The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
2 Sisters sells part of Fox’s Biscuits in £246m deal
2 Sisters Food Group has confirmed an agreement to sell part of its Fox’s Biscuits business to the Ferrero-related Company for £246 million. The Ferrero-related Company will acquire Fox’s Biscuits’ manufacturing sites at Batley and Kirkham, the sites which primarily...
Tesco profits surge as online business doubles
Tesco has seen its pre-tax profits for the first half of the year increase by more than a quarter, thanks to consumers buying more food during the Covid-19 pandemic and online orders doubling. Profits for the supermarket grew to £551 million in the 26-week period to...
AHDB confirms ballot on statutory levy for horticulture
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has formally announced there will be a ballot on the continuation of a statutory levy in horticulture. It will be a yes or no vote on the future existence of AHDB Horticulture and the work it delivers on behalf...
CIEH calls on Government to protect standards in Trade Bill
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has urged the Government to commit fully to protecting the UK’s food and environmental standards in the Trade Bill currently making its way through parliament. The Trade Bill provides the legislative framework for...
Cold Chain Federation aims to maintain net-zero target despite changes to food industry
The Cold Chain Federation (CCF) is hosting a four-week virtual event to examine how it can maintain its net-zero targets while adapting to changes in food retailing. As part of the Cold Chain Federation’s Cold Chain Live! Towards a Net Zero Cold Chain events series,...
More opportunities for UK as cheese exports to UAE double
Cheese exports from the UK to the United Arab Emirates doubled over the last ten years, according to a report from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (UAE). Despite being regarded as a key supplier in the UAE and a provider of high-quality products,...
Food and drink exports drop during first half of 2020
Exports of food and drink in the first half of the year fell for the first time since 2015, according to a new report published by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF). The report shows that exports dropped by 13.8% to £9.7bn compared to the same period last year....
Julie Barratt appointed as Chartered Institute of Environmental Health president
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Board of Trustees has announced that Julie Barratt has been appointed as the new president of CIEH. Barratt is an environmental health practitioner (EHP) and has worked in EHO roles and led legal services teams in...
Asda back in British hands in Issa Bros and TDR deal
The Issa brothers, founders and co-CEOs of EG Group, a global convenience and forecourts retailer, headquartered in Blackburn, UK, and investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP, , have together agreed to acquire Asda, Walmart’s wholly-owned UK business, for an...
Seafish launches 20-year Love Seafood consumer initiative
Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, has launched its Love Seafood consumer brand platform. The new brand is driven by a 20-year initiative to reverse the decline in consumption of seafood in the UK. It aims to positively influence...