< PreviousGlobal Brands to expand distribution centre in £2m development Global Brands, the independent drinks company and distributor, are increasing their distribution capabilities with significant expansion to their warehouse facilities in Clay Cross, Derbyshire. The current Global Brands Distribution Centre has 152,000 sq ft of warehouse space, employing 80 members of staff. This expansion will increase the warehouse size to 180,800 sq ft, and add 30 members of staff to the production and distribution line at the facilities. The expansion will increase total storage capabilities at the warehouse from 30 million to 40 million bottles, across 17,000 pallets. Following extensive groundworks, the steel frame is being erected, and a concrete slab base will then be poured and set. Works for the 28,800 sq ft extension will conclude in January 2023. The expansion follows a sustained increase in demand versus 2019 (the last year of undisrupted trading) for the company’s portfolio of drinks brands, including VK, Hooch, Franklin & Sons, All Shook Up, Shake Baby Shake, Beviamo, Kick Energy, Lustre, and Amigos Tequila Beer. Encirc to purchase bottling and warehousing facility from Accolade Wines Encirc, a Vidrala Company, has entered into a deal with Accolade Wines to purchase the assets of “The Park” bottling and warehousing facility in Bristol, UK. The agreement will see Accolade Wines entering a 10- year contract bottling and distribution agreement with Encirc to ensure ongoing support for its flagship beverage brands. The move will utilise rail distribution between sites and supply into retail, enabling Encirc to provide an ultra- efficient, sustainable supply chain service across the UK beverage market. The Park is a highly advanced, sustainable and award-winning manufacturing facility, capable of producing the equivalent of more than 30 million, 9-litre cases of wine a year. Following investments by Accolade Wines, the facility is currently zero waste and carbon neutral, with the installation of wind turbines in 2019 contributing to the use of 100% renewable electricity. Accolade Wines Chief Executive Officer, Robert Foye, said the decision to divest The Park facility and enter a long-term bottling and distribution agreement with Encirc would deliver the optimal supply chain structure to support the company’s growth strategy in key markets, including the UK and Europe. 10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net on line Pernod Ricard USA invests $22m in its first ready-to-drink canning line Pernod Ricard USA has invested in its first- ever ready-to-drink (RTD) canning line, which will be located at the company’s Fort Smith plant in Arkansas. The $22 million investment will provide the facility with canning capabilities, help accelerate growth for the company, add more US jobs and create a spillover of economic benefits for the local community. “This investment is an incredible step in strengthening our manufacturing footprint in Fort Smith,” said Pierre Joncourt, senior vice president, Pernod Ricard North America. “The high-speed canning line will be instrumental in increasing our production capabilities and swiftly bringing our premium, bar-quality RTDs to market.” The plant already produces several Pernod Ricard spirits, including Kahlua Coffee Liqueur and Seagram’s Gin. This new canning line — and the RTD offerings they’ll be able to produce as a result — will give them an opportunity to help make popular brands, like Jameson, Absolut, Malibu and TX Whiskey, even more accessible for consumers. Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has revealed plans to sell the Eagle Brewery in Bedford to its long-term partner, the Spanish brewer S.A. Damm (Damm), best known in the UK as the brewer of the popular premium beer, Estrella Damm. The Eagle Brewery’s beers will continue to be sold as part of CMBC’s portfolio. An ambitious new step for Damm in the UK, the Eagle Brewery will become Damm’s first brewery outside of mainland Europe and only the second Damm brewery outside of Spain. The sale is expected to complete by the end of this year. As part of the agreement, the Eagle Brewery’s beers will remain part of CMBC’s diverse portfolio, ranging from world beers Birrificio Angelo Poretti and Brooklyn Pilsner to British ale brands Hobgoblin and Wainwright. CMBC and Damm have enjoyed a long partnership distributing Estrella Damm, with the UK being one of Estrella Damm’s key export markets. Much of the partnership’s activity has taken place at the Eagle Brewery, where Estrella Damm has been packaged for the UK market since 2010. Moy Park reverses plan to close plant Chicken products producer Moy Park has walked back threats to close one of its Derbyshire plants. This comes after weeks of negotiations with GMB bosses to re- consider closing the facility near Ashbourne, with the potential loss of hundreds of local jobs. While 175 jobs will be saved, the facility will be downsized and reshaped to be a B2B supplier, reducing the workforce. Mick Coppin, GMB Organiser, said: “GMB has been negotiating and campaigning to save jobs at Moy Park for months. To see management sit up and listen to our members demands is fantastic. These workers are absolutely essential in producing and supplying our favourite chicken products across the country, in the home and in well loved restaurant chains including Nando’s and McDonalds. “Potential job losses on the scale feared would have been catastrophic for the local community, and GMB union members should be proud that they have delivered this win.” © stock.adobe.com/ Dusko © stock.adobe.com/ Nataliia © Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company © Pernod Ricard USA The Global Brands Distribution Centre, with groundwork underway for the expansion 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:09 Page 7After Eight launches three new chocolate treets Britain’s original after dinner mint is introducing three festive gifting products across the UK this Christmas in celebration of its 60th birthday, including a limited- edition flavour. The seasonal products include a first-ever Mint Collection Box, a ‘Celebr Eight’ Dark Mint Chocolate Box and limited-edition Mint & Cherry flavour. Debbie Bowen, senior brand manager for After Eight, said: “After Eight†has had a place at the nation’s dinner tables for sixty years now, and as we reach our landmark birthday, we want to make it extra special. “We know that three quarters of British households love mint, so we wanted to ensure that there was a mint-chocolate gift to suit every taste this festive season. Fans have long been asking us for a more formal gifting box, and we are thrilled to be able to bring our brand-new Mint Collection Box with an all-star line-up of five delicious flavours!” on the shelf Introducing Citizen Spritz: Innovative new entrant to the low and no alcohol market A disruptive new entrant to the market, Citizen Spritz is reimagining adult drinks with its range of innovative concentrated spritz mixes. Sophisticated and deeply complex in flavour, when combined with sparkling or soda water, the carefully crafted but simple- to-serve drinks, create a refreshing aperitif style beverage, designed to be enjoyed either at home or served via the on-trade. The brainchild of successful food industry entrepreneurs, Mark Gould and Mike Bagshaw, Citizen Spritz was born from the desire to moderate their own alcohol intake. According to a 2021 Mintel Report, more people reduced their alcohol intake in 2021 compared to 2019 - 21% of adults report not drinking alcohol at all and over a third say they’ve reduced or limited their intake in the past year. Over the last two years and through dozens of concepts, the Citizen Spritz team developed a flavour almost indistinguishable from authentic Italian Prosecco. This flavour became the base notes for the whole spritz range. For more information visit www.citizenspritz.com Merry Cheesemas! Since grabbing the opportunity to work with The Chuckling Cheese Company, Lincolnshire, National Flexible are super excited to see their new pork scratchings range all wrapped up and ready for Christmas. Applying technical expertise and NPD support, together they developed their brand with their first printed flexible pack for the ‘Crackling Snacks’ range. With Christmas fast approaching, it’s now that time of the year where everyone starts to look for gifts and what better idea than to give the gift of a pub night at home this Christmas. The Virtual Pub gift, a selection of delicious creamy cheese, salami, comedy beers and pork scratchings, is also a best seller with a list of five- star reviews. Or how about the Beer & Scratching set, with three delicious flavours of crunchy pork scratchings? The Chuckling Cheese Company make the perfect combination of Christmas gifts for all beer and scratching lovers, and being wrapped in recyclable packaging, what’s not to love!? Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net Nuccy, the UK’s first adaptogenic nut butter launches limited edition chocolate flavour Nuccy, the UK’s first range of adaptogenic nut butters, has launched its new limited edition chocolate hazelnut flavour, Ultimate Choco Flow, offering sweet toothed nut lovers an irresistibly tasty and healthy treat to indulge in this winter. Available to purchase online via Nuccy’s online store, Nuccy’s first limited edition flavour will join the three-strong signature Nuccy range: Almond Coco, Peanut Coco and Hazel Coco. Nutritious and delicious, Nuccy’s Ultimate Choco Flow is vegan, palm oil free and blended with just five ingredients: 100% organic Hazelnuts, coconut, coconut sugar, cacao powder, and the brand’s key superpower ingredient Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen famous in Ayurveda and recognised as a natural aid for both the mind and immune system, specially selected by Nuccy for its calming properties. Limited edition SPAM Figgy Pudding launches The makers of the SPAM Brand bring ‘good tidings’ with the official launch of their limited- edition SPAM Figgy Pudding. The new seasonal variety is now available while supplies last at SPAM.com, Amazon.com and Walmart.com, and features a blend of warm spices and popular seasonal ingredients that will have SPAM Brand lovers caroling all season long. A savory, sweet and comforting treat, SPAM Figgy Pudding evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth, taking consumers back to their favorite memories from holidays past. According to a new survey commissioned by the makers of the SPAM Brand, two in three US consumers want to recreate the holiday magic of their favorite childhood memories. And while 69% of consumers surveyed know what Figgy Pudding is or have heard of it, only 17% have had it before. The SPAM Brand team wanted to change this. The brand has taken this holiday classic, and seemingly mystical dish, and placed its familiar flavors into the iconic little blue can. The variety features cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves, along with popular winter flavor profiles like fig and orange flavors. © Hormel Foods © Nestlé 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 23/11/2022 15:09 Page 812 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT 2021 saw a record year for Irish food and drink exports, where € 37m worth of Irish goods were exported every day to customers in more than 180 countries. Despite the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit on trading, the value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports increased by 4% to € 13.5bn, according to Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) data, in a country that exports around 90% of its food and drink production. The success of Irish food and drink exports has continued in 2022, with new figures indicating buoyant activity in the midst of myriad challenges, from rising supply chain and input costs, to the war in Ukraine, the ongoing influence of the UK’s departure from the EU, and the lower purchasing power of consumers. The most recent data for 2022 so far (at time of writing), from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), shows that for the period from January to September, exports of food and live animals from the Green Isle shot to € 10.903bn, from € 8.799bn in the same period of 2021, with meat and dairy products leading the way. Beverage exports meanwhile grew to € 1.527bn from € 1.254bn. Principal destinations for products were the UK, EU, USA, and China. Concurrently imports have risen in 2022, with food and live animals imports hitting € 6.732bn, growing from € 5.241bn, while beverage imports reached € 783m, up from € 673m, with vegetables and cereals the country’s primary imports. Ireland does not appear to be complacent in its steady success however, especially with no light yet at the end of the tunnel for aforementioned challenges, meaning hurdles will continue to arise and impact trade. The country has thus embarked on a number of trade missions this year, promoting food and drink and expanding relationships. A market growing at pace with a population predicted to expand by a further 100 million people by 2050 (seeing surging import demand), South East Asia has been a priority target in 2022 for diversification of Irish food exports, with the region welcoming one of Ireland’s most comprehensive and in- depth trade missions in recent years. Bord Bia’s launch of its three-year regional strategy acted as a key focus in the trade mission, outlining a target of € 800m in Irish food and drink exports to South East Asia by 2025, led by the dairy and meat sectors, with an 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. A keen eye on 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:27 Page 1Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © stock.adobe.com/Fabiano offer of sustainability, food security and high quality hoped to attract consumers. Michael Murphy, Chief Executive of Bord Bia, said: “Irish food and drink exports to South East Asia last year were valued at € 535 million, a 25% increase on 2020. These figures demonstrate that even against the backdrop of the challenges posed by the pandemic alongside other macro factors such as logistical issues and higher dairy prices, customers in this region are still committed to sourcing sustainable, quality produce they trust. Irish dairy exporters are well positioned to supply ingredients to manufacturers producing western style bakery, functional drinks and other consumer products, while retailers and restaurants across this region are finding success with Irish meats, seafood and alcohol. Ireland’s national sustainability 14 Á 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:27 Page 214 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT programme, Origin Green, resonates particularly well in this sector and Bord Bia’s new strategy will provide a roadmap for these food businesses to explore and substantially increase their business with Ireland.” Over the course of the 10-day mission the Irish delegation built on Ireland’s agri-food reputation in Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam, with the government reporting that key political and commercial relationships were developed, market access for Irish produce was widened, and high quality Irish agri-food produce was showcased to new audiences. Illustrating this, the mission saw Vietnam agree to send an inspection team to Ireland by the end of the year to progress an application for beef access. Minister Martin Heydon, Minister of State with special responsibility for New Market Development at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said: “Vietnam has been identified as a priority by my department in relation to new market access. This inspection visit represents major progress towards access to Vietnam for Irish beef.” The news comes ahead of a further boon for Irish products, with the EU and Vietnamese Free Trade Agreement (FTA) seeing tariffs on European dairy fully removed on 1 January 2023. The mission additionally saw Irish beef and lamb appear on supermarket shelves in Singapore for the first time. Michael Murphy said: “While the market is small in value and volume terms, as an influential gateway market to the entire region, increasing the visibility of Irish meat on shelves is an important step forward for Irish beef exports. Singapore tends to lead on food trends which then spread to the wider South East Asian region. Irish beef and lamb now has pride of place in this super premium retailer, giving a significant boost to the credentials of Irish beef and lamb in the wider region.” Furthermore, following on from the launch of Irish beef in retail in Singapore, Musgrave has signed a new partnership deal to supply over 400 products from its SuperValu Own Brand range to Singapore’s premium grocery platform, RedMart. A duo of announcements meanwhile have presented growth opportunities for Irish exports to the USA, already an important market as Ireland’s second largest destination for agri-food exports in 2021. For the first time in three © stock.adobe.com/MyCreative 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:27 Page 3Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT decades, Irish lamb and sheep meat now have full access to the American market, good timing with lamb consumption growing amongst consumers, particularly in the younger age categories in North America, while a campaign has been launched to promote Irish spirits. Bord Bia has also launched a three-year EU co-funded beef and lamb promotion in the US, investing € 1m in marketing and promotional seminars, events, and promotional activities from 2022 to 2025. Moreover at the start of the year a Gulf trade mission was embarked on, alongside the launch of a regional strategy by Bord Bia to bolster exports to the wider Middle East market to € 380m by 2025 - a market highly reliant on food imports due to the limited agricultural resources in the desert. In 2021, Irish food and drink exports to the wider Middle East were valued at € 311m, comprising dairy and dairy ingredients worth € 272m, followed by consumer foods at € 21m. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been identified as priority markets in the region, accounting for a combined 50% of current Irish trade in the Gulf region. Ireland is further hoping trade missions to Mexico and Germany this year will be fruitful and has recently invested € 1m in beef marketing across UK and EU markets to support the sector as it faces increasingly difficult trading conditions, illustrating the Green Isle is determined to diversify its export opportunities. D Davies Turner © stock.adobe.com/koss13 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:27 Page 416 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES 2022 has been another tough year for the food and drink industry. Whilst the sector had only just got to grips with and readjusted to post-COVID working — still dealing with the ripple effects of the pandemic — a wealth of further novel complications arose, including war, alongside longstanding problems continuing to add pressure to the industry, such as the talent shortage. Though some businesses may have faltered and folded as a result, myriad food and drink firms have risen to the challenge of maintaining success in a complex environment, illustrating the industry’s resilience. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the start of the year saw a sharp increase in food and fuel prices and significant damage to supply chains, anticipated to last longer than the war itself. Numerous food firms have exited Russia because of the invasion, while traders have avoided dealing with Russian exports. Both countries are major food producers, accounting together for almost 30 per cent of global wheat exports and acting as key exporters of many oilseeds and cereals. In addition Russia is a main exporter of the ingredients involved in fertilisers, gas and potash. Hit with supply shortages, and disruption of ships and air cargo leaving Ukraine, the industry adapted quickly and with agility in the wake of war, finding alternative A turbulent year 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. A turbulent year 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:29 Page 1Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES © stock.adobe.com/romaset suppliers and sources where able, and reformulating products, switching ingredients such as sunflower oil (a crucial ingredient in many processed foods) to alternatives like coconut oil to keep products on shelves. New trading partnerships have emerged; countries in Europe and the Middle East looked to Canada for example, illustrating the importance of diversification. Furthermore, farmers sought to mitigate shortages by pivoting to wheat to restore provisions, and — though more needs to be done — wealthy nations have allocated funds to help countries dealing with famine particularly hard hit by the war due to close trading ties with Ukraine. Food businesses, as well, have made donations to humanitarian causes and rallied to get food and supplies to Ukrainians in the country, in addition to committing to supporting and restoring Ukraine’s agri-food sector as it recovers. Moreover, with Brexit continuing to be a bugbear, creating costly red tape and barriers, countries at either side of the new trading relationship, in the EU and UK, have looked to power through the damage done, taking the opportunity to seek out and enter new markets or expand in others. Success can be seen in the UK with exports to both EU and non-EU markets exceeding pre-COVID levels for the first time in the first half of 2022, attributed to soaring levels of sales to Australia, France and India. Food was impacted more than other sectors by the decision to leave the EU, with the content flow of supply chains from Europe halted with portside delays. Technology and digitisation moving forwards, however, are meant to reduce the burden of export requirements and enhance traceability. Brexit has also of course intensified staff and skills shortages in our industry, leading businesses to implement creative solutions, from appealing to the younger generation with attractive employee benefits 18 Á 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:29 Page 218 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES packages or by interacting with schools, to expanding the talent pool, reskilling current staff, and embracing heightened automation, which brings a wealth of benefits. Rising input costs and food inflation have been key issues too, escalating throughout the year, with the UK for instance witnessing its highest food inflation since 1980 alongside a depreciating sterling against the dollar from the start of the year, pushing imports to become more expensive. This is on top of skyrocketing energy costs, now taking up a quarter of operating costs, with gas prices five fold greater on the year in the UK and Europe. The challenges have weighed heavy on many, with the first eight months of the year seeing more insolvencies in the industry in the UK than in the whole of 2019. Food and drink manufacturers have faced higher prices for their ingredients, and goods leaving manufacturers’ facilities saw inflation inching up. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has noted the relentless growth in producers’ prices means that food and drink inflation will continue unabated for the coming year, at least, with estimates that it takes between seven and twelve months for rises in production costs to filter onto final consumer prices. Food and drink firms however have remained adaptable, showcasing their creative minds, addressing energy for example through installing solar panels to bypass price hikes, making operational changes, and uncovering where efficiencies can be made in factories by interrogating older, less energy efficient appliances that cost more to run and servicing and replacing these. Something as simple as turning off equipment and lighting has also been effective, and rethinking heating to prevent escape and loss. Meanwhile, to address wider costs, process automation, preventing waste, improved inventory management to better manage stock levels, and advanced analytics have been on the cards. Many in the industry have battled the strife while remaining committed to tackling the issue of the climate crisis. COP27 took place just last month, featuring the first Food Systems Pavilion, focusing on actions, strategies and solutions across the industry and the role it plays in finding climate solutions and reaching net zero. © stock.adobe.com/artiemedvedev 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:29 Page 3Food & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES Though more work is certainly required, with sustainability at the forefront of customers’ minds, businesses in our industry have found a number of successes despite little assistance, with only 3 per cent of public climate finance going to improving food systems according to recent research from the Global Alliance for the Future of Food — 22 times less than what is directed to the energy and transport sectors, even though food systems are responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Food firms are striding forwards however, reducing food waste through methods from extending shelf lives to using better sorting systems to increase yields and send produce for alternative use. They are partnering with food redistribution schemes, cutting down on packaging and exploring more eco-friendly packaging, signing up to sustainable farming initiatives, such as for soya, using food supplements to reduce ‘cow burps’ and launch low-methane beef, and investing in renewables, LED lighting, efficient equipment, electric vehicles and alternative fuels — there are countless initiatives. The food and drink industry is hard working, essential, and has consistently adapted this year to a plethora of challenges. The sector has proven its resilience in historically difficult trading conditions, and will need to continue to do so as the population of the world booms and demand increases. Apply Now… 0044 (0) 20 8446 7127 info@halalfoodauthority.com www.halalfoodauthority.com London - Ireland - Belgium EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES Get Halal Certified Halal Food Authority is an industry leading Halal Food Certification Company. We specialise in Halal Certification of Food and Non-Food items including cosmetics, logistics, chemicals, additives & aromas, cleaning substances, packaging, pharmaceutical, ingredients and much more. Our certification is globally recognised including GCC countries and other developing markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkiye, Pakistan and rest of the world. © stock.adobe.com/Sergey Ryzhov 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:29 Page 4Next >