< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net COLD STORAGE smaller footprint builds capable of 24/7 operation. Building upwards rather than out is fitting as facilities are further established in urban areas, with robotic stacker cranes accessing high shelves, and with less square footage and less land needed, savings can be made in property costs for what are already expensive facilities to create. In addition, with a smaller footprint comes a smaller roof area, allowing real gains in energy conservation, with heat from roofing reduced, making a building easier to keep cool. Automation is also being employed to decrease labour costs and make up for a staff shortage, with just a small talent pool willing to work in the extreme conditions associated with cold storage. Some facilities are keeping this to a smaller scale with semi-automated systems like automated truck loading systems, while others are implementing fuller automation with receiving, picking and retrieving systems (like AS/RS), minimising human contact with goods as far as possible. AGVs such as automated lift trucks are also being utilised, though it should be noted that problems with condensation on sensors used to navigate has limited their use. A significant trend in cold storage is the use of Internet of Things (IoT) systems and cloud computing, which offer improved visibility and accountability for cold storage and shipping. IoT sensors in warehouses and refrigerated trucks facilitate real- time remote temperature monitoring, often when tracking other parameters too, transmitting data to cloud software platforms for use, and can provide automatic alerts if temperatures reach an unsafe level. With these real-time notifications when goods are no longer in ideal temperatures, one can uncover cooling system malfunctions, quickly work to correct problems to avoid product damage, and prevent the spoilage of a shipment. One could even reroute a shipment to preserve products. With automated 24/7 temperature monitoring and recording manual documentation is eliminated and on demand reporting can be accessed, as well as historical cold storage data, which is particularly useful for food safety compliance. In part this has come as a response to customers desiring temperature confirmation and regulation, for instance the FDA’s Food Safety Modernisation Act which pinpoints requirements for maintaining temperature. Shipments must be traceable and have verifiable temperature records. The importance of temperature control in the food and drinks industry cannot be overstated. The tiniest changes in the carefully controlled environment can render product integrity null and void. As well as ensuring that food remains at its best, manufacturers also need to mind their equipment, especially in these summer months where the heat inside machines can be a very real danger. © Shutterstock /Dusan Petkovic 38-40.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:33 Page 3www.fdiforum.net Plan your campaign with Food & Drink International… ...your competitors are! As marketing is the vital ingredient for the success and growth of any business, we can offer advice and packages to suit all budgets. Speak to one of our experienced account executives. CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO? • Print • Online • E-Newsletters • Regular News • Topical Features The perfect medium to give your brand the best chance of being seen! Contact us below for our 2021 editorial schedule Call today on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email: v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk INTERNATIONAL Food&Drink Food &Drink I N T E R N Food Food &&& Food Food & N A T I O N &&Drin Drin Drin &&Drin A L nk nk nkk ahe The d y safety and a News Healltth, saf hygiene Pumps and nd fluids I N T E R N Food Food &&& Food Food & N A T I O N &&Drink Drink Drin &&Drink A L nk nk nkk inno Foc ovati io i News Packaging spotlight oading ba L ayy doors s ysand I N T E R N Food Food &&& Food Food & N A T I O N &&Drin Drin Drin &&Drin A L nknknkk News ng and challeng Meeting Flavouring colouring ges colouring c er Softw waaree sp spotlight I N T E R N FoodFood &&& FoodFood & N A T I O N &&Drink DrinkDrin &&Drink A L nk nk nkk Beverages ellff The futu in foc The futu On the shel ture s in focus i s End off line packkaaging MINIMUM COST…MAXIMUM IMPACT! www.fdiforum.net 41.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:34 Page 142 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net FROZEN AND CHILLED FOODS On ice The freezer aisle continues to evolve as an increasing number of consumers see the benefit of buying frozen and more producers get in on the action. 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:36 Page 1Food & Drink International 43 www.fdiforum.net FROZEN AND CHILLED FOODS © Shutterstock /Y ARUNIV Studio Frozen food has long garnered the reputation of being economic and, ultimately, unhealthy food brought for convenience and affordability and not for nutrition. This was despite the numerous producers working within the frozen foods arena offering a variety of healthy frozen food options. There’s also the persisting notion that freezing negatively affects product integrity. In reality, the freezer aisle has undergone a radical change over the last decade, and is now a cornucopia of healthy and vibrant food products alongside more traditional fare. The drivers behind this shift are largely reactionary, responding to industry happenings and changes in consumer taste and product preferences. The 2013 horse meat scandal dealt a damaging blow to the frozen food industry, as it was frozen pies, lasagnes and other ready-meals that bore the brunt of the scandal. It left consumer confidence in tatters, and drove others towards fresh, organic food with sales spiking in the immediate aftermath. Some seven years later, equilibrium has returned. Far from returning to the pre-scandal days, the industry has evidently evolved, with a greater emphasis on traceability between suppliers, producers and stockists, and nurturing a two-way relationship with consumers. One of the persisting misconceptions regarding frozen foods is the high levels of preservatives. Although budget ready meals still contain high levels of sugar, salt, saturated fat and preservatives, 44 Á 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:36 Page 244 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net FROZEN AND CHILLED FOODS that’s not to say that products need preservatives in order to be frozen. The freezing process itself often bypasses the need for such additives altogether. In the case of fresh produce, quick freezing often occurs shortly after picking, preserving the integrity and texture of the fruits and vegetables but also locking in nutrients. Studies have shown that food frozen immediately after it was picked and processed boasted more nutrients then their fresher counterparts as little as three days after picking. For this reason, many producers use this promised freshness and nutritional profile as unique selling points. Quick freezing also helps to sidestep freezer burns, a boon when it comes to specific textures and visual properties of, say, meat and fish. Aesthetics will assist in facilitating the market shift, as consumers begin their relationship with food and beverage products at a visual level – either with an advertisement of the packaging itself. In all honestly, frozen foods don’t look particularly appealing, meaning they are reliant on packaging and design. Though fruits and vegetables are still packed and sold in PET bags – as is also commonplace for ice cubes and fried potato products – it is becoming more commonplace for fruit pieces to be packaged in plastic or even paperboard boxes. The best canvas for producers to convey nutritional information and appealing graphics, however, is through cartoning and sleeving applications – namely a plastic tray, topped with a film and sleeved in card. The difficulty lies in packaging and sleeving these products Star Refrigeration impress customers with two-year warranty on new installations Star Refrigeration, one of Britain’s leading industrial refrigeration companies, has firmly instilled confidence in its bespoke cooling technology by offering a two-year warranty on parts and labour. Brand new for 2021, the warranty is valid on all new Star built industrial contract installations at no extra cost and is part of a wider commitment to offer better value to customers. The extended warranty is included as standard for all new installations which includes the award-winning Azanechiller 2.0 and Azanefreezer 2.0 products, which have garnered worldwide acclaim for their energy efficiency and also covers Star’s Envi range of CO2 packaged refrigeration solutions. The warranty will apply to all future upgrades of the modular systems. Any order placed from January 2021 will benefit from the extended warranty. Such an inclusive warranty offer demonstrates the company’s confidence in its products and engineering teams, and is part of its extensive ongoing maintenance packages. Dr Lewis Brown, Contracts Director of Star Refrigeration, said: “We are proud of our products, our engineering ability and our highly qualified staff. Current customers who invest in our ongoing aftercare packages receive unrivalled 24/7 support with their systems, however we wanted to go that bit further for our customer base. The extended warranty is a great benefit with no additional cost to the customer, and is testament to the confidence we have in the systems we are installing.2 With 50 years of innovation in industrial refrigeration engineering, Star Refrigeration is renowned for its pro-active maintenance and aftercare service. A whole range of aftercare solutions assist customers in prolonging the life of the systems whilst reducing core ongoing costs. To find out more, visit www.star-ref.co.uk/services. 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:36 Page 3Food & Drink International 45 www.fdiforum.net FOOD AND DRINK © Shutterstock /Anna Nahabed quickly so that the nutritional benefit of the foods inside is preserved. The frozen food industry is also a fertile ground for new product innovation. Given the freezer is twinned with the history of consumer convenience, it makes sense that convenience itself is still a major selling point. Convenience, however, isn’t synonymous with high salt and fat fare, and can instead be applied to healthier options. Supermarkets in the UK, for example, have started selling pre- peeled and –sliced avocados to tap into the persistent trend, while bags of frozen pomegranate seeds are now commonplace, meaning consumers can take advantage of the fruit’s nutritional profile without needing to peel and de- seed it themselves. The nature of frozen foods is that they are caught in time, preserving their freshness and sensory profiles. That’s not to say that the frozen food industry itself is static, far from it. They are among some of the most market savvy and forward thinking in the food and beverage sector, riding the changing waves of consumer taste and quick to react to legislative changes. A case in point is the utilisation of the freezer and frozen foods as a means to circumvent the food waste crisis both here in the UK and globally. It also means big business for suppliers and manufacturers of sleeving and conveying machines, as producers look to increase efficiency in the frozen food chain. And, in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, there has been a spike in the sale of frozen foods. Needless to say, it’s a market on the up and is very much here to stay. 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:36 Page 4transversal synergies. In addition to a commercial platform, Alimentaria shows its close relationship with the tourism sector and the food industry, putting value on gastronomy, innovation and trends through a wide range of activities. To find out more, visit www.alimentaria.com/en. Plant-Based Foods Value Chain Europe 2021 8-9 June Online This virtual exhibition will allow you to do business with a wide variety of stakeholders with more than one hundred exhibitors and 1,000 participants. Moreover, there’ll be 1,500 speed dating session to help pair the right people together, plus 1,500 1-on-1 business meetings. This even has every you need to develop your business and build new connections. To find out more, visit https://bit.ly/3e0wpCB. UK Soft Drinks Conference 11 May Online Zenith Global’s UK Soft Drinks Conference is the industry’s main annual forum to hear about the latest market developments, debate key issues and network with other business leaders. The 2021 event will be hosted virtually, featuring a full day of presentations, interactive panels, interviews and discussions, alongside extensive networking opportunities. For more information, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/uksd2021. Alimentaria 17-20 May Online As a leading trade show, Alimentaria anticipates trends and predicts business opportunities. For this reason, this edition of Alimentaria presents a new concept which multiplies its offer to boost the business of each sector and facilitates 46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Events Food & Drink © Shutterstock /Jocar Photography © Shutterstock / YEINISM Vertical Farming World Congress 20-24 September London & Online Bringing together vertical farming operators, investors, suppliers and customers, the 2nd annual Vertical Farming World Congress is designed to help develop and advance the sector’s future. The 2021 event will feature two days of online conference sessions and networking opportunities, with additional elements for those attending in person, including vertical farm tours, produce tasting, policy forums and training courses. For new entrants as well as industry leaders. To book, please visit the registration tab. For more information, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/vfwc2021. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, readers should be aware that events may have been cancelled or postponed. All dates correct as of publishing, but please check beforehand. 14th Global Dairy Congress 22 - 24 June Online The premier industry event devoted to marketing and brands, consumers and innovation, designed for industry leaders, innovators, suppliers, customers and 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:39 Page 1advisers worldwide. This 14th annual Global Dairy Congress will be hosted virtually, featuring two days of interactive conference sessions with a focus on the latest market developments, trends and opportunities, plus extensive time. To find out more, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/gdc2021. The Sweets & Snacks Expo 23 – 25 June Indiana Convention Centre, USA The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a can’t-miss event for thousands of confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers for a reason – here you’ll find all the product innovations, insights and industry connections you need to build a world-class in-store or online experience that will delight your shoppers. To find out more, visit www.sweetsandsnacks.com. Food & Drink Expo 5-7 July NEC Birmingham The UK Food & Drink Shows offer a full portfolio of events covering food development, grocery, manufacturing, specialist retail, wholesale and foodservice. Food & Drink Expo will run alongside The Ingredients Show, Foodex, National Convenience Show, Farm Shop & Deli Show and The Forecourt Show. To find out more, visit www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk. Seafood Expo North America 11 – 13 July Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre, USA Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America is a leading trade event for seafood buyers in every market category including retail, restaurant, catering, foodservice and processing. Meet with suppliers from around the world and source the seafood, new products, equipment and services to meet your business needs. To find out more, visit www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america. Food & Drink International 47 www.fdiforum.net The NAFEM Show 26 – 28 August Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, Fl The NAFEM Show is the world’s leading showcase dedicated exclusively to foodservice equipment and supplies. Here’s where attendees will discover the very latest in equipment and the industry’s top supplies. Applications to exhibit are being accepted now. To find out more, visit www.thenafemshow.org. © Shutterstock / Dalibor Sevaljevic 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:39 Page 2FEATURES Temperature Control Spotlight Sustainable Packaging Health, Safety & Hygiene Warehousing & Distribution Flow Measurement & Control Process, Control & Automation Snack Foods and Ready Meals Import & Export Next month in June 2021 - Deadline 19th May INTERNATIONAL Food&Drink Food &Drink Visit us at www.fdiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues? 48.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:40 Page 1Classified Often imitated… …never equalled You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink If you would like further information please contact Sam Trott on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. Food & Drink International 49 www.fdiforum.net Depositors Tel: 01282 440040 enquiries@riggsautopack.co.uk www.riggsautopack.co.uk Manufacturers of depositors & filling machines for the food production industry Labels Tel: 01482 506560 sales@datamarkuk.com www.datamarkuk.com • Self adhesive Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels w w w . fd if o ru m .n et To advertise your services on the Classified pages contact us on 01472 310302 Hoses Providing all hose and couplings wash-down and non-glass sight glass requirements to the Food & Dairy Industries Tel: +44 1933 673699 Fax: +44 1933 675819 E-mail: enquir y@f lexrite.co.uk Web: www.f lexrite.co.uk FlexRite 19 The Trinity Centre Park Farm Industrial Estate Wellingborough Northants, NN8 6ZB • Superb Location - Close to the ports of Grimsby & Immingham - Great motorway links - Close to the town centre • Secure off street parking • High speed internet availability • Easy in/out terms • A range of affordable office sizes Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Ground floor offices to let - prime location in Grimsby To Let Online Directory 49.qxp_Layout 1 26/04/2021 12:40 Page 1Next >