Processing Equipment & Systems, Automation, Control

EIT Food gets massive funding boost to improve food security in Europe

03-Oct-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The world’s largest agrifood community is among the raft of recipients to receive grants from the Citi Foundation’s first-ever Global Innovation Challenge - a new model to identify philanthropic support to community organisations that are developing innovative...

Grupo Bimbo issues call out to collaborate with ‘fledgling’ creations already causing a stir

28-Sep-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The Mexican bakery giant has opened applications for the second round of its Bimbo Open Door Platform, designed to leverage the creativity of startups to boost its presence and competition within the global biscuit and energy bar sectors.

Ingredion, DSM and Tetra Pak club forces to deliver ‘super porridge’ to 2.4 million malnourished schoolkids in Kenya

27-Sep-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The public-private partnership is the first of its kind in Africa, bringing together the three F&B giants with Kenya’s Government and other partners to make life better for millions of the country’s emaciated children with a ready-to-drink ‘super...

Invent, invest and amplify: The inaugural class of innovators leading the charge with Mondelēz’s tech-forward engagement programme

15-Sep-2023 By Gill Hyslop

CoLab Tech is is designed to build a venture pipeline of early-stage snack brands focused on ideas that address tech-driven processes, sustainability and other priority areas for the Oreo maker.

Snackex gears up for Stockholm in 2024

14-Sep-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Held biannually for the past 50+ years, Snackex is considered the ultimate event on the savoury snacks and nuts sector’s annual calendar to showcase new ideas and success stories, to catch up with other industry professionals and to learn from the experts.

Toast makes online ordering a piece of cake for bakers

13-Sep-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The all-in-one tech provider built exclusively for the out-of-home sector has launched the next gen platform to help bakery, café and coffee shop owners add new revenue streams, speed up service with faster workflows, spoil their guests and grow their...

The groundbreaking innovations coming out of Africa

12-Sep-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The ‘Kraken’ - the world’s most advanced palm nut de-sheller; scaling up Madagascar’s spice and herb value chains to benefit poor households; and a disease-free potato strain to combat Africa’s potato shortage are among the winners of Generation Africa’s...

Drilling down into metal detection to avoid product recalls

24-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Any manufacturer worth their (metal-free) salt knows that by installing metal detection systems, they are working their way steadily towards a safer, more productive environment. But what exactly does a metal detector do and how does it effectively protect...

Innovative colour sensors distinguish even the slightest nuances in shade

24-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The UK arm of SICK AG - a global manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications - has expanded its colour sensor portfolio with the launch of CSS and CSX high resolution and high-speed devices.

Rotzinger Group to address food safety and labour challenges at iba 2023

24-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The Swiss automation specialist is set to showcase its advanced Hygienic Conveyor for dry cleaning and the Robot with an Integrated Buffer at iba (22-26 October, Munich, Germany).

Ramping up the future of food innovation

23-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The ability to quickly adapt to customer demands and embrace new technologies are what separate global food and beverage leaders from the rest of the pack.

The rise of the digital snacker

23-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Technological advancements have opened seemingly infinite possibilities for innovation within the snack and bakery industry. We’re in a new era of food manufacturing with the ability to create a more connected experience for consumers and more efficient...

Current energy costs challenge Burton’s biscuit sustainability journey

23-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Burton’s Foods - now operating as Fox’s Burton’s Companies (FBC UK) under a Ferrero-related company - enlisted 42 Technology (42T) to investigate the feasibility of replacing its gas-fired ovens with electric ovens to help cut its carbon emissions.

Real Bread Campaign gears up for 10th annual Sourdough September

22-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

To mark the milestone, the not-for-profit has created a step-by-step Dough Monsters guide to help children nurture their own starter cultures.

The ultimate surf + turf: Innovative commercial baking process-meets-climate smart seaweed gains patent

10-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The Sea & Flour Baking Company’s innovative tech to process sea plants so they can be blended with common grains and flours in the commercial baking process has been granted a patent.

Campbell’s Goldfish crackers get $160m production boost

01-Aug-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Campbell Soup Company is hoping a $160m refurbishment to its Pepperidge Farm bakery in Richmond, Utah, will tip its Goldfish cracker brand over the billion-dollar sales mark.

‘Africa is a focal point for composite flour research’: 3D-printed crackers from African-grown peas and quinoa nabs Mühlenchemie’s Flour Innovation Award

20-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

There are some really exciting developments happening in the composite flour space - particularly coming out of South Africa, Ethiopia and Pakistan - brought to light through MC Mühlenchemie’s Composite Flour Awards to mark its 100th anniversary.

The UK bakery manufacturers aiming to hit that net zero target

18-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

UK government data shows that nearly a third of the UK’s largest businesses have pledged to tackle climate change by eliminating their contribution to carbon emissions by 2050, with several bakery operations standing up to be counted among them.

Are you 100% sure your sandwich-to-go consumers are safe?

18-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Keeping food safe should be a straightforward task but in reality, it has become increasingly challenging for manufacturers to meet safety and authenticity targets. One major concern is verifying that food labels are accurate as they provide vital information...

Don’t get caught in the greenwashing trap

12-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Despite high inflation, the majority of consumers are happy to pay more for products with a sustainable backstory. So there’s money to be made from environmental credentials, which makes falling into the greenwashing trap a bigger temptation than ever...

From grain-free tortillas made from nopales to repurposing wastewater: The 10 Hispanic startups to join PepsiCo’s Juntos Crecemos mentorship series

07-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

For the first time in its history, the snacking giant’s Greenhouse Accelerator Programme is focused on supporting emerging Hispanic businesses that have the potential to bring forth transformative solutions to improve consumer experience, sustainability...

The 6 core principles for brands to cut through the noise and ramp up their carbon communication

05-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

With 61% of UK consumers expressing a lack of trust in the claims many brands use to declare their carbon footprint, producers need to revamp their strategy to stay current in this increasingly pressurised environment, according to a new report released...

UK government-backed whitepaper aims to help SME bakery and snack producers accelerate their net zero plans

04-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The free-to-download document from Made Smarter is designed to simplify a complex and fast-evolving topic by demystifying some of the terminology and analysing the latest research.

Pickle wars (round 2): Grillo’s sues Whole Foods own brand for allegedly stealing recipe

30-Jun-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Litigation addiction is a real thing, but just as Prince Harry has scores to settle, so does Grillo’s Pickles, this time alleging that Patriot Pickle ‘stole’ their beloved proprietary recipes for a line of Whole Food-branded pickles.

Last day to apply for the Healthier Bakery Fund

23-Jun-2023 By Gill Hyslop

In partnership with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland has developed the Healthier Bakery Fund, which provides funding of up to £5,000 to support health reformulation of sweet and savoury bakery products. But to be...

Monster potato crisp factory to get £58m upgrade: Wotsit all about?

07-Jun-2023 By Gill Hyslop

PepsiCo said the £58m investment - the snacking giant’s biggest in the UK for 25 years - will help secure the future of the Leicester factory and position the Walkers brand for further growth in the long term.

PepsiCo inaugurates 1bn zloty climate-smart facility in Poland - its most sustainable snack plant yet

02-Jun-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The global snacking giant has commenced the production of Lay’s and Doritos at its 1bn PLN ($238m) snack plant in the southwestern village of Święte; the company’s biggest investment in the country to date and its first in the EU designed to measure CO2...

Brakes ramps up ambitious plan to harness natural energy across its UK estate

01-Jun-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The UK provider of on-the-go and other foodservice products has completed its second project in a phased programme that will see the company generate renewable energy at its sites across the country.

Avoid the costly business of product recalls by going beneath the surface

30-May-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Annually, around 420,000 people die after consuming contaminated food. These are preventable deaths. To change this status quo and inspire action, in 2018, the United Nation established the World Food Safety Day (WFSD).

Next gen of gluten-free bakery: Scientists take new approach to replicate gluten properties

25-May-2023 By Gill Hyslop

German researchers are using new, tailormade proteins to stabilise the interface between gas bubbles and dough.

PepsiCo debuts new sustainability platform for customers

14-Apr-2023 By Gill Hyslop

PepsiCo has launched pep+ Partners for Tomorrow, designed to support customers as they strive to achieve their own sustainability goals.

It’s full steam ahead to bake healthier treats

04-Apr-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Steam takes baking to a whole new level, reducing costs for the baker, improving sustainability and more importantly, resulting in better-for-you baked goods.

Exploring the complex traditions and technologies behind bread

30-Mar-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Sustainability – environmental and social – health, innovative equipment and the revival of ancient practices are driving trends in the bakery world.

Syntegon gears up for world premier of packaging solution for delicate baked goods at interpack

29-Mar-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Thanks to its gentle handling, the German equipment specialist’s latest distribution station is ideally suited for dainty sliced cakes and baked goods.

‘Sustainable agriculture practices must triple in order to prevent climate change’: Using space to help food manufacturers meet consumer expectations

17-Mar-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Some of the biggest names in the bakery and snacks industries – including Mondelez, Quinn, ADM, PepsiCo, General Mills and Wildfarmed – have signed up to promote the importance of better-for-you farming processes. But there’s so much more to be achieved.

Kettle Brand joins the air fryer revolution

16-Feb-2023 By Gill Hyslop

While the popularity for energy efficient air fryers has rocketed as consumers attempt to offset the cost-of-living crisis, the kitchen gadget also fits in with the healthier living trend, so it’s not surprising the tech has been adopted by the commercial...

SNAXPO23 is rolling out the red carpet for early-stage brands

14-Feb-2023 By Gill Hyslop

SNAC International is gearing up for SNAXPO23 – Orlando, Florida, 19-21 March – which this year places emphasis on supporting startups, examining flavour trends and sharing knowledge.

Mixed industry reactions to the UK’s new sourdough Code of Practice

03-Feb-2023 By Gill Hyslop

Trade groups like Craft Bakers Association, Scottish Bakers and Federation of Bakers have welcomed the UK Baking Industry Code of Practice (CoP) for the Labelling of Sourdough Bread and Rolls. The Real Bread Campaign, on the other hand, remains highly...

Real Bread Campaign warns UK’s new Energy Support Scheme overlooks microbakery sector

10-Jan-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The UK government has unveiled its new Energy Bills Discount Scheme – which does not provide support for businesses with energy costs below the wholesale price threshold – which Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young said likely see many microbakeries...

Report: State of the UK’s artisan bakery sector

09-Nov-2022 By Gill Hyslop

A new report by the Open University Business School reveals the number of small bakery businesses in the UK has increased in recent years, rising to the COVID challenge, but now facing an uncertain future.

Helping producers to cope in this inflationary environment (by slashing €185,000 off annual costs)

01-Nov-2022 By Gill Hyslop

Escalating manufacturing costs are proving a challenge to food manufacturers across the world. To mitigate the impact of today’s pressurised environment, producers need to focus on efficiency, productivity and waste reduction. Product inspection, too,...

Clif Bar champions packaged snacks to tackle food insecurity

28-Oct-2022 By Gill Hyslop

In the latest edition of Current Developments in Nutrition, a study backed by Clif Bar puts forward the first-of-its-kind set of guiding principles to define sustainable, nutritious packaged foods (SNPFs).

Puratos’ venture arm joins forces with Glimpact to help bakery sector reduce its environmental 'foodprint'

14-Oct-2022 By Gill Hyslop

Sparkalis – the corporate venture arm of Puratos Group – and French foodTech startup Glimpact have created a joint venture (JV) to roll out the first digital platform to evaluate and reduce the environmental footprint of the bakery, patisserie and chocolate...

PepsiCo ramps up snacks capacity in Romania

28-Sep-2022 By Gill Hyslop

PepsiCo is investing another $100m – on top of the $320m over the past decade – into Romania, to double the production capacity of its Popești-Leordeni snack plant.

Panera pilots talking restaurant bot to enhance guest experience in drive-thru bakery-cafés

30-Aug-2022 By Gill Hyslop

Drive-thru diners at two of Panera Bread café in greater Rochester, NY, will be greeted by a proprietary voice ordering AI tech called Tori, which has been developed by OpenCity to maximise efficiency and increase speed of orders.

The 2022 Best in Baking recipients pioneering the bakery of the future

30-Aug-2022 By Gill Hyslop

Grupo Bimbo’s sustainably baked Supán & OroWeat 100% Whole Grain Organic Bread, Dawn Foods’ Women’s Leadership Development Programme and Apex Motion Control’s Baker-Bot are among the raft of recipients to receive the coveted Best in Baking Awards...

Zero Waste Boxes allow eco-conscious bakery and snack producers to recycle once ‘unrecyclable’ equipment

20-Jul-2022 By Gill Hyslop

TerraCycle has created a range of Zero Waste Boxes, designed to allow manufacturers to recycle once ‘unrecyclable’ items used in food-contact environments, giving them a ‘second’ life and saving thousands of pieces of plastic from landfill.

Real Bread Campaign’s call for support

15-Jul-2022 By Gill Hyslop

The Real Bread Campaign is calling on bakers, retailers, caterers and passionate bread advocates to underscore its mission to get Defra to consider its Honest Crust Act, as well as to consider everyone in the upcoming month-long ‘bread for all’ event.

EIT Food Accelerator Network welcomes high-impact class of 2022

24-Jun-2022 By Gill Hyslop

Green Spot Technologies – interviewed by BakeryandSnacks at the start of its journey in 2019 – was among the 61 standout startups selected by EIT Food to receive additional support and investment opportunities to accelerate their growth.

Video interview: Hostess set to sweeten its business for another century

15-Jun-2022 By Gill Hyslop

A decade after bankruptcy, Hostess Brands is thriving under CEO Andy Callahan, who has prioritised innovation to turn the century-old maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Donettes into a snacking powerhouse.