< Previous10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.neton lineCadbury commit to UK with £75m investment inBournville production linesMondelēz International has officially unveiled itsnew production lines at its Bournville site inBirmingham, the home of Cadbury.With an investment of £75 million, the new linesrepresent a confidence and commitment to post-Brexit Britain.Two of the four new lines are dedicated toretaining Bournville as the home of Cadbury DairyMilk, producing the core classic range.The other two lines will create loved assortmentslike Cadbury Roses and Heroes – the firstsignificant investment in Cadbury’s assortments for thirty years.Work to implement the new lines started in 2014 and today the Cadbury Dairy Milk tablet linesproduce up to eight tonnes an hour, making 900,000 200g bars or 1.2 million 110g bars per day.While the Cadbury Roses and Heroes lines produce up to six tonnes an hour, making 13 millionsweets per day. The investment has secured modern manufacturing in the UK for the nextgeneration.Weetabix picked upby Post Holdings for£1.4bnUK cereal brand Weetabix has beenacquired by the consumer packaged goodsholding company Post Holdings fromShanghai’s Bright Good Group for £1.4 billion.Weetabix primarily produces ready-to-eat(RTE) cereal products spanning branded andprivate label. Founded in 1932, it holds the number twooverall position in the UK RTE cereal category.Its portfolio includes the iconic Weetabixbrand, which holds the number one brandposition in the UK RTE cereal category, as wellas Alpen, Barbara’s, Weetos and Ready Brek.In North America, Weetabix operates anatural and organic RTE cereal and snackingplatform in both branded and private label, ledby the Barbara’s brand and the Puffins sub-brand and serving leading natural and specialtychannel and conventional retailers.Rob Vitale, Post’s President and CEO, said:“Combining together two category leaderscontinues our strategy of strengthening ourportfolio in stable categories and diversifyinginto new markets, bringing much-loved brandsto significantly more customers globally. Weare excited about the growth opportunitiesthat this acquisition brings.”Compact Linx laser the perfect fit for HuhtamakiThe Linx SL1 laser coder has provided theideal solution for the application ofpermanent codes onto paper cups, as part ofthe upgrading of product traceability atglobal food and drink packaging specialistHuhtamaki’s New Zealand operation.Huhtamaki identified laser technology asthe most appropriate solution to ensure acompletely indelible code and to meet thecompany’s requirements for improvedcleanliness and lower operating costs.After evaluating different vendors, Huhtamaki selected the Linx SL1 laser coder supplied byLinx distributor Reynolds. The five Linx SL1 laser coders are integrated into the different packaging machines, completewith comprehensive safety interlocking and guarding. The SL1 units are ideal due to their highlycompact size, flexible configuration and excellent price to performance ratio.The coder was designed as a cost-effective and compact model. The highly flexible 10W laserdelivers a wide range of message types, including multiple lines of high quality text, logos andmachine-readable codes.Real Good Food takes a bite outof snack bar makerReal Good Food has acquired a majority interest in Welsh snack barmanufacturer Brighter Foods.The company said it has taken an 84.33% stake for up to £8 million. Itadded that Robin Williams will remain on as CEO.Following the transaction, senior management of Brighter Foods willretain a 15.67% stake in the business.Brighter Foods creates and manufactures own-brand and brandedsnack bars for the healthy snacking market from its factories in Tywyn,Gwynedd in Mid Wales, where it employs some 170 full-time staff.The company produces snacks which are targeted at areas such asdiet control, gluten free, lactose free, low or no added sugar, sportsnutrition, organic and fair trade.Pieter Totté, Executive Chairman of Real Good Food, said: “BrighterFoods fits well into our strategy to consolidateprofitable well run businesses in niche areasof the food manufacturing industry.”He added: “Real Good Foodinvestment will enableBrighter Foods toexpand and improveits capacity andproduct range evenfurther.”UK coffee shops full of beansThe UK coffeeshop market hasenjoyed its biggestperiod of growthsince 2008, whenthe market wasvalued at £2.2billion, accordingto Mintel research.Over the last fiveyears, the marketrose by 37%, upfrom £2.4 billion in2011 to reach £3.4 billion in 2016. What’s more, between 2015 and 2016sales increased a spectacular 10.4% – the biggest year-on-year boostwitnessed in the last five years.It seems the market is brewing up for further success, as over thenext five years coffee shop sales are forecast to jump a further 29%,reaching a heart-stopping £4.3 billion.Brits’ insatiable appetite for coffee is highlighted by the fact that twothirds of them have visited a coffee shop in the past three months.Coffee shop usage peaks among consumers aged 16-24 (73%).However, in a space traditionally dominated by specialist coffeeretailers, it is notable that as many as 44% of Brits buy their hot drinksfrom non-specialists.© shutterstock/Moving Moment© shutterstock/Shaiith© shutterstock/Moving Moment04-11_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:05 Page 7 () !") !))!)&) ()# ') )))))!)&( &)#))) ) &))(! ))))%) )!)#) )! () ) ) ( #)))!) ' ()"!)#&) ( $)%!)&) ! ) !)%#)%))%)%) ) 04-11_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:05 Page 812 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTKeepingthings safeBefore one can even think about exporting to another country,it’s important to look at the measures taken to ensure thesecurity of food. 12-15_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:08 Page 1Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORT© shutterstock/SantiPhotoSSAs consumer tastes continue to becomemore adventurous, with new and exoticproduce being shipped around the globe,total product integrity has to be assuredduring the importing and exporting of foodand drink. Consumers are demandingbetter, fresher produce, and a raft ofcomplex legislation means that productsmust remain tamper-proof and hygienicthroughout lengthy supply chains. Qualityassurance has never been more important.This article examines some of the methodsthe industry is using to ensure that the foodand drink on your table is as fresh and assafe to eat as possible. Before we take a look at what theindustry is up to, however, it’s worth notingthe measures that nation states haveimplemented to ensure the security andsafety of our food. Today, it is not enoughto ensure that products meet with generalfood safety requirements at the beginningof the supply chain; there is now anunderstanding that, because of the globalnature of the industry, ever-more rigorouschecks are required at the point of entry. Alot can go wrong before a product reachesa country’s borders. At worst, products maybe deliberately tampered with ormislabelled, which could easily compromisetheir hygiene or create a security risk. Thetransmission of diseases such as Africanswine fever and bluetongue and thesmuggling of illegal substances disguised asfood and drink cargo are major concernsfor most nation states, and, by extension,for an industry keen to avoid reputationaldamage.Import and export legislation isparticularly stringent in the EuropeanUnion. In most EU countries, including theUK, meat, fish and dairy products may onlyenter through a port with a BorderInspection Post (BIP), which means thatthere is significantly less chance ofcontaminated produce entering thesecountries. This approach is certainly notconfined to the EU: in the United States, thevast majority of food products entering thecountry are inspected under the terms ofthe U.S federal Food, Drug and CosmeticAct (FD&C). Strict checks are made toensure that any food additives, colorantsand pesticides used at the preparation andpacking stage have not compromised theoverall integrity of the product in a waythat could endanger the health of theconsumer. 14 Á12-15_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:09 Page 214 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTThe labelling of food and drinkimports is also a major concern acrossthe globe. Some countries now demandthat imported products be labelled in alanguage that is understood byconsumers in the area where the foodor drink is marketed. This way,consumers are able to make informedchoices based on their specific dietaryrequirements – coeliacs will know whichproducts are gluten-free, for example –or ethical issues, such as concernsabout genetically modified foods. It isthe responsibility of producers andimport and export companies to ensurethat this information is provided in thecorrect language.So, what is the industry doing toguarantee quality assurance? Given theincreasing length and complexity ofmodern-day food and drink supplychains, there are a number of healthand safety issues that suppliers mustaddress before they can import orexport a product. First, measures must© shutterstock/Ekaterina_MinaevaScotland secures £8.3m exportdeal in North America Scotland’s lucrativefood and drink sectorhas secured £8.3million worth of salesto North America. In early April, foodand drink companiessigned new exportdeals, meaning thatan assortment ofScottish products willnow be sold insupermarkets andrestaurants acrossNorth America andCanada. Speaking at a foodand drink showcase in New York, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, said:“Scotland’s food and drink sector remains one of our strongest export markets and thelatest figures show how important North American business is to our products.”She added: “The news that Scottish business is thriving and securing multi-millionpound contracts is fantastic, and it is especially encouraging to see so manyindependent businesses doing so well. “The links between Scotland and the US have always been strong, and today’s [April7] announcement shows that they will continue for years to come.”© shutterstock/Antony McAulay12-15_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:09 Page 3Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTbe taken to ensure thepersonal hygiene of allworkers handling theproduct at the preparationand packing stages. Thegrim spectre of foodpoisoning – still a problemthat affects millions eachyear – can add up to greaterlevels of consumerdissatisfaction and unwantedreputational damage. To counter thethreat of contamination and poisoning,many companies have implementedstrict food safety managementguidelines which insist on the fastidiouscleaning and disinfection of all workingareas and implements used in thepreparation and packing of food anddrink products. The most rigorouscompanies will also implement theseguidelines while the product is in transit,a crucial stage of the supply chainwhere products are most susceptible todeterioration and illegal compromise. Temperature control is paramount atthe transit stage. Conscientious importand export companies are employingincreasingly sophisticated refrigerationtechnologies to help maintain thefreshness of their products, and greatcare is being taken to ensure thatoptimum temperatures are maintaineddepending on the specific product.Rapidly perishable products such asfresh meats need to be chilled at lowertemperatures – usually between -0.75and -1.25°C – to prevent degradation,whereas most canned goods can standa warmer transit environment. Such isthe commitment to quality assurance; ifa fresh product shows signs ofdiscoloration many companies willdiscard it before the loading stage. The import and export business hasto contend with a variety of securitythreats, many of them potentiallycatastrophic. Product-tampering, theft,and the stowing of illegal cargo onvessels intended to transport food anddrink are all major concerns. There ismuch at stake: in most countries, thefood and drink supply chain is worthbillions of pounds a year. If security iscompromised, huge financial losses area real possibility, not to mention thethreat to consumer safety if productsare contaminated.International collaboration seems tobe the best way to address thesethreats. Companies and regulatorybodies need to work together toguarantee traceability in the foodsupply chain. This is easier said thandone, but increased levels of vigilanceand improved checks could help toprevent humiliating disastersand scandals.Cargo insurance isparamount for import andexport companies, but it istaking major interventionsfrom internationalgovernments to resolve thelarger security issuesafflicting the import andexport industry. In 2010, for example,the U.S passed the Food SafetyModernization Act, which aims toprevent security breaches at source.Such heavyweight involvement isparticularly necessary in counteringmalevolent threats such as biologicalattacks perpetrated by terroristorganisations, and marks a significantshift from a reactive to a proactiveapproach to food and drink security.Put otherwise, the industry is no longerwaiting for security breaches to happenbefore it acts.On a micro-level, companies areinvesting in tamper-proof (or “tamper-evident”) technologies to guarantee thesafety of their products. These canrange from the “security button” on thelid of a mason jar to sophisticatedcustomised seals, which provideunequivocal evidence of tampering atany stage of the supply chain. Theseinnovations, coupled with increasinglytough international legislation, representpositive steps towards ensuring safetyand security within the import andexport business.Lamb cooperation withChina ‘great news’ forNZ agricultureA chilled lamb Memorandum of Cooperation between China andNew Zealand has been hailed as “great news for New Zealandagriculture” by co-operative Alliance Group.David Surveyor, Chief Executive of Alliance Group, said: “As NewZealand’s largest lamb processor and exporter, we are delighted anagreement has been reached.”He added: “Chilled lamb exports to China offer significantopportunities for the co-operative, our farmer shareholders,particularly, in the food service sector, which is a growing segment ofour business and a key part of our strategy to capture more marketvalue.“Critical to the success of the chilled lamb market to China will bethe development of the necessary infrastructure in the country to support our exports.”Alliance Group has already undertaken extensive trial work with its key in-market partner Grand Farm ahead of this programme.© shutterstock/stockcreationsIf security is compromised,huge financial losses are areal possibility, not tomention the threat toconsumer safety if productsare contaminated12-15_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:09 Page 416 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netSUPPLY CHAIN SPOTLIGHTFor the last year, the biggest issue keepingsupply chain managers up at night was Britain’sdeparture from the European Union. With PrimeMinister Theresa May calling a snap generalelection for June – which has gained almostunanimous backing from Parliament – the issue isnow about how to get the best deal for Britain.More than any other election in recent history, thepoll this time will be focussed on a single issue –Brexit. Key players and organisations in the foodindustry are calling on the election to get the bestdeal from the divorce proceedings. Along withenergy and labour, perhaps the next biggestconcern to the economy is our food industry. It’s anindustry reliant on migrant labour and other low-paid workers to pick produce and to work onproduction lines. There are concerns that with theimpending Brexit, Britain will ostracise theseworkers. Without natives stepping up to fill thesepositions, there’s a very real fear that there’ll be abottoming out of the supply chain. Needless tosay, Brexit is one of the most profound issuesfacing the British food supply chain, but whatexactly are the issues, and what is being done tonip them in the bud? A coalition of four UK farming unions have cometogether and announced that Brexit must be seenand seized as an opportunity for the nation’s foodchain. They argue that the upending of the politicalstatus quo can help ensure continuity, as well asdeliver a regulatory framework that works in thebest interests of UK farmers. “The task of transferring the vast expanse ofexisting EU law into UK law will be one of thebiggest legislative challenges this country has everfaced,” said Meurig Raymond, President of theNational Farmers Union – one of the fourSupply andDespite disruption and uncertainty, Brexitand the UK’s forthcoming general electionoffer politicians, unions and manufacturersthe opportunity to leverage the nation’sleading supply chain. 16-18_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:11 Page 1Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netSUPPLY CHAIN SPOTLIGHTaforementioned unions. “And farming is probably impacted more than anyother sector, with a huge number of pieces ofdirectly applicable EU legislation and nationalimplementing regulations governing the way ourfarmers carry out their day-to-day businesses. Mostimportantly it must not jeopardise our future tradingrelationship with Europe.”He added: “Nevertheless, Brexit also provides theopportunity to review much of the regulationgoverning farming. Too often, farmers have beenburdened by rules and requirements that stifle theirability to farm for no discernible benefit. Werecognise the value of good regulation, which canfoster innovation or promote productivity whileprotecting our health and the environment orstandardising operations. But bad regulation oftenachieves none of these.” Raymond’s comments and the call from the unioncollective crucially came before the Prime Minister’sdecision to go to the polls come June, surprising theopposition, the general public and members of herown cabinet. Though the announcement has thrownanother political curveball in a year riddled withthem, the election is an opportunity for food anddrinks companies to seize the day. Industry leaders have encouraged politicians to setout and explore plans to develop the UK’s £108billion food and drink manufacturing sector ahead ofthe forthcoming election. The calls come from theFood and Drink Federation (FDF) whose DirectorGeneral Ian Wright said that it was a government’sduty to provide its people with safe, affordable andnutritious food and drink. “Over the next six weeks, all those who aspire toform the next government have a duty to spell out in© shutterstock/Rusla Ruseyndemand18 Á16-18_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:11 Page 218 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netSUPPLY CHAIN SPOTLIGHTa very clear terms their vision for thenation’s food and farming policy for thepost Brexit generation,” he said. The FDF has subsequently pledgedto work with other organisations in thefarming and food retail spheres, toensure that the UK has a vibrant anddiverse food industry after Brexit. Raymond added: “The NFU willensure that all parties fully understandand engage with the food and farmingcommunity on the issues facing thesector both now and post-Brexit. “British farms currently grow the rawingredients for the UK food and drinkmanufacturing sector worth £108 billionand moreover the public want tocontinue to buy British food. For that tohappen it’s vital that candidatesrecognise the enormous contributionthat agriculture makes – for every £1invested, farming delivers £7.40 back tothis country – and to back Britishfarming.” The National Farmers Union and theFood and Drink Federation were joinedby the British Retail Consortium in acoalition of trade bodies who togetherissued a crucial statement, nay arallying cry for the nation’s foodindustry to get behind. Within the openletter, the consortium outlined itsobjectives for post-Brexit UK tradepolicy. It called on government to agreetransnational arrangements thatmaintain frictionless trade in goodsbetween the UK and the EU, byavoiding costly and disruptive customschecks, processes and procedures, aswell as avoiding customs duties ontrade by securing an ambitious bilateralfree trade agreement with the EU thatdelivers two-way tariff-free trade.It also called for establishing the UKas an independent member of WorldTrade Organisation, providing continuityand predictability by adopting the EU’scurrent schedule of Most FavouredNation bound tariff rates.Securing the benefits for UK tradersof existing EU preferential tradearrangements, including the UK’s fairshare of tariff rate quotas foragricultural imports, was alsoimperative, as well as of any preferentialaccess for UK food and drink exports,at least until government can replacethem with acceptable alternativearrangements.The coalition also called for engagingin formal trade negotiations with thirdcountries when the terms of the UK’sfuture trading relations with the EU andother existing preferential tradingpartners are clear.Finally, it argued that Governmentshould consult with stakeholders andundertake detailed economic impactassessments when trade negotiationsare opened and before any offers areexchanged. It should also cooperatewith third countries on regulatoryequivalence and ensuring that all newtrade agreements take intoconsideration differences in regulationsand standards when market access isnegotiated.As the most profound issue facingthe UK supply chain, Brexit is critical tothe nation’s food future, as well as theeconomies that have a vestedinterested in stake in Britain’s exportmarket. Article 50 has been triggeredsignalling the official beginning of ourexit negations. The general election hasthrown another surprise in the mix, onewhich unions, manufacturers andpoliticians can use to leverage the bestoutcome for Britain’s food andbeverage industry.© shutterstock/branislavpudar16-18_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:11 Page 3Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netCLEANING AND MAINTENANCEChefs argue that we eat with our eyesbefore even tasting that first forkful,emphasising the particulars andimportance of presentation. Science hasbacked this up, claiming that the colourand shape of a plate can influence ourperception of a food’s texture and taste.Consumers embody this idea whenshopping, entering into dialogue withhundreds of food products vying fortheir attention through branding,promotions and packaging. In the highlycompetitive retail sector, brashpackaging can do wonders for a brand.Moreover, retailers have strict aestheticrules when it comes to fresh produce,tossing aside any examples that don’tconform to these stringent guides. It alldemonstrates that the food industry isoutwardly visual, yet so much of whatallows for a farm-to-fork process goesunseen by consumers. Cleaning and maintenance are at theirbest when they go unnoticed. Hygieneonly becomes noticeable through thefailure of cleanliness. Overallmaintenance can seem invisible until anissue occurs, revealing its sheerimportance. Hygienic design can co-exist with style, as in the case of delicounters et cetera, but factories and20 ÁNext togodliness© shutterstock/Zapp2PhotoThe need for a reliable, efficient and rapidproduction line is heralding a number of designinnovations in hygiene and maintenance. 19-23_Layout 1 26/04/2017 09:13 Page 1Next >