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MARCH 2025 • ISSUE 16 Innovation, Compliance, and the Technology Driving Change Labelling, Coding & Marking Balancing Convenience, Health and Sustainability Ready Meals Optimising Fluid Handling: Innovations in Pumps Pumps & Fluids BUSINESS Colouring & Flavouring Colouring & FlavouringExhibitors 1,500 Joinusattheultimate businesseventforfood&drink productdiscovery ScantheQRto registerforfree orvisit: ife.co.uk 30,000 Attendees IFEisco-locatedwith: Weareproudlysupportedby Products 10,000 Event Sections 15Contents March 2025 4 News 12 Import & Export 16 Ready Meals 20 Labelling, Coding & Marking 24 Sieves & Separators 28 Flavourings & Colourings 32 Pumps & Fluids 36 Events Editorial: UK & Europe: editorial-ukeurope@foodandbeverage.business North America: editorial-northamerica@foodandbeverage.business Europe & Rest of World: editorial-eurow@foodandbeverage.business Sales: sales@foodandbeverage.business Events: events@roodandbeverage.business Finance & Admin: accounts@foodandbeverage.business Design: studio@foodandbeverage.business Where you see a QR code, it will take you to a longer version of that printed piece. 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 publisherGreen Cuisine, a leading producer of herbs, spices, and seasonings, has significantly improved its packaging speed and quality despite limited production space. To achieve this, Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS) supplied a Pratika Smart 55 compact L-sealer, offering the efficiency of an automatic system in a space-saving design. Previously reliant on a semi-automatic packaging line, Green Cuisine faced poor seals and operational inefficiencies. After evaluating options, they selected YPS, impressed by their tailored approach. “YPS really listened to our needs and provided a solution perfectly suited to our requirements,” said Director Jules Pike. The Pratika Smart 55 integrates sealer and tunnel into a single unit, reducing footprint while ensuring fast changeovers, precise sealing, and seamless operation via its intuitive HMI. With over 250 recipe combinations stored for quick adjustments, downtime is minimised. “The reliable performance and excellent support from YPS have made a real difference to our operations,” Pike added. Herb Supplier Spices Up Production Packaging with Compact Line NEWS Aptar Closures Unveils Innovating Solution for Reusable Beverage Containers Aptar Closures, a leading provider of dispensing solutions for over 50 years, is strategically aiming to capitalize on the expanding market for reusable beverage containers. Their innovative flow control valve and retaining ring combination system, the SureSnap two-in-one pre-assembled valve and retaining ring, stands out as an appealing choice for brand owners of reusable beverage products, including water bottles, thermoses, and children’s sip cups. This offering allows companies to effectively differentiate themselves in a saturated market. FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 4 Arctic Coffee Introduces Arctic Frappe to Strengthen Market Position Independent chilled coffee brand Arctic Coffee is set to energize the market with its new sub- brand, Arctic Frappe. Launching on shelves this March, these new beverages are marketed as two luxurious and trend- focused chilled coffee options: Chocolate Fudge and the Caramelised Biscuit flavor—an innovation Arctic Coffee claims is a category first. Both drinks will be available from 3 March across Tesco and Morrisons, with a recommended retail price (RRP) of £1.40 for a 330ml drink carton. The Arctic Frappe Caramelised Biscuit variant combines a caffeine boost with a rich, flavor-packed experience. In contrast, the Chocolate Fudge provides an indulgent, sweet treat, ensuring consumers enjoy a delightful pick-me-up.Food and Beverage Business, the leading B2B platform serving the food and beverage industry with timely insights, trends, and invaluable resources. Adding to the magazine we have monthly traffic of over 180,000+ visitors (Google GA4 verified) and a subscribed newsletter that reaches more than 14,500+ dedicated professionals, we offer a unique avenue for brand exposure within the industry. foodandbeverage.business Expand your marketing reach BUSINESS Expand your marketing reachNEWS Seven of the UK’s leading food retailers— Waitrose, Greggs, Morrisons, M&S, Tesco, Lidl, and Asda—have adopted Greiner Packaging’s award-winning K3 ® r100 self-separating packaging solution for their own-brand instant porridge pots. Rachel Sheldon, Sustainability and Innovation Manager at Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland, says, “We are excited to see so many UK retailers recognising the benefits of our self-separating packaging, following Symington’s decision to use K3 ® r100 for its Oatburst brand last July.” K3 ® r100 is a groundbreaking innovation in sustainable packaging. Unlike previous versions, where consumers had to manually separate materials for recycling, K3 ® r100’s cardboard wrap and plastic cup separate independently during the waste disposal process, ensuring up to 98% recyclability. This revolutionary technology has earned multiple sustainability awards, including the World Star Packaging Award and the Green Packaging Star Award. As more retailers embrace K3 ® r100, Greiner Packaging continues to set new standards for eco- friendly packaging solutions. UK Retailers Adopt Greiner Packaging’s Sustainable K3 ® r100 for Instant Porridge Pots Kerry Reports €8 Billion in Group Revenue Kerry Group, a leading global ingredients supplier, has released its preliminary results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, showcasing impressive growth in volume and overall group earnings. The financial overview highlights Kerry’s resilience and strategic initiatives within the evolving food industry landscape. Notably, Kerry reported a total group revenue of €7,981 million. This figure reflects a robust volume growth of 3.3%, albeit accompanied by an overall pricing reduction of 1.9%. Additionally, the company experienced favorable transaction currency effects of 0.2%, but faced unfavorable translation currency impacts of 0.9%. The adjustments also included a contribution from acquisitions of 0.7% and an adverse effect stemming from disposals of 1.9%. Collectively, these factors led to an overall revenue decrease of 0.5%. Specifically, revenue from continuing operations was recorded at €6,929 million, slightly down from €6,975 million in 2023. In terms of profitability, the group’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) surged by 7.4%, reaching €1,251 million for the year. Additionally, the EBITDA margin exhibited a commendable increase of 120 basis points, rising to 15.7%. When focusing solely on continuing operations, EBITDA stood at €1,188 million, an increase from €1,112 million in the previous year. Megamark Teams Up with Tosca to Enhance Sustainability and Operational Efficiency Megamark, a premier distribution group in Southern Italy, has formed a strategic partnership with Tosca to pursue ambitious objectives centered on consistent quality, durability, and optimized logistics. This collaboration not only emphasizes operational efficiency but also reinforces environmental responsibility through the provision of durable, reusable packaging solutions that cater to the rigorous demands of large-scale operations. With over 600 retail locations throughout Puglia, Campania, Molise, Basilicata, and Calabria, Megamark ranks as Italy’s eighth-largest retailer, boasting a revenue exceeding EUR 3 billion. FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 6NEWS Nestlé and Mars Join Forces to Support Fonterra’s Emission Reduction Initiative Nestlé and Mars are collaborating with Fonterra to support the dairy giant’s farmer members in reducing emissions. The New Zealand-based cooperative announced that these food- manufacturing giants—two significant customers—will fund “new incentives” for farmers to adopt more sustainable practices. Additionally, Fonterra plans to introduce a payment structure for farms that meet specific “emissions- related criteria.” Miles Hurrell, Fonterra’s CEO, stated: “We’re growing relationships with customers who value the hard work farmers put into producing sustainable, high-quality milk, along with the co-op’s quality of on-farm data and ongoing commitment to improvement. This helps us make progress towards achieving our on-farm emissions target and deliver the highest returns for our farmer shareholders’ milk.” Under the agreements, farmers who meet targets established through Fonterra’s “Co-operative Difference” initiative will have access to on-farm tools or services aimed at further enhancing emissions efficiency. Loadsmart Introduces YMS for Dock and Yard Management Loadsmart has officially launched its innovative Yard Management System (YMS). This advanced system is set to revolutionize the way businesses manage their docks, yards, and gates by allowing customers to monitor truck movements, track assets, and enhance coordination—all through a single, user-friendly interface. The YMS is seamlessly integrated into Opendock. Furthermore, customers can benefit from adding NavTrac, Loadsmart’s asset intelligence solution that leverages computer vision, optical character recognition (OCR), and artificial intelligence (AI). Together, Opendock and NavTrac offer a cohesive solution that merges gate management, yard management, and dock scheduling, effectively eliminating manual driver check-ins and routine yard audits while automating visibility. “Yard management systems bring control tower functions to operators, deriving their value from integration with order, inventory, people, automation, and transportation management solutions,” explains Paul Brisson, Loadsmart’s director of product management for Dock and Warehousing.. 31st edition, doubling in size and expanding the platform across two venues – Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai Expo City (DEC) solidifies Gulfood’s position as the largest and most powerful F&B event in the world Building on the hugely successful Gulfood legacy, and in response to Global interest for Gulfood 2026 surges days after the mega food event’s expansion announcement FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 7 record demand from the global F&B community, Dubai World Trade Centre’s (DWTC) announcement of Gulfood 2026 has already attracted interest from key industry sectors during the 2025 show. Marking a milestone in its evolution, the expansion taking place 26-30 January 2026, allows Gulfood to further advance its pivotal role in creating value and impact for the global food sector, enabling it to fully service the entire F&B network, and firmly placing the event as the epicentre of international food trade.NEWS BrightAI and Pelsis Group are enhancing their partnership by launching more AI- driven pest management solutions tailored for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Initially, the Pelsis Digital platform, which was created in collaboration with BrightAI, was introduced within the widely-used Cobra LED insect light traps as part of a pilot program. Given the pilot’s success, the Pelsis Digital Gen 2 technology will now extend to the Halo and Flytrap product lines, thereby further automating and improving pest control across diverse facilities. For food and pharmaceutical companies, effective pest control transcends basic operational tasks; it is vital for ensuring safety, preventing contamination, and adhering to rigorous regulatory standards. A minor pest outbreak can significantly damage a company’s reputation and lead to catastrophic financial consequences, as contamination may trigger FDA inspections, factory shutdowns, and supply chain disruptions. “Pest control in food and pharma is about more than managing nuisances—it’s about safeguarding supply chains and protecting public health,” says Alex Hawkinson, founder and CEO of BrightAI. BrightAI Expands Partnership with Pelsis to Develop AI- Powered Pest Control Solutions Lamb Weston Gets “Mini- Tender” Offer from TRC Capital Investment Lamb Weston Holdings recently announced that it has received an unsolicited offer from TRC Capital Investment to purchase up to two million shares of the renowned US french fries manufacturer. The Texas-based investment firm proposed a cash price of $55.95 per share, as disclosed in Lamb Weston’s statement. Under increasing pressure from activist investor Jana Partners, Lamb Weston revealed that the TRC offer reflects approximately 1.4% of its total outstanding common stock. Back in October, Jana Partners made headlines by acquiring a 5% stake in Lamb Weston, criticizing the potato-products supplier for what it termed “self-inflicted missteps” impacting financial performance. Jana is advocating for significant changes in leadership and corporate strategy. In its statement, Lamb Weston explicitly stated, “Lamb Weston does not endorse TRC’s unsolicited offer or the offer documentation.” The company emphasized that it has no affiliation with TRC or its mini-tender offer. Notably, TRC’s suggested offer price was approximately 4.34% below Lamb Weston’s common stock closing price of $58.49 on February 10, 2025, just one day before the offer was made. Koehler Paper and IRIS Bio Introduce Recyclable Packaging for Pasta Koehler Paper has successfully collaborated with the Italian pasta manufacturer Astrabio to package pasta in one of its innovative flexible packaging papers. In a groundbreaking development for the company, the heat- sealable paper known as “Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure” not only extends shelf life but also effectively protects the product inside. Furthermore, its exceptional strength qualities make it suitable for additional processing using conventional packaging equipment. “With ‘Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure,’ we offer a packaging paper with a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional plastic packaging. It also provides the considerable advantage of being recyclable, thereby conserving valuable resources,” states Mauro Moretti. FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 8NEWS Edeka Germany set to acquire dairy producer Uckermärker Milch Major German retailer Edeka has announced its intention to acquire Uckermärker Milch, a dairy manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount. This strategic move is set to finalize on March 1, pending approval from antitrust regulators. Edeka confirmed that all approximately 110 employees will retain their positions post-acquisition. This acquisition is vital for preserving one of the last independent dairies in northeastern Germany. Established in 1889, Uckermärker Milch’s modern operations have been in place since 1992, and the plant is located in the Uckermark region of Germany. In 2014, Swiss baby food producer Hochdorf acquired a 60% stake in Uckermärker Milch, with the remainder held by Ostmilch Handels, based in Berlin. However, in 2020, Hochdorf divested its stake, returning ownership entirely to Ostmilch Handels. Uckermärker Milch currently supplies Edeka with a range of products, including quark, butter, and milk powder. Edeka, one of the largest food and drink businesses in Germany, has been proactive in enhancing its supply chain capabilities through strategic acquisitions. Syntegon Unveils Expanded Weert Facility Syntegon has officially reopened its expanded facility in Germany, enhancing customer engagement, boosting production efficiency, and fostering workforce flexibility while supporting the group’s overarching sustainability objectives. The transformation of the Weert site commenced in mid-March 2023 and is now complete. The inauguration ceremony welcomed prominent figures including Torsten Türling, the chief executive officer of Syntegon Group; Ann Cuylaerts, executive vice president of the food vertical; and Paul Derckx from DGA Derckx, the main contractor. With a focus on process efficiency, minimizing carbon footprints, and aligning with modern workplace standards, managing director Frank van Kuijk expresses enthusiasm about welcoming customers to the new state-of-the-art environment. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has unveiled global export figures, revealing that the value of Scotch exports reached £5.4 billion in 2024. This amount translates to approximately 1.4 billion 70cl bottles of Scotch Whisky exported last year, averaging an impressive 44 bottles per second. According to the figures released today, Scotch Whisky Industry Achieves £5.4 Billion in Global Exports in 2024 Despite ‘Turbulent’ Trading Conditions FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 9 there has been a 3.7% decline in export value compared to 2023. The Scotch Whisky Association is urging both the UK and Scottish Governments to bolster support for the industry. Distillers have expressed concerns that ongoing pressures on consumer spending, along with increased domestic taxes and regulations, coupled with unpredictable global trade conditions, may adversely affect exports into 2025.Next >