When a beloved family dog started experiencing tummy troubles, one determined pet parent took matters into his own hands. Unable to find a suitable dog food, he started cooking simple, wholesome meals right at home – and the results spoke for themselves. Inspired by this success, he and a friend launched Butternut Box to deliver health and happiness, creating better food options for dogs everywhere. In just eight years, Butternut Box has grown from a kitchen start-up to a thriving business.

To support its rapid expansion and ensure the highest food safety standards, Butternut Box selected Safefood 360° as its go-to platform when scaling up to a new production kitchen. The implementation of Safefood 360°’s Food Safety and Supplier Quality Management solutions began in 2020, providing robust support ahead of the factory’s go-live date in 2021.

Integrating Safefood 360° has streamlined compliance and significantly boosted operational efficiency, setting Butternut Box up for success. This strategic investment helped secure prestigious BRCGS AA+ certification, reinforcing their reputation for excellence across their extensive European operations.

With Safefood 360°’s solutions, Butternut Box continues to confidently mitigate risk, uphold top-tier standards, and deliver best-in-class products that pet owners trust for their furry family members.

Discover the full story here: https://safefood360.com/resources/butternut-box-food-safety-case-study/

Following the successful launch of the X2 Series of x-ray inspection systems, Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection is proud to introduce the new X6 Series, offering a significant product safety upgrade for medium to large-sized packaged products and multi-lane applications. The X6 Series consisting of the X16 and X36.2 x-ray inspection systems presents a range of new features that provide precise contamination detection across single or multiple lanes. Both solutions can inspect medium to large-sized products (500-600mm in length) while also maximising productivity through easy-to-use design improvements.

Designed for Large Packages and Multi-Lane Applications

The X6 models, like the X2 Series, feature advanced detection technology but are specifically designed for larger product formats. With multi-lane capabilities, the X6 Series makes inspection for manufacturers handling bigger products or multiple packages per line, quicker and easier.

This provides flexibility for food and beverage brands that require efficient inspection solutions for varying product sizes and configurations.

X16 X-ray Inspection System

The X16 is an entry-level x-ray solution for medium to large-sized products with a HiGain detector, offering excellent detection of contaminants such as metal, glass, stone, bone and low-density materials across single or multi-lanes. The system which can support products up to 300mm in height with conveyor speeds up to 60 meters per minute also performs additional quality and integrity checks, enhancing product safety beyond just contamination detection. These checks include monitoring for correct product placement, mass component count, fill level and identifying damaged packaging. The X16 is designed to maximise production uptime with its intuitive user interface, simplified cleaning routines and reliable subsystems, reducing costly downtime.

X36.2 X-ray Inspection System

For more advanced inspection needs, the X36.2 offers high-level detection capabilities for medium to large packaged products. With HiGain+ detector technology and ContamPlus™ software, the X36.2 offers completeness and integrity checks, identifying small foreign bodies plus missing or broken products. The system is highly customisable, with single or multi-lane configurations and numerous reject bin options. It can accommodate even higher throughputs with speeds of up to 100 meters per minute and the ability to handle over 1000 products per minute, depending on product size.

Smart Industrial Design to Reduce Cleaning Downtime

Both the X16 and X36.2 feature significant mechanical upgrades over legacy solutions plus completely new designs that improve belt removal and simplify service and maintenance routines. These design improvements mean that operators can clean and maintain the systems quickly, minimising downtime. The front-opening hygienic design allows for easy access during cleaning and service, while the conveyor belt can be swiftly removed without the need for tools, making maintenance more efficient than ever.

To further optimise performance and offer long-term reliability, the X6 Series can be supplied with a choice of service contracts tailored to manage maintenance costs and maximise uptime. Additionally, both systems when purchased with a standard or comprehensive service contract come with a 5-year generator warranty, providing peace of mind of the quality of the heart of the x-ray system.

X-ray Solutions to Accommodate Application Needs

The X16 offers an affordable entry point for manufacturers looking for high-end inspection technology at a competitive price, while the X36.2 provides an advanced solution for those requiring superior product integrity checks. With multiple configurations available for the X36.2 this system can be customised to meet individual production requirements.

Mike Pipe, Head of Global Sales & Product Management, Mettler-Toledo Safeline X-ray, said, “With the launch of the X6 Series, we are excited to extend the capabilities of our x-ray inspection solutions – building upon the global success of the X2 Series – to larger packaging and multi-lane applications. The X6 Series offers significant improvements in mechanical design and performance compared to previous generations, providing enhanced control over product safety, reducing downtime and helping manufacturers remain competitive in today’s market. And all of this is achieved at an affordable price, making it accessible for businesses of various sizes.”

For food manufacturers looking to enhance their product inspection processes, the X6 Series offers a versatile solution for medium to large packaged products. Its advanced contamination detection capabilities help prevent costly product recalls, while the inclusion of product integrity checks offers the highest standards of quality control. The X6 Series’ robust design and productivity tools make it an ideal choice for manufacturers seeking to optimise efficiency and meet stringent compliance requirements, all while best protecting their consumers and brand reputation.

The Next Level in Product Safety

To further save manufacturers time and money, the functionality of the X16 and X36.2 can be extended with ProdX™ data management software. ProdX™ is automating the monitoring, reporting and collating of all product inspection activities in real-time. The safely stored data helps business growth by facilitating food safety regulatory compliance and protects brands through proof of due diligence. In addition, by analysing the data, production line improvements can be identified thereby helping to boost productivity.

For more information on the X16 and X36.2, click here or visit: www.mt.com/xray-x6

Members are invited to attend Latus Group’s next exclusive webinar on 26^th November which will feature Luke Ambler, founder of #ANDYSMANCLUB www.andysmanclub.co.uk

When Luke’s brother-in-law Andy tragically took his own life, Luke wanted to create something in his memory so Andy’s Man Club was set-up to help others who were experiencing mental health struggles.

Since then, Luke has set up 230+ clubs Nationwide, inviting people to attend for free and open up about what’s on their minds.

Luke will be joining the team at Latus Group HQ to share his story and discuss Mental Health and Wellbeing. This webinar is open to everyone, it is not a male-only event.

Luke is a former professional rugby player, dad, storyteller, entrepreneur, award-winning mental health campaigner and motivational speaker.

“Coping strategies are ok, but thriving strategies are better!”

 To attend this webinar, you must register here to be sent the access link:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0537ab26-9fb3-4e95-9ec5-24e2c1706df5@e24f3380-69f4-4157-ab99-ddf14206dbd7

As the leaves begin to turn and the air fills with a crispness that signals autumn, it’s the ideal time to refresh your range with our exciting new Autumn campaign at Europastry!

We’re thrilled to unveil a collection of seasonal tre ats that are sure to captivate your customers and enhance their experience. From warm pastries to comforting bread options, our products are crafted to embody the cozy essence of the season.

What’s brewing for the final months of 2024?

Here are some of the latest trends in bread and pastries that you won’t want to miss:

Healthy and Nutritious Options:

Artisan and wholemeal breads are more popular than ever, especially those incorporating seeds, cereals, rye, buckwheat, and oats. Check out our latest offerings from the Cristallino and Gran Reserva families!

Surprise Me!

In today’s fast-paced world, your customers crave surprises—new flavours and innovative formats. Our Almond Croissant stands out as a unique offering that you won’t find anywhere else!

The Value of Artisan Products:

We trust what inspires us, especially in our favourite coffee shops and bakeries. At Europastry, we provide solutions that simplify your daily operations while leaving room for creativity, such as our versatile bread rolls and our new Butter Puff Pastry Sheet.

Don’t miss the chance to enhance your offerings this autumn. Your customers will definitely want to come back for more!

Sunswap has been recognised for its work in sustainable transport refrigeration, winning the Innovation of the Year Award at the Made in Britain Impact Awards 2024.

 

The award celebrates British manufacturing excellence, with judges looking for companies making a measurable impact through innovative solutions. Sunswap’s battery and solar-powered transport refrigeration unit, Endurance, impressed the judges with its fresh approach to a complex industry challenge.

 

The judges commented “Sunswap’s mission to ‘decarbonise the global cold chain’ exemplifies their innovative impact. They presented impressive impact data and performance, showing the potential for UK-led innovation to drive global progress towards a more sustainable future.”

 

“This award recognises what British engineering does best – solving difficult problems through innovative design and precise engineering,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap. “As we move into full-scale production and begin commercial deployments, this acknowledgement reinforces our commitment to developing world-class technology here in the UK.”

 

The Made in Britain Impact Awards highlight the very best of UK manufacturing across categories including innovation, sustainability, and leadership.

 

As Sunswap scales up operations to meet growing demand from transport operators, this recognition comes at a significant moment for the company. The first commercial Endurance units are now entering service with major logistics companies, proving that sustainable transport refrigeration, engineered and manufactured in Britain, can meet the industry’s demanding requirements.

 

CONHEXA Group is located in the heart of the port of Dunkirk in France, and is your first choice for handling logistics and transporting frozen, fresh, and dried food. As a 3PL and 4PL supplier, we collaborate with our Chinese partner LINKSTAR Logistics to provide supply chain solutions between China and Europe for your products, allowing you to focus on business operations.

Since the first CIIE, CONHEXA Group has partnered with LINKSTAR Logistics to participate in the exhibition for seven consecutive years. For the past 7 years, we have provided diversified supply chain services to exhibitors of the China International Import Expo, covering industries such as food, chemicals, precision instruments, grape wine, medical equipment, and more.

The 2024 CIIE will be held as scheduled in Shanghai from November 5th to November 10th，and the booth No.：8.2C1-08. At that time, our French and Chinese teams will meet and exchange ideas with you, listen to your needs, and provide supply chain solutions from a professional and compliant perspective. If you need to schedule business negotiations before, during, or after the exhibition, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Recently, we will continuously update you on our exhibition status and the release of exhibits. We are happy to meet you soon!

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has appointed Karen McQuade as its new president, succeeding Ian Stone, who steps down after serving in the role since December 2020.

McQuade, a highly respected industry leader, steps into the post of president following her election at the federation’s Annual General Meeting on November 13.

She brings 25 years of experience in the frozen food sector, having attended her first BFFF event in 1999, and has made significant contributions to the industry since.

In 2007 she founded The UK Foodhall Ltd, which has grown into a leader in providing healthy, quality-assured British meat, fish, and poultry products to the school meal sector.

Driven by a commitment to sourcing locally and supporting British farmers and manufacturers, McQuade has earned national recognition, including 17 national business awards and 32 national product awards.

Today her business portfolio includes three additional British food manufacturing companies, employing around 260 people. A BFFF director for six years, she now takes on the presidency with a passion for supporting and representing the frozen food industry, particularly as it continues to address the growing demand for sustainable, waste-reducing, and preservative-free options.

Karen McQuade said: “I have always supported the BFFF for their championing of frozen food and the much-needed voice they give to the frozen-food category. Today, more than ever, we need the BFFF to speak loudly on our behalf about the sustainable benefits of frozen food, its role in reducing food waste, and the quality it brings without added preservatives.

“I’m also a strong advocate for the BFFF’s young leaders’ forum – encouraging the next generation is fundamental to our industry’s future.”

Rupert Ashby, CEO of the BFFF, said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Karen to her new role and am delighted that she has been appointed as president. Her entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to British food, and commitment to the frozen sector make her an inspiring leader for our industry.

“I would also like to express my gratitude on behalf of the federation to outgoing president Ian Stone. His invaluable service and steady leadership over the past four years have been instrumental in steering the BFFF through an exciting and challenging period which included changes following Brexit and lockdown. We are grateful for his dedication.”

Outgoing president Ian Stone was appointed in September as Chief Executive Designate of apetito UK, with which he has held various roles since he joined in 2003, latterly UK Chief Commercial Officer.