This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
NEWS | Industry Updates Businesses come together to urge


Government to can the soft drinks tax Organisations representing thousands of small businesses and their employees across the UK have launched a campaign calling on the new Government to ‘can’ George Osborne’s soft drinks tax. ‘Face the Facts, Can the Tax’ is supported by a coalition of British businesses who have


come together to highlight the damaging economic consequences of the tax and urge the Government to rethink the policy and focus instead on proven solutions that will address obesity. The group includes soft drinks manufacturers, wholesalers, small shops, newsagents, restaurants, bars, and pubs. The launch comes as a new report from Oxford Economics has highlighted the worrying economic damage the proposed soft drinks tax could have on British industry. The report predicts a loss of more than 4,000 jobs across the UK and a decline of £132 million in economic output. The same report predicts that calorie consumption will drop by just five calories per person


per day as a result of the tax – the equivalent of a bite of an apple. Meanwhile, between 2004 and 2014, sales of ‘full sugar’ soft drinks fell 44%, and now contribute less than 3% of calories in the diet, yet obesity increased by around 4% in this same period. The group recognises that


tackling obesity is a major public health challenge in the UK. The group wishes to work with the Government and other stakeholders to deliver effective and holistic policy solutions.


INDUSTRY CALENDAR


AVA Southern Golf Day 14 September


Burnham Beeches, Slough AVEX Ballot


29th September NEC


EVEX 24-25 November 2016


InterContinental Carlton, Cannes, France


Vendex North 8 November 2016


Old Trafford, Manchester Café Biz Expo


10 November 2016 Old Trafford, Manchester


NAMA’s Coffee, Tea & Water (CTW)


7-10 November 2016 Nashville, Tenessee


UCC Coffee UK & Ireland’s roastery achieves highest BRC rating


Total coffee solution provider UCC Coffee UK & Ireland has achieved a Grade AA rating in its latest British Retail Consortium audit – the highest possible rating.


The company’s flagship roastery, based in Dartford, Kent,


achieved the rating following a rigorous two-day inspection. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is the leading trade association for UK retailing, and its standards are recognised internationally as marks of quality. It has recently updated its inspection criteria, implementing additional clauses and requirements to create the new grade, ‘AA’ for exceptional site standards. Rahul Ghosh, director of roastery operations, commented: “This is


a fantastic achievement and validates not only our systems and procedures, but also our culture of continuous improvement. Our commitment to coffee excellence and quality extends across the business, from buying and roasting to grading, developing and blending. It’s important that our customers have confidence in our process and our product, and achieving the highest grade accreditation from the British Retail Consortium is a ringing endorsement of the site’s integrity.”


4 | vendinginternational-online.com


Listeria in chilled food


The Food Standards Agency has recently published new guidance on reducing the risk of vulnerable groups contracting listeria. It relates to chilled food supplied to hospitals, care homes and nursing homes. While very few operator members provide chilled food to these environments, the current focus on listeria, and the severe effects it can have on people with a weakened immune system, make it worthwhile to take note of the guidance. The new guidance focusses on two main aspects: the need to


source from a reliable supplier and the need to keep the product cold through its entire shelf life. Chilled food for these high risk clients should only be bought


from professional manufacturers who have been audited, preferably by an independent auditing company. It is not acceptable to buy sandwiches from a local shop and put these in a machine. The guidance emphasises that chilled food for these high risk


environments should be kept at no more than 5°C. This means it should be below 5°C when received by the operator, kept in chilled containers and loaded into the machine at less than 5. Listeria is one of the few harmful bacteria that will grow between 5°C and 8°C which is why the temperature is less than that specified in the temperature control regulations. For further information


from the Food Standards Agency on Listeria in chilled food, visit www.food.gov.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32