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SEEN AND HEARD
SuperValu partners with Kepak to launch lamb producer guidelines
SuperValu has become the first Irish retailer to introduce guidance to support farmers in producing best-inclass lamb to deliver consistently on quality and sustain lamb production to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards. The Lamb Producer Guidelines were developed by SuperValu in association with Kepak, which supplies SuperValu stores across the country with the highest quality meat from independent Irish farmers. The publication of the guidelines underscores the commitment of both SuperValu and Kepak to sourcing the highest quality produce from Irish farms that adhere to strict animal welfare guidelines and that are dedicated to enhancing sustainability practices. These factors contribute to high animal and food safety, as well as sustaining
and enhancing the quality of Irish lamb for consumers, while protecting the natural environment and biodiversity for years to come. According to Ray Bowe, head of food safety & quality for Musgrave: “Our independently owned stores are committed to providing the highest quality, locally sourced produce to our customers.” Simon Walker, CEO of Kepak added: “Animal welfare and environmental sustainability are a major focus of the guidelines, highlighting how we need to consistently meet consumers’ evolving needs and expectations. The guide underlines our dedicated and continued efforts to supply local, high quality lamb to Irish consumers.” SuperValu’s Lamb Producer Guidelines follow the publication of its Beef Producer Guidelines in 2018.
Animal welfare and environmental sustainability are a major focus of the new guidelines
Landmark year for Dale Farm ice cream in Ireland Following a stellar year of sales growth for Dale Farm ice cream in 2020 and a major rebrand earlier this year, Dale Farm has been hitting the airwaves in a campaign bringing the famous Dale Farm on-pack characters to life through animated films. This is driving awareness for the brand’s unique selling points in the Irish market - that it is a farmers’ cooperative – locally owned by the same farmers who milk the cows, with close links to the Irish rural economy. Sales of Dale Farm ice cream have soared in Ireland over the past year, while its impulse ice cream sales outperformed the marketdriven growth. Data from NielsenlQ revealed that, up to the end of January 2021, the overall take home ice cream market grew by 36%. Within that same period, Dale Farm ice cream sales grew by 96%. The meteoric rise of Dale Farm has seen it become the fourth biggest ice cream brand in the Irish market and the market leader in Northern Ireland. Dale Farm has committed to sustaining this growth in 2021 and beyond. Read more about Dale Farm’s mission to ‘share goodness everyday’ at: www.dalefarmbrand.com, Instagram: @dale_farm and Facebook: @Officialdalefarm.
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Dale Farm is proudly taking its place as a world-class, farmerowned business full of local charm and personality, in a market dominated by global brands
ShelfLife July 2021 | www.shelflife.ie
Sealed Air makes thermoformable packaging webs recycle-ready Sealed Air has evolved its range of thermoformable food packaging webs and made them recycleready as it continues to strive towards creating 100% recyclable or reusable packaging solutions. The company’s Cryovac brand TM-Ply top and bottom webs are made from flexible polyethylene films that are compatible with mechanical recycling streams. This follows rigorous testing in accordance with protocols set out by the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) and Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), which has seen the multilayer co-extruded rollstock classified as RIC4. Lisa Roddis, business development leader at Sealed Air, commented: “The advances in the recycle-ready status of TM-Ply have been achieved whilst maintaining the leading performance that the barrier and non-barrier webs are best known for. They continue to offer superior toughness and high abuse resistance, as well as excellent formability and sealing. Combining these properties with recyclability creates a total packaging solution that helps reduce food waste and improve sustainability.” TM-Ply webs are suitable for a range of vacuum or MAP packaging applications including refrigeration, freezing, pasteurisation, and cooking. Films are available from 65 to 400 microns in thickness and are widely used to protect smoked, fresh and frozen meats, poultry, fish, cheese and ready meals. The development of recycle-ready RIC4 thermoformable webs follows Sealed Air’s recent launch of the world’s first RIC4 coded standard and premium shrink bags.
