Business Leaders' Forum

Baker & Baker's Wirral site saw a big expansion last year, with a new cookie line installed. Credit: Baker & Baker

News

Baker & Baker sees revenue reach €620m

By Bethan Grylls

The European bakery products manufacturer witnessed a rise in both revenue and gross profit in 2023, representing sustainable growth since its separation from CSM three years ago.

How to win the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards

Short read

How to win a Food Manufacture Excellence award

By Bethan Grylls

Entering a competition can be daunting – questions such as ‘am I good enough to stand out’ and ‘how and where do I even start my entry’ may flit across your mind – but if you’re keen to enter, you absolutely should!

The next edition of The Talent Poole is out and this time around, Jon Poole is discussing leadership during a crisis.

The Talent Poole

Navigating through a crisis

By Jon Poole

Nothing stretches and tests a leader more than being faced with a crisis. And food, perhaps more than any other sector, has the potential to throw up some pretty significant crises to challenge the very best of leaders. Sharing his experiences this month,...

Kate Clawson (in blue dress, left), following the announcement of her win of Factory Manager of the Year at 2024's award, will join the judging panel for 2025

News

What's up for grabs at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2025?

By Bethan Grylls

Whether you're a start-up or an industry leader, the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards invite food and drink processors to showcase their capabilities and celebrate the efforts and achievements of their companies and teams. Here, we summarise each...

MorePeople has published a guide to succession planning. Credit: Getty/KrizzDaPaul

Short read

How to create a great succession plan

By Bethan Grylls

While 30% of companies recognise that having a succession plan in place is important, fewer than 1 in 10 have one fully integrated into their strategy, recent research from the Azets Barometer found.

Nestlé reports half-year results for 2024. Credit: Getty/Richard Drury

News

Nestlé’s real internal growth recovers

By Bethan Grylls

Nestlé’s overall organic growth for the first half of 2024 was 2.1%, with real internal growth (RIG) strengthening in the second quarter of the year. Here's some of the topline figures...

Pete Higgins (pictured) is the co-founder and CEO of House of Seaweed

News

Scottish seaweed processor raises £595k

By Bethan Grylls

Seaweed Enterprises is rebranding under the new name of House of Seaweed, as it sets its sights on becoming a leading trade processing hub for the algae.

Falling food and drink inflation is crucial for business recovery, says FDF's Karen Betts. Credit: Getty/andresr

News

F&B inflation falls for 15th consecutive month

By Bethan Grylls

Food and non-alcoholic drink inflation has seen another drop, falling from 1.7% in May to 1.5% in June 2024, but cost pressures still have a firm grip on the sector.

Pictured: Newly appointed commercial director for Brockmans Gin, Herni Brunel

News

Brockmans Gin switches UK distributor

By Bethan Grylls

The premium gin brand has appointed a new distributor following the decision to end its agreement with Proximo UK after three years, alongside making another senior appointment.

Elin Roberts co-founded the company alongside Chris Kong, Driando Ahnan-Winarno, and Fabio Rinaldo

News

Better Nature names second CEO

By Bethan Grylls

The UK’s fastest-growing meat-free brand in retail has seen a leadership shuffle, as Elin Roberts joins Chris Kong as co-CEO.

Emily Miles steps down as FSA lead

News

FSA chief executive returns to Defra

By Bethan Grylls

Emily Miles has announced that she will be leaving her role at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) this September, as she departs for a position at Defra.

Meet the leadership expert behind 'The Talent Poole' column as he talks on the importance of finding yourself and leading with authenticity

The Talent Poole

Are you a genuine leader?

By Jon Poole

Jon Poole shares his own experiences and reflects on the views of some of his past guest leaders, as he explores what it means to be an authentic leader.

The Business Leaders' Forum is an annual event hosted by Food Manufacture that invites leaders to problem solve and knowledge-share

Feature

Will disjointed thinking destroy us?

By Bethan Grylls

By 2025, it’s predicted that there will be more than 75m ‘smart’ connected devices. Yet, despite our instantaneous, online lifestyles, we are still experiencing a sense of 'disconnect' between the food industry, government and consumers.

ESG, confusing new regulations and a sense of comradery in the industry were key takeaways from this year's BLF

Business Leaders' Forum

Key takeaways from Business Leaders' Forum 2024

By Gwen Ridler

Food Manufacture caught up with some of the delegates at Business Leaders’ Forum 2024 to find out their key takeaways from this year's event.

RSSL's Jacinta George talks nurturing talent with in the latest edition of The Talent Poole.

The Talent Poole

Attracting and growing our future leaders

By Jon Poole

Most leaders aspire to be positive and encouraging - but how do senior leaders inspire, support and empower others to become our leaders of the future?

Bakkavor's CEO suggests there's other areas the dip brand could dip its toe into

News

Bakkavor acquires UK humous brand Moorish

By Bethan Grylls

The dip brand, which was founded by former BBC journalist Julie Waddell in 2012, has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by the fresh foods provider.

Jon Poole speaks to James Eid (pictured below) founder of Earth & Wheat to hear how he's harnessing creativity

The Talent Poole

Breaking bread: James Eid’s recipe for creative leadership

By Jon Poole

James Eid is the founder of Earth and Wheat, a subsidiary of his family’s business, Signature Flatbreads. At only 24 years old, Eid has, through his enthusiasm and creativity, challenged the family business and also the wider food industry by re-thinking...

Pictured top: Graeme Williams, Baker & Baker / Bottom (L-R): Martin Drewery and Paul Trotter, Silvery Tweed

News

Leadership changes at two bakery producers

By Bethan Grylls

European bakery business Baker & Baker has appointed a new UK CCO, whilst cereal and seed manufacturer Silvery Tweed announces technical manager.

Pictured from L-R: Adam Park, Matt Birch, Charlotte Hill (Felix Project CEO), Paul Drechsler and Gabriel Fernández. Credit: Left image: BigTImages / Right image: Mars Wrigley

News

Powerhouses on the move

By Bethan Grylls

Leaders at Amazon Fresh, the International Chamber of Commerce UK, and Hello Fresh have been appointed onto The Felix Project’s Board of Trustees, while Gabriel Fernández steps into the role of president of Global Emerging Markets (GEM) for Mars Snacking.

Philip Raynor, Glebe's Farm's managing director, tells Food Manufacture about his role

All in a Day's Work

All in a Day's Work: Glebe Farm MD

By Philip Rayner

In May's edition of All in a Day's Work, we hear from Glebe Farm's managing director Philip Rayner.

UK-made seaside treat on rocky ground from 'cheap' imports posing as locally produced goods. Credit: Stanton & Novelty

News

British rock candy faces extinction

By Bethan Grylls

Ten Blackpool-based confectionery manufacturers have come together to urge UK Government to grant rock origin protection status after ‘cheap, imitation imports’ place their businesses at risk.

Tate & Lyle CFO Dawn Allen and innocent Drinks' COO James Davenport will be departing their roles

News

C-suites stepping down

By Bethan Grylls

Both innocent Drinks and Tate & Lyle have lost key leaders, as James Davenport and Dawn Allen depart their respective roles as innocent COO and Tate & Lyle CFO.

Geoff Eaton shares some of his experiences which have required real resilience with The Talent Poole this month

The Talent Poole

Resilience within food leadership

By Jon Poole

Resilience is a critical behaviour which is likely to be called upon from time to time by most leaders. This is especially the case for leaders in the food sector, given the formidable challenges most businesses continue to face. Geoff Eaton, Butcher’s...

The panel at Small Beer's recent event, featuring (third from left and moving right) Emma Loisel, Felix James and James Cadbury

Short read

Can one business make a difference?

By Bethan Grylls

Food Manufacture looks at whether start-ups with strong ethical and sustainable foundations can make meaningful and positive change in the way things are done.

Little Moons announces the appointment of Joanna Allen as its new Chief Executive Officer

News

Little Moons nabs Graze CEO

By Bethan Grylls

The mochi brand will see the head of Graze, Joanna Allen, take the helm this summer, following the sudden departure of Mike Hedges earlier this month.

When so much is at stake, why is this crucial piece of the puzzle ignored? Credit: Getty/Adam Gault

Short read

M&A: Going beyond the balance sheets

By Martyn King

Martyn King of management consultancy Chasm Ltd explores the role of operational due diligence when buying, selling or managing multiple sites.

L-R: Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls with Fran Ball on stage at the 2024 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards

Short read

Arla’s hat trick

By Bethan Grylls

Fran Ball, VP of production at Arla, reflects on what it means to have won at this year’s Food Manufacture Excellence Awards and the processes and people that helped secure the dairy company’s three trophies.

Little Moons expects to open its new state-of-the-art 50,000 sq. ft. production facility in Kettering in H1 2024.

News

Little Moons loses CEO and explores consolidation

By Bethan Grylls

Mike Hedges, CEO of Little Moons, has stepped down with immediate effect, with the company now actively seeking for a replacement at the same time as exploring the consolidation of its operations.

Food Manufacture visited Baker & Baker's gluten-free facility last month to meet the team

Me & My Team

Baker & Baker and the gluten-free factory

By Matt Ball

Matt Ball, Baker & Baker’s plant manager within its gluten-free site in West Sussex, talks about the facility’s growth in innovation and capability, and how he’s championing safety and retention in his team.

Sometimes to reach a goal, you need to work together. Credit: Getty/Rudzhan Nagiev

The Talent Poole

Collaboration and relationship building

By Jon Poole

The scale and complexity of the food sector underlines the critical need for collaboration, especially given the many significant challenges the industry continues to face. So, who better to guide us through her experiences and insights into collaboration...

Jean-Philippe (third from left) with a handful of Tilda farmers

Me & My Team

Tilda’s climb to the top

By Jean-Philippe Laborde

Managing director Jean-Philippe Laborde of the well-known rice brand talks about Tilda’s strategy since he took the helm five years ago, from innovation and keeping costs down, to teamwork and trailing new rice cultivation techniques.

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