< Previous10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netDS SMITH have an enjoyable experience when they receive their goods athome. We set DS Smith a tough task with a number of importantpractical requirements as well as the need to communicate ourbrand values effectively.”DS Smith’s expert designers worked closely with Dr Organic tobuild a range of packs that hold the product firmly in the centre,creating a small void around the pack for transit protection.Anthony added: “The cases are quick to erect and the securingadhesive tapes mean fast packing, and ensures security and tamperevidence. The easy opening rip strip also supports a positivecustomer experience on receipt of the product and enables an easyreturns process if a customer needs to send any products back. Wereally feel we have got a solution that eliminates risk andmaximises sales.”DS Smith has won recognition for itsdesign and innovation at the EuropeanFlexographic Industry Association PrintAwards 2015A total of sixhonours - four inthe UK and twofor Germany -were awarded tothe corrugatedpackaging andsupply cyclespecialist,including Gold forits work with Typhoo, Silver for Diageo and Bronze for Mondelez. The EFIA Awards have been running since 1972 and offerparticipating companies the opportunity to gain recognition forexcellence in flexographic print on packs produced during theprevious year.Tony Foster, UK Sales and Marketing Director at DS Smith,said: “We enjoy this challenge every year as we continue to investin flexographic print machines, systems, printing plates andtechnical expertise. Apart from producing great print, we alsodigitally manage colour across our production sites to ensureconsistency in appearance. All aspects of ‘flexo’ continue toimprove, print standards are unrecognisable compared with a fewyears ago”.“These awards recognise all the hard work done by our talentedteams and we are delighted to have been honoured by theFlexographic Industry Association.” DS Smith takes the lead in Butcher’spet food promotionDuring an on-site technical workshop,Butcher’s challenged DS Smith to cost-effectively incorporate aredeemablevoucher into itsexisting highquality, corrugated12 pack consumerbox, to support itssales andpromotional strategy.DS Smith presenteda range of options including special varnish effects, foil blockingand random coding. However, after joint consideration, the bestsolution was a HD pre-print liner to the existing litho printed packoffering the shopper a redeemable £1 voucher.The resulting pack encourages repeat purchase of the highquality product and supports brand loyalty and engagement – keystrategies for family-owned Butcher’s.Sarah Alexander, Head of Marketing Department at Butchers,said: “DS Smith was central to the development of thispromotional idea. We wanted to increase brand engagement butnot sacrifice our family heritage. The solution has alreadydelivered results higher than ever seen previously - redemptionrates >35% against market norms of <1.5% which we are nowmonitoring to understand the impact on long-term loyalty trends.The reverse-printed coupon also allowed us to create noise &vibrancy for the shopper and protect the brand from the risk ofmal-redemptions often seen with inserted coupons.”DS Smith’s packaging division hashelped Dr Organic create a new suite ofpackaging to support its e-retail offerNatural skincare brand Dr Organicuses only the finest natural andorganic raw ingredients in itsproducts and hasdeveloped a loyalcustomerbase sincelaunching in2009.As a brandbuilt on a firmcommitment of premiumingredients and ethical practices, Dr Organicwas keen to ensure its e-retail packaging reflected these values.Anthony Davis, Creative Director at Dr Organic, said: “Wealways put our customers first and this includes making sure theyDS Smith, UK Packaging For more information and newsfrom DS Smith go towww.dssmithpackaging.co.uk.10_Layout 1 27/07/2015 14:24 Page 1Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netGreener, sustainable stand-out packaging O’Brien’s Fine Foods found Holfeld Plastic’s eCoPETVaccumed Skinpackaging a compelling productalongside a Skinpack portfolio that is rapidly expandingand gaining in reputation.eCOpet, more familiarly known as rPETeCO, is atrophy-winning low carbon, lightweight in packagingdeveloped, blended and manufactured in Ireland byHolfeld Plastics part of Waddington Europe and arelatively new and innovative material for brand ownersand retailers alike looking to add value in their packagingand to enhance their environmental credentials.Obrien’s Fine Foods located in the heart of Ireland is a heavyweight in pork processing withaward-winning premium ranges sold throughout Ireland and the UK and Versatile Packaging,Holfeld’s key distribution partner in Ireland, was briefed to rebrand O’Brien’s famous and wellestablished Breakfast range from Roulade Puddings Sausages and Filled back Bacon products. rPETeCO seemed the perfect match meeting the brief in every aspect, offering a unique textured finish and exclusive to Holfeld customers. Afterconsideration Rudd’s chose an artisan look with a slate grey tray finish combined with a vibrant complimentary sleeve. New range of snack-pots from WellpakIn a diversification from the traditionalfruit punnet, Wellpack’s small snack-potswith peel off lids begin with singleservings of blueberries, cherries or cherrytomatoes and is aimed at consumerswho are conscious of the five-a-daymantra, particularly in the 18-24 agerange.The pots are expected to beparticularly appealing to the UK’s 10million plus commuters wanting to grab ahealthy snack while on the move andbusy parents who rarely have time to divide punnets into portions for lunch boxes. Wellpak is uniquely positioned to deliver the product since its service partner Ackio – aspecialist, highly automated fruit packer – has developed and invested in specialized packingtechnology that, in combination with Wellpak, gives a unique array of services.With market data now suggesting a move away from traditional punnets towards either muchbigger containers or smaller, single-portion pots, Wellpak is riding a wave and the snack-pots areavailable to retailers immediately.New fruity chocolateflavour spreads One of Scotland’s leading independent jamproducers, R&W Scott, is broadening its productrange with the launch of two innovative fruit-basedchocolate flavour spreads - Scott’s Strawberry FruityChocolate and Scott’s Orange Fruity Chocolate.Scott’s new fruity chocolate flavour spreads aremade with fruit and represent a healthier alternativeto the market leader in chocolate spreads with 66%less saturated fat, 35% less calories and nocompromise on taste. A category first for R&W Scott, this versatile newspread, which is crafted from the jam producer’sbase in Carluke, can be used to liven up breakfasttime and presents a perfect, healthier topping forporridge, pancakes, toast and cereal. It can also beused in home-baking as a filling and topping. Available in 225g clear jars with a colourfulimpactful strawberry or orange coloured label tomaximise on-shelf presence. The RRP is £1.00 withthe products listed in ASDA and Scotmid from June2015.Weetabix launches new breakfastpot range with Clondalkin Leading lid manufacturer, Clondalkin FlexiblePackaging Bury, has produced the high qualitypolyester lids for a brand new range of singleserving Weetabix products. Weetabix introduced the threenew products - WeetabixCrispy Minis ChocolateChip, Weetabix Crispy MinisBanana and Weetos pots,to appeal to consumerslooking for a quick andnutritious breakfast they caneat anywhere. The on-the-gobreakfast market is growing asmore and more people eat theirbreakfast out of the home and this represents a big opportunity for retailers. The product required 95.5mm diameter omnipet polyester lids featuringbold, five colour designs, with pin dot embossing for extra impact on-shelf.The initial print run was 50,000 units of each of the three products and MarkTyrrell, Packaging Control Manager for Weetabix says “We are delightedwith both the design and quality of the products. The lids are eye-catchingand robust and the service we received from Clondalkin Flexible PackagingBury has been excellent.” Jim Beam BottleCaptures Flavourof KentuckyGlass packaging manufacturerBeatson Clark has captured theflavour of the American south in thenew bespoke bottle it has designedfor JIM BEAM® Original BourbonSauce by echoing the shape of thereplica 1940s American Stillhouse atthe JIM BEAM® distillery in Kentucky. The sauce is being launched thisyear by Manchester-based The FlavaPeople using real JIM BEAM®Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.The client was looking for a unique,signature bottle which would stand out on the shelf and have a weighty,premium look and feel while at the same time communicating the well-known Jim Beam brand.“Using real JIM BEAM® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 9%, thisone packs a real Bourbon punch,” said Danielle Complin from The FlavaPeople. “And with its angled shoulders the glass bottle will really stand outfrom the array of round or rectangular bottles on the shelves.”11_Layout 1 27/07/2015 15:55 Page 112 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netNew Age of Inductive Sensors with wenglorweproTecA new generation of inductive sensorsfrom wenglor sensoric GmbH is set torevolutionise the entire product segment.The new sensors operate at up to threetimes the switching distance specified inthe standard and can be installed almostdirectly next to each other, without anyreciprocal influence, thanks to weproTec -plus reliable ASIC technology and erroroutput. The new product range isn’t just rackingup high scores where performance is concerned, but in the area of intelligent networking as well: thanks to the IO-Link interface, selected sensors can beeasily integrated into networks and are thus ready for demanding Industrie 4.0 applications.Wenglor point to other advantages including: smaller formats with the same levels of performance; reduced number of types so various applications witha single format; increased mechanical protection; easy diagnostics and trouble shooting; long service life and top quality; mounting console for quickinstallation without tools. Seamless traceability ensures higheststandards of quality controlLeading meat processor Mischau GmbH& Co.KG of Spandau, Germany is usingCSB-System’s advanced software toprovide essential quality control, foodsafety and traceability across its widerange of products. Every stage of production can be tracedand accounted for; from the procurementof raw materials through to processing andfinal customer dispatch. Upon the initialreceipt of goods, quality tests are carriedout aided by the IT system and labels arethen attached indicating an item’s name, vendor and unique lot number. This data is passed onto CSB input stations in batch processing as well as other downstream production stages up toweigh labelling in order picking, mobile capture devices are used to register the items andautomatically post them in the ERP system, including details relevant for traceability. Thanks to this precise documentation, Mischau can quickly find out which goods weredelivered to which customer, allowing a fast recall in the event of any problems. Food coatings firm leadsway with gluten-freeexpansion Food coatings firm Bowman Ingredients hasannounced plans for a multi-million pound investment inthe UK’s first dedicated production facility for gluten-freeproducts.CEO Rory Bowman explains: “This investment marksa major step in our global business growth strategy.Gluten-free crumb systems already account for asignificant share in our total breadcrumb business andwith major supermarkets and restaurant chains drivinggluten-free products further into the mainstream to meetconsumer demand and we believe that the gluten-freecategory presents food processors with a massiveopportunity.”Due to be operational within the next 12 months,Bowman Ingredients’ dedicated gluten-freemanufacturing facility will feature the latest productionequipment and enhanced processing technology. Formore information visit: www.bowmaningredients.co.uk‘MinusL’ products in innovativecarton packOMIRA Oberland-Milchverwertung GmbH has nowbrought a CFA 812 filling machinefrom SIG Combibloc into operationat its Neuburg factory. The machinecan fill products in the carton packscombiblocMidi and combifitMidi.This format is now available inGermany for the first time. Variousproducts of the brand ‘MinusL’,which are made especially for people suffering from lactose intolerance, arenow offered in combifitMidi 1,000 ml – and more are planned.The combifit carton format series features sturdy, slender carton packsthat are curved outward at the front and inward at the back, so they sit verycomfortably in the hand. The sloping top characteristic of combifit gives anoptimal pouring angle. The user-friendly features of the carton pack aretopped off by the combiSwift screw cap, which has a very easy openingaction and can be securely re-closed after initial opening. The filling machine CFA 812 has an output of up to 12,000 carton packsper hour. It can be used to fill combibloc and combifit formats with the samebase dimensions. The filling process is the same for both formats; only thecarton sleeves in the filling machine magazine are changed. Sun Valley nuts about AxiumProcess’ FiltersSun Valley, a market leadingsupplier of quality processedand raw nuts to Europe’s mostsuccessful retailers and majorblue chip manufacturers, hasrecently purchased a number ofbespoke filter systems fromfiltration specialist, AxiumProcess and which areproviding Sun Valley withimproved process efficienciesand reduced downtime.The company was lookingfor a flexible system capable offiltering from 2000 micron downto 50 micron that would requireonly a small footprint as well as being easy to maintain and clean.Working closely with Sun Valley, Axium’s engineers came up with theperfect solution a stainless steel duplex and triplex filter system using theirPure-Screen Wedge-Wire Filters, which require no tools for cleaning andprovide filtration levels from 10 micron up to 6000 micron.12-13_Layout 1 27/07/2015 14:38 Page 1Flexible, Reliable, EfficientDrying Air movement expert, Secomak, have designed, developedand manufactured F.R.E.D. - an innovative drying machine that iseasily installed over existing production lines within the Food andBeverage Industry. Purpose built for customer convenience F.R.E.D. requires verylittle maintenance once installed and available as a retro-fit thisdrying machine proves a cost-effective solution to poor productquality being found on existing food and beverage productionlines. For 25 years, Secomak have been solving drying problems onthe world’s fastest production lines and have strong relationshipswith large end users. Anthony Hughes, Director of Salescomments, “At Secomak we are increasingly looking at how wecan develop integrated solutions to the most complex challengesfaced by our customers today and in the future. F.R.E.D. is a simple and cost-effective, retro-fitdrying solution that eliminates issues related to excess surface water such as labelling issues, illegible date codes and wet cardboard, without complicatedinstallations and high maintenance demands”.Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netIrvings Homestyle Bakery invest in PFM servowrapperAn entry level, servo-driven flow-wrapperfrom PFM Packaging Machinery is providingScottish bakers Irvings Homestyle Bakerywith extra capacity to meet rising demandwhile allowing the family run firm to take amore flexible approach to productionstaffing.The new PFM Pearl machine is employedon a wide range of specialised biscuits andtray bakes produced by Irvings at its CastleDouglas plant, mostly under its own namebut also some own brand for local retailers.As Director Keith Irving testifies : “production can involve fairly short runs of different size items.In a day the machine could need to be set up five or six times to handle different products which iswhere the servo drive comes in. Ease of set-up saves labour costs and allows us flexibility withproduction staff, who might be unable to set-up a mechanical machine.”Further investment atPollard BoxesRigid box manufacturer Pollard Boxes has furtherexpanded its specialist ‘End to End’ fulfilment servicewith the creation of an additional 6,000 sq ft ofspace, bringing the total area to 100,000 sq ft.Having recently installed new equipment andfacilities to a value in excess of £1 million includingan advanced Sakurai printer which is able toproduce off-line spot UV varnish, silk screen printingand some very special finishes only possible with thesilk screen process, the extended facilities makePollard one of the most highly invested businesses inthe rigid box sector.Another recent investment is a fully automaticEmmeci MC2012 MEB for the manufacture of highquality drinks presentation boxes up to 330mmdeep. This is the first of its kind to be installed in theUK and is a major advance over existing machineswhich are only capable of producing boxes up to210mm, offering greater flexibility in the design andproduction of luxury drinks packs.UBX challenges the status quo inretailUK software developmentcompany, Solutions forRetail Brands (S4RB), issetting out to change theway Retailers and BrandOwners operate. Itsconcept - dubbed “UnifiedBrand eXperience”, or UBX- challenges retailers toconnect the different peopleand processes involved in their Private Brand product development andsupply chain in order to deliver unprecedented levels of service and quality,whilst simultaneously achieving cost and efficiency savings.This combination of satisfied, loyal customers and increased operatingefficiency is one that S4RB contends every retailer aspires to, but few comeclose to achieving, because of the challenges of managing complex supplychains, thousands of products and hundreds (or thousands) of PrivateBrand suppliers.UBX is made possible by a new generation of cloud services from S4RBthat leverage its proven supplierENGAGETM platform and expand it. UBXCloud Services enable Retail Brands to bring suppliers, retail teams andcustomers together to create their own Unified Brand eXperience across allchannels, with benefits for everyone.New RobotGrader revolutionisesfixed weight tray packagingWeighingand packingequipmentspecialistIshida Europehas extendedits range ofsolutions forpoultry, meatand fishpackaging with the addition to its equipment portfolio of a unique systemthat improves yields and efficiencies in the packing of fresh food pieces.The new RobotGrader combines weighing and pick and placetechnologies to grade products of varying weight and pack them to a fixedweight straight into the tray. The system reduces giveaway to less than 1%per pack and can correctly place and orientate the pieces, at speeds of upto 320 pieces per minute.Depending on the model, the RobotGrader can handle two, three or fourdifferent tray types at the same time. In addition, the system can identifyand sort pieces whose weight is unsuitable for tray packing, and directthese to bulk bins (which are integrated into the RobotGrader) as well asfreezers, slicers and marinating operations.12-13_Layout 1 27/07/2015 14:38 Page 214 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTAs 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 offood and drink. Consumers aredemanding better, fresher produce, and araft of complex legislation means thatproducts must remain tamper-proof andhygienic throughout lengthy supplychains. Quality assurance has never beenmore important. This article examinessome of the methods the industry is usingto ensure that the food and drink on yourtable is as fresh and as safe to eat aspossible. Before we take a look at what theindustry is up to, however, it’s worthnoting the measures that nation stateshave implemented to ensure the securityand safety of our food. Today, it is notenough to ensure that products meet withgeneral food safety requirements at thebeginning of the supply chain; there isnow an understanding that, because ofthe global nature of the industry, ever-more rigorous checks are required at thepoint of entry. A lot can go wrong beforea product reaches a country’s borders. Atworst, products may be deliberatelytampered with or mislabelled, which couldeasily compromise their hygiene or createa security risk. The transmission ofdiseases such as African swine fever andbluetongue and the smuggling of illegalsubstances disguised as food and drinkcargo are major concerns for most nationstates, and, by extension, for an industrykeen to avoid reputational damage.Import and export legislation isparticularly stringent in the EuropeanUnion. In most EU countries, includingthe UK, meat, fish and dairy productsmay only enter through a port with aBorder Inspection Post (BIP), whichmeans that there is significantly lesschance of contaminated produce enteringthese countries. This approach is certainlynot confined to the EU: in the UnitedStates, the vast majority of food productsentering the country are inspected underthe terms of the U.S federal Food, Drugand Cosmetic Act (FD&C). Strict checksare made to ensure that any foodadditives, colorants and pesticides used atthe preparation and packing stage havenot compromised the overall integrity ofthe product in a way that could endangerthe health of the consumer. The labelling of food and drink importsis also a major concern across the globe.Some countries now demand thatimported products be labelled in alanguage that is understood by consumersin the area where the food or drink ismarketed. This way, consumers are ableKeepingthings safeBefore one can even think aboutexporting to another country, it’simportant to look at the measurestaken to ensure the security of food. 14-16_Layout 1 27/07/2015 14:40 Page 1Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTto make informed choices based on theirspecific dietary requirements – coeliacswill know which products are gluten-free,for example – or ethical issues, such asconcerns about genetically modified foods.It is the 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 supply chains,there are a number of health and safetyissues that suppliers must address beforethey can import or export a product. First,measures must be taken to ensure thepersonal hygiene of all workers handlingthe product at the preparation andpacking stages. The grim spectre of foodpoisoning – still a problem that affectsmillions each year – can add up to greaterlevels of consumer dissatisfaction andunwanted reputational damage. Tocounter the threat of contamination andpoisoning, many companies haveimplemented strict food safetymanagement guidelines which insist onthe fastidious cleaning and disinfection ofall working areas and implements used inthe preparation 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 chain whereproducts 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 great careis being taken to ensure that optimumtemperatures are maintained dependingon the specific product. Rapidly perishableproducts such as fresh meats need to bechilled at lower temperatures – usuallybetween -0.75 and -1.25°C – to preventdegradation, whereas most canned goodscan stand a warmer transit environment.Such is the commitment to qualityassurance; if a fresh product shows signsof discoloration many companies willdiscard it before the loading stage. The import and export business has tocontend with a variety of security threats,many of them potentially catastrophic.Product-tampering, theft, and the stowingof illegal cargo on vessels intended totransport food and drink are all majorconcerns. There is much at stake: in mostcountries, the food and drink supply chain16 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/SANTIPHOTOSS14-16_Layout 1 27/07/2015 14:40 Page 216 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTis worth billions of pounds ayear. If security iscompromised, huge financiallosses are a real possibility,not to mention the threat toconsumer safety if productsare contaminated.International collaborationseems to be the best way toaddress these threats.Companies and regulatorybodies need to work togetherto guarantee traceability inthe food supply chain. This iseasier said than done, butincreased levels of vigilanceand improved checks couldhelp to prevent humiliating disasters suchas the widely publicised 2013 horsemeatscandal, which forced a number of majorretailers in the EU to withdraw frozenbeef-burgers when they were to found tobe illegally contaminated. Cargo insurance is paramount forimport and export companies, but it istaking major interventions frominternational governments to resolve thelarger security issues afflicting the importand export industry. In 2010, for example,the U.S passed the Food SafetyModernization Act, which aims to preventsecurity breaches at source. Suchheavyweight involvement is particularlynecessary in countering malevolent threatssuch as biological attacks perpetrated byterrorist organisations,and marks a significantshift from a reactive to aproactive approach tofood and drink security.Put otherwise, theindustry is no longerwaiting for securitybreaches to happenbefore it acts.On a micro-level,companies are investingin tamper-proof (or“tamper-evident”)technologies toguarantee the safety of theirproducts. These can range from the“security button” on the lid of a mason jarto sophisticated customised seals, whichprovide unequivocal evidence oftampering at any stage of the supplychain. These innovations, coupled withincreasingly tough internationallegislation, represent positive stepstowards ensuring safety and securitywithin the import and export business.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/EKATERINA_MINAEVAPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/BRIAN BALSTER14-16_Layout 1 27/07/2015 14:40 Page 3Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netSUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENTYou can call us for further information on 01844 215501or email marketing-uk@unicarrierseurope.comwww.unicarrierseurope.comConsumer demand means the supplychain must now move faster and moreefficiently than ever before to enableproducts on the shop shelves to be asfresh as possible. That would be fairlysimple to operate, without the seeminglycontradictory requirement to also ensurethe supply chain is safe and secure, socustomers can be ensured of the veryhighest standards.Yet it is certainly possible for both aimsto be met – creating a speedy but securesupply chain. Investment and innovationin recent years has been a great help,while many companies are nowcollaborating to ensure greaterefficiencies, with the aims of makingsavings that can be passed on tocustomers as well as helping to loweremissions.New principles in supply chainmanagement are making a major impacton efficiency. The latest routing andscheduling software, for example, helpssupply chain managers discover how eachlow carbon technology will work indifferent scenarios. While manycompanies are looking at introducingbiofuel, for example, this can becomplicated by the added difficulties inacquiring it. New software can calculatehow many extra miles will be added totrips for refuelling with biofuel, with theadditional mileage set against the requiredreductions in emissions. This cantherefore give an explicit and valuablefactor to assist companies in reviewingtheir carbon emissions – now often aprerequisite – and allow them toformulate effective ideas that best suittheir operations.With the issues of cost and efficiencyunder the spotlight like never before,multimodal solutions are becoming moreand more attractive to supply chainmanagers. It’s certainly the case that manycompanies aren’t following routes thatcould be more effective – for example,while 63% of containers arrive in the UKPHOTO: SHUTERSTOCK.COM/KZENONChallenges in the supply chainEfficiency in the supply chain is more important than ever, and yet further demands from retailers areplacing strain on distributors. 18 Á17-19_Layout 1 27/07/2015 16:02 Page 118 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netSUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENTthrough ports in the South East of England, only 10% of largedistribution warehousing is actually based there. The vast majorityof the items therefore have to travel across the country in trucksthat will inevitably ramp up the carbon emissions.The introduction of more warehousing in the right areas willmake a difference, as too will the co-operative logistics schemeswhereby numerous companies can work together to fill up onelorry with a number of products rather than have dozens travelaround half-empty. However companies can make a hugedifference with the introduction of a more multimodal approach.One example is the service provided by PD Ports to Asda, whichincludes a shipping service between their two facilities atFelixstowe and Teesport, providing added convenience andensuring products get to their intended destination faster.It’s not just the vehicles on the road that have anenvironmental impact, either – those confined to the warehouseplay an equally important role. A recent environmental studyillustrated that the biggest share of a warehouse truck’s impact onthe environment is related to the use of the truck, rather than theresources used in its manufacture.The study considered the truck’s environmental impactthroughout its complete life cycle and suggested that 66.8% of thetruck’s impact on the environment is connected to energyconsumption during use. One of the ways in which this can be dealtwith is arranging more optimised warehouse layouts. For example, asimple measure like moving a printer within a warehouse couldlower truck energy consumption by as much as 20%.Effective warehouse management has made a major differenceto the smooth running of a supply chain – and can helpcompanies meet the stringent traceability and securityrequirements of the major retailers.The new breed of warehouse management and distributiontools, are however, ensuring complete traceability throughout theentire process. Each item can be monitored, traced and accountedfor at every step of the way – and records of all these transactionscan be easily made available, which is now often required byretailers in any case, as well as customs and excise. In an industrywhere supermarkets are demanding a determining point of originor batch numbers for any recalls within 24 hours, it’s obviously ofparamount importance that the traceability systems don’t falterupon reaching the supply chain. Due to the high profile nature ofmany large retailers, both in terms of the media and publicopinion, retailers are very quick to drop suppliers who showfailures or delays in terms of tracing back problems – so having agood system in place can help prevent loss of major contracts. Despite this, however, there are still businesses that areworking at a rather slower speed and a recent survey of 250companies suggested that 26% of those surveyed wouldn’t be ableto identify product recall items within four hours, while 11%PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KATIX17-19_Layout 1 27/07/2015 16:02 Page 2Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netSUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENTImprove packingefficiency with tape!The food distribution business is a significant sector, and fast-moving one. Operations require huge amounts of space, andresource, to manage the supply chain effectively. Of course though,there are some fantastic tools and machinery on the market toimprove the efficiency in distribution. Tape is used by the vast majority of distribution operations, andin huge volumes. Kite Packaging has recently re-launched its 50mm(2 inch) tape range to make it easier for customers to find the idealtype, and at the best price. The re-launch comes with pricereductions across the board - up to 30% in some lines - makingKite the most competitive supplier of tape online. For food environments, the newly designed page allowscustomers to quickly see the best type of tape for their product,including which temperatures it works best in. For the chilled sectorthis is hugely important, particularly when tapes such as acrylic tapecan lose its adhesion in cold temperatures.To help warehouses, and other operations, Kite’s longer length(150m) tape is not only cheaper permetre than standard 66m tape, but alsomeans fewer roll changes duringpacking to improve efficiency. What’s more, when you buyonline, Kite will give you afree universal tapedispenser with every 10packs of tape. These smallbut strong tools areessential for speedypacking, and Kitesdispenser can hold variousroll sizes and has aretractable safety blade. For more informationabout Kite Packaging, andits products and services,please visitwww.kitepackaging.co.uk would need at least a day and 10% wouldn’t be able to carry outthose requirements at all. These companies would therefore haveno chance when it came to winning major blue chip contracts.Materials handling remains of course a major factor in thesupply chain, with the human element predictably being the onewith the greatest potential for loss of efficiency. Forklifts, forinstance, are a staple of the materials handling industry, withalmost every warehouse or distribution centre in the countryoperating a few at least. What can cause confusion, however, isthe wide array of forklifts available on the market, and what rolesthey might best be suitable towards. Industrial reach forklifts arebest suited to taller racking systems, very common within the foodand drink industry due to the sheer quantity of stock that is keptin a warehouse, often necessitating that operators stack theirproducts tall as well as wide. If your warehouse has unusually thinaisles, possibly because of even higher levels of stock, then a 3-wheel forklift can offer more manoeuvrability, allowing it tooperate in these thinner aisles. What a company needs can depend on a hundred differentfactors, from the width of the aisles, the height of the stacking,weight of palletised goods, or even how far back on a rack theyare stacked. Almost all forklifts will come with health and safetyprecautions such as shielded roofs as standard, but there mightalso need to be considerations in terms of user accessibility, oreven ergonomics. While many may scoff at the idea that ergonomic design shouldwarrant a more expensive forklift system, one should rememberthat in an average day an operator might move their arm over athousand times an hour, and their head twice that number.Dragging that out over an eight hour day is going to cause seriousstrain and fatigue on workers, and while this might not lead toinjury, it will certainly have an impact on efficiency levels, asworkers begin to pause to loosen muscles or take quick rests – allof which can damage efficiency, and yet can be easily avoided. In many cases the improvements that can be made to the supplychain to increase efficiency are neither overly-expensive oresoteric, but are simply ones that operators have taken forgranted. What is for sure however, is that with the increasingdemands being placed on manufacturers, both by retailers and thegeneral public. The supply chain is going to be facing someserious challenges in the coming years, and will remain animportant part of the food and drink industry. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/VARTANOV ANATOLY17-19_Layout 1 27/07/2015 16:02 Page 3Next >