Premier Foods’ interim management statement has revealed sales of Hovis are up 11% for the four months to October. According to the company, consumer response to the relaunch of its Hovis brand has been positive, and market share in October has improved, “despite intense promotional activity by some of our competitors”.

Sara Lee has reported strong sales performance within its North American fresh bakery division, in its first-quarter results to 27 September 2008. Net sales have increased by 17.1% to $571 million (£370m) and unit volumes rose by 6.6%, driven by volume growth for branded and private-label fresh bakery products, according to a company statement.

There is less than a month left to register for the Baking Industry Summit 2008, on 27 November, so make sure you reserve your delegate place now. The Summit, which will focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is taking place at One Great George Street, London, and will host a variety of top speakers, including Lucy Neville-Rolfe, executive director (corporate & legal affairs), Tesco. There will also be speakers from Asda, Greggs and Bells of Lazonby, as well as packaging and waste experts who have tackled bakery-based issues head-on and will share their experiences.

Associated British Food’s (ABF) results for the year ended 13 September 2008, have revealed positive revenue growth despite economic challenges, according to a statement released by the company, with group revenue up 21% to £8.2bn. Operating profit for the food, ingredient and retail group stands at £554m, whilst adjusted operating profit has increased 7% to £664m.

Bakery equipment manufacturer, MIWE, has launched an energy recovery system, designed to help bakers reduce energy costs. The MIWE eco:nova, was unveiled at the Suedback exhibition in Stuttgart earlier this month.

Foodservice company 3663 is adding a number of products to its Whites range. Three new pavé loaves - perene, walnut and multigrain - are based on a rustic-style French bread.

Spraying Systems has developed pulse width modulation (PWM) to form part of its PulsaJet spray coating range. The PWM system applies fast on/off signals to PulsaJet, enabling the controlled and adjustable application of a coating to a product. The PWM spray system is made up of two elements - an AutoJet control unit and automatic spray nozzles from Spraying Systems' PulsaJet series. The flavourate is controlled by changing how long the PulsaJet is spraying during one cycle, which eliminates the need to change nozzles.

A range of cooking spirits and wines for use in bakery and food manufacturing are available from Cuisinewine.

Pantheon has added a new 'ST' toaster to its range. It is available as a four- or six-slot model and is made entirely from stainless steel. A five-minute timer and removable crumb tray are also included and there is the option of only using half the slots during quieter periods in order to save energy. Pantheon also offers a 12-month parts and labour warranty.

Forced convection technology company Spooner Industries is extending its presence in the baking industry with a range of air conditioning and ventilation systems to meet bakers' needs.

Uniform supplier Denny's has launched two eco-friendly chef's jackets. Its Organic Chef's Jacket is made using 100% organic cotton under the Denny's brand and its Ecological Chef's Jacket is made from 50/50 polyester/cotton and will be sold under the Le Chef Brand.

Disposable catering product supplier Kavis has added two new products to its range - a Dual hot drink paper cup and a PET tumbler.

Dawn Foods has launched energy cookies to complement its range of energy-boosting products. The Mega Muesli and Jumbo or Mega Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies are available individually wrapped. The Muesli Cookie contains rolled oats, raisins, apricots and pumpkin seeds and is high in fibre. The Oatmeal and Raisin Cookie contains rolled oats and raisins and is also available as pucks for baking off on-site.

Owlet Juices has just launched a new "bag in a box" of juice, which the company claims is suitable for bakery retailers. The juice, which has a 12-month shelf life, comes in a 10-litre pack size with a recyclable cardboard box and there is no glass packaging to recycle.

Fanta now contains no artificial flavours or colours, thanks to a reformulation of the drink, as part of a £6.25m brand investment by Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) this year.

Drinks company Firefly has relaunched its waters range. The tea-infused antioxidant drinks were originally launched in glass bottles, but Firefly hopes the new PET bottles will help to open up new areas of business for the firm.

Britvic has seen its revenue increase 29.3% to £926.5m for the 52 weeks to 28 September 2008, compared with the same 2007/08 period. The figures incorporate a full 52-week contribution from Britvic Ireland of £200.7m.

OK, so we're nearly there. The treacle quagmire of funding has (nearly) been traversed, the boggy lack of consensus over an industry stan-dard qualification has (virtually) been overcome, and the muddied waters of how and where to find adequate training have (almost) been cleared. The formation of a national academy for bakery skills is now within reach.

Winners and runners-up

Now we're not suggesting making the likes of 'hash cakes' to sell to your customers, but hemp, which has around 20,000 different uses, can be used as an ingredient in various forms (which have no drug content). Hemp seeds can be cold-pressed into oil, which leaves a 'cake' that can then be milled into flour. Paul Jenkinson of Yorkshire Hemp said that using 5% hemp flour in bakery gives products added colour, texture and a nutty taste. Products cannot be made using 100% hemp flour and Jenkinson recommends using 5-10% hemp of flour weight. Hemp seeds are rich in protein - around 34% - and are gluten-free, so can be used with potato or rice flour for gluten-free products. Shelled hemp seeds can also be added to bread, cakes or flapjacks to add to the texture, or as a topping. However, it loses some of its nutritional benefits as a topping, due to heat exposure in the oven.

It was where Wallace & Gromit met the Master of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, where equipment suppliers, such as Norbake, showed a vast amount of equipment on an unbelievable footprint, while Renshaw, Rank Hovis and others had the very tough job of judging fabulous competition entries, organised by the British Richemont Club.

Kirk Hunter

Mantinga, the specialist bread company, is to distribute the Manoucher range of soft Mediterranean-style breads outside London and the M25.

More aggressive sales and marketing activity have helped Coffee Republic reverse a downward trend, according to its latest trading update.

Milanese boutique bakery chain Princi has opened its first shop in the UK and plans to launch a further 10 outlets in the capital over the next five years.

Polish opportunity

Barry Callebaut has opened a new factory in Spain, dedicated to the production of frozen pastry - "haute patisserie" - in the Alicante/Valencia region.

The plunging value of sterling against the dollar and the euro, combined with a decline in UK wheat quality, may put a stop to the recent falls in flour prices.

Greenhalgh's craft bakery has expanded its business-to- business delivery service into Wigan, with the addition of a third catering van.

Irwin's Bakery is a slice ahead of the game in Northern Ireland, with the launch of its new bread sizes. These come in advance of a new EU directive in April 2009, which will see bread weight restrictions lifted.

Bettys Café Tea Rooms, based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, has lodged a complaint with the Patent's Office, after a local company starting selling a cheesey nibble using the name 'Betty'.

Cornish baker W C Rowe is to launch a new line of products - Rowe's Savers - into its retail outlets to appeal to price-conscious consumers.

Rises in "underlying costs at farm level", including energy and fuel, could force up bread prices in the longer term, according to Alex Waugh, chief executive of the National Association of British and Irish Millers (nabim).

As the economic downturn intensifies, small business groups are urging the government to do more to put a stop to late payments - a problem keenly felt by many bakeries.

Businesses should be aware of changes to grievance procedures, warned legal expert Ray Silverstein, in a talk on employment law at the Bakers' Fair in Sheffield.

An 11-minute documentary about Garvald Edinburgh Bakery, which is staffed by people with learning disabilities, including Down's syndrome and autism, has won $75,000 (£46,000) at the Middle East International Film Festival, taking The Black Pearl for Best Documentary - Short Film.

The coffee shop market will continue to grow despite the credit crunch, with new data showing that the number of outlets in the UK increased by 15% in the 18 months to October.

South Wales-based, Ferrari's has closed eight of its bakery retail shops in response to the current economic climate. Its Mumbles, Porthcawl, Mountain Ash, Tredegar, Abertillery and one of its Bridgend shops were closed after trading on Saturday, 25 October. Further closures were seen at its shops in Abergavenny and Hereford after trading on Monday, 27 October.

Craft bakers selling unwrapped loaves cannot take advantage of the recent relaxation of bread weight laws, which abandons specified loaf quantities, because the new legislation only applies to packaged bread.

The UK has taken a major step towards creating a bakery qualification to suit plant, craft and supermarket needs alike, as the pilot for a new bakery skills aca-demy gears up for launch early next year, subject to funding.

Rowe’s the bakers has started supplying supermarkets in the south-west with the first individually hand-crimped frozen pasty for customers to bake at home. The Rowe’s branded product, in a traditional steak flavour, has been launched in 36 Sainsbury’s and 25 Morrisons stores this October.

Irwin’s Bakery are a slice ahead of the game, with the launch of its new bread sizes, ahead of a new EU directive in April 2009, which will see historical bread weight restrictions lifted. Irwin’s, based in Co. Armagh, is bringing in new smaller loaf sizes in one of its signature brands and claims it is the first bakery to offer new sizes in Northern Ireland.

Costa Coffee’s sales increased 25.6% to £123.2 million according to parent company Whitbread's interim results for the six months to 28 August 2008.

Greggs is shrugging off the effects of the credit crunch with a total sales increase of 6.7% in the 16 weeks to 4 October.

Marks & Spencer sandwich supplier Uniq said the growth of its sandwich division slowed significantly in the third quarter of the financial year.

Allied Bakeries has relaunched its Kingsmill Wholemeal loaf as Kingsmill Tasty Wholemeal.

Warburtons' latest TV ad campaign will air for the first time this Saturday (4 October) on satellite and terrestrial TV.

The former Sayers Bakery in Norris Green, Liverpool was severely damaged by fire on Sunday 28 September in a suspected arson attack.

Tesco is introducing three loaves in non-standard sizes ahead of anticipated changes to EU laws.

Tesco is hoping for a slice of the action in the discount store market with a new low-cost range, to include bakery products.

The British Society of Baking’s Autumn conference is to be held on 6 and 7 October at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Binley, Coventry.

All-round bakery manufacturer Finsbury Foods’ has experienced a group revenue increase of 53.9% to £169 million. The preliminary results for the year ended 30 June 2008 show the company has achieved strong growth in each of its subsidiaries with like for like sales up 13%. Adjusted pre-tax profit stood at £7.7 million compared to £4.6 million last year.

Visitors to Café+, the café, sandwich and coffee shop show organised by British Baker’s publisher William Reed Business Media (WRBM), will benefit from top business-building advice in an exclusive seminar.

The National Associations of Master Bakers (NAMB) is hoping to create an ‘action group’ with the hope of redressing certain perceptions of the craft baking industry.

Tesco’s sales of part-baked bread have soared by 47% in the past year. And the supermarket giant has hinted that it may in future offer part-baked versions of all its bakery products.

The British Society of Baking is to hold its autumn conference on the 6 and 7 October at the Coombe Abbey Hotel, Binley, Coventry.

Visitors to Café+, the café, sandwich and coffee shop show organised by British Baker's publisher William Reed Business Media (WRBM), will benefit from top business-building advice in an exclusive seminar.

Ingredients giant Tate & Lyle (T&L) has opened an innovation centre in Lille, France.

Pantheon has launched a new kettle to heat and store soups and casseroles. The PSK Soup Kettle heats up to 10 litres of liquid-based products, such as soup, sauces and casseroles. It then maintains them at the optimum serving temperature. The operator can alter the temperature dial, depending on usage.

Puff pastry supplier Jus-Rol has launched 'Shape It Up', whereby bakers can source ideas and recipes using Jus-Rol's three different pastry shapes - oval, round and square. Jus-Rol's Puff Pastry Shapes are pre-rolled, cut to size and defrost in a few minutes. Recipes include Cheese, Tomato & Bacon Wraps, Chicken Spinach & Red Pepper Open Tarts and Goat's Cheese & Aubergine Windmills.

Planglow has launched its new Deli Tickets, suitable for salad bars, deli counters and shelf edges. They are pre-laminated and no cutting is required; they can also be used repeatedly.

Premier Foods is launching limited-edition Mr Kipling Fiendish Fancies for Halloween. A variation on its popular French Fancy, the new cakes will have orange and black icing and Halloween-themed packaging.

La Pizza Company is offering its frozen part-baked Tear & Share Garlic Bread in new flavours. They are now available in cajun garlic, parmesan & black pepper and roasted red onion varieties, and are made using real garlic butter.

Furniss of Cornwall is now selling its Cornish Fairings biscuits in France. The biscuits will be hitting the shelves of Le Comptoir Irlandais stores across the country in its three varieties - orange and lemon, apple and cinnamon and stem ginger and honey - alongside its Cornish Gingerbread.

A new Breakfast Energy Muffin has been launched by Dawn Foods, aimed at the café sector. The American-style bakery product is made with carrots, raisins, pumpkin seeds, dates, apricots and cranberries, to provide breakfast on-the-go or a coffee accompaniment.

My family bakery in Kent has just had its inspection, ready for work experience placements next year. This made me wonder how many bakers are taking up this worthwhile and rewarding opportunity.

Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) and Brewing Research Inter-national (BRI) have merged to form Campden BRI, a combined resource for the food and drink industry.

US-based Kellogg Company, in Michigan, is expanding its capacity, after acquiring the assets of IndyBake Products LLC and Brownie Products, a privately- held contract manufacturing business.

Australian dessert maker, Pudding Lane, has high hopes for expansion in the UK, after winning a one-star gold award for its Macadamia and Brandy Pudding at the Great Taste Awards.

Snack and confectionery company Glisten's latest financial results reveal a year of strong growth, with revenue for the year to 30 June rising 26% to £73.8m and pre-tax profit up 18% to £6.68m.

Rubicon purchase

The National Association of Master Bakers (NA), supported by The Worshipful Company of Bakers, is running a seminar for newly appointed supervisors and managers on Wednesday 8 October 2008, at the Best Western Midland hotel, Derby. It will be delivered by Simon Johnstone, whose seminars have been reported as being "enlightening, amusing and very interesting".

Costa Coffee's sales have continued to rise over the past six months - up 23.6% in the half-year to 14 August. In its interim statement, parent company Whitbread said the brand had demonstrated "good growth", with like-for-likes up 3.7%.

The retail price of packaged croissants has almost doubled in the last six months, according to the latest price data from Verdict Research.

Organic winners

Dawn Foods will be sponsoring British Baker's Baking Industry Summit 2008. This year's summit, to be held in London on the 27 November, will cover all the essentials of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), with top speakers including Tesco, Asda and Greggs. "The summit looks set to stimulate interesting debates and we are pleased to be able to support this important forum," said Dave Roberts, Dawn Foods' UK national accounts controller.

The independent coffee shop market is far from saturated, with plenty of potential for future growth, according to the latest research from Allegra Strategies.

Enzyme price rise

De Gustibus' Oxfordshire bakery has been destroyed in a fire.

The British Richemont Club will host a three-day meeting of international members from 27 to 29 September.

After a particularly wet August and September, the milling and baking industries are waiting to see how the weather has affected the quality of UK wheat.

British Baker is pleased to announce that, from January 2009, it will publish the Bakers' Review, the official journal of the National Association of Master Bakers (NA), in a special section within the magazine.

At Monday night's Baking Industry Awards, Piero Scacco won the coveted Baker of the Year title.

Consultancy role

De Gustibus’s Oxfordshire bakery has been destroyed in a fire. The blaze ripped through the artisan baker’s Abingdon plant on Wednesday night (10 September), damaging most of the building before firefighters arrived. Owner Dan Schickentanz said: “Only the walls are left standing – the place is completely gutted.”

Dawn Foods will be on hand at Bakers’ Fair North to keep hunger pangs at bay, by offering a cake and a hot cup of something to every visitor. Dawn are sponsoring the refreshments section of the show, which is the UK’s only autumn exhibition for bakery companies, cafés and coffee shops, and will be giving attendees a free cake from its Adore and Sweet Bakery Snacks along with tea or coffee.

A director of Fosters Bakery has been awarded Yorkshire’s Young Director of the Year at a prestigious ceremony in Leeds. Michael Taylor from Fosters in Barnsley received the accolade at a gala evening at the Queens Hotel on Thursday 4 September, held by the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Directors (IoD).

Hovis has revealed more details on its major TV campaign, which will be shown for the first time this Friday, 12 September.

German bakery machine manufacturer Fritsch has revealed the latest addition to its range - the Fritsch Laminator 300. It has been designed for bakers who require automation and better quality in the production of dough sheets.

A new food hygiene system has been launched in the UK by Applied Technology, a subsidiary of retail lighting company Bäro Lighting.

Italian machinery company Alimec recently opened its factory doors to show pizza manufacturers an in-house demonstration of its new Pizza Topping and Make-Up line.

Heinz has launched a five-strong range of premium soups in response to caterers' growing interest in health, well-being and nutritional quality.

Ginger Sensation is the new cake mix from ingredients manufacturer Macphie. The latest addition to the Sensations cake mix range, it has a warm spicy flavour and contains pieces of crystalised ginger. It is free from artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or hydrogenated fats and comes in 12.5kg packs, with only the addition of water and oil necessary.

As part of its on-going expansion programme, Pecan Deluxe has developed the flexibility of its confectionery range so it can be used in baked goods.

Valera has introduced a new range of buffet display units for hot, cold or ambient products.

BakeMark UK has added three new multiseed bread ingredients to its Arkady range - Waldkorn Classic, Waldkorn Krokant and Combicorn Malzsonne.

The Feel Good Drinks Company is launching a new range of soft drinks aimed at kids. The fruity range, called Feel Good Kids, will initially feature Raspberry, Strawberry and Blueberry; Orange, Pineapple and Banana; and Blackcurrant, Apple and Grape varieties.

Percola, a Fairtrade cola drink, has been launched by food and beverage company Food Brands Group. The drink, an extension of its Percol Fairtrade coffee range, is the first Fairtrade cola with no preservatives or artificial colours and will be available in a 500ml bottle.

Irn-Bru maker AG Barr has announced the acquisition of Groupe Rubicon - a UK-based manufacturer and distributor of exotic juice drinks.

Dave Brooks, chief executive of major own-brand premium cakes supplier Finsbury Food Group, who steered the business into its number two position within the UK cake industry, is to step down from his role with effect from 29 September.

Continued poor weather is prompting fears of a shortage of bread-making wheat, a decline in quality because of falling protein levels and rising bread prices, as only half the harvest has been completed in some areas.

Tesco's executive director of corporate and legal affairs Lucy Neville Rolfe will be giving an insight into the supermarket's corporate social responsibility strategy (CSR) at British Baker's Baking Industry Summit, to be held in London on 27 November.

Online training provider The Bakery School is adding a further module to its 40-module bakery training portfolio. The module, Training Matrix, will go live on 5 September. Designed to support the employer or super-visor, the module will help them to set up a simple matrix system for bakery training, in an easy-to- follow format, enabling the operative to see the progress of the training.

A bakery in Merseyside has become a victim of identity theft. A fraudster, claiming to be connected with Liverpool's artisan bakery and patisserie Satterthwaites, misled hundreds of people into sending money by electronic transfer for concert and festival tickets, which never materialised.

Greggs' chief executive Ken McMeikan has pledged to crack down on wasted food, as he takes the helm of the UK's largest bakery retailer.

Paul Morrow, managing director of British Bakels, has appointed Ian Dobbie as new managing director designate from 1 October. Dobbie, who currently heads up the UK division of Délifrance, takes over full responsibility at Bakels from 1 January.

It's your last chance to get tic-kets for the Baking Industry Awards 2008, to be held at London's Grosvenor House hotel on 15 September.

A £15m relaunch of the Hovis brand - the largest in its history - gets under way this month, after its declining market share contributed to a 23.2% slump in half-year profits to £14.6m at Premier Foods' bakery business.

The baking industry has moved one step closer to establishing a National Skills Academy for Bakery, after a shortlist of academic institutions invited to bid to become the 'network champion' was decided this week.

Coffee Republic chairman Peter Breach has promised to “forcefully address” the “disappointingly weak” performance of its company-owned coffee shops.

Coca-Cola Zero has teamed up with Sony Entertainment and huge movie franchise James Bond in a deal that sees the brand working with the next 007 film, Quantum of Solace.

A Tory government would ditch the traffic light system of food labelling favoured by the Food Standards Agency and seek voluntary agreements with industry to tackle obesity, shadow health spokesman Andrew Lansley said last week.

Bakery author Paul Hollywood has begun supplying a new branded range of six traditional breads including brioche into 11 London Waitrose stores and Harrods.

Family baker Braces is offering charities, schools and community groups across the south and south-west of England donations to mark its 106th birthday.

The charity karting event, in support of the Baker’s Benevolent Society, and sponsored by Rank Hovis, will be taking place on Thursday 18 September. It will be held at the Daytona Karting track in Milton Keynes between 10.30am and 4pm.

Paul Morrow, MD of British Bakels has appointed Ian Dobbie as new MD designate from October 1.

Dave Brooks, the chief executive of major own-brand premium cakes supplier Finsbury Food Group, who steered the business into its number two position within the UK cake industry, is to step down from his role with effect from 29 September.

Warburtons is kicking off a national promotion of its wholemeal range this September, in order to give the nation a ‘fibre boost’. It is also launching a mini online drama called ‘The Seeds of Love’ featuring its Seeded Batch Loaf. Warburtons’ Fibre Provider campaign follows on where its 2007 campaign, ‘Are you getting enough’ left off. Its aim is to raise awareness of the importance of fibre in peoples’ diets. The Nation’s Fibre Provider is running across its wholemeal range, and emphasising its recently launched Wholemeal Fibre Boost.

Former Sara Lee and Heinz Foods’ processing facilities are to be offered for sale by tender.

Online training provider The Bakery School is adding a further module to its 40-module bakery training portfolio.

Starbucks will be introducing a new collection of coffee in selected stores in the US.

Former Sara Lee and Heinz Foods’ processing facilities are to be offered for sale by tender. The entire contents of the food processing machinery located at the former confectionery manufacturer Sara Lee a world-renowned manufacturer of baked goods and confectionery are being offered by Pro Auction, as well as Sara Lee bakery equipment for pizza processing and sauce manufacturing from the former Heinz plant in Grimsby.

Staff at a branch of Northampton-based bakery retail Oliver Adams have been robbed of £600 at gunpoint by a masked raider.

Greggs has appointed a new general manager for the Midlands. Ian Bagnall will be responsible for the 168 shops located in the Midlands as well as the company’s bakery operations in Birmingham.

Esquires Coffee Houses is to expand its Irish franchisee network by opening three new cafes in Dublin, Cork and Naas in County Kildare by the end of 2008.

Greencore has revealed a 7.5% reduction in turnover to $284m (£225m) for the four months to the end of July, blaming “a notable deterioration in consumer sentiment in the UK since June” and the strength of the Euro against the pound.

Starbucks has confirmed that the head of its UK and Ireland operations has stepped down. Managing director Phil Broad has been replaced by Darcy Willson-Rymer, previously vice-president of Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Food and drink manufacturers are being encouraged to invest in the future of young talent by supporting a new qualification.

Starbucks has confirmed that the head of its UK and Ireland operations has stepped down. Managing director Phil Broad has been replaced by Darcy Willson-Rymer, previously vice-president of Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The Hairy Bakers will hit our screens tonight with a new series on BBC2 looking at all things bakery.

Dave Myers and Simon King, known as the Hairy Bikers will embark on a journey across the UK to discover the best of British baking. They’ll meet with top millers and bakers and test out various recipes along the way, from gourmet bread and pies to ornate wedding cakes.

Walkers brand ambassador Gary Lineker returns to TV screens this month as part of the crisp brand’s latest promotion.

Farm-pressed juice company, Chegworth Valley Juices, has launched its new organic range, to include: pear juice, single variety Bramley, Cox and Discovery apple juices and apple & beetroot. The juices, in 250ml bottles, are made using hand-selected fruit and contain no added sugar, sweeteners, concentrates, artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives.

Coca Cola is to relaunch its Lilt brand this summer.

Healthy option soft drinks look to be the key driver in terms of the UK soft drinks market, according to a new report published by Zenith International.

Join in the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas at this years’ Baking Industry Awards 2008. Last year was our biggest awards yet with over 900 attendees and we’re hoping to make this years’ premier industry event even bigger and better. Tickets are selling like hot cakes, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Pudding Lane:

The Speciality & Fine Food Fair London, taking place at the Grand Hall at Olympia, London, will feature over 700 exhibitors, catering for everyone from delis and independent retailers to chefs and restaurateurs looking to source artisan food and drink.

La Pizza, a privately owned manufacturer of dough balls, tear-and-share garlic bread and Mediterranean speciality breads, supplying into the foodservice industry, has developed a range of healthier frozen part-baked pizza bases. All products contain less than 1% salt and are made using natural ingredients, containing no preservatives or GM products.

Food Partners has developed a new sandwich brand - Taste4life - focused on health and sophistication. The range will include more than 50 sandwiches and related products and has been launched in outlets including coffee shops and catering suppliers.

Marco Beverage Systems has added the Maxibrew Freshcup to its product range. The bulk filter coffee brewer is programmed to dispose of stale coffee after a pre-set period of time, to avoid customers accidentally being served old coffee.

Farmhouse Fare is to launch its first-ever range of twin packs. The Lancashire-based company is seeking to widen its appeal beyond family-sized desserts and has brought out a range of 120g x 2 individual portion puddings including: luxury sticky chocolate and orange pudding, sticky carrot cake pudding and luxury sticky banoffee toffee pudding, as well as organic varieties - luxury sticky toffee pudding and sticky chocolate pudding.

The Coffee Machine Company has added a new espresso machine to its range. The company is the sole importer of Rancilio espresso machines and has now launched the Classe 6 Compact Tall model. The new machine is fully automatic with full 2-group functionality, and has been designed with coffee shops and takeaway outlets in mind.

Meiko UK has added Disaperator food waste disposers to its range of warewashing appliances.