Establishing an accurate, honest, and, where required, critical picture of 'where we are now' in improvement programmes is never easy. However, it is possible to avoid many of the pitfalls by following some basic principles.

When one of the biggest names in food manufacturing finds itself in hot water over the interpretation of regulations - as is the case with Cadbury and its recent Salmonella scare - alarm bells undoubtedly start ringing in the ears of fellow manufacturers.

Mention major projects like the Skills Academy, the Green Card scheme and the Sector Skills Agreement and you've only scraped the surface of the work being carried out by the food and drink sector skills council Improve to raise skills levels and productivity in the industry.

Synapse has published the Handbook of Flavors and Fragrances in a bid to educate readers about the distinctive qualities of food as perceived with the combined senses of taste and smell.

Targeted at food scientists, technologists and manufacturers, Sweeteners and Sugar Alternatives in Food Technology provides vital information on sugar reduction and replacement techniques.

The second edition of Food Polysaccharides and Their Applications reflects changes taking place in the food industry.

Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) is keen to clear up any confusion over how to deal with finding an unwanted substance in a food product.

Grundfos, maker of multistage centrifugal sanitary pumps, has extended its range with a F&B-Hygia, designed specifically for the food and beverage industries.

They might not be as cute as Luke Skywalker's R2-D2, but robots could be a food manufacturer's best friend, according to the Bradman Lake Group (BLG).

A sieve which allows bulk powders to be screened and transported simultaneously has been launched by Russell Finex.

Watson-Marlow Bredel, maker of the pump which helped shore up Nelson's column, has reached another high point.

You need an oven of distinction if you're going to supply posh pastries, breads and morning goods to some of the most elite dining rooms in London.

A mini gas analyser for measuring O2 and CO2 in small food packages, including salami, cheese slices and snacks, was launched at last month's Nantwich International Cheese Show.

With supermarkets ramping up the pressure on suppliers to incorporate X-ray inspection as part of their due diligence, the race is on to find an all-seeing eye that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Systemate Numafa has introduced a new, water saving filtration system for food companies that need to be squeaky clean.

Overdosing on chocolate ice cream coatings was having a ripple effect on Fredericks Dairies' costs, until it installed a Krohne Optimass Coriolis mass Flowmeter to regulate the dose.

Marsden, The Weighing Company has introduced a new washdown, portion control checkweigher, the Digi DS-470SS.

Manual weighing might be the only solution in some fresh food environments, but it's also proved inherently difficult to manage, with poor yields and little on-line operator control.

Mini-pancake maker Crepe Cuisine is keeping better track of its blinis following installation of a combined checkweigher and metal detector from Avery Weigh-Tronix.

Easiweigh's new system might be targeted at start-ups, but it's certainly no lightweight when it comes to functionality.

Since legislation governing the weight of goods sold was changed earlier this year from one of 'minimum weight' to one of 'average weight', new rules have applied to the use of non-automatic weighing equipment. However, confusion persists among users of equipment.

Devon-based industrial filtration specialist Micromac Filtration has come up with a compact, low-cost waste water treatment system to help smaller scale producers meet the ever more stringent demands of environmental legislation.

Pulsonic Technologies and Bionetix UK have joined their grime busting forces to offer food manufacturers a route to reduced trade effluent bills.

Work with a major fruit salad producer in the Midlands has ripened into a worthwhile recycling contract for environmental management specialist, Seepex UK.

Cutting a firm's waste down to size can slash disposal bills by up to 70%, according to Mono Pumps, one of a handful of firms closing the loop between food manufacturers and a growing number of aerobic digestion plants operating around the UK.

Can supermarkets do more to help save the planet? Dr Andrew Fearne at Kent Business School, part of the University of Kent, believes so. He is heading a research project funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that is looking at how poor sales forecasting by retailers and supermarkets is driving up environmental costs in the chilled food sector.

It's a well-known aphorism that Boards don't give a toss about energy efficiency until prices start to spiral - as they have over the past two years. So, managers with responsibility for energy can expect to be in favour once again - especially with news from the Carbon Trust that as a result of poor energy efficiency, Britain's food and drink businesses will waste £26M this summer.

Ministry of Cake is the new name for dessert manufacturer Maynard Scotts; a company which has come a long way since it was set up just outside Taunton way back in 1840. It produces mainly desserts - ranging from the classic apple pie to luxury cheese cake - and now lays claim to being the biggest manufacturer of chocolate fudge cake for foodservice.

With an increasing number of checks being carried out on suppliers, the issue of cleaning herbs and spices has never been more important.

A light touch helped freezing and chilling systems specialist Eurotek beat off the competition to win an order from Flex Foods, India.

Essex-based spices and seasonings supplier Unbar Rothon has carried out a major product flow redesign to ensure 'clean' supplies to its customers in the wake of recent changes to allergen labelling requirements.

The Sudan 1 incident alone reportedly cost the UK food industry over £100M, so it's hardly surprising that changes to operating systems and inspection programmes had to be made in its wake. But how much have things really changed? And what have the implications been for manufacturers and suppliers? According to British Pepper and Spice md Ian Kelland the scandal didn't create the anticipated downturn in the use of red spices. "People are just very much more aware of the potential risks with herbs and spices. The onus is now on the manufacturer to test them and ensure traceability, which can be costly and time consuming."

From October 1, 2006, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations will make it unlawful for occupational pension schemes and employers to discriminate against members or prospective members on the grounds of age.

You English don't like offal very much do you; not like us French, remarks Michel Ganneau, as he points enthusiastically at a huge array of liver and tripe; head meat and trotters on display. It's very early on a slightly nippy Monday morning and we're in the offal hall of the huge Rungis market 6km outside Paris.

It's all hands on deck at TMI Foods where staff are rolling bacon strips around cocktail sausages at a rate of knots. The firm, which employs 170 workers across its Northampton and Coventry factories, produces over 7M individually rolled 'pigs in blankets' and cooks 10M rashers of bacon a year.

Martin Taylor, general manager, Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB) creamery, Llandyrnog, Denbigh

Until it was called off, Asda stores across the country were threatened with empty shelves following a vote in favour of strike action by staff at 20 of the supermarket group's distribution centres. I am old enough to remember the 1980s when Sainsbury's in-house depots were on strike twice a year almost as a matter of rote. Safeway's distribution director in those days was a young Lawrence Christensen and he, too, faced regular disruption to continuous supply for the same reason as Sainsbury. He developed a strategy to beat the strikes that was subsequently copied throughout the industry.

A small logistics firm offering creative solutions to the problem of distributing small loads to supermarkets and foodservice outlets is on course to almost double its turnover next year.

Robinson Plastic Packaging is supplying Northern Foods with a range of injection-moulded soup pots for Marks & Spencer.

Rexam plans to launch its Sleek, slender can shape in Europe in the 330ml size, challenging steel in key markets as the balance across the EU shifts towards aluminium for beverages.

Proposed changes to degree-level qualifications in packaging technology still leave the UK lagging behind other parts of Europe where the discipline is recognised as a career path in its own right.

The UK dairy market has never been one to mix fresh milk and flexibles, but that could be about to change with the launch of stand-up Ecolean pouches. The material, which is already used for pouches in mainland Europe, binds together calcium carbonate (40% by weight) in a polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) matrix. The preformed pouch is supplied on a reel, with a tear-off spout and a handle which is inflated with air, for a secure grip, at the filling stage.

Once again a major food manufacturer has hit the headlines following a contamination incident and the withdrawal of products from supermarket shelves.

Seafood processor Young's Bluecrest has moved to a Flexiwrap C-fold wrap-around price labelling system with a catch-weight option from Herbert Industrial to meet the demands of its retail customers.

Dairy processors have warned of a milk shortage later this year, which they claim will worsen an existing trade deficit in some sectors. Speaking at this year's Provision Trade Federation (PTF) AGM, outgoing chairman Arthur Reeves said: "It has been a difficult year for the UK dairy trade, and there are signs that there may be a milk shortage later in the year ... Less milk means more imports and/or fewer exports."

The sweet toffee flavour of honeycomb means that it has long been a favourite with confectioners and bakers, but its hygroscopic nature causes it to absorb moisture and it becomes sticky if exposed to the atmosphere for any length of time.

Trials by DSM Food Specialties have proved that Delvo-Add 100-F improves the texture and mouthfeel of cheese as well as increasing its moisture content, claims the company.

Demand for low fat products is currently going through the roof, inspiring a wave of innovation in fat replacement ingredients for processed meat.

Most chefs need a kitchen. Now there's a statement you can hang your hat on.

United Biscuits UK is hoping to crack the £253M 'everyday biscuit' sector with the launch of McVitie's Fruitsters.

Straithard Salmon in Inverness is looking forward to casting its product innovation net even further following the erection of a 438m2 office facility, which will house a new product development (NPD) kitchen.

Greenhalgh's new Country Crown loaf uses a blend of four different flours: natural white, wholemeal, malted and rye, and contains linseed, rolled oats, sesame seeds and malted grains.

A new fruit beer, named Roisin (pronounced Rosheen), has been developed by Williams Bros Brewing Company in Alloa using the tayberry, which is native to Scotland.

Honeytop Specialty Foods is celebrating a 20% sales growth following the reformulation of its naan bread.

Unilever has launched what it claims is the most versatile new food to hit the snack market. While most spreads are used either to flavour a product, act as a barrier, or to bind ingredients, Hellmann's Sandwich Delight combines all three properties.

Salt-free pellets from Limagrain Céréales Ingredients (LCI) make it possible to create reduced salt savoury snacks such as fries and crisps. Using the No Salt range means that, before flavouring, a snack will be salt-free.

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The UK market for functional food is worth almost £1bn, according to a report from Leatherhead Food International (LFI).

Several people have remarked recently that when foods are offered at reduced prices sales have fallen. It is suggested that this may be because consumers are suspicious about quality if the products can be sold so cheaply.

Staffordshire cheese should gain European protected designation of origin (PDO) status by the end of the year.

The ability to support vendor managed inventory (VMI) was key to temperature-controlled logistics specialist Christian Salvesen winning a five-year contract worth up to £45M from own-label cake manufacturer Inter Link Foods, it claimed.

Dairy Crest hopes to increase direct sales of its dairy products to consumers following the acquisition from Arla this month of Express Dairies' depots and dairies in Liverpool and Nottingham, for £33M.

Researchers behind a proposed project to explore novel ways of using waste energy from food manufacturing plants will find out this month whether they have secured government cash to fund their work.

The food and drink sector has been named and shamed as one of the worst 'green' performers by the Environment Agency (EA) in its annual Spotlight report covering all businesses in England and Wales.

Food Marketing & Manufacturing, the management journal for the food processing industry, has been acquired by Food Manufacture's publisher William Reed as part of its aim to create a comprehensive information portal for the food and drink sector.

Scientists at Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) have developed techniques that could predict a product's glycaemic index (GI) in the early stages of formulation without expensive human testing.

The Transport & General Workers' Union (T&G) has drawn up a cost savings package for the HP Sauce plant at Aston Cross, Birmingham, in a last-ditch attempt to persuade Heinz not to close it.

Food firms could face critical labour shortages during the busy run-up to Christmas because only a third of labour providers have so far been approved by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), one agency has warned.

In the NPD Insight section in the March issue (p14), the name of the isotonic powder being developed by Santeau has been changed to O2go Sport Plus.

Harrogate-based Food Design has invested £500,000 to lift capacity for its toffee and fudge inclusions from 780t to 1,600t a year. The cash was spent on two processing lines, bulk glucose tanks, temperature monitoring equipment and metal detectors. The firm expected to boost turnover from £2.5M this year to £4M next year.

Scientists from the Cocoa Research Institute in Nigeria have developed a heat-resistant chocolate for hot climates. By adding cornstarch or gelatine, they were able to raise the melting point of chocolate from about 30°C to 50°C and 45°C respectively.

Sugar processor Tate & Lyle has launched a venture capital arm with initial funding of £24M.

Warburtons is doubling capacity at its Enfield Bakery in north London with a 3,700m2 factory extension and 1,500m2 of new distribution space as part of a £17.5M investment.

Prime minister Tony Blair has given a clear indication that the government is in no hurry to impose the traffic light labelling system bitterly opposed by food manufacturers.

Air-freighted fruit and veg are a growing contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and need to be curbed, the co-ordinator of the UK-based Food Climate Research Network (FCRN) has warned.

The Institute of Food Research (IFR) is hoping to patent new methods of extracting valuable ingredients from food waste.

National charity Fareshare UK has urged food and drink firms to take a "leap of faith" and support a new waste collection service.

This year's Foodex Meatex show at the NEC, Birmingham attracted 16,591 visitors. The show was part of William Reed's first Food & Drink World Exhibition, which had more than 70,000 visitors in total.

The British Nutrition Foundation says consumers should not avoid soya in the wake of a Guardian report linking it to a string of health problems: "Soya remains a good source of protein, provides modest amounts of micronutrients and fibre and has a proven ability to reduce cholesterol."

Egg giants Deans Foods and Stonegate have merged to create Noble Foods, a business controlling almost half of the UK's production. The Office of Fair Trading has yet to decide whether to refer the deal to the Competition Commission.

Savour pastry producer Tamar Foods of Callington, Cornwall is to create 100 jobs after winning "multi-million pound" supermarket contracts starting in September.

Ice cream maker Hill Station has been forced to delay closure of its Cheadle factory until late autumn until it installs an extra production line at its larger plant in Cwmbran, where it is consolidating manufacturing. The delay was likely to increase Hill Station's losses for the year, said chairman Pieter Totté. Sales of £5.7M in the six months to April 30 were 16% below plan.

Labels should list trans fats - solid fats found in margarines, biscuits, cakes and fast food and produced by partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils - as well as cholesterol and saturated fat to help reduce coronary heart disease, said University of Oxford researchers in the British Medical Journal. That mirrors similar calls by the Foods Standards Agency.

More than 50 staff at SK Chilled Foods' spring rolls factory in Skelton, Cleveland, have been made redundant following moves to close the site and transfer production to larger, modern facilities at South Bank and Riverside Park, Middlesbrough.

The European market for food processing equipment is still growing at 4% a year, despite moves by many manufacturers to tighten purse strings in response to rising energy costs.

Scientists are working with Ribena's owner GlaxoSmithKline on a £1.2M project to develop new strains of 'super blackcurrants' with very high levels of vitamin C.

Sainsbury has launched a virulent attack on Cadbury for its handling of salmonella contamination at its Marlbrook chocolate crumb plant.

A leading nutritionist has accused consumer watchdog Which? of misleading people in its Cereal Re-Offenders report, which claimed that many cereals were high in salt, sugar and saturated fat.

Sugar prices look set to rise as the effects of a substantially reduced UK crop is made worse by the recent drought across Europe, warned a major supplier.