Blogs
Bridging the gap
We often report on the looming skills shortage threatening the UK food and drink industry, with the well documented gap for key STEM roles of great concern.
On the road
After a relatively quiet summer, industry is gearing up for its next round of trade shows, and the Food & Drink Technology team are packing their bags ready for the adventure.
Powering the recycling party
The UK was treated to a (rare) warm and sunny August bank holiday the weekend just gone, and as part of the three-day weekend, Kopparberg was in London to spread its recycling message.
Happy World Plant Milk Day
Today (22 August) marks the first ever World Plant Milk Day. This celebration of plant based milk is the latest in a string of campaigns – such as Meat-free Mondays, National Vegetarian Week and Veganuary – that shows the extent of the free from boom.
The plot thickens
In many news reports, the escalating ‘eggs scandal’ is being likened to 2013’s horsemeat scandal, with both food scares spreading across Europe quite rapidly.
Jumping on the protein bandwagon
It’s not all that long ago that sports nutrition and protein products were considered the preserve of athletes and bodybuilders. These days, however, it seems everyone wants a slice of the action.
Fall in love with recycling
When it comes to the ‘big issues’ – the likes of food waste, recycling and fat, salt and sugar reduction – the need for consumer education is often highlighted as part of a wider approach to tackling the problems, so it was encouraging to see Coca-Cola Great Britain’s new advert premiere on UK television at the weekend.
Honey, I shrunk the chocolate
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has highlighted the ‘shrinkflation’ effect – that is household goods manufacturers reducing packaging sizes while keeping prices the same – being felt across a range of items in the UK.
Health and wellness for consumers and business
In its biggest brand launch in 20 years, Mars Chocolate UK is confirming what we already knew – healthy snacking is big business. Ticking the sharing, on the go and fruit and nut trend boxes, the company says the new bar suits consumers’ busy lifestyles.
The big issues
I have attended two events in the last week, the combined themes of which represent three of the major focuses for the food and drink industry at present: waste, obesity and Brexit.
The Nestlé way
Furthering its commitment to sugar reduction, Nestlé Breakfast Cereals this week announced plans to cut an additional 10 per cent of sugar across its cereal range by the end of 2018.
Little and often
We have been discussing the growing trend of ‘snackification’ for some time now, which sees consumers moving away from the traditional three fixed meals a day towards more flexible snacking and grazing occasions.
To tax, or not to tax: that is the taxing question
Just a few weeks ago, I discussed the potential of the soft drinks levy being extended to other food groups, following the release of Action on Sugar’s six-point manifesto which calls for the tax to be extended to confectionery.
Certainly uncertain times
I was in London on Monday night (12 June) for the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) Industry Dinner, along with around 500 other guests from across the food and drink sector.