All articles by Michael Barker – Page 10
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Dairy industry fears flood of imports will drive prices down
Fears the UK could be flooded with cheap imported dairy products are growing after the EU agreed concessions allowing certain member states to increase production. In the run-up to the abolition of milk quotas in 2015, EU...
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'Wall of leaves' putting off shoppers for salads
Leafy salad sales are being lost by the multiples as a result of poor merchandising in-store, an industry expert has claimed.Supermarkets had a tendency to create a "wall of leaves" that was inaccessible and confusing to consumers, according...
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NewsRelief as meat inspectors call off strike threat
Meat hygiene inspectors have called off a planned strike, just hours after announcing that a walkout would take place next week.
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Massive wave of M&A activity forecast for fresh
The fresh food sector should brace itself for a fresh wave of M&A activity as companies look to access new markets and expand product lines by buying up the competition.This year there have been a number of high-profile acquisitions,...
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Soil Association warns of need for food plan
Britain needs a "food plan" to feed the population with healthy, environmentally friendly food in a future where fuel and resources are scarce, a new report has claimed
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Own-label contract wins boost profit at Milk Link
Milk Link has reported solid half-year results on the back of a number of new contract wins this year.Turnover at the farmer-owned co-op was up 18% to £278m, while pre-tax profit rose 24% to £9.3m. Group EBITDA rose 14% to £17.5m.The...
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NewsMeat promotions entice consumers to splash cash
Meat lovers can find plenty to cheer about with a number of key lines coming down in price this month. Michael Barker and Richard Ford report
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Locally sourced food to hit £15.6bn by 2018
Locally sourced food has the potential to account for 10% of food sales within a decade if the industry adopts a more collaborative approach, a new report has claimed.
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Industry anger at EU for skipping risk assessment
The EU's decision not to order an impact assessment of its proposed pesticide reforms has been blasted by fresh produce industry representatives.Last week, the EU Environment Committee voted to continue with its plan to restrict the number...
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Dairy Farmers of Britain rejects cash-flow rumours
Dairy Farmers of Britain has vehemently denied speculation it is in trouble.
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Potts to lead Nom Dairy plans to make yoghurt in the UK
Dairy Farmers of Britain commercial director David Potts has left to become MD of the newly-formed UK arm of Austrian dairy giant Nom Dairy.
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Weak global market set to hit processor results
Robert Wiseman and Dairy Crest have warned that next year's results are likely to be hit by the weakening global market for dairy.Bulk cream returns had nosedived as international demand had fallen, Wiseman reported, with further falls...
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Strike action threatens festive red meat supply
Chipolatas, Christmas ham, beef Wellington and pigs-in-blankets could all be off the menu this Christmas. Meat inspectors have threatened to carry out strikes over the festive season that could bring the meat production industry to a standstill.
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All work and no pay
Dire wages, poor working conditions and long hours are a fact of life for seasonal workers. Michael Barker joined a GLA investigation to find out just how tough conditions are under the gangmasters
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English apples boosted by supermarket support
Sainsbury's, Morrisons and the Co-op have all been praised for their support of English apples at the start of the 2008/09 season.The three retailers had all invested heavily in TV campaigns urging shoppers to buy English apples, according...
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RSPCA welfare fears over stocking density
Animal welfare concerns need to be fully allayed before Freedom Food follows the egg industry's lead in doubling the maximum number of free-range hens allowed on British farms, the RSPCA has said. The British Egg Industry Council has amended...
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Renton's 'nose for innovation' sniffed out for Milk Link job
Former Uniq and Tesco executive Hamish Renton has been appointed to the newly created position of marketing director at Milk Link to help drive the company's adventurous NPD plans.The farmer-owned co-operative created the position to help...
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Lurpak downsizes block butter to beat wastage
Lurpak has launched an audacious bid to create a mini sub-sector of the block butter category with the development of a 50g pack.
Believed to be a first in a category where the overwhelming majority of products are 250g, the new size of… -
News
Sausage-chomping Londoners receive dedicated banger
A new London-branded sausage has been launched to give the capital’s meat-lovers a regional speciality to call their own. The Original London Banger, which is claimed to be London’s first locally-branded sausage, has gone on sale in Sainsbury’s,...
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UK importers cleared in price-fixing investigation
UK banana importers have been given a clean bill of health by the European Commission following the conclusion of its price-fixing investigation. None of the UK-based businesses raided by authorities during the investigation – including Fyffes, JP...