Food ingredients specialist, Brusco, has appointed Mark Armstrong as its new Managing Director replacing Andrew Ashby who has been Managing Director since acquiring the business in 2015.

Mark took up the helm at Brusco on 18^th November and builds on a career of successful management positions, including most recently Managing Director of Nutrisure the UK’s leading superfood brand and ingredients company.

As well as holding the positions of Sales Director of Orchard Pig Cider, quadrupling revenue in 2 years leading to its sale to C&C and Head of Sales at Nelsons, making Teetha the No1 teething brand in the UK, Mark spearheaded the launch of sugar free Red Bull into the UK. His appointment represents a significant milestone in Brusco’s growth and development.

Mark will lead the Brusco team in their mission to be the preferred food ingredients partner for customers seeking collaborative supplier relationships that deliver value, insight and great service.

Mark Armstrong, Managing Director of Brusco, said: “I am delighted to be joining Brusco as the new Managing Director. For many years I’ve driven customer focused growth strategies for various brands within the food industry. I look forward to bringing new ideas to Brusco and working together with our valued customers.”

“I’m excited for what the future holds and look forward to leading our talented team to success.”

Mark’s appointment sees Andrew Ashby take on the role of CEO for Olidor Group Ltd, where he will lead the continued growth of the group. In addition to Brusco, Olidor Group includes Karimix UK Ltd, The Original Baker Ltd, Porter Foods and The Artful Baker.

Andrew Ashby, CEO of Olidor Group, commented: “We’re delighted to have appointed a talent like Mark to lead Brusco through its next phase of growth. Mark brings a wealth of industry expertise which we believe will add significant value to our customers.”

For further information, visit the Brusco website: www.brusco.co.uk

Karen McQuade, the newly elected president of the British Frozen Food Federation, called in her maiden speech for members to engage in the debate around raising the standard temperature for frozen food.

Addressing the Federation’s annual lunch on November 19, McQuade said that there is a compelling environmental case for raising the standard – which has been set at -18 degrees since the frozen food industry was born 100 years ago.

Karen McQuade said: “Our freezers have been set to -18 for a century, is now the time to consider turning the temperature up? We can reduce emissions and save energy by moving to a higher temperature, but it’s not a simple switch.

“Raising the temperature for frozen food storage to -15 could reduce energy consumption and cut global emissions by 17.7 million metric tonnes annually, the equivalent of removing 3.8 million cars from the road.”

The BFFF has been involved with research into the question of increasing the standard temperature since 2009, and earlier this year it joined the international coalition The Move to -15°C.

Karen McQuade said that it’s now time for the industry to engage in a frank discussion about whether the standard is still fit for purpose and what potential changes could be made to improve sustainability.

“The first step is to fill in the gaps in scientific research supporting the temperature shift. Research is already underway. Earlier this year Nomad Foods conducted an 18 month study which found no significant changes in food quality or safety within the categories tested at -15”, she said. “However more research is needed to understand the impact on delicate food categories.

“I hope more than anything that next year I can stand here with news that we have moved closer to a safe and stable new standard temperature globally.”

The new president also highlighted the challenges the industry faces in terms of changing consumer attitudes and addressing a widespread lack of freezer space in homes, and the role the sector can play in helping reduce food waste.

UK Foodhall Ltd founder McQuade was elected president at the BFFF AGM on November 13, succeeding Ian Stone, who had been in post since December 2020.

Pacific West Foods UK has recently unveiled its new website, marking a significant step in enhancing its digital presence and improving customer engagement. The launch of this sleek, user-friendly platform is designed to showcase Pacific West Foods’ diverse range of high-quality frozen seafood products. This new online hub reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability while providing essential information to both existing and potential customers.

 

One of the standout features of the new website is its modern design and engaging photography, which is both visually appealing and intuitive. Visitors will find navigating through the various categories of Prawns, Squid , Fish, Plant Based and the new Fully Cooked range easy.

Each product is listed and highlights Pacific West Foods’ offerings, including detailed product descriptions, serving suggestions, and cooking methods.

 

This focus on user experience makes it easier for customers to find what they are looking for quicly and allows them to explore new culinary possibilities using Pacific West’s products.

 

The website, written and created by the team at Umami Design for Food, (www.umamidesignforfood.co.uk) is optimised for mobile devices, ensuring that customers can access information on the go. The launch is more than just an upgrade in appearance; it signifies Pacific West Foods’ dedication to environmental responsibility and transparency. The site also provides information about the company’s commitment to sustainability.

 

The launch of the new Pacific West Foods UK website strengthens its position in the fish and seafood market and enhances the overall customer experience.

 

To find out more about how Pacific West can support your business, visit the new website and get in touch. https://pacificwestfoods.co.uk/get-in-touch/

Bidcorp UK, the parent company which includes Bidfood, Bidfresh, Bidcorp Manufacturing and Caterfood Buying Group, is this month celebrating 25 years of trading since being acquired by its South African parent company, Bidcorp.

To mark the occasion, all depots across Bidcorp UK will be hosting a party to celebrate a quarter century of successes. The festivities will stretch across two weeks, starting on Monday the 11^th November, and concluding on Saturday the 23^rd. In addition to specific site activities, all employees will receive an anniversary card containing details around a big prize giveaway, covering a range of spectacular prizes!

The celebrations in place are in aid of Bidcorp UK’s formation in 1999, originally emerging as 3663 and then Bidvest, Bidvest Foodservice, until eventually renaming to become Bidcorp UK and Bidfood UK as it’s known today.

Andrew Selley, CEO of Bidcorp UK commented: “When I look over the past 25 years, I am delighted to see how far we’ve come to become the thriving, prosperous and inclusive business we are today. While each of our companies has its own individual story, it’s our shared journey that brings us all together.

“To be where we are today couldn’t have happened without the dedication and hard work of the brilliant teams and individuals we have here. So to colleagues past and present, I would like to say a big thank you!

“I’m looking forward to hearing how each depot marks the occasion and to watch each of the businesses continue to go from strength to strength, so here’s to the next 25 years!”

Tesco retain their crown as category winners of the ‘Range of the Year’ award in the 2024 Free From Christmas Awards.

Retaining this coveted awards title, COO Nicki Clowes commented: “Retaining the ‘Range of the Year’ crown, with their rather impressive FFCA24 medal haul, has been awarded for the fourth consecutive year to Tesco.

“Their comprehensive range of entries demonstrated just how much consideration is given to free from when developing products across their extensive portfolio, whilst their bespoke free from range impressed judges with products such as their new Mint Thins and the return of their Honeycomb Bauble.”

The Free From Christmas Awards champion Christmas or seasonally relevant free from food and drink products and are part of the annual Free From Food Awards, with free from companies large and small returning to compete in the Free From Christmas Awards 2024. Free From Award judges include chefs, developers, manufacturers, health professionals, bloggers and influencers, many of whom are coeliac or managing complex food allergies.

Oakland International, the sponsor of the ‘Range of the Year’ category, has been supporting the Free From Food Awards for over a decade. As a business providing consolidation, contract packing, and distribution, they have observed significant retail growth in the free from food sector across all service platforms. Major supermarkets now recognise the need for innovation in this sector, and the Free From Food Awards reflect the increasing demand for free from foods.

Sponsor Oakland International Co-Founder, Sallie Attwell said: “We were delighted to once again continue our support of the Free From Christmas Awards and send our many congratulations to Tesco, and to all Free From Christmas Awards 2024 category winners.”

A Certified B Corporation business Oakland International is a total supply chain solutions specialist and a leader in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for all types of food, servicing diverse markets across the UK and Ireland.

Full details of all category winners can be found on their website www.freefromfoodawards.co.uk

Liverpool based Supply Chain Solution Ltd, will visit Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam to establish and improve Supply Chains for UK Food and Drink Exporters.  They will visit Importers, Distributors plus warehousing and logistics companies in South East Asia.  They are representing members of the UK food and drink exporters association along with members of the UK Frozen Food Federation.

 

In addition to these visits, they will be creating mini vlogs about the trip and a comprehensive report on their findings which will be published as a company presentation.  The aim is to provide a “deep dive” into the facilities and logistics services per country so that exporters can not only see the facilities, but can have access to data, storage and distribution services on a national level.

 

On the 27^th November 24 , Supply Chain Solution Ltd’s  Director Les Wright will deliver a digital presentation to representatives of the Easyfresh group who are established in 220 Countries.  Les said “ It’s a great privilege to be asked to deliver this presentation, and am really looking forward to it. Am determined to promote the best of UK Food and Drink Exporters and come up with solutions to increasingly difficult logistics issues. We are taking samples of British products out there and have arranged meetings with Key importers from these countries to see if they like the products. If so this is the first stage of the process of securing International trade from the UK to these developing markets and providing the logistics platform for exporters to succeed”