Experienced food industry professional Alan Burgess, who is well known within the food processing sector, has joined Spice Application Systems (SAS) as a director, taking on responsibility for sales and marketing, project development and day-to-day operations.

The move will see Peter King, founder and managing director, step into a more strategic role, focusing on customer and partner relationships and new markets in the USA.

Burgess’s appointment comes soon after King signed a trading partner agreement with Canadian company ARBO Engineering, giving SAS a valuable foothold into the North, South and Central American markets.

SAS is recognised as a world leader in electrostatic systems for the application of flavourings and coatings in the food manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.

“We’re delighted that someone of Alan’s calibre and expertise has joined the SAS team,” said King. “I see this as a major step forward in our future growth plans and know that both our in-house team and our customers will benefit from Alan’s industry knowledge and experience.”

Burgess brings with him more than 30 years’ experience of selling processing and packaging machinery within the food manufacturing sector, including bakery, biscuits, pies, tarts and ready meals. He has particular expertise in the area of depositing, enrobing and injecting machinery, as well as business development and project management.

Fluent in German and French, he has worked for major blue chip names including European Process Plant, Tromp BV and The Interfood Group.

“SAS is a company I have admired for some time, both for its innovative approach with electrostatics and for its excellent reputation within the food processing sector,” said Burgess.

“By blending my experience with Peter’s product knowledge and expertise in electrostatics, I am confident that we can take SAS to a whole new level and look forward to meeting as many customers as possible over the next few months.”

SAS has successfully sold more than 1,400 units into food processing plants worldwide across both snacks and other food sectors, including confectionery, breakfast cereals and dry pet food.

Finat is the international association of the self-adhesive labelling industry and annually holds a label competition which took place for the 31st time this year. Nine Pago labels made it to the final category nominations, and one label achieved first place in its category and was also distinguished as the winner of one of the four major groups. The attractively designed and perfectly printed “Just Malve” label won first prize for Pago in the Printing Processes group. Here marks were particularly awarded for print quality, execution and design implementation.
In this respect, the “Just Malve” labels achieved top marks, prevailing against other nominations.
PAGO: For your success!

MULTIVAC has launched a new design of traysealing tool for air-packs which combined with a new infeed system delivers significantly increased machine
output from their existing range. Multivac’s innovative die technology is cheaper and more energy efficient, no longer requiring compressed air or requiring cooling water instead using Multivac’s energy efficient electric die-lifting unit. Depending on the infeed, it is now possible with a T700 with Smart Sealing technology to achieve more than 20 cycles/min. For a 5-up die this is more than 100 packs/min. In practice Multivac have already produced 120 packs/min which is twice the output of a typical T700 and offers even greater flexibility and value.

The complete supply chain event for Ireland’s processing industries.

Plastics

• Additives
• Biopolymer materials
• Environment & recycling products and services
• Measuring and testing equipment and systems
• Plastic services
• Semi-finished products
• Processing equipment
• Processing machinery & technology
• Raw materials

City West, Dublin

A meeting point for decision-makers. A place for visionaries. A location for specialists. In 2012 more than ever, the Anuga FoodTec will become a compulsory event for discoverers and people like yourself who do not want to miss out on the trends of the future. From 27th to 30th March 2012, everything will revolve around the subject of innovations.

Fingal County Council has recently announced a new food industries park plan, set for construction on a 113-hectare site beside Dublin Airport. Fingal Co. Co. hope that ‘Food Central’ will create Irelands first dedicated food industry hub that would be on par with other science and technology parks in the country. The operation is said to emulate the Dutch food park of Honderland near Rotterdam.

Food companies from across the state have backed the idea as good for Ireland. These include fruit producers Keelings, food distribution business Donnelly’s and the UK food service company Brakes.

The major selling point of the operation according, to Fingal Co. Co., is the fact that the site is located close to Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and the M50 making it extremely accessible. One of the hope’s that Fingal Co. Co. has for the park is to capitalise on the concept of ‘co-operation’, a concept proposed in Finna Fail’s Food Harvest 2020 plan, which advocated the a need for greater sharing of resources between competing businesses.

William Keeling said the three companies currently operating at the site already share services. He believes the arrival of new businesses will generate further synergies among companies. The development is being conducted through Fingal Co. Co. with the help of DPM, project managers specialising in the food industry, Brady Shipman Martin, planning and landscape specialists, Arup engineers and commercial development consultants Finnegan Menton.

According to the Irish Times Fingal county manager David O’Connor said the initiative would build on Fingal’s strong food heritage.

Valeo Foods’ have proposed a takeover of the Jacob Fruitfield business. This would make it one of the largest indigenous players in the Irish ambient grocery sector, with No.1 or No. 2 positions in 13 of the 100 largest grocery categories in Ireland.

This does not include agency brands such as the General Mills range, and demonstrates the depth of ambient penetration that the enlarged company would have in the event of the deal being completed.
While news of the proposed takeover broke this weekend in the Sunday Business Post, speculation has been rife in the trade that a deal was imminent.

In particular, with Jacob Fruitfield are said to have been open to offers for a number of years. Sources had indicated that it was a likely target once Valeo completed the integration of the Batchelors business unit into Shamrock/Valeo.

A number of other companies are said to have run the rule over the Jacobs business in recent times, with the company seen within the industry as firmly within the ‘buy or be bought’ camp for a number of years.
As it stands, Valeo’s business already includes category leaders such as Roma, Batchelors Beans and Odlums, while the Jacob Fruitfield portfolio includes the largest biscuit brand in Ireland (and the ninth largest overall grocery brand in the country) and the powerhouse Chef sauce brand.

With the Jacob Fruitfield turnover running at around €80 million, a takeover would create a company with sales of circa €300 million. As such, this would require approval from the competition authority.
Co-owned by Origin Enterprises (part of Aryzta) and London-based private equity firm CapVest, Valeo comprises what were the Shamrock Foods, Odlums and Batchelors businesses.

The company is run by former Origin Food head Peadar Kearney, with ex Batchelors finance director Aidan O’Byrne holding the position of CFO.

Britvic Ireland recently saw revenues decline by 5.3% to £81.9 million, in the six months ending April 28. The company has said that the Irish market is still challenging due to the recessions impact on consumer spending, as volumes decreased 7% to 106 million litres. Recently the company had pushed through price increases of 3.9% per litre.

This was the first price increase from the company in the Irish market for a number of years. The increase has been attributed to the rising price of sugar, tin and other items.

Britvic whose brands include Ballygowan water, Club, Mi Wadi and J2O noted that it’s ‘stills’ range preformed well. The company has seen a revenue growth of 4% in its UK division due to a strong performance in the second quarter.

‘We are focused on executing a strong programme of innovation and brand activity throughout the group and trading in the first few weeks of the third quarter provides the board with further confidence in the outlook for the balance of the year,’ commented Britvic’s chief executive Paul Moody.

Britvic international’s revenues jumped by 24%, on the back of the successful roll-out of Fruit Shoot in Australia and its growth in its US presence. Britvic France also reported double-digit revenue growth. The company, which also owns the 7up and Robinsons brands, said it expects to increase profits in the second half of the year as it benefits financially from restructuring programmes.

Åke Hantoft from Sweden will succeed Ove Møberg from Denmark as chairman of Arla Foods following Ove Møberg’s decision to step down after four years.

“The role as chairman in Arla is one of the most important positions you can aspire to as a dairy farmer. Arla is both a global and a local dairy company with a strong market position. Our company has a strong strategy for future growth, which will ensure that we as cooperative owners can receive a healthy milk price. I am proud to be entrusted with this position and I very much look forward to fulfilling my duties as chairman, “says Åke Hantoft.

Åke Hantoft - New Chairman of Arla Foods

Jan Toft Nørgaard from Denmark, who has been a member of Arla Foods’ Board of Directors since 2000, has been named the new Vice Chairman in Arla Foods.

Bjørn Jepsen (Denmark) and Bjarne Hass Nielsen (employee elected member from Denmark) have also joined the Board of Directors.

Arla’s Board of Directors elects their Chairman and Vice Chairman and elections are held every second year in connection with Arla Foods’ Board of Representatives meeting.