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Hugo Mahoney named CEO, Brakes UK

Hugo Mahoney named CEO, Brakes UK

Mahoney, who joined Brakes ten months ago as Chief Commercial Officer, has already made an impact across the business, drawing on a wealth of commercial leadership experience gained in a range of sectors including technology and FMCG.

Ajoy Karna, Sysco’s Senior Vice President, International – Europe said: “Since joining Brakes, Hugo has demonstrated that he has the leadership qualities required to lead Brakes on the next step of its journey.  His broad range of experience gives us a different perspective on our opportunities as well as our challenges and both we, and our customers, are already seeing the benefits of this.”

Speaking of his new role, which is effective from 1st March 2018, Mahoney said: “Brakes is a great business and with the power of Sysco behind us, the investment that has been made over the past few years sets us in very good stead to continue building a great future.  We fully expect to enhance our position as the UK’s leading delivered wholesaler and our customers’ most valued and trusted business partner.”

GMS Group celebrates 20 years of security services

GMS Group celebrates 20 years of security services

National security services expert, GMS Group, is celebrating 20 years of industry-leading crime prevention.

The Midlands-based security specialist, which boasts Kerry Foods, Lineage & A.F. Blakemore amongst its clients, has marked its anniversary with a pledge to support 20 different local and national charities throughout 2018.

The business has also unveiled a new logo and website to mark the major milestone, with its new look featuring across the company vehicles, uniforms and stationery.

Renowned for its reliability, GMS Group uses cutting-edge technology and innovative crime prevention strategies at over 300 sites across the UK, providing a wide range of professional security solutions. These include manned guarding, mobile patrol, key holding and alarm response, as well as a unique vehicle food tagging solution.

To supplement the human element of its service, GMS also provides a range of agile technology services, including biometric reading and drone equipment to harness the latest intelligence and provide extra peace of mind to clients.

GMS Group CEO, Neil Male, says: “As a family business, we are extremely proud to have reached 20 years of professional service. We are always looking to develop and improve, staying ahead of the curve both in terms of the latest high-tech security technology and mentoring and developing our staff.”

He added: “We’re looking forward to supporting our 20 charities throughout the year and to another 20 years providing clients with the full range of security services.”

For more information, visit www.gms-group.co.uk.

Craft Guild of Chefs announce shortlist for New Restaurant of the Year award

Craft Guild of Chefs announce shortlist for New Restaurant of the Year award

The Craft Guild of Chefs has announced the eagerly awaited shortlist of its prestigious New Restaurant of the Year award. The winner will be announced during the Craft Guild of Chefs 25th annual awards at Grosvenor House Hotel, London, 4th June 2018.

Five restaurants have been expertly whittled down from an impressive list, and duly recognised for their outstanding level of food and service.

The New Restaurant Award shortlist was developed from significant new restaurant openings in 2017 and required no public nomination, with suggestions being made from within the industry. Each of the restaurants were visited and dined at by a team of expert judges who were responsible for deciding the finalists, judging each restaurant on quality of food, service and experience.

Steve Munkley, vice president Craft Guild of Chefs, and a judge in this award comments:

“The search for our 25th New Restaurant of the Year has been a challenging yet exciting process. The five finalists on the shortlist proved to be tremendously impressive, with each one representing a unique set of culinary talents.

The intelligent creations we discovered in our journey to finalise the shortlist was both inspiring and stimulating, and we can expect to see more in the future from each and every one of these talented establishments.”

This year, the majority of restaurants shortlisted are run by women chefs, with three out of the five being female chef-owners. The first one to make the shortlist was Core by Clare Smyth. Smyth was awarded an MBE for services to hospitality and was the first female British chef to hold and retain three Michelin stars. The second, Anne-Sophie Pic at La Dame de Pic, was awarded three Michelin stars for her restaurant Maison Pic in France. MasterChef The Professionals judge, and previous senior sous-chef to Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, Monica Galletti is the third female finalist for her new restaurant Monica Galletti at Mere.

Alongside the three restaurants spearheaded by female chefs, there are also two by male chefs; Phil Howard at Eylstan Street, who won two Michelin stars at his restaurant The Square, an accolade he held for 17 years, and Claude Bosi at Bibendum, who also previously held two Michelin stars at London’s Hibiscus.

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All of the new restaurants shortlisted, offer their own unique take on providing best-in-class dining. Claude Bosi at Bibendum, which is resident in South Kensington’s iconic Michelin building, offers fine dining with signature contemporary and light-hearted flair.

Core by Clare Smyth conjures up an elegant and informal fine dining experience with an emphasis on natural, sustainable food, sourced from the UK’s most dedicated farmers and food producers.

Phil Howard at Elystan Street aims to deliver culinary pleasure through serving pure, seasonal, ingredient led, gimmick-free dishes which are full of vitality and flavour.

Anne-Sophie Pic at La Dame de Pic invites diners to discover a taste of Valence, France, whilst encounters between different ingredients and flavours, aromas and memories are said to be reflected and reimagined on each plate.

And lastly, Monica Galletti at Mere is said to produce dishes which celebrate the passion and heritage of Galletti herself, whilst blending classical French with South Pacific influences.

Last year’s New Restaurant of the Year was awarded to Vineet Bhatia London (pictured top right), whilst in 2016 it went to Chris White of The White Spoon.

Of the award win Chris White commented:

“We are over the moon and couldn’t quite believe it when they announced that we had won, we are so humbled considering the stiff competition we were up against.

Although the award may have my name on it, it is truly a team effort, and it really is down to the hard work and dedication of the management, kitchen and front of house team as a collective.”

The full shortlist of all Craft Guild of Chefs 25th awards will be announced in April 2018 with the awards taking place on 4th June 2018.

New Restaurant of the Year shortlist in full

 Claude Bosi at Bibendum – www.bibendum.co.uk

 Core by Clare Smyth – www.corebyclaresmyth.com

 Phil Howard at Elystan Street – www.elystanstreet.com/phil-howard

 Anne-Sophie Pic at La Dame de Pic – www.anne-sophie-pic.com

 Monica Galletti at Mere – www.mere-restaurant.com

For more information visit www.cgcawards.co.uk

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Brexit must not stop UK signing up to new EU recycling targets – ADBA

Brexit must not stop UK signing up to new EU recycling targets – ADBA

  • UK anaerobic digestion industry welcomes proposed EU circular economy package
  • Proposed new EU-wide targets include no food waste to landfill by 2024
  • Trade body says UK must adopt targets regardless of EU membership

The UK’s anaerobic digestion (AD) industry has welcomed the endorsement of EU ambassadors for the four legislative proposals of the European Union’s waste package, and called for the UK to sign up to the targets included in the proposals irrespective of its future relationship with the EU.

The agreed legislative proposals establish binding waste reduction targets and updated rules to decrease waste generation in all EU countries, including a target for Member States to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. Member States will also have to ensure that by 31st December 2023, all bio-waste (including food waste) is either collected separately or composted.

Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the UK Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association, said:

“The setting of these targets by the EU is an important step towards a more circular and sustainable economy across Europe. Given the current embarrassingly low recycling rates seen in England, the UK government should adopt these targets irrespective of its future relationship with the EU, as they would provide financial, environmental, employment, and health benefits through better (re)use of resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from landfill.

“Providing separate food waste collections to divert food waste from landfill and incineration so it can be fully recycled in AD plants is a crucial part of this. Over two million tonnes of food waste is currently sent to landfill in the UK every year – sending this food waste to AD instead would abate over a million tonnes of CO2-equivalent, equivalent to taking over half a million cars off the road for the year.

“ADBA has repeatedly called for the UK government to follow the successful examples of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in rolling out mandatory separate food waste collections, and the setting of ambitious recycling targets like those proposed by the EU would make such a change even more of a no-brainer than it is now.”

 

Franz Kirchmeyr, Vice-President of the European Biogas Association (EBA), said:

“EBA strongly welcomes the mandatory target for separate bio-waste collection in the EU. This will contribute to the growth of green energy, sustainable jobs and recycling of essential nutrients, which are key targets for all European societies and can be best provided by anaerobic digestion, which delivers the most benefit from organic waste. EBA is optimistic about finally removing the hurdle of insufficient waste separation in Europe in order to accelerate the production of biogas and the implementation of a truly circular economy.”

 

The proposed legislation will now be submitted to the European Parliament for a vote and then to the European Council for final adoption.

Two winners announced as Klucky returns to Meadow Vale Foods

Two winners announced as Klucky returns to Meadow Vale Foods

The on-pack promotion ‘Klucky’ created by frozen poultry specialist Meadow Vale has been back for just under a month and in this time Klucky has already awarded two prizes from his prize barn. The lucky Klucky winners are Ross Neilson of Ross Neilson Butchers who bagged himself a box of Meadow Vale’s Homestyle chicken, and head chef Felan Hennigan who secured the cash prize of £250. Fear not if you didn’t win this month as both these prizes are held each and every month so keep collecting those points.

Codes can be found on the back of 19 Meadow Vale products which are then redeemed at getclickywithklucky.co.uk which can also be found on Meadow Vale’s website, with many more products set to be added to the promotion throughout the year now is a great time to sign-up. Look out for the Klucky symbol in the top right of promotional packs full list of products can be found in the ‘find your code’ section on the website.

‘Participants can put all their points in one basket so to speak with no limit on how many times you can enter a single prize draw’ said Nigel O’Donnel, Managing Director at Meadow Vale Foods. ‘We will also be adding instant rewards and holding flash sales to existing prizes so make sure you keep checking back after signing up so you don’t miss out’.

If you are interested in signing up or learning more about the Klucky promotion please visit: www.getclickywithklucky.co.uk About Meadow Vale Foods Founded in 1989, Meadow Vale Foods is the leading supplier of quality, added value, further processed frozen poultry products to the foodservice and retail industries. Our, extensive portfolio of premium products includes everything the modern caterer needs to offer their customers a varied and exciting menu.

£2,000 up for grabs in the UK’s student food innovation competition

£2,000 up for grabs in the UK’s student food innovation competition

Campden BRI, the UK’s leading food and drink research organisation and Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), the leading qualifying body for food professionals in Europe, are urging UK food science and technology students to take part in Ecotrophelia UK – a prestigious food innovation competition promoting innovation, creativity and sustainability to students pursuing a future career in the food sector.

Following a successful 2017 when a team from University of Reading scooped the silver prize at the Ecotrophelia European finals at Food Matters Live for their veggie sushi-style rolls which are packed with locally sources vegetables, including crunchy cauliflower rice, it is hoped that many more students will be encouraged to take part.

Ecotrophelia, which is now in its sixth year, is open to teams of undergraduate or postgraduate students, including teams from different universities on industrial placements.

Shortlisted students will be invited to pitch on 5 June 2018 to the ‘dragons’, a distinguished panel of top food industry specialists which will include representatives from Marks & Spencer, Coca-Cola, Food Manufacture, Mondelez, PepsiCo, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Unilever and Warburtons to be in with a chance of winning the top prize of £2,000. Winners will be announced the following day and will go forward to represent the UK at the European final at SIAL, Paris in October 2018.

Bertrand Emond, Head of Membership and Training at Campden BRI, said: “Ecotrophelia gives food students a unique opportunity to participate in a ‘real-life’ food innovation and development process and gain practical key skills that you just wouldn’t get out of a text book and which you can then apply in your future career.”

He added, “Ecotrophelia encourages young, ambitious individuals in higher education to get a taste of what is required for a successful career in the exciting and dynamic food industry. The competition has gone from strength to strength. Over 250 students from 12 different universities have entered since we brought the competition to the UK six years ago. We are delighted that Ecotrophelia has captured the imagination of industry and we are very grateful for the continued support that competition receives from the industry sponsors.”

The closing date for entries is 28 March 2018. For more information, please visit http://www.ecotrophelia-uk.org.

Contact:

Karen Jones

karen.jones@campdenbri.co.uk

01386 842204

 

Campden BRI (www.campdenbri.co.uk) provides technical, legislative and scientific support and research to the food and drinks industry worldwide – with a comprehensive “farm to fork” range of services covering agri-food production, analysis and testing, processing and manufacturing, safety, training and technical information services. Members and clients benefit from industry-leading facilities for analysis, product and process development, and sensory and consumer studies, which include a specialist brewing and wine division.

 

 

 

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