Linda McCartney Foods Launches The Winning Dish…

LINDA McCARTNEY FOODS LAUNCHES THE WINNING DISH - MUSHROOM & ALE PIE - FOLLOWING SEARCH FOR THE UK’S TASTIEST MEAT-FREE DISH

Following the hugely successful ‘Search for the UK’s Tastiest Meat-Free Dish’, Linda McCartney Foods is delighted to announce the launch of the new Mushroom & Ale Pie which will be exclusively available in Sainsbury’s nationwide from 7th August 2011.

Winner Kate Ford said “This competition has been a fantastic journey and I have enjoyed following the development of my recipe, from creating the dish to following its progress into stores across the country. I hope the ‘Mushroom & Ale Pie’ will serve as another delicious meat-free alternative and I can’t wait to see it hits shelves this August!”

The new Linda McCartney Mushroom & Ale Pie follows in the success of the UK’s no. 1 selling Vegetarian Sausage* and other family favourites. The pie is a welcome addition to the already established range of the Linda McCartney meat-free products available and will be vegan friendly. High in protein and cooked in a delicious flaky puff pastry with a mouth-watering filling of mushrooms, lentils, onions and with a tasty hint of ale, this winner will sure become a new family favourite.

Paul said “It has been a fantastic experience to launch this competition and see food fans all over the country submit their best recipes. Trying the meat-free way of life is both tasty, environmentally friendly and we are delighted with the huge response that we have received through entries. Kate’s ‘Mushroom & Ale Pie’ is a worthy winner and includes all the values Linda cherished – hearty, home-cooked and meat-free. I can’t wait to try it myself!”

Linda McCartney Foods launched its search for the ‘UK’s Tastiest Meat Free Dish’ in November 2010, calling for all budding chefs to submit their tastiest vegetarian recipes. By January 2011, hundreds of entries had been received and the judging panel hosted by Mary McCartney and including renowned chef Aldo Zilli, Celebrity Masterchef winner Liz McClarnon, Green & Black’s co-founder Josephine Fairley, Vegetarian Society’s Alex Connell and Sainsbury’s category buyer Alison Atkin met in February to taste the shortlist and selected three finalists. The Linda McCartney Foods team later visited the three finalists’ hometowns to create a mini-documentary of each finalist cooking their dish, which aired during ITV’s This Morning between 4th–11th April 2011.

Kate was chosen through the public’s online votes on www.itv.com/linda from 4th-7th April receiving over 40 per cent** of the votes. Participating voters also had the chance to win a Baumatic microwave oven***. Kate’s dish has served as the inspiration for the new Linda McCartney Foods product that will hit shelves alongside the current range in Sainsbury’s nationwide this August.

Linda McCartney Foods continue to inspire countless people to adopt a more wholesome and environmentally aware lifestyle and is committed to continuously create innovative and tasty meat free options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. While you wait for the winner’s dish to hit shelves across the UK, discover the brand new special edition products featuring vegetarian Italian sausages and Peri Peri burgers alongside the Cheese & Red Onion and Sundried Tomato Escalopes on www.lindamccartneyfoods.co.uk

The Linda McCartney range is available from Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Tesco, Morrison’s, Holland & Barratt, plus independent retailers nationwide. www.lindamccartneyfoods.co.uk

* Source: IRI Value Sales 52 w/e 22nd January 2011 ** Calculation: Kate Ford received 40.4 per cent. Runner-up Susan Edwards from Shropshire received 32.1 per cent of the votes and third finalist Robert Stordy from Derbyshire received 27.5 per cent. **** Baumatic provide a selection of five microwave ovens