Pacific West is supporting wholesalers and end users looking to maximise Christmas 2025 menu profitability. The latest guide, “The Ultimate Picky Bit Planner”, is the essential toolkit for elevating simple starters and canapés into showstopping seafood festive offerings.

The food-to-go and hospitality sectors demand convenience and quality, especially during peak season. That’s why Pacific West focus on leveraging their range to help operators achieve high-impact presentation with minimal kitchen labour.

Discover creative ideas, including transforming classic smoked salmon into a ‘Smoked Salmon Wreath’ and elevating prawns into ‘High Octane Prawn Shooters’. For calamari, there’s serving suggestions including ‘Crispy Calamari & Wreath Dip’, or ‘MSC Cod & Sweet Chilli Skewers’, focused on providing speed and spectacle this Christmas season!

Get in touch with the team to find out more or click on the link below to see the full range of ideas.

https://pacificwestfoods.co.uk/the-ultimate-picky-bit-planner-pacific-wests-seafood-serving-suggestions-for-the-festive-season/

Earlier this month, PackUK issued Notices of Liability (NoL) to packaging producers under the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme for the first time ever.  An example NoL can be found here.

These first NoLs are based on 2024 packaging data from producers and cover disposal costs for April 2025 to March 2026. To help producers prepare for this important step, PackUK published detailed guidance outlining the invoicing and payment process as well as important security information.

With the introduction of any new payment service, PackUK is mindful of the risk of attempted fraudulent activity. To manage this risk, PackUK will never send producers a payment link via email. Producers are reminded they should log into their Report Producer Data (RPD) account to view and arrange payment of their Notice of Liability. Producers should also be mindful that scammers may attempt contact by phone or letter to perpetrate fraud.

Customer Service Desk  

There is a dedicated customer support team in place to help producers with the pEPR scheme. If you have any questions about your notice of liability or payments, please contact the EPR support desk.

If you wish to raise any concerns, check the validity of any communications, or think you may have been a victim of a scam (or an attempted scam) you should also report this to the EPR support desk.

You can contact the support desk  via email or telephone on 0300 060 0002.

The helpdesk is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm during October 2025 and closed on weekends and bank holidays.

Normal opening hours for the helpdesk after October 2025, are 8am to 4.30pm.

British families looking to eat a healthy diet could save over £1,100 a year on their grocery bills simply by swapping fresh fruit and vegetables for frozen alternatives, according to our new  British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) research.

The analysis comes at a time when the government continues to push the “5-a-day” message as part of the national health agenda. However, current sustained food price inflation leaves many households struggling to keep up with the cost of healthy eating.

Using current supermarket prices, we compared the cost of an 80g portion of commonly bought fresh fruit and vegetables with the same weight from frozen packs. Across five staples – broccoli, spinach, mixed vegetables, strawberries and blueberries – the average portion of fresh produce cost £0.46, compared to just £0.30 for frozen.

That difference equates to a saving of 80p per person, per day when eating five daily portions. For a family of four, the weekly saving is £22.40, or around £1,165 a year.

The research has been carried out as part of the BFFF’s Frozen Food Revolution campaign, which aims to inform, educate and engage consumers about the benefits of frozen food, and coincides with Frozen Food Week (13–19 October).

In a survey by consumer insight platform Vypr, commissioned by the BFFF, more than half of UK adults (51%) said the rising cost of fresh fruit and vegetables has made it harder for them to reach their 5-a-day. The BFFF has said it was using the campaign to highlight that frozen food makes nutritious diets available more affordably, making it easier for everyone to eat well.

As well as typically being cheaper, frozen food has the advantage of lasting far longer than fresh, meaning it can be used exactly when needed, reducing food waste and making household spend go further. Freezing also “locks in” key vitamins and minerals that naturally degrade in chilled produce from the moment it is picked.

For example, scientific studies have found that chilled spinach retains just 20% of its vitamin C content after 7 days, whereas almost 80% is retained following the freezing process, and it takes a year for this to fall to 50% retention[i].

Rupert Ashby, Chief Executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, said: “A healthy diet plays a huge part in the nation’s wellbeing, both physically and mentally. But for too many families, the rising cost of fresh food has put good nutrition out of reach.

“These figures show just how much of a difference frozen fruit and vegetables can make. Not only is frozen fruit and vegetables every bit as nutritious – and in some cases even more so – but they are significantly more affordable and far less likely to end up wasted. Frozen food really is a win-win for health, happiness and household budgets.”

Separate research, published in Nomad Foods’ Frozen in Focus report, shows the savings could be even higher for those who use their freezer space efficiently. Almost a fifth of consumers believe they could save around £6-10 per week if they knew what was in their freezer. That’s a yearly saving of around £530 a year.

More details are available here: https://bfff.co.uk/frozen-food-revolution/.

[i] A comparison of the vitamin C content of fresh and frozen vegetables, D.J. Favell, Unilever Research, Colworth Laboratory, Sharnbrook, July 1997.

Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler, has launched La Boulangerie Premium Bakery, bringing together its award-winning premium range of breads, pastries and cakes under a new banner.

 

The curated range of more than 150 products has been crafted for quality, convenience, and consistent performance to provide professional kitchens with a premium bakery offer throughout the day. Brakes has also added 10 new products to the range to coincide with the launch.

 

From rustic loaves to soft brioche, flaky pastries to indulgent cakes, the range combines traditional methods and long fermentation with quality ingredients, hand-finishing, and authentic provenance, ensuring that each product reflects the brand’s commitment to excellence.​

 

Inspired by global flavours, evolving food trends, and creative formats, the products are designed to enhance menus, with variety, quality, and added value.

 

Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said: “La Boulangerie Premium Bakery brings together the very best of our bakery range, with a range of flavours and formats that are inspired by global trends and flavours. We understand how important bakery is to the success of the outlet, from early morning croissants to lunchtime sandwiches to afternoon tea and beyond, bakery is the backbone of many foodservice operations.

 

“The La Boulangerie Premium Bakery Range delivers quality, innovation and taste across a comprehensive range of premium products.”

 

The products are produced to the most exacting standards, with Sysco brands being governed by Sysco’s Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA)  criteria and meet the highest standards of food safety, quality and consistency, with the Sysco Quality Assured logo guaranteeing all products have been evaluated against detailed specifications.

Beth’s, a specialist in premium frozen snacks and appetisers, is proud to be part of the British Frozen Food Federation community. With a focus on quality, authenticity, and convenience, the company brings a unique taste of Brazil to the UK market through a range of vegetarian, vegan, Halal, and no gluten-containing ingredient products designed for both retail and foodservice operators.

Earlier this year, Beth’s was delighted to receive two Bronze Awards at the BFFF Product Awards 2025 – in the Retail Winners categories of Best New Bakery and Morning Goods for its Brazilian Cheese Bread, and Best New Vegetarian Product for its Cheese Balls. These accolades highlight Beth’s commitment to developing high-quality frozen products that combine global inspiration with exceptional flavour and consistency.

Building on this success, Beth’s recently took part in the Street Food Expo, one of the UK’s leading trade events for the foodservice, retail, and catering industries. The exhibition provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the company’s innovative product range and to engage with chefs, buyers, and distributors interested in expanding their menus with premium frozen options.

At the event, Beth’s proudly presented its core concept: “Frozen Food, Fresh Thinking.” Over two inspiring days, the team welcomed hundreds of industry visitors to experience the full range of ready-to-heat and ready-to-fry frozen products. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with visitors recognising Beth’s for:

• Exceptional Flavour and Quality – delivering the standard of fresh, now in frozen format.
• Operational Efficiency and Consistency – ensuring seamless service every time.
• Innovative Menu Solutions – meeting the demands of the modern, quality-conscious consumer.

Visitors were particularly impressed by the versatility and authentic Brazilian roots of Beth’s products, which perform equally well across diverse dining occasions – from street food concepts to casual dining and large-scale catering.

The experience at the Street Food Expo reaffirmed Beth’s belief that the future of frozen food lies in combining convenience with genuine, fresh quality. As the company continues to grow its presence in the UK, Beth’s remains dedicated to supporting foodservice operators and retailers in delivering excellence – one dependable meal at a time.

For more information about Beth’s award-winning range or to connect with the team, please visit our catalogue:  https://qrco.de/bgJB07

Every year, UK beverage distributors handle millions of pallets packed with bottles, cans, and cartons – yet even a small mishap can lead to costly breakages, crushed cartons, or disrupted operations. More often than not, the challenge isn’t to do with operator skill – it’s the use of equipment that isn’t designed for the job.

 

Pallets of beverages are fragile and demanding. Standard forklifts or general-purpose attachments often struggle to keep loads stable, leaving operators juggling speed and safety. The solution? Purpose-built attachments designed specifically for the beverage sector.

 

Powys-based Contact Attachments Ltd has been doing just that for over 50 years.  With decades of experience in materials handling, the company specialises in forklift attachments that make beverage logistics safer, faster, and more reliable.

 

Mark Jones, Technical Sales Advisor at Contact Attachments, explains: “Handling beverages isn’t just about moving pallets from A to B.  Glass bottles are fragile, cartons can tip, and even cans can get crushed if loads aren’t stable. Our attachments are designed to protect both the product and the people moving it.”

 

Fork Extensions – Extra Reach, Safe Handling

Fork extensions increase the reach of forklifts, making it easier to handle oversized or high-stacked beverage pallets.  By allowing operators to access and manoeuvre long or bulky loads safely, they reduce the risk of tipping or damage while maximising storage space.

 

Load Stabilisers – Secure Every Pallet

Load stabilisers keep pallets of bottles, cans, and cartons steady during transport.  Whether moving goods across busy warehouse aisles or uneven floors, these attachments prevent shifting, spillage, and breakages – giving operators confidence to handle fragile products efficiently.

 

Safety Platforms – Protecting People and Products

When working at height or loading from racking systems, safety platforms provide a secure space for personnel.  This ensures that operators can position and manage beverage pallets without compromising their safety – or the integrity of the products.

 

Tipping Skips – Efficient Waste Management

For spillages, damaged cartons, or packaging waste, tipping skips provide a controlled solution. Operators can handle waste safely and quickly, keeping the warehouse tidy and maintaining smooth operations throughout the distribution process.

 

People, Product, Performance

The right attachment doesn’t just protect products – it protects people, too.  By improving load stability and reducing manual handling, Contact Attachments helps minimise workplace injuries while keeping operations running smoothly.

 

For more than half a century, Contact Attachments Ltd has supported UK manufacturers and distributors with both standard and bespoke solutions, helping businesses move products safely, efficiently, and with minimal waste.  Find out more at www.forklift-attachments.co.uk or call 01686 611200.

Temperature Controlled Storage Operator of the Year recognises companies with exceptional customer quality and care within the temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry

Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ: LINE) (the “Company”), the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, is proud to announce that it has won Temperature Controlled Storage Operator of the Year at the 2025 Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution (TCS&D) Awards.

This Award celebrates organisations that set the benchmark for customer quality and care in the industry. Lineage’s award entry pointed to the way it works side by side with customers, from finding more warehouse space when needed to responding quickly to market shifts, all while keeping accuracy and timeliness front and center.

Another factor in the recognition was Lineage’s customer satisfaction score (CSAT), averaging 4.79 out of 5 across its sites in the UK. This score is a sign of both the effort team members put in, and the trust customers place in them.

The judges also noted Lineage’s role in advancing sustainability across the cold chain. As a founding member of the Move to –15 °C coalition, Lineage is championing efforts to reduce energy consumption and emissions in frozen storage, working alongside customers to generate real-world insight needed to advocate for regulatory change.

Claire Walters, Regional Vice President, Lineage UK said, “Winning Temperature Controlled Storage Operator of the Year is an incredible honour and a true reflection of the passion and dedication of our teams across the UK. Every day, they go above and beyond to serve our customers with care, precision and consistency, while also leading the charge toward a more sustainable cold chain. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together, grateful to our customers for their trust and to the TCS&D Awards for this recognition.”

The TCS&D Awards recognises the companies, services and people that are keeping the temperature-controlled supply chain moving and making a lasting difference. For more information on the TCS&D Awards, please visit https://tcsdevents.com/tcs-d-awards/.

PackUK have now published The Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) roadmap which provides a forward look of planned developments of the RAM between 2025-2030.

It covers planned annual policy alignment reviews, RAM publication timings, key materials updates and industry engagements, such as the quarterly RAM Technical Advisory Committee. Note: All timings in the roadmap are subject to change.

The RAM roadmap can be accessed here.

You’ll notice on the roadmap that PackUK were due to start issuing obligated producers with invoices from October. We are reliably informed that they intend to start that this week (w/c/13.10.25)

The official name of the invoice is a ‘NOTICE OF LIABILITY’ often shortened to ‘NoL’. An example NoL can be found here, which Pack UK has authorised can be shared widely.

• Financial amounts are on page 1 of a NoL.
• Pages 2 & 3 of a NoL provide details on …

o             How to Pay

o             When to Pay

o             Late Payments

o             Direct Debit Guarantee

o             Cost Breakdowns

o             Recalculations

o             Getting Help, and

o             Contacting Pack UK.