Asda boss Andy Clarke’s recent ‘Gerald Ratner’ moment simply reflects what any product developer working with the supermarkets will tell you in private, that the retailer’s own-label range does not stack up against the competition in the quality stakes. (foodmanufacture.co.uk) This was the general consensus of development chefs, new product development (NPD) managers and interim/freelance NPD specialists contacted by FoodManufacture.co.uk following... read more →
Dairy, bakery and beverages account for 72.9 percent of functional foods in the world’s biggest markets with energy/mood enhancement, gut health and heart health the dominant claims, according to a Leatherhead Food International report. (ap-foodtechnology.com) n 2009 figures, dairy accounted for $8.702bn globally, bakery $5.18bn excluding Japan, and beverages $2.825bn not including energy and mood drinks. The UK-based organisation said the US and Europe... read more →
Relatively simple and inexpensive robots could be the key for robot manufacturers looking to boost UK sales, according to a leading automation industry figure. (foodmanufacture.co.uk) Mike Wilson, president of the British Automation & Robot Association (BARA) told FoodManufacture.co.uk that despite a 172% growth in robot sales to the UK food and drink industry since 2006, the UK still lagged significantly behind its EU neighbours. Wilson said that... read more →
More than 90% of Poundland’s food and drink products are now bought directly from manufacturers rather than third parties, its boss has revealed. (foodmanufacture.co.uk) Speaking to FoodManufacture.co.uk after posting an 81% leap in full-year operating profits*, chief executive Jim McCarthy said big brands had historically been wary about dealing with the discounters for fear of scuppering relationships with the major multiples. However, most now recognised... read more →
A&B Ingredients has developed a pea fiber to extend the meat content and increase stability of poultry nuggets while saving on cost, the company has said. (foodnavigator-usa.com) The company cites several benefits of its Swelite fiber ingredient, including increased stability and reduced volume loss, value-added protein replacement at 50 to100 percent, better standardization to allow for variation in poultry, and juicier poultry products. Managing... read more →
A new peeling system for fruit and vegetables, based on air not water, under development at California State University, Fresno, could cut significantly processing costs and remove the problem and expense of dealing with waste water. (foodproductiondaily.com) Developed by California State University professor Gour Choudhury, the new processing system uses air to blast peel off fruit and vegetables. A specialist in food processing systems, Choudhury estimates... read more →
A UK firm pioneering the use of electrostatic food flavour application technology is disappointed by the “unbelievable” lack of uptake from large native manufacturers, despite impressive claimed efficiency savings and strong European sales. (foodproductiondaily.com) Oxfordshire-based Spice Application Systems (SAS) has seen limited UK orders in 2010 despite successful recent trials, and is also dismayed that companies have failed to pay resulting invoices,... read more →
Food manufacturers working with Amazon on its new UK grocery business remain frustrated and disappointed by its progress six weeks after launch, although most still say they would not bet against the online retailer in the long-term. (foodmanufacture.co.uk) Several firms contacted by FoodManufacture.co.uk this week said that Amazon had launched the UK grocery site six weeks too early, had failed to market it properly and failed to devote sufficient resources... read more →
