< Previouson the shelf 10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Dwayne Johnson co-founds first-of-its- kind energy drink A new healthy energy drink has been launched by a team of fitness, health and beverage industry changemakers including Dwayne Johnson. Available for purchase in March 2021, ZOA is a “re-imagined, first-of-its- kind” energy drink packed with clean, natural caffeine from green coffee and green tea, powerful antioxidants from camu camu and acerola, as well as vitamin D and a unique blend of vitamins and nutrients that support immune function and elevate energy levels. As well as Johnson, ZOA is co-founded by Dany Garcia, first female owner of a major professional sports league in the US, dedicated professional bodybuilder and one of the most successful producers in Hollywood; lauded fitness professional and consultant Dave Rienzi; and savvy businessman, entrepreneur and investor John Shulman. The Molson Coors Beverage Company will be the exclusive distribution partner for all retail locations as the company has recently made a series of moves to expand their product offerings beyond beer. Brazilian meatless-meat brand, Future Farm, launches in UK Future Farm, the major Brazilian meatless-meat brand, has officially launched into the UK. The range, made from using a blend of soy, pea and chickpea proteins, consists of Future Meatballs, Future Burgers, Future Sausages and Future Mince. Future Farm – also known as Fazenda Futuro – invests almost a third of gross revenue into R&D, enabling it to create an innovative approach to product development. Just like tech products, its meatless foods are in a continual process of testing an improvement. As they ‘upgrade’, the products continually increase in quality, moving closer to the flavour, texture and juiciness of meat with each iteration. Future Farm has a clear goal: make meatpackers obsolete by both changing the way the global population consumes meat, and reducing meat consumption by getting people to switch to its meatless products that can match, or even exceed, animal products on flavour. Future Farm products are now available in Sainsbury’s across the UK. Biotech launches natural sugar blocker for food & beverages Swiss biotech, Evolva, has launched a natural sugar blocker used in food and beverages and reducing sugar applied in food processing. Studies show that L- arabinose as sugar blocker can support healthy blood sugar levels and weight management. It also has potential application as a prebiotic. As reducing sugar, L- arabinose is also frequently applied in the production of savoury flavours such as chicken and beef. Made by fermentation, Evolva’s L-arabinose is fully renewable and sustainable, it has a high-purity level and no hydrochloric acid is used in the manufacturing process. It is FEMA GRAS approved for use in food and beverages. According to Evola, L-Arabinose taste profile is well-suited for use in products such as yogurt, chocolate, soft drinks, ice cream, cereal, power bars and confectionary. Evolva is having commercial discussions with major customers, which include first supply volumes for 2021. Minor Figures launches UK’s first Barista Semi-Oat Milk Minor Figures has launched the UK’s first Barista Semi-Oat Milk in Waitrose and Morrison’s stores nationwide. Adding to its growing range of barista standard dairy alternatives, as part of its mission to democratise vegan and plant- based diets, the new Semi Oat Milk plugs a gap in current retail offerings within this category. As the first to bring a barista semi product to the market, Minor Figures aims to help consumers who are consciously seeking to reduce sugar intake while maintaining a plant-based diet, bridging the gap for those who want to enjoy great coffee without compromise. Minor Figures has successfully secured listings across Amazon, Booths, Abel & Cole, Farmdrop, Waitrose and Holland & Barrett, in addition to growing its footprint in coffee shops to over 4,000 nationally. Semi Oat Milk is also available from the company’s website, as well as Amazon and Farmdrop. Nichols re-launches Feel Good Drinks Nichols has re-launched Feel Good Drinks, a sustainable purpose-led range of flavoured sparkling waters with a 100% natural new drink formulation in plastic free packaging. The range of 100% natural fruitful canned sparkling waters have been created using no artificial flavours, added sugar or sweeteners and contain 15% real fruit juice. Available in three variants; Peach & Passionfruit, Rhubarb & Apple, Raspberry & Hibiscus, the range contains less than 27 calories per 330ml can and is available to purchase from Ocado, Booths, WH Smith Travel and via feelgooddrinks.com. As well as the new drink formulation the re- launch aims to hero a new brand concept committed to sustainability and boosting the wellbeing of the world. This has been brought to life via the inception of the ‘3% for People and Planet Fund’. © Shutterstock/Africa Studio ZOA co-founders, John Shulman and Dwayne Johnson 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:05 Page 7on line Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net Key Technology introduces new automated grading system for fresh green beans Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces a new automated grading system for fresh green beans. This turnkey solution automatically removes defective green beans and foreign material (FM), while also separating green beans in clusters or with attached stems and then directing them for further processing. This integrated grading solution, consisting of Key’s Iso-Flo® vibratory and rotary separation equipment combined with a VERYX® digital sorter, significantly reduces labor requirements, increases throughput and achieves consistent product quality, even during times of high incoming defect rates. This automated grading system removes product with defects such as tip rot, wind scars and wormhole damage as well as a wide range of FM including rocks, insects and animal parts, glass, metal, cardboard, corn cobs and roots, cotton stalks, peanuts and more. The Iso- Flo vibratory feed shakers ensure good product spread while the rotary separator removes small particles and small FM. New £350m sustainable logistics operation for Mars UK A new, multi-year partnership between Mars and DHL will see the construction of two state of the art warehousing facilities and the creation of a world class logistics operation. The new sites, based in the Midlands and East London, represent an investment of £350 million and have been designed with sustainability at front of mind. The project will reduce Mars’ outbound logistics carbon footprint in the UK by 7.7%. The buildings themselves will be partially solar powered and rated in the top 1% of non-domestic buildings in UK environmentally. Mars UK transport over 1.2 million pallets of their products every year. The new logistics operation will remove a million miles a year from roads – which is 40 times around the world or 8,547 times around the M25 – all while increasing warehousing capacity by over 50%. The two purpose-built depots, ‘East Midlands Gateway’ and ‘London Thames Gateway’, will be operational in the spring of 2022 and 2023 respectively. Food manufacturer secures £90k grant to expand production facility The Regal Food Group has secured £89,391 of grant support from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP) towards the expansion of its production facility and is creating 30 new jobs. Regal Foods is a well- established food manufacturer that has grown from selling to corner shops to a multi-million-pound business, now supplying clients across the UK and exporting to over 40 countries around the world. The company manufactures and supplies over 100 different product lines under two brands called ‘Regal Foods’ and ‘Yorkshire Bakery,’ which includes a variety of cakes and pastries, biscuits, savories and juices. A key supplier to major UK supermarkets chains including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Iceland and the Co-Op, the company has helped supermarkets across the country remain stocked with products throughout the pandemic. The company has recently expanded its client base within the supermarket sector having signed a supplier agreement with Lidl to supply all its UK stores. London tech firm to accelerate deployment of vertical farms in the Middle East Vertical Future, A London-based tech firm specialising in controlled- environment-agriculture (CEA), plans to deploy its proprietary vertical farming system across the middle east. This follows ongoing and advanced stage discussions with parties in different countries who have shown interest in using Vertical Future’s systems. To accelerate plans, Vertical Future have chosen to partner with GreenBridge, an agriculture company that has been active in the region for the past 30 years. Together, they plan to revolutionise the agricultural landscape, improving food security and population health. The partnership will see Vertical Future bring novel technologies, market networks, plant science expertise, marketing knowledge, data, research and development and operational experience to suitable customers. GreenBridge, who are known for their technical expertise and constant support for farmers across the Middle East, will play a vital role in the rollout of Vertical Future’s systems; supporting with local relationships, sourcing, logistics, and linguistics. EPP and Brevetti Gasparin make bread slicing a cinch with Model 1700 Brevetti Gasparin has launched its new Model 1700 continuous band blade slicer for fast and efficient slicing of sandwich breads. The new slicer features several significant upgrades, in particular fast change over, improved blade guide design and blade tensioning systems. Available in the UK and Ireland exclusively from bakery equipment supplier European Process Plant (EPP), the Model 1700 can save bakers time and money with the reduction in the number of stops required for blade changes and can slice up to 60 loaves per minute. Its design features an advanced pneumatic oiling system which ensures the capability to handle difficult to slice products with ease, whilst preventing equipment from being dirtied by oil deposits. “With a longer lifespan, reduced downtime and an ability to handle more challenging products – such as fruited/seeded loaves as well as gluten free items – the Model 1700 is an appealing solution for bakers looking to maximise slicing quality and efficiency,” says EPP Managing Director, Steve Merritt. © Shutterstock/neil langan Artist impression of London Thames Gateway 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:05 Page 812 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT With COVID-19 dominating headlines it’s easy to forget that Brexit did the same for the last few years. The process has been drawn out so long that you’d be forgiven for thinking the British Government wanted people to forget it existed. Now that it’s finally happened however, we’re already seeing some of the knock on effects. While it’s natural that any and all changes produce challenges, it’s important to highlight those that have occurred so that others can adapt to them. Some industries are already beginning to feel the impact of confusing tariffs and trade laws. For instance, the baking and cereal industries in Ireland have recently experienced problems with their intake of flour from the UK thanks to the inclusion of Canadian wheat. While before, the shipment of flour in this manner would have been free of tariffs, the presence of Canadian wheat in the flour means that the finished product faces tariffs of up to fifty per cent. Changing times for the UK Brexit must by now seem like an overly drawn out affair, but now that it is finally happening, we’re starting to see the impact it will have on the food and drink industry. Adapting quickly will be key. 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:08 Page 1Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © Shutterstock /rawf8 The complication comes from the fact that if the products entered the UK, travelled through it and then entered Ireland without any stops then there should be no tariffs, but because the loads stop along the way to drop off some of the material at processing plants, it becomes subject to different rules. This has caused complications down the line, especially with major supermarkets and retailers who are all but forced to buy flour internationally due to the decline of the milling industry within the UK. Despite that, the UK remains a primary importer of Irish goods and a key partner, accounting for thirty-three per cent of Ireland’s food and drink goods, and forty-four per cent of its beef export. The trick, therefore, is in identifying the issues that have been complicated by Brexit as quickly as possible and either finding ways to work around them, changing laws or biting the bullet and dealing with the matter directly. It is clear that things will change, but how much they change is yet to be determined. Donal Denvir, Bord Bia General Manager, Great Britain, said: “It is really positive to see that Irish exports to the UK remain strong and resilient during this period of uncertainty. Bord Bia has been working tirelessly to support food and drink suppliers in Ireland through the impact of the pandemic and Brexit. Notwithstanding what the future brings, the UK will remain the largest single destination for Irish food and drink exports as we 14 Á 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:08 Page 214 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT continue to navigate challenges in 2021 and beyond. Our geographical proximity, shared language and shared cultural understanding ensure that the UK will remain a key strategic partner for Irish food and drink exports.” In a direct speech to parliament, the National Farmers Union (NFU) have said that reductions in EU food imports might force the UK to accept sub- standard supplies from other countries just to feed the UK population. This warning cam after the Government overturned a House of Lords amendment that would have allowed the Govt to block the import of foodstuffs like US chlorinated chicken or hormone pumped beef. Boris Johnson referred to these as “teething problems” but in a speech directed to Parliament, NFU official Nick Von Westerholz rejected the idea, saying that “They may be bumps in the road now, but they are going to get bigger. These are not the teething issues some have referred to them as. We are beginning to feel the effects at farm level of the problems many traders are having. It’s modest and slowly building at the moment, but we do expect over the next weeks and months for the effects to become more keenly felt.” This news echoes what has been said by major retailers and manufacturers within the UK as well, who have warned that costs and delays are likely to increase thanks to incredibly time consuming bureaucracy hampering movement of animal and food material. COVID-19 has not made the industry any stronger and has led to problems of its own. One such problem related to disruption in the UK port industry and has led to action from the BRC and FDF. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have written to Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee, and Angus Brendan MacNeil MP, Chair of the Commons International Trade Committee, to request an urgent inquiry © Shutterstock /EB Adventure Photography 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:08 Page 3Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © Shutterstock /Fabiano's_Photo Irish food & drink exports to UK remain buoyant, despite pandemic Exports of Irish food, drink and horticulture to the UK were held to a marginal 5% decline in 2020, despite a period of unprecedented change and challenge. The figures, taken from the annual Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report 2020/2021, show that exports for 2020 were valued at €4.3 billion (v €4.5 billion in 2019). The pandemic saw the largest disruption to normal market operation, including continued uncertainty around Brexit and towering pandemic challenges which saw the closure of the UK foodservice market. The overall volume of Irish exports fell marginally by 2% in 2020, valued at €13 billion (v €13.2 billion in 2019). The UK remains a primary export market for Ireland. In 2020, 33% of Ireland’s total food and drink exports were destined for the UK. 33% were destined to international markets outside the UK and EU, while 34% were destined to the EU27. The UK remains the core market for Irish horticulture and cereals exports, and exports to the UK increased 8%, valued at €207 million and accounting for over 90% of global exports which was €221 million, up 8% from 2019. The primary constituents of this export mix are mushrooms, primary cereals and amenity horticulture. The UK represented 44% of primary Irish beef exports – extensive retail channel demand somewhat counteracted the significant decline in foodservice and held a 1% decline to €836 million. Overall, the value of primary beef exports was held to a 2% decline to €1.9 billion in 2020. Primary pigmeat exports to the UK increased by a notable 3% to €177 million in 2020. The live export sector experienced growth in 2020, up 11% to the UK and valued at €107 million. into the ongoing disruption at UK ports and across the shipping market. The impact of COVID-19 on global shipping schedules and the shipping workforce along with a shortage of empty containers has created significant disruption at many of the UK’s key ports in the crucial run up to Christmas. This has meant retailers face “Major challenges in building up stock for the Christmas period and for the end of the transition period at the end of December.” The letter points to the significant impact that disruption is having on shipping-related costs, noting that “Container spot rates have jumped considerably – in one instance, by 170 per cent from this time last year. Others have noted week-on-week cost rises of twenty-five per cent. In addition, congestion charges are being levied by carriers for imports into Felixstowe and Southampton.” Food manufacturers have been badly affected by the delays. “Food manufacturers now face additional cost to source key inputs elsewhere, whilst also losing sales due to missed retail promotions in the run up to a key seasonal period – one company has lost over £1 million in sales due to the delays.” 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:08 Page 416 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT The future of packaging 16-23.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:12 Page 1Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT © Shutterstock /George Rudy Reducing plastic packaging – particularly virgin plastic – has gone beyond corporate social responsibility rhetoric. Food and drink producers simply cannot afford to ignore the changing tide of packaging, lest they be left behind and overtaken by their competitors. There are several ways of reducing problematic packaging in the value chain, one of the most proactive is to reduce the amount needed in the first place. Currently, there’s limited scope for this approach as a lot of regulatory The shift in the packaging sector can be seen right across the board, from eco- conscious start-ups, to the biggest names in food and drink making environmental commitments, whether that’s boosting recyclability and the recycled content of packaging or undertaking bold new product development. information is required on pack. In the UK, for example, manufacturers are required to list ingredients, net quantity, special storage conditions, their name and address, country of origin and so on. All of this takes up space on the label which takes up space on the packaging. But digital technologies can help to minimise – even replace – some of that information. Using augmented reality (AR), a consumer could use an app on their 18 Á 16-23.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:13 Page 218 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT smart phone or tablet in conjuncture with a packaged food or drink product to gain information about nutrition and origin. However, manufacturers, labellers and, indeed, the app designers themselves, would need to ensure that they remain compliant with stringent regulations. It’s also worth bearing in mind that this approach likely won’t become ubiquitous in the retail sector as it excludes consumers who don’t have access to, can’t afford or physically cannot operated touch screen devices. Yet it is an encouraging sign of the digitisation of the consumer experience and the increasing emphasis on smart labels, which can also boost supply chain traceability. But packaging doesn’t just convey regulatory information – it also protects products. Consumers and campaigners info@macpac.co.uk Tel: 0161 442 1642 www.macpac.co.uk THERMOFORMED PACKAGING SPECIALISTS We design, produce tooling and manufacture packaging all under one roof, at our AA grade BRC accredited factory. We use responsible manufacturing processes and raw materials with up to 100% recycled content as well as being 100% recyclable. UP TO 100% RECYCLED 100% RECYCLABLE Innovative, Economical & Responsible. UK MANUFACTURER © Shutterstock /Mockup Cloud 16-23.qxp_Layout 1 03/02/2021 13:13 Page 3Self-adhesive labels and food packaging correction solutions Self-adhesive labels are a cost-efficient way to provide key information such as ingredients and allergy advice. They can also be used to display and amend best before and use by dates, prices, promotional offers, bar codes, and health mark/site codes. If you have a food packaging error that needs correcting, we also offer an overlabelling service. With over 30 years’ experience, Croft Printing is able to print self-adhesive labels in a variety of shapes and sizes for all kinds of food products and food packaging including plastic pouches and trays, and cardboard sleeves, boxes or cartons. The company can also provide tamper proof seals and hygienic resealable labels to help ensure product safety. As a BRC Certificated printing company, Croft Printing can offer the surety that food manufacturers and food packaging companies require regarding hygiene and health and safety. To find out more, visit www.croftprinting.co.uk. Food & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net are calling for less plastic packaging, especially when it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, but this is easier said than done. Although industry has long maintained that plastic packaging is necessary for preserving the integrity of fresh produce, research shows that fresh produce packaging can help mitigate a significant percentage of wasted and lost food. This show the benefits of packaging for fresh produce include product protection, extension of shelf life and the ability to communicate product information which assists customers in purchasing decisions. The example given in the research was punnets used to package fresh berries. In this example, the report found the environmental impact of waste generated from damaged, unsellable fruit outweighed the impact of utilising the New winter edition brings warmth to Korean consumers Korean health food producer, Daesang, has chosen SIG’s Heat&Go, the world- leading microwaveable technology for aseptic carton packs, to launch its new Nucare™ Roasted Rice winter edition. Nucare™ is a complete nutritional dairy supplement drink with roasted rice, suitable for people who have difficulty swallowing or prefer liquid food as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. In Korea roasted rice is considered to be fortifying and also gives beverages a delicate taste and aroma. Choosing SIG’s Heat&Go packaging solution offers a quick and easy, complete meal replacement, which can be heated in a microwave to bring added value and convenience to this important target market. Lawrence Fok, President and General Manager Asia-Pacific at SIG, said: “Working closely with the team at Daesang we’ve been able to improve its brand image through innovation and convenience. The ability to fill both standard and Heat&Go packaging material on the same filling machine also adds value.” For more information, visit www.sig.biz. © Shutterstock /Brian A Jackson 20 Á High speed barrier packaging film for horizontal form-fill-seal Innovia Films has launched the next film in its new Propafilm™ Strata range of transparent high barrier, mono structure, packaging films. SLF is a chlorine free film that delivers exceptional barrier levels to oxygen, moisture, aroma and mineral oils. It has been designed with a wide sealing range making it perfect for high-speed horizontal-form-fill-seal packaging of biscuits, bakery and confectionery type products. Alasdair McEwen, Global Product Manager Packaging, Innovia Films, explains: “With SLF, we have been able to develop a totally new barrier film that also has enhanced moisture barrier over standard polypropylene films and is certified recyclable. This means that there is an opportunity to increase product shelf life and therefore reduce food waste. “It is the perfect replacement for PVdC coated films. We have incorporated a wide sealing range polymer into the formulation of SLF, so it has been designed specifically for use on high-speed horizontal packaging lines.” To find out more, visit www.innoviafilms.com. PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT 16-23.qxp_Layout 1 12/02/2021 12:11 Page 4Next >