Start-ups

Small businesses need more support as growth slows to snail pace. Credit: Getty/Stefan Rotter

News

UK small business growth slows by 40%

By Bethan Grylls

The last decade has seen SMEs been hindered by several major events, including Brexit, Covid-19 and geo-political tensions, which have led to a significant slow in growth.

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.

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.

Industry experts explore what insights actually are and the role they play in NPD. Image: Getty, yangwenshuang

News

Insights: More than just trends data?

By Gwen Ridler

Insights are more than just data and need to play a bigger role at the start of new product development (NPD) and strategic business decisions, according to experts in the sector.

Dawn's Mojito doughnut: Taking formats and flavours from different categories was originally championed in smaller bakeries and is now big news across the mainstream bakery and desserts category too

Feature

How Gen Z is influencing bakery trends

By Bethan Grylls

Born between 1996 and 2020, Gen Z is a key consumer to lock-down. Here’s how their experiences have influenced the bakery category.

Independent drinks brand Flawsome! tells its start-up story. Credit: Getty/andresr

Q&A

Life as a start-up

By Bethan Grylls

In this exclusive Q&A, the founders of ‘wonky’ drink company Flawsome! disclose the ups and downs of their journey, how it all began and what’s next.

FHIRST Living Soda is made without sugar or sweeteners and can boost gut health. Credit: FHIRST

Start-ups

Food and drink start-ups to watch

By William Dodds

Food Manufacture takes a closer look at start-ups specialising in cultivated meat, gut health and reduced sugar products as they seek to address emerging trends.

This month, Jon Poole interviews Chris Kong, Better Nature Tempeh CEO, on how to be an entrepreneurial leader

The Talent Poole

Entrepreneurial leadership

By Jon Poole

Not all leaders are entrepreneurs, however, the behaviours demonstrated by entrepreneurial leaders can be highly impactful. This month, ‘The Talent Poole’ explores entrepreneurial behaviours with Chris Kong, chief executive of Better Nature.

The plant-based meat industry has reached a tipping point, but there's still a glimmer of hope for businesses in the sector

News

Plant-based meat market at the ‘tipping point’

By Gwen Ridler

The recent string of high-profile closures in the meat alternatives market is not the end of a ‘fad’ but plant-based is reaching a mass tipping point where not every producer is going to make it, according to non-dairy cheese producer Julienne Bruno.

What's happening in the alternative protein market? Credit: Getty/coldsnowstorm

Long read

Alternative proteins: market snapshot 2023

By Bethan Grylls

Despite retail trends showing a fall in demand for alternative proteins, global revenues are projected to surpass $290bn. Here we look at each market segment and the start-ups with big potential.

PlanEat's Protein Poppers take home the grand prize at last night's Ecotrophelia UK 2023

News

University of Nottingham wow Ecotrophelia judges

By Bethan Grylls

A team of five students from the University of Nottingham have been announced the winners of Ecotrophelia UK, taking home a grand prize of £2,000 and the opportunity to represent the UK in the nationals in Europe.

Harvesting rice by hand, Haryana, India. Credit: Nice Rice

News

Can rice be produced sustainably?

By Bethan Grylls

With rice’s shocking sustainability record, Nice Rice founder Fergus O’Sullivan leads the charge in developing a more environmentally friendly product with a lesser-known farming practice at its heart.

Winners of Butcher’s Shop of the Year 2023

News

Butcher’s Shop of the Year 2023 revealed

By Bethan Grylls

This year’s Butcher’s Shop awards ceremony was awash with innovation, community spirit and high-quality produce as it celebrated independent UK butchery, with McCaskie’s Butchers & Café taking home the grand prize.

Capilano Honey produces Manuka honey where the bees have foraged on the flowers of Leptospermum tree

Short read

Five Australian foods coming to the UK

By Will Downey

Will Downey, Senior Business Development Manager at The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in the UK discusses the nutritional benefits of new Australian products set to enter the UK market following the Free Trade Agreement.

James Butcher (pictured) called for greater collaboration throughout the supply chain to achieve sustainability goals

Opinion

Sharing sustainability gains throughout the supply chain

By James Butcher

James Butcher, chief executive at Supply Pilot, explores how creating shared learnings throughout the supply chain can produce innovation that will deliver more sustainable approaches for big and small brands alike.

SMEs in all sectors are struggling financially

Surge in food SMEs in significant financial distress

By Rod Addy

The amount of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in food and drink manufacturing in significant financial distress has risen by 35%, comparing the first quarter of 2020 with the first quarter of 2021.

From finance to the world of adult soft drinks, Nix & Kix chronicle their challenges in getting to market

Foot on the ladder: start-up Nix and Kix

By Gwen Ridler

In this exclusive interview, Nix & Kix co-founders Kerstin Robinson and Julia Kessler discuss their history and the challenges they faced in setting up their own drinks company.

Lava Spirits sources organic Valencian oranges from Sicily as well as Navel oranges

Start-up Lava Spirits details gin launches

By Rod Addy

Start-up Lava Spirits has outlined the development of its latest Lava Spirits Co Coffee Gin and Coffee Orange Gin launches, which it has made available direct to consumers via its website.

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