< Previous10 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netPfanner switches fromgable-top carton to thecombidome carton bottlePfanner, an internationally active, long-establishedpremium manufacturer of juices and fruit juice drinks,has opted for combidome, the carton bottle from SIGCombibloc. With the aim of greater differentiation, from December a number of the best-sellingPfanner 1.0 litre fruit juice range will be moved fromthe gable-top carton into the carton bottle with the aimof greater differentiation. The products have beenselling in cartons for the 18 years. The performance of combidome has promptedPfanner to start offering its fruit juices in combidome. Peter Pfanner, Managing Partner of HermannPfanner Getränke GmbH, said: “Thanks to its shape,stability and smooth pouring action, combidome iseasy to handle like a bottle, while at the same timeoffering all benefits of a carton pack in terms ofproduct protection, environmental and economicconsiderations. With combidome, we’ll be able todifferentiate ourselves from our competitors in themarket.”4 Aces launches bespoke printed cup service 4 Aces has launched a tailored print service to cater for customers who require smaller printruns of up to 50,000. It has been introduced to meet demand, with the packaging specialistciting an influx of enquiries from suppliers who are engaging in joint ventures with theircustomers, to get their own designs into the market place, and smaller companies keen to try abranded cup.The new bespoke service is part of 4 Aces’ wider remit toreach new customers and expand the service offering. Managingdirector of 4 Aces, Chris Penn explains: “We are looking at allareas of potential growth; extending our service options inrelation to printed cups was always going to beone of the most obvious initiatives to start with.“Distributors and operators are constantlylooking for ways to provide added value totheir own customer bases, that will give thema chance to stand out, and printedcups present that opportunity.”Boosting shelf appeal with naturalaestheticLINPAC has developed avariety of designs for itsRfresh Evolve rigid VSPtrays in collaborationwith print partner,Parkside Flexibles, toenhance consumerappeal and shelf standout.Brands and retailers can nowchoose from a range of bespoke designs including grass, kraft paper, woodor slate-look, which are printed by Parkside and laminated to the rPET trayduring the thermoforming process. The designs tap into the current trend for natural looking, premiumpacks, and add value to what has traditionally been a category with verylittle use of graphics.Rigid VSP enables packers and retailers to benefit from extended shelflife, reduced food waste, supply chain efficiency and increased sales.Manufactured from up to 95% rPET, the trays can be used on all suitablymodified tray-sealing machines. They are also compatible with all vacuumfilms, giving packers the flexibility of supply without being locked in to amaterial or machinery manufacturer. The tight aspect of Rfresh Evolve results in fewer leakages and returnsand has tamper evidence built-in. The barrier skin film whitens on peel,revealing whether a pack has been opened or not.Arla make organic milk more‘accessible’ with new productArla, the farmer owneddairy company, is aimingto make organic milkmore accessible with thelaunch of its first brandedorganic product. The launch will see thebusiness engageconsumers in its organicstory, through acomprehensive marketingcampaign in the New Year.Arla Organic Farm Milk is unhomogenised that sees the return of thecream top. Setting it apart from most of its competitors, the layer of cream atthe top of the bottle will appeal to a wide range of shoppers, including thenostalgic and the younger generation keen to try fresh milk in a different way.Tomas Pietrangeli, Managing Director, Arla Foods UK, said: “I have seenwhat can be achieved in other markets, such as Denmark, where up to 30per cent of overall fresh milk sales are organic. The strategy has beenfocused on making organic more accessible to everyone, new productdevelopment and providing choice and availability.”Arla Organic Farm Milk 2-litre semi-skimmed and whole milk formats willbe available initially in Tesco stores with a wider distribution from January2017.Plastic bottle is anatural fit A custom-moulded bottle from RPC PromensConsumer Llantrisant is ensuring that a new rangeof healthy, probiotic drinks stands out on-shelf.London-based Plenish is using the 330ml PETbottle to pack all three flavours – Lime Cucumber,Pineapple Ginger and Blueberry Pear – of itsorganic Water+ range. The first non-dairy probioticdrink on the market, it promotes sugar-freehydration and a healthy gut and immune system.The clear bottle creates a strong on-shelfimpression, with an aura both svelte and imposing. “We designed this bottle shape to fit in with our existing range of cold press juices that comein 250ml and 500ml, and we’re really happy that RPC could turn it into a reality,” said AmandaGrace, Operations and Supply Chain Manager at Plenish.“RPC were great to deal with,” added Ms Grace. “They were even able to work with theirtooling partner to reduce our lead-time and provide the bottles ready for our nationwide launch.”10_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:10 Page 1Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netDon’t forgetyou can now readFood & Drink International Digital Editionsnow available on iPad & iPhonewww.fdiforum.netIdeal for those who spendtime away fromthe officeonthego!New appointmentat AutoCodingSystemsAutoCoding Systems, softwarespecialist in packaging deviceautomation and data integrity, ispleased to announce theappointment of Graeme Hartley toBusiness Development Managercovering the North of England andScotland.Mr Hartley has a wealth ofexperience initially gained inengineering giving him the necessaryknowledge early in his career tomove into a Sales Engineer role.Since then he has held various salesand sales management positions within both automation manufacturing andsystem integration. He has spent several years working for a leading UKSystem Integrator where he gained valuable experience in the sale of largescale automation, SCADA and MES systems. Graeme has an established technical sales background which will beinvaluable as he continues to develop new opportunities in the North ofEngland and Scotland.Graeme commented: “I’m looking forward to bringing to ACS theexpertise and knowledge that I have gained in previous roles whilst workingfor major automation manufacturers and system integrators.”To advertise your services onthe news pages contact us on01472 310302UK food manufacturer appointsEthical Trade OfficerFood manufacturerFreshtime UK hasintroduced a newposition at its site inBoston, Lincolnshire. Richard Fletcher,pictured, has beenappointed to the role ofEthical Trade Officer,working closelyalongside the firm’sHead of Corporate andSocial ResponsibilityMel Miles. Originally hailing fromBoston, Mr Fletcher previously worked for Fogarty in the town in a variety ofroles since leaving school. He spotted the vacancy at Freshtime whileworking as a Quality and Compliance Manager at the quilt and pillowmakers.“It’s clear that Freshtime wholeheartedly believes in social compliance,which really appealed to me,” he said. “An opportunity like this is rare,especially in this area, and the fact that Freshtime is actively seeking tocontinue to develop and remain leaders in the food industry is sorefreshing.”Mr Fletcher undertook an intense five-day training course in November tobecome a Quality Social Systems Auditor, equipping him with the skillsneeded to work more closely with suppliers on the social systems they havein place.11_Layout 1 23/11/2016 14:06 Page 132 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTMake it in MoroccoDespite bureaucratic challenges, Morocco offers European food exporters accessto a rapidly developing and resilient market, something British and Irish agri-businesses have taken notice of, especially in the wake of the EU referendum. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ESB PROFESSIONAL12-15_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:13 Page 1Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTPolitics and geography has positionedMorocco, a North African nation, which has apopulation of around 33.8 million, as a vital andrapidly expanding market. It has madetremendous economic progress in the last fewyears alone. Given its proximity with Spain, Morocco isstrategically located for access to Europe, whilstalso ideally situated as a platform for reachingother important international markets, inparticular North and West Africa. Africa isbeing increasingly seen as an engine for futureglobal growth, as well as a flourishing foodmarket, meaning Morocco is a potential gatewayto the continent for UK and European foodbusinesses. At its closest point, Morocco is less than 10miles away from Spain, and these close ties havepositioned the European country as Morocco’smain trade partner, closely followed by Franceand Italy. As the country’s biggest grossingcrops include wheat, sugar cane and fruits &vegetables, it also has much to offer to exportersthroughout the European Union and UnitedKingdom. Phosphates and textiles are central toMorocco’s export industry, which is supportedby orbiting exports of citrus fruits, vegetablesand fish, among others. In 2015, for example,14.4 per cent of its total imports wereagricultural, while agricultural products made up8 per cent of its total exports. EU trade withMorocco paints a more intriguing picture: 21.2per cent of 2015’s total imports comprised offood and live animals, while exports of the same14 ÁIndia maintains wheat import tax A senior Government source has said that India will maintain its wheat import tax at 10%, while sate-run traders will notimport the grain as private trade is forecast to buy up to 3 million tonnes this year, accounting for the highest in a decade. India, which is the world’s second largestwheat producer, lowered the import tax onthe grain from 25% to 10% in September,providing a boost to Cargill, Louis Dreyfusand Glencore to import large quantities tohelp sidestep looming scarcity. Privatetraders have already imported around 1.2million tonnes so far this year. “There’s a steady flow of imports by theprivate trade,” said the Government source.“We’ve cut the import tax by 15 percentagepoints only in September, so there’s no planto either reduce the duty further on import ongovernment’s behalf.“Because of the reduction in the importtax, we believe that private traders will importabout 3 million tonnes this [fiscal] year.”PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/DANGDUMRONGcommodity came in at 5.9 per cent. Wheat is among its biggest food imports,while its biggest import partners (on top of itsEuropean links) include China, the US andSaudi Arabia. For would-be exporters, there area number of benefits in courting the lucrativeMoroccan market, such as its global transportconnections, strategic geographic location andstrong communication network. Competitivelabour costs, tax incentives and a strong financesector also contribute to an appealingmarketplace. For exporters in the UK, say, suchstrengths can really help to grease the wheels,especially with the Brexit forcing manybusinesses to look beyond Europe. There are,however, a number of pitfalls that expectantexporters should be wary of, bureaucracy chiefamong. Specifically, the implementation oflegislations and delayed decision making canhave a disruptive effect. The country, havingscored poorly in the Corruption PerceptionIndex, which ranks countries by their perceivedlevel of corruptness, can be off-putting, whilecounterfeiting also presents a significant hurdleto overcome. Moreover, competition from EUtrading partners and non-EU countries alike canalso prove challenging. For undeterred businesses, the Africancountry presents a brave new world for exports,something which is of increased importancewith the aforementioned Brexit. Michael Creed,Irish Minister for Agriculture, has said that the12-15_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:13 Page 214 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTMoroccan market offers hope to Irish exporters. In whathas been celebrated as the first ever Ministerial-led Irishagricultural food trade mission to Morocco, Creed lead adelegation on a trade mission to the country’s capital cityof Rabat. The aim was to bolster the profile of Ireland as asource for “safe, secure and sustainably produced food” aswell as diversify markets for Irish agri-food exports. As part of the visit, Creed met with the Director for theAgency for Agricultural Development in Morocco, whereplans for modernising the country’s agriculture wereemphasised, particularly the assistance Ireland could offer.The meetings concluded with a visit to Copralim, one ofMorocco’s largest importers of dairy products and anexisting importer of Irish dairy from a variety of suppliers. “Irish dairy exports to Morocco, particularly butter,cheese and caseins were worth almost €13 million last yearand we expect this figure to grow by over 60% in 2016,”said Creed commenting on the visit. “Increasing our shareof emerging markets such as Morocco will be key inhelping to meet the ambitious targets for the dairy sectorin the Food Wise 2025 Strategy.”Brexit will likely be the impetus for UK and Irish foodbusinesses turning away from Europe and casting theirgaze on a much more international stage, but Morocco hasmore to offer than simply an export alternative. Thestrength of its own exports and a flourishing marketplaceare expected to court more and more agri-businesses in theyears to come. Though there are challenges to be wary of,successfully exporting to Morocco could help businessesbreak into the African market. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/M.V. PHOTOGRAPHYChinese importers hungryfor Welsh lamb Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has hailed a step forwardfor Welsh meat exports to Asia, as a branch of its Welsh Lamb Club wasrecently founded in Hong Kong.The Welsh Lamb Club includes chefs and restaurateurs who are dedicatedto sourcing and using the finest PGI Welsh Lamb on their menus. At areception at Hong Kong’s Grissini Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt, HCC ChiefExecutive Gwyn Howells inducted four new members into the Welsh LambClub – chefs Albert Au, Calvin Soh and Kenneth Law, and restaurant managerKevin Lee.Gwyn Howells, Chief Executive of HCC, said: “We have excellent partners inHong Kong who are proud to source and market Welsh red meat as part oftheir premium offering.“A strong presence in Hong Kong and Macau is potentially an importantfoothold for the future. We continue to work with the Welsh Governmenttowards gaining access for red meat exports to the huge market in mainlandChina.”PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/LSANTILLI12-15_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:13 Page 3MAKE YOUR EXPORT RESULTS DO FULL JUSTICE TO YOUR EFFORTS ACHIEVE SO MUCH MORE WITH THE RIGHT SOFTWARE BEHIND YOUExportmaster’s range of three software products matches the needs and budget of every exporter from the smallest trader to the largest multinational. Whether you’re out to to real-world problems. Check out what Exportmaster has to offer your export operations. SOFTWARE THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE SERIOUS EXPORTER!SOFTWARE FOR EXPORTERS Call: 020 8681 232112-15_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:13 Page 416 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netLOGISTICSThe progression of the food industry isreactionary. As global population rapidlyincreased, so did the demand for food. Nolonger was the current farming model viable,leading the propagation of intensive factoryfarming. But more recently, the growinginterest in local and organic produce, as wellas the pressing need to scale back on meatproduction to curb rising carbon levels, hasmeant a return to smaller scale foodproduction. Yet despite that, the biggestinfluencer as far as food logistics isRUNNINGclearTransparency istipped as thebiggest future trendfor food logistics,but what exactlydoes this mean forthe industry? concerned, is transparency. The spate of scandals that have rocked thefood industry over the last decade havemeant that transparency is no longer a luxuryproducers can afford to ignore. Consumershave grown up, and have taken an activeinterest in where their food comes from.Transparency is one of the key future trendsof the food logistics industry, as well ashaving the biggest impact on the sectoroverall, given its tendrils touch every aspectof food production. clear16-19_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:15 Page 1Integrating new technology into the supply chain issomething of a doubled edged sword. On one handthere’re the obvious advantages to efficiency, but it alsocomes with the threat of cybercrime. It’s no exaggerationto say cybercrime is one of the biggest threats facingmodern businesses. Any computer system or network ispotentially vulnerable to an attack, with files held toransom or infected. The repercussions can be damaging,with a loss of time often the best possible outcome.Although cyber threats are something businesses have toadapt to and learn to safeguard their systems and stafffrom, it shouldn’t deter introducing technology thatcould greatly benefit the supply chain. For logistics, tracking and traceability software offersinterconnectedness like never before. If a product can betracked from the warehouse as it’s loaded up andchecked off across its journey through the supply chain,then it can be called up quickly and on demand. In theevent of a product recall, say, this can save time andstem a potential crisis in the bud. It can also offer real-time tracking, allowing businesses to see whether thereis any wasted downtime in the supply chain and whatareas need improving. Moreover, the data can be storedFood & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netFlexiEdge fast-action doorsfrom Stertil Door Products Originally introducedby Stertil Door Productsin 2013, the latestgeneration of FlexiEdgefast-action doorscontinues to provideexceptional safety plusunrivalled resistance towind, weather andimpact damage.The FlexiEdge wasconceived tocomplement and furtheradvance the existingStertil door range byoffering a uniquecombination ofinnovative features andsignificant user benefits.The latest FlexiEdgemodels comprise 16models of different types and styles including internal and external doors, all-weatherdoors, cleanroom and freezer/coldroom doors plus emergency exit doorsincorporating breakthrough curtains. Standard models are available in widths up to 11metres and heights of 5.5 metres whilst bespoke and special sizes may be specified. For more information, visit www.stertil.co.uk.18 ÁCREDIT: OTTO/ ANHEUSER-BUSCHLOGISTICS16-19_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:15 Page 2LOGISTICS18 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netand accessed in the future as well asoffering analytical comparisons andcorrelations.Self-driving vehicles have long been adream of the logistics industry, beingmore efficient, reliable and safer thantheir human counterparts. The last fewyears alone have yielded massive leapsforward, and the technology already has anumber of real world capabilities. Afterthe fatalities involved in a few high profileself-driving tests, the technology needed amajor breakthrough in order to restorefaith among consumers and the industry. A major milestone wasrecently marked after the world’sfirst commercial shipment byself-driving truck wasundertaken. With support fromthe state of Colorado, OttoLogistics and US brewing brandAnheuser-Busch oversaw the shipment,marking a new stage in the evolution oflogistics. Although a professional truckdriver was present in the vehiclethroughout the journey to monitor thedelivery from a sleeper birth, the truckcompleted the route entirely on its ownwithout the need of intervention. The load originated at Anheuser-Busch’s facility in Loveland, Colorado anddeparted for its journey from the FortCollins, Colorado weigh station. Thismilestone marks the first time in historythat a self-driving vehicle has shippedcommercial cargo, making it a landmarkParagon is nectar for leading drinks distributor Nectar Imports, the South’s leading drinks distributor, is using Paragon SoftwareSystems’ routing and scheduling software to manage its delivery operations andensure its reputation for flexibility and promise of next working day delivery ismaintained as the company continues to grow.Nectar’s distribution operation runs on fixed routes, but the company hadoutgrown its previous manual approach to planning and scheduling due to thecontinuous growth of the business. The Paragon system enables dynamicplanning, helping Nectar to proactively manage its transport activities and increasethe efficiency of its fleet. Nectar expects to benefit from reduced planning time and improved reportingcapabilities, as well as strategic what-if modelling based on real customer data – ahuge benefit in this particular sector of the logistics industry, as the company willbe able to plan ahead to accommodate seasonal demand fluctuations.For more information, visit www.paragonrouting.com.CREDIT: OTTO/ ANHEUSER-BUSCH16-19_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:16 Page 3achievement for self-driving technology and thetransportation industry.“The incredible success of this pilot shipment is anexample of what is possible when you deploy self-drivingtechnology. It also showcases the importance ofcollaboration with forward-looking states like Colorado andinnovative companies like Anheuser-Busch,” says Otto Co-Founder Lior Ron. “By embracing this technology, bothorganisations are actively contributing to the creation of asafer and more efficient transportation network. We areexcited to have reached this milestone together, and lookforward to further rolling out our technology on the nation’shighways.”One of the criticisms thrown at the transport industry isregarding carbon emissions. The development of self-drivingtechnology goes hand in hand with alternative fuel sourcessuch as hydrogen, biofuels and, of course, electricity. Thekey future trend for the logistics industry may well focus ontransparency, but the final frontier will be switching fromdirty fuels to cleaner alternatives and getting rid of driversaltogether. With the success of the transport of the abovebeer cargo, and the incremental developments into electrictrucks and those that run on biofuels, we are already at atipping point. Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/JAN FAUKNERAlison 180° stack nestcontainers Alison supply a widerange of reusable transitpackaging (RTP) including180° Stack Nest Containersto speed up handlingoperations, improvestorage efficiencies, reducelogistic costs, eliminatepackaging waste and arefully recyclable. The 600 x 400 footprintcontainers are moulded inpolypropylene with solidand perforated versionsavailable in 3 depths thatall interwork together. Thecontainers are available ina range of colours, makingthem visually distinguishable to segregate areas, products or processes. In use, full boxes are both easy / stable to stack, due to their load-bearingconstruction and when empty, boxes can be rotated 180° and nested insideeach other – saving up to 73% in-store or on return transport. RTP complements automatic handling systems, offering enormousadvantages plus cost savings in comparison to alternative packaging and is fullyrecyclable at end of life.For more information, visit www.alisonhandling.com.16-19_Layout 1 22/11/2016 09:16 Page 4Next >