All news articles for January 2013

Premier Foods ceo Michael Clarke said trading last year provided 'a solid platform to continue our growth momentum in 2013'

Premier Foods issues ‘short and sweet’ trading statement

By Mike Stones

Premier Foods' "short and sweet" trading statement issued yesterday (January 17) reveals the progress senior management is making in reviving the fortunes of the debt-laden food manufacturer, according to City analysts.

The horse meat scandal had 'severely undermined confidence in the UK food industry', warned Peter Kendall

Angry NFU demands retailer action on horse burgers

By Mike Stones

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has demanded UK retailers assess their sourcing and labelling policies, after the discovery of horse DNA in beef burgers sold by Tesco, Iceland and other retailers.

Food manufacturing bosses gathered at Food Manufacture's Business Leaders' Forum this week

Business Leaders' Forum

Sourcing GM-free stock feed becoming ‘impossible’

By Mike Stones

Genetically modified (GM) animal feed stuffs have become so widespread that it is increasingly difficult to avoid them, Meurig Raymond, NFU deputy president told Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum.

Paul Wilkinson, chairman of The Business Leaders' Forum

Business Leaders’ Forum

Food manufacturing bosses praise ‘government understanding’

By Michael Stones

Government’s improved understanding of the food and drink manufacturing sector was one of three key themes of Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum, which took place on Tuesday, January 15, according to the event chairman Paul Wilkinson.

Tonejet says runs of 300,000 cans are possible on its digital print presses

Digital print targets medium run lengths

By Paul Gander

Digital print technologies have yet to take packaging converting by storm, but eroding differentials in ink costs, larger, more specialised presses and an ability to compete for mid-length runs could be about to change that.

Two new awards from the British Nutrition Foundation aim to benefit the science of nutrition

Nutrition science receives a financial boost

By Rick Pendrous

The science of nutrition is set to benefit from two new awards from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), which will support newly appointed lecturers and researchers and those demonstrating excellence in the communication of the subject.

Dr Andrew Wadge will take part in a free one-hour food science and technology webinar. See article for details

What consumers really think about GM labelling

By Mike Stones

Only 2% of consumers scan labels for information about genetically modified (GM) produce when buying food products for the first time, according to new research from food safety watchdog the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Britvic makes Tango, Robinsons, J2O and Fruit Shoot

Britvic’s merger with AG Barr delayed

By Lorraine Mullaney

Britvic’s merger with AG Barr has been delayed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which extended its timetable for a decision today (January 14).

Unite urged Asda to reconsider the decision to cancel its contract with Welsh Country Foods

Union urges Asda to rethink cancelled Welsh Country Foods contract

By Mike Stones

Unite the union has urged Asda to reinstate its contract with Welsh Country Foods (WCF). The plea comes after WCF’s owner Vion UK warned that losing the contract could force the closure of the Anglesey site with the loss of up to 350 jobs.

Ghost peppers feature on Sensient Flavours' list of top 10 hot flavour trends for 2013

Top 10 flavour trends include one of world’s hottest peppers

By Laurence Gibbons

One of the world’s hottest peppers, together with alderwood smoke, the pawpaw fruit and a classic cookie from the Netherlands will feature in the top 10 flavour trends for 2013, according to a report published by flavour company Sensient Flavours.

The Scottish Salmon Company expects to make job cuts among its 169 staff workforce this spring

Job cuts loom at Scottish Salmon Company

By Lorraine Mullaney

This spring will bring job cuts for some of the 169 staff at the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) in the Western Isles, as the firm announced a review of its Stornoway harvesting and processing operations last week (January 8).

Hilton Food Group has high hopes for its joint venture Down Under

Hilton Food in Australian joint venture

By Laurence Gibbons

Meat packing firm Hilton Food Group has announced a new joint venture with Woolworths − Australia’s largest retailer − in its latest trading statement for the 52 weeks to December 30.

Lord Heseltine said a 'broad consensus' was developing across traditional party lines for a wider industrial strategy

Lord Heseltine and TUC unite to demand industrial policy

By Gary Scattergood

Major players from across the political spectrum have joined forces to call on the government to develop a long-term UK industrial strategy – something the Trades Union Congress (TUC) believes will boost manufacturing sectors and stimulate economic growth.

Dairy Crest said closing its Fenstanton facility would enable re-investment at other sites

Dairy Crest closes Fenstanton plant with loss of 248 jobs

By Mike Stones

Production staff at Dairy Crest’s Fenstanton plant in Cambridgeshire are expected to clock off for the last time today (Friday, January 11), in line with its plans announced last April to close the site with the loss of 248 jobs.

What a waste: up to 50% or 1.2‒2bn tonnes of annual global food production never reaches a human stomach

Governments should tell retailers to cut food waste

By Mike Stones

Governments in developed nations should tell retailers not to reject foods on the basis of appearance, in a bid to prevent half of all food ending up as waste, according to a new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) .

Duerr’s appoints Sharpe to board

Duerr’s appoints Sharpe to board

By Laurence Gibbons

England’s oldest jam maker, Duerr’s has appointed Clive Sharpe as the first non-executive to its board in a bid to consolidate on-going growth in the spreads and preserve sector.

Chris Bush, the new Tesco UK md

New UK md for Tesco

By Laurence Gibbons

Supermarket group Tesco has appointed Chris Bush as its new UK md just two-days before the anniversary of last year’s announcement of very poor trading.

Moving the debate about food science and technology onto a firmer scientific footing is the aim of our free webinar

IFST hopes webinar will help tackle food scares

By Mike Stones

Helping to combat food scares is one of the aims of the free food science and technology webinar to be staged on Thursday January 24, according to the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST).

Martin Glenn will stand down as boss of Iglo Group

Iglo Group boss to step down

By Laurence Gibbons

Martin Glenn has announced his intention to step down as ceo of the Iglo Group having “achieved the objectives he set out” when he took up the role in 2006.

Sainsbury reported total sales up by 3.9% – partly reflecting the contribution of new store space.

Food price inflation to stabilise, Sainsbury sales up

By Mike Stones

Food price inflation is expected to stabilise over the next few months – despite recent reports of big food price increases from Waitrose – according to market research organisation BRC-Nielsen.

Scarce liquid assets: water and food security are likely to become increasingly significant threats over the next 10 years

Food shortages to cause nations to hoard stocks: Global Risks report

By Rick Pendrous

Food and water security will become an increasingly significant threat over the coming decade as global environmental and economic pressures impact on supply chains, according to a new report published yesterday (January 8) in London by the World Economic...

Fruit such as blackberries are rich in polyphenols

£5M science project to benefit small firms

By Laurence Gibbons

A new £5M (€6M) research project aims to provide small food firms (SMEs) with the scientific evidence to prove that bioactive peptides and polyphenols can help reduce deaths caused by heart disease.

Emerging technologies such as novel emulsion processes receiving more attention

Innovation club meets for the first time

By Gary Scattergood

Pan-European manufacturers that have signed up to Leatherhead Food Research's (LFR's) innovation 'club' will get a glimpse of the latest novel emulsion, hygiene and fibre optic sensing technologies at its first meeting later this month.

A key contributor to last year’s Business Leaders’ Forum was former Uniq boss Geoff Eaton, who is now chief operating officer with Premier Foods

Food manufacturers contribute to three-year M&A peak

By Mike Stones

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the UK food and drink manufacturing sector last year helped to set a three-year record for the UK economy, according to information services company Experian.

‘The business is not broken at all but its engine requires a bit more than fine tuning’: Shore Capital

Morrisons ‘lost touch with core customers’: City

By Mike Stones

The UK’s fourth biggest supermarket Morrisons has “lost touch with its core customers”, claimed one leading city analyst, after the retailer reported total sales down by 0.5% over the six weeks to December 30 2012.

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