< Previous20 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net KITE PACKAGING Q&A Can you tell us a little bit about Kite Packaging and your best known products and services? Kite Packaging was established in 2001 and has since emerged as one of the leading packaging suppliers in the UK. What sets us apart as a supplier is our foundational principle of employee share-ownership, which cultivates a distinct culture of collaboration. This culture is the driving force behind our commitment to consistently deliver exceptional service in the industry. Our food packaging range is performing well thanks to being largely paper-based and eco-friendly. We sell some plastic products, such as our dip pots, but ensure these contain recycled content or can be recycled after use, helping to power a circular economy. Aside from this, our bestsellers include single and double wall boxes, tape and stretch wrap. How is Kite’s food packaging range beneficial to food and drink vendors? Our extensive selection of practical and cost-effective food packaging products caters to the every need of restaurants, catering businesses, and food vendors of any kind, offering a sustainable solution for takeaways which aligns with the growingly eco- conscious concerns of consumers today. Kite’s takeaway bowls and boxes are crafted from durable kraft paper for robustness while their inner PE lining effectively contains moisture, ensuring that packages reach customers in a fresh and secure condition. Our coffee cups are double-walled and ergonomic to provide comfort, durability and optimal protection to consumers on the go, meanwhile our commercially compostable cutlery is compact and lightweight to minimise energy consumption during production and Q&A Kite Packaging We speak to packaging specialists Kite Packaging this month to learn more about the company.Food & Drink International 21 www.fdiforum.net KITE PACKAGING Q&A result of difficulties in sourcing materials, transportation delays and labour shortages. Additionally, the industry's sensitivity to cost fluctuations due to shifts in raw material prices and availability has resulted in many manufacturers and suppliers reconsidering their pricing strategies in order to maintain profitability. Many are passing on the cost to customers, which in a cost-of-living crisis, is negatively impacting business. Embracing technological advancements and digitalisation, such as smart packaging and automation, has also been imperative for enhancing supply chain visibility, engaging consumers, and optimising inventory management in order to drive success. What’s next for your food packaging range? Throughout this year, we've made concerted efforts to enhance the visibility of our food packaging range, aiming for a broader presence and increased outreach. This included showcasing our food packaging range at exhibitions and carrying out work on our Google advertising campaign, which we will continue to do. Looking ahead, our commitment to sustainability drives us to continually expand and refine our product offerings. We are particularly focused on catering to the needs of those seeking sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic takeaway items, especially following the implementation of a ban on such items within the food and drink takeaway industry in October 2023. In times like ours, where food delivery apps and on-the-go consumables have become ingrained in daily life, our primary focus remains on ensuring consistent stock availability for our valued customers. The reliability of our food packaging supply is fundamental in enabling our customers to meet the escalating demand for takeaway products. What’s the latest news from your company? We recently won Packaging Company of the Year at the UK Packaging Awards 2023 thanks to the continued hard work and endeavours of our staff. Earlier in the year, we developed an app for our credit account customers, which we recently made available to all customers in order to offer a modern and convenient shopping experience within the packaging industry. Our Sittingbourne Regional Distribution Centre also moved into new premises to continue making room for growth. For more information or to get in touch with Kite Packaging, visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk, email enquiries@kitepackaging.co.uk or call +44 (0) 24 7642 0065 accelerate the composting process once disposed. We also sell burger and pizza boxes, greaseproof paper sheets and bags. By choosing our products, food vendors have the opportunity to challenge the traditional perception of takeaways as a source of waste. They can elevate their brand perception while making a positive impact on the planet, contributing to a greener future. What key issues are currently impacting the packaging industry? An increasing awareness of environmental concerns and sustainability is propelling demand for eco-friendly materials, waste reduction, and circular economy practices. The impact of plastic waste on our environment has sparked urgent calls for alternatives, effective recycling solutions, and been the driving force behind implicating legislation, such as the Plastic Packaging Tax and ban on certain single-use plastics within the takeaway industry. An unstable political landscape fuelled by war also continues to cause supply chain disruptions as a direct 22 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net FOOD SERVICE O ne of the most exciting aspects of food service is its ability to transport customers on a culinary journey, a learning experience with restaurants and eateries serving as gateways to cuisines from around the world. In a time when diversity of experience and respect for a multitude of cultures is rightly growing, establishments from fine dining restaurants to food trucks can introduce customers to flavours they may never have experienced before. These positive connections to communities which people may not otherwise interact with can be a source of joy and excitement like no other, as well as a way to break down barriers of understanding, and forge connections between people across life experiences. We can see the ripple of impacts food can have on people, their health, happiness and wellbeing, and even the ways they think about the world around them. But this has to begin with foundations of learning about ingredient sourcing, food safety, and providing space for a team of employees to develop their culinary and customer service skills. These pillars of quality are what support the experience your establishment provides, providing the taste, artistry and dining experience every customer will appreciate. Sourcing high-quality ingredients for any food service organisation, the best starting point for delicious recipes, already involves overcoming several challenges. Seasonal availability, geographical limitations, and variable quality can pose significant hurdles to any owner and their team, whether just starting out or maintaining quality with each season and every new dish. To address these challenges early on, businesses should establish relationships with their local farmers A closer look Food may be a basic need, but the food service industry is anything but. Talented hands in this diverse area are in charge of crafting the experience of dining into something that teaches people something new, reinventing simple sustenance. Food and Drink International takes a closer look. Food & Drink International 23 www.fdiforum.net FOOD SERVICE first of all. These relationships forge key connections for both ingredients sources and advice, allowing collaboration in gathering the best supplies from your area at minimal cost or even, at the upper levels, working together to cultivate crops tailored to your needs and experimentation. Be sure to diversify your suppliers, and use online platforms connecting buyers with specialty producers. Cost constraints can often necessitate a balance between premium and affordable ingredients, often requiring bulk purchase negotiations and portion optimisation, but the more connections you have the easier these obstacles are to overcome. Gathering as much support around you as possible is Food Care Solutions aims to help our clients achieve their aims. We have helped food businesses throughout the UK since 2003 with our services, including: • Food Safety and Food Quality • BRC and FSSC 22000 certification • Supplier Auditing • Training • Hygiene Inspections & Internal Audits • Complaints & Incidents Management Tel: 01933 276 400 • Mob: 07811 192545 • Email: victor@foodsafeconsult.co.uk • Web: www.food-care.co.uk FOOD CARE SOLUTIONS FOOD CARE SOLUTIONS 24 Á © stock.adobe.com/Neuroshock24 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net FOOD SERVICE essential for managing through supply chain disruptions. This important resource will help you stay informed about local or global events that may impact produce availability, allowing contingency plans that make the most of all your suppliers. Food service establishments have particularly strict food safety standards to cater to on top of working to secure supplies. Despite this being a stress point with any food service business or establishment, keeping your kitchen and dining areas immaculate is well worth the effort. Excellent levels of cleanliness and food hygiene ensure that every meal served to customers meets high quality requirements while being safe to eat. But these are just the essentials, as proper cleaning and attention to the mood and ambience it creates, especially in fine dining, completes the customer experience and leaves that all-important positive first impression. Behind the scenes, while customers are enjoying the atmosphere you’ve nurtured around your food, ethics and dining experience, it’s all just a matter of taking care at every stage of preparation and cooking. Proper handling and storage of all ingredients are just as important as the taste of each plate, and clean preparation techniques are vital to maintaining food safety. Meeting such demanding quality standards, setting you and your business up to pass inspections, can be supported by your approach to quality assurance processes. Here’s another area where building a community around you is essential, as collaborating with experienced importers and other established businesses in your area will give you sources and providers you can trust. As your ingredients suppliers and importers give you quality you can rely on at the raw component level, your web of fellow food service creatives will make you aware of what to expect from quality and hygiene inspections, and what to look out for when you’re examining areas of potential risk or improvement. When all you want is to bring something delicious and exciting to customers, the business of food service is so often what grinds folks down. But building from the basics of safety, hygiene and quality soon opens up your horizons to new and more expansive possibilities. As you grow from entrepreneurial stages to becoming more established, and more comfortable in the stability of your custom and finances, you, your team, and the service you provide will become an inspiration to other aspiring culinary artists. Food service provides a platform for the people the professionals bring in to work alongside them. Opening up training programs for newcomers directly out of your business can foster fresh talent in the homely environment of a welcoming kitchen, preparing them for their own achievements in the food industry. But it’s not just the up-and- coming trainees this benefits; there’s plenty of opportunity for support to reflect back on you. Beginner’s minds can offer all kinds of revitalising thoughts for menus and techniques, Food Care Solutions helps companies achieve their objectives Food Care Solutions helps clients achieve their goals in terms of food safety, food quality, customer satisfaction and legality. Whether this be through following the requirements of the legislation applying to the industry, or through compliance with food safety and quality standards, Food Care Solutions endeavour to help companies achieve the level you aspire to. With experienced consultants trained in most aspects of the food and drink industry, Food Care Solutions also boasts particular experience in food microbiology and laboratory disciplines. Food Care Solutions are familiar with third party standards such as BRC, ISO 22000, IFS and many standards laid down by large organisations including Tesco, Morrisons, Yum!, Wetherspoons and more. Food Care Solutions have been providing consultancy services to the food industry for over 15 years, and their associates have spent considerable time working in appropriate roles in the industry. For more information, please visit www.food-care.co.uk Food & Drink International 25 www.fdiforum.net FOOD SERVICE and you might find your signature dishes blossoming even more with these valuable ideas. Culinary establishments drive innovation through their need and enthusiasm for moving with the times, the seasons and changing trends, and alongside a constant cycle of new talent. Chefs experimenting between staff and other brands or business, whether with new ingredients, cooking techniques, or presentation styles, influences the broader food industry and can change the cultural landscape. These meaningful shifts come back round to the power of a diverse community to unite, invent and create through open collaboration. Everything you learn, from incorporating hygiene standards to how to work with other people and businesses, has the power to build stunning traditional or innovative culinary experiences that inform, educate and inspire others. All it takes is for you to stay open to learning too. © stock.adobe.com/davit85 © stock.adobe.com/sveta26 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOUPS AND SAUCES Healthy and flavourful Soups and sauces can be found in most fridges and cupboards, but as palates become more adventurous and consumers increasingly health-conscious, new and exciting products will be required to keep these items on shopping lists. Food & Drink International 27 www.fdiforum.net SOUPS AND SAUCES © stock.adobe.com/cook_inspire S oups are steadfast members of most kitchen cupboards, especially when winter and inevitable flus roll around. Yet after soaring in demand thanks to soup stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic, over the last couple of years consumers have gone cold on the product. This has particularly been seen with canned and packet soups, with big brands recording declining purchases. However in the midst of a cost of living crisis, shoppers are expected to turn back to canned soup due to lower costs, convenience, familiarity, long shelf lives and minimised waste. But with inflation pushing branded favourites to raise prices, many major names are losing out to supermarkets’ own label options, which are managing to produce products of equal quality at cheaper price points. To regain and keep consumer attention, then, there are a number of trends brands can tap into to draw shoppers’ purchases. The first focuses on flavour. According to Mintel’s US Soup Market Report 2023, more than two-thirds of consumers agree that flavour is a key factor when choosing a soup, indeed the most common factor, ahead of price. The category however has been lacking flavour innovation with just around a quarter of soup eaters believing current offerings to be flavourful and one in 10 describing canned soup as boring. Ready to reinvigorate the category is a rising demand for spicier options, especially sweet heat and hotter takes on classics (proving popular with younger consumers), and soups inspired by international flavours. If we consider the UK, for example, soups with Korean and Japanese influences have seen solid growth, mirroring more adventurous palates. Caribbean- inspired products are also proposed for a take-off, with for instance coconut and jerk flavours. Moreover, with the popularity of veganism, vegetarianism and flexitarianism, novel soups using dairy alternatives, such as 28 ÁApply Now… 0044 (0) 20 8446 7127 info@halalfoodauthority.com www.halalfoodauthority.com London - Ireland - Belgium EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES Get Halal Certified Halal Food Authority is an industry leading Halal Food Certification Company. We specialise in Halal Certification of Food and Non-Food items including cosmetics, logistics, chemicals, additives & aromas, cleaning substances, packaging, pharmaceutical, ingredients and much more. Our certification is globally recognised including GCC countries and other developing markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkiye, Pakistan and rest of the world. 28 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOUPS AND SAUCES © stock.adobe.com/ Pixel-Shot plant-based milk, should also be considered for bringing variety and new consumers to the soup segment, though the resulting taste will be core to success here following complaints in other food categories. Launching new soups can be a challenge as brands try to keep up with trending flavours. Thorough research is thus essential to get ahead of competition, and companies like Campbell Soup Co have employed AI for help, tracking billions of data points to speed up product development. This has resulted in the launch of Chunky Ghost Pepper Chicken Noodle Soup after picking up insight on consumers wanting to embrace spice through twists on the familiar. Meanwhile Heinz has gone straight to the customer and used social media for its winter launches in 2023, adding four new flavours to its Classic Soup range (Broccoli and Stilton, Spicy Parsnip, French Onion, and Chicken Broth) chosen by its fans, pulling together marketing and product development. While formulating new products brands should also engage in evolving the age-old perception of soup, from helpful when unwell to healthy for any meal, to expand consumption and reach the crowd seeking ‘better-for- you’ options. According to Mintel, more than half of consumers report eating soup when they are feeling sick, but under a third do so when they desire a healthy meal. There is therefore an opportunity for brands to promote soups with properties such as high vitamins, high protein, and functional claims. Offering a budget friendly way of bringing new life to eating at home, sauces face a similar need to soups for innovation in flavour and health to maintain consumer interest, with most adults saying they use sauces more than once a month. Mintel’s US Trending Flavours and Ingredients in Dips and Sauces Market Report 2023 indicates a “bold take” on flavours and inspiration from global cuisines are required to gain a larger slice of the Gen Z and Millennial audience. Sauces, though, have already seen increased use thanks to the pandemic and lockdowns pushing the public into cooking fatigue, and sauces proving the remedy to bored consumers wishing to explore interesting new flavours from home. Sauces are now being found everywhere, in breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner, presenting an easy way to change a meal with indulgent flavours that may be challenging to replicate at www.kanegrade.com Tel: +44 (0) 1438 742242 Email: info@kanegrade.com NATURAL FOOD INGREDIENTS Food & Drink International 29 www.fdiforum.net SOUPS AND SAUCES home in scratch cooking. Like in soups, spicy is a key demand for sauces, building on the hot sauce boom of years past, with curry, peri-peri and sriracha garnering particular attention, and providing the opportunity to be added in a controlled manner to food for varying heat tolerances. Further offering a chance to increase purchases is giving guidance and inspiration on labels and in promotional material on how to get the most use out of sauces, while there is additionally a demand for more natural, low-fat, reduced-sugar and sodium formulations, and those catering to specialised diets, like gluten-free cooking sauces, presenting more space for innovation. Meanwhile, impacting both soups and sauces is managing energy use and carbon emissions in production. Automation and robotics are pioneering innovation here, while improving efficiency and requiring less staff. Showcasing this, this year Olympus Automation Ltd. (OAL) launched its £2 million Souper Green project with Solina and Marks and Spencer. The project, supported by grant funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) programme, seeks to transform the soup and sauce manufacturing industry by utilising an APRIL™ Robotics Cooking Cell, which promises energy and carbon savings. The APRIL™ Robotics Cooking Cell is a fully automated robotic food processing system designed to improve Clean in Place (CIP) processes and employs OAL’s Steam Infusion technology. With a lightweight cooking vessel, the system enables more efficient heating operations and easier cleaning, leading to 80% energy savings from production trials. Furthermore, the system’s highly accurate robotic ingredient weighing system minimises waste. Though they may have long-been staples in cupboards, there is plenty of room for soups and sauces to evolve, to continue appealing to consumers and find their way into more meals. © stock.adobe.com/ creativefamily Next >