Survey shows Supermarket Code is failing
Over half (52%) of UK food suppliers to supermarkets are unfamiliar with the Supermarket Code of Practice and even more (76%) don’t believe it...
Archives for August 27, 2007
FDF goes to war on salt report
Two-year government-funded study criticised for being unrepresentative and misleading
Bright white lights could be used as low-cost bug blitzer
... while HPP may lift the lid on crabs
Film studies
Research into edible films, coatings and marinades promises to revolutionise shelf-life issues. Catherine Quinn asks what's in the pipeline?
A cut above the rest ...
This year's Food Manufacture Excellence Awards feature an important new category: Personality of the Year.This title will be awarded to someone who...
Experts criticise NZ dairy report
UK dairy experts have slammed a study claiming the UK’s dairy production system causes significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than New...
Keyboard covers fend off dirt with ions
Inpace has incorporated silver ions into its Keyboard Gloves, which are used as a covering to protect computer keyboards and other hardware operated...
Large scale learnings
Greencore development manager Andy Bacon sees kitchen creations through the manufacturing process. Sarah Britton talks NPD with him
Global troubleshooters to offer food safety solutions
An online database of food safety consultants has been launched to help firms manage food safety, hygiene and quality risks throughout the food...
Greens put pressure on palm as oil prices hit boiling point
Environmental fall-out forces manufacturers to seek alternatives
A clean sweep
Manufacturers have their work cut out to keep pace with new developments in European hygiene legislation. But help is at hand, with new independent advice and training on the cards, says Rod Addy
Building for the future
Start-up food and drink businesses may lack affordable, practical training and facilities, but two projects offer a route forward, reports Rod Addy
Pumps automate sauce and mayonnaise packaging
Danish food dressing company Graasten Salater has installed six Grundfos NOVAlobe sanitary pumps to handle the transfer from production to packaging...
Pudding maker clips UK first
William Robertson and Sons on the outskirts of Edinburgh has become the first company in the UK to take delivery of a new Tipper Tie AlpinaSwipper C...
At it like knives
Slicing, dicing and cutting is the unlikely setting for some of the latest automated innovations in food processing, explains John Dunn
Greencore grows foodservice
Bosses plan to cut reliance on 'big five' by refocusing 20% of the business
120 to get their chips as smelly fries force job cuts
Potato processor McCain Foods plans to cut half the workforce at its Wombourne site in Staffordshire because of environmental problems caused by its...
Food manufacturers should get their own house in order
Marks & Spencer's chief executive Stuart Rose was recently seen giving up his Bentley and driving an environmentally friendly hydrogen-powered...
Beauty cream
It may be a few thousand years since Cleopatra bathed in ass's milk, but the dairy industry is still leading the way when it comes to new product development in beauty foods. Lynda Searby reports
The super bowl
Weight management and heart health are making oats, multigrains and natural ingredients more popular in the cereals category, says Rod Addy
Hand trimmer speeds fat removal
The Whizard Series II Trimmers from Bettcher Industries are ideal for defatting beef strips and rounds, where the precise trimming action of the...
Give peas a chance says Birds Eye boss
The man behind Birds Eye's biggest frozen food factory has had to contend with a lot since he took charge almost 10 months ago, but he's positive about the challenges he's facing and the future for the pea market
Hygiene Group gets on the audit trail at United Biscuits
Hygiene Group has introduced Maximiser, an electronic audit system to improve production line cleaning audits at United Biscuits' (UB's) McVitie's...
Biocides targeted at the independent meat industry
An anti-microbial technology has been launched by Byotrol for all members of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), enabling them to...
Omega-3 paste can turn bread into a hearty meal
A marine-based omega-3 paste, Nutromega, available from ingredient supplier Bakels, will enable bakers to make heart health claims on their...
Let's just get past the trendy title, shall we?
Am I being unreasonable in thinking that the title of supply chain manager or director implies that the person in this position looks after the whole...
Irn Bru maker boosts forecast accuracy with new demand planning system
AG Barr has installed a sophisticated new demand planning system in a bid to manage greater complexity in its business, boost service levels and keep...
FMD export confusion
Manufacturers have slammed the way certificates for export to the EU were handled during the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near...
Plan ahead or yule be sorry
It seems Christmas comes earlier every year. Advertisements go up in the summer and as soon as the dark nights start drawing in, the puddings and...
Breakfast cereals resist move towards flexible packaging
All retail categories may be under pressure to reduce packaging volumes but, despite the availability of film and laminate alternatives, cartons seem...
Curb your cravings
Diets are yesterday's news as consumers demand food that fills them up for longer. John Dunn explores the potential for products that provide satiety without bloating
Not just for Christmas
While consumers are happy to buy foods containing alcohol over the festive period, they are less willing to do so at other times of the year. But some manufacturers are trying to change this, as Sarah Britton reports
To: Mr Supermarket Buyer Re: Aren't you just a bully?
Competition Commission won't find evidence of intimidation by email, say firms
Pukka solution for pie maker
Mettler Toledo has provided Pukka Pies of Leicester with three high performance X-ray systems for contaminant detection.Pukka Pies is a...
Chilled trials planned this year for the 'talking tag'
Voice-directed work specialist Vocollect expects to start trials which combine radio frequency identification (RFID) and voice direction systems -...
Continuous oven doubles cake, muffin and pie output
Ireland's leading manufacturer of premium quality baked goods, Coolmore Foods, has increased its baking capacity after adopting a serpentine...
Trade Talk
Speedy response to FMD still wasn't fast enough
MDC research highlights opportunities in dairy
The Milk Development Council (MDC) has pinpointed gaps in the market for dairy products with ‘provenance’ in a report compiled by agrifood...
Hygiene and safety advice for SMEs
Johnson Diversey has appointed Needlers to provide hygiene and health and safety advice to its smaller clients in the food and drinks sector....
Plenty to gain from tiny grain
Ancient Ethiopian grain teff - a type of grass - offers an impressive nutritional profile and is making its way over to the UK. But manufacturers...
Starch offers arabic gum alternative
Recent conflicts in Africa have resulted in problems in the supply of gum arabic used by the soft drinks industry, spelling potential delays in...
Robots on the march
Growing automated army heralds a quiet revolution
Heat and suffocation are the way to control food pests
Wholefood packing company Day Plus One has devised a non-toxic pest control system suitable for use with organic products.The invention is a...
New hands-free automatic shoe cover dispenser
BS 2005 has launched a range of shoe cover dispensers that allows users to apply covers in seconds without using their hands.The machines are already...
The F words cause mayhem for industry
With flooding and foot and mouth disease both affecting many individuals and impacting the food industry adversely, this has not been a happy...
Stealing beauty
Beauty food manufacturers face an uphill struggle to prise market share away from external application products, says Sarah Britton
Cheese supply restrictions loom for some
The British Cheese Board (BCB) has responded cautiously to warnings that some cheese manufacturers may have to restrict supplies to customers unless...
Manufacturers resist supplying salt data for best and worst performing products
Food manufacturers are providing simple averages or sales weighted averages to help the Food Standards Agency (FSA) track progress on salt reduction,...