Two food manufacturers are bucking the trend for factory closures by investing in their production facilities.
Indian food specialist East End Foods has invested more than £6m in a new rice mill at its factory in West Bromwich.
The machinery will allow it to increase rice production by more than 40% this year.
Tony Deep, chairman, said: “This mill is an indication of how seriously we take production here. This is the type of investment that we will continue to make.”
Meanwhile, crouton manufacturer and contract packer Trilogy Foods has invested £500,000 in new equipment at its 30,000 sq ft facility in Low Moor, Bradford.
The investment replaces one packing line with a twin line that uses robot technology to improve quality and efficiency.
These investments come in the wake of six companies closing or deciding whether to close sites.They include Tulip, which plans to close three factories by January 2007, and Leaf UK, which is deciding whether to close its only UK facility in Southport, Merseyside, and transfer production to mainland Europe.
Traces of the cancer-causing chemical benzene have been found in soft drinks in the UK and France. The Food Standards Agency said that tests on 230 drinks found that, where detectable, levels of benzene were very low and not a concern for public health. It said it would investigate and encourage the industry to keep levels as low as possible.
Cadbury Schweppes could be planning to expand its chewing gum business in the UK. The rumours follow comments made by Todd Stitzer, chief executive, that it would “definitely take advantage of a great route to market”. He added: “Australia, Ireland and England are probably three of our strongest routes. I’m sure we’ll do something about it.”
Associated British Foods has warned that tough trading conditions and high energy costs at its British Sugar operations in the UK and Poland would hit profit this year. In a trading statement the group warned that it was expecting operating profit for its British Sugar businesses to be lower than last year. It also warned that volumes at its Allied Bakeries business had been lower than expected.
Cash machine provider Cashbox has revealed that it is planning a flotation on the Alternative Investment Market next month. The group said that it hopes to raise £3.5m from the flotation and plans to add 583 machines to its estate of more than 900.
Tesco has extended its partnership with National Savings and Investments to more than 700 stores. The partnership will enable Tesco customers to pick up brochures for NS&I tax-free premium bonds and other material along with their weekly shopping.
Benzene scare
gum expansion?
SLUMP IN SUGAR
cashbox flotation
tesco partnership
Indian food specialist East End Foods has invested more than £6m in a new rice mill at its factory in West Bromwich.
The machinery will allow it to increase rice production by more than 40% this year.
Tony Deep, chairman, said: “This mill is an indication of how seriously we take production here. This is the type of investment that we will continue to make.”
Meanwhile, crouton manufacturer and contract packer Trilogy Foods has invested £500,000 in new equipment at its 30,000 sq ft facility in Low Moor, Bradford.
The investment replaces one packing line with a twin line that uses robot technology to improve quality and efficiency.
These investments come in the wake of six companies closing or deciding whether to close sites.They include Tulip, which plans to close three factories by January 2007, and Leaf UK, which is deciding whether to close its only UK facility in Southport, Merseyside, and transfer production to mainland Europe.
Traces of the cancer-causing chemical benzene have been found in soft drinks in the UK and France. The Food Standards Agency said that tests on 230 drinks found that, where detectable, levels of benzene were very low and not a concern for public health. It said it would investigate and encourage the industry to keep levels as low as possible.
Cadbury Schweppes could be planning to expand its chewing gum business in the UK. The rumours follow comments made by Todd Stitzer, chief executive, that it would “definitely take advantage of a great route to market”. He added: “Australia, Ireland and England are probably three of our strongest routes. I’m sure we’ll do something about it.”
Associated British Foods has warned that tough trading conditions and high energy costs at its British Sugar operations in the UK and Poland would hit profit this year. In a trading statement the group warned that it was expecting operating profit for its British Sugar businesses to be lower than last year. It also warned that volumes at its Allied Bakeries business had been lower than expected.
Cash machine provider Cashbox has revealed that it is planning a flotation on the Alternative Investment Market next month. The group said that it hopes to raise £3.5m from the flotation and plans to add 583 machines to its estate of more than 900.
Tesco has extended its partnership with National Savings and Investments to more than 700 stores. The partnership will enable Tesco customers to pick up brochures for NS&I tax-free premium bonds and other material along with their weekly shopping.
Benzene scare
gum expansion?
SLUMP IN SUGAR
cashbox flotation
tesco partnership
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