Inside food & drink manufacturing
Bread bakers should be prepared to face further reductions in salt levels when new limits are set by the Department of Health (DH) later this year – despite hitting their 2012 targets and reducing levels by 40% over the past decade.
Soft drinks firm Britvic is to close two factories and a warehouse, placing up to 400 jobs in jeopardy, in a bid to slash costs by £30M by 2016.
Pork processor Karro Food Group has appointed Brian Stein as a non-executive director.
A Far Eastern food firm could snap up UK crisp brand Tyrrells, which is reportedly up for sale for £100M.
The British Poultry Council (BPC) has appointed Andrew Large as its new chief executive, following the retirement of Peter Bradnock after a 22-year tenure.
Chilled food manufacturer Greencore will continue to benefit from the long-term trend towards convenience food but, in the UK, the horsemeat scandal is continuing to depress its performance.
Britain’s leading bakery brand owner Warburtons has completed the purchase of speciality bread and pastry manufacturer Giles Foods, for an undisclosed sum.
Consumer watchdog Which? has called for tougher penalties for those convicted of horsemeat fraud and more co-ordinated food surveillance.
The government is to launch a plan to reduce the nation’s reliance on food and drink imports and increase consumption of UK produce.