French Village in Belfast launches novel bake at home pizza kit
French Village Bakery, a leading Northern Ireland bakery, wholesaler of breads and cakes, caterer, and restaurant operator, has just launched Bake, a unique kit for making sourdough-style pizzas at home.
The new Fry Pan Pizza Box Kit is the outcome of months of research and new product development led by Ashley French, French Village managing director, a pizza enthusiast. The novel kit is aimed at a family of four and also includes illustrated instructions on how to make the delicious pizza at home. A pizza kit for two is also planned.
In addition, there’s a video link explaining how best to create an enjoyable and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza quickly and easily at home.
The original fry pan kit, which sells at £20 makes four freshly made pizzas and is available on a call and collect and delivery basis from the bakery in Belfast. The kit comprises four French Village sourdough balls, fermented for two days, the company’s own pizza sauce, flour, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses as well as pepperoni and olive oil.
Mr French explaining the new product, says: “While I’ve been working on the development of the new fry pan pizza for many months, the current lockdown and especially the growing trend towards cooking fresh meals and snacks at home has created a significant market opportunity for delicious pizza that could be made easily and enjoyed by everyone.
“Our pizza kit can be ready to enjoy in around 10 minutes. Furthermore, it’s an ideal family product which children, in particular, can enjoy helping to make and eat. We’ve tested the pizza extensively to ensure that it is both easy to make at home and offers outstanding taste. Feedback from everyone we asked to make and experience the pizza has been extremely encouraging,” adds Mr French.
The company operates from a state-of-the-art bakery and has become a major wholesaler of breads and cakes throughout Northern Ireland. In addition to the bakery and restaurants, the company has a successful catering operation for various events including weddings.
It responded quickly to the close of many wholesale customers such as cafes, canteens and restaurants by creating innovative provision and family food boxes for doorstep deliveries in Belfast. The lockdown meant the company had to close its two restaurants in Belfast until the end of the crisis and halted its catering business.
“We’ve created food boxes especially for families and individuals who are self-isolating due to the lockdown. They’re also ideal for those seeking a tasty and quality treat for main meals and snacks,” Mr French continues.
As well as featuring a range of freshly baked goods, such as soda bread, potato farls, wheaten bread, pancakes and brioche baps and cakes, French Village has teamed up with other local producers to include products such as buttermilk, milk from Drayne’s Farm, Lisburn and butter from Ballyrashane in Coleraine, tea from Suki Tea Makers, Bailie’s coffee, both based in Belfast, and free range eggs from Springmount Farm in Castleregh.
The new pizza kit has developed essentially as a weekend meal.
Contents of the boxes for delivery can be ordered and paid for through the company’s website to be collected on Friday and for delivery within many parts of Belfast on Saturday. In addition, the kits are available from a number of food retailers such as Carnbrooke Meats in Lisburn and Coleraine-based Lynas Foods.
The family-owned business opened in 1981 as a producer of artisan breads, cakes and buns. The company established an impressive and successful reputation for creating high quality bakery products. In 2014, it moved to a purpose-built bakery in east Belfast and then diversified into wholesale and catering. The pizza kits represent another important diversification strengthening its retail options.
