The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Winners of 2018 Meat Management Industry Awards revealed
The winners of the 2018 Meat Management Industry Awards were announced on 24th May during a glittering celebratory dinner at Hilton Birmingham Metropole, attended by around 400 guests. British magician and TV presenter Ben Hanlin presented meat manufacturers,...
Waitrose to remove own-label black plastic packaging by end of 2019
Waitrose has pledged to stop using black plastic packaging by the end of 2019. The retailer’s investment in alternatives to plastic continues with two of its Italian ready meal range to be trialled in what it describes as ‘cutting-edge’ widely recyclable packaging...
FMT Awards Lunch to add new speaker
The annual Food Management Today Industry Awards lunch in January will welcome a new speaker - Robbie Glen, in addition to once again being hosted in London by John Torode of MasterChef fame. This will be the third Awards ceremony at which John has officiated, and the...
Marks and Spencer unveils results amid store closure news
Following the announcement that Marks and Spencer is set to close 100 stores by 2022, the retailer has now unveiled its full year results. The retailer reported a 62.1% fall in pre-tax profit to £66.8 million in the year to 31st March. This was linked to a store...
Tesco to remove ‘Best Before’ label on selected fruit and vegetables
Tesco is removing its ‘Best Before’ label on selected fruit and vegetables, to help prevent perfectly edible food from being thrown away. ‘Best Before’ labels are put on foods by retailers as a quality indication to show that although they are no longer at their best...
Marks & Spencer to close 100 stores by 2022
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced it is closing a further 14 stores, totalling over 100 store closures by 2022. It has been announced that 21 stores have already closed, and a further 14 are proposed for closure or set to close in 2018/19. This follows the...
Cranswick announces audited preliminary results
Cranswick plc results for the year ended 31st March 2018 have been announced. It is said to be a year of record capital investment for Cranswick, with capital expenditure of £59 million to add capacity, extend capability and drive efficiencies. Key features also...
Iceland furthers plastic reduction pledge with reverse vending machine
Iceland has became the first UK supermarket to install a reverse vending machine in store in support of the Government’s intention to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme in England. Iceland continues to reduce the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, and will...
Overseas-owned companies total 47% of UK food sector turnover
Overseas-owned companies are making up a substantial share of the UK food sector, accounting for nearly half (47%) of the turnover of the UK’s leading food companies. Research by the commercial law firm EMW shows this is a rise from 44% last year. Overseas owned...
Ocado signs partnership with Kroger
A partnership agreement between Ocado Group plc and The Kroger Co. has been announced. Ocado has signed a partnership agreement with Kroger under which Ocado's technology will be used in the US exclusively by Kroger for grocery and other food distribution related...