NEWS | Industry Updates New production facility for AMC Group


AMC Group has unveiled its first purpose-built factory for freshly-squeezed juice and a variety of plant-based and free-from products in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. The new 55,000ft2 site has


created over 100 jobs and aims to supply the growing demand for healthier food options.


Build on the £11m facility started in February 2018 and production of dairy-free


products, baby food and soups started in August. The new juice facility, which has the capability to provide the whole of the UK with freshly-squeezed juice, came online in April 2019. In order to meet this demand, the bespoke plant can squeeze 960 oranges per minute, delivering 50% of the fruit weight as juice via six juice extractors. The juicing process ensures there is consistency in the volume of pulp within the final product, which has historically been an issue with freshly-squeezed juice. Now fully operational, AMC Group has secured Sainsbury’s as its first customer


for freshly-squeezed juice and has just started production of a number of premium lemonades for Waitrose’s Truly Scrumptious summer range. In addition to providing juice to large retailers and wholesalers, the site is


producing dairy-free and allergen-free yoghurt for Rebel Kitchen, and healthy, plant-based soups for brands including Bol. Mike Bullock, fresh foods director at AMC Group, commented: “There’s an


exciting future in store for the site. Plant-based products are in huge demand and there is a gap in the market for a dairy-free factory producing fresh, quality products at scale. Freshly-squeezed juice is in double digit growth in the UK compared to a relatively flat juice market and we can deliver in terms of consistency way better than ever before.” Sustainability was an important part of the build as Terry Haigh, managing


director of the new factory, added: “Everything has been purpose-built so, not only do we have the latest technology for food manufacturing, we also have solar panels to provide a fifth of the site’s energy and we have a ‘zero to landfill’ commitment to environmentally responsible practices. All our waste water is recycled after particles are sieved out and the fruit peels will be used for animal feed or fuel pellets.”


Hydration – the facts The British Water Cooler Association (BWCA) has launched two new hydration fact sheets in its series called Why Water Matters. The sector-specific guidance notes are for those in the dental and retail sectors, both identified by the Association's members as being areas where healthy hydration and sustainability are of particular interest. The launch of the latest titles brings the total in the series to eight. They describe ‘Why Water Matters' for: • children • construction workers • dental practices • food service and catering workers • hotels • public sector workers • retailers • salons and spas. These publications provide information of the hydration benefits offered by water coolers and remind building managers that the BWCA represents those who supply and distribute water coolers and related products and services. All the documents provide a link to the website which enables potential clients to choose an accredited BWCA company http://www.bwca.org.uk/find-a- member.php The hydration fact sheets describe the


Global fintech company expands its


card present cashless services in Asia Nayax, the cashless solution provider for the unattended market, has joined forces with First Data Singapore, a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions. Following the successful partnership in Australia, Nayax and First Data is bringing its award-winning services to more countries in South East Asia, starting with Singapore. This collaboration allows Nayax to expand in the Asian market, providing operators with enhanced service, and advanced payment technologies. Nayax already has a presence in Singapore’s vending machine, photo booths,


electronic lockers, and kiddie rides markets, and will deploy its award-winning terminals to a variety of new automatic retail segments across the island country. The partnership with First Data will provide consumers the ability to pay with


credit cards, debit cards, as well as mobile wallets at machines with Nayax card reader devices. More alternative payment methods will be added to the card readers in the near future, offering even greater flexibility to consumers.


importance of promoting healthy hydration and give advice on choosing the correct coolers for particular needs and locations. The dental fact sheet points to the value


of hydrating patients before appointments and the way in which the practice can help set an example, especially for families with children. The retail fact sheet reminds retailers that


offering simple hospitality in the form of a refreshing drink can help boost dwell-time and encourage refilling of reusable water bottles to demonstrate the store's sustainability ambitions. Finally, each fact sheet includes is a simple visual hydration chart helping people to check whether they are correctly hydrated. The guidance is available direct from BWCA or via BWCA members.


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