Page 132 — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

LINEAGE UNVEILS THE GLOBAL FOOD CHAIN INNOVATION CHALLENGE TO COMBAT FOOD WASTE

Posted on July 24, 2024July 24, 2024 by Clare Hodson

Lineage, the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, today announced the launch of its pioneering initiative, the Food Chain Innovation Challenge. This aspiring global competition invites students and startups to develop and pitch groundbreaking solutions aimed at tackling one of the world’s most pressing issues: food waste, particularly postharvest losses.

The challenge will convene bright minds at three major events across the globe: London, United Kingdom on November 14; Amsterdam, The Netherlands on November 19; and San Francisco, United States also on November 19. Participants are called to present their innovative solutions that can empower different regions of the world – from mature to emerging and developing markets – to mitigate postharvest food spoilage through affordable and scalable methods, thereby enhancing food security, quality, safety, and market access.

Winners from each regional event will win a cash prize. Additionally, an overall winner will be selected from the regional winners and announced in December. The grand prize winner will receive entry into an incubator program tailored to help them further refine their business development skills and scale their solution effectively.

At the events, participants will be asked to pitch their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges, concentrating their efforts in one of four specific areas:

· Reducing food waste: Introduce technologies and strategies to diminish food loss from farm to market.

· Innovative food preservation techniques: Propose novel methods that enhance food longevity and reduce spoilage.

· Access to nutritious food: Improve the logistics of food distribution to enhance the availability of nutritious foods in underserved areas.

· Data-driven insights and analytics: Employ analytics and IoT to optimize supply chains and reduce waste.

“According to the UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, the latest data from 2022, shows 1.05 billion tonnes of food went to waste — an amount sufficient to nourish billions. This reality is stark, especially considering that over 783 million individuals globally suffer from undernourishment. By reducing food waste, we can significantly enhance global food security and address hunger,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage, “At Lineage, we are dedicated to spearheading innovation across the global food supply chain. Through our Food Chain Innovation Challenge, we are seeking to cultivate solutions that not only tackle food waste but also advance sustainable development. We are eager to witness the emergence of these new ideas and their evolution into practical, impactful strategies.'”

The Food Chain Innovation Challenge underscores Lineage’s commitment to sustainability, improving the global management of food storage, transport, and distribution. If you’re interested in participating, apply here. For a glimpse into the 2023 Hackathon, the predecessor to The Food Chain Innovation Challenge, held in Amsterdam watch this video. Also, hear insights from last year’s winner to get inspired and understand the impact of winning this prestigious challenge.

EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY: PRIVATE BUYER MEETINGS IN AMSTERDAM (SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2024)

Posted on July 23, 2024January 9, 2026 by Sarah Collison

Stamegna Management Hungary extends a rare invitation to connect with Europe’s most sought-after buyers at our exclusive event in Amsterdam. We represent a highly curated selection of European retail giants, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and prestigious distributors, all strategically vetted for their buying power and commitment to quality.

Unparalleled Access to European Power Players:

This invitation-only event on September 22nd and 23rd, 2024, grants you direct access to pre-qualified European buyers actively seeking innovative products from premium suppliers like yourselves. The Leonardo Hotel in Amsterdam will serve as the intimate backdrop for these private meetings, fostering a conducive environment for forging lucrative partnerships.

Targeted & Time-Saving Business Development:

Our meticulous categorization ensures you connect exclusively with buyers whose interests directly align with your product portfolio. We eliminate the legwork, presenting a shortlist of up to 22 or 15 potential buyers, allowing you to tailor your meetings for maximum impact. This exclusive event streamlines your European market expansion efforts, saving you valuable time and resources.

Stamegna Management: Your Gateway to European Success

Beyond the Amsterdam event, Stamegna Management curates a prestigious calendar of buyer-seller meetings across Europe, including:

· Athens: Food and Beverage (November 10-11, 2024)

· Milan: Health and Beauty Care Products (January 26-27, 2025)

· Budapest: Food and Beverage (March 23-24, 2025)

· Dubai (Dates Pending): Food and Beverage/Health and Beauty Care

· Amsterdam (Dates Pending): Food and Beverage/Health and Beauty Care

Limited Availability – Secure Your Place Now

Participation in this exclusive event is strictly limited. To secure your place and gain access to Europe’s most discerning buyers, please contact Saajid Aslam at saajid@stamegna.eu at your earliest convenience. We look forward to discussing this remarkable opportunity and propelling your brand’s success in the European marketplace.

SMURFIT WESTROCK MAKES ITS DEBUT IN NEW YORK AND LONDON

Posted on July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 by Richard Davies

Smurfit Westrock plc, a global leader in sustainable packaging, is pleased to announce its primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the ticker ‘SW,’ following the completion of the previously announced combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock on July 5, 2024.

The company also has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker ‘SWR’.

Smurfit Westrock, operating in 40 countries and tapping into the expertise of over 100,000 people, has a unique and unrivalled ability to provide its customers with the most diverse, innovative and sustainable range of renewable and recyclable packaging solutions.

“Combining Smurfit Kappa and WestRock creates a world-leading sustainable packaging player, bringing together a tremendous depth of experience and expertise from both companies,” said Tony Smurfit, Smurfit Westrock Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that this combination has created the ‘go-to’ leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. I’m proud to be chosen to lead this great team of people.”

“The shareholders of both Smurfit Kappa and WestRock have overwhelmingly supported our combination. Smurfit Westrock has a unique geographic footprint and through our industry leading applications, an unparalleled ability to provide value for our customers,” added Ken Bowles, Smurfit Westrock Chief Financial Officer.

Trading began on the LSE today at 8:00 a.m. BST, and will commence on the NYSE at 9:30 a.m. EDT, following a bell-ringing ceremony.

FREE WEBINAR EXPORES THE NEW GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITIES ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Sarah Collison

On Wednesday 24 July, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade will host a free webinar in which trade policy and customs experts will assess the challenges that the new government faces and what its election manifesto tells us about how it may address these.

The webinar will cover:

The current state of UK trade
The likely trade policy challenges the new government could face
What happens next, now that the new government has formed
What its election manifesto tells us about its possible trade strategy
How businesses can shape the new government’s trade agenda

The webinar will include a live Q&A and you can ask questions in advance at the point of registration.

Register for webinar

Please note: You will need to register for an account before you can book onto the webinar. Register for an account here.

BRUSCO LAUNCH INGREDIENTS CROP CALENDER

Posted on July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 by Zoey Baxter

Brusco Food Group has unveiled its Ingredients Crop Calendar, an easy to use tool designed to inform how and when Buyers and NPD teams purchase their ingredients.

Developed by a team of highly experienced category managers, Brusco has created the crop calendar through collaborative work with farmers, producers and suppliers to share the planting, harvesting and best contracting times per origin, enabling buyers to save money.

Key features of the ingredient crop calendar include:

• Origins – Understand the crop cycle by origin and product.

• Planting and harvesting dates – Learn when planting and harvesting takes place so that buyers can gain full visibility of crop quality and quantity.

• Best time to buy – Usually influenced by the harvesting dates, buyers will be able to see when is the right time to lock in the best prices for different ingredients.

Neil Burton, Category Manager for Herbs, Spices and Dehydrates at Brusco Food Group, said: “We are thrilled to introduce the Ingredients Crop Calendar, a game-changing tool that empowers our customers to make the right buying decisions. By sharing key information and industry insights, it helps our customers plan their yearly purchasing needs and get the best possible price for that particular ingredient.”

The Ingredients Crop Calendar is now available to download on Brusco’s website, www.brusco.co.uk

For more information or to request a hard copy version, contact the Brusco team by emailing enquiries@brusco.co.uk.

BIDFOOD HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE CHOICES THROUGH MENU REINVENTION AND CARBON MANAGEMENT

Posted on July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 by Billy Moone

Prior to the recent election, the government’s commitment to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 has put a lot of pressure on the food and drink industry. Bidfood, one of the UK’s leading wholesalers, has called upon the industry to work in collaboration towards a more sustainable future, in an event showcasing how foodservice can reinvent its menus.

Research has shown that 78% of consumers find the following three factors ‘most important’ when buying food and drink products – natural ingredients (37%) environmental impact (22%) and how ethical a product is (19%)[1] highlighting the importance of getting these points across on menus.

Bidfood’s sustainability event, Plateful Pursuits for Positive Change, focused on low impact ingredients, food surplus and how caterers can reinvent their menus with seasonal produce, healthier and more inclusive dishes, while also taking into account animal welfare and carbon data.

Under the theme ‘pay attention to reinvention’, the day consisted of insightful talks from some of the key players within the industry that promote sustainability, including the Sustainable Restaurant Association, Allmanhall, Upfield, Earthshot prize winners – Notpla and pioneers in climate intelligence technology – CarbonCloud.

Bidfood has taken great strides towards its sustainability strategy, especially in more recent years, with a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 across Scope 1, 2 and 3. Just recently, the wholesaler added its name to the ‘Lobbying for Good’ open letter to mandate food waste reporting, became a member of the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Soya, removed all EPS from their disposables range and partnered with CarbonCloud to footprint its products.

Julie Owst, Head of Sustainability at Bidfood said: “There’s a lot of work to be done to make food more sustainable and a key part of this is education and awareness, which this event has successfully achieved.

“The food we’re all eating, and unfortunately wasting, is a massive contributor to carbon emissions, so the food industry has a great role to play in influencing consumer behaviour about the food they eat. Carbon data will help, but we mustn’t forget other factors such as adopting regenerative farming methods and prioritising products with accreditations and certifications.

“It’s our mission to be a positive force for change at Bidfood, however, we can’t do it alone. Collaboration across the industry will be key to making that change. My team and I are very excited to be working on a solution to help the industry make more responsible choices and create that crucial educational piece so consumers can eat more sustainably.”

To read more about Bidfood’s ESG strategy, please visit: https://www.bidfood.co.uk/sustainability/

A few reasons to become a member of BFFF

To find out more about becoming a member call 01400 283 095 or email the team

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Member Benefits

Exclusive Partnership deals on key products and services:

BFFF energy deals and rates
Vypr member deals and introduction
Defib Plus deals
Company Shop – membership
Mentor – MHE training health check

Exclusive access to networking opportunities and events:

Meet the Buyer events (retail & foodservice)
Annual Business Conference with networking dinner
Specialist H&S and Technical Conferences
Special interest groups (packaging, frozen food temperatures)
Annual Lunch
Awards Night

Become a member

Sponsorship Packages

We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to BFFF members across our events throughout the year, with flexible packages that can be tailored to suit your business objectives.

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