Business Leaders' Forum

Unilever: no change to operations, locations, activities, staffing levels or supply of products in UK, Netherlands

Unilever restructures under UK parent company

By Rod Addy

Unilever, the name behind Wall's ice cream, PG Tips tea and Pot Noodle, plans to restructure under one UK parent company, Unilever Plc, abandoning dual oversight from the UK and The Netherlands.

The Co-op has achieved the biggest sales growth of all bricks and mortar grocery retailers in the 12-week period

Coronavirus drives grocery sales to record growth

By Rod Addy

The coronavirus pandemic led take-home grocery sales to grow at their fastest rate since records began in 1994, with the Co-op leading the charge, according to figures from market analyst Kantar.

Energy bill savings offered by BMPA

Energy bill savings offered by BMPA

By Aidan Fortune

The British Meat Processors’ Association (BMPA) has urged any firm involved in the slaughter, cutting, processing or refrigerated storage of red meat to avail of its Climate Change Levy Scheme which offers significant energy bill savings.

Among other initiatives, Tesco has supplied more than £1m for stores to support local community causes

Tesco coronavirus efforts hailed by analyst

By Rod Addy

Tesco “deserves immense credit and thanks” for its “almost military-like programme of work” surrounding the coronavirus crisis, according to Shore Capital head of research Clive Black.

Coronavirus cases in the UK had reached 590 by 12 March

Coronavirus: Morrisons moves to back suppliers

By Rod Addy

The Coronavirus outbreak has prompted Morrisons to launch measures to support suppliers after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK had shifted to the 'Delay' phase in its efforts to tackle the virus.

C&C Group lists cider brands Magners and Bulmers among its portfolio

Magners maker in hunt for new boss

By Noli Dinkovski

Magners and Tennent’s maker C&C Group is on the lookout for a new chief executive after Stephen Glancey announced his intention to retire.

Jack Hamilton talked to Food Manufacture about what lies ahead for the comapny

Mash Direct marching toward growth in 2020

By Gwen Ridler

Growth in 2019, the rise of veganism and “import substitution” are all key to supporting growth for Mash Direct in 2020, according to chief executive Jack Hamilton.

From left to right: Sarah Hall, Caroline Fairburn-Wright, Judy Fairburn, Daniel Fairburn, Sarah Louise Fairburn

Me and my team

Cracking the market with LJ Fairburn

By Daniel Fairburn

LJ Fairburn MD Daniel Fairburn outlines how the firm has seen rapid expansion from a contract supplier to a fully integrated hen and egg supply business.

Meadow Foods employs more than 430 people and handles more than 550m litres of milk each year

Meadow Foods invests amid strong growth

By Rod Addy

Dairy ingredients firm Meadow Foods has posted significant profit and sales growth in the year to 31 March 2019 amid continued capital expenditure, vowing to invest a further £8m by April this year.

Food Manufacture's Business Leaders' Forum is held every January and takes the form of a morning's debate on key industry topics

Business leaders prepare for industry summit

By Rod Addy

Food industry leaders are preparing for Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum on 21 January, with a packed programme set to address key issues and frame the agenda for 2020.

The Conservative party won 43.6% of the vote, translating into 364 seats, while the Labour Party won 32.2%, giving it 203 seats

Industry responds to election result

By Rod Addy

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) congratulated Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his victory as General Election results on Friday 13 December showed the Tories had won by a comfortable margin.

The Business Leaders' Forum offers excellent networking opportunities and is held according to Chatham House rules

Business Leaders' Forum to feature exclusive research

By Rod Addy

Food Manufacture's Business Leaders' Forum will feature the results of an exclusive survey of industry bosses on a range of hot topics in the industry, including Brexit and environmental concerns.

Unilever announced two major acquisitions in the past 13 months, as well as scrapping plans to relocate to Rotterdam

Unilever shuts down tea sale rumours

By Rod Addy

Unilever has refuted rumours it is planning to sell off its tea business, including its PG Tips and Lipton brands, shutting down a report by the Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

Could Towerbrook win a bidding war for Fox's?

Fox’s sale key to 2 Sisters’ turnaround plans

By Dan Colombini

2 Sisters Food Group’s disposal of the Fox’s Biscuits business will be key to a major turnaround at the firm after it posted an upturn in performance for the fourth quarter of this year, experts have claimed.

Geoff Eaton is to chair next year’s Business Leaders’ Forum

Business Leaders’ Forum

Geoff Eaton to chair Business Leaders’ Forum

By Rod Addy

Geoff Eaton, New England Seafood International chairman and chairman of the judges for the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards, is to chair Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum on 21 January next year.

Thanet Earth - one of Fresca Group's biggest businesses - grows vegetables such as tomatoes using hydroponics

Fresh produce supplier reveals mixed performance

By Rod Addy

Fresca Group has reported mixed results in its latest financial period as the name behind Thanet Earth and Manor Fresh invested in growth in banana provision, while the hot 2018 summer affected performance.

Under the terms of the deal, Danish Crown will continue to supply Danish pork to Tulip Ltd under a long-term supply agreement

Pilgrim’s Pride completes Tulip acquisition

By Rod Addy

Tulip Ltd will operate as a business unit within the Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, the company announced as it confirmed its acquisition of the UK meat processor from Danish Crown.

Simpson-Daniel (l), Howard (r)

Clearly Drinks acquires Revolution Waves

By Rod Addy

Sunderland-based branded soft drinks manufacturer Clearly Drinks has invested in flavoured water brand Revolution Waves for an undisclosed sum.

Jack Bostock (left) and Tom Kitchen-Dunn will appear on BBC Two’s Dragon’s Den this Sunday (22 September)

Online meat business to appear on Dragons’ Den

By Noli Dinkovski

A West Yorkshire meat business that offers vetted farmers a direct selling route to consumers is to pitch for funds on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den this Sunday (22 September).

The report reveals the latest R&D trends

Top 15 food firms disclose £900m+ R&D spend

By Rod Addy

The UK's top 15 food processors spent more than £900m annually on research and development, according to the latest available data, with the lion's share of that invested by Unilever.

Mak Tok’s William Chew faced the Dragons (pictured) to secure an investment and their invaluable knowledge. Image © BBC

Mak Tok founder on Dragons’ Den appearance

By Gwen Ridler

Mak Tok founder William Chew talks to Food Manufacture about his appearance on last week’s episode of the hit BBC show Dragons’ Den, and what drove him to pitch for investment in his chilli paste company.

Scottish seafood exports grew to 2,630 tonnes last year

Scottish seafood exports to Japan up 340%

By Gwen Ridler

Scottish seafood exports to Japan more than quadrupled last year, as a contingent of seafood companies head east to bolster the export trend.

Smith: ‘We chose to handmake our products because, once you focus on large-scale production, all of a sudden it’s high volume, low price and you end up just churning something out’

Me and my team

Fatherson Bakery: Taking homemade to heart

By Laurence Smith

Fatherson Bakery owner and managing director Laurence Smith explains how his experience of bigger businesses is helping the company ‘punch above its weight’.

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