Herbal high
As the 'natural' trend sweeps the nation, there's no shortage of demand for organic herbs and spices, but can supply keep up? asks Lynda Searby
Archives for July 28, 2008
Culture choc
When Simon Pattinson left the legal world in search of a new career, little did he know he would swap legal briefs for chocolate bars
United we skill
The role of trade unions in the workplace is becoming increasingly varied, says Rod Addy
Major retailers are on the road to greener deliveries
Major retailers announced eco-friendly initiatives at supply chain consultancy Scala's annual logistics debate last month.Delegates gathered at...
On-site effluent treatment reaps £50,000 reward
Somerset-based Grampian Country Pork is now able to process all of its effluent discharges on-site, including waste that was previously tankered...
Credit crunch fails to stifle innovation, claims survey
Despite the present economic climate, a new study of UK brand managers has disclosed that over half plan to launch the same number - if not more - of...
Carbon labelling has not put its best footprint forward
food and drink carbon labelling schemes have experienced teething problems
Costs likely to stymie drink deposit proposal plan
An ongoing consultation by government officials on a UK deposit system for beverage containers is likely to run aground due to cost, the interests of...
The UK should grow its own food, says advisor
Doubts cast over UK food supply chain
Clean bill of health
The European Commission has published draft legislation outlining how it will streamline, simplify and modernise its Common Agricultural Policy
Game for expansion
Kilmarnock-based game processor Braehead Foods has moved into a new purpose-built facility six times the size of its old one to meet growing...
Rising energy costs add fuel to the food industry's fire
Food and drink Manufacturers come up with new ways to deal with energy price hikes
Time for a revolution
I have always respected the relationship that the French have with food. The markets, the baguette, the lunchtime set meal, the family meal table,...
Meet the Vale Fresh clean team
To maintain its Grade A accreditation from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), leading fruit and vegetable supplier Vale Fresh has to excel in many...
Stricter targets from FSA aren't worth their salt, say manufacturers
Manufacturers are up in arms about stricter voluntary salt targets for food products for 2010 and even stricter targets for 2012 proposed by the Food...
Super savings
As the cost of energy continues to rise, food and drink processors are pulling out all the stops to make their factories more efficient. Sarah Britton investigates
First spreadable cottage cheese smooths the way for healthy diets
Cottage cheese maker Uniq Prepared Foods is set to launch a new branded offering that it hopes will drive incremental growth across this food...
Heart-health ingredients given a new lease of life
The market for functional foods on a heart-health platform could get a new lease of life in the next two years as new bioactive ingredients hit the...
X-ray inspection ready to go
The new AdvanChek Plus by Mettler-Toledo Safeline X-ray is a fast, reliable and economical way to introduce X-ray inspection into food production...
Trade Talk
Let common sense beat the boffins
School snacks will bear fruit
Opportunities abound for processors of fruit- and vegetable-based school snacks
Prove your metal
As small firms compete against the big boys for retail business, they have to start using the same food safety systems, as Michelle Knott discovers
Terror chip offers food assurance
Refractive index (RI) measurement technology, initially developed for counter bio-terrorism applications by Southampton University spin-out...
Sun, scent and shores of riches
Corsican firms are keen to export the island's many riches to markets outside its shores. Rick Pendrous samples chestnuts, citron and myrtle
These are no ordinary availability issues ...
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is targeting availability improvements with a tranche of measures, according to Steve Mulvey, logistics manager,...
Sweet deal for sucralose
The firm behind the first serious rival to Tate & Lyle in the sucralose market says it is close to a "major brand win"Fusion Nutraceuticals...
Chain gang chat
Supply, demand and retailer promotions. Industry peers discussed supply chain issues at Food Manufacture's recent event. Rick Pendrous reports
Firms risk fines for breaking construction law
Processors are risking unlimited fines for falling foul of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 when carrying out construction...
Food miles aren't the only factor, says Co-op Group
Local sourcing can lead to lazy thinking
Delve deeper into the chain
Last month I attended a conference, which was supposedly about the latest trends in supply chain management. The tone was set by the chair whose...
Shadow falls on the future of Oscar Mayer Chard factory as jobs are axed
Doubt has been cast over Oscar Mayer's ready meals facility in Chard after the firm announced 250 job cuts last month."My view is that there will be...
The jury is out as the Co-op tries for the premier league
Manufacturers' opinions are divided over the Co-op's proposal to acquire somerfield
Determination of acidity in soft drinks
Sparkling drinks are the main cause of increasing tooth erosion among teenagers, research suggests. One study found a strong link between fizzy drink...
Bright spark
When it comes to barriers to innovation, lack of understanding often rates more highly than issues of time and money. Rod Addy reports
Waste project is a new kettle of fish
A waste project could save the shellfish industry £3M and help curb illegal waste disposal, claimed industry body Seafish, which funded the...
Research fears arise as government turns screw
Central research funding may be drying up
Converters queue for rPET capacity
Foodservice and retail packaging supplier Solo Cup Europe says it will be taking up to 20% of the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) output...
West Country sardines are a more flavoursome fish to fry
Cornish sardines could be at the forefront of Britons' rediscovery of the delights of healthy oily fish caught off the British Isles, if Devon...
Fibre: defined at last. Or is it?
This year continues to be a busy one for legislative developments and I will focus here on fibre. At a European level an amendment to the Nutrition...
Hibiscus extract aimed at naturally-coloured drinks
Chr Hansen, global market supplier of natural colours for the food and beverage industries, has launched Hibiscus Extract WSP, a range of bright red...