All news articles for May 2014

AG Barr makes brands such as Irn Bru and Rubicon

AG Barr production shift could see 40 jobs go

By Rod Addy

AG Barr’s relocation of carton production from its Tredegar site in Wales to Milton Keynes could result in a net loss of 40 jobs as it closes the Tredegar factory.

Turner (r) and Torinsci (l) have both joined Freshtime

Freshtime appoints NPD boss

By Laurence Gibbons

Snack salad and vegetable manufacturer Freshtime has appointed Amanda Turner as its new product development manager.

Aimia Foods produces beverage and food brands under licence

Cott Corp snaps up Aimia Foods for £47M

By Rod Addy

Cott Corp’s UK business unit has clinched a deal to acquire Aimia Foods for £47M ($80M), the latest instance of a North American company investing in UK food and drink manufacturing.

Paramount 21 makes a range of seafood products mainly for foodservice customers

Paramount 21 invests to expand production

By Rod Addy

Seafood processor Paramount 21 has invested in a 464.5m2 warehouse adjacent to its Newton Abbot production site in Devon to release production space as it steps up its new product development.

Food businesses have been making progress to reduce salt, fat and sugar from their products

Action to reduce salt, fat and sugars published

By Nicholas Robinson

More than 390 food businesses have published reports on their actions to meet the Public Health Responsibility Deal, the Department of Health (DH) has announced.

The FSA lacks the resources to take on a national policing role, Brown claimed

FSA lacks resources to take on national food fraud policing role

By Rick Pendrous

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) lacks the resources to take on a national policing role for food fraud within a new food crime unit, as recommended by Professor Chris Elliot in his interim report following last year’s horsemeat scandal.

The HSE has prosecuted Veetee Foods for the second time this month

Rice firm fined £35k for safety failings

By Laurence Gibbons

A rice processor has been fined for safety failings for a second time this year, after a worker crushed three fingers in unguarded machinery.

Proposed GM law changes has created uproar

Proposed GM law creates uproar

By Laurence Gibbons

A new law being discussed in Brussels this week could give biotech companies “unprecedented power” over decisions to ban genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe, according to Friends of the Earth (FoE).

Arla's Aylesbury dairy will employ up to 700 people and has created 90 apprenticeships

Arla’s giant Aylesbury dairy opens doors

By Rod Addy

Arla has officially opened the world’s largest fresh milk dairy, a £150M processing facility at Aston Clinton, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, which will employ up to 700 staff.

ACS&T has posted profit growth for the third consecutive year

Food distribution firm posts £1.1M profit

By Laurence Gibbons

Food distribution firm ACS&T has secured £1.1M profit growth for the year ending December 31 2013, attributing this to its commitment to customer service, investment and increased staff training.

Dr Judith Bryans

Dairy UK opens its doors to the world

By Nicholas Robinson

Global dairy manufacturers can join Dairy UK as associate members for the first time, chief executive Dr Judith Bryans has told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

OkoBay Coconut Water Ice has listings at Tesco and other supermarkets have indicated their interest

OkoBay Ventures works towards own coconut lolly plant

By Rod Addy

OkoBay Ventures wants to secure its own factory to make its Coconut Water Ice lollies within three years, but has been forced to outsource production to an overseas manufacturer to cut costs.

Have you heard the one about the horsemeat in beef burgers? Initially the horsemeat crisis was a joke, Hines said

IFST Jubilee conference

Horsemeat crisis was ‘funny’ joke

By Laurence Gibbons

The horsemeat in beef products scandal was just a funny joke when it first happened, according to a leading professor at Leatherhead Food Research.

New research suggests sweeteners can help increase weight loss

Research suggests sweeteners help reduce weight

By Nicholas Robinson

People consuming low- and no-calorie sweetened (LCNS) beverages on average lose nearly 50% more weight than those who just drink water, a new study has shown.

AG Barr is expected to reap benefits from its sponsorship of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

CCE’s loss may be AG Barr’s gain, says analyst

By Rod Addy

Soft drinks firm AG Barr is benefiting from Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE’s) struggling performance, according to Shore Capital analyst Phil Carroll, commenting on the former’s first financial quarter (Q1).

CCE's Morpeth factory, which is poised to get new blending and mixing equipment

Coca-Cola GB pumps £3.5M into Morpeth factory

By Rod Addy

Coca-Cola Great Britain (CCGB) has announced plans to invest £3.5M in Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE’s) bottled water factory in Morpeth, Northumberland, to tap into a growing category.

R&R Ice Cream's products include Nestlé ice creams, such as Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles Lollies

Ice cream firm R&R buys Aussie business

By Rod Addy

R&R Ice Cream has bought Aussie ice cream business Peters Food Group from private equity group PEP fund IV, gaining brands such as Drumstick, Conoisseur, Peters Original and Maxibon.

Hovis has big prospects because of its strong heritage and management team, The Gores Group has claimed

£80M pumped into Hovis to fund future growth

By Rod Addy

Hovis has received £80M of cash from commercial lender GE Capital to fund future growth plans following The Gores Group’s acquisition of a controlling stake in the bakery firm in January.

Investec is looking to crown an 'Entrepreneur of the Year'

Investec on hunt for entrepreneur of the year

By Laurence Gibbons

Bank and market analyst Investec has launched a hunt to find a food or drink business that has reinvented its category to crown its ‘Food & Drink entrepreneur of the year’.

Scientists call for more research into Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency in UK unacceptable

By Nicholas Robinson

Vitamin D deficiency in the UK is “not acceptable” and easily avoidable, five of Europe’s leading nutritional scientists have said, after national data suggested 23% of adults received less than their recommended daily intake.

Bingham and Jones urge supermarkets to be creative with ready meals (Photo©Sacha Ferrier)

Own-label ready meals lack innovation, Bingham and Jones

By Nicholas Robinson

Retailers need to be bolder with their own-label ready meals and stop relying on the basics, such as spaghetti Bolognese and lasagne, former food industry rivals Jonny Bingham and David Jones have said.

Food industry gets new free web tool to boost safety

FSA to launch free MyHACCP tool for small businesses

By Rick Pendrous

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is about to launch a free online tool aimed at small food manufacturing businesses in the UK, to help guide them through the process of identifying food safety hazards and introducing appropriate production controls.

FoodStart aims to help attract a new generation into food and drink manufacturing by helping them find work experience placements

IFST tackles skills gap with FoodStart project

By Michael Stones

The Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) is planning a new online project called FoodStart to help plug the yawning skills gap in food and drink manufacturing. 

Drambuie claims a pedigree that dates back 268 years

Drambuie sale: Suntory ‘favourite’ to buy

By Rod Addy

Suntory would be the “favourite” to buy Scottish liqueur brand Drambuie, one analyst has claimed, as news emerged that owners the MacKinnon family were exploring a possible sale.

Food firms should scoop growth in the UK's £1bn ice cream sector

Food firms advised to scoop ice cream growth

By Laurence Gibbons

Food firms should take advantage of the UK’s “growing” £1bn ice cream sector by offering new flavours and services to ice cream manufacturers, according to the boss of the Ice Cream Alliance.

Williams: 'brand new food food-to-go facility'

Greencore Northampton site to offer hundreds of jobs

By Rod Addy

Greencore’s £30M food-to-go factory at Northampton, announced yesterday (May 20), is expected to deliver hundreds of extra jobs to the region, according to the company’s chief financial officer Alan Williams.

Greencore boss Patrick Coveney said the firm was 'well-positioned for further growth'

Greencore’s half year results impress City

By Michael Stones

Convenience food manufacturer Greencore’s latest financial results have impressed the City – with group revenue climbing by 8.2% to reach £619.8M – as the firm announced the disposal of its foodservice desserts business.

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