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BIDFOOD UNVEILS ‘V KITCHEN’ – A NEW DEDICATED VEGAN BRAND

Posted on January 26, 2021 by

The number of vegans in the UK has quadrupled between 2012 and 2019. With over 1.5 million people in the UK currently choosing to be vegan[1], this Veganuary Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading foodservice providers has revealed a new dedicated and extensive vegan range, V Kitchen.

As a result of the pandemic, flexitarian and plant-based trends are expected to become even further embedded in society[2], with 19% of people believing that the impact of Covid-19 will encourage more people to eat less meat.[3] It’s therefore more important than ever to have a wide range of great quality, vegan products to meet consumer demands.

Recognising the growing need for easily available vegan products, the brand will be available to both trade, via Bidfood Direct and the general public, via Bidfood’s new direct to consumer platform, Bidfood at Home. Boasting a wide selection of both branded and own brand products, the range offers an array of pre-prepared dishes, including an Everyday Favourites sweet potato, chickpea & spinach curry and vegan wellington slices. V Kitchen also comprises delicious protein alternatives, indulgent desserts such as vegan & gluten free salted caramel cheesecake, store cupboard ingredients, bakery and impulse snack products and vegan wines, beers and spirits.

Talking through the new brand Vicky Tripp, Campaign and Activation Manager at Bidfood said: “The stats speak for themselves, we can clearly see that the vegan trend is showing no signs of abating! In fact, it’s rising among consumers at an even faster rate as a result of the pandemic. The main reason we’re seeing this rapid change in consumer behaviour when looking at vegan diets really boils down to the rising trend of ‘careful consumption’,[4] people thinking more sustainably and reducing their meat intake for health and environmental reasons, and some taking on a challenge, trying something new and partaking in Veganuary.

“The past few years have been really exciting to work on the development of this ever-growing trend. Bidfood is proud to offer an extensive vegan range offering inspiration, innovation and inclusivity for those who require a plant-based, vegan offering. This year, we are incredibly proud to be taking the next step by unveiling our new brand, V Kitchen!

With the launch of this new brand to house all these fantastic vegan products, it is going to help to continue to make lives easier for customers when planning vegan menu options – plus we plan to keep up to date with further innovation to launch even more great options.”

To shop the range visit www.bidfood.co.uk/v-kitchen

[1] https://trulyexperiences.com/blog/veganism-uk-statistics/

[2] READY MEALS AND READY-TOCOOK FOODS: INC IMPACT OF COVID-19 UK, JULY 2020)

[3] (Mintel Future of Eating Out Report, The Impact of COVID19, August 2020)

[4] https://www.bidfood.co.uk/2020/12/14/bidfood-reveals-its-evolving-dining-trends-for-2021/

Nestlé UK Ltd fined £640k

Posted on January 26, 2021January 9, 2026 by Sarah Collison

Nestlé UK Ltd has been sentenced for breaching health and safety regulations after an employee was dragged into a machine on the production line of their Albion Mills site in Halifax.

Bradford Crown Court heard how on 13 February 2016, while observing the operation of the After Eight production machine, the technical operator placed his right hand close to a gap in the machine housing. An emery cloth held in his right hand was dragged into the machine taking his arm with it.

The employee was unable to reach any of the emergency stop buttons located around the machine from the position in which he was trapped. He had to be released from the machine by paramedics. He suffered a double compound fracture to his arm, which required surgery.

The HSE’s investigation found the company had failed to prevent access to dangerous moving parts of the machine, namely an ‘in-running nip’. There was a gap large enough to allow access at a belt conveyor entry on the After Eight line.

Nestle UK Ltd of City Place Gatwick pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. They were fined £640,000 and ordered to pay £26,234 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jacqueline Ferguson said: “This is a tragic incident that could so easily have been avoided. The risks inherent in failures to properly guard dangerous parts of machinery are well known in industry and to Nestlé.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

HSE
January 2021

NEWCOLD POD TO PLAY KEY ROLE AT NEW CORBY FACILITY

Posted on January 25, 2021 by piet.meijs@newcold.com

In 2017, NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics designed a bespoke pallet handling pod to operate at their Wakefield deepfreeze storage facility and now, says the company, the same unique technology will be put to work at their new site in Corby, due to open in the Autumn of this year.

The pod effectively bridges the gap between the deep-frozen production or storage environment and NewCold’s auto-loading 44-pallet double-deck trailers.

Accordingly, as soon as the product leaves the production line at minus 22 degrees, it is automatically loaded through a sliding door at the back of the 60-pallet-capacity pod, which itself is pre-cooled to the same temperature. From here the pallets are automatically transferred into the double-deck trailer, docked to the front of the pod.

Meanwhile, 3 refrigeration systems hold the temperature at a constant minus 25 degrees and being electric, keep harmful emissions to a minimum.

With loading into the pod completed in just 5 minutes, every deep-frozen package or pallet remains at a constant set temperature of minus 22 to minus 25 degrees, and at no time during its journey from the production line to completed loading in the trailer does any pallet need to be exposed to an ambient environment or touched by an operative. This not only ensures absolute temperature integrity but virtually eliminates product damage.

The same process is reversed when the load reaches the NewCold warehouse where automatic unloading capability unloads the trailer, again in approximately 5 minutes, directly into a frozen storage facility, ensuring best product integrity and quality.

Furthermore, faster turnaround times reduce supply chain cost and by linking directly to production loading, efficiencies are achieved at production sites. Also, points out NewCold, the company’s innovative double-deck trailers make a positive impact on the environment by significantly reducing road miles.

For more information contact jon.miles@newcold.com

www.newcold.com

CHRIS HARRISON, FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF DEEMAK INTERNATIONAL

Posted on January 21, 2021January 22, 2021 by Lewis Wantling

“It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing away of Chris Harrison, our great friend and colleague on Saturday, 16th January after contracting coronavirus. As founding director of Deemak International, Chris played a pivotal role in the development of our business, developing the procurement and supply chain for MVH Group’s product range from Asia, in particular, Thailand and we are all devastated at his loss.”

Chris Harrison Testimony
The youngest of six children, Chris grew up on a small 40-acre family farm in Cheshire. Initially trained as a schoolteacher, on graduating in 1973, Chris was encouraged to join the family business and was involved in all aspects of its subsequent growth, later becoming Managing Director of the family run business Harrisons (Poultry) Limited.

Under Chris’s leadership, Harrisons Poultry went from strength to strength, becoming a fully integrated sole supplier of poussin to all UK major retailers and many European supermarkets throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, supplying 90% of the UK poussin market & driving rapid development into Europe. In 1988, Chris’s efforts were recognised with the prestigious Poultry Industry Marketing Award.

Chris’s experience in animal husbandry and the pains and pleasures of transforming a small poultry farm into a retail business evolved. In 2004 Chris set up Deemak International, in the position of Managing Director, Chris managed the procurement and supply chain for the MVH Group’s product range from Asia, in particular, Thailand. In the same year, Chris joined a trade mission to Thailand on behalf of Meadowvale Foods to explore the farming and agriculture poultry business.

Chris had a keen interest and knowledge of breeders & broiler performance and expanded this knowledge from a British farming background to understand Thai broiler farming in depth from farm to fork.

Over subsequent years Chris worked closely with many independent Thai Broiler Companies, building further processing cooking plants and in 2006 the Deemak International office in Thailand was opened. Chris was instrumental in the management of the Deemak International business and offices in Bangkok, Thailand.

A member of the British Chamber of Commerce, Thailand & a true ambassador of business development within Asian, Chris built a strong, experienced team in Thailand & the UK, of which he was rightly immensely proud.

Chris will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all his friends and colleagues at Meadowvale Foods and Deemak International together with the wider business community and poultry industry in Thailand & the UK.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.

Nigel O’Donnell,
Director, Deemak International Limited.
Managing Director, Meadow Vale Foods.

THE BEST NEW MEAT MAIN COURSE FOODSERVICE PRODUCT SPONSORED BY SALES-I

Posted on January 21, 2021January 9, 2026 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Welcome to the announcement for the Best New Meat Main Course Foodservice Product in the 2020 – 2021 British Frozen Food Awards sponsored by sales-i.

The First Shortlisted Company

Congratulations to the Crown Advantage Steak and Mushroom Stroganoff from Anglia Crown. Our judging panels thought; it was a very tasty and tender chunks of beef, packaging very innovative and well presented.

Anglia Crown commented; “We are absolutely delighted our great tasting Crown Advantage Steak and Mushroom Stroganoff has been shortlisted for the BFFF Awards, best new main course. Our delicious creamy stroganoff, set on a bed of basmati rice, continues to be an extremely popular choice throughout the healthcare market.”

The Second Shortlisted Company

Congratulations to the Herb & Cheese Stuffed Chicken with Pancetta from KK Fine Foods. Our judging panels thought the product; was well seasoned, excellent flavour and a great appearance.

KK Fine Foods commented; “We are absolutely thrilled to have had our efforts noticed by the BFFF and to be shortlisted for a number of awards. This recognition is a reflection of our commitment as a business to continually deliver high quality, innovative and most importantly, great tasting products to our valued customers.”

The Third Shortlisted Company

Congratulations to the Buttermilk Chicken Fillet from the Homestyle range at Meadow Vale Foods. Our judging panels thought the product: was a very moist chicken, perfectly seasoned and an excellent breadcrumb coating.

Nigel O’Donnell, the Managing Director of Meadow Vale Foods comments; “We were delighted with the news that our new Homestyle Buttermilk Fillet was shortlisted for the best new meat product. Our Homestyle range was developed specifically for the fast food and delivery market, it’s innovative coating helps the products stay hotter for longer and each piece is hand-cut and coated. Our development team work tirelessly to bring great tasting chicken to the market and this hard word has been reflected in another product being shortlisted after our Salt & Pepper Shredded Chicken won gold at the 2019 awards.”

The Fourth Shortlisted Company

Congratulations to the Steak & Ale Pie from MUD Foods. Our judging panels thought the product; was a great looking pie, beautiful pastry with lots of filling and stunning flavour .

MUD Foods comments; “As Britain’s Top Awarded Artisan Pie Maker, at MUD we’re extremely proud to be shortlisted for the BFFF Frozen Food Awards where the standards are incredibly high and the competition is really challenging but we’re confident that our guiding principles and ethics of supreme quality ingredients with true provenance and lovingly crafted in the heart of the South Downs will put us in a good solid position to compete for this top prize.”

Congratulations to all our shortlisted companies and commiseration to the rest of the category product entries. The BFFF look forward to announcing more category shortlists, they will be released once a week until early march 2021.

Thank you to our Category Sponsor sales-i.

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