< Previous10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT Made in Wales is securing lucrative trade deals for its red meat industry in Asia as it looks ahead to potential disruptions with its main trade partner – Europe. The way our print deadline has fallen this month has put Food and Drink International in the precarious position of writing about Brexit outcomes mere weeks before the slated divorce deadline of October 31. Yet when the November issue is delivered to decision makers and managers, we’ll likely have bid bon voyage to the bloc. We’re therefore treading with caution this month but, as of writing, no Brexit deal has been reached. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reiterated on numerous occasions that Britain will be leaving the EU on Halloween, with or without a deal. Since that fateful referendum in 2016, our import and export pages have, understandably, focussed heavily on the fate of Britain’s trading future, though often with an England-centric focus. But Britain is more than just one country, so what is very likely to be the last such feature before Brexit takes place, we’re looking at things from a Welsh perspective. Gwyn Howells, the Chief Executive of trade body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), has warned that a no-deal Brexit will be catastrophic for the Welsh meat industry. The conclusions have been reached largely thanks to market data analysed by HCC on behalf of the nation’s livestock farming and red meat processing. It found that exports of red meat – especially Welsh lamb – reached a peak in late autumn. But disruption caused by the sudden implementation of World Trade Organisation (WTO) level tariffs – which would be between forty per cent and ninety per cent on lamb and beef respectively – would result in immediate disruption for farmer and food businesses and dampen a vital part of the nation’s economy. To illustrate the importance of this industry, one need only look at 2018 where exports of Welsh beef and lamb contributed £187.6 million to the Welsh economy. As HCC figures have revealed, much of this is concentrated in the September to December period. A no- deal could significantly undermine similar figures from repeating for the 2019 period and risk the nation’s competitiveness on the world stage. 12 Á Made in 10-13.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:11 Page 1Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © Shutterstock/ steved_np3 Wales Wales 10-13.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:11 Page 212 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT Over a third of Welsh lamb and around an eighth of Welsh beef produced domestically is exported overseas with the twenty-seven remaining countries of the EU making up over ninety per cent of this trade. As Mr Howells says, the potential impact of a no-deal is “extremely serious on farmer’s livelihoods and the viability of the food processing sector which employs thousands of people in Wales”. However, HCC Chair Kevin Rovers used the recent Anuga event in Germany to emphasise the Welsh red meat industry’s determination to continue exporting whatever Brexit may bring. He said that if they are met with tariffs in the short-term, the industry may absorb the costs and keep trade flowing. He also hailed the success of work to open and establish trade in new markets. Asia has been of particular importance in allowing farmers and producers gain access to new markets and reintroduce their products to regions that had been previously blocked by bans. This year, for example, saw Japan lift a ban on UK red meat following government negotiations and a rigorous process of plant inspections and providing evidence of high standard of animal health and traceability. In this regard, Japan is deserving of its reputation of stringent food safety and import controls regime. The entire UK benefits from this move, but, for Wales, the country represents a lucrative market for red meat producers to capitalise on with Japan producing 480,000 tonnes of beef in 2015 but importing more than 700,000 tonnes, while it imported more than 30,000 tonnes of sheepmeat verses the 200 tonnes produced from its declining domestic sector. Hunger for lamb is growing in Japan but there just isn’t the domestic producers to meet demand and they are therefore beholden on imports, much to Wales’ benefit. Wales has also been making inroads with China, a country where import bans still exist on lamb. A few months back, a delegation of Chinese © Shutterstock/ Avigator Fortuner 10-13.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:11 Page 3Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT government officials visited Britain as part of an ongoing process to lift these years old restrictions on exports of UK sheepmeat to mainland china. During their time in the UK, the delegation learned more about disease control measures for sheepmeat, as well as visiting farms and processing facilities and hearing from vets and other exports. A similar process led to China lifting its long-standing ban on the import of beef from the UK and now this market looks set to open to PGI Welsh Lamb in 2020. This could be a real post-Brexit boon for Wales, whose world-leading red meat deserves better than disruptions during what should be its busiest trading period of the year. Approval sees Kepak export Irish beef burgers to US Kepak Group has secured approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to supply, market and distribute Irish beef burgers in the US. This is the first time a European meat processer has secured approval to access the lucrative US burger market, currently valued at over $122 billion. It follows the launch of the first Irish beef retail brand in the US – Kepak’s Celtic Beef Company – in 2017. This USDA value added beef patty approval will see Kepak’s Irish beef being made available to the foodservice and retail sectors with distribution initially focusing on the New York and Boston markets. “This announcement will see Kepak’s renowned Irish beef burger patties made available in pubs and restaurants from Monaghan to Manhattan and Massachusetts,” said Kepak Group MD John Horgan. China has finalised the details of an export ap- proval agreement with the UK, meaning British beef can now be shipped to China for the first time in twenty years. Back in June, government officials in China signed a protocol to ship beef from the UK for the first time in two decades, marking an end of a ban following the BSE out- break in the nineties. Now, approval has been granted for full access in a deal estimated to be worth around £230 mil- lion over the first five years. Four sites have been cleared to export beef in the first instance, with shipments ex- pected to arrive by the end of the year. The move has been branded “a triumph” by industry leaders who have spent the last five years working in partnership to secure the deal. China lifts 20-year ban on British beef © Shutterstock/ industryviews 10-13.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:12 Page 414 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net DEPOSITORS AND FILLING T here is certain machinery and equipment available to food and drink producers to meet specific needs, fulfilling one function for a particular food product or texture that can’t be used in any other capacity. Yet others are ubiquitous, found right across the production line and fulfilling myriad different functions. No matter the size or production needs, almost every food and beverage producer will require a depositor or filler of one kind or another. These machines are designed to meet different production and capacity requirements and, therefore, there is a variety of different options available to manufacturers depending on their production needs. Although the method behind fillers is largely the same from machine to machine – pushed out either by pneumatic compressed air or driven by electric servo – the actual types of machinery vary greatly. They range in size from single shot depositor machine aimed at small-batch producers, right the way through to multiple head food depositors that can turn out thousands of products at a time. Depending on the product, there are continuous depositors which continuously extrudes the material in the form of lines moving on a dough sheet, while spot depositors deposit material in individual round or oblong shapes. The containers in which product is deposited also vary greatly, from sachets, bags and pouches, to bottles, jars and buckets. Product might be deposited to be sealed in a container, to be cooked in that container, or deposited onto another product as part of the production process – such as the tomato sauce on a pizza base. No matter which filling or depositing machine a manufacturer requires, the importance of hygienic design remains critical. Selecting a machine that is easy to clean will not only boost overall hygiene levels but will save on downtime. One of the worst offenders in this regard are doughs and cake batters which are messy when wet and harden when dry. Not only can this The power of three Hygiene, precision and efficiency are all equally important when it comes to selecting a depositing or filling machine. 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:15 Page 1Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net DEPOSITORS AND FILLING cause contamination and flout safety standards but can also seriously affect the operation of a machine. Left untreated, this can lead to costly repairs or even replacements. Although the entire machine will need to be cleaned, of particular importance are the nozzles and heads themselves. Here manufacturers will want to select machines where the heads and nozzles can be easily removed in order to be thoroughly cleaned. Cleaning solution can also be flushed through the entire system between batches in order to ensure hygiene levels are met, and potential cross contamination is reduced to nil. Though cheaper options of machinery are available on the market, often it’s a false economy. Ultimately, one gets what one pays for and cheaper options can often lead to compromises in safety, hygiene and performance. There are, however, affordable options such as shopping second hand from reputable suppliers. The advantage here is that these are quality machines that have been well looked after, repaired, maintained and come with guarantees. Precision is paramount for saving costs, remaining efficient and for the integrity of the end product. Depositing the © Shutterstock/ ET1972 16 Á © Shutterstock/ Salov Evgeniy 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:15 Page 216 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net DEPOSITORS AND FILLING !"#"## $ %&'( )( *+& *&'( )( *+& exact amount of product every time, hundreds – if not thousands – of times a day, is necessary as being even marginally off from the weight specified on the label can prompt a product recall. Precision is also required so that the nozzle or head doesn’t drip and overspill, leaving trails of product on the conveyor belt and on the outside of the container. It helps not only to improve safety and hygiene levels, but also to reduce food waste, which food makers can’t afford to be flouting in this climate. High end fillers and depositors, as well as bespoke options, will often come loaded with a suit of sensors to boost precision and efficiency, ensuring that manufacturers can meet their quota without incidence. When it comes to the production line, the need for efficiency cannot be overstated. Some small batch artisan producers who had previously been 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:15 Page 3Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net DEPOSITORS AND FILLING Precision & hygiene with Riggs Autopack’s depositors and filling machines Riggs Autopack Ltd is a British manufacturer of high- quality depositors and filling machines, transfer pumps and automatic conveyor filling lines. Based in Nelson, Lancashire, the company is a UK market leader with an excellent reputation and supplies its equipment to the food production industry. The company’s Model 1000 depositors and filling machines are one of the most precise and hygienic on the market with exceptional performance, reliability and build quality. They effectively deposit hot or cold liquid, semi-liquid and suspended solid food products on a damage free basis, and accurately fill most types or size of container. They are available as a semi-automatic unit with foot pedal operation for small scale food producers that use short batch runs, or fully automatic for medium to large scale food manufacturers using conveyor lines. Riggs Autopack take great pride in supplying its depositors and filling equipment to a huge variety of food manufacturers throughout the UK. Clients typically range from artisans and start-up companies, through to large scale food groups such as Bakkavor, Kerry, Greencore and Samworth Brothers. The company also supplies its depositors and filling machines to operate in conjunction with third party machinery such as ready meal tray sealing conveyors, rotary pot machines, thermo-form conveyors, and VFFS bag or pouch filling applications. If you’re looking for a high-quality machine to accurately fill jars, bottles, pots, tubs, ready meal trays, cake tins, buckets, jerry cans, pouches or bags, then Riggs Autopack could have the solution. For more information, visit www.riggsautopack.co.uk, email info@riggsautopack.co.uk, or call +44(0) 1282 440040. filling by hand have been required to adopt an automatic or semi-automation solution in order to meet growing demand and scale their business. It’s fortuitous that many makers of filling and depositing machinery have specific options for artisanal producers, ones that are suited to smaller and single batches. But not all foods are easy to fill, in fact many are difficult, such as cooked rice, gelatine cubes and long pastas. Often, these require a bespoke option. Machinery makers can tailor a machine to meet a producer’s exact requirements with solutions that don’t compromise speed or damage product integrity. It’s paramount to meeting demand and minimising wasted yield and damaged product on the production line. Unsurprisingly, given all that we’ve touched on, the market for filling and depositing machinery is growing, especially in developing economies and other areas where the adoption of aseptic technology is on the rise. Demand has also increased over the last decade as consumers turn more frequently towards other packaged foods. Food producers must ensure that they focus as much on precision and hygiene as efficiency when looking for their own filling machine, whether a stand alone system to augment their small- bath production line, or a major international company looking to slot a new advanced machine into their existing system. © Shutterstock/ thka 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:15 Page 418 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT T he shift in the packaging sector can be seen right across the board, from eco-conscious start- ups, to the biggest names in food and drink making environmental commitments, whether that’s boosting recyclability and the recycled content of packaging or undertaking bold new product development. Indeed, Danish brewing giant, Carlsberg, has recently unveiled two new prototypes of a paper beer bottle that can be pulped and recycled after use. The Coca-Cola Company, meanwhile, has unveiled a drinks bottle made from recovered and recycled marine plastic, and PepsiCo has committed to reduce thirty-five per cent of virgin plastic content across its beverage portfolio by 2025. And that’s just barely scraping the surface, with similar commitments seen right across the food processing industry, not to mention the supermarket sector. Reducing plastic packaging – particularly virgin plastic – has gone beyond corporate social responsibility rhetoric. Food and drink producers simply cannot afford to ignore the changing tide of packaging, lest they be left behind and overtaken by their competitors. There are several ways of reducing problematic packaging in the value chain, one of the most proactive is to reduce the amount needed in the first place. Currently, there’s limited scope for this approach as a lot of regulatory information is required on pack. In the UK, for example, manufacturers are required to list ingredients, net quantity, special storage conditions, their name and address, country of origin and so on. All of this takes up space on the label which takes up space on the packaging. But digital technologies can help to minimise – Perfecting packaging © Shutterstock/ MOLPIX As surely as food and drink is undergoing one of its profoundest changes since industrialisation, so too is packaging being transformed. Driven by environmental issues, legislation and health concerns, the food and beverage sector is in a constant state of innovation, exploring digitisation, eco-friendly materials and canny designs. Harkstead Hall Barn, Harkstead, Ipswich, Suffolk IP9 1DB Tel: +44 (0)1473 893990 Fax: +44 (0)1473 893995 email@penn-packaging.co.uk www.penn-packaging.co.uk Uniquely customized. Uniquely economical. 18-23.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:22 Page 1Food & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT Fabulously tasty chocolate with a hint of squirrel Gnaw are bringing the fun back to the chocolate market and buttons are the perfect product to do just that. The company needed a packaging revamp and spoke to several companies but were highly impressed with National Flexible and its cost-effective solutions. The Kraft paper proposed by National Flexible was exactly aligned with Gnaw’s brief. The company added that their openness to working alongside its designers was also a big plus, allowing them to understand what could and couldn’t be done, and how it could save costs by making use of different printing techniques. The designs themselves keep the playfulness from the original packets whilst improving the clarity of communication. They also allowed Gnaw’s squirrels to take a day off from being front and centre, cheekily hiding away to be discovered on the bottom corner of each bag. For more information, visit www.nationalflexible.co.uk. even replace – some of that information. Using augmented reality (AR), a consumer could use an app on their smart phone or tablet in conjuncture with a packaged food or drink product to gain information about nutrition and origin. However, manufacturers, labellers and, indeed, the app designers themselves, would need to ensure that they remain compliant with stringent regulations. It’s also worth bearing in mind that this approach likely won’t become an industry standard in the retail sector as it excludes consumers who don’t have access to, can’t afford or physically cannot operated touch screen devices. Yet it is an encouraging sign of the digitisation of the consumer experience and the increasing emphasis on smart labels, which can also boost supply chain traceability. But packaging doesn’t just convey regulatory information – it also protects products. Consumers and campaigners are calling for less plastic packaging, especially when it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, but this is easier said than done. Although industry has long 20 Á © Shutterstock/ STEKLO 18-23.qxp_Layout 1 22/10/2019 13:23 Page 2Next >