Thermal processing: international conference from Campden BRI

Thermal processing: international conference from Campden BRI

Campden BRI’s international conference on thermal processing (see http://www.campdenbri.co.uk/thermal-processing-conference.php), to be held on 30 June – 1 July, will focus on the latest academic, industrial and regulatory aspects of producing commercial heat preserved foods. Presentations will be on several topical aspects governing the safety and quality of thermal processed foods, with technical sessions divided into the following themes:

  • Secrets of successful thermal processing
  • International research activities
  • What’s next for thermal processing?

The conference will bring together industry and academia to highlight the current needs and future developments in thermal food processing. Industry speakers from multinational companies such as Kraft Heinz and Mars Petcare will outline their perspectives on thermal processing, and packaging and consultancy organizations will discuss their roles in helping industry. Academic presentations will cover new and novel developments from across the globe from high profile organisations in France, Spain, USA, Greece and the UK.

For further infromation on the event, contact daphne.davies@campdenbri.co.uk +44(0)1386 842040

Contact:  Karen Jones +44(0)1386 842204 karen.jones@campdenbri.co.uk

Food and drink M&A market driving demand for W&I and tax insurance

Dynamic food and drink M&A market driving demand for warranty & indemnity and tax insurance

Specialist insurance protection can drive a competitive advantage for sellers, while de-risking transactions for buyers, and assist with deal completion

Warranty & Indemnity insurance (W&I) and Tax Insurance are fast becoming a key part of transactional deals, such as mergers and acquisitions, in the increasingly dynamic food and drink sector.

That’s according to food and drink sector insurance specialists at Arthur J. Gallagher – one of the UK’s largest risk management and insurance brokerages.

For the seller, W&I insurance can cover their contractual liability under a specific sale and purchase agreement.

For a buyer, W&I insurance can credit-enhance the transaction by insuring those warranties with the A-rated insurer, whilst also potentially increasing the limit, time period and scope of the warranties and indemnities offered by the seller.

Tax Insurance is focused on the known risks arising from M&A transactions, which are generally of low/medium probability but high severity.

Alan Pratten, Managing Director of Arthur J. Gallagher’s Major Risks team and a specialist in the food and drink sector, said: “These forms of transactional insurance, designed to assist in the execution and delivery of a deal are now common place in the London-based private equity market.

“With merger and acquisition activity in the food and drink sector growing, these tools need to be fully understood as they can drive a competitive advantage for a buyer, and de-risk a transaction for the seller.

“With regard to tax for example, where significant value differences/ranges apply to tax questions, the use of these solutions has assisted with the completion of the transaction.”

To help companies better understand tax insurance, Arthur J. Gallagher has scheduled a new webinar, which takes place on Friday April 15 at 10:15am.

To register for the webinar, visit http://events.ajginternational.com/Pages/Tax-Webinar.aspx.

To help companies gain an improved understanding of W&I, Arthur J. Gallagher recently produced a podcast giving companies an overview on the subject.

To listen to the podcast, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH_0HIi3xr4.

In recent months alone, a number of household names in the food industry have been at the centre of significant deals.

Back in October, Diary Crest – the firm behind Clover, Country Life, Cathedral City and Fry Light – announced it was to sell off part of its dairies operation to Muller[i].

More recently, Premier Foods – the firm behind Mr Kipling, Hovis, Ambrosia and other leading UK brands – has been the subject of an offer by US company McCormick having also recently sold a significant shareholding (17.27%) to noodle company, Nissin[ii].

Meanwhile last year saw the merger of two food giants Kraft and Heinz, now Kraft Heinz, creating what at the time was described as the third-largest food and beverage company in North America and the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world[iii].

For more information on Arthur J. Gallagher’s Food & Drink Practice and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice, please visit:

http://www.ajginternational.com/corporate-insurance/food-drink-major-risks and & http://www.ajginternational.com/expertise/mergers-acquisitions-and-disposals-major-risks

[i] http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/media/latest-news/news/2015/cma_approval_19_october.aspx

[ii] http://www.premierfoods.co.uk/media/news-releases/Items/Possible-offer-by-McCormick-Company,-Inc and http://www.premierfoods.co.uk/media/news-releases/Items/Nissin-Foods-Holdings-Co-,-Ltd-agrees-to-acquire-s

[iii] http://news.heinz.com/press-release/finance/kraft-heinz-company-announces-successful-completion-merger-between-kraft-foods

Food supplements legislation – Campden BRI seminar

Food supplements legislation – Campden BRI seminar

Recent years have seen a massive expansion in the herbal and food supplements market. Products that were once confined to specialist health food stores have become readily available alongside our groceries, on retailers’ shelves and via internet sales. The regulatory framework for food supplements is not fully harmonised and this brings problems for enforcers and industry.

A Campden BRI seminar,  Food supplements: The EU regulatory environment (see www.campdenbri.co.uk/food-supplements.php), to be held on 21 June, will discuss the principal issues involved, enabling delegates to:

  • Understand the regulations relating to botanicals and food supplements
  • Identify the areas of non harmonisation within Europe
  • Gain a better understanding of the range of rules for different sectors of the health food market
  • Discover how national technical rules are developing in Europe

For further information on the seminar – please contact Daphne Llewellyn-Davies on +44(0)1386 842040 daphne.davies@campdenbri.co.uk

Contact: Karen Jones +44(0)1386 842204 karen.jones@campdenbri.co.uk

Aviko Launches British Jackets

Aviko Launches British Jackets

Aviko Jacket PotatoesWith a crispy skin and soft fluffy centre, Aviko’s new Jacket Potatoes – available in large and extra large – are ready to heat, top and serve, offering a consistently high quality product ideal for the lunchtime rush.

Ready in just six minutes*, the pre-cooked British Jackets are slow baked in advance, serving up a speedier solution to the much loved, traditional jacket potato – servings of which are growing at 3% out-of-home** – and ensuring a fresh oven-baked flavour every time. Plus, as they’re frozen, there’s no need for operators to worry about the quality of the potatoes which, as a natural product, can often vary month-to-month when using fresh produce.

Mohammed Essa, General Manager UK and Ireland, Aviko, explains: “We have a strict quality control process ensuring only the finest potatoes are used in our products and these British-grown jackets are no exception – they give operators access to superior potatoes all year round.

“The versatility of our new Jacket Potatoes means they’re a welcome menu addition for both operators and their customers. Simply refresh with a range of toppings, from tried and tested favourites such as cheese and beans, all the way through to gourmet spiced lamb or roasted vegetables for a profitable and hardworking menu item.”

Healthy, wholesome and ready in just a fraction of the time, Aviko’s new Jacket Potatoes make a tasty addition to any menu – at lunchtime and beyond.

The large Jacket Potatoes are available in 4 x 1.5kg boxes and the extra large is available in 4 x 1.86kg boxes. Both can be heated in an oven, combi-steamer or microwave.

Dedicated to foodservice and one of the biggest potato processors in the world, Aviko offers a range of chilled and frozen potato specialities made by chefs, for chefs, from morning favourites such as Hash Browns and innovative Hash Brown Bites, through to Premium Fries, Mash, Roasties and much more.

*Aviko’s new Jacket Potatoes are ready in 6 mins (large) or 7mins (extra large) when heated in the microwave **AHDB Potatoes

For more product information on Aviko’s extensive range call 0800 633 5611 or visit www.aviko.co.uk

For everything Aviko visit: www.twitter.com/avikouk

Warning for employers considering redundancies

Warning for employers considering redundancies to combat costs of National Living Wage

A new blog post by specialist food and drink solicitors, Roythornes, has warned that employers could find themselves in hot water if they use new National Living Wage legislation as a reason to make employees redundant.

In the piece, Roythornes associate, Maz Dannourah, sets out a range of considerations about the new legislation, which came into force on April 1.

And crucially, he warns that giving the new legislation as the reason for redundancies could result in legal challenge.                                                             

Maz wrote: “One point to be clear on, and I have my concerns that this will be taken too lightly by some employers, is that it will unlikely be satisfactory to simply quote the NLW as the reason for dismissing a role as redundant or reducing headcount. 

“Cost itself never justifies the decision to dismiss given that redundancies, in their implementation, are not about costs but are entirely about the need for labour. 

“Employers would be well advised to consider this when rolling out redundancies which are designed to combat the cost burden of the NLW.”

He added that a number of companies had already been in contact with the firm to ask about what they can do contractually and legally to tackle the increased costs they face.

Maz said that some businesses, due to the flexibility in their prices, may be able to pass on the cost to customers.

However, he warned that others were hamstrung by the terms of their suppliers and the market in which they operate meaning they will have no choice but to absorb the cost.

To read the blog in full, visit http://www.roythorne.co.uk/site/blog/employment_law/the_national_living_wage_cause_for_celebration

Almondy Launches Lactose-Free Cake

Almondy Launches Lactose-Free Cake

Almondy Lactose-Free 2Swedish bakery Almondy has launched its new Creamy Chocolate Cake with Roasted Almonds to deliver on two fronts – lactose and gluten-free – and support caterers in meeting the growing demand for free-from menu options.

Combining chocolate and almonds – two on trend flavours – Creamy Chocolate Cake with Roasted Almonds is a tasty lactose-free cake made with Almondy’s famous almond base, layered with smooth, rich chocolate cream, covered with chocolate and then topped with crunchy, lightly roasted almonds.

The cake will be a welcome addition to menus, particularly as Allergy UK states that one in five people have a lactose intolerance, equivalent to 20% of the population. With Kantar Worldpanel reporting that more than half of Britons (55.2%) are now buying free-from products, the sweet treat will have even further reach, appealing to those with a lactose intolerance as well as those who decide to buy free-from for lifestyle reasons.

Not only does the launch enable operators to gain a bigger slice of the free-from market – valued at £365m in 2014 and estimated to grow by 50% by 2019* – but it also simplifies catering for special dietary requirements back-of-house by cutting down on the number of free-from dessert options needed. This, in turn, keeps menu planning simple, reduces wastage and avoids unnecessary confusion in the kitchen.

Andrew Ely, Managing Director at Almondy, explains: “Thanks to our new Creamy Chocolate Cake with Roasted Almonds, we’ve taken the hassle out of catering for two growing markets. Operators can accommodate specific dietary requirements with a dessert that is not only safe but which tastes delicious too, whether that’s with a cup of tea or coffee, as a standalone dessert or as an option on a buffet, banqueting or conference menu.”

“Almondy has been making gluten-free cakes for 34 years and with the demand for lactose-free desserts increasing, it’s important we now expand our portfolio to support operators while guaranteeing the taste, texture and quality of a conventional version. Ultimately, we’ve achieved this – the creaminess of the chocolate paired with the crunch of the almonds means consumers will be hard-pushed to notice the difference between this and a traditional dessert.”

Creamy Chocolate Cake with Roasted Almonds is available frozen and pre-cut into 12 slices for convenience and accurate portion control, with each slice taking just 20 minutes to defrost. It has a frozen shelf life of 18 months and a chilled shelf life once thawed of up to seven days.

Almondy’s latest lactose-free dessert joins its classic gluten-free almond cakes which feature confectionery favourites Toblerone and Daim as well as a Peanut & Caramel version.

To find out more about Almondy please call 01604 858 522 or visit www.almondy.com/en

Brambles commits to 2020 Sustainability Goals

Brambles commits to 2020 Sustainability Goals adopting closer alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

Chep Brambles Sustainability StrategyBrambles, the global supply chain logistics company operating primarily through the CHEP and IFCO brands, is delighted to announce its Sustainability Goals for 2020, reflecting the Group’s commitment to its Better Business, Better Communities, Better Planet sustainability framework.

Brambles is built on principles that are inherently sustainable, providing efficient, safe and sustainable solutions for customers’ supply chains, while minimising environmental impact and contributing positively to the community at large. The Group offers pallets, crates and containers for shared use by multiple supply-chain participants in a “circular economy”[1] model utilising the principles of recover, reuse, reduce and recycle.

The Company’s 2020 Sustainability Goals focus on the most material aspects of the Group’s operations and are closely aligned both with the aspirations of its customers and with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Brambles circular business model, known as pooling, benefits customers by enabling them to transport their goods through the supply chain while eliminating the financial and environmental costs and risks of purchasing and disposing of one-way transportation platforms such as pallets or cardboard boxes.

Brambles’ 2020 Sustainability Goal are as follows:

Brambles Capture

For the full version of this table with strategy and benefits, please visit brambles.com/sustainability.

The setting of Brambles’ 2020 Sustainability Goals follows the achievement of the following under the Group’s 2015 Sustainability Goals, which were set in 2010:

>      A 20% reduction in carbon emissions

>      97% of wood purchased from certified sources

>      75% zero wood waste to landfill at sites comprising 92% of production volumes

>      Collaboration with more than 100 food banks, contributing to in-kind donations of US$1.45 million in FY15

>      15% improvement in the Brambles Injury Frequency Rate

>      25% increase in participation in education, training and development days

>      In FY15, customers use of Brambles’ pallets and reusable plastic crates eliminated 460,000 tonnes of waste from landfill and saved 1.38 million trees.

A full version of Brambles’ 2015 Sustainability Review and Sustainability Report Card are available on the Brambles website.

Brambles has consistently been recognized as one of the most sustainable companies in the world and is listed on both the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index. It has won numerous awards for its sustainability initiatives including the EcoVadis Gold recognition level in Europe and Canada. It has also been recognised as a sector leader for fighting deforestation by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

Brambles Chief Executive Officer, Tom Gorman, said: “Brambles has made significant progress in delivering continual improvement through our sustainability objectives over the past five years. Our 2020 Sustainability Goals set a new challenge for us – one that we are excited and committed to undertaking. Our commitment to sustainability fits intrinsically with our model, our markets and our customers’ needs and I am delighted to see our goals also align so directly with the Sustainability Goals established by the UN.”

 For further information, please contact:

Víctor Collado

Director, Corporate Communications

+34 659 691 864

victor.collado@brambles.com

 

Vanessa Bouffard

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

+1 407 655-8837

vanessa.bouffard@brambles.com

James Millard

Director, Corporate Communications

+61 2 9256 5263

james.millard@brambles.com

 

About Brambles Limited

Brambles Limited is a supply-chain logistics company operating primarily through the CHEP and IFCO brands. Brambles enhances performance for customers by helping them transport goods though their supply chains more efficiently, sustainably and safely. The Group’s primary activity is the provision of reusable unit-load equipment such as pallets, crates and containers for shared use by multiple participants throughout the supply chain through a system known as “pooling”, in which the Group has unique network scale and longstanding experience. Brambles primarily serves the fast-moving consumer goods (e.g. dry good, grocery and household and personal care), fresh produce, beverage, retail and general manufacturing industries, counting many of the world’s best-known brands among its customers. The Group also operates specialist business serving the automotive, aerospace and oil and gas sectors. Brambles has its headquarters in Sydney, Australia, and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: BXB) but operates in more than 60 countries, with its largest operations in North America and Western Europe. Brambles employs approximately 14,000 people and owns more than 500 million pallets, crates and containers through a network of approximately 850 service centres. For more information, visit brambles.com.

[1]  A circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles. Source: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation

[2]  As stated in Brambles’ 2015 Corporate Governance Statement, the Group’s goal is to achieve 30% representation by women in senior management positions by 30 June 2018.