Co-operative unveils summer sizzlers

The Co-operative, the UK’s largest convenience retailer, has launched new ranges for summer 2010 comprising barbecue lines, football-inspired products and Mediterranean ready meals.

The barbecue range features a chilled and frozen offer. New lines include pork & leek sausages under the premium Truly Irresistible own label plus a gluten free variety.

In chilled picnic food, Truly Irresistible Caponata is a new tomato, aubergine and olive salad, topped with flaked almonds. Also new is Coronation Rice, cabbage and carrots with rice in a curried mayonnaise, finished with apricots and sultanas.

The retailer is also relaunching its own-brand dips with new packaging. The range includes several houmous variants including roasted red pepper, lemon and coriander, green pesto-topped and Moroccan-topped houmous.

New individual Healthier Choice crustless quiches complete the savoury line up.

In desserts, new ice cream products include a Truly Irresistible Toffee Fudge flavour and two new standard 1-litre tubs - Strawberry Swirl and Double Chocolate.

Picnicware has also been updated for 2010 and features a stripy pattern.

The Co-operative is also launching some football-related products, designed to help customers get into the soccer spirit before the World Cup.

A stonebaked Italian pizza range in football packaging is already in store along with football-shaped bread rolls.

The Co-operative is introducing three limited edition sandwiches, each inspired by a footballing nation: England (ham, mature cheddar and coleslaw), Portugal (Piri Piri chicken with lime and red peppers in a tortilla wrap) and Italy (Italian-style sausage on red pepper bread with rocket). Football Mini Cup Cakes are also new.

The retailer is helping football lovers get into the party atmosphere with a range of bunting and flags, hats and face paints and it is supporting the product launches with a raft of in-store promotions including a text and win competition.

Keeping in the community spirit, The Co-operative is also offering its customers the chance to nominate their local kids’ football team to win one of 500 football kits.

Finally, the retailer is introducing new ready meals with recipes inspired by the cuisine of the Mediterranean. The range includes Chicken & Tomato Provençale with Rice 400g, Chicken with Cous Cous 400g, Vegetable Tagine & Cous Cous 400g, Beef Pistachio Pasta Bake 400g, Lamb Kleftiko Meatballs 400g and Paella 400g.

* The Co-operative has won two Gold and three Silver awards in The Grocer Own Label Food and Drink Awards. The top prizes went to its The Co-operative Bakery Lemon Meringue Muffins (Bakery Sweet category), and The Co-operative Smoked Haddock Fishcakes (Fish category). Truly Irresistible Parmesan Wedge (Speciality Cheese); Truly Irresistible Ham, Mushroom & Mascarpone Pizza (Chilled Savoury) and Corolle Potatoes (Fresh Produce) were the Silver winners.