Archives for December 5, 2011

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Easy-cleaning honey filter cuts downtime

Norwegian-based honey producer Honningcentralen has experienced steady growth over the years. The firm recently built a metal edge industrial filter with a 63 micron wedgewire screen into its new production line to remove foreign bodies from the honey...

Warburtons to double in size to £1bn

By Rick Pendrous

Warburtons plans to double the size of its bakery business to £1bn over the next 10 years. The firm will extend its range, build on its brand values and expand further across the globe, its executive director Ross Warburton has reported.

UK oysters: threat or Xmas opportunity?

By Freddie Dawson and Mike Stones

More than three-quarters of oysters tested from UK growing beds contained norovirus, according to recent research from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

UK food sector in 'innovation emergency'

By Rick Pendrous

Manufacturers must embrace new technologies if the UK food and drink sector is to remain competitive against increasing competition from the developing world, Food and Drink Federation president Jim Moseley has warned.

Stomach bugs

By Graham Holter

We westerners are curiously fussy eaters. We'll happily consume the pulped nether regions of factory-farmed pigs if they're labelled as sausages, while some of us positively salivate at the idea of grotesquely enlarged goose liver. But when we see...

Call for adjudicator to ensure a deal's a deal

By Rick Pendrous

An adjudicator with teeth is needed to police the Groceries Supply Code of Practice to prevent overly powerful retailers reneging on deals with their suppliers, according to leading processors.

Fill me in

By Rod Addy

Like the format of some varieties of nut, new product development (NPD) in snacks and sandwiches is a mixed bag.

New book on 40 years in the ingredients trade

By Hugh Darrington

Hugh Darrington, who spent more than 40 years working in the food trade press - including 23 years as editor of Food Manufacture and six years as editor of International Food Ingredients - has spoken candidly about the people, the companies, the...

New generation 'robot in a box'

Automation consultancy GB Innomech has launched a low-cost robotics concept it says will enable even low-volume manufacturers to cut costs and raise competitiveness.

Insolvency affects fewer food firms

By Graham Holter and Mike Stones

The food manufacturing sector has seen a fall in the number of companies becoming insolvent, according to a new study.

100,000 reasons to support IFST surveys

By Mike Stones

The Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) is asking for food manufacturers’ help to survey the needs of the 100,000 technicians known to be working in the food sector.

Natural fruit flavours for yogurt

Many traditional fruit flavours have a natural affinity with high-fat dairy systems, such as strawberries in yogurt. When these same flavours are used in reduced- or fat-free systems they nearly always lose their flavour and integrity. Create Flavours...

Win-win event

The Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards the industry's Oscars lived up to their promise again this year with the best companies in the business receiving the recognition they so richly deserved at the awards ceremony that was held in London last month.

Food Manufacturing Company of the Year

Sponsored by: The Cheese Warehouse The Food Manufacturing Company of the Year is selected by our expert panel of judges from the winners of the nine individual product categories. It goes to the company the judges consider to be the very best of the best.

Can do man

By Rod Addy

We serve the whole of Great Britain from here and will be looking at a significant uplift in our volume more than 20% to 51M cases next year. It will be the first time our output will have been above 50M cases. The plant will have the capability to...

Probiotics set to win health claims approval

By Rick Pendrous

New research on the efficacy of probiotics means it is inevitable they will win health claims approval, according to Paul Berryman, chief executive of Leatherhead Food Research.

Actimel boost for UK green plastics

By Paul Gander

Danone Dairies' decision to switch from petroleum-based polyethylene to the same plastic produced from plant-derived bioethanol for its Actimel drinking yogurt bottles signals a major advance for 'green plastics' in UK food and drink.

Growing-pains

By Lorraine Mullaney

The Cree Indians predicted that the white man would realise that he couldn't eat money only when the last tree had been cut down, the last fish caught and the last river poisoned.

Vitamin cocktail joins war on bugs

By Rod Addy

Growing interest in vitamin fortified, immune-boosting products have led to the creation of a new water crammed with healthy ingredients to safeguard consumers in the war against bugs.

Tesco's premium partnership

Five new ready-to-serve long-life desserts, packaged in combibloc Standard 500ml aseptic carton packs, have been launched in Tesco stores. The range comprises Tesco Long Life Single Cream and Double Cream Alternative, Tesco Finest Custard, Tesco Finest...

Industry takes action to fill skills gap

By Rick Pendrous

Details emerged last month of action the food and drink industry is taking to address the impending skills shortage. A staggering 137,000 new recruits are needed to replace people who will be retiring over the next five years. This represents around 34%...

Flexibles converters push for 'critical mass'

Within Europe, the lack of a credible 'number two' flexibles supplier after Amcor may be felt by some of the multinational confectionery and snacks firms. In the UK, however, restructuring at the top of the industry has enabled smaller converters to show...

Food firms look to sensory claims

By Freddie Dawson and Mike Stones

Frustrated food and drink manufacturers are considering sensory claims in preference to health claims; few of which have been approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Step up to cater for our ageing population

By Freddie Dawson

Manufacturers are missing out on the commercial opportunities presented by an ageing population by not providing foods targeted at the dietary needs of the elderly, according to experts in the field.

Six-step guide to energy efficiency

ABB's latest version of its six-step energy saving plan is now available. It shows customers the best ways to save money via variable-speed drives and high efficiency motors.

Government must kick off nano debate

By Rod Addy

The government is failing to do enough to encourage an open debate on the use of nanotechnology and bodies such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) should step into the breach.

Food inflation eases but input costs are volatile

By Rick Pendrous

News that food price inflation had slowed in October gave hard-pressed shoppers some respite. Whether this will lead to greater stability in the roller coaster rise of volatile input costs for manufacturers is another matter.

Sealing the deal

By Paul Gander

Investing in a packing line because it offers above average hygiene control sounds, on the face of it, like choosing a new car purely on the basis of its fuel-efficiency. In each case, there will probably be other, more pressing priorities. And the...

We have more than the economy to cry about

By Clare Cheney

As 2011 draws to a close, many in the food industry can look back and say that, in some respects, there has been more than just the state of the economy to cry about.

R&R Ice Cream acquires German rival

By Freddie Dawson

Europe’s largest own-label ice cream manufacturer, R&R Ice Cream, has continued its expansion on the continent with the acquisition of German ice cream manufacturer Durigon Gelato.

View from the bridge

By Rick Pendrous

Since I last interviewed chief executive Paul Berryman in January 2008, the name of the member-based organisation he heads up has changed. It is now Leatherhead Food Research (LFR) rather than Leatherhead Food International. But, more importantly, he has...