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Shadow environment secretary condemns GM vandalism in advance of Rothamsted action this Sunday

25-May-2012 - Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh has condemned protestors’ attempts to vandalise crops at Rothamsted Research centre, where a trial of genetically modified (GM) wheat is being held.

Soaring UK livestock prices hit Vion’s profits

25-May-2012 - Meat processing giant Vion said the economic slump and “unprecedented” UK livestock prices had contributed to a crash in profits.

Young’s Seafood to close Cromer Crab Company site

25-May-2012 - Young’s Seafood has announced that it will cease production at the Cromer Crab Company site in Cromer, Norfolk with the loss of 109 jobs between June and August this year.

Premier Foods: ‘three likely candidates for disposal’

25-May-2012 - Premier Foods’ facilities at Histon, Knighton and Middleton are the most likely candidates for disposal, according to City analyst Panmure Gordon.

News in brief

Dairy Crest’s food division offsets poor results from dairy

24-May-2012 - Dairy Crest has reported results for the year ended March 31 much in line with City analysts’ expectations, with an adjusted profit before tax of £87.4M on revenues up 2% at £1,632M.

Supermarkets apologise for 'dodgy' price promotions

24-May-2012 - A damning report on dodgy supermarket pricing tactics that conned shoppers into thinking they were getting a better deal than they were has prompted apologies from the UK’s biggest retailers.

Illegal imports of unlabelled desinewed meat products threaten UK operators

24-May-2012 - Britain’s meat processors will be at a distinct commercial disadvantage compared with some of their EU counterparts when new rules governing changes to the labelling of disinewed meat (DSM) products come into effect this month.

News in brief

Greencore results: the analysts’ verdict

23-May-2012 - Half-year results from convenience food manufacturer Greencore published this week (May 22) have attracted a warm reception from city analysts.

Premier Foods’ disposals 'essential' to service debt

23-May-2012 - Disposals are essential if Premier Foods is to service net debt, which is likely to remain at £1.2bn this year, warns financial specialist Panmure Gordon.

Own-label food and drink NPD overtakes branded

23-May-2012 - The proportion of own-label food and drink new product development (NPD) exceeded branded for the first time in the UK last year, according to market research firm Mintel.

Greencore: US chilled foods market ‘worth billions’

22-May-2012 - Anglo Irish convenience food manufacturer Greencore sees “huge potential for expansion” in the US chilled food market, according to its chief financial officer Alan Williams.

Milk Link and Arla in £2bn merger plan

22-May-2012 - Dairy co-operatives Milk Link and Arla group plan to merge to create a business with a turnover of more than £2bn, which processes over 3bn litres of milk a year.

Chinese and US exports to boost Cranswick sales

21-May-2012 - Exports to China and new product launches have helped UK pork products producer Cranswick boost sales despite the recession.

News in brief

Greggs crowned sandwich chain of year

21-May-2012 - High street baker Greggs has fought off stiff competition from Pret A Manger, Subway and O'Briens to win the title ‘Specialist Sandwich Chain of the Year’.

UK signs £50M deal to export pork to China

18-May-2012 - The UK has signed a landmark deal, worth at least £50M, to export pork to mainland China – the world’s biggest market for pig meat.

Newcastle Brown Ale in top 10 US beer list

18-May-2012 - Cult beer Newcastle Brown Ale has fought off stiff global competition to win a place in the list of the US’s top 10 favourite beers.

Jobs will be lost at Rachel’s Dairy

18-May-2012 - A number of jobs will be lost from Rachel’s Dairy’s workforce of 150 at its Aberystwyth facility, confirmed its owner Lactalis Nestlé Chilled Dairy (LNCD).

CSM bakery sell-off puts 400+ UK jobs at risk

18-May-2012 - The plans by Dutch-owned bakery ingredients group CSM to sell parts of its European and American bakery supplies business puts far more jobs at risk than the 400 previously reported, a union official has told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

News in brief

Prospects for food manufacturing: what’s your view?

18-May-2012 - What’s your view of the prospects for UK food and drink manufacturing? Is your glass half full or half empty?

Wet weather dampens Greggs’ results

16-May-2012 - Spring rain dampened Greggs’ financial results, with like-for-like sales down 1.8% in the 19 weeks to May 12 2012.

Bakkavör to launch ethnic food range

16-May-2012 - Own-label, fresh prepared foods firm Bakkavör is to launch an ethnic foods range “very soon”, according to the management statement accompanying its results for the quarter ended March 31.

After Weetabix, Eastern firms size up Birds Eye

15-May-2012 - Far Eastern firms’ appetite for UK food brands seems to be sharpening, with Birds Eye, which is owned by Iglo Foods, apparently the latest acquisition target.

Scotch Premier Meat to axe 30 jobs

15-May-2012 - Meat Processor Scotch Premier Meat plans to cut 30 jobs as part of cost-cutting measures at its facility at Inverurie, Scotland, which, the firm claims, will help it promote a high-quality image.

News in brief

Marks & Spencer targets recession-conscious shoppers

14-May-2012 - Marks & Spencer (M&S) is targeting the recession-conscious shopper by launching a budget range of everyday food products.

News in brief

Vinnie Jones: football, movie star and milk promoter

14-May-2012 - Wimbledon, Leeds United and Chelsea footballer, Vinnie Jones has become the latest addition to the list of celebrity milk promoters, which includes: Gordon Ramsay, Elle Macpherson, and Kelly Osbourne.

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