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BUSINESS How Compliance Is Redefining Food Logistics pallets & containers Microbiology’s New Era of Shelf-Life Safety Microbiology & Testing The New Era of Air Quality Control in Manufacturing Clean Air Technology February 2026 • Issue 27 loading bays & doors loading bays & doors foodandbeverage.business09 04 10 18 14 pallets & containers 22 microbiology & testing CONTENTS 18 clean air technology FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 3 Editorial: editorial-ukeurope@foodandbeverage.business Sales: sales@foodandbeverage.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. News Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month CIMCORP Celebrating 50 Year Anniversary import & export China’s latest tariffs and import controls on pork, dairy and beef are reshaping the risk profile for European food exporters. While official investigations cite dumping and subsidy concerns, the timing and targeting of measures are widely seen as part of a wider trade confrontation, linked to growing tensions over industrial policy and electric vehicles. pallets & containers Pallets and containers have long been treated as background infrastructure in food logistics, specified for durability, hygiene and cost. In 2026, that thinking no longer holds. New regulation across Europe, the UK and the US is transforming transport packaging into a compliance-critical asset, expected to demonstrate recyclability, reuse, chemical safety and digital traceability Clean Air Technology For years, air quality management in food and beverage production has been treated as an engineering essential rather than a strategic advantage. It sat quietly in the background, grouped with ventilation, hygiene zoning and factory maintenance—critical, regulated, and usually only discussed when something went wrong. That thinking is changing Microbiology & Testing Food safety has never stood still, but the pace of change in microbiology is accelerating. Over the past decade, manufacturers have strengthened the foundations: improved hygiene design, better environmental monitoring, tighter sampling programmes, and faster detection methods. That work remains essential. Yet 2026 feels like a turning point, because the industry is moving beyond the idea that microbiology is simply about finding problems early enough to stop them reaching consumers. loading bays & doors In recent years, most investment at the loading bay focused on improving hardware: better dock levellers, more reliable doors, and sturdier safety barriers. By 2026, that picture has changed. The loading dock has become a digitally connected, safety-critical and sustainability-driven part of the supply chain — and one of the most influential points of risk control in food and drink logistics. events guide Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month 22 26 30 144 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE Sweden’s Systembolaget Champions Lower-Carbon Paper Bottles as Path to Market Frugalpac, a British innovator in sustainable packaging, leads the charge with the world’s first commercially available paper bottle for wines and spirits. This breakthrough highlights how Sweden is accelerating the transition toward lower-carbon packaging, as an emerging wave of drink brands embraces paper bottles throughout the nation. The recent product launches illustrate that packaging with a notably reduced carbon footprint increasingly serves as a pathway to market within sustainability-focused and strictly regulated systems. Sweden stands as a global benchmark for environmentally conscious alcohol retail practices. Austria is set to implement a significant reduction in VAT for select food items, aiming to decrease the rate from 10% to 5%. This initiative will be financed through a new tax on non-recyclable plastics. The government announced this plan on January 14th, with the specifics regarding the eligible “foodstuffs” still to be determined. The cut is expected to be effective by mid-year, and Austria’s competition authority will oversee compliance among retailers, ensuring that the benefits of this tax reduction are passed on to consumers. Rainer Will, the managing director of Handels Verband (HV), which is the independent Austrian Retail Association, expressed optimism about the change, stating, “Our retailers will pass on the effects of this tax cut to our customers wherever possible.” He emphasized the importance of making this tax cut permanent rather than temporary. AUSTRIA TO CUT VAT ON CERTAIN FOOD ITEMS, FUNDED BY NEW PLASTICS TAX NEWS The UK Labour government has announced a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the welfare of egg-laying hens and addressing inhumane practices associated with lambs. Under the proposed reforms, colony cage systems used for laying hens will be phased out by 2032. This change will affect all producers, including smaller egg suppliers, as part of a broader commitment to improve animal welfare standards in the food and beverage industry. The British Hen Welfare Trust reports that enhanced colony systems were introduced in 2012 to transition away from battery cages, providing hens with increased freedom. However, these systems still confine hens in cages, albeit with slightly more space. The RSPCA has flagged that these colony systems severely limit the movement of hens, who often share cages with up to 80 other birds, each occupying an area no larger than an A4 sheet of paper. Notably, colony cage eggs contribute to about 20% of the UK’s egg supply. UK to Gradually Eliminate Cage Systems for Egg-Laying HensFOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 5 AG Barr Chairman Mark Allen Resigns to Join Hilton Foods Mark Allen has stepped down from the AG Barr board after nearly four and a half years to focus on addressing challenges at Hilton Foods. Consequently, the manufacturer of Irn-Bru has appointed senior independent director Susan Barratt as acting interim chairwoman while they seek a successor. This decision reflects ongoing trends in the food and beverage industry that require adaptive leadership. Barratt, an experienced operator in the food and drink sector, previously stepped in as CEO of Hilton Foods on a temporary basis last November following the unexpected exit of Steve Murrells. With a background beginning in the police force, Allen commands several decades of expertise. He has collaborated with numerous food and drink manufacturers, including Dairy UK, Warburtons, and Foods, contributing to advancements in food processing technology. Asahi’s Food Sales Decline Again in December Due to Cyber Incident Asahi Group Holdings has recently announced a continued decline in sales from its food division, although there are signs of improvement in the trend. The company’s food business in Japan reported sales in December at “in the mid 90%” of the figures from the same month in 2024. Previously, during its November report, Asahi noted that its food division’s sales were “around” 90% of the sales recorded in November 2024. In October, the figures were “in the mid 70%” compared to the previous year. Compounding these issues, Asahi encountered a cyberattack at the end of September, resulting in a “systems failure” that disrupted production and distribution within its domestic operations. Fortunately, the company’s factories resumed operations just a week later. Moreover, Asahi experienced a significant drop in sales within its alcohol sector in December. Specifically, revenue from the Asahi Breweries division fell by more than 20% compared to the same month in 2024. In a statement released on 15 January, the brewer reported that preliminary revenue for December “was in the upper 70% year-on-year.” IRISH EXPORTS HIT RECORD €19 BILLION According to Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects Report 2025/26, the value of Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture exports surged by 12% in 2025, reaching an unprecedented €19 billion. This remarkable achievement occurred amid one of the most volatile trading environments in recent years, characterized by geopolitical uncertainty, extreme weather conditions, persistent inflation, and evolving consumer behavior. Despite these challenges, Irish exporters demonstrated notable resilience, primarily driven by increased prices in key categories, especially beef and dairy. NEWSRevolutionising PET Recycling: How Dispersible Adhesives Enable Efficient Label Removal for a Cleaner Circular Economy PET is ubiquitous in our daily lives, serving as a vital raw material for clothing, household goods, technical components, and particularly bottles, which represent approximately 70% of global PET usage. Its near-limitless recyclability positions it as a cornerstone of the circular economy. As we look ahead, this potential is set to expand further. According to the new EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), PET bottles are mandated not only to be designed for recycling but also to gradually incorporate a higher percentage of recycled content. However, achieving these goals remains challenging. For instance, if labels adhere with conventional adhesives, the recycled PET can become unsuitable for food and drink packaging applications. The effective solution lies in developing adhesives that can be completely and cleanly removed during the recycling process. Automated Packaging for Food Producers at Packaging Innovations Automated packaging specialists Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS) will be exhibiting at the Packing Innovations and Sustainable Supply Chain event at the NEC on February 11th and 12th. The company supplies both equipment and materials and has a wealth of experience in supplying the food production industry, throughout its almost 50 years in business. The company has a large and growing range of food contact approved materials and can advise on the optimal material for specific food applications. Recent projects where food producers have gained production benefits by partnering with YPS have included: • A premium cheese producer achieving increased production through their peak production period. • A dairy investing in additional shrink-wrapping capacity following a large renovation due to significant business growth. • A herb supplier who gained all the benefits of automation within a small footprint, following the supply of a compact line. • Consistent wrapping of irregular-shaped seafood products. • Gains in speed and flexibility achieved for a baked goods supplier. • Improvements in pallet load containment for a dairy’s milk range. The YPS Team will be based at stand S100. Tech startup Corvera has raised £1.5m to launch a pioneering AI software solution designed to give US & UK FMCG businesses fully automated supply chains and operations. The raise was driven by heavyweight global tech leaders and innovators including top tier pre-seed tech investor, Firstminute Capital, prestigious tech accelerator programme, Y Combinator, and angel investors Dom Maskell (exited Co- Founder of Runna) and Alex Bouaziz (Co-Founder of Deel), both with a wealth of experience in scaling fast growth tech businesses. The funding will be used to drive US & UK business growth for Corvera, which is the first AI-driven solution in the UK designed to fully automate the operational & supply chain demands of FMCG businesses. NEWS 6 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINEFOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 7 NEWS Coveris to Highlight Award-Winning Innovations at Packaging Innovations 2026 Coveris Group, a prominent European packaging manufacturer, will take the spotlight at Packaging Innovations 2026, the premier UK packaging tradeshow, set to occur at the NEC Birmingham on Wednesday, February 11th, and Thursday, February 12th. After a remarkable year filled with industry accolades, Coveris will reaffirm its status as a multi-award-winning packaging leader. It earned the title of Packaging Company of the Year at the 2025 UK Packaging Awards, along with several additional awards for its innovative and sustainable food and drink packaging solutions. At the event, visitors can explore Coveris’ recyclable flow wrap solution, MonoFlexP PaperFeel. This innovative product replaces a complex triple laminate structure, combining monomaterial recyclability with a distinctive tactile, paper-like finish. Importantly, it maintains product integrity and shelf-life, earning recognition as the Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year at both the 2025 UK Packaging Awards and Environmental Packaging Awards. Danish Crown is advancing its plans to boost pork processing capacity in Denmark with the construction of a new facility in Vejen. The cooperative announced that the expansion is driven by an increase in pig supplies from farmers, necessitating greater deboning capacity to meet rising demands. The additional output from the Vejen plant aims to serve export markets as finished products, particularly targeting what the company describes as “attractive markets” in Asia. Danish Crown, headquartered in Randers, anticipates creating approximately 100 jobs at the new location, contributing to employment growth in the food and drink business. Niels Ulrich Duedahl, CEO of Danish Crown, emphasized the positive impact of this expansion: “It is fantastic that we are now hiring more employees. This is the result of once again receiving more pigs for slaughter, which creates a need for more hands.” He further remarked on the strategic decision to expand production in Denmark, as it allows for fresh sales in Europe and frozen exports worldwide, highlighting the flexibility the company values. DANISH CROWN TO ESTABLISH NEW PORK PROCESSING FACILITY IN DENMARK StePacPCC, a global leader in innovative Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) solutions for fresh produce, has introduced a groundbreaking packaging solution designed to preserve the freshness and vibrant appearance of pitaya (dragon fruit). This is especially crucial during the lengthy transportation from Ecuador to markets in the US and Europe. StePacPPC’s technical team adeptly adapted the advanced Xtend® Modified Atmosphere/Modified Humidity (MA/MH) bulk packaging films to meet the specific postharvest needs of pitaya. As a result, the exotic fruit can reach consumers in peak condition and appearance. STEPACPPC ENHANCES GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF DRAGON FRUIT WITH ADVANCED PACKAGING SOLUTIONSYOUR NEXT CONTRACT IS HELD IN THESE HANDS BUSINESS She isn’t scrolling. She isn’t skipping a pre-roll ad. 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 digital 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 sales@foodandbeverage.business 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, or email — foodandbeverage.business is where industry leaders engage, make decisions, and open doors to new opportunities Stop Wasting Your Budget. Start Reaching BuyersFOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 9 LOGISTICS C imcorp, a global pioneer in automation and intralogistics, has released a 30-minute feature documentary to mark its 50th anniversary. Titled The Future of Automation, the film tells Cimcorp’s story through the reflections of employees past and present. It also includes comments from Erik Rosenlew, son of founder Gustav Rosenlew, and Mirka Leino, a leading robotics academic, and concludes with a look ahead at what the future may hold for automation. “This documentary is a tribute not only to the innovation and perseverance of Cimcorp,” says CEO Veli-Matti Hakala, “but to the evolution of automation itself.” Using rare archival footage, the documentary traces Cimcorp’s origins back to the 1970s, when it began as an industrial tool factory in Pori, Finland, and follows its transformation into a global system integrator. From automating picture tube manufacturing for the TV and computer sectors in the 1980s and 1990s, to developing breakthrough solutions for automotive, tyre, grocery retail and lithium-ion battery industries in more recent decades, Cimcorp has consistently pushed robotics into new areas of business. While the journey has included some challenges, the company’s commitment to innovation has enabled it to diversify, enter new markets and continually adapt — applying automation to everything from paint tinting and ship welding to warehousing and distribution. Originally known as Oy Rosenlew Ab, Cimcorp’s international mindset was present from the start. The company sold its first commercial robot in 1975, laying the foundations for what it would become, before adopting the Cimcorp name in 1986 following its acquisition by Wärtsilä. As Leino notes in the film, “The first robots in Finland were made at Rosenlew,” helping to move the sector forward. Expansion accelerated during the 1980s and 1990s, supported by success in picture tube automation. However, the rapid collapse of the picture tube market with the arrival of flat-screen technology delivered a major setback. Cimcorp responded by strengthening its presence in tyre manufacturing and expanding into food and distribution. Following a management buy-out in 2003, the company entered a new phase of growth, including the acquisition of RMT Robotics in 2010 and joining Murata Machinery in 2014. Today, Cimcorp’s modular robotic systems and warehouse automation solutions support customers worldwide, with offices across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The documentary closes by exploring emerging technologies such as AI, while highlighting a constant: the ‘Cimcorp spirit’ of collaboration and continual improvement — summed up by Hakala as “innovation and friendship.” Cimcorp releases 50-year anniversary movie Next >