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Smashing Super-sized Pumpkins

Waitrose

4 October 2010

- Sumo and Munchkin Pumpkins launch for Halloween-Flex your muscles, there's a new veg in town. In time for Hallowe'en, Waitrose is launching the mighty Sumo pumpkin, up to five times the size of their regular pumpkin. Weighing in at a mammoth 40kg, the Sumo will be the largest vegetable available in a UK supermarket taking two people to lift one. Help will be on hand for customers purchasing the sumo as Waitrose Pumpkin Porters will carry the sumo from the shelf to checkout and finally to the car boot. Following in the footsteps of the United States, Hallowe'en is becoming an increasingly popular occasion with Brits, with more people carving pumpkins for their windowsill. Waitrose has tapped into the American trend of outdoing your neighbours by launching a super-sized pumpkin for the ultimate carved creation. Waitrose Sumos are grown in Sussex and contain up to 30kg of flesh. Each one has enough flesh for 120 bowls of pumpkin soup or 360 slices of pie. The retailer will also be stocking a Hallo-weenie pumpkin for the first time. The Munchkin starts at around 100g in weight and is 400 times lighter than a Sumo. An easier size for children to help stencil, this mini-me squash variety is also delicious baked in the oven and served simply with butter. Waitrose Vegetable Buyer, Kate Prall said, "Sumos will certainly raise a few eyebrows down our vegetable aisles. It's the first time we have sold such a super-sized product which is the width of our trollies. This is our largest ever range of pumpkins and our Sumo will feed a houseful of guests at your Hallowe'en party." Waitrose Sumos are grown in Sussex by Nathan Dellicott who has being growing pumpkins for the supermarket for 18 years. The seeds were sown in May meaning the plants were well established to take advantage of the warm start to the summer. Then August rainfall helped boost some last minute growth. Excellent growing conditions mean the Sumos are even bigger than expected. Waitrose Munchkins launch on the 7th October in all Waitrose branches with Sumos launching a week later on the 13th October and trialling at 24 selected Waitrose stores, priced at £25 each. Waitrose Pumpkin range Waitrose Munchkins - £0.99 each Waitrose Sumo Pumpkin - £25 each Waitrose Pumpkin and Carving Kit - £6.99 each Pumpkin Master Carving Kit - £2.49 Waitrose Halloween Pumpkin Large - £4.99 eachWaitrose Halloween Pumpkin Medium - £2.99 each Waitrose Small Pumpkins - £1.99 per kg Waitrose Organic Pumpkin - £1.59 each Pumpkin Ice Cream - a recipe by Neil Nugent, Waitrose Executive Chef. 300g chopped pumpkin 50g butter 150ml water 150ml sugar 1 star anise 1 cinnamon stick 50ml whipping cream Zest and juice of 1 orange Gently sweat the pumpkin with the butter for 20mins, then puree. Boil together the water, sugar, star anise and cinnamon stick until the sugar has dissolved to make a stock syrup, then leave to cool. Blend together the puree, stock syrup and cream. Add the orange zest and juice then churn in an ice-cream maker until frozen. Delicious served with sticky toffee pudding. Waitrose Sumo's are available in the following branches Holloway Road Witney East Sheen Westbury Park Kings Road John Barnes Richmond Bath Thame Bloomsbury Berkhampstead Putney Salisbury Surbiton Westfield Cambridge Cheltenham Canary Wharf Wandsworth Wallingford Newbury Fulham Balham West Ealing