The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
UK Sausage Week winners revealed
The winners of the UK Sausage Week awards were announced on 30th October during a celebration lunch at Plaisterers’ Hall, London. This year’s UK Sausage Week kicked off with a bang (or banger!) when awards were presented for some of the country’s best sausages. TV...
Chilled fish volume performance continues to struggle
Figures obtained by Kantar Worldpanel have revealed that chilled fish has continued its downward trend in volume for the 12 weeks ending 8th October, in the face of high inflation in natural and smoked fish. The category enjoyed a 0.9% increase in value, while smoked...
Government unveils Food and Drink Decarbonisation Action Plan
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has revealed its Food and Drink Joint Industry - Government Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Roadmap Action Plan, as part of its Clean Growth Strategy. The Action Plan is described as a...
Discounter retailers popular with 77% of richer households
Better off British consumers have outraced lower income households in visiting food discounters, with as many as 77% of British customers with household income of £50,000 or more visiting the outlets, compared to 73% of those with a household income of £15,500 or...
Weetabix closes gender pay gap
Weetabix Food Company UK & Ireland has published a report revealing a 5.4% pay gap in mean pay for 2016-17, lower than the UK average of 18.1% in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics. The report shows that Weetabix has closed its pay gap by 3.7%...
Supermarkets enjoy 17 months of consecutive growth
Supermarket sales have increased by 3.1% in value, compared with last year, according to the latest grocery market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks to 8th October. The figure marks the 17th period of uplift in a row for Britain’s grocers, despite...
UK facing greatest threat to food supply integrity since WWII
Professor Chris Elliott has warned that a combination of factors, such as Brexit and global warming, mean that the UK’s food supply is potentially less secure now than it has been at any point in the last 70 years. Speaking at the Food Fraud, Culture and Modern...
Food producers to gain easier access to public sector contracts
A new Government website has been launched today (11.10.17) allowing food producers across the country to search online for public sector contracts, worth £1.2 billion every year, and connect with buyers from across the UK. The ‘Food Marketplace’ website will...
Co-op offers £137.5m to take over wholesaler Nisa
Co-op’s £137.5 million offer to acquire Nisa Retail has been “unanimously recommended” by Nisa’s board, with the bid remaining conditional on the approval of Nisa members and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Under the proposed deal, Co-op Group is offering...
Nisa unveils strong first half performance and interim CEO appointment
Wholesaler and convenience retail specialist Nisa Retail has announced a “positive” first half trading period with an increase in sales of £728 million, up 12.4% on last year, along with the appointment of Arnu Misra as interim chief executive. Sales at the business...