Food and drink manufacturing news round-up

Wincanton appoints new CEO​

Logistics and supply chain service provider Wincanton has appointed James Wroath as its new chief executive.

Wroath joins the business from LSG Sky Chefs, where he held the role of head of its North America operation. During his four years in the role, Wroath managed more than 13,000 people and $1bn (£831m).

Commenting on his new role, Wroath said: “I will work closely with the board of directors and the entire team to ensure we continue to deliver great service for our customers as we head towards what I anticipate will be an exciting next phase of growth and development for Wincanton.”​

Meatless Farm secures wholesale listing​

Plant-based meat manufacturer The Meatless Farm Co has secured listings for its products at wholesaler Brakes. The producer’s range of meat-free sausages, burgers and mince will now be available to operators nationwide.

Made from a mix of pea, soya and rice protein, Leeds-based Meatless Farm has seen strong retail performance for its products in the UK and Internationally, including a listing in Sainsbury’s stores.

Rob Woodall, chief executive of The Meatless Farm Co, said: “As the momentum for plant-based continues to build, working with Brakes is an important partnership for us.”​

European export success for Scottish seaweed​

Scottish-sourced seaweed will soon be available to producers in Denmark, France and Germany, thanks to a distribution deal with Univar Solutions. Seaweed & Co’s PURESEA range of natural seaweed ingredients will be distributed throughout Europe for use in food, beverage and nutrition products.

Sourced from the Scottish Outer Hebrides, the company has supplied seaweed for PepsiCo’s ‘Off the Eaten Path’ vegetable snacks and Marks & Spencer’s Smoked Hebridean Seaweed Mayonnaise.

Seafood partnership boosts Asda traceability​

Asda has partnered with producers Seafood from Norway and New England Seafood in a bid to increase transparency and traceability of the fish in its supply chain. The collaboration will also see the supermarket stock line-caught Norwegian cod and Norwegian haddock in 400 stores across the UK.

Asda will drive engagement amongst its target customers through a number of in-store visuals and marketing initiatives, including the Seafood from Norway logo on pack, branded information barkers on refrigerator shelves, ‘Ice Spikes’ at the fresh fish counters at select stores, and social media activity.

British Game Alliance agrees 250k bird export deal​

A deal that will see 250,000 game birds transported to Hong Kong and Macau has been brokered by the British Game Alliance (BGA). A mix of pheasant, partridge and grouse for this coming season will be supplied by luxury meat purveyor Sutherland for use in retail and high-end restaurants.

BGA worked with Defra and the Department for International Trade to secure the new market, with plans to expand into Canada in November.