We recently received a member query on direction of opening for fire doors and final exits, our member company was struggling to find any information. The answer to this query is found within the HM Government Approved Document B

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b

 

 

 

Approved documents are approved by the Secretary of State and give practical guidance on common building situations about how to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 for England.

 

Different approved documents give guidance on each of the technical parts of the regulations. These are all listed in the back of the approved documents. In addition to guidance, some approved documents include provisions that must be followed exactly, as required by regulations or where methods of test or calculation are approved by the Secretary of State.

 

Direction of opening

 

In section 5.11 of the approved document the direction of opening is discussed, this states:

 

The door of any doorway or exit should be hung to open in the direction of escape whenever reasonably practicable. It should always be hung to open in the direction of escape if either of the following conditions applies:

 

1. More than 60 people might be expected to use it during a fire.

 

1. There is a very high risk of fire with potential for rapid fire growth, such as with some industrial activities.

 

 

Please don’t forget, as a member of BFFF we can answer all of your queries on Health & Safety and Fire Safety, to raise a query simply contact simonbrentnall@bfff.co.uk

The BFFF have recently been contacted by The Andersons Centre (Andersons), a UK-based agricultural consultancy. Andersons have led numerous projects in the trade sphere including a recently published Defra report on the cost impacts of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on GB exports to the EU (please click here for more detail).

They have recently been commissioned to conduct an independent study on the potential for expanding market access for Ukrainian agricultural products into the UK. This work is being undertaken for a Ukraine-based organisation and will assess potential short- and long-term opportunities for strengthening UK-Ukraine agri-food trade.

They would greatly appreciate a discussion with our members on the following points:

• Possibilities for extending the UK’s tariff-free trade with Ukraine beyond March 2026 for sensitive agri-food products.
• Lessons from comparable UK and EU trade agreements (e.g. Autonomous Trade Measures) in proposing such an extension.
• Opportunities to develop a “Marshall Plan” for Ukraine to fund reconstruction and economic recovery
• Options for a long-term UK-Ukraine food security partnership
• The potential for Ukrainian investment in UK-based processing and export hubs.

The conversation will last approximately (45 minutes) and will follow the points outlined above. If there are areas that you are not able to cover, those can be skipped over.

It is planned to undertake conversations via a video call (e.g. using MS Teams or Zoom) or via telephone (at a mutually convenient time and date) in the coming weeks but before 13^th October.

If you are interested and wish to schedule a call, please contact Michael Haverty at mhaverty@theandersonscentre.co.uk

Any information or opinions provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will not be sourced individually to you or to your organisation. Any information collected will only be used for the purposes of this study.

Sysco GB, the UK’s largest foodservice supplier, has introduced a programme to support night workers across its British business.

 

Following research that highlighted the challenges night shift workers face around poor nutrition and sleep disorders, as well as reports of mental health issues, Sysco has created a comprehensive programme to support colleagues working through the night, helping to create a better and healthier experience of overnight working.

 

Sysco GB has introduced the programme across 24 sites so far, training more than 1,100 colleagues. It has also introduced 40 sleep champions, including four lead sleep champions to represent each of the business’ regions, who will provide ongoing support to colleagues.

 

In conjunction with specialist training provider, The Liminal Space, Sysco GB has built a comprehensive, immersive training programme to address some of the specific needs of the night shift. The programme has been designed to tackle individual issues as well as providing data that will allow Sysco GB to make positive changes.

 

Units within the training programme include diet and exercise, mental health, chronotype (propensity for the individual to sleep at a particular time during a 24-hour period), light and environment. These are delivered in an immersive and interactive way through physical examples, quizzes and activities to maximise engagement, and all of the sessions contain practical tips and handouts such as recipe suggestions.

 

Katrina Simpson-Haines, Sysco GB’s Human Resources Director, said: “As a child, my mum was a night shift worker as well as a single parent, so supporting our night workers is particularly important to me. I’ve seen first-hand the pressures they are under and how challenging it can sometimes be.

 

“Often, the night shift can be the forgotten shift, but in our business, they are the largest cohort of colleagues and it’s important that we provide them with the support they need for their unique challenges. Night working is notoriously difficult and providing colleagues with some tried and tested approaches to managing sleep patterns and nutrition should help them to have a better experience both at home and in work.”

 

As well as supporting the colleagues at each site, early indications are that the programme has already improved retention rates and employee engagement.

Shanz Services Limited T/A Jalebi n Spice is delighted to announce the successful renewal of its SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) certification, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of food safety, legality, and quality.

The SALSA Standard is widely recognized in the UK food industry as a rigorous benchmark for suppliers, particularly for growing businesses committed to continuous improvement. Achieving renewal reflects the hard work of the Shanz Services Limited T/A Jalebi n Spice team in ensuring robust compliance systems, strong food safety culture, and consistent operational excellence across catering, retail, and distribution.

“This renewal is an important milestone for us, as it demonstrates our dedication to delivering trusted, high-quality frozen food solutions that meet both customer and regulatory expectations,” said Syed Nauman Gauhar, Director at Shanz Services Limited T/A Jalebi n Spice.

Membership with the British Frozen Food Federation and the continuation of SALSA approval together reinforce the company’s position as a reliable partner in the UK frozen food sector. Shanz Services Limited T/A Jalebi n Spice remains focused on growth, innovation, and supporting industry best practices.

 

Current Customer base:

Jalebi n Spice ASDA concession in Birmingham, Rowda Group Ltd T/A Chaiiwala (supplier main lines of frozen Ready Meals).

 

Target Customer & Work in Progress:

Food Service, Independent Retail Shops.

Acquisition further strengthens Sysco GB’s Centre of Plate Capability

Sysco GB has announced that it has acquired Fairfax Meadow, one of the UK’s leading catering butchers, from Hilton Foods.

The acquisition of award-winning catering butcher, Fairfax Meadow, marks the latest, important stage in Sysco GB’s strategy to grow its centre of plate proposition, and become the UK’s leading fresh meat supplier to the foodservice sector.

Fairfax Meadow is a well-established business, which has been putting great meat on the menu for more than 50 years. The company, which employs 360 people, operates from production and distribution premises in Derby, Enfield and Eastleigh.

It will add additional meat manufacturing capability to Sysco GB and build on the recent acquisition of Campbell’s Prime Meat, which operates across Scotland and the north of England, giving Sysco GB an unrivalled national meat distribution network.

Commenting on the acquisition, Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said:

“We are delighted that Fairfax Meadow will be joining the Sysco family. We have a strategic focus on providing the best centre of plate offer in foodservice, and the acquisition of Fairfax Meadow is a crucial next step in our plan to build leadership in the critical meat category.

“Fairfax Meadow is a great business with skilled and experienced colleagues and a superb reputation for producing quality meat, combined with great levels of service.

“We believe this is a complementary fit for Sysco GB, strengthening our fresh meat proposition across the country and bringing even greater value to our customers.”

Penny Tomlinson, Managing Director at Fairfax Meadow said:

 

“This acquisition acknowledges and further strengthens our position as one of the market leading meat suppliers to the foodservice industry.

 

“Sysco GB is a business with a deep-rooted understanding and unparalleled reach within the fast-moving foodservice sector. We are proud to bring our extensive meat industry knowledge and team expertise to complement Sysco GB’s existing strengths.

 

“I look forward to continuing to lead the business with my experienced and loyal team, ensuring a seamless transition for all customers and stakeholders.”

 

 

 

Fairfax Meadow will continue to operate as a separate business, but will now have the added benefit of specialist foodservice support with Sysco’s operating companies offering new routes to market, while they will benefit from Fairfax Meadow’s expertise in meat processing.

Thermoscreens, a trusted name in best-in-class HVAC solutions, are launching their latest addition to the Cold Chain product range: the Slimline Cold Store Air Curtain. Designed specifically for environments where headspace is limited, this compact yet powerful unit is set to provide efficient climate separation in compact cold storage facilities.

The SLCS Air Curtain works like the rest of Thermoscreens Cold Chain range, by creating an invisible yet highly effective air barrier to protect the cold store environment.

Key features include:

• Compact design: specifically tailored for installations where headspace is at a premium.
• Air barrier: prevents infiltration of warm, humid air while keeping cold air inside.
• Operational efficiency: significantly reduces energy loss, helping facilities cut costs and improve sustainability.
• Enhanced safety: minimises ice and frost build-up around doorways.
• Temperature range: proven performance in stores operating at temperatures as low as -25°C.

The official launch!

To officially launch the Slimline Cold Store Air Curtain, Thermoscreens will be showcasing the new unit at Cold Chain Live from 15^th – 16^th October, a leading industry event taking place in Telford. The unveiling will be carried out in collaboration with Blue Cube, specialists in technology-led, sustainable, and energy efficient portable cold store and blast freezer solutions.

Blue Cube are Platinum members of the event organisers, Cold Chain Federation, and will be exhibiting a modified cold storage unit at the show. Therefore, as part of the event, the Slimline CS Air Curtain will be displayed within Blue Cube’s cold store unit. This live action demonstration will allow visitors to walk through the unit and see firsthand how Thermoscreens’ air curtains perform compared to outdated alternatives such as PVC strip curtains.

A sustainable step forward for cold chain operations

The Slimline CS Air Curtain contributes directly to sustainability goals by reducing refrigeration load and replacing outdated plastic strip curtains.

For operators looking to lower running costs, boost sustainability, and improve safety at sites where there’s limited headspace above the cold room door, the Slimline CS Air Curtain is the smart choice for any cold store facility.

BFFF member Contact Attachments Ltd, based in Newtown, Powys highlights how eco-friendly forklift attachments are helping those across the sector enhance their sustainability credentials by providing greener material handling solutions…

As the industry increasingly focuses on reducing its environmental footprint, the right material handling solutions can make a significant difference.  From lowering energy consumption to reducing product waste, sustainable attachments are becoming an essential part of modern food distribution.

Mark Jones, Technical Sales Advisor at Contact Attachments, explains: “Food distribution is not just about moving stock efficiently – it’s about doing it responsibly.  Cold storage and frozen facilities present unique challenges, but they also offer opportunities to reduce environmental impact through smarter equipment choices.  Eco-friendly forklift attachments help businesses reduce energy use, extend equipment lifespan, and minimise food waste – all while maintaining safety and compliance.”

Recyclable Materials for a Circular Economy
Sustainability starts with the materials used.  Contact Attachments is increasingly incorporating high-grade, recyclable steels and corrosion-resistant finishes into its forklift attachments.  These materials are not only robust enough for sub-zero conditions but can also be recycled at the end of their life, helping operators contribute to a circular economy.

Fuel-Efficient Handling for Lower Emissions
Attachments designed with efficiency in mind can reduce the fuel or energy needed to move loads, whether in electric or diesel-powered forklifts.  Optimised hydraulics, lighter and strong materials, and precision load handling all reduce energy consumption, helping businesses lower their carbon footprint while maintaining operational performance.

Reducing Product Waste Through Smarter Design
Beyond energy savings, eco-friendly attachments also protect the stock that they’re employed to handle.  Features such as smoother fork designs, gentle grip mechanisms, and stable load handling reduce damage to delicate products, preventing unnecessary waste (and costs).  In the frozen and chilled sector, where even minor damage can result in significant losses, this makes a real difference to both sustainability and profitability.

Partnering for a Sustainable Cold-Chain
Contact Attachments continues to work closely with food and drink businesses to provide expert guidance and bespoke solutions tailored to sustainability goals.

“Every operation has its own challenges and opportunities,” Mark adds. “Some may need attachments designed to handle loads more gently to reduce spoilage, while others may prioritise energy efficiency or recyclable materials.  Our role is to help businesses find the right solution that improves safety, compliance, and sustainability across the cold chain.”

Contact Attachments Ltd has been supporting UK manufacturers for over 50 years and offers a wide range of standard and bespoke material handling solutions to the food and drink sector. Whether you’re handling dairy, beverages, or bulk ingredients, their team is on hand to help find the right solution for your specific needs.

For more information, visit: www.forklift-attachments.co.uk or call 01686 611200