Gordon Ramsay chefs to boost Authentic Food firm
The ready meals firm is working with chefs from the Blackburn-based Ramsay favourite Yu & You Chinese restaurant to deliver the new oriental meals range to be launched this spring.
A spokesman from TAFC told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “The Authentic Food Company's Chinese range of dishes is currently worth £12M but we believe that this is now set to increase to more than £20M over the next few years.”
New products in development include a premium Chow Mein dish and a king prawn in Cantonese sauce recipe. The products are being developed with the help of head chef Victor Yu and his brother, Vinny Yu.
TAFC said it will focus on improving the variety and quality of protein used within its products.
Chinese heritage
According to a statement: “Head chef Victor Yu and Vinny will assist in the creation of innovative products that are true to their Chinese heritage and reflect the different flavour combinations of regional East Asian cuisines.”
Nik Basran, TAFC’s md, added: “Their [Victor's and Vinny’s] credentials and reputation for quality, well-prepared food match our own. I am sure that our collective aim to produce market-leading Chinese cuisine for our customers will be an exciting and rewarding journey.”
Vinny Yu said: “It's really exciting to be embarking on this partnership with The Authentic Food Company. It recognises the importance of keeping its ranges reinvigorated with new ingredients and flavour combinations, and we're looking forward to supporting the firm during this process.”
The Yu & You restaurant featured on Gordon Ramsay's Channel 4 programme Ramsay's Best Restaurant when it beat London restaurant Kai to win the title Best Chinese Restaurant.
Ready meals
Meanwhile, last month TAFC launched its Authentic Kitchen brand, aimed at domestic consumers. The range includes a selection of products from TAFC's food service premium snacks and ready meals.
Last summer the firm collected five awards at the British Frozen Food Federation Annual Awards.
Speaking at the time, Basran said: “…we have a strong focus on our Indian and Pan Asian ranges”.
He added: “… we are committed to the foodservice market and these awards recognise the diverse skills of our development team who create and deliver on-trend and high-quality meals for the frozen food industry”.
The family-run business operates factories in Stockport and Sharston and storage facilities in Cheadle. It employs more than 240 people and supplies pan-Asian meals to hotels, pub chains, restaurants and retail outlets.
