BFFF supports Asbestos Awareness Week is taking place next week 1-7 April. We remind our members occupying buildings built before 2000 have a legal duty to manage and monitor asbestos risks.

Older manufacturing facilities may house multiple asbestos containing materials (ACMs). Asbestos was widely used in buildings and in some equipment between 1950 and 1980; however, any building built or refurbished before 2000 could contain an ACM.

Asbestos can be found in: pipe lagging, insulation board, asbestos cement products such as profiled roof sheets and wall panels, floor coverings and asbestos sprayed coatings. ACMs such as gaskets and rope seals can also be found within old plant and equipment such as industrial ovens and pipework.

Asbestos exposures caused by poor planning and risk management can have substantial human costs for victims and their families. Asbestos-related diseases remain the highest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain, these often fatal diseases, typically take decades for symptoms to occur following exposure.

There is a legal duty to manage asbestos and failing to do so can result in penalties ranging from fines to prison sentences. The implications of an asbestos incident can also be far reaching in terms of reputation, staff morale, attracting new staff and overall costs.

According to HSE data, there have been more than 100 asbestos-related prosecution cases brought in the past five years, relating to 150 breaches of the law.

For more information on managing asbestos, please contact simonbrentnall@bfff.co.uk

Porky Whites is proud to add two all-new flavours to its award-winning retail range. Taking inspiration from our 90 plus years of premier butchery heritage, these two new products bring together our tradition and innovation on to the shelves of Tesco.

 

More about our new products

Our all-new Premium Farmhouse Herb Pork Sausage (aka The Herby Six) is rustic, hearty, and bursting with flavour, that brings a touch of Old English charm to mealtimes.

 

Our Premium Succulent Hog Roast and Apple Sausages (aka the Apple Six) combine the finest cuts of pork with the sweetness of diced fresh apples with delicious warm spice for the taste of a succulent hog roast

 

Commenting on the launch of the two new lines Porky Whites Managing Director Francesca Wyatt said, “We’re so excited to bring these two ‘classics with a twist’ to Tesco stores. Both the Herby Six and the Apple Six are truly scrumptious and are a superb addition to our multi award-winning range and we can’t wait to hear how our customers to these to their hearts!”

 

Porky Whites have also collaborated with Plate Up an online recipe app to help busy families solve “what’s for dinner tonight?” to develop 4 brand new recipes to bring out the best in the two new lines. The four recipes (now available to view online) including a delicious Marry Me Lasagne, a speedy Creamy Sausage Gnocchi, a Sausage and Hash Brown Traybake and a Smash Sausage Tacos

 

Relevant links:

• Porky Whites Premium Farmhouse Herb Pork Sausages – https://www.porkywhites.co.uk/product/farmhouse-herb-pork-sausages
• Porky Whites Premium Succulent Hig Roast and Apple Sausages – https://www.porkywhites.co.uk/product/hog-roast-and-apple-sausages
• Porky Whites Recipes – https://www.porkywhites.co.uk/recipes
• Plate Up Recipes – https://www.plateup.app/chef/porky-whites

Speciality Breads Ltd is to move into a new state-of-the-art 180,000 sq ft bakery to help achieve its goal of becoming the most sustainable bakery in the UK. The new site is set to be operational by the end this year.

The move represents a significant step change for the business as it sets its sights on adding retail to its growing portfolio, whilst at the same time enhancing the quality & range of its foodservice offering.

The bakery will be capable of generating its own solar electricity and will feature a first-of-its-kind in the UK, electric/gas hybrid oven and state-of-the-art production line, both supplied by Royal Kaak. The business partnered with Wildfarmed last year, becoming the first large bakery to use their regenerative flour across its entire range.

The use of Wildfarmed flour, the new bakery and their move to plant-based ingredients all combine to create a compelling offer. Speciality Breads believe that this move will position them as the UK market leader in terms of sustainability in the world of bakery.

Managing Director Simon Cannell said of the move “This new facility is the ‘Bakery of the Future’. The bespoke built Royal Kaak production line enables us to retain our incredible flexibility and breadth of range whilst also providing a huge step change in both quality and efficiency. By making the move to this site we are futureproofing the business for the next 20 years so that we can develop partnerships with key customers for the long
term.

The hybrid stone bake oven is a game-changer in the industry, allowing us to move quickly towards net zero as the energy market allows. Customers with volume will be able to choose what percentage of gas or electric they
want to use, as well as specifying their own percentage blend of Wildfarmed flour. This is unique in the market and a hugely exciting innovation in the world of bakery.”

Mentor Training, the UK’s leading material handling training provider, is returning to the Health & Safety Event this year, to showcase a revolutionary training solution that benefits learners and businesses alike by blending face-to-face and online learning.

 

With the UK witnessing around 1,300 serious injuries per year from accidents involving forklift trucks, Mentor emphasise that those working on and around workplace transport absolutely must understand the risks involved to be able to keep themselves and others safe.

 

To help businesses more easily equip their teams with the essential skills and knowledge, Mentor are returning to the NEC event to introduce an innovative new training solution, which makes visiting their stand a must for attendees.

 

At this year’s show, after extensive testing and trials, Mentor will formally launch their newly-developed blended learning courses for forklift operators. These mix traditional face-to-face practical lessons with online theory modules, providing real cost and time-saving benefits for the businesses involved. As a provider who can offer the complete blended learning package, including both theory and practical elements, they are playing a vital role in the delivery of this game-changing solution to UK businesses.

 

Adam Smith, Mentor’s Commercial Director, explains, “This industry-leading training allows delegates to cut down on face-to-face training hours, using flexible e-learning modules instead that can be completed at their own pace, where and when they wish, around their other commitments. Not only this, it provides cost savings by utilising less instructor-led training days and reducing disruption to operations, as well as having the ability to be directly integrated into a business’ learner management system.”

 

Adam continues, “The great thing about our blended learning options is that they meet the same standards as our in-person courses, with full accreditation provided by the Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT). Not only that, we have also undertaken a comprehensive two year trial of blended learning within a national business, ensuring that the training successfully fulfilled customer needs. With robust quality measures like these in place, customers can be confident that this alternative learning format offers them the same assurance of standards as traditional training, for full compliance.”

 

The event provides visitors with solutions like this and much more, with the three-day exhibition also offering networking opportunities and a full seminar programme. With multiple theatres hosting talks from industry experts, the event is a key fixture in the calendar for anyone responsible for running a safe and efficient workplace.

 

Adam summarises, “The event is the perfect environment to connect with other likeminded people, that view safety as a priority. We believe blended learning can play a huge part in shaping the future of our sector and therefore urge visitors to come and find out more at the show.”

 

The Health and Safety Event takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 8^th-10^th April. If you’re responsible for forklift safety on site, pay Mentor a visit at stand 3/G72 to find out how their latest training solutions can help you keep your operations safe, compliant and productive.

 

To register for your free pass to the exhibition, click here.

 

Company Shop Group today revealed that it redistributed 113 million products in 2024, saving UK shoppers £130 million on their food bills – up by £9 million on last year.

 

These new statistics were published as part of Company Shop Group’s latest impact report, launched [today] to mark the start of Food Waste Action Week (17-23 March). And with 10.7 million tonnes of food being wasted in the UK each year – and nearly 10 million people living in food poverty – the need for solutions has never been greater.

 

In 2024, Company Shop Group redistributed over 46,000 tonnes of food and drink – the equivalent of 110 million meals – to individuals and families across the UK, the same as feeding the entire population 1.6 times. This also had a significant environmental impact, saving 124,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of removing over 72,000 cars from the road for a year. By preventing waste and promoting a circular economy, the Group plays a crucial role in creating a more sustainable future.

 

Through its unique and scalable model, Company Shop Group provided tailored surplus solutions to over 800 retail and manufacturing partners last year, helping them manage surplus efficiently at every stage of the product lifecycle. By investing in problem-solving capabilities, in the past three years, the Group relabelled 55 million products and washed 7.8 million bottles, items that would have otherwise gone to waste. The partnership between Company Shop Group and its stock partners helps reduce waste, recoup value, and enhance environmental and social responsibility. In 2024, Company Shop Group paid back £49 million to its partners taking the Group’s total financial return to the industry in the last five years to a staggering £188 million.

 

Community Shop, the social enterprise arm of Company Shop Group and the UK’s first social supermarket, worked to tackle food insecurity in communities experiencing social inequality. Through its Community stores, members saved £11.8 million on shopping, Community Kitchens fed 120,000 children for free, and Community Hubs delivered 54,000 development programmes, helping 3,100 people into higher education and 2,800 people through our progress academy.

 

Chris Burns, Managing Director of Company Shop Group, said: “Joining Company Shop Group has been an incredible journey, and I am so proud to be part of an organisation that transforms surplus into meaningful impact. Over the past year, we’ve supported more families, saved more products from going to waste and   strengthened our partnerships across the industry.

 

This report highlights not just the numbers but the lives we’ve changed along the way. We’re committed to doing more in the coming year, because every surplus product saved is an opportunity to create value for people, planet, and industry.”

 

Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop said: “In 2024, Community Shops around the country have continued to deliver life-changing support to individuals, families and communities. This year we launched our white paper on the future of food aid in the UK, which demonstrated our deep commitment to creating long-lasting change and tackling food insecurity at its roots. We’re equipped and ready to drive this mission forward in the years to come.”

 

These statistics, along with many others, are available in Company Shop Group’s new impact report which can be downloaded here