#SIGNALS
June 2026
Your June edition of #SIGNALS is here. Your own brand is now 12 months old so read on for an updated brand oversight. We’re also delighted to introduce some new additions to the CHEF Approved range, including three bouillons. There’s also a look ahead to what’s landing in July.
Please encourage your team to sign up so they get their own copy delivered straight to their inbox. And if anyone has missed earlier issues, you can catch up anytime in the #Signals library.
Welcome to CHEF Approved
CHEF Approved is our own brand range, offering a continually growing portfolio approaching 300 high-quality products, created specifically for caterers.
The range provides chefs with products that match – and often exceed – the market leaders on quality, value, taste and consistency.
History of the Brand
The own brand was created over 25 years ago and rebranded in 2025, in response to growing demand for high-quality, cost-effective products developed specifically for professional kitchens.
What Makes a CHEF Approved Product?
The “Approved” in CHEF Approved is your assurance – and our promise – that every product has been through a rigorous process of testing and evaluation, so you can trust it to perform in the kitchen and impress your customers.
We begin by assessing ingredient quality, flavour and consistency. Each product is benchmarked against leading brands, blind taste-tested and often trialled in working kitchens.
Our Standards: What Goes into Every Product
Behind every product in our own brand range is a rigorous framework of quality control, safety, and responsibility. We believe that value should never come at the expense of integrity. Here is how we ensure that our own brand range meets the highest standards every single day, from development to the shelf.
Uncompromising Quality & Safety
- Rigorous Benchmarking: We continuously evaluate our products against brand leaders and market competitors. This ensures our own brand range always delivers equivalent or superior quality, taste, and performance.
- Independent Food Safety Testing: Safety is non-negotiable. Every product in our range undergoes strict verification and testing in independent, UKAS-accredited laboratories to guarantee absolute compliance and peace of mind.
- Total Product Legality: We manage every legal aspect of product compliance behind the scenes. From precise ingredient labelling to strict regulatory alignment, we ensure all products meet current UK legal standards and requirements.
Transparency & Support
- Comprehensive Specifications: Full product specifications are readily available to both our members and customers, ensuring complete transparency regarding ingredients, allergens, and nutritional data.
- Dedicated Complaint Resolution: We stand firmly behind what we sell. Should any issue arise, we maintain a robust system to ensure members and customers receive timely, efficient, and thorough support.
- Showcasing & Education: We believe in the quality of our range, which is why we conduct regular member visits. These sessions are designed to showcase our products firsthand and educate sales teams on the unique benefits and value they deliver.
High-quality products for dependable everyday performance
Exceptional ingredients for standout dishes
Effective, professional-grade cleaning and hygiene solutions
For essential everyday refreshment
Responsible Packaging
We are fully committed to reducing our environmental impact through smart, sustainable packaging choices. Our current initiatives include:
- Innovative Carton Packaging: Our upcoming own brand CORE water range transitions from traditional bottles to fully recyclable cartons. These are made from 88% renewable raw materials, utilising paperboard from responsibly sourced trees and a plant-based cap and shoulder derived from sugarcane.
- Zero Black Plastic: Eliminating the use of black plastic to ensure our packaging can be easily detected and processed by standard recycling facilities.
- Sustainable Materials: Prioritising the use of eco-friendly, non-bleached cardboard for our outer transit and product packaging.
10 Reasons To Stock
Exclusive to TWG Members
Marketing support
Competitive Pricing vs Brand
Built on Member Expertise
Continuously Benchmarked
Food Safety Compliant
Multi- Temperature Range
Approaching 300 Proven Lines
Strong NPD Pipeline for 2026
Trusted by Industry Professionals
Bouillon's Range
- Packed: 1kg
- 3 Flavours
- 40ltr yield
The CHEF Approved Premium Bouillon Paste Range is available in Beef, Chicken and Vegetable variants. Made from quality ingredients, the concentrated paste dissolves instantly to deliver an authentic, savoury base. Unlike hard bouillon cubes or powders, its paste consistency delivers a much deeper, more authentic taste.
To use as a stock, dissolve one heaped spoon (approx. 25g) into a litre of boiling water. It also works stirred directly into risottos, gravies, and pan sauces, or as a base for sweating vegetables and searing proteins. Each 1kg tub yields approximately 40 litres of broth.
AVAILABLE: WC 15TH JUNE
Breaded Mozzarella Sticks
– 1kg (24-32g)
– Pre-Fried
– Frozen
Our CHEF Approved Breaded Mozzarella Sticks are an all-time favourite and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Classic mozzarella is coated in a golden, crispy breadcrumb to give a satisfying crunch on the outside and a wonderfully gooey, melty centre. Pre-fried and supplied frozen in a 6 x 1kg case with a unit weight of 24-32g, they offer consistent quality and easy portion control every time.
Perfect as appetisers, on sharing platters, or as a tasty sandwich filler, they’re ideal for QSR, casual dining, and catering menus where familiar, shareable snacks are always a hit. Simply deep fry from frozen at 180°C for 1 to 1.5 minutes, then drain and rest for 2 minutes before serving.
AVAILABLE: NOW
CORE Spring Water - Coming Soon!
– 24 x 330ml
– 24 x 500ml
– Tetra Pak
– Recycable
CORE Spring Water Tetra Pak is an eco-alternative for customers who don’t like plastic and want a more sustainable alternative.
When DRS (Deposit Return Scheme) launches in October 2027, all plastic will have a 20p per bottle premium making a 24 Tetra Pak a better commercial alternative.
In July #SIGNALS, we will have more information on the product and its launch date.
AVAILABLE: July 2026 (tbc)
ID Buzz Stops - Member Visits
Our latest CHEF Approved member visit saw us visit Youngs in Hull, to meet their team and showcase the new Breaded Mozzarella Sticks, Cheesecakes and Quiche. Thanks to Dave, Scott and their team for taking time out to see us!
Coming up:
– Tyneside – June 16th
– Bramleys – June 22nd
– All Shires – June 27th
– Thomsons – June 30th
If you are interested in an own brand member visit, please email richard@thewholesalegroup.co.uk
July Edition & Upcoming Launches
Your next edition of #SIGNALS will land in your inbox early Junly and this will feature upcoming launches:
– Fruits & Nuts Range
– Easy Cook Rice
– 10″ Tortilla Wraps
– Garlic Puree
– Sundried Tomatoes
In the meantime, download the own brand packaging tracker to keep up to date with all products available in CHEF Approved.
This is available on Accelerate, in the Blog section.
The Wholesale Group Team
The Wholesale Group’s own brand portfolio is supported by an experienced team committed to quality and shared values.
Learn about our values.
Browse the full range.
For further product information or support on the CHEF Approved range, contact Richard Ellison, Own Brand Manager at The Wholesale Group: richard@thewholesalegroup.co.uk
Foodservice Fair
Please find details for The Wholesale Group Foodservice Fair which will take place on Thursday 17th September at Stratford-Upon-Avon Race Course.
Discover the latest products, trends, and innovations in the foodservice industry. This is your chance to network, sample and connect directly with the best in the business.
PR Round Up – June 2026
Read all about it – we have featured multiple times throughout the month of June in trade magazines and their online editions. Take a look at our latest releases featuring the launches of CHEF Approved Cheesecake Range and some news on CHEF Prestige Coffee.
Contact
Kindly forward comments and suggestions to: richard@thewholesalegroup.co.uk