In his first regular column for Food Manufacture, Rod Addy of the Provision Trade Federation, explores the fragile ground we find ourselves on and provides an honest outlook of the future of food production.
The weakness of the pound has hit food manufacturers’ profits, despite a rise in export orders over the past three months, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI’s) latest quarterly Industrial Trends Survey.
Speciality cake and bread manufacturer Finsbury Food Group has posted a small rise in sales in its pre-close trading statement, despite a fall in sales from its overseas operations.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has repeated calls for barrier-free access to the EU’s Single Market after Brexit, following food industry calls for continued access to its 500M customers.
Brexit poses no threat to businesses, believes 74% of manufacturers, including food and drink firms, while consumer confidence dropped to a six-month low.
Food producers that limit themselves to short-term innovation are missing out on the same commercial opportunities exploited by smaller firms and start-ups, the head of a research company has suggested.
Morrisons can expect financial problems ahead caused by store closures, Brexit and the National Living Wage, HSBC Global Research predicted ahead of the retailer’s third-quarter trading update on November 3.
Up 100 jobs could be created after discount retailer Lidl announced plans to build a new distribution centre at industrial estate Eurocentral in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Food manufacturers face an £8bn-plus opportunity to target the frozen food market, according to a new report from the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF).
Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported a 3% rise in revenue during its third-quarter compared with the same period last year, as the business benefited from the weakening pound after the UK vote to quit the EU.
Food and drink business leaders were more outward-looking at this year’s Business Leaders’ Forum (BLF) ahead of a “positive” year in the food industry, despite various challenges it faces.
Business interruption (BI) remains the biggest threat facing companies in 2016, with cyber-attacks, geo-political instability and technology failure new potential drivers of losses, according to the latest findings from insurance company Allianz.
The boss of Adnams brewery has joined food industry executives and other business leaders in backing the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI’s) campaign in support of Britain’s EU membership.
Tesco boss Dave Lewis has said sorry to the retail giant’s suppliers, together with its customers and other stakeholders for “the bad choices of the past”, made in the relentless pursuit of unsustainable profit.
Uncertainty in the lead up to the general election is causing food firms to put on hold plans for capital investment and freeze their employees pay, even though the economy has picked up, a leading economist has claimed.
Cash injections of up to £50,000 will be given to small food and drink firms, following the creation of six new Food Enterprise Zones by the environment secretary Elizabeth Truss.
Britain's dairy producers are optimistic about their prospects for the future, despite the pain now being suffered by low milk prices, a survey of the sector has revealed.
Support offered to small firms by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) is “ineffective and holding back the growth prospects” of British businesses, including food manufacturers, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Pork processing giant Cranswick has posted positive trading results for the first half (1H) of the year, while analysts believe it has secured new business.
Welsh food and drink manufacturers have a better chance of avoiding insolvency than firms across the UK as a whole, according to research from insolvency trade body R3.
Sales of wraps, sandwich thins and gluten-free products have helped Warburtons offset “difficult” trading conditions to increase turnover and operating profit in the 52 weeks to September 28 2013.
New rules requiring all large firms to undertake mandatory energy efficiency assessments could end up being a major cost burden unless the findings are used to introduce savings in the businesses, warns a leading environmental consultancy.
Chancellor George Osborne used the Autumn Statement today (December 5) to insist that his plans to revive the British economy were working. But shadow chancellor Ed Balls dismissed the claims as “complacent boasts”. Here we capture the key points of the...
Food and non-food volume sales are falling, indicating ordinary people are not feeling the benefits of economic recovery in Europe and the UK yet, according to market analyst Information Resources (IRI).
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the UK’s food and drink manufacturing sector is set to rise in 2014 as business confidence rises, according to leading UK business and financial advisory firm Grant Thornton.
New product development activity in the pizza market is focusing on authentic and traditional-style pizzas, gourmet ingredients and toppings and healthier alternatives, according to Lu Ann Williams, director of innovation at Innova Market Insights.
British food and drink manufacturers are stepping up investment, reflecting growing optimism about business prospects, according to a survey by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).
Proposed job cuts at Unilever’s factory in Norwich, reflect broader business strategy to focus on profitable areas, and similar future moves cannot be ruled out, according to analyst Clive Black.
Dalehead Foods has unveiled a new multi-million pound abattoir and production facility in Spalding, Lincolnshire, which it hopes will boost British pork exports to the US.
Food and drink firms have emerged as the key players in a projected rise of manufacturing output that experts hope will help pull the economy out of the double-dip recession it is experiencing.
Half of UK businesses are wasting thousands of pounds on IT support when they could be spending less by streamlining their systems for business advantage, according to a enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems specialist.
Food and drink manufacturers are optimistic about sales for the remainder of the year, according to the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF’s) latest Food and Drink Business Confidence survey.
Recruiters are seeing the strongest rise in demand for permanent staff in engineering roles at a time when many employers face a “make-or-break moment”.
Lack of investment from risk-adverse bankers is threatening food and drink manufacturers’ ability to spearhead the export-led economic recovery long predicted by government ministers.
2 Sisters Food Group’s chilled food business Brookes Avana, acquired from Premier Foods last year, will be returned to profitability within two years, according to its new owners.
Stronger sales, rising reputation and technological innovation are three reasons for UK food and drink manufacturers to feel optimistic this autumn, Chris Buxton, ceo of the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA ), tells FoodManufacture.co.uk.
