Modern technology takes on heritage beer bottles
The distinct heritage feel to Edwin Holden's Bottling Company is deceptive as it recently invested in a Kawasaki Robotics palletising robot for its processing line.
Archives for April 1, 2013
The technical challenge of tasty low-salt cheese
Reducing the sodium content of cheese while maintaining its taste and shelf-life is a technical challenge for manufacturers.
Team spirit wins sales in China
German machinery manufacturer Krones has reported winning sales of its technology for handling mineral water, soft drinks, milk, beer and edible oil. It sold more than 500 systems featuring a Contiform Bloc and an ErgoBloc L to the beverage industry by...
Wet or dry, it's the season for flavour
TNA has designed a one-piece solution for a range of wet and dry seasoning and flavourings.
The only way is ethics
Meet the man with big ideas to ensure fairness and sustainability are key features in the global food chain. Gary Scattergood reports
My recipe for success
Honeyrose Bakery is delivering in own-label while staying true to its brand principles, boss Lise Madsen tells Gary Scattergood
How to avoid another horsemeat scandal
A repeat of the horsemeat scandal that has rocked the industry could be avoided if the findings of new pan-European traceability research are adopted, according to those behind the project.
Sensory effects of foodstuffs measured by new technology
The creaminess or astringency of new foods can now be determined by measuring the sound generated by the food interacting with the tongue during consumption.
All connected
Geneva's Vitafoods trade show is embracing the digital age to link up delegates and exhibitors from around the world, reports Gary Scattergood
Beating the egg
John Gelley is driving bakery sales success for Arla Food Ingredients with egg replacer Nutrilac, says Gary Scattergood
Boost waste research to secure food supply
A leading academic says he’s prepared to “put his head on the block" and insist that every dollar spent on research for reducing food waste will have a greater impact on improving food security than the equivalent amount spent on increasing production.
Retailer plans to shorten supply chains are unrealistic: FSA
Retailer plans to shorten their supply chains to prevent a repetition of incidents such as the horsemeat scandal are unrealistic, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Packaging firm invests £18M and creates 70 jobs
A south Wales food packaging firm is planning an £18M investment that will create 70 jobs and safeguard a further 170 roles.
Puratos's big plans for innovation
Ingredients firm Puratos has officially laid the first stone of its new global research and development (R&D) centre at its headquarters in Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium.
Rexam's new Finland plant to put energy in cans
Rexam Beverage Can will produce cans for Finland's original energy drink brand Battery at its new plant at Mäntsälä in Finland.
Pouches and plastics set to hog new retort growth
Pouches and rigid plastics will account for over 90% of incremental demand for retortable packaging up to 2017, a report has predicted, but with metal and glass holding on to the bulk of their existing - and very substantial - business.
Finance needed for small firms to grow
You only have to look at the number of money-making ideas for food and drink products that make it on to BBC TV's Dragons' Den to recognise that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Britain.
Heat-stable protein cuts costs
Protein manufacturer BHJ Ingredients UK has introduced its first heat-stable functional beef blend for ground beef recipes.
ADM shakes up structure
ADM Cocoa has restructured its organisation into five key regions and business units as it looks to enhance the level of service and support offered to customers by its global cocoa and chocolate team.
‘Export to Europe first before taking on China’
Small UK food and drink manufacturers looking to begin exporting should focus on markets closer to home before tackling countries such as China, the Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) has warned.
Bold and beautiful
More unusual flavour combinations are driving new product developments, reports Michelle Knott
Fox’s Biscuits in ‘axing holidays’ row with union
Food manufacturer Fox’s Biscuits, now part of the 2 Sisters Food Group, has rejected claims by union Unite that it had acted meanly in allegedly "axing" its workers’ holiday entitlement.
Battle of the brands: family firm confronts ABP Food
Pig farmers turned sausage manufacturers Debbie and Andrew Keeble are set to launch their premium sausage brand Heck in Tesco on April 8, in direct competition with their former family brand Debbie & Andrew’s sausages.
Fungus to wipe £7M from Tate & Lyle’s profit
Tate & Lyle has posted “reassuringly dull” third-quarter figures, despite having to implement measures to tackle aflatoxin, a fungus in maize caused by the unusually hot and dry conditions in the US last summer.
An unintended benefit of EU food legislation
As the deadline for compliance with the EU Food Information Regulation (FIR) draws closer, the industry is beginning to work out what the requirements mean in practice and how consistency of interpretation can be achieved.
Food industry hits landmark for apprentices
New figures have revealed that the UK's food industry has passed the 50,000 landmark number for apprenticeships created over the past 18 months.
Efficiency drive crucial to compete with imports – Dairy Crest boss
Dairy Crest will continue to “hold up a mirror to itself” and maintain its drive for efficiencies in a bid to compete against foreign competitors which have access to cheaper milk.
Change of heart
A joined up approach to research means cocoa flavanols are poised to become the next big heart health ingredient, writes Lynda Searby
Single serve packs extend shelf-life
Sustainable packaging firm RAP has unveiled its new range of 'single serve' portion packs. This followed the launch of RapTray, which the firm claimed was the world's first hermetically sealed, modified atmosphere carton food tray.
Isotonics encourage heart rate recovery
New research shows that consuming isotonic drinks during exercise does not significantly influence heart rate variability (HRV) during exercise - but it does promote faster recovery afterwards.
Dare to be different
Baxters moved Fray Bentos production from eastern England to northern Scotland in record time. Gary Scattergood finds out how the company did it
Supplement sector has a battle on its hands
Anyone hoping that the December deadline for compliance with the EU's 222 permitted health claims that are available to food and supplement companies would lead to a brief period of respite around the issue will have been sorely disappointed.
Dark skies ahead
Experts are advising governments and industry to take action against an impending water crisis, reports Laurence Gibbons
Slow-release nutritional formula for bone health
Nutrient firm LycoRed has launched a new formulation that combines slow-release technology with genistein, tomato lycopene and a dose of vitamin D3. LycoRed says all three nutrients are clinically proven to support bone health and the new composition...
Australian beef jerky is softer for European tastes
Australia's premium beef jerky and biltong producer Mariani Foods has launched a European brand of meat jerky called Legends. Mariani says this "new generation of beef jerky" is soft and easy to chew, unlike most of the harder jerkies available in the...
All-purpose improver with natural taste
Puratos has developed enzyme technology for its S500 bread improvers to enable them to be used in all bread applications and a wider range of process conditions.
Interfood targets bakery production lines
Interfood Technology has formed a new Packing Solutions division to target the bakery industry.
Butter takes on margarine
Just as the Department of Health is lining up its new pledges on saturated fat, a study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has generated headlines such as 'swapping the butter for margarine may be bad for your health'.