All British Baker articles in April 2007 – Page 3
-
News
A modern david and goliath While the big boys of the baking industry may seem to be in control, it’s often the smaller firms who are punching above their weight, argues Plimsoll’s David Pattison
The average customer looking at the bakery section in a supermarket, or indeed someone taking a glance at the industry as a whole, might assume that the giants are in control.In terms of turnover, that is indeed the case. But dig a little deeper and a different picture begins ...
-
NewsMasterclass
In our ongoing series of Masterclasses, patissier Ernst Bachmann guides us through the preparation of a delicious 10-portion strawberry gateau, in British Baker on May 4
-
News
viewpoint
There is a lot happening in this week’s issue, bread weights deregulation, which looked to be on hold, has suddenly been the victim of a coup d’état. So sometime next year, we should see a virtual free-for-all, specifically on wrapped bread and possibly unwrapped (pg 4).It is news that will ...
-
News
viewpoint
This week’s huge rise in flour prices of around £68 per tonne is unprecedented (pg 4)! It will have major impact. The baking and milling industries are not prone to drama and, though I do understand when bakers are sceptical of any flour price rise, the combination of circumstances ...
-
News
viewpoint
Congratulations to Maple Leaf on snapping up La Fornaia (pg 4)! It’s a terrific business, which makes artisan breads for the supermarkets, with the majority of loaves still worked by hand, and great people, such as Peter Baker and Ken Glennon, at the helm.I have followed it from its early ...
-
News
Positive vibe from retailers
A review of all the retail trading statements issued on the London Stock Exchange during the first quarter of 2007 has shown an increase in the number of positive statements, suggesting that the retail environment may be improving, said business and financial adviser Grant Thornton.The Grant Thornton Quoted Retail Companies ...
-
News
Packaging watch
Packaging Summit Europe, is one of Amsterdam’s leading events, dedicated to bringing brand owners, packaging services and materials companies together. It will take place 26-27 June, 2007, at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam.The 2007 two-day conference and accompanying exhibition is expected to attract over 300 senior-level delegates to the ...
-
News
Gail’s gathers force
The management behind fledgling bakery retail chain Gail’s plunged £300,000 into its newest store in upmarket West London. It took pains over the tiniest detail, from bread art screen-printed on the walls, to sourcing framed images of bygone baking competitions.Within a few days of opening, two soon-to-be regular interlopers had ...
-
News
Italian flair at SIAB
SIAB, the Italian bakery show, which rotates with Germany’s IBA and France’s Europain, takes place next month, May 5-9, in Verona, writes Sylvia Macdonald.SIAB stands for Salone Internazionale di Arte Bianco, literally the international showcase of white art. Of course, bread these days is also brown, seeded and, together with ...
-
News
US firm scoops up Spooner Vicars
Texas-based equipment manufacturer Stewart Systems has acquired Manchester’s Spooner Vicars.The acquisition was announced on 21 May. Stewart Systems’ headquarters will remain in Texas, and the Spooner Vicars office, in Manchester, will continue to focus on bakery equipment technology.Wayne Poteet, previous owner of Spooner Vicars, will be MD of the Manchester ...
-
News
Family matters
The Work and Families Act 2006 was introduced following government consultation on a range of proposals to help parents balance work and family life. The provisions of the Act intend to address several policy goals:? To help parents take leave to care for their children in the first year? To ...
-
News
Help the Trust make a difference for Max
If you haven’t already registered for this year’s National Doughnut Week, why not join sponsor BakeMark UK in raising funds for The Children’s Trust and help children like Max. "Max was born weighing less than 3.5lb and encountered breathing difficulties," explains Joanne Toner, corporate fundraiser at The Children’s Trust. "Five ...
-
News
’Experimental’ departure for Forfars
Sussex bakery chain Forfars is rolling out a new look across its 22-shop estate, with two outlets so far rebranded ’Fresh from Forfars’.The 70-year-old chain created the new format in response to changing shopping habits, MD Tim Cutress told British Baker.The changes include brighter, fresher colour schemes, uniforms and shop ...
-
News
why the customer is king Tony Phillips relates an experience from his days in fabric retailing, which illustrates the importance of understanding your customer
Reading my paper the other day, the headline read "Third of over-50s having an affair". That’s an awful lot of people and, as usual, I am not one of the in-group. This made me think of so many products that I read about and, when I try them, do not ...
-
News
New firm offers European craft
A start-up company, The Cotswold Food Partnership, is targeting supermarkets and craft bakers with new ranges of bake-off artisan and functional breads.The company has sourced its range from European craft bakeries in countries including Holland and Germany and it also has a manufacturing partner, the BRC-accredited Scottish craft baker Fords ...
-
News
MPs post Motion to keep UK rules on bread weights
MPs have started a campaign in Westminister to exclude the UK from EU moves to abolish standard-size British bread loaves.So far, 16 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion, tabled by MP for Banbury Tony Baldry, in response to concerns raised by a constituent who works at Fine Lady Bakeries ...
-
News
’Ding Dong’ star for Brace’s
Welsh bakery Brace’s is running a new £100,000 TV advertising campaign this month, across the Wales and the south-west region including the Channel Islands.Featuring the voice of the Carry On... series star Leslie Phillips, with his strap-line ’Ding Dong’, the commercials show the antics of a family’s animated bread bin ...
-
News
Wm Stephen finds new bakery
Dunfermline-based Wm Stephen (Bakers) is to move to a new 32,000sq ft bakery in Dunfermline Business Park at the start of 2008.MD André Sarafilovic said : "We have outgrown our current premises, which has stood us in good stead for the past 134 years, and have been actively searching for ...