The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Former Muller global CEO moves over to 2 Sisters Food Group
Ronald Kers, the former global CEO of Muller, has been appointed chief executive officer of 2 Sisters Food Group and will officially take up the reins on 1st June. Kers brings with him more than two decades of experience at global food companies including Nestle and...
Unions call on government to investigate ‘discrepancies’ in Colman’s site closure
Trade unions GMB and Unite say Unilever has some serious questions to answer about whether information was withheld from staff regarding the closure of its Colman's mustard facility in Norwich. Following this announcement, which was made in January 2018, the company...
‘Price is not a priority for consumers’ research reveals
New research from retail consultancy firm Newton indicates that when it comes to choosing a supermarket, price is not a priority for consumers. It’s reported that supermarkets believe ‘price is the priority’, however Newton’s research shows that only 27% of consumers...
£750K fund opens for gluten free research
Coinciding with Coeliac UK’s Awareness Week which runs 14th-20th May 2018, a £750K fund has been opened by the charity, with researchers and businesses able to apply for a share of the funding. The funding is available for three priority themes: better gluten free...
Cod prices could rise 18% when UK leaves EU
Rabobank has warned the price of cod could rise by 18% should the UK leave the European Union without a free trade deal in place. The findings come from Rabobank’s latest report on the UK’s fishing industry, Fishing for Answers II. In the event of a hard Brexit, we...
Tesco to offer plant-based steak across 460 stores
Dutch manufacturer Vivera has launched what it claims to be the first 100% plant-based steak to the market which will be sold in Tesco stores across the UK. From 21st May, Tesco will be selling the Vivera Veggie Steak for £2.99 across 460 stores across the UK. This is...
Red Tractor urges Government to change future agriculture policy
With Red Tractor being a main foundation for British agriculture, it is urging the Government to ensure that food production is at the forefront and being made a priority. Jim Moseley, who is the CEO of Red Tractor Assurance, expresses his thoughts that food...
Could Sainsbury’s/Asda merger cause 73 store closures?
A retail expert has suggested to the BBC that the Sainsbury’s/Asda merger could potentially see 73 stores close down. David Haywood, founder of Maximise UK, an expert in identifying the best locations for stores, told the BBC he estimates that around 6%, or around 73,...
London Mayor plans junk food advert ban on transport network
Junk food advertising could be banned from the entire Transport for London (TfL) network under proposals unveiled by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, as part of his drive to tackle the ‘ticking timebomb’ of child obesity. London reportedly has one of the highest child...
Risk of rising food bills after Brexit
Post-Brexit trade barriers threaten to disrupt the supply and costs of food products, according to a new report from the House of Lords’ EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee. The report, Brexit: food prices and availability, suggests that around 30% of food eaten...