Michelin Star Chefs Fairlie & Roux Cook Up a Recipe for Albert Bartlett

Albert Bartlett, the UK’s leading grower and packer of potatoes, is launching its autumn 2014 television and poster advertising campaign, starring its award-winning branded potatoes alongside two of its long-term ambassadors and UK’s top awarded chefs, Andrew Fairlie and Michel Roux Jr. Working together on this campaign follows a partnership between the top-level chefs and the fresh produce company that spans more than 10 years, based on their mutual appreciation of premium, locally sourced fresh produce. 

Both chefs use Albert Bartlett potatoes in their respective Michelin starred restaurants, Andrew Fairlie @ Gleneagles and Le Gavroche, and are generous in their support of Albert Bartlett’s sound values of quality, consistency, heritage and trust through the chain of field, packing and final product. 

Households across the UK on tight budgets will welcome a new meal idea that uses leftovers and is economical; in the current Albert Bartlett TV commercial entitled “Voilà” Roux has come up with the perfect recipe solution; he tells the viewer although he chooses higher quality foods “that doesn’t mean I am extravagant.” He describes how he creates the perfect mash by baking rather than boiling his Albert Bartlett Potatoes, then encourages viewers not to throw the potato skins away and shows the skins can be just as delicious as a creamy mash by adding cheese to create ‘Potato Skins Au Gratin’. An idea that taps into concerns about waste and demonstrates that potatoes are versatile and economical.

Michel Roux Jr says, “I’ve always believed that the best food comes from the best raw ingredients, which is why I’ve served Albert Bartlett potatoes in Le Gavroche for over twelve years now. Their consistent high quality and superb taste mean that I can rely on them to delight my exacting customers every time.”

The commercials will be first seen on Monday 20th October and will run through to Christmas. The Andrew Fairlie advert will air in Scotland only and the Michel Roux ads will be seen across the whole of the UK. This represents a heavyweight campaign, which will reach 84% of the key main shopper target, who will each see an Albert Bartlett advert over seven times. The TV ads will be supported by a 6-sheet poster campaign displayed outside selected supermarkets. 

Fairlie explains in the commercial that Albert Bartlett have long-term partnerships with their growers, stretching back across three generations and there is quality control every step of the process from seeds to delivery to kitchen. 

Andrew Fairlie says: “At Restaurant Andrew Fairlie we use only the freshest and best quality produce and we buy local whenever possible – that’s why I’m delighted to serve Albert Bartlett potatoes. You can see who grew the potatoes on every bag and their taste is excellent.”

The new ads feature several of Albert Bartlett’s exclusive branded potato varieties including the Golden Supreme Salad, deliciously nutty Apache and the UK’s most popular branded potato, the Rooster, and will fuel the nation’s on-going love of exciting cookery and great British food. Viewers can share exclusive recipes from both chefs on www.albertbartlett.co.uk.