Food & Drink Manufacturers News, March 2nd.
March 2, 2018
When it comes to innovation, there are few industries as active as those which produce food and drink.
Ever changing, ever improving and ever moving to meet the demands of customers, the food and drink sectors have proven to be hotbeds for innovation, lighting the way for sectors of all stripes.
Nowhere is that more the case than here in the UK, which boasts one of the most celebrated and important food and drink manufacture industries in the world, promoting British values of quality around the world in brands like Cadbury, Quorn and more.
Worth over £100bn to the economy and supporting over 400,000 jobs across England, it’s a vital sector and one at Dehum we’re proud to support with our industry-leading range of food and drink dehumidification and drying solutions. Our models are currently in use across a significant number of British and international brands like Kellog’s and Coca-Cola.
It’s also why we regularly round up the latest news from across the industry, so what’s going on as of the 2nd of March?
Seaweed Food Start-up Launched Crowdfunding Campaign
Edible seaweed company Seamore company have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise a minimum of £219,106 (up to £442,638) to help launch their innovative seaweed-based foodstuffs across the world.
The company currently offers four products: seaweed pasta, seaweed bread seaweed bacon and seaweed wraps. With the minimum level of investment met, Seamore would hire a product manager to accelerate the creation of new seaweed products and invest in the tests and materials to develop them. Further money would be spent on displays, promotions and in-store marketing materials to educate consumers.
The company currently has 15 concrete product ideas which will be tested in the following 9 months, and are seeking the funds to help them launch into a market which is more open to novel foodstuffs than ever.
PG Tips’ First Biodegradable Tea Bag Announced
In a move that’s being welcomed by environmental waste campaigners, the UK’s most popular tea brand – PG Tips – has announced that is it replacing the polypropylene in its tea bags with a 100% renewable and biodegradable alternative.
The alternative, derived from corn starch, will ensure that all PG Tips bags are fully biodegradable. The brands owner, Unilever, has announced that it’s working to make all its teabags 100% plant-based by the end of the year, after working for some time to find a viable alternative to polypropylene.
Noel Clarke, VP or Refreshment at Unilever, said: “The new 100% plant-based material we’re moving to is an innovation based on cutting-edge science and technology. We’re all really excited that, starting from now, the PG Tips that [consumers] love will come from 100% plant-based material”
“Tea is the most consumed beverage in the UK, with nine billion PG tips teabags sold every year, our latest move maintains the same great taste of our tea whilst minimising our environmental impact.”
Whiskey, Salmon, Dairy and Pork Boost 2017 Exports
Britain’s exports of whiskey, salmon, dairy and pork rose dramatically following the Brexit vote, adding £2bn to overseas food and drink sales compared with 2016, numbers from the government suggest.
Treasury figures say that the UK food industry was selling products to 217 markers, with sales of milk and cream increasing by 61%, salmon by 23% and pork by 14%. In total, 13.2 tons of food was sold abroad in 217, including 1.3 million bottles of whiskey being shipped overseas.
Speaking to the Sun, Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, said: “Farmers, fishermen and our food producers are all helping to deliver a Brexit bonus – with more exports of British food and drink than ever.
“Contrary to the constant negativity of the doom-mongers, the British economy is going from strength to strength, showing a Green Brexit can deliver for the whole country.”
