Breaking News on the Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector

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Head in the clouds



01-Mar-2011 - Despite the clamour to reduce food miles, the food industry relies on transporting products and ingredients whether it is milk, poultry or hops between locations, in order to add value to them.

Cold logic,
warm profits

01-Mar-2011 - Automation can make a major contribution to the bottom line. But the logic behind where and how you automate processes is not as simple as might first appear...

Here at last

01-Mar-2011 - The new Proficiency in Food Manufacturing qualification by Improve has been awarded to two UK companies – and not before time.

Join the culture club

01-Mar-2011 - Complacency about food safety threatens many food companies, with the risk of the next media feeding frenzy just around the corner.

Fat that got the cream

01-Mar-2011 - Reformulating foods to reduce levels of fat, salt and sugar is key to reducing the UK’s spiralling
obesity epidemic. But it’s
no mean feat.

A bigger slice of the artisan pie

01-Mar-2011 - Oliver James Foods’ pie factory must fulfil a tough brief to commercialise the delivery of artisan-style, quality products

All change please

01-Mar-2011 - To stay ahead in the ready meals sector, manufacturers must be quick to innovate and diversify.

Island life: Warehousing and materials handling in focus

31-Jan-2011 - With voice picking and laser-guided truck systems, today’s islands of automation are not what they were 20 years ago. John Dunn reports

Focus on facory cleaning: On spray watch 


31-Jan-2011 - Industry hygiene processes have evolved with technological progress, as Michelle Knott reports

Apprenticeships in food manufactiuring: Ready to role ...

28-Jan-2011 - February marks National Apprenticeship Week, with companies offering much more than tea making experience, reports Freddie Dawson

Focus on dairy ingredients: Hard life in the land of milk and money

28-Jan-2011 - Rising ingredients costs and demand for additive-free products are making life tough in the dairy industry, says Freddie Dawson

Focus on food analysis and testing: It’s all in the DNA

28-Jan-2011 - We’re not talking about the latest episode of Jeremy Kyle – sophisticated testing regimes are being used to validate everything from authenticity to food quality, reports Lou Reade



Jim Moseley: A man on a roll

24-Dec-2010 - For the FDF’s new president, Jim Moseley, the humble sausage roll highlights what the sector has to deal with. Rick Pendrous spoke to him

Chieftain o’ the pudding race

24-Dec-2010 - My grandfather set up the company in 1953. He had his own fleet of engineers and vans.

Government review heralds bright manufacturing future

24-Dec-2010 - Although the word ‘food’ is mentioned just three times in the 26-page report, the government’s Growth Review Framework for Advanced Manufacturing has been warmly welcomed by the UK food manufacturing industry. It is seen as the government’s solid recognition of the vital role the sector plays in the UK economy.


Health and safety in the workplace: Safer solutions

24-Dec-2010 - Lord Young’s review of Britain’s health and safety environment should bring more common sense to the scene, as Freddie Dawson discovers


Focus on cold storage: Blow hot and cold

24-Dec-2010 - Contrary to some expectations, cold storage areas can present businesses and insurance firms with a serious fire hazard. Michelle Knott investigates the risks and the preventative measures

Focus on soups and sauces: Soup it up

24-Dec-2010 - Although lucrative, the soups and sauces sector is 
still ruled by tradition. So how are manufacturers attempting to modernise this sedate category? Anne Bruce finds out

Biodiversity: How to beat the growing pains

24-Dec-2010 - Biodiversity is the new carbon footprint, it seems, and the food industry is at the heart of the problems and the solutions. But how do you measure your impact? With great difficulty, says David Burrows

FM's sustainable food supply chain conference: A good climate for bright ideas

24-Dec-2010 - The food industry is making progress on climate change, but has tough issues to face. Rod Addy listened to the experts debate the issues in London


Chop and change: Meat and poultry processing focus

06-Dec-2010 - In its efforts to boost revenues, the meat industry is exploring as many routes to market as possible – and kit suppliers are ready to help out, as Rod Addy finds out

Can carton dent tin’s dominance?

06-Dec-2010 - For years cartons have played second fiddle to cans when it comes to liquid packaging. But is that dominance about to be challenged? asks Freddie Dawson

More than the sum of its parts

06-Dec-2010 - The food manufacturing industry employs one in seven of the UK’s workforce. When will the government recognise its massive contribution to the economy? asks Freddie Dawson

Fats and oils focus: Altered states

06-Dec-2010 - Enzyme-filtration technology enables manufacturers to meet consumer demand for healthier oils and brings further benefits in terms of cost savings and greener production methods, writes Freddie Dawson

Trend-spotting: Focuson snacks and sandwiches

06-Dec-2010 - Being able to spot a developing trend is important in any facet of business and none more so than the sandwich trade. Michelle Knott reports on the booming business of street food, novel ingredients and local heroes

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