Mixing and blending News www.fdiforum.netOCTOBER 2020 £3.50 STERLING Logistics The natural choice The natural choice INTERNATIONAL Food&Drink Food&Drink 01.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 07:36 Page 1Dairy from Ireland where we work in harmony with nature Our country on the edge of Europe, with its lush, the world, visitirishfoodanddrink.com 310401043 Dairy NM FoodandDrinkINT.indd 121/09/2020 17:32 02.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 07:38 Page 1Contents October 2020 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 export12 A perfect storm of circumstance and global upheaval has led to record lows of confidence in the food and drink sector, but a growth in exports and new overseas opportunities are offering businesses lifelines. Environmental spotlight16 Food wastage and packaging remain some of the biggest contributors to carbon footprint in the industry; we take a look at how things stand. Logistics20 In light of lockdown and with communities cut off, the transport of food has come more into the public eye than it ever has in recent years. Labelling and traceability24 Consumers are clamouring for more information than ever on labels, wanting to understand everything about a product; its journey from farm to fork. In this, traceability is key. Control and automation 30 In light of the pandemic, automation has received renewed focus in food and drink processing, as a means to address a reliance on manual labour, food and worker safety, and hygiene. 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) Assistant Editor: Dominic Cuthbert (d.cuthbert@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist: 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) Ruth Feather (r.feather@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. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. MAIN: SHUTTERST OCK/ELENA ER YOMENKO • TOP: NESTLÉ PROFESSIONAL / DA WN FOODS • MIDDLE: SHUTTERST OCK/MILOS MULLER • BOTT OM: SHUT TERST OCK/SERGEY_BOGOMY AKO Mixing and blending36 Mixing dry goods requires different speeds and machinery from what’s required when mixing wet or sticky ingredients together. Understanding the difference – and installing the right equipment accordingly – is vital to process optimisation. Fruit and vegetables40 As demand for fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables increases, and growers are forced to contend with labour shortages, automation and investment in innovative picking and packing machinery offers a future-proof means of meeting both challenges. Packaging Automation Q&A 44 We spoke with Packaging Automation about the advantages of automation for growers and the benefits of their offering. Beverages46 A major shift to plant-based alternatives, a growing demand for low- and no-alcohol, widespread premiumisation and a shift away from sugar and artificial additives has seen the beverage market rapidly evolve. Events 50 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world Classified 53 Food & Drink Diary 54 03.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 07:40 Page 1Verner Wheelock celebrates 30 years in business Skipton-based food industry training experts, Verner Wheelock, celebrated 30 years in business recently. The company was founded by Professor Verner Wheelock in 1990 – the same year that the UK Food Safety Act was introduced. COVID-19 meant no party. Instead the occasion was marked by an online lecture by leading low-carb expert, Ivor Cummins – the Chief Program Officer for Irish Heart Disease Awareness. Customers, trainers, auditors, suppliers and friends of the company joined Verner and training company staff for the enlightening webinar. Managing Director, Alison Wheelock, said: “It was lovely that so many customers and associates took time out to celebrate our 30th anniversary with us. We’re very proud of how the company has grown over the past decades. Here’s to the next thirty years!” Verner Wheelock offers food safety, HACCP, auditing and specialist courses and ethical audits. They continued to trade successfully throughout lockdown by moving courses to an online format. 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Food maker secures finance as it expands into vegan market A Welsh food producer has secured a seven-figure finance package to expand its product development activity as it moves into the vegan market. The financing from HSBC UK will also see Abergavenny Fine Foods to reinvest in new equipment and systems as it looks to improve and automate its processes. “We started talks with HSBC UK late last year when we realised our existing funding structure wasn’t fit for a business that had grown 80% since 2016,” said Melanie Bowman, Managing Director of Abergavenny Fine Foods. “We were keen to find a long-term strategic banking partner that could provide funding to futureproof the business and that could grow and change as we did, and HSBC UK felt like the perfect fit. “Our relationship director, Sian Williams really took the time to get to know our business and our complex finance requirements, which will help us remain competitive for our customers.” i2r set to accelerate growth across all sectors Following a strategic investment in 5 new high speed process lines for its Shropshire-based manufacturing site, i2r Packaging Solutions, is poised to accelerate their growth across all sectors. The company has now also invested £750,000 in new tooling to significantly expand their range of wrinklewall products. The investments, which follow increased demand internationally and in the UK market, will boost capacity and i2r’s product range by a further 20%. The new wrinklewall products have recently been rolled out alongside an extensive marketing campaign. Commercial Director, Jon West, said: “Despite the challenges presented by COVID- 19, we are currently seeing increased demand across a number of key markets for our products, which is helping to create the momentum we are experiencing. Investing in the new presses and new tool profiles is really exciting, not only for the business and its employees but also for the wider customer base.” To find out more, visit www.i2rps.com. Sealed Air invests in advanced recycling company Plastic Energy Sealed Air has signed a collaboration agreement with Plastic Energy, an industry-leading company in advanced recycling technology. Additionally, Sealed Air has made an equity investment in Plastic Energy Global, the parent company of Plastic Energy. Plastic Energy Global was established in 2012 with the goal of creating a circular economy for plastics by diverting plastic waste away from landfills and oceans. Headquartered in London, the company has two operations in Spain and projects developing in Western Europe and Asia, with a vision for 50 new facilities over the next 10 years. “We’re excited to join forces with Plastic Energy to innovate faster and accelerate the development of new technology that eliminates waste and ensures a circular economy for plastics,” said Ted Doheny, Sealed Air President & CEO. “This collaboration will help us meet our 2025 sustainability pledge and lead the way in transforming our industry.” Plastic Energy has a technology platform that enables the diversion of waste plastic away from landfills, with the goal of processing 300,000 tonnes of plastic by 2025. Plastic Energy transforms post-consumer plastic waste into new recycled oil that can be used to create essential packaging solutions, including protective packaging for food, thereby enabling plastic to become a new resource. Through this collaboration with Plastic Energy, Sealed Air is helping to eliminate plastic waste, support complementary approaches to recycling and enable its customers to incorporate recycled plastics back into their packaging. © Plastic Energy © Shutterstock/Kolpakova Svetlana 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:24 Page 1Food & Drink International 5 www.fdiforum.net Dispensers to keep you safe For more information get in touch today W: teknomek.co.uk T: +44 (0) 1603 788 833 Infrared dispenser on pedestal Touch-free operation Foot operated dispenser Long lasting 5 litre dispenser Glove dispenser Easy to clean intelligent design essentials Hygiene 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:24 Page 26 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Label launched to help shoppers choose environmentally-friendly rice A new ecolabel aims to help shoppers reduce their environmental impact by identifying rice that has been sustainably produced. The ‘SRP-Verified’ Label, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of one of the largest food crops in the world, was launched by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP). The SRP is a grouping of over 100 public, private, research, financial institutions and civil society organisations led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The new Assurance Scheme is based on the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation, the world’s first voluntary sustainability standard for rice. It is underpinned by proven best practices and provides a science-based process to assess compliance. Employing best practices in rice farming can reduce water use by some 20% and methane emissions from flooded rice fields by up to 50%. The scheme will be managed by Germany’s GLOBALG.A.P., which will oversee approval of qualified verification bodies that will be responsible for inspection of producers according to the SRP Standard. NEPCon-Preferred by Nature, a Denmark-based non-profit organisation that supports better land management and business practices, is the first to be approved to perform SRP verification audits, with several others expected to be approved soon. With the new label, consumers will be able to trace the rice back to its origin country. The scheme will also benefit an entire industry. By stocking SRP-verified rice, retailers can make significant and measurable contributions to sustainability commitments and climate change targets. Industry actors will also be able to de-risk their supply chains and ensure stability by sourcing through SRP-verified suppliers. Farmers also benefit, according to SRP, who says that switching to its practices can boost farmers’ net incomes by 10-20%. With 90% of the world’s 144 million rice producers living on or near the poverty line, this can make the difference between a secure livelihood and a family going hungry. © Shutterstock/GrooveZ Cargill to build ‘House of Chocolate’ in Belgium Cargill is investing $21 million to build a ‘House of Chocolate’ complex in Belgium to facilitate customer innovation in the chocolate market. The new facility will be built alongside the company’s existing chocolate production plant in Mouscron. It will include a state-of- the-art chocolate experience centre, a unique pilot plant, a sensory lab and creative workspace for the company’s European R&D team of chocolate engineers. The new 700 square metre complex will enable customers to experience the convenience of an all-in-one development process, from inspiration, innovation and training, through pilot lab testing, sensory testing and finally, culminating in commercial-scale production – at a single location. “Innovation stands at the forefront of our House of Chocolate, as we bring together all our expertise and resources,” said Harold Poelma, President of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate. “It will allow us to collaborate with customers at every step of their product development journey, transforming ideas into reality using a streamlined approach to facilitate innovation and deliver greater efficiency and speed to market.” Staffed by a team of more than 40 chocolate engineers, including sensory experts, technical service specialists and R&D scientists, the new facility will serve as the hub for all of Cargill’s chocolate, coating and filling activities. “It’s fitting we make this investment in Belgium, given the unique place it holds in the chocolate world,” said Inge Demeyere, Managing Director for Cargill Chocolate Europe. “Our House of Chocolate builds on that rich tradition, offering customers a unique venue to discover all that’s possible with our state-of-the-art capabilities and our broad range of brands including Cargill, Veliche Gourmet and Smet. Construction has already begun, with the pilot centre scheduled to open in fall 2021. The chocolate experience centre and sensory lab will be operational in Jan 2022. Shutterstock/Evgeny Haritonov Clearmark ICE launches new and improved website Clearmark Solutions Ltd, the leading UK-based coding and labelling solutions provider of ICE and Zebra coding equipment, has recently launched its new and improved website. The site showcases innovation and puts a greater focus on the company’s consultancy and partnership approach to working on tailored projects, helping customers achieve what may have once felt unachievable with other coding suppliers. It contains an ever-growing resource hub containing technical guides, topical industry content, high-quality videos, the recently launched virtual demonstration room, and more. Visitors will find a new and improved format with detailed product listings making information clearer and more user friendly. Chris Simpson, Managing Technical Director at Clearmark, said: “After several months in the making I am extremely pleased with the outcome of the new site and think customers and visitors will benefit greatly from the increased speed and streamlined design, not to mention the useful content, from demonstration videos to topical industry articles and more.” Visit the new website: www.clearmark.uk. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:24 Page 3Bring extra cold, well-conditioned beer from keg to font with JG PolarClean. Using tube-in-tube technology, our pioneering range of push-fit connectors enable you to pull the perfect pint, every time. Discover draught beer without the cellar. Find out more at rwc.com/polarclean Extra cold and consistent beer temperatures No cellar or secondary cooler required Reliable, fast and simple to install More revenue per keg due to less FOB and beer-line downtime Extra cold beer from keg to customer 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:24 Page 48 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Mondel ēz advances sustainable palm oil sourcing Mondel ēz International, one of the world’s largest snack food companies, has made several key traceability advances in its ongoing sustainable palm oil sourcing efforts. A company update reveals it has made “significant” progress in advancing requirements for traceable, forest- monitored palm oil and confirms strong progress against sustainable sourcing goals. The new requirements include traceability to plantation and satellite monitoring covering all palm oil concessions supplying mills attributed to the company, against the deforestation criteria set out in its ‘Palm Oil Action Plan’. All mills must be identified on Global Forest Watch, with no active grievances against concessions in their direct supply, or operated by the same producer groups elsewhere. In addition, suppliers must have third-party assurance of their monitoring process and systems used and be subject to cross-check by Mondel ēz International. From Q1 2021, the company expects 80% of its palm oil to meet these enhanced expectations with strong supplier partnership, working to increase coverage as quickly as possible. The enhanced sourcing requirements will improve transparency across the sector by requiring suppliers to confirm sustainable sourcing practices across their entire supply chain by 2025, not just the portion supplied to Mondel ēz International. They form part of Mondel ēz International’s long-term ambition t o eliminate deforestation and forced labour in the palm oil supply chain and support the aims of the Consumer Goods Forum #Forestpositive Coalition. Kraft Heinz accelerates sustainability journey Kraft Heinz is on track to deliver its first circular Tomato Ketchup PET bottle a year ahead of schedule, the food giant has revealed in its second- ever Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Report. As well as outlining the successes the company has made to date in the three key pillars of Environmental stewardship, Responsible Sourcing, and Healthy Living & Community Support, the report introduces new global goals within its Environmental Stewardship and Responsible Sourcing pillars. The company plans to sustainably source 100% of Heinz Ketchup tomatoes by 2025 globally, in accordance with the company’s Sustainable Agriculture Practices. It has taken significant steps to strengthen its supply chain by evolving those practices and working with growers to implement them with measured improvement. For instance, in Spain, tomato growers implemented new soil health procedures, ultimately yielding an improved 70 tonnes of tomatoes per acre annually. Additionally, as the company assesses the greenhouse gas emissions of its entire supply chain in order to set reduction targets, it has committed to a goal of purchasing a majority renewable electricity across all Kraft Heinz facilities by 2025. The company also aims to achieve a number of sustainability goals at its global manufacturing facilities including setting a target to decrease water use by 20% in high-risk watershed areas and 15% across all others, and decreasing waste, and decreasing energy use by 15% at manufacturing facilities globally. “At Kraft Heinz, we’re constantly re-evaluating our practices to ensure we’re being a responsible global company, as well as global citizens with a duty to bring our company and products to consumers in a healthy, sustainable way,” said CEO Miguel Patricio. “This new ESG strategy reflects a new company Value: We do the right thing. We’re actively working each day to create a company and products we and the world can be proud of.” © Shutterstock/DenisMArt Shutterstock/nirapai boonpheng Nestlé & Dawn Foods sign sweet bakery agreement for EMENA Nestlé Professional and Dawn Foods have signed a long- term sweet bakery contract for co-branding cooperation in the Europe, Middle East & North Africa (EMENA) Region. The companies have partnered in product innovation for a range of sweet bakery products, starting with muffins and cookies. Dawn Foods will create recipes and a range of bakery products, made with ingredients from Nestlé. “We selected Dawn Foods as our EMENA partner because of the high quality of their bakery products, their capability to convey our brands experiences to the consumers, and their leading position in the sweet bakery industry,” says Vincent de Clippele, Head of Nestlé Professional EMENA. The first product launched will be a muffin, filled with milk chocolate and covered with KITKAT topping. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:24 Page 5What if food packaging were carbon-neutral? Go nature. Go carton. Food packaging plays a critical role in getting food safely to consumers around the world. But it can also cause problems for the planet. What if all food packaging came from plant-based materials and didn’t impact the climate? At Tetra Pak, we already have paper-based carton packages with reduced climate impact. But we won’t stop there. Our aim is to create cartons made solely from plant-based materials that are fully renewable, fully recyclable and carbon-neutral. It’s all part of our journey to deliver the world’s most sustainable food package. Learn more at gonature.tetrapak.com 187921_TetraPak_GNGC_Ad_Inuit_Food&Drink_International_210x297_Global.indd 116/09/2020 09.50 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:24 Page 6Next >