Following extensive research, William Reed Business Media has rebranded its Foodex Meatex show. The new Foodex 2010 will take place at Birmingham's NEC on March 21-24 next year.

The Food Climate Research Network (FCRN) has joined forces with the UK arm of WWF (formerly the World Wildlife Fund, now WWF-UK) to commission research aimed at cutting the UK's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Food Manufacture has launched a joint e-learning venture, Food Manufacture Training, with software and learning content company Skillgate.

The Carbon Trust is extending its work with processors on a host of initiatives, many of which are expected to yield data some time in the spring.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is expected to issue a scientific opinion next month on the risks nanoscience and nanotechnologies have on food and feed safety and the environment.

Britain's food supply chain is calculating what damage the vote by the European Parliament (EP) to end Britain's opt-out from the EU's 1993 Working Time Directive will cause to the sector.

Sophisticated pensions deals with insurance firms will become more attractive to food manufacturers as the credit crunch continues to make companies more risk averse, according to pensions advisory firm KPMG.

Some sections of the UK population take great delight in criticising the government for being overly accommodating to those looking for work in the UK from overseas.

The Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) Standards unit has launched its most comprehensive catalogue yet, containing over 14,000 products to support laboratory quality in the food, environmental and industrial sectors.

The Chilled Food Association has published training guidance for multicultural workforces in the chilled food sector.

The Food potentiometric analysis collection from Metrohm is a know-how package for the practical analyst in the food industry. The application file contains 96 testing methods, which take into account the latest state of knowledge.

Global sales of food additives were estimated at well in excess of $25bn in value terms during 2007. Recent growth has been most impressive in those additives most relevant to the trend for lower-fat foods. In contrast, some sectors have been adversely affected by low-cost Chinese production.

As energy prices soar to record levels, owners and operators of warehouses, distribution centres and other large open spaces can reduce energy usage by installing an air induction system from Jet Environmental.

New pasteurisation equipment - the first of its kind in the UK - has not only helped a leading soft drinks company meet fresh demands from an existing market, it has also enabled the firm to create a product range within a new brand.

Gentle conveying is a typical requirement in the industry. The preservation of powder characteristics such as bulk density and particle size is important and requires low-speed dense phase pneumatic conveying systems. High added value powders or granules should not be destroyed during transport and breakdown of the particle size can reduce the plant's performance and generate an explosion risk or change process parameters.

Armfield, maker of miniature-scale processing equipment for the food industry, has introduced two new multi-function miniature-scale batch processors designed for high viscosity products such as jams, jellies, toffees and other confectionery items as well as soups and sauces containing particulates.

A 3D vision-based robot automation solution for product handling and end-of-line picking and packing is promising breakthrough applications in food processing and packaging.

Baker Perkins has extended its range of EM390 rotary moulders with an over-band machine designed for multi-purpose and multi-product lines. An EM390 located above the band of a sheet-and-cut line for hard and semi-sweet biscuits can be used as required to add soft biscuits or cookies to the product mix. Changeover between sheet and cut and rotary moulded production is simple and rapid.

The Two Sisters poultry processing plant at Morecambe has chosen AEW Delford Systems weigh price labellers and C Wrap labellers for its new packing lines.

Forklift truck manufacturer Jungheinrich has launched the EJE C20 energy-efficient electric pedestrian pallet truck designed for order picking and light stacking work.

Bulk solids handling specialist, Flexicon (Europe) has launched a combination, bulk bag/drum filler featuring a fill head that pivots down for connecting empty bags at floor level and a swing-arm-mounted chute for filling drums.

Ishida Europe has extended its solutions for weighing and packing fresh, sticky products with the introduction of a new range of screw-feed multi-head weighers, which allow the fully automatic handling of these products for the first time. The new models are ideal for meat, poultry, fish and seafood that cannot be moved by feeder vibration, or where manual product feeding is not economically viable.

Air operated hoists and handling equipment from J D Neuhaus now comply with the cleaning and hygiene levels for food industry installations. These air hoists feature a patented motor brake system which does not require supplementary lubrication. This prevents the emission of oil droplets in the exhaust air.

Reiser has announced the successful completion of a sales agreement between Repak BV and Reiser UK. The agreement names Reiser UK as sales agent for Repak packaging machines in the UK.

Star Refrigeration has completed the installation of a new, high efficiency refrigeration plant for Tesco at its new distribution centre in Livingston, Scotland.

Materials handling and storage equipment company, the Nene Group, has provided a complete racking installation for Samworth Distribution's new chill store extension at its distribution centre in Leicestershire.

As well as reducing heat losses from chilled areas, Seymour Manufacturing's Cold Stop door curtains have another role at Orchard House Foods. With one colour on one side and a different one on the other, they are used to differentiate and remind staff which are high and low risk areas within the production and storage areas of its Corby, Northamptonshire plant.

Meat processor Scotbeef has implemented the Empirica warehouse management system from Chess Logistics Technology at its new distribution cold store at Queenslie, near Glasgow.

Companies in the cold storage business have been quite busy over the past few months. New distribution centres have been opened, staff hire and services extended - all designed to stay ahead of the pack as competition for food clients hots up.

Witt Gas Techniques, the gas safety, control, mixing and analysis specialist equipment supplier, will be demonstrating its range of gas distribution, mixing and analysis equipment for use on modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) lines.

Ulma Packaging will be exhibiting a range of high performance systems for the fresh produce, cheese, meat and bakery sectors.

Reiser, specialist in form-fill-machinery, will be exhibiting its Repak thermoformer machine for the first time in the UK. The machine's rapid air forming technology allows packaging to be formed more quickly, which allows the user to buy thinner material, saving cost and waste by reducing packaging by 20%.

Allen Coding Systems will be exhibiting a wide range of high performance thermal transfer, hot foil and laser coding and marking technology, including the new ACF 400 carton coder and recently launched 53LTi high specification intermittent thermal transfer printer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific will be highlighting its wide range of high performance inspection systems aimed at the food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets.

Coding and marking specialist Linx Printing Technologies is launching its latest solutions in laser coding, large character marking and continuous ink jet inks.

Russell Finex, supplier of fine mesh separation, will showcase its range of sieves and filters including the Blow-Thru sieve, the Compact 3in1, the Finex separator with Vibrasonic deblinding system, and an assortment of different sized Russell Compact sieves.

ABB's UK robotics business will be demonstrating its latest generation of picking and packing robots and force control technology.

Sick (UK), sensor and sensing systems manufacturer, is launching Inspector, a powerful and innovative 2D vision sensor. Inspector is as powerful as a camera and as easy-to-use as a standard photoelectric sensor.

S+S Inspection will be launching its new Alumaster, a compact metal detection system for products packed in aluminium foil bags and containers. Designed to be easily integrated into existing conveyor packing lines, the new machine complies fully with food industry hazard analysis critical control point requirements and is available for use in dry or wet environments.

Weber Marking Systems will be making its first appearances in the UK at this year's PPMA Show where it will be demonstrating its new printer applicator, the Model 5300 Series (pictured), and unveiling a brand new printer applicator for pallets, which allows labelling on adjacent sides without stopping the pallet.

Easiweigh, part of the GSH group, has introduced a new, cost-effective, compact, entry-level weighing system aimed at emerging markets and low-volume packing operations. The Solo machine has been designed predominantly for use with dry, free-flowing, low piece-weight products such as snack foods and is capable of weighing up to 2kg.

A new software programme that can link up to 100 checkweighers to provide valuable production data is being launched by Ishida Europe.

Mettler-Toledo's product inspection division will be presenting its broad range of inspection solutions, including the innovative Safeline metal detection equipment, the latest X-ray technologies and cutting-edge checkweighers from Garvens.

Elastomer engineering specialist James Walker Keaflex will be showcasing its rubber moulding capabilities.

The K-Tron group will show a choice of Premier Pneumatics vacuum receivers. The K-Tron P-series vacuum receivers feature sanitary design and meet the 3-A Sanitary Standards for pneumatic conveyors. The receivers are designed to convey delicate materials such as tablets and capsules as well as free flowing and poorly-flowing powders in snack, bakery, cereal and confectionery applications.

BCH will be promoting a wide range of food and confectionery processing equipment solutions, ranging from kettles, atmospheric cooking, pressure cooking, vacuum process technology and energy reducing processes.

Multihead weighing system supplier Multipond will be launching a high-speed combination weigher, the MP28-400/400-A, at this year's show.

Robot supplier Schubert will unveil its new automated method for coupling tools to its TLM robots as part of a high-performance demonstration line which will be packing Actimel yoghurt drink bottles into sleeves.

Now in its 20th year, the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) show will take place at the NEC Birmingham from September 30 to October 2, 2008. The event will be officially opened by Sir Digby Jones, now Lord Jones of Birmingham.

Habasit Rossi, the UK's leading conveyor belting manufacturer, will be showcasing an exciting range of products. These will be demonstrated on a novel all-in-one belting unit to highlight the vast array of belting solutions for all industry sectors that Habasit Rossi covers. There will be samples of the company's fabric, modular, timing and chain belts.

PIAB, supplier of industrial vacuum technology, will be exhibiting its innovative vacuum solutions for increasing productivity and reducing energy consumption in a variety of automated materials handling and factory automation processes.

If you've read Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, you'll be familiar with the outlook for the impecunious Mr Micawber, namely: "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result: happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result: misery."

Earlier this year, key suppliers to Marks & Spencer (M&S) were invited to a series of breakfast meetings with chief executive Stuart Rose as part of a controversial review of the supply base dubbed 'Project Genesis'. Expecting some tough questions about why they deserved to keep their business, they waited anxiously for the drinks to arrive. At which point Rose said: "So what do you really think of Steven Esom?"

In an era in which provenance is a nice little earner and processors compete to be the most environmentally friendly, Silver Spring has a head start.

What is the most important aspect of your work?

As the consumer demand for natural ingredients continues, kiwifruit grower and processor Kiwifruit Extract Ventures Limited (KEVL) has launched a range of high-potency kiwifruit compounds aimed at dietary supplement and cosmeceutical manufacturers. The range includes a vegetarian source of omega-3 and an antioxidant.

Flavour and fragrance specialist Treatt has unveiled the latest additions to its natural Treattarome range of clear distillates: Black Raspberry, Marionberry, Pear and Papaya. The new flavours will be added to the From The Named Food range of flavour ingredients.

Mineral ingredients firm GBI has launched a magnesium-citrate compound for soy milk and dairy milks. Gadomag K is designed to provide magnesium fortification of soy milk, dairy milk, dairy milk drinks, smoothies, infant formula and other milk replacements.

New Zealand Extracts has extended its range of naturally extracted science-based Oxifend antioxidants to include Kiwifruit, Boysenberry and Blackcurrant extracts.

Most of us are familiar with the expression, 'Your eyes are bigger than your belly'. But while many realise the perils of eating too much, our survey reveals a disturbing amount of complacency surrounding the issue, especially in a supposedly health-conscious era.

Life is like a box of chocolates, says Sally Field in the film Forrest Gump. "You never know what you're gonna get."

High fibre breakfast cereals have traditionally been closely associated with bran - and, in particular, wheat bran, says Martin Tatlock, business development manager with ingredient manufacturer Roquette. "There are many products on the market with 'bran' in the title and consumers would choose these when they want more fibre, but would not necessarily choose them for taste."

All the evidence suggests that the sports nutrition market is extremely buoyant. And if it's true now, we may be in for explosive growth when the 2012 Olympics hit.

Wrinkled noses ripple through the kids' panel at Leatherhead Food International's (LFI's) recent conference on children's new product development. A class of Year Eight students from Chalfonts Community College in Buckinghamshire has been invited to share its thoughts on different foods, and celery definitely isn't a hit. "I think it tastes a bit like chopped up onion!" says Kiera.

Spend 20 minutes wandering around what will soon be one of Europe's biggest contract manufacturing facilities and the sheer scale and complexity of the task facing Chris Newall starts to sink in.

Recession or no recession, property developers will doubtless be eyeing up a piece of prime real estate on the south bank of the Thames just now. The Stag Brewery at Mortlake (pictured above), a London landmark since 1869, could well be the next casualty of the beer industry's relentless consolidation.

Phil Ugalde, md, Proper Cornish Food Company

The war is on. Supermarket chains have declared it and are fighting it with their army of price cuts and special offers. This is putting enormous pressure on you, the food manufacturers and suppliers. Promotional activity is increasing but you are given even less notice. The level of service you are expected to deliver is at its highest to ensure no sale is missed, yet the demand is more volatile than ever.

Kellogg has consolidated all its cereals and food warehousing onto Trafford Park in Manchester to be managed by logistics company TDG in a five-year contract worth around £11M/year. A brand new 28,923m2 warehouse has been acquired by TDG and fitted with over 30,000 3m pallet locations. It replaces a similar facility near Warrington, 15 miles away.

Sustainable food distribution is set to take centre stage next month when independent advisory body the Food Ethics Council (FEC) publishes the results of a project looking at road pricing and sustainable food.

The transfer season may be over for footballers, but for Edrington Group's new Snow Grouse brand it is just beginning.

Third-party chocolate manufacturer Marasu's Petits Fours has installed a new £200,000 tablet wrapping line in its London factory, used to apply foil and paper but also able to handle individual cartons.

In what it says is a UK first, Sharp Interpack has launched a range of polypropylene (PP) food trays and punnets incorporating both PP factory waste and post-consumer recycled (PCR) high density polyethylene (rHDPE).

Continued pressure on packaging weights in the new round of the Courtauld Commitment could see brand owners and retailers making greater use of refill systems, according to industry experts.

Daily 'fire fighting' problems are preventing many firms from having the time to become more efficient, reduce waste and improve their profitability, according to new research funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Britain needs to help smaller manufacturers adapt to the changing food supply chain requirements as larger producers redirect their attention to more profitable parts of the world, a leading food scientist has warned.

Just in case there is anyone who doesn't believe in the maxim 'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch', the law has come to their aid. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 implemented parts of the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive into UK law in May. The Regulations specify a number of prohibited practices, but the one which has caused debate has been 'free' offers.

Europe's health product manufacturers have expressed concern over the European Commission's recently published Novel Food Catalogue. The Brussels-based European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) is worried that the catalogue could prejudice the commercial viability of some of its members' products.

Bakery ingredients supplier, Holgran, and dried fruit, seeds and nuts importer, Kimpton Brothers, are to jointly source raw materials for the free trade bakery sector.

I was already missing my meat as we made our way to Saf restaurant in Shoreditch, London. Saf serves raw cold food. It doesn't sound very appetising, I know, until you begin to dig a bit deeper.

Food Brands Group is extending the Percol Fairtrade beverage portfolio with the launch of a new Fairtrade cola - Percola.

Growing demand from consumers and food manufacturers has prompted Beacon Foods, specialist producer of roasted and chargrilled vegetables and fruit ranges, relishes, chutneys and compotes, to launch a new range of fat and salt free products.

Dairy Crest this month launched Clover Lighter, a reduced-fat variant of the family dairy spread, Clover. Made with buttermilk, Clover Lighter will deliver the Clover taste, but with 30% less fat than standard Clover. Dairy Crest marketing director, Paul Fraser, said: "People are looking for healthier products that deliver great taste. The launch of Clover Lighter will increase the appeal of the Clover range and its market share."

As part of its ambitious marketing strategy to build sales to £20M by 2012, Bottlegreen is re-launching its World Domaine organic grape-based drinks range under the Bottlegreen label.

Eat Natural, maker of nut and fruit bars, has launched a completely new category of toasted mueslis. Eat Natural for Breakfast is a range of four premium toasted mueslis plus two premium 'breakfast on the go' bars.

Kids' mealtimes will soon have a comic twist as the UK branch of Disney Consumer products has just launched a range of frozen food in the shape of its iconic character, Mickey Mouse.

Soft drinks processor Silver Spring has broken into the squash market and is planning to relaunch its flagship Perfectly Clear flavoured water brand.

Aimia Foods, supplier of hot and cold beverages, has launched a luxury hot chocolate for vending and foodservice operators in the UK. In line with current consumer trends, Amour de Chocolat is a more natural chocolate beverage option which is free of hydrogenated vegetable oils and contains a high cocoa content for a rich dark continental flavour.

Lotus roots could be the next craze gracing plates of sandwiches or garnishing 'cheffie' dishes in upmarket restaurants, if developers at specialist vegetable crisp manufacturer Glennans can make the costs add up.

Names and descriptions of foods and ingredients have been much debated over the years.

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Leading chilled food third-party logistics (3PL) supplier, NFT Distribution has reported rising numbers of manufacturers seeking to outsource warehousing and picking operations as the pressure from their retail customers to improve primary transport efficiencies increases.

Big names in the dairy sector are joining forces with the National Skills Academy (NSA) and Improve, the sector skills council, to introduce a European-wide accreditation.

Processors have responded with confusion to UK regulations that seem to outlaw buy-one-get-one free (bogof) offers.

Soft drinks processor Silver Spring plans to boost sales by 25% by 2011 as it builds on a cost saving and efficiency drive to expand production.

Hill Station Ice Cream has secured the exclusive UK licence to use a revolutionary new technology enabling it to make premium dairy and non-dairy ice cream that can be scooped or extruded at ultra-low temperatures and repeatedly taken in and out of the freezer without collecting ice crystals.

You couldn't make it up. At their Council Summit on June 19, Europe's leaders pledged to tackle the causes of rising food prices. Yet a few days later, EU farm ministers signed off new pesticide 'cut-off' approval measures which will hit crop yields and increase food costs still further.

Distrust of low fat claims on food and drink labels is rife, according to exclusive research for Food Manufacture.

Food manufacturers appear to be more upbeat about their prospects than the rest of the manufacturing sector, according to a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey.

Packaging producers continue to battle raw material cost increases, with the issue cited as the major concern of even paper-based suppliers by international paper and packaging firm Mondi.

The annual Oxoid Food Microbiology Seminar, organised by microbiology brand Oxoid, will be held on September 22 at the Campden and Chorleywood Research Association, Chipping Campden. To reserve a place, email Fiona Macrae at oxoid.awards@thermofisher.com.

Walkers Snack Foods has, for the second time this year, withdrawn a number of multipacks after consumers found small pieces of rubber inside them.

Hiestand's shareholders have approved a merger with Dublin-based IAWS to create Aryzta, an international producer of baked goods. Aryzta was listed on the Swedish and Irish stock exchanges on August 22. Chief executive officer of IAWS, Owen Killian, said: "Aryzta will serve over 200,000 customers across the globe from North America through Europe to South East Asia and Australia."

The contents of the former bakery facilities at Sara Lee Bridlington and Heinz Foods' pizza and sauce manufacturing plant at Grimsby will be sold at an auction tender scheduled for September 24.

UK demand for industrial seasonings is outstripping demand for total food and drink, driven by an appetite for more exotic herbs and spices, and extracts, according to Food Manufacture's latest market report.

Food and drink processors face a fresh labour crisis as sector skills council Improve unveils research showing plummeting numbers of migrant workers.

The government should provide tailored guidance and offer financial incentives to food manufacturers and commercial businesses in a bid to tackle waste reduction, a government committee has urged.

Food manufacturers may increasingly turn to UK apples as an ingredient, as the cost of importing continues to climb, according to promotional firm English Apples and Pears.

Voting continues for the Food Manufacture Personality of the Year award, part of the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards.

A slowdown in UK food and drink management buy-outs is likely as private equity (PE) houses struggle to get the right debt packages.

Food processors must consider sophisticated procurement strategies to overcome rising costs and scarce raw materials, a risk management consultancy firm has urged.

Unilever is about to embark on the first human trials of vegetable oil-based spreads containing a patented tomato extract from life sciences firm Provexis.

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has asked suppliers to upload product data into the GS1 UK data pool as it joins the growing number of catering firms to embrace global data synchronisation (GDS).

Papua New Guinea-based New Britain Palm Oil plans to build a modern £18M refinery in the UK to cash in on growing demand for its product. The plant, which will be built at an as yet undisclosed location, will open in early 2010.

Premier Foods will launch a string of new products this autumn including ready-to-eat gravy under the Bisto and Oxo brands, micro-noodles under the Sharwood's brand and new Branston products in a bid to boost sales. A major promotional drive is also planned for Hovis in order to reverse its flagging fortunes.

Wheat crops up and down the country are holding on to their quality, but a stint of good weather is still needed to aid the harvest.

The food industry has welcomed the proposal for a future Conservative government to forge a non-bureaucratic partnership with processors in a bid to tackle concerns over obesity.

Many organic foods could soon be cheaper to produce, and therefore buy, than other alternatives as economic hardship bites, the Soil Association (SA) has claimed.

The dairy industry is on a "knife-edge" as the cost of producing milk and dairy products is set to soar over the autumn, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has warned.

Manufacturers that have been lobbying to use the term 'soya milk' on their products will get the chance to put their case directly to the European Commission (EC) this month at a meeting of the EC's Advisory Committee on Milk.

Nestlé has called for an internationally agreed measure of the 'water footprint' for products, in a move which is set to intensify the debate about consumer confusion over different forms of environmentally friendly labelling.