Irish meat manufacturer invests in major digital overhaul
Irish meat manufacturer, Kepak, has successfully completed a major digital project in a “significant step” to future-proof its business operations.
Meat, Poultry & Seafood
Excrement burns rise on KFC chickens
KFC’s latest Annual Progress Report on Chicken Welfare for Western Europe, UK & Ireland shows an increase in excrement burns and footpad dermatitis.
UK Government urged to end ‘agonising’ CO2 stunning of pigs
A leading international animal protection organisation is calling on the UK Government to end high-intensity CO2 pig stunning in its forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy.
Consumers making “more adventurous choices” with seafood
Aldi has reported rising demand from shoppers for unusual and premium varieties of seafood, as Brits are becoming more adventurous in their choices.
ABP workers strike suspended after improved pay offer
Unite the union has revealed it has suspended planned all-out strike action at the Anglo Beef Processing UK (ABP) factory in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, following the receipt of an improved pay offer.
Dawn Meats acquires stake in Alliance Group
Red meat processor, Dawn Meats, is entering a strategic partnership with New Zealand based meat processor, Alliance Group.
Workers are set for strike action at ABP Craigavon
Workers at Anglo Beef Processors UK (ABP) Craigavon plant are set to strike over a pay deal which Unite union said would mean a “real terms” pay cut.
Good Food Institute acquires cultivated meat lines
The Good Food Institute (GFI) has acquired the cultivated meat cell lines and growth media developed by SCiFi Foods to make it available to the whole sector.
Waitrose commits to tackling seafood carbon emissions
Waitrose is adopting the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT) to help measure and reduce carbon emissions across its seafood supply chain.
Dawn Meats cuts emissions by 63%
Dawn Meats has revealed it has achieved a 63% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
EU Parliament votes to ban meat names for plant-based foods
Plant-based food manufacturers exporting to the EU may need to remove words such ‘sausage’, ‘steak’ and ‘burger’ from their packaging under proposals.
Pilgrim’s Europe profits grow amid revenue dip
The UK private label grocery supplier reported profitable growth, with profit after tax at £128.4 million for FY 2024.
Hilton Foods disposes of FairFax Meadow for £54M
Hilton Foods has sold the catering butcher to Sysco GB as the group continues to reshape it strategy.
Cranswick faces fresh animal cruelty scandal as undercover footage shows piglets beaten to death on farm
New footage of piglets being killed through blunt force trauma on a Cranswick farm has been made public.
Meat workers at ABP to vote on strike action
Workers at an Anglo Beef Processors UK (ABP) site are preparing to vote on taking strike action after rejecting a pay offer.
Major meat trade body boss to leave
The CEO of the British Meat Processors Association has announced he will be stepping down.
Meat smuggling crisis risks ‘major disease outbreak’ in UK
Alarming amounts of meat and dairy products are being illegally imported to Britain for sale and personal consumption, a new EFRA Committee report has said.
Checks on seafood linked to human rights abuses at ‘alarmingly low levels’ in UK
UK consumers may unknowingly be buying seafood linked to human rights abuses and illegal fishing practices, according to a new report.
Wigan man pleads guilty in poultry fraud case
A 52-year-old man has pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods in a case linked to wider distribution fraud of a substantial amount of poultry.
Animal abuse exposed on trout farm in undercover footage
Undercover footage filmed on a trout farm in the Cotswolds shows fish being beaten, stepped on and left to suffocate.
Cheap food is costing the planet
Supermarkets need to prioritise sustainability and accept when this costs more, writes Nick Behari, country manager UK & IE for Vion Food UK Ltd.
DB Food Group acquired by UK retail firm
Meat wholesaler DB Food Group has been acquired by the Paramount Retail Group for an undisclosed fee.
‘Horrifying images’ at Cranswick farm show ‘abuses are no exception’
Animal welfare organisations have warned that cruelty on UK farms will continue unless concrete action is taken.
Animal cruelty exposed at another Cranswick farm after 10-month investigation
Animal cruelty has been exposed at a Cranswick pig farm in Lincolnshire where undercover investigators filmed staff for 10 months with hidden cameras.
£19M pork deal signed with Mexico
Twelve businesses across England and Northern Ireland have secured approval to export British pork to Mexico.
Charities demand legislation as salmon slaughter guidance issued by Scottish Gov
Nine animal protection charities have urged the Scottish Government to implement legislation in order to prevent suffering on fish farms.
Iceland commits to raising prawn welfare standards amid activist pressure
Iceland has announced plans to update its prawn sourcing policy amid pressure from animal welfare activists.
Thousands of chicken farmers may be in breach of law, letter warns
Chicken farmers that raise ‘Frankenchickens’ have been warned that they may be breaking the law in a letter sent by an animal protection charity.
Court permits judicial review against Defra over chicken handling law
The High Court has granted an animal welfare organisation permission to proceed with a judicial review against Defra over a policy that allows the handling of chickens by their legs.
New guidance on mechanically separated meat published
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published new guidance on mechanically separated meat to help businesses comply with food law.
Meat producer fined £140k after worker loses finger
A meat producer in the UK has been fined £140,000 after an employee lost part of his finger while at work.
Sofina Foods acquires Finnebrogue
Sofina Foods Europe has added to its portfolio with the acquisition of the Northern Ireland manufacturer for an undisclosed sum.
170,000 packs a week: Pilgrim’s Europe fires up summer meat production
Pilgrim’s Europe is ramping up meat production to cater for the increasing demand for BBQs.
Animal diseases at centre of National Biosecurity Centre investment
The UK Government has unveiled plans for a £1 billion investment in a new National Biosecurity Centre.
Kelly Turkeys invests £100k into new machinery
This forms part of a wider investment plan for 2025 for the poultry business.
KFC facing ‘summer of direct action’ over ‘Frankenchickens’ timeline
KFC is set to face a summer of protests after it ‘reneged’ on its commitment to stop the sale of meat from ‘Frankenchickens’ by 2026, an animal welfare charity has said.
FSA weighs future of meat inspection fee discount
The Food Standards discussed the future of its Meat Charging Discount Regime in its board meeting and whether these concessions will continue in the future.
Innovations in cultivated meat and seafood
As the Food Standards Agency works to complete a ‘fully safety assessment’ of two lab-produced foods, which would allow them to be sold in the UK within the next two years, UK and European patent attorney Emily Nytko-Lutz explores recent innovations made...
2 Sisters joint venture sold to Boparan Private Office
All shares in the existing farming joint venture – known as Hook2Sisters – will be sold to 2 Agriculture Holdings Limited, part of the Boparan Private Office.
Calls to ban pig cages that cause ‘senseless suffering’
The UK Government has been urged to ban the use of farrowing crates on pig farms as they ‘violate’ animal welfare laws.
Protestors storm stage at Tesco AGM over Cranswick links
Activists stormed the stage at Tesco’s AGM on Thursday (12 June) calling on the retailer to sever ties with meat processor Cranswick.
Fish farms driving environmental destruction and food insecurity, report finds
Seabass and bream farms in Europe are driving environmental destruction and depriving communities of vital food sources and livelihoods, a new report has shown.
More foreign beef hitting supermarket shelves, NFU says
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for ‘consistent action on sourcing commitments’ amid reports of more foreign beef hitting supermarket shelves in the UK.
Avara Foods CEO steps down after more than 7 years
Long-serving Avara Foods CEO Andrew Dawkins stepped down at the end of May.
Iceland hit with protest over ‘horrifying’ prawn practices
Protesters gathered outside an Iceland supermarket last week to highlight the retailer’s ‘horrifying’ treatment of prawns.
Contaminated crops cost poultry farms more than £150k annually
New research from Queen’s University Belfast has shown the financial and environmental ramifications of mycotoxins on the poultry market.
Half of UK consumers shun American beef, survey finds
About half of UK respondents to a recent survey said that they are ‘not open at all’ to purchasing US sourced beef.
Key trends in turkey meat
Kelly Turkeys revealed the biggest trends in the poult market and how UK operators can claim back lost market share as imported butterfly meat makes big dent.
Pig mutilation laws must be enforced by Defra, charity says
The Animal Law Foundation has urged the UK Government to take urgent action to prevent the mutilation of pigs on UK farms.
KFC investing £1.49bn in the UK and Ireland
KFC has revealed plans to invest £1.49 billion into restaurants and suppliers, creating more than 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years.