The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Marel’s Colchester site undergoes transformation
Major food equipment and machinery supplier Marel has opened its upgraded manufacturing facility in Colchester following extensive refurbishment. The work has been described as a 'visual milestone'. The work included renovations and extensions to the existing...
Food manufacturers seeing an increase in costs
Food and drink manufacturers are reporting an increase in costs as a result of stockpiling ahead of a possible ‘no-deal’ Brexit. The Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) latest business confidence survey reveals that over a third (38%) of food and drink manufacturers are...
Plastic packaging tax to be introduced
The Government has announced its 2018 Budget Brief that will introduce a new tax on produced or imported plastic packaging which doesn’t include at least 30% recycled content. The new tax will be introduced on plastic packaging from 1st April 2022. Subject to...
UK Sausage Week 2018 awards winners crowned
It’s celebration time as the winners of the 2018 UK Sausage Week competition were unveiled today (29th October) during a sizzling celebration lunch at Plaisterers’ Hall, London. This year’s UK Sausage Week kicked off with a bang (or banger!) when awards were presented...
Strong global online grocery growth predicted
Ten global online grocery markets including the UK are predicted to experience combined growth of $227bn, at an annual rate of 20%, by 2023, according to new figures unveiled by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD). Looking at the online growth opportunity in...
Could ‘demonising plastic’ do more harm than good?
The anti-plastic message sweeping across the UK is weakening the fight against climate change, according to the founder of an organic food company. The BBC has reported that Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, has said more focus should instead be...
Meat alternatives ‘higher in salt’ than their meat equivalents
A nationwide product survey by Action on Salt has found that many ‘meat alternatives’ contain higher levels of salt than their meat equivalents. The group, based at Queen Mary University of London, has found that many products, including meat free burgers, sausages...
Food sector supports plans to fortify flour with folic acid
The food industry has responded to Public Health Minister Steve Brine’s announcement that the Government will consult on the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid to prevent foetal abnormalities. The consultation will launch in early 2019 to consider the...
Chilled fish seeing strong performance at retail
Chilled fish is the only Meat, Fish and Poultry (MFP) category which is growing ahead of the wider market rate at 3.2%, Kantar Worldpanel has revealed. Data covering the 12 weeks to 7th October shows there is strong value growth particularly from shellfish and smoked...
Morrisons loses data breach appeal
Morrisons has lost its challenge to a High Court ruling that it is liable for a data breach which saw thousands of its employees' details posted online. The Court of Appeal has upheld the original decision against the supermarket, issued in December 2017. Workers...