ON THE SHELF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL FoodDrink FoodDrink www.fdiforum.net JUNE 2019 £3.50 STERLING FLOW MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL Adapting tastes Adapting tastes 01.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:29 Page 102.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:30 Page 1Ready meals42 With busier lifestyles, ready meals have become a staple part of our diets. This has caused a shift in demand which has seen the industry lean both toward healthier ready meals and also more variety in flavour. UK AD and World Biogas Expo49 The UK AD and World Biogas Expo 2019 and World Biogas Summit take place from 3 – 4 July at Birmingham NEC and promise an insight into this burgeoning industry. • Omex Environmental Ltd Q&A Snackex 52 Snackex, the industry-defining event aimed at the savoury snacks business, takes place between 27 – 28 June in Barcelona. TCS&D Show54 The UK’s only dedicated event for cold storage and distribution, the TCS&D Show will not only showcase the sector’s latest innovations but will also feature a comprehensive programme of free-to-attend seminars. Fruit Focus57 Taking place on 17 July at the East Malling Research Centre in Kent, Fruit Focus 2019 is the leading technical event for the fruit industry. Events 59 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world Classified 61 Food & Drink Diary 62 Contents June 2019 This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. FoodandDrinkInternational @fdiforumwww.fdiforum.net company/fdiforum News 4 • General news • On line - production news • On the shelf - new products and initiatives Import and export10 There’s a strict set of laws governing the import of food, feed and livestock into the UK, a process that’s currently regulated by EU law. But leaving the bloc without a deal would leave British importers needing to quickly adopt a different system. Sustainable packaging14 As one of the worst offenders for single-use plastic packaging waste, the food-to-go sector is an environmental nightmare. Fortunately, innovation is yielded a number of sustainable alternatives to help lessen the burden. • Wrapid Manufacturing Q&A Temperature control spotlight 22 Temperature control remains a powerful facet of the supply chain, but new innovations in transportation might mean things will be heating up in the industry. Forklift and pallet trucks 26 Forklifts and pallet trucks are essential for the transportation of goods in warehouses, at docks and production lines. Flow measurement and control 30 We explores the various types of flow meters available for food and drink applications, assessing the pros and cons, and some of the other challenges facing manufacturers. Processing34 To keep up with demand, the processing sector must embrace smart technologies and get ready to implement Industry 4.0 or face falling behind competitors. DC Norris Q&A40 We talk to Stuart Rigby, Jet Cook Product and Process Manager Group Editor: Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor: Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor’s PA: Angela Sharman (a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalists: Stuart Pearcey (s.pearcey@blmgroup.co.uk) Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Tess Egginton (t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales Director: Teri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales Manager: Sam Trott (s.trott@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales: Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310302 Accounts & Subscriptions: John Downes (j.downes@blmgroup.co.uk) Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) Editorial: Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310305, Email: fdi@blmgroup.co.uk Part of the Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE England All rights reserved. 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MAIN: SHUTTERSTOCK/HLPHOTO • TOP: SHUTTERSTOCK/MUPH • MIDDLE: SHUTTERSTOCK/SPEEDKINGZ • BOTTOM: STOKES SAUCES 03.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:31 Page 14 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SIG carton pack recognised international for packaging excellence SIGNATURE PACK from SIG, the world’s first aseptic carton pack 100% linked to plant- based renewable materials, has won in the category ‘Packaging Materials and Components’ at the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Awards. Held by the WPO (World Packaging Organisation), the renowned awards are judged by a distinguished panel of international WPO representatives, plus an International Packaging Press Organisation member. One of the key attributes that elevated SIGNATURE PACK to the top of the judge’s shortlist was the use of tall oil – a by-product of paper production – as the bio-based feedstock going into the polymers via mass balancing, as it doesn’t affect staple food crops. To ensure the integrity of this process, the mass balancing is certified through internationally recognised third-parties. Ace Fung, Global Product Manager at SIG, received the WorldStar Packaging Award on behalf of SIG. He said: “SIGNATURE PACK is a drive for a more sustainable future in the global packaging industry.” New Verner Wheelock course is all about flavour Food industry employees and graduates have the opportunity to find out about the fascinating world of flavours at a new Verner Wheelock course this autumn. ‘Introduction to Flavours’ is a unique two-day course delivered by internationally renowned flavour experts, Professor David Baines and Richard Seal. The course combines lectures and hands-on creative workshops covering both savoury and sweet flavours. Delegates will discover the science behind flavour, what makes flavours delicious and learn how to perform sensory evaluation. They will also learn the types of flavours available to the flavours industry and the different manufacturing processes. Throughout the course delegates will have the opportunity to create their own flavours using a flavours toolkit and to apply them to a variety of food products. ‘Introduction to Flavours’ takes place in Leeds, West Yorkshire on 10th – 11th September 2019. To find out more, visit www.vwa.co.uk. New website showcases wide availability of outsourcing solutions The British Contract Manufacturers and Packers Association (BCMPA) has launched its new website and social media presence to help companies in the food and drink sector more easily identify outsourcing solutions for their manufacturing, packing, fulfilment and logistics requirements. The website has been enhanced and updated to better reflect the extensive range of services offered by members and to enable companies to quickly find suitable partners to assist with their particular needs. The Members Directory section lists all 150+ members spanning a range of end-markets including food and drink and nutraceuticals. Visitors can also request assistance through the website’s Project Enquiry service. Details of a current project can be submitted to enable relevant BCMPA members to get in touch. In addition to the website, new LinkedIn and Twitter channels have also been launched, helping promote the activities of the BCMPA and its members across social media. You can visit the new website at www.bcmpa.org.uk. Process level radar features 1mm accuracy VEGAPULS 64 non-contact radar features an increased precision of 1mm, making it one of the most accurate non contact liquid level process radars on the market. The sensor has already proven its capability in focusing, ability to handle condensation and build up, operation through isolation valves, down long nozzles or through windows, as well as working in agitated vessels. With a measuring range up to 30m, VEGAPULS 64 is maintaining world-class status - from its debut over 2 years ago, to being the fastest growing new non contact level technology for process level applications. Contact VEGA for a live demonstration of its capabilities. Cold chain monitoring – now easier than ever! Labfacility are UK distributors of the Verigo Cold Chain range of Data Loggers for monitoring temperature, humidity and food storage quality. With the addition of the new Pod Range cold chain monitoring is now easier than ever. The Pod Range allows companies to save time, ensure quality and increase the visibility of their temperature-controlled logistics operations. Moreover, no wires or Wi-Fi are required. The Pod environmental data logger records and wirelessly transmits temperature data and excursion alerts to smartphones and tablets. Simply download the Verigo app for Android or iOS to a smart device and start using the Pod. news 04-09.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:34 Page 1Food and health and safety business, Navitas, is innovating its market- leading digital food safety management system to bring safer, easier and more efficient labelling to the foodservice industry. Navitas Food Safety launched its innovative food safety management technology in 2014. The system is based around a Smart Probe device for temperature probing hot and cold food, along with pods and hubs that sit in fridges, freezers and chiller cabinets to provide accurate, straight-forward food temperature monitoring by instantly saving readings to the cloud. Working with technology solutions provider Brother UK, Navitas has further developed its digital food safety management system to also address laborious, unhygienic and potentially unsafe food labelling processes, by integrating the TD-2120N compact label printer with its existing technology. All key information relating to food products is stored within the system on setup, including ingredients, allergens, and use-by dates. The printer will then produce bespoke labels, with tailored information for each product including date and time of preparation, at the touch of a button. The ability to set up a personalised login for each member of staff ensures accountability. The printer is compact to save on space, and the option to power it from a rechargeable battery means it can be used from anywhere – whether in a kitchen, storage area or restaurant. Ben Gardner, CEO of Navitas, believes this new system can play a key role in raising the food labelling standards in the catering industry. “The legislation that applies to labelling food made on-site is less stringent than that which applies to pre- packed goods,” he said. “By using Navitas Food Safety with Brother’s TD-2120N label printer, foodservice providers can confidently meet and exceed the standards set out in labelling regulations, providing reassurance to consumers that their food purchases are correctly and accurately labelled and helping businesses to protect their reputation in the event of any issues after purchase. “One in every four contract catering sites in the UK is already supported by the Navitas Group. The digital food safety management system, including the Brother label printer, can be seamlessly integrated into our current offerings.” To find out more visit brother.co.uk/stock-rotation Navitas partners with Brother UK to raise food labelling standards 04-09.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:35 Page 26 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Brewery triples output with labelling investment Tom Smith, Sales Director with Advanced Dynamics Ltd, explains how a perfect packaging partnership helped boost a brewery’s success. Northern Monk is one of the UK’s fastest growing drinks companies and our firms’ strong partnership has provided labelling solutions that help keep the brand fresh and exciting. A proactive support ethos is at the heart of everything we do, whether you’re into bottles, cans or other packaging. We helped the award-winning drinks business install a new state-of-the-art canning line including a Pack Leader PRO-515 labeller, an upgrade which has seen output rocket from 2,000 to 6,000 cans per hour. Northern Monk’s Operations Manager Ciaran Shier says: “Advanced Dynamics has helped us out over the years and often at short notice, which we are very grateful for. They provide great customer service and support. The expansion strategy was to triple output, and Advanced Dynamics’ PRO-515 was integral to achieving our objectives.” Unicorn boasts highest standard seeds Unicorn Ingredients’ customers can rest assured that they are buying the highest standard seeds – it’s official. Unicorn has held the prestigious BRC accreditation for Agents & Brokers since 2015, shortly after the standard was first launched. Then in March 2019 it passed its latest annual BRC audit with AA grade — the highest this category of business can achieve. The BRC Standard assures customers that Unicorn has high level competence in all critical areas and that it is monitoring and continually improving systems. For Unicorn, meeting the BRC accreditation standard requires close collaboration with suppliers. To gain accreditation back in 2015, all the procedures in Unicorn’s complicated global supply chain were standardised and documented. Its suppliers, independent farmers and co-operatives from all around the world, are expected to maintain the certification standards on an ongoing basis. Unicorn’s plan going forward is to maintain both its Soil Association and BRC certifications, offering continued AA-rated supply chain excellence. 04-09.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:35 Page 3news Organic waste heavyweights collaborate in sophisticated aerobic digestion projects Bath- headquartered Advetec – an engineering company specialising in the scientific bio- degradation of waste – has formed a partnership with UNTHA shredding technology, to roll out a sophisticated aerobic digestion solution for a selection of mixed waste streams. UNTHA’s low maintenance two-shaft S25 shredder will now play an integral pre-treatment role in Advetec’s turnkey XO series. This small footprint in-vessel system can achieve a 60-90% mass reduction of mixed organic waste streams, in less than 72 hours. Commenting on the collaboration with UNTHA, Richard Goff, Advetec’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We have worked hard to establish our reputation for devising innovative bio-augmentation products and micro-aeration systems, and as we look ahead to ongoing expansion in the UK, wider Europe and America, is it important that we maintain this commitment to delivering quality-led solutions. “The UNTHA brand is synonymous – worldwide – with quality, and their exacting shred is exactly what we required to strengthen the homogeneity and optimisation of the Advetec XO process.” Spiroflow extend product shelf life with bulk bag filling solution Leading manufacturer of dry ingredients conveying and bulk bag handling, Spiroflow, is offering businesses a supply chain cost benefit by including foil or plastic bag liners within their woven bulk bags. Working closely with leading bag liner suppliers, Spiroflow’s bulk bag filling equipment can now integrate these liners, which, following a nitrogen purge and heat sealing process, can significantly extend product shelf life. The innovative solution will be of particular interest to producers of nuts, seeds, coffee beans, dried fruits. Commenting on the initiative, Spiroflow’s James Podevyn, said: “The foil or plastic bag liner could be used with any bulk bag filling construction we make and the customer may choose the perfect, bespoke bag for their product, enabling us to build the equipment to meet their exact requirement. This enhanced bag process could benefit any product that has a shelf life, is affected by contact to air, or is hygroscopic in nature.” Food & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net To advertise your services on the news pages contact us on 01472 310302 04-09.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:35 Page 48 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net The Meatless Farm Co launches plant-based sausages British food company, The Meatless Farm Co, is expanding its range of plant-based products with a new line of sausages aimed at the nation’s meat reducers, veggies and vegans. Launching into 200+ Sainsbury’s stores, the sausages are made from natural plant-based ingredients, including the company’s signature mix of pea, soya and rice proteins. The sausages join the company’s plant-based mince and burgers being high in protein, a good source of fibre, vegan friendly and gluten free. The new product launch follows a successful brand launch into Sainsbury’s last October and most recently 95% of all Morrisons stores nationwide. The company has also expanded overseas with listings across UAE and Europe. Rob Woodall, CEO of The Meatless Farm Co, said: “Our sausages provide the same taste and texture of meat whilst remaining nutritionally sound, this was really key to us.” Drynks Unlimited invest over £1m to challenge NoLo category on taste Drynks Unlimited, a UK manufacturing, sales and marketing company focussed on producing alcohol-free drinks, has invested a further £1 million in the UK’s only state-of-the-art dealcoholising technology. The technology uses the revolutionary cool vacuum distillation process (CVD) which gently removes alcohol from full strength alcohol whilst retaining the full-strength personality, character and flavour of the original liquid. The British company is focusing its investment on engaging with both retailers and consumers to rethink their drinking choices with its portfolio of brands in the 0% category. The ability to produce a range of drinks using cool vacuum distillation technology will take the NoLo category to the next level with alcohol- free drinks that truly deliver a great taste and an authentic experience. Drynks Unlimited will offer a full range of alcohol-free drinks and is doubling its range of Smashed with the addition of a Smashed Berry and Smashed Citrus (it launched Smashed Cider and Smashed Hops in October 2018). Stokes Sauces takes on big brands with new ‘squeezy’ range Stokes Sauces, the quality condiment producer from Suffolk, is taking on the big brands in the sector with its squeezy range and is releasing its famous Tomato Ketchup, Real Mayonnaise, Original Barbecue Sauce, Brown Sauce and brand-new Reduced Sugar Ketchup in ‘squeezy’ recyclable PET plastic bottles. Stokes is renowned for its ‘real food’ sauces and its belief that its high quality, delicious condiments can truly enhance meals. The company prides itself on only using the best ingredients in its sauces, such as 200g of juicy, sun-ripened Italian tomatoes for every 100g of Tomato Ketchup, or British free-range eggs and luxurious Greek extra virgin olive oil in its mayonnaise. Stokes will use the same recipe in its squeezy bottles as it does in its iconic glass bottles and the whole range has been designed with ease- of-use and families in mind; the bespoke bottles have been made especially for Stokes and are easier to handle than those used by larger brands. Data Embedded Barcodes – raising the bar to reduce food waste With the demand for a reduction in food waste increasing, major retailers are now taking steps to improve their supply chain and help reduce food wastage with one initiative being the use of data embedded barcodes on some of their shorter shelf life products. So how can a barcode help in the drive to reduce food waste? Currently in the distribution chain before delivery to store, the barcoded information already on the pallets, cases and trays provides visibility and accurate knowledge about where products are, and what shelf life they possess. However, once they are in store the retailer loses that visibility. A new type of barcode, the Data Embedded Barcode (DEB), has been introduced which is printed onto the item of sale. In addition to identification, it also contains the expiry date and possibly batch data. By scanning this barcode in store when stocking the shelf as well as at checkout, the retailer acquires real-time information about what stock is on the shelf and how much life it has left. Along with the benefits, there are several challenges associated with the use of data embedded barcodes. Because they must be read by point of sale scanners at check-outs, a high-quality of print is imperative to ensure every product is successfully scanned first time; “no reads” would be unacceptable, both to retailers and customers. As of writing, the only coding technologies capable of printing DEBs at a high enough quality are laser, thermal inkjet and thermal transfer printers. Scanning of the larger codes poses no problem for the AutoCoding solution. All products can be scanned in the same way using an inline barcode scanner, with all the information held in the DEB checked on a per product basis against the details in the AutoCoding database. on the shelf 04-09.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:35 Page 5Food & Drink International 9 www.fdiforum.net Chicken-less egg protein producer secures financing US ingredient solutions specialist Ingredion has led a Series B financing round in Clara Foods, a producer of animal-free protein products. Clara uses advanced fermentation to produce functional and nutritional proteins from microorganisms. The financing round will be used to fast-track commercialisation of the world’s first chicken-less egg proteins, expand research and development capabilities, and broaden Clara’s product roadmap into many other animal proteins beyond the initial focus on egg white proteins. “We see extraordinary value in partnering with Ingredion to distribute our products globally and look forward to jointly transforming the status quo,” said Arturo Elizondo, founder and CEO of Clara Foods. The announcement comes four years after Clara Foods began developing its protein production platform and raising an unannounced $15 million Series A led by The Production Board in 2016. Ben & Jerry’s doubles down on sustainability with Dairy Advisory Council Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic ice cream brand owned by Unilever, has formed a new Dairy Advisory Council to usher in more sustainable dairy sourcing. The Council brings together experts in environmental health, animal protection, Lake Champlain water quality, and organic farming to help the company achieve its newly refined Values-Led Dairy Vision. The vision is that all dairy used in the manufacture of the company’s products will be sourced from farms which have exception animal welfare standards for cows; thriving livelihoods for farmers and farm workers; feed grown without harmful chemicals or GMOs, and carbon reduction methods. Dave Rapaport, Ben & Jerry’s Global Social Mission Officer, said: “This new, independent council will provide ideas and advice as we develop a long-term roadmap for our goals, with objectives and milestones along the way.” Macsa ID UK reports rising demand for laser coding Macsa ID UK is reporting increasing demand for laser coding technology from fruit and vegetable producers that require consistent quality and fast and accurate identification of production batches in the event of a product recall. The company offers a range of laser coding technologies specially designed to handle different substrates and materials. Whilst ink jet coding systems have typically been used by producers, processors and packers, laser coding is becoming increasingly popular due to its versatility, permanence, cleanliness, durability and environmental benefits. Macsa ID UK’s laser coders have been developed to ensure the traceability of fruit and vegetables from ‘farm to fork’, to properly track and verify every step of the distribution of produce and identify their origin if necessary. The systems are suitable for a wide range of applications including marking on fruit and vegetable trays and processes such as cutting or micro perforation of plastic film to ensure the circulation of air inside fruit containers. Mondel ē z unlocking snacking opportunities with Israeli foodtech incubator Mondel ē z International has teamed up with Israeli foodtech incubator, The Kitchen, to unlock growth opportunities in the snacking sector around the globe. Through the collaboration, which will be led by Mondel ē z International’s R&D and SnackFutures team, the company will have unparalleled access and visibility to one of the world’s leading foodtech ecosystems. At the same time, it will offer technological and commercial expertise to entrepreneurs from The Kitchen and provide an opportunity to work in the company’s global Technical Centres, including access to pilot plants and internal experts across a variety of areas such as R&D, food safety, marketing insights and operations. Counting 12 portfolio companies so far, The Kitchen addresses global food challenges by nurturing and investing in cutting-edge technology start-ups. The goal is to nourish promising foodtech ventures that can disrupt the global food system – making it more productive, more affordable, more sustainable, and healthier. England bans plastic straws and drinks stirrers Plastic straws and drink stirrers will be banned in England following overwhelming public support after an open consultation was launched last year. The ban, which also includes plastic stemmed cotton buds, will come into force in April 2020. However, Government has confirmed it will include exceptions to ensure those with a medical need or a disability are able to continue to access plastic straws. The government’s response to the consultation published reveals over 80% of respondents backed a ban on the distribution and sale of plastic straws; 90% a ban on drinks stirrers, and 89% a ban on cotton buds. Under the new laws, catering establishments will not be able to display plastic straws or automatically hand them out, but they will be able to provide them on request. The government said that this “strikes the right balance” between reducing environmental impact while protecting the rights of people with medical conditions and disabilities. on line © Shutterstock / designs by Jack © Shutterstock / virtu studio © Shutterstock / Moving Moment © Shutterstock / Tae PY15MU 04-09.qxp_Layout 1 29/05/2019 10:35 Page 6Next >