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News in brief

Bakkavör makes long service awards

30-Sep-2011 - Food group Bakkavör's has given 66 employees in its Fresh Meals Solutions division long service awards.

M&S plans a bumper natural, novel Christmas

30-Sep-2011 - Marks & Spencer (M&S) is planning a bumper Christmas with novel food and drink products and ‘natural’ packaging design ideas sourced from around the world.

Still hope for Norfolk shellfish plant facing closure

30-Sep-2011 - The loss of 230 jobs in jeopardy at a north Norfolk shellfish plant, following a review of manufacturing operations at the site, is far from a foregone conclusion, a leading MP has told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

Sunshine puts pressure on food suppliers

30-Sep-2011 - The freak September heatwave is providing a welcome boost for the food industry but placing impossible demands on some parts of the supply chain, it has been claimed.

Pemberton’s chocolates wins a reprieve

29-Sep-2011 - Welsh premium chocolate factory Pemberton’s has had a reprieve from closure, after two potential buyers have expressed interest in acquiring the business.

Milk Link: biggest creamery investment for 20 years

29-Sep-2011 - Dairy cooperative Milk Link is to invest £20M at its Lockerbie Creamery in the UK’s largest investment in cheese-making for 20 years.

Robotics or die: food manufacturers’ 10-year choice

28-Sep-2011 - UK food manufacturers have between just five to 10 years to adopt robotic technology or face terminal decline.

Sales rise but profits fall for Lees Foods

28-Sep-2011 - Scottish food group Lees Foods has posted a rise in sales but a fall in profits for the six months to June.

Irn Bru maker, AG Barr posts turnover up 4%

28-Sep-2011 - AG Barr, maker of the iconic beverage Irn Bru, has overcome manufacturing problems, bad weather and tough market conditions to post turnover 4% up at £124M during the first six months of this year.

Full-year Finsbury results show ‘substantial progress’

28-Sep-2011 - Finsbury Foods' results for 12 months to July 2 show ‘a year of substantial progress on the balance sheet’, according to financial analysts Panmure Gordon.

Heinz dismisses baked beans slowdown

26-Sep-2011 - Manufacturer Heinz has denied any slowdown in its sales, following news of a drop in demand at a tin can plant in Wales.

Switzerland’s Aryzta buys Honeytop Speciality Foods

26-Sep-2011 - Honeytop Speciality Foods has been bought by Swiss firm Aryzta in a multi-million pound deal that looks set to shake up the UK ethnic breads category.

First minister welcomes Vion’s 250 jobs investment

26-Sep-2011 - Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has welcomed news that Dutch meat processor Vion is to create 250 new jobs at a new training centre at its Hall's plant in Broxburn, West Lothian.

Warburtons’ bakery closure threatens 174 jobs

26-Sep-2011 - Warburtons is planning to close its Oldham bakery as part of an efficiency drive.

Princes continues campaign to sell Fray Bentos

26-Sep-2011 - Food and drink group, Princes is continuing its efforts to sell the Fray Bentos canned meat business, which it bought from Premier Foods.

Buyer wanted for Highland Toffee firm

26-Sep-2011 - The search for a buyer for Highland Toffee firm, New McCowans is hotting up after administrators Grant Thornton confirmed they are in discussions with interested parties.

Sustainable palm oil coup for Ginsters

23-Sep-2011 - Ginsters has overcome supply issues to become the first manufacturer to secure 100% sustainable palm oil in the category of branded savoury pastries, in co-operation with fats and oils supplier AAK.

Park Cakes workers may strike over ‘slave labour’

23-Sep-2011 - Employees of Park Cakes in Bolton and Oldham are considering industrial action after the introduction of new employment contracts which one union official described as tantamount to ‘slave labour.’

Who will pay for Tesco’s £500M price cuts?

23-Sep-2011 - Food suppliers have reacted nervously to Tesco’s announcement of £500M of price cuts, and warned that the grocery sector’s discount culture will cost more jobs.

Meteoric growth for free-from foods: Mintel

23-Sep-2011 - Britain’s free-from food sector is witnessing meteoric growth as more consumers report intolerance to certain foods, according to a new report about to be published by market research company Mintel. Retail sales are set to soar from £303M a year to £519M by 2016.

Highland Toffee firm in administration:100 jobs risk

22-Sep-2011 - New McCowans, the maker of Highland Toffee bars, has been taken over by administrators Grant Thornton, threatening 103 jobs.

New EDME joint venture to distribute malt extracts

22-Sep-2011 - Essex-based ingredient supplier Edme has agreed a joint venture with Dutch malt extract ingredient producer CereX to distribute malt extracts in the UK and in Europe.

Drinks firm AG Barr’s $64M mystery share question

22-Sep-2011 - The $64M question as to why AG Barr’s shares trade at a 20% premium on similar stock remains a mystery to analysts as the company prepares to post its interim results next week.

News in brief

Blaze wrecks Adams Foods’ cheese warehouse

21-Sep-2011 - More than 100 fire crew spent last night fighting a blaze at a cheese warehouse in Somerset operated by Adams Foods.

First half profits for Dairy Crest up on last year

19-Sep-2011 - Dairy Crest expects overall profits for the six months ending September 30 to be just ahead of the same period last year as higher selling prices offset higher input costs.

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