As part of Oakland International’s commitment to talent development and leadership succession, Transport Manager Lynne Pearson has been enrolled as their first employee ‘apprenticeship’ on Aston University’s Logistics with Supply Chain Management Degree programme.

Aston University launched the Logistics with Supply Chain Management Degree course 4-years’ ago, with their first cohort graduating this summer. Referred to as an ‘apprenticeship,’ the course is open to anyone of any age with an interest in becoming a supply chain specialist or wishing to work within the logistics field.

Oakland International Group HR Director Nicola Harris explains: “As a valued senior female manager in Oakland’s Distribution business Lynne is an ambassador for women in transport and has a passion for lifelong learning with this degree course helping to extend her knowledge across the broader remit of logistics and supply chain management.

“Sponsoring degree apprenticeships is part of our commitment to be a learning organisation, and we aim to identify two internal delegates and two external apprentices to join the Programme each year. Known for her tenacity and commitment we have no doubt Lynne will bring more strategic ideas to our business as her knowledge and skills grow.”

Oakland International by planning for the company’s future is identifying executive leaders and operational managers for succession whilst ensuring sustained business continuity and is planning to support both existing team members and future employees to ensure they reach their full potential. The degree offers promotional opportunities within Oakland as well as an alternative career direction within the industry sector.

Having introduced a talent assessment process across the Oakland Group, they identified Lynne as an emerging leader, recognising her capacity for development.

Said Lynne: “I am looking forward to the journey ahead with Aston University and am honoured and privileged to have been approached by Oakland International and given the opportunity to develop further.

“The degree course will provide me with the skills and knowledge required to hopefully progress with Oakland in the future. This is an exciting opportunity which I will embrace together with Aston University and Oakland International.

“Oakland International continue to empower and support women in the Supply Chain Industry continually providing fulfilling opportunities, an organisation I am proud to be part of.”

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, the degree covers the foundational supply chain and logistics knowledge to succeed including procurement, inventory management and transportation management, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, with the students’ final year being a placement year, or if already in a permanent role undertaking a research project.

A Certified B Corporation business Oakland International is a total supply chain solutions specialist and a leader in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for all types of food, servicing diverse markets across the UK and Ireland. They are also experts in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service and aiming to be the first business within their sector to reach Net Zero.

Vypr has partnered with the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) to offer an in-depth look at the frozen food sector, uncovering key trends and consumer preferences that are reshaping this category. Drawing from insights gathered across a panel of over 80,000 UK consumers, this report highlights the real barriers and motivations impacting frozen food choices; from limited freezer space to the appeal of sustainable, waste-reducing options.

With consumer priorities shifting in response to rising living costs, there’s a renewed focus on the convenience and value that frozen foods provide. Yet, challenges remain. Through our partnership with BFFF, we’ve pinpointed the actionable strategies retailers can use to adapt to these trends and meet evolving demands. This report serves as a preview of the full insights coming in January 2025, designed to help brands get ahead in an increasingly competitive space.

Key Insights You’ll Discover:

• Freezer Space Constraints: 85% of consumers limit their frozen food purchases due to insufficient freezer capacity – a critical barrier to address for broader adoption.
• Demand for Variety and Promotions: 46% are seeking greater product variety, with younger shoppers prioritising clearer labelling and better placement in-store.
• Reducing Waste with Frozen Foods: 44% believe frozen options help control portions and reduce food waste, resonating with the growing focus on sustainable choices.

Be among the first to access these insights from Vypr and BFFF. Download the report today to start building a frozen food strategy that aligns with tomorrow’s consumer needs, with full, in-depth findings coming this January 2025.

Download the Report here

The BFFF is looking for a logistics and storage partner for the Frozen Food Awards for 2025 and beyond.

For the last two years we have been ably assisted by Cook, but they are not able to cover the awards this coming year. We are very grateful to Cook for looking after us so well for the last two years.

 

The requirements of the award process are roughly summarised below, but the BFFF is also open to any alternative solutions / suggestions. As a partner for the awards, you will be a sponsor and get agreed benefits around the event, publicity and online.

 

• Intake and storage of Retail Product Entries – sent in during Mid-January 2025 on set days. Last year there was a case of each of the 150 entries.
• Collection of some goods ( though this can be arranged by the BFFF with a haulier if this is not possible)
• Intake,  collection and storage of Foodservice products in February 2025. Last year there was a case of each of the 90 entries.
• Sorting of products for 18 retail judging panels ( BFFF staff can do this if required)
• Dispatch of products to 18 locations across the UK for the panels ( a few journeys required depending on the timings and locations of the panels) through February and March
• Dispatch of Foodservice products to Barnsley College mid- April – one load.

 

If you are interested and want a conversation, please contact Rupert Ashby and Charley Price at the BFFF for more details ( rupertashby@bfff.co.uk ; charleyprice@bfff.co.uk )

 

Europastry, a leading Spanish company in the frozen bakery sector, has achieved a major sustainability milestone by earning the second star in the Lean & Green Certification. This recognition, granted by AECOC as part of the European Lean & Green initiative, highlights the company’s 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions.

“This certification acknowledges our efforts to lower our carbon footprint and inspires us to continue striving for a more sustainable supply chain,” said Andreu Venteo Casas, Global Supply Chain Director of Europastry.

 

Lean & Green is Europe’s largest initiative focused on reducing CO₂ emissions in logistics. Promoted in Spain by AECOC, this program fosters sustainability in business by driving more efficient, environmentally friendly logistics operations.

Sustainability Commitments

Europastry aims to power 100% of its production plants with renewable electricity by 2027. A new carbon-neutral production line in Oldenzaal, The Netherlands, uses renewable energy and holds the BREEAM sustainable construction certification. Additionally, the company is installing solar panels in its Tarragona plants in Spain to produce 6,436 MWh annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 2,030,800 kilograms each year and cutting its electricity consumption by 25%.

This plant incorporates technologies for recovering motor and water residuals and is certified with the BREEAM sustainable construction label, making it one of Europe’s most efficient, low-impact facilities.

Additionally, the company announced a significant project: installing solar panels at its Sarral and Vallmoll plants in Tarragona. These photovoltaic panels will generate 6,436 MWh annually for self-consumption, reducing CO₂ emissions by 2,030,800 kilograms per year and cutting the company’s electricity consumption by 25%.

 

 

Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection, a global leader in product inspection technologies, is excited to announce an informative webinar titled “Superior Inspection of Canned Good with X-ray Inspection.” This highly anticipated event will take place on Wednesday, 22^nd January 2025, at 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM UK time.

 

This must-attend webinar will equip food manufacturers with essential knowledge to overcome the challenges they face in modern canning environments, where high speeds, evolving regulatory standards and the complexities of foreign body detection can make achieving both product quality and efficiency difficult.

 

The one-hour webinar will look in depth at the following topics:

 

• Foreign Body Detection & Product Integrity: Manufacturers often face challenges detecting contaminants in cans due to packaging materials or variations in can orientation. The webinar will show how x-ray inspection systems provide precise, automated detection of a wide range of foreign body contaminants regardless of can type (2-piece or 3-piece ring pull). These systems also perform multiple integrity checks in a single pass – verifying fill levels, identifying canning deformities and confirming seal integrity.
• High-Speed Quality Control: High-speed canning lines can make it difficult to maintain inspection accuracy and manage product rejects. The webinar will explore how x-ray technology handles these demands with robust line integration, delivering fast, reliable inspections to avoid production stoppages and reduce waste, even at high speeds.
• Real-Time Demonstration: Attendees will see x-ray inspection in action during a live demo on a high-speed test track, showcasing how the systems can be seamlessly integrated into real production environments. The demo will highlight continuous, automated quality checks with minimal disruption to operations.
• Data Management for Enhanced Efficiency: With today’s fast-paced production lines, efficient data management is crucial. The webinar will also explore how x-ray systems can integrate with ProdX™ data management software, allowing real-time monitoring and reporting to streamline audits, reduce human error and provide a comprehensive inspection record for compliance and due diligence purposes.

 

The webinar will be presented by Adam Green, Market Manager at Mettler-Toledo Safeline X-ray, who has extensive experience in helping global manufacturers overcome the unique challenges of high-speed canning processes. Adam will share his insights on optimising x-ray inspections, achieving compliance and enhancing production efficiency, all without sacrificing speed or quality.

 

“Canned products are essential across the food and pet food industries, but the demands of high-speed canning can make maintaining quality and safety extremely challenging,” said Adam Green, Market Manager, Mettler-Toledo Safeline X-ray. “We are excited to present this webinar in order to help canning companies address these challenges – providing manufacturers with the tools they need to improve efficiency and achieve compliance while maintaining high product quality standards.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in interactive polls throughout the session, gathering insights into industry trends and challenges faced by peers. Additionally, a Q&A session will allow participants to address specific concerns and ask about how the Mettler-Toledo solutions can be applied to their production lines.

 

Following the webinar, attendees will be able to send in their own cans for validation testing to see how their products perform in real-world production environments.

Register now by clicking here to reserve your spot and gain valuable insights into optimising your canning line for the future or visit: www.mt.com/xray-cans

 

For more information on high-speed canning and x-ray inspection download our white paper here.

Colleagues across Sysco GB have been celebrating the organisation’s annual global Purpose Month, with volunteering projects taking place around the country. Sysco’s Purpose Month is an initiative for colleagues from around the world to come together to live Sysco’s Purpose of Connecting the World to Share Food and Care for One Another.

 

In total across Sysco GB depots, which includes Brakes, Fresh Direct, kff and Medina Foodservice, more than 250 volunteering hours have been undertaken in November.

 

The volunteering, which has been led by programmes with food redistribution organisation FareShare, coincides with a major milestone for Fresh Direct, which celebrated providing the equivalent of 3m meals across food redistribution charities.

 

Paul Nieduszynski, Chief Executive of Sysco GB, said: “We are celebrating Purpose Month across Sysco globally with a range of activities aimed at supporting our business purpose which is connecting the world to share food and care for one another.

 

“Our activity with City Harvest and FareShare are great examples of how the business is living its purpose. I’m equally delighted to see Fresh Direct providing direct support to these organisations by making sure that any surplus fresh produce goes directly to these two fantastic organisations providing meals to families that need them across the country. Providing the equivalent of three million meals is a fantastic milestone.”

 

Don’t miss last week’s webinar presented by Annemarie Joyce, Pre-Sales Specialist at Safefood 360°, and John Figgins, Senior Technical Manager at BRCGS.

Learn about the most common nonconformities identified under BRCGS Issue 9 and gain insights into the typical root causes behind these nonconformities.

The session includes a practical demonstration of how Safefood 360° platform addresses these challenges.

Watch it on-demand via The FSQ Network: https://fsqnetwork.com/videos/brcgs-food-safety-issue-9-analysis-of-non-conformities