Big Pie Night

Bristol-based pie-maker Pieminister is to launch ’Big Pie Night’ a pie menu solution that it said can help pubs and bars achieve a gross profit of over 60%. The launch will coincide with British Pie Week (1-7 March 2010), and the firm will be giving away free pies, gravy, mash and peas to participating pubs. It will also provide point-of-sale and online promotional material.

CBeebies licence

Cake and dessert supplier Elisabeth the Chef has won a licensing deal to create celebration cakes for the CBeebies pre-school television show Big and Small. The firm will launch the cakes from late 2010. Part of French-company Groupe Senoble, Elisabeth the Chef produces a number of other licensed celebration cakes, from Noddy to Premier League football clubs.

Burton’s palm pledge

Burton’s Foods claims it is the

first UK sweet biscuit manufacturer to acquire Green Palm certificates for

100% of its palm oil and palm kernel oil usage. The company plans to move to segregated sustainable material by 2013.

Finsbury finance

Finsbury Food has appointed Stephen Boyd as its new group finance director, with immediate effect. Boyd has previously held key positions at WT Foods, Noon Products and Golden Wonder. He replaces Lisa Morgan.

Malt message

Two-thirds of consumers view malt as a healthy ingredient, according to research commissioned by Muntons. The survey, carried out by Cognet Research, involved 100 interviews with consumers, of which nearly two-thirds (64%) said they felt malt increased the nutritional value of food.