The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Merger confirmed for Asda and Sainsbury’s with plans of price cuts
Discussions between supermarkets Sainsbury’s and Asda on merging the two businesses were announced over the weekend and today the news has been confirmed – along with the proposal of lower priced products. Sainsbury's chief executive, Mike Coupe, told the BBC that the...
Asda and Sainsbury’s in advanced merger negotiations
Talks between major supermarket chains Asda and Sainsbury’s are at an advanced stage with the two brands expected to be retained should a merger go ahead. Sainsbury's and Asda are the second and third largest supermarkets in the UK behind Tesco. The new combined group...
Strong year reported for UK cheese exports
Exports of cheese from the UK surpassed the £615million mark last year, rising 23% from 2016, with cheddar remaining its biggest export – the latest figures from HMRC have revealed. The data also shows that volumes of exported cheese have risen by around 5% from the...
ABP makes major plastics reduction pledge
Food processor ABP has announced its inclusion as a founding member of the UK Plastics Pact announcement, an initiative launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). This is a collaboration which brings together businesses from across the entire...
Petrow Food Group invests £850,000 in processing line
Petrow Food Group has improved its levels of safety and quality capacity, following a major investment in a new fruit processing line. Petrow, a UK supplier of ingredients to the breakfast foods, confectionary, bakery, ready meal, and snacks sectors, has spent...
Expansion for Verner Wheelock
Food training consultancy Verner Wheelock based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, is expanding its business significantly after acquiring Keith Stamp Social Auditing (KSSA) from Keith Stamp. Verner Wheelock claims it has seen the ethical auditing side of its business grow...
Orderly trade system required after Brexit
The Government is running out of time to make negotiations for an “orderly trade system after the Brexit transition” which could risk a huge impact on the food industry. This is according to a report by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which was...
Government ‘failing to consider food’ in Irish border proposals
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) says that the Government’s current approach to resolving the Northern Irish border issue fails to consider many of the concerns about food. This statement follows a report in the Daily Telegraph which claimed that...
Iceland responds to accusation of mistreating chilled goods
Multiple retailer Iceland has strongly refuted claims made by BBC One show Watchdog that the company is not handling chilled goods appropriately. The television show aired an item on 18th April showing the retailer’s alleged mistreatment of chilled goods. Camera...
Morrisons joins group to fight marine plastics
Morrisons has joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), a group of organisations committed to reducing the problem of discarded fishing gear, known as ghost gear, in oceans worldwide. Charity World Animal Protection founded the GGGI in 2015. Its members include...