The rise in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will damage the food and drink manufacturing sector’s ability to attract new talent and push up prices, according to industry experts.
Frozen food manufacturer Cook plans to create 200 jobs after securing a £16m funding package from HSBC UK to build a new 2,320m2 kitchen facility in Sittingbourne, Kent.
A processing machinery and robotics supplier has invested £1.2m in a 1,858m2 facility in Draycott, Derbyshire following a period of record growth, creating 12 new jobs.
Kentish confectionery manufacturer Fudge Kitchen has seen a 195% uplift in sales in the lead-up to Christmas, as it secures export deals for its products to Canada, Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Meat processor Cranswick has acquired outdoor pig farming business Packington Pork Limited as it continues to pursue greater transparency and provenance in its supply chain.
Family-owned The Yorkshire Pudding Pie Company has secured investment to aid the construction of its first factory, as it claims top supermarkets show increased interest in its products.
Dairy processor Lancashire Farm Dairies is set to smash its 2020 sales targets, following a multi-million pound investment in its production facilities.
Nestlé's sale of its US ice cream business to UK-based Froneri, formerly R&R Ice Cream, for $4bn (£3bn) has boosted the latter’s global clout, giving it a presence on every continent.
Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is opening a new £20m line at its Edmonton factory in North London as part of a wider £150m investment in its UK operations this year.
Exports opportunities, the rise of automation and the challenges surrounding sustainable packaging for food and drink manufacturers have all been highlighted in a new industry report.
Communication between teams and investment in the latest tech have been key to the success of Natures Way Foods, according to Selsey factory manager Paul Hiscock.
Perishable Movements Ltd (PML) is investing circa £500,000 in six new state-of-the-art trucks, which represent the UK’s first refrigerated trailers to feature a powered roller bed floor system, according to the firm.
Scottish biscuit and cakes manufacturer Tunnock’s has invested more than £9m in its production facilities in the year ended 23 February 2019, as it reported a record year for sales.
Speciality bakery ingredients manufacturer Real Good Food (RGF) has posted reduced losses in its latest interim results, helped by refinancing deals it secured earlier this year.
Second of a two-part interview on take-up of software and automated processes
Half of all food firms have processes that include significant paper-based planning, with some larger players completely paper-led, according to Rob Stephens, managing director at Systems Integration (SI).
The Real Bread Campaign has claimed that a proposed sourdough code of best practice is likely to confuse consumers, bully smaller producers and legitimise the production of non-genuine sourdough bread.
Manufacturers of crisps and frozen chips are at risk of losing access to vital raw materials, after wet weather prohibited the harvest of potatoes destined for food processors.
Greencore Group expects to make more UK acquisitions in the chilled snacks sector following the success of its takeover of Freshtime UK, after the firm posted a stable performance in its latest financial results.
Scottish venison supplier Highland Game is predicting a £2m boost in sales over the next year after securing new deals with recipe box company Gousto and distribution partners Costco, Booker and Brakes.
Meat processor Cranswick is set to deliver further growth as a result of rising export opportunities to Asia in the wake of the African swine fever (ASF) crisis, as well as its recent move into the plant-based sector, according to experts.
Two-part interview on take-up of software and automated processes
Food firms are being driven to automate ordering and production in response to the effects of the UK Brexit vote, according to Systems Integration (SI).
German firm Katjes International has pumped further cash into UK-based vegan confectionery manufacturer Candy Kittens as part of a multi-million-pound deal.
Unite the Union has called for greater public awareness around food business M&A activity after the release of its new report urging the Government to support the UK manufacturing sector.
The spread of African swine fever (ASF) and a growing number of wealthier consumers have unveiled the “huge potential” of the Chinese market for beef producers in Northern Ireland, according to the Livestock & Meat Commission (LMC).
Seafood brand The Saucy Fish Co has expanded its reach into the southern hemisphere with the launch of its frozen fishcake products into Australian supermarket chain Woolworths.
Pork processor Danish Crown has revealed the extent of the losses suffered by its Tulip Limited business in the final year before it was sold to Pilgrim’s Pride.
