All News articles – Page 754
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News
Lightbody to expand Chinese operation with new bakery
Lightbody, the celebration cake manufacturer, is planning to build a bakery in China."We’re looking for a site at the moment," Lightbody’s MD Martin Lightbody told British Baker. "It seemed like a natural progression for us and it’s where all the growth is going to be."At the moment, the company subcontracts ...
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Rich hosts BCA
Fareham-based Rich Products recently hosted a visit from members of the British Confectioners’ Association (BCA).Forty-six members, who attended the two-day trip, were taken on a tour around the bakery site and were offered tastings and technical presentations."It’s a lot to organise for so many people to come to visit ...
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The importance of Being Ernst
A bit of a baking industry legend to say the least, Ernst Bachmann has been nominated as a finalist at the Baking Industry Awards no fewer than 15 times, and last year was the fifth time he walked away with a gong. Readers of BB will also know him for ...
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The big issue
What will be the biggest issue your business faces in 2008?That was the question posed by British Baker in its last online poll at [http://www.bakeryinfo.co.uk]. Between 10 December 2007 and 5 February, when it closed, 39% of respondents believed that skills shortages would be the biggest issue to face their ...
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Seeded breads on a high
Continuing the Swiss theme this week, a Swiss man was reportedly detained by airport authorities in Dubai after poppy seeds were discovered on his clothing. Officials, following a hardline on drug smuggling in the United Arab Emirates, took issue with the seeds, which apparently came from a sandwich he bought ...
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Briefs
n FAS Productions, a manufacturer of savoury pastry products, has recently been purchased by Scottish entrepreneur David Orr.Orr has experience of running bakeries in Scotland, having owned UCB and part-owned California Cake Company, which were sold to Finsbury Food Group in October 2005. Orr already owns the Aberdeen Buttery Company ...
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Cafédirect profits on the rise
Fairtrade hot drinks company Cafédirect has announced pre-tax profits of £705,000, up from £48,000 in 2006.For the year ended 30 September, 2007, total turnover rose by 3% to £22.3 million. In the retail sector, sales slowed by 4% to £17m. Profits were driven by 33% growth in foodservice sales, which ...
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On treating cavities
Here’s some more medical wisdom from back in the days when a certain Colombian marching powder was still considered a not unreasonable remedy for toothache. If only the kids of today would stop shoving it up their noses, the nation’s oral health would not be in such a parlous state. ...
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Sweet charity
Most of us would like to make a small difference to the planet or leave the world a little bit better off than we found it.Few of us dreamt, some years ago, that we might be able to do just that. Or that we could relieve some of the worst ...
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Cooks fined for mouldy chicken
A branch of Cooks the Bakery in Rustington, near Littlehampton, Sussex, has been fined £5,000 in a food hygiene prosecution brought by Arun District Council after a customer complained.A senior food safety officer from the council visited the shop and found mould on a chicken sandwich.Chichester magistrates were told ...
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Premier under City fire as share price takes a tumble
Investment bank and stockbroker group Shore Capital announced early this week that since its initial assessment of Premier Foods, the situation for the Hovis manufacturer had become "more dire".Analyst Clive Black at Shore Capital told British Baker that bread brands were suffering as pressure from supermarkets continued to ...
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Consumer watch
Despite consumers making active attempts to eat more healthily, the threat of obesity shows no sign of slowing down, according to a new report.In the survey, entitled Obesity, Dieting, Exercise And The Future Of Food And Drink - understanding consumer attitudes and behaviours, independent market analyst Datamonitor found that consumers ...
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Cool cupcakes
Mirroring developments in the US, cupcakes are attaining a cult status in the UK with an explosion of flavours, colours and frostings. Consumers, particularly baby boomers and generation X-ers, tend to be sentimental about foods that evoke childhood memories. For the younger generation, the concept of retro eating brings a ...
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Cornish pasty makers wait on Defra decision
The Cornish Pasty Association (CPA) is waiting to hear whether Defra will support its application to gain Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for the Cornish pasty under EU law.This will mean that only those within Cornwall who make pasties to an agreed standard will be able to call their ...
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Fair deal
Previously the preserve of teas and coffees, more and more Fairtrade badges have been popping up on bakery products in recent months. Fairtrade is an organisation that helps to improve trading terms and conditions for producers of, among other products, coffee and chocolate from developing countries. But why should a ...
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Organics ’dear’ for Irish
A new report has revealed that 32% of consumers in Ireland thought organic food, including bread, was healthier for them, while only 15% said that it was full of flavour.Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) found that more than half of Irish consumers have never purchased organic food. The number ...
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Fairtrade swap
Coughlan’s of Croydon has received many compliments since it started selling solely Fairtrade coffee across its 22 Munch café outlets.Coughlan’s changed from an expensive premier Italian coffee to a Fairtrade Colombian bean, specially sourced for the company, and says customers have appreciated the change."It’s the right thing to do, ...
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Rebrand to flag up ’good times’
Following its purchase from Northern Foods a year ago, savoury pastry brand Pork Farms is re-establishing its brand with a new look.The re-brand, commissioned by general manager Nigel White, is designed to give it a more modern and contemporary look. "The Pork Farms brand is category leader, worth over £80m, ...
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Gold relaunch
Allied Bakeries is set to relaunch its Kingsmill Gold range this month in a bid to claim a larger cut of the premium bread category."The new Kingsmill Gold premium range is designed to take advantage of this growth area," said Jon Wilson, Allied Bakeries marketing director.The launch will be supported ...
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Need to know
What is the Sector Skills Agreement (SSA)?Improve says the SSA is the means through which the sector can increase productivity, address skills gaps and provide more responsive training provision.The SSA action plan has generated nine areas on which Improve is focusing employer efforts. Over 200 employers have already signed on ...