East Midlands food and drink sector comes together at event

One of the region’s leading food and drink sector organisations, The Food and Drink Forum, will be hosting a network dinner event next month.

The Food and Drink Forum, which was founded in 1998, has members across the East Midlands and in partnership with the Food and Drink iNet, aims to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the region.

This year’s annual members’ supper and networking event will take place on Wednesday 19^th November at Southwell Racecourse, Rolleston in Nottinghamshire. Up to 150 people connected to the industry from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire are expected to attend.

A range of key speakers will be speaking, and the event will feature a supper of ingredients donated and supplied by local food and drink manufacturers.

“The Food and Drink Forum’s annual members’ supper is the chance for people who work in the food and drink sector across the region to come together, share their news, discover more about the latest issues affecting the industry and to network and make valuable contacts,” said Food and Drink Forum general manager Fay Davies.

“This year we have chosen a new venue, at Southwell Racecourse, and have developed a new format separate from our AGM, as we aim to create an informal environment conducive for business networking between members.” 

Sponsored by the Food and Drink iNet (Innovation Network), the members’ supper runs from 5pm to 9pm and will include presentations from a number of food and drink manufacturers in the region. Guests will include members and representatives from partner organisations such as local enterprise partnerships, UK Trade & Investment, chambers of commerce and other key suppliers to support business growth.

Tickets are available for £35 (plus VAT), however Food and Drink Forum members receive a complimentary ticket, and exhibition space is available for £50 (plus VAT) for companies looking to further promote their services. For more details email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The Food and Drink Forum is based at the Business Centre, Southglade Food Park in Nottingham. It delivers the European Regional Development-funded Food and Drink iNet (Innovation Network), which co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the region. The Forum also provides technical and business support to farmers, primary processors, food manufacturers, caterers and retailers. 

For more information visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food and Drink iNet launches new phase of support for East Midlands food and drink businesses

Food and drink firms across the East Midlands are to continue to receive support for innovation projects after the Food and Drink iNet secured funding until 2015.

The iNet has helped hundreds of businesses across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland since it launched in 2008.

Run by business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum, the iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the region.

It provides match-funded grants for eligible projects, business consultation and advice, and supports collaboration projects involving university expertise, as well as research projects that are relevant to the sector.

Now the iNet has announced that it has received additional funding of £669,893 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which means that support for the region’s sector will continue until the end of March 2015.

“This is great news for the food and drink industry in the East Midlands,” said Food and Drink iNet innovation advisor Jo Murphy.

“Innovation is a key springboard to growth and we know that the iNet’s support has been important in the past in helping businesses to develop. We are looking forward to hearing from food and drink manufacturing firms across the region who are keen to benefit from our expertise.”

The iNet support includes a limited pot of cash which is available for match-funded grants for eligible projects.

The iNet is also continuing its work with universities and is currently part funding projects at the University of Nottingham which are focusing on flavour perception, salt reduction in foods and probiotics.

Other universities across the East Midlands, including Nottingham Trent University, and the universities of Leicester, Lincoln and Northampton, are also part of the iNet steering group.

Based at Southglade Food Park, Gala Way, Nottingham, the Food and Drink iNet has advisors who operate across the region.

For more information visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk or call 0845 521 2066.

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

East Midlands food and drink firms prepare for flagship event

Organisers are planning one of the East Midlands’ key food and drink sector trade events of the calendar.

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum will stage its annual general meeting and members’ supper at Kelham Hall near Newark on Tuesday 25th June 2013.

The event attracts members and associates from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, and is the ideal place for those in the sector to network, renew acquaintances and make new contacts.

The Food and Drink Forum, which was founded in 1998, is working with DNCC to raise awareness about the event, and DNCC plans to invite more than 200 of its members who are buyers within the food and drink industry.

This year’s supper is being sponsored and supported by Campden BRI, the UK's largest independent membership-based organisation carrying out research and development and providing technical support for the food and drinks industry worldwide, Clegg Food Projects, a market leader in providing practical design, engineering and construction solutions for major food and drink operations, and the Food and Drink iNet, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and run by a consortium led by the Food and Drink Forum.

“This is our flagship event of the year, and is highly anticipated by members and associates who work in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands,” said Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson.

“We are delighted that this year we are working with DNCC to promote the event, and as a result we expect to see many new faces joining us.”

This year’s speakers include James Pogson, director of Chesterfield-based Northern Tea Merchants, Kamal Dhutia, director at Leicester-based condiments portion control supplier B I (Europe) Limited, and Phil Ellis, from Attimo – an online sales and distribution project.

Members of The Food and Drink Forum are eligible for free tickets to the event, with the number dependent on their membership level. Additional tickets cost £75 plus vat, with membership discount also available.

Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are also available, offering an ideal showcase for any company that works within the food and drink sector. These include the chance for producers to run sampling sessions and for consultants to promote their services.

A networking, buffet supper rounds off the event – featuring some of the region’s finest food and drink products.

Campden BRI business development manager Daphne Llewellyn Davies said: “Campden BRI is delighted to have been given the opportunity to support local food and drink manufacturing in this region. As an organisation, we have taken part in the event for several years and we look forward to an exciting future of continuing to take a key role in the sector in the East Midlands.”

John Moxon, business development director at Clegg Food Projects, said: “This is an event I always look forward to attending. It provides a great opportunity to meet interesting people directly involved at the sharp end of food and drink manufacture and sale.“

The Food and Drink Forum, which operates across the East Midlands and beyond, is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham. It is a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation which aims to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the region.

It provides a range of support for firms working in the sector in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, including technical services, accreditation, compliance, packaging and shelf-life advice, and marketing.

The Forum is also the lead partner in the Food and Drink iNet, a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which encourages innovation in the region’s food and drink industry.

For information about joining The Food and Drink Forum, tickets to the AGM and members’ supper or exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, please call 0115 9758810.

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Food and Drink Forum appoints new commercial manager

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum has appointed a new commercial manager.

Andrew Collinson has joined the organisation in the new role and will be responsible for promoting The Food and Drink Forum skills and services, and for developing the business through private and public opportunities.

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at the Business Centre at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, operates across the East Midlands and beyond, and is a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation. It was founded in 1998 to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the region.

It provides a range of support for firms working in the sector in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, including technical services, accreditation, packaging and shelf-life advice, compliance, and marketing.

Since its launch, The Forum has forged strong, strategic links with a range of organisations and authorities to help develop the food and drink sector in the region, and has a track record of applying for funds on behalf of the industry. Andrew aims to build on this by developing current links and creating new partnerships and funding opportunities to benefit the food and drink sector across the East Midlands.

The Forum is also the lead partner of the Food and Drink iNet, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and provides innovation support to food and drink producers in the East Midlands.

A former sector development executive at Yorkshire Forward, Andrew said: “I am very pleased to have joined The Forum and I look forward to building on the reputation that the organisation has achieved within the industry as a key sector support body.

“The Forum has been helping companies to grow and develop for many years, and I relish the opportunity to raise awareness and promote the skills and services that it offers and to develop strategic links with public organisations.”

Andrew, who has an MBA in business management from the University of Hull, has more than ten years’ experience in creating and implementing business development projects across various disciplines to support business growth.

Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson said: “Andrew has wide experience within the sector and we welcome him as part of the team.”

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Fine food area joins Thoresby Market

Visitors to Thoresby Market in north Nottinghamshire later this month are being treated to a tasty new fine food attraction.

The market on Sunday 28th April will include a special area dedicated to fine food and drink.

Run by East Midlands Fine Foods on behalf of the market organisers, the area will feature a selection of stalls selling a range of specialist produce such as Mexican food, jams and chutneys, curry pastes, smoothies, local and exotic meats, olive oils and potted beef.

It is the first time the fine food area is being staged, but it could become part of the market’s calendar of events.

Thoresby Market, held at Thoresby Park in Sherwood Forest, is the largest outdoor Sunday market within the East Midlands and attracts visitors from Nottinghamshire, Sheffield and south Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire.

It has been running for more than 25 years, and features over 100 stalls offering a range of products from household items, jewellery, craft items, to clothing and much more.

The fine food area will sit amongst the regular market, which runs from 8am to 3pm.

The pilot project is expected to attract up to 20 specialist food and drink retailers. Any food and drink producers interested in taking part are being urged to contact the organisers on 0115 9758810 as soon as possible to check stall availability.

East Midlands Fine Foods is operated by trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum, which is a not-for-profit organisation launched in 1998 to champion the growth and sustainability of the food and drink industry in the region.

Car parking at Thoresby Market is £1.50, with blue badge holders admitted free of charge.
For more information visit www.thoresbysundaymarket.co.uk

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Brewery says cheers to the Food and Drink iNet

A Leicestershire brewery is raising a glass to the Food and Drink iNet (Innovation Network) after being given a grant to help with expansion plans.

Langton Brewery Ltd at Thorpe Langton, near Market Harborough, has launched a new service offering personalised bottles of beer following a grant from the iNet, which is run by trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum.

At the same time, the company has also invested in new printing and bottle-labelling machines to make it more efficient.

The brewery, which currently employs four people, hopes the move will boost business and allow it to employ another person.

“The Food and Drink iNet aims to support innovation within the East Midlands food and drink sector, and this is an excellent example of a business looking to introduce new ways of working and new products,” said Richard Worrall, director of the Food and Drink iNet.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the iNet offers business advice to the sector, and 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 iNet awarded a £2,895 grant to Langton Brewery Ltd towards the investment of just over £7,000 in the expansion project.

“We anticipate that, by being more IT-accessible, by offering this bespoke service, and by having an in-house labelling facility, we will be able to develop a new part of the market, expand and respond quickly to customer needs, improve our efficiency and increase profit margins,” said Langton Brewery director Alistair Chapman.

“We would like to thank the Food and Drink iNet for the support we have received.”

The brewery, which supplies to retail, wholesale, pub, food service and mobile/party bar customers, has now developed its website to take online orders for personalised bespoke bottles of beer.

It will help the company to move into the gift market, which is a new area for the business.

Previously the brewery hand-labelled 30,000 bottles a year with pre-printed labels, but the additional investment in printing and labelling machines will be far more efficient, added Mr Chapman.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food and Drink Forum and including 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 to offer a range of support to small and medium-sized enterprises that work in the sector.  

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

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Food and Drink Forum offers free support to Leicester food and drink sector firms

The Leicester food and drink sector is being given a boost with the launch of a new scheme to provide free business support to manufacturers working in the industry.

Trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum is running the Leicester Food Specialist service, which aims to help eligible firms to grow and develop.

The £94,500 project is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is providing more than 60% of the cost of the scheme, The Food and Drink Forum, and Leicester City Council through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.

The service is offering two free days of support to start-ups, micro businesses and small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the food and drink sector in the city centre area.

This could cover a range of support from technical advice and packaging services to help with new routes to market or accreditation. The two days of support is for a maximum of 25 companies.

A programme of events for all eligible businesses is also planned, which will focus on offering support to overcome key issues and challenges faced by food manufacturers.

A launch event is being held on Thursday February 28th at the Flamingo Restaurant, Loughborough Road, Leicester, for firms interested in finding out more about the project, which runs until December 2014.

“Leicester’s food and drink sector plays a key role in the local economy and this new service, which is funded by the ERDF, will help to ensure that the industry continues to develop and grow,” said Fiona Anderson, managing director of the Food and Drink Forum, which was established in 1998 and provides support to the sector across the East Midlands and beyond.

“It is hoped that the Leicester Food Specialist service will increase the rate of sustainable manufacturing businesses that are launched in the sector and help those that are already established to expand.”

It aims to support the economy of Leicester by nurturing new start-ups in the sector and helping existing businesses to secure new sales, develop new products, reduce their carbon footprint and overcome barriers to growth.

To register interest in attending the launch event and to find out more about eligibility, email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk or call 01159 758810.

Press release issued by Louise Duffield, Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food and Drink Forum's food technical manager gains IFST Registered Scientist Award

Food technical manager Richard Wigley has gained a Registered Scientist Award (RSci) from the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST).

Richard heads up the technical team at The Food and Drink Forum, which provides business support services to food and drink firms across the East Midlands and beyond.

The RSci is a new award based on a combination of knowledge, competence and a commitment to high standards of professionalism.

It provides recognition of the important roles that scientists play within all aspects of the food sector, in areas such as new product development, food safety, food analysis, product quality and food production.

The RSci will allow Richard to access scientific and technical food information provided by IFST to pass onto Food and Drink Forum members, and to continue providing high quality technical support to food and drink businesses in the region.

"We would like to congratulate Richard on gaining a Registered Scientist Award, which recognises the standards to which he works and the knowledge and expertise that he has in this field,” said Fiona Anderson, managing director of the Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Gala Way, Nottingham.

The Forum’s technical team, made up of Richard Wigley and Kasia Chapman, provides a range of business support services, including formulation, shelf life improvement, packaging advice, technical advice and services, labelling and nutritional advice, auditing, accreditation and certification, new product development support and training.

The Forum, which was established in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands, operates across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, as well as further afield.

It has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.

To contact the Forum technical team email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk or telephone 0115 9758810.

Press release issued by Louise Duffield, Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food industry accreditation under the spotlight at Food and Drink Forum event

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum is teaming up with Giltbrook Workwear to run a session aimed at helping East Midlands food and drink companies get to grips with changes to one of the key food standard accreditations.

Entitled BRC Unravelled, the free event will turn the spotlight on the British Retail Consortium (BRC) accreditation, which has recently been upgraded.

It is being held at the premises of Food and Drink Forum member Giltbrook Workwear at Mercian Close, Manners Industrial Estate, Ilkeston, in Derbyshire on Wednesday September 12th between 8am and 10am.

“Many retailers and food service operators demand accreditations from their suppliers so it makes excellent business sense for manufacturers to invest in gaining the standards,” said Richard Wigley, The Food and Drink Forum’s technical manager.

“This event will look at the recent changes to BRC, how to achieve and maintain BRC the smart way, and will illustrate how BRC can help companies to save money.”

The breakfast meeting, which is open to members and non-members of The Food and Drink Forum, will also look at SALSA – the Safe and Local Supplier Approval certification scheme aimed at micro-sized producers.

As part of the session, delegates will hear about companies who have successfully achieved BRC and other accreditations, and how it has benefited their business.

For more information or to book contact Niall O’Hagan on 0115 9758810 or email Niall.Ohagan@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

It was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.

It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

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Business is booming at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham

Southglade Food Park is fully occupied once more after one new tenant moved onto the pioneering business park in Nottingham and a second company currently on the site has expanded to take an additional unit.

A waiting list of firms interested in securing premises on the site remains, said Fiona Anderson, managing director of The Food and Drink Forum which is based at the business park in Gala Way.

“Since opening in 2005, Southglade Food Park has been popular with food and drink firms, and we are delighted to welcome the latest tenant and to hear of the expansion plans of an existing tenant,” said Fiona Anderson.

“Southglade was designed to provide different-sized high-grade food manufacturing premises for firms at different stages of development, with the opportunity for companies to move into larger units as they grow.

“That vision has turned into reality with the business park proving popular with food and drink companies due to the quality of the premises, the presence of the on-site business centre, the food industry experienced support from The Food and Drink Forum, its convenient location, and the fact that the park is dedicated to firms all working in the same sector.

“I am very pleased to see that Southglade Food Park is full once more, and it is heartening to hear that other companies are keen to move in when suitable premises become available.”

Distributor TransFresh, which recently moved off the site to larger premises in Wigwam Lane, Hucknall, is the perfect example of how Southglade Food Park was designed to work, she said.

“The firm moved into an incubator unit at Southglade in early 2007. When it grew, it took additional space. Now fully established, TransFresh has moved to its own larger premises elsewhere – freeing up space for new and growing businesses to move in to Southglade,” said Fiona.

The new tenant of Southglade Food Park is gluten-free, dairy-free and additive-free cooking sauces and condiments company Dovedale Foods, which manufactures the brand Sauces of Choice and which has moved into one of the smallest-sized units on the park – 433 sq m premises known as nursery units. The firm, run by directors Ian Noakes and his partner Leah Montgomery, and Ian’s mother Ann Noakes, supplies to farm shops, delis and direct to the public via its website www.saucesofchoice.co.uk

“The unit is purpose-built and perfect for small companies such as ourselves,” said Ian. “The proximity to The Food and Drink Forum and the facilities in the Business Centre that we can tap into are also extremely useful.”

Existing Southglade Food Park tenant luxury baker Cake and Biscuits LLP has also taken a nursery unit to accommodate expansion plans.

“The moves show that Southglade Food Park is operating just as it was planned, with firms occupying different sized units as they grow and develop,” said The Forum’s Food Technical Manager Richard Wigley. “We are very pleased to welcome a new company onto the park, and to help Cake and Biscuits LLP with their development, and wish them well for the future.”

When it opened, the £4.7 million Southglade Food Park was the first business park of its kind in the UK dedicated to food and drink production and containing an on-site business centre offering support to firms.

The build and first three years of operation were funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Nottingham City Council. Since then the park has been self sustaining.

At the heart of the food park community is a Business Support Centre run by The Food and Drink Forum, which maintains an on-site presence and manages the park services. It features meeting rooms, a new product development kitchen and other facilities for firms both on and off the park. Tenancies are managed by Nottingham City Council.

There are plans to expand Southglade Food Park to offer additional units when funds become available.

www.southglade.co.uk

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Accreditation success for Nottingham food service supplier, thanks to business support organisation The Food & Drink Forum

Luciano Vendone

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum has successfully guided Nottingham-based firm Deli Conti towards gaining a key food safety accreditation.

The Forum’s technical manager Richard Wigley helped the food service supplier to achieve STS accreditation, which is a requirement to supply for some of the major UK food service organisations.

Now the firm hopes it will open new doors and create additional business for Deli Conti, which supplies freshly cooked authentic pasta sauces and meals, marinated olives and a range of other foods and ingredients to caterers, restaurants, delis, pubs and other outlets.

The company, which is based at Victoria Business Park, Netherfield, has taken on three additional staff over the past six months and now employs eight people.

“Richard’s support and guidance has been invaluable in helping Deli Conti to achieve the STS accreditation, and we couldn’t have done it without him,” said Sue Vendone, operations manager at Deli Conti. “We knew that we were doing all the correct things in terms of quality assurance and food safety, but it was documenting it in the correct format that we needed help with, and Richard’s experience in accreditation proved to be extremely useful.

“Now that we have STS accreditation we will be promoting our products and it will increase customer confidence.”

The Food and Drink Forum, which operates across the East Midlands, supports food and drink manufacturers and others working in the sector in a number of ways, including providing help with food safety accreditations such as BRC (British Retail Consortium), STS and SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval).

“Many retailers and food service operators demand accreditations from their suppliers so it makes excellent business sense for manufacturers to invest in gaining the standards,” said Richard Wigley.

“Having the correct accreditations can open doors with potential customers and lead to new business contracts, so I am delighted to learn that Deli Conti has achieved STS accreditation with support from The Food and Drink Forum.”

Among Deli Conti’s recent customers are a small chain of restaurants in the south and a large national chain of Italian restaurants.

The Food and Drink Forum is based at the Business Centre, Southglade Food Park, Nottingham. For more information about how the organisation supports businesses, please visit http://www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk/
or call 0115 9758810.

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http://www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk/

http://www.deliconti.co.uk/

New manufacturing innovation manager for The Food and Drink Forum

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum has appointed Mark Nicholson as its new manufacturing innovation manager.

Mark will operate across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland offering support and advice to help the region’s food and drink manufacturers to discover more efficient ways of operating.

Previously an adviser with Business Link Yorkshire and before that a freelance business coach, Mark has spent 17 years in operations, specifically in the food sector. He has worked in the frozen sector for McCain, in confectionery for Needlers, and in fresh produce for MBM.

His role at The Food and Drink Forum includes helping to deliver the second phase of the CHIEFS project in collaboration with Food Processing Faraday and Optimat Ltd. The project, which aims to champion innovation between the engineering and food sectors, is being delivered on behalf of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

“I am delighted to join The Food and Drink Forum as manufacturing innovation manager,” said Mark.

“I am passionate about helping food and drink businesses to think more creatively, and really enthusiastic about innovative and novel approaches to business improvement.”

Mark’s specialist skills include the use of lean and continuous improvement methods for food businesses, the application of environmental technology, the deployment of motivational/behavioural strategy and systems thinking.

He will be offering support in improving production efficiencies, specifying and purchasing new equipment, managing and delivering turn key engineering projects, process mapping and value stream analysis, waste minimisation and resource efficiency, top team, middle and junior management training, and coaching and mentoring.

Fiona Anderson, managing director of The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at the Business Centre at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, said: “Mark’s appointment will help The Food and Drink Forum to build on the support that we offer the sector in the East Midlands. Manufacturing efficiencies can bring immediate cost savings, as well as a range of other benefits, and are a popular service that we offer to our members and on a commercial basis to food and drink firms around the region.”

Married with three grown-up children, Mark’s qualifications include a BSc in Human Ecology and an MSc in Food Inspection & Control. He is also a certified trainer in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a licensed facilitator in two psychometric profiling tools.

He loves the great outdoors, enjoys hill walking and his favourite food is curry.

The Food and Drink Forum is one of the region’s largest business support organisations, championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands through a variety of different ways.

If you are interested in finding out more about The Food and Drink Forum, please visit http://www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk/ or call 0115 9758810.

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Thousands of pounds worth of savings made at AB Produce after Food and Drink iNet support

Support from The Food and Drink iNet is helping Derbyshire company AB Produce Ltd to save hundreds of pounds every week ….by cutting down on waste.

The firm, which prepares potatoes and other vegetables for retail, wholesale, processing and food service, wanted to make efficiency savings by reducing the amount of vegetables it lost during washing and preparation.

The iNet provided £3,160 worth of Innovation, Advice and Guidance support which allowed the company to call in experts from The Food and Drink Forum and Food Processing Faraday. They mapped the firm’s processes, devised more efficient ways of operating, and now AB Produce has cut the amount of wastage by about 50%.

“It’s probably saving us several hundred pounds a week, so it’s significant,” explained Martin McQuaide, operations director at AB Produce, based at Measham, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

Now the company is hoping for further support from the Food and Drink iNet to improve yield efficiency. It plans to look at ways of reducing the amount of skin taken off potatoes during peeling, to boost its yields.

“The Food and Drink iNet support has been very useful,” said Martin. “Obviously we have made efficiency savings but it’s also enabled a forum for our own workers to come up with ideas themselves.”

AB Produce, which employs about 170 people at its 70,000 sq ft purpose-built factory on Westminster Industrial Estate, prepares and packs vegetables in a range of different packaging formats, and supplies to customers nationwide.

It received £3,160 worth of Innovation, Advice and Guidance support from the iNet, which it matched with its own investment.

“I am very pleased to hear that the Food and Drink iNet support has enabled AB Produce to achieve waste efficiencies in its production processes, saving the firm money,” said Paul Sheppard, Food and Drink iNet advisor for Derbyshire. “This illustrates the benefit that companies can gain by tapping into the expertise that’s available when it comes to operating processes.”

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 regional iNets, it has developed an effective network to link academic and private sector expertise and knowledge with local food and drink business innovation needs.

The Food and Drink iNet also 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 & 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

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