The eStore has been live for a while now but today we put the finishing touches on the ‘Shop by Product Type’ feature on there.

We’ve been working closely with Churchill to improve the way we present our crockery online and this seemed like an obvious yet effective solution. On the homepage of the eStore, in addition to the normal ability to browse by product range, you can now browse crockery pieces by product type. So, if you’re like me, and don’t know your Churchill Ultimo from your Alchemy White, you can now simply browse the plates, pick a range based on your design preference and purchase your pieces from there.

Browse by product type in the new Churchill eStore

As the image above shows, all crockery is split down into 8 sections:

• Plates
• Bowls & Dishes
• Buffet
• Cookware
• Beverage
• Accessories
• Wood
• Stoneware & Patterns

As always, we’re open to suggestions on ways can improve our shop so if you have any feedback, please let us know.

Churchill eStore – Buy Churchill Fine China Crockery online now!

Chafing dishes are usually found on buffet tables (or even the dining table) as a way to keep food warm prior and during a meal. When using chafing dishes it is important to constantly monitor the food temperature. Having the temperature too high can overcook the food and also wastes energy. Having a temperature too low is dangerous as food can become contaminated.

We offer a range of chafing dishes here on Alliance Online – designed with gastronorm sizing for greater flexibility in presenting different types of food. You can chose between electric dishes with rolling tops made from stainless steel or chafing fuel powered dishes in oval or rectangular designs.

Chafing Dishes – Buy Online!

I can’t believe it’s November already! October has flown by quicker than Spurs concede goals from kick-off’s.

So it’s time for me to delve into the Alliance Online database again and see which catering equipment categories were selling well throughout last month.

Dishwashers

Keeping your tableware clean was a popular trend through October as sales of Dishwashers were up. The Classeq Dishwashers in particular were selling well with the Hydro 500 Dishwasher topping the sales list.

Falcon 350 Range

The popularity of Falcon’s compact range of catering equipment is continuing to rise. The Falcon 350 range is ideal for kitchens where space is limited. Check the Falcon G350 2 Burner Gas Boiling Top available for just £612.

Halloween & Bonfire Night

The Alliance Online team are particularly pleased to see this category selling well this month. Proof that the work we put into creating and promoting these seasonal lists actually works! …sometimes. Customers were grabbing catering disposables and Halloween related supplies for their spooky events this year.

Tumblers

Last months chart-topping category has tumbled (sorry) one place this month. We expect this category to perform well again through November – especially with offers such as this Centra Tumbler available at just £5.73 for 6.

Plain White Porcelain Crockery

It’s always there or there about’s and finally, in October, Plain white Crockery topped the sales list. With 6 plates available for just £5.80 you can see why this economic range remains one of our best sellers.

With so much to choose from in the catering equipment market, Alliance Online says it considers all of it’s customers’ needs when recommending accelerated cooking equipment.

It promises that its portfolio of machines continues to deliver speed and efficiency.

Conveyor ovens are proving particularly popular at the moment with pizza chefs as the technology exists to cook a stoneground pizza in 90 seconds.

Alliance provides combi-ovens, convection ovens, microwaves and grills from manufacturers including Samsung, Falcon, Robot Coupe, Williams and KitchenAid.

A good example of this is Huhtamaki’s Soup-to-Go containers, which make ideal containers for hot products.

The range is available here on Alliance Online in four sizes – 22cl, 34cl, 45cl and 91cl – in either plain white (making them ideal for custom printing) or a Streetside design, as is shown in the image on the right.

Disposable food containers such as this can be used for a host of foods including soup, noodles, pasta or rice dishes.

Huhtamaki say the range is ideal for caterers looking to enhance their takeaway service.

The containers are easily stackable when empty and are supplied in combi-packs which include the lids and containers.

Soup Containers – Buy Online

Mix & Match with Victor

Victor Manufacturing has invested significantly in the development of its Caribbean range of modular counters. The company says the range provides the basis for any type of counter layout in a variety of finishes to suit any kitchen.

Caterers have the opportunity to create multiple service counter variations forming different shapes whether free-standing, mobile-butted or fixed butted counters.

It can be configured for refrigerated salad wells; bain marie hot cupboards; and tiled or glass top hot cupboards.

The range is available in stainless steel or brightly coloured plastic-coated steel finishes.

Victor Modular Food Counters – Buy Online

Rational’s Fine Finish

Rational says the Finishing feature in its SelfCooking Center delivers perfectly cooked food quickly and with no hassle. With Finishing, dishes can be prepared in advance.

Different dishes can be prepared in one unit together with no risk of cross contamination and the Finishing option can be used on a rack by rack basis.

Simply place the plate in the unit, select Finishing on the control panel, which tells the unit what food is being prepared and chooses a rack.

The machine then automatically calculates each rack’s finishing times accurately and tells the chef when it is ready, says Rational.

Rational Self Cooking Centre Combi Ovens – Part of a huge range of catering equipment available to buy online.

Continuing on a Christmas theme, our latest e-mail newsletter has been designed, coded and is ready to be posted out to all our subscribers inboxes tomorrow.

With December just 36 days away, this newsletter concentrates on our current Christmas promotions. All the catering supplies you need for festive season can be found here.

Christmas Table Decorations

Starburst Christmas Table Set

Restaurants are notoriously busy in December – hosting catering events from Christmas parties to works “do’s”. Coincidently the Alliance Online team are currently trying to decide on a location for their Christmas bash, suggestions of pubs, bars and restaurants in and around Cheshire are welcome.

Make sure you create the perfect setting for your festive banquets with these great Christmas table settings. From the traditional reds & greens of the ‘Swirling Star’ table sets to the elegant ‘Celebration Gold & Silver’ tableware – we’ve got a style for everyone.

Christmas Table Decorations – Buy Online

Christmas Crackers

Black & Silver Star Tree Cracker

You can’t have a Christmas meal without a cracker, it just wouldn’t be the same. How can you start your dinner without the bang of a cracker? The paper hats, the bad jokes, the mini-screwdriver sets (seriously, I got one once) – it’s just tradition.

I think we can pretty much cater for every style and colour you will want from our range. We have red, green, gold, silver, blue and black Christmas crackers…the list goes on. All with different contents from fake moustaches to mini sewing kits!

Christmas Crackers – Buy Online

Christmas Party Products

Father Christmas Outfit

Christmas catering has never been so much fun …for your customers anyway. In this section you’ll find the perfect finishing touches to make your party one to remember.

Balloons, party poppers and paper streamers make great additions to your table setting and help get everyone in the mood. What about a flashing plastic shotglass or some Christmas confetti? I’ve personally got my eye on the Father Christmas outfit – just need to work on that dance move…

Christmas Party Products – Buy Online

The promotion features some great offers on catering disposables, napkins and various party supplies.

Rational 10 Grid Electric Self Cooking Centre

An example of this saving is the reduction of food wastage and kitchen staff numbers, according to Lincat’s development chef Paul Hickman.

This trend also reflects a widening appreciation of the high-quality repeatable results from the cook-chill approach which some caterers might have thought was beyond their reach due to a lack of kitchen space or staff resources,” said Hickman.

He pointed to the five-star Moresby Hall Country Guesthouse near Whitehaven which has invested in a 10-grid Lincat Opus SelfCooking Center as part of a banqueting system which can cater for parties of up to 40 without requiring additional staff.

To help those caterers looking to offer banqueting despite limited kitchen space, the CombiDuo system from Rational enables two of the manufacturer’s SelfCooking Centers to be mounted on top of each other. The units can even be “mixed and matched” with, for example, a six-grid mounted on a ten-grid unit.

Pre-plated meals are proving increasingly popular for “bypassing all the problems with timing, portion control and wastage that can occur with conventional plated meals and ensures that each plate that goes out is served to the customer at the right temperature,” agreed Electrolux Professional’s executive training chef Alan Evans.

The ability to prepare food up to several days in advance takes the hassle out of volume cooking, allowing chefs to manage the kitchen more effectively and economically.”

Cook-chill systems significantly improve food consistency “and ensure HACCP guidelines are met,” added Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) chairman Malcolm Harling. “Much of a modern cook-chill system will be automatic, making it flexible enough to be operated by all kitchen staff while delivering the best possible results.”

In terms of market sectors, Valera’s development chef John Harvey believes many pubs have reverted from planted meals to traditional carvery “as this requires fewer staff both in the kitchen and front of house”.

Banqueting has taken a big hit in the corporate sector in recent months as companies look to cut back on their entertainment budget”.

Article excerpt from October’s Eat Out Magazine