Luxury in Every Sip: Why Five Farms will Make You Think Again About Irish Cream
Think you know what Irish cream liqueur tastes like?
Five Farms is a new super-premium Irish Cream that transforms granny’s sweet and sickly favourite to a well-balanced, smooth and indulgent taste of Ireland.
The creamy liqueur has been winning fans and accolades since its US launch in 2017 and has now taken Ireland by storm. Customers have fallen in love with the taste and the story behind the brand. Now it’s in the early days of a UK launch.
Five Farms is made with cream gathered from just five family-owned farms dotted along the Cork coast. It’s then combined with premium local Irish whiskey - 10 times more than any other mainstream branded alternative or supermarket copycat.
LJG Dairy, O’Mahony Farm, Coleman Farm, McCarthy Farm and Tuthill Farm all
Twin City Foods Upgrades Sort Capabilities with VERYX™ Optical Sorters from Key Technology
Twin City Foods has been a leader in the frozen vegetable industry since their start in the 1940s. Processing hundreds of millions of pounds of product annually, their frozen peas, corn, carrots and green beans are sold around the world to foodservice customers and in private-label retail packs.
This year, Twin City Foods partnered with Key Technology and installed two VERYX™ optical sorters at the end of their lines that process both frozen peas and corn. VERYX removes all types of foreign material and processor-specified product defects to help ensure high product quality while maximizing yield.
“Our customers are very discerning. While other frozen vegetable processors might be limited to offering only certain product grades, we pride ourselves on having the flexibility to accommodate any grade our customers ask for,” said Dan Munko, Vice President of Operations at Twin City Foods. “Reliably achieving more unique grades requires sophisticated sorting, so we decided it was time to update our flagship facility in Pasco, Washington with the latest technology. We wanted optical sorters that would maximize our food safety and ensure exact product quality specifications, while also increasing yield, achieving high throughputs and simplifying our operations.”
“We’ve been partnering with Key Technology since we bought our first sorter from them back in 2006, and we’ve always had a fantastic experience working with them,” said Raul Martinez, Division Manager at Twin City Foods’ Pasco facility. “We did our due diligence and looked at other sorting equipment suppliers, but it was quickly clear that Key and their VERYX optical sorter was the right choice for us.”
Twin City Foods selected two of Key’s VERYX B210 belt-fed sorters, the highest capacity model in the VERYX family, which are each capable of processing up to 40,000 lbs. of frozen vegetables per hour. Both sorters are equipped with top-mounted off-axis cameras and laser sensors as well as Key’s Pixel Fusion™ detection module to achieve Twin City Foods’ rigorous food safety and product quality objectives.
Recognizing the color, size, shape and structural property of every object, these VERYX sorters find and remove all types of foreign materials, including metal, plastic, insects, extraneous vegetative matter (EVM) and more as well as a variety of defects such as off-color products and pulled corn kernels.
For more information, visit www.key.net.
nurture their cows to make the creamiest milk. It means that discerning drinkers can trace back their tipple to the field in which the cow breathed in the good clean irish air, chewed upon the luscious green grass and relaxed under the Irish sun overlooking the dramatic Cork coastline.
It is the only true ‘farm-to-table’ cream liqueur. And the producers believe that the rich and happy life of the cows are at the heart of why there is such a difference in the taste.
Au Vodka partners with Kammac to raise the bar on logistics
Leading third-party logistics provider Kammac, has announced a new partnership with the UK’s number one ultra-premium vodka brand, Au Vodka, to support the company’s ambitious expansion both domestically and internationally.
Au Vodka, known for its premium flavoured vodkas, has seen remarkable success since its founding in 2015, growing annually at over 457%! Driven by a surge in consumer interest in premium spirits during the Covid-19 pandemic and its recent entry into eight U.S states, has seen Au Vodka earn the top spot in the prestigious ‘For Entrepreneurs, By Entrepreneurs’ (FEBE) Growth 100 list.
Such significant progress has seen Au Vodka outgrow its warehouse in Swansea, with the business recognising a need for more scalable storage and distribution solutions. Following a review of third-party logistics providers, the brand chose Kammac as its first industry partner, a decision driven by Kammac’s flexibility in working with scaling brands, and the strong rapport established between the two companies.
Through this partnership, Kammac is overseeing a comprehensive range of logistics operations for Au Vodka, managing the transportation and storage of its diverse lineup of flavoured vodkas, premixed cocktails, and slushies. This includes handling full-loads and UPN pallet network loads, as well as managing B2B deliveries directly to retailers.
The operations span across two of Kammac’s key facilities. At the Manchester 208 site, Kammac manages 44 SKUs with a current storage capacity of 3,958 pallets, which is projected to exceed 5,000 pallets, and handle an average of five containers per week. Meanwhile, at the Skelmersdale M58 365 site, the company oversees approximately 60 SKUs with 675 racking spaces, ensuring efficient storage and distribution of Au Vodka’s products across the UK and internationally.
“As Au Vodka continues to expand at a rapid pace, Kammac’s logistical expertise and ability to scale with our operations are crucial. Their support will be instrumental in maintaining our growth momentum and achieving our objectives,” said Chris Polding, Chief Operating Officer at Au Vodka. As a member of the Elanders Group, Kammac is well-positioned to leverage its extensive network to support Au Vodka’s global logistics needs effectively, including its entry into the U.S. and other global markets.
For more information https://www.kammac.com/
Key Technology VERYX optical sorters handling frozen corn at Twin City Foods
Bluewater Coffee Revolution Delivers Baristas Elevated Control of Taste and Aroma
Bluewater, Sweden’s pioneering global water purification and beverage brand, this week staged the UK-wide launch of its new groundbreaking Café Station, providing barista artists unmatched mastery of the taste and alluring aromas of each cup brewed in specialty coffee kitchens and delivering unmatched consistency in every cup.
Innovated by product designers and water scientists together with baristas at the Bluewater Innovation Lab in Stockholm, Sweden, the state-of-the-art Café Station completely transforms the coffee brewing experience. Baristas are empowered with extraordinarily consistent water quality and Bluewater’s unique Liquid Rock® mineral dosing system to create coffee masterpieces that tantalize the senses like never before. Because water lies at the heart of every standout cup of coffee, the Bluewater Café Station redefines the bean-to-cup journey by perfectly calibrating the mineral composition of water to match the unique profile of the coffee bean being used. This allows barista artists to unlock and amplify the intricate flavours and aromas of their speciality beans to deliver a consistently sublime brew.
Mettler-Toledo Unveils Next-Gen
X-ray System To Enhance Food Safety Compliance And Boost Productivity
The X6 Series brings advanced x-ray inspection to medium and large packaging, with innovative design and smart technology for optimal product integrity.
Following the successful launch of the X2 Series of x-ray inspection systems, Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection is proud to introduce the new X6 Series, offering a significant product safety upgrade for medium to large-sized packaged products and multi-lane applications. The X6 Series consisting of the X16 and X36.2 x-ray inspection systems presents a range of new features that provide precise contamination detection across single or multiple lanes. Both solutions can inspect medium to large-sized products (500-600mm in length) while also maximising productivity through easy-to-use design improvements.
With its advanced tech and userfriendly design, the Bluewater Café Station is a surgically precise tool allowing baristas to unlock the full potential of elite coffee beans beyond mere precision brewing. Leveraging artistry and science in equal measure, the Bluewater Cafe Station empowers the barista to elevate their craft by enabling them to tailor their water’s mineral balance to perfectly harmonize with each bean’s distinctive profile.
Discover more about the Bluewater Café Station visit https://www.bluewatergroup.com/en-gb/bluewater-stations/ cafe-station
Fresh batch of festive success for Lincolnshire gingerbread maker
An artisan gingerbread producer from Grantham has expanded his routes to market and seen online sales for his traditional Grantham Gingerbreads grow by 400% in the past year, using key learnings from the Small Business Charter’s Help to Grow: Management Course.
The success of Hawkens Gingerbread, founded by Alastair Hawken, now includes its products being stocked by the likes of Selfridges and the National Trust’s shops, while the company’s efforts have also led to Germans acquiring a taste for quintessentially British gingerbread.
Designed for Large Packages and Multi-Lane Applications
The X6 models, like the X2 Series, feature advanced detection technology but are specifically designed for larger product formats. With multi-lane capabilities, the X6 Series makes inspection for manufacturers handling bigger products or multiple packages per line, quicker and easier. This provides flexibility for food and beverage brands that require efficient inspection solutions for varying product sizes and configurations.
X16 X-ray Inspection System
The X16 is an entry-level x-ray solution for medium to large-sized products with a HiGain detector, offering excellent detection of contaminants such as metal, glass, stone, bone and low-density materials across single or multilanes. The system which can support products up to 300mm in height with conveyor speeds up to 60 meters per minute also performs additional quality and integrity checks, enhancing product safety beyond just contamination detection. These checks include monitoring for correct product placement, mass component count, fill level and identifying damaged packaging. The X16 is designed to maximise production uptime with its intuitive user interface, simplified cleaning routines and reliable subsystems, reducing costly downtime.
X36.2 X-ray Inspection System
For more advanced inspection needs, the X36.2 offers high-level detection capabilities for medium to large packaged products. With HiGain+ detector technology and ContamPlus™ software, the X36.2 offers completeness and integrity checks, identifying small foreign bodies plus missing or broken products. The system is highly customisable, with single or multi-lane configurations and numerous reject bin options. It can accommodate even higher throughputs with speeds of up to 100 meters per minute and the ability to handle over 1000 products per minute, depending on product size.
For more information on the X16 and X36.2, click here or visit: www.mt.com/xray-x6
Alastair started the business in 2009 after discovering that Grantham Gingerbread – England’s oldest biscuit recipe – had fallen out of production. Inspired to revive a piece of British culinary heritage, and with no former experience in baking or food manufacturing, Alastair took the leap from BBC and ITV broadcaster to baker, perfecting the recipe and establishing his business in a repurposed church in Grantham.
However, half of the company’s sales come in the three months leading up to Christmas, during which time Hawkens reaches a daily production capacity of around 2,000 hand-finished packs of gingerbread products. With over a decade of experience under his belt, Alastair had adapted to these seasonal peaks and troughs, but he recognised the need to tackle these fluctuations head-on to ensure continued success.
Since completing the course, Alastair has continued to collaborate with Nottingham Business School by taking on two marketing interns to help him explore corporate collaborations, understand the most profitable audience for the brand, and create a strategy that most successfully communicates the businesses core values of ecological sustainability, provenance and quality.
Business leaders can find out more about the Help to Grow: Management Course and sign up for the course in their area by visiting: www.smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management
Trane Manufacturing Facility in Charmes, France Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation
Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Trane Technologies, marks the 50th anniversary of its main European manufacturing facility in Charmes, France. This milestone highlights five decades of innovation, sustainability, and industrial excellence in advancing high performance and climate-friendly heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies.
“We are immensely proud of what we have achieved over the past 50 years,” said Christian Borel, operations leader France at Trane. “Trane Charmes and Golbey facilities have evolved to meet the pressing environmental challenges of our time, and the leadership of our teams is transforming the HVAC industry towards decarbonization, and we contribute to a more sustainable future.”
A Legacy of Excellence and Innovation
Established in 1974, the Trane Charmes facility has grown into a centre for advanced manufacturing, producing chillers, heat pumps, and rooftop units that deliver energy-efficient heating and cooling to commercial and industrial buildings worldwide.
A key component of the facility’s innovation is the state-ofthe-art laboratory, which plays a vital role in developing, testing, and validating chillers under a wide range of operating conditions.
Today, the Charmes site spans over 100,000 square meters, including 16,000 square meters of production space. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Trane Charmes produces more than 6,000 units annually, manufacturing a wide range of air-cooled and water-cooled chillers and heat pumps with capacities ranging from 100 to 2,000 kW. These products serve critical sectors such as healthcare, education, data centres, and industrial processes, where reliable and sustainable thermal management solutions are essential.
Sustainability at the Core
Contributing to Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments, which include achieving carbon-neutral operations across all global sites, the Charmes facility sets industry standards in environmental performance. The site has achieved zero waste to landfill in 2012, reduced water consumption by 63% since 2019, and is fully equipped with LED lighting.
A major milestone in the history of the Charmes facility was the installation of an electrified Thermal Management System in 2022. This innovative system, featuring Trane’s advanced heat pump technology, aims to provide all-electric heating and cooling for the entire site, eliminating the need for fossil fuels.
“Most buildings and industrial sites today have separate cooling and heating plants that are not connected,” said Christian Borel. “By linking these systems, we can make buildings not just energy efficient but Net Positive, generating their own energy and reducing reliance on the grid. This philosophy drives much of our work at Charmes, where products are designed to maximize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.”
Innovating for the Future
The Trane Charmes facility is not only a centre for production but also a hub for innovation, shaping the future of HVAC solutions. Trane’s robust design and manufacturing and testing capabilities in Charmes ensure that each product is tailored to the needs of its customers, while adhering to the highest standards of performance and reliability.
End-to-End MIS/MES for F&B Manufacturers
Eliminate Material & Contamination Risks, Improve Efficiency
Ensure Consistent Quality
Materials & Process Quality Control
Harford Materials & Process Quality Control solutions ensure consistent quality from raw materials to finished goods. With end-to-end traceability, 5 Whys and Fishbone Diagrams, you can easily identify the root cause of quality issues, ensuring exceptional product standards throughout production. It’s about getting it right the first time and every time.
Materials & Process Quality Control
Helping companies improve quality control and ensure 100% traceability has been our focused passion for over 50 years. Why not let us help you eliminate material and contamination risks?
100% Traceability Laboratory Quality (LIMS)
Harford Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) helps manufacturers track and trace approved materials, monitor non-compliant products, conduct root cause analyses, evaluate downtime and calculate additional labour hours needed due to material failures. Factories can detect materials and contamination issues and take action earlier in the production cycle.
The Keys to Success
The combination of Harford Materials & Process Quality Control solutions and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) empowers manufacturers to take a proactive approach to material management and food safety. This integrated system allows for seamless monitoring and control of materials throughout the entire production cycle, from the sourcing of raw ingredients to the final packaging of products.
Additionally, this powerful combination enhances traceability, enabling swift identification of non-compliant materials or batches.
The Hidden Risks Behind Our Food: Managing
Materials and Contamination Risks in Manufacturing
An article By Roy Green, Harford Control Ltd. December 2024
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 600 million people—nearly 1 in 10 globally—fall ill each year from eating contaminated food, with 420,000 of these cases resulting in death. Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, chemical substances, viruses, and parasites can cause more than 200 diseases, highlighting the urgent need for the highest standards of food safety in food manufacturing and supply chain.
Six tourists in a
town in
died from suspected methanol poisoning caused by tainted drinks. Methanol poisoning from counterfeit alcohol has been a long-standing issue across Southeast Asia. Whilst many believe that the UK has some of the safest and most authentic food and drink in the world, frequent product recalls due to food safety issues still persist.
Heavy Metal Contamination in Chocolate
Consumer Reports found dangerous heavy metal in premium dark chocolates, which has left many consumers in shock. Lindt, Tony’s, Lily’s, Godiva, Green and Black’s, along with several other premium chocolate brands, faces scrutiny after tests revealed elevated levels of lead and cadmium — two heavy metals linked to a host of health problems in
children and adults. This is just a snapshot of the chocolate brands that were found to be contaminated with metals.
The issue is complex as lead and cadmium are naturally absorbed by cocoa plants through the soil, meaning contamination begins long before processing. To help minimise the risk, manufacturers can adopt several strategies to protect consumers from these contaminants.
Raw material testing is critical for chocolate manufacturers. Implementing preprocessing quality checks can identify coco beans with higher levels of metals, enabling manufacturers to reject or divert these batches. Processing methods such as optimising fermentation, which affects metal absorption, can further reduce metal content. Manufacturers can also consider sourcing cocoa from regions with lower
holiday
Laos
contamination risk or working directly with cocoa farms to monitor soil conditions and minimise exposure to heavy metals.
While heavy metal contamination in chocolate underscores the challenges of managing naturally occurring contaminants, within agricultural supply chains, another significant risk arises from imported meat.
The Challenge of Imported Meat and ASF Risk
Dartford Borough Council recently seized 170kg of illegally imported meat suspected to be contaminated with African Swine Fever (ASF). Although ASF is different from swine influenza and does not affect humans, it has a high mortality rate among infected pigs. Experts warn that an ASF outbreak could create a crisis on the scale of the ‘footand-mouth’ epidemic, severely impacting British farmers by reducing food production capacity and increasing prices. Some farmers have voiced concerns that current border controls, especially post-Brexit, may not adequately prevent the introduction of devastating animal diseases.
As local authorities work to block risky imports, food manufacturers play a crucial role in maintaining the safety of their supply chains. By auditing raw materials and verifying compliance with health regulations and ASF guidelines, manufacturers can help ensure only safe ingredients enter their production lines. Regular on-site inspections further support safety standards, and robust traceability systems enable quick identification and isolation of affected batches in the event of an outbreak, protecting both consumers and domestic livestock.
Whilst biological threats like African Swine Fever (ASF) highlight some of the risks associated with illegally imported animal products, chemical contamination in plant-based foods is also a growing concern.
Rise in Pesticide Residues Found in Tea Bags
Nearly 900,000 tea bags from the East West Tea Company were recalled after the FDA discovered pesticide residues above permissible levels in their Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea. The EU has banned 30 harmful pesticides since Brexit, yet the UK has not adopted these bans, resulting in allowable pesticide residues that are sometimes thousands of times higher than previously permitted. Given rising rates of cancer and other chronic diseases, there is an urgent call to reduce exposure to these chemicals.
For manufacturers, this challenge underscores the need for stringent sourcing protocols and regular testing of raw materials to detect and control pesticide levels. By partnering with suppliers who adhere to rigorous pesticide management practices, manufacturers can help eliminate the risk of harmful chemical residues reaching consumers. Additionally, real-time monitoring and traceability systems allow companies to pinpoint and address contamination sources swiftly, reducing production costs (even rejects), reducing
the risk to consumer health and aligning with growing public demand for safer, more transparent food production.
Partner with Harford to Overcome Quality Issues
From high levels of heavy metals in premium dark chocolate to illegally imported meat, potentially carrying African Swine Fever (ASF) and the recent surge in pesticide residues in tea bags, these incidents underscore the vulnerabilities in our food supply chain. It is crucial for manufacturers to strengthen safety measures at every stage of production.
As an end-to-end MIS/MES provider, Harford Control offers comprehensive Materials and Process Quality Control solutions, along with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), to support rigorous quality control and full traceability of materials. Harford Materials and Process Quality Control solutions ensure consistent quality from raw materials to finished products, while LIMS enables manufacturers to track approved materials and monitor noncompliant (even rejected) products.
When your factory is looking to address material and quality or efficiency issues, please reach out to us at info@harfordcontrol.com or give us a call on +44 (0)1225 764461.
The 2024 PPMA Show is hailed a huge success
The PPMA Show, the UK’s leading event for processing and packaging machinery, including industrial automation and machine vision systems, has once again been acclaimed as a great success. Established more than 35 years ago, the renowned exhibition welcomed thousands of visitors over the course of its three-days at the NEC Birmingham. The event offered visitors the opportunity to experience a complete production line from start-to-finish.
The exhibition hall was busy from the moment the doors opened until the show finished, providing a perfect platform for visitors to observe the latest cutting-edge technologies and solutions, exciting live demonstrations and product launches, as well as top up their knowledge with hours of free expert seminars.
The PPMA Show, which is owned and organised by Automate UK, gave visitors the chance to see how the of state-of-the-art solutions on display could improve the efficiency of their own businesses, giving them key competitive advantages over their competitors.
The show boasted an impressive line-up of more than 350 exhibitors – including over 100 new exhibitors. These
companies showcased their cutting-edge solutions spanning the full spectrum of the manufacturing industry, including: pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, building materials, pet care, microbrewers and distillers.
Informing their decision-making before investing, visitors held face-to-face conversations with exhibiting experts, gaining guidance on the suitability and benefits the various innovative solutions can bring to their businesses.
Exhibitors included many well-known companies in the sector, such as: Packaging Automation, PFM, Holmach, Keymac, Omori, Wipotec, Somic, Markem-Imaje, Ilapak, Bizerba, Ulma, Beckhoff, Schur Star Systems, Ilpra, Sidel, and JBT Proseal.
Scott McKenna, Chief Operating Officer at Automate UK said:
“The PPMA Show has consistently been the premier destination in the UK for exploring technology across the entire processing and packaging industry. Our main challenge as organisers is to ensure the exhibition evolves and stays relevant to the highcalibre visitors we are proud to attract each year.
“This year, we can confidently say, we exceeded our own expectations, with an outstanding turnout of attendees eager to invest in the remarkable range of innovative technologies showcased at the event.”
One of the many attractions of the show were the expert presentations at the seminar theatres. These talks delivered updates on both the latest industry insights and trends. They were crafted to be thought-provoking in a way that would encourage visitors to reflect on how they could apply their seminar learnings in their own businesses.
This year’s inspiring keynote speakers were Jessica Sansom from Huel and Stefan Casey from Nestlé. Jessica’s presentation focused on the manifestations of climate changes and how to rise to the challenge and adapt to a new normal. Stefan shared some of his knowledge on the digital transformation of FMCG industry, including challenges and opportunities in packaging across the whole value chain.
One visitor to the show, Callum Reader, of Marco Ltd, said:
“It was great to be back at the PPMA Show for the first time in about four years. There was such a wide range of innovative and inspiring machinery to see. I would recommend this event to anybody in the food industry; it has so many different and fantastic solutions to learn about as well as providing a great opportunity to catch up with all the latest developments in the industry.”
Another visitor, Tom White from DaceCrown, said: “This year’s event was busier than in the past, offering a wealth of innovative solutions to explore. It was also great to see the net zero and eco-friendly initiatives present in a substantial number of showcased products.”
New for this year, Automate UK debuted a free PPMA Show app, packed with features such as a function to retrieve exhibitor information via QR codes, detailed seminar information, and a floorplan to navigate around the show. All of which improved visitors’ exhibition experience. In addition to the app, other innovations included a live demonstration theatre and show tours, plus a networking reception for visitors and exhibitors.
The PPMA Total Show will return to the NEC next year, promising to be bigger and better than before. The event will bring together suppliers and end users, making it easier for visitors to discover the latest cutting-edge solutions for their businesses. Attendees can once again look forward to a diverse range of innovative exhibits, thrilling demonstrations, inspiring seminars, and plenty of networking opportunities, all designed to enhance the visitor experience.
For more information, please visit: ppmashow.co.uk
Big-name brands to make waves at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025
Step into the future of packaging at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025
Packaging Innovations & Empack has always been a show about the future – but 2025 might be the first year it’s about a specific date: 2030.
As we enter 2025, we pass the psychological halfway mark of the decade. Minds naturally turn to 2030, with its looming environmental deadlines. The EU’s PPWR reform, for example, mandates all EU packaging to be recyclable by then. Businesses face growing pressure to find sustainable solutions as time runs short.
The need for personalised, efficient packaging will intensify, with AI moving from nice-to-have to essential. Each application’s unique needs mean there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and 2025 will spotlight this even more.
The best way to grasp 2025’s trends isn’t to read about them but to experience them. Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025 returns to the Birmingham NEC on 12 & 13 February – and it’s your chance to immerse yourself in what’s next.
A unifying event for the packaging supply chain
With more than 430 exhibitors and over 7,000 attendees anticipated, Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025 is the ideal place
for the entire packaging supply chain to connect. James Montero MacColl, Senior Marketing Manager at Easyfairs UK, emphasises the event’s importance: “With the pace of change in packaging, this event provides businesses with the tools and networks needed to keep up, especially with sustainability goals like 2030 looming large.” Attendees will find inspiration in emerging technologies and sustainable practices and have the chance to build meaningful connections across the industry.
Specialised
zones for high-impact sectors
The 2025 event will spotlight specific growth areas in packaging with dedicated zones for key sectors:
Smart Packaging Zone: A glimpse into the future, this zone offers interactive packaging solutions such as NFC chips, RFID tags, and augmented reality (AR) that are revolutionising customer experiences and adding real-time tracking to products. This year introduces a dedicated space to spotlight innovative trends and showcase cuttingedge advancements in the industry.
Food Service Zone: Showcasing the latest in sustainable, recyclable food packaging, this area - developed in collaboration with the FPA
- will feature innovations that enhance shelf life and improve ecofriendliness, addressing environmental and consumer demands alike.
Label & Print Zone: This space highlights advancements in labelling and flexible packaging, showcasing new technology and software that boost quality, sustainability, and efficiency—perfect for those keen on the evolving role of labelling in branding and compliance.
Contract Pack & Fulfilment Zone: Powered by BCMPA, this zone, the UK’s only event focused on outsourced packaging services, connects brand owners and retailers with co-packing and e-commerce fulfilment experts, essential for those relying on efficient, specialised packaging and delivery solutions. Sustainability sparks action
“As brands feel the squeeze of tightening regulations, they’re shifting gears from strategy to action,” added Montero MacColl.
“For years, sustainability has driven the packaging agenda, but what we’re seeing now is transformative. Businesses are no longer just talking about change - they’re making it happen. Whether seeking inspiration, validation, or innovative solutions, they’re looking to Packaging Innovations to lead the way.”
This year’s event is well-poised to surpass all expectations, with over 430 leading suppliers set to connect with iconic names such as Aldi, Asda, Boots, Diageo, Nestle, Heinz, Unilever, and Waitrose. VIP attendees from trailblazers like Amazon, John Lewis, Mars Inc., and Interflora are confirmed, making this edition a powerhouse of opportunity and networking.
Rob Thompson, Senior Packaging Manager at Co-Op, shares his enthusiasm:
“I’ve been attending Packaging Innovations at the NEC for over 20 years. It’s the UK’s premier event for anyone looking to network with other packaging professionals.”
Hannah Pollard, Packaging Technologist at Iceland, adds,
“I thoroughly enjoy Packaging Innovations & Empack; it showcases a diverse range of exhibitors and always delivers an eclectic mix of talks on key topics. I make new connections and draw inspiration from the Innovation Gallery areas, making it a fantastic show.”
Insights from industry pioneers
A cornerstone of Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025 is its robust educational programme, featuring over 50 speakers across three dedicated stages - the Circular Economy, Supply Chain, and Innovation Stages. Google’s Packaging Innovation Lead, Miguel
Arevalo, will share insights into Google’s efforts towards plastic-free packaging, while Tey Bannerman from McKinsey Design will explore how AI is reshaping packaging creativity.
The speaker lineup includes Lowelle Bryan, Refill & Reuse Specialist at WRAP; Cathy Cook, Chair of LARAC; Verity Davidge, Director of Policy at Make UK; Victoria Brownlie, Chief Policy Officer at the British Beauty Council; Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the Foodservice Packaging Association; Dimitra Rappou, Executive Director of Sustainable Products at CPI; Martin Settle, Senior Manager of Polymer Science at Reckitt; Tom Stone, Packaging Development Manager at Bakkavor; and Mike Wilson, Chief Automation Officer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).
Celebrating
creativity and ingenuity
The event will honour innovation with two prestigious awards— the Future Trailblazer Awards and the Packaging Start-Up Awards—both sponsored by Ocado. These awards highlight groundbreaking companies and ideas pushing boundaries in packaging design and technology. Visitors can also explore the Innovation Gallery to see pioneering projects, offering a glimpse into the future of packaging.
Complimentary visitor tickets are still available, giving attendees the chance to explore the UK’s flagship packaging exhibition at no cost. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of the event defining the future of packagingregister now and join the conversation http://packagingbirmingham.com
Fi Europe 2024: data reveals increased attendance
Informa Markets has released data that has reaffirmed Fi Europe as Europe’s unmissable ingredients event. The annual ingredients industry gathering, which took place at Frankfurt Messe from 19-21 November, attracted 23,221 attendees from 130 countries.
Not only did the event see higher footfall than in recent years, it also welcomed an increased number of attendees from the key R&D, product management and procurement functions. Collectively, this data is evidence that Informa’s efforts to keep the format fresh and exciting were well received. In 2025, Fi Europe will return to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 2-4 December.
The food industry relies on Fi Europe as a forum for sourcing new ingredients, keeping abreast of industry trends and developments and making connections. The 2024 edition did not disappoint with its bustling show
floor, informative content programme and abundance of networking opportunities. The event app was further developed this year to enhance the in-person experience, allowing attendees to scan one another’s badges and manage all contacts and leads in one place, so that they can easily contact them after the show.
Fi Europe’s carefully curated in-person content programme is always a major draw and this year was no exception. The Future of Nutrition Summit kicked off the proceedings the day before Fi Europe opened its doors, with a full agenda designed to inspire and inform whilst facilitating networking
and discussion. Speakers from NASA, Nuritas, NotCo, PepsiCo and Unilever shared powerful and thoughtprovoking insights into the issues, trends and technologies expected to shape the F&B industry in the coming years.
From Tuesday, the vibrant show floor became the focal point of the event, bringing over 1500 suppliers of ingredients and related technologies and services together with potential buyers. Thousands of ingredients were showcased at the event, reaffirming Fi Europe as the premier platform for sourcing food and beverage ingredients. For the first time, visitors were given the option of buying an early access pass. Uptake was high, and when the exhibition opened at 9am on Tuesday morning, early pass holders had exclusive access to explore the show floor.
Occupying four halls, the venue was zoned, allowing visitors to focus their efforts. Over 80 companies populated the Food Technologies & Solutions zone, which had been expanded for 2024. They were kept busy by a constant stream of visitors keen to learn about solutions for making their operations and supply chain activities safe, sustainable, efficient and resilient. The Petfood Suppliers Hub was introduced as a new zone for 2024, giving the pet food industry a dedicated forum for exchanging ideas, inspiring innovation and forging new relationships. It proved a popular addition, enabling companies to harness the synergies between the food and pet food ingredient markets.
A further first, free access to the Fi Europe Conference was included with all visitor passes. Experts addressed packed auditoriums throughout the two-day conference, which focused on four topical themes: health and wellbeing; plant-based and alternative proteins; reformulation; and tech-led ingredient innovations and solutions. Speakers from a broad cross-section of commercial, academic and research organisations, including EIT, Euromonitor, Innova, Mintel, RaboResearch and Wageningen University, made for a varied and insightful programme.
One of the highlights of day two was the Women’s Networking Breakfast, which featured engaging talks and panel discussions with some of the industry’s most respected female leaders. It was the best attended ever, and the networking was outstanding.
The entire event was designed around inspiring, enabling and celebrating innovation, through features like the Tasting Bar, where attendees had the opportunity to taste ingredients in use through samples such as goats’ milk protein bars, marine collagen water and next-gen energy drinks. The Innovation Hub hosted presentations and discussions as well as the Startup Challenge, and the prestigious Fi Europe Innovation Awards recognised outstanding contributions to the F&B ingredients industry.
Yannick Verry, Brand Director, Food ingredients Europe, at Informa Markets, says: “We recognise that it is crucial for Fi Europe not to remain static, but to evolve and change with the times, to ensure it continues to be relevant and to represent value for money for participants. For 2024 we made some changes and trialled several new features, whilst staying true to our promise of providing a platform for companies to trade, innovate and grow. We are delighted to report that the show embodied all the ingredients of a successful event, and we are already looking at how we can make the 2025 edition in Paris even better.”
These positive sentiments were echoed by exhibiting companies. A selection of quotes follows:
“Food ingredients Europe 2024 was a hugely successful one for Ingredion as we showcased our latest proprietary research focusing on key trends such as clean label – a major talking point at the show. This is no surprise given that 3 out of 4 European consumers seek products made with recognisable ingredients.”
Bastian Hoermann, Global Marketing Director, Sweet Goods & Dairy and Specialized Nutrition, ADM:
“Fi Europe is always a great opportunity for ADM to feature a full range of innovative ingredients and solutions. Along with the expertise and thought leadership of our business leaders and product specialists this all helps to drive awareness, strengthening relationships, generate leads and create new business opportunities.”
Dr. Andreas Nagel, Head of Food Technology and Nutrition Center, JRS Food Ingredients: “JRS Food Ingredients has successfully used Fi Europe as an important focal point for its international market activities for many years. For us, Fi Europe is a meeting place, market barometer, trend and innovation exchange all in one.”
Katharina Haack, Head of Marketing Communications, GoodMills Innovation: “For GoodMills Innovation, Fi Europe 2024 was a very satisfying event. In particular, our new fibre and protein fortification solutions, plant-based products and protein-rich pulse flours attracted a lot of interest as they address current market trends. The numerous and high-value expert discussions underlined the value of the show as a platform for innovative food ingredients.”
Healthy people and a healthy planet go hand-in-hand
By Gareth Clark, ACI Group
Consumers don’t just care about what’s on their dinner plates anymore – they want to know where it came from and how it got there.
That’s why many experts consider a focus on ingredients to be the number one trend driving innovation in the food industry[1]. Ingredients are more than items in a recipe –they’re a tangible demonstration of a brand’s values and the standards they live by.
Increasingly, consumers want those values to be ones they agree with[2]. In the case of the food industry, this means they want products that are made with natural ingredients, beneficial to their health, and ethically-sourced[3]. This is putting pressure on manufacturers and ingredient suppliers to adjust their recipes and formulations to match, as finding ingredients that tick all three of these boxes is more difficult than it sounds.
A deceptively difficult balancing act
When it comes to food, many consumers blend concepts like ‘natural ingredients’, ‘healthy food’, and ‘sustainability’ together. Often, searching for one term will throw up a diverse range of results that includes all three. It’s understandable why this is the case – healthy people and a healthy planet are ideas that are close together, conjuring up images of small farm owners selling honest, local produce. However, the truth of the matter is more complex.
Not all ‘natural’ foods are healthy. And not all additives are harmful. In fact, many added ingredients are naturally-derived themselves, and can greatly improve the nutritional, health-boosting properties of many foods.
Then there’s the question of ‘sustainability’ – a vague, broad term at the best of times –which consumers expect food manufacturers and brands to answer convincingly. However, when sourcing additives to boost a product’s functional properties, the only ‘natural’ choice may need to be specially sourced from the other side of the world, or there may be ethical problems and human rights abuses at its source. On the other hand, processed ingredients may end up being sustainably sourced and produced – but preclude businesses from making sought-after claims like ‘natural’ and ‘organic’. Squaring this circle is harder than it might first seem.
Making the most out of waste
One solution to this potential problem lies in ‘natural upcycling’ – taking the natural byproducts of one production process and using them to bolster the functional properties of food. For example, one of the products in our food ingredient portfolio is Vintera™, an upcycled grape extract made using a byproduct of winemaking.
This extract is rich in the same polyphenols that are present in wine, such as catechins and resveratrol, which have potent antioxidant properties and have been shown to enhance HDL cholesterol (often referred to as ‘good cholesterol’)[4],[5],[6]. Incorporating this additive solves the sustainability problem on two fronts – it is made via a sustainable process, and its use actually prevents what would end up as food waste from being sent to landfill.
Selecting ingredients like this requires a high level of care and a great depth of supply chain expertise. Transparency is crucial, as even ‘natural’ ingredients can be treated with artificial processes. One example of this is Boswellia extract, an antioxidant ingredient often used in foods and supplements that shows some evidence of reducing inflammation and joint pain[7] due to its boswellic acid content. This extract can be impacted by the addition of tartaric and citric acids as excipients, meaning care must be taken to validate the sourcing of Boswellia actives.
Care must also be taken to ensure that any botanical ingredients have been extracted without the use of solvents or agents – and if they have been used, it is imperative that this is disclosed.
Turning challenges into opportunities
Clearly, there are a lot of hoops to jump through and boxes to tick when looking to source natural, sustainable functional ingredients. But the rewards for doing so are great. A recent study of UK consumers by CGA found that environmentally conscious consumers tend to spend significantly more than the average consumer by around £9 per month on average[8]. And study after study paints a similar picture at retail[9]. Wherever they eat and drink, consumers want their diets to be nutritious and sustainably produced.
This is where partnering with an experienced distributor like ACI Group can help businesses adjust their recipes and formulations with the help of our globe-spanning network of suppliers. Distributors are there to jump through those hoops for their customers, providing a portfolio of rigorously tested and transparently sourced products that can be used in a variety of innovative functional foods. This presents manufacturers with the freedom to reformulate existing products with health and sustainability claims in mind, or to produce whole new innovations for today’s conscious consumers.
In this sense, sustainable sourcing challenges become opportunities to differentiate their products with sciencebacked claims that meet consumer demands for sustainable, natural food ingredients. Healthy people, healthy planet – it just makes sense.
To learn more about ACI Group and its portfolio of sustainably sourced ingredient innovations, visit www.acigroup.biz.
4 Foshati S, et al. The effect of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract supplementation on flow-mediated dilation, blood pressure, and heart rate: A systematic review and metaanalysis of controlled trials with duration- and dose-response analysis. Pharmacol Res. 2022;175:105905
5 Lupoli R, et al. Impact of Grape Products on Lipid Profile: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies. J Clin Med. 2020;9(2):313
6 Feringa HH, et al. The effect of grape seed extract on cardiovascular risk markers: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(8):1173-81
Syensqo’s natural flavors and application expertise provide essential solutions to consumer preferences for natural, safe food products
Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy, safe, affordable food. A search reflected in growing demands for clean label products, formulated with natural ingredients, without compromising taste and flavor.
Food and Beverage manufacturers need a wider choice of sustainably-sourced, high performing natural ingredients. Also, dedicated support - to understand the role flavors play in combining taste, performance and convenience - while balancing natural solutions with consumer expectations.
Syensqo’s expertise helps brands capitalize on the potential of natural food preservation as a foundation for business growth, and opportunities created to reformulate, differentiate, and innovate.
As a global leader in ethyl vanillin and natural vanillin, Syensqo is adapting its portfolio into the growing natural preservatives segment - driven by wild rosemary-based flavors and antioxidants.
Syensqo’s natural vanillin range derived from a non-GMO, rice bran oil by-product RhovanilⓇ Natural is designed as a perfect alternative to synthetic vanillin.It enables brands in the chocolate, confectionery, bakery, and nutrition sectors to easily switch to clean label natural vanillin. Its unique properties tackle critical application-related challenges, and crucially comply with European and US “natural flavor” labeling status regulations.
rosemary’s powerful antioxidant activity, preserves food from oxidation, and rancidity, while stabilizing color and flavor. It helps preserve fatty formulations for longer periods, preventing food waste, maintaining product quality, and extending shelf-life.
Replacing synthetic antioxidants requires careful management that considers quality and consistency. Identifying a supporting partner with the right technical expertise is essential. Syensqo’s reliable, ethically-sourced rosemary from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, enables the right rosemary extract solution for each application, thanks to its large portfolio providing choices of liquid/powder form and carnosic acid content.
Riza, recently added to Syensqo’s portfolio, is a range of 100% natural plant-based, non-GMO antioxidants and flavors based on rosemary extract. Specially formulated to substitute artificial preservatives with rosemary’s natural benefits, it standardizes active antioxidant levels and customizes organoleptic expectations, supporting both sweet and savory segments.
Riza sets high-performance standards for purity, traceability, transparency and compliance, while helping unlock opportunities and improve sustainability. Syensqo recently showcased rosemary’s application functionality at Fi Europe, through special emphasis on how its performance stabilizes oils without high oleic acid content.
Food manufacturers can trust Syensqo’s innovative, environmentally-responsible solutions, and balance of natural, sustainable, and efficient ingredients to match consumer preferences.
Learn more at www.syensqo.com
Parkside Packaging Sustainability
Packaging’s sustainable future has to include plastic
Packaging sustainability is a broad and complex topic often boiled down to single-use plastics and recycling discussions. This level of focus is understandable, as these issues resonate strongly with consumers and policymakers.
For instance, a Deloitte survey1 found that 73% of respondents had recycled household waste in the past year, and 61% had limited their use of single-use plastics. Similarly, a 2024 Ipsos study2 revealed that 85% of global consumers support a ban on single-use plastics.
Regulators also play a significant role in shaping sustainability discussions through legislation, such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR) and bans on various plastics in countries including India, France, and Spain. While recycling and reducing plastic use are essential aspects of sustainability, these measures are only part of a wider conversation. A more holistic perspective, prioritising product protection and minimising resource use, especially carbon emissions, is critical.
The role of plastic in packaging
Although reducing unnecessary plastic use is vital, it’s important to acknowledge plastic’s unique benefits. Its combination of low cost, lightweight, durability, and excellent barrier performance makes it indispensable in certain applications. Plastic is often essential for products like fresh meat, dairy, or soft fruits to prevent spoilage. Removing it entirely can increase food waste, which has a far greater environmental impact than the packaging.
The UN estimates that around a third of all food produced globally is wasted, accounting
for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions3. Shockingly, 1kg of food waste in landfill creates the same emissions as 25,000 500ml plastic bottles4. Packaging’s main role is to protect its contents, reducing waste along the supply chain rather than generating waste itself.
Innovations in sustainable materials
While plastic’s complete elimination may be unrealistic, innovative materials are helping to reduce dependence on it. Flexible packaging formats, for example, use less material than rigid designs and improve shipping efficiency, lowering emissions.
Paper-based laminates pair flexible paper with barrier coatings and offer further options. Innovations like water-based coatings improve performance, though sensitive applications still present challenges.
Packaging solutions must meet the specific demands of each application. For instance, creating recyclable paper packaging for frozen seafood required addressing issues such as ice crystals and moisture.
Bioplastics, made from organic materials like cellulose, offer renewable and sometimes biodegradable alternatives. Monopolymers such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) provide another option, combining strong barrier properties with recyclability in existing systems. Advances in lamination and barrier technologies have enhanced these materials without compromising their recyclability.
created for this challenging use case.
Although reliance on plastic will continue to diminish, it remains indispensable in certain scenarios. A product-driven, holistic approach ensures that sustainability and functionality work together, creating packaging that protects products and minimises environmental impact.
Kiwa’s Supplier Assurance Program (SAP) helps businesses navigate the seasonal rush, ensuring product quality, safety, and sustainability while protecting brand reputation. With Kiwa's support, you can meet consumer expectations confidently, avoiding the risks of supply chain disruptions and costly recalls.
From pest control to supply chain compliance, Kiwa’s expertise ensures your business is fully prepared for the challenges of the season.
Let Kiwa be your trusted partner in delivering safe, high-quality products this Christmas and beyond. Safeguard Your
Ensuring Compliance Through Your Supply Chain –Are Supplier Assurance Schemes the Elves of the Food industry?
As the Christmas season fast approaches and Santa Claus is readying his sleigh for the mad dash around the world. The food and drink industry is already on track to complete their very own dash around the world.
With consumers eager to stock up on holiday favourites such as mince pies, hams, and mulled wine. This period represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The surging demand coupled with the need to maintain the highest standards of safety, quality, and sustainability bring their very own headache into the equation.
This is where a robust Supplier Assurance Program (SAP) comes into its own, providing both confidence and stability during the seasonal chaos. At Kiwa we know how difficult it can be to maintain your program with the onslaught of seasonal producers to approve and monitor. By partnering with us businesses have the confidence that they can navigate the festive season, meet consumer expectations and most importantly safeguard their brand reputation in such a crowded market.
What makes seasonal products such a risk?
The Christmas season often pushes supply chains to their limits. With demand for holiday treats soaring, businesses find themselves relying on their suppliers to deliver consistent quality at scale. However, seasonal products such as hams or specialty beverages often require niche or limited availability ingredients, which only increases the risk of supply chain disruptions.
“With Kiwa’s Support, manufacturers and retailers alike can maintain peace of minds that their Christmas offerings are safe, reducing the risk of costly recalls tarnishing brand reputation during this high visibility period.”
Effective pest control is vital during the festive season. High production rates and increased storage of raw materials create ideal conditions for pests to thrive. A single infestation can result in contamination, costly recalls, and severe damage to a brand’s reputation. Our Independent Pest Inspection team can provide you with the details to understand where your high risk areas are.
How can Kiwa support in protecting your brand?
Brand reputation is everything and unfortunately it tends to be the recalls or incidents brands are remembered for. Working with a 3rd party certification body like Kiwa, we can work together to help provide reassurance both to you and the consumers.
With Kiwa’s extensive technical knowledge and global reach we are able to support your businesses with everything from ad hoc audits to partnering on ensuring compliance across your whole supply chain.
“Let Kiwa be your trusted partner this Christmas and beyond, helping you deliver products that meet both your customer expectations and protect your business reputation.”
SOPHIE ARGUILE Head of Business Development Kiwa Agri Food
EU ‘More Than Only Food and Drink’ Campaign set to inspire retailers and wholesalers this festive season
With its latest marketing campaign, ‘More Than Only Food & Drink’ the European Union (EU) provides plenty of inspiration for retailers and wholesalers looking to update their festive ranges this year.
Major UK supermarkets have once again looked to European influences for their Christmas food and drink offerings, albeit with a less than traditional twist. Products featuring EU ingredients and influences can be seen across the seasonal product categories and include Seafood and Chorizo Shells, Sweet Spiced Gammon
with Citrus Glaze and Panettone Crumb and Golden Limoncello Stollen Bites.
From aperitifs, wine pairings, succulent meats, charcuterie, several thousand cheeses and hundreds of sweet treats, the EU produces a vast range of flavours, textures and tastes. With its Protected Designated Origin (PDO),
and Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) quality schemes, authenticity is guaranteed.
For that celebratory toast
Few celebrations are passed without a ‘santé, ‘salud’, ‘Prost’, and the many
iterations of a traditional toast. From a morning glass of Spanish Cava PDO to a nightcap of French Cognac PDO or Irish Whiskey PGI - the EU offers something for all tastes. There is also the added assurance that only ingredients of natural origin are permitted in the production of EU spirits.
This year, European liqueurs are also featuring in desserts such as Jewelled Cointreau & Cranberry Christmas pudding and Limoncello Fizz Panettone, made by a family-run bakery
in Piedmont. In 2022, the UK imported 0.7 billion litres of wine from the EU. Outside the Member States, the UK is the number one destination for European wines with 23% of extra-EU exports.
Neil McAndrew, advisor to the EU’s ‘More Than Only Food & Drink Campaign’ and a wine industry professional for over 30 years, expects French, Italian and Spanish wines to be the best performing this Christmas; with Cava, Crémant, Champagne and Prosecco likely to have strong sales. Whilst still relatively small, the growth of natural wines also cannot be underestimated. As such, Petillant Naturel (naturally sparkling wines made using techniques that predate the times of the traditional method) are predicted to be popular this festive season.
According to McAndrew, retailers planning to capitalise on the consumer’s desire to ‘treat’ themselves at Christmas, should stock up on wines in the £15-£20 price bracket but ensure that customers understand the story behind the bottle. Shelf-talkers and imagery highlighting the grape variety, characteristics of the terroir and suggesting food matches can help the shopper to demystify the labels. The classics from Rioja, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Châteauneuf-du-Pape are popular gift choices due to the perceived quality of wines from the regions.
With full traceability from vineyard to bottle, retailers can also be confident of high standards and authenticity, regardless of the size, scale or location of the vineyard. Furthermore, the majority of EU vines produce wines with geographical indications such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
Must-haves for sharing platters
The EU produces 14.5 million tonnes of cured meats, with hundreds of products to provide a special treat for the festive sharing board. Whilst Spanish Ibérico Dehesa de Extremadura PDO and Italian Prosciutto di Parma PDO are widely available, those seeking something truly different could look further north and east. Bulgarian Gornooryahovski sudzhuk PGI, is a succulent salami made only from the beef of well-fed cattle. Finland’s Aito saunapalvikinkku PGI has a tender texture thanks to the direct smoking method of production.
The dairy sector is the second largest agricultural sector in the EU, representing more than 12% of output. The EU
produces thousands of varieties of cheese encompassing soft, hard, rind-washed and blue and using milk from cows, sheep, goats and buffalo.
Protected traditional and regional dairy products, extend far beyond the likes of Italian Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Spanish Queso Manchego PDO and French Roquefort PDO.
For a truly continental board with lesserknown cheeses: Kalathaki Limnou PDO is a soft creamy brined cheese from Greece, Lithuania’s Lietuviškas varškės sūris PGI has milky, smoky flavours that pair well with jam and honey. Croatia’s Paški sir PDO is produced from a unique breed of sheep known for their intensely salty milk, Austrian Tiroler Bergkäse PDO is characterised by its powerful, fully aromatic taste, and melting texture. Danish Danablu PGI is often referred to as the country’s equivalent to Italy’s Gorgonzola PDO and Sörmlands Ädel PGI from Sweden has tangy, salty flavours expected of blue cheese. Perfect for cheese lovers who enjoy seeing out new flavours.
There’s more than Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies
Last year, many retailers moved away from the traditional Christmas pudding in order to reflect modern tastes with some neglecting the pudding altogether in favour of Italy’s Panettone.
Stollen is also becoming a Christmas staple on British shelves. For the original and quite possibly the best, Germany’s Dresdner Christstollen PGI have been carefully baked and perfected for more than 500 years. Lebkuchen are also proving popular amongst British buyers with Nürnberger Lebkuchen PGI the most authentic option. Other festive treats include Vánoční Cukroví - iced shortbreads from Czechia and Hungary’s Beigli - sweetened bread rolls filled with walnuts, poppy seeds and a variety of sweet fillings.
Most Christmas celebrations involve chocolate, and the EU produces millions of tonnes of chocolate each year with Germany, Italy and France producing almost two thirds (64 per cent). Whilst Italy’s Cioccolato di Modica PGI was the first chocolate to receive the PGI accreditation, the French created praline and the Bûche de Noël (Yule log) is also a festive must-have.
For products of exceptional quality and proven heritage, the EU is a rich source of produce to explore.
Keeping production safe and food supply secure
Industrial processes involving dry foodstuffs or animal feed can quickly create an explosive atmosphere by stirring up dust. Dust explosions present a huge risk not only to human life, but also in terms of destroyed equipment and unplanned production downtimes. Bormann & Neupert by BS&B offers efficient safety systems that effectively nip dust explosions in the bud or minimise their effects.
The effects of the war in Ukraine and the associated energy crisis continue to be felt across all industries in Europe. Companies that make and process foodstuffs and animal feed face major challenges. Maintaining food security has become a major issue in society. One of the keys to a secure and reliable supply of food is ensuring a continuous production process.
But the processing or storing of powdered foodstuffs presents a major risk of unplanned production stops. Dust explosions are a pernicious threat with devastating potential due to the massive rise in pressure they create.
Virtually all dry bulk products used in agriculture, such as flours made from grain, pulses and seeds, can form an explosive mixture in the right dust concentration. Other potentially explosive substances include starches, binders, sugars and sweeteners. Even nonpowdered materials like feed pellets often create fine, flammable dusts through constant friction.
Critical mixtures of dust and air frequently arise around machines like conveyor systems, mills, dust filters or cyclones, especially if they are operated pneumatically. Excess powder can escape from a bucket elevator and concentrate in the air. The movement means that the dust particles remain airborne much longer than usual. Alongside flames and glowing embers, dust explosions can also be triggered by hot surfaces, static electricity or sparks generated mechanically or electrically. These are too many risk factors that cannot be completely eliminated. Certified explosion protection in design is therefore essential for process managers looking to safeguard production.
Suppression the key to explosion protection
Active, fast-acting suppression systems nip dust explosions in the bud. By keeping the explosions as small as possible, they allow production to restart quickly. The modular IPD system from Bormann & Neupert by BS&B can stop the initial spark of any explosion in a fraction of a second, well before the explosive pressure can unleash its full destructive potential.
The system uses sensors that immediately detect any critical rise in pressure, such as in the head or base of a bucket elevator. It then suppresses the explosion by spraying an effective, food-safe extinguishing agent directly at the source.
Preventing the spread of an explosion
The same technical operating principle is used to isolate explosions. Applying an extinguishing agent creates a barrier that prevents the flames from spreading to connected systems. Active mechanical systems are also effective. Redex active isolation valves or IVE pinch valves from BS&B reliably stop the spread of an explosion.
Pressure relief prevents damage
Conventional pressure relief systems like rupture discs offer reliable basic explosion protection in areas where the escape of flames and burning particles is acceptable. BS&B pressure relief systems burst immediately upon reaching the predefined activation pressure. By reacting quickly and instantly creating a large relief opening, they protect systems against the effects of pressure and prevent damage. R-IQ and IQR FlameFree pressure relief systems are a suitable alternative for indoor areas and environments that do not have a sufficiently large safety zone. A multilayer filter made of stainless steel retains flames and particles while allowing the pressure wave to escape.
Another preventative explosion protection system from Bormann & Neupert by BS&B is the SparkEx. It detects sparks, hot particles, embers or flames in the production flow before extinguishing them automatically and reliably to stop them igniting an explosion.
Explosion protection in design is vital
Potential sources of ignition for explosions can almost never be entirely prevented. Design-based explosion protection from Bormann & Neupert by BS&B combines excellent safety with long-term economic efficiency, providing a suitable level of protection for personnel and facilities. Operators can therefore also rest assured that they are compliant with the relevant occupational safety regulations.
Article courtesy of Bormann & Neupert by BS&B GmbH
If a dust explosion occurs in the head of this bucket elevator, the IPD system from BS&B (left) suppresses it in a fraction of a second with a chemical extinguishing agent.
FlameFree pressure relief systems like the rectangular R-IQ version shown here allow the pressure wave to escape while reliably retaining flames and particles. This protects the machinery and systems.
2024 has been a transformative year for the food manufacturing sector. While challenges persist, the industry has shown resilience and innovation. Businesses continue to adapt to Brexit, the pandemic’s aftereffects, and the conflict in Ukraine, which have disrupted supply chains and markets.
The cost-of-living crisis influences consumer behaviour, driving demand for affordable yet sustainable products. Sustainability efforts are accelerating, with companies reducing waste, lowering emissions, and adopting eco-friendly practices to meet regulatory and consumer expectations.
Labour shortages and rising raw material costs remain pressures, but the sector is using technology and automation to boost efficiency. The global shift towards plant-based and alternative proteins is reshaping product offerings, creating opportunities and competition.
By embracing innovation and sustainability, food manufacturers are adapting to a rapidly changing world and overcoming challenges.
FOOD
INDUSTRY ROUND-UP2024
Food Safety in Chocolate Production
During the pre-Christmas season, increasing efficiency and ensuring food safety in chocolate production are essential topics that determine success and trust. If foreign bodies, such as contaminated raw materials, packaging residues, or anything as a result of human error, end up in chocolate products and are not detected and removed before distribution, it could lead to costly and damaging product recalls. Learn in this expert article how advanced weighing and inspection technologies help produce chocolate products safely and efficiently.
Christmas is a time associated with chocolate delights in all forms, from festively wrapped pralines to chocolate Santas and Advent calendars. However, during the peak season, when production lines run around the clock, manufacturers face particular challenges. Ensuring food safety in chocolate production is a must – not only to protect the brand but also to safeguard consumers and maintain customer trust in these coveted holiday products. To meet these demands and enhance efficiency simultaneously, companies rely on effective weighing and inspection technologies from Minebea Intec, which demonstrably fulfill the high standards of the industry.
High-Level Chocolate Production Safety –A Practical Example
An impressive example of advanced foreign object detection in the confectionery industry is the case of Ludwig Weinrich GmbH & Co. KG, a renowned chocolate manufacturer that chose Minebea Intec’s metal detector Vistus®. Ludwig Weinrich’s decision was driven by its stringent quality and safety standards. With the metal detector Vistus®, the company reliably protects its products from metallic contaminants, ensuring the highest food safety standards.
Industrial Weighing and Inspection Technologies
“Our metal detector Vistus® stands out due to its high sensitivity and flexibility to adapt to various production conditions,” explains Linus Dellweg, Product Manager at Minebea Intec.
“Especially during the Christmas season, when production is at full capacity, a robust yet precise solution like Vistus® is indispensable.”
This efficiency in detecting foreign bodies, combined with its adaptability to different product variants, ensures safe and uninterrupted production, even at high throughput.
The benefits for Ludwig Weinrich are clear: by using the metal detector Vistus®, the company has significantly enhanced product safety while optimising its production processes. With the capability to detect even the smallest metallic foreign objects, thus preventing production stoppages, Vistus® provides added value, especially critical during intensive Christmas production. Additionally, the system’s high adaptability allows for seamless integration into existing production lines without requiring extensive modifications.
Even More Precision: The Metal Detector Mitus® with MiWave Technology
The technological advancement at Minebea Intec continues. For even more demanding applications, the company introduced the metal detector Mitus® with innovative MiWave technology in 2023. This advanced technology operates with multiple simultaneous high-frequency waves, enabling even more precise detection across a wide range of product types.
“With MiWave, we can reliably monitor even challenging products with significant product effects,” emphasises Dellweg.
This technology shines particularly with chocolate products, whose composition and consistency vary greatly.
For manufacturers like Ludwig Weinrich, implementing the metal detector Mitus® means not only increased product safety but also a significant boost in production efficiency. Thanks to MiWave technology’s high detection accuracy, false rejects are minimized, reducing the need for manual intervention and increasing line speed – a decisive advantage during the busy Christmas
production period. Mitus® thus helps manufacturers maintain smooth, uninterrupted production processes, enhancing overall productivity during peak times while ensuring product quality. Both metal detection solutions from Minebea Intec are available as conveyor, free-fall, or pipeline versions.
Minebea Intec as a Partner of the Chocolate Industry
In addition to metal detectors, Minebea Intec offers high-quality weighing solutions specifically tailored to the needs of the chocolate industry. Metal detectors are also available in compact combination versions with checkweighers that automatically and precisely check each product’s weight in real-time. This allows food producers to ensure their products meet regulatory requirements and quality standards – achieving maximum efficiency and safety throughout the process.
“We don’t limit ourselves to manufacturing technology,” emphasises Dellweg.
“We see ourselves as partners to the industry, supporting our customers with comprehensive expertise and customised solutions, even for specific challenges in food production.”
This means Minebea Intec provides tailored solutions and maintains close collaboration with manufacturers to ensure safe production, even during peak seasons. As a result, the Christmas season remains a worry-free time of indulgence – allowing consumers to enjoy sweet treats with peace of mind.
www.minebea-intec.com
EFFICIENT AND EASYdisperse gums & thickeners with Silverson High Shear Mixers
Many food applications rely on the properties of gums and thickening agents such as pectin, xanthan, locust bean, carrageenan and acacia to give the end product the characteristics the manufacturer desires. Gums such as these can improve the “mouth feel” and texture of the end product as well as enhancing stability and shelf life. But they can cause a number of problems during manufacturing and can be difficult to disperse and hydrate correctly and efficiently.
For example, most gums and thickeners are prone to forming agglomerates when added to liquid. These consist of partially hydrated material with a dry powder core, resulting in poor quality and inconsistency between batches. This makes it difficult to obtain full yield of the raw ingredients, especially when using conventional stirrers and agitators. Traditional agitators struggle to effectively disperse these agglomerates, as they merely wash the surface, requiring extensive mixing times to complete hydration. As a result, many formulations contain unnecessarily high levels of gums to compensate for the poor yield,
which increases raw material costs. Premixing the gum with other powdered ingredients before adding to the water is often carried out to reduce the formation of agglomerates, but this is only partially successful and adds to process time.
Furthermore, certain ingredients require shear to activate and obtain functionality, which cannot be accomplished with agitators alone.
Unlike conventional mixers or agitators, Silverson high shear mixers utilise specialised rotor/stator technology that subjects the powdered and liquid
ingredients to intense mechanical and hydraulic shear as they are drawn into the workhead then forced out through the holes in the stator at high velocity. This mixing technology is especially useful for applications using gums and thickening agents, as the high shear action will swiftly disperse powders and disintegrate agglomerates, resulting in a uniform, consistent product, time after time.
Silverson has recently added a new ‘How to’ video on dispersing Carrageenan to their extensive video library. Previous videos in the how to series include guides on Xanthan Gum, Pectin, Gelatine, Starch, CMC and Locust Bean Gum, amongst others.
In this latest video, viewers can see how Silverson High Shear mixers are able to overcome the common problems associated with mixing different types of Carrageenan and create an agglomerate-free dispersion.
From laboratory to production-scale, Silverson Machines offers an unparalleled range of high shear mixers. For larger scale production, the Silverson Flashmix offers a highly efficient solution. The machine literally forces the powder into the liquid stream, concentrating its efforts on the small amount of product in the mixing chamber where the two streams mix on contact, so there’s no time for agglomerates to form.
Heat Transfer Systems and Solutions
Fulton’s class-leading fuel-fired and electrically-powered steam boilers and portfolio of aftercare solutions can help with your decarbonisation strategy and put your company on the Road to Net Zero. As a complete solutions provider, Fulton can provide you with:
· fuel-fired and electric steam boilers
· off-grid and point-of-use solutions
· ancillary plant / engineered systems
· steam surveys
· project management
· water treatment contracts
· accredited / certified training
· installation / commissioning / upgrades
· repair / service / maintenance programmes
Want to know more? Scan the QR code, click www.fulton.co.uk, email sales@fulton.co.uk or call +44 (0)117 972 3322.
T. Freemantle can cartoner sparkles at Belvoir
T. Freemantle’s Automatic Beverage Multipack Machine has played a pivotal role in Belvoir Farm’s move into canning, which has seen the soft drinks manufacturer invest £2m in a state-of-the-art canning line at its Leicestershire on-farm factory. Thanks to the machine’s unrivalled ability to carton virtually any can size into any multipack configuration, the fast and flexible system has enabled Belvoir to embark on an innovation drive that has sent sales of its canned drinks on an upwards trajectory.
Can culture
The popularity of the canned RTD (Ready To Drink) format has surged in recent years, on the back of changes in market culture and the rise of conscious consumerism. Light and convenient, cans are perfect for outdoor occasions, which have become a way of life since the pandemic. They are also one of the most sustainable forms of packaging as they can be recycled time and time again.
Whilst the canned RTD market is dominated by alcoholic offerings, there is huge demand for more sophisticated soft options, such as mocktails and botanical sodas. Premium soft drink producer Belvoir Farm had been servicing this market with a range of cans produced by a co-packer. However, by 2022, the company recognised it needed to bring can production in-house to fully capitalise on the canned RTD opportunity.
“Our canned portfolio was growing at such a pace that we needed to invest in in-house production. Up until that point, we hadn’t truly committed to the category,” says Martin Reynolds, head of engineering & project leader at Belvoir.
Ready to innovate
Belvoir wanted to roll out a number of new lines in canned format to drive the growth of its brand. It had plans to launch its RTD mocktails in 250ml cans alongside a new range of light soft drinks in 330ml slim cans and botanicals in 150ml cans. It also wanted to move into the multipack space, with fridge-friendly four packs (4 x 330ml slim cans) and six-packs (6 x 150ml mixer cans).
“We started looking at equipment for the canning line and when it came to the cartoning machine, the same name kept cropping up in conversation: T. Freemantle,” recalls Martin.
Belvoir invited T. Freemantle to its facility to discuss whether the packaging machinery manufacturer could meet its brief for a format-flexible cartoning machine that could be delivered within a six month timeframe.
A tall order?
“T. Freemantle confirmed everything we were hoping to hear - that their machine could handle all of the can formats we were hoping to run as well as those we might want to introduce in the future, such as 10 or 24 can multipacks for export markets,” says Martin.
“We did look at other machinery manufacturers but they couldn’t compete on timeframe, price, format flexibility, fast and simple cleandown or parts/service availability. We were quoted lead times of up to 12 months and the quotes were much higher as they said they would need to build bespoke systems to accommodate the different formats we wanted to run. T. Freemantle were very confident that a six month lead time from order to delivery was possible,” he adds.
Open or closed carton?
At this stage in the project, Belvoir hadn’t quite finalised what form the multipacks would take. Therefore, it tapped into T. Freemantle’s design studio service, which marries engineering expertise with
Simon Holt, head of sales at T.Freemantle (center) with the Belvoir production team.
knowledge of pack styles, materials, glues etc to come up with a design that would be line-compatible, practical and aesthetically appealing.
“Initially we were thinking we wanted an open-sided pack, but T. Freemantle’s advice was that a FEC (Fully Enclosed Carton) would be more viable. They gave us a good steer on what cartonboard would be suitable and pointed us in the direction of Graphic Packaging for designing and printing the cartons. They also recommended a really good glue supplier,” says Martin.
Performing under pressure
Belvoir placed its order in January and - true to its word - T. Freemantle installed the Automatic Beverage Multipack Machine six months later.
“Time was of the essence as we had already closed the contract with our co-packer so there was massive pressure on the factory to get can production moving again,” recalls Martin.
To ensure the project was delivered within the timescales, T. Freemantle took the unusual step of carrying out the FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) as part of the installation - demonstrating not only its commitment to the customer but also complete confidence in its technology.
“T. Freemantle were fully aware of the importance of starting can production on the specified date and they pulled out all the stops to make that happen,” says Martin.
Rising to the challenge
High speed packing of beverage cans into smaller cartons is an application that few engineering firms have mastered. It is possible to run four-packs on a machine designed for producing 12 or 24 can multipacks from thicker corrugated board, but the line speeds tend to be unfeasibly slow, which is why many beverage manufacturers resort to hand-packing smaller cartons.
T. Freemantle has come at this challenge from a different angle, drawing on its expertise in high speed food production lines. Instead of wrapping a blank around a collation of cans and then gluing it, the Automatic Beverage Multipack Machine uses pre-glued cartons, which are picked one at a time from a magazine holder, erected and presented to the can collation. This continuous motion process speeds up the cartoning process considerably.
A gem of a solution
T. Freemantle’s can collation solution is another unique design feature that sets the Automatic Beverage Multipack Machine apart from the competition and supports high speed performance. An infeed gate system facilitates the efficient release of cans into the machine, where they are guided into a diamond shape that is maintained along the length of the machine until they have been deposited in the open cartons.
“The diamond formation makes it much easier to insert the cans into the cartons than if they were presented square on. It also reduces the risk of snagging on the edges of the
Packaging & Labelling
cartons,” explains Simon Holt, head of sales (UK & Ireland) at T. Freemantle.
The company’s engineers have also put a lot of thought into the safe passage of cans through the machine - a particular challenge for taller cans and larger collations. The cans are supported throughout the insertion process to ensure can stability is maintained. They have also focused on keeping downtime for cleaning and changeovers to a minimum; can size changeover is simple and easy to perform with no change parts - format changeovers can be executed in as little as 15 minutes.
Fast and flexible
All of these features combine to make the Automatic Beverage Multipack Machine the fastest flexible can cartoning solution on the market today. Belvoir’s minimum line speed requirement - set by the filler - was 12,500 cans per hour, which equates to 50 cartons per minute. Martin reports that the line “easily and consistently” runs at 55 cartons per minute and could potentially reach 70 cartons per minute.
Having this capacity will allow the producer to ramp up its output to keep pace with demand.
In the first six months of operation (June to December 2023), Belvoir produced 1.5 million cans - more than a year’s worth of production under the co-packer arrangement.
“When the figures were presented to our executive board they were really impressed,” says Martin.
2025 target: up to ten million cans
For 2025, Belvoir is targeting between five and ten million cans, produced across several canning campaigns.
“As our canning line currently shares some equipment with our bottling line, we don’t can all the time. We plan a two or three week ‘canning campaign’, usually every other month, based on forecasts,” explains Martin.
The entire project was structured with short term sales targets and a long term goal of achieving payback within five years. To this end, in 2025, the company will invest £2m in new pasteurising and palletising equipment to allow the canning line to run independently, thereby further increasing capacity.
As to whether the project is delivering on its objectives Martin says: “It’s early days, but already we have secured new distribution for our RTD canned launches and are seeing growth from export markets, in particular the US, Australia, Canada, Japan and China. The flexibility afforded by the Automatic Beverage Multipack Machine is invaluable in helping us to adapt to market demands, whether that is producing an extra 10,000 cans or a 10-can pack for a US retailer.”
The Smarter Choice: Selling Food and Beverage Machines at Online Auction
In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, businesses often face the need to reassess their equipment to stay competitive. Whether it’s due to the closure of a production site, to create space for new machinery, or changing production demands, selling your food and beverage machines can be a strategic move. Unused or depreciating equipment represents untapped capital that could be reinvested into new production opportunities.
By auctioning your surplus equipment, whether just a few machines or an entire production site or line, you not only maximize your returns but also contribute to a more sustainable industry by reusing machinery. You can maintain your focus on optimizing production and meeting your business goals, while the auction platform handles every aspect of the sales process. From listing and marketing to finalizing the sale, the auctioneer ensures a smooth and efficient transaction, allowing you to unlock the value of your unused equipment without diverting attention from your core operations.
Auctioning by Industrial Auctions offers several advantages. “The shortage of qualified personnel in the food industry presents significant challenges for food producers and traders. We aim to alleviate this burden by taking the entire sales process off their hands. Additionally, we have a large international database, which allows us to reach a wide network of professionals within the industry, effectively connecting supply and demand”, explains the CEO of Industrial Auctions.
“We are always committed to making each auction a success. The hard work pays off when we see the satisfaction on everyone’s faces at the end. Working closely with a committed team not only makes the process more enjoyable but also drives us to achieve even greater results.”
Want to buy or sell your company assets? Visit the website now by scanning the QR code: https://www.Industrial-Auctions.com/ sell-your-food-beverage-assets/
Freshline® Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) helps you seal in freshness, wherever you are. Air Products offer high-purity gases and equipment which provide the results you need, come rain or shine. So for a taste of something better, put our unrivalled supply capability, unmatched experience, and outstanding technical support to the test.
