The shortlist has been unveiled for the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards 2024, sponsored by the Federation of French Charcuterie Catering Companies (FICT), which recognise quality artisan products and inspiring independent retailers. Nicola Woods, Event Manager for Speciality & Fine Food Fair, comments: “We were overwhelmed by the volume and quality of the award entries this year, with our judges deliberating hard to select the shortlisted products and businesses. “It’s so exciting to see the innovation in the UK and international speciality food sector, and to read about the amazin ..read more

The seafood packaging market has experienced significant growth due to rising global demand and increased consumer awareness of product quality and safety. It is reported that the global frozen seafood packaging market is expected to reach USD 22.80 billion by 2033. Europe’s fishery and aquaculture production ranks third highest globally, driving a rise in frozen food packaging to meet demand. As sustainability becomes a crucial focus amongst consumers, there is a growing need for packaging solutions that balance quality product performance with environmental responsibility. Foopak Anchor Plu ..read more

The seafood packaging market has experienced significant growth due to rising global demand and increased consumer awareness of product quality and safety. It is reported that the global frozen seafood packaging market is expected to reach USD 22.80 billion by 2033. Europe’s fishery and aquaculture production ranks third highest globally, driving a rise in frozen food packaging to meet demand. As sustainability becomes a crucial focus amongst consumers, there is a growing need for packaging solutions that balance quality product performance with environmental responsibility. Foopak Anchor Plu ..read more

Cold-pressed oil producers Kentish Oils and Condiments have moved into a purpose-built, state-of-the art factory near Sandwich, Kent. The factory build comes after a period of substantial growth, having won two large new contracts with Cook, the award-winning frozen ready meal manufacturer based in Sittingbourne, and Higgidy Pies, a Shoreham based manufacturer of pies and quiches. The build also includes a development kitchen with an expanded range of equipment. The move increases Kentish Oil and Condiments’ production capacity to manage the increasing demand for products but also creates new ..read more

Deliverect, the leading global food tech SaaS company, has launched Pulse, a powerful marketing intelligence platform that gives restaurants the insights and tools they need to improve visibility and ROI. Pulse integrates with delivery platforms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat, giving restaurants critical insights into operations and competitive intelligence so they can increase order volume while optimising on marketing. The UK is the third largest online food delivery market in the world with the food delivery market estimated at 48 billion dollars in 2024 and yet, res ..read more

Valeo Foods Group, the producers of sweets, treats and snacks, has completed the acquisition of Appalaches Nature, a Canadian maple syrup business which operates from a state-of-the-art 100,000 sq ft carbon neutral facility in Thetford Mines, Québec. Started in 2018, Appalaches Nature is a major supplier of maple syrup to European markets and a growing supplier to the Canadian and US markets. The transaction marks Valeo Foods’ second acquisition in North America and within the maple syrup market, consolidating its position as a leader in the natural sweeteners category globally ..read more

Top brands have already confirmed their attendance, alongside an expected 4,500+ visitors, to see over 190 exclusive exhibitors showcasing the brightest and the best the packaging industry has to offer. With the final preparations and countdown to one of the UK’s premier exhibitions for sustainable and stylish packaging solutions well and truly underway, organisers Easyfairs believe that September’s London Packaging Week will be its most successful yet. In 50 days, ExCeL will open its doors to thousands of brand representatives, each looking to discover suppliers, products, and knowledge ..read more

London Packaging Week is regularly home to some of the most jaw-dropping packaging in the world – and invariably, much of it comes from the premium drinks sector. Here, we unpack the magic of an industry that somehow captures lightning in a bottle again and again. Nothing in packaging begins its life quite as dramatically as a glass spirit bottle. Unassuming raw materials like silica and soda ash are combined and melted down at fearsome temperatures of around 1,500°C. The resulting substance calls to mind the fiery heart of a volcano, and the angry orange fires of creation. Precise gobs of su ..read more

GrowUp, the UK vertical farm, has secured a £38 million investment to meet growing demand for its popular ready-to-eat salads. Generate Capital’s investment will help expand capacity at GrowUp’s Kent vertical farm, accelerate GrowUp’s leadership of the UK salad category, support the Unbeleafable and Fresh Leaf Co. brands, drive R&D at GrowUp’s Leaf Lab site in Cambridge, and increase GrowUp’s influence as a certified B Corp. This funding extends Generate Capital’s existing partnership with GrowUp, following an initial financing in 2021 that enabled GrowUp to prove its ..read more

Meatly has received regulatory clearance to sell cultivated meat for pet food in the UK, making it the first in the world to get authorisation for cultivated pet food. A huge leap forward for the cultivated meat industry, gaining regulatory approval also makes Meatly the first-ever cultivated meat company approved for sale in any European country. The public announcement follows a close collaborative process between Meatly and the UK’s regulatory bodies, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APH ..read more