The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
UK food and drink manufacturers to offer more than 400 Kickstart jobs
Food and drink manufacturers across England, Scotland and Wales have been successful in their bid to offer hundreds of job placements to young people as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme. Led jointly by the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD)...
Deadline looming for feedback on AHDB’s strategy
Farmers, growers and processors have until the end of January to formally comment on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) new five-year strategy 2021 - 2026. AHDB published its strategy for consultation in December, outlining commitments to...
Food sector now eligible for free Covid-19 testing
Food and farming businesses can now register for free Covid-19 workplace testing, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Businesses with a minimum of 50 employees can now register for Government-funded lateral flow tests for...
Industry welcomes Skills for Jobs white paper
Businesses and organisations within the food sector have welcomed the Government’s ‘Skills for Jobs’ initiative which will see a £65 million fund to boost post-16 education. The Skills for Jobs White Paper, published last week, includes a series of measures, such as a...
René Hansen appointed MD of Bettcher GmbH
Bettcher GmbH, the European subsidiary of food equipment supplier firm Bettcher Industries, has appointed René T. Hansen as managing director. Hansen has been with the company since July 2018, working as international sales manager. In addition, he has more than 30...
Dr Ruth Hussey to take over as interim FSA chair
Dr Ruth Hussey CB, OBE, DL has been appointed as interim chair of the Food Standards Agency from 1st February 2021 for up to three months, in order to allow time for the chair recruitment to conclude. She will be taking over from Heather Hancock, who will be standing...
Consumer focus holds key to growing farming sector
A clear focus on the end consumer is often lacking within the farming sector, but better collaboration and data use could significantly improve British beef quality and farm sustainability, according to Gavin Hodgson, buying manager for meat, fish and poultry at...
Grote Company announces expansion of European HQ
Grote Company, an industrial food slicing and assembly equipment manufacturer, has moved its European office from Wrexham to Deeside, North Wales, in order to accommodate the company's growing robotics division. The new location will also look to accommodate growing...
Defra announces £23m emergency fund for seafood sector
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a £23 million emergency fund for seafood exporters impacted by Brexit delays. Each business will be able to claim up to £100,000 if they are able to prove “genuine loss” in exporting fish...
Trade bodies call for Government support for hospitality suppliers
Food manufacturers supplying the hospitality and healthcare markets are facing a financial cliff edge unless they receive urgent support from Government, according to a coalition of 18 trade associations. The group, led by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF),...