Readers collect cash prizes in annual draw

A draw from among respondents to the latest annual Food Manufacture survey means cash prizes for three lucky readers.

Greg Hunn, group technical controller at Greencore at Worksop, Nottinghamshire picked up a £250 prize, while Stephen Tomlinson, development manager at Uniq Prepared Foods in Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, and Liam Liddy, Anglia Crown's factory manager in Colchester, Essex, are both £50 better off.

Details of this year's survey results, which are published anonymously, are revealed on p38 of this issue.

Remember to enter next year's survey to make your views known -- and to stand a chance in our prize draw!

Meat alternative brand Quorn will benefit from greater investment, better buying power and more marketing clout as part of a larger food company, the new owner Premier Foods has claimed.

Premier snapped up Quorn's owner Marlow Foods for £172m, representing its first move into the chilled and frozen arena.

Analysts said there was a considerable opportunity for Premier to grow Quorn's presence overseas and in catering.

One said: "Quorn generated sales of more than £3m in the US in just two years. The recent deal with McDonald's is also a sign of things to come. While relatively small, this has grown into a £2m business in just over a year."

John McCulloch, 48, of Burntbroom Gardens, Mount Vernon, Glasgow, was due to appear in court again this month, charged with making threats against the McVitie's factory of United Biscuits (UB) at Tollcross. He had yet to enter a plea.

UB, which has stepped up security at the site, said ingredients and manufacturing equipment were tested and checked after it received a letter threatening to disrupt production.

"This is the first time we have received a threat like this," said the company.

Frozen convenience food producer CFH is promising to unveil within weeks a big expansion plan for its CFH Inflight division.

The company supplies meals to airlines including bmi, Thomas Cook, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Air Scandic. The group produced 24m frozen meals in the past year, half of them for airlines.

The Standlake, Oxfordshire-based Inflight division was formed by combining CFH's own airline meals operation and Delta Dailyfood (UK), which it took over in 2004.

The frozen and chilled food manufacturer Strathmore Foods has won a contract to supply its Forfar Bridies, macaroni cheese pies and stovies to 17 Scottish BhS in-store restaurants.

The products will be made for BhS at Strathmore Foods' factory in Forfar.