The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
NFU urges leadership candidates to back British food production
The NFU is urging all Conservative Party leadership candidates to commit to delivering a positive future for British food production and to work with producers to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. In an open letter, NFU president, Minette Batters, highlights...
Vivera Foodgroup to focus entirely on plant-based market
Following the sale of meat company Enkco, Vivera Foodgroup is entering a meatless future with its remaining businesses companies ,Vivera, Culifrost and Dutch Tofu Company being totally plant-based manufacturers . The group says it has strong ambitions with...
Food industry figures recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2019
Several stalwarts of the UK agri-food industry have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours list. They include, Professor Ian Lamont Boyd, FRSE, Robin Gourlay, Catherine Mead, Andrew Kemp and Ron Randall. Below is a brief profile of each of the...
Aldi aims to save 1,300 tonnes of plastic a year with new carrier bag trials
Aldi is launching a trial of paper or compostable carrier bags in all of its 830 UK stores. From July half of all Aldi stores in the UK will offer paper bags and the rest will offer compostable carrier bags. At the end of the trial, the option most popular with...
Households could spend hundreds of pounds extra on food bills post Brexit, says GMB union
New analysis from GMB union shows households could face a 17% surge in grocery shopping basket costs, with hundreds of pounds extra on food and drink bills if the UK leaves the EU with a ‘no deal’. The figures show a family's weekly shop could rocket by more than £800...
Listeria investigation linked to pre-packed sandwiches
An investigation is underway into cases of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches, after cases of listeria infection were found in six seriously ill hospital patients in England. Three of these patients have sadly died. Public Health England (PHE), The Food...
Sainsbury’s commits to cutting a further 1,284 tonnes of plastic this year
Sainsbury’s has committed to cutting a further 1,284 tonnes of plastic this year which includes removing 489 tonnes’ worth of plastic bags that are currently used for loose fruit, vegetables and bakery items. The retailer will be removing plastic bags for these items...
Coeliac UK and Innovate UK announce £180K funding available for research
Coeliac UK, the UK charity for people who need to live gluten free, along with Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, have £180k available for research and are inviting applications from UK businesses and researchers. Coeliac UK in collaboration with Innovate UK are...
Academy of Cheese secures funding for Heritage Project
The Academy of Cheese, an organisation promoting cheese knowledge and expertise in the UK, has secured funding to develop its Level 3 programme of professional accreditation. The Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust awarded £15,000 towards the Academy’s programme, to be...
Food exports see biggest first quarter sales value on record
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has published analysis showing that in the first quarter of 2019, food and drink exports increased by 10.7% (y-o-y) to £5.8bn, almost twice the growth rate of Q1 2018 (+6.3%) and the biggest first quarter sales value on record....