Oakland International, a leading provider of innovative logistics and supply chain solutions and Urban Farm-It, the UK’s foremost distributor of gourmet mushroom grow kits and fresh produce have formed a new partnership.

Oakland’s journey in their environmental food park concept model, of which vertical farming and mushroom cultivation was a high priority, needed a partner capable of delivering mushroom growing at their Redditch facility. So with Urban Farm-It’s successful track record for growing the best Lions Mane mushrooms in the industry made them the ideal choice and together, they have launched a retail culinary offer designed to bring sustainable, locally grown gourmet mushrooms and home-growing kits directly to consumers and retailers across the UK.

Oakland International’s Strategic Innovation Manager, Luke Attwell explains: “Our purpose extends far beyond logistics. By leveraging our extensive logistics network, this new partnership will help to reduce food miles, support local agriculture, and promote sustainable food systems, with both companies sharing a commitment to environmental responsibility and community impact. We also have educational initiatives planned to inspire home growing and healthy eating.

“Oakland is proud to support sustainable food innovation and bring high-quality, locally grown produce to communities across the UK.”

Starting initially with the highly sought-after Lion’s Mane mushroom, their collaboration will see a range of locally cultivated gourmet mushrooms available through major UK retailers and food service partners.

The launch comes at a time when demand for plant-based, locally sourced, and sustainable food options is at an all-time high. By combining Urban Farm-It’s expertise in gourmet mushroom cultivation with Oakland International’s extensive distribution capabilities, the partnership is set to transform how consumers and retailers access fresh, sustainable ingredients.

Elliot Webb, Founder and CEO of Urban Farm-It, shared: “I first connected with the Oakland team while they were seeking a consultant experienced in cultivating the notoriously challenging Lion’s Mane mushroom for a small-scale project. At the same time, I was exploring opportunities to expand our operations into the supermarket sector, so the timing aligned perfectly.”

Urban Farm-It is dedicated to making ‘grow your own’ accessible to everyone by integrating aquaponics, hydroponics, fungi cultivation, and permaculture into everyday routines. The company’s mission is to drive a global shift toward sustainability and self-sufficiency, aiming to transform current food production practices in a positive way.

Consumers can also access to Urban Farm-It’s popular DIY mushroom grow kits via their online shop, making it easier than ever to cultivate nutritious, restaurant-quality mushrooms at home.

Elliot added: “From my first meeting with Dean Attwell, his son Luke, and the Oakland team, I felt an immediate connection. This laid the foundation for a well-balanced business partnership. Urban Farm-It brings expertise in cultivation and is the only mushroom farming business in Europe operating a vertically integrated model, while Oakland International contributes their extensive network, technical expertise, and scalability. Together, we can manage the entire supply chain from start to finish.”

A Certified B Corporation, Oakland International is a total supply chain solutions provider and an expert in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service. The company aims to be the first business within its sector to reach net zero. As a specialist and leader in direct-to-consumer services, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering, and brand development support for all types of food, Oakland International serves markets across the UK and Ireland.

The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) is asking food businesses to be alert to the fact that adulterated saffron has been identified on the UK market.

Saffron sampling results have revealed adulteration through the addition of synthetic colours in contravention of Regulation 1333/2008.

Issues have also been discovered around saffron not meeting the grade stated on packaging (Grades I, II or III) due to lower than required levels of colouring strength (expressed as Crocin).

Failed samples are the subject of ongoing enquiries in the UK and internationally.

More information, including recommended actions and appropriate contact details, can be found on the Official Food Crime Alert here

Defra have now published (on 15.07.25) the Food Strategy for England.

This strategy sets out ‘how we move from the food system we have now, to the food system we want to see in the future’ and ‘how we will create a healthier, more affordable, sustainable, resilient food system that restores pride in our British food culture and heritage and supports delivery of our Plan for Change and our national missions’.

This policy paper includes:

· the context and key challenges facing the food system

· the high-level vision of what the UK food system of the future looks like and the new approach to working with the food system on a patriotic campaign to realise that vision

· the priority outcomes that will make the vision a reality (with additional detail in the Annexes)

· next steps on delivery of the outcomes

Rupert Ashby – CEO of BFFF, recently met with Daniel Zeichner MP – Minister of State at Defra and the wider Defra Food Team and will be looking to engage members with Government in the coming weeks.

If members have carried out any work or have any views on the Food Strategy, please share them with us and we can look to include them in our response.

Byzas Research are proud to have become a member of the BFFF recently, many members will never have heard of us. So, let’s introduce ourselves.

For over 20 years we have supported a wide range of food manufacturers with cooking guideline generation and validation testing. In that time we have worked with just about anything which a consumer might cook or reheat at home, adhering to retailer policies and BRC requirements.

Since 2019 we have been proud to hold a UKAS Accreditation to ISO 17025 as testing laboratory 10486. This accreditation not only ensures compliance with all major retailer policies, but gives our clients trust in the reports they receive, and the methods used.

We offer testing using a wide range of household appliances, including ovens, air fryers, grills and microwaves of all wattages. Our tried and tested methods ensure accuracy, whilst emulating the home environment. To find out more about the accredited methods we offer, see our website here: https://www.byzas.co.uk/

How do we differ from other providers of this kind of service? We are a family run and owned business, which means that we are able to stay in touch with our customers as a management team ensuring that we remain customer centric. We began with the mission statement ‘an extension of your in-house capabilities’ and this is still at the core of what we do.

If you would like to see how we could support your team with cooking guideline testing, don’t hesitate to reach out and we’d be delighted to discuss your requirements.

Alex Watson

Alex.watson@byzas.co.uk

Mentor Training, the UK’s leading provider of material handling equipment and safety management training has been nominated for three awards at this year’s prestigious Archies Awards.

The national provider has been shortlisted as finalists for the Training Provider of the Year, Best New Product, and Customer Service Excellence awards.

Mentor’s Commercial Director, Adam Smith, shares his reaction, “It’s fantastic to be recognised by such a prestigious event. We have had success at the Archies in the past and we are thrilled to be acknowledged once again. Being shortlisted for three awards is a huge compliment to all the hard work completed by every single department in the business. It’s a very welcomed pat on the back for all of us here at Mentor.”

The UK Material Handling Association’s Archies is an event like no other within the material handling equipment sector and marks a notable date in the diary for the entire industry. What’s more, this year it takes place during the three-day IMHX exhibition, the UK’s premier event for supply chain and intralogistics professionals. So, the week’s events will see hundreds of individuals travel to Birmingham to be involved.

This year, the UK Material Handling Association saw an influx of submissions across the wide array of award categories, so being nominated as a finalist was no easy task.

Rob Fisher, UKMHA CEO, said: “We’ve been staggered by the volume and quality of entries for this year’s awards, and I must applaud everyone for the standard of their submissions. Frankly, I don’t envy the jobs of the judges having to find winners from such an outstanding set of nominations.”

Adam explains what the awards mean to him, “I’m equally proud of being announced as a finalist for each of the three categories. Training Provider is obviously the category you would most typically associate with what Mentor does, but the other two categories also mean an awful lot to us”.

Adam continues, “Having our innovative efforts recognised through the Best New Product nomination is fantastic. We strive to continuously evolve our services and the methods in which we deliver training, and having our game-changing blended learning operator solutions recognised by the Archies is amazing. Likewise, Customer Service Excellence is more than a goal here at Mentor, it’s our promise. To have that effort result in an award nomination is an amazing feeling. These kinds of moments make us stop for a second and reflect on the fantastic work that is being done here.”

Mentor are hoping for success during the awards ceremony and are wishing all other nominees good luck, too. The Archies Awards will be given out on 10th September, at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham.

To find out more about the training and services behind Mentor’s nominations, contact them or call 01246 555222 and speak with an expert member of their team.

Lee Whiting has been confirmed as the Managing Director of Green Clover Developments (GCD), a Redditch-based offshoot of Oakland International Limited, and a company aiming to create the most revolutionary sustainable food parks and eco home sites in the UK.

In the last eight years he has left his mark on Oakland International climbing the ladder to a position as Group Supply Chain Director, but he admits the opportunity to try something new with the GCD project was too good an opportunity to miss.

Whiting said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be offered this opportunity to build upon the work I have previously been doing with Oakland International.

“This is an exciting new direction, and I couldn’t be happier. Obviously, I will still be working closely with Oakland International Co-Founder Dean Attwell and the Oakland Board, who are backing GCD, but I now also have the autonomy to get my teeth into something new.”

In his new role Whiting will oversee the development of sustainable food parks and nearby affordable, sustainable, eco- friendly homes.

The plan is to create one, and then roll the model out across the UK, including Scotland and Wales.

The statistics for the plan are impressive. Each one could create up to 3,000 new jobs in each region, plus between 75-100 construction contracts, giving a real shot in the arm to the British economy.

What is even more impressive, whichever local authority having the vision to permit the development could benefit from an impressive Gross Value Added (GVA) impact of £509 million.

Whiting added: “I started in warehousing as a young 18-year-old but was always very driven, ambitious, and worked solidly until I became a site general manager. I always wanted to oversee a task like this.”

Thirty years on and Whiting, who when not working can be found racing around on a bike of some description, is relishing his new role.

“I hope the skills I have amassed over my career and the contacts I have made will stand me in good stead.”

Not to be content with his new position at GCD, Whiting has also taken on a Board role at Rack Collapse Prevention (RCP) run by another member of the Attwell family, Dean’s brother Craig.

RCP specialise in systems designed to provide safer storage in warehouses with employee safety very much at the forefront.

Family man Whiting added: “I have amassed a lot of contacts in the warehouse industry over the last couple of decades so I hope I can bring this incredible system, which really does save lives and revolutionise storage, in front of lots of the right people.”

Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler, has won the prestigious Grocer Gold National Wholesaler of the Year award.

The sought-after accolade was awarded at the food industry’s equivalent of the ‘Oscars’ at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 July.

The judges praised Brakes for its hyper-local Your Way service, as well as the launch of Sysco brand, which has dominated the sector’s food awards, and the company’s continuing growth. Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said: “Being acknowledged by the industry is the perfect recognition for the job that our colleagues across the organisation have done in transforming the business.

“From the launch of Your Way to the fantastic growth of the Sysco brand and the work we’ve done on transforming our service proposition, we’ve had an immense year and I am extremely proud of what we’ve achieved. And with our new London depot, our Newhouse extension and upgrades at other depots, including Durham and Peterlee, this is just the start!”