Put chilled food packaging to the carbon test
The Chilled Food Association (CFA) has called for an authoritative carbon footprint analysis comparing returnable transit packaging (RTP) with...
Archives for December 1, 2008
Efficiency, not a logjam
Buy badly and pumps can drain resources. Choose wisely and they'll save you money. Lynda Searby reports
Carbon calculations will credit open-loop recycling
Industry worries that the new UK specification (PAS 2050) for calculating carbon footprint would not take into account material-to-material recycling...
Growth by invention
Can NPD maintain the popularity of the dessert in these health-conscious times? asks Rod Addy
Woolworths' confectionery suppliers up in air after chain's plunge into administration
A cloud of uncertainty loomed over suppliers to Woolworths, as administrators continued their efforts to try to rescue the chain.An industry source...
Slow burn for Dentressangle
Transport operator Norbert Dentressangle is tightening its belt in anticipation of the economic slowdown, with the objective of becoming a leaner and...
Staff coaching adds value
The quality of business coaches varies wildly, but Rod Addy finds the good ones are worth their weight in gold
McDonald's new look focuses on ingredients and provenance
In a move that will be extended globally over the coming months, and could well inspire retail imitators, McDonald's UK has introduced new designs...
Tomato extracts help keep those arteries unblocked
Cardiovascular health is said to be much improved with a new food ingredient based on carotenoids extracted from tomatoes.Lyc-O-Mato from Israeli...
Greencore results meet expectations
With its share price plummeting by almost 75% this year, Irish convenience food group Greencore disclosed a not unexpected drop in pre-tax profits of...
Manufacturers must open up to innovation
Food manufacturers are still not making the most of open innovation, despite the concept being around for a few years, according to Jeff Bellairs,...
Pit-stop trip drives line speeds
Betty Crocker changeover speeds slashed with tips gleaned from racing car pit stops
Hard times bite
Sandwich makers are also seeing changes in consumer purchasing behaviour as money gets tighter. Michelle Knott reports
Dragons' Den winner signs Asda contract
Caribbean chilled ready meals will be rolled out across Asda stores next year after a successful tie-up with Dragons' Den contenders Mark and Elina...
Skills olympics to boost sector
I'm not alone when I highlight Britain's failure to develop skilled workers in the food industry. But, it's not just a failure to educate - it's also...
Deloitte calls for ‘step change’ in energy management
Manufacturers are at risk of losing their competitiveness unless they do more to counter rising energy costs, according to a new report from business...
Spotlight on allergens
Asda looks to reduce unjustified 'May contain' warnings on pack
Starch offers an ‘additive-free’ solution
National Starch Food Innovation has launched two products, Novation 4300 and Novation 5300, which can be used to thicken cold water in a variety of...
Seasonal savings
With family finances under pressure, will consumers be cutting back on what they spend this Christmas? Hayley Brown finds out
Ice challenge to have
Sarah Goodhew, group new product development (NPD) manager at R&R ice cream, tells Hayley Brown about the rewards of working in a team
M&S set to ditch branded trial
Sources claim poor sales will push M&S to ditch experiment with branded products
Ingredient feeds the body’s immunity boosting bacteria
Trials of a prebiotic similar to that found in breast milk have been found to counter a decline in elderly people’s immune systems, according to...
Yorkshire Forward helps NPD
Appetizing Innovation, a three-year project funded by Yorkshire Forward, has launched a new initiative designed to help food and drink companies...
A new complexion
Innovative ranges of beauty foods are launching around the world, from skin-nourishing chocolates to anti-ageing drinks. But how will the credit crunch impact on their success? Hayley Brown investigates
Trade Talk
Simplified laws add up to more confusion
Seal-less peristaltic pumps provide accurate dosing
The Verderflex Autoclude OEM range of peristaltic pumps now account for 78% of Autoclude's sales. The pumps are available in a range from highly...
Peristaltic pumps now pack Profibus
Watson-Marlow Bredel is launching three new IP66 ingress-protection rated peristaltic pumps with Profibus DP networking capabilities. The first model...
Unilever grilled over sustainable palm oil
Unilever faced a grilling over why the food industry was not moving faster to sell products made from sustainable sources of palm oil, at a recent...
Premier turns to suppliers in bid to ease cash-flow trouble
Payment terms extended as debt-ridden company pays to defer banking covenant test
How to reel in the big cheese
How dare you waste your chief executive's time, talking about supply chain opportunities? This is of no interest to him. Surely, it is your job to...
Sweetener primed for roll-out
Regulatory approval could see Stevia break into major intense sweeteners Markets
Food research programmes need to think small
European food research programmes need to be far more relevant to smaller companies to reverse the EU’s declining share of world exports, a leading...
It’s value over values as consumers feel pinch
Food and drink manufacturers report that “value” products are gaining popularity as a result of decreasing consumer spend.Data from the Office of...
Plummeting pound puts processors under pressure
The weakening pound is piling more pressure on already stretched UK food and drink dairy processors, top bosses have warned.Senior executives claim...
Standard sensory analysis vocabulary ends inconsistency
International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has developed a sensory analysis vocabulary to promote consistency.The ISO standard will...
Crevice-free valves aid CIP and SIP
The elimination of traps and crevices which might increase the potential for bacteria growth is an important design requirement for control valves...
Packing a punch
Offer your customers a step up in quality, shelf-life or variety with the latest meat and poultry processing and packing options, says Paul Gander
Academics help businesses through the downturn
Innovation will ensure short term survival as well as longer term stability, argues Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP), a programme headed by the...
Food gets fruity
Consumer acceptance of superfruits is more likely for some products - such as soft drinks - than others. Nicola Cottam reports
Securing our supplies
Shadow secretary of state for agriculture and rural affairs, Jim Paice, talks to Hayley Brown about the major issues faced by food manufacturers
King: caterers get off lightly
Sainsbury chief slams FSA for imposing tough rules on retailers, but not caterers
CEN standard undermined by new research
The question may seem simple: can you open it or not? But the test methodology currently favoured by the committee working on a European standard...
No scores on the doors yet for food hygiene
Agreement on a ‘scores on the doors’ UK-wide food hygiene scheme is unlikely to be reached when the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board meets on...
Robot just the job for Jaffa Cakes
Sewtec Automation's new high-speed robotic case-loading system is being used by United Biscuits for packing its McVitie's Jaffa Cakes into outer...
Shoppers switch to Sainsbury's brand
Sainsbury claims that its Switch and Save campaign to entice consumers to switch from branded foods to its cheaper own-label products has resulted in...
FDF to tackle credit insurance dilemma
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is in talks with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) over concerns that insurance companies are suddenly...
A taste of home
Control of wastage is essential in running an efficient cake-making operation, says Nish Fatania
Simply the best
Food manufacture has much to celebrate and last month it did just that
Industry urged to speak up
As many readers will be aware the consultation is now open on the setting of nutrient profiles under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.The Food...
Weetabix outsources spares sourcing
Weetabix has signed a three-year outsourcing contract with Eriks Integrated Solutions, a division of Eriks UK, to take control of its maintenance,...
White water ride via reverse osmosis
As The Milk Roadmap - designed to make the Britain’s dairy sector more sustainable - reaches it first review stage, one leading dairy equipment...