COVID-19

McCain hoped to support the potato industry during the pandemic through a £25m investment

McCain Foods in £25m potato industry investment

By Gwen Ridler

Frozen food producer McCain Foods (GB) has invested £25m into the UK potato industry to help navigate the pressures of the coronavirus and erratic weather caused by climate change.

EIT Food CEO on funding the fight against COVID-19

EIT Food boss exclusive interview: part 1

Coronavirus funding fostering food firm innovation

By Gwen Ridler

In this exclusive interview, Andy Zynga, boss of European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food, addresses likely access to funding after the Brexit transition period and three funding recipients that caught his eye.

EIT Food has invested €5.4m (£4.87m) in supporting startups during the coronavirus outbreak

€5m COVID-19 support fund for food firms

By Gwen Ridler

A new €5.4m (£4.87m) support fund to help food and drink startups navigate the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak has been announced by innovation and investment group EIT Food.

Vibrant Foods claims there has been a 'huge explosion in demand' for its Eat Real brand

Exclusive interview with Rohit Samani, chairman, Vibrant Foods: Part 1

Vibrant Foods boosts Indian food production

By Rod Addy

Indian foods manufacturer Vibrant Foods has increased production at its TRS Foods factory in Southall and East End Foods West Bromwich factory by 50% to manage surging sales, sparked by the coronavirus lockdown.

Traceability issues could cost food manufacturers the trust of its consumers

Recalls heighten consumer mistrust in food firms

By Gwen Ridler

More than a third of UK consumers believe food and drink firms are not transparent enough when it comes to product recalls, according to standards and barcode provider GS1 UK.

The BFAWU has raised grievances overs the apparent overlooking of their members for agency staff at Greencore Northampton

Greencore in trade union row over agency workers

By Gwen Ridler

Prepared foods manufacturer Greencore is in dispute with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) for hiring agency staff to meet demand while lower paid employees remain on furlough.

Retail sales of cheese, milk and butter grew during lockdown

Dairy retail sales boomed during lockdown

By Michelle Perrett

Milk, cheese and butter sales boomed in retail during lockdown as consumers drank hot beverages and scratch cooked at home, new data from marketing campaign, Milk Your Moment has revealed.

Surya Foods is continuing to prioritise the safety of its staff

Surya Foods confirms five coronavirus cases

By Michelle Perrett

Harwich-based wholesaler Surya Foods has said it is continuing to prioritise the safety of its staff after five coronavirus cases were found at its site.

The National Food Strategy makes urgent recommendations

National Food Strategy issues urgent call to action

By Michelle Perrett

The National Food Strategy has intensified pressure on food manufacturers to support healthy eating, with author Henry Dimbleby claiming the industry clothes “itself and its products in false virtue”.

Hundreds of workers are being tested for coronavirus at Evesham Vale Growers Ltd

Coronavirus strikes Evesham Vale Growers tomato packing site

By Gwen Ridler

Hundreds of employees at a tomato packing site in Worcestershire supplying retailers including Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and the Co-op are being tested for COVID-19, after 14 members of staff tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

First Milk is a dairy cooperative owned by its farmer members

Food Man Talks

First Milk invests £5m to boost dairy factories' performance

By Rod Addy

First Milk is investing £5m this financial year to boost capacity and meet environmental goals, chief executive Shelagh Hancock and chief financial officer Greg Jardine reveal in this exclusive Food Man Talks video podcast.

Zorba Delicacies staff are involved in rapid testing

Zorba Delicacies faces COVID-19 cases

By Michelle Perrett

Public Health Wales (PHW) has confirmed that ‘widespread’ and ‘rapid’ testing was taking place at dip maker Zorba Delicacies’ Ebbw Vale food processing plant after four confirmed cases of COVID-19 there.

Argent outlined measures to tackle coronavirus in its latest financial results

Argent Foods furloughed 500 in tough coronavirus measures

By Gwen Ridler

Argent Foods furloughed more than 500 workers in businesses hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic alongside other tough measures, it announced in its financial report for the 12 months to 31 December 2019.

Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales’ (HCC) chairman Kevin Roberts: Welsh meat sector faces “worrying challenges”

‘Menacing maelstrom of uncertainty’ confronts meat industry

By Michelle Perrett

The Welsh meat sector faces “worrying challenges” and “a menacing maelstrom of uncertainty” amid further disruption from coronavirus and an EU trade deadlock, Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales’ (HCC) chairman Kevin Roberts has warned.

The recovery plan is to help the food sector restart

Food system faces ‘challenge’ to recover from pandemic

By Michelle Perrett

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the ‘strength’ and ‘fragility’ of the food supply chain, according to the Food and Drink Sector Council (FDSC), which has launched a COVID-19 Recovery Plan for the industry.

Signature Flatbreads' investment will create up to 100 new jobs

Signature Flatbreads to create up to 100 jobs

By Gwen Ridler

Strong sales during the coronavirus pandemic will see Signature Flatbreads create 75–100 jobs as part of a significant investment to increase production capacity at its Dunstable factory.

Kimberly Carey Coffin warns the industry could be at risk

Coronavirus has ‘catastrophic’ food fraud implications

By Michelle Perrett

The COVID-19 pandemic could give rise to the biggest case of food fraud since the 2013 horsemeat scandal with “catastrophic effects” food safety assurance specialist Lloyd’s Register has predicted.

The food and drink industry has reacted to the Chancellor's Summer Economic Update

Food industry reaction to Chancellor’s ‘mini budget’

By Gwen Ridler

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Summer Economic Update has been broadly welcomed by members of the food and drink industry, but concerns were raised over the speed at which the sector would be able to recover.

Workplace fatalities have dropped since 2018, according to the HSE

Workplace fatalities fall in 2019

By Gwen Ridler

Workplace deaths across the manufacturing sector – including food and drink firms – have fallen over the past year, according to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) annual workplace fatality figures for 2019/20.

FareShare has worked with almost 150 additional food businesses to aid vulnerable consumers

Coronavirus support maintained by food industry

By Rod Addy

Food industry coronavirus initiatives have continued over the past month, with a range of companies offering support to consumers, the NHS and firms in the supply chain.

2 Sisters Llangefni reopens today, two weeks after a cluster of COVID-19 cases were reported there

Coronavirus hit 2 Sisters factory reopens

By Gwen Ridler

The coronavirus-hit 2 Sisters Food Group poultry processing site in Llangefni, Wales has reopened today (3 July), after being given the go-ahead from local safety bodies.

2 Sisters Coronarvirus cluster has been contained

2 Sisters coronavirus cases contained

By Michelle Perrett

Health officials have revealed that the 2 Sisters Coronavirus outbreak at the Llangefni factory in Wales has been “contained” and there is no evidence of community transmission.

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