Tues 18th Nov, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London

URGENT APPEAL: HELP REBUILD LIVES AFTER POLAND’S DEVASTATING FLOODS

Posted on by Sarah Collison

Recent catastrophic floods in Poland have left a trail of devastation, with torrential rains causing widespread destruction across the country. Cities like Wroclaw and Klodzko are grappling with severe flood damage as rivers, including the Oder, overflow. With many homes submerged and infrastructure severely impacted, residents are taking urgent action—filling sandbags and fortifying barriers. Volunteers and local authorities are working tirelessly, but the scale of the disaster is daunting, leaving communities clinging to hope amidst fear​.

 

BFFF member Wipasz S.A. has already donated PLN 500,000 to assist flood victims, helping to restore essential public infrastructure. By contributing to their efforts, you can make a real difference.

 

To Donate:

Wipasz Helping Hand Foundation

Bank Account: PKO S.A. 95 1240 5598 1111 0010 3452 1503

Transfer Title: Donation to the Foundation

MARTYN’S LAW UPDATE – SECOND READING 14TH OCTOBER

Posted on by Sarah Collison

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 12 September 2024. It will have its second reading on 14 October 2024. At this point, ministers will debate the general principles of the Bill.

The new legislation, also known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute of Martyn Hett who was killed alongside 21 others in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, aims to ensure venues across the UK must consider the security of the public, and take steps to protect them from harm.

Under the changes, a new duty will be placed on those responsible for premises and public events, requiring them to take appropriate action to strengthen public safety, with requirements reflecting the size of the venue and the activity taking place.

As set out in the Bill, those responsible for premises will be required to fulfil necessary but proportionate steps, according to their capacity, to help keep the public safe. This includes a tiered approach, linked to the size of the venue, how many people will be there and the activity taking place, making sure undue burdens are not placed on small businesses.

A standard tier premises will apply to locations with a capacity of more than 200 people but under 800. These businesses will be asked to undertake simple yet effective activities to put in place procedures to reduce harm to the public in the event of an attack. These could be as simple as training staff to lock doors, close shutters and identify a safe route to cover. The standard tier premises will most likely to be applicable to larger retailers in the food industry.

The enhanced tier will apply to premises and events with a capacity of more than 800 individuals, given the devastating impact an attack could have in these spaces. These locations will need to put in place measures such as CCTV or hiring security staff.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Matt Jukes, said: “Through Martyn’s Law we can ensure that the public have additional protection from terrorist attacks while at events and public venues. Counter Terrorism Policing welcomes [this] bill and we look forward to seeing it progress through Parliament.

“We’re all inspired by and motivated by the experience of victims and survivors. Figen Murray has campaigned tirelessly for Martyn’s Law and it’s thanks to her unwavering determination that we are one step closer to ensuring the public has additional protection in the form of this legislation.

“We will continue to work with the public, with businesses, and with the government to ensure that when a terrorist attack takes place we have the right mitigations in place that will prevent other families from experiencing those tragedies.”

Following Royal Assent, the government says businesses will be given time and support to understand and implement their new obligations and allow for the new regulator to be established. This will include dedicated guidance so that those affected will have the required information on what to do and how best to do it.

PORKY WHITES SCOOPS BRITAIN’S BEST BURGER AT THE 2024 MEAT MANAGEMENT AWARDS

Posted on by Sarah Collison

Surrey-based sausage and formed meat manufacturer and BFFF member Porky Whites has been awarded Britain’s Best Burger at the annual Meat Management Awards.

 

The glittering awards dinner brought together manufacturers, supermarkets, industry suppliers, trade organisations, catering butchers, independent retailers and outstanding individuals alike to celebrate the very best of the UK’s meat sector. Of the 22 awards categories, it was however Britian’s Best Burger which saw Porky Whites triumph against still competition from the likes of M&S, Morrisons, Waitrose and Iceland.

 

Reflecting on the Meat Management Award win Francesca Wyatt, Managing Director of Porky Whites said, “The Meat Management Awards dinner was a truly special night for everyone at Porky Whites. To be finalists in three categories was fantastic recognition for the quality of our products, but to walk away with a trophy and to know that we’re making the UK’s Best Burger was just phenomenal!”

 

The award for Britian’s Best Burger tops off a sensational product awards season for Porky Whites including two further finalist nominations at the 2024 Meat Management Awards for our Porky Lights Sausages (Britain’s Best Free From Product) and our Iberico and Manchego Supreme (Best Pork / Pigmeat Product) as well as three award nominations at the much-coveted UK Sausage Week Awards on 28th October:

 

  • Porky Whites Signature Surrey Sausage (Best Pork Sausage Finalist)
  • Porky Whites 6 Premium Chicken Sausages (Best Chicken Sausage Finalist)
  • Porky Whites “Best” Cumberland Swirl with Extra Pepper (Best Cumberland Sausage Finalist)

 

Relevant links:

UK Sausage Week Finalists Revealed – https://meatmanagement.com/news/2024-uk-sausage-week-competition-finalists-exclusively-revealed/83982.article

S.T.I. (U.K.) LTD, ACHIEVES MILESTONE IFS LOGISTICS CERTIFICATION: Celebrating an Outstanding Score as the First Company Audited Under Version 3

Posted on by Sarah Collison

We are pleased to announce that S.T.I. (U.K.) Ltd. has successfully gained IFS Logistics certification with an outstanding score of 98.91% on their initial audit!

 

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that they are the very first company to be audited under Version 3, marking a significant milestone for us all.

 

This success is a testament to the dedication and teamwork demonstrated by everyone involved. A special thank you to Gemma, the Customer and Relationship Manager of S.T.I. (U.K.) Ltd., for her meticulous attention to detail and for expertly guiding the team throughout this process. Her commitment has truly made a difference.

 

We also want to recognise the collective effort of everyone at S.T.I. (U.K.) Ltd. and thank them for their help and support in making this a genuine team success.

 

Congratulations to each and every member of the UK team on this remarkable accomplishment! You are truly taking quality the extra mile in everything you do. This is a proud moment for us all. Well done! 

LEADING ICE BRAND NAMED ONE OF THE UK’S BEST WORKPLACES IN MANUFACTURING< PRODUCTION & TRANSPORTATION™!

Posted on by Sarah Collison

The 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation™ list was revealed this morning by Great Place To Work® UK, recognising Europe’s largest ice manufacturer, The Ice Co, among the list of organisations in the medium category.

 

Measured by an annual employee survey, The Ice Co’s employees anonymously reported that the brand’s company culture makes the manufacturer a great place to work, scoring an impressive 74%, in comparison to the 54% average across the category. The business also scored highly across the board for treating employees fairly, making new starters feel welcome, and adopting an approachable management style.

 

The Ice Co has made significant efforts to prioritise employee wellbeing in recent years. The company’s ‘Give Thanks’ scheme encourages peer recognition and celebration of good work; all frontline managers are trained as Mental Health First Aiders, and a new wellbeing room was also introduced in 2023.

 

Notably, this year The Ice Co introduced a specially designed leadership programme developed to provide new managers with the tools, support and guidance to be able to perform their role effectively. Since then, 23 managers have completed the scheme, and 70% of those who took part have now progressed to a higher role.

 

The Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation list is created using the anonymous feedback from a survey of employees working in the industry about their workplace experience.

 

Great Place To Work® UK administered their research-backed Trust Index© employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based employees in the manufacturing, production and transportation sector to determine the Best Workplaces™ list. The surveys asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.

 

Analysis of the sector employee survey responses found:

 

  • 79% of employees at the UK’s Best Workplaces for Manufacturing, Production & Transportation say “I am offered training or development to further myself professionally” compared to a UK average for sector of 57%

 

Polly Metcalfe, Managing Director at The Ice Co, commented: “We’re so excited to be included in the list. Employee satisfaction is incredibly important to us and has received additional funding in recent years, so to receive recognition for that is really special.

“The progression and wellbeing of our staff is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re so pleased that the passion we have for both the product and the people behind it has been acknowledged in this way.”

 

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK said: “It’s great to see so many examples on our new UK’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation list of organisations making their workplaces truly ‘great’. These companies know that investing in the development needs of their employees has a direct impact on employee wellbeing as well as organisational growth. Congratulations to The Ice Co for making it onto this prestigious list.”

 

For more information on The Ice Co, visit www.theiceco.co.uk.

UPDATED PACKAGING EPR ILLUSTRATIVE BASE FEES NOW PUBLISHED

Posted on by Sarah Collison

To prepare businesses for the implementation of the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, on 30th September, the four UK administrations published the second in a series of illustrative base fees. 

This latest document provides updated illustrative base fees for year 1 of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. It relates to fees that would be charged to obligated packaging producers by the Scheme Administrator. It does not cover:  

  • Regulator fees and charges paid to the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales 
  • Costs associated with meeting packaging recycling targets, for example through the purchase of Packaging Waste Recycling Notes  

Worth noting: 

  • The version of Defra’s model used to calculate fees uses estimated packaging volumes as the basis for apportioning dry recycling collection costs and estimated packaging weight to apportion dry recycling disposal costs and residual waste management costs. 
  • Ranges of costs for the materials have narrowed because DEFRA’s data reported from producers has improved significantly from earlier in the year 
  • For some materials, costs per tonne have not just narrowed, but also lowered (see Table 1)   

 

IMMEDIATE MEASURES TO STEP UP SAFEGUARDS AGAINST AFRICAN SWINE FEVER FROM EUROPE

Posted on by Sarah Collison

Immediate measures have been introduced to protect pig farmers and industry from an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.  

ASF is a highly contagious and deadly disease in pigs and wild boar that can be transmitted through infected meat, but poses no risk to human health. The new safeguarding rules will help protect UK livestock by mitigating its spread across the border to the UK.   

To safeguard the UK’s pig and farming industries, personal imports of pork and pork products from the EEA (European Economic Area), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland have been banned from Friday 27th September, unless such products are manufactured and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh less than a maximum of 2kg.  

GS1 UK COLLABORATION TO LAUNCH THE SECOND BARCODE REVOLUTION

Posted on by Sarah Collison

GS1 UK have announced that they’ve completed a pilot programme with over 50 brands and are now working with their wider membership to accelerate adoption of their QR codes.  

The collaboration with leading UK retailers, including Tesco, prepares for point-of-sale scanning, allowing businesses to connect their products’ unique identity to multiple online sources of enriched, real-time content. They can be scanned by smartphones, and at the point of sale, enabling capabilities far beyond what a standard barcode can offer today.  

With almost 98 per cent of all UK adults now owning a smartphone, this has the potential to transform the way businesses share information, ushering in a new era of supply chain efficiency, transparency and enhanced consumer experiences.  

QR codes powered by GS1 are now being tested in 48 countries, representing 88% of the world’s GDP. Globally, GS1 aims to ensure a comprehensive rollout by 2027 and many leading household brands including PepsiCo, Walmart, P&G, Loreal and Amazon are already onboard. 

You can read more here