The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Co-op reveals growth in food profits
The Co-op has reported that it has had 14 consecutive quarters of like-for-like sales growth of food products. Like-for-like sales in Co-op Food have been up by 3.5 %, it has been reported and 0.7% higher year-on-year when excluding the sales from the 298 stores sold...
Food suppliers in £25m frozen food contract for Scottish councils
Eleven UK suppliers, including four Scottish SMEs, have been awarded a place on a multi-million pound frozen food contract for Scottish councils, giving local authorities the option to source a range of products. The new two-year Scotland Excel framework is expected...
Organic sales forecast to reach new heights at £2.2bn this year
The organic market continues to grow, up 6.3% in the 52 weeks to 13th August, according to Kantar Worldpanel. The news was announced to attendees to the Soil Association’s annual trade briefing in London on 19th September. Over 130 guests attended the event, where it...
Supermarket sales soar for sixth consecutive month
Supermarket sales have increased by 3.6% compared with the same period last year, despite “disappointing” August weather, according to the latest grocery market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks to 10th September. Marking the sixth consecutive...
Iceland launches new frozen fish campaign with extended range
Iceland has launched a new marketing and PR campaign aimed at encouraging more consumers to buy and understand the benefits of frozen fish, backed by an expansion of its frozen fish and seafood range. The range will now include products such as Rainbow Trout Fillets,...
Four additional products withdrawn over Fipronil
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has added four more products to its list of withdrawn products over Fipronil, as the investigation to track down implicated food products continues. Products include one batch of Profiteroles au beurre and two batches of Profiteroles...
UK Sausage Week competition deadline extended due to demand
The organisers of UK Sausage Week are making a final call to all butchers, manufacturers and supermarkets to enter their products into its sausages competition. With so many meat businesses wanting to put their products forward, YPL Exhibitions & Events has made...
Hating or loving Marmite linked to genes
A scientific study conducted by Marmite and genetic testing centre DNAFit has reportedly determined that there is a genetic foundation to people’s taste preference for loving or hating Marmite. Dubbed ‘The Marmite Gene Project’, the study has scientifically shown that...
Moy Park acquired by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
American food company Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation has announced it has acquired Moy Park from JBS S.A., in a deal valuing the equity interest of Moy Park at approximately $1 billion (£790 million) and implying an enterprise value of approximately $1.3 billion (or...
Orchard Valley Foods and Candeco merge
Orchard Valley Foods and Candeco Confektyr AB have merged to create a €40 million producer of confections, ingredients and decorations, called Orchard Valley Foods Group. The new business will cater for the food manufacturing, foodservice and retail home baking...