AIBI: Joseph Street (UK, Fine Lady Bakeries) is the new elected AIBI President. He succeeds to Jean-Manuel Levêque (France), who served AIBI for the last two years as its President. AIBI’s General Assembly elected at its 35th Congress in Versailles a new board including two Vice Presidents: 1st Vice President Janez Bojc (Slovenia) and 2nd Vice President Georg Heberer (Germany). Treasurer is Armin Juncker (Germany).
AIBI (Association Internationale de la Boulangerie Industrielle) is the major European association of plant bakeries. AIBI is formed of 16 national plant bakeries associations including more than 2200 plant bakeries. It represents the interests of its member vis-à-vis the European institutions in Brussels and beyond.
CBI Economic Update: Growth eases slightly, but should pick up over summer. Private sector growth eased in the three months to May, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator.
The survey of 721 respondents across the manufacturing, distribution and service sectors showed that growth slowed a little (+13%), in comparison to April (+18%).
The slowdown in momentum was mainly driven by business & professional services. Manufacturing output continued to record a robust expansion, with the retail sector and consumer services gaining a little momentum following a lacklustre start to the year.
Overall, expectations are for the pace of growth in the private sector to pick up a little over the next three months (+18%), with healthy demand growth in manufacturing and business & professional services off-setting a slowdown in retail and falling volumes in consumer services.
Food Inflation: According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), food prices climbed at fastest rate for more than three years in May’17 as the weak pound pushed up import prices. BRC measured the prices of 500 everyday goods and found food inflation was 1.4% in May’17 up from 0.9% in apr’17. Processed food prices showed the steepest rise at 1.8% in May’17 up from 0.8% in apr’17, while fresh food inflation was 1.2%, up from 1%. This is due to the pound, which has fallen about 16% since the EU referendum, increasing costs for businesses that import goods into the UK.
EEF Economic Outlook: British manufacturing growth remains strong, with exports up and companies positive about prospects for the rest of 2017, a survey shows. The EEF employers’ organisation, which said companies’ recruitment plans are healthy, raised its manufacturing growth forecasts for 2017 and 2018. The survey, compiled with accountancy firm BDO, said demand from European markets was particularly strong.
Despite Brexit fears and the election, confidence is high, the EEF said. The quarterly survey said that demand in European markets “looks especially buoyant”, with 61% of companies surveyed reporting an upturn.
The balance between firms planning to recruit and those contracting stood at 21% during the quarter, up from 18% in the previous three months.
Optimism about future growth also rose, leading the EEF to revise upwards its forecasts. Manufacturing is now expected to expand by 1.3% in 2017 and 0.5% in 2018, up from 1% and 0.1% respectively.
IOSH International Food and Drink Health and Safety Awards: As the closing date of Friday 03 July 2017 approaches for the International Food and Drink Health and Safety Awards, we’re encouraging everyone working in the food and drink manufacturing industry to submit their entries. The awards will be presented at the national food and drink manufacturing health and safety conference on 10–11 October 2017.
There are generous prizes on offer, including £750 for the winner and £250 for runners-up, trophies and certificates. Also, a representative from the winning teams will be offered a free conference place, a ticket to the awards dinner, up to two nights’ accommodation and up to £500 towards travel expenses. The award winners and runners-up will be offered the opportunity to give a brief presentation on their project at the start of day two of the conference.
The judges are particularly interested in innovations that have a long-term sustainable impact or which can be readily transferred to other workplaces. You can find out more on the IOSH Food and Drink Industries Group webpages, where you can also find the awards flyer, entry form and take inspiration from previous entries.
Please send your completed entry form to the Networks team, IOSH, The Grange, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 1NN, or email the Networks team – networks@iosh.co.uk. If you have any questions, please contact julie.littlejohns@iosh.co.uk – Relationship Manager.
Waste – Infographic on Food Waste: The European Parliament published on 15 May 2017 an infographic on food waste. 8 million tonnes of food are wasted in the EU every year, equivalent to 173 kilos per person and the infographic shows which sectors and countries waste the most food. On 15 May, MEPs debated a report which proposes a set of measures to reduce food waste in the EU by 50% by 2030. The report also includes several proposals to reduce food waste such as facilitating food donations. The report calls on the European Commission to propose a change in the current VAT directive to explicitly authorise tax exemptions for food donations. In addition the report lists solutions to end the confusion about “best before” and “use by” labelling on food products.
The European Parliament also published on 16 May 2017 a Press Release on food waste. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20170505STO73528/food-waste-the-problem-in-the-eu-in-numbers-infographic
Food on TV: On Tried and Tasted: the Ultimate Shopping List (Channel 4, Tuesday 8pm), Chef Michel Roux Jr and a panel of food experts blind taste-test some of the nation’s favourite food and drink. Joining the host is restaurant manager and First Dates’ Fred Sirieix, journalist, broadcaster and critic Jay Rayner, baker and deli owner Stacie Stewart, and TV presenter Lucy Alexander. Link