Food Ingredients, Health & Nutrition

Sugar reduction will remain an important topic in 2020

Opinion

Why sugar reduction remains on the agenda

By Judy Buttriss

British Nutrition Foundation director general Judy Buttriss explains why sugar reduction is still a key concern for manufacturers.

Are insects the future of protein, or will they coexist with meat?

Home-grown insects: the end of meat?

By Gwen Ridler

Insect farm start-up BeoBia Is hoping to empower consumers to produce their own sustainable sources of protein, but will this home-grown solution see the end of meat production as we know it?

Macsween's vegetarian haggis has been renamed for the US market

Vegetarian haggis launches in the US

By Gwen Ridler

Macsween of Edinburgh has launched a vegetarian haggis in the US, the manufacturer’s first export to the country in 50 years.

The project aims to establish the biggest challenges of using plant-based proteins in products

New project to boost plant-based knowledge

By Noli Dinkovski

A two-year research project that aims to help food and drink manufacturers use protein-rich plant-based ingredients more effectively has been launched by Campden BRI.

Only 54% of consumers are aware that grains and seeds can be incorporated in bread, Puratos says

2020 FOOD TRENDS

Promote ‘power ingredients’ to meet health agenda

By Noli Dinkovski

Food and drink manufacturers should look to promote ‘power ingredients’ to capitalise on the growing health agenda, a bakery and chocolate ingredients firm has claimed.

The Rebel Whopper has launched in the UK, but it's not suitable for vegans

Rebel Burger launches in the UK

By Gwen Ridler

Burger King’s plant-based Rebel Whopper has landed in the UK, offering consumers a meat-free alternative to one of its most popular products.

Jackfruit is commonly used in south and south-east Asian cuisines

2020 FOOD TRENDS

Jackfruit, tempeh and seitan to lead plant-based boom

By Noli Dinkovski

The likes of jackfruit, tempeh and seitan are likely to appear much more frequently on supermarket shelves in 2020 as the plant-based boom continues, an ingredients supplier has claimed.

Perry: the expansion will see a new site built in Kent, initially creating 80 jobs

Cook factory investment to create 200 jobs

By Dan Colombini

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.

We cover some of the latest CBD developments in food and drink

FDA is tough on CBD food

By Rod Addy

UK suppliers of products containing cannabis-derived compound cannabidiol (CBD) are still reviewing the tough stance the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took to the ingredient last month.

Principal issues affecting the firm going forward also included the ramifications of Brexit, livestock availability and prices, turbulent sales, animal health and foreign currency exposure

JW Galloway investment pays off despite Brexit challenges

By Dan Colombini

Scottish beef producer JW Galloway has reaped the rewards from new plant and equipment investment despite Brexit-induced challenges over the past year, as the firm demonstrated growth in its recent results.

The firm declined to reveal the value of the new investment into the business at this stage

Ingredients firm to invest in new factory

By Dan Colombini

An East Anglian ingredients supplier has confirmed proposals to increase its production facilities with the development of a new factory.

Social media is making it more difficult for consumers to monitor calorie intake

Social media advertising damaging obesity work

By Dan Colombini

Changes in consumer advertising behaviour and the rise of social media are making it more challenging for food manufacturers to tackle the UK’s obesity crisis.

Jesper Højer's appointment is the latest senior hire at The Meatless Farm Co

Former Lidl CEO joins The Meatless Farm Co

By Gwen Ridler

Former Lidl global chief executive Jesper Højer has joined plant-based meat manufacturer The Meatless Farm Company as its new chair, following a string of appointments at the company.

The programme will match the atmosphere of Mars

Belgian firm reveals SpaceBakery sustainable food plan

By Dan Colombini

Belgian bakery firm Puratos is to lead a team of firms to launch the €6.3m-funded (£5.4m) SpaceBakery, which will explore sustainable food production and provide solutions to manufacturing food on Mars.

Each loaf contains around 336 crickets, which are dried, ground, mixed with wheat flour and grains and then baked

Roberts launches UK’s ‘first insect bread’

By Dan Colombini

Roberts Bakery has launched a new limited-edition brand of bread, manufactured using insects, in a nod to the return of jungle-based television programme I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here.

The court found Boddy guilty of two charges

Horsemeat scandal abattoir boss hit with new fines

By Dan Colombini

Peter Boddy, owner of the Burnley-based Cross Stone Abattoir, has been hit with fines of more than £7,000 after being prosecuted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for failing to comply with a horse-related detention notice.​

Poor weather conditions threaten the supply of potatoes in the UK

Crisp production threatened by poor potato harvest

By Gwen Ridler

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.

BFF chairman Nigel Broadhurst called for a swift end to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, whatever the outcome of the general election

Frozen food body calls for end to Brexit ‘black cloud’

By Dan Colombini

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has called for a quick solution to the “black cloud” of Brexit uncertainty, which is impacting the work the industry has achieved in reducing its carbon footprint and other key areas.

The firm is looking to add to its acquisition of salad supplier Freshtime UK and boost its customer base in the food-to-go sector

Greencore eyeing new UK chilled food acquisitions

By Dan Colombini

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.

Managing director and founder of Highland Game Christian Nissen said the firm was working hard to promote the benefits of venison

New deals to spark £2m sales surge at Highland Game

By Dan Colombini

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.

No other McCain sites are affected by the plans at this stage

McCain announces 230 potential job losses

By Dan Colombini

McCain Foods has announced the possible loss of 230 jobs at its Grantham factory as the firm seeks to streamline production across the UK.

The firm issued its results for the six months ended 30 September 2019, delivering increases in revenue and profit

Cranswick boosted by plant-based and export potential

By Dan Colombini

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.

During the workshops, teachers cooked a number of Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) beef and lamb recipes relevant for all key stages

LMC raises red meat awareness with skills workshop

By Dan Colombini

The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) has used workshops to boost the skills of around 60 food and nutrition teachers, as well as highlighting the benefits of the region’s beef and lamb.

It is estimated that around one in five people in the UK have low levels of vitamin D

BNF urges greater vitamin D awareness

By Dan Colombini

The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has called for greater awareness of vitamin D deficiency across young people within the UK.

Danish Crown reveals Tulip losses

Danish Crown reveals Tulip Limited losses

By Aidan Fortune

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.

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.

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.