From 30 March to 1 April, the Jan Zandbergen Group will be present at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) at ExCel London. Come by their stand and discover the traditional Eastern flavours of Emperor’s Choice, the convenience of the delicious chicken products from Roosterz&Co and their many other brands.

You can find the Jan Zandbergen Group at stand N3928 in the Chilled & Frozen Foods hall.

Jan Zandbergen Group: your one-stop partner

Jan Zandbergen Group is a proud member of BFFF. Jan Zandbergen Group is the one-stop partner for industry, foodservice and retail. From meat and poultry products, to plant-based meat- and fish successors developed by their team of innovators at Future Food Group and perfect-sized portions steaks by Diviande. Whether private label or branded, they can cater to your every need. An example of what the Jan Zandbergen Group has to offer:

• Convenience meat & poultry concepts
• Whole meat cuts
• Portioned meat
• Organic meat
• Plant-based meat & fish successors
• Organic meat alternatives
• Hybrid concepts

From the import of raw materials to the development and production of complete food concepts: Jan Zandbergen has it all in-house. With the right resources and capacity, they provide innovative solutions in every area. This makes the Jan Zandbergen Group the ‘preferred partner’ within the meat and meat alternatives market.

Discover the Eastern flavours of Emperor’s Choice

Explore the full range of the brand Emperor’s Choice: delicious pre-cooked products such as Roasted Duck, Karaage, Katsu, Spring Rolls, and Gyozas. All prepared according to traditional recipes from Eastern cuisine. With the products of Emperor’s Choice, you bring these authentic flavours to your customers or kitchen.

Roosterz&Co: where convenience, taste, and quality meet

Looking for breaded, roasted, cooked, fried, or marinated chicken products? At Roosterz&Co, they have it all. All our products are pre-cooked and Ready-to-(H)eat for ultimate convenience. This makes them easy to use in (meal) salads for example, and simple to work with in the kitchen. All products are also Halal. New to the range is the Homestyle Chicken line: burgers, tenders, and nuggets with an artisanal, homemade-style coating and juicy chicken inside.

Jan Zandbergen looks forward to meeting you at stand N3928

At the stand, you won’t just discover our products: they also aim to inspire you with creative ways to use them. Stop by and explore the many possibilities the products of Jan Zandbergen have to offer.

Would you like to speak with one of their sales colleagues? Schedule an appointment in advance. The sales team is happy to assist you and help you find the right solution for any challenge, question, or request you may have. Schedule an appointment by mailing to sales@janzandbergen.com or visit their website https://janzandbergen.com.

Maintaining high standards of hygiene, safety and product integrity is essential in frozen food operations. Whether handling pallets, crates, drums or bulk ingredients, every movement within a cold store must support compliance with recognised food safety frameworks such as BRC, HACCP and individual retailer specifications.

Forklift attachments play a surprisingly important role in meeting these standards. By improving hygiene, reducing contamination risks and supporting controlled, consistent handling, the right attachments help cold store operators stay compliant while protecting both staff and products.

Supporting BRC Standards Through Hygienic Design

BRC Global Standards place strong emphasis on cleanliness, contamination control and equipment suitability.  Forklift attachments designed specifically for food environments directly support these requirements by offering:

• Stainless steel or food‑safe finishes that resist corrosion and withstand frequent washdowns
• Smooth, sealed surfaces that prevent debris build‑up and make daily cleaning easier and more effective
• Hygienic, easy‑to‑clean designs that help keep bacteria and allergens at bay

With UK‑manufactured quality and in‑house engineering expertise, Contact Attachments can also provide bespoke configurations to ensure equipment aligns precisely with site‑specific hygiene and compliance needs.

Reducing Contamination Risks in Line with HACCP Principles

HACCP requires businesses to identify and control potential hazards throughout the handling process.  Forklift attachments help reduce several key risks:

• Minimising manual contact with loads, lowering the chance of cross‑contamination
• Preventing product damage, which can expose contents and create hygiene issues
• Ensuring consistent, controlled handling to reduce the likelihood of spills or compromised packaging

Attachments such as clamps, rotators and drum handlers allow operators to move products safely and predictably, supporting the preventive approach at the heart of HACCP.

Meeting Retailer Specifications for Safety and Traceability

Major retailers often set additional requirements around hygiene, product integrity and operational control.  Attachments engineered for cold‑store environments help meet these expectations by offering:

• Cold‑store‑rated hydraulics for reliable performance at sub‑zero temperatures
• Pressure‑controlled handling to protect fragile frozen packaging
• Operator‑friendly controls that improve accuracy and reduce the risk of mishandling
• Compatibility with traceability systems, ensuring products remain intact and identifiable throughout the chain

By reducing damage, contamination and downtime, the right forklift attachments help cold‑store operators maintain the high standards demanded by BRC, HACCP and leading retailers.

Contact Attachments Ltd has been supporting UK manufacturers for over 50 years and offers a wide range of standard and bespoke material‑handling solutions for the food and drink sector.  To discuss how the right attachment can support compliance in your chilled or frozen operations, or to arrange a review of your current setup, contact the team on 01686 611200 or visit www.forklift-attachments.co.uk.

Oakland International, a trusted logistics operator in Ireland since 2009, has expanded its capabilities under the Oakland International Freight division, strengthening its position in the Irish cold chain and wider supply chain sector while offering businesses across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and global markets a seamless, fully integrated freight solution.

Building on more than a decade of established operations in Ireland and a well‑developed UK network, the company provides customers with a dependable partner for international transport at a time when demand for resilient, compliant, and temperature‑controlled logistics continues to rise.

International Freight Director Enda Maher commented: “Since 2009, Oakland International has been committed to supporting Irish industry, and the growth of our International Freight division marks the next exciting step in that journey. We’re matching our local expertise with global reach, helping customers move goods more efficiently, more confidently, and with a service experience that stands out in the market.”

Oakland International Freight coordinates complex logistics movements across road and sea both to Europe and Rest of World with a focus on efficiency, clarity, and consistency. The division supports full and part‑load road transport throughout Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe, and manages temperature‑controlled, ambient, and specialised oversized consignments for food producers, retailers, and pharma clients. Its capabilities extend into European container solutions, deep sea shipping to major global ports, access to temperature‑controlled and standard warehousing across Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, and other key European locations.

As regulatory requirements evolve, Oakland International Freight provides expert customs and compliance support for imports, exports, transit, and associated procedures, including GVMS, GMR, EXS, and ENS, ensuring clients benefit from efficient processing and complete confidence in accurate, reliable documentation and border management.

“A lot of the challenges businesses face when moving goods in and out of Ireland come down to complexity and visibility,” added Enda. “Our job is to remove both. By combining our Irish operation with the strength of the Oakland International Freight network, we’re delivering a seamless, transparent freight solution customers can rely on every day.”

With continued investment in infrastructure, people, and strategic partnerships, Oakland International Freight reinforces the group’s reputation as a trusted and customer‑focused logistics provider. Its expanded service offering supports the growing need for dependable cold chain flows between Ireland, the UK, and Europe, particularly for time‑sensitive food and pharmaceutical products. For businesses seeking an experienced partner capable of delivering a seamless freight journey from Ireland to global markets, Oakland International Freight offers reliability without compromise.

About Oakland International:

A Certified B Corporation and BRCGS AA+ accreditations, Oakland International is a specialist in multi‑temperature supply‑chain solutions, providing services including storage, distribution, contract packing, consolidation and direct‑to‑consumer delivery. The business is also recognised for its award‑winning distress load management service, leading the market in reducing food waste across the supply chain.

Sysco GB, the UK’s leading foodservice provider, has signed a new deal with Shell Energy Europe Limited to harness 20 Gigawatt hours of wind power a year until 2035 as it delivers on its commitment to use only renewable energy by 2030.

The new agreement will see the company secure the equivalent of around a third of Sysco GB’s expected energy use by 2030. The electricity is generated by the Race Bank offshore wind farm off the North Norfolk coast with which Shell Energy Europe has an offtake agreement.

Sysco GB has driven the move to renewable energy by installing solar panels on the roofs of six of its depots across the country and making significant improvements in energy efficiency, reducing usage and piloting electric and alternative fuel vehicles. All contributing to Sysco’s global strategy to secure the future of food, by transforming how we operate.

The new deal will see a step change in renewables in foodservice, with Sysco GB purchasing renewable electricity which would power the equivalent of more than 7,400 homes every year.

Paul Nieduszynski, Chief Executive of Sysco GB, said: “We are determined to lead the transformation to a more sustainable future, including transitioning 100% of our electricity demand to renewables by 2030. We’re already making progress in converting the rooftops of our depots to generate renewable electricity, and this deal is a significant step towards our target.

“Customers are clear that sustainability is at the forefront of their agenda. By cutting the footprint of our own operations, we are supporting our customers to reduce theirs too. We will continue to lead the industry on sustainability – to play our part in securing the future of food.”

Pete Statham, Head of EU Sustainability for Sysco said “As we continue to grow in Great Britain, we’re committing to renewables to strengthen our business, improve resilience and help our customers meet their own sustainability goals. By scaling onsite generation and long term clean power, we’ll reduce emissions at pace, while improving the service our customers count on. This is a significant agreement within the UK foodservice market. And it is central to how we build a more sustainable, lower carbon future for foodservice, playing our part in securing the future of food.”

Sysco was tHe first wholesaler to set science-based targets to cut scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 27.5% by 2030, and to secure 100% renewable electricity globally. Sysco’s FY25 Global Sustainability Report, launched this month, highlights significant progress with a 15% reduction since 2019. It outlines how Sysco is building a resilient and inclusive future – from farm to fork – to reduce risk, control cost and meet customer expectations.

Oakland International, through its development arm Green Clover Developments, has joined forces with Cannington Enterprises to deliver a groundbreaking renewable energy facility that will underpin next-generation vertical farming, mushroom cultivation, and sustainable food manufacturing.

Under the agreement, Cannington Enterprises will design, build, and operate a cutting-edge anaerobic digestion (AD) plant that transforms food waste, sourced via Oakland International, into renewable green energy, heat, and valuable by-products. Green Clover Developments will provide approximately four acres of land on a long-term lease, creating a hub where energy, logistics, and supply chain operations converge to support advanced agricultural systems.

Cannington Enterprises brings 15 years expertise in renewable energy generation and waste-to-energy solutions, with a proven track record in designing and managing AD plants that convert food waste into clean energy and practical outputs from its existing facility located near Bridgwater. Being one of the early adopters of AD technology in the country.

Their collaboration underscores Oakland’s commitment to a low-carbon, circular food production model. By generating renewable energy on-site, the partnership will enable climate-controlled mushroom growing and vertical farming, while also offering potential energy support for local homes, helping build a more resilient, partially off-grid community.

Lee Whiting, Managing Director of Green Clover Developments, said: “Our partnership with Cannington Enterprise is a key milestone in shaping a sustainable production environment. Vertical farming and mushroom production require stable, efficient and low-carbon energy, and generating that energy on-site from food waste is exactly the type of circular solution the industry needs. We’re delighted to be working alongside a specialist partner who understands both the technical and operational demands.”

The AD facility will process food waste from Oakland’s networks and partner supply chains, producing renewable electricity and heat to power vertical farms, climate-controlled systems, and potentially local housing. By-products such as digestate and CO₂ may also be repurposed to support agricultural activities and local growing systems.

Cannington Enterprises Director of Operations and Commercial Alan Armstead commented: “We are pleased to confirm our strategic partnership with Oakland International and Green Clover Developments. This initiative exemplifies how renewable energy can be seamlessly integrated into advanced growing systems, reinforcing sustainability and enhancing commercial resilience. Our objective is to deliver a streamlined, robust solution that delivers optimal performance from the outset and for generations to come.”

Cannington Enterprises Managing Director Tim Roe added: “We have commenced work on the engineering design, plant layout, and infrastructure integration. This project represents a highly innovative opportunity, with the capability to directly support vertical farming, mushroom cultivation, and, potentially, local homes through site-generated renewable gas and electricity.”

The partnership is now moving toward a full commercial joint venture agreement following feasibility studies, permitting, and detailed design. Specialist consultants have been appointed to lead environmental permitting, site surveys, and gas/energy connection strategies, with preparatory works already underway.

Oakland International, a Certified B Corporation, is a market leader in reducing food waste through its acclaimed distress load management service. As a multi-temperature supply chain specialist, Oakland delivers comprehensive solutions including storage, distribution, contract packing, consolidation, and direct-to-consumer services across the UK and Ireland. Through Green Clover Developments, Oakland International is driving integrated initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture, vertical farming, and low-carbon food production.

In frozen-food operations, product damage is one of the most common causes of waste.  UK supply chains reportedly lose around 12-13% of perishable stock every year due to operational issues – including handling and storage inefficiencies – equating to hundreds of tonnes of wasted goods per business and significant financial cost.

Toppled pallets, crushed boxes, and/or punctured drums not only reduce stock levels but can also compromise food safety, customer satisfaction, and reputation.  Using the right forklift attachments and using them correctly plays a crucial role in protecting products, reducing waste, and keeping operations running efficiently.

Key considerations for reducing waste include:

1. Attachment / Load Pairing
   Different products require different handling solutions. Fork extensions, pallet clamps, drum handlers, and box grabs are designed for specific load types. Using the correct attachment prevents tipping, crushing, or over-compression, keeping items intact throughout their journey from storage to dispatch
2. Fitting and adjustment
   Attachments must be correctly mounted and adjusted for each load. Even the smallest misalignment can cause uneven lifting or unstable handling, which increases the risk of damage. Adjustable forks help operators position loads correctly for different pallet sizes and types of packaging.
3. Careful handling
   Cold-store conditions can encourage operators to work quickly to meet deadlines, but it’s important to balance speed with careful, controlled handling. Using attachments like tilting forks or spreaders allows smooth, controlled movement of heavy or fragile loads, reducing shocks or sudden impacts that can damage products.
4. Maintenance
   Worn forks, stiff hydraulics, or poorly lubricated joints increase the chance of goods being mishandled. Regular inspections, lubrication with cold-weather greases, and timely replacement of worn components are essential for consistent, safe operation.
5. Operator training
   No attachment, no matter how well designed, can prevent waste if operators aren’t confident in using it correctly. Contact Attachments offers on-site training covering:

• Correct attachment fitting and load handling
• Understanding how attachments affect forklift stability and load limits
• Techniques for delicate or irregular loads

Training is hands-on, typically 90 minutes, with a maximum of three trainees per session, ensuring operators gain practical skills that directly reduce product loss.

With over 50 years’ experience in designing forklift attachments for the food & drink industry, Contact Attachments supports frozen-food operations with bespoke solutions that are hygiene-safe, cold-store compatible and ergonomically smart.  They’re proud to work alongside BFFF members in helping make the chain of frozen-food logistics safer, cleaner and more efficient.

If you’d like to discuss how the right attachment can reduce manual handling in your chilled or frozen operations – or to conduct a review of your site – please contact the team on 01686 611200 or via their website at www.forklift-attachments.co.uk