Food Manufacturing
Henderson Brown Golf Day 2018
Another fantastic event held at Luffenham Heath Golf Club, supporting our charity of the year The Green Backyard. Well attended with figures from across the Food Manufacturing, Fresh Produce and Horticulture sectors, the weather was glorious and although the golf was challenging, all had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Thank you to all of our attendees for their continued support.
Our winner was Steve Rudge; after plenty of practice in the UAE over the last year he held of competition from last years winner Jason Smith. Both definitely marked for a handicap cut next time around! We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Overall Winner: Steve Rudge
Runner Up: Jason Smith
3rd Place: Andy Coaten
Nearest The Pin: Steve Maxwell
Longest Drive: Peter Ellis
Winning Team: Steve Rudge and Peter Fry
Leading CEOs and ministers from around the world have become ‘champions’ of new partnership on food waste
Tesco chief executive has been named as chair of a new high-profile global campaign to reduce food waste.
The movement, named Champions 12.3, was unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week and aims to “mobilise global action” to halve per capita food waste.
Alongside Lewis, it has been signed by 30 chief executives, government ministers and other leaders, including USDA secretary Tom Vilsack, Nestle chief executive Paul Bulcke, Unliver chief executive Paul Polman and president of The Rockefeller Foundation, Judith Rodin.
Countries that have signed up include Vietnam, the Netherlands, South Africa and Denmark.
The list of ‘champions’ will inspire action by leading by example on how to reduce food loss and waste, motivating others, advocating for more innovation to reduce food waste, and communicating the importance of waste reduction.
“Reducing food loss and waste is a significant global challenge and it’s very important that business plays its part,” said Lewis. “At Tesco, we’re committed to tackling food waste not only in our own operations but also through strong and effective partnerships with our suppliers and by helping our customers reduce waste and save money. This is an opportunity for businesses to work together and make a real difference to Target 12.3.”
Eva Kjer Hansen, minister of environment and food, Denmark, said: “Food loss and waste is a huge challenge for global food security, human livelihoods and the conservation of the environment that calls for global responses and individual action. And Denmark is ready to take its share and to engage in a new solution based global partnership.
“One of the initiatives we have launched in Denmark is a national partnership for reduction of avoidable food waste, which will foster voluntary and binding collaboration between all links in the food chain and relevant authorities and organizations, as solutions and barriers should be addressed across all stakeholders.”
Vice minister for agriculture from the Netherlands, Hans Hoogeveen, said: “Food that is ultimately lost or wasted consumes about a quarter of all water used by agriculture, requires cropland area the size of China, and is responsible for an estimated eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
While Andrew Steer of the World Resources Institute said the champions “have the power to convert momentum into a global movement”.
The announcement was made alongside the launch of The Rockefeller Foundation’s new seven-year YieldWise initiative, which aims to cut post-harvest losses in fruits, vegetables, and other staple crops in African countries such as: Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Premium burger chain, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, has cooked up £1 million of retail sales already this year.
The chain, which has 65 outlets across the country, with three more due to open by the end of December, also supplies to the likes of Waitrose and online supermarket Ocado.
It claims that this sales milestone indicates that customers are continuing to seek the gourmet burger experience without having to step out of their own home.
“Gourmet Burger Kitchen is the only brand that produces restaurant-quality burgers for people to enjoy in the comfort of their own home,” said Laura Mallon, senior brand manager at All About Food, which licences the brand.
The duo pack of 6oz Aberdeen Angus beef burgers sell for £4.49 RRP and are 100% British beef, seasoned with salt and pepper. Gourmet Burger Kitchen claims to offer the only skin-packed burgers on the market, ensuring the product remains fresh for consumers.
Mallon added: “British tastes are now firmly fixed at the gourmet end of the burger market, with shoppers expecting the same size and flavours that they experience in their favourite restaurant from the supermarket shelf.”
Reported move follows on from the success of such products in the fast-food giant’s Indian restaurants
Global fast-food giant Burger King is reportedly keen on introducing more vegetarian items to the menus of its UK restaurants.
The alleged move follows the success of such items in Burger King India, which introduced six vegetarian snacks, sandwiches and entry-level burgers in its offering when the chain began life in the Indian nation in November 2014.
“Looking at the response here, the global management is evaluating introducing some of these options going forward to other vegetarian-friendly markets like the UK,” Raj Varman, chief executive officer of Burger King India, told India’s largest news agency, Press Trust of India.
Ayrshire meat company, We Hae Meat, has rolled out its single-portion Scotch pie range to 62 Asda stores across Scotland.
Asda described the range as a “revolutionary” take on the Scotch pie, with fillings including BBQ Pulled Pork, Balmoral Chicken, BBQ Pulled Beef and Chicken Curry.
“Through the single-portion pie range, we’ve given the Scotch pie a contemporary makeover, using the kind of flavours and fillings that we – as a young modern family – would like to eat,” said Carlyn Paton, director of We Hae Meat.
“As butchers who are relatively new to the industry, we are proud to look at product development with fresh eyes and pick what we think will give the very best result – whether that’s a recipe inspired by tradition or current trends.”
The pies use quality-assured meat from the Paton family farm based at Cairnhill near Girvan.
“We’re hugely excited to bring our innovative pies and butcher’s shop roots to the convenience of the supermarket. Here’s to introducing a new wave of Scotch pie to the Scottish people!” added Paton.
Brian O’Shea, regional buying manager for Asda Scotland, commented: “The Scotch pie is a huge part of our national identity, but is at risk of getting stuck in the past if it remains bridled by convention.
“We are delighted to be exclusively stocking this revolutionary new take on the traditional Scotch pie.
“The innovative flavours, made with delicious ingredients, are exactly what our customers want. We Hae Meat has really hit the nail on the head with their exciting new range.”
The pies will be launched exclusively in Asda at a retail price of £1.50.
Group’s banana operations in Costa Rica have been awarded carbon neutrality certification by SCS
To coincide with Earth Day 2015, Del Monte Fresh Produce has concluded that its banana operations in Costa Rica have achieved carbon neutrality certification from SCS.
Del Monte has also confirmed its continued commitment to conservation through its reforestation/conservation programmes across all its farming operations worldwide.
Carbon neutrality certification covers the entire custody chain from Del Monte banana farms – consisting of 33 farms and 41 packing houses, totaling 10,653ha – up to the loading port in Costa Rica. Greenhouse gas emission audits were conducted by SCS Global Services and were based on the following four, widely accepted, standards:
• World Resources Institute’s Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition)
• Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard: Supplement to the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard
• Draft Costa Rican Standard 2013 “Metodología para la Cuantificación y Verificación de Remociones Forestales – Borrador”
• SCS’ Carbon Neutrality Requirements (a proprietary standard by SCS Global Services), June 2014
“We are very excited that our banana operations in Costa Rica achieved carbon neutrality status and were certified under these very stringent standards,” said Hans Sauter, vice-president corporate research & development and agricultural services of Del Monte. “With these satisfying results, we are now looking into replicating this experience in other operations.
“This certification validates the effectiveness of our environmental sustainability efforts and it comes on the heels of our recent sustainably grown certification by SCS of our banana and pineapple operations both in Costa Rica and Guatemala,” he added.
As part of the company’s commitment to offset its carbon emissions, Del Monte Fresh Produce continues to invest significant resources in maintaining nature reserves as well as planting trees in its operations worldwide.
It is estimated that by the end of 2015, a total of 7,578ha will be under protected status or reforested. This is in addition to the thousands of trees, many of them local species, which are donated every year to the schools and employees in communities where Del Monte operates.
The meat snacking market provides a substantial opportunity for businesses, according to a new report into eating habits.
The report, Redefining Healthy Snacking, found the meat snacking market has increased over 20% in several countries between 2012-2014.
According to market analysts Neilsen, between 40% and 60% of consumers in different regions of the globe often replace a meal with a snack. The Redefining Health Snacking report found several companies are exploiting this to their advantage.
“The businesses that are proving rather successful are the ones that are creating new markets with new, differentiated snack concepts, often using new ingredients and processes, often sold under new brands (or old brands that have been boldly reinvented) with new messages,” said Julian Mellentin, author of the report. “They do not follow the market with predictable products.”
Meanwhile the report states that start-up companies are best placed to capitalise on the trend: “consumers’ beliefs about what healthy means have fragmented massively, creating a wealth of niches that can be used as platforms to build successful brands. Big companies tend to overlook areas that seem too small, leaving the way clear for entrepreneurs and start-ups.”
Sales of the potatoes reach an all-time high during the two-week run up to the festive period, according to key supplier Branston
Potato supplier, Branston, has revealed the King Edward as the nationʼs favourite roaster to accompany the traditional Christmas lunch.
Sales of the potatoes reach an all-time high during the two-week run up to the festive period, with celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith and Tom Kerridge championing the variety.
Branston sales and marketing director, James Truscott, said: “The King Edward is undoubtedly the king of the crop when it comes to the Christmas roast dinner, with sales increasing by around 250% in the run up to the big day.
“Whilst sales across other lines such as mainstream white potatoes and Maris Piper also increase substantially, the UKʼs love affair with this, the most traditional of all the potato offerings, really stands out.”
The variety has been grown in the UK since 1902, making it one of the oldest varieties still grown commercially. Presented as a white skinned potato with pink colouration, it is oval shaped and has a floury texture.
Truscott added: “King Edward roast potatoes are as much a part of the traditional Christmas lunch as turkey, sprouts and chipolatas.
“With a delicious crispy outside and a smooth fluffy middle, they are the perfect accompaniment to the seasonal roast.”
King Edward potatoes are available all throughout the UK and are in peak season from October through to April.
An average 2.5kg pack costs around £2.
Rudolph is proving popular on dinner plates this Christmas, with Lidl reporting strong sales of its smoked reindeer.
The reindeer product, part of Lidl’s Deluxe range, has been on sale for just one week. The retailer said it had been particularly popular in stores in the south east.
A Lidl spokesperson added: “We hope that our reindeer, along with our other super-premium products in the Deluxe range, appeal to anyone who has an interest in fine foods, but does not want to pay the high prices usually associated with them.”
Animal welfare group Viva! has slammed Lidl for selling reindeer meat, asking it to withdraw the product “due to the cruelty inherent in modern forms of herding, as well as slaughter methods that may be illegal in the UK”.
However, the retail giant defended its offering: “The smoked reindeer that we sell is from the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region in Siberia. The reindeers pasture freely in the tundra year-round, changing location on almost a weekly basis. They are herded by local native Nenets people, with reindeer farming playing an enormous cultural and economical part in the lives of the people in this region.
“All reindeer are slaughtered in strict accordance with EU guidelines and our own high standards of food safety, hygiene and animal welfare.”