Ravioli range chosen by competition winners

Ugo Foods, a manufacturer of chilled pasta, has unveiled a unique range of fresh raviolis. The three varieties are winning entries from its ‘Design Your Own’ competition – a contest which offered the general public the opportunity to design their own ravioli filling and to have their recipe packed into Dell’Ugo’s free-range egg pasta.

The winning varieties have been announced as ‘Olde English’ (pear, stilton and pinenuts), ‘Nordic Delight’ (beetroot, cream cheese and smoked salmon) and ‘White Chocolate & Cranberry’. A short production run is being made for the winners’ friends and family and if it is popular, Dell’Ugo will consider adding to its line of existing pasta varieties.

Dell’Ugo received over 100 entries, with creations such as ‘chocolate, bacon and chilli’ and ‘tofu with goji berries’ being some of the strangest suggestions. The influence of the recent growing trend for a sweet and savoury combination was apparent with entries for combinations such as blue cheese and fruit. The most popular entries included meat (i.e. chorizo, bacon), Asian-style fish combinations (crayfish, crab) and those with traditional English ingredients using cheddar cheese, sausage and black pudding.

Helena Jevons, head of marketing at Ugo, commented, “The overwhelming response we got to this competition is testament to the fact that consumers are keen for something new and different. The results are also indicative of how emerging trends are influencing consumers today – including sweet/savoury, where sweetness is balanced with bitterness to give multi-dimensional flavours; authenticity and home-cooking; and the hot and spicy flavours from Thai cuisine.”