Lees dilemma settled
Lees Foods has reached a settlement with the former directors and shareholders of Patisserie UK, which will see it receive approximately £225,000. In June this year Lees announced it would be taking legal action against the people from whom it bought Patisserie UK a specialist bakery business that went into administration in March 2009, after its major customer Costa Coffee, which accounted for 75% of its sales, switched to another supplier.

Upmarket opening
Upmarket cake shop and café chain Konditor & Cook has opened its sixth outlet near London’s Southbank. Located on Stamford Street, the shop’s layout is inspired by "a new take on the domestic kitchen". The shop, designed by architect Kevin Allsop, has an open-plan layout, with no counters separating staff and customers, and the hob, sink and kitchen paraphernalia on full view.

Zero-salt cheese gains recognition
Dairygold Food Ingredients took home the runner-up prize at the Dairy Innovations Food Ingredients Europe (FIE) awards 2009 for its zero-salt soft cheese. Innovations director Aidan Fitzsimons said the response from the foodservice industry to the new cheese had been very positive. "We have already developed a reduced-fat low-salt sandwich filling for one of our major UK retail clients," he added.

Apprentice awards
The National Apprenticeship Service has launched its seventh awards. Categories include Young Apprentice of the Year, Apprentice of the Year and Small, Medium and Large Employer of the Year. Entries close on 27 February 2010. To enter, please go to apprenticeships.org,uk.awards