Boost order values with sides and accompaniments, suggests Central Foods

During the Covid pandemic, takeaways and delivery have seen a huge increase in demand. Consumers have been keen to treat themselves and also to support their favourite fast food outlets through challenging times.

With main menu items doing so well, sides and accompaniments have also shone…providing extra items to pep up orders and boost the bottom line.

“Takeaways and deliveries continue to be in high demand, so ensure customer loyalty and repeat orders by regularly refreshing your menu with new and tempting products,” explains Gordon Lauder, MD of frozen food distributor Central Foods.

“Sides and accompaniments are a great addition to any takeaway or delivery menu and the ideal way to boost order value. Central Foods offers a range of tasty, pre-prepared, frozen accompaniments which are simple and convenient to serve, including traditional sides and items with a modern twist.”

KaterVeg! pre-fried breaded mushrooms are a popular traditional accompaniment on takeaway and delivery menus. Whole mushrooms coated in crispy, crunchy breadcrumbs – suitable for vegetarians - they can be oven cooked or deep fried. Our garlic mushrooms are a popular side order with pizza and the plain mushrooms add flavour to burger or chicken takeaways.

“Or how about the KaterVeg! battered giant onion rings, which are par fried for a quicker cook time and individually quick frozen for ease of use and portion control? The whole natural onion rings are coated in a lightly seasoned, crispy batter and are a very popular side dish with burgers, hotdogs and a range of fast food favourites. What’s more, they offer a tasty option for vegetarian diners too!

“Try thinking outside the box, adding unusual sides or accompaniments to your menus,” suggests Gordon. “Onion rings, garlic bread and sweetcorn are long-standing favourites when it comes to sides and accompaniments. But how about looking at some of the latest trends in the foodservice sector to find something to serve that will set you apart from your competitors?

“Central Foods has recently launched the KaterVeg! Moroccan-style Cauliflower Bites – delicious cauliflower florets coated in gluten-free and vegan Moroccan-style spiced quinoa breadcrumbs. Suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs, the KaterVeg! Moroccan-style Cauliflower Bites are novel and bang on trend too. Cauliflower is currently a foodie favourite – we’re seeing it served as cauli steaks, en-croute, as ‘rice’ and in other formats – and it has a host of health and nutritional benefits too. Middle Eastern and Persian flavours are also on trend, so this product really does tick all the boxes for what’s hot and happening right now in foodservice.

“What’s more, the KaterVeg! Moroccan-style Cauliflower Bites are quick and simple to cook and serve, taking as little as just four minutes to cook from frozen.

“Pop the KaterVeg! Moroccan-style Cauliflower Bites into a bag or serve as part of a meal deal. They are a great-tasting product that’s sure to go down well with all customers, not just those who are looking for vegan friendly or gluten-free options.”

Central Foods is one of the UK’s leading frozen food suppliers to the food service sector, supplying hundreds of different lines into foodservice, ranging from vegetarian and free-from items, meat products, bakery items and canapés through to buffet products, desserts and puddings. It currently sells to more than 240 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers, and foodservice caterers across the entire foodservice industry including fast food operators.

Its range for takeaway and fast food operators includes the popular Golden Valley Foods poultry products, as well as burgers, sausages – including vegetarian and vegan options - and a sizzling selection of sides.