< Previous10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news BrewDog appoints first chief supply chain officer BrewDog has appointed Chris Fielden as its first chief supply chain officer. The new role will cover all aspects of sourcing, production, packaging and distribution for BrewDog beers and spirits. Chris joins BrewDog from Warp Snacks, the company behind the Eat Real and Proper Popcorn snacking brands, where is he is currently supply chain director. Prior to that Chris spent over six years in a similar role at Innocent Drinks where he was responsible for establishing Innocent’s super sustainable production site in the Netherlands. Chris began his career at PepsiCo where he had multiple roles over a period of ten years, including running the company’s juices business in Europe. “I am very excited about joining BrewDog,” said Chris Fielden. “It’s a company that wants to do business the right way and that’s really important to me. I love the product and I love the company’s people, planet, beer ethos.” Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company and HEINEKEN UK announce UK deal for Kronenbourg 1664 Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced a deal in which Carlsberg Group will acquire the UK rights for French beer brand Kronenbourg from HEINEKEN UK. The transfer of the licence will be effective from 1 June 2023. The deal will see Carlsberg Group acquire all rights to produce and distribute the well-known premium lager, Kronenbourg 1664 in the UK via CMBC. The Kronenbourg 1664 brand is owned globally by Carlsberg Group. Under the agreement, HEINEKEN UK will continue to brew and pack Kronenbourg 1664 under contract, before moving to CMBC in 2024. A three-year commercial arrangement has also been agreed to continue to list and provide the brand to HEINEKEN UK’s Star Pubs & Bars. HEINEKEN UK has held the licence for the lager since 2008, following the acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle by Carlsberg and HEINEKEN. © stock.adobe.com/venge Government plans new rules to support UK pork farmers and processors with written contracts Government plans to support the UK’s pig sector by committing to regulate pig contracts to support the supply chain and provide greater certainty across the whole sector. New regulations will help to bring stability and security to the pig supply chain, strengthening the sector’s ability to deal with the challenges it faces around the world, such as rising costs and labour shortages caused by global pressures. The move follows a public consultation last year, which received nearly 400 responses from producers, processors and others in the supply chain. It revealed popular sentiment in the sector that legally required written contracts would remove uncertainty and ambiguity, with the majority of respondents supporting the government’s approach to implement this through legislation. Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “The pig sector has faced unprecedented challenges over the last year, with rising costs and global labour shortages putting real pressure on producers and processors. “We are committed to working with the sector, and the regulations set to be introduced will ensure fairness and transparency across the supply chain – from pig to pork to plate – to help the sector to thrive in the future.” The regulations will be developed using the regulation-making power in section 29 of the Agriculture Act 2020, with further engagement with industry to ensure that they meet the needs of the sector and properly address the challenges the sector faces. As well as regulation on written contracts, the government will develop regulations to collect and share more supply chain data, particularly in relation to wholesale price transparency and national slaughter numbers. Increasing the availability of this sort of data within the supply chain will help market reporting services be more reflective of the entire UK market, and will therefore help to further reduce ambiguity for all within the supply chain. The consultation has also revealed pig producers’ concerns about market consolidation in the processing sector, and the impact this has had on producers. In response to this, the government will be sharing the consultation’s findings relating to the alleged negative consequences of market consolidation with the Competition and Markets Authority. Sainsbury’s goes trayless on whole chickens, saving over 10 million pieces of plastic a year Sainsbury’s has announced that its by Sainsbury’s whole chicken range is now trayless, after the retailer removed single-use plastic trays from its packaging. Using a minimum of 50% less plastic, the change is estimated to save 140 tonnes of plastic annually. The trayless products are available in all stores across the UK and online, helping to reduce the amount of single-use plastic customers have to dispose of at home. The change affects five products in total, including all by Sainsbury’s whole chickens ranging from extra small to extra- large sizes. The film packaging can still be recycled at one of Sainsbury’s front-of-store flexible plastics recycling points. The move is the latest in a string of plastic reductions as part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to halve its use of own brand plastic packaging by 2025. © stock.adobe.com/ Gresei 04-13.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:43 Page 7 NE 28–62 NIMRIEC, B 8 SEPTEM M GHAN MBER 202 32 S VSA EV T ETH E ON ND NG OR D TEDA !E VISIO TS A AGI NT F PRO T IND RMACHINE OCESSING A ’S NKTHE U DUSTRIAL VISION TS AND O, ROBR ACKAGING PAND NO.1 EVENT FOR Y KO.U PPMA .COASHOW 04-13.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:43 Page 8Highland Spring Group’s net-zero target approved by the Science Based Target initiative Highland Spring Group, the producers of natural source waters, has had its science-based net-zero target approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) under the new Net-Zero Standard. In 2021, the business announced its ambitious climate target to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and set credible and robust science-based targets. The Group says it continues to work collaboratively with suppliers to explore and maximise opportunities to reduce emissions across its entire operations, from source to shelf. Simon Oldham, Managing Director, Highland Spring Group, said: “Since the business was founded over 40 years ago, our core purpose has been to provide healthy hydration in an environmentally sustainable way. The SBTi verification is an important milestone on our journey to net-zero and demonstrates our commitment to tackling climate change. “We recognise the vital role companies must play in helping achieve transformation at the pace and scale needed to limit global warming to 1.5oC and we will continue to work hard on our strategy to create a positive impact for people, society and the planet.” Kite Packaging enters third year of carbon neutrality 2023 brings renewed confirmation of carbon neutrality for Kite Packaging Group Limited from Carbon Neutral Britain. In 2022, Kite achieved carbon neutral status under Scopes 1 and 2, extending their offsetting to also include third-party deliveries under Scope 3. Following on from last year, the employee share-owned company has maintained this, successfully offsetting a total of 1338 tonnes of CO?e emissions, far exceeding their emissions for the year. All Kite trucks and outbound deliveries made by third-party couriers have been offset and are therefore carbon neutral. The company is continuing to operate with carbon neutral delivery, whether that is between Kite’s NDC and RDCs or directly to their customers and will be shown on customer delivery notes. The employee share-owned company avoided a further 198 CO?e by using renewable energy in their operation, having fitted solar panels at their new premises in Puma Park, Coventry. This is in keeping with their ambitions to use renewable energy for electrical consumption. 12 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net on line Six craft beverage equipment suppliers merge in $100m deal Six American craft beverage equipment suppliers have merged in a $100 million deal to create LOTUS Beverage Alliance. The combined capabilities of LOTUS Beverage Alliance will enable beverage manufacturers of all sizes to access the most comprehensive array of products spanning every step of production for craft beer, wine, hard cider, spirits, cold brew coffee, ready-to-drink cocktails, kombucha, CBD/THC-infused drinks, and sake beverages. The six merged companies, Alpha Brewing Operations, GW Kent, Twin Monkeys, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions, are leaders in craft beverage equipment manufacturing and offer essential infrastructure and technology for diversifying the craft beverage industry. The five founders of the six companies will remain in senior leadership positions at LOTUS: Matt Rennerfeldt, John Watt, Kevin Weaver, Josh Van Riper, and Randy Reichwage. John Ansbro, an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in equipment manufacturing, has been named Chief Executive Officer for LOTUS. Ansbro has held senior executive positions at Alfa Laval, Johnson Controls, and the GEA Group. Benford Capital acquires Legacy Bakehouse Benford Capital Partners (BCP), a Chicago-based private equity firm, has acquired Legacy Bakehouse in partnership with President Peter Sardina, who will continue to lead the company. Founded in 1917 and based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Legacy Bakehouse is a leading developer and manufacturer of baked snack ingredients, including bagel chips, rye chips, pita chips, and other ingredients for leading CPG and retail customers. In addition, Legacy is the brand owner and manufacturer of Pinahs Rye Chips and Snack Mixes. “We are excited to partner with Benford Capital in our next phase of growth,” said President Peter Sardina. “Our team looks forward to working together to grow with our existing customers, expand our production footprint, and remain committed to exceptional customer service.” BCP and Legacy plan to invest in enhanced operational capacity and sales capabilities to drive organic growth. In addition, BCP and management will actively pursue add-on acquisitions of other snack component developers and manufacturers. © stock.adobe.com/Vasiliy © stock.adobe.com/Rido Hershey to acquire two manufacturing plants from Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing The Hershey Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire two manufacturing plants from Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing, a recognized leader in popcorn production and co-packing, and a co- manufacturer of Hershey’s SkinnyPop brand. Through the deal, Hershey will acquire Weaver’s operations in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Whitestown, Indiana. The acquisition is designed to enable the company to sustain strong growth for its SkinnyPop brand by strengthening internal supply chain capabilities in combination with its network of strategic suppliers and co- manufacturers. “Hershey has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years, stemming from a combination of successful strategy execution and an increase in more snacking occasions among consumers,” said Kristen Riggs, president, Salty Snacks, The Hershey Company. “In fact, SkinnyPop has been number one in retail sales growth for ready-to- eat popcorn over the last three years.” © stock.adobe.com/ blacksalmon © stock.adobe.com/ SFIO CRACHO 04-13.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:43 Page 9Czech Mates: Budvar announces its first ever collaboration lager brewed in the UK Budweiser Budvar, the national brewery of the Czech Republic, has announced its first ever collaboration lager to be brewed outside its home country. The lager is called Czech Mates and is brewed with Thornbridge, the original UK craft brewery, home to award-winning craft beers and ales. Czech Mates will be available to purchase from May 16 from thornbridgebrewery.co.uk and major UK retailers. Bringing together centuries of Czech brewing expertise, the finest British ingredients and cutting-edge technology, Czech Mates is a Czech-style lager that aims to fuel a growing appreciation for quality, traditionally brewed lager across the UK. Czech Mates is an aromatic, crisp and beautifully balanced 4.8% beer, brewed to the same high standards as all Budweiser Budvar and Thornbridge products, and made at Thornbridge brewery, located in Bakewell in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales. The traditional Czech brewing method of decoction and long, slow maturing complement the British-grown Maris Otter malt and East Kent Goldings hops, while Budvar’s decades-old yeast strain makes the journey from Budweis to Bakewell to bring it all to life. on the shelf Ice cream brand launches new indulgent flavour A family-run ice cream brand has launched a new flavour after consumer research found it to be the UK’s most appealing choice. Mackie’s of Scotland will see its new ice cream flavour, toffee fudge, hit shelves after it commissioned a thorough market research campaign which surveyed new and existing flavours with consumers. The study was carried out by food and drink business consultants, Levercliff, and found that out of 26 different combinations, toffee fudge had the broadest appeal across the UK, with 40% of people saying it was their preferred choice. The ice cream will be available in Scottish Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores, as well as Ocado across England and Wales. Just Desserts Yorkshire introduce milk cakes to dessert range Just Desserts Yorkshire have introduced two new milk cake traybakes to their growing range of desserts. Also known as Tres Leches Cake, the Lotus Milk Cake and Rose and Pistachio Milk Cake have been handcrafted using the traditional method of soaking milk into the sponge base before topping and decoration is added. The Lotus Milk Cake and Rose and Pistachio Milk Cake NPD, comes in response to meeting customer demands and is now available throughout retail, hospitality and food service outlets. Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net Masons of Yorkshire collaborate with Magic Rock Brewery on Botanicalist Gin & Tonic IPA Launched just in time for Beer Day Britain (15 June 2023) and Father’s Day (18 June 2023), two Northern English powerhouses Masons of Yorkshire and Magic Rock Brewery have paired up to launch Botanicalist, a zesty Gin & Tonic IPA, packed to the brim with juniper and hops, all brewed and canned in Yorkshire. Combining state-of-the-art distilling with cutting-edge brewing techniques, this is a delicious mix of eight different botanicals made into a clean and crisp classic IPA. The result is a refreshing, complex, ultra-effervescent beer, infused with the multiple award-winning Masons of Yorkshire Original Gin botanicals, bursting with hoppy flavour, punchy citrus and grapefruit, pine, and a trace of sweet bitterness: made with Mosaic, Centennial, Cascade, Columbus and Lemondrop hops. Tesco launch Welsh-inspired Eccentric Spirit Co vodka and rum across Wales Welsh-inspired spirits brand Eccentric Spirit Co has secured a listing with Tesco across Wales. The brand’s Cardi Bay Vodka and Black Batch Rum, which is produced by the award-winning Cardigan distillery In the Welsh Wind, is now available in more than 50 Tesco stores across the country. It is the first major retail partner for Eccentric Spirit Co which was acquired by the distillery in March 2020. Over the past three years it has secured several industry awards as well as undergoing a major redesign, including distinctive new labelling and its ‘dog tags’ bottle. With a saturated gin market, distillery sales and export manager Dan Jones spotted a gap in the market and is confident the distillery can capitalise with its award-winning Welsh vodka and rum. He said: “As a business, which has seen everyone hands-on with the brand, we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Tesco. It will allow the Eccentric Spirit Co. community to access our products easier and gives the brand a real platform to shout about our distillery and our award-winning range.” 04-13.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:43 Page 1014 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net ROCOL LUBRICANTS Q&A What does the BRC Global Standard Food Safety (Issue 9) mean for food manufacturers? BRCGS Issue 9 increases the focus on creating a strong product safety culture across food manufacturing facilities. It specifies the safety, quality and operational criteria that manufacturing organisations are measured against to ensure legal compliance and the protection of the end consumer. It extends safety criteria across a much wider range of companies and means that, from February this year, facilities operating at every point in the food manufacturing supply chain are being audited to the same stringent criteria. An animal feed manufacturer must now demonstrate the same stringent food safety performance as a chocolate maker. As the new standard is rolled out, manufacturers will need to prove their food safety credentials and demonstrate the steps they take on a day-to-day basis throughout their organisation to prevent incidents that can put the safety of end products at risk. A safety culture involves eliminating risk at every point of the manufacturing process, which is where ROCOL’s FOODLUBE range of food grade lubricants comes in. FOODLUBE products are manufactured within the strict guidelines of ISO 21469:2006, ensuring zero risk to products and consumers in the event of incidental food contact. They are also NSF approved, Halal, Kosher, and have Vegan Society registration, delivering a product range that supports vital food safety and audit compliance. How can manufacturers ensure their lubrication management programme is fit for purpose? Selecting the most appropriate lubricants to support food safety across your entire operation is just one part of the story. Lubricant usage and effectiveness also have an important part to play. As well as supporting safety, a proactive approach to lubrication management is key to achieving equipment efficiency, plant productivity and eliminating machine downtime. The ROCOLcare lubrication management programme starts with an audit to assess lubricant use, frequency and application methods for every asset in your production facility. From there, a bespoke lubrication schedule is developed, which maximises machine performance and lubricant use. This is followed by operator training to ensure that the right products are applied in the right quantities, at the right intervals, to deliver optimum operational efficiency and rationalised lubricant usage. As well as efficiency benefits, this proactive approach provides full audit compliance regarding your lubrication system. How does ROCOL ensure products meet real-life customer needs? Our approach to product development is simple. It starts by Q&A ROCOL Lubricants With BRC Global Standard for Food Safety (Issue 9) now in force, food manufacturers face even greater pressure to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain. ROCOL Lubricants food specialist Andy Howard looks at steps they can take to achieve this with their lubricant usage. Andy Howard 14-15.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:46 Page 1Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net ROCOL LUBRICANTS Q&A understanding the challenges end users are facing, which enables us to focus our technical expertise and NPD resources in these areas to help overcome those challenges and make customers’ lives easier. This customer-back approach has resulted in many new product launches, formulations and formats across the business. Our DETEX metal detectable caps and actuators were developed in partnership with customers to support preventative control programmes across food production sites and are now used on all ROCOL aerosol and spray cans and standard grease cartridges. It also led to the recent introduction of FOODLUBE 1500 Spray, a highly tacky oil in aerosol format for the long- lasting lubrication of chains and presses in food, pharmaceutical and other clean environments. The high viscosity, high- tack formulation reduces contamination risks by minimising drips when used on overhead equipment, displacing water in situ and penetrating hard-to-reach channels, such as chain links, to deliver effective lubrication while protecting against wear and corrosion. How important is it that food manufacturers continue to invest in staff training around the machinery maintenance? A culture of food safety in your organisation is only ever as strong as your weakest link. The food safety culture section of BRCGS Issue 9 has evolved, and now looks at the behavioural changes required within an organisation to improve product safety. This extends across the entire organisation; it is not limited to technical and production teams. It requires manufacturers to implement a plan for the development, maintenance and improvement of a food safety culture - and training is key. Making sure that the relevant people in your team are equipped with the knowledge to deliver maintenance regimes that support and promote food safety is an important aspect of your wider training programme. Not only will this support audit compliance, it will also eliminate the risks associated with incorrect lubricant application, which can reduce equipment efficiency and result in lubricant overspend. From the fundamentals of lubrication to in-depth training for specific industries or applications - bearings and chains through to gearboxes and hydraulics – our training programme is designed to keep your maintenance teams at the top of their game. Phone: +44 (0)113 232 2600 Email : customer.service@rocol.com Visit: www.rocol.com 14-15.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:46 Page 216 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT & EXPORT D espite a challenging year, Irish food and drink exports hit a new record high in 2022, with Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects report 2022/23 revealing the value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports climbed by 22% to € 16.7 billion. The growth in exports, up € 3 billion since 2021 and almost 30% on pre-pandemic levels, can be attributed to both rising unit prices as a result of inflation and input and operational costs, as well as an increase in the volume of goods exported. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, said: “I’m proud to announce [the] excellent results, which were delivered amid a profoundly challenging year for the sector, most notably the impact of the war in Ukraine, inflationary pressures on producers, and ongoing COVID-19 disruptions to the global supply chain. Against the backdrop of this difficult global trading environment, Ireland has continued to maintain its reputation as a world-class sustainable food producer and supplier, while also successfully securing new business in new markets around the world.” Dairy remained the largest category in Irish food and drink exports, with over 1.7 million tonnes of product reaching more than 130 markets worldwide, with exports valued at € 6.8 billion last year, a year-on-year jump of 33%, driven primarily by butter and cheese. The meat and livestock sector followed, with exports valued at over € 4 billion - a 15% increase compared to 2021. While product prices escalated across all meat species, this performance also mirrors rising output levels and average prices within the beef and sheepmeat sectors. Irish beef exports were the largest contributor to the meat sector, valued at € 2.5 billion, an increase of 18% on 2021. Moreover, though Irish seafood export values grew by 3% year-on-year to € 530 million, there was a 19% decrease in volumes exported, due to challenges faced by Irish seafood exporters in securing supply. Prepared consumer food (PCF), meanwhile, saw export values surpass € 3 billion, driven by the reopening of foodservice following the lift of COVID- 19 restrictions across key markets. Inflation had a major role in this surge, which was up 17% compared to 2021 levels, as input costs volatility and expansion Though Irish food and drink exports have hit new record highs, the country maintains a need to diversify its end markets. 18 Á expansion Irish 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:47 Page 1Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT & EXPORT © stock.adobe.com/Sławomir Fajer 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:48 Page 218 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT & EXPORT skyrocketing energy prices restricted new growth opportunities in the UK and European markets. Irish drink exports were a star in the year, reaching almost € 2 billion for the first time (a 25% increase on pre- pandemic levels), illustrating the recovery and expansion of the sector, and the impact of premiumisation. Irish whiskey exports led the way, representing 60% of the overall value growth in 2022, with exports of nearly € 1 billion for the first time (up 25% on 2021). Lastly, exports of Irish horticulture and cereals exceeded € 300 million, with mushrooms, mainly set for the UK, accounting for 50% (down 6% on 2021), while cereals exports were valued at € 73 million (up 10% on 2021). To expand the audience for Irish products in future, the country has, and is keeping, focused on strengthening relationships with myriad countries, especially as the fallout of Brexit continues to cause harm and illustrate a critical need to diversify, with government agencies supporting this, particularly for product categories with over dependence. Recently, for example, in 2023, Enterprise Ireland launched a new initiative to help Irish companies impacted by Brexit explore international growth opportunities in novel markets outside the UK. In 2022, 34% of Ireland’s total food and drink exports in value terms were set for international markets, while the EU and UK accounted for 34% and 32%. With the UK remaining the largest single country market for Irish food and drink exports, with exports valued at an estimated € 5.4 billion in 2022 (an increase of 20% on 2021 levels), Irish exporters will need to keep steering through an uncertain trading environment with the UK, and a slowing British economy. Away from the UK, Irish food and drink exports to the EU rose by 29% to € 5.7 billion last year, and for international markets, the value was up 23% to reach € 5.6 billion, with exports to the US jumping by almost 40% to more than € 2 billion. Furthermore, Ireland’s food and drink exports to Asia increased by 9% to € 1.5 billion, despite China’s Coronavirus restrictions leading to a decline in exports to the country, with growth in the value of exports to the Philippines, India, Malaysia and Japan offsetting this. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:48 Page 3© stock.adobe.com/ink drop Food & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT & EXPORT Though the delivery of products to the major market of China was cut last year, looking ahead there is renewed excitement for growth, with 2023 kicking off with the resumption of Irish beef exports after their suspension in 2020 due to an isolated case of atypical BSE. Alongside this comes the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China, and a widening demand for dairy ingredients, showing the potential for a return to growth for Irish exports to the country. This has been followed by Martin Heydon, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, promoting Irish food and drink as part of the first in-person agri- food trade visit to China since 2019. With China in sight, Irish firms have the opportunity to benefit from the reopening of foodservice (where Irish products were previously commonly placed), the market’s demand for a range of beef cuts (to reduce UK and EU dependence), and the country’s expanding middle class. Some key cuts for China, like short-rib (karubi), gold coin, shank, shin, heel and rib fingers are purchased at a premium where they are lower-value cuts in other markets. The return of Irish beef is also timely with Bord Bia launching a three-year € 1.3 million beef and lamb promotion to highlight the safety, sustainability, and natural values of beef and lamb to Chinese consumers and customers; a campaign intensifying until May 2024. This promotion comes as vital to enhance Irish meat exports and give them a competitive advantage, as the sustainability expectations of consumers and global meat buyers grow. The promotion of these values is also being taken worldwide, to Malaysia for instance, where at the end of last year Ireland secured access for the export of pigmeat, and the Middle East, which has been targeted as an important market for Ireland, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, where 80-90% of all food is imported. With 2023 continuing as a year of economic difficulty and challenging supply chains, whether the success of Irish exports can be maintained is to be seen. It will be essential for exporters to take note of how consumers are responding to the cost of living crisis in order to position products appropriately. 16-19.qxp_Layout 1 24/04/2023 11:48 Page 4Next >