19 Sep 2024

Our Proudest Moments

CFF UK is now B-Corp Certified

We are thrilled to announce that CFF UK Ltd has achieved the B-Corp Certification, joining a global network of businesses committed to positive social and environmental impact.

Certified B Corporations foster an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economy, ensuring purpose and profit coexist harmoniously.

Our journey to B Corp Certification reflects our dedication to using business as a force for good, meeting B Lab’s rigorous standards.

Joining over 4,000 businesses worldwide, this certification highlights our commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

A heartfelt โ€œThank You” to our team, customers, partners, and shareholders for your support. This milestone is just the beginning, and we are determined to continue making a lasting impact on our community and the planet.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Classic Fine Foods UK has a new home!

Classic Fine Foods UK is pleased to announce its move to a new, larger, and more sustainable warehouse, designed to support the companyโ€™s growth across the UK. This strategic relocation will enhance service capabilities, allowing Classic Fine Foods UK to deliver an expanded range of premium ingredients to chefs nationwide.

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As a recently certified B Corp, Classic Fine Foods UK continues its commitment to prioritising people, communities, and the planet. The new facility incorporates eco-friendly upgrades and advanced environmental improvements, which are set to enhance staff well-being, protect the environment, and reduce carbon emissions.

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Congratulations to Classic Fine Foods UK on this significant milestone.

The New Charge for Sustainability at CFF Vietnam

As the world grapples with a multitude of environmental and social challenges, the importance of global sustainability has never been more pressing. According to a Vietnamese’s electronic media – baothuathienhue.vn, 2024 is poised to be a pivotal year for sustainability initiatives and policies worldwide, with a growing focus on addressing environmental challenges. This emphasis on sustainability is evident in the increasing number of businesses adopting sustainable practices, the rise of consumer demand for eco-friendly products, and the strengthening of sustainability regulations by governments.

We’re beaming with pride to announce that Classic Fine Foods is fast propelling towards a greener future! We’ve officially engaged Novasia Energy and QCT JSC to install a generous 800 solar panels covering a surface area of 3,000m2 of rooftop and a 600kWh battery storage system โ€“ that’s some serious solar superpower! Our state-of-the-art PV and storage system will not only gain us the great advantage of long-term cost savings, but will also free us from dependence on the traditional energy grid, operating 24/7 to keep the lights on and the savings rolling in.

This epic project, inked on March 29th, 2024, marks a giant leap forward in our mission to become a local trailblazer for the environment and energy independence.

Classic Fine Foods Vietnam have been paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future since 2022!

In 2022, we launch the HRK program and compostable packaging.

2023, we transitioned to compostable PPE plastic bags to better serve our customers and introduced the Olivo Box to reduce foam box usage by 40% and eutectic plates to minimize the need for gel packs.

Now, in 2024, our new solar panel farm at CFF HCMC will make us self-sufficient during the day (from 9am to 9pm) with battery storage.

Classic Fine Foods Group partners with Seafrigo

We are excited to announce that starting in June 2024, Classic Fine Foods Group has formed a partnership with Seafrigo Airfreight to handle all our logistics and air freight forwarding from France. This strategic collaboration ensures that our ingredients are shipped to Classic Fine Foods subsidiaries around the world and directly to our customers at Classic Fine Foods Rungis with the highest standards of quality. This partnership will significantly benefit our global customers by maintaining the premium quality and freshness of our ingredients during transit.

This partnership has been a very big task, and we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the commercial, logistics, IT, and legal teams from both companies. Their dedicated efforts over the past few months have meticulously planned every detail of this partnership.

CFF Group launches the App Food Safety Alert

Classic Fine Foods has recently added a new feature to our app to enhance food safety and manage recalls. This feature sends alerts and warnings to app users whenever there’s an issue with an ingredient that may need to be recalled or disposed of.

The feature ensures quick communication with our customers during such events. When an alert is triggered, a banner appears at the top of the app, allowing customers to download a PDF description of the affected product, batch, and other relevant details. Additionally, the app sends a notification to your mobile device to ensure you are informed of the warning. A history of previous alerts is kept in the app, with active alerts highlighted in red.

CFF Singapore and the Spring Perishable Market

The Spring Perishable Market event was bigger and better than ever before, coinciding with the celebration of FICO’s anniversary. This solidified the event as a must-attend occasion for our beloved customers and esteemed chefs who frequently support Mirko Febbrile, Executive Chef at Fico Masseria (Singapore).ย 

The market proudly showcased a wide array of seasonal fruits, vegetables, dairy products, seafood, and fish items. Thanks to the support from our valued suppliers, the event had a fantastic turnout.

What made the event even more special this year was the presence of our team from CFF Rungis, along with brand owners and suppliers who joined us in the market. The Rungis team thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the market and we enjoyed working with them and getting to know them more. #OneCFFย 

Hong Kong and Macau together in Parisย 

Recently our Hong Kong pastry team and sales team from Macau embarked on a highly anticipated business trip to France. The primary goal was to reconnect with our key partners, including Eurovanille, Weiss, PCB, and Ponthier.ย 

Thanks to the support of the Classic Fine Foods team in Rungis, our colleagues had the privilege of visiting the Rungis Market early in the morning. This invaluable experience allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in our line of work.ย 

The trip was a resounding success, as it enabled them to strengthen our existing partnerships and explore new avenues for collaboration. We are grateful for the hospitality extended by our French counterparts and look forward to building upon the connections forged during this productive visit.ย 

CFF Indonesia hold an Iftar & Halal Bihalal

Classic Fine Foods Indonesia hadn’t had a kind of gathering event for a long time. During Ramadan, the Jakarta office held an iftar together with a white dress code. Meanwhile, the Bali office didn’t have the opportunity to hold an iftar, so we organized an event called Halal Bihalal, a moment after Ramadan. In Bali, we used traditional dress codes.ย 

The events were a lot of fun; not only did we enjoy eating together, but there were also games that strengthened the bond among the employees.

CFF Japanโ€™s Instagram followers surpassed 1,500

Starting from around 1,000 followers in 2023 we surpassed 1,500 followers in May! We are currently targeting 2500 for the end of the year.ย 

Make sure you follow us on Instagram for exciting news! https://www.instagram.com/classicfinefoodsjapan/

CFF UAE Supplier Products Receiving Awards

3 of our suppliers have recently received amazing awards for their premium products. Classic Fine Foods UAE is proud to supply these products to our esteemed customers.

ICON received Class Champion and Gold Medal in the Commercial Wagyu MS 5-7 class, along with a Gold Medal in the Crossbred class. Judges praised ICON for its remarkable softness and clean palate feel, describing it as rich yet delicate. These awards recognize ICONโ€™s unwavering dedication to delivering the highest quality of Australian Wagyu. ICON is the newest brand to earn Champion for in this yearโ€™s Wagyu Branded Beef Competition!

The FineWaters International Competition 2024 awarded Sant Aniol the Silver and Bronze prizes in the categories of Natural Mineral Water, Sparkling Water, and Design. During the FineWaters 2024 event, held last April at the Basque Culinary Center, the tasting included 110 waters from 37 countries. Sant Aniol, with its unique attributes of volcanic origin, quality, purity, mineral properties, and design, has been chosen as one of the top three Medium Mineralization waters in the world.

Sanchoku Wagyu and Sanchoku Pure Wagyu brands recently won Gold Medals at the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition 2024.ย 

CFF UAE Supplier Products Receiving Awards

3 of our suppliers have recently received amazing awards for their premium products. Classic Fine Foods UAE is proud to supply these products to our esteemed customers.

ICON received Class Champion and Gold Medal in the Commercial Wagyu MS 5-7 class, along with a Gold Medal in the Crossbred class. Judges praised ICON for its remarkable softness and clean palate feel, describing it as rich yet delicate. These awards recognize ICONโ€™s unwavering dedication to delivering the highest quality of Australian Wagyu. ICON is the newest brand to earn Champion for in this yearโ€™s Wagyu Branded Beef Competition!

The FineWaters International Competition 2024 awarded Sant Aniol the Silver and Bronze prizes in the categories of Natural Mineral Water, Sparkling Water, and Design. During the FineWaters 2024 event, held last April at the Basque Culinary Center, the tasting included 110 waters from 37 countries. Sant Aniol, with its unique attributes of volcanic origin, quality, purity, mineral properties, and design, has been chosen as one of the top three Medium Mineralization waters in the world.

Sanchoku Wagyu and Sanchoku Pure Wagyu brands recently won Gold Medals at the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition 2024.ย 

CFF UK Frozen Salmon clearance

Due to the new regulations between the EU & UK in regards of the health certificate to export animal products our Salmon Export project failed last year.ย 

This led to 2066 units of frozen salmon, allocated to French market coming back to our London warehouse just before Christmas.ย 

The sales team played a key role and ensured the stock was sold and not written off, key to this was our Quality and Operations teams who helped with the process to freeze the product and extend shelf life.ย 

This collaboration and joint effort saved the company from a huge 1.6-ton write-off.ย 

CFF UK supports the Trenchermanโ€™s guideย 

Our National Sales Manager Krishna Quarrell explains our sponsorship with Trenchermanโ€™s guide:

โ€œI am incredibly proud that Classic Fine Foods is contributing to the recognition of excellence in our industry. Our involvement with the Trenchermanโ€™s Guide not only strengthens our ties with the local community but also reinforces our position as a company that champions quality, service, and the very best in hospitality. The Trenchermanโ€™s Guide is a prestigious publication that covers the Southwest, a region I hold dear to my heart. Having lived here all my life, it is where I developed my passion for food, exceptional service, and the hospitality industry.โ€

Our Global Values Challenge winners celebrating their wins

We are so proud of all the entries into the Global Values Challenge! The entries received were a true testament to ingenuity and imagination of our team members across the world. A reminder of the winning teams:

1st Place โ€“ Ha Noi Team (Vietnam)

2nd Place โ€“ The Visionaries (UK)

3rd Place โ€“ Team Passion (Malaysia)

Our winning teams had a great time at their celebratory dinners. Reflecting and sharing stories over a delicious meal at a fine dining restaurant and an opportunity to look back on their hard work, creativity and #OneCFF teamwork.

CFF Group and the unannounced GQA assessment from METRO

In April, we had an unexpected visit from the METRO team for an unannounced GQA assessment during the busiest week in Singapore, coinciding with Food & Hotel Asia (April 22-27, 2024). Our team was focused on the event, however, with the support of a cross-functional team, including the finance director, operations team, and HR, the Singapore team effectively managed this additional task and ensured the smooth execution of the four-day assessment. Mr. Wong Choo Eng (Singapore QA) stated “This achievement would not be possible without the effort of the entire teamโ€.

The METRO assessor’s initial feedback highlighted noticeable improvements and commended the team’s efforts in maintaining high quality standards. This led to an impressive score of 95.1% (Best Practice), a significant increase of over 10% from the previous assessment. This Best Practice level is the first among all FSD companies in METRO. Yanny Yip (Group Head of Quality Assurance) reported โ€œThis is a great achievement for our quality team!โ€

#WeAreOneCFF coming to life with new Office Decor, Branded Trucks and our Social Media Guidelines

Itโ€™s wonderful and inspiring to see our Classic Fine Foods brand come to life across all our countries. Representing the Classic Fine Foods brand is of paramount importance to the overall perception of the brand, not only from our customers, but our suppliers too.

Our Vision, Mission & Values branded office decor is looking fantastic across all our offices, creating a cohesive and inspiring environment that truly reflects our companyโ€™s identity. The custom-designed artwork not only serves as a reminder to our team about our pillars, but also leaves a lasting impression on visitors, reinforcing our brand’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Our CFF Purple branded delivery trucks are making a striking impression across all the countries we operate in, showcasing our commitment to quality and consistency. The designs were meticulous in demonstrating the range of products we offer, in the most stylish manner possible. Our delivery trucks stand out on the roads, enhancing visibility and reinforcing our brand identity, ensuring that our customers recognize and trust our brand no matter where they are.

We recently launched new guidelines for our uniforms, business cards, and various social media channels, reinforcing our commitment to brand consistency across all countries. These guidelines ensure that our messaging, visual impression, and brand tone are unified, providing a cohesive experience for everyone who encounters the Classic Fine Foods brand.

Sponsorship of the Pastry Teams for the Coupe du Monde: UK, Indonesia, Malaysia

Classic Fine Foods is immensely proud to sponsor the pastry teams representing the UK, Indonesia, and Malaysia at the prestigious Coupe du Monde de la Pรขtisserie.

This esteemed competition celebrates the pinnacle of pastry artistry and innovation, aligning perfectly with our commitment to our values of Excellence and Passion.

By supporting these talented teams, we not only contribute to their journey of achieving international recognition but also reinforce our dedication to nurturing and showcasing the finest in culinary talent. We look forward to witnessing their remarkable creations on the global stage.

CFF UK is the Patron for the 2nd Edition of the Pรขtรฉ Croรปte UK World Championship Finals

Presented by Classic Fine Foods UK, this unique event will take place in October at The Savoy, where 10 contestants will compete to create their best pรขtรฉ croรปte.

The Pรขtรฉ Croรปte World Championships bring together professional chefs, pastry artisans, and culinary enthusiasts from around the globe to showcase their skills and creativity in crafting exceptional pรขtรฉ croรปte, helping to preserve this centuries-old French culinary tradition (literally translated as “pie in crust”).

The talented winner will earn a spot in the Pรขtรฉ-Croรปte World Championships Final, scheduled for December 2024 in Lyon, France. There, they will compete alongside 14 other winners from semi-finals held in Asia, America, Polynesia, Scandinavia, Mexico, and Europe.

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