The UK is facing a shortage of farm workers in June to pick fruits and vegetables and the Government is calling for furloughed workers to take on second jobs to plug the gap.
Meat prices will suffer if premium cuts are frozen to manage the collapse of foodservice demand under EU Private Storage Aid proposals, according to the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMCNI).
Coronavirus has seen compliance firm Bureau Veritas and digital design company Regency Design develop health and safety offerings for food and drink manufacturers.
Tackling the challenges of the coronavirus and the increased need to adopt automation and robotics technology are hot topics at Lancashire Farm Dairies, as featured in this podcast.
The coronavirus pandemic prompted the Government to initiate a closure of pubs and restaurants on 20 March and announce a lockdown of the public's movements on 23 March.
Titanic Brewery has secured £1m in funding through the Government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), securing the jobs of its 200 workers in the process.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has written an open letter to the food industry following concerns about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
As the coronavirus pandemic highlights the vulnerability of global supply chains, the UK is likely to see a policy change focusing on domestic food production, according to one specialist research firm.
The boss of Associated British Foods (ABF) has revealed that its food businesses had to produce 'more than ever before' during the weeks of panic-buying.
Premier Foods has delivered a “triple whammy” of positive results on the back of its latest update, according to Shore Capital head of research Clive Black.
Nestlé UK & Ireland has revealed it is working with two trade unions, GMB and Unite, on the issues around employee safety, working conditions and maintaining supply.
Responding to coronavirus’s impact, the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has urged retailers to share financial aid with their suppliers, as manufacturers increasingly rely on debt to weather the pandemic.
Coronavirus has moved foodservice wholesaler Bidfood to work with packaging company Smurfit Kappa to send food parcels containing products from brands including Nescafé, Heinz and Tilda to 1.5m vulnerable people.
Molson Coors Beverage Company, the owner of brands such as Carling and Coors, has scaled back its UK operations and rationalised its range to deal with the impact of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus' threat to food industry workers has triggered one trade union to press the six top grocery retailers put staff before profit, accusing a major supplier of foregoing social distancing guidance and scrimping on pay.
UK food manufacturer British Premium Sausage Company has won new listings with two major supermarkets, resulting in 35 employees not having to be furloughed.
Food manufacturers should gain consent from employees it intends to furlough on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or it could face a “boat load of claims”, a leading employment lawyer has claimed.
Greggs could be the last baker on the high street if shops are forced to stay closed until the end of 2020 because of the coronavirus, research analyst Shore Capital has warned.
Manufacturers supplying foodservice firms will struggle to secure investment after the coronavirus passes, according to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) specialist Oghma Partners.
Coronavirus’ impact on meat and dairy foodservice suppliers is causing a growing crisis that farmers are urging the Government and the whole supply chain to address.
Bakkavor's coronavirus plans for its Elveden site don't involve redundancies or furloughing and the company has introduced tough controls and is trialling visors to prevent production line staff infecting colleagues.
Tesco “deserves immense credit and thanks” for its “almost military-like programme of work” surrounding the coronavirus crisis, according to Shore Capital head of research Clive Black.
The survival of many British dairy farming businesses hit by the coronavirus depends on urgent action from the government, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said.
Shortages in packaging supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the coronavirus could spark compliance issues for food and drink manufacturers, according to food safety assurance specialist Lloyd’s Register.
Small food and drinks suppliers and manufacturers are meeting the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic by launching delivery services and helping the vulnerable.
Fresh coronavirus support funds for seafood processors and food redistributors have been launched by the UK and Scottish Governments, offering millions of pounds in aid.
The UK Government has been urged to provide greater support for small food and drink businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, as these are predicting at least a 33% loss in revenue as a direct result of the virus.
Measures for meat sector and general food production outlined
Coronavirus is hitting meat plant and abattoir operations as personnel contract the disease, but the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has contingency plans, FSA chief operating officer and COVID-19 incident director Colin Sullivan has claimed.
Associated British Foods (ABF) chief executive George Weston and finance director John Bason have requested a temporary 50% pay cut in anticipation of much lower earnings for the company following the coronavirus outbreak.
Inquiry posts early Eustice and Food and Drink Federation submissions
Fresh prepared foods producer Bakkavor is to review capacity across its manufacturing base in response to the coronavirus, as it predicted a hit to sales for the 2020 financial year.
Sales of canned meats, flour and canned beans have more than doubled since significant consumer stockpiling began in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pushing for a system to match workers with produce growers who are facing a labour shortage as the UK heads towards harvesting season.
