< Previous10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTWith a population of almost 200million, Pakistan is the sixth-mostpopulated country. It is bordered by Indiato the East, Afghanistan to west, Iran tothe southwest and China in the farnorthwest, meaning the country is ideallypositioned to serve some of theworld’s biggest food players. Rana Tanveer Hussain,Pakistan’s Federal Minister forScience and Technology, hasrecently revealed that the country’sgovernment is seeking to set theexport target at $35 billion for the nextfiscal year, despite exports falling for thepreceding months. He said that alleconomic indicators for the country werepositive and the economy was performingpositively. Only a few months following theMinister’s revelations, however, expertshave found holes in the plan. Pakistan’sexports are predicted to grow by 10.7 percent for the fiscal year 2016-17, to whichexperts have said that the small level ofgrowth will not be sufficient to meet thegovernment’s goal, with the road to thedesired $35 billion paved with extremedifficulty. One expert noted that in orderto meet this goal, there must be at least30 per cent growth each year. Ensuring a healthy economy isreliant on a productive andreliable workforce, and povertycan significantly hinder acounty’s aims to compete in globalmarkets. Hussain has said thatefforts are being made to improvePakistan’s living standards, economicdevelopment and the overall prosperity ofthe nation. Part of the solution is placedon the food itself. “Besides raising healthstandards of our society, organic food hasthe potential to alleviate poverty byproviding large-scale employment tounskilled and semiskilled labour force,”Hussain said. He added that Pakistan canbecome a world leading exporter oforganic food to the US and Europe. Despite the shortcomings and theapparent flaws in its export strategy,Pakistan is unlikely to be deterred and isalready leading the charge with oneparticularly hot food export. Pakistan isalready in the upper echelons of chilliproducing countries, comfortably sittingamong the top five producing nations,with a 6 per cent market share. Moreover,the county is also one of the majorexporters of the commodity.Given the growing trend forspicier food amongAmericans and inBritain, Pakistan iswell positioned totake advantage ofthis expandingmarket. Thecountry canPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/BIKERIDERLONDONPower toPakistan Despite market adversity, poverty and mycotoxins, Pakistan is anambitious country setting its sights set on becoming a competitiveexporter on the global stage.10-12_Layout 1 27/09/2016 08:45 Page 1Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTEU takes Russia’s foodban with a pinch of saltRussia is still deeply embroiled in food embargoes andimport bans following the Ukraine Crisis in 2014. Inretaliation to EU sanctions placed on the country, Russiainstigated its own food ban to countries in the EU andbeyond. It has now added salt to the list. According to TASS, Russia’s own state newsagency, the ban includes table and denatured salt, aswell as pure sodium chloride and salt dissolved inwater. Earlier this year, Alexander Tkachev, RussianAgricultural Minister, revealed that the foodembargo would be extended until 2016. Healso announced that the list of bannedfoods would not change, with theaddition of salt coming as asurprise. The decision comes intoeffect from November.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/HANDMADEPICTURESExports of Scotch whisky ‘up for the first time in three years’The amount of Scotch whisky sold overseas has increased for the first time since2013, according to the latest figures from The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).Industry bosses, however, have highlighted the uncertainties posed by the Brexit andthe challenges facing exporters. Global sales of Scotch whisky amounted to £1.7 billion between January and June,down by 1% on the same period in 2015, revealing the slight fall in export value.Although France and the US continue to be the biggest export market, the figuresindicate a surge in exports to India. David Frost, SWA Chief Executive, said: “The industry-wide emphasis oncraftsmanship and provenance, backed by investment, means that Scotch exports arewell-placed to grow in the future, appealing to consumers in both mature and emergingmarkets.”He added: “It is clear, however, that the uncertainties of the Brexit vote will createchallenges for exporters and we continue to encourage early clarity on the likely shapeof the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU and other countries.”PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/GRESEIalready potentially export 90,000 tonnesof chillies per year, which would enable itto earn the much needed foreign exchangeof $47 million annually. Growers have said that the chilli tradeis an integral part of the local economybut that by adopting modern techniques,the quality of Pakistan’s chillies willincrease, helping to boost exports overall.This is especially prudent in ensuring thatcrops are free from aflatoxin – acompound that can cause liver damageand cancer. The presence of thecompound has led to some countries, mostnotably in Europe, imposing importrestrictions on Pakistani chillies. 35 percent of these rejections were based solelyon the excessive levels of mycotoxins. Sikander Hayat Bosan, Minister forFood Security and Research, recentlyspoke at a seminar organised by the TradeDevelopment Authority of Pakistan incollaboration with the World Bank, theUnited States Agency for InternationalDevelopment and the Sindh AgriculturalGrowth Project. He said: “When exportsof chilli or other spices are rejected due toany reason, it not only hurts the entiresupply chain, but also directly hits therural economy.” The adoption of newer and bettertechnologies would help to alleviate theissue, but also allow greater independencefor rural growers to boost the localeconomy which, in turn, helps to grow thecountry’s presence globally. To that end,Mian Mohammad Saleem, Present of theRed-Chilli Growers Association, has urgedthe government to establish a chillidevelopment board to enable stakeholdersPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/AAABBBCCC12 Á10-12_Layout 1 27/09/2016 08:45 Page 212 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTChina to become Ireland’s nextbillion euro food & drink marketChina will become the first billion euro market for Irish food and drink exportsoutside of the UK within the next three years, according to Bord Bia CEO, AidanCotter.Mr Cotter made the remarks as Irish state agency Bord Bia announced theopening of a second office in the region. With its Shanghai hub serving the Chinesemarket, a new base in Singapore will now focus on South and East Asia. He said: “Given that Irish food and drink exports to China have grown tenfold inten years to reach €654 million, we are confident China will be a €1 billion market inthe next three years. China is currently our second largest market for pork and dairy,while it remains a valuable and increasingly important market destination for Irishseafood.”The company recently launched a major new digital campaign to directly promote Irish dairy products to China’s online shoppers and influencers.This is the first consumer-facing campaign undertaken by Bord Bia in China. In its initial phase, it is expected to reach in excess of 33 million Chineseconsumers through a series of online ads, promotions and targeted blogger engagement.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/NOPPASINto voice their issues and get themresolved. Adversity in Europe, however, is alsoproviding opportunity. Russia’s ban offood imports from the West and fromEurope presented an opportunity forPakistan to boost its agricultural exports.But it was a situation that that theFederation of Pakistan Chambers ofCommerce and Industry has sincerevealed it did not take advantage of. Theorganisation cited the absence of bankingchannels between Pakistan and Russia asthe reason behind the squanderedopportunity. A recent meeting with OlegN Avdeev, Consul General of the RussianFederation, a delegation of Pakistani fruitand vegetable exporters and the Importersand Merchant Association, however, hasemphasised the importance ofestablishing banking channels betweenPakistan and Russia as soon as possible.With Russia’s food embargoes unlikely toabate before the end of next year, there’sstill plenty of opportunity for Pakistan tofill the gap. With efforts to drive its ruraleconomies, through a combination ofbetter equipment and stamping outpoverty, Pakistan is strengthening thefoundations of its export economy. Withopportunities in Russia and elsewhere forits core export commodities like chillies,alongside boosting its offerings in organicagricultural produce, Pakistan isovercoming its setbacks and establishingitself as a contender to some of theworld’s biggest and most prolific foodexporters. PHOTO: PATRICK POENDL / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM10-12_Layout 1 27/09/2016 08:45 Page 3Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSLoading bays and doors make up anintegral part of a company’s logisticschain, something like a gatekeeper fromproduction line to warehouse, and fromwarehouse to supplier. As products areperhaps at their most vulnerable duringthese stages, it is little surprise thatloading bays would be targeted byunauthorised personnel for everythingfrom theft to adulteration. In eachinstance, the damage to a company’sprofits and reputation can be crippling.The inclination may be to invest in thevery latest loading technology forefficiency gains but this is in of itselfsomewhat futile if the same considerationisn’t likewise applied to security. When it comes to loading doors andbays there’s more at stake than the theftof goods, with adulteration andcontamination high on the list. Indeed,hygiene levels are every bit as importantas deterring thieves. Poor hygiene levelscan contaminate any given productpassing through, or lead to negative mediaattention further down the line in theevent of an investigation or product recall.By the same rationale, adequatetemperature levels must also be observedand maintained. As many of the productsbeing loaded (or unloaded) will required aspecific temperature to save from spoiling,the tiniest degree out can spell disaster.All of this needs to be factored in by foodbusinesses and logistics companies to helppreserve the integrity of the supply chain. As ever, innovation is continuing tosafeguard and strengthen loading baytechnology and, by extension, the supplychain and the customers and clients itserves. While many have decried theinflux of new and smarter technologies asmaking human workers redundant, there’sno escaping the levels of competence anddue care that integrating technology canhave. Virtual 3D technology is one suchWideloadInnovation is serving to safeguard loading bays, strengthening the overall supply chain and ensureproduct adulteration fades into obscurity. 14 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/WORLDPICS13-15_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:23 Page 114 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSinnovation that is becoming morecommonplace across the supply chain, andcompanies are finding it especially usefulused in conjuncture with tier existingloading and distribution systems.Businesses can benefit from 3D modellingsoftware as it allows the specificparameters of a loading bay to be mappedout in incredible detail, meaning thespecific variables of any given load can beaddressed in advance. Now businesses areable to troubleshoot any issues that couldarise in a digital context, significantlysaving on issues that occur in action,which has huge gains in efficiency andsafety. The latter is particularly prudent,as workers now have a much clearerpicture of the spaces in which they arerequired to work in. Modular loading docks and mobileplatforms and likewise being used withincreasing frequency, given the flexibleand practical gains they offer over fixedraised loading docks. It’s also indicative ofthe industry shift for ever more flexiblesolutions in general. This proliferation ofmodular technology also offers a muchwider variety of uses than that of theirtraditional stationary counterparts,meaning that docks of this kind are noweven more beneficial to businesses. Andthese latest solutions combine thefunctionality and flexibility of modularsolutions with smart design such as beingmade from durable steel and incorporatinganti-skid floor coatings and bumpersupports to provide extra durability. Italso strengthens existing safety levels,ensuring that workers stay safe and thatthe company is better protected fromlitigious action from a disgruntled orinjured worker. Food manufactures are also findingthemselves more and more attracted todock levellers – a cylinder poweredplatform which can be used to bridge thegap between loading bays and distributionvehicles irrespective of distance or height.This relatively simple technology boatssignificant gains by preventing costlyspillages and accidents. It’s all well and good introducing thelatest innovations and deploying the latestin loading technology, but when it comesto security, it’s the doors themselves thattake top priority. Given the importanceplaced on security doors, food businessescan rest assured that there is a plethora ofsecurity solutions, ranging from electronickey cards, iris recognition and keylessentry devices to name just a few. But anyfood business worth their salt will be fullyaware that security consists of much morethan just simply protecting against theft.There’s a constant battle to defendproducts from accidental contaminationand tampering. As there are limits to theusefulness of risk analysis and auditing, it’scritical to invest in doors that have beenPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/BALONCICIUnion secure repeat orders from Lidl Union Industries,the Great Britishmanufacturer, hasbeen working overtimeto complete a series ofinstallations for theGerman discounter,Lidl UK, which willhelp transformoperations at one ofthe grocer’s largestmulti-temperaturewarehouses. Lidl, a long-standingclient of UnionIndustries, hasinvested in four newhigh speed doors for its Kent-based site that will facilitate significant efficiency gains. Three Ramdoors and one Bulldoor have been used to replace four existing doors at thewarehouse which were supplied by one of Union’s competitors when the distribution centrewas built in 2014. The original doors frequently required costly new parts, mainly as a result ofimpact damage by forklift & ride-on ped trucks. The new Union rapid roll doors will drasticallyreduce the downtime that Lidl experienced with the previous doors, which was caused byexcessive lead times for parts and repair. Union Industries’ doors have an excellent reputation in retail distribution for very high trafficuse openings between various temperature controlled zones. The robust construction of thedoors, coupled with Union’s ability to deliver exceptional after-sales service has been key to itssuccess in securing contracts with multinational companies such as Lidl. Alternative suppliersin the industry tend to be agents and distributors rather than OEM manufacturers so cannotmatch the speed at which Union can react to customers’ requirements. A team of Union’s highly trained technicians carried out the installations in a way that causedas little disruption as possible to Lidl’s operation, which involved working throughout theweekends and on evenings, when traffic in the warehouse was at its lowest. In common with the other doors in the range, the Bulldoor and Ramdoor also featuresUnion’s highly-regarded ‘Crash-Out’ damage protection facility which ensures the doors remainoperable if the heavy duty steel composite bottom beam is hit by a vehicle.For more information, visit www.unionindustries.co.uk.13-15_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:23 Page 2Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netLOADING BAYS AND DOORSdesigned with security concerns in mind. The design of robust security doorsshould factor in water and airproofingmeasures, as well as good thermaltransmittance. In recent years, specialistdoor manufactures have been turning towood fibreboard such as MDF treatedwith polyurethane-based insulators as awaterproofing solution. The doors arethen bolstered with heavy duty metalarmours such as stainless steel. Thiscombination of materials results in anefficient air and watertight product,preserving the integrity of products andhelping to ensure that would-be thievesare unable to bypass the doors. Of course,hermetically sealed factor and warehousedoors will not solve the problem of foodsafety on their own. Take refrigeratedenvironments, for example – it isnecessary to maintain the desiredtemperature so as to prevent thecontamination and degradation of foodproducts. Hygienic sliding doors are onesolution, as the latest designs usuallycome equipped with vision panels thatallow operatives to securely observe aproduct without needing to enter thechiller or freezer as doing so could causean undesired change in temperature.Doors of this kind will also likely boaststainless steel as well as food-safelaminates that provide an additional layerof security because when it comes to thesafety of food products, you can’t be toocareful. Goplasticpallets.com launch first one-eight nestable retail palletGoplasticpallets.com, an independent, UK-based provider of plastic pallets, has launched Nest M1, the first‘one-eighth’ retail pallet to the supply chain industry.Designed and manufactured by supply chain packaging specialists CABKA-IPS, the new Nest M1pallet is a small, lightweight, nestable pallet, ideal for point-of-sale and eye-catching retail displays. Madewith special secure location points, product displays and sleeves can be safely and effortlessly fixed tothe pallet.Made of high density Polyethylene (HDPE) the Nest M1 is robust and sturdy yet light, weighing 0.75kg.With a maximum static stacking load of 2,500kg the Nest M1 can hold up to 33 times its own weight.Measuring 400mm (L) x 300mm (W) x 140mm (H) the Nest M1 sits on four conical feet allowingenough space for transport on a hand pallet truck skid and can be stacked up to 60 pallets high and 480pallets in one full euro size space, providing a considerable space saving in both the warehouse and on the shop floor. As the sole UK partner of CABKA-IPS plastic pallets and plastic pallet boxes, the new Nest M1 pallet is exclusively available fromGoplasticpallets.com.13-15_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:23 Page 316 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netPACKAGINGWe’ve seen the phenomena play out ineverything from the boom in craft beer tothe proliferation of clean label and the riseof free-from products. Packaging, inparticularly, is an interesting indicator ofcurrent trends, especially in the case of theaforementioned. As these trends becomeindustry norms, it becomes an increasinglymore competitive market, meaning brandshave to ensure that a product’s packagingappeals on aesthetic levels as well asethical and lifestyle grounds. Packaging is also evidence of the foodindustry attempting to balance itself, bethat through more efficient use ofmaterials or machinery, introducing moreenvironmentally-friendly processes intoplay, or increasing the ambient profile andshelf life of a product with the latesttechnologies. But more often than not, it’sa combination of all of these factors that isbehind the evolution of food and beveragepackaging. Take, for example, the rise inalternative milks, fondness for fresh juiceand the ongoing interest in nutrition-added drinks and recovery products.Producers looking to preserve productintegrity whilst simultaneously strikingequilibrium between a product’s profileand its packaging are increasingly turningtowards aseptic filling and packaging. A product is required to be cooked andboiled in conventional beverage packaging,but this can result in the loss of covetednutritional value and diminish what mightotherwise appeal to a growing section ofthe market. Aseptic filling and packaging,on the other hand, relies on modernsterilisation processes to both lengthen theshelf-life of a product and to safelypreserve it without needing to add extraadditives. It’s proving to be an increasinglyattractive option for food and beveragePHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ROBBIStriking a balance The push and pull of the food industry is enforced by the changing tastes, behaviours and buyinghabits of consumers, but trying to identifying which party started any given trend is like that oldcliché of the chicken and the egg. 16-21_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:25 Page 1Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netPACKAGINGInnovia expands wraprage solutions Innovia Films is expanding its portfolio of peelable Biaxially OrientedPolypropylene (BOPP) films - Propafilm™ RCP is now available in 52and 60 microns. This significantly proven, easy-to-open, foodpackaging film range now includes heavy duty, high barrier and snapwrap options. Amaia Cowan, Product Manager - Speciality Packaging Films, said:“Brand owners are waking up to the fact that easy-open is increasinglybecoming a major purchase consideration for consumers, especiallythose with reduced dexterity. We have listened to consumers who oftencomplain about the difficulty of getting into conventional packaging.Our easy-to-open packaging range makes their life that little bit easier.Rest assured, these films continue to protect the products they wrapwhile providing an enhanced product experience.”The acrylic coating ensures a broad sealing range, which enables awide packaging operating window and good machinability in all standard formats: flow wrap, VFFS or overwrap.For more information, visit www.innoviafilms.com.producers, especially with dairy-baseddrinks and foods containing particulates.Consumer demand and the strongenvironmental factors will help to driveaseptic packaging in the coming years,with a CAGR of 9.9 per cent forecastedthrough to 2024. The ESL Aseptic Flexi-Pouch Machineis a new solution from Uflex, India’slargest multinational flexible packagingmaterials and solutions company, whichthe company claims can extend the shelflife of milk by up to days – a featunimaginable even just a few years ago.The launch is intended to alleviate theissues plaguing milk brands across India,with milk being extremely susceptible tobacteria and other micro-organisms, aswell as having a restricted shelf life. The machine packs milk in a pouch thatis formed of a five to seven layerextruded/blown polyethylene film withstrong barrier properties including a black19 Álayer for UV protection. It has an inbuiltautomatic CIP and SIP system and canpack milk in SKUs ranging from 70ml to1500ml volumetrically. The filling speedfor these variants ranges between 5,000 to2,500 packs per head per hour. It has been manufactured with a specialIsolation Valve (Sterile Interlock) thatdoes not allow the milk to flow from theUHT to the filling machine in casesterilisation of milk in UHT is incompleteor does not conform to the setspecifications. This spares unnecessaryinvocation of intermediate CIP and SIP ofthe filling machine avoiding wastage oftime. Gravity Filling System with PreciseTank Level Regulation has been providedin this machine. ESL Flexi-Pouch Machinecan be customised with Single, Two orThree Head filling arrangement as per therequirement of the client. This versatilemachine is also capable of simultaneouslypackaging differential volumes on variousheads. The ESL Aseptic Flexi-PouchMachine is fitted with Impulse Sealingsystem especially imported from USA thatensures a perfect leak proof seal. “It was a challenge to design andmanufacture a machine for extending shelfInnovative packaging line technology for allsectorsIn conjunction with their suppliers, Evolution BPS offer a complete range of quality,innovative bottling, packaging and inspection equipment for wines, spirits, soft drinks, food,pharmaceutical and personal care sectors. The Evolution portfolio delivers innovation and efficiency whether you require a singlemachine or a full line and their expert sales and service teams will work in partnership with youto deliver the best solution to meet your needs. With more than a decades experience in delivering bespoke packaging line solutionsEvolution BPS are recognised for their expertise in providing state of the art equipmentcombined with first class customer service.For more information, visit www.evolutionbps.co.uk.16-21_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:25 Page 2T. Freemantle Ltd is the UK Market Leading manufacturer of Cartoning and Sleeving equipment. The equipment is simple, robust and reliable and proven to be easy to operate, simple to maintain with a fast unskilled size change. From simple manually operated machinery through to fully automac high speed systems, we have a machine to suit almost every cartoning and sleeving applicaon. We have the full range of equipment on show at our UK demonstraon facility and invite you to try the machines out for yourself. The UK Market LeaderSpecialists in Sleeving Experts in Cartoning Call us on 01724 276908 Email the sales team at sales@tfreemantle.com Look out for us at Gulfood - Stand Z2 E45 16-21_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:25 Page 3Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netPACKAGINGWe have the UK’s leading B2B ecommerce website, offering 2,500 stock products. SN offers a wide range ofpre-made pouch fillersWith the Fill &Seal machineseries, PennPackagingdeveloped arobust, hygienicand compactdesign with thesmallest footprint.Almost every kindof product can befilled, includinggranulates, liquids,powders andrestorable productsetc. The machinesare easy to operate and offer a high flexibility for your solution. Thebasic functions of the machine are: pouch transfer from magazine torotary table, opening, filling and sealing. In addition, a wide range ofoptions are available. All FS machines can be equipped with gasinjection, steam injection, dust remover, servo driven filling pumps,ultra-sonic sealing etc. Every machine is available in a wash-downexecution, as well. All machines are built according to the high SN standard and fulfillthe latest EU regulations for safety, hygiene and electrical execution.Product touching parts are made of stainless steel 316. For more information, visit www.penn-packaging.co.uk.life of a product as perishable as milk,”says Ajay Tandon, President & CEO,Engineering Business, Uflex. “Aftermeticulous R&D of about 18 months,the Engineering Business at Uflex hasdesigned and brought out this machinewhich has been put under commercialrun and validation at one of the largestmilk packers in India.”He adds: “We are the only companyin India to manufacture this machinewhich easily competes in quality withany European machine of this kind. Theend-to-end system comprisingextruded/blown multi-layered specialtyfilm and the ESL Aseptic Flexi-PouchMachine offers an optimised packagingsolution for milk in flexible pouches.This machine can also be customised forpackaging other beverages too.”Extending shelf life is a concernshared across the food and beverageindustry, helping to curb everythingfrom product recalls to preventing foodwaste. A small pad that absorbs moisturein the packaging of perishable food isalready a common sight in the industry, and helps to prolongthe shelf life of goods with a very limited lifespan. Nofima, a20 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/PAVEL L PHOTO AND VIDEO16-21_Layout 1 26/09/2016 12:25 Page 4Next >