BLT 17th Oct: Bean & Grain – Business Think Tank

From time to time at BLT, we spend a ‘think tank’ session pooling our combined resources and know-how to help out a fellow BLT member with a business issue, either with advice or acting as a sounding board.

On this occasion, David Banes needed some pre-market feedback on  his new venture – Bean & Grain.

Here’s a brief summary of what was discussed.

BACKGROUND

• Bean & Grain is a niche food business based in south Bucks focussing on artisan bread and complementary food products such as premium chocolate, fairtrade coffee, oils, salts and vinegars.
• The ethos behind the new venture is to a carbon footprint reduction by sourcing responsibly and, where possible, locally.
• The idea germinated (no pun intended!) around 10 years’ ago from David’s dissatisfaction with UK supermarket bread following a long stint working abroad, and then proved over time (OK, couldn’t resist a pun here) until the soft launch of Bean & Grain in mid-2019.

5 INTERESTING FACTS 

1. The Chorleywood Process ‘CBP’

“The Chorleywood method is a process of making dough in bread production. The process was developed in 1961 by the British Baking Industries Research Association based at Chorleywood in Hertfordshire, and by 2009 was used to make 80% of the United Kingdom’s bread. Compared to the older bulk fermentation process, the CBP is able to use lower-protein wheat, and produces bread in a shorter time.”

In short, CBP allowed supermarkets to use low-quality ingredients to produce cheap bread –  something we have all come to rely upon.

2. Gluten tolerance

The upshot of CBP has been the increased use of additives and preservatives in our daily bread, which has resulted in many more people experiencing digestive intolerances.

That is not to say everybody has suddenly become coeliac (a serious medical condition) or gluten-intolerant (more common, but not as common as some people might believe).

Put it this way – a significant proportion of people who have self-diagnosed themselves as gluten intolerant (to supermarket bread) have found that they can actually eat freshly-based artisan bread. 

3. Bulgarian bread traditions

“Nobody’s bigger than bread”

– Bulgarian saying

The “bread and salt” tradition is probably one of the most famous Bulgarian traditions among foreigners. It is a ritual that is performed when a new person is welcomed into the home – a piece of a freshly-baked loaf is offered to the newcomer together with a pinch of salt.

4. Sea Salt as an accompaniment, not a condiment

 Ah, see above – Bulgarian bread traditions!

As part of Bread & Grain’s artisan offering, we tasted a range of the Dorset Sea Salt Company’s  products with different breads – the celery and chilli flavours were my own personal favourites.

5. When is Balsamic Vinegar not Balsamic Vinegar?

Only two regions can produce true traditional balsamic vinegar (TBV): Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy – this is labelled Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale and carries a D.O.P. (under the European Protected Designation of Origin ‘PDO’ system).

By contrast, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (BVM) is a cheaper alternative, without PDO protection and more flexibility in its flavourings…hence it can be produced in the UK, thus achieving the reduction in carbon footprint sought by Bean & Grain.

Drury & Alldis are an independent family business based in Thornwood, Essex specialising in fine oils and vinegars.

Note – don’t knock the Raspberry Vinegar until you’ve tried it – apparently it’s rather special  on vanilla ice cream with a few strawberries or can even be used to make a raspberry vinegar mojito!

ISSUES RAISED BY THE BLT GROUP

• Establish different minimum order values for retail and commercial customers.
• Put more effort into solving the delivery issue and squaring this with reducing the carbon footprint.
• Refine the pitch to make it crystal-clear to the outsider.

CONCLUSION

Watch this space! It’s very exciting to watch a ‘business-in-progress’ evolve and adapt.

Bean & Grain’s official launch date is 1st December 2019, but that may be subject to change. So, if you’d like to find out more in the meantime, please email David on info@beanandgrain.co.uk or call him on +44 7825 138214