Business news
Safeline’s liquid asset
Mettler Toledo Safeline says it has made a significant breakthrough in the detection of contaminants in fluids with the launch of its FluidCheK x-ray inspection system. Developed primarily to meet the needs of manufacturers and packers of beverages and other liquids, the manufacturer says the system is equipped with advanced image-scanning software and employs x-ray […]
1 in 4 shoppers ‘rarely visits frozen food aisle’
A YouGov SixthSense report into the chilled and frozen foods market has revealed that 27% of UK adults rarely visit the frozen food aisle. The report also shows that a considerable number of consumers have not embraced new and non-traditional frozen food products. Consumers are unhappy with the variety of foods on display in the […]
40th anniversary for butcher with a safe pair of hands
Swapping goalkeeping gloves for butchery overalls turned out to be a wise move for Roy Dixon, who is this year celebrating 40 years in the food industry. Though the former Manchester City player never made it to the first eleven – unlike his youngest son, BBC football analyst Lee who played for Arsenal and England […]
JBT FoodTech consolidates UK operations
Food technology solutions JBT FoodTech, which acquired ovens and cookers’ manufacturer Double D Food Engineering last year, has revealed plans to consolidate its UK operations by combining its Bedford and Broxburn sites. The 40,000sq ft manufacturing site in Broxburn, Scotland, will become the headquarters for JBT FoodTech in the UK, housing manufacturing, sales and servicing […]
Wild prepares to go public
After nearly 80 years as a successful family business, natural ingredients company Wild has taken the first step to becoming a public company – by selling shares to asset manager KKR. “This strategic partnership will allow us to tap into the capital markets and financing sources that have previously been unavailable to us, thereby driving […]
Bold move for Martek
Global omega-3 DHA leader Martek Biosciences Corporation has moved into product manufacture with the £123 million (£141m) acquisition of Amerifit Brands, a company that specialises in women’s and digestive health products. The all-cash deal means Martek is now the owner of brands such as the probiotic supplement Culturelle, AZO for urinary tract infections and Estroven […]
2010 will be a landmark year for food and drink sector management of green issues, predicts Campden BRI
The coming 12 months will be pivotal in setting the stage for food and drink industry environmental sustainability through the next decade and beyond, according to Campden BRI. A significant shift in the measurement and management of environmental impact is predicted by the research organisation. It suggests that as the sector continues to navigate this […]
Tesco sales weaker than expected
Despite posting a rise in third-quarter sales, Tesco’s latest performance is weaker than analysts had expected. Britain’s biggest supermarket chain reported that UK like-for-like sales rose by 2.8% (excluding petrol and adjusted for lower VAT) in the 13 weeks to 28 November. However, analysts were forecasting around 3%. Overall, group sales were up by 8.8% […]
Muntons reveals plans for £500,000 Centre for Excellence
Malt and malted ingredients supplier Muntons has announced that it is to set up a Centre for Excellence at its UK headquarters in Stowmarket. The £500,000 investment, which includes a purpose-built facility, will become ‘a focus for innovation and new product development’ as part of a bid by Muntons to enhance and increase the range […]
Consumers want clearer GM labelling, says report
Consumers think that current labelling regulation for genetically modified (GM) foods is inadequate, according to a new report from the UK’s Food Standards Agency. The report used a combination of surveys, workshops and interviews to explore consumer attitudes to GM foods, as well as how those attitudes are formed. The general consensus was that consumers […]
Waitrose acquires Co-op stores
Upmarket supermarket Waitrose has announced the acquisition of five shops from The Co-operative Group. The retailer – part of the John Lewis Partnership – has entered into an agreement to buy four Somerfield stores in Ashbourne, Melksham, Storrington and Wellington, along with a Co-operative shop in Menai Bridge. All existing employees will become partners within […]
Top award for McCormick
McCormick UK, the British subsidiary of spice and herb firm McCormick & Company, scooped the Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year title at the recent Manufacturer of the Year Awards 2009. Well known for its Schwartz brand, McCormick UK won the award for the improvement of its environmental performance and reduction of its carbon footprint in […]
Honour for National Starch Food Innovation
National Starch Food Innovation’s cost-saving bakery ingredient N-Dulge FR starch claimed the bakery innovation of the year prize at this week’s Food Ingredients Excellence Awards 2009 in Europe, clinching the Most Innovative Food Ingredient award. The ingredient impressed the judges with its fat replacement potential and its performance in a range of baked goods.
Burnt sugar flavour breakthrough
Specialist food colouring company DD Williamson has developed a breakthrough natural acid-stable burnt sugar flavour which, it says, responds to demand for clean-label flavours. Applications include beverages and sauces, with the non-GM product offering stability in phosphoric acid, citric acid, alcohol (60%) and salt (15%). “Class one (plain) caramel colours and burnt sugars are not […]