Page 440 — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

Unlimited fines for those who breach fire safety regulations

Posted on March 24, 2021January 9, 2026 by Sarah Collison

Building owners could face unlimited fines following new measures being brought in to strengthen fire safety, the Home Office has announced.

As part of the government’s work to ensure people are safe in their homes, these limitless fines will be handed out to anyone caught obstructing or impersonating a fire inspector as well as to those who breach fire safety regulations under the Fire Safety Order.

These new measures, announced as part of the government’s response to the Fire Safety Consultation (see Reports), will come into force as part of the legislation in the Building Safety Bill.

The measures will amend the Fire Safety Order and will include a requirement for fire risk assessments to be recorded for each building and improve how fire safety information is handed over throughout the lifetime of a building.

The Home Office have also announced a further cash boost of £10 million for Fire and Rescue Authorities across England, on top of the £6 million already announced in the Fire COVID-19 Contingency Fund. This will help with additional tasks related to managing the pandemic – such as driving ambulances and assisting at testing and vaccination centres.

Fire Minister Lord Greenhalgh said: “Everyone should be safe in the buildings where they live, stay or work.

“Our new measures will improve fire safety and help save lives but will also take firm action against those who fail in their duty to keep people safe.

“Our incredible Fire and Rescue Services have played a crucial role in our response to the pandemic, from assisting at vaccination centres to driving ambulances. That is why we are giving them this cash boost, so they can continue their life-saving efforts.”

Roy Wilsher, National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, said: “The NFCC welcomes the extra funding to support COVID activities carried out by fire and rescue services across England. Firefighters are responsible for administering around 1 in 240 vaccinations to the public.

DEFRA CONSULTATION ON REVISED WASTE PREVENTION PROGRAMME FOR ENGLAND

Posted on March 22, 2021March 22, 2021 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Members may be interested to learn that on 18^th March Defra launched a 12 week consultation on the revised Waste Prevention programme for England.

The purpose of this new Waste Prevention Programme is to build on the over-arching framework of the Resources & Waste Strategy with regard to shifting action up the waste hierarchy, setting out a more detailed and specific set of actions with a sectoral dimension. Through this, as well as by explaining the case for change in each sector, Defra intend to encourage action by industry as well as to facilitate action across government departments.

The consultation is open for responses until 10^th June and can be found here

XPO LOGISTICS UNVEILS GXO AS NEW COMPANY NAME FOR PLANNED SPIN-OFF OF LOGISTICS BUSINESS

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Hayley Mc Quade

XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of transport and logistics solutions, today announced the identity of the new company that has been created in connection with the planned spin-off of XPO’s logistics business. The company is named GXO Logistics, Inc. and will go to market with the tagline “Logistics at full potential.” The company made its debut with a video introduction that showcases its logo and message.

Brad Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics, said, “Today, we took an exciting step forward on our path to spinning off our logistics segment. The new company is called GXO — three letters that stand for the game-changing opportunities we’re bringing to the table for customers, employees and shareholders, with a nod to our XPO heritage. GXO will take this legacy into the future as an independent public company, with countless ways to deliver logistics at full potential.”

Fueled by years of investment in technology as part of XPO, GXO will be in a strong position to capitalise on the logistics industry’s predominant secular tailwinds: the growth in e-commerce and omnichannel retail, fast-growing customer demand for automation and digital capabilities, and a shift toward outsourcing supply chain services. GXO will have an undiluted focus on its strategic priorities and blue-chip customer base, with a standalone equity currency to create long-term value for its stakeholders.

“The new company’s brand identity captures the qualities that make us an industry leader — our ability to deliver faster, leaner, smarter logistics for customers at lower cost, using advanced automation and data science,” said Malcolm Wilson, XPO’s chief executive officer – Europe, who has been named to become CEO of GXO. “I’m looking forward to leading our global team to the many new opportunities in our future.”

In December 2020, XPO announced its intent to spin off the logistics segment of its existing business and create two pure-play industry powerhouses focused separately on transportation and logistics. Post-separation, XPO will remain a global provider of freight transportation, primarily less-than-truckload and truck brokerage, and GXO will be the second-largest contract logistics provider in the world. Usage of the new company name, logo and other brand components will become effective upon the completion of the spin-off.

Files Confidential Form 10

XPO further announced that it has filed a confidential initial Form 10 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the planned spin-off of its logistics business. The filing represents another significant milestone in the process required to complete the transaction, which the company continues to expect will take place in the second half of 2021.

The transaction is subject to various conditions, including the effectiveness of the Form 10 registration statement, receipt of a tax opinion from counsel, the refinancing of XPO’s debt on terms satisfactory to the XPO board of directors, and final approval by the XPO board of directors. There can be no assurance that a separation transaction will occur or, if one does occur, of its terms or timing.

Advisors

XPO has retained Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as its financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as its legal advisor to assist with the spin-off process.

About XPO Logistics and XPO Logistics Europe

XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) provides cutting-edge supply chain solutions to the most successful companies in the world. The company is the second-largest contract logistics provider and the second-largest freight broker globally, and a top three less-than-truckload provider in North America. XPO uses a highly integrated network of 1,629 locations and over 100,000 employees in 30 countries to help more than 50,000 customers manage their supply chains most efficiently. The company’s corporate headquarters are in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, and its European headquarters are in Lyon, France. XPO conducts the majority of its European operations through its subsidiary, XPO Logistics Europe, which trades under the stock symbol XPO on Euronext Paris – Isin FR0000052870.

Visit europe.xpo.com for more information, and connect with XPO on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

F SMALES & SON (FISH MERCHANTS) LTD APPOINTS TWO NEW DIRECTORS.

Posted on March 19, 2021 by vickie.dalby@smales.co.uk

Smales has strengthened its senior management team by the appointment of two long serving senior managers to its board of directors. Richard Winter has been appointed as Food Service Director and Bobby Joyce as the Company’s Sales and Marketing Director.

The Company is well placed to build on a solid customer base in the fish and chip and food service sectors. These two appointments will bring a new impetus for growth at Smales. Smales currently supplies around 25% of the UK’s fish and chip sector and also supplies many high profile food service customers with sustainable seafood and catering products.

The fish and chip shop sector has shown considerable resilience and has remained strong throughout the period of the pandemic. Fish and chip shops, supplying the national dish, have helped to maintain the U.K’s spirit in these difficult times. Smales are now looking forward to the future and are well positioned to grow its business as the hospitality industry fully reopens in the coming months.

Richard Winter has worked for the Smales family for many years. His sales management, logistic and product category experience has been gained from various roles within the business that included Depot Manager and National Account Manager for the former distribution subsidiary.

Following a period of working in other areas of the industry, Richard returned to the business in 2010 to create the Smales Food Service Division which now supplies some of the industry’s most respected and well known national operators in the catering market. Growth in the independent catering sector has been supported by an increasing number of regional Food Service wholesale customers.

Richard has successfully expanded many of our popular seafood product ranges including the development of our own Blue Horizon brand. He has also overseen the business achieve BRC AA grade accreditation for storage and distribution and MSC chain of custody certification.

Entering a new chapter for 2021, Richard will now become the Director of Food Service. We have no doubt that he will embrace this new role and help the company to grow and develop further.

Bobby Joyce joined Smales as a fresh-faced 21 year old Sales Executive in 2002. Eight years later, he then took on the additional role of Purchasing Manager for our extensive range of catering products, a move which prompted sales growth of these items in all subsequent years.

Serving in his present role as National Sales Manager since 2015, Bobby has been heavily involved in establishing our Regional Distribution Centres, implementing dedicated area selling from our Head Office, the growth of our Fish & Chip customer base and many aspects of marketing the business – including rebranding the company logo, website, vehicle liveries and product guides.

Bobby has cultivated excellent relationships with both our customers at home and our suppliers across the seas, including many award winning Fish & Chip operators and has been involved in successful wider-industry PR campaigns. As a fantastic ambassador for Smales and the industry as a whole, we know that Bobby will continue to build on these achievements in his new position as Sales & Marketing Director.

NEW SALES DIRECTOR APPOINTED AT MARSHALL FLEET SOLUTIONS

Posted on March 19, 2021 by

Leading commercial vehicle company Marshall Fleet Solutions has announced that, with immediate effect, Ian Smith has joined the business as its new Sales Director. Reporting to MD Mark Howell, Ian joins a seven-person Board of Directors at Marshall Fleet Solutions, working closely alongside the other executive directors.

Ian will head up the MFS Sales Department covering Thermo King transport refrigeration equipment sales and service, as well as the company’s Fleet Management Sales team.

Announcing details of Ian’s appointment, Mark Howell, managing director at Marshall Fleet Solutions said,” Ian is joining the business at an exciting time as we progress through our transformation and embark on an ambitious programme of business growth and sustainability. By focusing on planning and evolving future sales within both new and existing business channels, Ian will play a major role in strengthening our expertise in this area and be integral in leading the sales team to future success.”

Prior to joining MFS, Ian Smith gained a wealth of experience within the commercial vehicle industry, most recently as National Sales Manager at Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions. Prior to Hitachi Capital, Ian worked in several other senior sales roles within the transport industry, including Head of Northgate fleet management and key sales roles at FMG and Lex Autolease.

Mark Howell continues, “Ian brings over 20 years management and operational experience to MFS, specifically within fleet management and complemented by effective strategic leadership and cross functional excellence. Ian will no doubt flourish within the new MFS environment and help drive our business forward during 2021 and beyond.”

The position of Sales Director at MFS was previously occupied by Michael Kane who has recently moved across the business to the newly created position of Strategy Director, where he is now actively identifying, and developing, future business opportunities, which complement MFS’s existing well proven portfolio.

THE FROZEN FOOD ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Posted on March 18, 2021January 9, 2026 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Last year marked the first time in 75 years the British Frozen Food Federations Annual Luncheon had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. We are keen to not have a repeat of last year which is why, subject to government guidance, the BFFF will be holding the Annual Luncheon as a live event at the end of November at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

This year we are delighted to have Vine Meats sponsoring the event and the Luncheon moves from our traditional Tuesday to a Thursday. Every year our members and their guest tell us the event offers an excellent opportunity to network with industry colleagues from across the frozen food industry and we hope this year will be no different.

Tickets are now available for BFFF full members and can be booked here.

For enquiries please contact:

Charley Price, Events Manager

Tel: 01400 283091

Email: charleyprice@bfff.co.uk

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

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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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