Business Leaders' Forum

A new era for Prima Bakeries Group as it announces it will become an employee-owned business

News

Prima Bakeries Group becomes employee-owned

By Bethan Grylls

The Group which includes Redruth-based Prima Bakeries and St Columb-based Cornish Premier Pasties, has announced its transition to an employee-owned business.

Pictured: Kavita Jain and Tim Warren

News

Two Unilever leaders join Mars Wrigley

By Bethan Grylls

Two new recruits will join the senior leadership team at Mars Wrigley Global Emerging Markets (GEM) as the snacking business looks to strengthen its global position and innovation offering.

In an exclusive roundtable, Food Manufacture and Infor explored the views of F&B leaders when it comes to technology and reacting to key societal events. Credit: Getty/Andrew Brookes

Feature

We need to refocus where technology plays a part in business

By Bethan Grylls

In an exclusive, strategic roundtable held by Food Manufacture and Infor, a select group of leading food and drink voices came together to knowledge-share and examine the challenges and opportunities on the horizon, including their thoughts on technology's...

Rich Clothier talks business strategy with Jon Poole in this month's column

The Talent Poole

Strategic business planning

By Jon Poole

January, for many businesses, represents the start of a new business year and the beginning of a new business planning cycle. It is therefore timely for The Talent Poole to explore the processes and thinking behind a good strategy and business plan, brought...

'It’s a privilege to lead the ofi sustainability team' says new CSO Roel van Poppel

News

ofi appoints chief sustainability officer

By Bethan Grylls

Roel van Poppel has been announced as ofi’s chief sustainability officer, responsible for scaling the ingredients suppliers’ positive impact across its five product platforms.

Richard Zaltzman announced as EIT Food new CEO

News

EIT Food announces new CEO

By Bethan Grylls

Richard Zaltzman has taken on the role of CEO at EIT Food, as Andy Zynga steps down.

David Collard (left) and Adam Sims (right). Credit: Bart Ingredients

News

Bart Ingredients to appoint new CEO

By Bethan Grylls

Effective 1 April, current chief commercial officer, Adam Sims, will be taking on the role of CEO at the Bristol-based herbs, spices and ingredients manufacturer.

Legal expert Katrina Anderson highlights UK regulation to be aware of this year. Credit: Getty/Jonathan Knowles

Legal Brief

Four laws to keep an eye on in 2024

By Katrina Anderson

Katrina Anderson, commercial and regulatory lawyer and associate director at international legal practice, Osborne Clarke, highlights several regulations to be mindful of this new year.

Members of the meat industry share their Christmas wishes Image: Getty, Dan Brownsword

Opinion

Meat industry shares its Christmas wishes

By Gwen Ridler

With the new year rapidly approaching, we ask members of the meat processing industry to tell us their Christmas wishes and what new developments they’re hoping for the sector in 2024.

Bethan Grylls reflects on 2023 and some of Food Manufacture's most read stories. Credit: Getty/Olemedia

Opinion

A word from the Editor: Year in review

By Bethan Grylls

Bethan Grylls reflects on some of Food Manufacture's most read stories for 2023 and notable moments for the year, as we get set to welcome 2024.

Kerry Gainsborough's senior leadership team, with Angie third from left, standing. Credit: Kerry

Me & My Team

Leading a factory, motherhood and the menopause

By Angie Grocock

Kerry’s plant manager for its Gainsborough site, Angie Grocock, talks about her unconventional career path and the importance of positive leadership.

FMEA Business Leader of the Year 2024 finalists

News

Meet the finalists: Business Leader of the Year

By Bethan Grylls

The finalists for the 2024 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards have been announced; here’s a bit more about those in the line-up for Business Leader of the Year.

Credit: Graham Wilkinson to join AHDB as new CEO. Credit: Getty/kokouu

News

AHDB gains new CEO

By Bethan Grylls

Graham Wilkinson has been announced as the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s (AHDB) new chief executive officer, with the current CEO Tim Rycroft stepping down this December.

Ian Stone, president of BFFF, highlighted the opportunities for frozen food players in 2024

News

Frozen food in good place but challenging perceptions persist

By Bethan Grylls

The British Frozen Food Federation’s (BFFF) Annual Luncheon saw hundreds of business leaders gather to celebrate the trade association’s 75th birthday at a time when frozen food sales are soaring, but low-quality misconceptions remain a challenge.

Jon Poole interviews Cameron Rigg and Claire Martino to talk coaching and mentoring

The Talent Poole

Growing talent through coaching and mentoring

By Jon Poole

This month in The Talent Poole, we hear from Cameron Rigg and Claire Martino, both part of a small group of volunteers who have created and run the mentoring scheme, ‘Flourish-in-Food’.

Investment in IoT will only mean results if properly managed, says Kavakli. Credit:Getty/Macrovector

Opinion

Drowning in data

By Baris Kavakli

Baris Kavakli, managing director of Portera B.V, looks at why IoT-enabled manufacturers are swimming against a tide of information from the shop floor and how they can begin to reorganise outdated workflows to make better use of data.

Ole & Steen and Ivy Farm feature in our latest senior appointment round-up. Credit: Getty/Hispanolistic

News

Ivy Farm and Ole & Steen announce new recruits

By Bethan Grylls

While Ole & Steen is looking for a new group CEO, it has also announced the new appointment of Graham Hollingshead as its UK MD. Meanwhile, Dr Harsh Amin has joined cultivated meat start-up Ivy Farm as its chief scientific officer.

Ben Lee, MD at Soanes Poultry

Me & My Team

From farm to factory: Inside Soanes Poultry

By Ben Lee

Soanes Poultry’s managing director Ben Lee covers how he came into the food sector and the importance of animal welfare at the Yorkshire chicken producer.

Cargo thieves are targeting higher value goods based on demand and shortages. Credit: Getty/shironosov

News

Food most targeted in supply chain thefts

By Bethan Grylls

A BSI report surveying global supply chain risks between 2021 and 2022 has identified food and fuel as top commodities involved in supply chain thefts, alongside an influx of sophisticated cyberattacks.

William Reed expands leading portfolio with agtech focused website. Credit: Getty/witsarut sakorn

News

William Reed launches new agtech website

By Bethan Grylls

The company behind leading titles including Food Manufacture, British Baker and The Grocer, has launched a new site dedicated to the agtech space.

The UK had a strong raft of products on show at this year's Anuga. Photo credit: Koelnmesse / Anuga / Eingang Süd

Long read

How are UK food and drink producers achieving sustainable growth?

By Sandra Sullivan

More than 7,800 exhibitors set up shop at Anuga earlier this month, with sustainable growth a key theme. FDEA’s Sandra Sullivan interviewed several UK producers to understand how they are balancing sustainability with profit.

This time round Jon Poole is speaking with Ecotone's UK CEO

The Talent Poole

Understanding leadership behaviours

By Jon Poole

The behaviours which support excellent leadership is a subject frequently discussed in leadership circles but often misunderstood.

Leadership and Business Leaders' Forum 2023 are the topic of this month's podcast

Food Manufacture Podcast

Episode 8: Business Leaders’ Forum 2023

By Gwen Ridler

The Food Manufacture Podcast returns to talk leadership and Business Leaders’ Forum 2023, sponsored by Accruent, E.ON and the Welsh Government.

Find out what was on delegates' minds at Business Leaders' Forum 2023

Business Leader's Forum

Business Leaders’ Forum 2023: Video round-up

By Gwen Ridler

Champions of the food industry discuss how they navigate change and the essential tools every leader needs in their armoury to tackle today’s headwinds in this exclusive video from Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum.

More than £10m invested in the business. Credit: Getty/olm26250

News

Pilgrim’s UK’s recovery plan working well

By Bethan Grylls

Pilgrim’s UK’s recovery and growth plan is progressing well as operational losses drop by 84%, with the company continuing to make big decisions to help face challenging market.

Food Manufacture hears from popcorn brand Joe & Seph's MD. Credit: Getty/mediamasmedia

Me & My Team

From home kitchen hobbyist to thriving SME

By Adam Sopher

Adam Sopher, co-founder and CEO of gourmet popcorn brand, Joe & Seph’s, tells his family’s story of success, fun flavours and non-soggy popcorn.

Boots chief executive Seb James was a keynote speaker at the 2023 LIVE conference

News

The Grocer and Retail Week launch LIVE 2024

By Gwen Ridler

The Grocer and Retail Week have joined forces to create a new two-day conference and exhibition bringing together the biggest and best in the retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors.

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