• Production and operation responsibilities have been realigned at Elisabeth the Chef's three factory sites following Steve Eastham's appointment as operations director in May. Previously manager of the Southam site, Paul Whyte is now senior operations manager at Southam, St. Mary's Rd and Berrington Rd. Bill Donnelly takes his place as production manager at the Southam site. Former St. Mary's Rd manager Peter Elliott has been asked to review the process lines and bakery operations at St. Mary's Rd and the Broadheath, Worcester sites. And operations manager at St Mary's Rd is new recruit Manjinder Deol, who joins from Yoplait Dairy Crest.

Q: What was the first product you worked with?

According to the Freight Transport Association, the proportion of LGV drivers under the age of 30 has dropped from 23% in 1992 to 15% today, and the number of new drivers in the logistics industry is declining at an alarming rate. Add to this the forthcoming European Working Time Directive, which is set to increase the number of drivers needed by up to 80,000 and it is clear the logistics industry is suffering something of a crisis.

54.carlsberg Breweries

Managing your staff in a large food business which operates across a number of sites and is undergoing major restructuring in a tough business environment is a complex business.

Development Chef's Network

One of the oldest and most complex technologies in food and beverage processing is covered in a new book from Woodhead Publishing.

Publishing house Prospect Swetenhams has produced its annual report on the financial state of UK bakery market.

Innovations in the savoury snacks market come under the spotlight this month with a new report from Leatherhead Food International (LFI).

If you've ever wondered how your brand and packaging might be affected by future developments in retail and the internet, then a new book is here to help.

Biscuit manufacturer Galbusera is the latest company to install a hybrid oven from Spooner Vicars, for the production of moulded and deposited soft biscuits.

Large craft and industrial bakers will benefit from the Kemper Soft Star dough dividing and remoulding machine, according to bakery equipment supplier Eurobake.

Northamptonshire-based Gadsby's Bakery has installed ovens from equipment manufacturer Double D at its purpose-built bakery at Milk Park in Southwell.

He claims there is enough built-in flexibility in most bakeries to meet the latest consumer trends. "It's just a case of tweeking -- we see increasing levels of automation, but nothing has fundamentally changed. "

Cerestar has developed a modified starch that can cut the cost and improve the texture of convenience foods.

With the recent price volatility of gum arabic due to unrest and poor harvests in Chad, Nigeria and the Sudan, National Starch is offering manufacturers a cost-effective alternative in the Purity Gum range of speciality starches.

Preparing traditional bakery cream fillings and custards is very time-consuming. Today, bakers want fast, ready-to-use formulations that will instantly disperse into water or milk.

Chocolate-flavoured dairy beverages are popular with consumers, but without proper stabilisation, most of the chocolate powder ends up at the bottom of the pack.

For centuries chefs have made use of some odd physical phenomena that can take place when treating food in a certain manner. For example, turning liquid fruit into set jam, thickening sauces with starch and whisking cream into foams. Such techniques add elements of convenience, improved mouthfeel or simply new texture to improve our experience of food.

The Czech's traditional consumption of roast pork and dumplings (Svickova na smetane) and garlic seasoned potato pancakes (bramborak) washed down with a bottle of Pilsner is on the wane. The country which was responsible for the 'velvet revolution' in the late eighties, is undergoing a culinary revolution in the naughties. The hearty Bohemian tradition of dining on meat and pickled vegetables is being replaced by western-style grazing on savoury snacks, foreign convenience brands and ready meals. This is a cultural change that offers new scope for UK manufacturers with convenience products and ready meal production expertise.

On the e-Track: Shopfloor product tracking is vital to the food supply chain. A Bridge Link start-up research project at Brunel University called e-Track aims to develop a predictive shopfloor monitoring and control system, looking particularly at the use of wireless data acquisition and two-way radio communications, for shopfloor control and scheduling.

From the nutritional analysis of food bought in Scottish fish and chip shops to the surveillance of radioactive thorium and polonium in North Sea cod and haddock -- the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling on Britain's scientists and food labs to help it take on its latest batch of food research projects.

An assembly of glass and rubber tubing which mimics the way a human throat releases flavours from foods looks set to speed up the development of new flavours and flavour recipes for food manufacturers.

An artificial nose more usually to be found sniffing out urinary tract infections and tuberculosis has agreed with a panel of human researchers that the world's smelliest cheese is Vieux Boulogne, a soft French cow's milk cheese matured by washing in beer.

Often when Neil Griffiths makes a presentation to the food industry on legislative issues, such as the new hygiene legislation or changes to traceability regulations, he will begin by proclaiming himself to be a rather sad individual.

It sounds more like a cosmetic implant than a food science programme, but the European Union's (EU's) new Lipgene project could indeed change the face of the British food industry.

Many manufacturers tell their retail customers they want closer collaboration. What most really mean is they want help with problems they are experiencing. True collaboration takes time and investment and it isn't for the faint-hearted. But where the commitment is made, the benefits for everyone can be significant.

Unlike many of the buyers that have been interviewed for this article, Paul Robinson did not stumble into procurement; he has been in purchasing, material planning or production planning since he graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the late 1970s. His early career saw him working for the battery company Ever Ready, then an engineering company, but he soon gravitated towards alcohol (at Scottish & Newcastle), before moving into the Scottish whisky industry five years later where he has stayed ever since.

There are two Kitchen Range Foods factories. There's one next to our head office in Huntingdon, which makes savoury products like coated mushrooms and coated cheeses, and also fruit pies -- the sort you get in fast food outlets. And then we have the donuts factory in Peterborough, where I'm factory manager.

One of the very few positive stories about Sainsbury in the press recently was found under the heading 'Death of the tin can'. From now on, if you wanted Sainsbury tinned tomatoes then they were going to come in a carton and not a can. Sainsbury was replacing the can with the new Tetra-Pak 'Re-cart' carton, a new lightweight carton that can withstand the heat of sterilisation.

Hard discounters look set to increase the deflationary pressures on high street retailing as their influence grows, forcing the major multiples to review their strategies, a leading analyst has warned.

For some manufacturers Christmas doubles the average sales for the rest of the year. Most work their production lines hard all year round to maximise return on investment. That always leads to a build-up of stock over several months to meet peak shipment needs.

Soya milk products manufacturer Alpro, part of the Vandemoortele Group, has appointed Culina Logistics to provide it with a complete primary logistics service in the UK.

Greencore Cakes & Desserts, formerly known as Hazlewood, has moved to a system of real-time data collection and communications at its Hull plant to reduce manual data input errors.

If most salad packs are a chilling proposition for anyone wanting to add value to their range, Huhtamaki has literally added a twist of ingenuity to the category.

US manufacturer of plastic reseal profiles Zip-Pak claims that its latest high temperature-resistant range is opening up almost every part of the flexible packaging market to resealability.

With sales tonnages of food cans having largely stabilised over the past couple of years, the sector organisation is predicting that new easy-open options will protect the can's position still further, or even bring growth.

Incremental developments in manufacturing and decoration techniques for glass are maintaining its status as an eye-catching and brand-enhancing material, says the organiser of the industry's annual awards.

I recently spent two weeks in France auditing three factories on their approach to world class manufacturing, then training 12 key people in the audit system.

Wholesale meat supplier to the catering sector IMS of Smithfield has implemented stringent measures to ensure complete traceability of its products, particularly beef products.

Technology similar to that used in tape recorders and magnetic strips in credit cards could soon offer product traceability and process benefits to food producers.

This time last year, I covered a review of forthcoming labelling changes that were predicted to have a significant impact on the industry as a whole, and indeed, 2004 has been a busy and confusing year. Allergens and genetically modified organisms topped the agenda in terms of immediate problems to be overcome. Meanwhile the accession of 10 new countries to the European Union presented a wealth of opportunities, as well as a serious labelling challenge for those companies having to market small packaged foods in the 20 official languages!

Developers of pork-based products could get financial help for projects that promote the sale of pork through a grant scheme run by the British Pig Executive (BPEX).

Industry experts have warned that government pressure to reduce sugar and fat in processed foods to help consumers curb obesity could give rise to product safety problems.

With every type of fruit and vegetable on our shelves all year round, it's hard to know what's in season when. But until 30 years ago, you could no more buy a strawberry in December than you could a parsnip in August.

Salt reduction in manufactured products continues apace with frozen and chilled food company Strathmore Foods the latest company to reformulate its range.

Westler Foods is increasing its prominence in the foodservice sector with the addition of new canned ready meals and the launch of canned fruit and vegetables.

RHM Frozen Foods has looked towards Asia for inspiration for a new range of frozen foods under its popular ethnic brand Sharwood's.

Like Heinz and its Baked Bean Sausages, Kraft Foods has also realised the potential for combining its major brand with another food item to make a finished product.

For years sausages and baked beans have partnered each other on millions of dinner plates around the UK, but until now the combination has meant separate purchase of the items (that's unless you count the tinned beans and sausages). Now, however, food giant Heinz has finally twigged that it would make sense to combine the two.

Unilever has finally decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, with a range of low-carb as well as low-calorie foods under its Slim-Fast slimming brand.

Dried fruit and vegetable supplier Sleaford Quality Foods is under new ownership following a management buyout by the company's finance and operations directors.

The Welsh Development Agency (WDA) has created the role of international agri-food director to promote Welsh food and drink and explore opportunities for companies to invest in Wales as well as for Welsh companies to set up abroad.

Food and agri group Cranswick is to buy Perkins Chilled Foods division of Perkins Food Group for £80.6m.

A new report to help the nutritional product industry deal with complex European and national regulations has been published by food consultancy European Advisory Services.

Coors Brewers has developed a 2%abv variant of its Carling brand in response to growing concerns over alcohol consumption.

Gavin Neath, chairman of Unilever UK, is the new president of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Sandwich maker Gibsons has expanded it operations with the purchase of a second manufacturing site at Devizes.

A high flier with experience in complex food manufacturing processes is being invited to take "centre stage" for a major food manufacturer.

Employee-owned companies could become more widespread in the food and drink sector if a trust set up to encourage them proves successful.

Tesco, Rentokil Pest Control, and HSQC, the health, safety and quality control consultancy, were the first to receive the Society of Food Hygiene Technology (SOFHT) new awards for best practice.

Damien McLoughlin has been appointed md of the industrial cheese ingredients company Meadow Cheese in Ledbury.

The Home Grown Cereals Authority is to reprise last year's on-line poll which suggested that eating grains for breakfast boosts brain power.

British drinkers are falling out of love with whisky and turning to vodka, according to a report from market analyst Datamonitor.

Blue cheese maker Shepherds Purse has won a contract to supply pub chain Slug and Lettuce with its cheese.

Manufacturers and retailers are being invited to join a new research network that aims to slash carbon dioxide emissions from the UK's food chain.

The growth of eating and drinking on the move in the UK and the rise of convenience stores poses problems for food packaging and design.

Suppliers to convenience stores will be the focus of the next revolution in supply chain management, a logistics guru has predicted.

A Food Standards Agency report on levels of acrylamide in the UK diet, due to be published at the end of November, will be out this month.

CIAA, the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union, has appointed Daniela Israelachwili as its next director general.

National Starch has renamed its food products division National Starch Food Innovation to more accurately reflect the company's offer to food processors.

Sunderland Council has become the first local authority in England to offer residents food and drink carton recycling. Ten new collection containers have been installed at recycling centres around the city.

Owner of the Manor Farm Duckling brand, MFD Foods, which went in to receivership in June 2004, has arranged new private financial backing.

Dutch dairy products company Campina and Denmark-based rival Arla Foods have merged to create the world's largest farmer-owned dairy company.

A 200g serving of Batchelor's Cup a Soup minestrone with croutons contains half the recommended adult daily intake of 6g salt, according to a new soups survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). But it also found salt levels varied widely with no relation between the type of soup or soup flavour and salt level. No brand was consistently high or low in salt, said the FSA.

Two of the UK's leading oilseed and grain businesses, Allied Grain and Banks Cargill Agriculture, are to merge.

A new European project has been set up to develop more efficient traceability systems for products and materials in the food chain.

The Co-op, the leading supermarket supporter of Fairtrade, more than doubled its own-brand range of Fairtrade products in 2004.

Weetabix has been named Cereal Exporter of the Year at the Food from Britain Export Awards sponsored by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority.

Business information company Datamonitor has identified 10 consumer 'mega trends' which will dictate what products and services are bought in future.

A group of 185 UK food manufacturers have been named as the fastest risers in the industry in a study by analyst Plimsoll Publishing.

Red onions are flavour of the month, according to NIAB, the Cambridge--based plant science company. It says it has run 10 trials on red onions in 12 months, compared with just five conducted over the past 25 years.

Proper Cornish, the manufacturer of Cornish pasties, is on the hunt for bakers who think their pasties make the grade to put themselves forward for inclusion in the Proper Cornish Perfect Pasty Guide.

Confectionery company Glisten has doubled its annual turnover to around £60m with the acquisition of snack bar and inclusions manufacturer Halo Foods Group.

A new regional food hub that brings small businesses together with centres of excellence in the food chain could be underway in the south east if funding can be agreed next month.

Meat which would not be passed fit for sale if produced in the UK could be making its way into the food chain because Europe relies on a system of "trust".

Sugar giant Tate & Lyle has bought leading South African food ingredients company Dolcré for £1.4m.

Seafish, the public body which promotes fish consumption and the fishing industry, is working with the British Standards Institute to introduce an accreditation scheme in 2005.

Unilever is to invest up to £21m developing a new range of food and drink slimming aids based on extracts taken from a plant grown in South Africa.

French cheese manufacturer Lactalis has bought Glasgow-based cheese company McLelland Group for an undisclosed sum.

Pork pies are losing out to sausage rolls in the popularity stakes, according to a new report by the British Pig Executive (BPEX).

Pressure is likely to increase on Europe to lift restrictions governing irradiated food following a report from the US Institute of Food Technologists which claimed it to be a "proven, beneficial method of improving the safety of food supply and poses no human health threat".

A new company offering food and drink manufacturers glycaemic index (GI) testing for diet and weight control products has been set up by researchers at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

A group of food manufacturers, led by food industry think-tank IGD, is to push ahead with developing guideline daily amounts (GDAs) for saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories, despite opposition from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Leading fish processor Young's Seafood has warned that price rises will be higher than usual this year due to a combination of increased global demand, rising oil prices and restrictive fishing quotas.

UK food producers have voted Cadbury Schweppes Britain's Most Admired Company, beating Unilever and Northern Foods into second and third places respectively. Tesco, last year's winner, dropped to fourth.

Food and beverage companies have the most hopeless sales staff in British industry, according to research by Proudfoot Consultancy.

Premier Foods is to acquire Bird's, Britain's best-selling custard brand, from Kraft for £70m. It is the company's first acquisition since it was floated in July.

Icelandic food group Bakkavör has made an indicative cash bid for fresh prepared foods manufacturer Geest worth 662p a share.

Jack Matthews, chairman of Improve, the food and drink Sector Skills Council, has been appointed chairman of the North East Regional Skills Forum. This brings together all the sector skills councils within the region.

Improve, the Sector Skills Council for the food and drink industry, has welcomed the launch of a government funded National Employer Training Programme (NETP) to tackle the needs of specific industries and allow employers to identify skills gaps affecting productivity.

Meat from cattle over 30 months old, which have been banned from entering the food chain since 1996, may be available to processors by the end of the year.

A new forum for food and drink manufacturers and retailers which will act as an early warning system for forthcoming legislation, is to be set up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The chairman of the Society of Food Hygiene Technology (SoFHT), Neil Griffiths, has hit out at the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) policy of naming and shaming companies suspected of infringing food safety.

The UK's leading food and grocery retailers are now holding record low levels of stock in their stores as a result of increasing efficiency in their supply chain operations.

Companies reformulating micro-wave meals and foodstuffs to meet demand for healthy, more nutritious products run the risk of injuring consumers, it has been claimed.