Ready meals Materials handing Developing markets Developing markets INTERNATIONAL Microbiology and testingpowered by employee share-ownership 02476 420065 Download our app today! kitepackaging.co.uk Find out more Browse over 2,500 packaging products online at: kitepackaging.co.uk Food packaging for your business Discover our range of sustainable ĨŽŽĚƉĂĐŬĂŐŝŶŐƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐContents August 2023 This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. FoodandDrinkInternational @fdiforumwww.fdiforum.net company/fdiforum News 4 • General news • On line - production news • On the shelf - new products and initiatives Import and export14 The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on food and drink imports and exports continues to be felt, with arguments over a grain deal recently sending shockwaves and threatening global food security. Processing spotlight18 Over recent years, advancements in technology and the relentless pursuit of efficiency and sustainability have led to significant innovations within food production. Ready meals22 Ready meals are here to stay and are fast becoming the food of choice for every working adult and student. Materials handling 26 Safely and efficiently moving raw resources, ingredients and finished products requires careful planning in all materials handling. Microbiology and testing30 From preventing foodborne illnesses to combating contamination, we explore the importance of laboratory testing and burgeoning technologies like cold plasma. Pouch packaging34 Once reserved for pet food, pouch packaging could shake up the industry – ticking all the right boxes. Sustainability, affordability, and flexibility. Group Editor: Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor: Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor’s PA: Angela Sharman (a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist: Tess Egginton (t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales Director: Teri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales: Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310302 Accounts & Subscriptions: John Downes (j.downes@blmgroup.co.uk) Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) Editorial: Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310305, Email: fdi@blmgroup.co.uk Part of the Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE England All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. Main: stock.adobe.com/DinaBelenko • Top: stock.adobe.com/Itsanan • Middle: stock.adobe.com/Марина Жукова • Bottom: stock.adob e.com/weyo Software and hardware38 In the fast-paced world of food manufacturing, embracing the power of automation to streamline production processes, enhance efficiency, and elevate food safety standards is becoming a must for manufacturers. London Packaging Week41 Taking place on the 21st and 22nd September, London Packaging Week promises to show why packaging matters more now than ever before! Labelexpo Europe42 Labelexpo Europe 2023, the world’s largest label and package printing technology trade show returns to Brussels Expo. Speciality and fine food fair44 The Speciality & Fine Food Fair will be welcomed back to Olympia London on 11-12 September 2023. Events46 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world. Classified 49 Food and Drink Diary 50Mars snaps up Kevin’s Natural Foods Mars has signed an agreement to acquire Kevin’s Natural Foods, a high-growth, nutritious meal company, to join its brands in the Mars Food & Nutrition segment. Kevin’s makes chef-inspired sous-vide meals, sides, and sauces. Using whole foods and simple ingredients, it meets the needs of today’s busy consumers by helping them eat healthier food within minutes, without sacrificing on bold world flavors. Kevin’s has enjoyed double-digit growth since it was founded in 2019 and is now available across 17,000+ retail locations, from grocery stores and supermarkets, through to digital commerce. Kevin’s Natural Foods will operate as a standalone business within Mars Food & Nutrition, reporting to its president, Shaid Shah. Kevin’s Natural Foods will play a key role in Mars Food & Nutrition’s ongoing journey to enable delicious, healthier eating to be part of consumers’ daily lives. Kevin’s products will complement Mars Food & Nutrition’s core portfolio and recent product innovations. 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Kraft Heinz invests $400m to build major automated distribution center The Kraft Heinz Company is set to make a more than $400 million investment to build one of the largest automated CPG distribution centers in North America. Located in DeKalb, Ill., the 775,000 square-foot national distribution facility will feature state-of-the-art automation technology and national railway access, enabling Kraft Heinz to drive greater supply chain efficiencies and distribute its products to retail and foodservice customers faster than ever. The facility is expected to bring more than 150 jobs to the region. “As we continue on our journey to lead the future of food, our talented North America teams and collaborative external partners are innovating at a rapid pace to expand our supply chain capabilities,” said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, executive vice president and president, North America at Kraft Heinz. “The DeKalb distribution center is expected to play a critical role in our larger distribution strategy, moving more than 60 percent of Kraft Heinz dry goods in North America through our automated facilities. It’s a testament to the dynamic, out-of-the-box thinking of our supply chain teams whose work enables us to operate with greater efficiency and agility every day.” The facility’s design includes a 24/7 automated storage and retrieval system with the ability to drive twice the volume for Kraft Heinz customers, distributing more than 60 percent of the company’s foodservice business and approximately 30 percent of all dry goods. It is also expected to contribute to Kraft Heinz’s ability to achieve its broader ESG ambitions to reduce its operational environmental footprint through the implementation of sustainable technology and solutions to reduce the waste produced at the facility and minimize its overall environmental impact. Kraft Heinz has partnered with Trammell Crow Company (TCC), a global commercial real estate developer; Krusinski Construction Company (KCC), as general contractor; Daifuku, as integrated logistics automation provider; and the City of DeKalb and the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) on the development of the facility. Emmi divests the Gläserne Molkerei The Emmi Group is divesting the Gläserne Molkerei, a northeast German-based company specialising in the production of regional organic dairy products, to Mutares with headquarters in Munich. The transaction is consistent with the Group’s ongoing portfolio transformation and focus on profitable strategic markets and niches such as ready-to-drink coffee, speciality cheeses, premium chilled desserts and plant-based dairy alternatives. The Gläserne Molkerei generated sales of around EUR 100 million with over 120 employees in 2022. “The new ownership structure creates sustainable future prospects for the Gläserne Molkerei with its high-quality range of organic dairy products and enables Emmi to continue to implement its strategy of focus,” said Ricarda Demarmels, CEO of the Emmi Group. After a thorough review of various options and intensive discussions with a range of interested parties, Emmi has decided to divest the Gläserne Molkerei to Mutares, a company specialising in turnaround situations. Mutares has a track record of putting companies back on the road to success, both operationally and strategically, thus creating attractive prospects for employees, trading partners, consumers and suppliers alike. Co-founder of world’s first rhino orphanage acquires White Rhino Gin Co In a union of conservation and craftsmanship, Pete Richardson, co-founder of the world’s first baby rhino orphanage, has acquired The White Rhino Gin Company Ltd and the Urban Rhino gin brand. This unique development not only marks an exciting milestone for Pete but also introduces an exclusive limited-edition legacy batch for gin enthusiasts around the world. Pete Richardson, 57, was working in The Waterberg area of Limpopo in South Africa when the rhino poaching crisis hit the headlines back in 2012. Along with conservationist Arrie van Deventer, Pete was part of the team that took action to save the orphaned babies and went on to establish the world’s first purpose-built facility – The Rhino Orphanage. Pete remains an active director of the orphanage, despite now living in the UK. Through this connection, Pete crossed paths with Belinda Chaffer, the driving force behind Waterberg Rhino UK, who introduced him to the owners of The White Rhino Gin Company. © stock.adobe.com/ dStudio © stock.adobe.com/ Emil Kraft Heinz DeKalb National Distribution Center 26-28 SEPT HALL 5 • NEC PPMASHOW.CO.UK6 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Cardboard trays introduced to by Sainsbury’s steaks, saving over 10 million pieces of plastic each year Sainsbury’s is removing plastic trays from its by Sainsbury’s steak range, replacing them with a cardboard alternative which uses 70% less plastic. The new trays will launch across 10 products in the range and will be available in all stores and online. They can be recycled at home by rinsing the cardboard before placing it in a kerbside recycling bin. Sainsbury’s introduced cardboard tray packaging to its Taste the Difference and So Organic steaks previously. The announcement is the latest in a string of changes made by the retailer on packaging. In April, Sainsbury’s went trayless on whole chickens and also removed plastic bags from its entire banana range earlier this year saving 192 tonnes of plastic. Pot Noodle trials new paper-based packaging in the UK Pot Noodle is trialling a change in the way it makes its pots, moving from plastic to recyclable, FSC- certified paper. This new design is said to be the biggest innovation in its packaging since the brand launched over 40 years ago. The new paper pot has launched exclusively in retailer Tesco, with an initial stock of 500,000 of the brand’s most popular flavour, Chicken & Mushroom. The trial will be used to gain shopper feedback and, if it’s successful, the aim is to switch the full Pot Noodle range to paper pots – a move which, once complete, could remove 4,000 tonnes of virgin plastic each year. Insights from the trial will support the scale-up of the innovation at the Pot Noodle factory. Arla Foods explores fibre-based caps for milk cartons Dairy cooperative Arla Foods is teaming up with Blue Ocean Closures in a formal partnership to create a fibre-based cap for its milk cartons. This could be a first in the dairy industry and would reduce Arla’s plastic consumption by more than 500 tonnes annually if implemented. The cardboard milk carton is a well-known classic in several countries and while the packaging has undergone several transformations over the years and is now a near-optimal choice in terms of food safety and sustainability, the time has come to completely rethink a small yet significant part; the cap. Making up for around 23 per cent of the plastic used in Arla’s cartons, the farmer-owned dairy cooperative has set its sights on the caps as part of its sustainable packaging strategy to eliminate use of fossil-based virgin plastic in its packaging by 2030. “Improving our packaging, including reducing our use of plastic, is imperative to us and we know that consumers are also very invested in this area. This project to explore what could very well be the first fibre-based cap on milk cartons is very exciting and shows that we at Arla are constantly looking to improve and lead the transformation of sustainable packaging,” says chief commercial officer at Arla Foods, Peter Giørtz- Carlsen. The cap has a body made of sustainably sourced FSC fibre material combined with a thin barrier coating. Using advanced, proprietary vacuum press forming, this allows for a cap that is biobased, ocean biodegradable and recyclable as paper. Lars Sandberg, CEO at Blue Ocean Closures, states: “We are delighted to work with Arla, acting as a frontrunner to create a real difference in packaging sustainability. With increased fibre content, the solution will increase recyclability, starting in Scandinavia and paving the way for global change.” ADM acquires Prairie Pulse ADM, a leader in agricultural origination and processing and supply chain management, has acquired Prairie Pulse, owners of a pulse crop cleaning, milling and packaging facility in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada. “Everything at ADM starts with the farmer,” said ADM commercial manager Aaron Brown. “Their success is our success, and we’re excited to strengthen our relationships with Canadian pulse growers through the acquisition of Prairie Pulse. “We’ll be reaching out to producers about ADM’s unique array of tools and resources to help them manage and grow their businesses – including our access to global markets, our work to create value for sustainable farming practices, and our technology partnerships.” “This addition also expands our capabilities to meet the needs of our downstream customers, who are increasingly looking at pulses as protein sources for both human and animal nutrition products,” Brown added. “The enduring global trends of sustainability and food security are powering growth in alternative proteins, and ADM is continuing to invest to ensure we’re at the forefront of meeting those needs.” © stock.adobe.com/ FomaA © stock.adobe.com/ adimas Image courtesy of Unilever Arla to power UK operations with two new solar parks Arla, the dairy cooperative, in partnership with ENGIE and Infinis, has announced the signing of two new solar parks under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which will supply around 20% of the energy needed to power Arla’s entire UK operation from renewable sources. The new solar parks will be operational from Boston (Lincolnshire) and Offham (Kent) during 2024. Together the sites are set to generate around 23,000 MWh of energy and create savings of approximately 4,439t of CO2 a year. Both solar parks are being created on sites previously used as landfill, which forms part of an initiative to generate more clean energy and make a positive impact on the environment. FrieslandCampina and Mondel ē z International form partnership to accelerate carbon reduction FrieslandCampina and Mondel ē z International have signed a four-year agreement aiming to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of milk supplied by FrieslandCampina’s member dairy farmers by ≈14 percent in 2025 compared to 2019. The milk is among others used as an ingredient for the production of Mondel ē z International’s chocolate and biscuit products in Europe. Both companies believe that partnerships are important to make progress and further accelerate carbon reduction. Sanne Griffioen-Roose, Director Farm Sustainability FrieslandCampina, said: “Together with our member dairy farmers, we are working towards producing net climate-neutral dairy by 2050 at the latest. FrieslandCampina’s approach is to measure, act and monitor. “We are excited to partner with Mondel ē z International, because by collaborating with them we can reward our farmers for their hard work and realised greenhouse gas reductions while also investing in programmes to continuously improve sustainability at the farms.” Food & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net news © stock.adobe.com/ JRJfin © stock.adobe.com/Fredy ThürigFood giants team up to provide climate- neutral transport between Denmark and the UK Arla, Danish Crown, DFDS and DSV have teamed up in a new partnership to develop a climate-neutral transport corridor between Denmark and the UK. The ambition for the partnership is to transport Arla’s and Danish Crown’s products from farms in Denmark to consumers in the UK with zero impact on the environment. Every year, Arla and Danish Crown export vast quantities of foods through the port at Esbjerg in Denmark to Immingham on the east coast of England and on to the UK market, and transports have a significant carbon footprint. “The entire agricultural sector is currently undergoing a historic transition, and both Arla and Danish Crown have committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. We can only achieve that by joining forces, and DFDS and DVS are of a similar mind. Together, we want to explore and develop the opportunities already available to us today, rather than wait for new technologies,” explains Bo Svane, head of logistics at Arla. 8 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Kliro Capital Partners acquires independent UK alcoholic drinks manufacturer ICB Kliro Capital Partners, a family office investment company with extensive experience in the drinks industry, has acquired 100% of the share capital of UK independent alcoholic drinks manufacturer ICB (Intercontinental Brands Limited). ICB is a leading UK producer and distributor of alcoholic drinks with brands including Cactus Jack, Veroni Amaretto, V-Kat, Hawksbill Rum, Rozél Vodka, and Bella Apertini. The company has a long history of collaborating with leading retailers and major international spirits companies, producing over 2.5m cases across nearly 400 SKUs and various formats each year. Warren Scott, founder of Kliro Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of ICB. It is a good business with a strong leadership team and we believe that there is significant potential for growth both in the UK and beyond.” Nestlé U.S. invests in regenerative agriculture practices in DiGiorno wheat supply chain Nestlé U.S. is investing to help bring regenerative agriculture practices to wheat farms within its DiGiorno pizza brand supply chain. The company is helping wheat farmers employ regenerative agriculture practices in their fields through a combination of financial support and technical resources and assistance. These practices include planting cover crops, eliminating or reducing tillage, and reducing the use of pesticides, which can help improve soil health and soil fertility, protect water resources and enhance biodiversity. This initiative will bring regenerative agriculture practices to over 40,000 hectares of farmland – the size of more than 53,000 football fields and nearly double the amount of land needed to grow the wheat used in its DiGiorno pizzas. Through partnerships with ADM and Ardent Mills – two primary wheat flour suppliers for DiGiorno – Nestlé’s investment will benefit wheat farms across Kansas, North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri. The work will help the company accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture in its supply chains. “At Nestlé our aim is to help leave the world better than we found it, and as the world’s largest food and beverage company, we have a tremendous opportunity to help create a regenerative, healthy food system while also working with the local farming communities that employ it,” said Steve Presley, CEO, Nestlé Zone North America. “To do this we need to find solutions that create shared value throughout the ecosystem – value for us, value for farmers, value for consumers, and value for the planet. This investment in wheat producers is just one example of how we are bringing this commitment to life across our supply chain.” Made Smarter whitepaper to accelerate food and beverage manufacturers to net zero Made Smarter has launched a whitepaper to help SME food and beverage manufacturers accelerate their net zero plans. ‘Decarbonisation through Digitalisation: manufacturing made smarter and greener with technology’ is a practical guide to industry’s biggest challenge and opportunity. The free-to-download document from the government-backed and industry-led technology adoption programme, aims to simplify a complex and fast-evolving topic by demystifying some of the terminology and analysing the latest research. Crucially, the whitepaper offers insights about how a variety of technologies enable manufacturing and engineering businesses to make things smarter and greener, while powering growth and creating new highly skilled jobs. The whitepaper showcases makers who have started their decarbonisation journeys with Made Smarter including potato processor Fylde Fresh and Fabulous, based in Preston. It also signposts manufacturers to other initiatives including, Race to Zero, a campaign led by the United Nations, and the SME Climate Hub, a non-profit global initiative that empowers companies with tips and tools, including its Business Carbon Calculator. © stock.adobe.com/ Deemerwha studio © stock.adobe.com/ Michael Flippo © stock.adobe.com/ drotik“It’s my favourite trade show to attend! It offers a great opportunity to discover new products, connect with our existing suppliers and take part in important industry conversations.” Svetlana Kukharchuk | Founder & CEO, The Cheese Lady REGISTER HERE At Speciality & Fine Food Fair, you can expect to unearth the latest products from heritage producers and dynamic start ups, as well as discover future food trends from leading industry experts.Next >