Unilever defiant as pension dispute date set

06-Feb-2012 - Pot Noodle manufacturer Unilever is remaining defiant in the row over changes to its pension scheme after the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) confirmed that talks with the unions would start later this week.

Intersnack's seven figure investment in UK snacks

03-Feb-2012 - European giant Intersnack is challenging PepsiCo and United Biscuits brands in the UK as it prepares to dramatically increase its profile, with a seven-figure investment in UK production.

Weetabix invests £16M in UK food processing

01-Feb-2012 - Weetabix is investing £16M in UK processing this year and rolling out a lean production programme across its factories after trialling it at Burton Latimer in Northamptonshire.

Generation next cutgate weigher

30-Jan-2012 - Ishida Europe has launched an enhanced version of its weigher designed for granular products, which can be easily damaged by auger or volumetric cup fillers.

Premier Foods does new valve headstand

30-Jan-2012 - Premier Foods is introducing a new headstand valve dispensing closure designed for the jams and condiments sector on Hartley's Squeezy Jam.

'First' olive oil enriched with Coenzyme Q10

30-Jan-2012 - Kaneka Pharma Europe has developed new ways of incorporating its coenzyme Q10 into functional food applications. One of these is an extra virgin olive oil that promises high antioxidative power developed by Costa d'Oro, called Olisana K-Young. Kaneka says olive oil promises huge market potential as a good matrix for optimal Q10 bioavailability.

Princes invests in Italian tomato processing firm

30-Jan-2012 - Canned food and soft drinks firm Princes has forged a partnership with its tomato supplier to form a new business in Italy.

News in brief

Premier Foods quiet on Hartley’s jam interest

26-Jan-2012 - Premier Foods has refused to confirm or deny that Hartley’s Jam will be the next disposal at the firm after Manchester jam maker Duerr’s declared an interest in the business.

General Mills launches new global innovation technology

09-Jan-2012 - General Mills has expanded its worldwide open innovation programme with the launch of new technologies to allow it to collaborate with external organisations that can help it to market its product range online.

Heinz plans production freeze to offset cost rises

06-Jan-2012 - Rocketing utility and stock holding costs have forced Heinz to take the radical step of temporarily halting production at its Kitt Green site in Wigan for four days this Easter.

Fray Bentos takeover deal in the can, says OFT

03-Jan-2012 - Scottish food group Baxters’ acquisition of the Fray Bentos brand from Princes has received approval from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Infra-red oven has jars of efficiency

01-Jan-2012 - A custom-made, carbon infra-red oven from Heraeus Noblelight has boosted the efficiency of Premier Foods' Loyd Grossman cooking sauce production line by 10%..

Courtauld waste targets 'realistic'

01-Jan-2012 - The limited reduction in supply chain product and packaging waste in the latest phase of the Courtauld Commitment is due to its relative recent introduction as a target, said the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Pouch printer that 'eliminates human error'

01-Jan-2012 - BD Foods, in St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex, purchased a Thermocode 107M thermal transfer printer from Open Date Equipment to print data onto pouches of chutneys, sauces, dressings and soups, which it supplies to foodservice.

Two new protein and fibre nuggets for snack bars

01-Jan-2012 - Solae has developed a new protein and fibre nugget, Supro 138, and a new soya protein isolate, Supro 430, for use in nutrition and snack bars.

Premier Food’s Irish brands sale raises cash fears

16-Dec-2011 - The £34.7M sale of Premier Foods’ four Irish brands, Chivers, Gateaux, McDonnells and the Erin licence, to the Boyne Valley Group underline worries about the food giant’s ability to generate cash, one leading analyst has warned.

Premier Foods sells Brookes Avana to 2 Sisters

08-Dec-2011 - Food manufacturing giant Premier Foods has sold its Brookes Avana business, comprising RF Brookes chilled foods and Avana Bakeries, to 2 Sisters Food Group for £30M.

Reduced sugar claims can mislead consumers

05-Dec-2011 - New research has revealed that British consumers feel misled by the claim ‘reduced sugar’ .

Easy-pour containers shape up for foodservice specifications

05-Dec-2011 - Together with its client Carl Kühne, RPC Kutenholz has developed a two-litre container for foodservice. The shape and specification were designed for its client's production and filling needs.

Ambient Manufacturing Company of the Year

05-Dec-2011 - Sponsored by: Silverstone Search & Selection Shortlisted: AB World Foods, Premier Foods, Thorntons and Weetabix

Food Manufacturing Company of the Year

05-Dec-2011 - Sponsored by: The Cheese Warehouse The Food Manufacturing Company of the Year is selected by our expert panel of judges from the winners of the nine individual product categories. It goes to the company the judges consider to be the very best of the best.

Annus horribilis continues for Premier Foods

05-Dec-2011 - The woes of Britain's biggest food manufacturer, Premier Foods, have continued unabated over the past month.

Baxters buys Fray Bentos for ‘undisclosed’ sum

21-Nov-2011 - Scottish food group Baxters has moved to secure a “strong foothold” in the canned meat market after completing a deal with Princes for the acquisition of the Fray Bentos brand.

Botulism scare: 'worst possible' for Premier

15-Nov-2011 - Analysts have said it is too early to gauge the long-term effects of the latest chapter in Premier Foods “annus horribilis” following the firm’s Loyd Grossman sauces botulism scare