Valentines Day is coming up❤️

   

Guess what..

Valentines Day is right around the corner! The day where people from all around the world celebrate with partners, family and friends! Gift giving is huge for this celebration.. flowers, chocolates, sweets, oh and 145 million cards a year too!

Meal ideas..

In 2024, 34.8 million Brits celebrated Valentines Day! Out of this huge amount of people, only 23% of them went out to a restaurant for a meal, surprising right? However, out of 20 popular restaurants in Bristol, only 8 of them still have availability for Valentines, best get booking ASAP!

In need of some tasty snacks?

Here's some inspiration for your snack choices from some of our great suppliers:

-Hobbs Bakery-

Hobbs Bakery have been supplying us for over 15 years, they were founded in 1920 and have continued to grow ever since! Hobbs do some fantastic baked goods, why not try their Chocolate Brownies (17030) this Valentines? Or for a pop of extra flavour, try their Chocolate Orange Brownies (5732)! Serve hot or cold, and maybe even with some cream or ice cream on top. A fantastic option for cafés and lunch venues for those looking to celebrate Valentine's Day earlier.

-Positive Bakes-

Positive Bakes are a fantastic family run business, they supply delicious bakes that are all gluten-free and plant based. None of their products contain any unnecessary products such as preservatives or additives, but are still bursting with flavour! Their packaging is plastic free, compostable and environmentally friendly too. Try their Raspberry & White Chocolate Blondie Traybakes (31306), or perhaps you might prefer their Salted Caramel Brownie Traybakes (33473). What are you waiting for, head to our online ordering page now and get them in your café for Valentines!

- Doves Farm-

Doves Farm are a gluten free business, and have 50 years of gluten free expertise. They supply various items from flour to pasta to cereal, but most importantly for Valentines Day.. they supply us with tasty snack options! They have some great flavours of gluten free cookies, including Ginger (13160), Lemon Zest (5208), Chocolate Chip (5207) and Double Chocolate (1348). A perfect option to serve along with a hot drink this Valentines.

What's in Season for Valentines?

Food products go in and out of season throughout the year, lets have a look at what's in for February and how you can use them this Valentines..

1. Cauliflower - Boil and add to a cheese sauce to create a delightful cauliflower cheese, a great side to add to your menus for some extra value alongside your classic mains.

2. Beetroot - Make a natural red velvet cake to have for your dessert.

3. Passionfruit - Use to create a passionfruit puree to pour over your dessert of choice.

4. Rhubarb - Combine with a few other simple ingredients with Yorkshire Rhubarb to create a simple and delicious Rhubarb Jam.

Here's a couple of Recipes to add to your menus:

Chocolate Trends 2025..

Chocolate is of course very popular for Valentines Day, and the trends change each year. In 2025, an increase of plant-based chocolate is expected, with lots of people changing to plant-based and vegan diets. Gourmet flavours are also on a rise, with traditional flavours such as milk chocolate being replaced with more exotic options, for example rose-infused. Chocolate bouquets are growing popular too, with customers liking the idea of their chocolate being presented as a flower arrangement!

However, although all these new trends are coming in, top quality classic chocolate will always be popular. A great option for this is the Callebaut range, the perfect chocolate to add to your desserts for your Valentines Menus! Here's some of our favourite Callebaut products: Caramel Topping Sauce (8339), Ruby Chocolate Pistoles (13869), Dark Chocolate Crispearls (5091), Hazelnut Praline (8881).

Some food related Valentines facts I bet you didn't know..

In the UK, people plan to spend an average of £50 on Valentines Day, including their meal out.

Heart shaped boxes of chocolate are very common to give and receive on Valentines Day, and the first ever box was introduced in 1861! This was created by Richard Cadbury, who was the son of the founder of Cadbury chocolate. Now each year, more than 36 million heart shaped boxes are sold.

Every Valentines Day, Steak is always the most ordered food across restaurants in the UK!

 

Happy Valentines Day from everyone at Arthur David💕