< Previouson the shelf 10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Protein Rebel launches insect and plant protein powders Chester start-up, Protein Rebel, is targeting the sports nutrition and weight loss markets with the launch of its cricket- and plant-based high- protein powders. The company has launched three new powders: Reload, a cricket and plant-based high protein powder intended for building and repairing muscle mass; Recover, a high protein and high carbohydrate vegan sports nutrition powder for post-workout recovery; and Replace, a vegan meal and snack replacement protein powder for slimming down and toning up. “We’re about doing things differently. We don’t use whey, sugar or artificial micronutrient blends in our products. Instead, we have clean, all-natural ingredients that are great for the body and have a low impact on the planet. In fact, we use no more than nine real-food ingredients in each product,” said company founder Tim Boote. All are available in dark chocolate and banana flavours. Start-up taps ‘mindful mainstream’ with plant-based shakes A West London start-up is hoping to woo the ‘mindful mainstream’ consumer with the launch of a new range of plant-based m*lkshakes. The shakes, which GROUNDED say “don’t compromise on anything”, are all-natural, dairy-free and sustainably packed RTD protein shake. Each shake also provide 20g of protein. The 100% recyclable packaging, produced by SIG, is made from sustainably sourced FSC paper board. “At GROUNDED we’re all about cutting the cr*p, and it’s astonishing just how much of it there is in the RTD protein space,” said founder Gabriel Bean. “As a space synonymous with health and fitness, it’s mind boggling how many products sacrifice real, quality ingredients, for ‘too-good-to-be- true’ nutritional info. “The market is crying out for a clean, genuinely natural, plant-based option. Our m*lkshakes have come just at the right time.” The protein m*lkshakes are available in two flavours; m*lk chocolate and mint choc. Tuk In Foods shakes up the premium Indian ready meals market with new launch The brand behind the curry- in-a-naan snack, Tuk In Foods, has set its sights on the premium ready meal market with the launch of its brand- new range in supermarkets nationwide. Tuk In Foods new ready meals have just launched in the Tesco-owned supermarket chain Jacks and are the result of a collaboration with Michelin starred chef, Sajeev Nair. “For too long the Indian ready meal market has suffered from cost cutting and the addition of more and more chemicals. Tuk In Foods takes a very different approach. We are passionate about the quality of our food,” said Thomas Cropper, founder of Tuk in Foods. “We use only natural ingredients, handmade in small batches in our purpose-built site in Leicester. We’re thrilled with our new range. Working with Sajeev has been really fun and allowed us to create a truly premium range packed with flavour.” Stroud Brewery & River Cottage launch organic beer range Stroud Brewery has teamed up with River Cottage, the brand owned by TV chef and environmental activist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, to launch a new organic beer range. Part of Organic September, the collaboration includes to ales design to “reconnect people with natural, sustainable and ethical food sources”. The Stinger is a golden ale infused with locally foraged wild nettles; and the Rye PA, a full- bodied, modern take on the classic amber ale, using malted Rye sourced in the West Country and exclusively British-grown hop varieties. The beers have been crafted with the close collaboration of Mr Fearnley- Whittingstall and his team at River Cottage, with their ethos of ‘Food to Inspire Change’. “Collaborating with Stroud Brewery was a natural fit, not just because of their remarkable beer-making capabilities but also because their commitment to farming and brewing in a sustainable way, helping to protect and reviving a bio-diverse landscape, align so closely with our own,” said Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall. Nestlé launches plant- based ‘bacon cheeseburger’ in US Nestlé has launched its plant-based ‘bacon cheeseburger’ in the US. To date, this is the first time any kind of plant-based alternative to a bacon cheeseburger has been launched in the US. It will be available for foodservice customers nationwide and can be purchased under the Sweet Earth brand at the University of Massachusetts. In the months to come, additional US university operators, restaurants and foodservice channels will be added, Nestlé said. Nestlé food scientists, product developers and culinary chefs worked together to get the right taste, texture and appearance, as well as a good nutritional profile. They also worked alongside foodservice experts to tailor the products for use in professional kitchens, taking into account their specific cooking and serving requirements. The Plant-based (PB) Triple Play was developed by Nestlé in only 10 months, reflecting the company’s ability to further accelerate project timelines despite the current challenging environment. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:25 Page 7Revised industry dust control guidance launched for bakeries Following a comprehensive review, the Federation of Bakers (FoB) has published its revised guidance on Dust Control and Health Surveillance in Bakeries. The industry guidance which addresses one of the most significant occupational health risks in the bakery industry – respiratory exposure to flour and other ingredient dusts. It was carried out by the FOB Health and Safety Committee (FHSC) which includes representatives from all sectors of the bakery industry including the Craft Bakers and Scottish Bakers. The publication first appeared in the eighties and was last revised in 2008. The new guidance provides information and advice for bakers and others working in the food manufacturing industry which, if followed, will help them reduce risk arising from employee exposure to flour and other ingredient dusts. Following the guidance will also help employers in the industry meet their duty of care for employees and contribute to ensuring health and safety compliance. Wales to open £2m sustainable food packaging hub The £22 billion Welsh food and drink industry is to get a productivity and sustainability boost from the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), following a £2 million award by the Welsh Government to build a Food and Drink Packaging Sustainability Centre. AMRC Cymru has secured the BITES (Business, Innovation and Tourism Escalator Scheme) funding to develop an emerging technology demonstrator specifically for the food and drink sector that will accelerate the adoption of waste-reducing eco-innovations by integrating Industry 4.0 technologies in the packaging industry. “These technologies are widely used in other industries but don’t really exist within food and drink. There are new challenges for us as food and drink packaging companies work in a high-speed, low-cost environment, so the demonstrator will display how the technologies can be implemented in a different manufacturing set up,” said Bobby Manesh, AMRC Cymru’s Food and Drink Technical Lead. on line Beyond Meat to open production facility in China Beyond Meat will become the first multinational plant-based meat producer to bring a major production facility into China. The Californian company’s wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary has inked an agreement with Jiaxing Economic & Technological Development Zone (JXEDZ) to design and develop manufacturing facilities in the JXEDZ. This included a state-of-the-art production facility to manufacture plant-based meat products including beef, pork and chicken under the Beyond Meat brand in China. The production facilities will be located in the JXEDZ, a historic and commercially important development zone with ready access to Shanghai. “China is one of the world’s largest markets for animal-based meat products, and potentially for plant-based meat,” said Ethan Brown, CEO and founder of Beyond Meat. “We are delighted and confident that after several months of productive and collaborative discussions, we will partner with the JXEDZ to develop two production facilities, including one of the world’s largest and technologically advanced plant-based meat factories. Candy Chan, General Manager for Beyond Meat in China, added: “With its expertise in the food industry, proximity to Shanghai, and excellent logistics and people capabilities, the JXEDZ will be the perfect partner and location for our ambitious plans for the China market.” Work is ongoing on the project, and trial production is expected to commence within months with full scale production in early 2021. Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net YPS supply milk wrapper for leading dairy A high-speed dairy shrink wrapping line has been installed at McQueens Dairies’ new high capacity plant by Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS), the leaders in flexible wrapping solutions. McQueens Dairies has witnessed impressive growth in recent years, with new depots opening across Scotland and England. Its latest development, the opening of a brand-new dairy production and bottling plant just south of Glasgow, required a shrink wrapping system to package collations of pints and litre bottles of milk at high speeds. It therefore sought the expertise of YPS which has more than 40 years specialist experience supplying equipment to the dairy industry. YPS supplied an SS180/S milk machine, the highest capacity unit in its range, which was delivered and installed in July. New pastures are now in sight for McQueens following a large increase in capacity since the shrink wrapping line was installed, allowing for the continued success of the business as it expands across the UK. To find out more, visit www.yps.co.uk. © Shutterstock/Vera Larina © Beyond Meat 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:25 Page 812 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © Shutterstock /Anansing Silver lining Silver lining 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. 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:28 Page 1Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT Since the UK’s historic referendum result to leave the Europe Union back in 2016, Brexit has been one of the biggest issues the industry has had to contend with. Four years later, and with the nation having now formally left the bloc, much uncertainty still remains and, on a practical level, Britain’s trading future with the EU remains unclear. As if that wasn’t already enough, the coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis with producers, retailers and logistics providers struggling to meet the surge in consumer demand, and, in many cases, companies have been forced to rapidly transform the way they operate to remain afloat. Despite the profound challenges posed by the pandemic, a report from Santander UK and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) argues that untapped overseas export markets remain a “golden opportunity” for recovery and growth for companies across the sector. With rules and regulations continuing to evolve and change as the government looks to combat the virus, the future remains difficult to predict – although independent Santander research found that twenty-four per cent of food and drink businesses expect to return to “normal” operating levels by the end of 2020. As of writing, however, there are concerns from all quarters that a second lockdown will be implemented in England. The first, lasting from March until May, led to the closure of the hospitality and out-of-home sectors which has dealt the food and drink industry a serious body blow in a year where many were already beset by challenges. For the first half of the year, domestic turnover for the food and drink sector was down on previous years. However, despite this backdrop, businesses have highlighted increased export growth and access to new UK preferential trade agreements as a key opportunity for the rest of the year. Export opportunities in three key market regions have been identified the FDF / Santander report: the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Gulf region, China, and the USA and Canada. “As the dust begins to settle, we can now see how the pandemic has had a seriously damaging impact on 2020‘s overseas sales of UK food and drink,” said FDF Chief Executive Ian Wright. “These were worth over £23 billion in 2019. While that figure is certain to fall for this year, there are still plenty of opportunities in foreign markets for UK food and drink manufacturers to seize in what remains of this year and as we look to 2021. As businesses turn toward economic recovery, ensuring a quick return to growth will be essential to support resilience in our industry. We will continue to work closely with Government and industry partners, like Santander, to safeguard a sector recovery that will deliver a return to sustainable export growth right across the UK.” Andrew Williams, Head of Food & Drink Sector, Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking, added: “The impacts of COVID-19 swiftly reverberated across the food and drink manufacturing industry. We quickly saw that over-reliance on any single market, sales channel, or customer leaves businesses vulnerable to increased risk. Understandably, confidence was knocked – but the resilience of our industry is evident in these findings. As the short-term impacts begin to settle, UK food and drink businesses have already recognised that increasing export sales is a potential route to recovery and offers growth and diversification benefits too. There is much to be optimistic about and a real sense that as a sector we are striving towards a positive future.” 14 Á 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:29 Page 214 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT The industry was therefore gladdened recently when the UK signed a historic free trade agreement with Japan. Marking the UK’s first major trade deal post-Brexit, the agreement is expected to increase trade between the UK and Japan by an estimated £15.2 billion. The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was agreed in principle by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in early September. The deal is tailored to the UK economy and secures additional benefits beyond the EU-Japan trade deal, giving UK companies exporting to Japan a competitive advantage in a number of areas. It is also an important step towards joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This will give UK businesses a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region and help to increase the resilience and diversity of our supply chains. UK businesses will benefit from tariff- free trade on ninety-nine per cent of exports to Japan. Government analysis shows that a deal with Japan will deliver a £1.5 billion boost to the UK economy and increase UK workers’ wages by £800 million in the long run. As well as providing benefits for manufacturers and the tech sector, the deal brings myriad advantages for food and drink producers. This includes tariff free access for more UK goods with new and more liberal Rules of Origin allowing biscuit producers to source inputs from around the world for their exports to Japan – making it easier and cheaper for them to sell to the Japanese market. It also increases geographical indications from just seven under the terms of the EU-Japan deal to potentially over seventy under our new agreement, covering English sparkling wine, Yorkshire Wensleydale © Shutterstock /michaeljung 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:29 Page 3Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT British chewing gum brand secures Canadian export deal British chewing gum brand, Chewsy, is about to enter Canada just months after securing its first export deal. The latest deal means that the start-up – which produces the UK’s first plastic-free, biodegradable chewing gum – will be sold in 17 countries. Exports now make up 40% of its turnover. The deal, confirmed before the UK’s coronavirus lockdown, is worth £125,000 over the next five years. Founded in 2018 by Sunitt Halai, the Bedfordshire-headquartered family firm extracts flavours from plants and fruits for its naturally flavoured gums and even produces bespoke flavours on request. “I started getting headaches after chewing regular gum and was shocked to find it has so many artificial ingredients and is made from plastic,” said Halai. “When I could not find healthier alternatives, I decided to make my own plant-based, plastic free chewing gum, which was the first from the UK when I started the business. “Securing deals with large retailers is hard, so having support from our adviser at the Department for International Trade to attend trade shows and receive ongoing advice, really makes a difference; selling internationally has been the highlight of our business journey so far.” The Department for International Trade helped the start-up secure Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) funding to attend the 2019 ISM trade show in Germany. and Welsh lamb. Moreover, Japan has guaranteed market access for UK malt exports under an existing quota which is more generous and easier to access than the EU quota. The UK is the second biggest exporter of malt to Japan, with UK producers exporting £37 million there each year. Crucially, the deal lowers tariffs on pork, beef, salmon and a range of other agricultural exports. Exporters will also continue to benefit from access to the low tariffs for key food and drink products covered by quotas, such as Stilton cheese, tea extracts and bread mixes. Although the sector faces this perfect storm of unprecedented challenges, the calmest part of any storm is its centre, and already companies are benefit from a growth in exports. As more agreements are struck, and companies take advantage of emerging markets, the industry will strengthen itself and, hopefully, confidence levels will return. Meat exports at risk if key issues in Brexit preparations not addressed Brexit preparations at present risks the UK’s meat export system and thousands of jobs, according to stark warnings from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA). According to the organisation, £1.2 billion of annual meat exports will be at risk along with thousands of jobs in the meat and livestock sector if several key issues aren’t “urgently addressed”. “After months of meetings and talks with Government which have yielded little progress, the British meat industry, along with other sectors that rely on overseas trade, has lost patience and we are calling publicly for Government to step up the pace and solve these issues before it is too late,” said BMPA Chief Executive, Nick Allen. “With less than four months to go Britain has a woeful lack of infrastructure and people to operate the new export system which if not addressed, will result in massive delays, extra cost and lost orders.” The organisation has therefore launched a campaign exposing the “glaring weaknesses” in Brexit preparations. “Our message to the Government is that This is NOT Good Enough,” said a statement from the BMPA. “They have had four years to prepare and have known all along that these technical issues will need to be addressed regardless of whether or not we get a deal. “We’re now less than four months from the end of the transition period and we can’t stay silent on the lack of progress any longer.” © Shutterstock /Andrey Burstein © Shutterstock /MaxyM 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 29/09/2020 15:29 Page 416 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL SPOTLIGHT © Shutterstock /Dmitry Kalinovsky The score as it stan ds Food wastage and packaging remain some of the biggest contributors to carbon footprint in the industry; we take a look at how things stand. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 28/09/2020 15:34 Page 1Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL SPOTLIGHT The food and drink industry has long been a target of environmentalists, and not without good reason. The effects of packaging on carbon levels have long been noted, not just in terms of the cost of manufacturing them, but also disposing of it. Similarly, food wastage is becoming an increasing concern, as 15 million tonnes being thrown away in the UK each year. In terms of food thrown away, it’s estimated that we create around 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – this amounts to twenty per cent of all the emissions created by cars in the UK. Despite what may seem like harrowing news, reports are beginning to show that unlike how the mainstream media suggested, the fault does not wholly lie on the food and drink industry itself, and certainly cannot all be blamed on manufacturers. For instance, the leading supermarket brands in the UK create around 200,000 tonnes of food waste, a small fraction of the 15 million total. A variety of other groups added to this list, with household waste being by far the largest cause. What’s more, the levels of food waste redistributed by those same retailers had increased to almost eighty per cent. Despite that, environmental groups say that supermarkets and food manufacturers need to work together more efficiently, after a report showed that the amount of waste from manufacturers and retailers has actually increased by 0.1 per cent, which may sound more problematic when expressed as 2.76 million tonnes. Food packaging has been one of the greatest innovators when it comes to improving the environmental impact of the industry, and remains one of the fastest changing markets in food and drink. With manufacturers now willing to look a little further to reduce their impact, the packaging market has become much more competitive – driving innovation and research as a consequence. This has also led to many new companies and contenders starting up in an industry, which before, could be dominated by a smaller amount of well-known names. © Shutterstock /Gts 18 Á 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 28/09/2020 15:34 Page 218 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL SPOTLIGHT In addition to this, the vast majority of companies in the food and drink sector are having to measure and report on the environmental performance of their packaging. In fact, some companies are even taking a more proactive approach by using packaging assessments at the design phase, which can offer an opportunity to reduce costs in their supply chains while also reinforcing their corporate social responsibility activities and brand image. All this obviously has to come in addition to the packaging remaining secure and robust throughout the supply chain. Many packaging specialists have boosted their research and development departments to emphasise this new approach, and focus is now on packaging that is made from plant, food or otherwise sustainable material. One packaging concept that has proven particularly popular in recent years is that of corrugated. With a wide range of benefits, including an inherent flexibility, corrugated can be modified for different crops and misshapen produce, thereby reducing the potential for bruising and skin damage that can sometimes occur with rigid packaging. Over 80% of corrugated is recycled, while new boxes are made from recycled material. Where new fibre is used, it comes from sustainably managed forests. This commitment to responsible forest management has made a huge contribution to the increase in the size of Europe’s forests – up by thirty per cent since 1950. Although it has been used in one form or other for many years, the corrugated packaging industry is continually investing in new technologies to ensure it retains its top table place. Innovative technology is improving in-store performance as well through better print capability. High Quality Post Print has transformed corrugated packaging from protective transit packaging into multi-functional, colourful retail ready packs, without compromising product integrity. Liners and coatings are also being developed for corrugated material to provide even greater food freshness and, with the advent of modern corrugated processes, such as new flutings that offer up to twenty-three per cent storage space saving, it also offers more efficient logistics management through better use of pallets, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road. Speaking of roads and the logistics industry, another problem sector within the food and drink industry, which is thought to be a major contributor to emissions and global pollution. One solution, and something that is Innovia Films launch new carbon neutral label film Innovia Films is launching Encore C45cn, the first carbon neutral BOPP label film. Encore C45cn is ISCC certified and will contribute to reducing carbon footprint and reducing the use of fossil resources. It is carbon neutral on a mass balance and cradle to gate basis as certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus) programme. Stephen Weber, Key Account Director, Labels at Innovia Films explains: “In addition to being carbon neutral Encore C45cn is a high MD stiffness 45um BOPP bubble film for automatic label dispensing performance. This could allow the replacement of standard 50um films giving a further 10% material saving.” Major brand owners are making commitments to move towards net zero emissions and as part of this will communicate the carbon footprint of each product. The availability of a carbon neutral film to lower the labels’ carbon footprint is one step to help towards this net zero emissions goal. To find out more, visit www.innoviafilms.com. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 28/09/2020 15:34 Page 3Food & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net ENVIRONMENTAL SPOTLIGHT © Shutterstock /vilax Social distance products businesses safely 02476 420065 being utilised in the US, is that of exchanging a company’s transport fleet for CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)- powered vehicles, such as the Volvo VNM 200 model. This has not seen quite the same exposure in the UK, and some believe it is due to a lack of funding to help companies in making the switch, as the US has numerous financial incentives for companies looking to move from traditional petrol/diesel fleets to CNG. NGV’s or Natural Gas Vehicles, emit up to twenty-five per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than their diesel-powered counterparts, and as such are an attractive option for waste management specialists. Ultimately however, the final decision often comes down to the bottom line – what will the running costs be if a change is made? One concern, especially in the UK, is the lack of facilities at which to refuel such a vehicle. Fuelling stations tend to make their money by catering to both commercial and public vehicles, and investing in new pumps specifically for NGV’s is something they likely won’t do – unless NGV’s start to outnumber RGV’s. But conversely, logistics companies are loathe to switch to NGV’s until the stations start to have the facilities for them. It’s a catch-22 situation, where both sides are waiting for the other to adapt first, and as such neither changes. And naturally, the Governments of the world are a little distracted with a pandemic at the moment, making sweeping changes like this unlikely. The food and drink industry is multi- faceted when it comes to environmental impact, which means there is no one “catch-all” solution to use. Investment in specific areas can yield localised results, and perhaps this is the best tactic currently, rolling out changes in increments so that any investment can be balanced with profit elsewhere. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 28/09/2020 15:35 Page 4Next >