May


development perspective, which is also made more complex by the need for many foods to be increasingly healthy. But, going forwards,


commodities will have to be utilised in order to retain a competitive cost element as well as deliver on quality of product,” added Tharme. Products that are feeling the pressure include cereals, oils and cocoa.


Cereals, within the United Nations Food Price Index, are just under 40 per cent higher compared to last year, which reflects rising prices for rice, wheat and maize. Whilst rising prices will impact on costs, there are also instances of potential shortages in the cereals sector including barley, impacting on the drinks industry, as well as demand for rice.


In oils, prices for palm oil and sunflower oil have increased in the region of 75 per cent and 60 per cent respectively in the past year. Cocoa is in danger of


suffering shortages, partly due to rising demand but primarily due to civil war in the Ivory Coast, which supplies 40 per cent of the world’s cocoa. There is also a drought in Western Africa. “Going forwards, manufacturers will be monitoring production costs more closely than ever before, determining both how to maintain prices for consumers to remain competitive, but also looking at ways to reduce - or at least maintain - production costs in both the short and longer term,” he added.


Product design students at Nottingham Trent University have come up with a range of innovative packaging ideas for Nestlé chocolate bars. The food and nutrition company challenged students to reinvent the buying and consuming experience for its chocolate and selected three packaging solutions, elements of which are now being explored for development into production. Students spent six weeks on the project – looking specifically at 160/170g bars – following an initial briefing by Nestle’s


packaging team. The winning student was Jack Fisher, whose design involved the development of innovative approaches and considerations to opening the ‘primary’ chocolate wrapper. His ideas, along with two runners-up, are now being used as preliminary work to be further developed by the company. Ben Mortimer, principal packaging designer at Nestlé, said: “We were really impressed by the ability of the students to deliver innovative packaging design work within a tight timescale.”


Food and drink industry bounces back at IFE11


management’s expectations. Commenting, Ron Marsh, RPC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is very pleasing to see that the overall performance of the group has improved. I am confident in the group’s growth prospects based on leading market positions, good technological capabilities and exciting new product initiatives.”


The organiser of IFE11, Fresh RM, has announced an increase in visitor numbers to the recent show, resulting in a total attendance of 28,315 (subject to ABC audit). A busy and vibrant show left exhibitors and visitors who attended from 13-16 March 2011 in no doubt that the UK’s largest food and drink trade show is still the leading event of its kind in the industry calendar. During the four-day event, buyers from retailers, wholesalers and foodservice outlets descended on ExCeL from all corners of the


globe, to source the newest products and ingredients from 1,137 exhibitors, covering 55 countries.Christopher McCuin, IFE11’s event director, said: “The feedback from this year’s IFE has been fantastic. Exhibitors have remarked on the number of high quality business leads they have received from exhibiting at the event. The amount of business being conducted during the showº clearly demonstrates that the food and drink industry has turned the corner and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”


Students design packaging for Nestlé chocolate bars


diary dates


May - Sept 2011


21-22 MAY Bath Coffee Festival www.bathcoffeefestival. co.uk RECREATION GROUND, BATH The UK’s only annual coffee festival, with headline sponsor confirmed as coffee merchant Taylors of Harrogate.


28-30 MAY Foodies Festival www.foodiesfestival.com HAMPTON COURT PALACE, LONDON


Celebrating the finest in seasonal food and drink, speciality and local produce and local restaurant talent.


15-19 JUNE


BBC Good Food Show www.bbcgoodfoodshow summer.com


NEC, BIRMINGHAM The most sizzling day of summer food, celebrity chefs and delicious seasonal produce.


4-6 SEPTEMBER


Speciality & Fine Food Fair www.specialityandfine foodfairs.co.uk OLYMPIA, LONDON The definitive event for showcasing artisan food and drink to trade buyers.


27-29 SEPTEMBER PPMA www.ppmashow.co.uk NEC, BIRMINGHAM Find an array of live packaging machinery on display to help make the best investment decisions.


29-30 SEPTEMBER lunch! www.lunchshow.co.uk OLD BILLINGSGATE, LONDON The contemporary food-to- go show with the industry’s latest innovations and products.


To publicise your event, please send details via email to rebecca.hubbard@onecoms.co.uk.


FMCG News 5


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