All news articles for July 2015

2 Sisters has strengthened its top management team with two new non executive directors

2 Sisters appoints two board directors

By Michael Stones

2 Sisters Food Group has appointed two new non-executive directors – one from foodservice business Compass Group and one from can manufacturer Rexam.

Premier Foods has reported sliding first quarter sales

Premier Foods sales hit by early Easter

By Michael Stones

Premier Foods has reported sliding sales in its first quarter results to July 4, due to this year’s early Easter, ahead of its annual general meeting yesterday.

The new detector aims to protect drivers against migrants entering their vehicles

New hi-tech answer to migrants in trucks

By Michael Stones

A new portable device designed to detect stowaways in trucks transporting vegetables, fruit and other goods has been launched by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), as the FTA Ireland urges its government to press for a resolution of the migrant...

Mash Direct is driving towards a turnover boost of £2M in the next six months

Mash Direct targets £2M turnover boost in six months

By Michael Stones

Vegetable accompaniments business Mash Direct is targeting a turnover boost of £2M in the next six months, after securing an annual deal, worth £3M, with the UK’s second biggest supermarket Asda.

Ranjit Singh

Seven tips for manufacturing success: 2 Sisters boss

By Michael Stones

The commitment to “never stop listening” was one of the seven secrets of success set out by 2 Sisters Food Group boss Ranjit Singh, as he collected an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University.

3,000 new jobs will be created at the Co-op

Co-op’s 200 store boost ‘good for suppliers’

By Nicholas Robinson

The Co-operative’s plans to open 200 new convenience stores and recruit 3,000 extra staff can only be good news for food and drink manufacturers, a spokesman has said.

Ranjit Singh

2 Sisters’ boss gets honorary degree

By Michael Stones

2 Sisters Food Group ceo Ranjit Singh is to receive an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University, partly in recognition of his contribution to UK food manufacturing.

Scottish rapeseed oil is poised for growth

Scotland's rapeseed oil sector poised for growth

By Nicholas Robinson

Scotland’s rapeseed oil industry is expected to see significant growth in the coming years, following a joint campaign between processors and scientists from Queen Margaret University, near Edinburgh, to promote the oil’s health benefits.

More time to win: The FMEA deadline has been extended to July 24

Food manufacturing Oscars: deadline extended

By Michael Stones

Want to win a food and drink manufacturing excellence award? Then, there's now an extra week to submit your free entry before the extended deadline of Friday July 24.

5% sugar reduction 'dramatic' for some on Twitter

SACN report

Twitterati: industry should lower sugar after SACN

By Nicholas Robinson

Manufacturers must do more to help consumers halve their overall energy intake from free-sugars to less than 5%, commentators on Twitter have urged after the release of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's report on carbohydrates today.

Tipping the balance against sugar? Recommended daily intake of sugar should be halved, said SACN

SACN report

Sugar intake should be halved, says SACN report

By Michael Stones

The government should halve the recommended daily intake of sugar, an influential committee of nutrition experts has advised in a widely anticipated report.

'Nothing new about sugar' in the SACN report, industry leaders say

SACN report

Industry: SACN report says ‘nothing new’

By Nicholas Robinson

There’s “nothing new about sugar” in the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's (SACN’s) report on carbohydrates, but more needs to be done to increase fibre intake, food and drink manufacturing leaders have said.

Investment on a plate: Liz Truss (right) opened the new production line earlier this month

Premier Foods visit reveals growth potential

By Michael Stones

An investors' tour of Premier Foods’s sweet treats facility at Carlton, near Barnsley has revealed significant investment potential, reports City analyst Shore Capital.

Shoppers are being misled by supermarket promotions, says CMA report

Supermarket pricing tactics ‘misleading’, says CMA

By Nicholas Robinson

The competition watchdog has ruled that some supermarkets have misled consumers in pricing, just a day after the German discounter Aldi pledged not to force manufacturers to fund its promotions.

Wrights delivers slow-cook range

Ready meals benefit from slow-cooking

A slow-cooking technique has allowed ready meal firm Wrights to manufacture 19 new products with a greater depth of flavour than other ready meals currently on the UK’s supermarket shelves, it claims.

EU milk quotas have been lifted for the first time in over 30 years

Life without limits for EU dairy

By Michelle Knott

What’s next for Europe’s dairy industry now milk quotas have been lifted? Michelle Knott reports.

Customers want to buy Graze products online and in-store, says ceo Anthony Fletcher

Graze ceo: ‘going from clicks to bricks isn’t easy’

By Nicholas Robinson

Graze, the £68M turnover online snack manufacturer, had to make big changes to its manufacturing and operating systems after gaining listings with Sainsbury and Boots, its ceo Anthony Fletcher has said.

The Kirkcaldy mill had helped lift margins, said Investec

Carr's Kirkcaldy mill ‘helps lift margins’

By Michael Stones

Flour supplier Carr’s Group’s Kirkcaldy mill in Scotland has helped the food, agriculture and engineering group lift margins, according to leading City analyst Investec.

Dairy Crest predicted strong growth for its four key brands

Dairy Crest predicts ‘strong growth’ for key brands

By Michael Stones

Dairy Crests’ four key brands will “see strong growth” in the remainder of this year, according to an interim management statement covering the three months to June 30, posted ahead of yesterday’s annual general meeting (AGM).

Beat the ESOS bottleneck and a £45,000 penalty: Inenco

£45k penalty for ESOS scheme non compliance

By Michael Stones

Large food and drink manufacturing businesses that fail to complete a mandatory energy could face a penalty of £45,000 by next February, according to a recent seminar on the government’s Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).

Meet the beehive team

Food industry execs beehive team on course for £50k

By Michael Stones

A team of senior women food industry executives has passed the half way point in its bid to raise £50,000 for charity Farm Africa, after building beehives in Tanzania last month to boost local farmers' income from honey.

Apprenticeships are a key means of plugging the skills gap

Food industry apprenticeships vital for growth

By Michael Stones

Apprentices are vital to plug the food industry skills gap, says the Food and Drink Federation, while the Confederation of British Industry has slammed the government's latest apprenticeship plans.

Lidl featured in two recent food and drink safety recalls

Lidl features in recent food safety recalls

By Michael Stones

Lidl UK features in our roundup of recent food safety recalls, after the discount retailer recalled its Italiamo Cream of Potato & Spinach Soup, after discovering, due to a packaging error, some packs contained minestrone soup.

The top award - Food Manufacture Company of the Year - was scooped by Dawn Meats last year. Could your firm win too?

Food and drink manufacturing Oscars: still time to win

By Michael Stones

There’s still time to win a shiny, new food and drink manufacturing Oscar look for your boardroom. Here’s your opportunity to join firms such as Premier Foods, Coca­Cola Enterprises and Finsbury Food Group by winning a Food Manufacture Excellence Award...

Graze will manufacture snacks for some of the UK's major retailers

Graze manufactures food for major supermarkets

By Nicholas Robinson

Graze, the online snack manufacturer, will launch into more than 1,200 major retailers across the UK in a bid to expand its £68M turnover business with its new Good to Go range.

A 20% tax on sugary drinks would reduce obesity in 180,000 Brits, according to the BMA

20% sugary drinks tax ‘ineffective’, says industry

By Nicholas Robinson

The food and drink industry has slammed the British Medical Association’s (BMA’s) calls for a tax on sugary drinks to fight the UK’s growing obesity crisis, claiming it would be ineffective.

Job cuts reaction

Young’s Seafood jobs plan ‘bittersweet’ for workers

By Michael Stones

Young’s Seafood’s plans to axe more than 900 jobs at its plants in Fraserburgh and Spey Valley, while safeguarding hundreds of jobs at its Grimsby site have been described as “devastating” and “bittersweet”.

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