On the shelf Control and automation www.fdiforum.netOCTOBER 2021 £3.50 STERLING Spotlight on efficiency Spotlight on efficiency INTERNATIONAL Food &DrinkFood &DrinkFruit and vegetables 01.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 07:39 Page 102.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 07:40 Page 1Contents October 2021 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 & export12 While Brexit continues to impact UK food and drink exports and imports, there is hope on the horizon in non-EU markets as new trade deals and campaigns are established. New product development16 Stagnation is the enemy of innovation, a mantra the food and drink industry knows well. For companies within this fast-moving and eternally evolving sector, there is no standing still where product development is concerned. Control and automation18 While food manufacturing has been recognised as relatively slow to embrace modern aspects of automation, it has become increasingly important as labour shortages hit the sector and expenses continue to rise. Environmental spotlight23 With climate change intensifying, it has never been more important for companies in the food and drink industry to take note of and mitigate their environmental impact. • Kite Packaging Q&A Logistics 28 With lockdown easing, more demand than ever will be placed on the logistics and transport industry. With limited warehouse space and fresh challenges however, the industry is going to have to make the most of what they have. 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: Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310302 Accounts & Subscriptions: John Downes (j.downes@blmgroup.co.uk) Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) Editorial: Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310305, Email: fdi@blmgroup.co.uk Part of the Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE England All rights reserved. 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/MARIDOL777 • TOP: VEGA • MIDDLE: SHUTTERST OCK/CTRLSPHOT O • BOTT OM: NESTLÉ Mixing and blending32 Whatever the requirement, there’s a mixer or blending perfectly suited to the task. Here we explore the myriad options available. Fruit and vegetables36 Advances in automation and robot pickers, sorters and grabbers are having profound effects on the fruit and vegetable sector. Labelling, coding and traceability40 Labelling is not just about adhering to law or regulation, sometimes it is about protecting a brand or keeping track of what is sold where. Lab Innovations 44 Taking place on the 3 and 4 November at Birmingham’s NEC, Lab Innovations is the UK’s only trade exhibition for the entire laboratory industry. Events46 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world Classified49 Food and Drink Diary 50 03.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 07:51 Page 1Givaudan, Bühler & Migros join forces to launch cultured meat pilot plant Givaudan, Bühler and Migros have formed a new entity, The Cultured Food Innovation Hub, in Kemptthal near Zurich, to accelerate the development and market penetration of cellular agriculture products. The Cultured Food Innovation Hub will be a self-sustained, standalone company wholly owned by Givaudan, Bühler, and Migros, located in The Valley in Kemptthal, a hotbed of innovation and technology just outside of Zurich. The new entity will provide facilities and knowledge to accelerate other companies on their cultured meat, cultured fish and seafood, and precision fermentation journeys. The Hub will be equipped with a product development lab as well as cell culture and bio fermentation capabilities to help start-ups develop and go to market with the right product. The Cultured Food Innovation Hub will go live in 2022. 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news air up close latest funding round German-based drinks technology start-up, air up, successfully closed their latest funding round having raised over €40 million. This is after completing their Series A fundraise at the beginning of the year. The investment round, led by Five Seasons Ventures (co-led by PepsiCo, Ippen.Media, Oyster Bay), was in part based on the rapid growth trajectory in the German speaking countries and across Europe over the past 12 months. air up has doubled its workforce since the beginning of the year, while revenue for the business in the first four months of 2021 exceeded that of the entire previous year. Since first launching in the market in July 2019, the company has already reached in excess of €100 million revenues run rate and served more than 1 million customers across Europe. This can lead to a saving of up to 85 million single-use plastic bottles and more than 2.465 tons of sugar. With the latest injection of growth capital, the company that offers the world’s first drinking system that can flavour water through scent alone will accelerate international expansion across Europe and the United States. In addition, the team will extend the existing product portfolio and establish production facilities to serve customers across continents. New materials, as well as a better integration of the digital and physical air up world, will offer an even greater customer experience in the future. Lena Jüngst, co-founder of air up, said: “We are happy to prove that with a revolutionary idea and a healthy dose of pragmatism, you can bring about change. It underlines our vision to revolutionise the beverage market worldwide and shows that health and sustainability can also be economically attractive.” Elliott’s launches world’s lowest carbon footprint high absorbency meat pad Elliott Absorbent Products has developed an ultra-thin, super absorbent range of sealed edge pads for fresh meat and fish, which has the lowest carbon footprint of any high absorbency pad on the market. The UniDry range, which is already being used by three major UK supermarkets, use 50% less materials than traditional pads and are almost 100% more effective. This enables customers to achieve environmental compliance as well as make major reductions in their packaging and cut emissions from transport and storage. The Littleborough-based company says UniDry, which has been in development for several years, utilises a proprietary “Infinity Core” that gives tremendous blood and water absorbency of between 7.5 litres and 26 litres per square metre. Tests reveal that UniDry uses half the cellulose and plastic required to make traditional pads and due to its ultra-thin construction is easier to transport and store, cutting emissions from shipping miles by 66%, compared to traditional airlaid pads. Approval heralds MENA’s first cultivated meat facility Sustainable foods company, Eat Just, has partnered with Doha Venture Capital (DVC) and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), to build the first-ever cultivated meat facility in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region. The regional hub will be located in the Umm Alhoul Free Zone, one of two free zones overseen and regulated by QFZA, with direct access to Hamad Port. It will initially comprise a large-scale facility for Eat Just’s GOOD Meat division, which created the world’s first-to-market meat made from animal cells instead of slaughtered livestock. There are plans to add a protein processing facility for JUST Egg, the company’s plant-based egg division. The hub will be staffed with research and development, engineering and business development professionals. This is DVC’s first investment in the protein innovation space and the forthcoming meat facility will be a first for QFZA, which is focused on bringing together leading global companies using innovative technologies to build a more sustainable future. © air-up 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 09:51 Page 1Perfect solutions for reliable food production With intelligent and robust sensors, ifm offers solutions for the most demanding production environments found in the food industry. The intelligent MVQ valve sensor continuously monitors valve position and has diagnostic outputs for valve seat and stroke time errors. This prevents unpredictable, costly producti- on downtime whilst maintaining product quality. The O6 Wet Line optical sensor and full-metal inductive sensors performance is uncompromised in high humidity environments. They are also resistant to high pressure water and chemical washdown. In combination with matching ecolink connectors, a guaranteed watertight connection, up to IP69K, makes sudden sensor failures due to moisture ingress a thing of the past! All of these sensors transmit their process and diagnostic data, digitally and without any conversion losses via IO-Link: avoiding any unwanted surprises. ifm – close to you! Everything, without surprises ifm.com / ukifm.com / uk Go ifmonline Go ifmonline years W AR RANTY on ifm pro du ct s 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 09:51 Page 2info@macpac.co.uk Tel: 0161 442 1642 www.macpac.co.uk THERMOFORMED PACKAGING SPECIALISTS We design, produce tooling and manufacture packaging all under one roof, at our AA grade BRC accredited factory. We use responsible manufacturing processes and raw materials with up to 100% recycled content as well as being 100% recyclable. UP TO 100% RECYCLED 100% RECYCLABLE Innovative, Economical & Responsible. UK MANUFACTURER 6 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Intelligent Inspection: Mettler-Toledo’s new M30 R-Series GC metal detection systems deliver advanced contaminant detection Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection has launched a next- generation series of metal detection systems that deliver a fresh dimension to the food inspection market: smart, digital inspection designed specifically for small and medium-size manufacturers and/or co-packers. The modular design of the fully integrated system can be adapted over time in line with evolving compliance and productivity needs. This positions the M30 R-Series GC as an ideal entry-level metal detection solution for manufacturers who value high performance, with future- proof flexibility built in. Where the new metal detection systems really stand out from competitor solutions is in the digital platform, powered by new smart, SENSETM software. This, combined with advanced algorithms, makes it possible for these entry-level models to deliver high sensitivity to all metal contaminant types with minimal false rejects. Dynamic Stability Control innovations stabilise the core sensor of the metal detector to help protect against environmental noise and vibration interference for increased reliability. The entry-level M30 R-series GC systems are designed on a modular platform concept with streamlined features as standard. The metal detector and conveyor can be easily upgraded as compliance or production requirements change. This helps manufacturers to achieve a lower overall cost of ownership and extend the useful life of their equipment, supporting sustainability aims. The M30 R-Series consists of four metal detector models matched to different production and compliance needs, and budget considerations. To find out more, visit www.mt.com/md-m30-rseries-pr 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 09:51 Page 3Expert advice from Metsä Board helps Guylian with the PEFC™ certification When Belgian chocolate maker Guylian was looking to further strengthen its commitment to sustainable business, the company turned to Metsä Board who helped them define the steps needed to take to display PEFC™ forest management certification on its iconic Guylian chocolate boxes. “Metsa Board supplies the converter serving Guylian with quality paperboards; Guylian contacted us to find out about the forest certification process and how to get started,” says Tom Symons, Sales Manager Benelux at Metsä Board. “We worked closely with the company to help them understand the requirements of FSC® and PEFC™ certification and what they needed to do to be able to display a certification logo on their boxes.” Metsä Board’s team of sustainability experts put together a comprehensive package of information for Guylian. “Once Guylian had opted to pursue PEFC™ certification, we helped them liaise with PEFC™ Belgium. We also held a number of sessions to go through questions, concerns and next steps,” says Mr Symons. Interfood celebrates record award win Interfood Technology has made it a record four wins in the ‘Best Equipment/ Machinery Supplier’ category following the presentations at the 2021 Meat Management Industry Awards. The company had received the same accolade three times previously, including most recently in 2017, in addition to receiving several other awards since the company’s formation in 1999. This 2021 win marks a significant milestone, with Interfood becoming the most prolific winner in the award category’s history. Following the online virtual ceremony held in 2020, it was back to a live event with the awards presented at a Gala Dinner held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 9 September. Jim Sydenham, MD of Interfood, said: “It’s always an honour to be recognised by your peers, particularly in what has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging years ever for the food industry. The Awards are designed to recognise exceptional performance across the whole UK industry and were hosted by football legend Kevin Keegan. Food & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net news Rotronic AwTherm Rotronic Instruments (UK) Ltd Crompton Fields, Crompton Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9EE. Tel: +44 (0)1293 571000 Email: instruments@rotronic.co.uk Web: www.rotronic.co.uk Company profile: Rotronic is a global company manufacturing instruments for the precise measurement of water activity, humidity, moisture, temperature, CO2 and differential pressure. Rotronic devices are specified throughout the food and other industries. Experienced engineers can provide measurement solutions for any application. Rotronic has UKAS / ISO 17025 accreditation for Temperature, Humidity and Dew Point laboratory calibration. Product profile: Rotronic manufactures water activity analysers to determine the free moisture within food products - a good indicator of product stability and shelf life. Controlling the moisture present improves product quality. Analysers provide measurements in typically less than five minutes. The wide product range includes the AwTherm analyser with full temperature sample control; the HygroLab laboratory analyser for up to four probes, handhelds for making spot-checks and a PC-based solution which is ideal when visiting suppliers’ sites. The sensors can be calibrated to confirm performance. Full technical product information is available on the website. You are what you eat. So eat ‘Proper’. Proper have moved into the fast-growing snack bar category with a healthy alternative. The two flavours, Salted Caramel and Hazelnut Praline, are vegan and gluten free, have no palm oil and use ‘Proper’ ingredients. The launch is in response to demand from shoppers for healthier on-the-go snacking options as the nation moves towards more mindful snacking. The packs are made from matt and metallised film with 30% recycled content, meaning they are exempt from the Plastic Tax. The Plastic Tax is being introduced in April 2022 to “provide a clear economic incentive for businesses to use recycled material in the production of plastic packaging, which will create greater demand for this material and in turn stimulate increased levels of recycling and collection of plastic waste, diverting it away from landfill or incineration”. A full range of films with recycled content are available now. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 09:51 Page 48 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Kemin Food Technologies adds organic product to its FORTIUM® R Line New addition to rosemary-extract-based portfolio offers organic oxidation control solution Kemin Food Technologies – EMEA recently expanded its FORTIUM® R rosemary-extract-based product portfolio for colour and flavour protection to include FORTIUM® R30 OR, an organic option for food manufacturers in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region. Kemin Food Technologies – EMEA, a leading provider of shelf-life extension and food safety solutions for the food and beverage industries, developed the FORTIUM® product line as an alternative to traditionally used synthetic preservatives to provide food manufacturers with natural and organic ingredients to protect their food products from oxidative rancidity. Consumers demand fresh foods with minimum processing, and they also have an increased desire to purchase organic foods containing recognisable kitchen ingredients, which equates to a clear and transparent label. “We added Certisys1-certified organic version of FORTIUM® R30 OR Liquid and Dry to our product portfolio in response to the growing European organic food market,” said Kelly De Vadder, Marketing Director, Kemin Food Technologies– EMEA Kemin’s line of rosemary-extract-based products is designed for maximum effectiveness to optimize flavour, protect colour and extend shelf life in a variety of food products including meats and baked goods. The newest addition to this suite of products, FORTIUM® R30 OR, is available in both dry and liquid variants. Kemin Food Technologies – EMEA offers a range of top-quality, certified-organic and label-friendly products to help food manufacturers looking for organic shelf-life and food safety options. Israeli start-up emerges with new tech producing plant-based whole cuts Israeli start-up, Alfred’s FoodTech, has introduced a new platform for producing plant-based whole cuts that mimic animal-derived products. The company developed a versatile platform for whole-cut texturization to produce plant- based meat alternatives that, it says, can answer the growing need for flavourful, sustainable, animal-free products. Alfred’s joined the foodTech scene to solve one of the alt-protein movement’s key challenges: creating whole cuts that mimic their animal-based counterparts in terms of texture, mouthfeel, and flavour tones. The technology focused company has successfully produced prototypes of deli meat, high-in-demand chicken nugget analogues. “Plant-based whole-cut products that resemble meat are the ‘Holy Grail’ of the industry,” enthuses Ronny Reinberg, CEO and co-founder of Alfred’s. “Our tech uses only simple ingredients, such as pea protein and canola oil. Yet we can still custom- design compositions for food companies using protein sources of their choice, including cell-based ingredients. With Alfred’s versatile technology, any food company can easily create alternative products that give consumers the exact experience of real meat and poultry.” Alfred’s technology can scale up outputs quickly, making it suitable for mass market-oriented food corporations, and can be integrated into existing food processing systems. The start-up plans to establish a low-volume production site to serve initial market demand. Rafi Shavit, Alfred’s other co-founder and COO brings vast experience in business, engineering, and operation management from various industries, helping to ensure that the start-up can rapidly accelerate production. Alfred’s formed earlier this year and has raised US$1.3 million in seed funding. The company is now entering its next A-round stage and is currently in dialogue with various leading international food companies, including meat producers and cultured meat companies. Margot & Montañez wins Speciality & Fine Food Fair’s Pitch Live Margot & Montañez, a supplier of artisan South American alfajores, has been crowned winner of Pitch Live, sponsored by Virgin StartUp, at Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2021 after pitching alongside fellow new producers Grandma’s Hot Sauce and Posh Cow Dairy in front of a panel of expert industry judges. Hosted by Lissa Gillott, Head of Funding and Support at Virgin StartUp, the session saw judges Scott Winston, Buyer at Fortnum & Mason and Lilia Smith, Food Trends Researcher at Harrods, hear five-minute pitches from each of the three finalists and put forward their questions before deliberating to decide the final winner. In winning, Margot & Montañez has secured a complimentary stand at Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2022, where the company will have the opportunity to meet buyers from across the fine food & drink industry. They will receive an invaluable mentorship for six months on Virgin StartUp’s ‘start-up support programme’. Speciality & Fine Food Fair returns to Olympia London on 5-6 September 2022. Alfred’s nuggets 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 09:51 Page 5Food & Drink International 9 www.fdiforum.net PIONEERS OF SPACE For more information get in touch today W: teknomek.co.uk T: 01603 788 833 For every room, there’s a Teknomek solution. By getting the right advice and specifying the right furniture you can dramatically reduce your daily wash down time. And less time spent washing down means more time manufacturing. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 24/09/2021 09:51 Page 6Next >