Ewan Andrew

Food producers need to be very careful about what claims to have on their packages. Especially in this era of having many health claims on the packages, the food companies (including food entrepreneurs) need to have an additional focus on what to claim and what not to claim. #foodandbeverage #foodentrepreneurs #foodlabelling #labellingclaims

9

It's not enough to know what products people are cutting down on; you need to know what they're replacing them with. Prinova's bespoke research has uncovered men's changing attitudes to beverages, creating a North Star for brands to follow as they look to pivot in line with consumer needs. Take a look at the full report below. #WeArePrinova #PrinovaGlobal #Beverages #BeveragesTrends

19

Britvic, a UK-based soft-drinks supplier, has rejected two takeover bids from Carlsberg Group. Carlsberg's latest offer, sent on June 11, was around £3.2 billion ($3.9 billion) for Britvic, or 1,250 pence per share. Britvic stated that the second proposal undervalues the company and its future prospects. Carlsberg, one of the world's largest brewers, believes that a deal would allow them to capture long-term growth opportunities from Britvic's leading brands in the beverage market. Carlsberg's acquisition aligns with their growth strategy to expand beyond beer. Carlsberg markets its own soft drinks, while Britvic handles PepsiCo's beverages in the UK and Ireland. Carlsberg takes a disciplined approach to evaluating acquisitions and will only proceed with a transaction that is strategically and financially attractive. If an offer is made, it is likely to be in cash and fully debt financed. The second offer for Britvic represented an implied enterprise value multiple of over 13 times Britvic's adjusted EBITDA. It also marked a premium of 29% to Britvic's closing price prior to press speculation. Both parties have stated that there is no certainty another offer will be made. In the first half of fiscal year 2024, Britvic reported a 10.9% increase in revenue, a 15.3% increase in EBIT, and a 10.1% rise in profit after tax. The company's revenue primarily comes from its business in Great Britain, accounting for 68% of its revenue. Britvic also operates in other markets, such as France and Brazil. Carlsberg's business in the UK focuses on its Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Co. unit, which is a joint venture with Marston's, with Carlsberg owning a majority share. https://lnkd.in/esRCum6m

8

Sales and profit have continued to grow at Scottish ingredients manufacturer Macphie UK in its latest financial year, while it also saw a recovery from a dip in margin. #bakery #finance #ingredients #manufacturing https://lnkd.in/e7D4QFtj

2

Nestlé Implements Traceable Cocoa Mass Across UK Chocolate Brands Nestlé has announced a significant development in its sustainability efforts by using traceable cocoa mass across its popular UK chocolate brands, including KitKat, Quality Street, Aero, After Eight, Yorkie Rolo, and Munchies. This is part of Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Programme, launched in 2022 to support cocoa-farming families and address issues like the living income gap and child labour. The Income Accelerator Programme incentivises cocoa-farming families to send their children to school, adopt good agricultural practices, engage in agroforestry activities and diversify their incomes. After a successful pilot with 10,000 families, the program has expanded to include 30,000 families in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana in 2024, to reach 160,000 families by 2030. Nestlé’s collaboration with expert partners and suppliers has enabled full traceability and physical segregation of cocoa sourced through the programme. This means the company can track the entire journey of cocoa beans from farms to factories. At Nestlé’s York site, 12,000 tonnes of cocoa ingredients are used annually to produce a range of UK-based confectionery brands. Nestlé’s managing director for confectionery in the UK and Ireland, Mark Davies, emphasised the significance of this achievement: “Announcing that all of our UK chocolate is now produced using cocoa ingredients sourced through the Income Accelerator Programme is a very significant milestone for Nestlé. Sourcing cocoa with this level of traceability, at the scale that Nestlé operates, is no mean feat. [...] We will continue to push to make a positive impact on the lives of farmers and their communities and contribute to a more sustainable cocoa industry”. Starting in 2024, KitKat will feature on-pack QR codes that consumers can scan to learn more about the programme’s benefits to cocoa-farming families and their communities. Nestlé also plans to use segregated cocoa butter for all KitKat chocolate in 29 European countries, with intentions to expand to other regions in the future. Nestlé Travel Retail is launching a new sustainable chocolate range exclusively for travel retail, part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance. This initiative caters to the growing consumer demand for responsibly sourced products. Head of Marketing AURA SANCHEZ FARRERA highlighted: “Through creative branding, we can provide transparency on the origin of the cocoa used in our chocolate. It enables us to raise awareness about our longstanding commitments to supporting cocoa-farming families and the long-term sustainability of cocoa production”. The Nestlé Cocoa Plan focuses on better farming, better lives, and better cocoa. This plan has positively impacted over 170,000 families, distributing 1.2 million trees to provide shade and moisture for crops and pruning 20,000 hectares to improve productivity and reduce pests and diseases. 

6

The food industry has undergone a seismic shift in recent years as consumer demand for convenience has led to the rise of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products. From pre-cut vegetables to fully cooked grains, RTE raw ingredients are now a staple for food businesses looking to streamline operations and cater to time-conscious consumers. https://lnkd.in/d3PpzQgc

1

POSSIBLE ASHWAGANDHA BAN IN THE UK IN 2025 In the UK for the past 24 months we have been defending the safe use of Ashwagandha (also known as Withania somnifera) in food supplements. The issues in the UK started after a flawed DTU report that resulted in RASSF notification by Denmark in Feb 2022. Despite evidence to the contrary the UK are now requesting evidence to demonstrate safety that will go forwards to a risk assessment. I can say so far there has been no assistance to clients that faced enforcement action when carrying generic or branded forms of Ashwagandha. Now is the time for these firs to invest in a coherent defence or look to loose access of their products for lawful sale in the UK. #ashwagandha #foodlaw #fsa #foodsafety #toxicology #defense #uk #consultation #Withania Source for consultation: https://lnkd.in/eDTfBfBK

96

13 Comments

QUALITY - it's a word we often use. But it got me thinking, what does it actually mean? Balance, Complexity, Authenticity, Consistency, Memorability, Provenance, all of the above? Insights from the psychology of flavour demonstrate how 'perceived' quality can be influenced by such things as packaging design, bottle weight, stopper weight, price, and branding. Meaning that it may not be a consistent measure. Who could forget the lager that was 'reassuringly expensive'? This brings us to the real question - is quality nothing more than subjective opinion? Or can it be measured in a scientific, repeatable, and consistent way? I would love to know your thoughts...

3

1 Comment

Food culture has undergone some seismic shifts in recent years and the humble sausage has not been immune to these disruptions. The growth in plant-based product alternatives and the focus on quality and more artisanal production have had a major impact on meat consumption and attitudes.     HECK!’s success is evidence of the latter phenomena, a small, challenger, family-owned brand that’s grown into a key player in the category. It started and finished with a focus on authenticity, quality and passion. Heck! has done a great job in introducing new flavour combinations and genuinely innovative ways of enjoying their core product – the quality meat produced on their farm. As it says on the website... ‘Although small, we’re big on premium quality & flavour.’   So, why not sausage strips. All the flavour of a HECK! sausage in a convenient format for multiple uses and occasions. Brands without innovation are always at risk of standing still and leaving their future prosperity to chance. HECK!, unlike many smaller firms, clearly realised this early on. It’s journey is proof positive of WHAT BRANDS DO. Build a healthy core and then deliver a range of premium product alternatives focused on people’s needs. All under a salient brand banner. It creates a virtuous circle that fuels growth, builds relevance, attracts new buyers, strengthens the brand... and fuels growth. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eKv-6hiG #WhatBrandsDo

4

https://lnkd.in/emQKJmxu - I really appreciate the coverage my Market Intelligence Report got on Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery . Key takeaways are: monk fruit pricing and how the Ireland Department of Health taking it off of the novel ingredients list will effect pricing. Erythritol and the anti-dumping suit Jungbunzlauer just won and how that might effect the supply chain in the US and of course the "T" word. How will potential #tariffs will effect the cost of raw materials and the supply chain for ingredients coming out of #china . Buckle up!

4

Great news, but i'd love to know your thoughts, These results show an almost 29% reduction in added sugar consumption for chikdrem and 40% in adults. However, there's lurks a bigger risk: many have switched to artificially sweetened drinks, which are linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, gut disorders, and more. Producing more low-sugar options that are well-formulated, offering flavour without compromising health is the way forward, but big manufacturing needs to be all over this with better formulations and no get out of jail card for being hit with sugar tax by just replacing one 'bad' ingredient for another more fatal ingredient. Stevia glycosides and sucralose, are widely used as sugar substitutes in these low calorie /zero sugar drinks. While they help reduce calorie intake, they come with potential health risks: Stevia Glycosides: Digestive Issues: Can cause bloating, nausea, and diarrhea in some individuals. Blood Sugar Impact: Despite being non-caloric, studies suggest they negatively affect insulin and glucose levels. Gut Health: negatively affects gut microbiota, leading to digestive disorders. Metabolic Effects: Some studies link it to altered glucose and insulin responses, potentially increasing diabetes risk. Heat Instability: When heated,(pasteurised) it can break down into potentially harmful compounds. Our soft drinks are laced with these harmful sweeteners. do we solved one problem but created a bigger one. Overall, great results but it raises concern for what was the solution.. what are yout thoughts? . #Health #Nutrition #Wellness #PublicHealth

10

3 Comments

FOOD CRIME: The Neal’s Yard heist: Why black market criminals target luxury cheese and the food sector. Food-related crimes – which include smuggling, counterfeiting, and out-and-out theft – cost the global food industry between US $30 to 50 billion a year (£23-£38 billion), according to the World Trade Organisation. These range from hijackings of freight lorries delivering food to warehouses to the theft of 24 live lobsters from a storage pen in Scotland. But a number of these food crimes have also targeted the cheese industry – and in particular luxury cheese. The problem is only set to rise across the industry as cheese becomes more valuable. The overall price of food and non-alcoholic drinks in the UK rose around 25% between January 2022 and January 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Cheese, meanwhile, saw a similar price hike in the space of a single year. There is a long-established connection between food and organised crime,” says ANDY QUINN of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). For criminal networks, food has other attractions. “They know crimes involving food result in less severe convictions than for importing drugs,” says Quinn, “but they can still make similar amounts of money.” Particularly if it’s a premium cheese. Very interesting long read into crime in the food sector. Which illustrates the important role that the #NFCU plays. Selvarani Elahi MBE John Points John W SPINK Quincy Lissaur #Food #FoodSafety #FoodFraud #FSA #FoodIndustry #SupplyChain #Retail #Cheese #Science #FoodTechnology #PublicHealth #Health #EnvironmentalHealth #Hospitality #Foodservice #Restaurants https://lnkd.in/e-FjapWV

26

Who is Leading the Dairy FMCG Market in the UK 2024? In 2024, the UK dairy market thrives, contributing approximately £10 billion to the economy. Key FMCG players, including Dairy Crest, Arla Foods, and Müller, are leading the way in sustainability and innovation. Dairy Crest Dairy Crest aims for net-zero emissions by 2040 and reported revenues of £1.2 billion in 2023. To reduce its environmental impact, the company is investing in renewable energy and sustainable packaging, such as compostable materials. Arla Foods Arla Foods is a farmer-owned cooperative producing around 2.5 billion litres of milk annually from 2,900 UK farmers. The company’s organic range saw a 20% sales increase last year, reflecting growing consumer demand. Arla aims to cut plastic use by 50% by 2030 and enhance animal welfare standards. Müller Müller holds a 23% market share in the UK yogurt sector and is expanding its dairy alternatives portfolio. Plant-based sales surged by 17% in 2023, and the company is also focusing on functional foods to meet the demand for healthier options. Overall, the UK dairy market is projected to grow by 4% in 2024, with plant-based alternatives expected to reach £1.3 billion by 2025. Leading FMCG groups are committed to sustainability and innovation, shaping a resilient future for the industry. #DairyIndustry #FMCG #UKMarket2024 #Sustainability #Innovation #DairyProducts #ConsumerTrends #HealthAndWellness

2

Kraft Heinz has announced the removal of Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program, following concerns raised by Consumer Reports over high sodium levels. The decision comes after tests revealed sodium levels in the school versions of Lunchables were significantly higher than those available in grocery stores. The USDA has proposed changes to school food guidelines to gradually reduce sodium and added sugar levels. Too much sodium consumption can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the CDC. The school version of Lunchables contained 930 milligrams of sodium, compared to 740 milligrams in the store-buy version. The kits also contained lead and cadmium, although none of the kits exceeded any federal limit. The decision by Kraft Heinz to remove Lunchables from schools is a step in the right direction towards providing healthier options for students. However, the question remains: what more can be done to ensure that school meals are nutritious and safe for our children? What are your thoughts on this development? How can we ensure that school meals are not only convenient but also healthy and safe for our children?

2