Cost

Switching prime land to biofuels is 'indefensible', claims Nestlé

29-May-2007

Switching prime agricultural land over to biofuel production is "economically and ecologically indefensible", Nestlé has claimed.Nestlé...

Put brakes on transport costs

08-May-2007

The food industry bemoans being forced by powerful buyers to operate on low profit margins for most lines. Not only are margins low and under...

Shelf-ready packaging (SRP) may be all about in-store efficiencies and on-shelf availability, but is its impact on efficiency and space availability on supplier production lines taken into consideration? asks Paul Gander

One fifth of Unilever research posts to go

27-Nov-2006

Unilever has rejected suggestions that it is reducing its commitment to research and development (R&D) after a decision to slash more than 20% of...

Aluminium cans lead the price hike for materials

27-Nov-2006

After 12 months of rising energy and materials costs, packaging manufacturers are planning double-digit price increases, with aluminium food and...

Firms will invest to boost manufacturing efficiency

30-Oct-2006

Better efficiency will be the primary reason for food and drink manufacturers investing in plant, machinery and buildings in the next year, rather...

And the beet goes on ... but not at our expense, say firms

02-Oct-2006

British Sugar defends above-average deal

Get a handle on your costs

02-May-2006

I have written before about the way manufacturers respond to retailer 'requests' for supply chain redesign. I have urged all suppliers to get a...

Rising energy costs and closures push up corrugated materials prices

29-Mar-2006

Buyers of corrugated cases and trays are being faced with price increases of between five and 12% as costs in the energy-intensive paper industry...

Higher energy bills force firms to chop jobs

01-Feb-2006

More than 25,000 jobs have been cut across Britain's manufacturing industry over the last three month as employers tried to offset the impact of...

Energy costs could trigger plastics rationalisation

01-Feb-2006 By Paul Gander

Soaring energy prices on top of raw material and labour costs could see UK plastics packaging leading a Europe-wide process of consolidation in the...

Job losses and investment go hand in hand at UK dairy firm

05-Dec-2005

Sixty jobs are to be axed at UK dairy giant Arla Foods following a major restructuring move last month.The jobs, mainly senior and middle management...

Taste matters with NPD

06-Oct-2005

Retailer to supplier:“I want you to develop a premium product that is better than anything our competitors make. Oh, and by the way, can you make...

No hiding place

06-Oct-2005

It is interesting how few food manufacturers have a hard measure of the profits they really make from individual customers. An ambient food...

Radical overhaul needed for foodservice supply chain

06-Oct-2005 By Elaine Watson

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has commissioned new research to explore ways of reducing costs in the distribution leg between frozen food...