Category: Topics
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BCMPA says outsourcing specialists drew strong interest at Empack 2026. The association highlighted start-up demand for co-pack and fulfilment partners, with a new Pitch the Co-Packers final and continuing debate around UK packaging EPR.
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Ginkgo and Invaio will develop fermentation strains for peptide manufacturing. The companies said the collaboration is intended to support efficient production of peptide-based crop protection inputs as biological alternatives to conventional chemistry.
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Autopack reports sustained demand for packaging automation at Empack 2026. The integrator said enquiries centred on liquid filling and coffee pack solutions, alongside interest in a KTC edible oils project delivering 120 bottles per minute.
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Branston has named Simon Jones to lead its Ilminster site. Jonathan Taylor will retire at the end of March 2026, after overseeing a £9m investment programme that introduced automation and upgraded facilities.
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Smithfield is planning a $1.3bn automated facility in Sioux Falls. The company has started approvals for a combined fresh pork and packaged-meats plant, with production targeted for end-2028.
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YouGov data puts Red Tractor recognition ahead of Lion mark. Awareness reached 75% of UK adults, up three points since January 2025.
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Food inflation is easing, but manufacturers are not breathing yet. January’s 3.6% annual rate is a far cry from early-2023’s near-19% surge, but it lands on supply chains with thinner margins, pricier labour, and a renewed exposure to commodity volatility and weather-linked disruption.
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Audits keep exposing the same food safety weak points worldwide. Ann-Kathrin Kuehle, Industry Insights Manager at Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection, says gaps cluster around HACCP execution, hygienic design, allergen and foreign-body controls, and food safety culture.
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Bakeit Food has opened a £3m granola plant in Winchester. The 12,500 sq ft site is producing up to 220 tonnes per month, combining baking, packing, and warehousing for contract manufacture across granola, cereals, and related snacks.
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FDF has set SPS priorities for a new EU deal. The federation is seeking clarity on scope, transition timelines, and UK influence over future EU food-safety decisions as regulatory alignment becomes central to the talks.