Playing it cool
Elsewhere businesses are feeling the chill, but frozen food firms are keeping their cool, says Michelle Knott
Archives for January 1, 2012
Enough is enough! This legislation can't go on
With the new year upon us, I can't remember a time when there was so much uncertainty in the world economy, business as a whole and the food trade in particular.
Pea has muscle to replace meat
Vegetable protein texturising specialist Sotexpro and starch manufacturer Roquette have teamed up to offer new prospects for meat substitution using a pea-based texturiser.
Planning law 'must stem fast food tide'
Shadow minister for public health Diane Abbott has called for tougher local planning controls to restrict the proliferation of fast food outlets in poor inner city areas. She says the outlets are feeding the obesity epidemic afflicting the nation.
Big plans for the food and drink industry
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has announced plans to grow the food and drink manufacturing sector by 20% by 2020.
'First' fast tray sealers without compressed air
Packaging Automation (PA) has revealed that the next evolution of its Eclipse range of high-speed tray heat sealing machines will be the first in the UK to operate entirely without any compressed air.
'Revolutionary' delabeller strips products clean
Pioneering technology is claimed to lie behind a machine designed to remove labels from most sizes of jars, bottles or plastic bottles.
Innophos puts cash into low sodium options
Innophos is investing in global manufacturing to boost efficiency and production as it continues to launch new phosphate-based ingredients for the food industry.
Industry must wait for allergen action levels
Manufacturers will to have to wait for the findings of the International Life Science Institute's (ILSI's) Food Allergy Task Force on allergens to be published before they will know whether 'action levels' for their operations are possible, claims the...
New course targets food industry employees
Hartpury College will launch a part-time higher level study skills programme for food industry staff at Foodex 2012, at the NEC in Birmingham from March 25-27.
Race to win 2012 Olympics gold
The food and drink supply chain is gearing up to ensure consumers are kept fed and watered during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Greencore ends courtship with mystery suitor
Greencore has reported healthy results as it confirmed that takeover talks with a “mystery suitor” were now at an end. It has also announced it is seeking inclusion in the FTSE UK Index Series.
Foil tray manufacturer works for a greener future
Foil tray manufacturer Nicholl Food Packaging is one of the firm's behind Alupro's (the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation's) recycling and awareness-building programme. This has enabled foil to qualify for the Widely Recycled at Recycling Points...
Smokin' hot
Huw Griffiths tells Rod Addy how he took Besmoke from farmers' market to supermarket
Are plastics fit for tomorrow's consumer?
Food packaging will need to adapt to major changes in demographics, social trends and the supply chain in the future. Just what this could mean for the industry emerged in a recent series of seminars.
Fall in line
Food factories can be dangerous places. John Dunn looks at ways to make them safer
Sweet on stevia
Does stevia have the wings to get the sugar-free/ tooth-friendly confectionery market off the ground? Lynda Searby reports
Automation to survive the storm
Momentum is growing for greater capital investment by small and medium-sized food and drink manufacturers (SMEs) to improve their productivity. This is despite the harsh economic environment facing the sector and problems reported by some SMEs in...
Software boosts stock traceability and productivity
Poultry, chilled, frozen and bakery products supplier 2 Sisters Food Group has installed a Microsoft Dynamics navigation-based LINKFresh supply chain business management system from Anglia Business Solutions.
Twin action peaks slicing capacity for bacon
To improve bacon slicing capacity, Weber has launched twin log slicing of bacon primals on its 904 machine, which is supplied by Interfood Technology.
Food industry could be hit by GLA budget cuts
The policing of food industry employment standards could suffer if the Gangmasters Licensing Authority's (GLA's) remit widens while its budget is cut, as is feared.
Two new protein and fibre nuggets for snack bars
Solae has developed a new protein and fibre nugget, Supro 138, and a new soya protein isolate, Supro 430, for use in nutrition and snack bars.
Cut monoglyceride costs by 30%
AB Enzymes has launched the most recent addition to its Veron baking enzyme range: a monoglyceride replacer called Veron GMS+.
Infra-red oven has jars of efficiency
A custom-made, carbon infra-red oven from Heraeus Noblelight has boosted the efficiency of Premier Foods' Loyd Grossman cooking sauce production line by 10%..
Enemy of the obese state
Shadow minister for public health Diane Abbott is no friend of the food industry or the coalition government's health policy. Reports Rick Pendrous
Courtauld waste targets 'realistic'
The limited reduction in supply chain product and packaging waste in the latest phase of the Courtauld Commitment is due to its relative recent introduction as a target, said the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).