All news articles for July 2015

‘Abuse resistent’ bags for hard food

‘Abuse resistent’ bags for hard food

A new generation of multilayer coextruded bags is available from Cryovac to pack hard and very hard product segments in fresh red meat, cheese and smoked and processed meats.

Ideal Foods makes use of  ACS&T facilities in Grimsby

Ideal Foods makes use of ACS&T facilities in Grimsby

Ideal Foods, a specialist supplier of whitefish, shellfish and tuna based in Liskeard, Cornwall, has selected food logistics firm ACS&T to supply blast freezing and cold storage services in Grimsby for the company's chilled and frozen fish.

Pork firm invests in refrigeration system

Cranswick opts for green heat pumps

Pork processor Cranswick Country Foods has invested £4M in a new industrial refrigeration system at its pig abattoir in Watton, Norfolk, which to date has reduced its energy costs by £500,000 a year, increased productivity by 30% and decreased the weight...

Eco-friendly R290 flake ice making machine launched

Eco-friendly R290 flake ice making machine launched

Hubbard Systems has launched the Scotsman MF 57, a modular flake ice machine that runs on an eco-friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant R290, in response to increasing pressure to reduce industry's environmental impact.

First Milk's AD project is progressing

First Milk cheese plant completes first stage of AD

The first stage in a large sustainability project at one of the UK's largest cheese creameries operated by First Milk has been completed by anaerobic digestion (AD) treatment specialist Clearfleau.

Wireless sensors were installed in a number of areas to monitor production

Wrights Food opts for wireless sensor technology

By Rick Pendrous

Wrights Food Group has selected wireless sensing technology to help improve energy efficiency and reduce costs at its new £6M confectionery site in Crewe, which also makes ready meals, desserts, cakes, pasties and pies.

Hearing protection is necessary without masking other audible alarms

Hearing damage: the unseen danger

By Rick Pendrous

Many workers in the food and drink manufacturing sector are being exposed to dangerous levels of noise that could cause permanent damage to their hearing, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has updated guidance to help protect them.

Huel can bring all the benefits of real food

New powder will replace ‘real food’

By Nicholas Robinson

A new powder launched in the UK claims to contain all of the relevant nutrients, vitamins and minerals the human body needs and will replace food.

A nutty taste with no nuts

French maize firm offers a nut taste without the need for nuts

By Nicholas Robinson

A novel maize product which gives products a nutty flavour without the use of nuts, will be launched by Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI) at next month’s IBA bakery trade fair, which takes place in Munich from September 12 to 17.

Rick Pendrous, editor, Food Manufacture

Never mind free sugar, what about the fibre?

By Rick Pendrous

Judging from the press coverage it received, it would be easy to get the impression that the recommendations to halve the total daily energy intake derived from free sugars in people's diets from 10% to 5% a day was the only thing of any significance...

Coca-Cola Company is looking to simplify through mergers

CCE ‘in multi-billion pound merger talks’

By Nicholas Robinson

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has refused to confirm or deny whether it is in a three-way multi-billion pound discussion to combine its operations with two other European Coca-Cola bottling firms.

Modern slavery

How Modern Slavery Act affects food and drink firms

By Alice Foster

Big businesses – including food and drink manufacturers – will soon be forced to set out their plans to guarantee their supply chains are free from modern slavery, following new legislation to combat exploitation introduced today.

Take six steps to food manufacturing profit: Marakon

Food manufacturing: six steps to create value

By Christine Delivanis

Times are tough in the European food sector, plagued by industry overcapacity, consumer price sensitivity, grocery price wars and retailer pressure on manufacturers’ economics. But taking six practical steps will help food and drink manufacturers find...

The National Living Wage could cause havoc across the UK's food and drink industry

Food and drink ‘havoc’ after minimum wage rise

By Nicholas Robinson

Implementing the National Living Wage could wreak havoc across the UK’s food and drink industry, the credit rating agency Moody’s warned before several major UK manufacturers raised their concerns.

Nestlé should delay its controversial pension reforms, claims Unite and the GMB

Delay Nestlé pension changes, urge unions

By Michael Stones

Nestlé should put its controversial pension changes on hold in order to safeguard up to 7,600 workers losing thousands of pounds in retirement income, both Unite and the GMB unions have warned.

The Scottish government has pressed the UK government and French authorities to resolve the crisis

End Calais chaos to protect Scottish seafood exports

By Alice Foster

The UK government and French authorities must do more to resolve the transport chaos around Calais, says the Scottish government after holding a crisis meeting yesterday to probe the impact on Scotland’s seafood exports.

Dairy Crest has cut its milk price after six months of stability

Dairy Crest cuts milk price

By Laurence Gibbons

Dairy Crest has cut its milk price for its farmers by 1.4 pence per litre (ppl) to 21.69ppl, effective September 1.

The travel chaos could sink Scottish seafood firms

Calais crisis could sink Scottish seafood firms

By Alice Foster

Scottish seafood businesses could be forced into bankruptcy due to the traffic chaos at Channel ports, as a top UK business group warns of the mounting financial impact of delays to exports.

'Not for the faint-hearted': David Potts appointment to the helm of Morrisons

Morrisons boss ‘takes charge of recovery’

By Michael Stones

Morrisons boss David Potts has firmly taken charge of the business, introducing key changes to put the retailer firmly back on the road to recovery, according to City analyst Shore Capital.

Food industry’s latest hires

Food industry people on the move – update

By Laurence Gibbons

Top appointments at Seabrook Crisps, 2 Sisters Food Group and the Chilled Food Association lead our updated collection of the latest appointments in the food and drink industry.

A simpler licencing system is needed to stimulate innovation

Better veterinary medicines regulations needed

By Michael Stones

Improved veterinary medicine regulations are needed urgently to help the EU safeguard food supplies and protect human health, according to a recent conference.

Food and drink top stories of the year

Most popular food and drink news of the year

By Laurence Gibbons

Morrisons, acquisitions, drinks firm AG Barr and Jeremy Clarkson all feature in our top 10 most popular food and drink manufacturing news of the year.

The British and French government should consider enlisting the help of troops: FTA

Calais chaos: ‘Consider bringing in the troops’: FTA

By Alice Foster

The government should consider enlisting the British Army to end the traffic chaos on this side of the Channel, which is costing the freight industry millions and causing misery for holidaymakers, suggests the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Greggs's results should be toasted in Newcastle, said Shore Capital

‘Newcastle should be … sausage rolling Greggs’

By Michael Stones

“Newcastle should be toasting, or is that sausage rolling Greggs today, after another impressive update,” is how city analyst Shore Capital summed up the high street baker’s half-year results.

Symingtons has restructured its business to reduce costs during difficult times

Symington’s first profit slump in 15 years

By Nicholas Robinson

Symington’s sales and profits have slumped for the first time in 15 years, despite the Yorkshire-based food manufacturer recently pumping £2.5M into a new noodle facility in Leeds.

New product lines helped to boost Greencore's third quarter sales

New product lines lift Greencore’s food-to-go sales

By Michael Stones

New product lines at Greencore’s Northampton factory helped the manufacturer boost revenue from its UK food-to-go division by 4% on a like-for-like basis in third-quarter results for the 13 weeks to June 26.

David Potts continues to rebuild Morrisons top management team

Morrisons adds to top team with another Tesco exec

By Michael Stones

Morrisons boss David Potts has continued to rebuild the retailer’s senior management team, after the exit of more than half the previous board, with the appointment of former Tesco executive Gary Mills as group retail director.

A worker found cocaine in a box of Tesco bananas

Tesco worker finds cocaine in bananas

By Laurence Gibbons

Tesco has been forced to launch an investigation after a worker found £1M worth of cocaine in a box of bananas at one of its Berkshire stores.

Morrisons was failing to exploit its strong manufacturing links

Morrisons should make more of food manufacturing

By Michael Stones

Morrisons has been advised to make more of its food manufacturing links by a business recovery specialist, who warned retailers could ditch their suppliers after diversifying into food production.

Food and drink manufacturing was becoming a more attractive careers choice due to five factors

Exclusive

Food manufacturing sector needs more top end skills

By Michael Stones

The food and drink manufacturing sector will see a big increase in managerial, professional and technically skilled vacancies, the Food Manufacture group can exclusively reveal, based on new research from the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink.

The UK government should provide more support for dairy farmers

UK government must follow the French with dairy support

By Laurence Gibbons

The UK government should provide dairy farmers with similar support and financial backing given by its French counterpart to help secure sustainable milk supplies and fight against the “bleak future” it faces, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU).

Cranswick will target the US

Cranswick to invest £28M after £1bn sales feat

By Nicholas Robinson

Cranswick will pump £28M into its pork manufacturing facilities to secure new US contracts and boost international sales after achieving revenues of £1bn this year, according to City analysts.

The Calais area should be made a strike-free zone: FTA

Travel chaos costs freight industry £0.75M a day

By Michael Stones

Travel chaos caused on both sides of the channel by striking French ferry workers is costing the UK freight industry £750,000 a day, as another fatal trans-channel accident was reported on Friday.

Drinks deal feels good for Nichols

Nichols acquires Feel Good Drinks

By Laurence Gibbons

Vimto brand owner Nichols Plc has acquired Feel Good Drinks from German drinks supplier MBG International Premium Brands for an undisclosed amount.

The great herb hoax: Fraudster are targeting oregano

Food fraudsters targeting oregano a ‘major problem’

By Laurence Gibbons

Food fraudsters are substituting dried oregano with other herbs, such as olive and myrtle leaves, reflecting a “major problem” in the herb and spices sector, according to Professor Chris Elliott.

Fruit Shoot is one of Britvic's brands

Britvic’s £114M Brazilian buyout to double earnings

By Nicholas Robinson

Britvic’s £114M buyout of the Brazilian soft drinks firm Ebba will provide a significant boost to turnover, the manufacturer announced after revealing third quarter (Q3) revenues up by just 1% to £322.3M.

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