Brussels sprouts 25% bigger this Christmas
Brussel sprouts are set to be up to 25% bigger this Christmas thanks to new varieties and good growing conditions, according to Tesco.
Trends & Analysis
Quality Street top pick for consumers as Christmas
Brits will be giving the gift of chocolate this Christmas as Quality Street is named to top brand shared among 25-34 year olds this December, according to new research by OnePoll.
UK shops healthier as consumers cut back at Christmas
UK consumers are reducing the amount they eat and drink over Christmas, as overindulgence makes way for healthier choices and smarter purchasing this festive period.
5 big moments of 2024
As another year draws to a close, Food Manufacture’s editor reflects on some of the biggest moments of the year and their impact on the food and drink industry.
Food Manufacture’s favourite NPD of 2024
This year has been chock full of brilliant new product launches form food and drink manufacturers. Food Manufacture counts down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 of its favourite NPD of 2024.
Carnivore comeback: UK meat sales rising
Fresh meat and poultry sales rising, whilst plant-based falls, NIQ data reveals
Triple whammy hit on manufacturers could see food prices rise by 4.9%
UK food businesses will face significant financial challenges next year, with food bills in 2025 having increased by 40% over the last five years, Institute of Grocery Distribution finds.
Budget worries impacting SME confidence
Nearly half of UK small businesses say National Insurance increases in the budget will negatively impact them as they struggle with taxes and costs like energy and property.
Sustainability and health key drivers in pet food purchases
Sustainability is the key driver for pet food purchases, with consumers more likely to purchase healthier options for their furry family members, according to new research.
UK remains committed to EU imports
The UK’s food and beverage sector remains committed to EU imports, according to a new report from the European Commission (EC).
More than 90% of supermarket loyalty prices offer ‘genuine’ savings
A new investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that 92% of loyalty priced products in supermarkets offer ‘genuine’ savings against the usual price.
Will UPF debates force a shift in food and drink manufacturing?
Just weeks after the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee published the results of its eagerly awaited enquiry, Food Manufacture brought together six experts to discuss how conversations around ultra processed are shaping the sector.
Feature
Driving sustainability in food and drink manufacturing
Sustainability is the buzz word of the hour for manufacturers, but how is the food and drink industry adapting their practices to better serve the environment and where can they draw inspiration from to start lowering emissions across their supply chains?
News
UK FMCG growth recovery lags behind European neighbours
Spain and Italy are propelling FMCG growth, amidst sluggish recovery across Northern European, finds Circana’s latest FMCG Demand Signals report.
News
Alternative protein innovation falls
Innovation in plant-based and cultivated meat has dropped, according to the latest patent data from Appleyard Lees.
News
Shrinking portions encourage fall in meat consumption
Smaller portion sizes prove to be more effective than meat-free days in driving Brits meat consumption down, researchers find.
Long read
7 major food safety risks
Food Manufacture’s editor summarises the biggest risks flagged at this year’s annual Food Safety Briefing.
News
Consumer confidence and spending trends
Savanta’s Q3 Consumer Compass 2024 report highlights where European consumers are tightening their wallets and what’s influencing their purchases when they do spend.
Short read
How to win in sustainability
Although UK consumers want to make sustainable decisions when it comes to their food shop, consumers say it’s too difficult to identify a sustainable product.
News
Sustainability action needed now or there will be no industry by 2030
Food and drink firms need to collaborate and take action now to become more sustainable, or there won’t be an industry by 2030, members of industry were warned at the launch of the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF’s) Ambition 2030 sustainability strategy.
News
House of Lords health and obesity recommendations 2024
Following several evidence gathering sessions, the House of Lords has published a set of recommendations for the Government to address diet-related illness in the UK. Here’s an easy breakdown of the main takeaways.
News
Retailers urged to set targets for plant-based sales
Three major eco-advocates have team up to develop a standardised way for retailers to compare their meat and plant-based protein sales, encouraging them to favour the latter.
News
Lidl triples plant-based range
Lidl has announced plans to more than triple its range of plant-based products after demand saw double digit growth over the past year.
Feature
Bakery manufacturing trends and insights October 2024
Food Manufacture explores the trends driving NPD and production in bakery as well as analysing how to adapt to the challenges surrounding ingredients sourcing in today’s tough geopolitical climate.
News
More than half of UK food packaged in ‘unnecessary’ plastic
More than half of the food found in UK supermarkets is packaged in unnecessary plastic that could be replaced with alternatives, according to a new report from sustainable packaging firm DS Smith.
News
82% of consumers agree this is missing from supermarket shelves
There is good news for international brands wanting to target the UK market, as research finds 90% of Brits are open to trying new international flavours.
News
Organic outperforms conventional food market
Organic food and drink outperformed the conventional market in the past year, as the sector ‘bounced back’ from the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.
News
Demand for British brands on the rise in the US
British brands are growing in popularity in the US, with more than a third of consumers likely to purchase UK products, but price pressures are hindering their growth of the market.
News
The future of food standards in the UK at risk: FSA report
Ongoing shortages of key food safety and standards professionals are threatening the future of food standards in the UK, according to a new report from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
Food Forensics
Are heavy metals an emerging risk in tomatoes and salad crops?
Amid reports of cadmium contamination in tomatoes and in anticipation of Food Manufacture's upcoming Food Safety Briefing later this month, food safety expert Alison Johnson examines the gravity of this heavy metal threat.
Long read
Christmas food and drink trends 2024
As the leaves begin to turn brown and the heating is switched on, Food Manufacture explores what will be popular F&B picks among consumers shopping baskets this Christmas.
Short read
The biggest threats to UK food safety
The UK is known for its commitment to food safety, but the last few years have given way to new opportunities for unscrupulous activity. As the saying goes, we are only as strong as our weakest link – are you ready for what's to come...?
News
UK red meat exports hit £860m in first half of 2024
UK red meat exports were worth £860m in the first half of 2024, with the market on track to hit record volumes reported in 2022.
Feature
Drivers and developments in free-from food production
As consumers seek free-from food products for both dietary and lifestyle reasons, Food Manufacture explores the major trends driving growth in the market and key considerations producers need to take into account when manufacturing these products.
News
Campden BRI invests in new wine lab
Campden Wine Services, based at the Surrey Research Park in Guildford, has opened its doors to spur on opportunities in wine UK production.
News
5 new UK retail partnerships
Food Manufacture rounds up the latest products claiming online and bricks and mortar shelf space in the UK.
News
Brewdog RTD cocktail brand secures major 680-strong listing win
The Wonderland Cocktails range from Brewdog Distilling Co., is now available in 460 Sainsbury’s stores and 220 Waitrose locations across the UK.
News
AHDB leads UK cover crop research project
A network on regional cover crop champions have been appointed across the UK to address complications associated with this farming technique and share lessons.
Feature
You are what you eat
Food Manufacture explores the movement towards ‘mood inspired’ products within food and drink and the trends you should be keeping top of mind.
News
5 F&B NPD launches
Health, costs and fakeaways continue to be a big hits among new product launches, as Food Manufacture rounds up the latest food and drink SKUs to hit UK retailers.
Opinion
Guinness: from grandad brand to cult favourite
Scott Dixon, managing director at flavours firm, The Flava People, shares the lessons industry can take from Guinness' marketing transformation.
News
Global poultry market buoyant but oversupply could tip the scales
Following years of slow growth, the global poultry market is returning to historic levels as worldwide poultry consumption is forecast to reach 2.5-3% in 2024.
Trends
No tricks, only treats this Halloween
As the days get shorter and the nights darker, we explore some of the spooky trends that food and drink manufacturers will want to look out for in the run up to Halloween 2024.
Short read
How to win a Food Manufacture Excellence award
Entering a competition can be daunting – questions such as ‘am I good enough to stand out’ and ‘how and where do I even start my entry’ may flit across your mind – but if you’re keen to enter, you absolutely should!
News
Cultivated meat 'breakthrough' addresses scalability challenges
Cultivated meat could soon be produced at scale and made more accessible to consumers, thanks to a ‘breakthrough’ in production techniques.
News
Food Standards Scotland debunks 3 UPF myths
The public sector food body for Scotland has published three things we know so far around processing to help consumers make sense of ultra processed foods, as the topic continues to garner increasing interest.
New £38m alternative proteins research centre launched
A new £38m centre dedicated to developing planet-friendly alternative proteins has been launched by the University of Leads.
Feature
Slicing simplified: from knife to ultrasonic waves
In this exclusive cutting and slicing round-up, we look at how different food manufacturers in different segments – cheese, fudge, sandwiches and cake – handle their cutting operations following the introduction of machinery.
News
Manufacturers capitalise on air fryer trend with government support
Food manufacturers are getting help to capitalise on the air fryer cooking trend with support from the Welsh Government.
Short read
Disrupting downtime: How to reduce manufacturing downtime
John Calder, technical director at Dura Pump, discusses methods to eliminate downtime within the food and drink manufacturing sector.