The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have developed an early warning system which will inform your organisation of potential cyber-attacks on your network, as soon as possible, potentially giving you the crucial time needed to combat it. Any organisation with a UK-based website can sign up for the FREE service here

Cyber security researchers will often uncover malicious activity on the internet or discover weaknesses in organisations security controls and release this information in information feeds. In addition, the NCSC or its partners may uncover information that is indicative of a cyber security compromise on a network.

The NCSC’s Early Warning uses information feeds from NCSC, trusted public, commercial and closed sources, which includes several privileged feeds which are not available elsewhere.

Two types of daily and weekly reports received directly to your email will alert your organisation about potential attacks on your network.

Organisations will receive the following high-level types of alerts, tailored to the information they registered with:

Incident Notifications

suggest an active compromise of your system.

For example: A host on your network has most likely been infected with a strain of malware.

Network Abuse Events

Indicates that your assets have been associated with malicious or undesirable activity.

For example: A client on your network has been detected scanning the internet.

Vulnerability and Open Port Alerts

Indicates vulnerable services running on your network, or potentially undesired applications are exposed to the internet.

For example: You have a vulnerable application, or you have an exposed Elasticsearch service.

Note: Early Warning does not conduct any active scanning of your networks itself but uses information from other similar networks.

2024 marks a notable milestone for the frozen food industry: 100 years since biologist Clarence Birdseye first invented the technology behind deep freezing. Little did we know back then that it would revolutionise the growing global industry we know today.

Frozen food has become widely renowned for its sustainability, cost and nutritional benefits, with more consumers being drawn to the frozen food aisle following impacts from the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Today, the industry is growing faster than ever, with the British Frozen Food Federation reporting that the value of frozen food sales increased by 9.5% (over £273 million) year-on-year during the first quarter of 2023¹.

As the UK’s frozen food market continues to grow, we’re looking back on the history of frozen food to celebrate its 100th anniversary – and how we can help with what the future might hold in years to come.

What’s the reality now?

Fast forward to the present day and, frozen food has continued to grow in popularity with its long shelf life and low costs. As demand for frozen and chilled food continues to rise, freezing technology has advanced significantly, offering a range of new advantages for food manufacturers as they gear up to match consumer demand.

Mechanical freezing, for instance, uses a circulating refrigerant to achieve a gradual temperature reduction via heat exchange from air to product. Meanwhile, cryogenic freezing involves the direct application of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide over the product for it to freeze over. You can find out more about these two processes and the sorts of businesses and products they suit best here.

 

What does the future hold?

Healthy, affordable and accessible, there is no doubt that demand for frozen food products will continue to grow over years to come. With the sector now moving towards increased use of data-driven processes and AI, Air Products is continuing to pioneer what its customers need from their freezing solutions, supporting them as the industry grows and changes.

Remote monitoring through the use of Air Products Smart Technology in cryogenic freezers is one such innovation. Diagnostic sensors and wireless communications technology allows for the monitoring and operation of key freezing controls remotely, while still being able to track process parameters and suggest improvements based on advanced analytics. The system allows our customers to review their nitrogen use from an easy-to-use dashboard, so they can optimise usage and reduce excess consumption.

It’s clear that the frozen food market isn’t slowing down any time soon. Looking 100 years into the future we’ll keep developing our freezing solutions as preferences in raw materials and foodstuffs evolve. We will continue our commitment to the core principles of maximising safety, driving production efficiency, and reducing waste & energy usage.

It will become increasingly important for our customers to be ready to match consumer demand while continuing to innovate and stay ahead of the curve.

 

The Covid-19 pandemic, followed by a cost-of-living crisis resulted in a sharp increase in demand for frozen food products from consumers. In fact, data from the British Frozen Food Federation shows that volume sales for frozen food continue to grow as price-conscious consumers look for more affordable options. We’re increasingly working with food manufacturers looking to introduce new frozen ranges or scale up existing operations in response.

One question that often comes up is whether mechanical or cryogenic freezing is best. The answer depends on several factors, not least the type of product being handled and the required production rate, the factory layout, and the need for flexibility and speed. The most sensible starting point is to really understand the key differences between mechanical and cryogenic freezing.

Spot the difference!

Mechanical freezers were the first to be used in the food industry and are currently used in the majority of freezing lines. They function by circulating a common refrigerant around, which withdraws the heat from the food product. Mechanical freezers typically operate in the temperature range of -30 to -40°C. By contrast, cryogenic systems can operate at much lower temperatures, for long periods, using the cold properties of cryogenic gases – namely liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide to freeze food to temperatures as low as -120 °C.

The biggest difference between the two methods is the time that the product spends in the critical freezing zone where the ice crystals are generated. Typically, mechanical freezing results in larger crystal sizes, which can have a knock-on impact on texture, quality, and rate of drip loss at the defrosting stage. But there are other differences too, which all need to be considered when choosing the right technology for your production process.

Speed of freeze

With cryogenic freezing, food items can be rapidly chilled and frozen to a sustainable temperature and shelf environment within minutes. Why is speed important? Well, other than maximising product output, the faster a product is frozen, the faster it becomes microbiologically stable as the growth of bacteria is dramatically slowed. For frozen foods, -18°C delays chemical reactions and puts any bacteria that may be present on pause. Both mechanical and cryogenic freezing can deliver here, but cryogenic processes, depending on the product, can typically freeze five times faster than mechanical freezers.

Floor space

Cryogenic freezers take up significantly less factory floor space when compared with more traditional mechanical freezers while delivering the same outputs. So, in larger factory environments, where space is not an issue, then mechanical or cryogenic freezing could be an option, whereas cryogenic freezing would be preferable when there is a need to maximise available space for production and operator efficiency.

Product flexibility

Equally, the type of product you’re manufacturing matters too. Mechanical freezing is best suited to environments which run one base food product consistently, at the same production speed. On the other hand, cryogenic freezing is a better option for manufacturing environments where there are multiple, higher value products running at different production speeds, or where there are seasonal variations in activity.

In this environment, manufacturers are also likely to have a heightened interest in the sort of data and insight that digital monitoring can offer. Cryogenic freezing allows for the addition of Freshline® Smart Technology, a system that offers improved efficiency and safety by using diagnostic sensors and wireless communications technology to investigate, record and review freezer performance data and production data in real time.

We’re seeing a real appetite for this sort of data, and increasingly our customers are finding it can inform key strategic decisions about production lines and product processing.

Cost

Last, but not least, we need to consider cost. The initial capital costs for mechanical freezers tend to be higher, but ongoing running costs are lower. By contrast, cryogenic freezers incur lower capital costs (as they are typically leased) but cost more to run, but when you take into consideration all the other benefits the overall costs can be similar.

BFFF member Contact Attachments Ltd, based in Newtown, Powys, continues to share expert insight with fellow members – this time focusing on how to choose the right forklift attachments to maintain compliance, uphold safety standards, and optimise performance across the food and drink sector.

In their latest guide, Contact offers practical advice on what to consider when investing in forklift attachments, particularly for use in chilled, high-moisture, or hygiene-sensitive environments.

Mark Jones, Technical Sales Advisor at Contact Attachments, explains:

“Once you’ve made the decision to invest in specialised forklift attachments to help you gain (and maintain) that competitive edge, the next step is choosing the right ones for your unique operation. This means factoring in everything from hygiene legislation and food safety compliance to the operating environment and your desired outcomes.

“Whether you’re working in sub-zero cold stores, washdown zones, or allergen-controlled environments, choosing attachments that are non-corrosive, easy to clean, and fully compliant is vital. For example stainless steel is a fantastic choice for many food applications – it’s non-toxic, corrosion-resistant and easy to pressure wash. And in cold conditions, materials and hydraulics must be rated to withstand freezing temperatures without cracking or failing. Making the right selection for your specific food and drink operation not only helps maintain compliance but also protects your products, reduces manual handling risks, and boosts overall efficiency.

“At Contact, we’re here to help members navigate the demands and pressures of the frozen food industry, and to understand how legislation, environment and desired outcome determine the best forklift attachment choice for your business. Whether you’re upgrading your existing equipment or seeking something new to help streamline operations, our team is on hand to offer friendly, expert advice. We’ll be continuing to share tips and insights tailored to the cold-chain sector over the coming months, and we’d love to hear from fellow BFFF members who’d like to explore the subject further.”

You can read the full guide from Contact here:  How to Choose the Right Forklift Attachment for your Food and Drink Business

Contact Attachments provides both standard and bespoke forklift and material handling solutions to businesses across the UK and internationally. Its stainless steel and corrosion-resistant ranges are particularly popular in the food and drink, hygiene-critical, and cold-chain sectors. For more information, visit: www.forklift-attachments.co.uk or call 01686 611200.

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Oakland International colleagues and friends are in training ahead of an epic three-day bike ride from Great Yarmouth to Warwick (27^th to 29^th June) to raise funds for children’s charity Molly Ollys.

 

The Oakland and Friends team is made up of members of the Oakland International family, including staff from the Bardon, Corby, and Redditch sites, as well as family members from Attwell Farm Park in Redditch and staff from Bakeaway in Corby. Together, they will join 30 cyclists in taking on this challenging charity ride.

 

Oakland International Supply Chain Director Lee Whiting said: “We are a group of 10 riders, and delighted to be part of a larger team, taking on the challenge of cycling from Great Yarmouth to Warwick to support Molly Olly’s Wishes, a charity dedicated to bringing comfort and memories to children facing life-threatening illnesses. Each donation will help fund wishes, creating special moments of happiness for families in the UK who need it most.

 

“Having supported for the past number of years it’s an incredibly hard challenge, so between now and then we have a lot of training to ensure we’re fully up to speed!”

 

Molly Ollys supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families helping with their emotional wellbeing. They fulfil wishes by providing gifts to individual children, donating their therapeutic toy ‘Olly The Brave’ and his story books, donating and supporting bespoke projects such as funding a Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant and by furnishing the Magnolia House palliative care facility at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and so much more.

 

Every wish Molly Ollys grants costs around £500 and to date the charity has helped over 19,500 children, granted more than 4,300 wishes, provided over 20,000 Olly The Brave and books to more than 70 hospitals in support of children living with a life-threatening illness in the UK.

 

Family member Samuel Attwell and Molly Ollys Ambassador: “Every mile we ride will bring us closer to granting a child’s wish, whether it’s a dream gift, a memorable day out, or something simple that brings a much-needed smile.

 

“By supporting our ride, you’re not just helping us reach our goal; you’re helping to make these children’s wishes come true. Together, we can bring hope, happiness, and unforgettable memories to those who need it most.”

 

To donate and support team ‘Oakland and Friends’ please visit:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/oakland-and-friends-5

 

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Image of the Oakland and Friends team during last year’s cycling challenge.

 

Company details:    Oakland International Limited UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 e: sales@oakland-international.com www.oakland-international.com X: @OaklandIntUK

 

For all enquiries please contact: Kathryn Watts 07970 547469 e: k.watts@evopr.com – If you do not wish to continue to receive press releases in the future, please let me know and I will remove your address from my distribution group.

As part of the BBC’s DIY SOS project in Mud Hills Park in Beverely, East Yorkshire, Arco, the UK and Ireland’s leading safety products and services company, donated 290 hi-vis garments and 300 pairs of gloves to support the project team.

On the 14th of May, tradespeople gathered to completely transform a field into a new facility for Cherry Tree Youth Club. The volunteer tradespeople completed the project over eight days, finishing construction of the evening of the 21st of May.

The Cherry Tree Youth Club engages with around 90 young people a week, aiming to improve their lives through structured activity and support. The club emphasises ‘fun’ activities for those between the ages of 10 and 18, with partnered support sessions that help young people within their own community.

Some of the facilities in the new building include game consoles, board games, a kitchen, toilets and an outdoor gym area. The volunteers donated their time and materials to the project to make an impact in the local community. Over the eight days, the volunteers were offered a full catering experience and a chance to put their skills and knowledge together to work with other volunteers.

The show is hosted by British TV presenter Nick Knowles, who hails from Beverley and said that the struggles faced by the group had resonated with him.

Sarah Jones, Employee Experience Coordinator from Arco said: “We welcomed the opportunity to support on the DIY SOS project as Arco is committed to contributing to projects that truly make a positive impact to the community and help the lives of local people. Arco prides itself on supporting local initiatives like this DIY SOS project and will continue to look for opportunities to donate our time and resources to support local communities.

“I was fortunate to spend time on the site and watch tradespeople from the Yorkshire area and beyond assemble to build this essential centre for young people, distributing safety equipment so that they could devote their time to construction on such a tight deadline.”

-ENDS-

 

 

About Arco: What they do and how they’re different

Arco is the UK’s leading safety products and services company. Its core purpose is to keep people safe at work. It distributes a world-class range of over 170,000 quality assured, branded and own brand products, including personal protective equipment, workwear, safety footwear, gloves, workplace safety and hygiene products. It is unique.

 

Arco Professional Safety Services provide consultancy, training, services and equipment to manage the most complex and high-risk, high hazard scenarios. Specialising in working at height, confined space and respiratory management, they deliver solutions for those working in situations with the highest risk of serious injury or irreversible damage to health.

 

Headquartered in Hull, Arco reaches its customers through its extensive product catalogue, website and national network of retail stores. The company has sales of over £320m and employs more than 1600 people nationwide. Its 400,000 sqft National Distribution Centre distributes products to 25k customers in the UK and Ireland, dispatching 150 pallets and 8000 parcels a day. Arco makes it easy for customers to procure and issue PPE with services such as digital procurement, vending, a mobile issue unit, wearer packing and branded workwear from their in-house Clothing Centre based in Preston.

 

As the market leader, Arco is committed to helping shape the UK’s safety agenda in order to ensure workers go home safe every night. Through an extensive public affairs programme, Arco experts have contributed to some of the key debates on health and safety regulation, product quality and standards, PPE procurement and emergency planning.

 

Arco is committed to providing safety equipment that is genuine and compliant with relevant standards and regulations, Arco tests both its own product range as well as carrying out surveillance on other products in the market to ensure compliance. With a five-step product assurance process, Arco remains the only safety distributor with an independently accredited testing laboratory, this assisted by a team of specialists in their Xiamen, China office who support with sourcing, quality control and factory inspections. Additionally, it is a member of the BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers Scheme, and Arco experts sit on numerous Standards Boards.

 

Arco was the first member within the H&S industry to join the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) incorporating its internationally recognised code of labour practice into its own ethical policy and in 2010 became a member of Sedex, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange. To ensure ethical standards are met throughout its supply chain, Arco carries out regular independent supplier auditing. Working with the ETI and other regulatory bodies, the company plays a leading role in helping to educate and eliminate modern day slavery across the globe.

Principles of sustainable development have long been embedded in the way Arco does business. Arco’s Sustainability Action team has committed to ensuring the business behaves responsibly in all areas, investing significant time and resource to identify ways to reduce plastics, packaging and recycling.

 

Founded in 1884 and with a heritage spanning five generations, Arco demonstrates traditional family values and is dedicated to its Corporate Social Responsibility policy. Arco is committed to help keep communities safe, inspire young people to achieve their full potential and to enhance local life, making the communities they serve better places in which to live, work and invest. It does this through charity and community support, donating 1% of pre-tax profits each year. Arco also gives colleagues two days’ paid leave each year to volunteer in the community and the opportunity to partner with and sponsor community groups and charities, forming lasting relationships that support them in the vital services that they offer.

For more information, visit www.arco.co.uk.

For more information, please contact:

Nick Jackman – 07340 416723 Email: njackman@houston.com

Grace Cares CIC, thanks to the generous support of Oakland International and Rack Collapse Prevention, are reaping the benefits of a brand-new warehouse racking system.

 

Emma Smith, Co-Founder of Grace Cares commented: “This new racking system might not sound glamorous, but it’s a total game-changer for us. It means we can process and store more equipment, respond faster to those in need, and ultimately do more good.

 

“We’re so grateful to these brilliant businesses who’ve made this possible, it’s a fantastic example of community collaboration for social and environmental impact. It is such a joy to see the difference it has made to the working areas for our wonderful volunteers, they love the new space.”

 

Installed at their Grace Cares Hub at Elmhurst Business Park, the Lichfield-based not-for-profit is on a mission to make care more sustainable by taking a major step forward in its mission to rescue greater numbers of care equipment from landfill and support even more people in need.

 

The new racking system will significantly increase the hub’s storage capacity, allowing Grace Cares to sort, store and redistribute more equipment safely and efficiently. It’s a vital part of the charity’s bold goal to double the amount of care equipment saved from landfill and double the number of people they currently support across the UK.

 

The installation was made possible through donations and support from businesses that share Grace Cares’ commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

 

Oakland International Co-Founder Dean Attwell added: “Grace Cares is a perfect example of a purpose-led organisation doing vital work for the planet and people at grassroots level. We believe in backing initiatives that create long-term positive impact, and it’s been brilliant to use our logistical and warehousing knowledge to support Grace Care’s next stage of growth.”

 

Grace Cares has already redistributed over 2,000 pieces of care equipment, supported over 1,500 people, and delivered vital wellbeing activities and hardship grants across the country. With the added capacity from the new racking system, the team is now in a stronger position to build on that momentum.

 

Rack Collapse Prevention Managing Director Craig Attwell commented: “We’re proud to support Grace Cares in such a meaningful way. Their work makes a real difference to people’s lives while tackling the huge issue of waste in the care sector.

 

“Helping them expand their operations is something we’re honoured to be part of.”

 

Grace Cares continues to welcome support from individuals and businesses who want to help build a more sustainable, compassionate future for care, locally, nationally, and beyond.

 

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Image details from L to R:  Co-Founder Grace Cares Emma Smith, Rack Collapse Prevention Managing Director Craig Attwell, and Rack Collapse Prevention’s Tommy Taroni.

 

Grace Cares Volunteer Stefan Szulc.

 

Editor’s notes:

 

About Grace Cares: Grace Cares is a not-for-profit social enterprise committed to making care more sustainable. By rescuing and redistributing surplus care equipment, supporting older people, and championing environmental action, Grace Cares is creating a circular economy within the care sector and improving lives across the UK.

 

About Oakland International: A Certified B Corporation, Established in 1998, Oakland International is an award-winning total supply chain solutions family business with a reputation for innovation through sustainability, servicing retail, wholesale, discount and convenience markets via their UK and Ireland multi-temperature-based facilities.

 

About Rack Collapse Prevention: A trusted UK and EU patented top supporting racking safety system which prevents catastrophic failure: in a collision event pallet racking remains standing, protecting both staff and inventory.

 

For all enquiries please contact: Kathryn Watts 07970 547469 e: k.watts@evopr.com – If you do not wish to continue to receive press releases in the future, please let me know and I will remove your address from my distribution group.

Sysco GB has announced that it will be the main sponsor of Ashford Pride this year as part of its Pride Month celebrations.

Ashford Pride takes place on 21 June and the sponsorship is part of a packed programme to showcase Pride at Sysco GB, with every site in the network undertaking activity to support the LGBTQ+ community.

The activities are part of a long-term drive by Spectrum, Sysco GB’s Colleague Resource Group for the LGBTQ+ community, to help create a better understanding of the issues and needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Pride programme includes Famous Faces, highlighting some of the famous faces who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, Fun with Flags, showing what the flags associated with the Pride movement represent, and Pride Gay Anthems, featuring some of the songs that the LGBTQ+ community has embraced.

The Spectrum Colleague Resource Group has committed to grow the existing Spectrum Champion’s network across Sysco GB throughout the remainder of 2025 into 2026.

All Sysco’s businesses around the world will come together on June 25 to celebrate Sysco’s Global Pride Day, as the company embraces the importance of diversity across the world.

Paul Nieduszynski, Chief Executive of Sysco GB, said: “I’m proud of the way that the business, not just in the UK, but globally, has come together to support the LGBTQ+ community. At Sysco, it’s not just about a day or a month, it’s about supporting colleagues for life. 

“Creating and embracing a diverse workforce is incredibly important to our business and Spectrum, the HR team and the Senior Leadership all play their part in making a lasting contribution to how diversity is viewed within Sysco GB.”

Jon Newman-Schultz and Aby Rishworth Co-Chairs of the Spectrum group at Sysco GB, said: “It’s wonderful to see how Pride month has grown across Sysco GB, and the fantastic job it does in raising awareness of the support that is on offer across the group. Our Pride programme will ensure that colleagues can access the support and information they need to feel comfortable brining their whole selves to work.”

As part of its programme, Sysco GB will be fundraising for AKT, which supports displaced LGBTQ+ young people, providing safe homes and a better future.

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For further information please contact Kevin Coles – kevin@fifthdimensionpr.com or 07776026012