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After an extremely busy start to 2022, the BFFF Technical Expert Group held their first full meeting of the year…
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ICELAND DRIVES UBER EATS PARTNERSHIP FORWARD WITH EXCLUSIVE DEAL
Iceland and Uber Eats have driven their partnership to new heights with an exclusive deal to strengthen their partnership as of April 2022, benefiting thousands of customers, following a successful trial.
With over 140 Iceland stores already available to Uber Eats users, the new deal outlines a target of 200 additional Iceland stores across the country via the app.
Iceland customers and Uber Eats users alike will be able to order an array of food essentials through their mobile device with further expansion also planned for later on in the year.
Currently over 3,000 items are readily available to choose from including the latest exclusive brand products such as Slimming World, Greggs, TGI Friday’s and Chiquito’s. Star Buys are continuously updated to provide the users with great value items.
Andrew Staniland, Trading Director, from Iceland Foods, said: “There was no question in cementing our partnership with UberEats with an exclusivity deal. Iceland is committed to delivering a wide range of everyday essentials as well as big brand products at great value. Finding solutions to make their lives easier is key and this partnership does just that.”
Matthew Price, Uber Eats General Manager UK, said: “We are delighted to extend our exclusive partnership with Iceland, which will enable more people to order groceries and essentials via Uber Eats in as little as 30 minutes. This is another great stride in our quest to bring the high street to the nation’s doorstep.”
Customers can access the 2,500 products on the Uber Eats app now and expect to see further store locations open from April 2022.
UPDATE ON HOW THE UKRAINE CRISIS MAY AFFECT SUPPLY CHAINS
The situation with the impact on food supply due to the Ukraine conflict remains quite unclear but we are aware that there could be impacts on frozen white fish, notably:
- Alaskan Pollock – Russia has 50% of the total catch in the Baring Straights.
- Cod and Haddock – also originate from Russia and if not shipped directly, may come via eastern European countries or China.
Fish manufacturers/processors could be severely affected, either indirectly or directly if Russian vessels are unable to be paid.
Other foodstuffs which may be impacted are:
- Sunflower Oil – Russia accounts for almost 60% of the world production, although our contacts suggest the impact could be some time being seen.
- Flour – significant production volumes in both Russia and Ukraine.
We’ve heard through a member that sanctions on food are not being planned but we are trying to get this confirmed by Defra. However, restrictions on the movement of shipping may impact the movement of goods. The following is an assessment by Seafish focusing on the impact of fish:
Many seafood businesses are worried about possible sanctions. The situation right now is that:
- There are no sanctions on seafood of Russian origin.
- Future sanctions can’t be ruled out.
- If there are going to be sanctions on Russia, we don’t know what the nature of those sanctions will be, but they might include a ban on the importation of all fish of Russian origin, including Russian fish processed in China.
Sanctions on ships are in force. According to Government guidance:
“The Regulations also confer powers on the Secretary of State and harbour authorities to detain Russian ships or specified ships at ports or anchorages.
Russian ships include:
- a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person
- a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by persons connected with Russia
- a ship registered in Russia, or
- a ship flying the flag of Russia”
We don’t believe that many Russian flagged vessels unload frozen food in the UK. However, the concept of ships “owned, controlled, chartered or operated…” by people with Russian connections is an area we are less sure about in terms of import operations.
Seafish have heard that some business are finding it difficult to obtain supplies from Russian partners because of money transfer sanctions.
Also, they have heard that some shipping companies are refusing to pick up goods from Russian ports. This means that the product would have to route out via Asia, which will contribute to delays.
Defra and UK Government departments have been told that they cannot engage with Russia or any other country in the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) and engagement with Ukraine is not possible.
However, businesses can contact the Export Support Service: https://www.gov.uk/ask-export-support-team if they have any queries related to Russia or Ukraine.
Further information on the impact on the UK seafood supply chain can be found in a Seafish report recently submitted to Defra
BFFF continue to closely monitor the situation and will bring you updates as soon as they are available.
SIG Packaging Update
We have recently held another meeting of the Special Interest Group (SIG) on Packaging. We were joined by two other…
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LABOUR ISSUES UPDATE
The Federation has been part of a group of Trade Associations trying to raise the profile of labour shortages with Government. The group, including NFU, FDF, UK Hospitality etc funded a report written by Grant Thornton in Autumn 2021 to highlight to the Government the massive challenge being faced by not only BFFF members but the food industry in general.
Whilst the report received wide circulation and support from a number of MP’s it has not moved government policy on immigration.
The working group reconveyed on the topic a few days ago and agreed we would try to collate more on what companies are doing information to find staff.
So can we please ask members to provide answers to a list of questions that can be found by following this link.
Please respond by week commencing the 18th of March. We will then use this information to form the basis of our next stage to create the ‘right look’ to apply to future lobbying to Government.
The group will also keep under review the levelling up agenda, national food strategy and the skills white paper to see if we can use these topics to refocus on labour shortages.
DAWN’S NEW CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES OUR NATION’S BAKERY HERITAGE
Celebrating the fantastic bakes and inspirational bakers from around the UK and Ireland is the theme of this year’s marketing focus from Dawn Foods.
The ‘Celebrating Our Nation’s Bakes’ campaign will take bakers on a sweet treats tour of the UK and Ireland, discovering traditional and more unusual recipes from England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Different ‘hero’ recipes featuring bakes, such as Empire Biscuits, Monmouth Pudding, Devon Apple Cake and Guinness Cake, all re-created using Dawn ingredients, will be unveiled on a specially created map on the Dawn website. Throughout the year there will be opportunities for bakers to get involved with the campaign, sharing their own local recipes, and taking part in the social media conversation around each region’s bakes.
There will be prize draws for bakers to win bakery related prizes such as oven gloves, Baker’s Toolkits and other campaign themed items. One lucky baker will also have the chance to go on a UK road trip where they can sample some of our nation’s great bakes, as Dawn is also offering a voucher for a seven-day luxury holiday in a fully equipped motorhome as its top competition prize.
Students on the Bakery & Patisserie Technology degree course at University College Birmingham (UCB) will also be sharing bakery recipes from their home regions and how they can be re-imagined for the modern consumer. These may include making an item vegan, gluten free, reducing sugar or giving it a contemporary twist.
Jacqui Passmore, marketing manager UK and Ireland at Dawn Foods said:
“Reduced travelling brought about by the global pandemic has meant that many of us have had time to focus on what is around us, whether that’s the beautiful rolling countryside, vibrant cities, or the coast, and of course the food heritage that is embedded in our national identity. Traditional British bakery is making a big comeback as consumers take comfort in their own heritage and roots.
“Bakers, of course, have always been the bedrock of every community and we wanted to focus on the sweet bakes that are synonymous with different areas of the UK and Ireland. As well as showcasing recipes that bakers will be familiar with, we also wanted to give them new inspiration to try recipes they may not have heard of, and with the help of UCB bakery students, insight into how they can re-invent those bakes for the modern consumer.
“Also in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, celebrating Our Nation’s Bakes couldn’t be more appropriate!”
For more information about Dawn Foods please visit www.dawnfoods.com.
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