Food and Drink Network UK 23.12

Volume 23 • Issue 12

ISSN: 20568355

FOOD AND DRINK

foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

The ONLY on-line gauge on the market that can simultaneously measure color, moisture, fat/oil & protein...out of the box

NETWORK UK

Rotronic AwEasy – Standalone Bluetooth Water Activity Monitor • Compact, lightweight and mobile

HygroLab

• AW Quick for results in 4 – 5 min.

• Easy to use with display • Also measures humidity and temperature • Free smartphone app

HC2-AW

• Auto-report function AwTherm

AwEasy

Rotronic AwEasy – Standalone CoverBluetooth sponsored by: Water Activity Monitor SCAN ME

The new AwEasy complements our range of water activity measurement devices perfectly. Measurement probes, penetration probes, laboratory benchtop and handheld devices can be combined flexibly according to your requirements. Benefit from the highest accuracy, efficiency, and easy calibration to optimize processes and ensure product quality. ProcessSensing.com

• Compact, lightweight and mobile

HygroLab

• AW Quick for results in 4 – 5 min.

• Easy to use with display • Also measures humidity and temperature • Free smartphone app

“Introducing Nordson Color Gauge” • Auto-report function For more information turn to page 26 INCREASE EQUIPMENT PROTECTION WHILST BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY Turn to page 18

SCAN ME

HC2-AW

AwTherm

AwEasy

THE ROTRONIC AWEASY Standalone Bluetooth Water Activity Monitor Turn to page 27

The new AwEasy complements our range of water activity measurement devices perfectly. Measurement probes, penetration probes, laboratory benchtop and handheld devices can be combined flexibly according to your requirements. Benefit from the highest accuracy, efficiency, and easy calibration to optimize processes and ensure product quality. ProcessSensing.com

FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, SEAFOOD, RED MEAT, POULTRY - WHATEVER YOU’RE PACKAGING...

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“Introducing Nordson Color Gauge”

EDITORIAL:

VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 12 Produced in Europe’s Food Town

Ambition PR Antao Greer communications Easyfairs Harford Control Marbles PR Motive PR Raw Food and Drink PR Richmond & Towers Tigerfish PR

ADVERTISEMENT SALES:

KIMBERLEY READ (Advertisement Sales Manager) GINA MADDISON

ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION: AMANDA JAYNE WALMSLEY EVELYN WOOLSTON

GRAPHICS DEPT:

STUART TURNBULL - Studio Manager RACHEL RILEY - Designer

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NEWS NETWORK PRODUCT NEWS

MANUFACTURING NEWS

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SUBSCRIPTION:

12 issues - £84.00 (inc. postage) All rights reserved. No part of Food and Drink Network UK Magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, mechanical or photocopying, without prior written permission of the publishers.

The publishers do not accept responsibility for views expressed, or statements made, or in those reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is borne by the publishers for any errors made in any advertisement, or for claims made by any advertiser which are incorrect. The publishers cannot be held responsible for any breach of copyright arising from any material supplied. This includes copy, design and/or images.

FOOD AND DRINK

NETWORK UK

Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved.

06

FOOD AND DRINK TRADE EVENT

BlasCymru/TasteWales 2023: Wales’ finest showcase of food and drink

07

PACKAGING

15

ENERGY SOLUTIONS

SUSTAINABILITY

16. Phantom Inventory haunts retailers as a fifth of UK shoppers experience out-of-stocks due to ‘ghost’ inventory 17. Henderson Foodservice creates a recipe for success with Akeneo’s PIM solution

18

BEVERAGES

19. Enhancing beverage industry efficiency: the PURITY FG LINE from Petro-Canada Lubricants 20. Roman Beer is coming to the UK. Belgium’s oldest Brewery, Roman Brewery, established in in 1545, has won best produce at the recent Flanders Finest Flavours Show that took place in London.

Grimsby based glass distributor Pattesons Glass secures major industry accolade at the prestigious UK Packaging Awards 2023.

08

Your Factories Don’t Need to Make Sacrifices to Achieve Sustainability In Fact, it’s a Bigger Sacrifice to Do Nothing!

An article By Roy Green, Harford Control Ltd.

16

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Kimberley Read at: kimberley@ foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk or Gina Maddison at: gina@foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

SPECIALIST VIEW

Flogas Britain Broadens its Energy Proposition with DTGen Acquisition

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21

DAIRY INDUSTRY

21. Sealing the deal: Shrink Wrapping Systems and Recyclable Milk Cartons Revolutionize the Dairy Industry

EXHIBITIONS

Packaging Innovations begins assembling its most inspiring speaker line-up to date

10

PACKAGING

Proposed mandatory reuse rules jeopardizing world’s best recycling system

by Saverio Mayer, CEO Smurfit Kappa Europe.

24

HIGH SHEAR MIXERS

How High Shear Mixers can be beneficial when processing Gums & Thickening agents

26

MEASUREMENT & CONTROL SOLUTIONS

Introducing Nordson Color Gauge

27

SENSING TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE

Innovative Bluetooth water activity meter from Rotronic sets new standards

28

ALLERGENS

Restaurants offered allergy lifeline

29

FOOD SCIENCE

NSF TraQtion Powers Novozymes’ Raw Material Management in Industry First

30

MONEY MATTERS

Hokodo’s flexible payment terms allow small businesses to prepare for seasonal increase in footfall, and beyond

31

INTRALOGISTICS

CONNECTED TRUCKS: Jungheinrich drives forward the digitalisation and interconnection of intralogistics 22. Yorkshire Packaging Systems: Rodda’s invests in la crème de la crème of equipment 23. Trewithen Dairy: Trewithen Dairy’s Cult Cornish Barista Milk now listed with Ocado

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FOOD MACHINERY AUCTIONS

Introducing THE Food & Drink Machinery Auction Experts...INDUSTRIAL AUCTIONS

News Network

General

H-PACK Launches HOT ‘N’ FRESH Brand Europe’s packaging one-stop shop, H-Pack Packaging has launched a new brand Hot ‘n’ Fresh, providing a colour-coded, easy way for buyers to identify products based on the materials used.

This new brand reflects the packaging supremo’s recent evolution, presenting itself as a slicker operation, serving a full range of markets, in line with parent company and global food packaging brand, Hotpack.

The new Hot ‘n’ Fresh logos are in green, red, and blue: Green covers all eco-friendly materials from paper to wood and bagasse; the red label is foils and the blue represents plastics. Head of merchant sales for H-Pack, David Martin created the slick Hot ‘n’ Fresh brand. He explains why H Pack is so excited to launch this new identity: “Hotpack is recognised across the world stage as a giant of a brand that maintains market leading status as a manufacturer and distributor of food packaging materials and solutions.

“The company is renowned for the supply of premium quality products within a tightly competitive price structure, and it is keen to replicate the success of the global model in the UK and around Europe. The decision to launch a new brand is a bold move but we wanted to pull focus to the UK offering and show that we intend to stand apart, operating efficiently and pro-actively as we grow our business in all areas including catering, hospitality, vending, leisure and events; selling through wholesalers and cash and carries.”

Hot ‘n’ Fresh will be a brand trading under H-Pack from its site on the outskirts of Wrexham. For further information and for details on the products H-Pack manufactures and supplies, visit https://h-packglobal.com or call +44(0) 1978 855595.

Valsoia Wins Plant-Based Taste Award

Blending a benefit for a boutique tea manufacturer

Valsoia, Italy’s pioneer of plant-based products, has won this year’s Plant-Based Taste Award for ice cream with its delicious Triple pistachio mini stick.

Jr Boone Ltd have supplied a versatile production line, featuring a Boone Rotary Drum Blender, to UK-based prestige tea and coffee manufacturer Ringtons, allowing them to make substantial improvements to the efficiency and capacity of their black flavoured tea production process.

The turnkey project included pressurised flavour spray addition, a big bag/tote bin discharge station, HMI and an automatic system for cleaning the blender between batches. The entire system was designed for Hazardous Area use.

Valsoia’s Triple pistachio mini stick came out on top, with another one of its products, Chocolate Swirl & Chocolate Chips Cookie coming in second place.

The undisputed number one plant-based gelato brand in Italy, Valsoia’s plant-based gelato is aimed not just at vegans and vegetarians, but anyone who enjoys healthy plant-based indulgence differentiating the creamy and softer taste of gelato which sets it apart from regular ice cream.

Valsoia creates its range of plant-based products from its own production facility and R&D centre in Italy, where it crafts its velvety gelato thanks to expertly selected cashews, oats, rice, and soy, providing the perfect canvas for a rich and decadent flavour experience.

Andrea Panzani, CEO at Valsoia comments; “This is our first year at the Plant Based Expo Europe, so taking home two awards for our gelato is a real honour. We have our sights set on expanding and growing Valsoia in the UK market, so having our gelato judged and deemed to be the best confirms it delivers on the uncompromised taste and texture that people expect”.

Before the Boone system was supplied, Ringtons used the main blending line to produce a premix of the base blend that was then mixed with the flavoured oils in small batches to produce the final product. A time-consuming process that meant that a 1400kg production run could take as long as 8 hours to produce, and the pre-mix process would take up valuable production capacity.

Ringtons Chief Engineer, had worked with Jr Boone Ltd previously, and knew of their international experience in the tea industry. Following discussions, Jr Boone Ltd proposed a system that featured a large Rotary Drum Blender with an inbuilt pressurized spray lance system to add the flavour, together with a vacuum, floor-level feed point for the mix components, so staff would not need to climb to reach the mixer floor, and tote bin or big bag discharge.

A mixer load is made up of a range of tea types. Tea is loaded at floor level in response to one of more than thirty recipes held in the HMI and elevated directly to the top of the blender.

This Drum Blender is shear free, with the mix components being gently and completely fluidised within the large drum. The result is an efficient, homogenous mix in the shortest possible time, with low power usage. Liquids can be added, using Boone’s unique spray lance system, at concentrations of as low as 1:150,000 with no need to premix.

Following discharge to a FIBC or tote bin, the Blender is automatically air purged for self-cleaning. The design is intrinsically hygienic, the mixing elements welded to the inside of the drum, so an air blast can effectively clean the Blender and personnel have no need to access the inside of the machinery.

All the equipment was designed, supplied and installed by Jr Boone Ltd without any disruption to existing manufacture. This Drum Blender has transformed flavoured tea capacity; production that would otherwise have taken a full shift now requires only a couple of hours to complete, and the installation has also liberated important capacity on the main blending line. www.jrboone.com

02 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

News Network

General

KETTLE® Chips launch biggest ever Christmas marketing campaign KETTLE® is launching a half-million-pound multi-faceted campaign in the run-up to Christmas.

The campaign, a celebration of food’s joyful role during the festive period, will ensure KETTLE® is at the forefront of consumers’ minds this festive season. Comprising several activations, including adverts in key media titles, a significant social campaign and a social Advent Calendar competition offering fantastic prizes.

KETTLE® will also run a paid social campaign targeting 9.8M foodies based on results from Meta’s TGI insight to reach a UK audience who love crisps, entertaining and socialising with friends.

KETTLE® will reach 11.3M adults in publications such as The Weekend (Daily Mail), Telegraph Magazine, The Times Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine, Weekend (Guardian Saturday Mag), Observer Magazine, Olive and BBC Good Food. Championing its Lightly Salted seasoning, the adverts go live from 18 November 2023 and puts a hand-crafted festive spin on seasonal snacking.

An exciting advent-style competition will boost the campaign across KETTLE®’s Instagram. The giveaway will showcase 24 prizes over 24 days.

Prizes range from a cost-of-living alleviating Christmas food shop to a money-can’t-buy, make-your-own crisp seasoning day with KETTLE®’s Innovation Chef, including a tour of KETTLE®’s crisp factory in Norwich.

Paid ads across Instagram and Facebook will amplify the advent calendar competition throughout November and December.

i2r announces new product manager appointment

ULMA supplies Eurilait with the perfect cheese packaging solution

Market-leading aluminium foil container manufacturer, i2r Packaging Solutions, has made a strategic move to expand its portfolio of products and ensure continued growth with the appointment of Rachel McKenna as product manager. Her role will support and drive the company’s expansion into new product channels, as well as strengthen its existing business scope.

Leading packaging machinery manufacturer, ULMA Packaging, has recently supplied Eurilait, a speciality dairy provider, with the ideal packaging solution.

Rachel has an impressive background in food production and packaging, with extensive experience gained from working with some of the biggest names in the industry. Her knowledge ranges from working in various departmental roles from innovation to technical and operations.

Rachel’s comprehensive experience makes her a perfect fit for the innovative and dynamic culture at i2r. In her role as product manager, she will work closely with teams across the business to identify, prioritise and manage a strong pipeline of future products and market development initiatives. Additionally, Rachel will collaborate with the international sites to oversee and improve the performance of i2r’s existing product portfolio.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rachel to our team,” said Katy Rogers, i2r’s commercial director. “Her impressive track record in the industry, especially in the areas of innovation and business development, aligns seamlessly with our strategic goals. And as we continue to build our brand and diversify our offerings, Rachel’s insight and leadership will be invaluable in maintaining i2r’s enviable position in the market.”

To find out more about i2r and their product range visit www.i2rps.com.

WPL

The FM305C, ULMA’s latest flow wrapping machine, proved to be the ideal fit for Eurilait’s diverse range of French and British cheeses.

For over a decade, ULMA has been a pivotal part of Eurilait’s growth, which started with the installation of a NEVADA flow wrapping machine in 2006.

As Eurilait’s business expanded, so did their need for a more advanced packaging solution to replace their ageing NEVADA; ULMA’s FM305C emerged as the superior choice, offering unmatched flexibility and efficiency.

“Our previous machine served us well for nearly two decades, but natural wear and tear began to impact its performance, prompting us to upgrade,” explained Damian Wills, engineering manager at Eurilait.

“We have a longstanding relationship with the ULMA team, having purchased multiple machines in the past. So, I simply contacted our dedicated contact and shared our specific criteria.”

Designed for fresh food products, the stainless-steel FM305C offers remarkable flexibility, thanks to its box motion sealing head powered by two independent motors. While accommodating different product shapes and sizes, the FM305C ensures high-quality hermetic seals, thereby preserving the freshness of Eurilait’s cheeses.

Following installation, Eurilait renewed its servicing contract with ULMA, further solidifying the trust and reliance on ULMA’s extensive network of expert engineers and their prompt, effective maintenance services. This ongoing support underlines ULMA’s exceptional post-installation care and commitment to long-term client relationships.

For more information, visit https://www.ulmapackaging.co.uk .

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Product News

New Innovations

Srsly exceeds its funding target as it readies itself for export growth & further range extensions Low-carb powerhouse SRSLY Low Carb has concluded its bridging investment round, having surpassed its original Seedrs target by 37%, courtesy of 331 backers raising £274,000.

The promising bridging investment means that healthier living pioneer SRSLY Low Carb is financially primed to deliver against ambitious short to mid-term growth plans, underpinning its ‘everyday appeal’ via next stage product innovation, extending its B2C stewardship in low carb excellence and building upon its recent US retail launch.

individual seeking to lose weight, manage diabetes or improve their health & wellbeing status without short-changing their taste buds.

Launched in 2019 SRSLY by seasoned triathlete and Iron Man newbee, Andy Welch, SRSLY was originally tasked with helping likeminded endurance athletes increase their protein intake without sacrificing their bready appreciation. In no time SRSLY had embraced a more mainstream persona, targeting any ‘nutritional savvy’

According to Andy, ‘with 70% of individuals actively seeking out healthier alternatives (Statista) and healthier living season (January) almost upon us, the arrival of new funds will allow SRSLY to enhance both its team and operational make-up to underpin its status as a leading low carb evangelist.’

HARIBO & MAOAM reveals fantastic festive line-up of limited-edition sweet treats This Christmas, HARIBO and MAOAM are extending their range to include a festive line up of limited-edition sweet treats that are perfect for sharing across the festive period.

HARIBO and MAOAM’s Christmas treats are available in a wide range of sizes and price points so there’s guaranteed to be something to suit everyone. Products will be hitting shelves nationwide across all major retailers for a limited time only.

HARIBO Customer Marketing Controller, Catherine Johnson said: “Christmas is a special time for friends and families to come together and this year we’re excited to offer a wide range of sweet treats that start at just 70p so everyone can experience the feeling of childlike happiness this Christmas!

Families are feeling the pinch, but our range of festive treats has something for every budget and occasion across the season, whether you’re wanting to countdown to the big day with your favourite sweets or spread joy with our stocking fillers full of your favourite treats.”

The festive sweet treats are only available for a limited time, so make sure to get down to your local retailer to pick up your favourite HARIBO & MAOAM Christmas treats before they’re gone!

For more information about HARIBO UK, please visit: https://www.haribo.com/en-gb

Rainbow Candies launches new premium fudge range Rainbow Candies, sister company to Lincolnshire-based private label chocolate supplier, Hames Chocolates, has launched a new range of premium crumbly fudge, that’s perfect for Christmas gifting.

Developed in response to the growing demand for luxury fudge, the range is manufactured in Rainbow Candies’ candy and fudge manufacturing site in Lancashire.

Made with all butter and no palm oil, the new Rainbow Candies Hand Broken All Butter Crumbly Fudge range comes in nine popular flavours: Salted Caramel, Clotted Cream, Vanilla, Rum & Raisin, Chocolate, Honeycomb, Ginger, Tiffin, and Mince Pie, the perfect choice for Christmas. Available in eye-catching packaging designed to create standout on-shelf in a variety of retail outlets, the new premium fudges will deliver strong margins, and merchandise well in any environment.

Carol Oldbury, Director of Rainbow Candies and Hames Chocolates explains: “The demand for high-quality, all butter fudge, is at an all-time high – making our new Rainbow Candies Hand Broken All Butter Crumbly Fudge range a must stock for retailers. Tapping into the trend for affordable luxury, the new fudges are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed as confectionery, baked in cookies and cakes or eaten with ice cream. They also make a welcome addition to seasonal hampers.”

The new Rainbow Candies premium crumbly fudge range is available in a number of formats including grab bags, pouches, catering tubs, and can also be supplied in private label formats. The 150g bags are available in outers of 12 for a trade price of £20, the 145g pouches come in outers of 9 for £17.10 and the 1.5kg tubs are priced at £15. For sales enquiries, contact Hames Chocolates on 01754 896 667 or email sales@hameschocolates.co.uk

New UK-based brand, Toucan Water, announces mission to protect the Amazon Rainforest with every can sold Newly launched UK-based canned water company, Toucan Water, is a product with a purpose as the company’s sustainable values take the brand from strength to strength in protecting the Amazon Rainforest with every can sold.

Starting life in December 2022 after a trip to the Japanese rainforest, founders Vitaliy Prots and Louis Glaskie spent the early part of 2023 creating the business before soft launching Toucan Water on the shelves of cafes and shops in the North West and London in June this year.

With a USP of saving one square foot of the Amazon with every can sold, Toucan Water, a 330ml can of refreshing Leicestershire drinking water, is the ecofriendly option when hydrating on the go. All its cans are made from aluminium, are 100% recyclable and free from adhesives or labels. “Plastic water bottles are known to contain harmful chemicals that can impact our health,” said founder Louis Glaskie. “Being plastic-free, Toucan Water’s aluminium cans are BPA free

and have a longer shelf life than water sold in plastic bottles.”

Toucan Water has an environmental partnership with an established organisation in Brazil, which aids in its protection of the Amazon Rainforest. Vitaliy Prots said, “Partnering with locals in Brazil, which work on protecting the Amazon Rainforest, was a huge step for us in helping to make our product truly sustainable. We’re hoping to purchase our first hectare of endangered rainforest land and, in the future, geotag all the Toucan Water cans so our customers can see a visual of their impact of saving the rainforest.”

Toucan Water is available at https://www.toucanwater.com/online-store/ with an RRP of £1.49 for a 330ml can.

04 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

Made Smarter

Manufacturing News

Made Smarter national roll-out to turbo charge SME manufacturers in food and drink sector Celebration as Government commits to expanding the pioneering adoption programme Made Smarter, a programme helping SME manufacturers in the food and drink sector access technology and digital skills, is to be rolled out nationally.

The Government has committed to expanding the Made Smarter Adoption Programme to all nine English regions in 2025-26 before working with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from 2026-27.

The announcement by HM Treasury, on Friday November 17, means hundreds of thousands more SME manufacturers will get access to technology advice, leadership, and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects.

The commitment, alongside plans for £4.5 billion in funding for British manufacturing, will also boost productivity, growth, and decarbonisation for SME manufacturers across the country.

Launched in the North West in 2019, the Made Smarter has engaged with 2,500 manufacturers and funded 334 technology projects, which are forecast to create 1,550 jobs, upskill 2,772 existing roles, and increase North West GVA by £242m.

Success stories like bakery Bells of Lazonby in Cumbria, low protein food manufacturer Firstplay Dietary Foods in Greater Manchester, and vegan protein bar maker Nutree Life in Lancashire, created a successful blueprint which inspired Made Smarter adoption programmes in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, East Midlands, and West of England.

The announcement coincides with the publication of a new report

by Made Smarter. ‘Delivering Impact: How Made Smarter Inspires Digital Transformation’ outlines the impact of the adoption model and proposes ways to make it even better.

Brian Holliday, Co-Chair of the Made Smarter Commission and MD of Siemens Digital Industries, said: “This announcement by the Treasury clearly demonstrates that UK manufacturing matters. It represents a tremendous investment boost for our makers that will enable the confidence to invest in innovation, productivity, and sustainability.

“Key sectors benefit but so does the long tail of small and medium firms which is really important to directly address our recent challenges of weak overall productivity and investment.

“I believe the business benefits of digitalisation are now clear, while being an enabler for industrial decarbonisation too - the package of measures announced in bolstering Made Smarter, targeted regulatory reform and sector support, along with our world-class Catapults and Universities now makes the UK one of the best countries on the planet to sustainably design, make and export goods.”

Donna Edwards, Director of Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme, said: “I am delighted that the Government has recognised the extraordinary impact that Made Smarter’s adoption programme is having on digitalisation of SME businesses.

“Over the last four years we have worked tirelessly to help North West makers to start their digital journey by providing them with specialist advice to help them select the right approach, level of investment and tools for their business. The programme has proven the value technology and digital skills can bring to the manufacturing sector.

“While we await further details on the funding package, the commitment to a national roll-out is a huge vote of confidence in the contribution SMEs make to UK manufacturing. It will undoubtedly turbo charge the digital transformation of the sector.”

Juergen Maier, Industrialist and author of the Made Smarter Review, added: “I am delighted that the Made Smarter programme, kicked off by the manufacturing review I had the privilege to lead in 2017, is now being expanded England-wide and with promised continuity to 2030.

“It is exactly this sort of policy continuity that our manufacturing sector is looking for and I know it will stimulate investment and productivity.”

To learn more visit madesmarter.uk foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 05

Food and Drink Trade Event

BlasCymru/TasteWales 2023

BlasCymru/TasteWales 2023: Wales’ finest showcase of food and drink Organised by Food & Drink Wales (Welsh Government), and held bi-annually, BlasCymru/ TasteWales is Wales’ premier international food and drink trade event, which brought food and drink producers, buyers, suppliers and food industry professionals from across the world together at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICCW) recently.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Powerful together: From challenge to success. The role of resilience, innovation and optimism’.

The event is meticulously organised, offering an engaging experience in two integral parts: the Brokerage area and the main Exhibition Hall.

The brokerage area gave access to a large-scale product showcase for retail, foodservice and private label, with over 1000 products, of which over 200 new products were unveiled reflecting the diverse flavours of Wales’ innovative culinary scene.

It also served as the nerve centre, facilitating meaningful collaborations and business meetings between food and drink producers from across Wales and UK and international buyers.

The format is designed around short initial introductory buyersupplier meetings, just 20 minutes long where discussions flow, partnerships form, and innovative ideas take shape, underscoring the event’s commitment to driving the Welsh food and drink industry forward.

Simultaneously, the main exhibition hall featured three auditorium areas where a seminar programme ran over the course of the two days featuring a range of brief, focused talks from leading industry speakers and panellists covering topics such as the Value of Welshness, Inward Investment, Export, Developing Sustainable

06 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

Healthy Food Products, among others. Also in the exhibition hall, were themed zone areas - Innovation, Business, Skills, Tourism, Sustainability, Investor, Food and Drink Wales Cluster Network Group, and Advanced Manufacturing, showcasing the latest technology, innovative ideas, training and support available to the sector.

BlasCymru/TasteWales holds immense significance for the Welsh food and drink industry for several reasons. Firstly, it serves as a catalyst for economic development, bolstering the growth of food and drink businesses and creating employment opportunities within Wales.

Secondly, by attracting international buyers and chefs, the event promotes cultural exchange and collaboration of ideas, leading to innovation in the sector. Lastly, it elevates Wales’ reputation on the global stage, positioning the country as a gastronomic powerhouse with a unique and diverse culinary heritage.

In essence, the event stands as a testament to Wales’ culinary prowess. Through its carefully structured brokerage area and main exhibition hall, it not only connects producers with buyers but also promotes Welsh food and drink and expertise to a wider audience, making it a pivotal event in the Welsh food and drink calendar.

Packaging

Pattesons Glass

pattesonsglass.co.uk

O rd as er lo on w lin as e 1 u fro ni m t

Preserving made easy Grimsby based glass distributor PATTESONS GLASS with Le Parfait

secures major industry accolade at the prestigious Four ranges UK Packaging Awards 2023.

available, Category: Glass Pack of the Year: Spirits with sizes Sam80ml Graves, Marketing Manager at Pattesons, said: from “We’re delighted to have won such a prestigious award. Being recognised by your market and peers 3000ml is something every business wants. We knew we had a great project, one we worked hard to deliver.

We’d like to thank Brewdog for entrusting us with such an exciting project and hopefully winning this award reaffirms Pattesons Glass’ position as a market leader in developing bespoke glass packaging solutions.”

After being invited to tender for the work with the firm well established in the food and drinks market, initial designs and mockups sent up to Aberdeenshire to show what was possible impressed.

Pattesons then worked with Manchester-based United Creatives and South Wales’ Launch Design to take the trio of intricately designed vessels to market, with seven-figure volumes into production.

David Mann, Managing Director, said: “To be able to deliver a brief for a business like BrewDog is something we’re extremely proud of. The team have worked hard to deliver three stunning bespoke bottles for the launch of BrewDog’s new spirit lines.

At the start of the year Pattesons secured a Multi-million pound contract with BrewDog to produce three bespoke spirit bottles. All three bottles were shortlisted for the UK Packaging awards with the Duo Rum design taking centre stage.

“Patteson’s has always worked with leading food and drink producers across the UK and in Europe, but it’s always nice to see the hard work pay off and be trusted time and time again by leading brands to deliver the perfect glass packaging solution.”

Launched By Brewdog recently the Lonewolf Gin, Abstrakt Vodka and Duo Rum consists of three unique glass bottles all designed to showcase the favours and story behind each creation.

Pattesons worked towards a tight timeline delivering the project on time with stock being held in Grimsby for call off orders as well as initial direct deliveries, allowing Brewdog to start production without delay. foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 07

Packaging Innovations & Empack

Packaging Innovations begins assembling its most inspiring speaker line-up to date Former Principal Engineer at Dyson, Co-Founder of the world’s most popular beer club, and the man charged with shaping the future of packaging among the first speakers confirmed for Packaging Innovations 2024

Tom Barton Co-Founder

Catherine Conway Director & Reuse Lead and Founder

Packaging Innovations & Empack is set to kick off the packaging industry’s 2024 in fine style, after it announced the first flurry of speakers hosting talks at the must-attend event.

Taking place on the 21 & 22 February 2024, the event will once again provide an unrivalled platform to those looking to showcase innovative products, services, and solutions to some of the world’s most iconic FMCG brands, online retailers and key players, for whom innovation and sustainability are high on the agenda. The two events promise to deliver a unique perspective on the entire packaging journey.

The timetable of talks, spread across three stages throughout the event at Birmingham NEC, brings together some of the leading experts from the present and future of packaging. The first announcement of speakers lays the foundations of an engaging, insight-packed two-day schedule featuring influential names from all corners of the packaging industry, and beyond.

Leading voice on innovation and creative thinking Ben Edmonds, who spent twelve-and-a-half years at the cutting edge of new product innovation and as Principal Engineer at Dyson, will share his unique

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Fraser Doherty MBE Co-Founder & CEO

insights from a lifetime of problem-solving and innovation. The selfstyled ‘cardboard ninja’, who has already addressed the Ministry of Defence, Airbus, and a convention of 350 Head Teachers this year, will spearhead what promises to be an unmissable class of 2024.

Fraser Doherty MBE, who started his business career at age 14 making jam in his grandmother’s kitchen and went on to become the youngest-ever supplier to a major supermarket, will explain his approach to product development and innovation. In the summer of 2013, Doherty co-founded Edinburgh-based Beer52, the world’s most popular beer club, inspired by a road trip that took him all over the world in search of the best beers. As co-founder and CEO he now presides over one of Scotland’s fastest-growing startups with more than 200,000 customers, shipping 50,000+ cases of beer a month and producing the world’s number-one craft beer magazine, Ferment.

There will also be an opportunity to hear from a man charged with shaping the future of packaging. Former packaging designer turned Principal Lecturer of the UK’s only packaging degree apprenticeship course, Peter Macqueen, will outline precisely where he thinks packaging is headed, while Tom Barton will tell the story of how the

Exhibitions

sustainably minded Honest Burgers restaurant morphed from a humble marquee with a griddle and fryer to a 30+ site ‘better burger’ powerhouse.

Zero waste pioneer and founder of Unpackaged, Catherine Conway, will discuss the UK Refill Coalition’s first in-store trial at Aldi to reduce single-use plastic waste, while Margaret Bates of OPRL will impart the wisdom of more than 30 years spent in the world of waste management and recycling.

“From a cardboard ninja (Ben Edmonds) and Jam Boy (Fraser Doherty MBE) to the man charged with shaping the future of the packaging industry, this already has the making of one of the most enlightening and thought-provoking line-ups that we have ever put together,” said Easyfairs’ Community & Content Manager, Parisa Maleki.

“This announcement is a real statement and we’re so pleased that we’ve been able to deliver another stellar line-up, particularly on the back of London Packaging Week, which was incredibly well received.

“It will, quite literally, stop you in your tracks and force you to think about where we are headed, and what the future could look like for producers, retailers, brands, and the supply chain that stitches everything together.

“When you combine more than 330 suppliers and over 6,500 visitors looking for packaging solutions for a range of industries, including food and beverage, food service, FMCG, beauty and personal care, and pharmaceuticals, with unrivalled networking opportunities, a schedule packed with insightful talks, and the fact it’s free to attend, it’s easy to see why, for many, it has become an unmissable event.”

foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 09

Packaging

Waste Regulations

Proposed mandatory reuse rules jeopardizing world’s best recycling system

by Saverio Mayer, CEO Smurfit Kappa Europe.

Crucial EU vote on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation could result in a rule intended to prevent waste including a loophole that causes a mountain of it.

Six years ago, millions of viewers saw a mother albatross feeding her newborn chick scraps of plastic in David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II. What followed was a wave of support for more sustainable packaging and less waste ending up in nature. Unfortunately, pledges for more sustainable packaging made little difference. According to Eurostat, packaging is still 36% of solid municipal waste and growing (1).

And the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), which represents two million companies and freelancers from all sectors, has stressed “the importance of setting realistic objectives based on a sustainability analysis and only when it is demonstrated that they have clear benefits for the environment and society”(6).

This constant increase combined with low levels of reuse and poor recycling of plastic makes a low-carbon, circular economy a difficult task.

I’m not suggesting plastic packaging should be eliminated. We must be pragmatic. There are and there will be many uses for plastic. But where it can be switched for a sustainable alternative, it should be.

The governing body closest to meaningful change is the European Union. In this, MEPs are representative of their electorate: a study commissioned by Smurfit Kappa revealed that 65% of people surveyed prefer paper packaging over plastic (2).

The EU faces some crucial decisions on the PPWR. The first is tomorrow (November 21) when the EU Parliament will have a final vote on it. Then on December 18, the Council of Environmental Ministers is set to decide its position on the same regulation.

To help, the EU is proposing the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). It’s a big step in the right direction, and everyone supports its goals of reducing waste and CO2 emissions. Back in 2020, the EU Council already welcomed the intention for all packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2030.

The overriding principle should be this: we should not replace the world’s best recycling system with an unproven reuse-and-return system to justify a product people want to use less rather than more.

However, proposals to impose mandatory reuse rules for transport packaging are concerning. As I wrote earlier this year, they would pull the rug out from under the world’s best recycling system and cause the amount of plastic being produced as reusable packaging to double by 2040 (3). A regulation intended to prevent waste could end up including a loophole that causes a mountain of it.

The reality is that only 9% of plastics are currently recycled (4).

The remaining 91% end up in landfills and incinerators or in our rivers, beaches and oceans. Plastic also accounts for 10-13% of the CO2 emissions we need to eradicate by 2050. Encouraging reusable packaging is well intentined, but we shouldn’t have to scrap recyclable materials: the two should go hand in hand.

The Spanish agri-food sector has also sounded the alarm that reuse doesn’t consider the ongoing increase in CO2 emissions caused by the logistics, transportation and washing systems needed for reusable packaging (5).

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Theoretically, if we reused all plastic, none would end up in the environment. But this is a myth. Currently, reuse systems consider themselves successful at a return rate of 75% - an equivalent of just four trips from the producer of a packaged good to consumer and back to the producer. This is far away from what the regulation aims for.

There is a clear risk that, well intended as this regulation may be, Europe will end up with huge amounts of oversized, reusable packaging that in practice will make only a few trips and is nonrecyclable according to the same regulation’s definitions.

Reuse-and-return systems are laudable if the material is completely recyclable and ideally biodegradable. This is of paramount importance since a perfectly closed reuse-and-return system will not exist in the foreseeable future. The thousands of different plastics all have a different composition of chemicals that cannot be recycled together.

This makes it impossible to process plastic efficiently while the proposed regulation requires all reusable packaging to be recyclable when it becomes waste.

Waste Regulations

Packaging

Saverio Mayer, CEO Smurfit Kappa Europe

Fortunately, cardboard packaging is already 100% recyclable and biodegradable. One of its greatest features is that it can be customized to perfectly package just about any product. This saves space and creates important efficiencies in transport while reducing CO2 emissions. At Smurfit Kappa we work daily with our team of over 1,000 designers to develop bespoke packaging that is fit-for-purpose for our 70,000 customers. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Sustainable packaging, 100% renewable, recyclable and biodegradable already exists.

Like so many important moments in history, the upcoming vote in the European Parliament and the Council’s decision come down to politicians doing their best to choose between two possible futures.

One, where plastic production continues to rule and grow. Or the second, better option, where cardboard packaging with its, by far superior, existing, and proven recycling system across Europe becomes

a cornerstone of EU policies for a truly circular economy. Will our political leaders commit to a green and circular Europe? Or will they continue to favour fossil-based materials that will further enlarge Europe’s existing mountain of plastic packaging waste?

Saverio Mayer is the CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe (1) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022PC0677 (2) Smurfit Kappa commissioned study by Censuswide. Sample 700 people in Spain, France and Germany.

Margin of error +/-3.7 percent for each market.

(3) FEFCO: https://www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/plastic-economy-the-unintended-consequence of-reuse-targets/ (4) https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-treaty-progress-puts-spotlight-circular economy (5) https://elpais.com/economia/2023-10-17/el-sector-agroalimentario-reclama-mas-seguridad juridicaante-el-futuro-reglamento-de-envases.html (6) https://www.ceoe.es/es/ceoe-news/sostenibilidad/ceoe-lleva-las-instituciones-europeas-la-posicion de-un-millon-de-empresas

foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 11

Specialist View

Your Factories Don’t Need to Make Sacrifices to Achieve Sustainability In Fact, it’s a Bigger Sacrifice to Do Nothing!

An article By Roy Green, Harford Control Ltd. December 2023 From Global Trends to Factory Solutions: A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing Wastage, Overfilling, Packaging and Paper-Recording

Climate Change and COP 28

I think most of us had a warm summer this year. In fact, September 2023 has been recorded as the warmest September globally, and it was warmer than the average July from 2001-2010 according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

So where shall we start?

The rise in temperatures has intensified the frequency and severity of wildfires, droughts, floods, storms, and other natural disasters, drawing attention to the urgent issues of climate change and sustainability.

Wastage is a major issue, and it is everywhere, throughout food manufacturing operations, from goods-in to despatch. Some obvious examples include wastage due to overfilling, incorrect labels on packaging, piles of paper recording production data and suboptimal efficiencies.

During COP28 in the UAE, the global agenda focused on realigning with a 1.5°C trajectory, aiming to alleviate the suffering of the most impacted populations and ecosystems. Recognising technology and innovation as the cornerstone of these efforts has become integral to our approach.

Huge Carbon Emissions from Food and Drink Production

Bringing this problem much closer to the UK, food and drink is the largest manufacturing sector here and is responsible for more than 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, as about a third of our expensively produced food is wasted, the destruction of this waste creates a further 8% to 16% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Food production and the destruction of food waste therefore cause huge emissions, both in the UK and globally.

To address the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, we need to optimise food and drink production and distribution. Answering the call of COP28, the implementation of technology and innovation in this sector is crucial for improving productivity and fostering sustainability.

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Wastage is Everywhere

Overfilling Always Costs More than You Think Overfilling presents a critical and common wastage issue.

We once visited a UK mid-sized spirit bottling factory with an annual production of approximately 12 million cases, equivalent to around 108 million litres. In order to comply with Average Quantity Law, they maintained an average ‘safe’ overfill of 3ml per litre, resulting in an annual giveaway of 324,000 litres. With a production cost of £1.53 to produce each litre of spirit, the company incurred an additional cost of £495,720 in their cost of sales, for little more than half a teaspoonful of giveaway per litre.

Overfilling not only causes wastage of raw materials, but also has a significant impact on the cost of sales, ultimately eroding bottomline profits. This is where Harford comes in to help with overfilling/ giveaway. Harford Weight Control (Fill Optimisation) solutions implement machine learning and combine the advantages of

Harford Control Ltd. Average Quantity Law with Statistical Process Control and Process Capability, ensuring that optimal control can be achieved, with minimal effort – even in processes with high levels of variation.

Inaccurate Labelling Leads to More Packaging Waste

Packaging waste is another serious waste issue, contributing to environmental pollution and resource depletion. Global plastic waste has more than doubled from 2000 to 2019, reaching 353 million tonnes, with packaging contributing 40%. Over 50% of this waste ends up in landfill (OECD ORG). Challenges such as inaccurate labelling, wrong date codes, and invalid barcodes in production packing contribute to the disposal of packaging items.

We need ‘right first time, every time’ to ensure accurate labelling and reduce the amount of wasted packages.

Harford have enormous experience in helping food and drink manufacturers ensure greater accuracy of labelling for control of allergens, date coding, quality and much more – thus giving manufacturers greater confidence in the labelling of their packages and products.

With Harford Autocoding solutions, at the start of and during each production run, the system will ensure in-line barcode scanners are configured to check that the correct packaging materials and labels are used – on each individual product, case or pallet. This process ensures 100% verification of packaging accuracy, to avoid inaccurate label information and consequential batch rejections.

Eliminate Paper Waste and Improve Traceability

Paper, classified as a forest-risk commodity, contributes significantly to waste in factories. Many factories often accumulate piles of pre-printed paper, documenting line performance data, weight check sheets, quality documents, downtime logs, and changeover logs, leading to the risk of deforestation. In the face of increasing wildfires globally, it’s crucial to reconsider our paper consumption.

Eliminating paper in factories not only enhances sustainability but, with the right system, can also improve traceability and productivity.

Harford Paperless Quality solutions help factories remove paper, providing instant visibility of actionable information. Managers and operators are firmly in control of the production processes. With Harford’s Traffic Lights, operators are able to determine the root cause of downtime using our 5 Whys and Fish Bone diagrams (Ishikawa) analysis, in real time. Our in-depth granular ‘drill down’ tools provide the help required to find and fix most root cause problems.

Unlock the Potential of Sustainable Practices Sustainability doesn’t mean your factory has to sacrifice resources to achieve your objectives. On the contrary, it will help your factory increase productivity, ensure compliance, and reduce transformation costs through our comprehensive MIS/MES system.

We have enormous experience in these matters, gained over the past 55 years of continuous trading, which we are more than willing to share with any companies open to discussion. Don’t wait until it’s too late; we can all do our bit to reduce global warming, whilst doing our utmost to help ourselves.

To know more, call our team on 01225 764461 or visit www.harfordcontrol.com

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Harford Control Ltd.

More Productive, More Sustainable

We have over 55 years experience helping factories reduce wastage, ensure accurate labelling and improve efficiency to increase bottom-line profits with Harford end-to-end MIS/MES. Reduce Giveaway

Ensure Accurate Labelling

No More Paperwork

Harford Weight Control (Fill Optimisation) solutions combine the advantages of Average Quantity Law with Statistical Process Control and Process Capability, ensuring that optimal control can be achieved – even in processes with high levels of variation.

Harford Autocoding solutions use automation, accurate date coder setup, label verification and in-line barcode scanner configuration to prevent non-conformances, reduce changeover time, minimise the risk of human errors and reduce transformation costs.

Harford Quality solutions help manufacturers to ensure product safety and quality compliance with real-time visibility on the shop floor. Our Quality Solutions combine quality control, quality assurance & error-proofing to improve quality consistency.

Improve Efficiency

Monitor Energy Usage

Laboratory

Harford OEE solutions provide automated, accurate and real-time information, which enables your team to make decisions where and when they are needed - based on facts, not opinions. Our OEE solutions enable full visibility of your production processes in real time, onsite or remotely.

Harford Energy Tracking solutions provide manufacturers with real-time visibility of energy usage, tracking various forms of energy and identifying opportunities for savings, optimising consumption for enhanced efficiency and sustainability practices.

Harford’s LIMS seamlessly integrate inspection, track and trace capabilities, automated sampling, Lab MC control and taste panel management.

These systems assist manufacturers in efficiently capturing, analysing, and reporting data, ensuring precision and compliance, at every production stage.

Let’s talk. +44 (0)1225 764461 www.harfordcontrol.com

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Energy Solutions

Flogas Britain Ltd

Flogas Britain Broadens its Energy Proposition with DTGen Acquisition

DTGen’s headquarters in Milngavie, Scotland

Leading off-grid energy solutions provider Flogas Britain (part of DCC plc), has acquired DTGen, a renowned specialist in standby power generators and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.

This strategic move represents a pivotal step in Flogas’ mission to provide commercial and industrial businesses across the UK with a comprehensive range of energy solutions – one that will not only meet high usage demands and improve energy security, but also enhance efficiencies and help businesses reduce carbon emissions.

With DTGen on board, Flogas will now be able to offer a broader range of energy solutions to customers with high energy needs.

This includes emergency/standby diesel and gas power generators that can also be fuelled using lower carbon LPG and HVO, as well as CHP systems, and high voltage services – all of which are aimed to lower emissions, increase energy efficiency and reduce costs.

The move also combines DTGen’s specialist engineers, high-voltage certified professionals and skilled service technicians with Flogas’s expert team, so customers right across the UK will benefit from the highest quality of service and support all in one place.

Commenting on the acquisition, Flogas MD Ivan Trevor says: “DTGen is a fantastic addition to the Flogas family, and this move really step changes our offering to higher energy users and those with onsite power generation needs. The synergy between the businesses was clear, and we knew that combining our offering and expertise would really strengthen our proposition. By joining forces, we can now deliver startto-finish, tailored solutions for commercial and industrial customers, whilst also fulfilling their on-going energy supply – it makes us a real one-stop-shop.”

Paul Moore, MD at DTGen adds: “This is a really positive and exciting development for our business and the growth of our people, opening up lots of new opportunities. We’ve worked really successfully with Flogas in the past, so by coming together and operating as one team, our offering and combined expertise becomes unrivalled, and we’re excited to bring this to large-scale energy users nationwide. We’re also equally dedicated to helping businesses transition towards a lower carbon future, and together we have the perfect portfolio and future-ready energy supply to make this happen.”

Brian Aitken, Partner at Nevis Capital, says: “Nevis is delighted to have been part of the DTGen journey during the last 13 years, supporting the business to evolve into one of the largest independent providers of power solutions in the UK. We were delighted to lead the deal to sell the business to Flogas, having built a trusted relationship with them over the last few years. We recognise the strategic fit between the businesses and the benefit that being part of Flogas will bring to our people and customers. It has been a pleasure to work with Paul Moore and the team at DTGen for such a long time – from the initial buy-out in 2010, through various acquisitions, to create a truly national player – and we look forward to seeing the business continue to grow and develop as part of Flogas.”

The news follows Flogas’s recent acquisition of Protech Group last year, a renewable technologies provider with market-leading maintenance and water management services. Both acquisitions form part of the company’s long-term strategic plan for New Energies, which aims to provide diverse, dependable energy for businesses with high usage demands. It also aligns with Flogas’s overarching commitment to provide 100% renewable energy solutions for customers by 2040.

“This acquisition significantly bolsters our already growing range of low carbon and renewable technology offerings, which is incredibly important to us as we continue to support businesses in reducing their emissions and improving their environmental impact,” adds Ivan.

“We are now better equipped than ever before to help them make their energy transition and meet increasingly pressing sustainability targets.”

For more information on the acquisition and Flogas’s newly expanded range of energy solutions, please contact the dedicated team via NewEnergies@flogas.co.uk

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Sustainability

Phantom Inventory

Phantom Inventory haunts retailers as a fifth of UK shoppers experience out-of-stocks due to ‘ghost’ inventory 19% of customers are experiencing inventory errors with retailers’ store systems 32% reported items being listed as in-stock online but then weren’t available in-store 25% experienced staff not being able to find items in-store, even though they believed they were available Phantom inventory is causing UK shoppers to experience outof-stocks, with poor product availability negatively impacting sales and long-term customer loyalty, according to the latest data from Retail Insight https://www.retailinsight.io/, the leading provider of store operations execution software.

Original research of over 1,000 UK shoppers by Retail Insight revealed that consumers are increasingly experiencing availability issues in-store, a problem symptomatic of phantom inventory, which is the discrepancy between stock listed on retailers’ systems and what items are actually available in store.

A fifth (19%) of customers in Retail Insight’s poll said they had experienced errors with retailers’ store systems, when ‘ghost’ stock was shown as available when it was, in fact, out-ofstock. Meanwhile, a third (32%) reported items being listed as in-stock online but which weren’t available when they arrived in store. A further quarter (25%) had experienced store associates not being able to find an item, even though they believed it was available in the store.

“As one of the main drivers of inefficiencies, sales, and margins, phantom inventory presents a significant and costly challenge to grocers,” said Paul Boyle, CEO of Retail Insight.

“Facing growing pressure on already razor-thin margins, phantom inventory risks becoming a profitdraining issue across every part of the retailer’s store operations, from wasted labour to out of stocks and increased shrink.”

With retailers’ average inventory records currently only 60% accurate, phantom inventory blocks replenishment and timely re-orders, causing shelf gaps that lead to lost sales and reduced customer loyalty.

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82% of UK shoppers polled by Retail Insight said they had experienced out-of-stocks in-store during the last 12 months, up +11 percentage points year-on-year, while 60% reported the same issue online, an increase of +6% since 2022. And these poor levels of product availability aren’t just creating dissatisfied customers, they also risk costing retailers lost sales and loyalty.

A fifth of shoppers (21%) said shelf gaps would make them abandon their shopping mission and leave the store without buying other items in their basket, while a quarter (26%) said poor stock availability would make them either stop shopping or shop less with a grocer. A further 27% would switch to a competitor supermarket if their usual grocer had shelf gaps.

“With recent analysis suggesting that phantom inventory can cause as much as 80% of out-of-stocks, it is clearly a major driver of lost sales that retailers can’t afford to ignore. By leveraging real-time data, retailers can address and correct inventory accuracy faster and more efficiently, ensuring better product availability, freeing up store associates to serve and, ultimately, delivering store execution that protects, and even boosts, margins,” Boyle concluded.

InventoryInsight is a machine learning-driven software that automatically identifies and corrects inaccurate retailer inventory records to reduce phantom inventory. Using cognitive technology, it creates and trains a data model for each store, which automatically detects, alerts, and corrects instances of phantom inventory in real-time autonomously, or via prompts to associates to address and amend inventory records. This boosts labour productivity, corrects inventory records, and recovers sales that would otherwise have been lost.

Sustainability

Henderson Foodservice

Henderson Foodservice creates a recipe for success with Akeneo’s PIM solution Partnership accelerated product record capabilities, ensuring seamless compliance with new food standards and regulation, including Natasha’s Law Akeneo’s PIM solution ensured limited business interruption due to rapidly changing Brexit border protocol and product import restrictions Henderson’s PIM system accurately captures and stores all ingredient details and product catalogue data across the supply chain, allowing its B2B customers to choose products with complete confidence Henderson Foodservice, one of the leading foodservice providers on the Island of Ireland, has created a single source of data truth across 5,000+ food and non-food products for both company and clients across its sales channels, in partnership with Akeneo, the Product Experience (PX) company and global leader in Product Information Management (PIM), enabling organisations to build and deliver world-class product experiences across every customer touchpoint through a comprehensive PX Strategy.

The partnership has also accelerated Henderson’s product record capabilities, enabling it to fast-track and quickly update its entire product catalogue in accordance with key industry legislation, including Natasha’s Law, and embedded agility into its product information process, ensuring business continuity in the face of Brexit border protocols and product import restrictions.

Henderson Foodservice, a division of the Henderson Group, has over 50 years of experience in the foodservice and hospitality catering industry in Ireland. Serving over 4,500 customers across multiple sectors including hotels, restaurants, pubs, education, bakery, wholesale, cafes and coffee shops, workplace catering and travel/leisure.

The company has a range of over 6,000 products from locally sourced produce to national brands across fresh, frozen, ambient and non-foods and supplies the Country Range brand in Ireland, which is widely regarded as the best own brand in the foodservice industry.

Recognising it needed a single source of product data, and with the imminent launch of its new website in October 2020, Henderson Foodservice wanted to unify its product data on to one platform to allow it greater speed-to-market, enhanced product information consistency (which was key to ensure legal compliance), as well as enriching its product record to improve customer experience and unlock growth.

The integration of the Akeneo PIM solution has helped drive the company’s eCommerce platform to be recognised as industry leading. Henderson-foodservice.com received the Business Growth award at the Irish eCommerce Awards in 2022 and was highly commended for Food and Drink eCommerce Website of the Year. In 2023, the company has also been shortlisted in 4

categories at the Irish eCommerce Awards in Dublin in September.

Henderson Foodservice chose to partner with Akeneo, based on its extensive expertise in the PIM space, as well as its capabilities to deliver improved product experiences. In March 2021, the immediate impact of that work was acknowledged, with Henderson Foodservice receiving the Akeneo Unlock Leadership Award.

Henderson’s digital transformation and website launch was met with new challenges in 2021 when Natasha’s Law - new legislation requiring food businesses and manufacturers to include a full list of ingredients on pre-packaged food to better inform and protect allergy sufferers – came into effect. In 2022, Brexit restrictions meant some products could no longer be sold into Northern Ireland, requiring Henderson Foodservice to find replacement products that met the exact same specifications so its customers could replace like-for-like ingredients or products that matched the same quality.

Andrea Scott, Product Data Quality Manager at Henderson Foodservice, commented: “In both instances, by utilising Akeneo’s PIM solution we were able to very quickly ensure compliance and could communicate the specifications and quality assurance of our products, to all our key stakeholders both internal and external, consistently and accurately with no disruption to business as usual.”

“Additionally, our partnership with Akeneo has enabled us to link supplier information directly from our supplier data source, significantly reducing costs. Our PIM system feeds into our eCommerce platform, creating a positive and easy way for our customers to choose a product with confidence in its suitability for customers with particular allergens, lifestyle, and dietary requirements. Our export profiles feed into the procurement systems our customers use, ensuring product information is readily available. Overall, products now have a much quicker time-to-market, with improved efficiencies to share product information across key internal teams such as marketing and sales, as well as external customers.

James Barlow, Director UK&I at Akeneo, commented: “We’re proud to have been able to help Henderson Foodservice move quickly to meet new food safety and Brexit regulations and compliance, as well as setting their teams, processes and systems up to build out product experiences and future-proof it for success.”

More information visit henderson-foodservice.com foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 17

Beverages

Petro-Canada Lubricants

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18 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

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The Purity FG line is the result of extensive gainst water washout. research and development, incorporating the latest advancements in lubrication technology.

The lubricants are carefully formulated to address the specific needs of the beverages industry, providing tailored solutions for enhanced performance.

Image courtesy of Petro-Canada Lubricants petrocanadalubricants.com

For further information please visit petrocanadalubricants.com/brand/purity-fg foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 19

Beverages

Roman Brewery

Belgium’s oldest Brewery, Roman Brewery, established in in 1545, has won best produce at the recent Flanders Finest Flavours Show that took place in London.

Current managers Carlo & Lode Roman

Roman Beer is coming to the UK Roman Brewery exhibited at the show by invitation of Flanders Investment & Trade as it is about to enter the UK market for the first time.

Roman Brewery has built a reputation in Europe as a premium beer and lager producer. 100,000 hectolitres or more than 17.5 million pints of Roman Beer are produced annually.

It is sold in Belgium and in almost all their immediate neighbours in Europe. The UK has been the exception that they now want to address. Their typical route into a new market is to first sell the beer to bars with a commitment to serving high quality produce, so they are now actively looking at opportunities in that sector.

The beer is brewed in the traditional way, with traditional craftsmanship and a lot of love. Their range includes a non-alcoholic lager and the Adriaen Brouwer range which is 9-10 degrees proof. The beer is easy to drink and should be savoured slowly.

Roman Brewery was founded by Joos Roman nearly five centuries ago (during the last days of the reign of King Henry VIII in England) and is still managed by the same family. They put their longevity down to their ability to innovate, while maintaining quality. During the last century the Brewery introduced lagers to its range and this century they introduced an organic range. Throughout its history Roman Brewery has maintained a commitment not to compromise on taste and to consistently deliver a wellbalanced flavour. This is one reason why the focus for trade has always been neighbours, as there are technical challenges to 20 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

exporting long distances, whilst maintaining the high quality of the beer.

Many of the employees have a long family history of working for the brewery. Current managers Carlo and Lode Roman are 14 generation descendants of the founders.

They’ve faced challenges that would be surprisingly familiar to their ancestors. The recent pandemic impacted sales as the bars were closed and the bad weather last summer reduced the number of people drinking outside in cafes.

However, 2023 has been a good year for the company, with the high quality of the beer proving a welcome distraction to the economic and political challenges of the year.

Brexit has not proved a barrier to Roman Brewery.

Their market intelligence shows that trade is healthy and increasing. Initiatives such as Gateway2Britain, which is being introduced

by Belgium authorities to make trade with UK ‘frictionless’, will significantly ease the bureaucracy involved.

The team at Roman Brewery are excited by the year ahead.

They’re confident that UK beer drinkers will appreciate the beer following their popularity at Flanders Finest Flavours.

For information please visit www.roman.be

Shrink Wrapping & Cartoning Systems

Dairy Industry

SEALING THE DEAL:

Shrink Wrapping Systems and Recyclable Milk Cartons Revolutionize the Dairy Industry In the ever-evolving landscape of the dairy industry, sustainability and efficiency have become the driving forces behind innovation. One notable development in this sector is the adoption of shrink wrapping systems and recyclable milk cartons and lids.

This dynamic duo is transforming the way dairy products are packaged, distributed, and consumed, bringing about positive environmental impacts and streamlining processes.

THE RISE OF SHRINK WRAPPING SYSTEMS:

Shrink wrapping systems have emerged as a game-changer in the dairy packaging realm. These systems involve the use of shrink film—a material that, when heat is applied, conforms to the shape of the product, creating a tight, protective seal.

In the dairy industry, this technology has found its stride in bundling and securing products for transportation and retail.

BENEFITS OF SHRINK WRAPPING

Extended Shelf Life: Shrink wrapping provides an effective barrier against external elements, such as moisture and contaminants. This extended shelf life not only reduces food waste but also ensures that consumers enjoy fresher dairy products.

Enhanced Product Visibility: The transparent nature of shrink film allows consumers to see the product without compromising its protection. This not only adds to the visual appeal on store shelves but also fosters consumer trust by providing a clear view of the product inside.

Customisation and Branding: Shrink wrapping allows for high-quality printing, enabling dairy producers to showcase their brand identity with vibrant logos, nutritional information, and other essential details. This aids in brand recognition and consumer loyalty.

Recyclable Milk Cartons and Lids: In tandem with shrink wrapping systems, the dairy industry is making strides in adopting recyclable milk cartons and lids.

Traditionally, milk packaging has been dominated by materials like plastic and non-recyclable materials, contributing to environmental concerns. However, the shift towards recyclable options is a step towards a more sustainable future.

BENEFITS OF RECYCLABLE MILK CARTONS & LIDS: Reduced Environmental Impact: Recyclable materials, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are gaining prominence as alternatives to traditional packaging. These materials can be recycled multiple times, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the dairy industry.

Consumer Appeal: With increasing environmental awareness, consumers are more inclined to choose products with eco-friendly packaging. Recyclable milk cartons and lids not only appeal to environmentally conscious consumers but also align with corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Regulatory Compliance: As governments worldwide tighten regulations on singleuse plastics and non-recyclable materials, the adoption of recyclable packaging positions dairy producers to comply with evolving environmental standards.

The marriage of shrink wrapping systems and recyclable milk cartons and lids signifies a positive shift towards sustainability in the dairy industry, as consumer preferences continue to lean towards eco-friendly options. foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 21

Dairy Industry

Yorkshire Packaging Systems

Rodda’s invests in la crème de la crème of equipment Rodda’s creamery in Cornwall, famous for its quality dairy produce, recently invested in a high-speed shrink-wrapping line to help them meet increases in demand for their milk products.

They turned to the leaders in shrink-wrapping systems, Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS), to supply and maintain the new equipment.

Rodda’s requirements were for a line with increased speed compared with their previous system, which could handle different configurations of their product easily and which was designed for the dairy environment.

YPS were able to supply a wrapping system exactly to Rodda’s’ needs. Steve Basford, Rodda’s Engineering Manager, commented, “From my point of view, YPS listened to our requirements from the outset of the project.”

The YPS engineering team installed and configured the system at Rodda’s’ Cornish operation, fitting around the dairy’s production schedule. “We had good communication in the build stage and the installation, which had to be done over an extended weekend so we did not affect production, went smoothly with a vertical startup on the Monday morning,” confirmed Steve.

Rodda’s Creamery prides itself on its highquality production values. Rodda’s source their milk directly from Cornish farms to ensure they get the best quality, rich and creamy milk they are looking for, from farms with high standards of animal welfare.

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properly helps ensure that the final consumer receives the product in the best condition and is able to appreciate that quality.

Both businesses are family-owned and have a long legacy in their respective industries. “We’ve been in business for over 45 years now, which is a great achievement, but it’s dwarfed by the more than 130 years that Rodda’s Creamery have been operating,” stated YPS Managing Director, Glyn Johnson.

“Despite their long history, Rodda’s aren’t resting on their laurels but are continuing to invest for a healthy future and it’s a privilege to play a small part in helping them to do that.”

Trewithen Dairy

Dairy Industry

Trewithen Dairy’s Cult Cornish Barista Milk now listed with Ocado Trewithen Dairy’s award-winning Cornish Barista Milk will now be available direct to consumers, following its success within the speciality coffee industry and its growing cult status in the UK’s independent city coffee shops. The new offering is now available in Ocado with a RRP of £2.00.

Created in partnership with skilled baristas and industry specialists, the barista milk has been carefully crafted to produce the perfect froth for coffee at home with a rich, creamy and fresh taste. Naturally higher in protein and a great source of nutrients, Trewithen Dairy’s Cornish Barista Milk is the first non-UHT barista milk for the retail market.

Produced from family farms in the heart of Cornwall, it contains 3.5% protein which is perfectly balanced with a 4% butterfat content to create a smooth, full bodied flavour, long lasting microfoam and consistent performance for latte art.

Its astounding taste recently received a Great Taste Award with judges singling out its “rich, creamy milk with a suggestion of sweetness”.

Renowned for its exceptional dairy products with quality and sustainability at its core, Trewithen Dairy works with farmers who are close to home ensuring all their milk comes from a blend of Brown Swiss, Friesian, Holsteins and Jersey cows who graze on lush Cornish grass on farms with standards that are higher than industry requirements.

able to offer everyone across the country the chance to try making their own coffees with it for the first time”.

According to Mintel, a leading market intelligence agency, consumers are entering a ‘fourth wave’ of premium home-crafted coffee so Trewithen’s Cornish Barista Milk is perfectly timed with this increase in popularity of making more specialty coffees at home.

During product research and development of the new milk, Trewithen approached baristas who told the awardwinning Cornish dairy that they wanted a milk with good levels of protein and butterfat to achieve the creamy, smooth ‘mouth feel’ customers want. Feedback from baristas who tried the milk at the London Coffee Festival reported that the new product “steams and froths very nicely, better than any others” and was “very sweet, lasts longer and works fantastically well with dark or light coffee’.

Trewithen Dairy’s careful homogenisation and pasteurisation process and foam testing of every batch Francis Clarke, director of Trewithen before distribution ensures their Cornish Dairy, says: ”We created, developed and Barista Milk foams perfectly every time launched this product with baristas for at home with domestic milk frothers. With baristas, in partnership with Stores Supply who an unforgettable smooth finish, creamy, are experts in the specialty coffee space and whose rich taste and fresh flavour, thanks to it being insights and support have a non-UHT milk, Trewithen Dairy’s been invaluable.

Cornish Barista Milk is the perfect balance to complement coffee, Our barista milk has been hugely popular add to shakes, cereal or even enjoy in cafés across the UK for the last few years straight from the and it’s now so Visit www.ocado.com/products/trewithen-dairy-barista-milk-621542011 bottle. exciting to be foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk | 23

Silverson Machines Ltd.

How High Shear Mixers can be beneficial when processing Gums & Thickening agents Dispersing powders into liquids and creating a consistent, homogeneous product is one of the most difficult of all mixing tasks. And gums and thickeners used in the food industry such as alginates, guar gum, CMC, etc. are no exception.

These ingredients are difficult to disperse without forming lumps or “fish eyes” – agglomerations of partially hydrated material with a core of dry powder. Time and again Silverson Machines have helped customers to improve their mixing processes by overcoming the challenges associated with these ingredients.

Agglomerates in the mix

When adding powder ingredients into water, most powders have a tendency to float or raft on the liquid surface and agglomerates can easily form. The formation of these agglomerates can be exacerbated by operator error, as powder addition must be carried out with great care. If the powder is added into the liquid too quickly the mixing equipment cannot quickly and efficiently disperse it, agglomerates will form. Having to add the powder slowly at a controlled rate adds to processing times and labour costs without the guarantee of an agglomerate-free end product.

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High Shear Mixers

Conventional mixing equipment such as agitators and stirrers does not produce sufficient shear to break down any agglomerates and hydrate the dry powder within the lump, resulting in poor yield. Many formulations contain unnecessarily high levels of gum to compensate for this and so a filtration stage is often required, adding to costs. If left in the mixture, unhydrated gum can gradually hydrate during storage or subsequent processing, leading to undesired change in the product – this can also affect shelf life.

Some manufacturers try to overcome the formation of agglomerates by premixing functional ingredients with other powdered ingredients or non-aqueous phase liquids. But this doesn’t always work and continues to add to process times and costs.

A high speed, high shear rotor/stator mixer can easily overcome these problems. The high speed rotation of the rotor blades creates a powerful suction which draws the powdered ingredient from the liquid surface and into the workhead. The materials are subjected to intense shear in the confined area of the workhead. Agglomerates are broken down in the gap between the rotor blades and stator wall, exposing an increasing area of powder to the surrounding liquid. In a short mixing cycle all the material passes through the workhead, accelerating the hydration process and resulting in an agglomerate-free mix.

Costly raw materials With high-cost functional ingredients such as Xanthan Gum or Carrageenan, Silverson mixers can help you to achieve the best yield from these ingredients, making your process much more cost effective. For example, we recently helped a customer to reduce the Pectin in their formulation by over 20% with the use of the Silverson Flashmix.

The company had previously been using conventional agitators to mix the pectin at temperatures in excess of 55°C. They were incorporating around 20% more pectin than they actually needed for their formulation to account for what they were losing due to agglomerates and partially hydrated pectin sticking to the agitator shaft, blades and the walls of the mixing vessel. This wastage was costing a considerable amount of money and after the mixing process they had to put the mixture through a filtration stage to filter out the unhydrated pectin, further lengthening the process time. After around 40 minutes they were left with a low quality 5% pectin solution, wasting 20% of the material they had added as the agitator was unable to break down the agglomerates.

Trials were arranged at Silverson using a Flashmix FMX50 to incorporate the pectin. The trials were run at ambient temperature and after around 10 minutes the 5% of pectin that had been added was fully incorporated and mixed.

Using the FMX50 there were no agglomerates and no partially hydrated powder sticking to the vessel wall, so the mixture no longer needed to be filtered after mixing.

Using the FMX50 the consistency and quality of the mix was much better even after a shorter period of time. The company would be saving a huge amount of money on pectin by being able to use 20% less pectin for each batch and by not having to heat the vessel before adding the pectin.

What Silverson can offer With a range of mixers suitable for a different batch sizes, Silverson mixers can: • Produce an agglomerate-free mix.

• Maximise yield/functionality of raw materials, allowing products to be formulated with reduced gum content, cutting raw material costs.

• Achieve consistent product quality.

• Reduce mixing times by eliminating the need for controlled powder addition and premixing of powders.

To find out more, or watch one of our many ‘how to’ videos on processing different types of gums and thickeners, visit: www.silverson.co.uk Or for advice on your mixing process contact sales@silverson.co.uk

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Measurement & Control Solutions

Nordson Color Gauge

Introducing Nordson Gauge The Only On-Line Gauge on the Market that Can Simultaneously Measure Color, Moisture, Fat/Oil and Protein…Out of the Box Nordson Measurement & Control Solutions (formerly NDC Technologies) introduces the Series 9 Food Color Gauge.

The Series 9 gauge is a best-seller in the food industry. It is specially engineered for 24/7 duty, helping manufacturers to meet product quality demands and efficiency goals.

Installed directly on-line, it delivers unparalleled measurement performance while maintaining simplicity and versatility in design and operation. It doesn’t require special operator skills or expert knowledge, yet it allows experienced users to access the enhanced interaction capabilities as desired.

In addition to the key constituents, the Series 9 gauge can detect the change in brownness on the surface of a baked or fried product as a result of the Maillard reaction – called degree of bake.

However, surface browning is not the only color measurement required by the industry. That’s where the new Series 9 Color Gauge comes in.

Building on the existing flexible, future-proof platform, the NDC Products team by Nordson has expanded the capability of Series 9 to create a unique gauge capable of simultaneously measuring the color and the key constituents of food products. The NEW Series 9 can now measure the full-color spectrum in a wide range of standard scales, as well as color tolerance and difference outputs, for CIE (L*, a*, b*), RGB, CIE LCh (L*, C*, h), ΔE* & ΔEcmc and Degree of Roast (DOR).

Application tests in leading companies have proven that repeatable numeric color readings, combined with other critical measurements such as moisture, fat/oil, and protein, can be confidently used as part of a process control strategy to deliver consistent product quality every time. The Series 9 color gauge already counts numerous success stories in the industrial production of various foods, namely nuts, snacks, dehydrated fruits, coffee, etc.

Overall, the Series 9 Color Gauge keeps you ahead with: ■ Evolutionary technology that is flexible, adaptable and scalable to meet your changing needs ■ Enterprise-level intelligence compatible with Industry 4.0 ■ Easier operation and maintenance ■ Lower cost of ownership over a long lifetime of operation

More information available on: www.ndc.com/food-bulk-materials-processing/ 26 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

Sensing Technology & Software

Water Activity Monitoring

Innovative Bluetooth water activity meter from Rotronic sets new standards

Image courtesy of Process Sensing Technologies ProcessSensing.com

Rotronic, part of Process Sensing Technology (PST) and the specialised manufacturer of humidity and temperature instrumentation, has launched a combined Bluetooth Water Activity meter with smartphone and tablet app.

Called the AwEasy, the new stand-alone instrument is advanced, lightweight and compact, and is designed to produce extremely accurate reading simply and quickly – up to ten times faster than traditional devices. This makes it ideal for use by laboratory analysts, quality control teams and production staff who need to take spot-water activity measurements in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and chemical industries.

The new AwEasy is the most recent addition to Rotronic’s existing range of water activity analysers, meters and probes. The company believes that it is the first of its type to offer both Bluetooth connectivity with the ability to use a smartphone or tablet app, to store and analyze data and then automatically output reports as pdf documents, for use in quality control and traceability regimes.

The AwEasy features a robust stainless steel and aluminum housing, measuring just 65mm tall and 68mm in diameter, with a top-mounted color LCD display, indicator ring and single control button. The instrument also incorporates Rotronic’s latest humidity and temperature sensing technologies. These are capable of providing levels of accuracy to within plus or minus 0.008aw, which is far better than competing devices in the same price range, while ensuring exceptional repeatability and stability.

Set-up and operation is carried out via the iOS or Android compatible app, with measurement simply requiring a test name and batch number. Analysis is automatic and can be displayed in detail, as raw data or on a choice of charts, with reports being exportable as pdf or csv files.

The AwEasy has also been designed to minimize the time required for water activity measurements. These normally take up to 50 minutes, but with the AwEasy in Quick Function mode this time can be significantly reduced to around 5 minutes. Combined with the in-depth analysis reports, this enables the new AwEasy to offer considerable improvements in productivity, quality control and traceability.

In areas such as factory environments, where connectivity may be an issue, or where the use of Smartphones is prohibited, the new AwEasy can be used on its own. Control of each analysis can be carried out directly from the front panel, with data being displayed on the LCD control panel and then automatically uploaded once the smartphone is back within range.

As part of the PST group, Rotronic is able to provide a comprehensive range of technical and sales support services, including training, sensor calibration and repairs.

Rotronic AwEasy – Standalone Bluetooth Water Activity Monitor • Compact, lightweight and mobile

HygroLab

• AW Quick for results in 4 – 5 min.

• Easy to use with display • Also measures humidity and temperature • Free smartphone app

HC2-AW

• Auto-report function AwTherm

SCAN ME

AwEasy

The new AwEasy complements our range of water activity measurement devices perfectly. Measurement probes, penetration probes, laboratory benchtop and handheld devices can be combined flexibly according to your requirements. Benefit from the highest accuracy, efficiency, and easy calibration to optimize processes and ensure product quality. ProcessSensing.com

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Allergens

The Allergy Menu App

Restaurant managers have been advised on how to fully minimise risk of a customer suffering a severe allergic reaction on their premises.

RESTAURANTS OFFERED ALLERGY LIFELINE Managing allergies is a real concern for everyone in the hospitality industry with bosses facing the potential of legal action if a customer suffers an adverse reaction. In extreme cases a restaurant manager could even face criminal charges if a customer who flagged an allergy went on to suffer an extreme reaction. With many in the industry seeking new methods of managing the risks a new service is offering restaurants and customers alike a solution.

AllergyMenu.uk allows food businesses to provide accurate and reliable dietary information to their customers and lets patrons with specific food preferences and requirements to select dishes and establishments which align with their allergies and intolerances.

The service is accessed via a simple-to-use smartphone app which mitigates the risk to restaurants and is the easiest way to ensure compliance with food safety and government allergy regulations.

National chains including Bannatyne Health Clubs are already using the app to improve allergy response and information across their UK locations. The UK has some of the highest prevalence rates of allergic conditions in the world, with two million people estimated to be living with a diagnosed food allergy, and 600,000 with Coeliac Disease.

Now solutions like Allergy Menu will take the pain away from businesses and allow customers to check allergens easily before ordering.

The user-friendly interface allows customers to conveniently access the allergy menu through the website or app.

Currently, UK law requires restaurants to display a paper-based food

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allergy chart. These are often missed by customers and leave room for error. The Allergy Menu app reduces the risk of errors, allows customers to search for specific allergies and is easy for restauranteurs to update in real time.

Juliet Moran, founder of AllergyMenu.uk said: “Allergy Menu makes demonstrating compliance with the law easy to achieve, while also providing a platform to advertise a menu to customers so they can confidently make safe choices. Restaurant owners have a legal duty of care towards their customers, so if they fail at this in any way they could be sued for an allergic reaction. In a worst-case scenario, they could even be imprisoned for manslaughter if a customer made their allergic reaction known to staff. Navigating allergens is a real problem for restaurateurs and food providers - it is challenging to track ever-changing menus and communicate them safely and effectively to customers.“ “Providing higher levels of transparency will not only show that businesses care about their patrons’ welfare but will also encourage new customers.

The app is simple to use and accessible for everyone within the business as well as prospective customers hoping to browse the menu from home.

It can be incredibly hard for businesses in the hospitality industry to keep on top of allergen information and safely communicate it with their customers. The digital allergy menu was designed to offer searchable, real-time allergen information for those with different dietary requirements, including vegans and veggies. Not only will it revolutionise the customer experience, but it will also reduce front-of-house staff mistakes and ensure allergen menus are always accurate and up to date.“

Food Science

NSF

NSF TraQtion Powers Novozymes’ Raw Material Management in Industry First Novozymes has successfully implemented NSF TraQtion for managing raw material quality and continuously improve compliance for the production of enzymes and proteins across several industries

NSF, a leading global public health and safety organization, is pleased to announce that Novozymes, a leader in biosolutions, has become the world’s first company to implement NSF TraQtion software for managing the quality and compliance of raw materials used in the production of enzymes and proteins serving multiple industries.

NSF TraQtion is a cloud-based quality and compliance software that provides organizations with a comprehensive platform to proactively manage their supply chain, sites, and product quality. NSF TraQtion was initially developed to help customers maintain a higher level of food safety and quality compliance. Its implementation by Novozymes demonstrates the versatility of the software across diverse industries, offering timely and insightful information for making informed decisions.

As an industry pioneer in risk management and mitigation solutions, NSF has a proven track record of ensuring product safety, quality, and compliance across various sectors, including food and health science.

In today’s increasingly complex supply chains, risks stemming from globalization, extreme weather events, geopolitical influences, and persistent raw material inflation highlight the need for more robust supply chain management solutions.

“We are delighted to have Novozymes as a client utilizing NSF TraQtion. This achievement showcases the versatility and effectiveness of NSF TraQtion digital solutions across diverse industries. With our extensive expertise and deep understanding of global supply chain dynamics, we are confident in our ability to support Novozymes in enhancing their raw material management process” said Matthew Allen, Senior Director, Food & Sustainability Advisory Solutions at NSF. Novozymes is also exploring applications of NSF TraQtion within dietary supplements and health sciences in the future, marking the start of NSF TraQtion’s expansion into these sectors.

NSF TraQtion software offers comprehensive data management and business intelligence capabilities. It combines decades of industry expertise with real-time digital insights in a trusted, cloud-based solution that provides businesses with the assurance they need to confidently manage complex and critical data – including supplier compliance, regulatory requirements, and environmental reporting.

“The adoption of NSF TraQtion by Novozymes underscores NSF’s commitment to delivering cuttingedge solutions to address emerging challenges across industries. By harnessing advanced technologies and industry expertise, NSF TraQtion empowers organizations to proactively manage risk, ensure compliance and product quality, and fortify the overall resilience of their supply chains in a single, secure platform,” stated David Lonza, Vice President, Health Sciences, NSF.

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Money Matters

Hokodo

Hokodo’s flexible payment terms allow small businesses to prepare for seasonal increase in footfall, and beyond For many businesses, preparing for the festive period requires round-the-clock planning - and the financial strain of getting stock in place to meet customer demand only adds more pressure.

However, access to instant, flexible credit online enables businesses to pay their suppliers at a later date, ultimately easing cash flow issues..

With Hokodo’s flexible payment terms, e-commerce businesses are empowered to offer customers the ability to pay in 30, 60 or 90 days, without incurring interest or fees. With clear, concise credit terms, Hokodo’s service is preferable to credit cards or business loans for many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as these can often result in further cash flow problems.

This was the case for Jonathan, founder of gourmet deli Chinley Cheese. Chinley Cheese sees its greatest footfall in the buildup to the festive period, and so investing in stock in the winter months is essential for the business’ success.

However, after slower months in Autumn, the upfront cost needed to purchase stock in time for Christmas puts a strain on Chinley Cheese. Jonathan was on the lookout for a solution that would alleviate his business’ cash flow issues, without unloading additional costs on his customers. Fortunately, Jonathan’s suppliers partnered with Hokodo - meaning he was able to take advantage of flexible payment terms.

The ability to delay payment to suppliers using Hokodo provided peace of mind for Jonathan, as it does for many other small business owners, who can be sure they will have plenty of stock in time for the festive period without feeling the burden of unnecessary financial stress.

“Of all the options out there, including credit cards or any sort of business loan, it makes a lot of sense to be paying with Hokodo,” Jonathan said, highlighting that the small print and high interest rates of credit cards cause unnecessary stress and can create serious cash flow problems.

embedded into the checkouts of the e-commerce companies it partners with, meaning that purchasers can forgo the paperwork associated with traditional lines of credit.

“Running out of money is the biggest risk for small businesses, but, illogically, these SMEs are the businesses that find it most difficult to access lines of credit,” explains Louis Carbonnier, Co-Founder and President of Hokodo.

“At Hokodo we’re lowering the barriers to entry so small players and even sole traders with limited credit history can access the payment terms they need to survive and thrive.”

“Knowing that I have a duty to pay something on the horizon, knowing exactly what those terms are and knowing that it’s a free credit facility, means it’s a great thing to have.”

With commercial rent prices and the cost of goods continuing to increase, Hokodo’s payment services will provide stability for a raft of SMEs beyond the festive season, too. Improved cash flow has the potential to benefit businesses year round. Due to cash flow restraints at the beginning of the year, Jonathan wasn’t able to experiment with new stock and suppliers like he can now. This has resulted in an uptick in new customers and opportunities for partnerships with new and exciting suppliers, thanks to Hokodo’s flexible payment terms.

Hokodo’s service is not only financially convenient for its users, it’s practical, too. The option to extend payment terms is

Visit https://www.hokodo.co/ to see how flexible payment terms can support your business.

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Jungheinrich UK Ltd

Intralogistics

CONNECTED TRUCKS: Jungheinrich drives forward the digitalisation and interconnection of intralogistics • Enhanced connectivity thanks to telemetry units in every new truck • Truck customers now have easy access to the Jungheinrich Fleet Management • The FMS and telemetry units deliver increased efficiency and performance thanks to better data management Jungheinrich is connecting its fleet by equipping all its new trucks with telemetry units as standard. This enables customers easy access to the Jungheinrich Fleet Management System (FMS), starting with the entry level Starter Kit. Jungheinrich is continuing to drive forward the digitalisation and networking of intralogistics by equipping all newly ordered trucks produced in its European plants with telemetry units as standard.

Jungheinrich trucks are fully networkable and ready for intelligent integration in the warehouse. With the help of the Jungheinrich FMS fleet management system, customers can use this data to optimally deploy their fleet.

“Data is one of the most valuable resources in the warehouse today. We are now making this data easily and efficiently usable by our customers,” says Phil Pearson, Sales Management Director at Jungheinrich.

“Connectivity is an essential key to further optimising intralogistics. By processing information better and faster

with our Jungheinrich FMS, we make our customers’ warehouses even more efficient.”

Thanks to the telemetry units and Jungheinrich FMS, Jungheinrich customers receive real-time data on the condition and use of their trucks, enabling them to optimally manage their fleet. Data transmission to the Jungheinrich Cloud takes place via a mobile connection or Wi-Fi. “When our customers agree to share the usage and vehicle data of their trucks with us, we can access important insights into the actual use of the industrial trucks. This enables us to tailor our range of solutions even more personally and individually to our customers’ needs,” says Pearson.

“This includes, for example, remote diagnostics for the targeted reduction or avoidance of downtimes through more efficient service, or intelligent energy solutions as the basis for cost - and consumption-optimised energy management.”

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Food Machinery Auctions

Introducing Industry Auctions

Introducing THE Food & Drink Machinery Auction Experts...

INDUSTRIAL AUCTIONS Industrial Auctions is an international operating online auctioneer specialized in auctioning machinery, inventory, and goods business-to-business. Industrial Auctions has specialized itself over the past years in the organisation of auctions for the food and beverage industry.

Establishing a valuable long-term relationship with buyers and contractors are the starting points of our core values: specialized, sustainable, transparent, and service-oriented.

SPECIALISED Auctioning machines, complete production lines or a complete production location within Europe is absolutely no stranger to us and selling machines worldwide is more than known. As a company we focus entirely on the food and beverage industry. We do this for a reason, because this is where we make the difference. Auctions at Industrial Auctions are supervised by our project leaders who know what they are talking about.

With extensive and thorough knowledge, a no-nonsense mentality and a contagious and uninhibited enthusiasm. We speak the language so that machines can be found excellently and yield the best return.

SUSTAINABLE Used machines from the food and beverage industry find their way to a new owner. The machines are cheaper, available within a week, and with the right maintenance they will serve you for years to come. By reusing machines, we jointly contribute to a sustainable world and make a significant contribution to the industry.

TRANSPARENT Transparency applies in every respect within Industrial Auctions. No small print, clear information and besides the fact that we auction online, we attach great importance to offline contact.

Detailed descriptions, photos and possibly videos are available for each lot. In addition, for each auction we offer the opportunity to visit the auction location and view the machines. Fair trade is therefore our highest priority. Any known or visible defects are mentioned and what you see is what you get. An honest and reliable offer for a ditto purchase. We believe that this working method leads to greater trust and a healthier way of doing business. The result of all of this is that we work with many satisfied returning customers.

SERVICE-ORIENTED We believe in meaningful collaborations, which are at the basis of our business and are leading in our actions. This allows us to offer our contractors and customers a service in a way that others cannot. During the entire process from orientation to transfer, we support where necessary. We do this, among other things, by providing sound valuation advice, providing information where requested and by thinking along in suitable solutions for transport or, for example, loading the purchased lots into the truck. Passionate and dedicated, we, the team of Industrial Auctions, are always there for you.

Your machinery, production lines or complete companies on an auction? Would you like to auction machinery, production lines or complete companies?

Visit www.industrial-auctions.com/ for more information.

32 | foodanddrinknetwork-uk.co.uk

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in housein house • Full after care service • Full after care service

Boone Mixer Range:• Horizontal Delta Blade Boone Mixer Range:- Range:•Boone HelicalMixer Blade, Plough Share • Horizontal Delta Blade Horizontal • •Paddle Blade Delta Blade • Helical Blade, Plough Blade,Share Plough Share • •UHelical Trough, Continuous • Paddle Blade • •Rotary Drum blender Paddle Blade • U Trough, Continuous • •Lab mixer U Trough, Continuous

• Rotary•Drum blender Rotary Drum blender • Lab mixer • Lab mixer Delivering concise, even

mixing with efficiency and durability.

Delivering concise, even mixing

Delivering concise, even mixing with efficiency and durability. with efficiency and durability.

Tel: +44(0)1260 272894 Email: sales@jrboone.com Tel: +44(0)1260 72894 Tel: +44(0)1260 72894 Email:www.jrboone.com sales@jrboone.com Email: sales@jrboone.com www.jrboone.com www.jrboone.com

John R Boone Ltd 18 SilkLtd Street, Congleton John R Boone John RCW12 Boone Ltd UK 4DH, 18 Silk Cheshire, Street, Congleton 18 Silk Street, Congleton Cheshire, CW12 4DH, UK

Cheshire, CW12 4DH, UK

High Speed High Shear Mixers Silverson Machines offers a range of high shear mixers ideal for food applications such as disintegrating, homogenising, emulsifying and hydrating ingredients.

www.silverson.co.uk sales@silverson.co.uk • +44 (0) 1494 786331