Horsemeat: learning the lessons of an avoidable crisis
WRBM
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Analysts at Shore Capital have described Premier Foods half yearly trading statement released today as “shocking, even by Premier’s standards”, as the company revealed a significant slump in profits for the first half of 2011.
Despite rising wheat and energy prices, Warburtons says it was forced to keep a check on bread prices and increase promotions during 2010 to “maintain its market share”.
Tough new regulations are needed to tackle the promotion of junk food to children by large food firms, according to the author of a prominent new report on responsible standards for food marketing.
The Cake Bake Company has entered administration after the Kent-based firm encountered severe financial difficulties, FoodManufacture.co.uk has learnt.
The dominance of R&R Ice Cream and Unilever in the ice cream market looks set to continue and could threaten innovation, especially amongst new enterprises, according to a new report from research firm Key Note.
Consumer watchdog Which? has hit out at an Advertising Standards Authority adjudication that rejected 31 complaints about a television advert for Nutella hazlenut spread, calling the authority’s failure to ban it a “huge disappointment”.
Black raspberry sales are set to soar, according to Tesco, which launched the latest so-called ‘superfruit’ exclusively within its UK stores yesterday.
Robert Wiseman Dairies is pumping £1.3m into one of its largest dairies, with an aim of cutting gas use at the facility by around 50 per cent.
A youth campaign group has hit out at Dairy Crest's "insensitive" and "insulting" marketing campaign for its Frijj milkshake brand, claiming it epitomises the negative attitude of big business towards young people looking for work.
Thorntons announced today that it plans to close at least 120 own stores, replacing many with franchised outlets, and will also seek savings of more than £2m a year by cutting supply chain costs.
The Food Manufacturing Personality of the Year award recognises someone who has made a significant contribution to the food and drink sector in the past year, whether raising the profile of the UK food industry or delivering exceptional results.
Unilever has confirmed that it will not apply for a fortified food registration for its yeast breakfast spread Marmite, but says it would support an application from a local distributor.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising consumers not to eat raw sprouted seeds such as beansprouts, alfalfa and fenugreek, after an E.coli outbreak led to the hospitalisation of eight people in Bordeaux, France.
Kerry Ingredients is proposing to close its Okehampton site by 2012 with the loss of up to 106 jobs, as it considers switching production to a larger and more modern unit in Tenbury Wells.
Global commodity price rises are presenting “huge difficulties” for UK food manufacturers as they seek to recover costs increases from major customers, according to a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyer.
A European taskforce has been assembled to pinpoint the source of any contaminated beansprouts after the same potentially deadly strain of German E.coli that killed scores has surfaced in an outbreak in France.
A food logistics expert has “real concerns” that a delay in training UK truck drivers to standards demanded by an EU directive could result in a driver shortfall by 2014, and add costs to the supply chain.
A food industry expert says that Sir David King's views on genetically modified foodstuffs are unethical and uninformed, after the government’s former chief scientific advisor told an audience that EU barriers to the technology are starving the world’s poor.
Despite better margins for food buyers using online auctions, suppliers remain worried by low price points and the possible lack of a long-term supply relationship, while one large food firm said that it was sometimes easier to “simply pick up the phone”.
Hawkshead Brewery has spent £250,000 on expanding its brewery, which will allow it to produce 180 barrels or 50,000 pints a week.
Six employees have been arrested at Honeytop Speciality Foods, the naan and flatbreads producer, after a UK Border Agency (UKBA) raid discovered that they were illegal immigrants.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is considering undertakings from Princes and Premier Foods to avert monopoly concerns about canned pie supply, which the body said would leave UK consumers with “extremely limited choices”.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published new research showing that most participants with 'life threatening' nut allergies believed that products without allergen advice boxes posed no danger.
The plant and machinery belonging to Welsh firm Loseley Dairy Ice Cream has been sold to an undisclosed US company, FoodManufacture.co.uk has learnt.
Food manufacturers can expect commodity prices to fall in coming months, but in the longer-term the cost of cereals and meats is likely to remain volatile.
A top lawyer has expressed concern that the UK's pending Bribery Act could lead to difficulties for food manufacturers exporting or producing abroad, especially to ‘high risk’ countries.
Racing driver, Spitfire pilot, concert pianist, prima ballerina. Let’s face it, food factory manager or food technologist are not up there with the traditional dream professions for children destined to be the ‘brightest and best’ of tomorrow.
Marmite, recently withdrawn from the Danish market after it became apparent the fortified, yeast breakfast spread did not possess a fortified food authorisation under the Scandinavian country’s strict laws, could be back on-market in three months, Danish authorities have said.
Surviving stagnant domestic demand and breaking into lucrative export markets are key challenges for UK manufacturers over the coming year, according to a new study, which also warns that cutting supply chain costs carries potential risks.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has rejected a claim by supermodel Naomi Campbell that a Cadbury advert comparing her to a chocolate bar was racially offensive.
Premier Foods says it has not received an approach for its Sharwoods brand, after the owner of Veetee Food Group reportedly said he had secured financial backing to support a potential bid for it.
Police are investigating the cause of a food factory fire in the Scottish Borders that left a 37-year-old man dead.
Sausage manufacturers have hit back after a report accused them of producing products with dangerously high salt levels, and say that the results are misleading, while 2012 reduction targets risk going too far.
Dairy Crest wishes to either develop or acquire a branded yogurt division to capitalise upon a fast-growing market, despite selling off its UK yogurt business in early 2009.
The Global Tea and Coffee Exchange is due to roll-out two lines into Sainsbury’s nationwide as the £500,000 turnover business takes-off.
Neil Burchell has been appointed md of specialty cheese producer Futura Foods, and says he intends to drive the firm’s branded focus, where products are now mainly own-label.
From Dairy Crest to the American Muffin Company, we revisit the factory managers and plant directors who keep operations ticking over, all of whom Food Manufacture has visited within the past 12 months.
Malmesbury Syrups, a supplier of flavoured coffee syrups, is witnessing impressive growth thanks to its online sales through Amazon.
UK life science business Provexis has signed a conditional agreement to acquire sports nutrition company Science in Sports (SiS) for £8m.
UK Salads technical director Mark Lever says that parts of the UK fresh produce sector are still on their knees after the devastating German E.coli outbreak that left 35 people dead.
Distribution and transport staff are set to vote on strike action at Allied Bakeries’ West Bromwich distribution centre, Unite has confirmed, but the firm says it is "extremely disappointed" by the union's stance.
Laboratory grown meat is the “inescapable future of humanity”, given foodbourne illnesses, pollution and animal welfare issues, say two leading scientists.
Asda supplier Steve's Cakes is being liquidated by Belfast insolvency company FGS McClure Watters.
A food law expert says he is surprised by a new compromise on the EU Food Information Regulation that removes the need for food firms to provide front-of-pack nutrient data, but warns that enhanced Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) could still raise costs.
Belvoir Fruit Farms says it is expecting to see turnover increase by more than 10% this year as demand grows for its cordial range.
A scientist who chairs the UK's independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) says the European Commission’s (EC’s) move to ban the import of baby bottles using Bisphenol A (BPA) is not based on scientific evidence, and has rejected calls to ban its use in food packaging.
Transport giant Eddie Stobart has warned that the supermarket demand for two-for-one offers is placing a strain on logistics firms, and increasing the number of miles the company’s fleet runs empty.
Cereal extrusion and meat-free food specialist Brecks is investing £3m in new manufacturing facilities in a move that will create 60 new jobs.
The Food Manufacture Personality of the Year award recognises someone who has made a significant contribution to the food and drink sector in the past year.
UK micro salt pioneer Eminate has confirmed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that it is now supplying its Soda-Lo product to a large food manufacturer for use in bread sold via a major UK retailer.
Dairy UK, which represents the UK's milk supply chain, has called on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to support a ban on the retail sale of unpasteurised milk.
Hull based Jackson’s Bakery has announced plans to spend £5.5m on two new buildings and complementary machinery at its existing site, potentially creating up to 40 new jobs.
Sussex Police have confirmed that a 21-year-old man was killed after touching a live wire Natures Way Foods’ factory in Chichester.
The Danish government has clarified that Marmite is not in fact banned, but merely in need of a marketing authorisation as per European Union health claim rules.
The EU is exacerbating poverty and starvation in the developing world via barriers against genetic modification (GM), says one of the UK’s leading scientists.
UK salad producers hope the European Commission (EC) will part-fund an awareness campaign to persuade consumers that their products are safe, and expect compensation after revealing that sales here have plummeted up to 60% by value since the E.coli crisis struck.
Retailers remain concerned about selling food derived from the offspring of cloned cattle and pigs after the Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) confirmation that such products need no special approval.
The Scottish government has not ruled out taxes on foods high in saturated fats, salt or sugar as a way to tackle Scotland's chronic obesity problem.
Processors and environmentalists have rebuffed recent attacks on sustainable palm oil certificates within the national press.
Heavy price promotions within biscuits and ambient cakes are likely to end soon, as rising and energy and commodity prices begin to bite, warns research firm Key Note.
Silbury’s oils and fats division could become as important to the company as its tomatoes business, its directors say.
Artisanal nectar juice brand Simply Nectar says that strong growth means it could reach a turnover of £2m within the next 12 months.
Aramark UK says that suppliers should view a letter it sent on June 1, demanding price reductions of 12% or more, as an “opportunity not a threat”, but a leading foodservice consultant has described the move as an ''extraordinary step".
Northern Irish meat product supplier Millar Savoury Foods has gone into administration, blaming difficultlies in passing on commodity price increases to supermarket customers.
Dilutable drinks have done well out of the recession and will continue to grow, according to industry experts.
Food production looks unlikely to restart at the former Northumberland Foods site in Amble, after it emerged that the firm’s assets are being auctioned off and the site sold.
Nutrition is being politicised, with food authorities bowing to pressure from minority interests and lobbyists in areas such as salt reduction at significant risk to consumer health, according to one expert.
Manufacturers of lower-profile food brands could fall victim to the retailer-driven trend towards more own-label products over the next 15 years, according to a new report from financial services provider Rabobank.
Holland’s Pies has confirmed that 10 manufacturing staff will leave the Accrington firm as it bids to become “more efficient and competitive in the marketplace”.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has denied a suggestion by two MEPs that it may have lost data relating to a previous safety evaluation of the high intensity sweetener aspartame (E951) and that it failed to examine it properly in the first place.
European Union proposals for a €150m-compensation package for farmers wer rejected by Spain and France yesterday as pressure intensified for Germany to identify the source of the E.coli outbreak that has now killed 23 and sickened 2,429.
Swancote Foods has been fined £10,000 by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a cleaner lost two fingers in a potato processing machine.
Greencore will have to raise more capital via equity finance to complete any rumoured £100m takeover of Uniq, one analyst has warned.
Despite initiatives such as the Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed (RASFF), the EU food chain is still vulnerable to malicious activity for the sake of profit or terrorist type activity, according to a leading food safety expert.
Europe’s agriculture ministers are to hold an emergency meeting today on the E.coli outbreak as authorities continue their efforts to pinpoint the source of the bacteria that has killed 22 and sickened almost 2,300 people.
Premier Foods has won a spat with rival Unilever, after the latter claimed in adverts that its Knorr gravy tasted better than Premier’s Bisto brand.
Getting food and drink packaging right is vital in encouraging consumers to engage with a product or brand and to ensure food safety, but what is the public looking for, and how are trends changing?
Uniq’s troubled desserts division, Minsterley, is likely to derail rumoured bids for the company by either Greencore or possible new suitor Samworth Brothers, say experts.
Beansprouts grown in northern Germany could be the cause of the deadly E.coli outbreak that has so far killed 22 and sickened 2,263, officials in the country said yesterday.
Diageo has dramatically upped efficiency and production in parallel with a £105m investment programme at its Cameronbridge distillery, which makes leading Scotch whisky and white spirit brands.
Rising demand for tortillas has led to a major expansion of production facilities at Honeytop, the Dunstable-based speciality flatbread maker.
As UK sales slide, fresh produce industry players say they are disappointed by the German and EU authorities’ variously indecisive and misleading steps when dealing with the German E.coli outbreak that has seen 16 people die and around 1,614 fall ill.
Premier Foods subsidiary RF Brookes has lost a major contract to supply Marks & Spencer (M&S) with own-label pies, FoodManufacture.co.uk has learnt.
Unite the Union says members plan to demonstrate on June 7 against food giant Unilever’s plans to scrap final salary pension schemes for 5,000 staff.
A City analyst has expressed scepticism about the likely truth of rumours that Procter & Gamble (P&G) could be lining up a £38bn hostile bid for UK consumer giant Unilever.
The Real Good Food Company (RGFC) reported at its AGM today that, having tackled the volatile sugar supply situation, new branded launches and a revamped bakery business mean it is on track to exceed market forecasts in 2011.
The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that it has cancelled Twinings application for a €12m (£10.6m) grant to build a new factory in Poland, where the new site will eventually cost up to 392 UK jobs.
Bakkavör plans to make more than half of the staff redundant at its English Village Salads (EVS) division in Yorkshire, due to the loss of an Asda contract, as the retailer transfers much of its salads procurement in-house.
Scotland is heading for a “perfect storm” in which major supply disruption could occur as a result of increased overseas and domestic demand in areas such as seafood, and lack of supply chain visibility.
Swedish ready meals manufacturer Gooh! has implemented a new in-pack microwave cooking and pasteurisation concept into its premium meal production that results in a shelf-life of at least 30 days at 8°C.
It’s once again time to register your vote for the individual who you believe has done most over the past year to raise the profile of food and drink manufacturing. By visiting our web site – www.foodmanawards.co.uk – you can make your choice from the selection below, which has been compiled by the editorial team. Don’t delay, register your vote today!
Assuming the European Commission, Parliament and Council can agree on some outstanding issues, the EC Food Information Regulation will be adopted shortly.
Leatherhead Food Research (LFR) scientists constantly help food firms reformulate products to respond to, or create, new markets.
International take-up of a ‘gourmet’ hot meal vending system is being fuelled by Sealed Air Cryovac’s retortable tray-and-skin vacuum pack, says the company.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published guidance for the risk assessment of engineered nanomaterial (ENM) applications in food and feed. It covers food additives, enzymes, flavourings, food contact materials, novel foods, feed additives and pesticides.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published an updated version of its Practice Guidance for the Food Law Code of Practice.
Protein Power –s New Foods, New Markets explores the new areas that protein products are starting to occupy – such as weight management and senior nutrition.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has welcomed the government’s commitment to deliver a further 250,000 apprenticeships over the next four years, as expressed in its report, Supporting youth employment.
The construction of a £4M processing facility for fresh produce and prepared food manufacturer Katsouris Fresh Foods has commenced. Based in Wembley, London, the firm is a subsidiary of Bakkavör.
In response to the increasing volume of sales in the out of home market, the world’s largest trade fair, Anuga, is launching a tradeshow for the foodservice sector this October.
Contract cleaner The Hygiene Group has clinched a six-figure deal to clean Allied Bakeries’ Gateshead production facility.
Europe’s Centre of Excellence for Food Robotics & Automation (CenFRA) has appointed Ian Nicholls as its new md.
Campden BRI and Netherlands-based KWA Business Consultants have been awarded a grant by The Brewers of Europe for research on environmental practice.
Manufacturers’ failure to carry out tests for viruses could lead to the next big food poisoning scare, food safety experts have warned.
Leading scientists and industry bosses have called for more public investment in agricultural, biotechnological and food research to enable the UK to address the huge challenges facing the world.
Health and nutrition claims have far-reaching consequences and, as demonstrated by the number of submitted dossiers turned down due to insufficient preparation, the food industry still has much to learn about EU regulations controlling them.
An optimised supply chain is generally recognised as fundamental to a business’s success, according to Crimson and Company, a supply chain consultancy that has published 'The Journey to Supply Chain Excellence'.
A new MRSA virus discovered by Cambridge University researchers is no risk to human health, as milk for human consumption is pasteurised, which kills harmful microbes, the Food Standards Agency said earlier this month.
Malt giant Muntons has launched a project that could slash the carbon footprint of products including beer, bread and biscuits.
British Frozen Food Federation members could save up to £1M in water bills in a deal with Water Audit Services (WAS).
Concerns remain over the fate of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) website, amid a stringent government budgetary review of a host of such sites.
Sauce manufacturer Trees Can’t Dance has completed a new bespoke facility at its site in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, with the help of a £34,000 grant from rural development agency One North East.
A bursary scheme for PhD flavour students has been renewed and will run for a second year.
Get food industry engineers reminiscing and they'll tell you about a golden age when yogurt was yogurt and there was only one type of cottage cheese. They'd start production in the morning and stop at the end of the day for a good old-fashioned clean down. These days the proliferation of new product variants is unstoppable, whether it's exotic new flavours or varying degrees of fat-free, organic, allergy-aware or value versus luxury lines.
The popular BBC TV programme, Jimmy's Food Factory raised the image and profile of the UK food industry, according to the new president of the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), professor Colin Dennis.
The uncomfortable ride and the fact that we were overtaking every car on the motorway indicated my taxi driver might be breaking the speed limit. I glanced over his shoulder and realised what was wrong. According to the speedometer, we were doing zero miles per hour. Yet all my senses were telling me that we were going too fast.
Simplifying and speeding up product recalls would be the next logical step along the road of GS1 UK’s mission to refine data quality, according to chief executive Gary Lynch.
Glass manufacturer Beatson Clark has provided Aspall with smaller, slimmer, lightweighted bottles in which to show off its range of 11 premium vinegars.
Food manufacturing and packaging firms may be investing less in new machinery, but they are looking to overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) analysis to hone their competitive edge, according to Bosch Packaging Technology.
Flavour preservation along with a ‘healthy and safe’ image head the list of reasons why consumers favour glass packaging, according to research for the European Container Glass Federation. The InSites consultancy polled consumers in 17 European countries. “UK consumers are not as passionate about glass as others, but the preference is still clear,” argued senior research manager Dennis Claus.
Yogurt drinks hold significant potential, with Asia-Pacific and South America the regions promising some of the strongest growth, according to Sonia Huppert, global business director for Danisco’s Yo-Mix yogurt ingredient brand.
Symrise aims to introduce bilberry to the food ingredients market, claiming that it will be the next major superfruit.
As I was preparing concepts for a retail presentation in a kitchen last week I became aware that I was the only female in the room. And I was surrounded by chefs. The British food retailers’ expectation for culinary skill within development has escalated recently. Chefs were primarily used for the ready meal arena but, today, most categories utilise their talent.
Herza Schokolade now offers its Chocnology products in micro-sizes, which enables firms to offer products containing chocolate at a lower cost. The tiny pieces are widely dispersed and give the end product a ‘chocolaty’ appearance, although less material has been used.
Ulrick & Short has created a tapioca-based ingredient to reduce fat and prolong the chewiness of American-style cookies.
A Sussex butcher is on a mission to get his “revolutionary” new microwavable Welsh Rarebit stocked on supermarket shelves.
Mintel forecasts biscuit sales to grow by a further 15% to reach £2.6bn by 2015. Sales of biscuits, cookies and crackers have increased by 22% over the past five years to reach £2.2bn in 2010.
DS-gluten free has launched three new frozen ready meals: Cannelloni, Tortellini and Lasagna.
In the latest Food and Drink Federation business confidence survey, the number of respondents who increased their investment spend in Q1 of 2011 rose substantially compared with Q4 of 2010, with over 40% of companies launching new products.
Ingredients supplier Jardox has created an umami paste that will add the savoury fifth taste to food.
Following a deal between frozen food distributor Belfield and Northern Irish manufacturer Mullins, Bally Bleat goat’s milk ice cream will now be distributed to British retailers.
Food manufacturers that are looking to make a significant reduction to the salt, fat and sugar content of their products should start the development process from scratch, rather than reformulate existing products, according to Dr Wayne Morley, head of food innovation at Leatherhead Food Research.
Jobs in the food and drink manufacturing sector look set to become more attractive, thanks to plans to create a novel series of professional qualifications. Employees will be able to map out their career paths from the shopfloor to the boardroom and build up a portfolio of transferable qualifications as they progress.
Foodex – the leading event for the food and drink processing and packaging industry – is adding the bakery, logistics and ingredients sectors to its portfolio.
Government may need to intervene to give teeth to the voluntary Responsibility Deals it has launched if the desired changes to behaviour are to be achieved, it has emerged.
Legislation on machine safety standards, which takes effect at the end of the year, should lead to fewer accidents during equipment maintenance, experts claim.
Kraft ceo Irene Rosenfeld has countered criticism of her no-show at a parliamentary select committee looking into Kraft’s takeover of Cadbury, and says she has spoken to the ''folks that really matter to me'' in the UK.
Northern Foods/2 Sisters Food Group began meeting suppliers yesterday, with the professed aim of shedding around half ‘‘over time’’ in a bid to boost supply chain efficiency and increase turnover to £3bn by 2015.
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