Red Tractor launches initiatives to improve scheme
A “raft of initiatives” has been launched by the Red Tractor quality assurance scheme in a bid to improve its effectiveness and provide increased scrutiny of the supply chain.
Archives for February 2, 2015
Shepherd Neame brewery fined for severed finger
Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewery business, has been ordered to pay more than £11,000 for safety failings, after a young worker suffered a severed finger in an unguarded machine.
Coding errors reduced at Greencore soup factory
Greencore Prepared Meals’s Kiveton site has reduced the risk of coding and packaging errors thanks to the expertise of systems integrator AutoCoding Systems.
Nairns Oatcakes raises its capacity with a second line
Edinburgh-based biscuit manufacturer Nairns Oatcakes has raised its production capacity with a new fully automated line, which includes a second CW3 combination checkweigher and metal detection unit from Loma Systems. Both of its production lines are...
Kingsmill sources 100% sustainable palm
Kingsmill manufacturer Allied Bakeries (AB) will use 100% sustainable palm oil and derivatives in its products, the bread giant announced on January 30.
Seabrook Crisps launches a new resealable pack
Yorkshire-based Seabrook Crisps has teamed up with Macfarlane Labels to launch an innovative, easy open and re-closeable labelling system for a new range of lattice hand-cooked crisps.
Broad spectrum test detects residue antibiotics in milk
Dutch company QLIP, which carries out composition and quality checks on farm milk samples for dairy firms in the Netherlands, is using the Delvotest T equipment from DSM Food Specialties as the national reference test to detect antibiotic residues in milk.
FSA welcomes fish fraud conviction
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has welcomed the conviction of Michael Redhead, company director of Michael Redhead Associates Limited, for food fraud after hoodwinking Iceland Foods.
Better transparency for composites
Greater transparency is available in high barrier composite polypropylene (PP)/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) /PP containers made by RPC Containers at Corby, thanks to its investment in new injection stretch blow moulding technology.
UK beer sales grow for first time in a decade
UK beer sales rose by 1.3% in 2014 ending a decade-long decline for the drink, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).
FSA names temporary food crime unit head
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has temporarily appointed Richard Hoskin as the head of the newly created Food Crime Unit (FCU), with the title head of food crime, incidents and resilience.
Bright Food to eat up all its Weetabix
Weetabix has refused to confirm or deny whether one of China’s largest food companies is preparing to buy out the firm completely, despite city analysts calling the move “inevitable”.
FDF palm oil guide launched
Sustainable palm oil use among food and drink manufacturers will be encouraged by the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF’s) new sustainable palm oil guide.
Risk assessment call for critical food-contact components
Suppliers of adhesives and other critical components in food-contact packaging should carry out as much risk assessment as possible on potential by-products and decomposition products, rather than leaving this to downstream supply chain partners, a food...
Up to 56 Walkers Crisps Leicester jobs face axe
PepsiCo plans up to 56 job cuts at its Leicester Walkers Crisps factory, the snacks and drinks giant has confirmed.
Seventh buyout for flavours firm
Flavours and fragrances firm Nactis Flavours has completed its acquisition of the €14M turnover Belgian flavours and fragrances firm Robertet Savoury.
Baby food moved using vacuum conveyor system
An unnamed baby food manufacturer has boosted productivity by installing a flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) filler and vacuum conveyor system from Spiroflow.
Hygienic transfer of bulk foods
A new sanitary belt conveyor for transporting bulk foods on processing and packaging distribution lines has been introduced by Key Technology.
Prebiotic fibre inulin health claim given
Beneo has gained a 13.5 health claim for its prebiotic fibre inulin for improving the effect on bowel function by increasing stool frequency.
Meat processing demos in Copenhagen
Marel’s annual Meat ShowHow event on March 4 in Copenhagen will provide visitors with a chance to see the company’s equipment in action.
Vimto puts a great sparkle into Nichols' trading results
Vimto soft drinks maker Nichols has reported positive trading results for the second half of 2014, in a statement released last month.
Supermarket price war ‘saves shoppers £5/week’
The supermarket price war has saved shoppers up to £5 a week over the past year, according to an independent shopping and comparison website.
DAIRY CRISIS
Dairy Crest avoids milk price cut
Dairy processors have halted milk price cuts for the time being, as the market struggles to right itself.
Food manufacturing: Good week, bad week
How was your business week – tough, terrific or just indifferent? In this new occasional series, the Food Manufacture Group takes a sideways look at the week’s food and industry news.