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GM wheat vandalism will ‘not affect progress’

21-May-2012 - Vandalism of a genetically modified (GM) wheat trial yesterday morning (May 20) at Rothamsted Research centre, Herefordshire will not affect the progress of the experiment that could improve yields and cut costs, a spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

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DEFRA minister slams Rothamsted GM vandalism

21-May-2012 - The government has condemned the vandalism of a genetically modified (GM) wheat trial yesterday morning (May 20) at Rothamsted Research centre, Herefordshire.

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Morrisons revamps in-store bakeries

21-May-2012 - Morrisons’ revamped in-store bakeries are to offer customers a wider product range and a “more artisian experience”, according to the firm.

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.

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.

Rejecting GM could boost food ingredient prices

09-May-2012 - Food manufacturers and retailers will find it increasingly difficult to source GM-free ingredients at reasonable prices if Europe continues to reject the controversial technology.

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Unite seeks jobs promise after Weetabix deal

04-May-2012 - Unite the union is seeking assurances about the job security of 100 of its members who work at the Northamptonshire-based cereal manufacturer, Weetabix after the Chinese firm, Bright Food acquired a 60% stake in the firm.

Weetabix sale to Bright Group unlikely

02-May-2012 - A Weetabix takeover would be poorly timed, say analysts and sources close to the company, who claim an acquisition by China's Bright Group is unlikely.

Which food and drink owners made the Rich List?

01-May-2012 - More than 60 food and drink manufacturers, retailers and distributors were included in The Sunday Times Rich List, which spotlights the 1,000 wealthiest men and women in Britain.

British bakers rise to baby gender cake opportunity

30-Apr-2012 - Trendy parents-to-be could open a new niche market for British bakers by commissioning cakes for so-called gender reveal parties, held to reveal the sex of their unborn baby to family and friends. 

Video debate: Busting myths about food robotics

26-Apr-2012 - Busting food and drink manufacturers’ myths about automation is the subject of this video debate Food Industry Robotics: the opportunity up for grabs.

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Lion Capital: No comment on £1bn Weetabix sale

23-Apr-2012 - Owner of UK cereal manufacturer Weetabix, the private equity firm Lion Capital has refused to confirm or deny press reports that it is in talks to sell the brand to Shanghai-based Bright Food.

Warburtons denies signing campaigners’ GM pledge

20-Apr-2012 - Bakery giant Warburtons has denied claims that it signed a pledge protesting about genetically modified (GM) wheat, written by pressure group GM Freeze and others.

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Flaming pizza at Bakkavor factory

20-Apr-2012 - Two fire engines and 10 firefighters were called to tackle a fire at a pizza factory owned by the Bakkavor Group in Harrow, north west London yesterday (April 19).

Enterprise Foods bakery supplier ‘one to watch’

19-Apr-2012 - East-Kilbride bakery products supplier Enterprise Foods has been named as a firm to watch, linked to a hot 100 list of British private companies with the fastest growing profits.

Kellogg denies involvement in Unite row

10-Apr-2012 - Cereal manufacturer Kellogg has distanced itself from the row over the dismissal of workers at one of its major clients after the union Unite targeted the firm in a bid to draw attention to the dispute.

PepsiCo cuts mileage with £9.3M expansion

27-Mar-2012 - Walkers Crisps manufacturer PepsiCo UK has revealed that it is set to cut about 400,000 miles from its annual road usage with a new £9.3M investment at its Peterlee warehouse and distribution centre.

Greggs slams government over warm food tax

26-Mar-2012 - High street baker Greggs has hit out over the government’s decision to impose a tax on all warm foods after Chancellor George Osborne’s budget announcement led to £30M being wiped off the firm’s value.

Perfection Foods to ‘quadruple’ jobs with Leicester site

26-Mar-2012 - Cake manufacturer Perfection Foods has confirmed that it is set to create hundreds of jobs at its new international distribution centre in Leicester in order to meet soaring export demands.

2 Sisters slams OFT for Xmas pudding concerns

23-Mar-2012 - Ranjit Boparan’s 2 Sisters Food has hit out at the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for failing to understand the “competitive dynamics” of the own-label market after its acquisitions of Northern Foods and Brookes Avana have lead to competition concerns in the Christmas pudding market. 

Boparan Holdings to sell Xmas puddings business

20-Mar-2012 - 2 Sisters Food owner Boparan Holdings is considering the sale of one of its Christmas pudding businesses amid competition concerns arising from its acquisition of the Brookes Avana business from Premier Foods.

Bread folic acid fortification 'key to cut birth defects'

15-Mar-2012 - A group of top British scientists yesterday (March 14) called on the government to push ahead with the fortification of flour or bread with folic acid, as recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) to reduce neural tube defects in unborn babies.

News in brief

New stores drive up Greggs’ sales by 6%

14-Mar-2012 - The UK’s largest bakery chain Greggs reported sales up 5.8% to £701M and profits up 1.1% to £53.1M last year after it opened 84 new shops.

Kellogg sugar claims ‘misleading’ rules ASA

08-Mar-2012 - The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has slammed Kellogg for making “misleading” claims on its Coco Pops website that sugar was unrelated to obesity or ill health.

New Walkers Shortbread factory to create 30 jobs

06-Mar-2012 - Walkers Shortbread plans to build a new 3,500m2 factory, which will create 30 new jobs alongside its existing facilities at Fisherton in Aberlour, Scotland.

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