Scots meat firm blames rising costs for administration
Rising costs and sharp competition have been blamed for forcing Scottish meat processor Caithness Beef and Lamb into administration.
Archives for April 30, 2012
Could your firm win one of our top food and drink manufacturing awards?
The 2012 Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards, which celebrate the very best food and drink processors in the business, will be launched this month.
Retail is no level playing field
Sir,As a 60+ executive, who spent his life serving retailers in the fast- moving consumer goods sector, including the food industry, I felt it imperative to respond to the editor's view in the March issue of Food Manufacture on the imbalance between the...
United Biscuits cuts crisp wastage by the throat
Lock Inspection Systems has cut product wastage on United Biscuits' (UB's) multi-bag crisp packing lines by retrofitting 62 throat metal detectors.
BHJ launches first natural protein for pork products
Meat ingredients specialist BHJ UK Protein Foods has introduced its first highly functional, natural pork protein for use in injected cooked and cured pork products.
Shrink sleeves open drinks route to younger audience
Beverage brands eager to have their cake and eat it are increasing their use of full-length, limited- edition shrink sleeves alongside established branding on more traditional, labelled bottles.
In eggcess
"Let them eat brioche," famously uttered Marie Antoinette. "And if you can't get hold of any eggs to make one, use an enzyme and protein-based alternative," she added, but the history books failed to preserve. The French would do well to heed this...
A retort on the use of retorts
Sir,Your story on the use of microwave pasteurisation at S&R Foods (Food Manufacture, May 2011) said products placed near the walls of retorts tend to be overcooked to ensure those nearer the centre are cooked. This is simply not the case with retorts,...
Turkey firm Cranberry Foods acquired by Faccenda
The UK’s second biggest turkey producer Cranberry Foods has been acquired by leading poultry producer Faccenda, for an undisclosed sum, to form one of the country’s largest food manufacturers.
New film offers 'significant' shelf-life extension
Retail trials using Sirane's Sira-Flex Resolve have reported four additional days' shelf-life with potatoes and significant results with other fruit and vegetables.
No small fry
We have a three-year plan to take sales to north of £25M. In 2007 we were at £2M, last year we were at £12M and this year we are at £15M.
All change in the world of low-fat dairy culture
Bioscience firm Chr Hansen has launched a series of new YoFlex and probiotic Nu-trish yogurt cultures with texturing properties that perform in low-fat milk.
Fry a coat of healthier colours
JBT FoodTech has developed an integrated in-line dry-fry system to process coated products with up to 50% less oil pick-up.
Shortening to raise nutritional profile
Bakery ingredients supplier AAK has invested in new product development to help firms meet market pressures for cost-effective clean-label products that don't adversely affect the quality, texture and taste of food.
Milk the benefits of new asceptic processing line technology
New technology for aseptic white milk shortens processing time by up to 90% and cuts operating costs by up to 50%.
'World first' in heat sealing
Packaging Automation (PA) is claiming a "world first" and major technology breakthrough in its all-electric heat sealing range.
BHJ UK's bullish charge into halal sector with beef protein
Increased demand for halal products has driven proteins supplier BHJ UK into that market after securing official certification for its Scanpro Beef 95 functional protein ingredient.
Order of the tray
Margins are tight for ready meal makers, leaving packaging system suppliers with the unenviable task of providing functional, versatile and sustainable solutions at the right price.
Curry Queen
Eleven years have passed since I last visited Derby to interview Perween Warsi, the founder and chief executive of ethnic chilled ready meals producer S&A Foods. Much has changed in the world since then, but one thing has remained constant and that's her...
Risk-averse banks stifle small firms' growth
The problems small food firms face in getting loans from "risk averse" banks is threatening their ability to expand, according to experts.
Tamdhu Scotch whisky distillery gets brand new lease of life
Scotland's Tamdhu whisky distillery, which was mothballed in 2010 by its then owner the Edrington Group, is to be relaunched in 2013.
Young blood
"If you don't buck your ideas up and work harder at school, son, you'll end up in that god-awful food factory down the road." It's a phrase I've heard in various guises over the years and expresses the views held by many parents about the food...
Cold crown for energy enhancement
GEA Refrigeration Netherlands – a member company of GEA Refrigeration Technologies – won the Dutch Refrigeration Prize in February 2012 for its combination of a refrigerating plant and a heat pump called the Energy Enhancer.
Lead by the hose
The sixth edition of the British Retail Consortium's (BRC's) global standard for food safety (BRC6) kicked in in January this year. Food manufacturers now have to pay much more attention to their factory cleaning regimes and equipment if they want BRC...
Which food and drink owners made the Rich List?
More than 60 food and drink manufacturers, retailers and distributors were included in The Sunday Times Rich List, which spotlights the 1,000 wealthiest men and women in Britain.
Seaweed tried for weight loss and to replace salt
New evidence has emerged from Sheffield Hallam University that Seagreens seaweed can be used as an acceptable alternative to salt in bread and to contribute to weight loss and management.
Stevia makes ice cream with '30% fewer calories'
Stevia holds great potential for reformulation in dairy, according to Cargill.