13th May 2025 marked a standout date in the calendar as professionals from across the industry gathered for the BFFF Technical Conference—a day filled with insight, learning, and collaboration.

Hosted at the impressive British Motor Museum in Warwickshire, the conference ran alongside the BFFF Health and Safety Conference, allowing delegates, speakers, and exhibitors to maximise networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The day kicked off with Anna Malek-Woznica from BRCGS, who shared invaluable insight into the extensive work carried out to uphold the integrity of their certification programmes. This set the tone for a strong focus on allergens, hypersensitivity, and incident prevention, with insightful presentations from Tina Potter and Robyn Smyth of the FSA, as well as Dominic Watkins, a leading food lawyer from DWF Law. The session sparked collaborative discussions across the room, particularly around root cause analysis and strengthening preventative measures.

Post-refreshments, delegates were immersed in a compelling session on Food Fraud by Alison Johnson from Food Forensics. With fraud risks spanning numerous areas, this session proved critical in understanding the available risk control strategies.

Next, Dr Amer Rashid from the Halal Certification Organisation (HCO), a BFFF member, took to the stage to talk about serving the UK and Europe in a market now estimated to be worth $3.5 trillion!

The morning concluded with a dual focus on practical challenges and global trade. Tony Baldock, Corporate Director at Sevington Inland BCP, offered key reflections on trade, followed by a thought-provoking session from Dr Jeff Banks, a food quality and safety expert, who tackled the challenge of “Is your freezer really clean?”

After a fantastic networking lunch, the afternoon sessions turned to sustainability. Graham Robson from Emissis showcased their AI-driven energy optimisation technology, while David May from Hubl shared an innovative logistics solution to move frozen goods across Africa without refrigerated transport.

Wrapping up the day was a highly engaging and informative session from Lianne Pemberton and Jonathon Crawford of Smurfit Westrock. They demystified the complexities of packaging legislation, leaving attendees with practical takeaways and a clear understanding of the packaging regulatory landscape.

A huge thank you to all speakers, delegates, and organisers for making the BFFF Technical Conference 2025 a resounding success. For those who attended—don’t forget to share your feedback. Your insights help us continue to deliver impactful and engaging events for the industry.