Isle of Wight producers are proving that the island has some of the best food and drink on offer as three regional ranges of products are now available at local co-operative stores.
The products from Crumbs Brewing, Minghella Ice Cream and The IOW Espresso Co. are all produced on the Isle of Wight and are now part of the Local Flavours range stocked by Southern Co-op.
The new products being stocked at The Co-operative Food stores on the Isle of Wight are:
- Crumbs Brewing’s Sourdough Pale Ale
- Crumbs Brewing’s Bloomin Amber Lager
- Crumbs Brewing’s Rye Ruby Ale
- Wight Label Guatemala Primavera Family Coffee
- Wight Label Dark Seas Blend Coffee
- Wight Label Smooth Shores Blend Coffee
- Wight Label House Decaf Coffee
- Minghella Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream
- Minghella Strawberry Ice Cream
- Minghella Salted Caramel Ice Cream
- Minghella Vanilla Ice Cream
- Minghella Choc Ice Cream
- Minghella Raspberry Sorbet
Crumbs Brewing was created to fight the growing problem of food-waste. The company uses the unsold loaves from a local artisan bakery and lovingly crafts it into a new product – beer.
Having grown up on the Isle of Wight, Morgan Arnell, who founded the company with his wife Elaine, had always been a fan of Goddard’s beer which now produces these products for the couple.
Morgan said: “It just so happened that one of the specialists helping out on the early development of the Crumbs recipe also had links to the Island and owned a small test brew kit, stored at the brewery and ready for use!
“The team’s enthusiasm and support for the Crumbs idea, as well as the undoubted talents of the brewer, made them a perfect partner for the first brewing venture. That, and it earned me a lot of brownie points with my mum for visiting home more often!”
The aim of Wight Label Coffee from The IOW Espresso Co. is to bring quality coffee and tea to all and includes several Great Taste award-winners.
The Wight Label Project builds on the ethos and artisan knowledge developed by the Burgess family over the last decade and who also run the award-winning Caffe Isola in Newport.
Larry Burgess said: “The business was actually founded by my dad and brother, but now includes all of us – Mum, Dad, brother, sister-in-law, my wife and myself.
“The IOW Espresso Co. started by importing espresso machines and coffee from Italy. We started to explore roasting coffee in 2010 and demand for our Island Roasted® artisan coffee quickly grew.
“Good coffee is a true artisan craft – it’s as much an art as it is a science. We hand roast our coffees in small batches using drum roasters to allow the coffee time to develop its true flavour. We also work closely with other island companies, such as Briddlesford Farm milk which is great for latte art.”
Also in Newport, sisters Louise Hart and Jenny Simmons have been perfecting the world famous 70 year old ice cream technique from Eddie Minghella.
Under their company The Isle of Wight Ice Cream Company, the sisters purchased Minghella Ice Cream from the family in 2017 a few years after Eddie announced his retirement at the age of 93.
Jenny Simmons said: “We worked alongside the family for a period of time to fully understand the Italian methods and to learn the specific Minghella family recipes. During the handover phase Eddie Minghella, who turned 100 in June, came into the factory oversaw our dosing and production methods. These recipes are the Minghella unique selling point and we continue to work with the Minghella family and value their quality input immensely.
“Made using double cream and Isle of Wight Milk, the ice cream has a 20% double cream base and it is great to be bringing this to more people through Southern Co-op’s stores.”
Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours range currently stocks local products from around 200 suppliers in stores in 11 different counties across the south of England.
All three product ranges will be stocked at The Co-operative Food in Bembridge’s Sherbourne Street, Cowes’ Mill Hill Road, Freshwater’s Afton Road, Rookley’s Main Road, and Shanklin’s Regent Street. Crumbs Brewing and Minghella products will also be at The Co-operative Food in Carisbrooke’s High Street, Freshwater’s Avenue Road, and Ryde’s West Street. The Co-operative Food in Sandown’s Avenue Road will also stock Crumbs Brewing ale.
To find out more about Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours range, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/food/local-flavours/.
