Ambient foods

News in brief

Gurkha sauce, anyone?

17-Sep-2010 - An unusual range of premium sauces and chutneys inspired by the Gurkhas is gathering steam in the independent retail sector.

ABF sugar profits will be “substantially ahead” of last year

13-Sep-2010 - Profits from Associated British Foods’ (ABF’s) sugar business will be “substantially ahead” of last year driven by further growth in the EU and a strong improvement in China, the firm has revealed.

Denesters deliver dividends

06-Sep-2010 - Jacob’s Biscuits of Liverpool has made significant cost savings by installing Turbo tray denesters on three of its biscuit lines.


Tayto to close Red Mill Snack Foods plant in September

01-Sep-2010 - Tayto’s Red Mill Snack Foods factory at Wednesbury is scheduled to close next month as all remaining production is transferred to its factory at Corby in Northamptonshire.

News in brief

Emerging markets will account for 20% of Heinz sales by 2013

01-Sep-2010 - Sales from emerging markets will account for at least a fifth of group sales at Heinz by 2013, bosses have revealed as the ketchup and baked beans giant unveiled a strong set of first quarter results.

Record Californian raisin imports show UK appetite for dried vine fruit

31-Aug-2010 - UK imports of Californian raisins increased by 26% during the 2009/10 season, according to the trade organisation representing the largest Californian growers.

Poundland: We're cheap to serve and we pay on time

25-Aug-2010 - More than 90% of Poundland’s food and drink products are now bought directly from manufacturers rather than third parties, its boss has revealed.

UK Ofcom rejects breakfast TV complaints from Nestlé and Kellogg’s

24-Aug-2010 - UK media watchdog Ofcom has rejected complaints from cereal food giants Nestlé and Kellogg’s that they were treated unfairly by the Channel 4 programme What’s in Your Breakfast?

Twinings staff access confidential employee bank data

24-Aug-2010 - Twinings has confirmed that a “small number” of staff at its factory in North Shields have accessed confidential payroll details relating to 263 staff without authorisation.

Comment

Let’s hear it for the sound of compostable packaging

23-Aug-2010 - The world’s first 100 percent biodegradable chip packet attracted a lot of noise last week, but not the buzz that SunChips’ maker FritoLay had been hoping for.

News in brief

Duerr's closes peanut butter factory at Old Trafford

23-Aug-2010 - Duerr's has ceased manufacturing at its Prestage Street factory in Old Trafford, with production to transfer to its larger factory at the Roundthorn Industrial Estate in Wythenshawe.

Campbell Soup Company emerges as bidder for United Biscuits

23-Aug-2010 - US food giant Campbell Soup Company has emerged as a potential bidder for biscuits and snacks giant United Biscuits.

Amazon grocery suppliers “frustrated and disappointed” six weeks into launch – but most still won’t bet against it

20-Aug-2010 - Food manufacturers working with Amazon on its new UK grocery business remain frustrated and disappointed by its progress six weeks after launch, although most still say they would not bet against the online retailer in the long-term.

Tiptree still on acquisition trail post puds acquisition

19-Aug-2010 - Tiptree jam maker Wilkin & Sons is on the lookout for further acquisitions after sealing a deal to buy Essex-based luxury puddings manufacturer Coles Traditional Foods.

Heinz slashes energy bill at Kitt Green factory by 13%

18-Aug-2010 - Heinz has reduced its energy budget by more than 13% at its Kitt Green factory in Wigan over the past two years.

ADM, Cargill et al stand to benefit from Russian grain ban

17-Aug-2010 - The Russian ban on grain exports will boost profits at ADM, Cargill and Viterra in the coming months, according to credit ratings agency Moody’s.

‘Household names’ trial new fruit-based sweetener as R&R Ice cream prepares new desserts launch

16-Aug-2010 - ‘Household names’ in food and drink manufacturing are conducting trials with fruit-based sweetener Sweet Freedom following its successful launch in the retail market.

Buoyant summer at Greencore, but growth slows in US

12-Aug-2010 - Greencore has notched up a “very positive” set of summer trading figures, posting a 7% increase in sales to €281.2m in its convenience foods division in the four months to July 23, driven by strong growth in food-to-go and prepared meals.

Cheese trial next after bakers slash salt with ‘micro’ particles

11-Aug-2010 - The firm behind a new breed of microscopic salt crystals that can help manufacturers slash sodium and retain their clean label status is conducting its first trials on cheese.

Kellogg’s boss blames recessionary climate for Nature’s Pleasure retreat

09-Aug-2010 - Premium muesli Nature’s Pleasure was pulled from supermarket shelves after just 12 months because of "economic pressures", according to Kellogg's UK md Greg Peterson.

Unions urge govt to probe "disgraceful" Twinings fund

06-Aug-2010 - The Trades Union Congress has written to business secretary Vince Cable asking him to investigate whether Twinings received EU funds to “relocate” production from the UK to a new Polish factory, given that UK jobs could be lost as a result.

Unilever: Consumer confidence remains 'fragile'

05-Aug-2010 - The fragile recovery in developed markets could make it hard to pass on rising raw materials costs in the second half, Unilever has warned.

Kellogg’s nutrition head tells UK media: ‘look beyond sugar in cereals’

05-Aug-2010 - Kellogg’s head of nutrition has called for UK journalists to look at the firm’s cereals as a whole and not just single out their sugar content.

News in brief

United Biscuits fined after worker’s fingers severed

04-Aug-2010 - United Biscuits has been fined £10,000 plus costs by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker had two fingers sliced off by a mixing machine.