stores has been partnered up with Solent Mind for a couple of years now, successfully raising just over £3,500.

But our support goes beyond financial

Last summer a group of managers from Welcome stores headed to Mayfield Nurseries – a facility owned by Solent Mind to offer new skills to those living with mental and physical health issues. Despite the sore backs, we had a great time – you can see some of the photos we took from the day here.

At its grass roots, we know that good mental health is important to living life to its fullest – at home and at work. It’s one of many reasons Welcome Stores chose to partner with Solent Mind in the first place. It was a timely pairing, especially as we endured long lockdowns of the pandemic and time separated from loved ones took its toll.

We must of course thank all of those on the front line who continued to keep this country moving – including our own staff who worked tirelessly to ensure everyone in the community was well-looked after, no matter how old they were or how vulnerable they were.

As such, we were pleased to hear that for World Mental Health Day this year, Solent Mind will begin a campaign to attempt to close the gap on mental health inequalities.

Many people from varied backgrounds and for varied reasons face barriers when it comes to accessing mental health support. Whether it be as simple as geography, lack of access to technology, language barriers, gender-based stigma, and many more.

Starting today and in the weeks to follow, Solent Mind will be pushing out various messaging on its website and social media channels – so please do keep an eye out for that.

Sam Clarke, Communications and Marketing Lead, said: “Over the coming weeks, we will be highlighting some of the issues that are preventing people from accessing our services, and mental health services as a whole. By starting this conversation, we hope to raise awareness and start learning how to close the gap in these mental health inequalities.” For more information about Solent Mind, head to their website www.solentmind.org.uk

Supplier Spotlight: Our new supplier – Potts Sauces

Posted on by Adam Page

We love a tummy-filling winter warmer at this time of the year – and who better to provide that full-feeling than our new supplier Potts sauces.

Can-do

Customers who are already familiar with Potts sauces may have spotted they mostly come in cans. At the start of 2023, following the successful stock-in-a-can range which launched 2020, Potts began a range of sauces in cans, with the hope for even more to come in 2024.

Not only is this a great way to give the product the edge, the cans are recyclable and fit in much better with Potts’ rounded sustainability ethos. The company’s environmental pledge is centred around the reduction of single use plastic. Potts is constantly working to improve the packaging of products to make them 100% recyclable across the range.

In fact, the canned range has saved nearly nine tonnes of single use plastic and created a completely recyclable product that looks and tastes great.

A Welcome partnership

They began by moving away from single use plastics and using resealable pouches initially, and are now working towards more recyclable materials such as aluminium cans and glass jars – and it was a great move.

And of course, reducing single use plastics is something we at Welcome are passionate about – and we work hard to do our bit.

“Welcome stores share our proactive standard when it comes to the environment and taking care of OUR planet” said James Foley, Sales Manager at Potts Partnership.

“We must all do our best to create a sustainable environment for future generations and we are thrilled that Welcome stores have set their own sustainability goals to reduce food and single use plastic waste.

“We are proud to be part of the 506 environmentally friendly lines stocked at Welcome.”

On the gravy-train

The environmental pledge was important to Potts right from the off – and it has been ingrained in the business since its beginnings in late 2007. Since then, the family business has grown from a family kitchen employing the two founders, to a production and warehouse facility in Swindon employing 45 people locally.

But it is not just the eye-catching packaging and a strong environmental policy that makes Potts sauces so successful – James also attributes the success to always keep moving and not resting on your laurels.

“We stand out because we never stop working on new products” James said. “We push boundaries and look to start trends that not only grab attention, but also look to fulfil a social need. Plus, we always stick together as a team and push ourselves to find creative solutions to ensure we are packing recyclable packaging with great tasting products. It can be very challenging at times, but the things that are worth doing are normally seldom easy.”

A full range of Potts sauces are now in stock at your local Welcome store.

For more information head to www.pottspartnership.co.uk

Loaded nachos

Posted on by Adam Page

Try making nachos from scratch – they’re perfect for parties or nights in

  • Feeds 4Feeds 4
  • Ready in 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 red onion, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp Co-op olive oil
  • 1/2 red chilli, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 400g can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 200g fresh tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 250ml vegetable stock
  • 1 Co-op ripe and ready to eat avocado
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 15g fresh coriander (optional)
  • 200g tortilla chips, plain or lightly salted
  • 100g Co-op Irresistible Somerset Cheddar, grated
  • 4 tbsp Co-op fresh tomato salsa

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/Gas 4
  2. Gently fry the onion and garlic in the olive oil for 5 mins
  3. Add the chilli, paprika, ground cumin and coriander, and cook for another minute
  4. Add the kidney beans, tomatoes and stock
  5. Cover and simmer for 20 mins, then mash into a chunky paste
  6. Meanwhile, remove the flesh from the avocado, chop and mash
  7. Add the lime juice and the fresh coriander, if using
  8. Layer the tortilla chips in an ovenproof dish with the cheese. Bake for 3-4 mins, dollop over the bean mixture, guacamole and fresh tomato salsa
  9. Serve immediately

Each serving contains

  • Energy 26% 2147kj 514kcal
  • Fat High 41% 28.8g
  • Saturates High 42% 8.3g
  • Sugar Low 9% 8.1g
  • Salt Med 29% 1.75g

% of adult’s reference intake | Carbohydrates per serving : 48g

Pasta with ham and horseradish

Posted on by Adam Page

Fancy some food for less than a fiver? Ideal for lunches or dinners, this tasty pasta treat is just for you. Plus, the horseradish adds gentle heat and sweetness – and it’s ready in just 15 mins!

  • Feeds 2Feeds 2
  • Ready in 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 200g Co-op tagliatelle
  • 160g frozen Co-op British garden peas
  • 160g pack Co-op honey ham chunks, shredded
  • 1-2 tbsp Co-op hot horseradish sauce (to taste)
  • 60ml Co-op sour cream

Method

  1. Cook the tagliatelle according to the pack instructions
  2. Add frozen peas for the last 2 mins of cooking time
  3. Drain, reserving a little of the cooking water, then add the remaining ingredients and toss together
  4. Over a low heat, add a splash of the cooking water and stir until the sauce is smooth
  5. Season, then serve

Each serving contains

  • Energy 31% 2637kj 625kcal
  • Fat Med 20% 14.2g
  • Saturates Med 29%5.8g
  • Sugar Low 14%12.2g
  • Salt Med 26%1.55g

% of adult’s reference intake | Carbohydrates per serving : 88g

Supplier Spotlight: Award winning New Forest Shortbread

Posted on by Adam Page

We love our catch-ups with suppliers, giving them a chance to tell their stories about how their businesses came to be and what it is that makes them so great. We feel so lucky to have them all on our doorsteps and New Forest Shortbread is no exception.

From cr-humble beginnings

New Forest Shortbread started life from creator Tracy Thew’s kitchen table and she has been making shortbread for family and friends for more than 50 years. She was often told how much her shortbread was enjoyed and asked to share her recipe. Finally in 2015, Tracy decided she would start baking for others too.

New Forest Shortbread was born!

Today, Tracy has a bakery and creates all the New Forest Shortbread collections from Burley Rails Cottage – originally a woodman’s cottage that was built in 1811. The stunning surroundings inspired Tracy to redesign the packaging with “tear off and keep” cards, to allow others to keep a memento of the Forest with them.

Beautiful creations

For fans of the Forest shortbread, you will have noticed Tracy’s packaging features beautiful illustrations of the various flora and fauna visitors might see during their stay in the New Forest. These are all created by local artist Will Drew, and are accompanied by notes and local information about the illustrations, as well as the Forest itself.

Despite the striking packaging, sustainability remains at the heart of everything Tracy does.

“We are passionate about the New Forest and inspired by the nature we have all around us – so it’s really important we keep control of the environmental aspect of our product” she said. “That’s why New Forest Shortbread ranges are sealed in recyclable bags and biodegradable boxes, on the day they are baked. All packaging is sustainable and widely recyclable.

A Welcome addition

Environmental pledges run through the veins of many businesses, including our own here at Welcome Stores, and local suppliers are a key part of lowering our carbon footprint. It reduces greenhouse emissions by limiting the number of miles any products have to travel. Plus, we see the benefit of supporting our local economy which in turn is vital for bringing jobs and growth to our communities. 

“We love to work alongside the Welcome Stores team who are passionate about local products” Tracy added. “There are loads of small businesses in the New Forest and it’s a great chance for residents and visitors to sample, what we view, to be some of the best products on the market.”

Award winning creations

And indeed, Tracy is not wrong. Being proud winners of 3 Great Taste Awards, it’s easy to see how we have some of the best products on offer right here on the South Coast.

“Our All Butter Original won 1-star in 2022, Earl Grey flavoured won 1-star in 2023 and Rosemary flavoured New Forest Shortbread won 2-stars in 2023!” Tracy said.

“We have an extensive range of flavours and work on improving our recipes all the time, so we offer something for everyone’s taste.”

New Forest Shortbread is in stock at your local Welcome store.

For more information head to https://www.newforestshortbread.co.uk/