This year is predicted by most leading UK food industry commentators to be one of the most significant ever in terms of political and regulatory scrutiny of the sector. It is also set to be one of economic and environmental uncertainty.
Food and drink manufacturers should check their preparations now for the new food labelling rules – due to be introduced on December 14 2014 – which will “change the goalposts”, according to law firm DWF.
Interest in food and drink mergers and acquisitions (M&A) should rise in 2014, according to a report shortly to be published by London-based Oghma Partners.
New York-style burger trends look set to influence new product development for the UK 2014 barbecue season, according to Carlos Diaz, food director at Food Innovation Solutions.
Warburtons is planning to create 60 jobs by building a £20M bakery dedicated to its Sandwich Alternatives lines next to existing facilities at Billington Road, Burnley, Lancashire.
Consumers will continue to feel squeezed during 2014, despite signs the UK economy is at last starting to improve, and this will lead political parties to try to outdo each other in their attempts to appear the ‘consumers’ champion’ in advance of the...
Nestlé, Kellogg and Asda are among those criticised by consumer group Children’s Food Campaign (CFC) for not doing enough to promote healthy eating as a government-backed scheme designed to do that launches.
Britain’s food industry is likely to face increasing political scrutiny and further calls for greater regulation over the coming year, according to leading food industry figures canvassed by this website.
More than half of Britain – 29M people or 55% of the population – tried to lose weight in the 12 months to September 2013, while diet food sales showed only modest growth, reveals research from Mintel.
Alan Reilly, chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), first thought the contamination of supermarket burgers with horsemeat was impossible but quickly realised the discovery would generate a “tsunami of horse manure”.
Chinese sauce manufacturers Helen and Lisa Tse – who started their food business with a £50,000 investment from the Dragons’ Den TV programme – have each been awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year’s honours list.
Small traditional turkey producers nationwide have raised £2,000 for the charity Help for Heroes, while one producer is treating Chelsea pensioners to a slap-up Christmas dinner.
Food manufacturing research and innovation are expected to be the focus of much attention early next month as two significant but separate announcements are made by government and the food industry.
Premier Foods’ refinancing deal, announced last week (December 19) is “a step in the right direction”, but investors will remain ambivalent until more progress is made, according to industry commentators.
Working within the food sector, there are few meetings I attend where the subject of skills in the sector, particularly the shortage of high-level skills, isn't mentioned. I have been closely associated with the sector only for the past four years...
So-called ‘superfoods’ are no “magic wand” to improve health and consumers should wake up to the fact that such foods are over-hyped, according to the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
Greencore’s plans to grow its ‘food-to-go’ sales in the US to a business worth between $0.5M and $1bn over the next five years are on track, according to its ceo Patrick Coveney.
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has welcomed government changes to minced meat labelling, giving shoppers more assurance lean options are low in fat.
Dairy cooperative First Milk faced bitter sweet developments this week, with news of green investment in its Haverfordwest creamery in Pembrokeshire soured by confirmation it would close its Wrexham cheese packing plant.
Centralising novel food regulation at EU level should allow safe and innovative food to reach the European market faster, the European Commission (EC) has said.
Dawn Meats plans to buy a significant minority stake in French beef processor Elivia from its owner, cooperative Terrena, amid aims to boost its global exports and increase efficiency.
Producing an extra two to four billion litres of UK milk annually will be a “significant challenge”, but will yield great financial benefits for the UK economy.
Eating one apple a day could prevent 8,500 deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes in the over 50s age group, according to a new report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Meat processor Dunbia is creating 208 jobs in Ceredigion, Wales, as a new contract with Sainsbury prompts it to invest £7.5M in a former Dairygold plant.
A cake resembling a Christmas turkey dinner has been created by UK baking ingredients manufacturer Renshaw and a Leicester-based professional cake decorator, in celebration of the festive season.
Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE’s) move to lay off 47 employees at its Wakefield site has prompted trades union Unite to schedule a demonstration over what it believes are unnecessary plans.
2 Sisters Food Group wrestled to right its balance sheet in the first quarter (Q1) of its current financial year, with weak profit performance casting a shadow on strong sales growth.
The Food Manufacture Group is staging a free one-hour webinar at 11am on Thursday February 20 2014 to arm food and drink manufacturers with all the latest information about the Food Information Regulation (FIR).
Global pharmaceutical firm Sanofi has said it was the victim of fraud, after French police raided its offices in France and arrested 21 people elsewhere, during investigations into claims that horsemeat used to develop medicines was sold illegally for...
The Real Good Food Company (RGFC) has appointed Andy Birkett as the new md for its dairy ingredients firm Garrett Ingredients, with effect from January 20 2014.
Flexitarianism will be the next ‘mega trend’ leading to sales of vegetarian foods in the UK to grow by 10% by 2016, according to food trends agency The Food People.
William Reed Business Media (WRBM) – publisher of this website and Food Manufacture magazine – has acquired the Allegra Foodservice business, formerly a division of Allegra Strategies.
Jobs are threatened at up to three retail outlets for Baxters Foods, which is best known for its soups, but which also makes sauces, condiments, jams and marmalades.
Top food manufacturing executives will set out the challenges, and some of the solutions, for the year ahead at Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum next month, according to its chairman Paul Wilkinson.
More negative online discussions surround aspartame than other sweeteners, as consumers become embroiled in the bitter debate surrounding the health benefits offered by sugar alternatives, a new study has claimed.
Pig producers have called on government for more support to assist growing exports to China. They also want it to resist mounting calls to lift the pig swill ban, fearing this could leave the sector open to exotic new diseases.
