Food & Drink News September 2016

PRIMERA TECHNOLOGY ORIGINAL LIQUEURS, ORIGINAL LABELS

SEPTEMBER 2016 £4.75

P02 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2016

CONTENTS PAGE 04 NEWS UPDATES 11

CHRISTMAS FOCUS

14

PRIMERA TECHNOLOGY

15

LOLA’S CUPCAKES

16

LEEWAYS PACKAGING

20

MODEL FARM SHOP

23

LA FAVORITA

24

TSL PROJECTS

26

EH NICHOLLS TRANSPORT

04

14

15

20

24

TO VIEW THE 2016 FEATURES LIST PLEASE VISIT WWW.FOODANDDRINKNEWS.CO.UK OR CONTACT US AT +44(0)1484 321000 TO EMAIL A COPY TO YOU Food & Drink News is published by Planet Media & Design Ltd. Company registered in England & Wales, number 09365661. All material is the copyright of Planet Media & Design Ltd. All rights reserved. Food & Drink News is the property of Planet Media & Design Ltd. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a Director of Planet Media & Design Ltd. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers can not be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

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EDITOR’S FOREWORD chief editor michelle hodgson deputy editor rachael whiteley art director paul roper senior designer jamie quarmby graphic designer ben wainman advertising production rachael whiteley production manager rachael whiteley accountant kerry monkhouse MICHELLE HODGSON - CHIEF EDITOR

proofreader becky ashwell

Planet Media & Design Ltd Brooke’s Mill Armitage Bridge Huddersfield HD4 7NR Tel: 01484 321000 Fax: 01484 502237 Email: food@planet-media.co.uk www.foodanddrinknews.co.uk

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DEBATING THE ISSUES At present around 40% of the food consumed in the UK is imported, and the figure has been rising. In some instances this is inevitable – a simple fact of the climate required to grow certain crops – in others, more could be done to help new growers set up and existing producers compete on their home turf.

Weather, crop diseases, market volatility and changing consumer behaviour can all have an influence on UK food sales and prices. Despite the importance of food production to the UK manufacturing sector and to the wider economy, it shouldn’t be taken for granted that things will continue as they are.

Back in 2015, before the last election, Meurig Raymond, the President of the NFU, said: “The stark choice for the next government is whether to trust the nation’s food security to volatile world markets or to back British farming and reverse the worrying trend in food production.”

Debating the issues and exchanging ideas are a good place to start, and both will be in evidence at Food Matters Live (www.foodmatterslive.com), held from 22-24 November at ExCeL, London.

An annual exhibition, it is billed as a crosssector event “bringing together professionals

from across the food and drink industry, nutrition and health to address one of the most important challenges of our time: the relationship between food, health, nutrition and their connections with the environment, population health and wellbeing”.

More than 600 exhibitors will be taking part this year, from food producers and testing laboratories to universities and professional industry bodies.

Leading figures from government, industry, science and health, along with commentators and chefs, will be on hand: from TV and radio presenters Anita Anand and Jonathan Dimbleby to chef Raymond Blanc OBE and longdistance runner Paula Radcliffe MBE, who is the Commissioner for the World Health Organisation Ending Childhood Obesity Commission.

Industry representatives will take part in more than 80 seminars on a wide range of subjects, including: ‘Tackling Britain’s obesity crisis’, ‘The ethics of marketing food to children’, ‘Sugar and society’ and ‘The impact of media and celebrity on eating habits: a help or hindrance’.

We hope you enjoy this month’s news and features.

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NEWS UPDATES

LINPAC DISCUSSES FUTURE OF PLASTIC PACKAGING AT EUPC, BRUSSELS Retailers, food manufacturers and the packaging converting sector need to design packaging for both functionality and the environment, according to LINPAC, the leading fresh food packaging manufacturer.

Innovation Consultant for LINPAC, Alan Davey, is a keynote speaker at next month’s The Future of Plastics Packaging event.

Held by the European Plastics Converters Association (EUPC) in Brussels, the one-day event will bring together key players from the plastics sector, brand owners, research centres and the European institutions to discuss potential challenges facing the industry. The conference will feature a number of presentations, debates and working

groups.

During the event, Mr Davey will outline why packaging in itself is ‘a green technology’ protecting and preserving food throughout the supply chain and thereby reducing food waste.

“While packaging today already plays a key role in combating food waste,” comments Mr Davey “the challenge is to educate our societies that packaging adds value, not waste.

If we focus too hard on environmental issues like recycling, we can miss the big picture and forget what packaging achieves so well for modern society”.

Mr Davey will be arguing that food is actually a greater contributor to the waste stream than packaging, and that packaging’s environmental costs are greatly over-played.

In particular, Mr Davey will discuss packaging sustainability. He will address the challenges retailers, brands and packaging converters face as the trend shifts from pack sustainability to the greater scope of environmental responsibility.

Operating across a network of 14 manufacturing sites serving 71 countries, LINPAC manufactures fully recyclable rPET and PP rigid packaging for meat, fish and poultry.

In addition, the company supplies a range of rigid and flexible innovative packaging solutions for the meat protein, bakery, convenience foods, food service, and fruit and vegetable markets in conjunction with its global INFIA and barrier films businesses.

“Developing and delivering innovative and efficient packaging solutions has always been a key objective of LINPAC,”, continues Mr Davey. “Fresh thinking is at the heart of our company and LINPAC is at the forefront of developing novel packaging designs for our customers that add value and help the environment by improving their

ability to protect and preserve foodstuffs.

“Consumers are demanding that brands and retailers produce more efficient packaging, both in terms of performance and environmental impact. At LINPAC, we are leading the packaging industry with new and unique rigid and flexible packaging solutions that address these key needs.”

Packaging manufacturers are working smarter than ever before to meet the demand for packs that are lighter, optimise material use and are fully recyclable. The push for creativity and innovation in the packaging industry is seen as equally important. However, true sustainability, according to Mr Davey, should be seen as packaging’s core role to protect and preserve food, minimising waste across the supply chain.

Alan Davey will be speaking on Monday 20 September, 2016 at the event, held by EUPC at 71 Avenue de Cortenbergh, 1000, Brussels.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LINPAC PLEASE VISIT WWW.LINPAC.COM

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NEWS UPDATES

NEWSMITH STAINLESS BRINGS PROVEN BAKING EQUIPMENT EXPERTISE TO IBIE 2016 Newsmith Stainless is bringing its extensive expertise in bakery goods production equipment to this year’s International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) in Las Vegas.

Encompassing its acclaimed Oddy range of specialist equipment, the organisation – which is co-sharing the stand with LeMatic Inc. with which it has a close working relationship – is demonstrating both performance and its extensive, international track record.

At the heart of stand 5507 are demonstrations of a range of Oddy equipment. This includes ‘Novatek’ dough divider rounders which, across the range, offer two to eight row configurations and can be specified to incorporate intermediate proofing, single or multi-head seeding and indexing cross conveyors. The process does

not use divider oil, reducing running costs and ensuring extremely clean machine operation.

Oddy finishing tables, which offer a choice of 600/800/1,000mm belt widths, are also in the spotlight. The modular design allows singular or multiple units to be installed or removed to suit production requirements. Bread roll panners join the Oddy range being demonstrated and offer the same choice of belt widths. Importantly, the design features invertercontrolled conveyor belt speeds to ensure a uniform dough product spacing, elimination of erratic movement and a reduction in wear and tear.

The organisation’s presence at the show is enhanced by a range of Newsmith Stainless equipment which offers key advantages to the

bakery sector. This includes modular basket washers which can process up to 8,000 units an hour and are capable of handling all types and sizes of baskets. The design can provide filtration, air-knife and high pressure label removal systems, and can, significantly, operate via a choice of heating mediums.

The same high levels of performance are achieved with the Newsmith range of basket stackers – also being highlighted on the stand.

Handling in excess of 32 units per minute, installations can be specified with automatic pallet and dolly loading, and are ideal for use with Newsmith’s basket and pallet conveyors.

In all cases, the Newsmith and Oddy equipment combines gentle

handling with a robust, easy to maintain construction. All visitors to Stand 5507 will be able to see for themselves the high levels of performance that are achieved and gain a full understanding of why the organisation has built a leading reputation in the baking industry worldwide.

TEL: 01924 405988 WWW.NEWSMITHS.CO.UK

NEW CREVICE SCRUB FROM VIKAN IMPROVES DETAIL CLEANING OF FLOORS

To help food and beverage industry customers further improve hygiene through effective cleaning of edges, corners, grouting and

narrow spaces, Vikan has launched the Crevice Scrub. The new brush features a V-shaped filament pattern with differentiated filament thicknesses, a swivel system for ergonomic cleaning under tables and equipment, and a clip fit handle for hygienic cleaning of the brush and handle.

Intended primarily for use in the food and beverage industry, the new Crevice Brush is designed for highefficacy detail cleaning of hard-toclean floor areas, with excellent ergonomics and hygienic cleaning subsequent to use. Benefits include: • V-shaped filament pattern for reaching into crevices

• Stiffer filaments in the centre of the head for loosening trapped dirt • Handle swivels nearly parallel with floor for reaching under tables etc.

• Hygienically designed clip fit system lets users remove handle prior to cleaning • Colour-coded for cleaning tool segregation Deb Smith, Vikan’s Global Hygiene Specialist, says: “No floor is truly clean until the entire floor is clean, which means corners, edges, grouting between tiles and hard-to-reach narrow areas.

The new Crevice Scrub empowers users to reach and thoroughly clean

all these areas with less effort and strain. The hygiene improvements continue even after use, as the brush head can be separated from the handle for hygienic tool cleaning – even in the join between handle and head, where dirt and potential contaminants can accumulate”.

Available now, the Crevice Scrub comes in five colours – green, blue, red, white and yellow – to facilitate colour-coded segregation of cleaning tools.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL VIKAN ON 01793 716760, EMAIL SALES@VIKAN.CO.UK OR CHECK THE WEB: WWW.VIKAN.CO.UK

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NEWS UPDATES

BOX OPENS UP A LUXURIOUS EXPERIENCE

A premium presentation box from Leicester-based luxury packaging manufacturer Pollard Boxes is providing a new range from Hotel Chocolat with an air of indulgence

and establishing it as a luxurious gift. The innovative box, used for the market-leading brand’s Cabinet range, offers customers a memorable opening experience, while reflecting

the brand’s reputation for being fresh, creative and innovative.

The pack makes use of two separate opening devices. A ribbon-pull drawer houses the

PACKAGING AUTOMATION LTD AT PPMA TOTAL SHOW Take time during your visit to discover the Packaging Automation art gallery displaying a number of masterpieces and learn about our programme of interactive workshops and masterclasses.

Do you have problems with automation? Production costs?

Process efficiency? Reliability? Pack integrity? Come and challenge PA

to help improve and maximise your factory’s performance, stand J31.

PACKAGING AUTOMATION LTD PARKGATE INDUSTRIAL PARK KNUTSFORD CHESHIRE WA16 8XW TEL: 01565 755000 WWW.PAL.CO.UK

bottom layer of chocolates while the fixed tray for the top layer features a jacket-style magnetic lid closure.

The drawer has a high quality ribbon-pull and the closure delivers an audible click, both features contributing to the ‘reveal’ of the chocolates and generating a sense of excitement and anticipation for the consumer.

The premium quality image of Hotel Chocolat is conveyed through the use of a heavy coverage deboss repeat pattern of the jacket lid, while the logo is foiled in black, white and clear foil onto two different shades of grey colourplan, one for each of the Classic and Dark pack varieties. Contrasting black gloss foil is used on the two box sides to further enhance the luxury positioning.

Pollard’s in-house print finishing expertise was critical in meeting the combined challenges of debossing and foiling, including the ability to test and proof different alternative materials before selecting the most appropriate solution.

TEL: 0116 275 2666 WWW.POLLARDBOXES.CO.UK

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NEWS UPDATES 50% FASTER POUCH CODING WITH NEW RF1-V+ Rotech, the Hertfordshire designer of end-to-end coding and feeding systems, is using The PPMA Total Show as the launchpad for a new offline coder dedicated to pouches.

The new RF1-V+ offers a 50% improvement in speed through design innovations including a shingling infeed and extended reservoir capacity.

Drawing on its feeding system expertise, Rotech has engineered the RF1V+, an offline overprinting system that is capable of coding up to 60 pouches, with a maximum width of 375mm, per minute. Using vacuum pick and place technology, pouches are picked from a stack, placed onto a conveyor for printing, and then the printed pouches are neatly placed onto another stack for collection.

Rotech has achieved this 50% improvement in speed by incorporating a shingling conveyor into the infeed, which in turn enables the hopper that

supplies the system with unmarked pouches to be enlarged to hold up to 300 pouches at a time.

The RF1-V+ can be fitted with a range of printing technologies, though a thermal transfer printer is generally the preferred option in this application, particularly when late wide format customisation is required. The RF1-V+ will be unveiled at The PPMA Total Show on stand F12.

TEL: 01707 393700 WWW.ROTECHMACHINES.COM

DIRECT FOOD INGREDIENTS CELEBRATES 21ST BIRTHDAY

Leading food, nutritional and sports ingredients distributor, Direct Food Ingredients Limited (DFI) celebrated its 21st birthday in style on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 September.

The company held two lavish parties across the two evenings at Macclesfield Town Hall to celebrate the landmark milestone and invited customers, suppliers and staff to enjoy a memorable evening in their home town. Also in attendance was the company’s charity of the year,

Space4Autism.

Operating globally, DFI opened a dedicated US office in 2015 and the business is set to turn over £16m in sales by the end of the year.

Steve Loake, MD, commented: “We are thrilled to be celebrating our 21st birthday this month. We have come a very long way since we started all those years ago and it was wonderful that we could commemorate our achievements at these two very special events.

“I would like to thank all of our customers who have believed in us from the very beginning and also a special thank you to the DFI team, as their hard work and commitment has helped us get to where we are today. We look forward to our next milestone.”

The business is an established leader in the importation, storage and distribution of functional foods, nutritional and sports ingredients as well as vitamin and mineral premixes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DIRECT FOOD INGREDIENTS GO TO WWW.DIRECTFOOD.NET

ISHIDA ITPS HELPS SNACKS GROWTH

Three Ishida Atlas iTPS systems, soon to be joined by a fourth, are weighing and packing the majority of the 60 million bags (12,000 tonnes) of snacks produced each year by Aperitivos y Extrusionados (Apex), one of Spain’s top three snack food manufacturers.

Vital to efficient operation is the interface at which the high speed multihead weigher hands product over to high speed bagmaker.

This is why, over ten years ago, Ishida became the first company to manufacture integrated weigher-bagmaker combinations. This enabled Ishida design engineers to consider the interface as a whole rather than as separate parts, and to carry on refining it over the years.

“Ishida multiheads are excellent and the Atlas bagmaker is very fast and reliable, with a very good product drop from one to the other,” says Agustin Miguélez, Apex Technical Director.

“The Atlas ECO (the latest Atlas system currently being purchased by Apex) is an excellent solution for pillow bags, a good combination of throughput, productivity and price.”

Bag quality is of great importance and here, the rotary-motion sealing jaws, the hot-steel back-seal unit and the precise and consistent control of the film feed all play their part.

“The quality of the bags is excellent,” comments Agustin Miguélez, “and the scrap rate with the Atlas is practically zero.”

TEL: 0121 607 7700 WWW.ISHIDAEUROPE.COM

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NEWS UPDATES

NEW OLIVER DOUGLAS CLEANING SYSTEM AT LEADING BAKERY BUILDS ON 40 YEARS’ PERFORMANCE

The installation of a new Panamatic 700 unit at Fosters Bakery is not only enhancing the company’s production quality but also pays testimony to the Oliver Douglas design – the installation

replaces a unit that has been operating reliably since the 1970s.

Accessed via a front opening door, the stainless steel unit is available around the clock for a variety of washing duties – from

ingredient bins and weighing tubs to machine parts.

“The Panamatic also reinforces our commitment to healthy production,” says John Foster, Managing Director at Fosters Bakery. “Because it provides a separate clean rinse after the initial wash and rinse stages, it optimises allergen removal.” This was achieved previously via a manual rinse operation so there is a clear benefit now in terms of manpower deployment. “The operator simply loads, presses the button and then moves on to other duties,” he adds.

The Panamatic design has also allowed the installation to

VIKAN LAUNCHES NEW HYGIENIC PIPE BRUSH To help food and beverage producers maintain the very highest hygiene standards, Vikan has developed a new 90mm diameter One-Piece Pipe Brush. The new brush features a handle and head moulded from a single piece of high-quality polypropylene – a design innovation that helps users reduce the risk of food safety issues.

On the brush head, differentiated filament thicknesses improve cleaning efficacy, with stiffer filaments at the tip of the head tackling dirt aggressively on first contact.

The One-Piece Pipe Brush is ideal for a wide range of equipment, including meat mincers, wine industry tank outlets, equipment with straight pipes, and any item where a rounded brush head can

benefit cleaning. Advantages include: • Hygienic one-piece construction • Stiffer filaments at the tip of the brush head • Optimised 90mm head diameter • Easy-to-clean, hygienically designed hanging hole • Fully colour-coded for cleaning tool segregation • Fits all Vikan wall brackets Deb Smith, Vikan’s Global Hygiene Specialist, says: “Food and water can become trapped in cleaning tool joints on traditional pipe brushes. When this happens, it can lead to microbial growth and the potential for crosscontamination. By eliminating this connection point via one-piece construction, we’ve eliminated a potential source of contaminant

build-up both around the joint and within the brush head. The new brush also delivers improved cleaning efficacy, thanks to stiffer filaments at the end of the brush head, where most of the cleaning takes place.”

The One-Piece Pipe Brush will replace Vikan’s previous 90mm diameter pipe brush and is available now in green, blue, red, white, yellow and black.

TO FIND OUT MORE CALL VIKAN ON 01793716760, EMAIL SALES@VIKAN.CO.UK OR CHECK THE WEB: WWW.VIKAN.CO.UK.

accommodate Fosters Bakery’s existing heating system. “Steam heating is at the heart of the company’s processes so the unit has been configured to interface directly with the steam ring main,” says John Glover, Sales Manager at Oliver Douglas.

“The new Oliver Douglas Panamatic system represents a beneficial step forward and we believe it will make an ongoing contribution to maintaining our high quality production principles,” concludes John Foster.

TEL: 01924 405988 WWW.NEWSMITHS.CO.UK

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NEWS UPDATES

SCHÄR LAUNCHES SIX NEW GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS TO MEET GROWING DEMAND

Schär – Europe’s favourite in gluten-free1 and fastest growing gluten-free brand in the UK2 – has brought six new lines to the UK market in 2016 with the latest additions now available in-store.

Schär’s NPD efforts are dedicated to bringing high quality products to consumers, which are nutritionally sound and benchmarked against mainstream equivalents to ensure

gluten-free shoppers have no need to compromise on taste.

The product launches include: Schär Pain au Chocolat, £3.20 (four pack): made from delicate puff pastry, this oven-baked flaky patisserie is filled with melt in the mouth chocolate, baked to perfection then frozen for convenience, so consumers can enjoy the product straight from the oven.

Schär Seeded Ciabatta Rolls, £2.00: made with linseeds and sunflower seeds and baked using a sourdough recipe for a lighter texture. These rolls are low in saturated fat and are gluten, wheat and lactose free.

Schär Salti Crackers, £1.99: delicious gluten, wheat and lactose free salted mini crackers, perfect as a savoury snack to share with friends

or eat on the go.

Schär White Baguette, £3.00: these high fibre baguettes are perfectly crunchy on the outside with a soft and fluffy crumb.

Schär Veggie Pizza, £3.00: a thincrust authentic Italian pizza topped with roasted vegetables and mozzarella.

Schär Panini Rolls, £1.99: soft and filling, these low fat, high fibre panini rolls are proving popular for a deli-style lunch, whether at work, school or on a trip.

Bradley Grimshaw, UK Managing Director of Schär, comments: “We are dedicated to providing consumers with great tasting glutenfree foods and our three new bread lines will help to further increase the options available to consumers.

Extending the choice for those following a gluten-free diet is one of

our core principles and we are excited about the latest innovations joining our portfolio.”

TO ENQUIRE ABOUT LISTING SCHÄR PRODUCTS PLEASE CONTACT SALES.UK@DRSCHAER.C OM, OR CALL 01925 865100. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.SCHAR.CO.UK REFERENCES EUROMONITOR DATA 2014 2 SOURCE: IRI, TOP 6 RETAILERS, 52 W/E 9TH JULY 2016 1

NEW ROLLAGRANOLA STIRRING UP BREAKFAST Breakfast has long been hailed as the most important meal of the day and the nation is becoming increasingly passionate about taking on a well-balanced breakfast.

Rollagranola offers a delicious new granola range that provides consumers with an enjoyable, healthy and nutritious breakfast packed full of only natural goodness.

The Rollagranola range boasts fruit, nut and seed granola combinations to suit every taste, all with no additives or artificial sugars yet still delivering amazing flavours and keeping hunger at bay. What’s more, each filling 40g serving comes in at under 200 calories!

Each of these unique granolas are handmade by a trusted team, overseen by founder Robin Longden, who is on a mission to change the face of breakfast in the UK. Robin says: “It was

clear that in the drive to make food cheaper manufacturers had taken out the most nutritious ingredients – nuts, fruit and seeds, and replaced these with sugar, fats and cereals.

“Our granola is made with products you recognise on the label – packed full of natural protein and no additives. Anyone looking for clear unambiguous claims about food ingredients will not be disappointed!”

ROLLAGRANOLA IS AVAILABLE NOW FROM: WWW.ROLLAGRANOLA.COM. RSP £4.90

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NEWS UPDATES

HANOVIA’S DISTRIBUTOR MIKRON SHOWING PERFORMANCE QUALIFIED UV TECHNOLOGY AT ISTANBUL WATER EXPO UV disinfection specialist Hanovia, through its Turkish distributor Mikron, is showcasing its PQ (Performance Qualified) UV disinfection technology at the Istanbul Water Expo between 1-3 September (Hall 11, Booth 1115).

Designed specifically to provide validated, performance qualified and chemical-free UV treatment of water in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, the PureLine PQ and PharmaLine PQ UV systems respectively take disinfection to another level.

“I see the PQ as a kind of ‘policeman’, guarding your water process and offering you peace of mind that your process is safe,” says

Halim Mirza, Hanovia’s Middle Eastern & Africa Regional Manager.

“This is because its disinfection performance and dose calculation has been verified by a third party.

The advanced controller continuously calculates the dose, responding to changes in water quality, and will alarm should the dose deviate from the set limits.

Comprehensive validation documentation is also available to enable the UV system’s performance to be verifiable throughout its operation period.”

Hanovia’s Global Marketing Manager, Gunvinder Bhogal, added, “Turkey and the wider region is a very important market for Hanovia.

With customers in the region becoming more conscious about energy saving, our new UVEO (UV Energy Optimised) technology lines up with green initiatives, providing a critical barrier against contamination by non-chemical means. Using the system at particular points in the water treatment process also allows customers to prolong the life of other components, such as reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, by eliminating the risk of downstream contamination.”

The Istanbul Water Expo is the only event in Turkey focused solely on the water and wastewater

industry. It brings together a comprehensive range of technologies and developments in the sustainable use of water resources and effective water management, water and wastewater treatment and reuse in one location.

TEL: 01753 515300 WWW.HANOVIA.COM

WINNING BACK UNHAPPY SHOPPERS

A new study has revealed mass consumer frustration with the foodshopping experience, with each of the UK’s ‘big four’ supermarkets suffering a fall in sales in the last 12 weeks.

The new retail app Ubamarket® commissioned a survey of over 2,000 UK consumers. The study – titled Reviving Retail 2016 – found

that 66% of Britons were dissatisfied with the in-store supermarket shopping experience, equating to 33.6 million shoppers across the country. Of the respondents, 27% said they have reduced the frequency with which they visit the supermarket or buy food online.

The main frustrations were long queues and struggling to find items.

71% of online food shoppers are also unhappy with the quality of service they receive, citing not being able to select produce and receiving unwanted replacement items as major irritants. 28% said buying food was their least favourite shopping experience.

To help overcome the issues driving consumers away from supermarkets, Ubamarket® will launch to market in-store from 12 September. Ubamarket® combines the efficiency of online retail with the benefits of the in-store experience. The iOS app rearranges the products on your shopping list according to their location in-store; tracking each item in order of convenience, total spend, special offers and loyalty points. The app empowers the shopper by making in-store shopping faster, more costefficient and slashing checkout times.

Ubamarket® is due for national roll-out in association with leading payment and loyalty solutions supplier HTEC Ltd, part of Universe Group Plc, whose portfolio of stores includes Morrisons, Budgens, Nisa and Spar.

The app has been developed to launch across HTEC’s extensive group of UK stores in 2016/2017.

The Ubamarket® app was built by DMI, a leader in end-to-end mobility solutions. DMI worked closely with Ubamarket® to understand the changing needs of supermarket shoppers and ensure these needs were addressed throughout every step of the development process. Together, Ubamarket® and DMI delivered a user experience that is easy to follow and simple for any shopper to get to grips with.

WWW.UBAMARKET.COM

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CHRISTMAS FOCUS

INNOVATION IN WAREHOUSE AUTOMATION: PLANNING FOR PEAK

BY AARON SCOTT, BUSINESS UNIT DIRECTOR AT WINCANTON.

At Wincanton, we manage the logistics supply chains of some of the UK’s biggest retailers. This means we’ve seen first-hand how changing consumer behaviours are impacting upon periods of peak demand like Christmas – the festive season now starts even earlier in the year and the emergence of new setpiece shopping events like Black Friday are re-writing the rule book on peak planning.

As a result, now more than ever, there’s a strategic imperative to shift goods quickly and efficiently during these busy times. And the stakes are high – with competition for each and every pound spent getting fiercer every year, retailers can ill afford to let the side down when it comes to fulfilling orders.

Thankfully, in recent years we’ve seen the emergence of new, digitally-enabled and connected warehouse automation systems.

These innovative technologies are helping retailers address the challenges of peak by providing greater visibility of stock flows and speeding up the whole distribution process.

Of course, automative technologies are not new to the warehouse and at Wincanton, we’ve been operating effective automated solutions for over 20 years. What has changed is the ‘smart’ nature of the latest innovations. These often combine a variety of hardware and software solutions – from automated conveyors through to smart sensors, industrial robots, telematics and mobile applications.

The net effect is that efficiency, service reliability, safety and productivity all have the potential to improve across the board as innovations in picking, packing and shipping processes become more advanced.

At the site of one of our customers, thanks to a combination of robotics, conveyors and smart software, over 90% of the 88 million cases we help them despatch each year are untouched by human hands. Besides driving huge efficiency gains and improved levels of responsiveness during busy periods, this means the occupational health risks associated with manual handling tasks are also minimised.

This is important as, according to the government’s Health and Safety Executive, musculoskeletal disorders caused by manual handling (including lower back pain and neck pain) account for more than 40% of reported ‘over-3-day’ injuries in warehouses.

But it’s not just the warehouse floor that’s reaping the benefits of new innovations – stock auditing and tracking practices can now be a painless exercise, devoid of wasteful paper and time-consuming administration. Everything can be monitored in real-time and recorded automatically – there’s no need to manually scan a barcode to register a case; smart sensors do this for you.

Improvements to operational efficiency and financial management can therefore extend across a business.

Ultimately, peaks in customer demand are driving new ways of working across the sector. When you consider the wider evolution of consumer behaviours – including the growing use of online shopping and home delivery – it’s easy to see why many retailers now see

automated warehouse solutions as vital to the future success of their business.

However, it goes without saying that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to designing and implementing what can be very complex automated systems. What works for one business can often not work at all for another. Design has to be informed by capacity, individual business challenges and strategies. It can also be hard for a business to keep on top of the latest developments in automotive technology and how they might be integrated within existing systems.

Retailers are increasingly working with their third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and suppliers to cherry-pick the best elements of technology and provide the best possible service for their customers and keep costs down. By working together to build new automative systems into a business, all parties can look forward to a very merry Christmas.

P12 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2016

CHRISTMAS FOCUS

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AT CHRISTMAS WITH WARNINGS ABOUT RETAIL SALES FOLLOWING BREXIT, WILL CONSUMERS BE CUTTING BACK THIS CHRISTMAS OR WILL IT STILL BE TURKEY WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS? a longer term trend signalling a recession – which would affect consumer confidence and spending power.

It’s also worth remembering that many were tightening their belts prior to Brexit. Following two years of stable spending at Christmas, a YouGov poll for 2015 found that the average UK household was planning to spend £796 on gifts, food and drink over the festive season, a fall of £24 on the 2014 figure. This was in part attributed to planned savings on food and drink (an average of £159, down from £174 in 2014), with consumers expected to take advantage of supermarket price wars and negative inflation.

However, a survey by the retail marketing agency Live and Breathe suggests that the majority of UK shoppers (59%, based on a survey of 1,000 adult shoppers from across the UK) are not planning to change their spending for Christmas 2016.

TURKEY AND TIPPLES

As Chancellor Philip Hammond announces he is looking at the option of revising government spending plans, what is the likelihood that British households might do the same when it comes to spending this Christmas?

While some say that we will have lower shopping bills following Brexit as we’ll be able to buy cheaper food on the world markets outside the Common Agricultural Policy, for the time being the weak pound continues to have an impact on imported food and drink.

Meanwhile Markit, a world leader in providing critical information, analytics and solutions for major industries, reported on 22 July that the UK economy was contracting at a rate of 0.4%. “July saw a dramatic deterioration in the economy, with business activity slumping at the fastest rate since the height of the global financial crisis in early 2009,” said Chris Williamson, Chief Economist at Markit. The GDP figures for the next quarter at the end of October will give a clearer picture as to whether this is a blip or

When it comes to Christmas lunch, it’s no surprise that turkey remains the number one choice. The British Turkey website (www.britishturkey.co.uk) states that approximately 10 million turkeys were consumed in the UK last year.

It also features a survey (conducted

by OnePoll with a sample of 2,000 adults) showing that two-thirds (66%) of us were planning to sit down to a turkey dinner for Christmas 2015, with chicken as the next highest alternative (7%) followed by beef (6%).

Meanwhile, Kantar Worldpanel

(www.kantarworldpanel.com) reported in January of this year that the grocery share figures for the 12 weeks ending 3 January 2016 showed “no Christmas uplift for the British grocery market... mainly due to cheaper poultry and traditional vegetable trimmings”.

It was a different story with Christmas drinks, however: “Alcohol sales increased thanks to a surge in popularity for sparkling wines including Champagne and Prosecco, which increased in value by 11%.”

The multiples that did well last Christmas were Sainsbury’s, which benefited from simple price cuts on its Taste the Difference brand; Waitrose, which saw shoppers ‘trading up’ for their Christmas shop; and the Co-operative – while discounters Aldi and Lidl continued to increase sales.

GIFT SETS

One school of thought is that uncertainty in the economy will put people off making larger purchases such as cars, houses and expensive holidays, and that they will spend instead on smaller luxuries and treats.

Christmas food and drink gifts are always popular and some brands have already announced their plans for gift sets for the 2016 festive season.

Fudge Kitchen (www.fudgekitchen.co.uk) has launched a range of Christmas gifts and stocking fillers, including several Great Taste Award-winning products. Its new handmade and hand-decorated Tempters boxes contain gluten-free products made

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P13

CHRISTMAS FOCUS

with natural ingredients, such as its Peanut Brittle, Vanilla Toffee Liquid Fudge Sauce and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Another new product for Christmas 2016 is its Fudge Fondues: marshmallows for dipping in mini jars of flavoured liquid fudge, while its stocking fillers include The Xmas Slim Slider, Duo Winter Spice and Christmas Selection Drinking Fudge. There are

even Fudge Making Experience certificates, redeemable at the company’s seven nationwide stores.

For those looking for savoury options new for Christmas 2016, A Little Bit (www.alittlebit.co.uk) has launched a gift set of four 100ml bottles of condiments: Red Onion and Parsley, Balsamic and Thyme, Raspberry and Mint, and Lemon and Tarragon. All are created using natural ingredients, including fresh

herbs, and are Vegetarian Society approved.

Meanwhile, The Bay Tree (www.thebaytree.co.uk), which produces and supplies artisan products to farm shops, delis and independent retailers, has created The 12 Days of Christmas gift set with a dozen miniature jars of the company’s best-selling jams, chutneys and preserves, each with a line from the carol.

As the TV ads, online campaigns and in-store promotions are launched for 2016, producers and retailers will be hoping that the Brexit result won’t impact negatively on lucrative Christmas sales, and that consumers will continue to see Christmas as a time for treating their loved ones – and themselves.

P14 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2016

PRIMERA TECHNOLOGY

ORIGINAL LIQUEURS – ORIGINAL LABELS ORIGINAL LIQUEURS – YOU CAN JUST DRINK THEM AS THEY ARE OR YOU CAN BE AS CREATIVE AS TIFFINIE PRIDE, DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXPERIMENTER OF THE WILTSHIRE LIQUEUR COMPANY, AND ENJOY THEM IN ENDLESS WAYS: COOL AND REFRESHING IN COCKTAILS, TRADITIONAL WITH A TWIST IN PUDDING RECIPES OR EXOTIC AND DAZZLING IN DESSERTS. Using unusual fruits such as blood oranges grown on the side of Sicily’s Mount Etna and wild strawberries from the South of France, the liqueurs are produced with less sugar than some traditional recipes meaning that the fruits are the dominant flavour of the liqueurs.

While the taste of each Original Liqueur is unquestionably the heart of their success, you first eat – or in this case drink – with your eyes.

Meaning the stylish labels that the company uses on their products, definitely help selling bottle for bottle. “Our inspiration came from quintessentially English designer William Morris and the vibrant Czech art nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha.”

Tiffinie, who was working as a freelance marketing specialist before running her own liqueur business, knew of the potential of labels and immediately launched The Wiltshire Liqueur Co’s Bespoke Labelling Service, offering personalised bottles of their delicious liqueurs with a name or special message on the label, great for anniversaries or special occasions.

THE SOLUTION

At the London International Wine Fair and Distil 2012, Tiffinie got introduced to the LX-Series Color Label Printers of Primera Technology. The LX-Series includes several desktop label printers, which

utilise the latest in high-resolution inkjet technology to print brilliant, colourful labels for products, boxes and packaging. Printed labels can include photos, graphics, illustrations and text – even high-resolution linear or two-dimensional barcodes.

So when designing a label, really the sky is the limit. Included with every LX Color Label Printer are two label design software applications: Bartender UltraLite and NiceLabel SE Primera Edition. Those applications offer extra features such as modified templates, variable data and any barcode type. But any other preferred design program can be used to print labels directly from the application they were designed in.

Tiffinie and her co-workers create each personalised label in Adobe Photoshop and then print them.

Another advantage of Primera’s label printers is that labels can be printed when and where they are needed in just the quantities that are required at the moment. So there are literally no minimum order requirements, no plate or die charges, no obsolete label inventory or long lead times.

85% of the Wiltshire Liqueur Co’s orders require a personalised label, which the company produces on their own with the LX900e Color Label Printer. LX900e incorporates an advanced inkjet technology.

Called Primera Imaging Perfection this printing technology delivers

razor-sharp text, graphics and the most photo-realistic printing possible. LX900e has individual inks for cyan, magenta, yellow and black, keeping operating costs low since only one colour at a time needs to be replaced.

“During the Christmas season – our busiest – we produce between 100 and 150 labels a day. And without the LX we would not be

able to offer our personalised labelling service. We despatch within 24 hours of accepting an order.”

Tiffinie adds, “I love the fact that the labels never slip so you can set a large print run and leave it running.

It is also fairly fast and always accurate.”

PRIMERALABEL.EU

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P15

LOLA’S CUPCAKES

HAVING THEIR CAKE – AND EATING IT TOO AS LOLA’S CUPCAKES REACHES ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY, THE COMPANY CELEBRATES A RECIPE FOR SWEET SUCCESS.

This is a big year for Lola’s Cupcakes, a London-based bakery company that started life as a tiny enterprise in 2006. Two enthusiastic young women, Victoria Jossel and Romy Lewis, began taking orders for cupcakes in their bedrooms and baking them in their parents’ kitchens. Initially, their customers were family and friends. But, scenting opportunity, the girls decided to give up their jobs, and try their hand at baking for company events and private orders.

Demand quickly grew, and Lola’s Cupcakes – which is now 10 years old – was born.

Expansion was rapid. Concessions opened in Selfridges, Harrods and Topshop, and the first stand-alone shop was in upmarket Mayfair.

There are now 20 outlets across London and the south-east, a mixture of cafes, carts, kiosks and concessions. Things have changed behind the scenes, too. “We moved from our small bakery in Primrose Hill to West London in 2012,” says Asher Budwig, Managing Director.

“We’d been working in a dingy

office with poor lighting, and sharing it with a clothing company – so it was a real improvement for the team.”

That’s an important factor – because, Asher Budwig points out, staff retention is key. “We employ over 200 people, and we have a great training programme,” he says.

“I’m involved in all the customerexperience elements, and I meet and train all the retail team. All our store managers started at the bottom – that’s our culture.”

Lola’s key product is, of course, cupcakes, but the company also makes celebration cakes, brownies and cheesecakes. “Our average customer in-store goes in to buy a snack on the go, or a box of cupcakes for friends and family,” explains Asher Budwig. “Pre-orders for celebration cakes for birthday parties and anniversaries generally arrive via our website.”

In honour of the company’s birthday, Lola’s has launched a range of mini cheesecakes. It also offers a growing range of vegan products.

Variety is, says Asher Budwig, an

important part of what makes Lola’s special. “We have a massive range that we bake and decorate every day, whereas most of our competition offer a much smaller selection.”

There are franchises overseas, and the brand is looking to extend its reach in the UK. “We have plans to expand in the south-east, towards Bromley and Southampton,” says Asher Budwig, “and we intend to open a few further stores outside of

London.” After a decade of brisk baking business, will Lola’s Cupcakes stop there? Not a chance. “We are also looking at an exciting new bakery concept – but for now, my lips are sealed!”

LOLA’S CUPCAKES TEL: 0208 963 5757 EMAIL: HELLO@LOLASCUPCAKES.CO.UK WWW.LOLASCUPCAKES.CO.UK

P16 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD SEPTEMBER 2016

Independent thinking……… One of the UK’s largest independent manufacturers of retail ready and transit corrugated packaging. Operating across 3 sites in the UK. “We are big enough to cope but small enough to care.”

A family-owned business committed to service and providing our customers with fit for purpose solutions.

Encase Ltd Banbury, Beaumont Road BANBURY OX16 1RE Tel: 01295 752 900 www.encase.co.uk

With a reputation for providing high quality technical expertise and a commitment to providing a first class level of after sales service Direct Air can provide for all of your company’s compressed air requirements, ranging from maintenance of your air compressors and compressed air plant to the supply and installation of a complete system.

Direct Air supply the following products: • Air Compressors

• Pneumatic Consumables

• Compressor Servicing

• Compressed Air Treatment

• Compressor Spares

• Pipework Installations

• Heat Recovery

• Energy Surveys

Tel: 0845 602 6433 Email: info@directair.co.uk Web: www.directair.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P17

LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD

GREAT SERVICE – SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED BUSINESS SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN FOR PACKAGING COMPANY LEEWAYS, A FIRM AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME, WITH OVER 40 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE.

Leeways Packaging has been providing high-quality packaging and processing services to UK businesses since 1971. Today, the family-owned company is one of the leading suppliers of thermoformed plastic packaging and processing solutions in the UK. Leeways is without doubt one of the most experienced firms in its field – and while its core business remains focused on the food industry, the

company is certainly not standing still. As Elliot Wren, Sales Director, explains, recent years have seen a plethora of innovations and investments, which are set to ensure that Leeways maintains a keen edge on its competitors as it moves into the future. These include the expansion of the company’s inhouse development studio, with two additional high-speed CNC machines, and the ability to

manufacture production tooling onsite, reducing development and tooling lead times. And it’s not just about investing in machinery; the design team has also doubled, offering even more conceptual, innovative packaging solutions than ever before.

INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION

Based in the heart of Gloucestershire, with excellent road

links to all destinations across the UK, Leeways boasts facilities that occupy a site totalling over 145,000 sq ft. “We have invested massively over the past 24 months, in manufacturing equipment, design and development, tooling production and in warehousing,” says Elliot Wren. All manufacturing takes place in the Leeways High Care Manufacturing Plant, which provides validation and ensures full

P18 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD SEPTEMBER 2016

Precision Tool and Mould Manufacturers for the Thermoforming Industry We are pleased to be a business partner of

Congratulations to Leeways Packaging on their continued growth and success

Leeways Packaging Services and wish them continued growth and success for the future

SK are proud to supply refrigeration & air conditioning services to Leeways Packaging for over 10 years.

Pattern Forme Limited, Livingstone Way, Bindon Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6BD Tel: 01823 336 042 Fax: 01823 324 402

Design, installation & maintenance services for all commercial refrigeration, air conditioning and heating equipment. Serving Gloucestershire, surrounding counties, London and Wales.

www.patternforme.co.uk

SK Heating & Cooling Ltd, 229 Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5TL Tel: 01452 410500 Email: Service@skheatingandcooling.co.uk

Sole UK Agents for GN Pressure Forming Machines

GN3625DX *Available Now*

Providing quality machines and after care services.

We are proud to be associated with Leeways Packaging Services and will continue to provide them with our full support and expertise.

Unit 3, Severnside, Brue Avenue, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 5LT Tel: +44 (0)1278 446697 Fax: + 44 (0)1278 445617 Email: sales@b-massociates.co.uk Website: www.b-massociates.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P19

LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD compliance of all critical systems, facilities and environments, with 100% inline metal detection for all products prior to packing. “In the company’s manufacturing facility, we’ve installed four new large bed machines, with another on order and due to be delivered in March 2017,” says Elliot Wren. The results are already demonstrably impressive: “The company’s overall production capacity now exceeds 1 billion trays per year.” New investment in Leeways’ warehousing facility and systems allows the company to accurately monitor customer stocks, which means a more reactive and efficient response to clients’ requirements. It also equips the business with the capability of holding up to a whopping 10,000 pallets. The process is smooth and swift, from receipt of goods to palletisation, order receipt, pack and order assembly, right through to delivery to end user, and all stages are now completely traceable through the stock-management systems.

“Our NPD team has gone from strength to strength,” says Elliot Wren. “Three CNC machines have been installed, and they now allow us to produce resin moulds and samples for our customers’ projects with a very quick turnaround time. This also enables us to build full production tooling inhouse, again reducing lead times, and offering greater flexibility.”

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

One aspect of the Leeways business that sets its apart from its competitors is its emphasis on innovation. The company is constantly experimenting to originate new designs, which give its clients a leading edge and ensure high levels of productivity and efficiency. With an extensive Product Development and Design Studio, Leeways is able to provide in-house tooling and samples; recent growth in this department allows the company to produce sample moulds and patterns for its clients to an extremely high standard.

Leeways has created a whole range of packaging designs, catering for a wide variety of products and and market sectors. The company offers both bespoke solutions, for branded and private label companies, as well as a Made to Order range, which allows firms to choose from a wide range of existing options at no extra cost.

The design team at Leeways, who use 3D modelling software, also work closely with the sales staff and toolmakers, so that the service offered to customers is truly integrated – which makes for efficiency and flexibility. One example of the benefits of the inventive, problem-solving Leeways approach is the use of strengthening and design features. These help make it possible to reduce packaging weight in some cases by 10%.

PEOPLE FIRST

Customer care is paramount at Leeways, and the firm has retained a solid, loyal customer base. “But we also continue to welcome new customers on board,” says Elliot Wren. “These range from large, high-profile names to family-owned independent start-up companies.”

Leeways is proud to be a 100% British-owned company, with all packaging being produced entirely in the UK. Alongside the company’s technical and product innovations, Leeways is investing in the most important area of all for any business: people. “We have recruited and invested in key positions such as Customer Service and Support, New Businesss Development Managers, NPD and Production Management and efficiency- and processimprovement roles,” says Elliot Wren. “All of these appointments are helping the company to maintain the high level of service and quality that our customers expect of us.”

AN EYE FOR DETAIL

The attention to detail and impeccable standards of customer care are clearly paying off. Leeways

has consistently achieved BRC A Grade standard, and the company continues to grow year-on-year by 10%, resulting in just over £16m turnover to the end of June 2016.

As for future expansion, with new machines installed and arriving next year and plans for a second manufacturing facility underway, capacity and efficiency gains are expected to grow by 20%30% over the next two years.

Going forward, Leeways remains passionate about continuing to focus on establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with its customers. “We expect to see continued steady growth, and increased efficiency, and we plan to stick to what we’re good at,” says Elliot Wren. And on this occasion, it seems size really doesn’t matter. “We have no desire to be the biggest,” he insists. “We just want to continue being regarded as the best!”

LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD LOBSTOCK, CHURCHAM GLOUCESTER GL2 8AN TEL: 01452 750487 EMAIL: INFO@LEEWAYS.CO.UK WWW.LEEWAYS.CO.UK

P20 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS MODEL FARM SHOP SEPTEMBER 2016

Marchco

Medcalf J & E Ltd Brookwoods Abattoir Burwood Way, Holywell Green Halifax HX4 9BH Tel: 01422 370052 www.medcalfbutchers.co.uk

Sausage CASINGS Are proud to be associated with Model Farm Shop

Medcalf’s is a family-run business of wholesale butchers & farmers with over 50 years of business behind us.

We have just moved into a brand new, purpose built abattoir facility.

Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF2 9BW Tel: 01924 290 020

Being farmers ourselves we understand that bringing your animals in for slaughter can be quite daunting.

You can be assured that we provide the highest standards of animal welfare practices.

Quality Meat Wholesalers

We have a broad customer range, from local quality butchers and farm shops to various catering outlets.

Medcalf’s are proud to support local communities & businesses with locally produced food.

Proud to be associated with Model Farm Shop and wish them continued success for the future.

Low House, Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 7QD Tel: 01388 814918 Fax: 01388 811186

Stephen and Andrew are proud to be associated with

Model Farm Shop Ltd and wish them continued success for the future.

Tough Standards. Tender Results

CALL US

01246 270425

R.B. Elliott & Son Ltd, Wholesale and Retail Butchers, Stud Farm, Calow, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S44 5UN

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P21

MODEL FARM SHOP

MEAT AND GREET BASED IN WEST YORKSHIRE, MODEL FARM SHOP HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISE TO A THRIVING RETAIL BUSINESS SPECIALISING IN EVERYTHING FROM POLISH GOODS TO AFRICANSTYLE MEATS AND DRY GOODS.

Located three miles from Bradford, on the edge of the village of East Bierley in West Yorkshire, the retail outlet specialises in fine meats, and also stocks fresh eggs, Polish recipe sausages and cooked meats, groceries, and herbs and spices, as well as snacks and both alcoholic and soft drinks.

Formed in October 2009 and incorporated in 2012, Model Farm Shop is run by founder and

Managing Director Allan Bamford.

With a background in the wholesale meat trade dating back to the early 1970s, he branched out in a new direction after becoming disillusioned with the challenges of chasing payments from unreliable wholesale customers.

PASTURES NEW

His first action was to set up a bed & breakfast business on the

family farm, beginning with three rooms and gradually building up to the current, successful establishment, which boasts 40 bedrooms.

With his background as a wholesaler, Alan Bamford understood there was a demand for high-quality meat, in particular African-style meat varieties and cuts.

“It all started in 2008, with people coming in and picking up meat from the factory,” he says. “More

and more orders were being placed, so we opened a very small retail unit.” That unit is now the Model Farm Shop, employing a staff of 20 – and the decision to open it was, Allan Bamford says, “one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life”.

OUT OF AFRICA

Nowadays, The Model Farm Shop offers an extensive array of high-quality goods, including two

P22 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2016

MODEL FARM SHOP specialist ranges. One of these is Polish goods – and in particular traditional-recipe sausages, which are made on the premises. Customers can choose from the likes of aromatic Chlopska and Kaszanka Sausages, which are made of pork and liver, Krokowska Sausage, which is dried and smoked, or Tradycyjna Sausage, which is made with smoked ham. But the company’s defining feature, and, Allan Bamford believes, the real key to its success, is its specialism in African-style foods and meats. Since 2012, some of these products have been imported directly from South Africa. “The interest in the African goods is incredible,” says Allan Bamford.

“People come from all over the country, every day – many drive all the way from London or even further away, they fill their cars up,

and then they drive all the way home again.”

This prompted us to open a further outlet for our goods, and we now have an e-shop on our website.

Customers can place their order online and we cut the fresh meat and pack it with ice, sending it by courier in special insulated containers, so we can reach most of the UK via next-day deliveries.

Among the products on offer are Boerewors and Chakalaka sausages which are made at Model Farm, African-style T-bone steak, tilapia fish and chicken gizzards, as well as pre-packaged South African foods such as Iwisa Maize Meal, and Mazoe and Sparletta soft drinks.

“Some of the meat we sell is quite difficult to source,” says Allan Bamford. “But it’s also about how customers want it: absolutely

everything is on the bone. It’s totally different from what you would buy from a traditional British butcher.

We built up our trade by asking our customers, when they came in for their orders, exactly what they wanted – and then we made sure we were supplying it.”

BITING OFF JUST ENOUGH TO CHEW

Allan Bamford’s willingness to be flexible and to listen to his customers has clearly been very effective: the Model Farm Shop is proving to be a roaring success.

Turnover has been rising steadily each year. With both the retail unit and the bed & breakfast progressing very well, there are no immediate plans for expansion, although the busy retail premises were refurbished last year to accommodate increasing

footfall. This included adding a new entrance to ease congestion through the shop and improve customer flow.

Although the emphasis is now on the retail business, the company does still service some wholesale customers, quite a number of local schools and a loyal clientele of local hotels, cafes and restaurants.

With plenty of customers flooding through the door, it sounds as if Allan Bamford and the Model Farm Shop will be staying in the meat business for many years to come.

MODEL FARM TOFTSHAW LANE, EAST BIERLEY, BRADFORD BD4 6QR TEL: 01274 688298 WWW.MODELFARMSHOPBRADFOR D.CO.UK

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P23

LA FAVORITA

PIZZA THE ACTION THERE’S NO NEED TO GET ON A PLANE FOR AN AUTHENTIC TASTE OF ITALY – IN FACT, YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, WITH LA FAVORITA DELIVERED BRINGING AUTHENTIC PIZZAS DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR. La Favorita Delivered is a highend option for restaurant quality pizzas, delivered in the company’s distinctive fleet of yellow Fiat 500s to customers’ homes. While taking inspiration from its Italian heritage, the company is also inspired by local produce, sourced from local suppliers, as well as by ideas suggested by its dedicated team and valued customers. Each La Favorita pizzeria offers a sit-in space for those who prefer a restaurant experience, including a new 30seater basement restaurant, which opened last year on Gibson Street in Glasgow.

Pizzas and dishes are inspired by Scotland’s rich and diverse food culture, which is why the menus range from a traditional margherita to La Favorita’s own chicken tikka pizza. Locally sourced ingredients include its own recipe mozzarella cheese, made in East Lothian.

Unique to La Favorita and designed to complement the unique flavour and consistency of the pizza dough, this cheese is much fresher than imported mozzarella is likely to be.

A great product demands expertise and high-quality

ingredients – and unlike many pizza chains, La Favorita Delivered employs chefs at every branch. All the offerings on the menu – among them pasta dishes and salads, as well as the signature pizzas – are made on site with fresh ingredients delivered daily. These include fresh vegetables, free-range, corn-fed chicken and Italian spicy salami Ventricina. Fresh meat from the finest local butchers is used in the Bolognese sauce, which is cooked from scratch.

What lies beneath the toppings is pretty special, too. Chief Executive, Kenny Scott, personally visited Italy to oversee the development of a special flour to be used in La Favorita’s pizza dough. The blend is a closely guarded secret – even the chefs don’t know exactly what the ingredients are. The dough is proofed for a minimum 24 hours, resulting in a light, crispy base, with a lower level of salt and gluten than many other pizzas. As for the tomato sauce, it’s simply made of San Marzano DOP tomato which is hand crushed rather than blended.

La Favorita Delivered also offers gluten-free and vegan options.

For a truly authentic, smoky flavour, all La Favorita’s pizzas are baked in 300°C, custom-built, logburning ovens.

The Glasgow restaurant has already picked up a number of accolades, including winning the Yelp Pizza Battle 2016 and being listed in the Sunday Times Top 25 Pizzerias in the UK and as Scotland’s Best Pizza. And because the site boasts the largest rotating log-fired oven in the world, it has proved the ideal place to test some of the fantastic new menu items, made in-store by the company’s chefs and product development team. These include macaroni cheese croquettes, meatballs and chicken croquettes, all of which are quickly becoming best sellers; the pizza menu has also been transformed.

When it comes to desserts, there are some delicious gluten-free options on offer, from chocolate brownies and banoffee tart to pistachio and raspberry cheesecake, all made on site in Glasgow.

Originally part of the Vittoria restaurant group, La Favorita Delivered broke away from the parent company and began

operating from a head office in Brunswick Street, Edinburgh in 2012. Pizzerias in Morningside, Portobello and Blackhall swiftly opened, along with a centralised production centre. Each new pizzeria creates 25 local jobs, from managers and chefs to front-ofhouse staff and delivery drivers.

Following on from its recent new opening on Gibson Street, the company has plans for further restaurants in Glasgow, to ensure that pizza lovers across the city can enjoy either a sit-down meal or prompt local delivery of their favourite brand.

LA FAVORITA DELIVERED 23-25 GIBSON STREET GLASGOW G12 8NU WWW.LAFAVORITADELIVERED.COM

SUPPLIER OF QUALITY FRUIT & VEGETABLES

Trusted Supplier of Quality Fruit & Veg to Scotland’s Finest Chefs Daily Delivery to Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and Shops

Unit 2, Newbridge Industrial Estate, Newbridge, Midlothian EH28 8PJ Tel: 0131 335 3040 Fax: 0131 333 3801 Website: www.markmurphyltd.co.uk

P24 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS TSL PROJECTS SEPTEMBER 2016

Central Insulations are pleased to have been associated with TSL for the supply and installation of insulated panels and associated items on their high quality food and pharmaceutical project deliveries.

Central Insulation Limited Wilton Road Industrial Estate, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN36 4AW Tel: 01472 210343 Fax: 01472 210353 Email: insulations@centralltd.com www.centralltd.com

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P25

TSL PROJECTS

TSL PROJECTS DELIVERS MAJOR NEW BUILD PROJECTS SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 2003 TSL PROJECTS HAS BECOME THE PREMIER SPECIALIST COMPANY FOR THE DESIGN AND DELIVERY OF FOOD MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS FACILITIES. The company’s core business is the design, engineering and construction of manufacturing and specialist logistics facilities across the UK, in the food, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors.

Recent major new build projects include a 7,000m2 greenfield sandwich production facility for Samworth Brothers in Leicester, a similar 8,250m2 £19m facility for Greencore in Northampton and a major new 44,000m2 RDC for Lidl in Wednesbury. Rising business confidence, product innovation and investment in automation have boosted recent investment within the food and drink sector and have contributed to TSL achieving a turnover of just under £80m this year. The business has over 100 employees, with its headquarters in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and further offices at Lymm in Cheshire, Newcastle upon Tyne and Dublin.

Most of the projects generally have the same four overarching requirements. First they have to be

delivered safely; second they need to be very competitive; third they have to be built in the shortest amount of time; and fourth, they must be fit for purpose. This is an ideal environment for innovation throughout the whole project process. The company is thriving on a simple approach of collaborative working, forward thinking design and engineering excellence, which when combined with first-class delivery means they have high levels of satisfied clients.

The company has also invested heavily in expanding its service offering, including a significant Process Engineering capability so it can help with initial business case definition by undertaking feasibility studies. The combination of process design and equipment specification together with the search and identification of suitable sites and rapid capital plans give its clients all of the critical information to allow them to decide on the most suitable option between refurbishment, extension or new build.

With repeat business of 84%, the company takes pride in completing projects on time. “Once we’ve worked with somebody, they will tend to come back and talk to us again when they have further investment,” says Jackie Wild, TSL Projects MD. “We are a very ethical company and work with our clients in an open and honest team-spirited way. We provide clear, robust itemised cost plans that are complete, accurate and easy to understand. This ensures that the correct outturn cost of a project is accurately detailed from the start and is fully transparent and auditable. Very often we’ll proceed on an open book basis with a guaranteed maximum price and an agreed shared savings formula. We find this approach has a very successful outcome as the whole team, including our long-established subcontract partners, are working in the same direction – no hidden agendas.

It’s quite a straightforward smart, simple approach but it works.”

A continuous improvement

culture combined with an effective project controls system means TSL can fix project budgets as early as possible and deliver commissioned facilities within timescales that few other companies can match. In one recent example this approach enabled their client to commit to a very stringent time to market and win significant new business from one of the major UK retailers.

With significant growth plans, the company has launched a new website and is continuing to employ additional staff to expand its design and delivery capability. They work hard to maintain great relationships with existing clients as well as developing successful new business.

TSL PROJECTS 24-26 CHAPEL STREET, MARLOW BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SL7 1DD TEL: 0845 330 7311 FAX: 0845 330 7309 WWW.TSLPROJECTS.COM

P26 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS SEPTEMBER 2016

EH NICHOLLS TRANSPORT

THE ROAD TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE EH NICHOLLS TRANSPORT COMPANY IS MAKING TRACKS IN THE INDUSTRY WITH A BLEND OF INVESTMENT, HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING, INNOVATION AND TOP-NOTCH STANDARDS OF SERVICE. Nicholls Transport has been providing efficient transport solutions for nearly 50 years. Based in Kent, the company offers tailormade haulage solutions for bluechip clients from Northern Europe and across the UK. Managing Director, Paul Nicholls, helms the company, supported by the next generation of the Nicholls family.

Alongside comprehensive services, including logistics planning, logistics management, and warehouse

distribution solutions, EH Nicholls also offers facilities hire, such as workshop, night-stop and jet and auto wash services.

MORE THAN JUST PAPER

Maggie Nicholls – the company’s Administration Director, and Paul’s wife – takes up the story. “Paul’s father Ernie started in the 50s with one lorry, moving his own father’s produce to market. He gradually expanded to move paper for

Channel Commercials PLC, Brunswick Road, Cobbs Wood Estate, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1EH Tel: 01233 629272 www.channelcommercials.co.uk

DAF TRUCKS, NISSAN VANS, SIGNS & GRAPHICS, PAINTSHOP, AND TRUCK & VAN CONVERSIONS IN KENT Channel Commercials PLC was incorporated in August 1987 taking over the Leyland DAF franchise in Kent. The company started at a small site in Ashford employing 35 people and has now grown to four sites throughout Kent employing over 200 highly skilled staff.

Channel Commercials hold the DAF Truck and Nissan Commercial Vehicle franchises, selling new and used trucks and vans, offering an all makes parts and service back up with ancillary services from the Paint and Bodyshop, Signs and Graphics as well as Specialist Engineering, Truck and Van Conversions, Rail Wagon Maintenance and Construction Fixings divisions.

‘OUR AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS’ VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD BEING USED PROFITABLY.’ We are proud to be both Heavy and Light Commercial Vehicle Specialists. Whatever your requirements we are able to supply the

correct vehicle to suit your needs for today and in the future. Our expertise is vehicle repair and we offer a full parts and service back up for all makes of vehicle. With our factory trained technicians at four locations in Kent (Ashford, Strood, Sevenoaks and Aylesham near Canterbury), we are able to offer a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, second to none.

Our ‘One Stop Shop’ includes D.O.T. preparation and presentation, Tachograph and Road Speed Limiter franchises. Our fully trained staff can advise on all aspects of vehicle specification, finance and current legislation to enable you to make the correct choice first time.

Channel Commercials PLC are proud to be a business partner with E. H. Nicholls.

SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P27

EH NICHOLLS TRANSPORT

Bowaters, a local paper mill. In 1978 the company moved to a fiveacre site in Sittingbourne, and its fleet increased to 30 vehicles. In 1986 a further site was purchased in Sittingbourne for the storage and distribution of paper.”

Over time the paper haulage diminished, and Paul Nicholls began to look further afield for new opportunities while visiting the Continent. His resourcefulness paid off, resulting in imports of water for Nestlé Water and pet food for Continentale Nutrition.

WORKING SMART, THINKING BIG

Today, EH Nicholls still works with Nestlé Water and Nestlé UK, SCA Paper, and in collaboration with another haulier, Knauf UK, among others. “Deliveries of fastmoving consumer goods for supermarkets form the bulk of our work,” explains Maggie Nicholls.

“Services are timed deliveries, with a 24-hour service, and full loads.”

Today, the company exports to and imports from Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. “Our main hub is in Sittingbourne in Kent,” says Maggie Nicholls. “It’s a 20-acre site just off the A249. The facilities incorporate a warehouse and modern office space, complete with up-to-date traffic-management technology and tracking capabilities for the fleet – 100 units, and 260 trailers.” In addition, there is a sixbay workshop for in-house servicing and repair. EH Nicholls also has

satellite sites at Hams Hall, near Birmingham, in Leicester and in Buxton.

TIME IS MONEY

Over the years, the business has continued to grow and develop its capabilities in order to enhance its services and expand its customer base. In early 2013, the company qualified as carriers of dangerous goods – “our loads are mainly polymeric beads”, says Maggie Nicholls – and, following the successful addition of two walkingfloor trailers, Nicholls Transport has procured 18 more and can now mobilise a total of 20 specialist vehicles. These are a particular advantage for a swift service, in an economic environment where time is money, as Maggie Nicholls explains. “Walking-floor trailers use a complex hydraulic-power system of connected slats,” she says. “They are particularly useful for the conveyance of recyclable goods such as wood chip and paper, as they rapidly speed up loading and unloading times.”

FACING FORWARD, WITH FAMILY VALUES

Assembling the right team to maintain the company’s high standards of service is paramount, and training and staff retention are factors that the business takes very seriously. At present, EH Nicholls employs 118 drivers, seven fitters and 23 office staff. Two

apprenticeships were completed with the company over the last year, and another two are currently in progress. Driver training, too, is ongoing, while office staff receive communication training. The company has recently become a JAUPT registered centre, and it is able to deliver driver CPC training in-house.

As for the future, it looks bright.

The company’s current turnover is over £14m, and it boasts ISO14001 and FORS Bronze accreditation.

“We’d like to be in the top 100 transportation companies in the next five years,” says Maggie Nicholls.

“To achieve that, we’re aiming for a turnover threshold of £20m.”

Meanwhile, EH Nicholls’ move to its 12-acre site in October 2014 entailed massive investment, with an increase from 60 vehicles to 100 today, achieved in less than two years.

However much it grows and develops, though, the ethic of family will always be at the core of the Nicholls operation. Maggie and Paul Nicholls, as husband and wife, are, of course, leading team members; their son and daughter, Alex and Jo, also work for the company. “We work hard to preserve our quality of service in increasingly difficult road conditions,” says Maggie Nicholls.

“We like to think that we are big enough to deliver, and small enough to care.”

EH NICHOLLS TRANSPORT SITTINGBOURNE LOGISTICS PARK, SWALE WAY, SITTINGBOURNE, KENT ME10 2FF TEL: 01795 411085 EMAIL: NICHOLLSTRANSPORT@NICHOLLS -UK.CO.UK WWW.NICHOLLS-UK.CO.UK

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