So far, so good
Food processors are having to take the bad with the good in the ever-changing world of organic food and drink, reports Elaine Watson
Archives for May 25, 2009
The sharp end of the production process
AEW Delford Systems, part of the Marel Food Systems Group, has extended its Winning Lines range of production line systems for specific food...
The US charges ahead when it comes to nanotechnology
The UK is significantly behind the US when it comes to using nanotechnology in new product development, according to Sheri Schellhaass, vice...
Samworth boosts capacity at Leicestershire plants
Samworth Brothers is boosting capacity in two factories in response to increased demand, creating at least 150 new jobs over the next two years,...
Big freeze helps slash sat fat
A collaborative project exploring new applications for cryo crystallisation is being launched this summer after it emerged that the technique could...
Robots on the march in food and drink
Britain’s food and drink manufacturers are showing renewed interest in robotics and automation as equipment costs fall, labour costs rise and the...
Consumers turn to 'real food', claims festival organiser
Consumers are starting to turn away from cheap, plentiful, unsustainable food, as world supplies continue to dwindle, according to Philip Lowery,...
Organics emerge as shoppers' cup of tea
Tea has emerged as one of the only categories in which organic lines have outperformed the market in the recession.According to TNS Worldpanel, sales...
Trade Talk
Events take a turn for the ludicrous
300 jobs under the axe as crisp factory closes
The Tayto Group has set in motion a two-year plan to close its crisp-making site in Wednesbury, West Midlands, which will affect around 300...
Taste cloning technology is worth its salt, says firm
A technological breakthrough building on work by scientists who have cloned human taste receptors could help manufacturers achieve the most...
Government proposes new credit insurance top-up plan
Officials move quickly to shore up UK export market in response to industry criticism
Drinks NPD continues despite the economy
Innovation in the soft drinks market in 2008 increased in comparison with 2007, according to the British Soft Drinks Association's (BSDA's) 2009 UK...
Full steam ahead
Installation of a Mauting 4-trolley steam cooker by Union Food Machinery (UFM) at RWM Food Group has been followed up by an order for a second...
Salt in the spotlight
Will your products comply with the salt regulations due to take effect in 2010?I was once very sceptical about the link between sodium intake and...
Poor maintenance and skills are killing efficiency
UK food processing efficiency is hampered by a lack of joined up thinking, lack of skilled staff and poor maintenance standards.That's the verdict of...
Sauces for courses
Eating in is the new eating out and the premium soups and sauces market is feeling the benefit, reports Hayley Brown
Health claims timetable on target, says EC
The European Commission (EC) has insisted that it is still on course to meet its legal deadline of January 2010 for publishing the ‘Community...
Calls for sustainable palm oil show 'ignorance of process'
Palm oil supplier claims that Certified option is only available for crude and refined oil
Obesity: there's no magic bullet
I recently attended the Vitafoods International conference and exhibition in Geneva where hundreds of companies demonstrated the latest developments...
New ingredients could be made from 'waste'
Schemes recycling food waste will only make commercial sense if manufacturers can utilise all of the waste stream to create a range of different food...
Gist to increase automation in M&S food chain
Gist aims to introduce further mechanisation to Marks & Spencer’s (M&S’s) distribution centres after signing a new 10-year contract with...
Divide and conquer the dough
Versatility is the goal of the Vemag Dough Divider from Reiser. Suitable for all types of bread, bun, roll and English muffins, the Vemag is easily...
Wholly Halal
With Muslims set to account for a quarter of the world's population, there's money in Halal food, says Michelle Knott
Good X-ray things come in small packages
The new entry-level version of Ishida Europe's X-ray inspection system aims to ensure maximum quality control of packaging.The Ishida IX-EA-2161 has...
Like water off a forklift truck's back
Manufacturer Hyster has produced weather protection options for its new electric three- and four-wheel forklift trucks.To increase comfort and...
They may stand up, but they don't deliver innovation
Dynamic growth in the use of stand-up food pouches masks a reluctance to innovate in materials and equipment technology.While many of today's...
If it ain't broke ...
St Austell Brewery is experiencing a record rise in its beer sales. Roger Ryman explains why the company is performing so well
Insulated panel system cuts costs
Kingspan Controlled Environments' KS1150 CS insulated panel system has been used to build a £9M extension to a temperature-controlled distribution...
Tate & Lyle to drive manufacturing diploma
Ken Wilson, community affairs manager at Tate & Lyle and an employer champion for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD),...
M&S and Gist sign £2bn supply contract
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has signed a 10-year contract with supply chain specialist Gist worth £2bn.Gist has provided supply chain services for...
Death to the coating and flavouring drum
A new dual-chamber electrostatic coating system for food production lines has been launched, which is claimed to signal a further nail in the coffin...
Muntons spearheads drive to safeguard UK barley supplies
An initiative to ringfence thousands of tonnes of malting barley for UK brewers, coordinated by collaborative networking group Farexchange...
Clarity rules the GDA day
Good news for advocates of clearer on-pack nutrition information. Two significant European studies back guideline daily amounts (GDAs) as the best...
Revised European Directive will tighten kit safety net
Suppliers of machinery to the food and drink sector are being urged to take on board new rules taking effect at the end of this year, which place...
Food research bodies set for Autumn merger
The Food Processing Knowledge Transfer Network (FPKTN) will join with the Bioscience for Business KTN and the animal-genetics based Genesis Faraday...
Science to be central to FSA's future strategy
Evidence-based policy making will be key
Tesco advises bakers to learn from cereals
Plant bakers could learn a lot from breakfast cereals producers when it comes to promoting the benefits of the product range and growing the sector,...
The fruits of all our labour
As Improve targets another five year tenure, it reviews its achievements to date and outlines its future hopes to Rod Addy
Master of the house
New technology has much to offer warehousing in terms of raising the supply chain game. But beware of quick fixes, reports Rick Pendrous
Cool ways to save
Boosting the efficiency of cold stores has been the subject of intensive research over recent years, because it can yield substantial cost reductions, says Rod Addy
Tesco urges suppliers to get house in order on allergens
Survey showed over a quarter of raw materials production sites didn't manage systems
Top tips to run successful trials
Good process technologists are worth their weight in gold. It is their responsibility to take the approved concept product and trial it through...
Our food 'may contain' too many warning labels
Expert highlights allergen label overload
Bank holiday blaze at 2 Sisters in Morecambe
Up to 80 firefighters were called to a 2 Sisters factory over the bank holiday weekend to tackle a blaze, which resulted in locals being evacuated...
It's time for FSA salt reduction targets to take a reality check
Industry welcomes change after criticising 'impossible' reduction targets for 2012
Giant step for convection ovens
A steel band travelling oven that consumes up to 45% less electrical power than its rival systems is being hailed by its Danish maker as a major step...
Shakan, not stirred
With dramatic reduction in sterilisation time and improved flavour, Shaka is a win-win process for food manufacturers, reports John Dunn
I'm lovin' it
McDonald's head of supply chain Dean McKenna talks to Elaine Watson about life working under the golden arches
Just remember not to forget
What's the average memory span of a business? Judging by how quickly they make the same mistakes again, I would say six months. In fact, six months...