Fresh produce

The meat industry is particularly reliant on migrant labour

Migrant labour system overhaul needed

By Aidan Fortune

The food and drink industry is at risk of a labour shortage if the current immigration system is not overhauled, a new report has found.

Th Clements approached Tong Engineering to install its new sprout line

Vegetable processor installs sprout sorting line

By Gwen Ridler

Lincolnshire-based fresh vegetable processor TH Clements & Son has partnered with Tong Engineering to install a Brussels sprouts grading and sorting facility at its site in Boston.

The UK's food self-sufficiency figures have remained at the same level for the past two years

NFU highlights UK self-sufficiency issue

By Aidan Fortune

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Minette Batters has urged the Government to protect UK food in the face of stagnating self-sufficiency.

Greencore is to scrap long life ready meals, as revealed in its Q3 results

Greencore to scrap long-life ready meal production

By Gwen Ridler

Prepared foods manufacturer Greencore aims to stop producing longer-life ready meals at its Kiveton factory in Sheffield, according to third-quarter results for 2018, which revealed modest sales and profit growth.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has linked cucumbers in prepared meals to a recent outbreak of salmonella

Salmonella outbreak linked to ready-to-eat cucumber

By Gwen Ridler

A recent outbreak of salmonella in the UK and Europe that has made 147 people ill has been linked to ready-to-eat meals containing cucumber, according to European health officials.

An appeal has been made to help protect the Welsh red meat industry

Support for Welsh red meat industry

By Aidan Fortune

National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru and the British Meat Processors’ Association (BMPA) have issued a joint call to the Welsh Government to ensure that domestic red meat production is fully recognised in the design of future agricultural policy.

Dr Adam Charlton (right): ‘We are targeting the potential of apple pomace to provide texture for food’

NEWS IN BRIEF

Apple pomace project aims to tackle child obesity

By Noli Dinkovski

An innovative way of tackling child obesity by replacing high-calorie ingredients with apple pomace has won financial backing from the Welsh Government and Innovate UK.

Food industry news roundup

Food industry news roundup – photo gallery

By Gwen Ridler

A new supply deal for a Yorkshire poultry-processor and US growth for Young’s Seafood feature in our roundup of bulletins in the food and drink industry, in this photo gallery.

The food industry has its say on safety concerns

FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE

Food Safety Survey 2018: the results

By Aidan Fortune

British food and drink is being held to account by regulatory bodies and the public more than ever before. Are businesses taking food safety as seriously as everyone else?

National Farmers' Union president Minette Batters has urged Michael Gove to protect British food

Farmers tackle Gove over British food

By Aidan Fortune

The importance of British food to the economy, particularly as it gears up to leave the EU, has been stressed to the Secretary of State for Food and Environment Michael Gove.

Gastro Star has introduced a new fresh produce packaging line

Gastro Star introduces new Itech packaging line

By Gwen Ridler

Switzerland-based vegetable processor Gastro Star has minimised product giveaway using fixed weight packs, thanks to a new packaging line installed by Ishida Europe and its Swiss distributor, Itech.

Tesco's decision to remove best before dates has been heavily praised

Tesco waste initiative sets benchmark

By Gwen Ridler

Tesco’s decision to remove best-before dates from select fruit and vegetable lines will be a benchmark that all other supermarkets will follow, according to an industry expert.

Leverton Brothers was fined a total of £10,000 for an arm crush incident

Potato producer fined for arm crush

By Gwen Ridler

Producer Leverton Brothers has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 for safety failings, after a worker’s arm was seriously injured in a potato grading machine.

Gwen RidlerApprenticeships in focus

Bakkavor's focus on apprenticeships

By Gwen Ridler

Fresh prepared foods supplier Bakkavor is committed to its apprenticeships, and this includes feedback from both sides. In our new series focusing on both sides of the apprenticeship story, Cian Short, group apprenticeship manager and development chef...

The British food industry has called on the Government to maintain frictionless trade with the EU

Food industry urges frictionless EU trade

By Aidan Fortune

Brexit can and should champion British producers, according to leaders of the British food and farming industry, who have called on the Government to maintain frictionless trade with the EU post-Brexit.

Branston has launched two new products in Tesco stores nationwide

Branston launches new chip range in Tesco

By Gwen Ridler

Potato processor Branston is set to launch a new range of prepared potato products in Tesco stores across the country, following increased demand from consumers.

A changing marketplace has led to a restructure at AHDB

AHDB restructures to meet ‘changing industry’

By Aidan Fortune

Food industry levy body Agriculture & Horticulture Levy Board (AHDB) has said a “fast-changing industry” has led to a restructuring of its market development division.

Mash direct has secured a listing in Waitrose

Mash Direct secures Waitrose listing

By Gwen Ridler

Ready meals and prepared vegetable supplier Mash Direct has secured a deal, for an undisclosed sum, to supply upmarket retailer Waitrose.

Lyons: Since the recall, food safety is now ‘the priority in decision making’

Swancote makes food safety priority

By Noli Dinkovski

The potato processing firm at the centre of a major product recall in 2015 has “radically changed its thinking” and now makes food safety “the priority in all of its decision-making”, according to the man appointed to oversee its transformation.

Greater collaboration between suppliers and retailers is needed, claimed Kirby

More collaboration with retailers needed, claims analyst

By Gwen Ridler

Food and drink manufacturers and suppliers need to create open, trusted and collaborative relationships with retailers to guarantee success in the fast moving consumer goods market, according to a consumer trends analyst.

DEFRA is to launch a review of farm inspections

DEFRA to launch review of farm inspections

By Gwen Ridler

A comprehensive review of farm inspection is to be launched by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), as it aimed to scrap the red tape preventing farmers from focusing on issues such as animal welfare.

Mutagenesis – or gene editing – can occur both naturally and artificially

Exempt gene editing from GMO rules

By Noli Dinkovski

Gene-edited crop production could be set to become more widespread after a leading EU lawyer claimed the technique should be exempt from genetic modification organism (GMO) rules.

NFU president hails Brexit opportunity

NFU president hails Brexit opportunity

By Aidan Fortune

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) in England has reiterated the importance of farming and food production when the UK leaves the EU.

Dole generated revenue of £3.2bn in the 12 months to October 7

Total Produce buys 45% stake in Dole Food Company

By Michelle Perrett

Total Produce, the UK-based fresh produce company, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire a 45% equity stake in banana and pineapple producer Dole Food Company for US$300M (£212.5M).

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