The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Technology cannot replace border checks on food post Brexit
Claims that UK border issues can be resolved in the event of a no-deal Brexit through technology have been described as ‘misguided’ and ‘irresponsible’. The Chartered institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has responded to a series of statements from politicians...
Tesco unveils Jack’s discount chain
Tesco has now confirmed the launch of its new discount store brand, Jack’s, inspired by and named after the supermarket’s founder, Jack Cohen. The launch of Jack’s is part of Tesco’s centenary celebrations which will see the business mark 100 years serving British...
FMT Food Awards product judging in full swing
The Food Management Today Industry Awards product judging is taking place this week and the judges have said they are impressed by the calibre of the entries received. Products have been nominated by the food industry into multiple categories, including: Best Dairy...
Major shareholder rejects Unilever relocation plan
One of the top shareholders in Unilever has said it will vote against the firm's plan to move its headquarters to the Netherlands. Major British-Dutch transnational consumer goods company Unilever, which manufactures products such as Marmite, is relocating to the...
Aldi is UK’s fastest growing supermarket
Aldi has been named the UK’s fastest growing supermarket in the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks to 9th September. The grocery share figures reveal that, with sales rising 13.9%, nearly half of Aldi’s growth has come from the fresh and chilled...
Tesco to launch new discount chain this week
It has been widely reported that Tesco will unveil a new discount chain named Jack’s on Wednesday 19th September. Named after founder Jack Cohen, Jack’s is expected to be unveiled by the supermarket’s chief executive Dave Lewis in Chatteris, Cambridge on Wednesday ....
Lidl to create up to 500 new jobs
Lidl UK has announced the purchase of its 17th distribution centre, which could lead to as many as 500 new jobs once operational. The supermarket has purchased a 38-acre site in Gildersome, Leeds, for a new regional distribution centre (RDC). The RDC joins an existing...
Co-op sales growth driven by Nisa acquisition
Food retailer Co-op has seen a like-for-like sales boost of 4.4%, and is now enjoying its 18th consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth. Sales have increased by 10% to £5bn, and Co-op says this is driven by a strong food sales performance along with the...
Defra to ‘fall short’ of Brexit promises
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is reported to have made good progress in its preparations for exiting the EU, but still faces an enormous challenge. The newly published National Audit Office (NAO) has assessed how Defra is implementing...
Waitrose profits dip as part of John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, has announced a 98.8% dip in half-year profits to £1.2m for the six months to 28th July. The partnership has said the pressure on gross margin has predominantly been from its commitment to maintain price...