In the ever-changing world of food processing, understanding cutting-edge technologies can be a significant advantage for food producers. Food processing equipment is an integral part of the industry, so it’s essential to know your options before purchasing. What Is Food Processing Equipment? Food processing equipment includes machinery used in the manufacturing, harvesting, and packaging of food products. It’s crucial for all food producers to choose the right equipment directly to influence production cost and product quality. So, how do you identify a good piece of food processing equipment? The following guide provides you with eight helpful suggestions and tips on finding the right food processing equipment for your business. 1. Consider The Type Of Food You Manufacture The first thing you need to look at is the exact type of food products you plan on manufacturing with your new piece of equipment. Is it something that’ll be used daily or just once in a while? How long are the production batches normally, and how large are they? Will you need to store the food once it’s processed? These are the questions you need to ask yourself before making your purchase. After you have a good idea of exactly how much and often your equipment will be used, you can begin to consider the size of food processing equipment that would suit your business best. This step is necessary if you plan on expanding or needing more than one piece of equipment in the near future. 2. Do Your Research For this next step, you may refer to many online resources available to find out more about food processing equipment. The internet is full of unbiased reviews and experiences from other buyers and videos that give you a better picture of the result. Having as much information allows you to decide which equipment is right for your business. 3. Take The Price Into Account One of the most important things to consider when purchasing food processing equipment is the price. Naturally, some pieces will cost more than others due to their features, quality, and sizes. If you have a limited budget, it’s best to choose a piece that can get the job done perfectly instead of buying several inferior products for more money. 4. Ensure It Is Easily Customizable One thing that’s often overlooked when choosing food processing equipment is its ability to be customized according to your specific requirements. Does the equipment offer changeable functions and attachments, or does it only come in a fixed size? Ideally, you’ll want a piece of equipment that can be adapted to suit your needs without too much hassle. For example, if you know that your production method will change or grow in the future, choose flexible and modular equipment. This way, you can quickly and cheaply update and modify it to suit your evolving business model. Nonetheless, if you’re on a tight budget, it may be best to avoid customization in favor of choosing equipment that’s already the size you need. There are plenty of available options that suit all budgets and requirements, so there’s no reason why you can’t find exactly what you require. 5. Ease Of Use And Maintenance Is A Must No one wants to deal with a complicated machine when they could’ve purchased an easy-to-use one instead. The various functions, attachments, and sizes of food processing equipment make it essential to find something that multiple people in your business can use. It’ll ensure that no person is overburdened with the task, even if they’re new to working with food processing machinery. Another consideration when purchasing food processing equipment is how easy it is to maintain the piece of equipment you’re considering. The rule of thumb here is the more accessible everything is, the easier it’ll be for you to get things functional again when they break down. 6. Always Look For Durability And Quality When choosing food processing machinery, quality should always come before the price. You should always find the most durable piece you can afford, as this saves you money in the long run and helps ensure that your equipment doesn’t break down during use. The best way to determine the quality of a machine is by reading food processing equipment reviews and consulting with an equipment dealer or supplier. 7. Check The Guarantee Another thing you should always check before making your final purchase is the guarantee. It’ll tell you how confident the manufacturer or supplier is that their equipment won’t break down. Food processing equipment reviews are also a good source of information about this, as they often mention any issues buyers have had with the machine breaking down over time. For a piece of food processing equipment to be worth your investment, it should last for a long time in one piece. If there’s no guarantee or warranty involved, you may want to shop around and see if someone else is offering the same type of machine with better terms included. 8. Think About The Future As mentioned previously, it’s best to purchase your food processing equipment from a supplier who can provide customization and after-sale service with the piece of machinery you choose. You should also think about how one piece of machinery will fit into a larger production plant. If you have a limited budget for this investment, going with a piece that can be used in multiple ways will save you money in the long run. What Is The Return On Investment? You’ll want to purchase food processing equipment that’ll return a profit on your initial investment in the long run. You should always ask yourself what the machine will bring to the business before making a final decision. For instance, a piece of machinery that helps speed up production may be worth the cost if used often enough. On the other hand, a piece of equipment that isn’t frequently used may not be worth the expense. Conclusion While some businesses will want to invest in high-tech machinery to attract customers, others may need only basic equipment that does its job well enough to keep up with demand. Before purchasing new food processing equipment, you should research the kind of machines your competitors are using. It’ll give you an idea of what is offered in your industry before deciding on a final purchase.

The Dutch family business Schouten Europe, producer of meat and fish substitutes, is taking over Nijland Food from Goor, the Netherlands which recently declared bankruptcy. Schouten will take over all buildings and machines and said it is committed to ensuring that as many Nijland employees as possible can keep their jobs. The market for plant-based alternatives to meat and fish has been steadily growing. Competition within the market has also increased. “We have always outsourced production and packaging in order to remain flexible and focus on innovation. In recent years, however, there has been an increasing shortage in production and packaging capacity. This did not benefit our market position. This acquisition offers us room to grow further,” says CEO and owner Henk Schouten. Schouten and Nijland are no strangers. Nijland has been packaging products for Schouten for 12 years. Several Schouten products have also been produced at Nijland for five years. Nijland also packaged products for other parties. Chicken was also processed in a separate hall. “We are specialists in the development, production, and packaging of plant-based products. Processing chicken does not fit in with that. We will therefore not continue this,” says Schouten. The acquisition of Nijland does not mean that Schouten will produce and package all its products itself. “We have a strong network of specialised and valued production partners who will continue to add value to our company and with whom we are happy to continue to working with,” says Schouten.

Crafty canned cocktail brand Ace+Freak has been snapped up by ultra-fast grocery home delivery service Getir in a swift move that makes it available nationwide for the first time, in time for new year celebrations. In a deal brokered by purpose-led drinks firm Ten Locks, Ace+Freak Mint & Elderflower Spritz (5.5% ABV), Ginger & Lemongrass Mule (5.5% ABV) and Watermelon & Cucumber Sangria (4% abv) will be listed nationally, available across 34 major cities where Getir have distribution. The brand will be featured on the Getir: Groceries In Minutes app for home delivery within as little as 10 minutes. A drinks range with its finger on the pulse it brings bold branding and an exceptional quality cocktail serve to the booming canned RTD sector. Ace+Freak appeals directly to the millennial consumer; bar quality drinks that look and taste great, made to the highest standard and in the most sustainable way possible. Ace+Freak’s recipes are designed by Thomas Soden, a multi-award-winning mixologist and co-owner of Nine Lives cocktail bar in London. Soden co-founded the brand after writing two books, over 300 cocktail menus and racking up 15,000 hours of cocktail-making-experience. Every can of Ace+Freak is made with high quality craft spirits, 100 percent natural ingredients, pressed fruit juices and purées, and wines sourced directly from co-operatives. The team at Ace+Freak distil their own botanical spirits specifically for each recipe. Becky Davis, head of commercial at Ten Locks, says: “Getir and Ace + Freak share an ethos of disruption and a hyper-focus on millennials. Bringing together the two creative, top quality and razor-sharp propositions mean we can insert Ace + Freak into lesser tapped territories; impromptu get-togethers, outdoor drinks and drinks at home. The real win is that drinks at these occasions can now be every bit as good as when a bartender makes them.” RTD volume share is expected to double in the next five years in top markets with ready-to-drink products anticipated to command 8% of Total Beverage Alcohol by 2025.^[1] Davies continues: “With all eyes on RTDs and the love consumers have for brands that are striving forward with true purpose, coupled with convenient, tech-based quick commerce platforms asserting themselves among consumers, Ace + Freak and Getir are well positioned for a powerful partnership.” Earlier this year Ace + Freak successfully crowdfunded £250,000 investment to fund further growth and further expand into the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail market.

Seafood Scotland has been awarded £100,000 of funding from the National Transition Training Fund and Skills Development Scotland to support onshore activities of seafood businesses across the country, upskilling and training employees to support company growth. Delivered by a range of training providers, the ‘Business Improvement Programme’ will provide bespoke training packages to companies to help support their objectives. Free webinars and funded courses will be available to meet business and team needs and strategic goals. Companies will have access to over 60 courses covering four key training areas: 1. Upskilling and multiskilling staff – training for employees and teams 2. Career recruitment and retention toolkits for businesses – helping to develop recruitment and retention policies 3. Process automation and business implications 4. Women in Seafood in Scotland The programme will be delivered to current staff members over the age of 25, using flexible and hybrid methods, such as self-taught online modules and guided virtual sessions. Courses range from fish frying, knife skills and monger training to customer and human resource services, as well as guidance on business planning and strategy. The National Transition Training Fund was launched in 2020 by Skills Development Scotland following the rise in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme aims to give individuals the opportunity to gain industry recognised qualifications to support with employment. Donna Fordyce, Chief Executive at Seafood Scotland, said: “It’s important that the businesses in our onshore seafood sector continue to grow and this funding can help them do just that. With the support received from the National Transition Training Fund and Skills Development Scotland, we will help companies plan their training opportunities and the courses available to them in line with their business objectives. “The window for this funding is open until March and I would strongly encourage any onshore seafood businesses to take this great opportunity to upskill and train staff without the burden of additional costs.” Gerry McBride, Strategic Relations Manager – Food & Drink at Skills Development Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to see this valuable work given the green light and now being able to see the positive impact it will have to seafood businesses across Scotland. “Given all the challenges the sector has been forced to face into over the past two years due to the pandemic and other huge obstacles, everyone recognises the need for businesses to be as agile as possible. “The programme will enable businesses to retrain, upskill and adapt their workforce to meet the ever-changing requirements of the marketplace and the economic landscape. We’re really looking forward to seeing all this excellent work coming to fruition.”