All news articles for April 2017

England’s transport and communications infrastructure needs improving, the CBI says

Transport and communications need shake-up: CBI

By Gwen Ridler

A shake-up of England’s transport and communications infrastructure is needed to give manufacturers access to a wide pool of labour and improved connectivity of supply chains, according to a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report.

Porky Lights and Slimming World row keeps sizzling

Porky Lights and Slimming World row keeps sizzling

By Aidan Fortune

The battle between sausage manufacturer Porky Whites and Slimming World over the fat content of Porky Lights rumbles on despite trading standards and BBC's The One Show getting involved.

Unilever's Food division reported a 2.1% decrease in underlying volume growth (Flickr/Sean Biehle)

Unilever ice cream brands boost overall sales

By Matt Atherton

Unilever’s ice creams and Knorr brands helped to boost food and refreshment sales by 2.2% in its first quarter results, despite sales being impacted by this year’s late Easter.

Rutland Partners refuted pension claims

Bernard Matthews seller denies pension claims

By Matt Atherton

The former owner of Bernard Matthews, Rutland Partners, has denied claims made by a select committee, that it was more concerned with “lining its pockets” than safeguarding workers’ rights.

ABF posts sales and profit growth in its interim results

ABF sees £171M half-year profits boost

By Gwen Ridler

Associated British Foods (ABF) saw a £171M boost to its operating profits in its interim results posted today, boosted by its ingredients and grocery businesses.

View our photogallery of the latest food and drink industry appointments

Food industry appointments – in pictures

By Gwen Ridler

New hires by 2 Sisters Food Group and Amplify Snack Brands – owner of crisp maker Tyrrells – lead this month’s photogallery of people on the move to new jobs in the food and drink industry. 

The prime minister’s snap general election announcement offers a chance to forge a national food and farming policy, say industry leaders

Election 2017

National debate needed on food and farming policy

By Michael Stones

Politicians should set out their plans to develop the UK’s £108bn food and drink manufacturing sector ahead of the general election on Thursday June 8, insist industry leaders.

The Unite union called for Weetabix job reassurances

Weetabix jobs reassurance sought by union

By Matt Atherton

The Unite union has called for urgent reassurances over the security of its members’ jobs at Weetabix, after the cereal manufacturer confirmed yesterday (April 18) it would be sold to US consumer giant Post Holdings for £1.4bn.

The food industry needs more automation to compensate for the loss of EU workers

Automation needed to avert a labour crisis

By Noli Dinkovski

UK food and drink manufacturers should turn to automation as there will be a labour supply crisis regardless of the outcome of Brexit negotiations, a leading economist warns.

Robotics will create more skilled food industry jobs, claims the FDF

Robots will create rather than destroy food jobs

By Matt Atherton

Robotics and automation will create more skilled jobs in the future, despite a report claiming 46% of manufacturing workers were at “high risk” from automation’s introduction by the early 2030s, said the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Bolton Halal ordered to stop using bakery equipment

Bolton Halal ordered to stop using bakery equipment

By Aidan Fortune

Bolton Halal Chicken Ltd has been ordered to stop using bread baskets and other equipment belonging to Bakers Basco and its membership, for transporting its products without permission, in addition to paying £3,000 in costs.

The value of sterling dipped and recovered within an hour on April 18

Pound recovers after general election news

By Matt Atherton

Sterling bounced back from a temporary dip in value, after Prime Minister Theresa May revealed she plans to hold a snap general election on June 8.

Hill Biscuits has completed a management buyout

Hill Biscuits in management buyout after investment

By Matt Atherton

Premium biscuit manufacturer Hill Biscuits has completed a management buyout for an undisclosed sum, after investment from UK private equity firm Lloyds Development Capital (LDC).

An ammonia leak forced the evacuation of part of Addo Food Groups Poole bakery

Ammonia leak sparks factory evacuation

By Gwen Ridler

Staff at part of Addo Food Group’s Poole factory were evacuated last week, after what the firm described as “a controlled ammonia leak” at the site.

UK’s second largest tea maker: exclusive factory tour

TYPHOO TEA

UK’s second largest tea maker – in pictures

By Noli Dinkovski

Typhoo Tea produces 125M teabags a week at its factory in Moreton on the Wirral Peninsula – making it the largest own-label tea packer and the second largest tea manufacturer in the UK.

Millions of young adults are putting their health at risk by cutting dairy from their diets, claims the National Osteoporosis Society

Not eating dairy puts young adults’ health at risk

By Gwen Ridler

Up to 3M young adults are putting their future health at risk by cutting dairy from their diet, warned The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS), as the number of children drinking milk in schools falls.

Food reformulation: government pressure to develop healthier products is paying off

Sugar and sodium cuts lead global reformulation

By Noli Dinkovski


More than 180,000 consumer goods were reformulated in 2016, with sugar and sodium the most targeted for removal by the food and drink industry, a global report has found.

Advice to reduce dairy in the daily diet from 15% to 8% has been challenged

Dairy sector fights back against ‘demonisation’

By Matt Atherton


The dairy sector is being unfairly targeted by the recommendations of public health bodies, as they attempt to reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to The Dairy Council.

Easter shoppers are set to shell out nearly £4bn on food and gifts over the holiday

Easter food and gift spending to reach nearly £4bn

By Michael Stones

Easter shoppers are set to spend £3.9bn on food and gifts over the next few days, according to analyst GlobalData, as Mintel reveals the holiday is a key driver for chocolate innovation.

Food start-ups are competing for a chance for business mentorship at Rabobank's F&A Next conference

Food start-up competition attracts 120 firms

By Gwen Ridler

More than 120 global food and agriculture start-up firms are competing for a place at the agribusiness bank Rabobank’s business mentorship scheme competition, Foodbytes. 

Bird flu restrictions have cost the poultry meat sector more than £100M

Bird flu restrictions cost poultry sector over £100M

By Gwen Ridler

Bird flu restrictions have cost the UK poultry meat sector more than £100M over the past two years, confirmed the British Poultry Council (BPC), ahead of the lifting of the ban on poultry starting today (April 13).

Probiotics are defined as live micro-organisms that benefit their host

First health claim in sight for vitamin B12 probiotic

By Noli Dinkovski

The first probiotic to gain a health claim from the EU has moved a step nearer, after a Dutch firm claimed it had managed to modify bacteria to produce substantial amounts of vitamin B12.

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