Nestlé's decision to close its Hayes coffee plant by 2014 and transfer production to Tutbury in Derbyshire, follows hot on the heels of news that it planned to close its HQ in Croydon and move to Gatwick by the end of 2012.
Müller's announcement that it had launched an agreed takeover of Britain's "leading" liquid milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies was the biggest surprise of the past month.
More British food and drink firms could find themselves the targets of overseas takeovers this year, with some analysts predicting mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity surpassing the £4.2bn achieved in the UK last year.
The increasing value of pork in the UK has boosted sales at pork specialist Cranswick after the firm posted a strong performance in all categories in its latest financial statement, according to city analysts.
Food and drink products containing nanotechnology ingredients are unlikely to appear on UK supermarket shelves anytime soon, despite research into their use taking place in Asia, the US and Brazil.
Premier Foods is stepping up its Power Brand plan after announcing a major TV advertising push as md Michael Clarke continues his plan to stabilise the business after a troubled 2011.
The use of lactic acid to reduce microbiological surface contamination on poultry carcases and raw beef has been strongly supported by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board in view of its ability to “significantly” reduce the level of pathogens.
Demand from UK processors for frozen fish from Norway is expected to grow significantly, fuelled by lower prices and consumers’ preference for frozen product, according to industry experts.
Free sustainability training is being offered online to small-and-medium sized food and drink manufacturers in the UK as part of a European funded project to develop environmental awareness across the EU.
The government’s decision to review the advice issued on vitamin D after research identified large deficiencies among high risk groups has been backed by the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
Food manufacturers have backed the government’s new plan to boost UK food and drink exports to emerging markets such as India and China, which aims to help towards the drive for 20% industry growth by 2020.
The UK poultry industry in 2012 must tackle legal differences between the UK and other EU countries and soaring feed costs, according to Philip Wilkinson, director of 2 Sisters Food Group.
Premier Foods has refused to confirm or deny that Hartley’s Jam will be the next disposal at the firm after Manchester jam maker Duerr’s declared an interest in the business.
Ethnic food specialist The Authentic Food Company (TAFC) is expecting its Chinese ready-meal range to almost double in value to £20M, after partnering with chefs from Gordon Ramsay’s favourite Chinese restaurant.
Prime Minister David Cameron has received a letter from the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) urging him to ban imports of illegally-produced battery cage eggs.
Premier Foods’ £30M Brookes Avana deal with food group 2 Sisters is unlikely to result in complications with the competition authorities, according to city analysts.
The Premier Foods botulism case is no closer to being solved, despite the completion of “extensive” research, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed.
A strong performance from its UK carbonates division, lead by “substantial” Pepsi share gain, has boosted revenues at soft drinks manufacturer Britvic for the all-important Christmas period, according to city analysts.
Chilled food processors must remedy overcapacity and meet financial challenges, such as pension deficits, to realise the sector’s potential, according to Geoff Eaton, former chief executive of chilled firm Uniq.
Plugging the gaping skills gap in UK food and drink manufacturing is the subject of a free half-day conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on Monday March 26.
Unlikely allies billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and the Crop Protection Association Society (CPA) have both called for more research into high-tech food production systems, including Genetic Modification techniques, as a way to tackle food poverty.
Multi-million pound investment in the Scottish salmon industry has created more than 400 jobs over the past two years, a leading industry expert will tell a scientific meeting in Dundee this evening (January 24).
French pastries, such as brioche and pain au chocolat, are increasingly replacing traditional British baked goods, like English muffins, on the nation’s breakfast plates, according to new research from market research group Mintel.
Food manufacturers have reaffirmed their support for the introduction of a Groceries Code Adjudicator following yesterday’s (January 24) Opposition Day debate on rising food prices and poverty.
Food manufacturers have welcomed the government’s plans to hand local authorities new responsibility for public health, which will see more than £5bn handed out to curb issues such as obesity and binge drinking.
Cake manufacturer Finsbury Foods has reported strong growth in its latest trading update despite weak consumer confidence in the sector, according to city analysts.
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.
Evidence is emerging that sprouted seeds could present an unacceptable risk to human health unless effective control measures such as irradiation can be used to make them safer.
Food and drink manufacturers need urgently to attract a new generation of fresh talent, Jon Poole, chief executive of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) told FoodManufacture.co.uk. In this podcast, recorded at Food Manufacture's...
An unexpected rise in demand from Turkey contributed to rising beef prices in the EU at the end of last year, according to financial services firm Rabobank.
Scotch Beef, recently named as Great Britain’s biggest Scottish food and drink brand, this week received nearly £600,000 to help it boost exports to EU countries.
Food manufacturers have backed new “urgent” measures introduced by the European Parliament aimed at halving food waste by 2025 and improving access to food for EU citizens.
The health of UK food and drink manufacturing, government intervention in the industry and the struggling organic sector were just three of the hot topics at Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders' Summit. Here is a flavour, captured in quotes, of the...
The UK liquid milk market could be a target for further foreign takeovers following German yogurt maker Müller’s accepted offer for Robert Wiseman dairies earlier this week, analysts have said.
The British government’s apparent eagerness to gold-plate EU regulations can make the difference between profit and loss, delegates heard at Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Summit this week.
Higher sugar prices have lead to “encouraging” growth at Associated British Foods (ABF), according to city analysts, after the firm announced its latest financial results for the period ending January 7.
The use of innovative flavourings and a consumer drive for healthier food is expected to contribute to major growth in the UK frozen yogurt market, according to industry experts.
Nearly all (99%) of British egg producers are now fully compliant with EU legislation banning the use of battery cages, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Food firms in Scotland are taking further action to tackle the industry's skills shortage by launching a new initiative designed to attract more young people to the sector.
