The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Sainsbury’s stores to close and new ones to open in five year shakeup
Supermarket giant Sainsbury's is to close over 100 stores and open new convenience outlets in a bid to reduce costs by c.£500m over five years. The business said, in its second quarter trading report, that it will be closing up to 125 stores across the UK as well as...
Sleaford Quality Foods has new innovation team
Sleaford Quality Foods (SQF), cross-category supplier of multiple packaged foods to the manufacturing and foodservice sector, has responded to consumer demands around sustainability by forming a new Innovation Team. The team consists of Tracey Siddy; Head of...
Peter Quinn joins Branston board as non-executive director
National potato supplier, Branston, has announced that former divisional managing director of Samworth Brothers, Peter Quinn, will be joining the main board as non-executive director. Peter has more than 18 years of high-level management experience in PLC and private...
UK’s biggest 150 food producers suffer falling profits
An increasingly uncertain economic landscape and the looming threat of Brexit is continuing to take its toll on the food and drink industry. The UK’s biggest 150 food and drink supplier profit margins fell for a second consecutive year to 5.8% in 2018 from 6.2% in...
Meat brand Wall’s to produce vegan products
Wall’s Pastry, the UK’s number one sausage roll brand[1], has made, what it calls a ground-breaking move as it announces the launch of its first ever vegan range. With over 200 years in the meat industry, Wall’s Pastry has taken the decision to expand its portfolio to...
Ishida opens East African office
Ishida Europe is opening a dedicated office for East Africa to provide localised sales, service and spares support to food processors and packers throughout the region. The new office in Nairobi will include a fully equipped demonstration area, featuring a selection...
NMiTE launches lean manufacturing CPD courses with Avara Foods
NMiTE (New Model in Technology and Engineering) has launched Lean Manufacturing CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses with Hereford based food manufacturer, Avara Foods as Anchor Partner. Through its CPD programme, NMiTE will welcome experienced...
Dundee-based venison supplier secures £1 million in new deals with top retailers
Dundee-based Venison supplier, Highland Game, has raised its competitive stake in the UK market after securing increased distribution with retail partners Tesco and Morrisons worth over £1 million in sales to the company over the next 12 months. Founded in 1997 by...
WRAP accelerates plan to halve food waste by 2030
One year on from the launch of WRAP and IGD’s Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, 156 UK food businesses have now committed to Target, Measure and Act on food waste. This represents more than half of UK food industry turnover, and more than double the number of food...
Record meat presence at this year’s Anuga trade fair
Red meat from the UK will be showcased in Germany next month with its biggest presence in more than 30 years at the world’s largest trade fair for food and drink. Every two years, thousands of influential visitors from around the world descend on Cologne for Anuga –...