The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Morrisons announces management restructure
Morrisons has become the third major retailer to propose changes to its stores’ management structure, which will see the removal of around 1,500 jobs and the creation of 1,700 roles. The supermarket retailer has begun discussions with store management teams and their...
Marks & Spencer to open fewer food stores than planned
Marks & Spencer has reassessed and reduced its Simply Food opening programme, and is now planning to open a total of 36 owned and franchise stores over the next six months, fewer than originally expected. The new stores will create 1,200 management and customer...
India’s growing food industry an opportunity for the UK
The UK’s food industry has been urged to focus on engaging within India, as the country’s food and food services market is expected to grow from £305 billion to £500 billion. A new report co-written by India’s Yes Bank and Santander UK has noted that UK firms could...
Food and Drink Sector council agrees on annual priorities
The Food and Drink Sector Council has agreed on priorities for the next 12 months, including a focus on boosting skills, agricultural productivity, improving the nation’s nutrition and building on emerging proposals to establish a sector deal. The council will set up...
Food industry forecast among the hardest hit after Brexit
The food sector is among the sectors of the UK economy expected to be negatively impacted by all three scenarios outlined in a leaked Brexit impact assessment, seen by BuzzFeed News. The assessment, called EU Exit Analysis – Cross Whitehall Briefing is said to be...
Cargill and Faccenda unveil Avara Foods
Avara Foods has been unveiled as the joint venture between Cargill’s fresh chicken business in the UK and Faccenda’s fresh chicken, turkey and duck business. The new joint venture follows Competition and Market Authority (CMA) approval in December and will be a 50/50...
JD Wetherspoon and Jamie Oliver cancel Russell Hume contract
JD Wetherspoon has confirmed it has cancelled its contract with Russell Hume Ltd, while the Food Standards Agency has ordered the meat supplier to stop all production at the plants and detain all products. Wetherspoon is to reintroduce sirloin steak, rump steak and...
Lobby group calls for 20% sugar tax on confectionery
Action on Sugar, based at Queen Mary University of London, has urged for a complete ban on all confectionery price promotions, along with a sugar tax on all confectionery of at least 20%. The call follows its product survey, which reveals the amount of sugar in...
Russell Hume investigated by Food Standards Agency
Following an unannounced inspection of Russell Hume’s Birmingham site on 12th January, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has stated it became aware of instances of non-compliance with food hygiene regulations. This led FSA to investigate all Russell Hume sites, and...
Sainsbury’s announces management restructure proposals
Sainsbury’s has become the second major retailer to announce management restructure proposals this week, in a bid to introduce a “more efficient and effective structure”. The proposals are aimed at delivering cost savings, with Simon Roberts, retail and operations...