< Previous10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTExponents of Brexit argued thatpulling out of the European Unionwould usher in a sea change for Britain,shake up the status quo, and allow thenation to make better use of its budgetand resources. Though that rhetoric waspeddled with no small amount of exaggerationand misinformation, the fact of that matter isthat Brexit is indeed shaking things up. Many have worried that divorcing the EU willhamstring Britain’s productivity and competitivenessacross the continent. The continuing loss of migrantworkers, on the other hand, remains an unabatingheadache for the agrifood sector. And yet there is asilver lining, with Britain doubling down on its exportefforts and yielding record-breaking results. Indeed, lastyear saw overseas sales of UK food and drink top £22billion as the global hunger for British productscontinues. Silverlining Brexit was a rude awakeningfor the UK’s agriculturesector, with a dearth ofmigrant workersprecipitating a loss of profitand a rise in food waste.However, the fateful vote hasbrought with it a boost toBritain’s food and drinksector, with exports hittingrecord levels. Food and DrinkInternational investigates. 10-13_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:05 Page 1Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTAlthough Britain will undoubtedly continue to tradewith our neighbours across the Channel, the voteforced food producers and exporters to cast theirgaze further afield and tap developing markets –such as China and India – as well as nurturingrelations with the United States, or forging links withbrand new markets. Clearly, this has paid off inspades, with UK food and drink businesses nowselling their products to 217 markets. Breaking these figures down into theirconstituent products reveals some interestingfindings, demonstrating what exactly isresonating with international consumers.Sales of British milk and cream have grownby 61 per cent, while salmon rose 23 percent and pork by 14 per cent. Efforts fromthe British dairy industry are paying off, witha sector-wide push to target overseasmarkets and capitalise on the growingglobal hunger for high quality dairy. TheBritish brand also has a lot of weight andcultural significance behind it. Animalwelfare in Britain is amongst the highest inthe world, explaining in no small amountwhy sales have exploded as they have. © Shutterstock/Rubio Lu12 ÁBritish lamb back on the menu inSaudi ArabiaBritish lamb will soon be back on the menu inSaudi Arabia as part of a revitalised marketagreement worth an estimated £25 million overthe next five years.British sheep farmers and meat producers willnow have the opportunity to take advantage ofthe increasing demand for our high quality foodand drink in Saudi Arabia – where total UKexports were worth over £152 million last year.Top exports in 2017 included sweet biscuits(£13 million), chocolate (£10.9 million), butter (£6million) and cheese (£5.1 million).The eagerly awaited deal has been secured by the government, working with the Agriculture andHorticulture Development Board and UK Export Certification Partnership lifts a 20 year long ban onexporting British lamb after the BSE crisis.The deal follows the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this year that the Chinese government hasagreed to progress lifting the BSE ban on UK beef exports to China.© Shutterstock/Piotr Rzeszutek10-13_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:05 Page 2IMPORT AND EXPORTOne of the UK’s biggest success stories of late,however, is alcohol. Demand is only increasing forBritish brewed beers, with bottles appearing onshelves as far afield as Japan and New Zealand, but itis spirits which are having the biggest impactoverseas. In last month’s issue, we explored theexport success of Scotland. Of course, one of thenation’s foremost exports is whisky, contributing tothe UK’s overall success with spirits in global markets.But gin’s star continues to rise with international salesreaching in excess of £500 million. One of the most surprising revelations was thatBritain is exporting produce to countries which aretypically thought of as having the best of thatproduct. For example, last year the UK sent £85million worth of cheese to France, £21 million ofchocolate to Belgium and, best of all, £2 million worthof tea to China. It goes a long way to demonstratingthe coveted quality, craftsmanship and prestige thatBritish produce is enjoying both domestically andoverseas. Of course, this hunger represents a hugeopportunity for food producers to leverage theirwares into overseas markets as the UK negotiates its© Shutterstock/Evgeny Karandaev© Shutterstock/Paul Cowan10-13_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:05 Page 3British gin enjoysexport boomExports of British gin have broken records againthis year, with sales overseas shattering the half abillion-pound mark for the first time.The latest figures from HMRC show that £530million worth of British gin was sold abroad in 2017.This is the equivalent of around 189 million bottlesof British gin exported last year up from around 177million bottles in 2016.Thanks to a surge in popularity in the juniper-based spirit – which has been dubbed the‘ginaissance’ – British gin exports have more thandoubled since 2008 when sales overseas wereworth £258 million. Britain sends more gin around the world than itdoes beef, and exports of the spirit have increased12% by value and 7% by volume, in the last year.The USA remains the largest importer of UK gin,with sales to the US worth £184 million, up almost£12 million on 2016.Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTway out of Europe. This means gettingmore goods into the US, which remainsthe nation’s largest market outside ofthe EU. Last year, it was worth £2.3billion – a rise of 3 per cent on theprevious twelve months. But China isone of the most lucrative markets, withGovernment making a concerted effortto woo importers. Earlier this year,Prime Minister Theresa May led adelegation to China in a bid to kickstart trade relations and secure vitallinks for the coming years. China iscurrently the UK’s eighth largest exportmarket for food and drink. Last yearContrary to the constantnegativity of the doom-mongers, the Britisheconomy is going fromstrength to strengthshowing that a GreenBrexit can deliver for thewhole country.““Michael Gove, Secretary of State for theDepartment of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs© Shutterstock/Javier Somozaalone, over £560 million worth of foodand drink was snapped up by Chineseconsumers who had a particularpreference for salmon, whisky and pork. As well as courting buyers in China,the Government continues toencourage and support UK business asthey mull over launching into overseasmarkets or expanding their currentglobal customer base. To support this,Government has a number ofcampaigns and initiatives, chief amongthem being Food is GREAT. Thiscampaign aims to highlight the successof current exports as well as showcasethe UK’s food and drink. Moreover, the newly formed Foodand Drink Council met for the first timein February with the aim of boostingproductivity and making the industryaltogether more “resilient, sustainableand competitive”. In order to make themost out of Brexit, secure deals inoverseas markets and allow producersto capitalise on new opportunities,efforts such as these are vital. Althoughthe official divorce date is still manymonths off, the groundwork needs tobe laid now in order to secure the bestfuture for Britain. 10-13_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:05 Page 414 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSIn the event of theft or adulteration, acompany can be left with financial andreputational damage. Thoughcompanies are often insured in theevent of theft or damage, this can leadto extended periods of downtime. Theinclination here may be to invest in thelatest technological safeguards, withnext-generation solutions providinganother layer of security for worriedsupply chain managers and foodmakers alike. Contamination of any kind is anomnipotent threat, with the supplychain having any number of potentialentry points for adulteration to occur.These can manifest in a variety ofguises, from environmental damage toforeign bodies and other pathogenscoming into contact with food andbeverage products. The same due careand attention must be applied to theloading and unloading of goods asduring its manufacture. Think of it as anextension of the production line,meaning that trucks and pallets shouldbe regularly cleaned. A thoroughwashdown should also include baydoors themselves, many of which arepurposefully built with hygiene in mind.In manufacturing, hygienic designprescribes a set of principles to ensuremaximum efficiency and cleanliness,without leaving processors with aconvoluted and time-consumingwashdown routine. Dirt, however, is far from the onlyenvironmental factor thatmanufacturers must be wary of, withboth wind and rain presentingpersistent threats. Loading bays areshields against the elements. Thedifficulty faced by manufacturers is instriking a balance between function andnecessity. While lighter materials maybe advantageous for the constantopening and closing required of baydoors, conventional options such asthese may not hold up against highwinds and violent downpours. With onebay out of order due to environmentalLockand loadProducts are perhaps at their most susceptible during transit, either as rawingredients or as a finished, packaged product. It is little surprise then thatloading bays would be targeted by criminal fraternities for everything fromtheft to adulteration. 14-17_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:07 Page 1Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSBID Group provides aMidlands Bakery withInsulated RollerShutter DoorBID Group has provided a Midlands Bakery with anew Roller Shutter Door to keep the workplace toasty.Mathew Wardle, Regional Account Manager for BIDGroup Midlands, said: “Providing a comfortable andsafe working environment is a must for every businessowner. But the opening and closing of externaldoorways is unpreventable in warehouses and everytime this happens warm air escapes and cold airenters. It was clear following a site survey that a newdoor was the best option to provide a safe, energysaving solution.”BID Group believes in providing products that aremanufactured to the highest quality. Its Roller ShutterDoors are no different and that is why they are easy tooperate, robust, fully galvanised, operated via a directdrive and manufactured at our in-house productionfacility.Roller Shutter Doors are available in all sizes with manual or electric operation. For moreinformation, visit www.bidgroup.co.uk.damage, a company’s entire logisticsoperation can suffer, settingproductivity, profits and orders backwith perhaps an even more profoundknock-on effect. Investing in durable,weather-proof doors, then, is of theutmost importance. Robust security doors should factorin water and airproofing measuresalongside good thermal transmittance.The trend in recent years has seenspecialist door makers turning towooden fibreboards – such as MDF –treated with polyurethane-basedinsulators as a waterproofing solution.© Shutterstock/Worldpics© Shutterstock/Siarhei Dzmitryrienka16 Á14-17_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:08 Page 216 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORS0870 607 5050www.klimate.co.uksales@klimate.co.ukKlimate High Speed Doorspart of BID Group LTDKLIMATEHIGH SPEED DOORSBENEFITS• UK Manufactured• Low Maintenance and User Friendly• Technical Support• Fast Open and Closing Speeds• Continuously Rated ProductArdent For All AmbientApplicationsK2 First ForFreezersThe doors are then reinforced with heavy dutymetal armours such as stainless steel toprovide a rigorous defence. This satisfies allconcerned, with a lighter, more functionalstructure, and protection against toughweather conditions. The above assumes that all loading bays aremade equally which, of course, is far from thetruth of things. In reality, specific loading baysand doors are required depending on the kindof products moving through them. So whatmight be sufficient for an ambient product canbe detrimental to frozen goods. In the latterexample, a few degrees difference intemperature can spell disaster, leaving anentire shipment wasted and the producer leftto absorb the costs. Loading bays are make-or-break areas in ensuring a stable and reliablecold chain. Accomplishing this aim seescompanies turning towards four sided vehicleseals whereby a vehicle will only be openedfrom inside a facility. Here it is then loaded,secured and deployed and all without affectingthe carefully controlled temperature. The specialised and expensive equipmentinside warehousing and distribution facilities are oftenattractive to thieves and their third parties. Although acompany may never suffer theft, it’s important tosafeguard its potential. There are a number of securitymeasures at a company’s disposal, including electronickey cards, iris recognition and keyless entry devices. Aswell as helping to deter and disengage would-be thieves,they also do away with lock and keys. As companies of allkinds embrace automation, the idea of a physical lockand key is becoming antiquated. Better to move with thetimes and embrace these next-generation solutions. If stillin doubt, a company can take stock in the fact that theircompetitors will be investing in the latest technologyavailable. Modular loading docks and mobile platforms are beingused with increasing frequency, given the flexible andpractical benefits they offer over traditional fixed raisedloading docks. For safety purposes, dock levellers are alsoa far more common site in warehouses and distributionfacilities. In short, they’re a cylinder powered platformwhich can be used to bridge the gap between loadingbays and logistics vehicles of any height or distance. Thisrelatively simple technology offers significant gains byprevent costly spillages and worker causalities. Loading bays are critical in a products journey throughthe supply chain. From farm to fork simply wouldn’t belogistically feasible without these critical junctions alongthe way. For that reason, companies must ensure thattheir doors can withstand theft and forced entry,environmental damage as well as preserving the integrityof the products that move through them. © Shutterstock/Baloncici14-17_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:08 Page 3Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSStertil Dock Products launchescoloured dock shelters Followingsuccessful usethroughout mainlandEurope, Stertil DockProducts now offersbespoke colouredcurtains for its rangeof dock shelters tocustomers in the UK.The Stertil range ofdock shelters is usedextensively to supportloading and unloadingoperations atthousands ofinstallations includingdistribution centres,warehouses, manufacturing sites, retail outlets, transport hubs and many other locations. Inthese applications, the shelters provide a universal and flexible solution by ensuring optimalsealing on vehicles of varying types, heights and widths.Having earned an enviable reputation for quality and reliability over many years, Stertilhas become increasingly involved in designing and developing bespoke solutions to helppromote customers’ branding. This has involved the incorporation of logos and colourschemes to reinforce corporate identities and the introduction of bespoke coloured dockshelters is a continuation of this process.For more information, visit www.stertil-dockproducts.co.ukCustom Storage WarehousesRubb structures are built to last, but are fully relocatable or extendable to meet changing needs in the processing, packaging and logistics sectors.Our fabric buildings offer proven, flexible solutions for a wide range of warehouse requirements. Clear spans and high translucent ceilings provide a bright, efficient and cost-effective working environment. Rubb also provides Thermohall® insulated buildings with three levels of thermal protection to suit your products, cooling requirements, costs and environmental policies.Contact the Rubb team to explore alternative warehouse solutions to support your business goals.Email: info@rubb.co.uk | Tel: +44 191 482 2211 | www.rubbuk.comexcellence in engineeringBuilding Systems14-17_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:08 Page 418 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netMICROBIOLOGYViewfrom thepetri dish Although food testing labs help to highlight thepresence of microbial threats, preventionrequires eradication and so researchers andfood scientists are going on the offensive. 18-21_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:20 Page 1Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netMICROBIOLOGY© Shutterstock/FestaMicrobiology is the unseen cog in the great food and drinkmachine, one which directly affects consumers, but one whichthey rarely give any thought. So long as the food and beverageproducts they’re buying are safe, there’s no need for them to payit any mind. But consumers have become increasingly moreaware of the food supply chain over the last decade, helped in nosmall part by the advent of the internet and, especially, socialmedia. Capitalising on this trend, food companies are interactingwith consumers on social channels and are becoming moretransparent about their processes in doing so. Part of this meansallaying the concerns of consumers in the event of a productrecall. There are a number of reasons why a product is pulled fromshelves. Sometimes this is a voluntary precautionary measure, asa manufacturer may have discovered the possible presence ofmetal, rubber or plastic. The most common reasons, however,tend towards the presence of undeclared allergens which couldput consumers with food allergies at severe risk. Food poisoning can be much harder to identify and catch windof, with recalls usually initiated after consumers have alreadyfallen ill. But food manufacturers aren’t defenceless againstmicrobial threats such as E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter. Athorough washdown routine is a must, but it isn’t a silver bullet.Instead, companies can turn to laboratory testing facilities thatcan assess food and beverage products and production lines forany sign of infection. Although this isn’t mandatory,manufacturers can rest assured that their products are free fromcontaminates and that their production environment is hygienic.Or, should any microbial threats be detected, they can take stepsto ensure consumers stay safe and spare themselves anyreputational damage or litigious action. Laboratory testing can also be utilised in the authentication offood products, ensuring that what’s on the ingredients listcorresponds with what consumers are putting into their mouths.This safeguard can also be used in the ongoing battle againstcounterfeit food products, which still flood the marketplace. Testing works by taking controlled amounts of food productseither from a single batch or from a selection. Samples are then20 Á18-21_Layout 1 27/02/2018 09:20 Page 2Next >