< PreviousThe leading food & drink events to revolutionise your business IFE & IFE Manufacturing 2023 are co-located with: Scan the QR code to secure your FREE PASS to attend or visit our websites: ife.co.uk ifemanufacturing.co.uk 20 - 22 March 2023 | ExCeL London International Food & Drink Event IFE Manufacturing IFE Manufacturing is the UK’s leading event for food and drink manufacturers to source ingredients, packaging, tech and manufacturing equipment and services. IFE is the leading event for retailers, wholesalers, distributors, importers, exporters, and hospitality professionals to source fi nished products. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 11:01 Page 7No B.S. goes beyond the bar with first ever RXBAR Granola No B.S. is getting a new look thanks to the first-ever line of RXBAR Granola. RXBAR Granola packs a delicious taste that fuels fans with realness in three flavors: Original, Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Sweet, salty and crunchy, RXBAR Granola is packed with distinctive, simple ingredients and 10g protein per serving. Plus, it delivers light, crispy clusters for a taste like no other. “Fans of RXBAR trust us for our no B.S. approach to snacking and new RXBAR Granola delivers on just that,” said Eileen Flaherty, Sr. brand manager – RXBAR. “Thanks to simple, protein-packed ingredients, RXBAR Granola has an unbeatable crunch, flavor and texture that will fuel fans’ active lifestyles and upgrade their breakfast, lunch or snack game from here on out.” on the shelf SERVED Hard Seltzer launches with Morrisons Premium British hard seltzer brand SERVED, co-owned by Ellie Goulding, has announced that it has launched into Morrisons as part of its ‘Growing British Brands’ accelerator programme. SERVED is available nationwide in selected stores and online. SERVED is designed for the modern health-conscious consumer who enjoy drinking in moderation, and prioritise quality, provenance and sustainability. SERVED contains 57 calories and doesn’t contain any sugar, sweeteners or anything artificial. SERVED is crafted in Herefordshire, where Ellie grew up, by infusing sparkling spring water with wonky fruit and pairing this with their own ServedPureTM vodka. The result is a refreshing 4% ABV plant-based, gluten-free alcoholic sparkling water with a crisp, fresh flavour, and a touch of natural sweetness. Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net BakeAway launches new dairy-free pancake brand, OaYeah! BakeAway is launching a ready-made, dairy-free pancake brand in the UK, OaYeah! which hits shelves just in time for Pancake Day. OaYeah! pancakes are made from an oat-based milk alternative. Available in “Original” and “Fluffy” American style, OaYeah! offers consumers a naturally sweet and creamy flavour, thanks to its proprietary oat drink base. Launching exclusively in Sainsbury’s from 15 February, OaYeah! will then be rolled out to other major retailers later in the spring. OaYeah!’s pack of four Fluffy Pancakes are thick American-style pancakes, which taste great with fresh raspberries, maple syrup or any of your other favourite pancake toppings. For consumers who prefer traditional pancakes, OaYeah! offers Original, which come in a pack of six and are delicious served sweet or savoury. Not only are these pancakes perfect for those that are lactose intolerant or looking to cut down on their dairy intake, but they are HFSS compliant and contain up to 45% less saturated fat and sugar compared to conventional ready-to-eat pancakes, making them a healthier alternative. Reese’s introduces Dipped Animal Crackers Reese’s is charging into your snack drawer with its new snack option – Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers. Worlds collide and this nostalgic childhood snack meets your favorite chocolate and peanut butter candy. These bite-sized animal crackers are covered in peanut butter candy and dipped in milk chocolate to give you that delicious Reese’s taste, now in a snack form. It’s an absolute zoo inside. Featuring 13 different animal shapes from lions to bears, your tastebuds are sure to go “Oh, my!” “Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers are sweet and crunchy creating the ultimate snack. They’re truly something to howl about,” said Nowell Kahle, manager, Snacks & Grocery at The Hershey Company. © The Hershey Company © Kellogg Company Rowntree’s new range ticks all the boxes New for 2023, Nestlé’s confectionery team is introducing a Rowntree’s non-HFSS range of sharing gummy sweets. The range is made with real fruit juice and 30% less sugar plus has no artificial flavourings, colourings, or sweeteners. The irresistibly fruity range comes in four formats:?Berry Hearts, Safari Mix, Gummy Bears, and Jelly Snakes.?Nestlé has utilised soluble corn fibre which allows a reduction in the amount of sugar and increases the product’s fibre content compared to traditional sugar confectionery. The range also contains 5.5% fruit juice. Rowntree’s brand manager, Hannah Boyle, said: “Like all of Rowntree’s products, the new Rowntree’s range has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. We’ve gone one step further with the new range, offering shoppers a yummy, more permissible treat with 30% less sugar that is also non-HFSS compliant. The playful range is made for sharing and we’re excited to share it with consumers across the UK who I’m sure will love the new shapes which are bursting with fruity flavour.” 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 11:01 Page 812 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT W hen news over food imports and exports in China hits the headlines, it is often regarding novel regulations, restrictions, processes and bans, geopolitical tension, trade wars, and, over the past few years, COVID-19-related challenges, from its zero-COVID policy to sporadic lockdowns, and severe port congestion. China is a stringent market, but as the most populous country in the world, that surpassed the United States as the leading importer of agricultural goods in 2020 (worth $193.5 billion U.S. dollars next to America’s $150 billion), it is full of opportunity. One of the fastest moving food and drink markets in the world, the country offers significant growth potential for exporters with a rapidly increasing middle class, consumer preferences shifting to a more sophisticated diet, and a widening willingness to spend more disposable income on higher quality food. Through the years, meanwhile, with high demand, agricultural imports have expanded at a much quicker pace than exports. The start of 2023 has come with some good news for those tapping into the Chinese market, with the safety measure of performing nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 dropped on January 8 for all categories of food imports - both those requiring and not requiring cold chain for transportation. China previously linked virus infections to contaminated packaging, though most scientists indicate a very small chance of this happening. The move now brings it in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, as the country looks to return to some sort of post-COVID normality and consumers slowly return to restaurants, shopping centres et al., offering a potential acceleration in demand from suppliers. Frozen meat and seafood are expected to benefit from this change most, which were severely impacted by the measures as a result of costs and time required for testing. Coming into the new year, many food products will also be affected by China’s 2023 Tariff Adjustment Plan, seeing import and export tariff adjustments to support the opening up of the country from January 1 2023. Import tariff reductions will be seen for a number of food products from fish to nuts to baby food. It is said to be in line with current local trends of upgrading the quality of food China is a huge market ripe for those wanting to grow their food and drink exports but can also be a precarious one. 14 Á 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:35 Page 1Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © stock.adobe.com/Golden Sikorka 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:35 Page 214 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT Gressenhall | Dereham | Norfolk | NR20 4DT | +44 (0)1362 861066 | www.premierpalletinverter.co.uk and drink consumption in China. Meanwhile the country is placing extra focus on its free trade agreements. Other positive shifts for trade have seen China lift its 2020 ban on the import of Irish beef, reopening a multimillion-euro market for Irish farmers. Beef shipments to China were suspended following the confirmation in May 2020 by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of an isolated case of atypical BSE. This was detected by the department’s surveillance programme, did not enter the food chain and was said to pose no risk to human health — atypical BSE occurs naturally and sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and is not considered a public health risk. Nevertheless, beef exports were immediately suspended as a precautionary measure in line with the bilateral protocol on the trade agreed with the General Administration of Customs of China. Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, said: “Negotiating the resumption of beef access has been a top priority for my department over the last two and a half years.” McConalogue continued: “Ireland’s reputation as an exporter of high- quality beef worldwide hinges on its compliance with stringent animal health and food safety standards. As a major food exporter, we are always very conscious of the concerns of our customers. China’s decision to resume Irish beef imports on the same conditions as before represents a clear vote of confidence in the output of our beef sector…I look forward to seeing the value of the Chinese market grow in the time ahead to reward the efforts of everyone involved.” Access to the Chinese market has also been granted to the Philippines for the lucrative durian fruit, following the signing of a protocol agreeing on the phytosanitary requirements for fresh durian exports to China, giving the same market access as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. More than 9,000 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs are expected to be generated in the move. It comes as the president of the Philippines secured a $2 billion fruit export deal with China. Furthermore Ecuador started 2023 by signing a free trade deal with China, allowing preferential access for 99% of Ecuador’s current exports to the country, especially agricultural and agro- industrial products such as shrimp, bananas, cocoa, and coffee. The door will also be opened to non-traditional exports from Ecuador. This doesn’t mean all countries have faced positive trading decisions from China, however, with Taiwan hit by a growing list of export bans, and tensions building between the two countries. In December the General Administration of Customs suspended imports of frozen seafood from myriad Taiwanese exporters, with Chinese officials indicating that they wanted more documentation before allowing the seafood through, with it not conforming with new requirements. A number of beverages have also been impacted by new bans, which follow restrictions on pineapples, apples, 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:35 Page 3Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT D Davies Turner snacks and pastries. It has been highlighted that these bans have primarily impacted goods highly reliant on the Chinese market for exports, and though China has justified the decisions by claiming the products do not meet food safety standards, political motivations are suggested. Steps to help Taiwanese companies develop new markets have been taken in response, such as positioning fruits towards Japan. While China offers great opportunities it remains a market to be approached carefully. © stock.adobe.com/vegefox.com 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:35 Page 416 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT We explore the current trends in the food packaging space and what pitfalls producers should look out for. O ne trend we can, and should, all get behind is the rush to hop on board with sustainability. The key here is seeing this shift towards green thinking as much more than just a fad. More business operatives and owners are switching on to the fact that we can’t keep over-using materials that harm our planet – not if we want it to go on supporting our lives as we know them. On the customer end of business savvy, eighty-one per cent of people now look for sustainable attributes in the products they buy, including packaging. In many ways, we can’t afford not to become eco-warriors in our approach to business. When looking over your options between sustainable materials, the terminology and surprising variety might be overwhelming. But researching one category at a time, from recyclable and circular, to Up and coming trends in packaging Up and coming trends in packaging 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:59 Page 1Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT © stock.adobe.com/etonastenka biodegradable and compostable, will help you ease into the functions, pros and cons of each one. Recyclable materials are the ones that most people will be familiar with, referring in packaging to boxes, bags and wrappers that can be recycled after use and become something else, rather than being wasted on landfill. Recyclable packaging can be made from already 18 Á Measom Freer Measom Freer are one of the leading plastic bottle manufacturers in the UK, and understand the importance of excellent choice and good customer service. Offering an unrivalled catalogue of shapes of plastic bottles, Measom Freer are confident they can help customers to source the ideal bottle for their needs. What’s more, Measom Freer can provide a custom moulding operation for companies needing their own shape or moulding, assisting in design all the way through to production with the strictest of confidentiality at all stages. Whether it’s for beauty and cosmetics, skin and hair care, pet products, car detailing, chemical containers, food produce or anything in between, Measom Freer have the experience and expertise to support a brand every step of the way. In addition, Measom Freer are committed to good environmental practice, with their products designed using recyclable and responsibly sourced thermoplastics. For more information visit www.measomfreer.co.uk 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:59 Page 218 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT recycled materials and continue the green chain by being repeatedly reused. This is what’s known as circular packaging, based on the concept of a circular economy – one where as many materials as possible keep being reused in a continuous loop, never needing to go to waste. The idea has grown to become not only recognised but respected in the food and drink industry, businesses flocking to this solution that saves money on manufacturing and eases material disposal, while appealing to and expanding their customer base. However, it’s important to note that packaging made from recycled materials isn’t all equally green. Without the impetus on a circular economy, recycled packaging can’t always recycle again. But there are always other options. Renewable materials such as cellulose, starch and soy protein can be made into biodegradable packaging materials which naturally decompose. What you must watch out for here is being certain that the biodegradable packaging you use are made from these sustainable base materials. Certain plastics are also biodegradable but are decidedly not planet friendly. Biodegradable plastics break down into microplastics, carried by air and water to contaminate animals and their habitats, the ocean and our own bodies. Compostable packaging is less difficult to judge in its eco-friendliness, as it will all be made from natural materials. These break down into their original components over time, meaning they can often be disposed of with food waste in a compost bin, and doesn’t have to be washed beforehand. The © stock.adobe.com/zzzdim 20 Á 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:59 Page 3www.foenixcoding.comm DESIGNED&MADEINTHEUK T:+44(0)1932701449 E:sales@foenixcoding.com Contactusforafree on-sitedemonstration Whatiscodingandmarking? Codingandmarkingisprintingvariableandstatic informationonproductsduringmanufacturingprocess. Manufacturing, Batch &DateCodes Barcoding Branding& Product Information Traceability Track&Trace tion Track&Trace IntuitiveInteraction HighResolutionprint Affordablepricing Noservicecontracts Zerodowntime OnePrinterforallyourapplications Printer 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 30/01/2023 10:59 Page 4Next >