After hiking the price of its cream of tomato soup by 79% at the start of the year, Heinz was firmly in our bad books – but a new collaboration withAbsolut Vodka might just be about to turn all of that around.
In a partnership we didn’t even know we needed, the two brands have come together to create the ultimate jar of Pasta alla Vodka sauce.
Spicy vodka pasta has long been a favourite with Italian food lovers, but the dish has been experiencing something of a moment in the spotlight ever since supermodel Gigi Hadid shared her own viral recipe on social media.
The dish has since become one of the trendiest recipes on TikTok and Instagram, leading Heinz to pull themselves into gear and create their own version of the popular sauce.
Despite its over 150-year history of creating world-renowned tomato-based products, Heinz has admitted to being ‘ridiculously late’ to the tomato-based pasta sauce game.
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Now, though, that is all set to change as the brand releases its own version of the much-loved recipe to the masses, in jar-form, through the creation of Heinz x Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta Sauce.
Calling it ‘a match made in pasta heaven,’ according to a press release the vodka in the sauce ‘unlocks the flavours and intensifies the aroma’ of the rich and creamy tomato, basil and cheese concoction.
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During the cooking process, most of the alcohol from the vodka is reduced, boosting the volatile flavour compounds already present in the tomatoes and creating a rich texture that perfectly balances the creamy, cheese notes with the rich tomato and fragrant basil.
Speaking on the new release, Caio Fontenele, Heinz New Ventures Director, said: “While it may have taken over 150 years of tomato expertise to launch our first Heinz pasta sauce, we’re determined to continue innovating and delighting consumers with delicious flavours, at the speed of social media trends.
“We are thrilled with the partnership between these two centenary brands, bringing the first tomato vodka pasta sauce to major UK supermarkets. The iconic combination of Heinz’s high-quality tomato sauces and Absolut’s premium vodka is set to offer fans the ultimate pasta alla vodka experience. And the result is absolutely delicious!”
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Of the launch, Leanne Banks, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard UK, added: “It’s only natural that we’d partner with Heinz on this ultimate collaboration between two iconic brands, with two iconic bottles.
“As the UK’s no.1 premium vodka, Absolut was Born to Mix, whether that’s in delicious drinks or fun food combinations and Heinz x Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta Sauce is a match made in heaven. Now fans of our brand can enjoy Absolut in an entirely new and innovative way, Pasta alla Vodka style.”
A limited number of the Heinz x Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta sauce jars will be available at Waitrose from mid-April for £2.50 for a 350g jar.
However, if you don’t want to miss out, you can pre-order one of a limited run of the special sauce from Heinz’s direct-to-consumer website, www.heinztohome.co.uk, to get your hands on a jar ahead of its official supermarket launch.
UK News
Covid vaccines set to be made available on UK high streets
Danny Jones
You will soon be able to get Covid-19 vaccines outside of the NHS for the first time since their introduction in December 2020as jabs are scheduled to land on the high street next week.
Set to be made available to anyone aged 12 and above from 1 April onwards, British pharmacy and beauty brand Boots will be the first retailer to sell Covid vaccines to the general public.
Boots will be stocking the Pfizer jab in a total of 50 stores across the country, with single doses said to cost £98.95 a pop, the new private vaccine purchases provide an option for those who do not currently fit the criteria for a free booster.
A Boots spokesperson told The Times: “Our private service builds on our existing delivery of Covid-19 vaccinations for the NHS and we are pleased we can now offer Covid vaccines both on behalf of the NHS and privately, as we have done with flu vaccinations for many years.”
The high street staple insists that offering Covid jabs over the counter will help bring peace of mind to people who still want added protection from the virus who are currently unable to get one via the NHS, whose official vaccination programme ended in 2021.
Eligibility for boosters has mainly been reserved for those considered high-risk, including over-65s or patients who are immunosuppressed as a result of pre-existing conditions.
Meanwhile, although healthier young people and adults are unlikely to suffer severely from coronavirus, vaccines can still help shield them from uncomfortable symptoms such as coughs and sore throats.
Jabs will still have to be administered inside the shop itself, with Boots releasing appointment slots from this week ahead of the rollout next month. Opting for the single-dose Pfizer vaccine also means patients will not need to return for a second visit.
Compared to the likes of the flu jab which are roughly between £15-20 in most cases, it remains to be seen whether the cost of Covid jabs will put people off getting them on the high street.
Plans to sell them privately were outlined back in December 2023 with both Pfizer and Moderna making it clear they were keen to sell their products on the high street, but prices will still be set by individual pharmacies as more brands inevitably come on board.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said last year that it was happy with private sales, stating: “We have spoken to manufacturers we’re [contracted] with and made it clear we won’t prevent them initiating a private market for Covid-19 vaccines, rather we’d welcome such an innovation in the UK.”
If you’re interested in getting a Covid booster, before going right ahead and booking a private appointment at your nearest Boots, you can double-check if you’re eligible to get one free through the NHS HERE.
Stockport Council secure in funding £1.6 million to help fix the roof of historic Bramall Hall
Danny Jones
Stockport Council has secured approximately £1.6 million in funding to help fix the roof of Bramall Hall, one of Stockport and Greater Manchester’s most historic buildings.
The iconic Tudor hall and old vestige of Stopfordian village’s Cheshire roots has been described as a national treasure and attracts over 36,000 visitors every year.
However, the condition of the Grade I-listed structure and its roof in particular has been gradually worsening over the years and the Council warned it would be left at “urgent risk” if repairs were not made soon.
With that in mind, local authorities have acquired sufficient funds through the Arts Council England’s Museum Estates and Development (MEND) fund, making it one of 70 museums and libraries across the country set to benefit from £33m through the government’s wider Cultural Investment project.
Dating as far back as the Middle Ages before being rebuilt in the 16th, the regular tourist destination for Bramhall locals is SK residents it’s just one of the oldest buildings you’ll find in the town but anywhere in Greater Manchester.
Sitting as the crown jewel atop the picturesque Bramhall Park and having been used as a filming location for various TV shows and films over the years, not to mention hosting school trips and tours for decades, it has also played a key role in local culture.
All that being said, beyond maintenance and the money going directly towards fixing the roof, the MEND funding will also go towards “preserving invaluable historic objects and architectural features, such as internationally significant Tudor paintings, a rare surviving example of an Elizabethan pendant plaster ceiling and the work of arts and crafts architect George Faulkner Armitage.”
As per an official statement from the council, work is slated to start this winter and is expected to take up to two years to complete, but the Hall will be kept open around renovation works as Stockport Museums look to build a new programme of special events and activities.
Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “Stockport Council is proud to own, operate, and care for Bramall Hall. Not only is it a jewel in Stockport’s crown, but it’s also a national treasure, and we must preserve this first-class historic house and its enviable collections for generations to come.
“It is great news that we have been awarded this funding, which will support us in doing this.”
He went on to add, “It’s fitting that this major renovation work is announced during Stockport’s year as Town of Culture, showcasing our amazing facility to people yet to visit or who want to re-discover it.
“The Hall and Stockport museums are keen to get people actively engaged with the renovation works, feeding into this year’s cultural programme celebrating Stockport’s people, places and stories.”