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A further 934 pig and poultry farms were closed in Germany over the weekend following the discovery that previously unknown batches of dioxin-contaminated feed had been sold. (Foodproductiondaily.com) The action came as it was reported that a feed producer in Lower Saxony had concealed some of the outlets it had sold produce to. Farms in Lower Saxony as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Brandenburg were all shut and banned from selling eggs... read more →

Bosses at GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK’s) Ribena and Lucozade plant in Coleford, Gloucester, expect to be able to offer staff pay rises in 2011, but insist the pay freeze for 2010 is justified given the tough economic climate. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) Speaking to FoodManufacture.co.uk after Unite union members at the plant voted for action short of a strike, but against full strike action, a GSK spokeswoman said: “We are committed to resolving this issue... read more →

Novel high pressure processing (HPP) technology has enabled Milton Keynes-based start-up Deli 24 to increase the shelf-life of its chilled dairy and meat snacks from two weeks to 50 days, bosses have revealed. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) Deli 24 – the first food and drink manufacturer in Britain to install a HPP facility – is now making the kit available on a contract basis to other manufacturers, md Jeff Winter told FoodManufacture.co.uk. The... read more →

Northern Irish firm Linden Foods has opened a new meat processing facility that it predicts will create 85 new jobs over the next three years. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) The Dungannon-based company produces processed beef and lamb under the Banquet Royale, Tasti and Chef Class brands, and also makes private label products for retail and foodservice customers including M&S, McDonald’s, Tesco and Bird’s Eye. The new 5,740m2 premises is next door... read more →

144 hourly-paid staff have opted to take voluntary redundancy while a further 35 salaried staff have been made redundant at Bakkavör’s Bourne Prepared Produce site in Lincolnshire. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) Bosses at the site, which makes prepared vegetables, salads and fruits for the supermarkets, blamed “difficult trading conditions… reduced sales volumes and higher raw material costs” for the restructuring, but stressed that there have been... read more →

Sources within the Danish food industry have criticised the country’s new blanket tax on saturated fats in foods, claiming it will harm productivity and could even worsen the population’s health. (Foodnavigator.com) Denmark introduced a tax based upon levels of saturated fats in all foods at the start of 2011, but industry sources say the levy is harming business, and also encourages food additive use to replace lost flavours and textures. According... read more →

A continuing shift in demand towards traditional cheeses could prompt big processors to add farmhouse brands to their portfolios in 2011, according to a Proteus Insight analyst. (Diaryreporter.com) Talking to DairyReporter.com, the cheese market specialist said that in the old world markets of Europe, North America and Australasia processed cheeses continue to lose out to more traditional varieties. “Back to the farmhouse” This is happening as consumers... read more →

Marks & Spencer recorded its biggest ever day of food sales – as the retailer overcame the severe weather over Christmas. (Meatinfo.co.uk) The retailer said it achieved a record of more than £50m worth of sales on 23 December, while UK like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 1 January grew at a better-than-expected 2.8%. M&S enjoyed a good run in 2010, with like-for-like sales consistently beating expectations and profits in the first half of the... read more →