All news articles for November 2019

Quick pulse heat uses alternating focused heat and water cooling to form a narrow seal

Heat sealing method for bags unveiled by GIC

By Paul Gander

UK machinery manufacturer GIC is now able to integrate quick pulse heat (QPH) sealing into its bagging equipment, improving production and materials efficiency.

The EU’s single-use plastics directive requires all PET bottles to contain at least 25% rPET by 2025

Brands bite the bullet on recycled plastic price

By Paul Gander

Regulatory and consumer pressure is likely to mean brand owners and retailers remaining committed to using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in their bottles, despite being more expensive than virgin polymer.

Could Towerbrook win a bidding war for Fox's?

Fox’s sale key to 2 Sisters’ turnaround plans

By Dan Colombini

2 Sisters Food Group’s disposal of the Fox’s Biscuits business will be key to a major turnaround at the firm after it posted an upturn in performance for the fourth quarter of this year, experts have claimed.

Access tot talent is one of the leading factors in a business's decision to invest in R&D

Innovation impacted by access to talent

By Gwen Ridler

Access to talent and the impact of Brexit were two of the biggest factors affecting investment in research and development (R&D), according to new findings from business performance consultancy Ayming.

The products will all be encased in a widely recyclable card sleeve and clear compostable film

Mars launches vegan Galaxy bars

By Dan Colombini

Confectionery giant Mars is to launch its first vegan chocolate product under the Galaxy brand in the UK later this month.

Proposals concerning chlorates in food and drinking water are to extend in to 2020

EU chlorates debate to extend into 2020

By Rod Addy

European Commission (EC) proposals concerning chlorates in food and drinking water look set to be debated into 2020, according to chief executive of the Chilled Food Association Kaarin Goodburn.

Regulation on phage usage needs to be examined on a case by case basis, claimed an expert

Clarity urged on phage use

By Rod Addy

A weapon to fight listeria in ready-to-eat foods can keep being sold in the EU under a European Court of Justice Order, but more rulings are needed to support similar solutions, one expert claims.

Wrights’ £7m investment supported job creation

Wrights Food Group completes £7m investment

By Gwen Ridler

Wrights Food Group has completed a £7m investment programme at its manufacturing sites in Crewe, supporting the creation of new jobs and new contracts.

Mario Reis has been appointed chief supply chain officer at Pladis

Pladis makes senior supply chain hire

By Gwen Ridler

Biscuit and snacks giant Pladis has appointed a new chief supply chain officer to oversee its global supply chain operations.

Six-in-10 adults prefer snacking over larger meals,according to Mondelēz

Mondelēz: Snacking eclipses meal time

By Gwen Ridler

Snacking is eclipsing larger meals as the preferred choice for eating during the day, according to a new report from Mondelēz.

The UK market remains good value for investors despite Brexit and the upcoming general election

UK food M&A market ‘attractive’ despite Brexit uncertainty

By Dan Colombini

The UK food market remains “very attractive” after two major UK manufacturing M&A deals, involving Bakkavor and Valeo Foods, topped the list of industry activity in September, with the sector totalling £615.66m in value.

Beechdean Farm has been fined for an accident that left a worker blind

Beechdean Farm fined after worker blinded

By Gwen Ridler

Beechdean Farm Limited, part of the Beechdean Group, has been ordered to pay more than £19,000 for health and safety failings, after a worker was left permanently blinded by an accident.

'There should be a focus on an industry-wide harmonisation of standards so that these advances are shared openly'

Opinion

Information-sharing needs to be transparent

By Dionisis Theodosis

Dionisis Theodosis, group chemistry technical manager at Eurofins Food Testing UK & Ireland, discusses the need for harmonisation and information-sharing across industry.

Reading Scientific Services called for greater guidance on allergens

RSSL urges allergen guidance

By Dan Colombini

Reading Scientific Services (RSSL) has called for greater guidance on allergens to assist with firms’ plans to administer safe free-from products.

the new National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering secured £2.78m from the European Regional Development Fund

New centre addresses engineering skills gap

By Gwen Ridler

A new training centre to tackle the shortage of skilled engineers in the food and drink industry has been officially opened by Sheffield Hallam University.

New oven innovations were on display at Host Milan

Milan plays host to oven innovation

By Ellie Woollven

Host Milan (18–22 October) provided an opportunity for several firms to introduce new cooking and baking equipment and technology.

Mackie’s £250k investment has led to the creation of jobs

New jobs to follow Mackie’s machinery spend

By Dan Colombini

Scottish ice cream producer Mackie’s is to create new jobs at its Aberdeen site, after investing £250,000 in new machinery to help meet increased demand through exports.

Ramona's Kitchen has confirmed new orders are in the offing following the troubles at Zorba Delicacies

Ramona’s eyes new deals after Zorba houmous recalls

By Dan Colombini

Independent houmous business Ramona’s Kitchen has confirmed it is ready to step into a "hole” in the UK market following hundreds of recalls of Zorba Delicacies’ lines, amid an ongoing salmonella scare.

Producers and retailers have taken great strides in reducing household food waste

Producers make progress toward limiting food waste

By Gwen Ridler

Work to reduce food waste has seen significant progress, but more can still be done to limit the cost of wasted food to the UK, according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The FAC has been acquired for an undisclosed fee but it involved Romer Labs assuming 100% of the shares in the firm as it seeks to ramp up its presence in the growing food allergen testing market.

Romer Labs secures UK allergen acquisition

By Dan Colombini

Food safety testing firm Romer Labs has announced the acquisition of the Food Allergen Centre (FAC), an analytical services laboratory located in Wells, Somerset.

Crisp Maltings' new peat kiln has helped double production

Maltster invests £3.3m in new plant

By Gwen Ridler

Norfolk-based Crisp Maltings has invested £3.3m in a new plant at its site in Portgordon on the north coast of Scotland, in a bid to meet demand for premium speciality malt.

The NFU announced last week that it would write to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), calling for an urgent investigation to safeguard the long-term prosperity of the industry.

NFU forced to delay Defra milk review proposals

By Dan Colombini

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has delayed its call for a review into profitability in the liquid milk sector, following the announcement of the general election.

An unnamed third party is still thought to be responsible for the potential contamination at this stage

FSA recalls additional Zorba Delicacies houmous lines

By Dan Colombini

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed the recall of an additional 82 lines of houmous manufactured by Zorba Delicacies from major retailers, following the announcement last week that 56 lines have already been withdrawn amid salmonella fears.

The report, entitled Branded Volume II: Identifying the World’s Top Corporate Plastic Polluters, was carried out by the Break Free From Plastic movement in September

Food and drink firms among 2019 worst plastic polluters

By Dan Colombini

Nestlé and PepsiCo have responded to claims in a recent report that they were the biggest contributors to plastic environmental waste in 2019, with Unilever and Mondelēz International also making the top ten.

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