Waitrose opens store in St Andrews Avenue, Colchester

‘Green’ ambassadors welcome shoppers

At the recent opening of a new Waitrose in St Andrews Avenue, Colchester in Essex, employees greeted shoppers as ‘green’ ambassadors and gave away 35,000 ‘Bags for Life’, worth a total of £3,500.

The promotion was designed to encourage customers to re–use their carrier bags rather than depending on single–use bags.

Having invested millions of pounds on the store’s development, Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership, has also invested heavily in training for all of its 280 employees.

Partners, as all Waitrose employees are known, have the opportunity to gain national certificates in food expertise to enable them to become ‘Waitrose specialists’ on its meat, fish, cheese and delicatessen counters.

Colette Weaver, Waitrose customer services said: “The level of training we’ve been given by Waitrose has been amazing. All the trainers have been very patient and have really taken the time to develop our skills. All the current Partners we’ve been working and training with have also been wonderfully welcoming.”

In addition to the fresh counters, salad and olive bars and bakery, customers can enjoy a pre or post shopping restbite at the food shop’s café which serves a variety of hot and cold drinks and snacks, such as soup, sandwiches, panini's, cakes, rolls, pastries and cookies.

Shoppers can also discover the supermarket’s award–winning wine collection, the ‘essential Waitrose range’ and a wide–selection of local and regional produce, for example, from Wilkin & Sons’ Tiptree jams and preserves to Sandyford Vineyard’s English sparkling wine and Howie & Sons’ Wicks Manor bacon and sausages.

Waitrose has other stores in Essex based in Saffron Walden, Billericay, Buckhurst Hill, Southend–on-Sea, Upminster and Leigh–on–Sea.

Waitrose has 214 branches, including stores in Wales and Scotland.

For more information telephone Waitrose Colchester, on: 0800 169 2701. Visit Waitrose online at: www.waitrose.com.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

Florestine launches its Beach Treasures Collection

Sculpted driftwood, pebbles and shells

Florestine, the new online coastal style interiors, gifts and accessories store, has launched its covetable Beach Treasures Collection. The collection celebrates the natural beauty of the coastline and the decorative treasures washed–up on storm–tossed beaches.

Sea–sculpted driftwood, wave–smoothed pebbles and shells in all their infinite variety are lovingly handmade into seductive lights, mirrors, garlands, photo frames and decorative accessories. The beauty of the beach is also captured in evocative photographs, stationery and cards.

Florestine embraces the movement for environmentally–friendly décor, natural materials, handmade products and coastal style, the collection has something for everyone – whether they live by the sea, holiday by the sea or while–away city–bound hours in dreams of their next seaside escape.

Find out more on website: www.florestine.com.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

Mercedes–Benz Vans launch campaign for Vito Sport

Brand targets the mountain bike market

Mercedes-Benz Vans have launched a lifestyle marketing campaign for Vito Sport in partnership with leading mountain bike race team, Team Ashton Diamondback and the Animal relentless Bike Tour.

As part of a sponsorship deal which engages Team Ashton Diamondback as brand ambassadors, Mercedes–Benz have provided the team with two Vito Sport vans, to transport both themselves and their equipment to competitions and events across Europe. The team will also film podcasts during their activities, in which the team vehicle will appear.

The Vito Sport will support the riders on the 40–date Animal Relentless Bike Tour and at international competitions throughout the summer.

To support the campaign, Mercedes–Benz Vans have launched a dedicated microsite at: www.vitosport.co.uk.

The website gives details of the vehicle’s features, the Animal Relentless Bike Tour programme – where the Vito Sport will be on show – downloadable wallpaper, plus photos and videos of both the Vito Sport and Team Ashton Diamondback in action at events so far this year. Future plans include Twitter and Facebook pages.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

Apple crumble and custard is UK’s favourite dessert

Gaviscon Double Action milestone study

New research reveals that the traditional British pudding of apple crumble and custard is the nation’s favorite with 54 per cent of the public vote.

The findings by heartburn and indigestion brand Gaviscon Double Action Tablets, which has the power of two acid neutralisers, show that 58 per cent of Brits admit that they would not turn down the offer of a pudding under any circumstances.

The study also shows that not only was apple crumble and custard ranked as the nations number one dessert but it was also the nations favourite dessert double–act with more people claiming that they would not consider eating the crumble without its traditional accompaniment.

Surprisingly, the research also reveals that when it comes to the battle of the sexes there is very little difference between pudding consumption, with 16 per cent of men eating their favourite pudding once a month compared to 17 per cent of women and every one–in–100 respondents admitted to eating their dessert of choice every day.

The nation’s top 10 favourite double–acts:

1 Apple crumble and custard,
2 Strawberries and cream,
3 Profiteroles with chocolate sauce,
4 Chocolate fudge cake and ice–cream,
5 Lemon meringue pie and ice–cream,
6 Pancakes and maple syrup,
7 Sticky toffee pudding and clotted cream,
8 Ice cream and chocolate sauce,
9 Treacle tart and ice–cream,
10 Chocolate brownie and cream.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

John Lewis at home recruitment drive for new shop

Opens autumn in Branksome, Poole

One of the biggest recruitment campaigns in Poole this year has kicked–off as John Lewis starts its search for a catering team, advisers and sales assistants for its new shop in Branksome, Poole.

John Lewis at home, due to open this autumn, will recruit over 100 full–time and part–time staff, or Partners as they are called at John Lewis.

John Lewis at home is a new format for the retailer and will be one–third of the size of a typical John Lewis department store. The Poole shop will focus exclusively on home and electrical and home technology and feature a café.

Barbara Jacobs, John Lewis personnel manager is co–ordinating the recruitment and training process. She said: “This is an exciting time for us. The new branch in Poole will be very different from our full–line department stores and we are looking for people with a wide variety of skills and a can–do attitude. We need people who are enthusiastic team players and can demonstrate a passion for retail. With seven–day trading, we are recruiting for a broad range of roles and offer flexible employment contracts, full–time and part–time.”

In return, Partners will become part of the department store’s partnership structure, and receive a range of benefits that includes access to holiday and leisure facilities, education support and a pension scheme.

For further information visit John Lewis Poole at: www.johnlewis.com.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

Exhibition of Enigma and other cypher machines

Bletchley Park event, 5 and 6 September

On 4 September 1939, the day after the declaration of war, code–breakers, Alan Turing and Gordon Welchman, reported for top–secret duties at Bletchley Park.

So began a most remarkable period in code–breaking history; the breaking of German Enigma.

Today, Bletchley has a permanent collection of Enigma and other vintage cypher machines and equipment. To mark this anniversary weekend, the exhibits will grow when over 70 more, previously top–secret, machines from around–the–world will be on display.

The arrival of the encoding machines will coincide on the Sunday with Bletchley Park’s Annual Enigma Reunion event, to unite them with many of the men and women who cracked their codes during World War Two, often without ever having seen the machine itself.

The machines will arrive from international museums, private and government collections, and include the UK’s own Government Communications Headquarters [GCHQ], the USA’s National Cryptologic Museum and military museums in Scandinavia and Europe.

Some of the machines have never before been publicly shown in the UK, such as the Enigma KD, Swiss K, T and others that are still under wraps until this event opens.

Simon Greenish, director Bletchley Park Trust said: “We are extremely privileged to be hosting this event with the support of GCHQ. It promises to be an exciting, once–in–a–lifetime opportunity to see such a large number of the world’s incredibly rare cypher machines in one place. The fact that we will also be in the presence of so many of Bletchley Park’s exceptional wartime veterans will make it a truly phenomenal occasion.”

Other highlights of the event will be talks by VIP guest speakers, a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast by a Lancaster on the Saturday, a World War Two RAF plotting table, World War Two re–enactors and for children to have a go at making and breaking codes in Spy Workshops.

For visitor information telephone: 01908 640404. Email: info@bletchleypark.org.uk. Website: www.bletchleypark.org.uk.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

Maria plays bride’s role for London School student

Model assignment helps with exam pass

What better way could there be to launch your career in modelling than to play the happy bride for the day? That is just what 22–year old Maria Shine from Berkshire experienced recently when she got her first assignment through Models Direct, one of the largest agencies in the UK.

Maria, who is 5’5” and acts and sings as well as working as a model, was asked to model for a student at the London School of Beauty and Make–Up who, as part of her practical assessment, needed to show that she could make up a beautiful bride.

It might sound like an unorthodox assignment to begin her career with, but Maria loved it. She said: “I really enjoyed the assignment as Karen, the lady I was a model for, was really nice and friendly.

“It was nice to be the model chosen for the assignment and was good to know I was helping Karen with her project.

“I just had to sit and have my make–up done. The best thing was having Karen pass her exam for the make–up she did on me.”

The Karen in question is the client, Karen Limpus, now fully–qualified in make–up and hair after passing her practical exams. The London School of Beauty and Make–Up, where Karen is a student, runs courses on all aspects of beauty therapy, body therapy and make–up.

“Maria was a pleasure to work with and everything went well,” said Karen.

For more details visit website: www.modelsdirect.com.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com

Tribal drumming experience for Shakespeare’s Globe

BassToneSlap wants public to join–in

Red Letter Days, a leading UK ‘experience’ organisation that provides adventure and activity gifts, has launched a wild, tribal drumming experience with musicians BassToneSlap on 25 October 2009.

The event, which takes place at the Balcony Room within Shakespeare’s Globe on London’s Southbank, will give the public an opportunity to play drums, under instruction from some of the most experienced players in the country.

Beginning with basic technique exercises to warm–up, it is expected that participants will throw–off any inhibitions, running grooves, playing solo and even leading the team.

Once fully–rehearsed, family and friends can join for a performance by BassToneSlap. Then, participants will put what they have learned into practice with their own magnificent show accompanied by the ‘pros’.

The energy produced by dozens of drummers performing together in the final show is expected to create an unforgettable and special experience.

For more details visit Red Letter Days website: www.redletterdays.co.uk.

BassToneSlap, owned by Richard Enion and Michael Davis, gave equity in their company to Dragons’ Den judges Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis, in return for investment. Both Jones and Paphitis are also investors in Red Letter Days.

Photograph Chance Agrella published courtesy © Free Range Stock, www.freerangestock.com