Food & Drink News May/June 2022

MAY / JUNE 2022

GA Pet Food Partners officially open their state-of-the-art Ingredients Kitchen

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS KITCHEN AT www.ga-petfoodpartners.co.uk

TURN TO PAGE 17 TO READ MORE

W W W. F O O D A N D D R I N K N E W S . C O . U K

{ May / June 2022 }

Contents ONLINE E MAGAZINABLE! AIL NOW AV

04 INDUSTRY NEWS 12 DTM PRINT 14 FARMING CRISIS 17 GA PET FOOD PARTNERS 22 BODNANT WELSH FOOD 25 TIM HORTONS

TO VIEW THE 2022 FEATURES LIST PLEASE VISIT WWW.FOODANDDRINKNEWS.CO.UK OR CONTACT US AT +44 (0)1484 321000 TO EMAIL A COPY TO YOU

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Editor’s Foreword

PUBLISHER Planet Media & Design Ltd Brooke’s Mill, Huddersfield HD4 7NR

MANAGING DIRECTOR Jillian Evans

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Sarah Hoyer

CHIEF EDITOR David Barnett

SUB-EDITOR Abigail Wears

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Many businesses at all levels of the food and drink industry are having a tough time at the moment for a variety of reasons.

Rising energy and fuel costs, and increasing prices of food ingredients are hitting producers hard. There is something of a recruitment crisis on our farms, and hospitality venues are finding it hard to attract quality staff.

All of this coming after the two years of pandemic, which woefully affected many retail, hospitality and manufacturing businesses, adds up to bad news for many businesses in the sector.

But companies and individuals are constantly finding ways to innovate and overcome the challenges, and we must all hope that this storm, coming so soon after the Covid crisis, is one we can weather and look forward to easier times.

EDITORIAL editorial@planet-media.co.uk MAG SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@planet-media.co.uk

David Barnett CHIEF EDITOR

May / June Food & Drink News

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{ Industry News }

SUPERZEROS LAUNCH PROTEIN BREAKFAST CEREALS – FUEL YOURSELF BETTER IN THE MORNING! Superzeros is a new type of breakfast cereal for those looking to better fuel themselves in the morning, offering 10g protein, 0g sugar and 50% less carbohydrates in every serving.

By offering a better macro nutrient combination to start the day, than traditional carb-heavy cereals they make it easier to avoid the cravings that follow high glycaemic index foods. The products are also nut-free, high in fibre and grain-free, and are currently available in Cocoa and Apple & Cinnamon flavours.

Superzeros hope to disrupt the cereal world in the same way protein bars

revolutionised the confectionery market over the past 10 years, through their uncompromising use of premium ingredients like whey protein isolate and carefully crafted flavours. Over the coming months the team is looking to build upon their product range further to support a wider range of dietary requirements, and offer more flavours such as Honey Nut, Strawberry and Vanilla. The team are so confident in their product that they offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee to all customers.

LOBSTER LAUNCHES THE FIRST TV CAMPAIGN FOR ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS BRAND, MAZZETTI L’ORIGINALE WITH ‘THE ITALIAN ART OF DRESSING’ Mazzetti appointed Lobster in November 2021, following a competitive pitch process for one of the world’s leading names in balsamic vinegar. The recent win sees the agency creating the first TV advert for Mazzetti L’Originale Balsamic Vinegar of Modena from the heart of Emilia Romagna in Italy – a family-run business first launched commercially in the 1970s, with a rich history dating back almost 80 years.

With ambitious growth targets, Mazzetti aims to become the most distinctive and trusted brand of balsamic vinegar across a number of markets.

On the back of Mazzetti’s successful print campaign in 2018 entitled ‘The Italian Art of Dressing’, Lobster were challenged to help propel the brand by evolving and breathing new life into the playful concept, through this TV spot.

The creative celebrates the transformative flavours of Mazzetti and the centuries-old Italian craft behind its special production. A bright, bold TV campaign taking audiences on a playful journey of artistry, both transporting us to the Mazzetti ageing room, shot on location in Modena, and to the distinctive elegance of a beautifully Mazzetti dressed salad.

Simon McDowell, Executive Creative Producer at Lobster said: “We loved the Italian Art of Dressing stills campaign and

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welcomed the creative challenge to evolve it into a piece of moving image. The sheer passion for the product from everyone at Mazzetti was just so infectious, it made the entire process a genuine pleasure to work on. We believe the best output on any production comes from close, positive, collaborative working relationships and this was a testament to that. We’re super proud of the work and the Lobster team is so invested in the products we’ve all become Mazzetti brand ambassadors in the process.”

Jane Armstrong, Managing Director of Mazzetti l’Originale said: “Working with Lobster on this project was a great experience. Their collaborative approach,

flexibility and creativity made them the perfect partner for Mazzetti, and we are delighted with the outcome. From the outset we felt they were completely aligned and shared in our passion for bringing Mazzetti Balsamic Vinegar of Modena to tables around the world.”

The TV ad can be viewed here, the campaign will be running in the UK, Germany and Australia, along with online and social content.

For further information, please contact Charlotte Somerston on 07834 825 454.

49 high-speed doors provide peace of mind

The fischer group uses EFAFLEX doors for noise protection at their headquarters in Ortenaukreis

The huge machining centre at the fischer facilities pulls endless stainless steel from coils to produce high-quality longitudinally welded tubes. Around 123,000,000 metres of tubing in a range of different diameters are output by fischer group plants each year, which as a daily output would stretch the length of the motorway from Hamburg to Mannheim. Clearly, the manufacturing process for such a large production of stainless steel tubes is hard to keep quiet.

The fischer group plant is located on the outskirts of Achern-Fautenbach at the foot of the Black Forest, surrounded by green space but also close to residential areas. For the planners, this situation of contrasts is a challenge they have to address.

Mr Schneider is Head of Mechanical Maintenance at the fischer group headquarters. It is quiet as he walks across the site. But then he opens a door, and the loud, pounding noises of production can immediately be heard, which only stops when he closes the door again. Now, all you can hear is the birds in the trees.

“That is one of the reasons that we researched and sourced hall doors that keep in absolutely all the noise”, he explains. “This production site is subject to extremely strict noise control requirements. We are surrounded by housing. Therefore, it is important that the residents in the area are not disturbed by the production or the running noises that the doors themselves generate.”

After extensive comparisons and detailed consultation by the door manufacturer’s field service, the factory planners decided in favour of EFAFLEX. The doors are fitted at the points where forklift trucks deliver material to the machines, transport products and load lorries.

Forklift trucks also go through EFAFLEX doors multiple times a day in the material and dispatch warehouse. Doors with fast opening and closing speeds were needed for these areas. “In winter, the cold air goes right through”, Roland Schneider explains. “We simply cannot afford to have the doors open for too long. We do not want to waste energy.”

There is a lot of traffic right outside some of the plant’s doors. To ensure that the doors are not accidentally activated by the vehicles moving around them, they are also fitted with EFA-SCAN® laser scanners.

EFAFLEX The EFA-SCAN® creates two gapless areas: A safety area, located in the immediate vicinity of the door, and, farther away, a detection area.

The EFA-SCAN® sensor functions like a highly modern control device for opening the door in this zone.

The speed and direction of the detected objects are calculated. The reliable direction recognition ensures that only persons or vehicles which move directly towards the door can trigger an opening impulse. If they move parallel to the door or away from the door, they are ignored so that an “erroneous” opening is effectively prevented. The sensor also detects rain, snow, and external light. This makes EFA- SCAN® one of the few laser scanners which are also suited for outdoor installation.

Precision all the way: fisher group company profile The Fautenbach-based fischer group is the world’s second largest manufacturer of high-quality stainless steel tubes and components and a technology leader in the manufacture of longitudinally laser-welded tubing. In the course of its 50-year history, the fischer group has grown from a small business into a multinational group, currently with 20 companies and around 2,450 employees.

As a logical, systematic addition to its tubing portfolio, the fischer group has developed a whole range of options for processing tubes to produce advanced components and assemblies. From the automotive and aerospace sectors to heating and sanitary engineering, consumer electronics and industrial applications, the group’s high-quality, stable, and corrosion-resistant products have a wide range of applications.

Company information EFALEX EFAFLEX produces high-speed doors for industrial applications. The company, which was founded in 1974, works for clients from industry, trade, food production, and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, among others. As the only manufacturer in the field of highspeed industrial doors, EFAFLEX is listed in the world market leader index and is therefore one of the top 461 companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The family company employs more than 1,200 people worldwide. With its headquarters in Bruckberg, Bavaria, EFAFLEX is firmly anchored as the largest employer in the region. In addition, the company opens up international markets with ten subsidiaries on five continents. EFAFLEX generates over 40 percent of sales abroad.

EFAFLEX Press Contact: Ms Jasmin Jobst Tel.: +49 8765 82-525 E-mail: Jasmin.Jobst@efaflex.com Web: www.efaflex.com

The right decision In his capacity as Maintenance Engineer, Roland Schneider is, of course, particularly happy about the long service life and robustness of the EFAFLEX products. Alongside the required noise control and speed of opening and closing, EFAFLEX in his view provides real added value: the EFAFLEX technicians are in-house and highly trained. Advice from the field sales team is customer-focused and project-specific. “Our choice proved to be exactly the right one. We opted for EFAFLEX doors and have now installed 49 of them. It is a decision we do not regret.”

EFA-SCAN® laser scanner EFA-SCAN® is the first laser scanner for use on doors worldwide, making it a reliable activation and safety system in one. The innovation

by EFAFLEX covers the entire area in front of the door – for the first time without missing anything and by intelligent direction recognition, more reliably than any other system.

The sensor creates a three-dimensional monitoring area with geometric and dynamic detection ranges individually adjustable to local parameters. It offers maximum safety for people and the goods to be transported and also protects the door itself against accidents and damage.

One of the largest doors installed in the factory is the EFA-STT®-ÜS. A door width of over 6,000mm and a height of 4,500mm are combined with maximum transparency and high door leaf speed.

{ Industry News }

AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF A LONG TRADITION Cutlery has been synonymous with Sheffield for centuries… and one company is keeping that tradition going with a hugely successful business providing knives and bladed products for the food industry across the world. MRMK was set up with a vision of making the machine knife industry better, and more than a decade on they are going from strength to strength.

The company has grown year on year since 2008, and a private equity buyout in

2020 allowed them to invest heavily in the plant where they have been based since 2017, employing a team of upwards of 30 people. Although the processes used to make the machine knives haven’t changed that much, innovation and investment upwards of £500,000 has allowed MRMK to tweak processes and improve capacity.

Around 80% of the company’s output is for the export market, and they deal with companies across the globe from Spain to

France, Italy to America, Australia to China.

Jack Bailey of MRMK said: “There is a lot of history of cutlery manufacture in Sheffield, and while what we do is slightly different we are proud to be able to continue in Sheffield as a knife manufacturer and build on that long tradition, albeit with a slightly different spin”.

www.mrmk.co.uk

RISO GALLO PRESENTS THE GALLO GUIDE 2022: THE STORY OF RICE THROUGH THE UNPUBLISHED RECIPES OF GREAT INTERNATIONAL CHEFS In the beautiful setting of Villa Necchi Campiglio, Riso Gallo – the historic Italian rice company owned by the Preve family – launched the 11th edition of the Gallo Guide ‘Not only risotti – from some of the best restaurants worldwide’ celebrating the culture of rice through a collection of recipes created by the best chefs from Italy and around the world, including 11 chefs from the UK. “Not only risotti – by the best restaurants in the world” is the 11th edition of the Gallo Guide, a historic publication, produced regularly since 1998, talking about the symbol of Italian haute cuisine from Riso Gallo – the ambassador for the culture of

rice and risotto throughout the world.

The Gallo Guide is, in fact, the story of rice, starting from the north of Italy – from Lomellina, where the historical headquarters of the company is located – covering the whole country, region by region, crossing the borders to all continents, through the rice-based recipes of great international chefs. This year there is an added value – for the first time the Gallo Guide includes “Not only risotti” – by the best restaurants in the world”. As the title itself suggests, the Guide proposes tasty recipes that go beyond risotto, embracing different rice-based

creations.

The Gallo Guide is a varied collection, edited by Multiverso Edizioni and curated by Emanuele Preve and Adriano Canever. It includes 118 unpublished recipes that see rice as the undisputed leader and studied by the great chefs of Italian and international cuisine – 69 Italian and 49 restaurants including 11 from the UK – made with top quality ingredients combining tradition and innovation. In the preface of the Gallo Guide, edited by Francesco Mutti, he reflects on the sense of slowness and the value of time, as the basis of the scrupulous preparation of risotto and rice in all its forms.

The guide will be available via the online shop at www.risogallo.co.uk

ENGINEERED FIRE SAFETY SOLUTION FOR MAJOR UK COLD STORE BUSINESS Patol, working with PWP, is protecting the sites of one of the UK’s largest providers of cold storage, blast freezing and tempering services to the food industry.

The project saw the use of Securiton Aspirating Smoke Detection and Patol’s Resettable Linear Heat Detection Cable and controllers.

Magnavale is a vitally important cog in the food supply chain. With facilities in Scunthorpe, Warrington and Chesterfield, the company offers over 1.95m sq ft of warehouse space and over 200,000 pallet spaces.

The facilities operate at temperatures as

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low as -20°C and are a challenging environment for fire protection.

Nottingham-based PWP Building Services were appointed to undertake the project and Gavin Clarke, Head of Fire Safety at PWP, said: “The need to effectively protect wide

open areas plus the challenges that such low temperatures obviously bring were important considerations in deciding on the most effective fire safety solution. A further factor was the desire to provide early warning with the focus on minimising downtime and ensuring business continuity given the just-in-time service offered by Magnavale and the importance of food security throughout the supply chain”.

Based on the success of the Scunthorpe and Chesterfield sites, PWP is adopting the same approach in an extension at Magnavale’s Warrington facility.

{ Industry News }

HUNTER & GATHER Hunter & Gather, the brand behind ‘clean’ cooking oils and condiments (including 100% Avocado Oil and 100% Olive Oil Mayonnaise) is launching a new range of organic certified health-promoting fats that are 100% pure and free from nasties, following a year of strong growth.

The challenger brand, which grew annual revenue to achieve just shy of £3m GSV turnover 21/22 (and is on track to achieve £5m GSV 22/23) is launching a new range of healthy fats that are free from inflammatory seed and sunflower oils, artificial preservatives, and hexane chemicals and solvents.

The four new products – Pure Butter Organic Ghee (for cooking, baking, and bulletproof coffees), Extra Virgin Organic Cold Pressed Olive Oil (for drizzling, dipping and dunking), Extra Virgin Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil(for cooking, frying and

baking) and Pure C8 MCT Organic Coconut Oil (for coffees, salads and smoothies) have been made with optimal health front of mind, making them a healthy choice for the whole family, as well as diabetics, keto, low carb, gluten-free and dairy-free.

Amy Moring, Co-founder of Hunter & Gather, says: “With premium oils driving growth in the sector, this is the right time for us to ramp up our growth in the category.

“As a brand, we’re on a mission to educate consumers that not all fats are created equal…

“There is growing evidence to suggest that highly processed seed oils such as rapeseed, sunflower and vegetable oils – which often contain harmful additives and are processed with hexane chemicals – are inflammatory and linked to chronic disease.

Simply replacing these unhealthy, heavily

processed fats with healthier noninflammatory fats such as fruit oils (olive, coconut and avocado) or traditional animal fats (ghee, tallow, lard) can have a positive impact on your health.

“Our new Pure and Organic Healthy Fats range has been created with health front of mind. By equipping consumers with knowledge, recipes and products that are always free from seed oils, grains, gluten and refined sugars, our mission is to make it easier for consumers to make healthy choices and to give them the tools to thrive.”

NEW! Hunter & Gather Healthy Fats are available to buy now from www.hunterandgatherfoods.com with more stockists to follow.

INTRODUCING CLASSIC FROM FULTON The new Classic from heat transfer specialist Fulton builds on the successes of its 70-year boiler manufacturing history to deliver a vertical steam boiler that is engineered to meet its customers’ requirements. An evolution of Fulton’s original vertical tubeless design, Classic is simple, compact and built to last, and is backed by more than 100,000 boilers installed around the world.

Available with gas, oil or LPG/propane burners, Classic is available with outputs from 100kW to 300kW (160 to 480 kg/h) at 10.34 Barg and efficiencies up to 84%. Full steam output is available from a cold start within 20 minutes, meaning Classic steam boilers can meet the rapid steam requirements for numerous industrial applications, including pharmaceutical, healthcare, food and beverage.

Classic uses proven technology to deliver steam economically, while maintaining the rugged, robust and reliable operation expected from a Fulton heat transfer solution. The pressure vessel is no less than 8mm thick; and the Classic’s industryleading vertical design eliminates tubes or coils that are subject to oxygen pitting, corrosion and burnout; ensuring decades of

trouble-free operation. To ensure minimal downtime and maximum production availability, ease of maintenance is also a given of the Classic’s design.

Additionally, Classic steam boilers are exempt from expensive and timeconsuming SBG01 non-destructive testing requirements.

For further information on the new Classic steam boiler, visit www.fulton.co.uk, email sales@fulton.co.uk or call 0117 972 3322.

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{ Industry News }

WELSH SAUCERY EXPANDS WITH ARTISAN RETAILERS An online sauce business launched in lockdown from a Pembrokeshire farm is expanding into artisan retailers throughout Wales.

The Welsh Saucery was started by Kara and Steve Lewis from the family farm. Their range of cook-in sauces, speciality condiments and dry rubs are all made to Kara’s recipes made with natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives.

Kara explained: “We cover multiple meal types and cooking styles – from cook-in sauces as a quick all-in-one solution, to our dry rubs for those who like to spend a bit more time in the kitchen. We’ve developed two sauce

well, particularly our gift packs and hampers, we’re excited to reach a new group of customers by working with as many specialist, artisan food and drink retailers in Wales and beyond that we can,” she said.

Current Welsh Saucery stockists include the Rhug Estate Farm Shop in Corwen, Crwst in Cardigan, Melin Tregwynt in Haverfordwest and the Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, Deeside. collections – classic condiments like ketchup and BBQ sauce, and a chilli collection which pushes more adventurous flavours like our pineapple and habanero sauce.

“While the online business has performed

The full range of sauces and rubs is also available from thewelshsaucery.co.uk

ILS FLEXWIPE MEETS GROWING DEMAND FOR, SAFE, RELIABLE PALLET LABELLING – NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE Print and apply labelling specialist Industrial Labelling Systems (ILS) is seeing strong demand for its FlexWipe pallet labelling system. The combination of a small footprint, fast operation and market-leading safety standards together with the ability to work across a wide variety of temperatures down to -28°C have revolutionised pallet labelling and made it a firm favourite with customers.

To date ILS has installed over 80 FlexWipe systems across Europe, USA and Australia and is continuing to see demand grow in the past 18 months, particularly in the cold storage sector. Customers include NewCold and Lineage Logistics who have over 40 FlexWipe systems operating between them.

The robust design of the FlexWipe applicator means it is capable of operating in ultra-cold climates, without the need for additional heaters or special cabinets.

Working with varying pallet surfaces – uneven, rough, or cold – the FlexWipe “wipes” accurately over the label after it has been tapered, ensuring labels stick even under the poorest adherence conditions.

Built around two independent, motorised arms which can move both horizontally and vertically, the ILS FlexWipe can quickly and

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reliably label three sides of a pallet without having to halt production.

“In the competitive chilled and frozen products sector, manufacturers are looking for a reliable pallet labelling system that can maintain throughput to meet the oftendemanding requirements of the supply chain,” said Denis Brett, Managing Director at ILS. “In addition, with its ability to apply labels non-stop in often harsh operational environments, the FlexWipe is also helping customers remove team members from these conditions, increasing site safety and production efficiently.”

At the same time, the FlexWipe includes a number of advanced safety features. By using specialist sensor technology with

pulse encoders inside the controlling stepper monitor, every unit automatically stops and pivots itself away if it senses a foreign object or person in possible trap points. This removes the need for cumbersome cages and safety coverings, thus allowing for easy access when changing label rolls and inks.

Safety is also enhanced through the FlexWipe’s automated height adjustment.

Designed with pressure-controlled pneumatics and laser height-sensors, this custom-built feature constantly monitors and controls the arm movements, with a safety break there to ensure the system can be stopped if power or air is disconnected. If vertical movement is slightly hindered, the motorised stand immediately stops and alerts with a warning alarm.

The FlexWipe’s built-in validation check scanner is designed to read one or twodimensional bar codes. Combined with the lightweight arms, this ensures fast but controlled automation for pallet labelling, in a machine which takes up less than 1m² on the shop floor.

{ Industry News }

NEW TEST PROCEDURE TO ASSESS THE CLEANABILITY OF OPEN PROCESSING EQUIPMENT EHEDG (the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group) has developed a new technique by which equipment fabricators can identify problem areas in new designs before placing them on the market. The equipment is soiled, allowed to dry and then subjected to a defined cleaning procedure. As with all

EHEDG test procedures, it is not designed to certify that the item is cleanable with all products and under all process situations, but passing the test shows that the hygienic design is inherently cleanable. It remains up to the processor to determine the appropriate cleaning chemicals, temperatures and times for the intended

operating environment. EHEDG Test Facilities in Germany, France and Spain are obtaining the necessary components and robotic cleaning devices to perform the test on request.

TASKI LAUNCHES THE ALL-NEW ULTIMAXX RANGE OF SMART SCRUBBER DRIER CLEANING MACHINES

Driven by smart and intelligent technological advances, the ULTIMAXX 1900 scrubber is the first model of a new cleaning machine range that sets a new benchmark for walk behind scrubber driers.

TASKI R&D engineers have bolstered every scrubber drier function and every component to optimise efficiency, performance and reliability. ULTIMAXX incorporates the latest intelligent technologies to reduce time, energy, water, chemical and consumable consumption.

The 2022 ULTIMAXX 1900 sees a 30%

improvement in battery autonomy and 40% more water autonomy compared with the previous swingo model based on highly efficient smart components. Groundbreaking design and components deliver outstanding reliability and robustness to drive down your operating and whole-life costs.

Marcel Muller, Global Marketing Director Floorcare Machines at TASKI, said: “There is a new world now for businesses and for customers. The businesses that want to succeed in the world we are emerging into

need to demonstrably match their actions with customer expectations”.

“When it comes to cleanliness, efficiency and smartness, ULTIMAXX does that and does it in many different ways, for different places, tackling many different cleaning challenges. With selectable brush decks, patented innovations and IntelliTrail 2.0 remote insights, the ULTIMAXX range is a gateway to a new level of cleaning.”

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{ Sustainability Focus }

From field to fork, sustainability is on the menu Sustainability is one of the watchwords of 2022 as the focus falls upon food producers, manufacturers and retailers who are trying to make a difference as well as make a living.

Nestlé Professional has just released a report developed in collaboration with Footprint Intelligence, which is a wide-ranging guide to sustainability and shows how businesses large and small from across the industry can reduce their carbon impact.

To drive action, sustainability experts at Footprint Intelligence have consolidated targeted industry insight, statistics and strategic frameworks for procurement, marketing, HR, health and safety, IT, facilities management and catering teams. In addition, there are details of valuable accreditations, tools and organisations for each business area – all devised to help organisations reduce their carbon impact.

Katya Simmons, Managing Director Nestlé Professional UK&I, says: “Food now accounts for 15% of humanity’s daily carbon impact and we need to cut this by at least one fifth in order to meet the UK’s reduction targets for 2030. The hospitality industry plays a key role when it comes to carbon impact, serving the one

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in six meals eaten outside the home. A concerted effort is absolutely vital if we’re to achieve these targets.

“Embedding sustainability across the business isn’t just good for the environment. As stories in Empowering Sustainability Heroes show, there’s a raft of other benefits. If food waste costs the average foodservice outlet £10K a year, imagine the cost savings your business could achieve if every member of staff put their brainpower into finding sustainable solutions.”

Sustainability begins right at the start of the food process, with farms getting behind the subject this summer thanks to a new initiative.

Organisers of the farming industry’s annual open day, Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) are calling on farmers to take part and organise their own event to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, climate mitigation, nutritious food and a well-managed countryside.

{ Sustainability Focus }

Taking place on Sunday 12 June 2022, it is an opportunity for every farmer to plan their own event, engage their local community, share their farming story, dispel misconceptions and give visitors a hugely positive, memorable experience.

More than 100 events took place in 2021, under Covid-safe guidelines, and prior to the pandemic over 350 farms across Britain, covering all agricultural sectors, opened each year.

Annabel Shackleton, LEAF Open Farm Sunday Manager, said: “Last year we launched our new 10-year strategy at LEAF, with a commitment to driving more sustainable circular agriculture through climate, nature, the economy and society. In addition, COP26 and the recent National Food Strategy have drawn attention to the impact of farming and food production on climate change. Whilst we have the public’s attention, it is more important than ever that we feed their enthusiasm and interest.

“LEAF Open Farm Sunday is the perfect way for visitors to really understand what best practice looks like and how farmers, and the food sector, are part of the solution, delivering for our health and the health of the planet – through the food we eat and the fresh air and countryside that we enjoy.”

Similarly, Importaco, the European leader in the

production of nuts and dried fruit, has expanded its agricultural integration programme dedicated to ensuring the responsible sourcing of its produce.

This year, the company introduced a new element to its farming integration project – established in 2013 – with the creation of its FEED agricultural programme.

The programme aims to align strategies and priorities across Importaco’s different product-origin countries to guarantee the supply of raw materials with assurances relating to quality and food safety, and the implementation of environmentally friendlier agricultural practices.

Lucía Donnini, Farm Integration Director at Importaco, said that “the implementation of the FEED programme is a crucial step towards more responsible agriculture, a step we are proud to be taking”.

President of Importaco, Toño Pons, commented that “the FEED programme represents Importaco’s genuine commitment to agricultural integration and thereby more environmentally friendly sourcing. At Importaco, we take quality, sustainability and supporting our farmers very seriously”.

From field to producer to retailer to your plate, it seems that 2022 will be the year we all hopefully enjoy a more sustainable diet as the food industry gets wholly behind sustainability.

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{ DTM Print }

Brewery gets the precision they need Mr Pint Beer can now achieve precise and fast application of beer labels, thanks to the AP362e from DTM Print.

Swiss company, Mr Pint Beer, is a craft beer brewery located in Ticino, Switzerland. The passion for craft beers led Gianni Lanni and his two colleagues to try their hands at making this ancient, and very delicious, drink.

The trio brews excellent beers from clear Ticino water, grain malt and high-quality hops and yeast varieties. They particularly emphasise traditional production processes, using as much ‘hands-on’ brewing as possible and a careful, sometimes handpicked selection of ingredients – comparable to artisan craftsmen.

Of course, with so much love and attention going into the beer itself, the brewery insists on the same precision and attention to detail for its bottles and labels. Each and every one has to continue that ethic of quality. Therefore, it was not surprising that the company started looking for a professional application solution to ensure that each bottle was standout.

that can be labelled per hour versus manually applying labels.

Growth Since they bought the applicator in December 2020 from DTM Print, an international OEM and solution provider for label printing systems, the team of Mr Pint Beer applies approximately 300 labels once a week.

They already plan to increase the beer production over the next few months, meaning that the labelling volume will also become significantly higher. With the AP362e they are well prepared for this. Both round and rectangular labels are used, with two labels (front and back) applied to the bottles in one production step.

They can set the distance between the two labels individually and save it as a pre-setting. Up to nine front-to-back label offsets can be memorised.

Consistency When the business started, it was labelling its beer bottles by hand. However, the company found that the accuracy of the application left a lot to be desired.

During his internet research for a suitable solution Gianni Lanni became aware of the AP362e label applicator. “We were looking for a label applicator that would put our labels at the same position on every beer bottle and which is easy to use,” he explained.

He learned that the AP362e applies one or two different labels to a single container straight, without wrinkles or folds in exactly the position he desires. This gives his finished products the highly professional look he was looking for. Furthermore, he was impressed by the speed of the semi-automatic applicator. Up to 1,200 containers per hour can be applied and therefore the AP362e significantly increases the number of bottles

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Mr Lanni is impressed by the improvements that have been made in the production process since the applicator was purchased. “We save a lot of time and gain in accuracy,” he summarised the advantages of the new label applicator. “I would definitely recommend the AP362e to anyone who no longer wants to do without precise and fast label application in their production.”

More information about AP362e label applicator and other label printing solutions are available at https://dtm-print.eu

€167m major project in Budapest increases security level at airport EFAFLEX secures the baggage handling hall at the Hungarian capital’s airport with its high-speed doors.

Modern airports are international hubs not only holding a certain fascination for the big wide world of global travel for business and private users, but also never failing to impress with their futuristic aesthetics and innovative technology. Combined, these ensure that passengers, luggage, catering and cargo are in the right place at the right time. EFAFLEX has made this technology safer at Budapest Airport with its EFA-STT® high-speed door. €167 million have been invested in Budapest Airport over the past two years. This has made a particular positive impact on three major areas of the airport: BUD Cargo City, Terminal 1, and baggage classification.

This has increased the level of safety and also strengthened the regional prominence of Budapest Airport.

The construction of the baggage handling hall at the airport was completed in July 2020, followed by the development of baggage technology. The investor was looking for a secure, reliable high-speed door for building closure.

EFAFLEX perfectly matches the specific requirements for airports within its portfolio. The specialist for high-speed industrial doors, designs, manufactures and installs doors for the various applications around airport facilities; such as baggage handling, potentially explosive areas, loading areas, conveyor systems, catering and hygiene doors, as well as doors for airport emergency services.

Based on the technical specification, and bespoke requirement the sales representative at EFAFLEX Hungária Kft. recommended the EFA-STT® turbo door to the operator for this solution.

Transparency for high occupational safety Due to the conditions at the Budapest Airport terminal, a baggage handling hall door must ensure trouble-free operation even with a wind load of 119 km/h. With its clear laths, it offers high transparency and enables safe transport with luggage carts and handling vehicles, even with constant oncoming traffic. The EFA-STT® opens at a speed of up to 3 metres per second, closes at 1 metre per second and easily

EFAFLEX

performs up to 200,000 load cycles per year. It can be supplied in standard sizes up to width 8,000 millimetres x height 7,800 millimetres.

The turbo door’s design and aesthetics gives the new futuristic-looking baggage handling building an exceptionally elegant look. Due to the spiral mechanism of the door leaf, the laths do not touch, and the door will retain its scratch-free transparency for years. The EFA-STT® installed at Budapest Airport is equipped with four transparent laths with the remainder finished to match the colour of the building.

Doors at many hubs around the world The operation of airports is associated with many complex and diverse challenges. Capacity and safety issues, increasing competition for business, and new environmental standards require continuous improvement. EFAFLEX’s innovative and reliable industrial doors offer operators long-term opportunities to meet these requirements and deliver many benefits. The doors’ fast opening cycle and low maintenance contribute to reduced operating costs, sustainability, and airport security. EFAFLEX high-speed doors are already in use at airports around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Russia.

Company information EFALEX EFAFLEX produces high-speed doors for industrial applications. The company, which was founded in 1974, works for clients from industry, trade, food production and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, among others. As the only manufacturer in the field of high-speed industrial doors, EFAFLEX is listed in the world market leader index and is therefore one of the top 461 companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The family company employs more than 1,200 people worldwide. With its headquarters in Bruckberg, Bavaria, EFAFLEX is firmly anchored as the largest employer in the region. In addition, the company opens up international markets with ten subsidiaries on five continents. EFAFLEX generates over 40 percent of sales abroad.

EFAFLEX Press Contact: Ms Jasmin Jobst Tel.: +49 8765 82-525 E-mail: Jasmin.Jobst@efaflex.com Web: www.efaflex.com

{ Farming Crisis }

Farming is facing a crisis… is the answer more automation?

Agriculture is having something of a tough time at the moment, as the industry that is at the centre of our food industry struggles to attract the workforce to keep food on our tables.

One organisation dedicated to promoting careers in farming is LEAF, which operates regular Open Farm Sunday events to inspire the industry’s new workforce.

Their latest one was on June 12.

John Scott, who hosts an Open Farm Sunday event at Fearn Farm, Invernesshire, thinks that direct action is required to solve the problem.

John says: “Agriculture is facing an employment crisis, and yet I can’t help wondering if the sector is too reliant on others to resolve it, rather than doing something direct.

“At Fearn Farm we have a strong team of young and experienced people, spanning many generations. We value their skills, ideas and enthusiasm, and see them very much helping shape the future of our business, not just working in it. We pay fairly, provide accommodation, encourage training and mentoring, and support them to participate in competitions and writing features to raise their own profile. In fact just a

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few months ago, our Farm Administrator, Emily Mosley, won the AgriScot Business Skills competition and a cash prize of £1,000.

“So, I am starting to wonder why we currently have vacancies that we are struggling to fill, and after speaking to some fellow farmers, I am realising I am not the only one.”

John points to businesses all across the UK finding it difficult to recruit new staff, despite offering an exciting package and career development prospects.

And this is despite many agricultural bodies and media running very successful campaigns promoting the wide range of careers available, and that you don’t need to be from a farming background to enjoy the sector.

John adds: “But we are speaking in our own echo chamber, targeting the same people that are already working or living in farming.

“We need to talk more outside of the sector, and we

{ Farming Crisis }

need to start doing it ourselves… which also means pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. Initiatives such as school visits and welcoming organised groups to the farm are excellent, and certainly should be encouraged, but if we want to change the perception and attract new blood, we need to encourage children and their parents to visit our farms, together. They need to see and hear what happens on-farm, ask their questions and fundamentally go away inspired, and as excited as we are by our industry, knowing that their parents will then be continuing those conversations with them at home.”

And what if that recruitment doesn’t happen to the necessary levels? Well, one answer could be more automation on the farms.

The Oxford Farming Conference’s (OFC) Bitesize series provides a platform for vibrant discussion on the biggest issues facing the agricultural industry. The more recent Bitesize, held in partnership with the Institute for Agriculture Management (IAgrM), focused on the labour crisis and what farming’s future workforce might look like.

Hosted by OFC Director and soft fruit grower, Marion Regan, three guests provided a different perspective, and potential route forward, for the industry.

“As a soft fruit grower, I’m acutely aware of how the twin shocks of Brexit and Covid have hit us,” says

Marion. “Labour is a huge part of our costs and through investment over the years, we have made significant productivity gains year on year just to keep pace with its rising cost and to attract the most skilled staff.

“People are needed at all links of the food and farming supply chain and there are acute shortages throughout it of abattoir workers, fresh produce harvesters, butchers, packers, technicians. What will farming’s future workforce look like? Who will they be?

How will they work? And how will they be rewarded?”

Carl Atkin, the Vice-Chairman of the IAgrM and Cofounder and Director of Terravost, has almost 20 years of management and consulting experience across agricultural supply chains, and farming and food businesses.

He says that farm labour has been declining due to mechanisation, scale economics and automation, but other issues are affecting recruitment.

“We have an issue with pay and conditions versus other sectors in the economy and we need to be honest about that. Farm work is often unsocial, it’s often in remote locations and it can be highly seasonal.

We also have some perception issues, some of which are real, and some perceived that can impact recruitment.”

Carl believes that farming’s future workforce will be smaller, more agile and multi-skilled.

“We now need people who are skilled in technology, automation and data – it’s a very different skill set than what we were recruiting for even 20 years ago.”

Dr Duncan Robertson is Co-founder and CEO of Dogtooth Technologies, an agrirobotics company based in Cambridge.

He says that automation will be critical moving forward to address the labour crisis and that the agri-robotics market will grow to $20.3bn USD by 2045.

“The soft fruit industry in the UK and across the globe is facing an existential crisis unless we can find a credible alternative to our reliance on seasonal agricultural workers.

“We can build robots that have sufficient visual acuity and dexterity to perform delicate tasks – such as picking soft fruit.

We are increasingly able to build machines against the metrics that matter to our customers and growers, and can perform comparably closely with humans.

“We think equipped with a team of robots and a robot operator, that we will be able to harvest a great many more berries per minute than pickers working alone.”

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Graham Schofield Associates’ development as a business has been closely linked and as a result of our long-term association with Roger Bracewell and GA Petfood Partners.

Our Civil, Structural and Building Design services extend over a period of 27 years when both businesses were at a ‘fledgling’ stage.

GA Petfood Partners has played a huge and important contribution to the progress and development of Graham Schofield Associates and we are eternally grateful.

A business cannot afford to stand still and with the leadership of Roger Bracewell, ‘the future looks bright’.

Graham Schofield Associates Suite 3 Balfour Court, Leyland PR25 2TF Tel: 01772 459 383 Email: reception@gsa72.co.uk www.grahamschofieldassociates.co.uk 16

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{ GA Pet Food Partners }

The pet food company driving forward and helping to save the planet in the process GA Pet Food Partners has opened a brand-new state-of-the-art kitchen… and is committing to a mutual journey towards net zero to drive the business forward in a way that is sustainable and protective of its local environment.

The company, based at Plocks Farm, Liverpool Road, Bretherton, near Preston, is on a journey to make and deliver the world’s finest private label dry pet food, a journey that started 30 years ago.

The company began as Golden Acres in 1992. Roger Bracewell was farming and practising as a land agent with his father Tom. In the sheep shed at Plocks Farm, the then Farm Manager, John Blackett, took some of the wheat that GA was growing on the 2,500-acre farm, and poured it into a small extruder driven off a tractor’s PTO shaft and out came a ‘meal’. GA was able to sell the meal for more than the wheat. So the business pivoted to pet food — and has never looked back.

Initially, GA made single wheat extrusions that were sold as components to muesli-style pet food manufacturers. This then developed into producing a copy of an ‘omega ring’, which was, at that time, the leading complete dog food. GA manufactured this complete food, and sold it to 40 separate customers in named bags, which started the concept of own label pet food.

In 1995, GA added a Wenger Inc. wet extruder, and moved part of the then recently closed BOCM Midge Hall Mill, with farm labour, to provide the milling and mixing machinery needed to produce the dry raw ingredients. Further extruders were added in 1998 and 2000.

The business continued to expand, gaining and losing customers along the way, but always making for partner brands, never selling products under its own name, and selling into the independent trade rather than into grocery.

GA would manufacture food for any animal that is not consumed by humans, which in addition to dogs and cats, included hedgehogs, badgers, birds, fish and small animals, but recently the business has had to focus on dog and cat food, as pet owners seek more specialised and exacting products.

Initially, all products were made from wheat, which changed to rice, as gluten became unpopular. This changed to potato, and more recently to sweet potato, as ‘grain free’ diets have become fashionable.

GA now manufactures some 80,000 tonnes of pet

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CT Flooring and Coatings Ltd Bradlegh Old Hall Barn, Hall Lane, Burtonwood, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 4BE ctflooring@btinternet.com Tel: 01925 226131 www.ctflooringandcoatings.co.uk

www.air-md.co.uk | T. 01782 622899

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Roger Bracewell at GA Pet Food Partners for his support of AMD from initial concept design through to completion of works carried out Ventilation Galvanised Ducting

Odour Control Stainless Steel Ductwork

Access Systems Mild Steel Hot Air Galvanised

Building and production machinery exhaust systems Supply and extraction systems

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Wet Scrubber

Design 18

May / June Food & Drink News

Galvanised Lip & Clip Ductwork Dust Collectors

Staircases Fans

Holding tank Fans

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Manufacture

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Installation

{ GA Pet Food Partners }

food, using 900 different ingredients, that it packs into 7,000 different packaging styles, of which 44% is exported to 37 different countries, including Japan. The business employs some 850 colleagues, working 24/7.

GA’s mission is to ‘make and deliver the world’s finest pet food’. In order to do that it must continue to innovate, by sourcing its raw ingredients from source, such as Scottish salmon, Lakeland lamb and Gressingham duck and processing these on site in their uniquely designed Meat Kitchen, using its ‘Freshtrusion’ process that cooks the fresh meat, then removes the water and fat to produce a thick gravy. This thick gravy is then cooked with the dry carbohydrate mixer that is blended and ground in the Ingredients Kitchen to produce the dry kibble. This kibble is then packed into a bag which will, in the future, contain a unique code.

This unique code will provide the provenance of the whole process, from the source of raw ingredients, identifying when the products were made and the laboratory test results achieved. This information will then be accessible, via a web service, on the partner brands web site, wherever they may be across the world, in order to demonstrate the provenance and quality of Lancashire-based pet food.

In May, Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Borough Council, unveiled the brand-new Ingredients Kitchen at Plocks Farm after three years of planning and an additional four years of construction.

The new facility allows GA to know the source of all raw materials and provides complete traceability

throughout the process.

GA celebrated this huge achievement in collaboration with nearly 150 suppliers and contractors from across the world, from The Netherlands to Japan, bringing together a wide range of knowledge and expertise alongside GA colleagues who will now run and manage the facility.

The company especially thanked Chorley Borough Council, without whose continued support and encouragement, the development would not have been possible.

Roger Bracewell said: “The grand opening of the Ingredients Kitchen is GA’s opportunity to say thank you to all those involved in the design, construction and commissioning of this technologically advanced process and for them to be proud of their achievements.

“I would also like to extend this thank you to our friends and neighbours, and allow them to see what we have been building in their local area over the last four years.

“GA has been supported throughout by Chorley Council, and this encouragement has allowed GA to grow over the last 30 years, where we now employ over 850 people.

“As GA continues to look to the future, it hopes to work with local residents and the Council on a mutual journey to a carbon-free world.”

GA is a private family-owned company that continues to develop and expand, keeping its

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{ GA Pet Food Partners }

stakeholders at the forefront of their developments.

It demonstrates to its Partners (the name GA gives to its customers) that working with GA gives access to market-leading technology and high-quality ingredients, meeting the needs of the changing marketplace – allowing full traceability and provenance for every ingredient and ultimately ensuring brand success for Partners.

The grand opening was followed by an open weekend allowing colleagues and local residents to visit with their families to see up close what has been constructed.

Fundamental to GA’s success are its colleagues. GA’s colleagues showcased their expertise over the three days, demonstrating their level of skill and knowledge through various demonstration stands.

The Company actively recruits from the local area, and there is an opportunity for residents to learn more about joining GA and becoming part of their journey.

With over 30 years of experience producing pet food, GA continues to strive to remain at the forefront of the pet food market. Partnership is fundamental to GA’s existence, delivering quality, innovation and integrity in everything they do.

But alongside this innovative new venture, GA launched its commitment to net zero and outlined how they plan to achieve this.

Visitors heard more about GA’s 2050 net zero proposal for Bretherton and how this mutual journey would work and look. As a pet food manufacturer, the process requires significant heat and power. GA, therefore, needs to use renewable and carbon-free energy sources to minimise their impact on the world around them, continue to reduce their local environmental impact and provide a truly sustainable solution for their Partners and the pets that they feed.

So what’s the big plan, and how is it going to work?

The idea is that if there is renewable electrical generation available, from the wind or solar sources, then residents of Bretherton, which has been GA’s home for decades, will be able to consume it up to the defined quantum, at any time of day, in each of the four weekly periods.

Therefore, effectively, residents have a four-weekly ‘bucket’ of energy that they consume at a time of their choosing, provided there is physical generation from the scheme. When the scheme is complete, this should represent approximately twice the current electrical consumption by residents.

As the project develops over time, residents will convert to energy storage systems that allow them to make the most of the energy when available, for example, charging electrical vehicles, heat pumps etc.

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Any surplus, unused energy is sold to the grid, and residents receive the full value for it.

The ‘surplus’ provides income for the communityowned Bretherton Energy, allowing it to install batteries and facilities to maximise the use of available energy.

It is a commitment to sustainable environmental practices by a company that has always felt it important to not only be the best possible partner for its customers and colleagues, but also for the community of which it is a proud part.

www.ga-petfoodpartners.co.uk

{ GA Pet Food Partners }

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May / June Food & Drink News

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{ Bodnant Welsh Food }

A welcome in the hillsides for the ultimate taste of Wales Bodnant Welsh Food truly is a celebration of all things Welsh, nestling in the beautiful countryside of the Conwy Valley and offering the best that Wales can offer in terms of cuisine… and so much more besides.

Started by a family that is passionate about food, the company aims to create a space where local suppliers can find the ultimate shop window for their wares, alongside homemade artisan products.

On the edges of the Snowdonia National Park, Furnace Farm dates back to the 18th century, and is also the home of the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre. It’s won a string of awards for its mission to celebrate the best of Wales, and that can be seen best in its amazing farm shop. A huge amount of the products on offer are made locally in north Wales, and some of it right there on the Bodnant Estate.

The complex boasts its own bakery, butchery and

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dairy, turning out handmade cheeses and ice cream.

And there is even a focus on Welsh wine, whisky and beer.

But if you wish to take a more leisurely approach to enjoying the cuisine on offer, the centre also has the Hayloft restaurant, where award-winning chefs are ready to utilise all that fabulous local produce to create mouth-watering dishes. If something lighter takes your fancy, there’s the Furnace Tea Room to enjoy a cake from the bakery or afternoon tea.

And if all that isn’t enough, visitors can also immerse themselves completely in Welsh cuisine by learning to cook it, at the centre’s state-of-the-art cookery school.

{ Bodnant Welsh Food }

If after all that you can’t bear to drag yourself away from this little slice of heaven… well, you don’t have to!

The original six-bedroom farmhouse can sleep up to 11 adults. Whether you choose to take the whole house or just one room, the farmhouse is the perfect place to rest after exploring north Wales.

It’s not just the body that Bodnant Welsh Food caters to, either. They nourish the mind, as well, through their yoga retreats.

They say, “By working with professionals such as Kate from Om Yoga North Wales, Alex from The Collective Wellness and the team from Craven Complete we’ve been able to offer a range of yoga and wellness

classes, a deeper understanding of nutrition and wellbeing, and a leading physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic. By doing so we have tried to establish a wellness hub with tranquil location helping you to feel healthier both in body and in mind.”

Bodnant Welsh Food aims to offer a holistic approach to food that provides the best, sustainable options and supports local manufacturers and suppliers, and offering a base to explore the beauty of north Wales as well as rapidly becoming a destination in its own right.

www.bodnant-welshfood.co.uk

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Clwydian range, Ffynnon Beuno is a 5-acre smallholding where we grow traditional varieties of all sorts of fruit and veg adapted specially to the Welsh climate which go into our jams and chutneys. Everything is cooked here in small batches in our 5-star hygiene rated kitchen.

We only sell locally to quality outlets like the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre who understand that good food is the essential part of a good life!

www.ffynnonbeuno.co.uk

May / June Food & Drink News

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{ Tim Hortons }

Coffee and so much more…

Tim Hortons marches on with expansion across the UK When we last caught up with Tim Hortons a year ago, the Canadian brand was ramping up its mission to get an outlet in every major town and city in the UK. Well, the last year has seen amazing gains across the country as the company gains a major foothold in not just the geography of Britain, but the tastebuds of its coffee drinkers as well.

The Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons is an iconic North American brand, with thousands of restaurants and drive-thru outlets across the continent.

A year ago Tim Hortons had 27 restaurants in the UK and Ireland. What’s happened for the company in the last 12 months?

Kevin Hydes, Chief Commercial Officer at Tim Hortons UK and Ireland, said, “We now have 51 trading restaurants, having opened several sites across the UK, and the business is continuing to perform very well for

us, which is fantastic. We are getting great customer responses from all of the new openings and we have just announced another 10 sites coming soon. Our new flagship site in Manchester’s Market Street is opening and we have a site coming in London, which has previously been a big gap in our geographical offering, and we expect the site in Park Royal, north-west London, to be very popular as there has been a lot of demand for it.”

As a new-to-the-UK brand, Tim Hortons has been growing awareness over the past couple of years in what is a crowded market for coffee and quick service meals. But it’s definitely paying off. Kevin said: “The brand awareness has grown significantly, we are seeing

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{ Tim Hortons }

huge demand for the brand and people are very keen to experience it. And when they do, they enjoy the products and the quality of our service and become regular and frequent guests, so we’re pleased to be in this position to keep developing the business and bringing it to new communities. It’s very exciting times.”

Covid, of course, meant that eating in was highly curtailed, and during this time Tim Hortons saw a rising demand for its takeaway and drive-thru services, but now people are keen to get back in the restaurants as well, and they are seeing a huge growth in dine-in visitors.

Part of Tim Hortons’ appeal is a menu that constantly evolves throughout the day, offering breakfast and then lunchtime and evening offerings. It’s the breakfast, thanks to introductory price point deals, that has been very successful in drawing in new customers, said Kevin.

He added: “We have a very broad menu that appeals to customers across the day, and our significant promotional offers for the last year have encouraged people to try our breakfasts as their first introduction to us. We’re a new brand in the UK so people who aren’t too sure are trying us out because £2.99 isn’t a great barrier to entry, and through that we are building a loyal base.

“As we move through the course of the day we have a good range of lunch and evening meal items, such as Tims® Crispy Chicken Sandwiches and burgers, and more coffee-shop-style food such as grilled cheese

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melts and wraps so we really see the growth in that.”

Tim Hortons is famous for its coffee and donuts, though, and the company continues to innovate in those areas — with special twists for the British market.

They have just launched a range of filled donut rings for the summer season which have a really British theme — chocolate truffle, strawberry trifle and lemon meringue flavours. Kevin said: “And everything is handmade on site which guarantees a fresh product and helps us stand out from the competition”.

Also popular in summer is the Iced Capp®, Tims® Shake iced beverage range, and the newly introduced Lemonade Refreshers.

The Tim Hortons brand was founded in 1964 by its

{ Tim Hortons }

namesake, a top professional ice hockey player, who wanted to create a space where everyone would feel at home.

After the first store opened in Hamilton, Ontario, the brand began to firmly establish itself, and by 1976 had introduced its Timbit donut, which immediately became an iconic Canadian brand.

In 1999 the company brought out its Iced Capp® drink, and the following year, as the new millennium dawned, they appropriately opened their 2,000th restaurant in downtown Toronto.

Tim Hortons even coined a phrase that made it into the Canadian Oxford dictionary — ‘double double’, meaning two shots of cream and two of sugar, which first became a pop cultural term before gaining the dictionary seal of approval in 2004, 40 years after the company was founded.

Fast-forward to 2019 and nearly eight out of 10 cups of coffee sold across Canada are served at Tim Hortons restaurants and more than 5.3 million Canadians – approximately 15% of the population – visit the cafe daily.

As well as the famous donuts, Timbits and range of beverages, customers also get as part of the offer hearty breakfast options, as well as a variety of meal items such as sandwiches, wraps and toasted melts, all fresh and made-to-order using quality ingredients.

The first Tim Hortons in the UK opened its doors in Glasgow in June 2017 to huge fanfare, with fans travelling from across the country and queuing overnight to sample the brand’s famed coffee and baked goods.

The Tim Hortons ethos is straightforward: “At Tim Hortons, we believe that you shouldn’t have to compromise. Whether you want a hot freshly prepared breakfast on the way to work served with our smooth, delicious coffee; a great choice of freshly prepared sandwiches and wraps or one of our famously

irresistible donuts for a sweet afternoon treat, Tim Hortons is the place to visit. However, there’s more to Tim Hortons than great-tasting fresh food and coffee.

We work hard to deliver the highest quality products and service and strive to be a leader in everything we do.”

Evolving from quality premium coffee – that is still the main plank of their menu — the consumer offer now includes hot and cold speciality drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso), speciality teas and fruit coolers, freshly prepared baked goods, hot madeto-order sandwiches, toasted sandwiches and wraps.

Tim Hortons has more than 4,700 system-wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States, and around the world. It is owned by fast food giant Restaurant Brands International, which is also behind Burger King and the Popeyes fried chicken chain.

Last year, Tim Hortons laid out its expansion plans and said that it hoped to open an outlet in every major city and town in the UK over the next couple of years, creating more than 2,000 jobs nationwide.

For the future, Tim Hortons is planning to embark on the next phase of growth in the UK with a focus on drive-thru, delivery and key high street locations.

“Our plan is to continue growing the Tim Hortons estate, both in London and nationwide, and along with this, we will likely trial new concepts to meet the needs of our ever-growing fanbase. We consider ourselves a real contender within the QSR sector and have ambitions to become the preferred brand of choice, no matter what occasion our guests are seeking to enjoy,” said Kevin.

“We have a dedicated acquisition and construction team with us supporting our ambitious growth plan and we will be continuing to actively look for leasehold and freehold opportunities across the UK and Ireland.”

www.timhortons.co.uk

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