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BUSINESS The Thinking Line Process, Control & Automation Pressure on the Pass foodservice Beyond the Recipe soups & sauces november 2026 • Issue 34 filling & depositing filling & depositing foodandbeverage.businessCompany Name Address Phone Website 100 Words Logo on Map Marker & Listing Page Company Name Motto / Tag Line Address Phone Whatsapp Email Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Instagram Youtube Video 10 Images 1,000 Words Logo on Map Marker & Listing Page Company Name Motto / Tag Line Address Phone Whatsapp Email Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Instagram Youtube Video 10 Images 1,000 Words On Homepage and at top of each Category listing We’re super excited to finally tell you about all these epic features we’ve worked on during the last months. We have launched a BASIC £0 STANDARD £100 YEAR PREMIUM £250 YEAR foodandbeverage.business/directory10 4 22 soups & sauces 26 process, control & automation 30 foodservice FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 3 Food & Beverage Business Magazine, 128 City Road, London, EC1v 2NX Telephone: 020 3633 8987 • Website: www.foodandbeverage.business Editorial: editorial-ukeurope@foodandbeverage.business • Sales: sales@foodandbeverage.business Finance & Admin: accounts@foodandbeverage.business • Design: studio@foodandbeverage.business News Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month Gerhard Schumbert GMBH How Schubert is reducing set-up times and simplifying packaging processes with a consistent tooling strategy Import & export British food and drink exports are losing ground while imports remain close to record levels. With rising input costs, international trade uncertainty and changing market access adding pressure, the growing imbalance raises important questions about the competitiveness and resilience of UK food production. Filling & depositing Filling and depositing machinery is becoming a critical control point for cost, consistency and production flexibility. As manufacturers manage expensive ingredients, wider SKU ranges and more complex products, the biggest gains are increasingly coming from tighter dosing, faster changeovers, hygienic design and better control of product giveaway. Soups & Sauces From electrically heated sauce systems to AI- assisted formulation and recyclable packaging, soup and sauce production is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Manufacturers must now balance food safety, consistency and shelf life with reformulation, automation and new packaging economics. process, control & automation The next generation of process control is not simply about automating more tasks. AI, digital twins, edge computing and connected control architectures are giving manufacturers the ability to predict problems, simulate decisions and adapt production in real time — while placing greater demands on data, validation, cybersecurity and compliance. foodservice Rising labour costs, tighter compliance requirements and increasingly selective consumers are changing the investment priorities of food service operators. From AI forecasting and digital HACCP to waste monitoring and kitchen automation, technology is increasingly being judged on one thing: whether it can deliver measurable operational value. events guide Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month 22 30 14 34 CONTENTS 18 26 18 filling & depositing4 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE Amcor delivers bespoke flip top closure for Spanish sauce brand Choví France-based materials deep-tech company Z1ro has developed bio-designed molded fiber packaging made from non-wood biomass sources. The company says many manufacturers still rely on virgin wood pulp, plastics, or newer bio-based materials that can present challenges related to price, production scale, and premium appearance. Z1ro is working to provide scalable alternatives for conventional plastic and wood pulp packaging. Alexander Sobolenko, founder of Z1ro, tells Packaging Insights: “We focus on cosmetics and beauty, consumer electronics, as well as premium gifting, with custom molded fiber inserts and trays that replace plastic trays and foam inserts while protecting and presenting the product.” Z1ro Develops Non-Wood Molded Fiber Packaging to Replace Plastic NEWS David Wood Baking has been acquired by US investment firm Barings in a deal completed alongside managing director Karen Wood. The Leeds-based bakery business is now preparing for a brand refresh as it enters its “next phase” under new ownership. The company employs more than 1,500 people and produces bread, savoury foods and ready meals at seven sites across the UK. Established in 2008, it supplies major retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op. Barings, an alternative asset management company headquartered in North Carolina, will also provide lending support to David Wood Baking. LeumiUK will continue to participate as a financing partner. With operations spanning 16 international markets, Barings also has a London office. The investment follows the appointment of Anthony Johnson-Magee and Kristina Kicks from Interpath as joint receivers over the shares of David Wood Baking UK Limited on 2 April 2026. The receivers are expected to leave their roles shortly now that the transaction has concluded. David Wood Baking Acquired by US Finance Firm Amcor has developed a bespoke flip top closure for Spanish sauce brand Choví, combining controlled dispensing with a distinctive design to improve consumer convenience and shelf appeal. The two-colour closure incorporates a valve that controls sauce flow during dispensing. Its curved shape helps differentiate the bottles on shelf, while its robust construction supports ease of use. The bi-injection closure is manufactured from polypropylene. Founded in 1953, Choví is a longstanding Amcor customer. It selected the packaging specialist for its closure expertise and Spanish manufacturing capabilities. The new design features across sauces for salads, barbecues and snacks, including Allioli, La Brava, Cheddar, Ketchup and César. Amcor sales director Mirko Todeschi said the development combined shelf differentiation with controlled pouring, supported by collaboration that enabled timely delivery. Choví’s logistics and purchasing manager, David Moya Aparicio, said smooth operation was essential because the closure represents consumers’ first interaction with the product after purchase. He also highlighted the value of Spanish production for the brand.FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 5 Europastry Acquires Majority Stake in Chile’s Alicomer Spanish bakery producer Europastry has acquired a controlling interest in Chilean company Alicomer. Although the financial terms have not been disclosed, the transaction provides Europastry with a manufacturing platform in Chile, where it already supplies bakery and foodservice customers. Alicomer operates two bakeries in Santiago, where it produces breads marketed under the Pan de Origen name. Europastry said in a statement that the products are “made with sourdough and slow- fermentation processes”. Pan de Origen’s portfolio spans ciabatta, sourdough bread, olive bread and a low-carb, high-protein product. While Europastry primarily serves bakery and foodservice customers in Chile, Alicomer’s distribution network reaches the country’s supermarket chains. Mars Invests $3 Million to Build the Future Food and Science Workforce Mars is committing $3 million to youth education and career development through a three-year partnership with the National 4-H Council. The initiative aims to introduce as many as 200,000 young people across the United States to career opportunities in food science, agriculture and veterinary medicine. Provided through the Mars Impact Fund, the investment will support the National 4-H Council’s Beyond Ready programme. Over the next three years, the programme will help participants build practical skills, confidence and work-related experience as they prepare for an economy shaped by rapid technological, social and commercial change. The partnership responds to a long-term workforce priority for Mars: helping young people understand the range of science-based careers available to them and providing the education, guidance and practical exposure required to pursue those opportunities. The programme will place particular emphasis on food science, agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine. It will also introduce participants to the wider forces shaping the food and beverage industry, including food manufacturing trends, food processing technology, food distribution trends and food and drink industry innovation. PLASTIPAK OPENS PET MATERIAL CENTER IN ITALY Plastipak has commissioned a €25 million PET Material Center in Verbania, Italy, dedicated to producing pakPET Single Pellet Solution, a resin containing 30% recycled material from the outset. For brand owners, the solution offers a way to increase recycled content without overhauling established production procedures. Plastipak Packaging, Inc. formally unveiled the facility on 14 October. Italian government representatives joined Plastipak CEO Ed Morgan at the opening ceremony. NEWSPolytag’s Invisible UV Tags Named Among TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 Polytag, the North Wales-based specialist in data capture and recycling technology, has received global recognition after its invisible ultraviolet tagging system was selected for TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026. Established in 2018, Polytag has built an international reputation for improving traceability throughout the packaging lifecycle. Its technology supports growing demands across food and beverage industry trends, including stronger accountability, improved recycling outcomes, and greater transparency in food and drink sustainability. The company prints invisible UV markers directly onto product packaging with food-safe fluorescent ink. Although the tags cannot be seen by consumers, specialist optical scanners at participating recycling facilities identify them when packaging enters the waste and recovery system. TIME described the technology’s sustainability benefits as follows: “Printed on packaging with food-safe fluorescent ink that’s discernible only to optical scanners at recycling facilities, they can store information about packaging material, composition, and origins. This helps manufacturers verify sustainability claims and helps recycling facilities accurately sort materials.” Key Technology Introduces New Enhancements for COMPASS® Optical Sorters Key Technology has enhanced its COMPASS® belt-fed optical sorter with advanced backlighting, optional three-way sorting and a larger-capacity model, extending its capabilities across snacks, vegetables and other foods. The new pulsed LED backlight transmits visible or near-infrared light through the belt, improving product separation during inspection. In challenging applications such as kettle chips, it reduces the effects of shadows and belt staining that can interfere with detecting foreign material and defects. Optional three-way sorting uses a second ejection manifold to separate products into three configurable streams in one pass. Processors can recover material for rework, separate defect categories or create different product grades, potentially reducing additional sorting equipment and manual inspection. The new B200 model features a two-metre-wide belt for higher-throughput lines, offering an alternative to multiple smaller sorters. All COMPASS models feature recipe-driven operation and an open, hygienic design for cleaning and maintenance. Key Discovery™ analytics and reporting software provides production data to support performance improvements across processing operations. Sidel has launched EvoDECO Next, a new-generation roll-fed labelling system developed to help beverage manufacturers combine high-speed output with greater design flexibility and significantly lower material usage. For the first time, the platform brings partial labelling to a roll-fed solution. This enables producers to reduce the amount of label film required while allowing more of the bottle to remain visible. As PET packaging evolves in response to lightweighting and circularity goals, beverage brands must also find new ways to attract attention on the shelf. Until now, material optimisation has largely focused on the bottle’s body, neck, and base. EvoDECO Next applies the same principle to the label. NEWS 6 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE Multiscan MXV-Bulk x-ray inspection system for nuts from WECOThe UK packaging and processing community will return to the NEC Birmingham on 24 & 25 February, with a renewed focus on helping brands and manufacturers turn promising ideas into practical, scalable solutions. Registration has opened for Packaging Innovations & Empack 2027, the UK’s largest packaging and processing event, as the industry prepares to return to the NEC Birmingham on 24 & 25 February for two days focused on turning innovation into practical progress. Building on a record-breaking 2026, which attracted 8,021 unique visitors, more than 500 exhibitors and representatives from over 3,000 brands, the event promises a packed programme of discovery, debate, live demonstrations and business opportunities. As the industry faces more regulation, more material choices, more technology and growing pressure to improve sustainability and productivity, making the right decisions is becoming harder. The challenge is separating promising ideas from practical solutions that can deliver in the real world and at scale. That is where Packaging Innovations & Empack 2027 comes in. Under the theme Innovation in Practice, the event will connect the industry’s biggest questions with the people, technologies and expertise capable of answering them. Coca-Cola is introducing a limited-edition seasonal variant, Coca-Cola Holiday Creamy Vanilla, for the festive period. The new flavour will be available in both Original Taste and Zero Sugar. Its seasonal presentation uses vanilla-inspired colours and a soft-serve swirl symbol to create distinctive food and drink packaging designed for Christmas shoppers. The launch arrives as food and beverage industry trends increasingly focus on seasonal innovation, while food and drink consumer trends continue to influence food and drink marketing. It also reflects wider developments across food manufacturing trends, food processing technology, food distribution trends, food and drink sustainability and food and drink regulations. Rob Yeomans, vice-president, commercial development at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said: “Coca-Cola has a long association with Christmas, so it’s a great moment to give shoppers a new twist on a brand they already know and love.” FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 7 NEWS Packaging Innovations & Empack 2027 opens registration with focus on turning innovation into action COCA-COLA UNVEILS LIMITED- EDITION HOLIDAY CREAMY VANILLA France-based agri-food investor Unigrains has invested in hazelnut cooperative Unicoque. Unigrains said it had “subscribed to participating securities” issued by the cooperative, which supplies food manufacturers and retailers. The value of the investment was not disclosed. The transaction supports Unicoque’s strategy of “developing higher value-added products”, according to Unigrains. Founded in 1990, Unicoque represents more than 280 growers and produces over 80% of France’s hazelnuts. Its two processing facilities handle almost 10,000 tons of nuts annually. The cooperative sells in-shell, shelled and processed hazelnut products to domestic and international customers. Its value- added portfolio includes hazelnut powder, pieces, roasted nuts, oils and beverages, serving applications across the food and beverage industry. UNIGRAINS INVESTS IN HAZELNUT SUPPLIER UNICOQUEMany industrial pumping applications share a common challenge: the pumping task itself is often straightforward, but the path to implementation can quickly become complex. Lengthy engineering discussions, multiple suppliers, extensive clarification loops, and uncertain delivery schedules frequently turn a simple requirement into a time-consuming project. With FlexSkid, SEEPEX introduces a standardized pump package that combines proven progressive cavity pump technology, integrated controls, and a mobile skid concept in one complete solution. The result is faster project execution, reduced engineering effort, and greater flexibility in process design, project realization, and application coverage. From requirement to solution – faster Across industries, engineering resources are becoming increasingly limited while project schedules continue to tighten. At the same time, customers expect faster responses, shorter lead times, and reliable project planning. Traditional skid projects often involve extensive design discussions before a quotation and delivery date can be provided. M&S Named the UK Public’s Best Supermarket for Limited-Edition Items SEEPEX introduces skids for faster deployment, less engineering effort and more flexibility. NEWS Constellation Cold Logistics, a European operator specialising in temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics, has completed the acquisition of Norwegian refrigerated storage and food logistics company Impruv Logistics AS. Based in Langangen, close to Porsgrunn in southern Norway, Impruv was established by experienced professionals from the food logistics, warehousing and supply chain sectors. The business supports customers throughout Norway’s food supply chain, pairing modern cold storage facilities with a strong commitment to efficient operations and high-quality customer service. Impruv Logistics AS CEO Morten Hagen Vanneviken said: “We have spent many years building businesses within food logistics and supply chain services, always looking for better ways to support customers and improve efficiency. “Joining Constellation gives us the opportunity to continue that journey with a partner that understands our market, shares our long-term ambitions and brings the scale needed for the next phase of growth.” Impruv Acquisition Strengthens Constellation’s Cold Chain Presence Marks & Spencer has emerged as the UK’s leading supermarket for limited-edition food and drink, according to research from Manchester-based product intelligence company Vypr. The retailer ranked well ahead of Tesco and Sainsbury’s in the study. One in five UK shoppers—20% of those surveyed—identified Marks & Spencer as the retailer producing the strongest limited-edition ranges. Tesco followed with 15%, while Sainsbury’s secured 11%. Aldi achieved 7%, with Asda and Morrisons recording 6% and 5% respectively. The findings indicate that seasonal and exclusive products have broad appeal across the grocery market. Only 25% of respondents said they never purchase limited-edition items, meaning three- quarters of UK consumers are open to buying them. Flavour represented the most influential purchase driver, cited by 41% of participants considering a seasonal product from a supermarket. Value also played a significant role: 33% said a price reduction would encourage them to buy. 8 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINEYOUR NEXT CONTRACT IS HELD IN THESE HANDS BUSINESS She’s the Director of Operations for a national food group, and for the next 15 minutes, she is doing one thing: reading. She’s reading about AI, processing, manufacturing, and supply chain innovations that will shape her budget for the next financial year. She’s reading foodandbeverage.business In a world of noise, we deliver what marketing budgets crave: genuine, focused engagement with the people who make the critical purchasing decisions. Direct Access Reach the C-Suite, Directors, and Senior Managers who are actively seeking solutions foodandbeverage.business 020 3633 8987 sales@foodandbeverage.business Unrivalled Credibility Position your brand within content that our readers trust and rely on to make critical business decisions. Guaranteed Visibility Your message placed in a premium, uncluttered environment - whether in print or online - ensuring the right audience sees When you advertise with us, you aren’t just buying space. You’re buying: Print, online, email - foodandbeverage.business is where industry leaders engage, make decisions, and open doors to new opportunities Stop Wasting Your Budget. Start Reaching BuyersNext >