AUGUST 2015 £4.75
P02 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
CONTENTS PAGE 04 NEWS UPDATES 12
PPMA PREVIEW
18
PACKAGING INNOVATIONS
20
SNACK, NUTS AND
04
CRISPS FOCUS 22
FGS SERVICES (UK) LTD
23
INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY SERVICES (ILS)
24
FRESHASIA FOODS LTD
26
CLIFTON PACKAGING
28
FOOD NOW LTD
12
18
23
24
TO VIEW THE 2015 FEATURES LIST PLEASE VISIT WWW.FOODANDDRINKNEWS.CO.UK OR CONTACT US AT +44(0)1484 321000 TO EMAIL A COPY TO YOU Food & Drink News is published by Planet Media & Design Ltd. Company registered in England & Wales, number 09365661. All material is the copyright of Planet Media & Design Ltd. All rights reserved. Food & Drink News is the property of Planet Media & Design Ltd. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a Director of Planet Media & Design Ltd. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers can not be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.
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EDITOR’S FOREWORD chief editor michelle hodgson deputy editor rachael whiteley art director paul roper senior designer jamie quarmby graphic designer ben wainman advertising production rachael whiteley
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production manager rachael whiteley
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accountant kerry finn
ext 223 MICHELLE HODGSON - CHIEF EDITOR
proofreader becky ashwell
Planet Media & Design Ltd Brooke’s Mill Armitage Bridge Huddersfield HD4 7NR Tel: 01484 321000 Fax: 01484 502237 Email: food@planet-media.co.uk www.foodanddrinknews.co.uk
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INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE During the economic downturn, organisations seemed to take two divergent views on the environment. One was to put green issues on the back burner, considering them secondary to and separate from keeping their business afloat; the other was to look at how smarter thinking and innovation could reduce energy usage and, as a result, save on costs. Sometimes doing the right thing costs more, but in many cases, adopting more environmentally friendly policies can help productivity and profitability. Even more so when legislation, grants and other help is available to support the introduction of initiatives that reduce a company’s carbon footprint. Taking biogas and anaerobic digestion as an example: biogas can be used to produce heat and electricity, methane can be used as vehicle fuel or injected into the gas grid and digestate can be used as a fertilizer, a feedstock for ethanol production and in low-grade building materials. Following the July Budget, the Chief Executive of ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association), Charlotte Morton, said:
“Despite addressing the need to secure Britain’s future – both in terms of financial and national security – there was no reference to the importance of food and energy security, or the need to support green industry to drive economic growth.” She went on to say: “there are unlikely to be any new biomethane plants without signalling an extension to the RHI [Renewable Heat Incentive] budget beyond March 2016. Without additional biomethane capacity the AD industry will be unable to contribute to the EU Renewable Energy Directive target of 12% heat from renewable sources by 2020.” There’s little point in signing up to directives if there is no investment or continuing policies to support the activities of organisations and investors in these fields. Green gas produced here can reduce our dependence on imported natural gas and fuel heavy goods vehicles used in food transport and other industries. Food for thought, indeed. Meanwhile, our focus this month is on the snacking industry and, as usual, we have a wide range of company features and industry news. Hope you enjoy reading.
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NEWS UPDATES DATALASE ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH TOTAL BRAND SECURITY
Leading colour change technology company, Datalase, has announced a new partnership with Total Brand Security – a global leader in brand protection and security. Initially targeting the food and drink industry, the companies have developed a new digital can-end printing system for infant formula. Total Brand Security (TBS) produces both the ink formulation and the marking technology, which utilise the proprietary colour change technology from Datalase. Under the White Dot Ink brand, TBS has developed a new secure marking solution that enhances traceability, security and product authentication for products known to be at risk from counterfeiting or contamination and security issues. Dr Chris Wyres said: “The White Dot Ink solution is a great step forward, enabling brand owners to print high quality QR codes on can ends, which allows consumers to quickly learn more about the product and validate its authenticity by scanning the code with their mobile phone.” Adrian Simmons, Managing Director of TBS, comments: “The TBS system is a turnkey solution for manufacturers to be able to put unique codes on to packaging – everything from 2D barcodes and batch numbers through to expiration dates and websites can be included.” TBS and Datalase are now working with a number of manufacturers of dairy products to include this enhanced product authentication solution. WWW.DATALASE.COM WWW.TOTALBRANDSECURITY.COM
PARKSIDE SCOOPS TWO INNOVATION AWARDS
Parkside Flexibles has won two awards at Stationers’ Innovation Excellence Awards at an event in London on 29 June. Parkside won a Stationers’ Innovation Excellence Award but was also handed a special award for sustainability. Parkside has been praised for its work developing two products, Park 2 Nature®, a range of accredited home compostable barrier laminate structures and LIDD®, its revolutionary duplex laminate lidding film, designed for the ready meal market. Judges commended Parkside for delivering new market standards for flexo printed pack designs and its innovative yet responsible approach to
manufacturing products with the environment in mind. The Stationers’ Innovation Excellence Awards have been introduced to highlight companies in the Communications and Content industries that are successfully exploiting the opportunities presented in the Digital Media Landscape. It also recognises the key role which innovation plays in survival at a time of immense change. Thirty-two companies from the Paper, Ink, Printing, Publishing, Advertising, Marketing, Copyright Licensing and Packaging sectors entered the awards – a third more than last year. Head of Sales at Parkside, Paula Birch, comments, “We are immensely proud of our achievement. It’s our third award this year alone. We are now being recognised as a company which makes great strides to create new innovative packaging that is valued by brand owners, converters and consumers alike.” WWW.PARKSIDEFLEX.COM
NEW FIBRE LASERS DELIVER FLEXIBLE CODING SOLUTIONS Linx Printing Technologies has extended its laser coders portfolio with the introduction of two fibre lasers that provide a hugely flexible coding solution across the widest range of materials for both static applications and moving production lines. Fibre laser technology offers highly energyefficient coding across many different substrates. The new Linx FSL20 and Linx FSL50 have one of the smallest supply units and marking heads on the market. The availability of four different lenses means the coders can be tailored to the precise needs of each product – whether for static or moving environments. Both models feature a wide range of fonts, codes and graphics over multiple lines and unlimited areas. The durable construction of the Linx fibre lasers enables the coders to operate in challenging environments, with the laser source lasting more than 100,000 hours. An internal air cooler offers greater energy efficiency and cost savings, and is maintenance-free.
The well-refined beam quality ensures consistent smooth coding and the option of a Beam Turning Unit (BTU) allows the Linx fibre lasers to code at right angles. The Linx fibre lasers are offered with 20 watt (Linx FSL20) or 50 watt (Linx FSL50) beam sources. LinxDraw software allows easy code creation and changes via an optional colour touch screen or from a separate PC. WWW.LINXGLOBAL.COM
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NEWS UPDATES
FOOD COATINGS FIRM PLANS GLUTEN-FREE EXPANSION Food coatings firm Bowman Ingredients has announced plans for a multi-million pound investment in the UK’s first dedicated production facility for gluten-free products. The facility will be the first of its kind in the UK to be dedicated solely to the development and production of glutenfree crumb systems. Bowman Ingredients CEO, Rory Bowman, says: “This investment marks a major step in our global business growth strategy. Gluten-free crumb systems already account for a significant share in our total breadcrumb business and we are forecasting that this substantial growth story will continue.” Bowman Ingredients works in partnership with food processors around the globe to develop products for major retailers and quick service restaurant chains. With headquarters and two production facilities in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Bowman Ingredients also has manufacturing sites in South Africa, Australia and Thailand. The company produces a full range of coatings for frozen and chilled food including breadcrumbs, batter mixes, pre-dusts and dry mix marinades for value added meat, poultry, fish, potato and vegetable products. The firm has been at the forefront of innovation in glutenfree coatings and meat binders for over a decade. The gluten-free category is continuing to see year-on-year growth in both the retail and foodservice sectors in the UK and Europe. Recent research shows the
value of the UK gluten-free market is set to rise to £500m by 2019. Rory Bowman adds: “Major supermarkets and restaurant chains are currently driving gluten-free products further into the mainstream in the UK and Europe to meet consumer demand. We believe that the gluten-free category presents food processors with a massive opportunity. A key focus is on the development of gluten-free crumb coatings and batters for fish and poultry, with no compromise on quality compared to standard coatings, whilst maintaining a clean label declaration.” Due to be operational within the next 12 months, Bowman Ingredients’ dedicated gluten-free manufacturing facility will feature the latest production equipment and enhanced processing technology. This will ensure that all coatings, products and ingredients will be produced to a specification of less than 5ppm (parts per million) of gluten. WWW.BOWMANINGREDIENTS.CO.UK
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NEWS UPDATES SEAMLESS TRACEABILITY ENSURES QUALITY CONTROL
Leading meat processor Mischau GmbH & Co.KG of Spandau, Germany is using CSBSystem’s advanced software to provide essential quality control, food safety and traceability across its wide range of products, supplied to retailers and caterers throughout Germany and many other parts of Europe. End-to-end processing and documentation of all relevant data in CSB-System’s industryspecific software ensures seamless traceability for the approximately 225 tonnes of meat and sausage produced by Mischau every month. Every stage of production can be traced and accounted for, from the procurement of raw materials to processing and customer despatch. Thanks to precise documentation, Mischau can quickly find out which goods were delivered to which customer. Food safety management is further enhanced by the CSB-System nutritional value calculation and identification modules and operators are always aware of whether processed raw materials include allergens. The CSB-System also enables electronic order processing via EDI, which is increasingly being required by caterers and hospitals as well as retailers. “In terms of technology, we are well prepared for the future with this industryspecific software,” comments Joint Managing Director, Richard Mischau. “It helped us manoeuvre our business safely and with foresight past all challenges presented by the industry.” WWW.CSB.COM
NEW APPOINTMENT AS POLLARD CONTINUES TO EXPAND Rigid box specialist Pollard Boxes has appointed Grant McIvor as Business Development Manager. A trained printer, Grant has extensive new business development experience in the packaging sector, with particular expertise in the wines and spirits industry, most recently as New Business Development Manager for MW Creative. At Pollard, he will be responsible for further building the company’s presence in the drinks sector as a designer and manufacturer of luxury packaging solutions. “Grant’s combination of technical and sales experience will enable us to maximise opportunities in this important market,” comments Peter Conner, Pollard’s Commercial Director.
“This ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and expertise in specific markets is key to our continuing growth and success.” TEL: 0116 275 2666 EMAIL: SALES@POLLARDBOXES.CO.UK WWW.POLLARDBOXES.CO.UK
NEW BLUETHERM® IR INFRARED NON-CONTACT WIRELESS THERMOMETER The new non-contact wireless BlueTherm Infrared thermometer probe is ideal for measuring surface temperatures in a wide variety of applications, utilising mobile phones and tablet PC devices. Simply aim and press the button on the handle to transmit the temperature to your wireless device. The BlueTherm IR measures temperature over the range -49.9 to 249.9°C with a distance to target ratio of 5:1, therefore the unit should be positioned as close to the target as possible without needing to touch the surface.
Each BlueTherm IR incorporates a heavy duty ribbed, polypropylene handle with built-in red and blue LED. The flashing blue LED indicates Bluetooth® comms transfer, the red LED indicates on/off and power status. Each probe is supplied with basic ‘App’ software. A variety of BlueTherm probes are available, visit the ETI website or contact the sales office for information on alternative styles. For software developers a free of charge SDK (software development kit) can also be provided on request. Optional accessories include a protective silicone boot. The BlueTherm IR is competitively priced, at £115 (android – order code 179-400) or £125 (iOS – order code 179-402), each exclusive of VAT, and available direct from www.etiltd.com FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE INSTRUMENTS LTD - EASTING CLOSE, WORTHING, WEST SUSSEX BN14 8HQ; PHONE 01903 202151; EMAIL SALES@ETILTD.COM; WWW.ETILTD.COM
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NEWS UPDATES INTREPID FOX PERFECT FIT FOR THE GLOVERS Intrepid Fox, the single-serve ‘wine in a glass’, has been providing Yeovil Town FC’s bars and food outlets with a fastserve solution to periods of high demand, since its introduction in October 2014. Intrepid Fox promotes rapid dispensing, enabling bar staff to serve the drinks quickly and efficiently, while providing customers with an attractive, easy-to-carry product. Clive Robinson, Hospitality Manager at Yeovil’s Huish Park Stadium, said: “When the alternative is serving from bottles into flimsy plastic beakers or half-pint tumblers, Intrepid Fox is clearly the right choice. The product is simple, easy to serve, and looks great. Most importantly, the ‘all-in-one’ nature of the product makes it very cost-effective for us.” The average customer can carry between five and eight glasses with ease and Intrepid Fox can also significantly reduce storage and waste management costs. Intrepid Fox ‘glasses’, which are shaped to
resemble a real wine glass, are manufactured from shatterproof and fully recyclable PET, and are sealed with a peelable foil lid. The clever packing process provides Intrepid Fox with a 12-month shelf-life. Intrepid Fox is available in Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTREPID FOX, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.WINEINNOVATIONSLTD.COM
PARAGON MAKES LIGHT WORK OF EDEN FARM’S TRANSPORT NEEDS Eden Farm, the nationwide frozen food and ice cream wholesale distribution company, has upgraded its routing and scheduling solution to ensure it can continue to deliver excellent customer service at a time of significant business growth. The upgrade to Paragon version 5.80 has allowed Eden Farm’s planners to process substantially larger volumes of data up to five times faster. The distributor first implemented Paragon’s solution in 2011 and further functionality followed with the addition of Paragon’s INRIX-based road speed data and HERE Map Content. “In this latest version of the Paragon software, we have further enhanced the performance of our algorithms,” explains Phil Ingham, Support Director, Paragon Software Systems. “This means our customers are now seeing even faster matrix calculations, which
result in quicker routing. Users also gain instant visibility into actual operations, providing customers like Eden Farm with the intelligence to respond to issues as they arise.” “We have found that processing speeds are much quicker with version 5.80,” said Robert Gee, Strategic Manager of IT & Operations, Eden Farm. “As we continue to grow, Paragon will be key to helping us maintain our focus on customer service.” TEL: 01306 732 600 WWW.PARAGONROUTING.COM
CLONDALKIN DEVELOPS UNIQUE CODING SOLUTION FOR YEO VALLEY
Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury has developed unique coded lids for an extensive points-based loyalty scheme, known as ‘Yeokens’, for Yeo Valley, the largest UK organic dairy brand. Clondalkin has printed a unique code number on Yeo Valley brand lidded products, revealed when the polyester lid is peeled back. Customers enter these codes online to collect a virtual currency, called ‘Yeokens’, which can be exchanged for different offers. John Chadwick, Managing Director of Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury, comments: “We are delighted to have been involved in such an exciting campaign from the outset. We have already printed over 60 million unique coded lids for Yeo Valley and we wish them every success with their latest initiative.” Dan Rusga, Marketing Director at Yeo Valley, adds: “We have worked with Clondalkin for many years and have always been impressed by their technical expertise, commitment to quality and willingness to either find, or create, innovative solutions to meet our requirements. The printing technology they have developed is enabling us to get closer to our customers and reward them for their loyalty.” Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury is a leading supplier of flexible packaging solutions in the food, dairy, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. TEL: 0161 763 2100 WWW.CLONDALKINGROUPBURY.COM
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NEWS UPDATES
MANOR REFRIGERATED CABINETS ACHIEVES RECORD ROLL-OUT Over the years Manor Refrigerated Cabinets has established a strong track record for delivering on challenging retail projects. In what continues to be a difficult time for supermarkets, it is able to provide retailers with innovative display solutions for produce and chilled foods. In the past the Manor has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, not least by completing a £1.6m shelving and merchandise roll-out for a leading retailer. This feat of complex deliveries across more than 800 UK stores was achieved within a tight deadline of three days. The national roll-out consisted of a diverse range of shelving and merchandise accessories for
refrigerated produce. By utilising its comprehensive cabinet database, Manor Refrigerated Cabinets designed the shelves and merchandise accessories to fit the retailer’s specific range of refrigerated cabinets. To meet the short time-frame, the products were manufactured both in-house and by approved sub-contractors. Michael Tucker, Managing Director, Manor Refrigerated Cabinets, comments: “Completing a store roll-out of this magnitude to such a strict time schedule required the highest level of project management skills. “It was also necessary to employ our significant knowledge of the refrigerated retail cabinet market
using our extensive database which encompasses detailed information covering the last 15 years. It was that intelligence, combined with our planning and organisational skills which enabled us to successfully fulfil this contract. “With Arneg recently acquiring
our business we now have even more resources and financial backing to provide large scale product rollouts for major players within the retail market.” TEL: 01767 222100 WWW. MANREFCAB.CO.UK
GRANNY GOTHARDS INVESTS IN RIGGS AUTOPACK DEPOSITOR Granny Gothards is a traditional ice cream manufacturer based on The Somerset Levels. The business is based on the dairy farm from where
the fresh milk comes straight to the parlour to be made into the best quality ice cream. These are freshly made from pasture to pot in just a day, and are 100% natural with no artificial additives, colourings or stabilisers. With demand increasing and a new summer season in view, Granny Gothards approached Riggs Autopack to discuss how they could improve production and effectively fill their pots by utilising a semi-automatic procedure. From the first demonstration, Riggs
Autopack’s depositor proved to be extremely effective, quick and accurate, and handled the ice cream with large delicate inclusions extremely well to leave the product as perfect as if potted by hand. A special depositor machine configuration was offered to provide the best yield of product at the lowest cost and to fit into their low ceiling parlour. This new machine was built very quickly at the Riggs Autopack factory in Nelson, Lancashire, and is now installed and running. Business owner, Amanda Stansfield, says: “Due to the success of our ice cream in restaurants and hotels, the demand for our retail range has grown and we needed to look for a more effective way of filling our tubs without affecting the texture and consistency of the ice cream.”
“Riggs Autopack worked with us to provide a cost-effective solution. They built us a depositor that works perfectly and we can now confidently take on more orders for our small pots due to the extra capacity the depositor has given us. Since using the machine we have been able to supply an independent cinema chain, theatres, private airline catering, as well as more retail outlets.” If you’re an artisan food producer seeking a high quality system to accurately fill jars, bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cake tins, buckets, jerry cans, pouches or bags, then Riggs Autopack could have the solution. TEL: +44 (0)1282 440040 EMAIL: INFO@RIGGSAUTOPACK.CO.UK WWW.RIGGSAUTOPACK.CO.UK TWITTER: @RIGGSAUTOPACK
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NEWS UPDATES NEW ROBOTGRADER REVOLUTIONISES FIXED WEIGHT TRAY PACKING Weighing and packing equipment specialist Ishida Europe has extended its range of solutions for poultry, meat and fish packaging with a unique system that improves yields and efficiencies in the packing of fresh food pieces. The new RobotGrader combines weighing and pick-and-place technologies to grade products of varying weight and pack them to a fixed weight straight into the tray. The system reduces giveaway to less than 1% per pack and can correctly place and orientate the pieces, at speeds of up to 320 pieces per minute. Depending on the model, the RobotGrader can handle two, three or four different tray types at the
same time, and direct unsuitable pieces to integrated bulk bins. A hygienic construction enables effective wash down and easily movable tray guides mean product changeovers are fast and simple. “With modern processing lines able to operate at extremely high speeds, the filling of two or more pieces into fixed weight packs has been one area that has until now resisted efficient automation,” explains Ulrich Nielsen, Ishida Europe’s Director for Business Solutions. “Using proven technology, the RobotGrader solves this problem to deliver near-continuous accurate process packing.” The RobotGrader can integrate easily with existing factory ERP and control systems, alongside other Ishida equipment. WWW.ISHIDAEUROPE.COM
BOKOMO FOODS GIVES STUDENTS A TASTE OF THE WORKPLACE Leading UK manufacturer Bokomo Foods, part of Pioneer Foods SA, welcomed young students into its factory for a taste of life in the food sector. Fourteen students from Bishop Stopford School in Kettering were given an exclusive behind-thescenes look at Bokomo’s factory. The Year 10 students, who are studying a Level 2 course in Logistics, attended a talk on Bokomo and the food manufacturing industry by CEO, John Hiles, followed by a factory tour of the cereal-making process. They then had the opportunity to create their own muesli in a workshop session. John Hiles, CEO, commented: “It’s important for us to invest in young people to allow them to get a taste of working life. Through holding these experience days, we can provide an educational insight into the manufacturing industry and encourage young people to think of their future
careers. We hope this event will be the first of more to come.” Broden, aged 15, said: “It was really interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes at the factory, especially all the work that goes into making cereals which we see every day on supermarket shelves.” WWW.BOKOMO.CO.UK
SPIRALLING POLYMER COSTS MAKE PRICE INCREASES INEVITABLE SAYS LINPAC
Europe’s leading fresh food packaging manufacturer, LINPAC, has commented on the recent turbulence in its raw material supply chain and concluded that its rigid and flexible packaging prices will have to increase in the face of current sharp cost increases. Bart Stubbe, Director of Purchasing at LINPAC, said: “Since March, unprecedented production issues have been reported across the European petrochemical industry, driving tight polymer supply which, when coupled with strengthening demand, has led to sharp price increases for both monomers and polymers.” Stubbe continued: “We have seen a record series of force majeure declarations from suppliers, a lack of product availability in some cases and soaring polymer prices across Europe.” LINPAC today operates 18 plants supplying over 70 countries around the world with a wide range of high quality rigid and flexible packaging solutions for the food industry. Daniel Dayan, LINPAC CEO, commented: “We pride ourselves on delivering reliable, high quality, rigid and flexible packaging solutions for fresh food to leading retailers, packers and distributors around the world. Despite our ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies and the performance of our products through innovative design, the difficult cost situation we are facing means price increases have become inevitable.” FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LINPAC PACKAGING OR TO CONTACT LINPAC, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@LINPACPACKAGING.COM OR VISIT WWW.LINPACPACKAGING.COM
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NEWS UPDATES SWIZZELS INTRODUCES BON BONS TO ITS CONFECTIONERY RANGE
Sweet manufacturer Swizzels has transformed their bestselling brands Drumstick and Refresher into a soft Bon Bon format. Bon bons is one of the fastest growing sectors within kids’ sugar confectionery, with value sales up an impressive 26% year on year.* The new addition to the Swizzels range is available in 150g standard bags and £1 price marked packs featuring the recognisable and loved Drumstick and Refresher branding. The original Drumstick Lollies and Refresher bars were both introduced in 1957 and have been popular with consumers ever since. Sarah-Louise Heslop, Marketing Manager at Swizzels, said: “This is the first time we’ve launched Bon Bons and they’re the perfect addition to our range. Bon Bons are a classic sweet, loved by children and adults alike. We’re excited about the new launch and our bright, attractive packaging means our product will stand out on shelves. We are always looking at ways to innovate our products and build on our classic range of confectionery.” Swizzels is the UK’s largest family-owned independent sugar confectionery business and one of the few confectionery companies to still manufacture sweets in the UK. The company makes a range of well-known products including Squashies, Love Hearts, New Refreshers, Drumstick Lollies, Rainbow Drops, Double Lollies and Fruity Pops. * Nielsen: 52 wk 23.05.2015 Value Total Coverage WWW.SWIZZELS.COM
FURTHER INVESTMENT AT POLLARD BOXES Rigid box manufacturer Pollard Boxes has further expanded its specialist ‘End to End’ fulfilment service with the creation of an additional 6,000 sq ft of space, bringing the total area to 100,000 sq ft. The extended facility within Pollard’s factory near Leicester provides secure storage for goods, combined with a large packing and despatch area. Together with the company’s advanced production capabilities, this enables Pollard to offer customers a bespoke fulfilment operation, covering the design and manufacture of boxes, the packing of product and onward supply to the customer. Deliveries can be in bulk to retailers or individually addressed to end consumers. The extended facilities are the latest in a series of recent investments for Pollard, one of the most highly invested businesses in the rigid box sector. Over the past 18 months the company has installed new equipment and facilities to a value in excess of £1m including an advanced Sakurai
printer and a fully automatic Emmeci MC2012 MEB for the manufacture of high quality drinks presentation boxes up to 330mm deep – the first of its kind to be installed in the UK. Commercial Director, Peter Conner, comments: “These latest series of investments will ensure we have both the capabilities and flexibility to react quickly to customer demands, tailored to their precise requirements.” WWW.POLLARDBOXES.CO.UK
DELICIOUS APPLE AND RHUBARB PRESSÉ FROM HEARTSEASE FARM Heartsease Farm have been busily concocting delicious flavour combinations this summer, and are launching a new, utterly delicious flavour pressè, Apple and Rhubarb. Made with all natural ingredients, this mouthwatering new flavour has been made to a traditional recipe, using only the best available ingredients, blended with their own spring water from the farm in Wales. The fresh sweet apple hits you first, and then you get a subtle finish of sharp rhubarb, a truly delicious combination. Heartsease Farm Sparkling Apple and Rhubarb available in 330ml or 750ml glass bottles. Heartsease Farm was founded by William Watkins in 1996 to produce soft drinks at his
family farm in Mid Wales. The Watkins family have farmed at Heartsease since 1903. William Watkins commented on his new, premium pressé drinks range saying: “Our exciting, new, Heartsease Farm range of drinks reflect the heritage of the farm and our passion for great flavours.” TEL: 01547 530220 WWW.RADNORHILLS.CO.UK
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NEWS UPDATES
DR SCHÄR BRINGS GLUTEN-FREE BRAND TO THE UK the other 27 products from the rebrand of DS-gluten free’s existing lines. THE LAUNCH
Dr Schär has announced the launch of Schär, Europe’s number one gluten-free brand, to the UK market in September 2015. The Schär range will boost gluten-free options for UK retailers with nine NPD offerings that will sit alongside
The Schär range will be available in all major supermarkets across the UK. The NPD includes delicious Italian frozen meal solutions, an indulgent caramel Chocolix bar, and oat-based Breakfast Bakes. Schär replaces Dr Schär’s existing DS-gluten free brand and will be supported with significant marketing investment. The bespoke creative, which has an emphasis on social inclusion, includes a new logo and tagline: ‘Europe’s favourite in gluten free’. This will be launched at the Allergy Show in July and rolled out in print, outdoor, in store, online and via social media channels.
With an impressive 55% market share in Germany alone, Schär is chosen by more people across Europe than any other gluten-free brand. Bradley Grimshaw, Commercial Director of Dr Schär UK, comments: “Schär is dedicated to improving the lives of those living gluten-free and we are delighted to be introducing the brand to the UK. As Europe’s favourite glutenfree brand, we know that Schär will delight new shoppers to the category as well as loyal DS-gluten free consumers, introducing them to a range of gluten-free products that up until now have not been available on UK shelves. The Dr. Schär business is a pioneer in gluten-free, with decades of experience and our 20-strong R&D
specialists are committed to developing new solutions that meet the needs and desires of our glutenfree customers.” THE GLUTEN-FREE CATEGORY
The increased diagnosis of coeliac disease combined with improving awareness of non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, and an influx of people who adopt a gluten-free diet as a lifestyle choice are all significant contributors to the category’s growth.” TO ENQUIRE ABOUT LISTING SCHÄR PRODUCTS AS WELL AS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SCHÄR NPD PLEASE CONTACT SALES.UK@DRSCHAER.COM, OR CALL 01925 865100.
NICHOLS PLC GROWTH CONTINUES WITH PURCHASE OF THE FEEL GOOD DRINKS BRAND Vimto brand owner, Nichols Plc has today announced its acquisition of the Feel Good Drinks brand from German drinks supplier, MBG International Premium Brands. Founded in 2001, Feel Good Drinks is a premium range of 100% natural still and sparkling drinks for adults and kids. The range is sold in over 20,000 outlets across 15 different countries. The acquisition supports Nichols Plc’s long-term growth strategy and reflects the increasing demand within the UK market for healthier soft drinks options. Nichols Plc Chief Executive, Marnie Millard, said: “The Feel Good Drinks brand is a core
element of our future growth strategy which allows us to enter into the area of premium healthy soft drinks. Feel Good has an important part to play in all of our routes to market – it is firmly established in the UK grocery packaged market, has a growing presence in the Out of Home sector and an international business we can build on. “The brand has a strong creative identity and we have the ability and expertise to maximise its potential and drive sales, awareness and availability.” This latest investment is another major step forward in Nichols Plc’s growth ambitions across UK and
international markets. Earlier this year, its Out of Home division sealed a Bag in Box supply deal with Coca-Cola in the UK. This was
followed by the acquisition of a 49% equity share in iced slush and milk drinks business, The Noisy Drinks Co.
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PPMA PREVIEW
MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING GIANTS GATHER AT NEC FOR PPMA SHOW 2015 29 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER, NEC, BIRMINGHAM
As growth in the UK’s manufacturing sector continues to accelerate, with manufacturers reporting a rise in sales and indicating plans for expansion1, industry professionals are gearing up to visit the PPMA Show 2015, the UK’s premier, free-to-attend complete production line event for processing and packaging machinery – set to be the largest of its kind in recent years. Returning to the NEC, Birmingham, the show will run over three days (29 September – 1 October) and will be opened by
Lord Digby Jones, former Director General of the CBI and Trade and Investment Minister. With exhibitor space up by more than 20% compared to preparations for the 2014 show, this time last year, the event is quickly becoming the processing and packaging show that must not be missed. JUSTIN KING TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT SEMINAR THEATRE
A leading figure in the FMCG and Grocery retailing sectors and former Sainsbury’s CEO, Justin King CBE, is set to headline this year’s PPMA Show seminar theatre. Taking to the stage, Justin will discuss the future for multiple retailers, how the growing market shares of discount retailers will affect the supply chain and how the continued emergence of supermarket convenience outlets is shaping the market. Other confirmed speakers include Andrew Love, Vice President at Be4ward Ltd, who will discuss the latest
developments, technologies and strategies in pharmaceutical anticounterfeit and tamper-resistant packaging being used to counter the threat posed to consumers by the counterfeit drugs black market. Mike Crosby, Finance Director for Burts Potato Chips, will also be at the show examining how sales targets and profitability have soared thanks to continued factory investment and new technology. DEMONSTRATING THE FUTURE TRENDS IN MANUFACTURING
Attendees to Hall 5 at the NEC in September can also find out more about the latest trends and innovations taking the industry by storm, with confirmed exhibitors including the likes of Excel Packaging Machinery, AVE UK, Gebo Cermex UK, Karmelle, Paramount Packaging Systems and Syspal. Finally, the team at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking (stand F40) will once again have a dedicated stand at the show where its team of specialists will be offering advice ranging from day-to-day banking requirements to funding for
expansion to exporting. Lloyds Bank return as headline sponsors highlighting the company’s confidence in UK manufacturing and in particular, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The team, made up of 13 dedicated sector teams, have the autonomy to make local lending decisions up to £1m – on a case-by-case basis. They will once again have a dedicated stand at the show offering visitors and exhibitors a chance to discuss banking opportunities following its 2014 commitment to provide lending facilities to the manufacturing sector of £1bn per annum every year until 2017. TO REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THE SHOW PLEASE VISIT: HTTP://BIT.LY/PPMA2015. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PPMA SHOW 2015, PLEASE VISIT WWW.PPMASHOW.CO.UK OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER (@PPMASHOW #PPMASHOW OR THE PPMA SHOW LINKEDIN GROUP). 1 MANUFACTURING ADVISORY SERVICE MANUFACTURING BAROMETER 2015
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P13
PPMA PREVIEW
DESTINATION PPMA 2015: ROTECH MEETS SURGE FOR SUPER-FAST CASE MARKING Designer and manufacturer of offline advanced carton feeding systems, Rotech, is unveiling its new RF-Box Feeder at PPMA 2015, stand B74. The launch is in response to an unprecedented number of enquiries from food and FMCG packers wanting to code secondary flat-pack boxes and cartons offline – a trend Rotech has not encountered before. One of five exhibits on the Rotech stand, the RF-Box Feeder enables users to pre-mark flat cases prior to erection and filling. Rates vary depending on the box length and chosen marking technology, but can reach up to 150 boxes per minute. Commenting on the drivers for offline stack-to-stack box feeding systems, Rotech Director, Richard
Pether, explains: “Today’s grocery market is evolving with discount, online and convenience emerging as the growth areas. Consequently, there’s higher demand for mixed cases and ‘little and often’ deliveries to a wider number of locations, which makes logistical operations, and secondary packaging especially, much more complex.” All these challenges increase the chance of human error as well as slowing the overall secondary packing process. The Rotech offline system overcomes this by ensuring food operators have a supply of boxes that are pre-marked with accurate information about their contents and destination. At PPMA, the RF-Box Feeder will demonstrate how operation speed can be increased by removing
the need for a marking step within the packing line itself. This can be especially beneficial in high-speed production environments and when handling perishable products with short use-by dates. What’s more, marking boxes when flat rather than assembled is a more efficient way to consistently code boxes on two sides, ensuring accurate positioning of traceability codes. Discover more economical benefits and why offline box coding increases throughput, is more accurate
than coding by hand and more flexible than inline coding. Visit stand B74. TEL: +44 01707 393 700 EMAIL: SALES@ROTECHMACHINES.COM WWW.ROTECHMACHINES.COM
REDUCE YOUR OPERATING COSTS WITH SOLUTIONS FROM SL CONTROLS SL Controls are experts in the area of Equipment System Integration and Support. SL Controls is an internationally recognised industry leader in the design, simulation and commissioning of industrial automation equipment and control systems. We specialise in assisting our customers, including many of the world’s top multinational companies
in the Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Food and Beverage Sectors, achieve their Six Sigma and OEE targets. Over the past 13 years we have grown our business into an international business with offices in Birmingham, Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Dublin. We pride ourselves on our expertise in industrial IT integration and
regulatory compliance in support of global end users, OEM’s and technology providers. SL Controls have the capability to offer companies innovative and cost efficient solutions for automation, process analysis and reporting, validation services, serialisation services and specialist engineering resource solutions. Our specialist teams of automation, integration and software development specialists provide tailored solutions to meet each client’s specific design, integration validation, operation and maintenance needs. SL Controls have developed a unique process for Equipment System Integration (DiVOM). The
DiVOM process is proven to save up to 30% on a company’s equipment operating costs. The DiVOM process also ensures that companies integrate the most appropriate technology to meet their production requirements and drive improvements to ‘Overall Equipment Effectiveness’ (OEE). The structure and design for the application was derived from research conducted over a 10-year period on equipment procurement projects across the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors and the resulting impact on OEE and regulatory compliance. TEL: +353 (0) 71 9134040 WWW.SLCONTROLS.COM
P14 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
PPMA PREVIEW CSL REACH NEW LEVELS WITH CONVEYING SOLUTIONS
Conveyor Systems Limited (CSL) will exhibit a range of conveyors and innovative vertical transport systems that can easily be integrated to provide efficient handling solutions. The high quality robust Prorunner Mk1 vertical product elevator will be exhibited for the first time. Compact in design, it requires a minimal installation footprint and is available in multiple configurations to suit the application. The lift can easily elevate boxes, crates, totes and sacks weighing up to 100kg, with up to 650 movements per hour. Due to the lift’s unique design, it ensures silent movement and has low maintenance requirements, which unlike chain lifts, do not require lubricating or tightening. CSL’s energy efficient, space saving spiral elevators/lowerators provide smooth continuous flow and high throughput of product with the capability to handle various sizes/types of products simultaneously. It can also be used to provide accumulation and buffer storage. Also featured will be the new energy efficient 24V non-contact accumulation conveyor (Zero Line Pressure/ZLP), which is ideal for transporting fragile, high value or irregular shaped products, providing smooth transfer and accumulation without the products touching. CSL design, install and commission handling solutions across a wide range of industries. STAND NO: D12 TEL: 01283 552255 WWW.CONVEYORSYSTEMSLTD.CO.UK
PPMA 2015 HOLMACH LTD STAND C 30 Thermal processing specialist Holmach Ltd will be launching a number of key developments at this year’s show aimed at extending the range of applications for their market leading range of Lagarde retorts. 2014-15 has seen many installations of Lagarde units into the meat processing industry for cooking of vacuum packed ‘Food to Go’ such as pulled meats, shanks and brisket products for leading retailers. Examples of these will be on display in addition to a Lagarde test retort, which is available to rent to customers looking to develop new or existing products. From Terlet of the Netherlands we will be demonstrating the new Delta 700 series of scraped surface heat exchangers designed for rapid heating or cooling of all types of products from sauces to molasses and fruit. Roboqbo has achieved great success in the UK with their cut, cook and cool vessels for small batch/high quality foods, aimed at reducing cooking time whilst retaining superior texture, colour and taste. From CFT of Italy comes a high speed can seamer, ideal for both beverage and food
applications, completely constructed in stainless steel. Finally from Mengibar of Spain comes a filler/capper monoblock for household and horticultural trigger pump bottles designed to run from 80 to 200 bottles per minute with fully automatic sorting, feeding and capping of trigger caps with bendy straws! FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON OUR FULL RANGE OF PRODUCTS, VISIT STAND C30 OR SEE OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.HOLMACH.CO.UK
THE BRITISH MANUFACTURER OF COMPLETE LIQUID PACKAGING SYSTEMS This year’s visitors to the Karmelle stand (this time even bigger and better, so we could show off some of our larger machines) will be greeted with a range of running machinery on show. The star of our exhibition will be a fully functioning three head rotary capper, designed for closing various types of containers (made of plastic, glass and metal) with screw, press-on and pilfer proof caps. The machine is especially suitable for use in the food-processing, cosmetic and chemical industries but as all our machines are bespoke, can be widely adjusted. We will be bringing a number of smaller interactive filling and labelling machines together with videos of our Mini Monoblock (featured in the Sunday Telegraph, Machinery Update, MEM magazine and Packaging Yearbook). If you are ready to step up your production contact us for friendly advice. We can offer you years of experience and quality bespoke filling,
capping and labelling machines designed and built by our engineers right here, in West Yorkshire, to your specification. We export our machinery worldwide, so wherever you are, the best of British manufacturing is at your fingertips. STAND E24 TEL: 01484 53336 KARMELLE.COM
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P15
PPMA PREVIEW 100% TIGHT – ULTRASONIC SEALING OF PACKAGES BY HERRMANN ULTRASCHALL Sealing packages by ultrasonic vibrations is a fast and economic closing technology achieving repeatable, high quality seals. High frequency mechanical vibrations cause molecular and interfacial friction in the seal area. This results in locally defined heat which melts the packaging material. The products and services provided by Herrmann Ultraschall for the entire packaging industry are proven in many applications such as film packaging (e.g. stand-up pouches, pillow bags), drink packaging (e.g. film, carton), coffee capsules and tea bags, spouts, valves or zippers. Ultrasonic sealing is fast, reliable, sustainable, and offers many
advantages: • Hermetic closing • Sealing through product contamination (powders, liquids, pastes, etc.) • High machine output • Quality supervision • Saves time, energy, and packaging material. The biggest advantages are the ability to seal through product
contaminations and the quality supervision of each seal combined with a continuous process control and monitoring. The cold tools stay clean and do not stick to the packaging material. Herrmann Ultraschall is the recognised market leader with over 50 years of experience in ultrasonic technology. Visit our booth 72, Hall H at the PPMA show in Birmingham.
HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG DESCOSTRAßE 3-9 76307 KARLSBAD, GERMANY TEL: +49 7248 79-0 INFO@HERRMANNULTRASCHALL.COM WWW.HERRMANNULTRASCHALL.COM
RIGGS AUTOPACK DEPOSITORS & FILLING MACHINES ON SHOW AT PPMA 2015 Riggs Autopack Ltd will be exhibiting a selection of their high quality depositors, filling machines, transfer pumps and conveyor filling lines at this year’s PPMA Show. Visitors to their stand on A23 will see an automatic 4 head depositor with conveyor, a semi-automatic filling machine with transfer pump designed for small scale batch production, and a semi-automatic “bulk” depositor for filling catering bags, buckets and jerry cans. Riggs Autopack’s depositors and filling machines are available as a semi-automatic stand-alone unit or as an automatic conveyor filling system. They provide damage free
depositing of hot or cold liquid, semi-liquid and suspended solid products, and accurately fill most container types or size. The company design and build their range of depositors and filling equipment at their Lancashire factory, and supply to primarily the food production industry but also to many other industry manufacturers throughout the UK and overseas. Clients typically range from start-up companies and artisan producers, through to multi-national groups
and international factories. If you’re investing in a semi or fully automatic depositing system to accurately fill jars, bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cartons, buckets, jerry cans, pouches or bags, then Riggs Autopack could have the solution.
STAND A23 TEL: 01282 440040 EMAIL: INFO@RIGGSAUTOPACK.CO.UK WWW.RIGGSAUTOPACK.CO.UK
P16 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
PPMA PREVIEW
FARLEYGREENE – SIEVING TECHNOLOGY - PPMA 2015 Farleygreene will be exhibiting their innovative sieving equipment and technologies on stand G22 at PPMA 2015. At the heart of their show this year Farleygreene will launch their new Sievgen series of machinery. This new range represents the company’s next generation of sieving equipment and commitment to moving the technologies forward for the future. The first piece they will be launching is the Sievgen SG400 unit, which is aimed directly at the additive manufacturing sector. After supplying machinery to some high profile end users in the industry, they have incorporated all previous project requested features
and designed a single simple to use package that addresses the feeding, ultrasonic sieving and container filling of high value powders ready for re-use in 3D printing machines. The fully enclosed system has been built to ensure it is aesthetically in tune with the intended operational environment. The stand will also be showing machines from the existing Sievmaster range. These cover all aspects of sieving and screening, from entry level small batch check sieves, to high capacity vibratory and centrifugal check units. They will also be showing a grading separator which has an integrated metering feed hopper and a new updated
version of the SM553-STS sacktip check sieving station. As well as these exciting launches Farleygreene have a lot more to offer and exhibit, pop along to the stand where you will be greeted with knowledgeable and experienced staff who will be happy to discuss any of their machines and advise you on how they can meet your specific requirements.
THE SHOW WWW.FARLEYGREENE.COM OR GIVE THEM A CALL +44 (0) 1256 474547.
PLEASE ALSO HAVE A LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE PRIOR TO
NEW LEAK DETECTOR HIGHLIGHTS ISHIDA VERSATILITY A revolutionary new leak detector for fresh foods will be unveiled on the Ishida Europe stand at this year’s PPMA Show. The Ishida AirScan offers fast 100% reliable and completely nondestructive identification of leaks in MAP (Modified Atmosphere
Packaging) packs. It is ideal for a wide variety of products including fresh meat and seafood, salads and ready meals. The leak detector is one of a number of quality control solutions on show from Ishida, which also include the company’s market leading X-ray, checkweigher and multihead weigher models. Ishida’s advanced high performance X-ray inspection system, the IX-GA-4075, offers reliable detection of foreign bodies, missing, undersized and mis-shaped items or damaged products, and the software allows product masking and weight estimation. The DACS-G checkweigher is capable of exceptional speeds while maintaining high accuracy, and can be specified with a Reject Failsafe System. From its RV multihead weigher series, Ishida will demonstrate a
model with 3 litre hoppers, ideal for less sticky fresh and frozen foods. The hygienic design is IP69krated and maintains Ishida’s legendary durability and reliability, and a new Power Management system delivers 20% lower power consumption. The entry-level 14 head Ishida CCW-SE-214 multihead weigher offers fast and accurate weighing of all types of dry applications with a top speed of up to 90ppm. Combining improved productivity and efficiency with minimal downtime for cleaning and maintenance, the weigher offers a rapid return on investment. STAND B52 TEL: 0121 607 7700
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P17
PPMA PREVIEW
PARAMOUNT PACKAGING SHOWCASE LATEST HORIZONTAL FLOW-WRAPPERS Paramount Packaging will be showing two variations of the latest low maintenance, easy-to-use and energy-efficient Alpha VII horizontal flow-wrapping machine at Stand F24 at the PPMA Show in Birmingham (29 September – 1 October 2015). The company is the exclusive distributor of Fuji Machinery Company’s horizontal and vertical form-fill-seal equipment in the UK and Ireland With advanced heat pipe end seal technology, faster temperature control and high pressure sealers, Fuji’s Alpha VII box motion horizontal flow-wrapper offers reduced energy usage and hermetic sealing making it ideal for high speed gas flushing or MAP applications where extended shelf life is a key requirement. The
FW3710B model on display at PPMA is also capable of producing on trend ‘stand up’ block bottom gable top packs. The Alpha VII series has been specially designed by Fuji to incorporate energy saving technology, further improve production efficiencies and reduce operating costs. Ideal for the overwrapping of irregular shaped, fragile or sticky products such as fish, sausages or IV
bags, Fuji’s Alpha VII back seal flow-wrapper features bottom film feeds for easy, positive transfer of product from the infeed conveyor to the film tube. Fuji’s box motion and back seal flow-wrappers are capable of operating at speeds up to 250ppm, with a cut off length of 430mm.
Paramount Packaging is also the agent for Focke & Co General Packaging – leading manufacturer of end-of-line packaging solutions. Technical representatives from Fuji and Focke & Co General Packaging will also be on Paramount Packaging’s stand.
NEW FANUC ROBOT PROMISES EFFICIENCY GAINS FOR SHELF-READY CASE LOADING FANUC UK has expanded its M710iC series of industrial robots with the introduction of the M-710iC/45M, a mid-sized high speed robot. With a 45kg payload and long reach of over 2.6 metres, the M710iC/45M presents a smaller and more cost effective alternative to many large palletising robots. The robot’s application space also extends to product handling and pick and place
tasks, where its long reach renders it the ideal choice for produce collation functions bridging between out-feed and packing conveyors. At PPMA 2015, the M710iC/45M is one of four FANUC robots completing picking, collating, packing and palletising tasks. The M-710iC/45M will collate shinglefed produce packs and load them into a shelf-ready carton. The system will feature a unique tilted end effector handling packs of noodles. To show how packs can be taken from a horizontal to a vertical shelfready position, the packs will shoot off the end of a conveyor into the end effector which lowers until several packs are stacked one on top of the other. The end effector then moves to a horizontal position,
presenting the packs in an upright collation for loading into a box or shelf-ready tray. Palletising and depalletising are also expected to be massive application areas for this robot, owing to the space and cost saving potential that arises from a medium payload coupled with extended reach and high cycle speeds (1350/hour). This six-axis, IP67 certified, articulated robot with best in class reach has the ability to stack pallets as high as 1.89m - all on a compact 535x550mm footprint. STAND C50 TEL: +44 24 7663 9669 E: SALES@FANUC.CO.UK W: WWW.FANUC.EU
P18 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
PACKAGING INNOVATIONS LONDON PREVIEW
PACKAGING INNOVATIONS LONDON PREVIEW INNOVATION ON THE MENU AT LONDON PACKAGING EVENT
Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2015 returns for its sixth edition, but its first at the iconic Olympia London. The two-day event, which takes place on 16 and 17 September, has become the perfect place to discover the latest packaging developments in the food and drink industry. Alison Church, UK Packaging Portfolio Event Director, comments: “We have experienced such a phenomenal growth since our launch back in 2010; in fact the show has doubled in size, which is unheard of in an industry like ours. Last year we attracted the likes of Diageo, Twinings, Hotel Chocolat, Bacardi, Birds Eye, Coca Cola, GÜ, Innocent Drinks and Thorntons, highlighting just how important the show has become to the packaging industry.” The show is designed to allow visitors to discover the latest product innovations, improve shelf stand-out, environmental impact and the luxury appeal of their packaging; to keep their brand relevant in such a fast moving marketplace. Show organiser, Easyfairs, has confirmed
that over 170 exhibitors have already signed up, with major FMCG names including Curtis Packaging, VCG Kestrel, AEGG Creative Packaging, Vetroelite Spa, Pakmarkas, Alexir Packaging and Schur Star Systems all being quick to show their support. NEW CONCEPTS
Addmaster will be giving visitors a sensory stimulation, with its Scentmaster fragrance technology. Smell is perhaps the most evocative emotion, so this technology has been designed to keep the fragrance in your product, or deodorise unwanted smells, making it more appealing to customers. Manufactured in a unique way it ensures all the fragrance is protected, allowing it to deliver the subtle top notes of a high quality scent. Abbey Labels will be unveiling its range of self-adhesive labels, which will include specialist labels such as Scratch-off, 5 page peel & reveal, plus its own-brand range of food & drinks labels. Lightning Packaging will be presenting its latest innovation,
Korrvu. It is a special, super-tough film, which cradles your product when in transit, preventing the contents from touching any external forces which might cause damage. The flexible super-tough film allows for a wide variety of shapes and sizes to be packaged using only one size, further reducing the costs and storage space, plus it is 100% recyclable. International exhibitor, Bedford
Industries, returns to London to capture the visitors’ attention, with its latest range of products to help increase shelf stand-out. It will be demonstrating its one-of-a-kind ElastiTag, a special elastomer loop that grips the product, for example the neck of a bottle, and stays in place allowing the tagging of uniquely shaped items. More than just an exhibition, the 2015 show has more content than ever before, with a host of new show features, including The Live Design Challenge and The Great Innovation Debate, plus The Drinks Symposium and an array of educational and inspirational Learnshops seminars will take place live on the show floor. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR PACKAGING INNOVATIONS AND LUXURY PACKAGING LONDON 2015. TO REGISTER FOR FREE, PLEASE VISIT WWW.EASYFAIRS.COM/PILONDON, WWW.EASYFAIRS.COM/L UXURYPACKAGING OR CONTACT +44 (0)20 8843 8800.
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P19
PACKAGING INNOVATIONS LONDON PREVIEW SUSTAINABILITY LABELS ADD VALUE TO BRANDS
PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, is the world’s leading forest certification system and the system of choice for family forest owners. Globally, hundreds of thousands of forest owners – smallholders, communities, public authorities and companies – have their responsible forest management practices certified to PEFC’s demanding standards.
Environmental labels such as PEFC’s communicate trust by helping companies to demonstrate a commitment to responsible sourcing. Last year, PEFCs conducted its first global consumer survey in 13 countries. The results showed that more than 80% of respondents wanted companies sourcing certified material from well-managed forests to use certification labels. 54% of respondents considered certification labels to be the most reassuring proof that environmental and sustainable development considerations had been taken into account. Consumers agreed that their shopping choices could make a positive difference and almost a third of respondents said that they actively look for certification labels. PEFC’s distinctive ‘green trees’ label is exclusively available on PEFC-certified products enabling consumers to clearly recognise and distinguish products and packaging that are made from responsibly-sourced raw materials. Appearing on products around the world, the PEFC label is fast becoming a truly global brand. TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT: WWW.PEFC.CO.UK
API’S BRAND ENHANCEMENT CREATIVE SERVICE AVAILABLE AT PACKAGING INNOVATIONS Brand enhancement specialist API is taking its new creative service offer to the Packaging Innovations show in London this September. David Peters, API’s Creative Development Manager will be on stand F42, working with customers to find the most effective pack enhancement effects to add value to their brands. The latest combination of high impact packs will be on display, including API’s Fresnel Lens PET Laminate, which delivers real impact by combining the depth and kinetic focus of a lens with the print pack and design. Offering unparalleled depth and movement, Fresnel micro-structures provide an optically correct lens which both transmits and reflects the light, making it a perfect solution for luxury brands. Also on display will be API’s TA foil: its most comprehensive cold foil for labels to date, which provides exceptionally fine detail, together with the capability to cover large solid areas and achieve high-quality gloss effects for text and graphics. David Peters commented: “Packaging Innovations is the ideal place for us to showcase
our creative service. We are welcoming all designers, printers and brand owners to come to our stand and see our portfolio of foil, laminate and holographic solutions and how together with the latest trends they can deliver exceptional brand enhancement and real on shelf impact for their products.” TEL: 01506 497630 WWW.APIGROUP.COM
HIGH IMPACT BOXES CREATE LUXURY IMAGE
The combination of high quality design, manufacturing and decoration that helps to create effective luxury packaging solutions for personal care and drinks products will be the main theme of the Pollard Boxes stand at Packaging Innovations London. The company will demonstrate examples of boxes produced using a range of advanced techniques that establish premium positioning, maximise on-shelf appeal and emphasise brand differentiation. Substantial investment in recent years in the latest production equipment enables Pollard to manufacture to extremely fine tolerances, producing robust and reliable boxes with defined edges and tidy turn-ins that project a quality feel to reflect their contents. The company will also show samples of its special deep boxes and slipcases, ideal for premium drink brands, and different materials will be on display with premium decoration options. Pollard works closely with each customer in the development of a project, advising on the selection of the correct material and decoration process to meet particular brand objectives, and managing the entire process from initial design to final production for an on-time launch. Members of the sales team will be on the stand to discuss specific requirements with visitors. STAND A15 TEL: 0116 275 2666 WWW.POLLARDBOXES.CO.UK
P20 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
SNACKS, NUTS AND CRISPS FOCUS
THE RISE OF HEALTHY SNACKING CONCERNS ABOUT SUGAR CONTENT, AN INCREASE IN LOWER-FAT PRODUCTS AND CONSUMER WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR HEALTHY OPTIONS ARE ALL BEARING INFLUENCE ON THE BUOYANT SNACK MARKET More and more people are snacking between meals and eating while on the go – and the UK snacking market is benefiting from our busy lifestyles. Heavier reliance on snack foods has led to many looking for healthier options, rather than grabbing the first item they see on the shelf. But while healthier eating is all about making informed choices, this can be challenging for the consumer; snacks containing fruit, for example, which many would presume are a healthy option, have recently come under fire. A report released by Action on Sugar in May of this year found that an analysis of 94 products containing fruit showed that there was a higher concentration of sugar in 80 of the products than in a bag of Haribo Starmix confectionery: the equivalent of more than 47g of sugar per 100g. Retailers and manufacturers will point to the nutritional advice on the package stating sugar content, but the fact that a product contains fruit is often highlighted more prominently, steering the choice of consumers, including parents looking to find healthy snacks for
their children. “Parents find it hard enough to know what is ‘healthy’ without food manufacturers confusing matters with misleading claims,” said Katharine Jenner, Campaign Director at Action on Sugar. Graham MacGregor, the organisation’s chair and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, warned of a ‘pandemic’ of obesity and type 2 diabetes and called for more government intervention: “The new Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, must set sugar reduction targets across the whole of the food industry to gradually reduce the amount of sugar they add to our food. If the food industry does not respond then punitive taxes on these unhealthy products need to be imposed.” Meanwhile, many brands are now marketing healthier snack options. Natural Balance Foods, which has seen climbing sales of its Nakd brand, has just launched Nakd Nibbles, a blend of fruit and nuts. Like other Nakd products, they contain no added sugar and are gluten, wheat and dairy free. Initially released through Asda in four flavours, there will be further retail outlets and more flavours later in the year. Marina Love, Marketing Director at Natural Balance Foods said: “Nakd Nibbles will broaden the brand’s appeal to both ‘healthy lifestylers’ who make up 64% of all free from purchases and shoppers who simply want to add healthier, but no less tasty, options to their snacking repertoire.” Popcorn is another option
that can often fit into the healthy snacking category. One company that is “on a mission to rustle up healthier alternatives to crisps, cakes and cookies” is Metcalfe’s Skinny. The business began with freshly popped butterfly popcorn with specially created flavours and seasoning, stocked in Pret a Manger, and has grown to become a leading UK popcorn brand. Since then it has launched Corn’ers – flash griddled, crunchy corn nachos with 30% less fat than the average tortilla crisp – and, more recently, Corncakes – light mini discs of corn with chocolate, rosemary or olive oil seasoning. Metcalfe’s Skinny is a division of Metcalfe’s Food Company, which in December 2014 was ranked the fastest growing privately owned food and drink company in the UK in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100, indicating that taking a healthier approach to snacking can be very good for business. The company also has an Asian inspired light food and drink division, Itsu, which from 1 June is being run separately from Metcalfe’s Skinny to ensure both receive the structure and resources needed to continue growing the two brands. Itsu’s healthy snack range includes Crispy Seaweed Thins, Yoghurt Cranberries, Wasabi Peas and Yoghurt Edamame; it also offers sauces, soups and noodles within its suite of products. Sales of traditional potato crisps, however, are in decline as consumers choose alternatives such as vegetable crisps and baked products like Walkers Sunbites. New snack launches are looking to capitalise on this trend for lower fat products: last year saw the launch of Walkers Pops
and this January KP Snacks added Hula Hoops Puft to its product range. Even more recently, United Biscuits has launched Jacob’s Cracker Crisps with a £4.5m promotional spend. Significantly, the new product will launch initially as a 150g sharing bag, indicating the popularity of sharing products within the market. Ted Linehan, Director of Savoury Brands at United Biscuits, commented: “Our portfolio is 100% baked, and with an ever-increasing emphasis from consumers on healthier eating, ‘snackable crackers’ are poised to boost further growth in the category at large.” Meanwhile, the success of the Graze subscription service – where consumers receive snack boxes through the post or order online – has led other companies to look at developing similar services. After expanding into the US market in 2013, Graze signed distribution deals with Sainsbury’s, Boots and WH Smith in July. Chief Executive, Anthony Fletcher, commented: “It brings Graze one step closer to achieving our vision of becoming the number one healthier snacking brand in the UK.” With 16-34 year olds currently representing 37% of all snack buyers, the market looks set to continue its rise, with new – and healthier – products arriving on retail shelves every year.
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P21
SNACKS, NUTS AND CRISPS FOCUS POPCORN INNOVATORS METCALFE’S SKINNY TASTE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH Metcalfe’s Skinny is dedicated to creating satisfying and delicious snack discoveries that help consumers snack sensibly, one calorie at a time. 56,000 packs of Metcalfe’s Skinny Popcorn are sold every day in the UK. The range is now sold in France, Belgium and Spain. The UK popcorn market grew 42% in 2014 – largely thanks the RTE market. Metcalfe’s Skinny contributed the most to this growth of any other gourmet popcorn brand. Known for innovation, Metcalfe’s Skinny was the first brand to introduce sweet and salt flavoured popcorn to the market, which is now the nation’s favourite popcorn
flavour up 165% YOY. Metcalfe’s Skinny is the best selling sweet and salted branded offering, and has seen the strongest growth, increasing share from 8 to 22% YOY. Unlike other branded products, the new product development team at Metcalfe’s Skinny have painstakingly found a way of coating each popcorn kernel with sugar and salt giving it a unique and top quality finish. Managing Director for Metcalfe’s Skinny, Max Rees, said: “There has been a shift in demand for formats that suit both front and back of store. A contributing factor to Metcalfe’s Skinny success has been the launch of new formats, which include sharing, multipack and
variety.” Metcalfe’s Skinny launched its first TV advertising campaign in 2014 and now has the largest social media following of any popcorn brand in the UK with a whopping 84,000 followers. Metcalfe’s Skinny Popcorn is currently the 2nd largest popcorn brand in the UK and has the strongest national appeal. OUR PRODUCT RANGES FALL UNDER 4 KEY PRODUCT RANGES:
35% less fat than a standard crisp Rice cakes – Coated crunchy rice cakes. The perfect alternative to chocolate bars, cakes and cookies Corncakes – Delicious, crunchy corncakes in a variety of sweet and savoury flavours (milk & dark chocolate coated, rosemary and virgin olive oil).
Popcorn – Butterfly popcorn tumbled in Metcalfe’s Skinny unique flavours Popcorn crisps – Kettle popping flash griddled with over less than
TEL: 0207 654 9968 EMAIL: SALES@METCALFESSKINNY.COM WWW.METCALFESSKINNY.COM
SNACK SAFETY EQUALS SNACK SATISFACTION COMMENT BY SARAH KETCHIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FORTRESS TECHNOLOGY With the UK snack market set to reach £3.8bn by 2016*, product safety and having a robust inspection system has never been more critical. Metal detectors play a crucial role in identifying and removing contaminants that could jeopardise consumer satisfaction and consequently brand reputation. Metalised polypropylene is frequently used to maintain snack
freshness. Foil laminated packaging is rarely an issue for today’s advanced metal detectors thanks to ever-advancing hardware and software. Settings can easily be adjusted. Alternatively, raw ingredients and unpackaged products, like crisps, nuts, seeds or popcorn, can be inspected further upstream using a vertical ‘throat’ detector. For increased safety, snack manufacturers regularly opt for multiple metal detectors, installing them between the beginning and end of the production and packing process, corresponding to identified Critical Control Points (CCPs). Consideration also needs to be given to ‘product effect’, although with today’s metal detectors this ‘phasing’ or calibration is now an automatic process, making integration to the production line much simpler. So what makes metal detection
better for snacks than x-ray? Machine costs aside (x-ray can cost from £35,000 versus £4,000 depending on application giving a much faster ROI) metal detectors have a heightened sensitivity. Fortress’s latest FM software for example improves performance in healthier wet or freeze dried snacks, such as chopped fruit and vegetables, by 40% and can detect ever-smaller metal contaminants. When researching the options examine carefully potential sources of contamination. Naturally, if mostly metal-based, a metal detector is the logical choice. Even the latest x-ray systems have trouble detecting smaller particles and low-density metals – such as aluminium. Inevitably, metal detectors have no trouble spotting and rejecting these products. Ultimately manufacturers worry when metal contaminants are
detected almost as much as when they are not. Improved automatic testing, like our HALO system, is designed to supplement manual testing on throat, pipeline and gravity metal detectors used for loose or free-falling snack products. Given the strong outlook for snacks, metal detection is critical for maintaining brand reputation and consumer satisfaction. Discover more at PPMA 2015. Fortress Technology is showcasing its sustainable food inspection innovations, stand B01. * Mintel (2014) Consumer Snacking - UK - January 2014. TEL: 01295 256266 EMAIL: SALESUK@FORTRESSTECHNOLOGY.COM WWW.FORTRESSTECHNOLOGY.CO. UK
P22 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
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
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P23
INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY SERVICES (ILS)
WHERE FOOD SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY SERVICES (ILS) SUPPORTS THE FAST DELIVERY OF SAFER FOODS THROUGH SPEEDY AND ACCURATE FOOD CHEMISTRY AND MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING
Offering food testing, pharmaceutical testing and a consultancy service, ILS has established an enviable reputation in a global market. Following a devastating fire in February 2013, when three-quarters of its facility was destroyed or smoke damaged, the company has made a remarkable comeback. Today more than 140 highly skilled staff work from over 1,500 sq m of laboratory space in a brand new state-of-theart facility located in Shardlow, Derbyshire. The unit boasts the first automated plate spreading microbiology robot of its kind in the UK, specifically designed for the food marketplace, along with three automated plate inoculating robots – all of which are UKAS accredited. Services include food chemistry testing to UKAS (ISO 17025:2005) and food microbiological testing to UKAS (ISO 17025:2005), plus both to accredited in-house and customer methods, including Tesco and M&S standards. A very broad range of tests are available, from nutritional testing, meat and fish content, allergens and genetically modified organism screening to testing for microbiological quality
determination, shelf life and pathogens. Samples are processed quickly, efficiently and accurately, and customers benefit from clear communication with experienced staff. By using robots rather than manual plating, ILS ensures a more uniform standard of plate production and more consistent control of media and the spread of the inoculums on the plate. It also means that human error is minimised, as once samples are booked into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), information is fed through to the robot, which directs the operator on the inoculation dilution and handles the rest of the process. This happens in a HEPA filtered atmosphere which significantly reduces any potential environmental contamination. The company was originally founded as Garton & Mead Ltd in Overseal in 1974, moving to Burton on Trent a year later, then to Shardlow in 1978, when it changed its name to Safepharm Laboratories. In 1990 ILS Limited was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Safepharm Laboratories. In 2007, ILS was acquired by Harlan Laboratories (a subsidiary of
Genstar Capital), retaining its own brand identity, then, in April 2014, Genstar Capital sold the Harlan Group of laboratories, including ILS, to Huntingdon Life Sciences Ltd. Throughout the changes, ILS has continued to grow and expand its portfolio of pharmaceutical and food analytical services. “Competitors look to win market share at the expense of quality of service by competing on price,” says Stewart Neithercut, Head of Business Development at ILS. However, an ILS customer survey has shown that other factors are key
in the choice of company they use, such as quality, fast and on-time delivery, and ease of communication. As for the future, ILS aims to increase market share while expanding further into Europe. INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY SERVICES LIMITED SHARDLOW BUSINESS PARK, LONDON ROAD, SHARDLOW, DERBYSHIRE DE72 2GD TEL: 01332 793000 EMAIL: MKT@ILSMAIL.CO.UK WWW.ILS-LIMITED.CO.UK
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P25
FRESHASIA FOODS LTD
DELICIOUS FOOD HAS NO BOUNDARIES AUTHENTIC CHINESE FOOD CAN BE HARD TO FIND IN UK RETAIL OUTLETS, BUT FRESHASIA FOODS LTD HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO FILL THE GAP IN THE MARKET
Using traditional recipes and cooking methods, Freshasia Foods creates authentic Chinese meat, fish and vegetable dumplings. These are shaped by hand, frozen, processed and packaged, before being delivered by refrigerated van to more than 300 Chinese supermarkets across the UK and mainland Europe. The company was founded in 2008 by business and marketing expert Jian Lan, after he struggled to source authentic Chinese food for his two Chinese supermarkets in Oxford and Hull. After inviting in technical experts from China and hiring a food safety consultant in the UK, he established a production facility in Erith, south-east London, and the first batch of dumplings were brought to market in 2009.
Along the way there have been obstacles to overcome, from sourcing authentic raw materials to ensuring that the traditional dumpling production process meets UK health and safety standards. Raw vegetables are flown in from Asia and sourced fresh from the UK’s largest wholesale vegetable market. “It’s very important that we spend a lot of time choosing our supply of raw materials,” explains Jian Lan. “We selected our own designated British breeding farm and particular cuts of pork meat, in accordance with our processing requirement. Producing safe and stable products is the main goal.” Initially the target audience was Chinese customers but Freshasia now also targets mainstream
consumer groups and has successfully expanded its market beyond the UK to more than 10 countries across mainland Europe. This has been achieved by running around 200 demo activities to increase recognition and acceptance of the products, participating in large food exhibitions and winning 13 Great Taste Awards. Freshasia products are now used in several five-star London hotels and improved product quality has helped the company achieve BRC Grade A certification for its manufacturing site. A truly international company, Freshasia employs 60 staff from across Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa, including Jian Lan’s wife, who has been employed by the company since the factory opened. At present Freshasia produces 150,000 hand-made dumplings a day, however, to meet rising demand, the construction of a new factory in Norwich will get under way in September. Due to open nine months later, this facility will be 10 times larger than the current plant and will allow the company to produce dumplings that can be quickly and easily cooked in the
microwave, for distribution through the major supermarkets – at present there is high customer demand and nothing on the market. The new plant will also allow the company to produce more varieties of authentic Asian food. Future prospects for the company are excellent: the business is thriving with a good team in place; the products have won numerous awards and positive customer feedback; and there is plenty of demand for authentic Chinese food. With the production and development ability already in place, the completion of the new facility should see this positive trend continue and accelerate. “Our long-term plan is to be one of Europe’s largest food manufacturers specialising in Oriental food,” says Jian Lan. “After our new production plant is completed, we hope to establish our own food restaurant chain, offering a direct service to consumers with our top products on the menu. It will be very exciting.” TEL: 0208 311 5756 EMAIL: MARKETINGS@FRESHASIA.CO.UK
P26 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
CLIFTON PACKAGING GROUP LTD
THE TOTAL PACKAGING SOLUTION FROM UNDER ONE ROOF OFFERING A TOTAL SERVICE FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION, CLIFTON PACKAGING GROUP SUPPLIES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE FOOD INDUSTRY A strong focus on innovation and investment has seen the privately owned, family run business go from strength to strength which has brought many benefits for its customers, some of whom have been with the company for more than 30 years. Specialising in the manufacture and supply of packaging, processing equipment and packaging machinery for the food sector, the multi-award-winning business also offers a complete design service and contract packing of food products on request. Conveniently located on the Meridian Business Park in Leicester, just off junction 21 of the M1, Clifton Packaging Group has seen growth close to 20% each year for the past three years and has a target to reach £20m annual sales within three years. WORKING CLOSELY WITH CUSTOMERS
With extensive experience in the FMCG sector, Clifton Packaging Group has plenty to offer its customers, which
gravure printing, cold-seal coating, gloss-matt lacquering in register and solvent-based lamination. This is alongside the brand new top of the range Comexi S1 DT slitter. Further investments in new equipment are in the pipeline for the next 12 months, which is seen as a way of attracting new custom and futureproofing the company. A BROAD PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
range from the major multiples and blue-chip companies with highvolume packaging lines to smaller owner operator manufacturers. Customers are encouraged to use Clifton’s design and manufacturing capabilities as an extension of their own facilities, and large supplies of film are kept in-house in case of urgent orders and emergency needs; indeed the company specialises in fast turnarounds to meet evertightening critical paths. The strong relationships it has forged over the years with customers and suppliers alike has helped the business survive and thrive through varying economic climates. In addition to a broad customer base across the UK, the company exports
packaging and packaging machinery to a number of countries in Africa and is looking to secure future distributors in Europe and North America. INVESTMENT IN EQUIPMENT
In the last 18 months, Clifton has invested several million pounds in a new Flexotecnica EVO XG HD FLEXO print press and the latest Uteco Crystal HD Flexo press which has just recently been installed to complement its existing machinery. The state-of-the-art wide-web presses have the ability to print up to eight colours in high definition and both boast ink management control system and a 100% camera inspection systems. This has hugely increased the print capacity which will ultimately offer faster lead times and greater efficiency, benefiting the company and customers alike. Another recent investment came in the form of a new Nordmeccanica Super Combi laminator, offering one-colour
Over the 35 years that the company has been in business, it has developed and expanded its product portfolio to keep abreast of industry developments and regulation. Today it offers a range of flexible packaging materials, including barrier films, lidding films as well as specialising in stand-up pouches. Customers can take advantage of the company’s own design experts, who can design from scratch or refresh existing artwork, which is then printed in-house on Flexo HD printers; contract packing is also available on request. As well as holding a number of key accreditations, including ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System, BRC/IOP certificate For Packaging & Packaging Materials 2015-16, ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management systems, OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management systems, Clifton also has Soil Association Certification for packing organic products and is a Member of Sedex. With the new labelling legislation that came in last December, Clifton has been busy helping customers of
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P27
WWW.CLIFTONPACKAGING.COM all sizes update their packaging to ensure they comply with Food Information Regulation. The company is also a specialist supplier of a wide range of food processing and packaging machinery and has installed over 200 lines for its customers, helping them to reduce labour costs, improve pack presentation and increase production continuity. The focus is on finding the right solution for the customer’s needs and following up afterwards with technical support from skilled, experienced engineers. COMBATING CAMPYLOBACTER
Named by the Food Standards Agency as “the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK” and believed to be responsible for around 100 deaths a year, campylobacter has been found on the outside of chicken packaging on retail shelves as well as on the poultry itself. To combat the threat of campylobacter Clifton has launched two products aimed at eradicating the bacteria in the upstream supply chain. In December 2014, it released an Antibac coated lidding film, developed by its R&D team in partnership with experts in antimicrobial technology. This permanently inhibits microbial growth on film through the slow release of silver ions. In June this was followed by the launch of Clifton’s Ovenable Roasting Bag, again with Antibac coating embedded on the surface.
This avoids the need for consumers to touch raw poultry, thus reducing the risk of campylobacter contamination. Supplied plain or printed in HD Flexo either as film on the reel or as a pre-made bag, the product is
the brothers, Khalid Sheikh, passed away in May 2014. Managing Director Shahid Sheikh was awarded an OBE in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours and the company has won many awards over the decades, most recently being named as finalists in the Company of the Year and the Excellence in Manufacturing categories at the Leicester Mercury Business Awards 2015 and Finalists in the latest Chambers of Commerce Exporting Business of the Year. INTO THE FUTURE
stringently tested and manufactured in-house and can equally be used for other raw protein, such as fish. FAMILY RUN FROM THE START
Founded 35 years ago by four brothers, the company remains family run to this day, although sadly Clifton’s Chairman and the eldest of
Looking ahead, Clifton Packaging Group is not only hoping to increase export and overall sales, but has an eye out for potential acquisitions. Meanwhile, recent
success has led to the company outgrowing its current premises, so an extension or a move to a larger site are both under consideration. Shahid Sheikh’s philosophy of building strong relationships has seen his company continue to grow in challenging times. His passion for continuous development, focusing on innovations and investing in the latest technologies has kept Clifton at the forefront of its industry which is now being recognised globally. CLIFTON PACKAGING GROUP LTD CENTURION WAY, MERIDIAN BUSINESS PARK, LEICESTER LE19 1WH TEL: 0116 2893355 FAX: 0116 2891113 WWW.CLIFTONPACKAGING.COM I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT
P28 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS AUGUST 2015
FOOD NOW LTD
PIZZA DELIVERY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY DELICIOUS, CRISP, ARTISAN PIZZAS – DISPENSED FROM A VENDING MACHINE. WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD OF FAST FOOD, COURTESY OF FOOD NOW LTD It may sound like a vision of the future but the technology is around today, which is why the Pizza Now multiple-choice vending machine is such an exciting prospect. The patented induction oven system can be used inside or outside and is perfect for sites that see a large amount of footfall, such as universities, hospitals, large industrial units operating a night shift, garage forecourts, railway stations and other transport hubs. Delivering freshly cooked 12" (30cm) pizzas in just four minutes, the Pizza Now vending machine is easy for operators to load and simple for customers to use, with payment either from coins or cards, with the latest NAYAX contactless system. Available on a three- or five-year lease, with the operator setting their own selling price, the vending machine works through a standard 13 amp fuse (16 amp for the fouroven models) and requires little or no maintenance. “It is unique in the UK,” explains Food Now Managing Director,
Nick Lawler. “There are similar machines around but you need to add in the ingredients and there’s usually lots of maintenance.” Having secured an exclusive contract to supply the machine in the UK and Ireland, Food Now Ltd is keen to promote its benefits to potential customers. SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
The pizzas are delivered frozen with the base pre-cooked and the toppings already on them. Because they are not directly handled by the operator, there are no hygiene issues; operators simply slide each foil tray into a pizza box. The vending machines hold between 36 and 72 pizzas, which can be stored in the machine chilled for up to three days. When a customer places an order, the machine moves the pizza into an induction oven, which cooks the pizza in pulses through the foil, creating a crispy base. The innovative design of the machine allows it to dispense a
quality product in just four minutes.
flavours are bbq chicken and grilled vegetable.
THE RIGHT MACHINE FOR THE JOB
There are four Pizza Now options. The Multi Duo CC frontopening and the Multi Duo Slim front and back opening are both two-oven, two-choice machines. Customers select either pepperoni or Margherita pizza – the two most popular flavours. The machines can cook the two different flavours of pizzas simultaneously but not two of one flavour at once. The Multi Quattro 2 is a fourchoice, two-oven pizza with two choices lined up behind each of the ovens. Again, the customer can order two different pizzas to be cooked at once. Finally, there’s the Multi Quattro 4: a four-choice, four-oven pizza; so if four people want four different pizzas they can all be cooked at the same time in four minutes. Currently the additional
SOURCING THE PIZZAS
Keen to deliver a quality product through the vending machines, Food Now Ltd has developed a partnership with Cosmo’s, a longestablished family-run company. A familiar sight on retail shelves in Scotland, Cosmo’s pizzas are made using traditional methods of dough preparation, a special in-house tomato sauce and no additives in its basic mozzarella and tomato pizzas. Working closely with Cosmo’s, Food Now Ltd has developed pizza products specifically for the Pizza Now vending machines. This ensures product consistency and quality, while reducing the likelihood of breakdowns. A Pizza Now machine is permanently based in Scotland for presentations and Food Now is
AUGUST 2015 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS P29
FOOD NOW LTD
Although the machines require very little maintenance, Food Now has partnered with Scobie McIntosh for all maintenance and servicing requirements. Because the machines have remote diagnostics, they will inform the operator and Scobie McIntosh of any issue. The operator can also be alerted when the machine needs refilling.
there and draws people in. Another obvious outlet is where people have closed canteens and have no hot food offer.” The vending machines complement the service of pizzerias or takeaways as they are in operation 24/7. One pizza takeaway in Scotland experimented with a machine for out-of-hours service and found it was popular with the police, hospital workers and other night workers. The machine will even dispense the pizzas cold, so that the customer can take them home for cooking.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT
WHAT’S NEXT?
Although Food Now began marketing the pizza vending machines in 2013, the company has been investigating this market since 2003. After a few false starts, Nick Lawler settled with a French design that was already selling well in France and Switzerland, with around 400 units in operation. “It has been a slow process as nobody wanted to go first,” he says. “We had a machine on trial for six months in a small business centre in Bishop Stortford in Hertfordshire. It worked very well but there wasn’t the footfall to make it worthwhile. It is all about footfall – you need to sell five or six pizzas each day to break even, but if you’re selling 50 or 60 you can make quite a lot of money. On the continent there are a lot on garage forecourts; it’s maintenance free and it just sits
Pizza Now is already getting a great reception at shows, and partnering with Cosmo’s and Scobie McIntosh allows Food Now to run a lean company and focus on marketing the vending machines. Looking further ahead, there’s the option of developing other products that can be heated up, such as curry. “Pizza goes with all sorts and complements other vending machines, for example, coffee dispensers,” says Nick Lawler. “It’s a relatively healthy option compared with a lot of fast food. Ultimately, we want to be the market leader in hot food vending in the UK.” “Hot Food when you want it, where you want it.”
getting a lot of interest from universities and other outlets. MAINTENANCE-FREE CONVENIENCE
TEL: 0800 170 1516 EMAIL: INFO@FOODNOWLTD.CO.UK
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