The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Meat and dairy given £1.5m push in new campaign
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has revealed plans to launch a new £1.5 million “Eat Balanced” advertising campaign in January to encourage more British households to continue eating meat and dairy as part of a balanced diet. Working with...
Safety of non-chilled food delivery explored in new research
Research at Campden BRI suggests that food should be delivered within 24 hours to ensure it remains chilled during non-chilled delivery. The study investigated the impact of external temperature on ready meals prepared for courier to understand how the temperature...
Ballot on future of potato levy confirmed by AHDB
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has formally announced that a ballot on the continuation of the statutory potato levy will go ahead in 2021. The yes or no vote on the future of AHDB Potatoes and the work it delivers on behalf of GB potato...
No-deal could risk consumers being priced out from UK produce
The UK food industry needs to work closely with supermarkets and retailers in order to ensure British goods remain affordable as the country faces the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, according to food safety certification provider Lloyd’s Register. Earlier this month,...
Food sector ignored from £95m Government education scheme
The Food and Drink Training and Education Council (ftc), along with the FDQ, have criticised the Department for Education after its list of 400 further education courses failed to recognise the food manufacturing sector from the £95 million ‘Lifetime Skills Guarantee’...
Food businesses need support as EU exports fall, says FDF
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has published a new report showing that in the third quarter of 2020, food and drink exports fell by 11.6% to £5.5bn when compared to the same period in 2019, as both exports to EU and non-EU markets declined. The FDF said the...
Supermarkets given ‘grace period’ to avoid disruption to NI food supplies
Supermarkets will be given a three-month ‘grace period’ from new EU checks in order to avoid disruption to supplies moving from Britain to Northern Ireland after the Brexit deadline. The new measures will come into place regardless of a Brexit deal on 1st January and...
Plant & Bean reveals first UK manufacturing site
One of Europe’s largest plant-based food producers, Plant & Bean, has unveiled plans to open a manufacturing site in Boston, Lincolnshire. The new 65-acre site will be Europe’s largest plant-based ‘meat’ facility and will have a planned initial capacity of 55,000...
Report reveals plastics progress for Weetabix
Weetabix Food Company has confirmed a reduction in its use of plastic by 6% over the last year, with 92% of its packaging now fully recyclable. The results are presented in the company’s second sustainability report, which outlines its commitment to supporting people,...
Grocery sales spike ahead of Christmas
Take-home grocery sales rose by 11.3% during the 12 weeks to 29th November 2020, the fastest rate of growth since August, according to the latest market share data from Kantar. November was the largest month ever for the grocery market, with £10.9 billion spent in...