Emma Bowe and Peter Kalkowsky will appear on the Channel 4 series Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Tuesday 16th April, 8pm.
The duo are co-founders of Shocken Foods, an award-winning plant-based deli meat manufacturer. The business uses highly nutritious ingredients such as hemp, pumpkin, and wheat to make protein-rich gourmet, vegan charcuterie.
Bowe has worked in some of the best Michelin restaurants in the world from the San Pellegrino List, alongside the likes of Heston Blumenthal, cooking for royalty and prime ministers. It is these Michelan credentials the chef has applied to designing delicious vegan alternatives without artificial additives or chemical processing.
Products include bresaola, porchetta, chorizo, luxurious vegan foie gras pate, and the 2023 Great Taste Award winner – spicy nduja.
Hosted by Anita Rani, of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Chris Bavin, of BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series will see suppliers compete in a range of categories including dinners and baked goods, as well as exciting new category additions: party, world, and confectionery.
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Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, who deliberates on factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before shortlisting contestants down to just two.
The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, with a follow-up home visit from Anita or Chris who will report back their findings to Julie. The three then taste test the improved products, before Julie decides the winner which will appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 stores.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “Gone are the days of simple cheese and pineapple sticks, as people are opting for more exciting, extravagant party foods. It’s certainly a category that invites experimentation!”
Shocken Foods, which won ‘Food Startup of the Year’ at the National Startup Awards last May is hoping to claim a spot on Aldi’s shelves.
Peter Kalkowsky, Shocken Foods Co-Founder, says: “We make ‘shockenly’ delicious charcuterie and pates, with a Michelin twist. We work with highly nutritious pulses and grains and are able to come in with double the amount of protein than regular meats.”
The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to support British suppliers. Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores.
The supermarket has also introduced a ‘Best of British’ section to its website, which includes a wide selection of groceries from meat to dairy products and everyday essentials, in a bid to help shoppers support British businesses.
To find out if Shocken Foods has made it on to Aldi’s shelves, watch Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4 on 16th April. The series will air every Tuesday at 8pm until 7th May.
