Trade

New rules coming into play this October risk causing disruption the food supplies this Christmas

News

Looming Brexit rule changes risk Christmas food disruption

By Gwen Ridler

Supplies of food during the Christmas trading window could face disruption thanks to looming Brexit rule changes that businesses are unaware of and unprepared for, according to the Cold Chain Federation (CCF).

Food adn drink M&A activity is starting to bounce back, but the value of deals has yet to hit the historic average

News

Food and drink M&A activity on the rise

By Gwen Ridler

Food and drink merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is on the rise, but the value of deals has dropped in the face of persistent macroeconomic headwinds and the absence of larger players in the market.

How has the cost of living crisis influenced policy?

Column: We need to talk about ...

Food prices

By Rod Addy

With food inflation still high and cost of living pressures influencing policy, Provision Trade Federation director general Rod Addy explores the Government’s response to food price rises and the challenges surrounding supply chain fairness.

Exports to Australia and New Zealand are expected to boom once FTA come into effect

News

FTAs to boost flagging exports to Australia

By Gwen Ridler

Exports to Australia and New Zealand dipped in the first quarter of 2023, but the free trade agreements (FTAs) that come into force this week could signal significant growth for the rest of the year.

Industry leaders were at Number 10 Downing Street to discuss the state of the sector. Credit: Getty/  Nigel Harris

News

Food summit a first step, but must lead to ‘tangible change’

By Gwen Ridler

The Prime Minister’s Farm to Fork Summit has been described as a constructive first step towards addressing the biggest challenges facing the UK’s food and drink supply chain, but criticism was levelled at the lack of detail on how the Government would...

The manufacturing sector needs to prepare for a record number of insolvencies, accroding to Higgs.  Image: Getty, Stas_V

News

Threat of insolvency for manufacturers on the rise

By Gwen Ridler

Insolvencies in the food and drink manufacturing industry have seen a steady decline since September last year, but a record number of insolvencies could be on the horizon for the manufacturing sector, according to law firm Higgs.

Addy: 'With a government continually driven by Brexit ideologues, my concern is there will be no urgency to speed up implementation where snags occur'

Column: We need to talk about...

UK Border Control

By Rod Addy

As the UK gears up to implement the second half of Brexit, Provision Trade Federation director general Rod Addy questions whether the Government has set over-ambitious deadlines to achieve it UK Border Target Operating Model.

Food inflation may be at its highest, but market indicators suggest it may be at its peak

News

Food inflation accelerates but could be hitting its peak

By Gwen Ridler

Food inflation has risen to 19.2% in March from 18.2% in February, the highest rate in 45 years, rocketing ahead of CPI’s inflation of 10.1%, according to Office of National Statistics figures.

What does the Windsor Framework mean for the food and beverage sector?

Column: We need to talk about...

The Windsor Framework: Part 2 - The dust settles

By Rod Addy

Earlier this month, Rod Addy of the Provision Trade Federation, looked at what the Windsor Framework could mean for the food and drink sector. Now, as things have settled, he delves a bit deeper into the implications and opportunities in part two of this...

Bethan Grylls speaks to Timothy Lang about food insecurity in Britain and what action is needed

Video

Why can't the UK solve food insecurity? Episode seven

By Bethan Grylls

In the final episode of this seven-part series brought to you by Food Manufacture and sponsored by RSSL, our editor Bethan Grylls, meets with Timothy Lang of City University, emeritus professor of food policy.

Left to right: Kim Kettle of Long Clawson Dairy chats with Bethan Grylls of Food Manufacture

Video

Why can't the UK solve food insecurity? Episode four

By Bethan Grylls

Episode four finds Bethan Grylls in Leicester where she hears from cooperative-run cheese manufacturer, Long Clawson Dairy and one of its affiliated farmers, Paul Eggleston, on the link between sustainability and food security.

Left to right: Anna Taylor, Food Foundation with Bethan Grylls, Food Manufacture

Video

Why can't the UK solve food insecurity? Episode one

By Bethan Grylls

Watch our seven-part documentary, as our editor travels around the UK to find out why one of the richest countries in the world - Britain - is experiencing food insecurity.

The PM's Windsor Framework promised little by has the potential to overdeliver for food and drink firms

Column: We need to talk about ...

The Windsor Framework

By Rod Addy

Provision Trade Federation director general Rod Addy discusses the recently agreed Windsor Framework and its implications for the food and drink industry in his exclusive column for Food Manufacture.

Rishi Sunak has agreed a deal with the EC that could end trade barriers between Britaina and Northern Ireland

News

UK agrees new Northern Ireland Brexit deal with EU

By Gwen Ridler

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has agreed a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland with European Commission president Ursula Van der Leyen, which would see the end of restrictions on the trade of goods traveling overseas in the UK.

It may feel like we're walking the plank as a planet, but we just have to keep moving. Credit: Getty / Richard Drury

Column: We need to talk about...

Cracking on in the permacrisis

By Rod Addy

In his first regular column for Food Manufacture, Rod Addy of the Provision Trade Federation, explores the fragile ground we find ourselves on and provides an honest outlook of the future of food production.

Success in food manufacturing will be about adapting

Long Read

Business Leaders Forum 2023: It’s never been survival of the fittest

By Bethan Grylls

The annual, intimate Business Leaders Forum gave way to a frank and honest discussion, as leaders from the across the UK came together to highlight the many challenges food and drink manufacturers now face, the mistakes made, and what we must do now.

What challenges now face the food and drink supply chain?

Long read

Challenges and developments in the food and drink supply chain

By Gwen Ridler

With the food and drink industry under constant threat from global pressures such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, how has the supply chain managed to keep up and running and what new developments do operators need to be aware of?

The BVA has regularly highlighted the dearth of vets

Brexit export certificates cost over £26m this year

By Rod Addy

Export health certification cost over £26m from January to June this year, claims the food industry's sanitary & phytosanitary (SPS) certification working group, which wants food business operators to support e-certification trials.

Smith: 'It would be economically foolish, morally wrong and globally irresponsible to drive UK customers to buy less sustainable alternatives'

Future trade deal must not undermine Welsh meat: HCC

By Gwen Ridler

UK trade negotiators risk scoring ‘a disastrous own goal’ against the Welsh meat industry if the next round of international trade deal drive UK customers to buy less sustainable alternatives to Welsh meat, warned Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru,...

The UK/New Zealand FTA would have little impact on food standards, TAC advised

Verdict in on New Zealand free trade agreement

By Gwen Ridler

The UK’s free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand is unlikely to impact standards but could increase workload on agencies that ensure imports comply with those standards, according to the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC).

Scotland accounted for the largest share of UK food and drink exports, according to the FDF

Scotland accounts for the largest share of UK food and drink exports

By Michelle Perrett

Scotland, alongside Wales and the North East of England, had the strongest recovery in response to the supply chain problems caused by Covid-19 and the new UK-EU trading relationship, according to research by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

The Government has U-turned on its decision to implement further restriction on EU imports

Government U-turn on border strategy: Industry reaction

By Gwen Ridler

The UK government’s U-turn on border strategy will help clear up red tape surrounding imports, but could endanger parts of the industry to potentially devastating disease risks, warned members of the food and drink industry.

The Australian and New Zealand FTAs risk undercutting UK food producers, members of the industry warned

Free Trade Agreements 'threaten UK food production'

By Gwen Ridler

The Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia and New Zealand risk significantly undercutting domestic products, endanger food standards and threaten sustainability, according to members of Scottish government and the Welsh meat processing community....

War in Ukraine will impact food prices and could potentially lead to shortages, claimed FDF CEO Karen Betts

War in Ukraine will lead to food price rises: FDF

By Gwen Ridler

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions, trade restrictions and supply chain disruption will lead to food price rises and the possibility of temporary shortages, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Starkey: 'Big bus coming towards us of increased fuel prices

Business Leaders Forum interview Adam Starkey

By Gwen Ridler

The spectre of increased fuel prices is looming over the food industry and is set to disrupt consumer purchasing habits, according to Adam Starkey, managing director of public sector meals supplier Green Gourmet.

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