Change and challenges Change and challenges INTERNATIONAL Recycling and waste management End of line packaging TraceabilityTrusted by professionals worldwide, Teknomek manufactures hygienic furniture and equipment tailored to the highest industry standards. •Uncompromising quality & service •Innovative, easy-to-clean designs •Competitive pricing •Bespoke and customised solutions Contact us today: teknomek.co.uk +44 (0)1603 381 177 Leading the way in hygienic designContents December 2025 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 Record harvests have strengthened Brazil’s position as a global food supplier, but rising scrutiny over deforestation and trade standards is forcing its agribusiness to evolve fast. End of year success stories16 The food and drink industry has seen significant evolution in 2025 as it faced a complex tapestry of shifting consumer demand, technological advancements, economic pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty. Process, control and automation 20 Behind the gleaming machinery and talk of “lights-out” production, most UK food factories remain only partly automated by design. Their gradual shift reveals an industry redefining progress on its own, deliberate terms. End of line packaging 24 Once seen as routine, end-of-line packaging is now where innovation gathers pace. Smarter machines, tougher materials and new sustainability rules are reshaping how products are sealed, labelled and sent into the world. OPRL Q&A28 What are the most important issues for packaging producers as we head into 2026, and what help is out there? We sat down with OPRL to find out. Group Editor: Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor: Tess Egginton (t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor’s PA: Angela Sharman (a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales Director: Teri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales: Angela Cooper (a.cooper@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/noirchocolate • Top: stock.adobe.com/ModernFiles • Middle: stock.adobe.com/ cgdeaw • Bottom: stock.adobe.com/ Maryna Recycling and waste management30 Behind every rejected pallet and overfilled tray lies a decision shaped by pressure, hierarchy, and the relentless pursuit of efficiency. In the food and drink industry, waste isn’t caused by carelessness. It’s engineered into the system, one target at a time. Traceability 34 After a wave of product recalls and authenticity scandals, traceability has become the defining measure of trust in food supply chains. From farm sensors to blockchain audits, transparency is no longer optional. It’s the cost of doing business. Warehousing and optimisation 38 As energy costs soar and climate targets tighten, cold storage warehouses are being forced to reinvent how they chill. Inside the food and drink industry’s frozen frontier, efficiency now means walking a fine line between precision and fragility: keeping goods fresh while the planet, and the pressure, heats up. Events42 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world. Food and Drink diary 46Food and beverage powder producers gain scale-up advantage with new product development centre in France Tetra Pak has opened its new Product Development Centre (PDC) for Powder Process and Technology in Cholet, France, designed to accelerate innovation and optimise processes for powder- formulated products. At 340 sq m, the new powder PDC features a fully equipped pilot plant with modular production lines and the latest powder-handling technologies. It also includes a dedicated testing laboratory to ensure quality, compliance and optimisation. Together, these facilities enable food and beverage powder producers to validate recipes and processes before industrial roll-out, cut development costs and product loss, trial sensitive or high-value ingredients, and meet sustainability targets. From raw material characterisation and formulation through to pilot-scale simulation and industrial scale-up, the facility supports manufacturers across the full innovation cycle, from prototype to shelf. With a library of more than 6,000 powder samples and specialist testing instruments, the laboratory supports in-depth evaluation of powder properties and behaviours across applications, ranging from dairy and beverages to ice cream, whey protein and functional nutrition. 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Gatwick routes expansion puts Longbottom on twice as many British Airways flights British Airways is adding Longbottom & Co. to all short-haul flights departing from London Gatwick Airport, doubling the airline’s stock of the premium tomato juice following strong sales performance on Heathrow and Manchester routes. The expansion means passengers on BA’s 50+ Gatwick destinations – from Morocco to Malaysia – will now have access to fresh- pressed tomato juice that’s changing how airlines think about Bloody Marys. BA isn’t alone in ditching reconstituted tomato paste. After years of serving UHT concentrate with chemical additives, airlines are discovering what bartenders already knew: fresh ingredients sell more drinks. Norwegian Airlines saw a 38% uplift in premium vodka sales after switching to Longbottom & Co. (as well as 45% uplift in tomato juice sales), while BA’s own Heathrow and Manchester performance convinced the airline to expand. Ed Bathgate, Longbottom & Co. founder, said: “When an airline doubles their order, that tells you everything about passenger response. BA recognised their customers wanted something better than the industry standard, and the sales data proved them right.” To learn more about Longbottom & Co. visit: https://drinklongbottom.co.uk/ Premier Foods powers Carlton Bakery with £2.1m solar investment Premier Foods has completed a £2.1 million solar energy project at its Carlton Bakery, marking a significant shift toward on-site renewable generation within the UK’s food manufacturing sector. The 2.2MW solar farm, built on unused land at the Nottinghamshire site, covers 2.9 hectares and includes 3,500 panels. When fully operational, it will generate up to 75% of the site’s electricity demand at peak production, cutting energy costs and strengthening supply resilience. The facility, which employs around 1,000 people at peak periods, is one of Premier Foods’ largest manufacturing sites. The solar installation is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by 468 tonnes and forms part of the company’s broader sustainability strategy, the Enriching Life Plan. Nick Brown, ESG director at Premier Foods, said: “Our Carlton Bakery was the largest purpose-build bakery in the world when it opened in the 1970s, and it remains the biggest bakery in the UK. This investment ensures it’s part of a more sustainable future. By generating more of our energy needs on site, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but making our operations even more resilient. It’s also positive that the solar farm has the capability to potentially export electricity back into the local electricity grid, when we are producing more electricity than we need. This project is a key step in helping us deliver on our Enriching Life Plan commitments to cut emissions and reach net zero – delivering real environmental benefits for the local community and our business as a whole.” Solidus and BlakBear collaborate on smart sensor technology for packaging to fight food waste Solidus, a leading producer of fibre-based packaging, is partnering with UK technology company BlakBear to explore smart packaging. By combining Solidus’ recyclable packaging with BlakBear’s wireless freshness sensors, the collaboration aims to improve food safety, extend shelf life and reduce waste. BlakBear’s miniature sensors monitor gases and temperature inside packaging to track freshness in real time. The data, transmitted via Bluetooth and RFID, provides dynamic shelf-life insights based on actual biochemical changes rather than fixed expiry dates. “Traditional expiry dates are based on assumptions,” says Max Grell, CEO of BlakBear. “Our sensors track actual biochemical changes, making shelf life dynamic and based on reality.” By integrating these sensors into fibre-based packaging, Solidus and BlakBear show how digitalisation and sustainability can work together to create smarter, sustainable food systems with less waste. For more information, visit solidus.com/contact. © Premier Foodswww.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 2026 editorial schedule Call today on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email: a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk INTERNATIONAL INTERN NATION AL for Inno ffi tin i ing and on contreree f d WrWWaeehousin dstrbuton emperTe raatur Sustainabl e pack kaging e INTERN NATION AL ack P aging ge focu Future or Col d st aag xpor de f Impor rt and e INTERN NATION inno Hea tio lth i Pouch P Processing INTERN NATION AL pac The ckag etot l and erry y ytryy and p y er Bak ry yand ec conf c tione Meat, poul l tt seaf oood ack P aging m and design gmat erials MINIMUM COST…MAXIMUM IMPACT! www.fdiforum.net B&G Foods to sell the Green Giant brand in Canada to Nortera Foods B&G Foods has entered into an agreement to sell the Green Giant and Le Sieur frozen and shelf-stable vegetable product lines in Canada to Nortera Foods. B&G Foods expects the sale to close during the fourth quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval in Canada and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. B&G Foods previously divested the Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable vegetable product line to Seneca Foods in November 2023 and the Le Sueur U.S. shelf-stable vegetable product line to McCall Farms in August 2025. B&G Foods is also continuing to evaluate the divestiture of its Green Giant U.S. frozen vegetable product line. “Our decision to sell the Green Giant and Le Sieur brands in Canada is another milestone in our ongoing effort to divest brands and product lines that are non-core to B&G Foods’ long-term strategy, sharpen our focus and reduce long-term debt,” said Casey Keller, president and CEO of B&G Foods. 6 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news DataLase joins Bergman & Beving Group to accelerate global growth DataLase, a global leader in photonic printing solutions, has announced that Bergman & Beving AB has acquired a 90% shareholding in the business. Based in Widnes, Cheshire, DataLase provides patented, sustainable, inkless (at point of packing) and customised printing solutions for product and packaging applications worldwide. The company’s unique photonic printing technology enables high-quality, high-speed, and sustainable printing directly onto a wide range of materials without the need for traditional inks. The result is a cleaner, more efficient and environmentally friendly process that meets the growing market demand for sustainable printing and packaging. Bergman & Beving, founded in 1906, is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. The group comprises around 40 companies, represented in more than 25 countries, employing approximately 1,400 people worldwide. Its business model focuses on long-term ownership and supporting autonomous, entrepreneurial companies with strong growth potential. As part of the acquisition, DataLase will join Bergman & Beving’s Safety Technology division, becoming part of a group that has been acquiring and developing leading niche industrial companies for over a century. To learn more about DataLase visit https://datalase.com/ Plastic packaging firm ALPLA Group acquires Serbian closure manufacturer’s production facility Plastic packaging producer ALPLA Group continues to grow in the compression and injection moulding segment, taking over the production facility of Serbian closure manufacturer Energoplast in Belgrade. With this acquisition, ALPLA is strengthening its role as a system provider in the beverage packaging sector in South-East Europe and the Balkan region. The takeover includes personnel, production lines and existing business. Miroslav Micković, general manager of ALPLA Serbia, said: “Energoplast’s high-quality portfolio is the perfect addition to our business in the Serbian market and will be further enhanced by our technological expertise in the future. This will enable us to secure supplies for our customers and provide them with immediate added value and strategic advantages in the long term.” Energoplast’s 2,000 sq m factory is located in the north of Belgrade. Using compression moulding and injection moulding machines, the manufacturer produces PE closures for the beverage industry. Prism eLogistics supports VitClear’s start-up journey Prism eLogistics is broadening its role beyond traditional third-party logistics (3PL) by offering tailored consultancy and operational support to emerging startups. The approach is helping new brands grow and its partnership with VitClear, a rising functional drink brand dedicated to delivering clean, effective nutrition for high-performance lifestyles, is already proving a clear winner. VitClear was founded in 2024 by Ralph Burrows, a former firefighter who observed that during exposure to heat and intense physical exertion, individuals can lose up to 1.2kg of body weight every 30 minutes – primarily through excessive sweat, leading to the loss of essential vitamins and minerals. Driven by this insight, he developed three functional drinks targeting gut health, cognitive function, and sustained energy. With a focus on serving athletes, high achievers, and wellness- conscious consumers, VitClear’s transparent branding and full nutritional breakdown on each can tapped into rising trends in supplementation, nootropics, and no/low (natural) caffeine. Start-ups always present logistical challenges and the support of a partner in the early stages is key. Since its collaboration, Prism has played a pivotal role in helping VitClear scale its operations by integrating 3PL services with strategic advisory support. Prism facilitated the setup VitClear’s TikTok Shop, managed Amazon fulfilment, and coordinated European pallet-ready logistics for direct-to-business (D2B) shipments. Additionally, the team at Prism developed bespoke packaging solutions, including custom sample boxes and mixed-SKU packs combining three flavours – a format that offers retailers flexible, space-efficient options. With orders exceeding 9,000 cans to date, a second production run already complete, and a major production run planned later this year, VitClear is preparing for accelerated growth across the UK and Europe. L-R: Magnus Billfalk, Group Treasurer (Bergman & Beving), Karen Lewis, Shareholder (DataLase), Ally Grant, Chief Technology Officer (DataLase), Nicola Dustain, Shareholder (DataLase), Paul Dustain, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer (DataLase), Clare Lewis, Chief Executive Officer (DataLase), Björn Sjöberg, General Counsel (Bergman & Beving), Eric Persson, Head of Safety Technology Division (Bergman & Beving) © ALPLA © stock.adobe.com/Margrit HirschFood & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net news To advertise your services on the news pages contact us on 01472 310302 Barry Callebaut partners with Planet A Foods on cocoa-free chocolate innovation Barry Callebaut has entered a long-term commercial partnership with German food-tech company Planet A Foods to develop and scale sustainable chocolate alternatives made without cocoa. The collaboration aims to address the growing demand for environmentally conscious confectionery solutions and provide greater resilience amid volatility in global cocoa markets. Barry Callebaut, a leading supplier of chocolate and cocoa ingredients, continues to advance its diversification strategy by integrating non-cocoa innovations alongside its traditional product lines. Planet A Foods, known for its cocoa-free chocolate alternative ChoViva, produces ingredients using locally sourced crops such as sunflower seeds to replicate the flavour and texture of chocolate. The approach reduces reliance on global cocoa supply chains and contributes to a lower carbon footprint through localised production. The partnership will combine Barry Callebaut’s manufacturing and distribution expertise with Planet A Foods’ proprietary technology to accelerate the rollout of sustainable chocolate alternatives across Europe and other international markets. MM Packaging hits the sweet spot with record UK advent calendar production MM Packaging Deeside has finished the roll out of over 15 million confectionery advent calendar packs for the UK’s biggest brands and retailers. Christmas production ramped up to record levels this year, thanks to the cartonboard specialist’s manufacturing and design capabilities. Advent calendars have become a key sales driver for brands and help guide shoppers to early festive purchases. Demand was high for advent calendars this year with consumers’ appetite for confectionery anticipated to continue to rise. Last year, the UK’s Christmas confectionery market was worth £853 million, up £88 million on 2023. Julian Freeman, MM Packaging Deeside managing director, said: “It’s been encouraging to see the levels of demand in the run up to this Christmas. Shipping out 15 million packs takes hard work, dedication and expertise. Our Deeside team has demonstrated its abilities, and we are proud of the results. “Confectionery packaging is where we excel, allowing MM Packaging’s expertise in manufacturing and pack development. Brands are driving the business to innovate, and the areas of focus continue to be around material use as well as maintaining the integrity of the pack.” © stock.adobe.com/Mikael DamkierEntries open for the 2026 IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards in association with IFST Entries are now open for the third annual IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards, in association with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST). The awards return to Excel London on 30 March 2026, recognising excellence and achievement across the food and drink ingredients industry. The ceremony will take place on the Trends & Innovation Platform stage at IFE Manufacturing, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. Entries close on Friday 9 January 2026. The awards celebrate organisations and individuals driving progress across the ingredients supply chain, from sustainable sourcing and product development to enabling technologies that enhance nutrition, functionality and performance. The 2026 categories are: Sustainable Ingredient Innovation, Responsible Sourcing & Ethical Partnerships, Public Health Impact – Ingredients, Start-Up Ingredient Launch, and Enabling Technologies for Ingredients. An Innovation of the Year Award will also be selected from all entries. Each category highlights a specific area of advancement within the food and drink ingredients sector, with judges seeking verifiable impact, sound evidence and measurable results. The judging panel for 2026 brings together leading figures from across retail, food & drink, ingredients, manufacturing and food science. Federico Dellafiore, event director for IFE Manufacturing, said: “The Ingredients Awards have quickly become a highlight of the IFE Manufacturing calendar. It is a genuine opportunity to recognise the expertise and hard work happening across the supply chain, from start-ups to global businesses. In association with IFST, we aim to showcase the most impactful developments shaping the future of food and drink.” 8 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Genius Foods enhances quality control with Loma Systems’ advanced IQ4M metal detection technology Genius Foods, experts in gluten free bakery, has announced a significant upgrade in their quality control processes across key manufacturing lines at their Bathgate bakery. With their continued focus on quality and technology, the recent deal signifies a partnership where Loma Systems delivers improved data management, service levels and superior metal detection performance. Combining industry leading technology and quick recovery functionality, the IQ4M metal detector also features OPC-UA connectivity, RFID log on and an intuitive touch screen for improved security and useability. Loma conducted rigorous testing of their new IQ4M metal detector combination unit, featuring multi-spectrum technology and Loma’s patented variable frequency, demonstrating substantial improvements in reducing false rejects across Genius’ bread, rolls and pancake production. Loma’s TRACS data management system was also introduced to provide Genius Foods with access to real-time production data, enhancing their operational efficiency. Visit www.loma.com for more information about Loma Systems’ complete range of inspection solutions. Visit www.geniusfood.com for more information about Genius Foods and its broad gluten free bakery range. Hilton Food Group sells catering butcher Fairfax Meadow in £54m deal Hilton Food Group, the international multi-protein food business, has sold Fairfax Meadow Europe Limited to food distributor Sysco GB Ltd. The deal will result in Hilton Foods receiving gross cash proceeds of £54m. The transaction includes a three-year supply agreement with Hilton Food Solutions, ensuring continuity of supply of the meat products that it provides to Fairfax Meadow. Fairfax Meadow is a major catering butcher employing 360 people with operations in Derby, Eastleigh, and Enfield. It will add additional meat manufacturing capability to Sysco GB and build on the recent acquisition of Campbell’s Prime Meat, which operates across Scotland and the north of England. Fairfax Meadow will continue to operate as a separate business, but will now have the added benefit of specialist foodservice support with Sysco’s operating companies offering new routes to market, while they will benefit from Fairfax Meadow’s expertise in meat processing. LHS 210 P and LHS 410: High-performance compressed air heaters launched by Leister The new LHS 210 P and LHS 410 P are Leister’s first compressed air heaters designed for operating pressures up to 6 bar, providing machine builders with a powerful solution for integrating high-performance components into increasingly compact systems. Both models combine efficiency, pressure resistance, and space-saving design to meet the growing demands of modern industrial processes. Each model features a reinforced housing engineered to withstand high-pressure conditions. Because they operate with external compressed air, no additional blower is required—making the LHS 210 P and LHS 410 P ideal for systems with limited installation space. Additionally, the power connection housing is positioned outside the airflow, ensuring quick, safe, and convenient installation. The LHS 210 P and LHS 410 P are supplied to the UK by Welwyn Tool Group. Welwyn supply the full range of Leister plastic welding and industrial process heat equipment and offers highly competent technical support by their team of dedicated engineers. For further information, please contact Welwyn Tool Group on 01707 331111, at info@welwyntoolgroup.com, or visit www.welwyntoolgroup.com Ralph Mbanefo, International Sales & Service Director, Loma Systems, and Stephen Hann, Chief Executive Officer, Genius Foods IFE Manufacturing’s Federico Dellafiore and IFST’s Robert Edge-Partington Food & Drink International 9 www.fdiforum.net news Nulogy introduces new manufacturing quality and compliance capabilities with the strategic acquisition of AuditComply Nulogy, the provider of purpose-built software for external manufacturing and contract packing operations, has acquired AuditComply, an innovative EHS, QMS, and supplier compliance management (SCM) software provider. Belfast-based AuditComply is an all-in-one compliance platform, developed to optimise processes, deliver actionable insights and drive digital transformation. Designed for efficiency, resilience and safety, AuditComply’s comprehensive offering is a natural addition to Nulogy’s purpose-built capabilities for manufacturers and packagers. Already delivering to clients including Bushmills Whiskey, McCloskey International and Autoliv, AuditComply’s intuitive user experience, customisable templates, dynamic dashboards, and seamless offline mobile access offer a new level of quality, compliance and risk management to Nulogy customers. “AuditComply shares Nulogy’s mission of solving real problems for customers through market-leading solutions, fast time to value and exceptional outcomes,” said Bill Ryan, CEO of Nulogy. “The addition of AuditComply brings further innovation to our customers in the form of robust quality, compliance, and risk management functionality. Adding these capabilities to Nulogy’s Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) further cements our position as the leading provider of purpose-built software for manufacturers and packagers.” Mr Whippy chooses site for new £15m manufacturing base Food brand Mr Whippy has chosen Sheffield to house its new £15m manufacturing facility as it looks to launch a new sweet treat to the market next year. The heritage brand is to introduce doughnuts into its portfolio, which already offers cupcakes, and expects to produce more than 104m of them annually in the Steel City from 2026. The product will be made, and distributed, from a 23,355 sq ft unit at Woodhouse Link on Innovation Way in Sheffield after company director Michael Corrado Jackson agreed a new lease. The unit, currently being fitted out for specialist food production, has been marketed by Knight Frank and CPP on behalf of investment manager ESR, and will create more than 50 new jobs on the established industrial estate in South East Sheffield. Tel: +44 (0)1707 331111 | info@welwyntoolgroup.co.uk |www.welwyntoolgroup.com NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPRESSED AIR HEATERS LHS 210 P LHS 410 P Reinforced housing engineered to withstand high-pressure conditions Modular design for a wide range of adapters Easily adapted to many industrial processes - packaging, food processing, automotive manufacturing, tube production Space-saving design ideal for compact systems with limited space Designed for operating pressures up to 6 bar AkyPak closed edge innovation delivers hygienic, robust, and sustainable packaging solution Corplex – the only manufacturer of Correx – has launched closed edge technology, the latest innovation to increase safety and hygiene use, alongside its longstanding durability and sustainability benefits. AkyPak is a range of reusable protective plastic packaging solutions made from Correx, tailored to meet the needs for high-demand industries. The new technology closes the corrugated edges, protecting against common issues like contamination, tearing, delamination and significantly extends the life of the product. AkyPak’s closed edge enhancement is engineered to withstand the challenges of heavy use and exposure to various handling processes. Designed with easy maintenance in mind, the closed edges also simplify cleaning. Whether using a quick brush, damp cloth, or spray, the design supports efficient maintenance routines, avoiding water penetrating the fluting and helping to uphold hygiene standards. The hygienic, safe and durable nature of the technology makes it ideal for the pharmaceutical market, while in food its easy-to-clean design also adheres to hygiene standards. Applications, such as fresh fish, are aided from the sealed edges which combat contamination. Additionally, the automotive and electronics sectors benefit from AkyPak’s robust structure. Next >