Tues 18th Nov, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London

BIRDS EYE’S GREEN CUISINE BRAND PARTNERS WITH TEAM GB AHEAD OF PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES

Posted on by Pete.Johnson@birdseye.co.uk

Birds Eye Green Cuisine is proud to become an Official Partner of Team GB ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, supporting the team for a second time, as it continues its mission to make plant-based foods accessible to all.

Following the success of their previous partnership in 2020, the collaboration will see Green Cuisine help to educate the nation on the health and nutritional benefits of plant-based food as well as supporting Team GB’s drive for environmental sustainability. As part of this collaboration, the brand will work alongside Team GB athletes to raise awareness of how including plant-based products in your diet can help the health of both ourselves and the planet.

The partnership will also build upon Birds Eye Green Cuisine’s ‘Welcome to the Plant Age’ campaign, which saw the brand empower kids to challenge people to think again about how accessible flexitarian diets can be. Spearheading the partnership will be a new education programme for children, which will also educate parents and teachers on how easy, tasty and nutritious it can be to incorporate plant-based options into everyday meals. Green Cuisine will be directing its attention at primary schools around the country through Team GB and Paralympics GB’s youth engagement programme ‘Get Set’, after a Birds Eye Green Paper Report showed that over a third (34%) of children have asked an adult if they could eat a meal that doesn’t include any meat[1].

Originally created as the official education programme for London 2012, ‘Get Set’ now offers a broad programme of free, cross-curricular resources and activities for schools and community groups across the nation. Team GB and Green Cuisine have now joined forces to launch ‘Get Set to Go Green’, a new always-on activation programme designed to empower children aged 7-11 to explore sustainability and advocate green, healthy habits, particularly as 92% of the children from Green Cuisine’s report agreed that it’s everyone’s responsibility to look after the planet. ‘Get Set to Go Green’ aims to reach over 25,000 primary school teachers during 2023 and 2024, providing them with 18 downloadable ideas, including videos full of ‘Get Curious’ activities and ‘Go Green’ challenges to support them with lesson content.

Victoria Westwood, UK & IRE Marketing Cluster Lead at Green Cuisine, said “We are proud to be an Official Partner of Team GB again – continuing our mission to make plant-based foods accessible to all. Team GB athletes perform to the highest standards possible, and we want consumers to recognise, through this partnership, how the nutritional value of plant-based foods can help them perform to their highest standards in their day-to-day lives as well. This partnership offers us a golden opportunity to highlight the benefits of a flexitarian lifestyle for the good of ourselves and the planet, and allows us to go one step further and deliver a united sustainability strategy.”

“Green Cuisine is now in its fourth year and worth £17.3m. With plant-based consumption set to explode to five times its current size over the next 15 years[2], we are committed to helping consumers and retail partners recognise the benefits of the category and educate them on its relevance and the role it has to play in the health of both the planet and ourselves.”

Tim Ellerton, Commercial Director at Team GB, says “We are incredibly proud to continue working with Green Cuisine as we head towards Paris 2024. Environmental sustainability is a huge focus for us at Team GB, so working with Green Cuisine to bring to life our work in sustainability is a great step forward. We look forward to working together to showcase the environmental benefits of opting for plant-based foods, as well as empowering children to build green, healthy habits.”

Green Cuisine has successfully drawn increasing numbers of shoppers to the growing category, with 8.6% of the total UK population having bought our products in the last year[3]. As the UK’s top-selling frozen food company[4], Birds Eye is excited to be investing behind the brand and has firmly established Green Cuisine as a top choice in the plant-based sector.

[1] Birds Eye Green Cuisine Green Paper, based on a report of 1,000 children aged 6-12 and their parents

[2] Consumption of plant-based food projections in millions of tons

[3] Kantar Worldpanel 22nd Jan 2023

[4] Nielsen, total coverage, total defined frozen, value sales, MAT L52wks w/e 13.08.22

OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL ROLLS OUT COST-OF-LIVING FOOD BOX SCHEME

Posted on by hayley.smith@oakland-international.com

As a way of offering practical help, and with the cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone in the UK, family business and total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International has launched a subsidised employee Food Box scheme.

Oakland International Chief Operating Officer Lee Whiting explained: “Even with the Living Wage increases the cost of living is still going up so as a business we’ve been investigating practical ways to offer help and support to our whole team, and so far, have launched over a dozen initiatives.

“It’s our business to know how to buy and pack food cost effectively, so together with our wonderful supplier partnerships, such as Morrisons, Mission Foods and Smurfit Kappa, we’ve been able to introduce our Food Box scheme which has a retail value of around £20 which has now been delivered to every member of Oakland’s UK Group of businesses free of charge. After the initial 2-months the Food Boxes will be offered on a heavily subsidised subscription basis of £5 per box and will include basic essential ambient items and produce worth over £20.”

Since introduction employee feedback has been extremely positive with comments and Food Box contents reflecting and changing monthly and will do so for the rest of the year so that they contain products their people need.

Added Lee: “Launched to support our fantastic team members we’re now receiving requests from other businesses who want to offer their people and communities support. On the basis that there is not a lot of support out there we all need to look after each other, and businesses there is so much more that can be done to support employees rather than just looking at what can be afforded in wages.”

Oakland International has a long history of community support and sustainable practices and has already taken the first step towards becoming B Corp certified and is working to become the first business within their sector to achieve net-zero. 24-hours/7 days a week operation, Oakland International is a retail, food service and direct to consumer specialist in contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and a brand development support provider for ambient, chilled, and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK and Ireland.

Lee Added: “We’re happy to help anyone needing advice on how they can launch a food box scheme or needs packing support, simply get in touch.”

MAGNAVALE CHESTERFIELD EXPANSION UNDERWAY, ADDING 23,000 PALLET POSITIONS

Posted on by shane.meharg@magnavale.co.uk

Magnavale, one of the UK’s leading providers of temperature-controlled storage, is constructing a significant expansion to its Chesterfield cold storage facility, adding a huge 23,000 pallet locations to an existing ~40,000, currently at the site.

Having now broken ground, the provider of temperature-controlled storage, is making steady progress with the groundwork and the foundations for the new building.

Magnavale’s Chesterfield facility features a large portfolio of cold chain solutions, encompassing temperature-controlled storage at multiple temperatures, in addition to blast freezing, advanced microwave up-tempering, extensive contract packing along with several other value added solutions.

With demand for cold storage solutions increasing, Magnavale views the expansion as a necessity to continue supporting UK food security and its crucial part of the supply chain. The additional space will allow current Magnavale partners to increase their current volumes alongside welcoming new customers on site.

IFE – “TREMENDOUS SUCCESS” FOR TRENTHAM FOODS!

Posted on by Jacob Durkin

Staffordshire based Trentham Foods Ltd have hailed the 2023 IFE a “tremendous success!”

This represented the first time the company had exhibited at the IFE.  Company Director Jacob Durkin remarked,

“Everyone in the company went the ‘extra mile’ to ensure that the three days were productive and enjoyable for us, our customers, and suppliers. However, the exhibition has exceeded all our expectations. We are truly overwhelmed by the number of sales leads and potential new partner suppliers.

The company was founded in 2006 by Managing Director Daren Durkin. Since its inception, Trentham Foods has experienced steady, solid, and sustainable growth. In February, this year the company had its BRC (AA Accreditation) renewed.

Following the exhibition Daren issued the following statement:

“The thing that has pleased me most is that many new contacts visiting our stand have been there because of recommendation from our established partners and clients. My ‘mission’ when founding the company was not only to supply high quality products with great service, but to conduct ourselves to the highest standards of business ethicacy and integrity. I am absolutely delighted that so many visitors alluded to this when we spoke to them”.

BRITISH FROZEN FOOD FEDERATION HAILS IFE SUCCESS

Posted on by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) is celebrating the success of the association’s ‘Frozen Food Member Pavilion’ at the International Food and Drink Event (IFE) 2023. BFFF members exhibited together at the first ever Frozen Food Member Pavilion, showcasing the quality of frozen food and innovative new product lines.

The impact of the BFFF’s Frozen Food Member Pavilion left exhibiting members needing to source more stock after just one day, having experienced an exceptional number of visitors throughout the first day, which continued for the rest of the event.

Rupert Ashby, chief executive of the BFFF commented: “Frozen food has been under-represented at IFE in recent years, so it was incredible to see the success of our Frozen Food Member Pavilion. This year’s success goes to show that frozen food is growing in popularity due to its high quality and great taste, so the ‘frozen boom’ we predicted at the start of the year is showing no sign of slowing.”

The BFFF members which exhibited at IFE included Cargill, Meadow Vale Foods, Seafish UK, Sea Products International, SFC, VIČI and Visual Foods. Mouth-watering samples from exhibiting companies were served at the Frozen Food Member Pavilion, allowing visitors to try some of the nutritious, innovative and tasty frozen products available now in supermarkets and restaurants across the country.

BFFF chief executive, Rupert Ashby, also appeared on the Sustainability Stage with Nomad Foods to discuss what sustainability means for the frozen food industry, whilst head of technical Denise Rion spoke with IGD on the Innovation and Trends stage about the prospects for frozen food in 2023.

Mr Ashby added: “In conjunction with the Frozen Food Member Pavilion, our seminars highlighted the unmatched sustainable benefits of frozen food, gave examples of the huge strides being made by our members to achieve their sustainability targets, and showed that the frozen aisle is full of tasty, nutritious and affordable products.

“With estimated visitors in excess of 25,000 at IFE 2023, I enjoyed the questions and had many positive conversations at our talks and at the Frozen Food Member Pavilion about all things frozen food.”

The British Frozen Food Federation’s success at this year’s IFE comes during the celebrations for the association’s 75th anniversary. During the past 75 years, the BFFF has consistently represented the interests of the frozen supply chain at the highest levels of industry and government, whilst also promoting the benefits of frozen food to consumers.

WAGNER RAIL SECURES ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT IN INDIA

Posted on by carl.bryan@wagner-uk.com

WAGNER Rail GmbH, fire protection solution provider for rail vehicles and subsidiary of WAGNER Group GmbH, received another major order from Indian Railways at the end of 2022 to equip 1,100 rail vehicles with the TITANUS PRO∙SENS® fire detection system. The order volume of the Indian state railroad company amounts to several million euros.

The fire protection solution provider secured the first order for Indian Railways four years ago, whereupon further follow-up orders for equipping cars with the PRO∙SENS® fire detection system were concluded in 2021. With the additional order, the number of rail vehicles equipped with WAGNER fire protection technology at Indian Railways adds up to about 5,000 cars. The total volume is in the double-digit million euro range. “Despite difficult market conditions, our business in India has developed very successfully in recent years and continues to develop sustainably in perspective. Our partner J.K. EXIM Pvt. Ltd. based in New Delhi has built up a reliable and experienced local team that exclusively installs WAGNER systems in the trains. Market access through this local partner is an important key to success for us.” Dr. Markus Müller, Managing Director of WAGNER Rail GmbH, explains. “WAGNER’s fire protection solutions meet the requirements of state-of-the-art fire protection technology in rail transport to the highest degree. Thanks to the high sensitivity of the aspirating smoke detectors and thus early and reliable detection of fires, appropriate countermeasures can be initiated in the rail vehicles at a very early stage in the event of an incident. This was the decisive argument for Indian Railways in awarding the contract,” explains Anish Gupta, owner and managing director of J.K. EXIM Pvt. Ltd. and our partner in India.

The main protection goals of integrated fire protection solutions for rail vehicles are, in addition to personal protection, the avoidance of operational interruptions and the protection of investments, material assets and infrastructure. The TITANUS PRO∙SENS® aspirating smoke detector is used to monitor large areas and is particularly suitable for use in rail vehicles due to its high sensitivity and deceptive alarm reliability even under difficult ambient conditions. The system detects a fire at an early stage so that affected areas can be evacuated in time in case of fire and the fire can be fought in a targeted manner.

SOCIAL SUPERMARKET A MUCH-NEEDED FAMILY LIFELINE

Posted on by hayley.smith@oakland-international.com

A community social supermarket ‘Plenty 2 Cook’ based in Coalville has grown tremendously since it began in Leicestershire just two years ago.

Launched in 2021 with the help and support of family business and total supply chains solutions provider Oakland International, the Marlene Reid Centre’s (MRC) ‘Plenty 2 Cook’ project has grown from an initial single collection to four collections per week from Oakland’s Bardon facility.

MRC Community Action’s Paul Fagan commented: “Oakland’s donations are fabulous, with the food variety enabling us to educate and broaden our customers pallets. Their support has allowed us to increase our offering alongside the volume we receive from other project partners.

“All our team are keen home cooks and love sharing recipes and ideas, with the food donated providing great diversity and a chance to be creative and share with those we support.”

Having taken the first step in B Corp certification and working to become the first business within their sector to achieve net-zero, Oakland International operates 24-hours/7 days a week and is a retail, food service and direct to consumer specialist in contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and a brand development support provider for ambient, chilled, and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK and Ireland.

Oakland International Chief Operating Officer Lee Whiting commented: “Oakland’s team works very closely with MRC and supports other local charities by donating a range of items from food through to fridges.

“We will always support whenever possible, with our team members happy to assist and offer MRC their time for free at the weekends to help distribute much needed food.”

Increased food donation volumes enabled MRC to also make significant changes to their emergency foodbank provision, which runs in parallel to the ‘Plenty 2 Cook’ social supermarket and offers those in desperate need a cash equivalent voucher so that they can select their own food.

Having successfully held a ‘Plenty 2 Cook’ GO pilot in Measham, an area identified by MRC public health partners as being a food poverty hot spot, their plans are to broaden this service to other areas classified as in need.

Said Paul: “Each week we’re now serving over 400 customers and helping save in excess of 2,500kgs of good food from going to waste in landfill, so not bad going!

“The fact that we can tell our paying customers that they are directly supporting those less fortunate than themselves is a very powerful message in the cost-of-living crisis. Sales from the ‘Plenty 2 Cook’ social supermarket is also supporting us achieve our financial goals whilst supporting the community and we are now looking at capital projects for next year, with the financial security ‘Plenty 2 Cook’ provides making these aims achievable.”

Other MRC initiatives include January’s ‘SKINT Week’ which offered free evening meals to drive positive community interaction and an opportunity to enjoy community eating with all its social benefits, with the community atmosphere a real success and something MRC are looking to replicate in the future.

Paul added: “Serving over 180 meals during the week we are incredibly grateful to all our guests, chefs and helpers from Ukraine, Thailand, Scotland and beyond!”

Delivering their “Kool Kidz” holiday club during February half term with funding from children’s charity Oakland Foundation, MRC are now looking forward to developing their non-food retail operation.

SHOPPERS CAN HOP TO ICELAND FOR EGGCELLENT TREATS TO ENJOY THIS EASTER

Posted on by mel.matson@iceland.co.uk

Shoppers are being treated to an egg-stensive selection of fantastic value Easter eggs this year, as well as delicious frozen treats from Cadbury’s, Maltesers, Galaxy and more. The sweet Easter delights are available in Iceland and the Food Warehouse stores and online now.

No need to wonder how to eat yours with Iceland’s gooey Cadbury Creme Egg Cone (£2.50, 4pk) and Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream (£2.50, 480ml) simply grab a spoon and dig in! The desserts are available from Iceland and The Food Warehouse now.

Customers can also head to the frozen aisles and pick up the brand-new Maltesers Bunny Dessert (£6.00, 335g), a milk chocolate bunny filled with malty mousse and Maltesers layered on top of a biscuit base – Easter hoppiness in dessert form.

Get egg-cited and save some serious cash with deals galore on the nation’s best loved Easter eggs. Customers can pick up two large eggs for as little as £5.00 – that’s a saving of £3.00! The deal includes firm favourite eggs that will make your wallet and the whole family happy, such as the Galaxy Enchanted Large Egg (£4.00, 234g), Rolo Large Egg (£4.00, 284g) and Mars Celebrations Large Easter Egg (£4.00, 280g).

Iceland’s multi-buy offer even includes giant Easter eggs. Whether you intend to share or enjoy alone, customers can pick up two for £8.00 on selected eggs including, saving £2.00 each time with Twix Caramel Large Egg (£5.00, 328g), Malteser Luxury Egg (£5.00, 265g) and Galaxy Ripple Large Egg (£5.00, 286g) all on offer.

Looking for more Easter treats? Satisfy your sweet tooth with a selection of egg-tra special goodies destined to impress every-bunny. Shoppers can pick up the sweet Mr Kipling Lemon Fancies (£1.75, 8pk) or choose from classics such as Cadbury Mini Eggs Choc Cakes (£2.25, 5pk), (£3.25, 416g) and Cadbury Mini Eggs Nest Cake (£2.50, 4pk).

Customers can pick up the Easter treats from their nearest store or online at Iceland.co.uk.

Products included in the two for £5.00 offer:

  • Nestle Kit Kat Chunky Large Egg (£4.00, 260g)
  • Rolo Large Egg (£4.00, 284g)
  • Nestle Yorkie Large Egg (£4.00, 272g)
  • Munchies Large Egg (£4.00, 284g)
  • Galaxy Enchanted Large Egg (£4.00, 234g)
  • Galaxy Minstrels Large Egg (£4.00, 262g)
  • Maltesers Large Egg (£4.00, 248g)
  • Mars Celebrations Large Egg (£4.00, 248g)
  • M&Ms Brownie Large Egg (£4.00, 222g)
  • Bounty Large Egg (£4.00, 236g)

Products included in the two for £8.00 offer:

  • Twix Caramel Large Egg (£5.00, 328g)
  • Malteaser Luxury Egg (£5.00, 265g)
  • Galaxy Ripple Large Egg (£5.00, 286g)
  • Mars Celebrations Large Egg (£5.00, 305g)
  • Nestle Quality Street Egg (£5.00, 250g)
  • Aero Giant Egg (£5.00, 258g)
  • Aero Peppermint Giant Egg (£5.00, 220g)
  • Aero Peppermint Giant Egg (£5.00, 220g)