HALOODIES - THE FLAG BEARERS FOR HALAL LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
OCTOBER 2016 £4.75
P02 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
CONTENTS PAGE 04 NEWS UPDATES 10
04
LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
16
HALOODIES
18
STUART ALLAN – BREXIT
20
CONNECT PACKAGING
22
LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD
24
FRUITAPEEL LTD
25
FGS SERVICES (UK) LTD
08
14
16
18
TO VIEW THE 2016 FEATURES LIST PLEASE VISIT WWW.FOODANDDRINKNEWS.CO.UK OR CONTACT US AT +44(0)1484 321000 TO EMAIL A COPY TO YOU Food & Drink News is published by Planet Media & Design Ltd. Company registered in England & Wales, number 09365661. All material is the copyright of Planet Media & Design Ltd. All rights reserved. Food & Drink News is the property of Planet Media & Design Ltd. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a Director of Planet Media & Design Ltd. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers can not be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.
OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P03
EDITOR’S FOREWORD chief editor michelle hodgson deputy editor rachael whiteley art director paul roper senior designer jamie quarmby graphic designer ben wainman advertising production rachael whiteley production manager rachael whiteley accountant kerry monkhouse MICHELLE HODGSON – CHIEF EDITOR
proofreader becky ashwell
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DRINK UP With Christmas round the corner, many of us will be enjoying a tipple or two, whether at office parties or with our festive meals. At the start of this year, the government released new guidance on alcohol consumption, recommending no more than 14 units a week, spread over at least three days – the equivalent of six 175ml glasses of wine (13%), or 14 25ml glasses of spirits (40%) or six pints of beer (4%). The most recent Statistical Bulletin from the Office for National Statistics on Adult Drinking Habits in Great Britain indicated that 2.5 million people drink more than 14 units of alcohol on their heaviest drinking day. Interestingly, almost one in five higher earners drink alcohol on at least five days a week, with wine the most popular alcoholic drink across the survey. Now, new research from AB InBev has suggested that more Brits are starting to ‘switch up’ to non-alcoholic drinks, including alcoholfree beer, in a bid to reduce alcohol consumption – for reasons such as staying in shape, saving money and banishing hangovers to feel more productive at work. “It’s great to see that health is a key factor
for the British public in driving responsible drinking, with 41% moderating their consumption to feel healthier,” says Anna Tolley, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, AB InBev UK & Ireland. “Offering consumers a variety of great tasting, alcohol-free options is an important part of our commitment to responsible drinking at AB InBev.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s food and non-alcoholic drink manufacturers, has responded to the latest National Diet & Nutrition Survey (published September 2016 and covering 2013-14), saying: “This survey offers a timely reminder of the importance of taking a whole-diet approach to improving the nation’s health. We, on average, need to consume a lot more fruit and vegetables, oily fish and fibre, and less saturated fat and sugars.” While most people understand the benefits of drinking in moderation and following a healthy diet, having the willpower to stick to this can be another matter entirely – especially at Christmas! This month our feature is on labelling and packaging; we hope you’ll find it of interest.
P04 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
NEWS UPDATES
ESSNA MEMBER CORNELIUS SUPPORTS EUROPEAN WEEK OF SPORT Leading manufacturer of speciality chemicals, raw materials and ingredients, Cornelius Group, is supporting The European Week of Sport, as a member of the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA). The week-long event, organised by the European Commission and partnered by ESSNA, gives nearly 2 million members of the public the opportunity to get involved in 7,568 events in 27 countries. The aim of the week is to promote sport and physical activity across Europe. Open to everyone regardless of age, background or fitness level, the event will run from September 10 – 16. Participants will be challenged to demonstrate their
activity levels by posting videos and photos on social media, using the hashtag #beactive. ESSNA was originally founded to create a forum for discussion and a vehicle for action on the concerns of the specialist sports nutrition sector. The aim of ESSNA is to secure appropriate and proportionate European legislation on sports nutrition products. As part of its ESSNA membership, Cornelius supports the organisation in improving perceptions of the specialist sports nutrition sector. Kerry Dodd, Business Manager Health and Nutrition at Cornelius, commented: “We’re proud to be supporting The European Week of Sport as a member of ESSNA.
Being a Europe-wide event, it really helps to unite people of all abilities and allows them to take part in some fantastic workplace and education focus days. “Highlighting the benefits of physical activity is key to so many markets, with sports nutrition being just one of them. We’re very pleased to be involved in an event that creates a positive atmosphere around physical activity for so many people and in so many sectors.” Cornelius distributes a wide range of high quality, functional sports nutrition ingredients to the health and nutrition market. With a specialist team that has extensive experience in the fast-paced world of sports nutrition, the company
operates across the UK, Ireland, France, Poland, Russia and Scandinavia. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT CORNELIUS.CO.UK
DEBBIE&ANDREW’S CELEBRATE BRITISH SAUSAGE WEEK WITH NEW CHRISTMAS GARNISH BOX & PERFECT PORK CHIPOLATAS British Sausage Week is the start of the winter sales season for debbie&andrew’s. With 2015 November sales up 30% over the same period in 2014, it is a strong time of year for premium sausages. For 2016 debbie&andrew’s is celebrating the launch of a new Christmas Garnish Box and Perfect Pork Chipolatas which will be listed by Morrisons for the Christmas season. The 24piece Christmas selection includes mini caramelised red onion stuffing balls, pigs in blankets and
cocktail sausages, all of which are gluten, wheat and dairy free. The Perfect Pork Chipolatas are classic debbie&andrew’s, using the best cuts of quality British meat for making succulent sausages with pork from British farms that meet Red Tractor standards. Additionally, debbie&andrew’s has seen an extension for its Harrogate 97% Pork Sausage, gaining listings in another 200 Sainsbury’s stores. Further good news for the brand comes as new packaging design qualified it for The Grocer New Product Awards and Buttered Onion and Mustard Sausages are a finalist in the Great British Food Awards. Ian Bagnall from debbie&andrew’s commented: “British Sausage Week
kicks off an increasingly important time of the year for sausage sales. While the summer and barbecues are the backbone of the year for sausages, the winter, starting with Halloween, Bonfire Night and of course then the Christmas period, is almost as significant. These new products are designed to optimise this opportunity. The Perfect Pork Chipolatas are ideal for adding around a roast and slim enough to cook quickly for a simple but satisfying after-school supper. The Garnish Selection Box provides an easy bake-and-serve solution to party food as well as adding extra sizzle to Christmas meals.” WWW.DEBBIEANDANDREWS.CO.UK
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NEWS UPDATES
FLUID LAUNCH SET TO REVOLUTIONISE HEAT TRANSFER Kilfrost has launched a first-of-itskind heat transfer fluid which is set to revolutionise food and drink production globally, and for the first time ever provide a commercial solution to the long-standing efficiency-versus-toxicity challenge. Its next generation ALV Plus fluid offers a viable alternative to monoethylene glycol (MEG) and monopropylene glycol (MPG). “Not only is ALV Plus certified as NSF safe for incidental contact with food and beverages, but it offers an absolutely premium performance,” explained Kilfrost’s Chief Executive Gary Lydiate. ALV Plus is a low viscosity heat transfer fluid which is formulated with organic, FDA approved inhibitors and viscosity modifiers. It
transfer fluids. It also protects against corrosion and scaling, and is free from nitrates, nitrites, borates, heavy metals and phosphates which are typical in many other standard industry products. “Kilfrost ALV Plus is a revolution in heat transfer which removes risk while adding efficiency and reducing operating costs, and we’ve been delighted with the early response from food and drink firms globally, who for the first time ever have been told that they can have both efficiency and non-toxicity.”
has been developed to reduce the incidence of pressure drops, as well as to reduce pumping costs and increase hydraulic efficiency, and has
an operational temperature range from -40°C to +40°C, outperforming MEG, MPG, BioPDO and ethanol-based heat
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.KILFROST.COM, OR CALL 01434 320 332
HOWARD TENENS LOVE THE LORRY the teams on the floor and in our vehicles who ensure time and time again our customers receive the service they deserve. Tenens, along with our competitors, have all been hit by the driver shortage within the UK, and National Lorry Week can really help raise awareness and highlight potential opportunities, so we’re thrilled to be part of it.” The Howard Tenens vehicles were spotted driving around the UK during National Lorry Week and will remain wrapped to highlight potential opportunities for future drivers.
Howard Tenens have been experts in logistics for over 60 years, and a member of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) for over 30 of these. Tenens currently employ over 550 people across the UK, of which
a depleting number of whom are newly qualified drivers. Howard Tenens have paired up with the RHA in support of National Lorry Week and have wrapped two of their trailers to
highlight the importance of the lorry and its impact on the logistics sector. Jamie Hartles, Tenens Logistics Director, comments: “Our people are our greatest differentiator. We understand that it’s
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW TO BECOME A DRIVER, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS PLEASE CONTACT HOWARD TENENS ON ENQUIRIES@TENENS.COM OR 08702 415 640
SEPTEMBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P7
NEWS UPDATES GOPLASTICPALLETS.COM LAUNCHES THE FIRST ONE-EIGHTH NESTABLE RETAIL PALLET Goplasticpallets.com, the UK’s leading independent provider of plastic pallets, launches Nest M1, the first ‘one-eighth’ retail pallet to the supply chain industry. Designed and manufactured by supply chain packaging specialists CABKA-IPS, the new Nest M1 pallet is a small, lightweight, nestable pallet, ideal for point-of-sale and eye-catching retail displays. Made with special secure location points, product displays and sleeves can be safely and effortlessly fixed to the pallet. Made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) the Nest M1 is robust and sturdy yet light, weighing 0.75kg. With a maximum static stacking load of 2,500kg the Nest M1 can hold up to 33 times its own weight. Measuring 400mm (L) x 300mm (W) x 140mm (H) the Nest M1 sits on four conical feet allowing enough space for transport on a hand pallet truck skid and can be stacked up to 60 pallets high and 480 pallets in one full euro size space, providing a considerable space saving in both the
warehouse and on the shop floor. As the sole UK partner of CABKA-IPS plastic pallets and plastic pallet boxes, the new Nest M1 pallet is exclusively available from Goplasticpallets.com TO REQUEST A PRODUCT DEMONSTRATION, BROCHURE OR SPEAK TO OUR AWARD-WINNING SALES TEAM ABOUT A QUOTE, PLEASE CALL GOPLASTICPALLETS.COM ON 01323 744057. ALTERNATIVELY, VISIT WWW.GOPLASTICPALLETS.COM FOR FULL PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND DATASHEETS
EXTRACTED KEY ADAPTOR FROM FORTRESS PREVENTS INADVERTENT MACHINERY START-UP To prevent the inadvertent startup of dangerous machinery, Fortress Interlocks has developed an extracted key adaptor for use with its robust amGardpro, amGardS40 (IP69K) and mGard interlock ranges. By forcing an operator to extract the safety key when operating an interlock, the adaptor ensures the key cannot be turned and left in place, inadvertently re-starting machinery. It is designed to be kept with the operator, ensuring any access points cannot be closed and re-started while working in a hazardous area. Additional safety keys can be released following
BLUE DIAMOND LAUNCHES NEW BARBECUE FLAVOUR ALMONDS
the forced extraction of the initial key, allowing the protection of multiple users at the same time. The extracted key adaptor utilises the ‘CL lock’, which has over 200,000 unique combinations, meaning it works with even the largest systems. It is also available with a padlockable dust cover to be compatible with standard lockout procedures. TEL: 01902 349000 WWW.FORTRESSINTERLOCKS.COM
BLUE DIAMOND EXTENDS ITS SNACK RANGE ACROSS SAINSBURY’S STORES NATIONWIDE
Monday 26th September: Today, Blue Diamond Almonds launches Barbecue Flavour Almonds in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide. The new flavour will sit alongside its range of snack almonds: Roasted with Sea Salt, Smokehouse and Honey Roasted. Each pack is filled with all the natural goodness of almonds, providing customers with a significant source of protein, fibre, calcium and vitamin E. The Barbecue Flavour Almonds are available to buy today from Sainsbury’s stores nationwide in 65g foil packs, RRP £1.50. Ian Greengrass, Managing Director for Blue Diamond Europe, says: “We’re delighted to be extending the snack nuts range and introducing customers to a great new barbecue flavour. Snack almonds are hugely popular in the UK; perfect for on-the-go, at home or as a post-workout snack packed with energy-boosting nutrients as well as being high in fibre and protein.”
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NEWS UPDATES
MELITTA PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS WITH COFFEE LOGISTICS EXPERTS AS IT ENTERS THE UK MARKET MELITTA PROFESSIONAL COFFEE SOLUTIONS REVEALS EXCLUSIVE COLLABORATION AHEAD OF COMPANY’S OFFICIAL LAUNCH INTO THE UK HORECA SECTOR
A leader in the coffee and coffee preparation industry, Melitta Professional has announced its official partnership with logistics experts Automatic Retailing. Automatic Retailing will be working as the logistics partner for Melitta regarding the distribution of the new range of coffee blends for its introduction to the UK HORECA sector later this year. Coffee logistics expert Automatic Retailing has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, delivering to hundreds of satisfied
customers in the UK and Ireland. In addition to stocking confectionery, drinks, snacks, coffee and vending cups that are distributed from its purpose-built site in Northumberland, Automatic Retailing is now due to add Melitta Professional’s new coffee range of
three new blends, created especially for British palates, to their offering. Laura Sherwood, New Market Manager at Melitta Professional, said: “Securing this partnership between Melitta Professional and Automatic Retailing delivers a strong start to our journey into the
UK HORECA market. With its great industry reputation, excellent customer service and expertise, Automatic Retailing was the obvious choice for us as our partner.” John Crichton, CEO at Automatic Retailing, said: “We are naturally pleased to be working with such a large and reputable brand as Melitta Professional for its up and coming launch into the UK HORECA coffee market.” LOOK OUT FOR THE NEW UK BLENDED MELITTA PROFESSIONAL RANGE AND OWN LABEL OFFERING COMING LATER THIS YEAR
PAKEEZA DAIRIES LAUNCH NEW DAIRY DRINK RANGE Pakeeza Dairies has added several new, exotic flavours to its revitalised lassi range, building on the growing
demand for the dairy-based drink. The new flavours, which include Mandarin & Lime and Strawberry
& Pomegranate, alongside current flavours Mango and Ayran have been launched with a complete redesign with revitalised packaging. Commenting on the launch, Azhar Zouq, Managing Director at Pakeeza, said: “We are delighted to add more exciting flavours to our lassi range. The new products do not only offer consumers a wide variety of choice, they also support the growing demand for great-tasting, exotic flavours. “Our experience of creating authentic lassi for over 15 years means we are in the ideal position to capitalise on this fast-growing sector, with the introduction of the sugar tax being a driving factor in helping the drinking yogurt market to grow in the future.”
The lassi range will be on price promotion throughout the religious festival of Diwali this October. Mr Zouq added:”Having the range on offer during this period will allow us to promote these flavoursome drinks to a large consumer audience, while linking it to its Punjabi origins.” Each flavour will be available in a number of different formats, including 250g, 500g and 1kg, with an RSP of £1, £1.59 and £2.99 respectively, and will be available to buy at Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PAKEEZA AND ITS PRODUCTS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.PAKEEZA.CO.UK
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LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
BRANDS, BOXES AND BIO-RESPONSIVENESS FROM LABELLING MACHINERY AND POUCH CLOSURE SYSTEMS TO LAMINATING TECHNOLOGY AND ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS, THE LABELLING AND PACKAGING SECTOR IS NEVER SHORT OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS Labelling and packaging doesn’t only protect perishables and give the consumer vital information about a product – it can also contribute to a brand’s status within the marketplace. A recent study that investigated how British shoppers are influenced by packaging and branding, found that some brands are so iconic they can be identified by the shape of their packaging alone. When it came to recognisable
branding, the Coca-Cola bottle topped the list, with the Toblerone triangle at number two and the Marmite jar at number three. FMCG brands dominated the top 10 and seven of the 10 were food items. Commenting on the study, Alex Center, Design Director at The Coca-Cola Company, said: “Packaging has always been at the core of the Coca-Cola brand. Our bottle is our most visible and most
valuable asset.” When it came to historic innovation, the 1,500 shoppers involved in the study voted barcodes as the greatest packaging invention, with the cardboard box coming in second, followed by re-sealable zips and vacuum packaging. The study was commissioned by Easyfairs, the organisers of Packing Innovations and Luxury Packaging London (www.easyfairs.com/PILONDON), which returned to London’s Olympia on 14 and 15 September. “We are in an era where almost anything is possible, from personalised packaging to augmented reality, so we have no excuses when it comes to targeting the appropriate audience,” says Event Director for the Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio and the commissioner of the study, Gerry Sherwood. “Consumers are demanding more from the brands they purchase, they want to feel special and be able to interact with the products ‘right now’, so it is the brands’ responsibility to make sure they can. That’s why, at the show we have inspirational packaging for all requirements, no matter what niche or group is being targeted.” THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
At the show, 60% of the suppliers exhibiting were launching new products, services and upgrades to the UK market. Many of the exhibitors work in the food and drink sector, offering products such as the latest reclosure tape for produce with a short shelf life, foodto-go packaging for snacks and the
latest printing technology. The show also hosts the Starpack Awards Scheme, designed to identify innovation in packaging design and technology. Importantly, as well as showing innovation in design, construction, manufacturing and materials technology, the entries were required to have environmental credentials in the manufacturing process and/or at the end of packaging life, such as ability to be recycled. BIO-RESPONSIVE LABELLING
Minimising waste continues to be a concern in the packaging sector, but one new innovation currently being tested uses labelling and packaging to reduce food waste. Bump Mark is an expiry label that is felt rather than read. This is particularly beneficial for those with visual impairments as it allows them to more easily check whether food is still fresh. The first version of the bio-responsive tactile label uses gelatine, which decays at the same rate as other protein-based foods. Over time, the solid set gelatine decays to a liquid and the label’s previously smooth surface breaks down to reveal the bumpy plastic sheet below. Designed by Solveiga Pak?tait? of Design By Sol, a London-based food-tech start-up company, the patent-pending label has already won the Mayor of London’s Low Carbon prize and the Hawley Award for sustainable engineering. It also shows the benefits of partnerships, as its development is being supported by the Institute of Food Science and Innovation at the University of
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LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS Chester, which can offer both academic expertise and hi-tech facilities at its NoWFOOD Centre. “Bump Mark is an exceptionally exciting product, which has the potential to revolutionise the food labelling world,” explains Professor Saphwan Al-Assaf, Professor of Hydrocolloids and Analytical Chemistry, and Director of the Hydrocolloids Research Centre at the University of Chester. PACKING LINES
The cutting-edge technology in the labelling and packaging sector also extends to automated packing lines, the most advanced of which can dramatically increase production for food and drink customers. Border Biscuits (www.borderbiscuits.co.uk) recently replaced a semi-manual packaging loading operation at its Lanarkshire site with a fully automated system, supplied by ULMA Packaging (www.ulmapackaging.co.uk). The new packaging line includes two Atlanta Hi-tech flow wrappers with Dakota infeed units. These sort products one on top of the other for twin packs at speeds of up to 150 per minute. The packs are then conveyed into cardboard containers via twin case opening and loading systems, which count the number of packs needed for each case. Designed to improve efficiencies, the
Atlanta Hi-tech flow wrapper comes with bespoke software – UDAQ – which allows integration with remote line monitoring and data capture. The new automated packing line has doubled the output of the family-owned biscuit manufacturer’s top-selling range of own brand products for food service customers. “This was the largest and most complex project we had ever undertaken,” explains Border Biscuits’ Chief Operating Officer, Dee Scott. “The flow wrapping machines are performing very well and provide the accuracy and consistency of packaging that matches the exceptional high quality of our biscuits.” As retailers look for suppliers that can offer goods with prolonged shelf life and speedy delivery into store, investing in innovative flow wrapping technology can pay dividends for food manufacturers. FROM PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES AND ADVANCED LABELLING SYSTEMS TO ADVANCED PACKAGING SOLUTIONS THAT HELP COMPANIES MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS AND INCREASE SHELF LIFE, THE LABEL AND PACKAGING SECTOR REMAINS A VITAL PART OF THE FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY, WITH INNOVATION AT THE FOREFRONT
P12 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD WITH 360° HIGH QUALITY SHRINK SLEEVE DECORATION With so many products now on the market, shelf-appeal is paramount if you want to get your product noticed and sales to flourish. Leading Edge Labels & Packaging are here to support your business or brand to achieve this with vibrant 360º decorative sleeves which will help get your brand noticed whilst also giving you a competitive and flexible edge. Here at Leading Edge we employ the latest technology with our High Definition UV Flexographic printing process which allows us to print just as you or your designer intended! Shrink sleeves offer unrivalled shelf-appeal to the consumers increasing your brand awareness and improving brand image. Printing up to 10 colours and offering a wide selection of finishes
to sleeved products such as matt, gloss, glitter and frosted varnishes, holographic effects and textured finishes. Advantages of full body shrink sleeves are the possible additions of tamper evidence, blockout and perforations. Shrink sleeves can be used for products requiring full body decoration, product binding/multipacks, transparent labelling for products that need to show the content, water resistant applications, unusual shaped containers, triggers and limited edition promotions. We have a number of shrink sleeve experts within our team and full artwork studio to support your project every step of the way and can also offer contract sleeving support if required. Don’t just take our word for it,
listen to what our customers have to say: “Leading Edge provided an extremely insightful and proactive approach to achieving optimum results across our sleeve. Through trialling different approaches we gained greater control over the final product ensuring our design idea was fully realised in production”. Partner, Lifetonics Drinks Leading Edge also produce self adhesive labels, flexible films, sachets & laminates, booklets, multi page peel & re-seal, unique numbered mechanics and neck tags automatically fed from a continuous reel, which can apply up to 350 bottles per minute.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SAMPLES OR A QUOTATION, PLEASE CONTACT: TEL: 01474 566665 EMAIL: INFO@LEADINGEDGELABEL S.CO.UK WWW.LEADINGEDGELABELS.CO.UK
GRANDMA WILD CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE For over 100 years Grandma Annie Wild’s famous biscuits have held a special place in both the hearts of biscuit lovers - and their biscuit barrels too. Four generations later the same methods handed down the Wild family are still being used to delicious effect. But even the very best baked biscuits require pack presentation which reflects their premium quality, in a market sector crowded with competition. That’s why, when deciding to renovate the packaging and design for their traditional fruit and lemon, ginger oat and chocolate chip range, Grandma Wild’s came to National Flexible and chose a totally new
packaging film where customers can actually ‘feel the difference’ from competitor products. The film, tactile lacquer, is a new process that creates a genuine tactile finish on flexible packaging film without the use of paper. “We wanted something different. Of the many innovations National Flexible brought to the table the tactile lacquer looked and felt completely different! We were delighted to work with National Flexible in launching this innovative, UK first pack,” Ann Scott, at Grandma Wild’s. David Daniels, National Flexible’s Technical Director, said “This is a
new pack concept that is difficult to achieve but well worth the effort, it looks great”.
WWW.NATIONALFLEXIBLE.CO.UK
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LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
4 ACES ENJOYS RECORD PRINTED CUP SALES
Popular packaging specialist, 4 Aces, has announced a spike in sales of printed cups with figures up by
almost 30%, when compared to the same time last year, for this particular product.
The company has recently reported a successful entry to the festival market having provided a range of pint, half pint and slush, bespoke, printed plastic glasses for a variety of national events this year. This success has been mirrored by an increase in demand for printed paper cups with 4 Aces supplying more of its eye-catching, creative product lines to distributors and water cooler and vending operators. Managing Director of 4 Aces, Chris Penn, explains: “Distributors and operators are keen to provide added value to their own customer bases and give them an opportunity to stand out. If the cups are bespoke,
as is the case with some of our festival customers, they can reinforce the brand and play a role in the marketing of additional products.” 4 Aces prints on both single wall and double wall high quality, paper cups, accomodating small and large print runs and delivering to its customers as and when they need the stock items. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON 4 ACES AND ITS PRODUCTS, VISIT THE NEW WEBSITE AT WWW.4ACESLTD.COM OR CALL 01992 535774
ATLAS PACKAGING INVEST IN NEW CORRUGATED MACHINERY Devon-based Atlas Packaging have quickly become a leader in the packaging industry since establishment in 1983. Due to increased demands and technical challenges to flexographic print on corrugated packaging and the continuous expansion of Atlas Packaging, a new machine was required to assist in responding to upcoming packaging trends and requirements. Visits and meetings took place within the UK and Europe to carefully select the best machine to complement the growing demands of Atlas Packaging which would provide an economical and efficient process for customers. Although the final decision was difficult, they carefully selected to invest in Cuir which offers the specifications and high quality to create bespoke, premium packaging solutions at a competitive price.
The new machine has six print units with interchangeable anilox rollers, allowing for various options for print and detail so no matter your brand’s vision, Atlas can create it with even more control of the finished result than ever before. This is also complemented with infrared and UV dryers. The combination of rollers and dryers will allow Atlas Packaging to print excellent coverage with a greater vibrancy of colour and re-produce excellent image detail preventing any compromise in your business’ branding. In addition, the advanced machine will offer different finishes and coatings, from water-based varnishes to high gloss UV. Cuir has the ability to produce high quality flexo-print that will challenge alternative printing processes usually associated with high quality packaging.
Atlas has an ethos that anything is possible, no matter your brand’s vision. Having worked with a variety of companies within the food and drink industry such as Asda, Carlsberg and Barbers, they have developed an outstanding reputation by creating everything from free standing displays to fully enclosed boxes. Their in-house facilities and design capabilities provide specialist packaging solutions without the need to
outsource produce, resulting in a quick and cost-effective process. FOR BUSINESS ENQUIRIES CONTACT MARK LEVERTON AT MARKL@ATLASPACKAGING.CO.UK OR ON 01271 344055 FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES CONTACT AMY PATERNOSTER AT AMY@BLUEFROGMEDIA.CO.UK OR ON 01237 403764
P14 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
LINPAC: COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION KEY TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS Responding to market and consumer insight with relevant and agile innovation is vital to the continual improvement of core products and services, according to Dr Helene Roberts, Group Marketing and Innovation Director at leading packaging manufacturer, LINPAC. The LINPAC commitment to innovation has been recognised at the 2016 UK Packaging Awards. The company has been shortlisted in three categories: Packaging Company of the Year, Rigid Plastic Pack of the Year and Resource Efficient Pack of the Year. The recognition is partly due to the launch of the LINPAC poultry split pack developed in collaboration with Tesco and Cargill to provide
convenience to the consumer through portion control and to address food waste issues. The company’s response to the core societal issue of food waste is particularly pertinent in today’s market. A recent international survey by Euromonitor found that 64% of respondents try to have a positive impact on the environment on an everyday basis. However, whilst most consumers actively try to have a positive impact, they still place financial constraints, logistical issues and convenience over helping the environment. With its novel Tesco Cargill split pack, LINPAC offers the consumer both strong environmental credentials and outstanding pack performance.
Dr Roberts commented: “As advanced as our expertise in packaging is, we need to stay abreast of wider societal and economic developments. “Rather than innovation for innovation’s sake, we need to continually listen to the market to enhance our core offer and maintain a market-leading edge. Our focus on true innovation is the driving factor in allowing us to support retailers and brand owners in growing consumer satisfaction and conversion.” The LINPAC Tesco Cargill split pack has a specially designed perforation that allows the consumer to split the tray into two separate sealed compartments. This gives the householder the option to exercise
portion control as well as prevent food waste by saving one chicken breast for later. The introduction of the new design did increase the weight of the pack by 6g. However, the pack is predicted to deliver a net carbon saving of up to 124,000 tonnes, offsetting the impact of the additional material used. In addition, the MAP tray is manufactured from high levels of supercleaned, postconsumer recycled PET and is fully recyclable at the end of its life, supporting the wider circular economy. THE WINNERS OF THE UK PACKAGING AWARDS 2016 WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON 27 OCTOBER 2016.
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LABELLING & PACKAGING FOCUS
INNOVIA’S WRAP RAGE SOLUTIONS
Innovia Films is expanding its portfolio of peelable Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) films – Propafilm™ RCP is now available in 52 and 60 microns. This significantly proven, easy-to-open,
food packaging film range now includes heavy duty, high barrier and snap wrap options. The main benefit of using Propafilm™ RCP is that its seals are easy to open. Consumers of all ages and abilities
can simply peel open the seals to reveal the product inside. Whether they are young, an older adult or have physical limitations, no excessive force is required. No need either for scissors, sharp implements
or the risk of serious injuries. Gone are the frustrations of so-called ‘wrap rage’ when you just can’t get into the pack! The seal strength is consistent every time and the film can be used on existing packaging machines without any adjustments required. Propafilm™ RCP provides reliable clean and neat opening, without destroying the pack. The acrylic coating ensures a broad sealing range, which enables a wide packaging operating window and good machinability in all standard packaging formats. Their moisture and aroma barrier properties make them an ideal choice to preserve many food items, including dried and chocolate-based products. TEL: 01697 342281 FILMSINFO@INNOVIAFILMS.COM WWW.INNOVIAFILMS.COM
SELIG LAUNCHES NEW SAFE-GARD PLUSTM LINERS FOR ULTIMATE PACKAGING PROTECTION Selig, the leading worldwide manufacturer of tamper evident cap and closure lining materials, has launched a newly developed range
of two-piece wax laminated induction liners that offers unparalleled packaging protection in almost all environments. The new
Safe-Gard plus™ builds on the strengths of the established and globally trusted Safe-Gard™ product range, while adding substantial bond improvements for outstanding results in applications across a wide range of sectors. Available as either pre-cut discs or as a tape, the Safe-Gard plus™ liners incorporate a superior wax formulation, for improved sealing and wax separation performance. This effectively minimises the problems of premature delamination and foil disengagement. The new wax and coating method increases its performance in hotter climates, making it ideal for use in applications where closures spend long periods of time in storage or
during transportation. The advanced liners also feature an upgraded, high quality backing board, which is proven to offer enhanced performance during downstream processing and cutting operations. The new board has a denser core of clean pulp and produces significantly less residual dust than conventional materials, resulting in excellent hygiene and minimal foreign body contamination. The dramatic reduction in dust also enables firms to reduce the cleaning intervals required for lining equipment, cutting costs and downtime, while boosting production. WWW.SELIG-EUROPE.CO.UK
P16 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
HALOODIES
THE FLAG BEARERS FOR HALAL AMBITIOUS, INNOVATIVE AND NIMBLE, HALOODIES IS AN AUTHENTIC BRITISH HALAL BRAND THAT IS TAKING THE MARKET BY STORM
The contemporary fresh and cooked meat products packaged under the Haloodies brand are designed to appeal both to consumers doing the weekly family shop and Millennials looking for food on the go. Since its inception in early 2014, the business has picked up listings in Ocado, Harrods, Tesco and Amazon Fresh, with a vision to fill gaps in the market with a young, fresh brand that is 100% Muslim owned. “Plenty of companies have developed products for the halal market, but for us, halal is not about just sticking a logo on the packaging,” says Imran Kausar who founded the company with fellow director Noman Khawaja “We have a deep understanding of the market and we want to be the flag bearers for British halal foods and standards in the UK and abroad.” FROM FOOD FESTIVAL TO FOOD BRAND
The idea for Haloodies was born
out of a desire to improve the quality and convenience of halal food. “In Scotland, where I was born and brought up – and elsewhere – halal food didn’t really reflect the essence of halal, which is a philosophy more than a technical thing,” Imran explains. Jamie Oliver’s campaigns for better quality food, increasing coverage of food in Sunday supplements, and the rise of farmers’ markets and food festivals prompted Imran to reinvent the halal market in line with new trends. This began with a food festival in partnership with Noman. Both had other careers at the time: Imran’s background is in medicine, finance and pharmaceuticals, and Noman was a dentist, although his father had run a halal food factory. Having moved to London, Imran was considering how to market a food brand to the diverse Muslim population, while at the same time feeling frustrated by not being able
to try the non-halal products at food festivals. “I thought: wouldn’t it be great if there was a food festival where everything was halal?” The Halal Food Festival took place at London’s ExCel in September 2013, attracting around 15,000 visitors from across the UK and beyond and the idea of Haloodies – halal foodies – was born. The idea was to run further festivals, but a partnership with an exhibitor who was planning to sell pre-packed halal meat products online changed history, as the opportunity to create and grow the Haloodies food brand took over. KEY LISTINGS
In March 2014, Haloodies launched a range of fresh, pre-packed fresh poultry, beef and lamb through Ocado. “It was the first ever halal brand they’d had,” says Noman “Shortly after that we became the first halal brand in Harrods’ Food Hall and we
launched across England with Tesco in July 2016.” Although the London market of one million Muslims is key, the brand is also doing well outside the capital in places like Birmingham. And with soon to be 22 lines in Amazon Fresh, Haloodies is now reaching a wider market. “We use a strong set of trusted suppliers rather than manufacture ourselves,” Imran explains. “For our fresh range we use DB Foods in Poole, Dorset. For our cooked range we use CP Foods based in Newmarket, Suffolk. With both suppliers, we have personally visited their facilities to ensure they meet Haloodies criteria expected by our customers” MARKETING TO MILLENNIALS
As a data-driven business, Haloodies sees itself as a disrupter food company that takes a fresh, new approach. Using research from Kantar WorldPanel, Dunnhumby and 5One new lines and ranges to
OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P17
HALOODIES grow and explore were identified. “Our vision was to offer healthy and convenient products, which is where our new range of snacking products has come from, Kantar figures showed that 17% of the nonhalal poultry market was cooked chicken but the product didn’t exist in the UK halal market, says Noman. Imran adds “We also know our target demographic. According to the 2011 census, of the three million Muslims in the UK, a third are under the age of 15 and half are under 30. So there’s a very young consumer base, who behave very differently from their parents. We focused on making the brand look young and contemporary, but also appealing to women, who typically purchase food for the family.” LOOKING AHEAD
Over the next six months, the business is planning a series of launches, which the owners say will
boost the brand “into the stratosphere”. “Our ambition is to create a global halal brand,” Imran explains. “Expanding the range and our footprint in the UK is important, but export is key; France and Germany are each double the size of the UK market.” Haloodies will be the only halal brand in the British Pavilion at the SIAL show in Paris (16-20 October) – the company is working closely with the Department of International Trade – and will also exhibit at Gulfoods in Dubai (26 February – 2 March 2017). “Brexit has shaken a few things up for us,” says Imran. “Asian and Middle Eastern markets were always of interest, now they have become more so.” “The world is getting faster, people are looking for health-based convenience products and we’ve developed a range to meet this
need,” says Noman. “The food-to-go and food-for-now trends are consistent in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.” Brand recognition is high and climbing – in part through extensive activity on social media. “Our Facebook page has rapidly reached 10,000 likes – a fantastic number of followers” says Noman. “To be able to emotionally engage with these consumers, who actively call themselves Haloodies, is a really important part of us growing the brand.” By supplying authentic halal products to the contemporary marketplace, Haloodies has hit on a winning formula for a new millennium.
HALOODIES KKR HALAL LTD SUITE 3, 52 JERMYN STREET LONDON SW1Y 6LX EMAIL: INFO@HALOODIES.COM NOMAN@KKRHALAL.COM TEL: +44 7737 266 453 WWW.HALOODIES.COM
P18 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
STUART ALLAN – BREXIT
STUART ALLAN IS THE BREXIT RESULT LEAVING A SOUR TASTE IN FOOD MANUFACTURERS’ MOUTHS?
The UK is coming to terms with the results of the Brexit referendum and the country waits to see whether the ‘remainers’ predictions of decades of financial doom and gloom will come to fruition, or the ‘leavers’ were right when they said things could only get better. Stuart Allan, food entrepreneur-turned certified business coach, looks at the effects leaving Europe is having on the food industry and what food manufacturers can be doing now to plan for the future. According to the industry body, the Food and Drink Federation, food and drink is the single most important player in UK manufacturing. It accounts for onesixth of manufacturing activity and employs around 400,000 people across 6,620 businesses. It estimates that the sector’s total contribution to the economy, in terms of Gross Value Added, is £21.9bn which, it argues, is almost equal to the
combined contribution of the automotive and aerospace sectors. There is no doubt that UK food and drink manufacturers have been exceptional in the growth of UK productivity in recent years; an increase of 11% over the past five years compared to a cross-sector figure of 0.5% should have given everyone an air of quiet confidence; instead, because of Brexit, we find ourselves feeling nervous, if not downright worried, about the future. But are we worrying unnecessarily? Firstly, let’s look at the facts. This is a completely unprecedented event. There has been a significant amount of scaremongering, and it is crucial that business leaders remain calm and analyse the market in order to take advantage of opportunities. Since its inception, no one has left the EU, and certainly no one of the marketforce and calibre of the UK, so
everything and anything is speculation at the moment. That’s not to say we can’t take note of predictions and prepare for their possible effects. This is not the time to sit on our laurels, waiting to see what will happen; we need to be proactive, and we need to have a plan. Let’s have a look at just a few of the areas that will be affected by our departure. STAFF
In 2014, 95,351 (26.9%) of the industry’s employees were of nonUK EU nationality1. In 2016, it is probably closer to 40%. In 2014, it was estimated 109,000 new recruits would be needed by 20222 to meet the skills needs of the sector, although this figure may not apply to a Brexit industry. Whilst the future of EU migrant workers remains unsure, it is very difficult to gauge future staffing needs or to plan for skills shortages. As things
stand at the moment, we know we have two years from when Article 50 is invoked, and that is likely to be next year. 2017 will also see French and German elections, leading to more uncertainty for the future of the European Union. But let’s not worry about the ‘what ifs’; we’ll concentrate on what we know. We know that nothing is realistically going to change until at least 2020, we know that much of the EU migrant workforce is settled in the UK, married with families, having arrived over the previous 10 years. It is unreasonable to expect them to leave. Whether there will be restrictions on further immigration will be a parliamentary decision, but our country’s immigration history demonstrates a historical recognition of the need for a relatively small island to seek a labour force from overseas. From an HR perspective, close monitoring of personnel numbers and government
OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P19
STUART ALLAN – BREXIT announcements is prudent. No one can afford to employ additional staff for a ‘maybe’ scenario, but it may be worth researching the viability of employing some apprentices; they won’t cost a fortune, and would allow you to have a ‘skills bank’.
effect on the environment, with reduced transportation. From a manufacturing perspective, plan ahead, look at the global commodities market. Purchase from one supplier where possible, even if you’re a small company, or perhaps look at group-buying initiatives.
IMPORTS
In 2015, the UK imported £24.6bn of its food and nonalcoholic drink from the EU and £10.5bn from non-EU countries.1 The UK depends on the EU for approximately one-quarter of its food, but only 4% from North America according to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The effect of Brexit on the value of sterling is the key factor to the import concerns, and no one can be sure how that will go. In an ideal world, we will become more self-sufficient, producing and manufacturing for consumption at home, which will have the added bonus of a positive
EXPORTS
My advice would be to stop dithering and waiting to see what is going to happen. There is a huge opportunity for UK food manufacturers with the potential removal of trade barriers. Get proactive, go to international trade shows, look for agents who have a portfolio of similar products to yours, approach and cultivate international companies, and speak to logistics companies to establish contacts and create opportunities. Be very targeted and conduct market research, the internet is your friend, don’t try to tackle the whole world at the same time; look at
buying habits, what flavours are popular, countries’ wealth and demographics. Take your product portfolio and start touting it. Remember that British food has a premium attached to it. Our production standards and accreditations are now worldwide benchmarks so you can feel confident when you are selling your produce that buyers will be receptive. Don’t fuss about your branding too much, so many companies make that mistake; spending too much money before getting customer interest and then finding themselves supplying to a customer who wants their own brand ideas implemented.
Embrace change and take this opportunity to look at your business with fresh eyes. What can you do to improve productivity, what markets are you missing out on, where can you improve your profit margins? The world is a big place, and we’re a small island, but it is also an accessible marketplace; know where you want to go and plan your journey to global success and be realistic on the timescales involved. 1
HTTP://WWW.FDF.ORG.UK/EUREFERENDUM-FOOD-DRINKSTATISTICS.ASPX
2
HTTP://WWW.FDF.ORG.UK/STATS ATAGLANCE.ASPX
NEXT STEPS
Instead of worrying whether Brexit is going to leave the British Food Industry floundering, take a positive stance, communicate that positivity to your workforce and start planning for the future.
TO FIND OUT MORE, CONTACT STUART ON 01206 523394 OR VISIT WWW.STUART-ALLAN.CO.UK
P20 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
CONNECT PACKAGING
PACKAGING WITH THE ‘WOW’ FACTOR A PACKAGING SOLUTIONS PROVIDER PRODUCING INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND PRINT, CONNECT PACKAGING HELPS ITS CUSTOMERS’ PRODUCTS STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD have seen them grow to large, successful organisations,” says Mark Richards. “We have one particular customer we started trading with more or less as the company was set up and that relationship is still there and the company has grown as well, which is great to see.” AWARD WINNING DESIGN
From its BRC food-grade accredited design and manufacturing site in Benfleet, Essex, Connect creates innovative products with the ‘wow’ factor. “We can take a brief from a customer, understand that brief from a design, print and manufacturing perspective, and see it through from design to manufacture. A lot of companies want what we call a ‘wow’ box. When a box comes through the post today it’s often highly decorated on the inside. We’re seeing that more in the food and drink market now, with the growth of online retail. The box is becoming more important, it’s more than just a method of transit.”
Offering an end-to-end service of design to manufacture, the company specialises in corrugated and paperbased products, from conventional brown cardboard outer boxes and shelf-ready packaging to highly printed cartons and point of sale, such as freestanding display units and dumpbins. “We’re not in the ‘pile it high and sell it cheap’ market,” explains General Manager, Mark Richards. “It’s normally more specialist: a customer with a particular packaging issue that they’d like us to look at and solve for them. Be that a
conventional outer corrugated box or a very complicated point-of-sale unit, we can do it all under one roof, which sets us apart from most of our competitors.” CUSTOMERS LARGE AND SMALL
While most of its customers come under the FMCG, retail and industrial sectors, Connect also looks after quite a few artisan businesses in London and the south, in particular smaller food manufacturing companies. “Some of our customers started as a small family-run business and we
POS AND SHELF-READY PACKS
Having joined the business in January from world-leading packaging solutions provider Smurfit Kappa, where he had a senior role, Mark is keen to grow the specialist side of the business, particularly digital print, and to do more pointof-sale work. “Point of sale is very relevant for the food and drink industry,” he explains. “Companies need to show their products and cardboardengineered displays are the
best way to do that. The costs of advertising through other media like TV is prohibitive for smaller companies, so they can market their product in-store using a freestanding display unit.” As well as POS, Connect produces shelf-ready packs, which can come into a store shrinkwrapped onto a pallet and be placed straight on the retail shelf. These are popular with retailers as they make staff more productive and reduce waste – an important factor since the Courtauld Agreement on packaging waste came into force. Furthermore, the business now has both FSC and BRC accreditation, an important factor when supplying to the food industry, in particular supermarkets. “We’re audited pretty regularly and it’s quite an investment in time and money, but we’ve done it in response to what our customers need and that again puts us in a
OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P21
CONNECT PACKAGING good position compared with our competitors in the food and drink market.” COMPANY BACKGROUND
Based in Benfleet, the company was founded by the Essex family around 60 years ago, and has been on its current site for around 32 years. Set up to be a local supplier in the Essex area, one of its first customers was the Ford Motor Company. In 1995, the company became part of the Coutts Group, followed by a management buyout in 2004 when it was renamed Connect. Today the company is part of the CBS Packaging Group based in West Bromwich. The staff of 80 include those working in internal and external sales, estimating, design and production. Over the past few years there has been investment in a digital printer, a quick set casemaker, which can print up to four colours,
and a rotary die cutter, which can print up to five colours. This investment has helped turnover to rise to £8m a year, and there are plans to increase this to £10m over the next two years. Most work is carried out within a 70-80 mile radius of the site, although the company does export to one particular customer in Belgium. While there’s investment in online marketing – regular e-shots and a new website – the team still finds it invaluable to meet customers at shows. This year for the first time Connect attended the Food & Drink Expo at the NEC as an exhibitor – “It’s quite an unusual step for a packaging company but we felt that it would be good for us to live in our customers’ world a little more and understand some of the key drivers. We got an awful lot of leads and enquiries from the show.”
It will also attend Packaging Innovations 2016 (14 & 15 September, London Olympia), again promoting the more specialist side to the business. “You get all the main decision makers attending as they are located in London so that’s a really good one for us.” Moving forward the plans are to grow turnover and invest in more new machinery, in particular fastrunning digital machines, while directing the business even further towards specialist packaging solutions rather than high-volume orders. CONNECT PACKAGING 6-8 BRUNEL ROAD, MANOR TRADING ESTATE, BENFLEET ESSEX SS7 4PS TEL: 01268 565656 EMAIL: SALES@CONNECTPACKAGING.COM WWW.CONNECTPACKAGING.COM
Hire Power Contracts Limited Horseshoe House, London Road Harlow, Essex CM17 9LH
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P22 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD OCTOBER 2016
Independent thinking……… One of the UK’s largest independent manufacturers of retail ready and transit corrugated packaging. Operating across 3 sites in the UK. “We are big enough to cope but small enough to care.” A family-owned business committed to service and providing our customers with fit for purpose solutions. Encase Ltd Banbury, Beaumont Road BANBURY OX16 1RE Tel: 01295 752 900 www.encase.co.uk
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OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P23
LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD
GREAT SERVICE – SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED BUSINESS SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN FOR PACKAGING COMPANY LEEWAYS, A FIRM AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME, WITH OVER 40 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE.
Leeways Packaging has been providing high-quality packaging and processing services to UK businesses since 1971. Today, the family-owned company is one of the leading suppliers of thermoformed plastic packaging and processing solutions in the UK. Leeways is without doubt one of the most experienced firms in its field – and while its core business remains focused on the food industry, the
company is certainly not standing still. As Elliot Wren, Sales Director, explains, recent years have seen a plethora of innovations and investments, which are set to ensure that Leeways maintains a keen edge on its competitors as it moves into the future. These include the expansion of the company’s inhouse development studio, with two additional high-speed CNC machines, and the ability to
manufacture production tooling onsite, reducing development and tooling lead times. And it’s not just about investing in machinery; the design team has also doubled, offering even more conceptual, innovative packaging solutions than ever before. INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION
Based in the heart of Gloucestershire, with excellent road
links to all destinations across the UK, Leeways boasts facilities that occupy a site totalling over 145,000 sq ft. “We have invested massively over the past 24 months, in manufacturing equipment, design and development, tooling production and in warehousing,” says Elliot Wren. All manufacturing takes place in the Leeways High Care Manufacturing Plant, which provides validation and ensures full
P24 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD OCTOBER 2016
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OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P25
LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD compliance of all critical systems, facilities and environments, with 100% inline metal detection for all products prior to packing. “In the company’s manufacturing facility, we’ve installed four new large bed machines, with another on order and due to be delivered in March 2017,” says Elliot Wren. The results are already demonstrably impressive: “The company’s overall production capacity now exceeds 1 billion trays per year.” New investment in Leeways’ warehousing facility and systems allows the company to accurately monitor customer stocks, which means a more reactive and efficient response to clients’ requirements. It also equips the business with the capability of holding up to a whopping 10,000 pallets. The process is smooth and swift, from receipt of goods to palletisation, order receipt, pack and order assembly, right through to delivery to end user, and all stages are now completely traceable through the stock-management systems. “Our NPD team has gone from strength to strength,” says Elliot Wren. “Three CNC machines have been installed, and they now allow us to produce resin moulds and samples for our customers’ projects with a very quick turnaround time. This also enables us to build full production tooling inhouse, again reducing lead times, and offering greater flexibility.”
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
One aspect of the Leeways business that sets its apart from its competitors is its emphasis on innovation. The company is constantly experimenting to originate new designs, which give its clients a leading edge and ensure high levels of productivity and efficiency. With an extensive Product Development and Design Studio, Leeways is able to provide in-house tooling and samples; recent growth in this department allows the company to produce sample moulds and patterns for its clients to an extremely high standard. Leeways has created a whole range of packaging designs, catering for a wide variety of products and and market sectors. The company offers both bespoke solutions, for branded and private label companies, as well as a Made to Order range, which allows firms to choose from a wide range of existing options at no extra cost. The design team at Leeways, who use 3D modelling software, also work closely with the sales staff and toolmakers, so that the service offered to customers is truly integrated – which makes for efficiency and flexibility. One example of the benefits of the inventive, problem-solving Leeways approach is the use of strengthening and design features. These help make it possible to reduce packaging weight in some cases by 10%.
PEOPLE FIRST
Customer care is paramount at Leeways, and the firm has retained a solid, loyal customer base. “But we also continue to welcome new customers on board,” says Elliot Wren. “These range from large, high-profile names to family-owned independent start-up companies.” Leeways is proud to be a 100% British-owned company, with all packaging being produced entirely in the UK. Alongside the company’s technical and product innovations, Leeways is investing in the most important area of all for any business: people. “We have recruited and invested in key positions such as Customer Service and Support, New Businesss Development Managers, NPD and Production Management and efficiency- and processimprovement roles,” says Elliot Wren. “All of these appointments are helping the company to maintain the high level of service and quality that our customers expect of us.” AN EYE FOR DETAIL
The attention to detail and impeccable standards of customer care are clearly paying off. Leeways
has consistently achieved BRC A Grade standard, and the company continues to grow year-on-year by 10%, resulting in just over £16m turnover to the end of June 2016. As for future expansion, with new machines installed and arriving next year and plans for a second manufacturing facility underway, capacity and efficiency gains are expected to grow by 20%30% over the next two years. Going forward, Leeways remains passionate about continuing to focus on establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with its customers. “We expect to see continued steady growth, and increased efficiency, and we plan to stick to what we’re good at,” says Elliot Wren. And on this occasion, it seems size really doesn’t matter. “We have no desire to be the biggest,” he insists. “We just want to continue being regarded as the best!” LEEWAYS PACKAGING SERVICES LTD LOBSTOCK, CHURCHAM GLOUCESTER GL2 8AN TEL: 01452 750487 EMAIL: INFO@LEEWAYS.CO.UK WWW.LEEWAYS.CO.UK
P26 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS OCTOBER 2016
FRUITAPEEL LTD
TOPPING THE MARKET A FRUIT AND CONFECTIONERY SAUCE BUSINESS SUPPLYING MANUFACTURERS IN THE UK AND IRELAND, FRUITAPEEL HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY BY INVESTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE Starting a business from scratch and growing it to a multi-millionpound turnover is quite an achievement. To do this within 10 years, through a recession, shows exceptional drive and commitment from the whole business. Founded in 2006, Fruitapeel began predominantly as a supplier of compotes and coulis to ice cream manufacturers such as Fredericks Dairies, a manufacturer of Cadbury’s brands, and ice cream manufacturers to as far afield as Ireland. To combat the high seasonality of this business, the company expanded into confectionery and Bakery markets and today it supplies customers from artisan producers and farm shops to multi-million pound ice cream, dessert and cake manufacturers. EARLY DAYS
The former Group Operations Director for Daniels Chilled Foods, Terry Haigh set up the business in Simonswood outside Liverpool in 2006, with his wife Deborah, and Philip and Frank Frederick. “I saw a gap in the market for products that required a little more dedication to quality and service,” he says. “We’ve grown our business in a double-dip recession by investing ahead of the curve in technology and in people, as well as maintaining our position on quality and price, all within a very environmental framework.” INVESTMENT AND INCREASED CAPACITY
Having started with one 500kg vessel in 2006 with a capacity of around four tonnes a day, the business now has 10 vessels and a capacity of 74 tonnes a day on a single shift.
Fruitapeel has also expanded from a small unit of around 800 sq ft, into an £8m 50,000 sq ft state-of-the-art factory. Currently running at around 35-40% of capacity, the plant is set for future growth. “We’ve expanded our facilities considerably and invested in technology ahead of anybody else in the marketplace,” says Terry Haigh. “In fact this level of investment has not been seen by a company of our size in our industry in 20 years.” Around 18 months ago, the business formed a strategic partnership with one of its Suppliers to invest in aseptic manufacturing for fruit and confectionery sauces. A new technology only currently offered by one other UK company, aseptic manufacturing gives 96% whole fruit identity for items such as cheesecake toppings and yoghurt layers; “This level of fruit quality is unheard of in the industry,” says Haigh. “We’ve taken a huge leap of faith to invest in this new technology, but it has allowed us to enter a different marketplace and we’re already seeing the benefits with the broader exposure it’s giving us to customers.” Meanwhile, turnover has grown exponentially from £650,000 in 2006 to £7.4m in 2014. Last year’s growth of 40% prompted a shift to increased investment in people across the whole site, from finance and purchasing to technical and general management. “Having invested in capacity, now it’s about people and they have made a significant difference to the service we offer,” says Terry Haigh. “We’ve built our business on quality and speed of response, and as we grow we want to be seen as the
leaders in our market. I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now if it wasn’t for the staff; they are my greatest asset.” PRODUCT RANGE
The fruit and confectionery compotes and sauces range from ice cream ripples and popcorn coatings to toffee, chocolate and other inclusions for muffin and doughnut fillings. Fruitapeel also specialises in visually appealing products, such as high-quality fruit identity cheesecake toppings, as well as patisserie or chilled dessert fillings and yoghurt corner pots. Pack sizes range from 500g sachets up to 25kg buckets; and the new aseptic process allows the manufacture of 1.6 tonne batches supplied in individual bulk containers (IBCs) used by highvolume manufacturers. As a result, the company can tap into additional business from existing customers who use both buckets and tanks, as well as new customers who only use tanks. It also benefits customers wishing to cut their carbon footprint as sourcing product from northern England rather than transporting it from abroad represents a significant reduction in food miles. THE NEXT STAGE
Moving forward, Fruitapeel is looking at manufacturing finished products for customers as well as launching its own branded goods. “As a business we’re focusing on the out-of-home market as part of our key strategy,” says Terry Haigh. “There’s a big world out there and we have new customers coming on stream pretty much every day.”
Although Fruitapeel is currently focusing on markets in the UK and Ireland, it will be attending the Anuga trade fair in Germany this October to investigate export opportunities. To reach the ambitious target of £20m turnover in the next three to five years, the company is also on the acquisition trail and is already in first stage discussions with potential opportunities. “I’ve always built businesses and I’m enjoying working with some great people to build this one,” says Terry Haigh. “There’s been no outside investment in our northern operation; everything we’ve done we’ve generated from our own income, plus we’ve created around 60 jobs in the north, which could easily become 100-120 in the next three years. It’s hugely satisfying to see a business grow to this size in such a short time.” FRUITAPEEL LTD, STOPGATE LANE, SIMONSWOOD, LIVERPOOL L33 4YB TEL: 0151 548 5612 WWW.FRUITAPEEL.CO.UK
OCTOBER 2016 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P27
FGS SERVICES (UK) LTD
MUCH MORE THAN IT SPECIALISTS FROM IT SOLUTIONS AND TELECOMS TO INSTALLATIONS AND OFFICE FURNITURE, FGS SERVICES (UK) LTD OFFERS A FULL TURNKEY SERVICE TO CLIENTS IN THE FOOD AND DRINK SECTOR
Whether upgrading current premises or setting up a new production site, companies can benefit from a broad spectrum of
services provided by FGS Services. These range from bespoke machinery guarding, food grade compressed air installations, electrical installations and quality control software to telecoms, IT systems and even office furniture. “Our reason for doing this is simple,” explains founder Fred Smith. “Companies would call us
and order their PCs – we would turn up and find there was no power or no desks yet. So we decided that the best way forward was to provide all of these essential services ourselves and project manage all the works. This has led to larger projects over time.” The backbone of FGS Services’ food industry offer is the Weight Manager QA software, which delivers the quality attainment levels needed to secure contracts with end users. Able to fully integrate with Syspro, it comprises a prompt and validation system, an audit trail and a sophisticated stock and fulfilment service. Another key product is the Weight Manager Material Control: a formulation control system designed to guide operators as they dispense materials using electronic scales. Then there’s Weight Manager Sampling, where results are written to a central database and ODBC data sources provide the interface to the client’s ERP database. All software is bespoke rather than expecting the client to conform to an off-the-shelf product. Founded in 2000, FGS Services (UK) Ltd began by supplying servers and computers to food manufacturers and packaging companies across Yorkshire. Bespoke software was introduced to integrate with clients’ existing machinery and interface with their supermarket customers through technologies such as EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), with telecoms introduced in 2005. Based in Bradford
with a software development team in Swindon, FGS today is a full service company not only working with the food sector, but also in health care, legal, logistics and general offices. New business comes largely from word of mouth – the company’s motto is ‘Listening, understanding and showing the best (business) solution’ – and it’s reaping rewards, with 66% growth in the first quarter of the year, compared with 2014. “Being agile is the key to our success,” says Fred Smith. “We’re not your typical IT specialists. We’ve got the experience. We’ve got the knowledge. We’ve got the trained staff with excellent customer care. But we don’t assume that we know what you need. To provide the best technology solution for you, we need to listen and understand your business challenges.” With the right skills, investment and support already in place, 2015 is definitely FGS Services’ year for growth. FGS SERVICES (UK) LTD SUITE 1, MORLEY CARR HOUSE, MORLEY CARR ROAD, LOW MOOR BD12 0RA TEL: 01274 973600 EMAIL: FREDSMITH@FGSSERVICES.CO.UK WWW.FGSSERVICES.CO.UK
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