Archives for November 1, 2011

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Survival of the smartest

By Paul Gander

One critical mark of intelligence, it could be argued, is a capacity for adaptation as lessons are learnt and circumstances change. If so, then a select few of those technologies often bracketed as active and intelligent packaging (AIP) are showing just...

Cider factory overhaul makes strong progress

By Rod Addy

Heineken's Bulmers cider plant in Hereford is making strong headway through an added value turnaround plan, which has already yielded significant site benefits.

Wheat makes meat with 30% less fat

To satisfy consumers who are becoming more health-conscious but still want to continue to eat meat, Vion has launched Hackplus - a minced-meat product that has 30% less fat due to the addition of vegetable protein.

Industrial ideals

By Lynda Searby

The best thing since sliced bread is a phrase that is unlikely to be uttered by anyone who is involved in the Real Bread Campaign.

Arla hatches egg replacer agreement

Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) has signed an exclusive deal with DKSH to distribute its whey protein-based egg and milk powder replacers to plant bakers in France.

New flow wrap keeps poultry safe, says Tesco

By Paul Gander

The first UK retailer to introduce trayless, leak-proof, printed flow-wraps for all of its whole chickens, Tesco counts the avoidance of pathogens such as campylobacter among the key benefits of the new pack format.

Dairy dessert with longer shelf-life

The traditional Indian dairy-based dessert Rasmalai is considered to be a delicacy in Indian and Pakistani cultures. Being dairy-based, its manufacturers and distributors have always had to manage the issue of its short shelf-life.

Beneo's Sentko backs EFSA critics

By Rod Addy

Beneo-Institute has supported criticism of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for taking a pharmaceutical line on assessing claims under Article 13.1 of the EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation.

Carton gives pouring an edge

Tetra Pak has reinvented the world's most popular carton design with the launch of its Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000 Edge.

Bon appétit

By Rod Addy

Ernest Hemingway once said: "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." In the case of one of the food industry's biggest events, this...

Premier attacks operational costs

By Rick Pendrous

Britain's biggest food manufacturer, Premier Foods, has come under a lot of flak recently for the problems with its leadership, direction and strategy.

Jordans takes on the big players

By Rick Pendrous

Jordans & Ryvita Company plans to raise the profile of its 'conservation grade' ingredient credentials over the next 12 months and steal market share from bigger players such as Nestlé and Kellogg.Paul Murphy, chief executive of the niche cereals and...

New oven slashes electricity by 65%

The installation of a new oven has reaped rewards for Thomas's Bakery in Elland, West Yorkshire, which has cut its latest electricity bill by 65%.

Greencore in mysterious takeover talks

By Rod Addy & Rick Pendrous

Speculation was mounting about the mystery Greencore suitor, as Food Manufacture went to press, following the firm's announcement that an approach had been made.

Food Manufacturing Awards: one week to go

By Mike Stones

There is just one week to go before the stellar evening when food and drink manufacturers celebrate the best of the best at the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

Premier Foods still has battle on hands, say analysts

By Dan Colombini

Troubled food giant Premier Foods still has a mountain to climb despite ceo Michael Clarke’s decision to restructure the business and appoint two new managing director (mds), according to city analysts.

Frutarom flavours head sees new avenues for taste

By Rod Addy

Frutarom's new European flavours head aims to explore the interplay between health and flavours applications more, believing this offers the business considerable potential.

Keep 'em peeled

By Rod Addy

The md of Fourayes, Phil Acock, is always on the look out for emerging consumer trends. The ability to stay ahead of the curve is vital in order to prosper in a period of economic hardship and volatility, he says.

Fruitful study

By Freddie Dawson

The term 'super fruit' is so overused it's nearly lost its meaning. The popular definition has tended to focus on nutrition and health. But some processors are using the term to highlight fruit that has strong technical uses in manufacturing.

Alginate: the way to manage weight?

By Rick Pendrous

Scientists at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne are investigating the use of potential new weight management ingredients for foods such as bread based on alginates, which can be extracted from seaweed.

Game plan

By Rick Pendrous

Patrick Coveney, Greencore's chief executive, claims his experiences on the rugby field have helped him formulate his approach to business and heading up the own-label chilled foods firm. That, and almost 10 years with management consultancy McKinsey &...

Samson has precise control of large valves

Valve specialist Samson Controls claims its control valve positioner package can resolve problems sometimes associated with achieving precise control of large valves.

Path of yeast resistance

Functional Technologies has carried out tests in which its acrylamide-preventing (AP) yeast demonstrated "significant reduction of asparagine formation in standard bread making".

A plug's game

By John Dunn

The two big challenges for food manufacturers today are flexibility and efficiency. One minute Tesco wants cartons of freshly squeezed orange juice. Two hours later Morrisons is ringing up for blackcurrant drink. How do you reprogram the production,...

We are family

By Rod Addy

The business started as a hobby in my kitchen when I was living in Lytham St Annes.

Seeds of change

By Michelle Knott

Here are two things that we all know about the plant compounds that crop up in everything from fruit and veg to tea, chocolate and red wine: First, there's a growing mountain of evidence that phytochemicals mainly flavonoids and polyphenols deliver a...

Stem the rising tide of product recalls

By Rick Pendrous

Product recalls are a growing problem within the food industry as supply chain complexities and the fast moving nature of the sector mean problems that occur during manufacture have the potential to be considerably magnified as they reach supermarket...

Apply yourself

By Rod Addy

How many times in the workplace do we hear the buzz phrase 'I want solutions, not problems'?

Shirley Bassey sings praises of Peter’s Pies

By Mike Stones

Welsh superstar, Shirley Bassey, is singing the praises of Peter’s Pies after the bakery firm joined forces with the Noah’s Ark Appeal to help raise funds for the Children's Hospital for Wales.

New labeller is 'the workhorse of the industry'

Greggs Baker has reported a significant boost to productivity since the installation of Advanced Dynamics Eurokett Junior 115 on a morning goods wrapping line at its Manchester factory.

Brands and own-label look to pack design

Packaging design and consumer research specialists agree that the rise of online food sales has not blunted the need for sharply differentiated graphics and structure, with retailer own-label keeping pace with the brands in the race for consumer attention.

Reading invests millions on laboratory revamp

Reading Scientific Services (RSSL) has invested millions of pounds in upgrading and revamping laboratories and has secured the latest kit for analysing the structure and content of food.

Price wars turn screw on processors

By Rick Pendrous

Britain's food manufacturers can expect the screw to be turned even tighter as the major multiples race to lower prices and win bigger shares of household grocery spend.