The Government has laid legislation to provide an explicit exemption for ‘brand advertising’ from the advertising restrictions on less healthy food or drink on TV and online.

The Government has also published its response to the consultation on the draft legislation (16 July – 6 August).

The restrictions will take legal effect from 5 January 2026.

The Government “welcomes the unique and public commitment from advertisers and broadcasters, with the support of online platforms, to voluntarily comply with the restrictions from 1 October 2025”.

This week, BFFF Food Wholesaler’s Senior Health & Safety teams met to compare accident data.

The aim was to analyse current data, provide insight and collectively share thoughts and ideas for reducing accidents and ill health across the sector.

Attending the meeting was Bidfood’s Clare Flanagan, Sysco’s Mike Cox and Holdsworth Food’s Milly Holdsworth and Kathryn Taylor.

Simon Brentnall (Head of Health & Safety) BFFF comments;

“In terms of Health & Safety best practice, it’s a credit to all taking part, that despite strong industry competition, they all have one common goal, looking after the workforce and keeping their people safe. It’s really important to benchmark and compare your performance against others in the same sector”

The below show the top 5 activities causing injury in 2024:

• Manual Handling
• Slips and Trips
• Hit by moving/falling objects
• Other Incidents
• Hit by Something Fixed/Stationary

 

To find out more about the BFFF Accident Statistics Collation/Benchmarking and how to get involved please contact:

simonbrentnall@bfff.co.uk

Sadel Group has announced plans to construct a new 90,000-pallet, fully automated frozen cold store in Bristol, marking a major step forward for food supply chain infrastructure regionally and nationally, with the first contractors on site in just two weeks.

The facility will be operated by Magnavale Ltd, serving both new and existing customers. Strategically positioned at the junction of the M4 and M5, it will offer rapid access to South Wales and the Southwest of England.

Andrew Lawrence, Director of Sadel Group, commented:
“We’ve been working towards this milestone for some time. With the design work complete and our development partners in place, we’re ready to hit the ground running later this month.

The South-West has seen a sustained lack of investment in cold storage with only a handful of ageing facilities in the region. Our development in Bristol will significantly reshape the regional cold supply chain and deliver vital services for the food sector.”

The new site, Magnavale Bristol, will be built on the same design principles as Magnavale Easton, the most recent addition to the Magnavale network. It will feature cutting-edge refrigeration technology, advanced automation, and dynamic mezzanine floors designed to support a range of value-added services including picking, packing, date coding, and export handling.

Amanda Cogan, Chief Operations Officer at Magnavale, said:
“We have recently completed a 25,000-pallet expansion at our Chesterfield site and delivered a 101,000-pallet fully automated cold store in Easton, Lincolnshire. With these projects now complete, we are excited to begin the next phase of our expansion in the Southwest. Magnavale Bristol will provide food businesses across South Wales, and the Southwest and West of England with a long-term partner they can rely on.”

Autumn show season is back upon us, and we’re heading back to the capital for the Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo 2025. This year marks our fourth time exhibiting at the UK’s leading event for restaurant and takeaway professionals, and takes place on Tuesday 30^th September & Wednesday 1^st October.

For us, the Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo isn’t just a date in the diary – it’s a chance to connect within the industry, meet thousands of passionate foodservice professionals, and showcase the best of Meadow Vale’s latest innovations that help businesses elevate their menus and stay competitive.

For 2025, we’re back bigger than ever with our brand-new stand, fully-equipped to welcome you across the 2-day show and serve up samples of our seriously tasty chicken. Come and visit us at stand RTE200.

This year we are bringing along our award-winning Crunchy Boneless Chicken Wings and Original Crunchy Chicken Fillets. You can read all about them before the show here!

As well as the Crunchy Boneless Chicken Wings and Original Crunchy Chicken Fillets we’ll also be cooking up crowd favourites such as Homestyle Shredded Chicken and Homestyle Chicken Strips, as well as our Sizzling Shawarma Chargrilled Chicken Boneless Thigh and Sizzling Piri Piri Chargrilled Chicken Fillets.

Our development chefs will be on hand to talk all things added-value frozen poultry, offering expert insight, creative inspiration, and practical advice on how our products can upgrade your menu and help you stay ahead in a competitive market.

Planning on attending the show? Be sure to register HERE for your free ticket! Once you’re there, if you want to book a meeting with one of our chefs over the course of the show then get in contact here.

Can’t make it to the show? No problem – you can request a free sample of our brand-new award-winning Crunchy Boneless Wings and Original Crunchy Fillets HERE.

As the new school year gets underway, Pacific West is highlighting its popular range of fully cooked seafood products, a perfect catch for the UK’s education catering market.

This outstanding collection offers a convenient, nutritious, and ethical solution for schools, colleges, and universities tackling the most demanding kitchen and menu challenges. With a firm focus on HFSS compliance, our established range provides hassle-free protein options that help caterers deliver healthy, delicious, and responsibly sourced meals to students returning to their desks.

With recent UK regulations placing a firm focus on restricting the promotion of products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS), caterers in the education sector face a new set of challenges. Pacific West’s new range is designed to be fully compliant with these guidelines, allowing kitchens to serve delicious seafood that aligns perfectly with a commitment to healthier eating habits for students.

“We understand the unique demands of the education sector,” said Martin Finegan, Managing Director at Pacific West. “Our customers are looking for high-quality, convenient, and sustainable products that also meet stringent nutritional and ethical criteria. Our new fully cooked seafood range ticks every box, providing a fantastic, hassle-free protein solution. From AirCrisp coated goujons and portions, to Sourdough Breaded Goujons, plus new additions to the range on the horizon, there really is a product for every serving occasion.”

Key Benefits for Education Catering:

· HFSS Compliant: This range has been meticulously developed to meet the government’s nutritional standards, giving caterers peace of mind and full confidence in their menu offerings.

· Convenience and Operational Efficiency: The products are fully cooked and incredibly versatile, offering five different cooking methods. This flexibility, coupled with superior hot-holding times, is a game-changer for catering for large numbers and managing busy service periods.

· Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing: As an organisation committed to sustainability, Pacific West ensures its seafood is sourced responsibly. The Pacific West Fully Cooked fish range is MSC certified. The Pacific West Fully Cooked prawn range is ASC certified.

· Halal Certified: The range is also Halal certified, ensuring it meets the dietary needs of a diverse student population.

The launch comes at a time when schools and other educational establishments are under increasing pressure to provide healthier, more nutritious meals. By choosing Pacific West’s new range, caterers can

simplify their kitchen operations while providing an appetising, high-quality, and responsible seafood option.

The benefits extend beyond the education sector, with the products also proving to be a brilliant solution for the healthcare market, where nutritional value, convenience, and dietary compliance are equally paramount. And, of course, seafood is a popular choice across the hospitality and foodservice sector.

For more information or to speak to a member of the team about this fantastic new range, please visit https://pacificwestfoods.co.uk/product-category/fully-cooked/ or get in touch to find out more.

Staff at Oakland International were reminded of the importance of reducing what they throw away during this year’s Zero Waste Week, with a campaign highlighting practical steps to cut everyday waste.

 

The company’s Sustainability Officer, Elinor Smith, designed workplace posters encouraging employees to make simple swaps such as using reusable lunch boxes and refillable water bottles instead of disposable materials. Staff were also encouraged to make full use of food waste and recycling bins provided across the site.

 

Canteen Manager Tom Prescott joined the effort by ensuring that any leftover meals from breakfast or lunch services were made available for colleagues to take home to their families, reducing avoidable food waste.

 

Elinor said: “Zero Waste Week is a global initiative that inspires us to reduce landfill waste and embrace more sustainable practices. Oakland already operates a zero-landfill policy, and last year alone we redistributed 34,400 boxes of short-dated food to charity. We also recycle, reuse, and send waste to energy recovery plants to help power our operations.

 

“If everyone makes a few small changes, the impact can be massive — we hope this week is a positive reminder to keep up those good habits.”

With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and reducing waste through its distress load management service, the company is committed to becoming the first in its sector to achieve net zero, all while staying true to its family values and community spirit.

 

Offering expertise in direct-to-consumer services, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering, and brand development support, Oakland International is a Certified B Corporation and leading supply chain solutions provider, specialising in temperature-controlled logistics across the UK and Ireland, serving retail, wholesale, and food service markets.

Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler, is launching a new range of on-trend bubble waffles.

 

Bubble waffles, which originated in Asia, have been setting social media alight. And now, Brakes is making them available to Britain’s foodservice sector, without the need for any specialist equipment.

 

Traditionally served sweet with ice-cream, fruit or sauces, Sysco Classic Bubble Waffles are the ultimate fast and fun menu addition. For a savoury twist, bubble waffles are great for fillings including chicken, cheese and bacon and add a fantastic twist to breakfast menus.

 

Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said: “Bubble waffles are the latest must-have for menus, but, until now, chefs have needed specialist equipment to make them. The new range of Sysco Classic Bubble Waffles gives food businesses the opportunity to capitalise on the hype, without the capital investment. A no-prep, hassle-free solution for chefs looking to update their menus and appeal to a new range of consumers.”