Briefs

n Premier Foods plans to close six of its 11 UK sites following a review of its manufacturing facilities after the acquisition of RHM in March. The review covered Premier’s ambient factories, the RHM Culinary Brands’ factories and the RHM Customer Partnership’s Ledbury preserves factory. The six sites are set to close by early 2009.

n Scottish wholesale and retail baker Murdoch Allan helped supermarket Asda provide a picnic to 2,000 guests at the recent state opening of the new session of the Scottish Parliament. The Hatton-based bakery’s Empire biscuits went into goody bags given to MSPs and guests.

n Kevin Botting has been appointed commercial manager of the Belgian food group Vandemoortele, joining the lipids and dough division. Botting comes from Maple Leaf Bakery UK where he was foodservice manager. See BB’s recruitment pages (p 26).

n Edinburgh-based Paterson Arran has won £20,000 to promote a new range of cookies and biscuits containing rapeseed oil. The biscuits contain 60-70% less saturated fat than standard products and are trans-fat free. Companies with innovative ideas for using UK-grown grain have until 9 July to apply for up to £50,000 Home Grown Cereals Authority funding.

n Bakers took a day off to test their golf skills at the recent British Society of Baking’s annual Golf Day. The event attracted 112 players to the De Vere Belfry. Max Sivewright won the visitor Rose Bowl, Paul Edwards won the BSB trophy and Mike Thomson scooped the scratch prize. Paul Edwards, Ian Elliot, Paul Greenslade and Ian Jennings were team winners.