Blue cheese under the microscope thanks to Food and Drink iNet

Dr Kostas Gzatzionis & Food & Drink iNet advisor Jo Murphy 

Scientists are putting the East Midlands’ famous blue cheeses under the microscope in a research project that aims to explain exactly what gives the cheeses their distinctive taste, texture and smell.


The Food and Drink iNet is supporting research being carried out by The University of Northampton in conjunction with The University of Nottingham to delve into the microbiology of blue cheese production.

The researchers hope to unravel the mystery of exactly how the microorganisms in blue cheese work…leading to greater quality, consistency and fewer defects in production.

The project could ultimately help East Midlands’ blue cheeses to take a larger slice of the global blue cheese market by making regional cheese producers more competitive.

The research project is one of five Collaborative Research and Development grants worth a total of more than £245,000 announced by the Food and Drink iNet, which co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet is one of four regional iNets that has developed an effective network to link academic and private sector expertise and knowledge with local food and drink business innovation needs.

“This is an exciting research project between The University of Northampton and The University of Nottingham, with far-reaching potential for one of the East Midlands’ most famous products and exports,” said Food and Drink iNet interim director Richard Worrall. “We don’t really know exactly how the various microorganisms in blue cheeses are interacting and working, so if we can help to provide a clearer picture about their role in blue cheese production it will help cheese producers in a number of different ways, and ultimately make them more competitive.

“The Food and Drink iNet Collaborative Research and Development support is designed to provide help for innovative research schemes that will benefit the food and drink sector in the future, and this fits the bill perfectly.”

The team, which also includes Stichelton Dairy Ltd, based on the Welbeck Estate, Nottinghamshire, has been awarded almost £49,000 towards the cost of the research project of just over £79,000.

The research is being run by Dr Kostas Gkatzionis, a researcher in the School of Health at The University of Northampton, in conjunction with his colleague Prof Carol Phillips, and Prof Christine Dodd and Dr Robert Linforth from The University of Nottingham. Dr Kostas Gkatzionis studied the microflora of Stilton for his PhD. Now this research is being widened to look at the role played by secondary flora - microorganisms that have not been added or controlled by the producer but which appear in the cheese during production.

This secondary flora has a significant impact on the properties of the final product in both a positive way by contributing to the flavour of the cheese, but also in a negative way by producing bitter smells and poor formation of the blue veins.

By discovering exactly how this secondary flora works, researchers hope that blue cheese producers will be able not only to improve current varieties of cheese but also that this will pave the way to the development of new cheeses.

“We are very pleased to receive this grant from the Food and Drink iNet for our research, which will help us to understand in more detail the microbiological issues that concern the production of cheeses, and as a result should bring a range of benefits to the blue cheese industry of the East Midlands, and also the cheese industry more generally,” said Dr Gkatzionis.

The research findings will be shared with cheese producers across the UK.

The Food and Drink iNet aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes. It is managed by a consortium, led by the Food and Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information visit www.eminnovation.org.uk/food

http://www.perfect10pr.co.uk/

Nottingham bread manufacturer Butt Foods launches new sub roll range after support from the Food and Drink iNet

A Nottingham bread manufacturer celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2010 has launched a new range of products after receiving support from the Food and Drink iNet.


Butt Foods Ltd received support worth £3,800 from the iNet to develop five flavours in its new Big Softy sub roll range. This also enabled the firm to develop interactive marketing materials to support the sale of the Big Softy sub rolls into the food service, sandwich manufacturer, and retail markets.

The range has been such a success that the firm is poised to launch Big Softy sub rolls in sliced versions at London contemporary food trade exhibition Lunch! 2010 at the end of September.

“The Big Softy sub rolls have been a great success from day one of their launch – our sales have shown 50% quarter on quarter growth,” said Butt Foods sales and marketing director David Williams.

“As bakery innovators, we are always looking to lead the way and be up there with any trend, and there is currently a huge demand from universities, colleges, hospitals, leisure centres, cafés and other similar outlets for sub rolls.

“The Food and Drink iNet support helped us to develop five flavours of the Big Softy and also gave us assistance with interactive marketing, which means we can add downloadable recipes and information to our website that will give our customers ideas about how they can use the sub rolls. The Food and Drink iNet has been a big help to us as we open the latest chapter in the life of Butt Foods, which is this year marking its 20th anniversary.”

Butt Foods, which is based in Nottingham, received £3,800 worth of Innovation, Advice and Guidance support from the iNet. The company matched this support with its own investment.

The iNet helps food and drink firms engage expertise from academia, research institutions and specialist business advice for innovation projects to develop new ideas, new products, new processes and to help companies grow. 50% of the equivalent cash value of the support must be contributed by the company.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. One of four iNets, it strives to develop an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information visit www.eminnovation.org.uk/food

Founded in 1990 by Mazhar Butt, Butt Foods Ltd produces a wide range of speciality bakery products for food service, retail and catering. It bakes up to 60 million products every year at its purpose-built manufacturing unit.

The business has brought a number of firsts to the table, including flat breads and bread bowls. Its latest innovation, the Big Softy, is available in plain white, plain brown, semolina topped white, honey and oats topped brown, and cheese and herb topped white. Baked in foot-long moulds or as 8 inch sub rolls, the range is available nationally through distributors.

New business advisors join the Food and Drink iNet to support companies in the sector in the East Midlands

Jo Murphy

Catherine Wright

Three new business advisors have been appointed to help food and drink firms in the East Midlands to develop.


The Food and Drink iNet advisors will support companies to implement new ideas, new products and new processes with the aim of helping them to grow their business through innovation.

The Food and Drink iNet has been supporting the sector across the region for more than two years with a team of advisors. But now, for the first time and following the launch of phase two of the Food and Drink iNet, there is a dedicated advisor for each large county in the East Midlands.

“This expansion of the Food and Drink iNet advisory team means that we can build on the advice and support that we offer to businesses working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands,” said Food and Drink iNet director Andrew Butterwick. “In the current climate, innovation is essential to ensure that the regional food and drink industry continues to develop and remain competitive.

“The support provided by the iNet during the first two years of the project was welcomed by food and drink manufacturers in the region as an original way of supporting and encouraging innovation in the sector in the East Midlands. We intend to build on this in the future via a number of different channels, and are delighted to welcome additional advisors to our team.”

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. One of four iNets, it strives to develop an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The new Food and Drink iNet advisors are Jo Murphy, who is covering Northamptonshire, Stevie Jackson, who is supporting businesses in Leicestershire and Rutland, and Catherine Wright, who is covering Nottinghamshire. All have experience of business support and the food and drink sector.

They join iNet advisors Paul Sheppard, who is responsible for support in Derbyshire, and Rachel Linstead, who covers Lincolnshire. Susan Tate, who previously covered Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, has moved to become contract and project manager at the Food and Drink iNet.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

Contact an advisor by visiting www.eminnovation.org.uk/food or calling 0845 521 2066.

New director joins Food and Drink iNet

Andrew Butterwick has been appointed the new director of the Food and Drink iNet as the East Midlands-wide project launches phase two of its support for the food and drink sector in the region.


Andrew has wide experience of both the food and drink industry, and business support.

He joins the Food and Drink iNet team from Business Link Yorkshire, where he was a business advisor. Before that he was managing director of ATB Associates Ltd, providing consultancy, advice and resource management, operational management, process mapping and technical training to the food sector.

“I am very pleased to be joining the Food and Drink iNet at such an exciting time when we are moving into phase two of the project, and I am relishing the opportunity to have such a key role in encouraging innovation in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands,” said Andrew.

“Along with the rest of the Food and Drink iNet team, I am looking forward to building on the success of the first two years of the project.”

Funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. The iNet strives to develop an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

During the initial two-year phase of the Food and Drink iNet, more than 300 businesses in the region were supported, Innovation Support Grants were given to 57 firms, and funding was provided for nine university collaboration projects. It also ran a successful series of events that attracted more than 650 delegates from 150 businesses to look at some of the key industry issues, as well as staging three best practice factory visits.

Now the second phase of the Food and Drink iNet has begun and there are plans to build on the work that’s already been achieved in supporting food and drink manufacturers in the East Midlands, as well as increase the number of advisors at the iNet.

“Phase one of the Food and Drink iNet was welcomed by food and drink manufacturers in the region as an original way of supporting and encouraging innovation in the sector in the East Midlands,” said Food and Drink iNet director Andrew Butterwick.

“We are very pleased to have started a second phase of the Food and Drink iNet, and intend to continue supporting food and drink firms in the region via a number of different channels. This will include a ‘collaborate to innovate’ programme that brings together academia with groups of individual businesses looking to resolve common problems through innovation.

“We also plan to run a project to bring the engineering and food and drink sectors together, by helping engineering firms to diversify into the food and drink sector and by helping the food and drink sector to find innovative solutions to improve their process and efficiency.”

Andrew, who is based in the Business Centre at Southglade Food Park, Gala Way, Nottingham, has gained his experience through a number of roles during his career, including factory manager and then operations director at ethnic foods company Westmill Foods and operations manager at Bowmans Milling.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

Food and Drink iNet factory visits help East Midlands businesses and academics learn from each other

More than 50 delegates have taken part in factory visits organised by the Food and Drink iNet.

They were given the chance to learn from some of the biggest names in the business in a series of three visits designed to highlight best practice ways of working.

Burton-upon-Trent brewery Molson Coors, British Sugar plc at Newark-on-Trent, and Rolls-Royce in Derby all threw open their doors to fellow East Midlands companies and academics to illustrate how they operate and stay ahead of the competition.

It was the chance for delegates from a wide range of businesses and universities to discover some of the latest techniques and production processes.

Aimed at food and drink manufacturers and academics linked to the food industry, the visits were designed to encourage more efficient and effective production across the East Midlands food and drink sector.

”Companies can learn a lot from each other, and we were very grateful and pleased that three enterprises such as Molson Coors, British Sugar and Rolls-Royce agreed to host these visits,” said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet project director. “I hope the visits will help delegates with future development and innovation at their own organisations.”

Martin Brittain, technical manager at Bilsthorpe-based Chantenay carrot and roots specialists Freshgro Ltd, joined the best practice visit to British Sugar plc at Newark.

“As I work for a company that washes and packs Chantenay and other roots, we have certain things in common with a business like British Sugar. We are both dealing with a natural product that is always varying but we need to produce a high, common standard,” said Martin.

“The visit was very useful, especially to see how they control maintenance and shift patterns, as this is an area that we are looking at currently. The best practice factory visits have been a useful concept, and I am sure that many of those who took part were able to learn about lots of different issues from some of the large and successful companies in the region.”

The Food and Drink iNet aims to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It also hopes to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham.

For more information about the Food and Drink iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

iThrive event featuring Loyd Grossman organised by the Food and Drink iNet as part of the 2010 East Midlands iFestival

Celebrity foodie Loyd Grossman OBE, former professional poker player Caspar Berry and serial entrepreneur Jonathan Hick will be the key ingredients of an event organised by the Food and Drink iNet for this year’s iFestival.

The three have been unveiled as speakers at the iThrive event being held at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, on March 25th.

It is part of the 2010 East Midlands iFestival taking place from 12th March to 23rd April, which is the largest annual celebration of innovation in the UK and features more than 150 activities across the region. The iFestival is being co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation (the region’s innovation council).

Aimed at businesses connected to the food and drink industry in the East Midlands, the iThrive event will turn the spotlight on the latest innovations in the sector, review the contribution of branding and reputation to a successful business, explore the theory and science behind risk and its role in decision making, and provide inspiration for the future.

It will also celebrate the Food and Drink iNet Working Parties which have been running across the region over recent months to explore specific areas of the food and drink sector.

“The Food and Drink iNet iThrive event promises to be a very interesting and informative session, and will also give us the chance to review the insights which have been discovered by the working parties,” said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet Director.

“It has all the ingredients for an inspirational and thought-provoking day, plus the chance for businesses to meet others in the sector.”

Television presenter Loyd Grossman, who has a range of sauces, soups and other products, will kick off the event by looking at branding and reputation. His speech will be followed by an interactive workshop led by Caspar Berry, a former professional poker player and co-founder of Twenty First Century Media.

Caspar will be using game playing to provide insights into risk, uncertainty and the science of decision making.

The event will culminate with a networking dinner to provide opportunities to discover more about the Food and Drink iNet and how the iNet can help businesses thrive and grow. Serial entrepreneur and self-made millionaire Jonathan Hick, who recently appeared on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire, is to be guest speaker.

Running from 1.30pm to 9.30pm, tickets for the iThrive event are free by contacting enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk.

The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It’s also hoping to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

For further information about the iFestival and East Midlands Innovation please visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

iShowcase event organised by the Food and Drink iNet as part of the 2010 East Midlands iFestival

A foretaste of future developments in the food and drink sector will be unveiled as part of the 2010 East Midlands iFestival.

Details of nine research projects being undertaken by the region’s universities which have the potential to shape the future of the food and drink industry will be revealed.

The projects have received grant support of £445,000 for research and development through the Food and Drink iNet’s Higher Education Collaboration Fund.

The schemes will come under the spotlight at an iShowcase event on March 23rd at the Sir Colin Campbell Building, The University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Nottingham.

The event is part of the 2010 East Midlands iFestival taking place from 12th March to 23rd April, which is the largest annual celebration of innovation in the UK and features more than 150 activities across the region. The iFestival is being co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation (the region’s innovation council).

“For those involved in the food and drink industry, this event provides an insight into the science that sits behind the future innovations and technologies of the food and drink sector,” said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet Director. “It’s also a fantastic opportunity to explore potential solutions to the challenges faced by food and drink sector businesses across the East Midlands.”

Among the projects being unveiled at the iShowcase event is a research project between De Montfort University and Loughborough University to reduce the problem of lumps in powdered food, known as caking, which has challenged food manufacturers for decades; a collaboration between The University of Lincoln, Nottingham Trent University and The University of Northampton to improve heat sealing for packaging to help reduce waste and provide higher levels of performance by getting it right first time; a research project by The University of Leicester and The University of Nottingham to measure the quality and ripeness of fruit without touching it using real time mass spectrometry; and a collaboration between Nottingham Trent University and The University of Nottingham to study the most common cause of bacterial food-borne illness worldwide, campylobacter coli, in organic and free-range poultry.

Other projects include a collaboration between Loughborough University and The University of Nottingham to kill bugs using Cold Atmospheric Plasma; a project between The Food Packaging Research Laboratory at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Lincoln to develop a new food packaging material that destroys bugs and reduces waste; a study to look at food structure effects on body hydration being carried out by The University of Nottingham and Loughborough University; a collaboration between Nottingham Trent University, The University of Nottingham and Cosmos Biomedical Limited to assess the safety of powdered foods; and The Silica Joint Health Supplement Project to improve welfare by strengthening the legs of poultry, being undertaken by Nottingham Trent University in collaboration with The University of Nottingham.

Running from 9am to 4pm, tickets for the iShowcase event are free. Delegates can attend all or part of the day, but must pre-register. Visit www.eminnovation.org.uk or email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk for more information.

The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It’s also hoping to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

Lincolnshire drinks firm says 'cheers' to Food and Drink iNet Innovation Support Grant for help with Percy's range

Drinks entrepreneur Claire Hall is ready to speed up production of her alcoholic iced tea range after receiving an Innovation Support Grant (ISG) from the Food and Drink iNet.

Claire has been hand producing her two flavours since launching Drink It Limited six years ago. But the £4,600 ISG has helped her to research the best equipment to automate the process, and now she is hoping to move the business forward.

“Manually I can produce 300 bottles a day, but it’s a struggle and not consistent,” explained Claire. “The Food and Drink iNet Innovation Support Grant has helped me to find out what equipment I need to automate the process. Now I need to invest in the equipment.”

Claire, who is based at Kirton Holme, near Boston, worked with experts at Nottingham Trent University on trials and tests to pinpoint the most suitable brewing vessels for her alcoholic iced tea, which is a blend of fruit juice, iced tea and vodka.

The equipment chosen will allow her to produce 2,000 bottles a day.

“The process will be less manual, the product will be more consistent and I will be complying with all the regulations,” added Claire. “The ISG has enabled me to go to the next stage in my business. Now I am looking to secure investment.”

Claire produces the Percy’s range of alcoholic iced tea. She currently has two flavours – mango and lemon and lime – but she hopes to expand the range in the future and use seasonal and local fruits to create new flavours.

The Innovation Support Grant also allowed her to work with University of Nottingham spin-out company Flavometrix.

The Food and Drink iNet Lincolnshire business adviser Rachel Linstead said: “Innovation Support Grants are designed to encourage innovation in businesses, and Claire’s plans for Drink It Limited are the perfect example of how innovation, in this case by automation, can help a business to develop.”

The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It’s also hoping to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

Around £250,000 in Innovation Support Grants has been allocated to around 50 food and drink firms across the East Midlands by the Food and Drink iNet since the iNet was launched in 2008. The iNet hopes to have more funding allocated as part of a new contract in 2010, said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet project director.

Firms wanting more information should contact the Food and Drink iNet on 0845 521 2066 or visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

For information about support for innovation that is available in the East Midlands, visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

Food and Drink iNet grant helps hamper company wrap up website development

A hamper gift company celebrating 25 years in business has launched new services on its website, thanks to a grant from the Food and Drink innovation Network (iNet).

Lincolnshire-based Hay Hampers has used the Innovation Support Grant (ISG) to develop its website and introduce a system that automatically alerts customers when someone’s birthday, anniversary or special occasion is coming up.

The grant has also allowed Hay Hampers to add a personalised labelling service for its champagnes and wines at its website www.hampers.co.uk – marking the start of the next chapter in the family firm’s life.

The moves are designed to use the latest technology to promote the firm’s fine food and wine hamper gifts all year round, and help increase sales throughout the year.

“Christmas is very important to us, as it’s the time of year that traditionally hampers are sent,” said Rachel Marshall Roberts, who runs Hay Hampers with husband Jeremy in Corby Glen, near Grantham. “But fine food and wine make perfect gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions all year round, as well as being ideal for corporate gifts, so we have introduced additional promotion and marketing tools at www.hampers.co.uk.

“The grant has allowed us to install a reminder service to customers, a personalised labelling system for wine and champagne gifts, and will also support the marketing and promotion of these new services. I am looking forward to dealing with companies and private individuals that have a culture of giving and rewarding…people who haven’t got time to go out shopping but want to give something really nice to people.”

Hay Hampers was launched in 1984, and initially began selling hampers to businesses in Leicestershire and the East Midlands, before gradually expanding and gaining customers worldwide. It now offers hampers for a range of occasions from just under £30 to £500.

After receiving an Innovation Support Grant of £7,600, Hay Hampers hopes to increase its penetration into the corporate market and supply hampers as part of company motivation schemes, for golf days and as gifts to employees, customers and clients.

The new reminder service is also aimed at helping customers to remember special birthdays and events, and encourage them to send a gift via Hay Hampers.

“We want to get across the message that a hamper isn’t just for Christmas,” added Rachel.

The Food and Drink iNet Lincolnshire business adviser Rachel Linstead said: “Innovation Support Grants are designed to encourage innovation in businesses, and this project at Hay Hampers fitted the bill perfectly. The firm is making use of new technology, and opening a new chapter in its life.”

The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It’s also hoping to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

Around £250,000 in Innovation Support Grants has been allocated to around 50 food and drink firms across the East Midlands by the Food and Drink iNet since the iNet was launched in 2008. The iNet hopes to have more funding allocated as part of a new contract in 2010, said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet project director.

Firms wanting more information should contact the Food and Drink iNet on 0845 521 2066 or visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

For information about support for innovation that is available in the East Midlands, visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

Sales shoot up for pie maker after Food and Drink iNet innovation support grant

Online sales shot up by 600% in just one week after a Nottinghamshire pie maker received a grant from the Food and Drink iNet to revamp its website.


Lime Tree Pantry experienced a massive leap in the number of customers buying its pies during the first week following the website redesign.

Sales went up from a typical £333 per week to more than £2,331 in the first seven days.

“We are absolutely delighted with our new website made possible with a grant from the Food and Drink iNet,” said managing director of Ollerton-based Lime Tree Pantry Damien Toms.

The revamp was carried out by Voice Brand Design, of Leicester, who was called in to help ensure that Lime Tree Pantry’s online store achieved its sales targets.

Damien said: “Voice Brand Design have opened our eyes to what using a professional marketing agency can do for sales. It has delivered on all our objectives and I am confident that the site will continue to smash targets and help us to reach new customers.”

David Wallace, Innovation Director at East Midlands Development Agency (emda), which funds the iNet, said: “I am delighted that Lime Tree Pantry’s profits have soared thanks to the Innovation Support Grant from our Food and Drink iNet. Their success demonstrates that businesses in the food and drink sector within the East Midlands are at the forefront of the development and implementation of new and exciting ideas. This is why emda believes that it is so important to support and promote innovation in the region through the iNet. I hope that other businesses within the sector will be inspired by their achievement.”

Lime Tree Pantry received a £5,967 Innovation Support Grant from the Food and Drink iNet, which the firm match-funded, to improve its customer relationship management.

The company, which was founded in 1991 and produces more than 10,000 fruit and savoury pies each week, opted to give its website a major overhaul to encourage traffic visiting the site to place more orders.

Results from launch week have been a staggering success, added Damien.

Voice Brand Design creative director Tim Harrison said: “We are proud to have helped Lime Tree Pantry with transforming their existing website into a mouth-watering online experience. It showcases the craftsmanship of the products housed in an elegant design, which reflects their brand values.

“We have taken what was a failing sales channel and transformed it into a modern, user friendly and successful website Lime Tree is now proud to promote and customers expect to experience. The results, in increased sales, are speaking for themselves.”

Around £250,000 in Innovation Support Grants has been allocated to around 50 food and drink firms across the East Midlands by the Food and Drink iNet since the iNet was launched in 2008. The iNet hopes to have more funding allocated as part of a new contract next year, said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet project director.

“Innovation Support Grants are designed to make a real difference to a company’s prospects, and I am delighted to hear about the success of Lime Tree Pantry’s innovation,” said Peter Maycock.

The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It’s also hoping to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

Firms wanting more information should contact the Food and Drink iNet on 0845 521 2066 or visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

For information about support for innovation that is available in the East Midlands, visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

British Sugar plc shares recipe for success at Food and Drink iNet visit

British Sugar plc is throwing open its doors to fellow regional businesses as part of a series of factory visits organised by the Food and Drink iNet.

Representatives from food and drink companies across the East Midlands are attending the Newark factory visit on January 28th 2010.

It is one of three being organised across the region by the Food and Drink iNet to highlight best practice ways of working. The aim of the visits is to encourage more efficient and effective production across the East Midlands food and drink sector.

Aimed at food and drink manufacturers and academics linked to the food industry, the visits have been designed to illustrate how firms can keep ahead of their competition.

The series began with a visit to Molson Coors Brewery, Burton-upon-Trent, in October and continues with a visit to Rolls-Royce in Derby on February 4th.

”Companies can learn a lot from each other, and we are delighted that British Sugar plc is hosting this visit and sharing some of its best practice ideas,” said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet director. “Interest from fellow East Midlands companies wanting to attend these visits organised by the Food and Drink iNet has been high, and I’m sure those who go on the British Sugar plc visit to Newark will benefit from seeing at first hand the tools and techniques used by the business.”

The British Sugar plc visit will give companies the opportunity to see how the firm stays at the top through resource efficiency, lean manufacturing, problem solving, coaching and cultural changes in production practices, added Peter.

Bob Howe, Newark British Sugar plc factory manager, said: “The Newark factory aims to be the best performing factory in the British Sugar group, and has a long history stretching back to 1921. We are delighted to be hosting this visit organised by the Food and Drink iNet, so that we can show fellow businesses in the region how the factory has developed and progressed, and how we are continuing the success story.”

British Sugar plc is the leading supplier of sugar to the UK market, supplying more than half of the country’s sugar requirement. The Newark factory is one of four processing units that extract sugar from homegrown sugar beet. It supplies 200,000 tonnes of sugar to food and drink manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

David Wallace, Innovation Director of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) which funds the Food and Drink iNet, said: “These factory visits aim to promote best practice to managers of other regional food and drink businesses who want to develop their own companies. We recognise the importance of people coming together to share expertise and knowledge, it is one of the reasons why the iNets were established, and I am sure that the people who go on these visits will all learn something new that they can apply in their own businesses.”

The Food and Drink iNet aims to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It also hopes to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham.

The visit has proved popular and places are currently fully booked, but to go on the reserve list, contact 01664 420066 or david.walklate@fpfaraday.com

For more information about the Food and Drink iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards winners announced

Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology has been crowned the Food and Drink iNet Innovation Champion 2009 for the development of an exciting new material for food and drink packaging.


Experts at the university successfully solved the problem of leaching in bottles and have taken the technology a step further to add antimicrobial properties which kill or lessen micro-organisms.

During a gala dinner and awards ceremony at Athena in Leicester, the university’s School of Science and Technology was presented with The Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion 2009 award by TV presenter, writer and foodie Hardeep Singh Kohli.

The judges said of the project: “This has the potential to revolutionise the packaging industry and represents a big shift in thinking.”

A number of other awards were also presented during the evening, which attracted 150 representatives from across the East Midlands food and drink sector and was designed to celebrate the uptake and implementation of innovation in the industry in the region.

The winner of the University of Lincoln National Centre for Food Manufacturing Award for Most Innovative SME Food and Drink Manufacturer went to Thornbridge Brewery, Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire. The producer of high quality craft beers launched in 2005 in a ten barrel brewery, and has just opened a new 30 barrel brewery and bottling line after demand outstripped supply.

Judges said: “It is good to see an SME using state-of-the-art technology. We applaud the proactive approach of the brewery’s business drive.”

The winner of the Campden BRI Award for Most Innovative Business across the Food and Drink Supply Chain was presented to Eistechnik, Loughborough, Leicestershire, for the development and advancement of eutectic refrigeration units for trucks, which are more environmentally friendly and less noisy than traditional transport refrigeration methods.

Judges said: “The adaptation of ‘forgotten’ technology ticks all the right innovation and environmental boxes to make this a worthy winner.”

- The CenFRA Award for Most Innovative Research Project was presented to Nottingham Trent University, School of Science and Technology for adapting existing technology to create an innovative solution to solve leaching problems in bottles, and for taking the technology a step further by adding antimicrobial properties which kill or lessen micro-organisms. This project also went on to win The Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion 2009 award.

Judges said: “After providing a real evidence of need, this research offers a solution that has the potential to transform the packaging industry.”

The Food Processing Faraday Award for Most Innovative Large Food and Drink Manufacturer went to Marshalls (part of the Produce World Group), Butterwick, Boston, for the development of a sweeter tasting broccoli, known as bellaverde® and launched in July 2009, created in conjunction with Seminis, the largest developer, grower and marketer of fruit and vegetable seeds.

Judges said: “Lots of determination and effort has been shown to create a new breed of broccoli to be grown in the UK, rather than import one.”

The Nottingham Trent University Award for Most Innovative Business in the Wider Food Sector was presented to Mem Saab, for the establishment of their own tandoori and Indian cuisine skills centre to train chefs for their five tandoori restaurants in the Midlands, including the latest addition to the group, High Cross Restaurant in Leicester. The group has Mem Saab restaurants in Leicester, Northampton, Leamington Spa and Banbury, and trades under the name of City Buffet, Friar Lane, Nottingham.

Judges said: “This represents a proactive approach in addressing a skills shortage problem.”

Peter Maycock, Project Director for the Food and Drink iNet, said: “The Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards have once again shown the high standard of research and enterprise that is being undertaken in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. We have been delighted to see the exciting range of innovation, and congratulate all the winners.”

The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It’s also hoping to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham.

David Wallace, Innovation Director at East Midlands Development Agency (emda), said: “This year we have seen innovation in areas as diverse as the development of antimicrobial agents to kill micro-organisms in bottles, to more environmentally-friendly refrigeration systems - and even the creation of a new form of broccoli.

“These awards demonstrate that businesses in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands are at the forefront of the development and implementation of new and exciting ideas. This is why we believe that it is so important to support and promote innovation in the region through the iNet. I hope that other entrepreneurs in the industry will be inspired by the tremendous achievements of all of the winners and nominees.”

Major brewery shares recipe for success at Food and Drink iNet visit

Molson Coors Brewery threw open its doors to fellow regional businesses as part of a series of factory visits organised by the Food and Drink iNet.

Representatives from around 15 different food and drink companies from across the East Midlands took part in the event at the Burton-on-Trent brewery – the first of three being organised across the region to highlight best practice ways of working.

Aimed at food and drink manufacturers and academics linked to the food and drink industry, the visits are designed to illustrate how firms can keep ahead of their competition. Organisers hope it will help to encourage more efficient and effective production across the East Midlands food sector.

Those attending the Molson Coors visit included representatives of a wide range of businesses, from multi-million pound international organisations to single-operated enterprises.

“This was a great way of learning lessons from a company that is embarking on a journey to implement ‘world class’ practices into an older operational factory,” said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet director.

“I am sure that everyone who attended the visit benefited from seeing at first hand the tools and techniques used by the business.”

The Molson Coors visit began with a networking opportunity and was followed by an introductory talk and presentation about the brewery, and a tour of the production facilities.

It gave companies the opportunity to see how the firm stays at the top through automated process control, remote monitoring, and having operators developed to technician level, added Peter.

Molson Coors (UK) has more than 2,000 employees in the UK and breweries at Burton-on-Trent, Alton and Tadcastle. It is the UK arm of Molson Coors and has a market share of over 20% of the UK beer market. Brands include, Carling, the UK’s best selling lager for three decades, as well as Coors Light, Grolsch, Worthington’s, Caffrey’s, Sol and Cobra.

David Wallace, Innovation Director of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) which funds the Food and Drink iNet, said: “These factory visits aim to promote best practice to managers of other regional food and drink businesses who want to develop their own companies. We recognise the importance of people coming together to share expertise and knowledge, it is one of the reasons why the iNets were established, and I am sure that the people who go on these visits will all learn something new that they can apply in their own businesses.”

Two further factory visits have been arranged by the Food and Drink iNet to British Sugar plc, Newark, on January 28th 2010, and to Rolls-Royce, Derby, on February 4th 2010.

The Food and Drink iNet aims to foster innovation in the region’s food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It also hopes to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham.

For more information about the visits or to reserve a place, contact 01664 420066 or david.walklate@fpfaraday.com

For more information about the Food and Drink iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk