All articles by Michael Barker – Page 11
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Dairies vent feelings as OFT drops investigation
Scottish dairies have reacted with a mixture of relief and anger after the OFT finally dropped its case over alleged price fixing. The investigation included six Scottish dairies – Ballantyne, Grahams, Quothquan, Renfrew, Scottish Milk Dairies and...
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UK importers cleared in price-fixing investigation
UK banana importers have been given a clean bill of health by the European Commission following the conclusion of its price-fixing investigation. None of the UK-based businesses raided by authorities during the investigation – including Fyffes, JP...
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Sausage-chomping Londoners receive dedicated banger
A new London-branded sausage has been launched to give the capital’s meat-lovers a regional speciality to call their own. The Original London Banger, which is claimed to be London’s first locally-branded sausage, has gone on sale in Sainsbury’s,...
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Treasure hunters
Adrian Scripps is bringing excitement to the apple market with Kanzi and Greenstar replacing conventional Cox crops, says Michael Barker
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Ready meal premium for Mey Selections farmers
Farmers producing meat for Sainsbury’s ready meals in the Mey Selections range will receive a guaranteed premium under the terms of a new supply agreement. In a deal believed to be a first for ready meals, Sainsbury’s will be paying a higher price...
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Fish finger sales soaring as families turn to frozen
Fish fingers are back on the British menu in a big way as consumers increasingly buy into cheaper frozen fish and take advantage of a wider product selection, new figures reveal. Sales of fish fingers have shot up 12% in the last year, according to...
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Nottingham dairy may close, says Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest is considering shutting its Nottingham dairy as part of an efficiency drive to combat high cost pressure in the dairy ingredients market. Britain’s largest dairy company confirmed this week that it had launched a 90-day consultation...
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Ban on battery eggs triggers import fears
Supermarkets will be forced to sell imported eggs from 2012 if fears that UK producers will not be ready for the ban on eggs from battery birds are realised. Battery cages will be outlawed by the EU in 2012, at which time standard egg producers will...
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Hot salad leaves offer potential of dual usage
A new brand of salad that has been marketed to eat hot or cold is being launched by PDM Produce. Wok or Not has been created to invigorate the bagged salad sector, which has stagnated as a result of poor weather and a struggling economy, according...
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Dairy Crest hires Rotten to sex up its Country Life
In what must go down as one of the most unlikely campaigns in advertising history, Dairy Crest has recruited former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon to be the new face of relaunched Country Life. From October 1, Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, will front a...
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Red Tractor logo comes under threat in review
The Red Tractor and other UK farm assurance labels could be scrapped if the industry backs a single UK scheme in a major consultation now under way. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has asked for industry views on the merits of a...
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After milk, melamine fears spread to meat
Chinese meat destined for the food supply chain may contain the potentially lethal chemical melamine, a British expert has warned. Melamine has been at the centre of a scandal in China over the past fortnight following the deaths of a number of...
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NFU fury at processor clout sours efforts for dairy unity
The appointment of a processor instead of an independent to chair Dairy UK has infuriated the National Farmers’ Union, reports Michael Barker
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Weak sterling yields 12% hike for pork producers
Pork prices are starting to rise at retail as farmers obtain higher prices and weaker sterling makes exporting more attractive to UK producers, says Michael Barker
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Sales suffer as soakings turn shoppers off salad
The British salad sector is under pressure after the second successive summer washout severely hit sales, producers have reported. Poor weather throughout the summer meant salad sales had not gained momentum, said Stuart Piccaver, managing director...
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UK urged to consolidate dairy to battle big boys
The UK dairy industry must consolidate to compete with the multi-billion-pound businesses increasingly dominating the sector, say industry leaders. Speaking exclusively to The Grocer, Joop Kleibeuker, secretary-general of the European Dairy...
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Cheese price pushed up 10% by multiples
The retail price of cheese has risen by nearly 10% over the past week as supermarkets claimed they were responding to farmers’ calls for higher returns. Asda was the first to put up the price of 250g of own-label English mild white Cheddar by 9% to...
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Cool summer helps lift consumption of carrots
Consumers are eating more carrots this year thanks to the cooler weather and growing popularity of the vegetable among children. The number of carrot-eating occasions has risen 3% to 3.8 billion, according to new consumption data from TNS. Value...
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Scots put fish farms at heart of economy
A Scottish government strategy document that puts aquaculture at the heart of the Scottish economy has been welcomed by producer organisations. The Scottish government last week launched a consultation for a Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish...
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Cheese imports to rise as milk shortages hit
A shortage of milk this autumn could lead to the UK having to import more Cheddar next year as manufacturers struggle to meet demand. Present production rates indicate there could be a shortage of 500,000 litres of milk per day during the low...