Import and export Ingredients A year in review A year in review INTERNATIONAL Traceability 01.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:24 Page 1Call now for advice and pricing options from the Teknomexperts... 01603 788 833 | teknomek.co.uk are pRoUd to be tHe new uk disTributor for DELfIN inDusTriAl VACUuM ClEaNERs - ideAl for apPlicatiOn in tHe foOd inDusTry ThAT’S WhY… AT TEKnOMEK , we alWaYs sTrive to ofFer oUr cusTomerS tHe besT solutiOnS for hygiEne pRocesSes… THE THE EKN MEXPE TS EKN EXPE TS • comPacT & mobile • InTegRated filTer • SteEl conStRucTiOn • PowerFul motorS • inDepenDenT coOlinG Shady Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham, B44 9EU England Tel: +44 (0)121 360 0155 Fax: +44 (0)121 325 1079 For all your Power Transmission Solutions • Roller Chain • Gears & Sprockets • Timing Belt Drives • Clamping Elements • Inverted Tooth Chain • Inverted Tooth Sprockets • Sealmaster Bearings • Shaft Couplings • Freewheel Clutches • Torque Limiters • Overload Clutches • Sheargard Clutches • McGill ® Cam Followers • Gearboxes The Driving Force In Power Transmission sales@crossmorse.com www.crossmorse.com Power Transmission Solutions 02.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:25 Page 1Contents December 2022 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 While Ireland’s food and drink sector is being hit by a plethora of global and local challenges, the country has kept a keen eye on promoting its products to enhance exports. End of year success stories16 In a time of economic and political uncertainty, with rises in costs for every component of food production alongside supply chain struggles, the food and drink industry has fought hard to combat a multitude of challenges. GalxC Cooling Q&A20 In the food and drink industry, you only get the one chance to make sure the temperature is under control. We spoke to Darren Long, Commercial Director, at GalxC Cooling, to find out how they help companies fulfil their requirements. Process, control and automation22 A storm of market conditions are making automation less a luxury and more a necessity. Traceability 26 Traceability is an umbrella term for all the processes that need putting in place to ensure that products are safely resourced and made, clearly labelled, and shipped out to stockists with as small a margin for health risk as possible. We take a closer look. Ingredients30 Ingredients aren’t created equally and, increasingly, they’re being used to fortify 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) 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: stock.adobe.com/Brebca • Top: stock.adobe.com/Natalia Lisovskaya • Middle: stock.adobe.com/ryanking999 • Bottom: stock. adobe.com/koss13 and enhance products that would otherwise be lacking. Food and Drink International explores how wellbeing is evolving the industry and how manufacturers can respond to global concerns. End of line packaging34 End of line packaging may be the last part of the process, but it’s also the most important, where a single error can undo all the hard work before. Warehousing and optimisation39 There are five key ways to improve the efficiency of a warehouse, and understanding these pillars is key to identifying areas of improvement. Recycling and waste management42 Food waste has always been a glaring issue for the sector. With consumers demanding more action, microplastics in the ocean, fish and even human blood – and now with wastewater being pumped into rivers in the UK – effective waste management, and wastewater management, are more important than ever before. Events46 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world. Classified 49 Food and Drink Diary 50 03.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:25 Page 1i2r plants tree in support of Queen’s Green Canopy initiative In support of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative and in memoriam to honour Her Majesty, market leading aluminium foil tray manufacturer, i2r Packaging Solutions, has recently planted a tree in the grounds of their corporate headquarters in Telford-Shropshire. As a nationwide initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee, the QGC was due to conclude in December – the end of the Jubilee year. However, as the official tree planting season in the UK runs from October to March, the initiative has been extended to include the full tree planting season, beginning in October 2022 and concluding in March 2023. The aim of the QGC was to create a living legacy with over a million trees planted in Her Majesty’s name across the nation during the first planting season, October 2021 to March 2022. The extension of the QGC initiative will build on this legacy and serve as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and her people. 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Loma Systems launches new X5 SideShoot for taller projects Loma Systems, a global leader in inspection technologies for food quality and safety, has unveiled its latest addition to the X5 X-ray inspection series - the X5 SideShoot, designed and engineered specifically for the inspection of taller products. The X5 SideShoot complements their existing portfolio that can inspect diverse applications from dairy and egg products, dried foods, cereals and grains to confectionery and snack foods or fruit, vegetables and nuts. By using dynamic detection, the X5 SideShoot carries out a series of product inspections looking for unwanted contaminants; it can even estimate fill level, check for missing content and determine whether a package is damaged. “As the food and packaging market evolves, there is an increasing demand to offer more innovative solutions to our customer’s challenges,” said Toby Kemp, LOMA’s Director of Marketing & Innovation. “The New X5 SideShoot has been specifically designed and engineered to help our customers deliver new packaging technologies, successfully inspect products that are taller versus width, promote sustainability and enhance food safety.” For more information visit www.loma.com Durham Box wins at North East Charity Awards 2022 Leading corrugated packaging manufacturer, County Durham-based Durham Box, has won the Outstanding Charity Support by Small to Medium Companies Award at the North East Charity Awards 2022. The award was for the company’s continued support for the charity, Feeding Families. Feeding Families is a lifeline for many families, delivering food all year round to families in food poverty. Working closely with other organisations and agencies, the charity ensures that thousands of families in desperate need have access to emergency food boxes and support packages. The charity routinely sends out over 1000 emergency food boxes monthly and provide over 9000 hamper boxes during the Christmas period. Dan Morris, Durham Box’s managing director, added: “We are delighted to have won an award for our ongoing support for Feeding Families. For those who are struggling in food poverty across the region, life can be particularly challenging for many families, particularly with the rising cost of living and the impact of that across the country. We’re glad that we continue to make a difference with our box donations.” To find out more about Durham Box visit www.durhambox.co.uk Grading system improves quality and margins The combination of intense competition in the meat industry, rising input costs and increasingly stringent retailer and consumer quality requirements means pig processors need to maximise the yield from every carcase. According to food and drink IT specialist CSB-System, this has resulted in strong demand for its Image-Meater® industrial vision device, which automates pig carcase grading. The company says the system delivers an objective result which can be used to accurately calculate the market value. “In competitive markets, maximising yields while maintaining quality is vital,” said Mathew Simpson of CSB-System. “Image-Meater’s software driven solution delivers highly consistent results, as the error prone job of accurate probe placement is eliminated – along with the risk of repetitive strain injuries. And manual data recording can be removed so the results are more reliable as well as more accurate.” The Image-Meater’s compact dimensions mean it can easily be integrated into most slaughter lines. The Image-Meater® has been installed in factories across Europe and beyond, including Belgium, China, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:08 Page 1news New ‘123 Pledge’ set to mobilize global action on food loss and waste as key climate strategy The new ‘123 Pledge’ has kicked off to accelerate action to reduce food loss and waste worldwide. The Pledge challenges governments, businesses, chefs and other important actors in the food system to commit to concrete steps that will make reducing food loss and waste a part of their action agendas on greenhouse gas emissions. The way food is produced and consumed today results in high rates of food loss and waste. An estimated 14% of food is lost in the food supply chain from post-harvest up to wholesale included. Meanwhile, 17% of food is wasted at retail and consumer level. This food loss and waste costs the global economy over USD $1 trillion annually. It’s also responsible for more than four times the greenhouse gas emissions of all annual aviation combined. The ‘123 Pledge’ is coordinated by Champions 12.3, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is also supported by WRAP, WWF, and Rabobank. AOAC approves Neogen ® ’s Megazyme Rapid Integrated Total Dietary Fiber Assay as the standard method Dietary fiber content labelling in processed foods is strictly regulated and mandatory in some regions. The correct analysis of fibers is key for accurate calorie values, appropriate fiber content claims, and avoiding any legal implications linked to improper labelling. Neogen’s Megazyme Rapid Integrated Total Dietary Fiber (RINTDF) method has been accepted by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (“AOAC International”). Following a rigorous interlaboratory evaluation study, Neogen’s RINTDF assay protocol (SKU: K-RINTDF) is now accredited as the AOAC Standard Method 2022.01. This new method combines the key attributes of AOAC Official Methods 985.29/991.43, 2001.03, 2002.02, 2009.01/2011.25, and 2017.16. It also complies with the CODEX Alimentarius definition of dietary fiber, which is used by governing bodies worldwide, including the FDA, EFSA, and FSANZ. As a global leader in the measurement of dietary fiber, Neogen’s Megazyme range has been at the forefront of innovation in dietary fiber analysis for over 30 years. The K- RINTDF method is the most recent, accurate, and encompassing method for the correct measurement of all types of dietary fiber, including resistant starch and non-digestible oligosaccharides. It also allows for the measurement of soluble and insoluble fiber separately, solving one of the biggest issues surrounding the measurement of dietary fiber in the food and beverage industry. To read more about the study visit https://info.neogen.com/3UWtvT7 For more information visit https://info.neogen.com/3AjM7Vn Specialist investor sets out to improve food supply efficiency Isara, a new specialist investor in the food sector, has launched its debut £300m fund focused on improving the efficiency, quality and sustainability of food supply systems across the UK, Ireland and Western Europe. Isara intends to invest in food production and distribution businesses, helping to stabilise and transform the existing food ecosystem which is undergoing structural shifts caused by rising inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, labour supply scarcity, and a growing commitment to sustainability. Led by Michael Rice, Isara’s team has extensive expertise working with businesses and management teams across the food sector, including Eight Fifty Food Group, Orchard House Foods, Chaucer Foods, West Cornwall Pasty Co, Heron Foods and Seabrooks, bringing hands-on experience and a network of specialist advisors to support portfolio companies. Diageo acquires Texas super premium whisky distiller Diageo has acquired Balcones Distilling, a Texas craft distiller and one of the leading producers of American Single Malt Whisky in the United States. Founded in Waco, Texas in 2008, Balcones is a celebrated player in the emerging whisk(e)y movement in Texas, with a diverse portfolio of award- winning super premium and above whiskies, including Texas “1” American Single Malt, Lineage American Single Malt and Baby Blue Corn Whisky. Balcones embraces Texas’ intense heat as well as its temperature fluctuations to create whiskies with differentiated flavours. The team also leverages distinctive high quality, and often locally sourced, original ingredients, including Texas-grown malted barley and roasted blue corn, to produce a range of highly decorated whiskies. Claudia Schubert, president, Diageo North America, said: “The Balcones team are true innovators and pioneers in the emerging American Single Malt and Texas whisk(e)y movements, and their super premium plus whiskies are highly complementary to our whisk(e)y portfolio. This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire high growth brands in fast growing segments, such as super premium whisk(e)y.” © stock.adobe.com/ Joaquin Corbalan Food & Drink International 5 www.fdiforum.net © Diageo © stock.adobe.com/ Looker_Studio 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:08 Page 26 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Cheese maker expands globally with support from UK Government and Barclays Wyke Farms, the independent cheese producer, has received support from UK Export Finance (UKEF) and Barclays to help finance its Cheddar stock as its export sales have gone from strength to strength, now exporting in over 160 countries. Wyke Farms’ products are in high demand – but rising inflation has hugely impacted the cost of milk, increasing Wyke Farms’ production costs exponentially. Wyke Farms’ existing financing facility needed to be revisited to cover the increase in costs, so UKEF stepped in guaranteeing a £30 million General Export Facility with Barclays, allowing the business to continue its upwards trajectory and plough ahead with its global expansion plans. Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch said: “I am delighted to see our first-class food producers take full advantage of opportunities outside the EU that trade opens up. “This funding will help Wyke Farms – a local, family-owned, and sustainable firm – promote their iconic British brand and sell more delicious British cheese to customers around the world.” Rocket Food sold to Restaurant Associates FRP Corporate Finance has advised luxury event caterer Rocket Food (Rocket) on its sale to premium hospitality brand Restaurant Associates, which is part of Compass Group UK & Ireland (Compass Group). The acquisition will increase Rocket and Restaurant Associates’ presence in the luxury hospitality sector across the UK. The transaction will also support Rocket with developing its sustainability and supply chain credentials and provide the business with access to Compass Group’s training and apprenticeship schemes. Based in Battersea, Rocket caters for private and corporate events, and is a preferred supplier at many of London’s most prestigious venues, including Kensington and Hampton Court Palaces, the V&A, the British Museum, and the Tate Modern. The company was founded by brother and sister duo Michael Symonds and Caroline Hall in 2000, and today it employs 50 people. Restaurant Associates operates across some of the UK’s most popular visitor attractions, including Glyndebourne, Hatfield House and Hever Castle. The brand is part of Compass Group, an international company that provides catering, cleaning, and facilities management services in more than 6,000 locations across the UK & Ireland. Jon Dodge, FRP Corporate Finance partner, said: “The deal represents an exciting new partnership for Rocket Food and Restaurant Associates, and closely aligns two organisations renowned for their passion and commitment to providing the highest quality food.” Michael Symonds, Managing Director at Rocket Food, added: “Our team at Rocket has a passion for exceptional food, creativity and service, all values that we share with Restaurant Associates. The new partnership will be a formidable offering for the clients we are proud to serve.” Keurig Dr Pepper invests in non-alcoholic beer company Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has taken a minority stake in Athletic Brewing Company, the American non-alcoholic craft beer maker. The transaction represents KDP’s latest move into rapidly emerging beverage categories, following its acquisition of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink cocktail brand Atypique. The $50 million investment by KDP provides the company with an equity stake in Athletic Brewing that is comparable to other lead investors, namely TRB Advisors and Alliance Consumer Growth. KDP will have a seat on the company’s Board of Directors. Further terms of the deal were not disclosed. Athletic Brewing was founded in 2017 by Bill Shufelt and John Walker and is a top-20 U.S. craft brewer, according to Nielsen. In 2022, Athletic Brewing was ranked as the 26th fastest- growing private company in America by Inc. Magazine and was also named to Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Companies” list. Co-op commits to ‘clearing’ shelves of all coloured milk bottle tops to increase recyclability Co-op has committed to removing all coloured milk bottle caps from its shelves, delivering benefits for the recyclability of the lids. Shoppers are soon set to see clear caps on all Co-op’s skimmed, semi- skimmed and whole milk across all its stores in towns, villages and cities across the UK. Clear bottle tops reduce colour contamination in the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) stream, allowing materials to be recycled more easily into food-grade packaging. The move follows successful consumer trials on semi-skimmed milk in more than 400 Co-op stores in August and, with ‘clear’ recyclability gains to be made, green caps will be switched to clear in all of its stores by the end of December. Co-op will then eradicate red (skimmed milk caps) and blue (whole milk caps) in early 2023. Once all caps have been switched it could remove more than 150 tonnes of coloured plastic from HDPE streams per annum. Switching all green caps first is set to unlock the majority of the recyclability benefits, with semi-skimmed accounting for more than three- fifths of milk sales. © stock.adobe.com/ Wirestock © stock.adobe.com/ Arnéll Koegelenberg/peopleimages.com © stock.adobe.com/ imagesab © stock.adobe.com/ Parilov 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:09 Page 3Private equity house invests in Tunisian snacks producer Admaius Capital Partners, a pan African private equity house, has, via a subsidiary of the Virunga Africa Fund 1, made a significant investment in Power Brands, the parent company of Céréalis S.A., Tunisia’s leading producer of salted snacks and a significant producer of baked goods. Admaius will partner with the current owners of Power Brands, the Gahbiche family and Ekuity Capital, a leading Tunisian private equity investor, to build a leading branded FMCG platform through a combination of organic growth and selective acquisitions to expand and build on Céréalis’s portfolio of strong local brands. The investment is consistent with Admaius’s strategy of investing in African FMCG companies positioned to benefit from growing incomes and increasing demand for products tailored to meet local needs. Admaius will also use its position to drive improvements in areas where Céréalis has the potential to have significant positive impacts on society such as reducing packaging waste, increasing recycling, carbon footprint reduction and improving nutrition. Industry faces investment decisions as cost pressures soar Nearly 50% of food and drink manufacturers have cut or paused investment projects as they face the toughest trading conditions anyone can remember, according to new research by the UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF). The latest State of the Industry survey from the FDF suggests companies have seen input costs increase by an average of 21% over the past 12 months, with a similar rise expected next year. Businesses are doing what they can to contain soaring prices for consumers by achieving energy efficiencies and reducing their product ranges, but confidence is fragile. The effect of these mounting costs can be seen in figures from the Insolvency Service showing that in the first eight months of 2022, there were more insolvencies in the food and drink industry than during the whole of 2019. One of the main pressures on companies is rising energy prices, which accounts for 22% of business costs – up from 12% a year ago. Labour shortages also remain a significant brake on growth. These pressures are impacting the levels of investment companies are able to make and grow their businesses. Food & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net news © stock.adobe.com/ sezerozger © stock.adobe.com/ yalcinsonat 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:09 Page 4www.fdiforum.net Plan your campaign with Food & Drink International… ...your competitors are! As marketing is the vital ingredient for the success and growth of any business, we can offer advice and packages to suit all budgets. Speak to one of our experienced account executives. CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO? • Print • Online • E-Newsletters • Regular News • Topical Features The perfect medium to give your brand the best chance of being seen! Contact us below for our 2023 editorial schedule Call today on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email: v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk INTERNATIONAL INTERN NATION AL ahe The d y safe ty and a Ne ws Heal ltth, saf hygiene Pumps and nd INTERN NATION AL i nno F o c o vati i o i Ne w s Pack aging spotlight oading ba L ayy doors s ys s and INTERN NATION New s challe ng Meeti n g Fla col ges col c INTERN NATION AL Be ver ages ellf f The futu i n f o c Thefutu On the shel ture s i n f o cus i s End of f line pack ka aging MINIMUM COST…MAXIMUM IMPACT! www.fdiforum.net 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:09 Page 5Food & Drink International 9 www.fdiforum.net news Future Planet Capital backs Roslin Tech’s cultivated meat momentum with further investment Future Planet Capital (FPC), the international venture capital and impact investor, has revealed its participation in Edinburgh-based food & ag tech company Roslin Technologies’ latest £11m funding round, helping to fuel the company’s next wave of growth in its mission to become the leading provider of animal cell lines to the emerging cultivated meat sector. Having made an initial investment of £10m in 2017, FPC has supported Roslin as it has grown from an initial concept to the revenue generating commercial enterprise it is today. This new funding will allow Roslin Tech to invest in expanding its cell line portfolio and further developing the protocols for scale up of its cells into competitive cell biomass for meat production. It will do so jointly with its customers, development collaborators, and the University of Edinburgh with which Roslin Tech has a privileged relationship. It will also invest in its insect venture which focuses on breeding better insects for the emerging insect protein sector, a promising regenerative agricultural technique. Scottish seaweed snack brand SHORE bags new investment, listings and NPD New Wave Foods Ltd has secured new six-figure investment from its biggest shareholders to progress the production of its Scottish seaweed, expand its SHORE range of products and create new ranges to boost UK retail listings. Since launching its sustainable seaweed snack range a year ago, the Wick- based food firm’s super-grain chips have become the biggest selling non- potato bagged snack in existing regional supermarket listings (Neilson data) and they’ve recently gained new listings with Morrisons, Holland & Barrett and Booths. Now with a fully compliant HFSS recipe, a new Smoky BBQ chip flavour joins the existing three. This latest equity fundraising round will enable the sustainable food firm to further expand the distribution of its products across UK retail and bring more innovative products to market under its breakthrough brand SHORE The Scottish Seaweed Co., starting with a duo of ambient plant-based Ramen Broths made with the same seaweed they sustainably hand harvest along the Scottish coastline for their chips. Furthermore, New Wave Foods will use part of the equity funding to drive forward their ambitious sustainable production of Scottish seaweed, including farming at their site near Oban. SHORE joint Managing Director Keith Paterson says: “We are delighted how well our SHORE Chips are performing in the better-for-you snacking market. We see a substantial opportunity to replicate what the brand has achieved in Scotland across the whole UK, with a HFSS compliant snack that actually tastes great and has a proven leading rate of sale.” Severe drought in southern Europe sparks price spike in long grain rice Eurostar Commodities are warning that the severe drought in southern Spain and Portugal is having a drastic effect on the price of long grain rice and resulting in forecasted tighter supplies and a price increase of almost one third (29%). The volume of the next Spanish long grain rice crop will drop significantly by 70% as a consequence of the severe drought. In Portugal on the ground conditions are different but the production decrease is expected to be between 10- 20% down on usual production of long grain rice. Meanwhile prices in the Far East continue to rise with the growing demand for large quantities of long grain rice from Europe. With this severe lack of availability, prices will increase by 29%. Ingredients expert, Jason Bull, director, Eurostar Commodities, said: “Food price inflation is still going strong and increasing due to drought and raw material availability issues. If we then add in currency exchange rates, transportation and fuel costs, and finance interest then the market is in a situation where price will rise sharply from early December of this year.” The Cheshire Cheese Company acquired by Joseph Heler The Cheshire Cheese Company (CCC) has been acquired by family-owned cheese producer Joseph Heler to expand its branded offering. As a multi award-winning brand, the Cheshire Cheese Company will become one of Heler’s flagship consumer facing brands alongside its low calorie, low fat and high protein cheese, Eatlean. CCC, which was established in 2010 to produce cheddar and Cheshire cheese waxed truckles in innovative, unique flavours, has seen 400% growth in revenues since 2019 making it one of the largest online cheese retailers in the UK and a desirable acquisition. Joseph Heler has operations across central Europe, which will re-open markets to CCC that Brexit made unviable. The Cheshire Cheese Company co-founder Simon Spurrell will retain an equitable stake in the business and remains as Managing Director to steer the company forward. All of its head office, production and warehouse staff will be retained while 14 additional full and part time jobs will be created on the back of this acquisition. © stock.adobe.com/ tilialucida © stock.adobe.com/ hansgeel © stock.adobe.com/ sommai 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:09 Page 6Next >