McDonald’s UK has appointed its first female CEO in Jill McDonald, replacing Steve Easterbrook who has become the company’s executive vice-president and global chief brand officer.

Pork bosses are hoping celebrity pork fan Christine Hamilton will prove a winner when it comes to converting the nation to pig meat consumption.

Campaigning celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will be handing out the Organic Food Awards at the annual Soil Association Organic Food Festival in Bristol, on Saturday 11 September.

Scotch lamb bosses are hoping to boost sales with the launch of a £250,000 campaign. Quality Meat Scotland will be recruiting “Scotch Lamb Champions” to bang the drum.

Pie producer Holland’s Pies is hoping to cash in on the popularity of top soap Coronation Street with the launch of a new limited edition range.

Meat from the offspring of two cloned bulls on a Scots farm can be legally sold into the UK food chain according to the European Commission.

Low prices are threatening the long term survival of UK beef production, farmers have warned. Farming union bosses from across the UK are now calling for an urgent upswing in the beef price.

People in Leicester consumed more pies per head of population than anywhere else in Britain in the past year, according to Tesco.

Meat 'grown in vats' could be the future for answering an increase in demand worldwide, according to a leading researcher in livestock technology.

The meat industry is calling for clarity on cloning, with some expressing concern over the Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) handling of the recent debate.

Premier Foods has come to grief in the highly complicated world of stock market derivatives, reportedly making wrong way bets on derivatives linked to the takeover of RHM, for which it paid £1.2bn.

Consumers are being urged by the RSPCA to vote for the supermarket doing most to improve the welfare of animals in the food chain as part of a competition.

Processing firm Vion is cutting jobs at two major plants and facing strike action at another site as the squeeze in the processing sector continues.

New research has shown it is possible to determine accurately the geographical origin of pork from a retail pack.

Rising fish consumption could be making inroads into the meat market, industry watchers have claimed.

Pig farmers are calling for pig prices to remain firm, or risk the industry sliding back into the red. Industry leaders said farmers will be losing money on every pig unless the DAPP is maintained at current levels.

Barbecue sales during this summer’s football World Cup appeared to have been slightly worse this year compared to the last competition in 2006.

German processor TönniesFleisch is taking a pop at cracking the UK snack market with the launch of an innovative meat product.

The hunt for the UK’s star sausage will once more get underway during this year’s British Sausage Week. Sausage producers, butchers, farm shops and caterers are all in with a chance of taking the title.

Members of the Parliament are being urged to go veggie every Monday with the launch of a campaign by the UK’s only Green MP.

Bernard Matthews MD Jeff Halliwell is to leave his post on Friday (13 August) following a 14-month tenure in the position.

A new quality scheme and brand is hoping to add momentum to sales of meat from Wales. The Anglesey Grazing Animal Partnership (AGAP) launched its quality assurance scheme at the island’s county show today (Weds) which will be used to market the region’s meat on ethical grounds.

Consumers are being offered the chance to holiday on a farm as part of a special promotion by Sainsbury’s to boost sales of Red Tractor-assured lamb.

Seasoned Gurkha campaigner Joanna Lumley has waded into the debate surrounding meat consumption and cancer, claiming the rise in cases is down to eating processed meat.

The Co-operative has launched a new range of lamb products as part of an initiative to help promote rural enterprise and protect the environment.

Edwards of Conwy is set to relaunch its sausage range into the supermarket sector, with a fresh new look, and expand its operation into meatballs.

Speciality poultry company Gressingham Foods will be looking to turn consumers onto goose this Christmas with the launch of a new range on the market.

Irish Food Processors has announced the purchase of North Yorkshire-based Dalepak Frozen Foods from Northern Foods.

Vion is creating 250 new jobs in Scotland as part of a multi-million pound investment programme at its plants at Coupar Angus and Cambuslang.

Online grocer Ocado's much-heralded debut on the stock market recently has failed to convince investors. On its first day the share price dropped by 14% and this was after Ocado had cut its offer price to 180p.

Supermarket groups are taking action on the level of fat in their mince, in the wake of a Local Government Authority (LGA) report, which slammed varying levels and misleading product information on mince products.

Consumers should not be concerned about the safety of products from cloned animals, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has stated, as a second clone case is confirmed.

The consumer will ultimately decide whether there is a future for cloned meat and dairy in the food supply chain, according to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).

Suppliers are to receive an adjudicator to resolve disputes with supermarkets.

Processed and red meat may lead to the development of bladder cancer according to researchers.

A shortage of silage and poor harvests are likely to severely impact upon the cost of animal feed in the latter half of 2010.

The RSPCA is launching a campaign to encourage and help consumers buy higher-welfare pork products in a bid to improve pigs’ lives in meat production.

European Halal Development Agency chairman Mohammad Nazir will be speaking at Campden BRI's major meat industry seminar in October.

The meat and poultry industry is being encouraged to enrol engineers at the UK’s first CO₂ training academy.

Retail sales reached their highest since before the current downturn, with the World Cup, warm weather and discounting seen as helping figures to rise.

Three-quarters of people who buy a whole chicken will wash it before cooking it, increasing the risk of food poisoning, says consumer magazine Which?

Researchers from Imperial College London have found that meat-eaters are more likely to gain weight than those with less meat in their diet, even when consuming the same number of calories.

Budgens and Londis are launching own-brand ranges of cooked meats with a raft of promotions on offer to customers.

Retailers are fighting back after local government leaders accused them of using misleading descriptions and inaccurate labelling when it came to the sale of low-fat beef mince.

Supermarkets have come under fire for misleading descriptions and inaccurate labels when it comes to low-fat beef mince, according to local government officers.

Sausage, bacon and pork company Cranswick made a robust start to the year, with first-quarter sales booming. Cranswick announced an increase in total sales of 19% in the three months to the end of June. Sales in the period were £198m.

Retailer pressure is likely to be called upon in the bid to push CCTV into the slaughtering process, according to the boss of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Tim Smith.

Pig producers are threatening to hit the campaign trail over fears that processors and retailers are looking to turn their back on British gammon in favour of cheaper imports this Christmas.

Meat bosses have hit out at vegetarian campaigner Sir Paul McCartney for 'recycling' outdated information.

The government is to break up the responsibilities of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), ending speculation which has engulfed the agency in recent weeks.

Waitrose and Sainsbury’s have come out on top as the most animal welfare-friendly supermarkets in an awards ceremony run by Compassion in World Farming.

Retailers and the poultry industry have teamed up to publish a plan detailing how they will substantially reduce the problem of Campylobacter bacteria in poultry meat.

Poultry processor Moy Park is pledging its support for improved resource efficiency and reduced carbon impact by signing up to the Courtauld Commitment.

The European Union will today announce that member states can choose if they want to allow the growing of GM crops, as well as letting others ban GM.

The Department of Health has denied reports that it is to scrap the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Owned by John Lewis, Waitrose, the upmarket grocery retailer, is expanding its supermarket empire to the Channel Islands. Waitrose is buying five stores from Sandpiper, the local grocery retail chain. Three of the stores are in Jersey and two in Guernsey and have traded under the Safeway and Checkers brand names.

A university professor is warning that there are greater dangers for the elderly when cutting down on protein in their diets.

Amazon, the online retailer best known for selling CDs and books, has moved into the world of food and is now offering meat products to consumers.

Supermarket group Asda is to provide beef suckler breeder-finishers with contracts at an initial rate of £2.70/kg.

Photographs of last night’s SuperMeat & Fish Awards 2010 are now available to view on the internet.

Sainsbury’s has been awarded the title of SuperMeat & Fish Retailer of the Year 2010 at an awards ceremony held last night (Thursday).

Beef and lamb bosses are hoping for success with the relaunch of a website aimed at becoming an essential tool for industry.

Organic producers will have to include a new EU logo on all pre-packaged organic food products which came into force yesterday (1 July).

British poultry needs to avoid focusing on niche premium markets or run the risk of exporting mainstream production to countries such as Thailand, a leading producer has warned.

Meat & Wool New Zealand has announced it has changed its name to Beef + Lamb New Zealand. The move, which takes effect today, reflects a shift in focus for the organisation.

Highland Game, Scotland’s leading venison specialist, has announced the purchase of the UK’s largest venison and game processor business Rick Bestwick.

Budgens was celebrating strong success following the launch of its new own-brand sausage range.

Animal activists are claiming they have secured the support of the Food Standards Agency in their campaign to have CCTV installed in all UK abattoirs.

Research by a national newspaper has claimed UK supermarkets are “routinely” selling food from animals reared on GM crops, without declaring it on the label.

A YouGov survey has found that 27% of consumers pay infrequent visits to the frozen food area of major retailers.

The Co-operative supermarket is rolling out its higher-welfare Elmwood grade into its flavoured chicken range.

Asda is hoping to recruit younger farmers into producing premium quality Wagyu beef cattle with the launch of a new scheme.

Meat from slaughter without stunning will now be labelled as such following a vote in the European Parliament.

Food products escaped the feared inclusion into VAT in Chancellor George Osborne's Emergency Budget this week, and will do so for the period of the current Parliament.

Poultry delegates from far afield as Kenya, Israel, Finland and Turkey, descended in Paris on 16-17 June to take part in packaging firm Sealed Air Cryovac’s Packforum.

Bernard Matthews’ full year statement has revealed group turnover fell last year while operating profits rose in the same period.

Compulsory country-of-origin food labelling could become mandatory for all meat and poultry products sold in the European Union (EU) after it was accepted by the European Parliament.

Lord Rooker has criticised the public's abhorence of GM technology, and called it a result of 'anti-science'.

Food sales rose in May according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), ahead of the non-food sector performance.

Meat from the Gloucester Old Spot pig variety has been given EU protected status, joining other UK products such as Melton Mowbray pies and Cornish clotted cream, as well as Parma ham and Champagne.

Animal charity the RSPCA has opened entries for its 2010 'Good Business' nominations.

MEPs have voted to reject proposals to install front-of-pack labelling incorporating traffic-light colours.

A survey released today has found that 66% of British consumers would like their food to be free of GM feed.

Feltham and Heston MP Alan Keen is calling for less meat to be sourced from rainforest-damaging producers.

Girls living on a meat-rich diet may start puberty earlier in their lives, a study has found.

Quality bacon and sausage company Cranswick revealed a 26% jump in its latest yearly profits. Pre-tax profits rose to £43.8m in the year to the end of March compared with £34.7m in the previous year. Sales were 22% up at £740m.

Key changes which now affect whether overseas butchers and meat processors can work in the UK have been implemented.

Beef supplies could be under threat if prices continue to fall, farmers have warned. The National Farmers' Union said the the drop in price was knocking producer confidence and undermining the long-term sustainability of UK production.

A hot new smartphone application is aiming to help sales of beef and lamb barbecue cuts sizzle this summer, according to Eblex.

Tesco is claiming to be the first supermarket to roll out a halal meat barbecue range this summer in time for the football World Cup.

South Shields butchery chain Dicksons is gearing up for the Coutts UK Family Business of the Year awards in London tomorrow (Tuesday), having beaten off hundreds of other family businesses to reach the final.

Beef and sheep producers are hoping for a repeat of England's last World Cup performance – but not on the pitch.

A substantial worldwide movement away from meat would help the environment, a UN report has claimed.

A meat supplier is backing the growing trend for shredded meats across retail and foodservice with the launch of a new range of products.

A Welsh meat processor is to benefit from a £1.2m government cash boost towards new machinery in a bid to boost plant efficiency.

Retail expert Mary Portas has blasted supermarkets for killing local shops such as butchers.

Sainsbury's is to open double the number of convenience stores in 2010 as it did in 2009.

Meat Trades Journal would like to say thank you to its readers for ensuring it remains the highest* ABC audited circulated title for news and information on the UK meat market.

Bpex is hoping to put an end to what it claims is ambiguous and potentially misleading labelling of pork and pork products with the launch of a new website, www.porkprovenance.co.uk, this June.

Asda has reached an agreement to buy Netto UK from Danish retail chain Dansk Supermarked, with aims to double the workforce in each store.

Asda Scotland is to increase its range of Rankin Selection pies, courtesy of Northern Irish manufacturer Millar Savoury Foods, in 30 of its stores.

A campaign educating the UK market on Italian cured meats is to launch this summer in a collaboration between the Italian Trade Commission and the Institute for the Promotion of Italian Deli Meats.

Marks & Spencer has reported a rise in pre-tax profits of 4.6% to £632.5m and described its performance as "satisfactory". Food sales were up 0.3% in the 52 weeks to 27 March.

Sainsbury's is staking its claim to be the number one retailer of Freedom Food-assured products. The chain claims its Freedom Food (FF) sales have doubled to hit the £143m mark, giving it a 62% share of the market.

A central halal hub supplying the demand for meat in the UK is now in full trading, with further expansion plans to supply the European mainland.

The best pie in Britain has been revealed as a Waitrose pork, chicken and ham pie, created by Walkers Charnwood Bakery.

A team of Asda staff and suppliers have set a new world record for canoeing the length of Loch Ness.

As many as four in 10 consumers worry about animal welfare as their number one food concern, due to campaigns by celebrity chefs, research from Mintel has revealed.

Supermarket lamb curry ready meals are the annual equivalent of 140m car miles, or 5,500 car trips around the world, according to a new study.

The nominations are in and we now have four top names in the running to take home the title of Meat Industry Personality of the Year at this summer's SuperMeat & Fish Awards.

Only a quarter of consumers would reduce their meat consumption if it meant cutting carbon emissions, a new survey has found.

Sainsbury's pork buyer Siobhan Barnes was celebrating last week after taking home the title of Supermarket Meat Buyer of the Year at the Pig & Poultry Marketing Awards 2010.

The UK Parliament is to have its first-ever Green MP, voted in by a manifesto that includes a pledge to set a minimum target for organic food conversion.

UK lamb slaughter figures plunged 18% for the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009 leaving producers in New Zealand with an increased share of the UK market.

A British turkey campaign, launching this May, has the potenetial to convert more than 30m consumers to the white meat over the next three years.

Conservative Caroline Spelman has become the new Secretary of State for Defra as a new government has taken shape, involving a Tory and Liberal Democrat coalition.

The Scottish SPCA’s welfare agreement with Quality Meat Scotland scooped the Success through Working in Partnerships award at Scotland’s Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2010.

A team from the meat industry is aiming to set a Guinness World Record with a sponsored kayak trip the length of Loch Ness.

Over 50% of the public, given the choice, would opt for cheap meat on promotion over expensive, but eco-friendly options.

The meat industry has hit out at online grocery operator Ocado after it publicly backed the ‘Meat Free Monday’ campaign, launched by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney.

Farming leaders have defended the high prices of lamb, describing it as a "high-value product delivering excellent value for money for the consumer". However, retailers and processors are calling for them to be "realistic".

Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket, announced a group-wide profit of £3.39bn last year up 10.1% from £3.08bn last year. UK profits were lower than the market was expecting. Its US grocery venture, Fresh & Easy, declared a £165m loss.

Turkey bosses have announced the 14th annual British Turkey Awards are now open for entries. With 10 categories available, the event, organised by the British Turkey Federation (BTF), will give manufacturers a chance to showcase the way they are responding to ever-changing retailer demands and consumer needs.

Lamb prices may be riding high, but Welsh farmers are failing to cover their costs. Figures released by Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) claimed that only the top third of Welsh sheep farms made a profit in 2008/09.

Rectory Foods is making its debut in the retail sector with the launch of a range of frozen chicken products under its Hot Chicken Company (HCC) brand.

Tesco has opened up its second halal meat counter in the UK, at a ceremony held at its Hodge Hill store in Birmingham.

A leading halal meat processor and member of the Eblex Halal Steering Group has accused the three main parties of neglecting Muslim issues surrounding the halal food market.

Kerry Foods is to spend £5m on its Mattessons Fridge Raiders brand in a move to meet demand for spicier food, says the company.

The RSPCA has written to the major supermarkets asking them to ditch faster-growing breeds of chicken in favour of slower-growing alternatives.

Sales of hot canned meat in supermarkets has steadily increased over the past two years, a study by Mintel has revealed.

Assured Food Standards (AFS) has announced it will mark the 10th anniversary of the Red Tractor food assurance scheme with a new Red Tractor Week. Running from 14–20 June, Red Tractor Week will celebrate a decade of food and farming under the Red Tractor logo.

Savoury pastry brand Ginsters is launching its biggest ever on-pack promotion at the end of April, in celebration of the summer.

Eating over-cooked meat increases the chances of bladder cancer, according to new research.

The often claimed need to double food production by 2050 has been branded a "big fat lie" by organic bosses. The Soil Association has accused government scientists, UN leaders, Monsanto and the National Farmers' Union of misleading consumers with the claims for the need to increase food production.

Peter’s Foods is to extend its Premier range of sausage rolls and pasties this April by introducing seven new or improved lines in the big four multiples.

According to the British Retail Consortium, food inflation has fallen to its lowest level for three years. The latest shop price index indicates that food prices rose by just 1.2% last month the slowest level since the survey started at the end of 2006. Food retailers are having to compete aggressively on the price-slashing front to persuade shoppers, reluctant to spend ahead of the Election on 6 May, to dig deeper into their wallets and purses.

Sion Roberts, chief executive of the English Food and Farming Partnerships, has warned that supplier and processor relations need to improve to prevent severe loss of business.

The Liberal Democrats have said they will merge current quangos and create an Animal Protection Commission to investigate animal welfare abuses in their manifesto launch today (Wednesday).

Retail boss Andy Bond is to step down from heading up Asda, according to reports.

A Midlands store found to be stocking bacon, sausage and ham that were two months out of date has been fined £1,800.

UK shoppers are voting with their trolleys and plumping for higher-welfare chicken, with sales climbing by 22%, according to latest figures from Compassion in World Farming.

Sales of organic products are on the rise again after a difficult period, according to the Soil Association.

The National Farmers’ Union has demanded that large UK multiples sell more meat from within their own shores, after an Eblex report showed major falls in the amount on-shelf.

A new study by Eblex is being launched to benchmark the quality of beef being sold in English supermarkets.

Campden BRI is set to hold a seminar in May instructing the food industry on the latest changes and guidelines on country of origin labelling.

The government announced today that UK slaughterhouses will have to switch to 80% glass in their outside wall construction from 2013.

Heart of England Fine Foods, the promotional body for the Midlands, has announced the finalist for its Diamond Awards.

Asda has launched its new Welsh beef range for its all 23 stores in Wales as part of the supermarket’s regional push of local meat in local stores.

Sausages and bacon may be as addictive as heroin or tobacco a new study has claimed, suggesting that fatty snacks can trigger the same "pleasure centres" in the brain that drive people to drug addiction.

A sausage producer is hoping to tap into the ethnic market with the launch of a new brand of unique sausages - Mr Singh's Bangras.

This year’s Langford Food Industry Conference is aiming to tackle the two main issues facing the UK meat industry - nutrition and climate change.

Consumers will have to make some tough decisions over the coming years on their eating habits, including meat, a leading Soil Association official has warned.

A product by Gloucestershire-based The Country Butcher was named Bpex's overall best bacon cure for 2010.

Yorkshire Dales Meat (YDM) has just been awarded a contract to supply Gifford’s Fine Foods with its range of sausages under its ‘Truly Local’ banner.

Tesco is dehumanising retail, and independent retailers should not attempt to follow in its technological wake, according to one IT expert.

McDonald’s, the global provider of burgers, along with alternatives for the weight conscious, is beefing up its share of the Asian market.

Budgens and Lidl will go head-to-head with retail rivals Sainsbury's Asda, Tesco, and The Co-operative for the first time in the SuperMeat & Fish Awards.

A new range of meat-based ready to cook meals hopes to cause a stir in the supermarket aisles.

Supermarkets and meat processors have promised to investigate claims of staff degredation and exploitation, following a new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

French guinea fowl producers are hoping to take the UK market by storm with the launch of their latest marketing campaign, which will see them team up with the Craft Guild of Chefs, as well as offer culinary workshops.

Awards body Food & Drink Qualifications (FDQ) has launched a new HACCP awareness award, designed to help food handlers new to the industry.

In a month beset by falling retail meat sales, beef jumped 9% in January, with an 8% rise in volumes compared to the four weeks in 2009, according to the latest Bpex figures.

An Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) inquiry into the treatment of migrant and agency workers in the meat and poultry processing sector has found alleged “widespread mistreatment” across the industry.

Premium sausage brand debbie & andrew’s has announced it has increased its market position, as well as grown the category and increased distribution.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board has agreed for the full implementation of a single approach to front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling after a meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

Western Brand Poultry Products NI is to launch a six-strong range of frozen chicken products at the end of March.

Tesco executive director Lucy Neville-Rolfe has criticised the standard of school-leavers coming into the industry.

Pork butcher Dicksons is to launch its range of sausages into Tesco this month.

Vegans are to be given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups, according to reports.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said it is looking for a ‘flexible approach’ when it comes to front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling in a new paper publishe on Friday.

Supermarket group Tesco has been heavily criticised for suggesting that consumers eat vegetables to reduce their carbon footprint.

Cancer bosses have dismissed a report by the US meat industry, which it claimed cast doubt on links between meat and cancer, as “more spin than science”.

Multi-industry union Unite and supermarket giant Asda are launching a joint initiative to end “discrimination and unfair treatment” at Asda’s meat and poultry suppliers.

Consumer publication Which? has given the Food Standards Agency (FSA) an overall positive review to celebrate the Agency’s 10th anniversary.

Climate change continues to dominate the headlines and will be the main topic of conversation at the annual Outlook Conference in London in April.

Highland Game is hoping for healthy sales with the news another supermarket has signed up to offer its new diet-friendly sausage.

A new phase in Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS), £500,000 campaign has been launched in London underground stations.

With more than a decade under its belt, this year's SuperMeat & Fish Awards are already starting to take shape.

A final labelling code of practice for pork has been launched today (Tuesday) by Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn at the NFU conference in Birmingham.

Morrisons is claiming to be the first major UK supermarket chain to gain Red Tractor status across its entire fresh meat range, a move it claims reaffirms its commitment to British farming.

Current issues in the food industry will be put under the spotlight during a free half-day event at Cranfield University. Sessions will be delivered by expert academics from Cranfield Health and Cranfield School of Management.

Growing consumer demand for quality local sausage has led one Cumbrian producer to invest £250,000 in expanding its production. Plumgarths of Kendal's new production facility was officially opened this week by IGD chief executive, Joanne Denney-Finch OBE.

Provision Trade Federation (PTF) out-going chairman Tony Stanton has warned suppliers to be wary over demands to cut animal products for the environment.

Sales on the UK’s high streets rose by the lowest amount in January for 15 years.

Retailers need to pay a fair price to their suppliers in order to main choice and standards in their business, Waitrose managing director Mark Price has said.

Kerry Group has rolled out new packaging for its cooked meat brand Mattessons.

A film examining the major players in the US agriculture industry opened in the UK on Friday.

The British Pie Awards will return in 2010 to seek out the best products from across the UK. Butchers, bakers and manufacturers will all be able to compete to take home the title of “Supreme Champion” at Melton Mowbray on 19 May.

Pork is "better than Viagra", according to South American politicians and UK pig farmers are now hoping to spread the word this Valentine's Day.

Pork rose in a declining market for both lamb and beef last year, up 3% compared to lamb, which was down 9%. Beef sales were cut by 3%. As a result, pork grew its share of the meat market by 10% in December on the previous year.

Irish meat exports into the UK faced a very tough time last year, according to Aidan Cotter, chief executive, Bord Bía (Irish Food Board). The sterling/euro differential reduced their value by 30% over 2007. Sterling declined against the euro by 18% in 2008 and a further 12% in 2009.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has been accused of being on an "anti-meat crusade" after it reportedly refused to acknowledge claims that its high-profile report linking meat and cancer was found to have "significant" flaws. However, the WCRF has hit back, branding the accusations as "outrageous" and "ludicrous", and claiming any flaws were too minor to have affected overall conclusions.

More than 70 new exhibitors are set to make their debut at Foodex 2010, the UK’s leading meat exhibition. The new arrivals will be joining a strong list of over 200 firms, such as Handtmann, Reiser, Interfood Technology, Marel and Ishida Europe, which the organiser, William Reed Business Media, claimed demonstrated the continuing strength of the Foodex brand.

Pet food firm Butcher’s Pet Care is to embark on a major factory build that will keep its operations and 200 staff in Crick, Northamptonshire.

The meat industry’s leading charity, the Butchers’ & Drovers’ Charitable Institution (BDCI) is aiming for a modern new look with the launch of a new logo.

Supermarkets today face the implementation of new regulations monitoring their dealings with suppliers, known as the Grocery Supplier Code of Practice (GSCOP).

Consumption levels of pork and poultry need to be radically reduced if the UK is to pursue environmental sustainability, Peter Melchett, policy director of the Soil Association has claimed.

Morrisons is trialling a larger offal range and cheaper cuts of meat in 54 stores after reporting a 12% jump in value sales of beef, pork and lamb offal last year.

Freedom Food Outdoor Bred Pork will be taking on the sausage production of high-profile company The Black Farmer, also known as agriculturist Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones.

The Help for Heroes (H4H) charity is to benefit from additional donations thanks to two new varieties of pork sausages that are now being sold in Tesco stores across southern England.

A future Conservative government would split up the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as part of its plan to improve public health strategies.

A group of young farmers have been given expert training by processors as part of a special scheme to support the Welsh lamb industry.

A unique study is under way to look at changing trends in the consumption of halal meat in England.
The research, which is the first of its kind, has been commissioned by the newly-formed Halal Steering Group, established by Eblex with key industry figures to guide work in the halal sector and act as a forum for issues related to halal meat.

The number of food and drink sector deals involving UK firms fell by 30% to just 70 last year, comapred with 132 in 2007.

Good news for meat lovers, US doctors are claiming the Atkins diet is better at cutting blood pressure than weight-loss pills.

Haggis sales are soaring as the Scottish nation prepares for its annual celebration of Burns’ Night tonight. Haggis sales for 2009 surged by 19% to £8.8m on the previous year, with Scottish leaders proclaiming the increase as a vote of confidence in Scottish produce.

Ditching a diet of meat for imitations such as tofu and Quorn could be more damaging to the environment, a report from a charity has found.

Highland Game has expanded its range of venison at wholesale chain Costco. The Dundee-based company has launched a range of diced venison cuts, along with its prize-winning fillet, at 10 of Costco's top warehouses in the UK.

This year’s Bpex and Eblex Outlook Conference will focus on climate change and how it affects consumer perception and the working of the supply chain, as well as forecasts for 2010 and beyond.

Butchers and supermarkets insist they are keeping meat on the country’s tables during the deep freeze.

Country of origin labelling is not a "top priority" for consumers, according to new research by the Food Standards Agency.
A new study by the FSA, pulled together from five separate pieces of research, claimed that while there was an awareness of country of origin labelling it was not a main concern for consumers when shopping.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has raided the culinary history books to find warming winter dishes for late-season Scotch Lamb.

The government has announced it is to begin consulting on the creation of a body to oversee supermarkets’ relationships with suppliers.

Kevin Brennan, consumer minister with the department for business, innovation and skills, has accepted the Competition Commission's recommendation for an ombudsman to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, and will launch a consultation on the issue next month.

A recent Eblex promotion has been hailed its most successful ever, attracting more than 35,000 consumer entries.

The frozen meat and poultry sector grew by 2.1% in value last year and is now worth just under £563m.

Christmas proved a strong retail sales period, but it is unlikely to last. The number of people shopping in the UK on 27 December was almost one-fifth higher than last year. However, experts warn that any sign of recovery could prove a false dawn.

Co-operative Group store supervisor Madeleine Bowers and Somerfield checkout operator Tomieka Shiell are fronting a new national TV campaign for the merged food group.

Turkey and trimming sales over the festive period have helped Sainsbury’s complete record Christmas takings over the past 13 weeks.

Environmental campaigners have hit out at the Government’s Food 2030 strategy for failing to address the problem of “environmentally-destructive factory farming”.

The Conservative Party has pledged it will create a supermarket ombudsman if it wins the election in a speech made by Shadow Environment Secretary Nick Herbert.

The government is to set out its first major food strategy since the Second World War, amid a storm of media reports which claim it will be urging people to go vegetarian.
Defra minister Hilary Benn is to launch the strategy, entitled Food 2030, at the Oxford Farming Conference this morning. However, the Daily Mail has already claimed the report will urge people to stop eating red meat – a claim denied by Defra, which said the report is urging people to eat a healthy and sustainable diet.

Halal issues within the meat sector are to be given greater focus following the establishment of a new industry group.

New research from IGD reveals that 85% of food manufacturers have either stepped up their investment in sustainability or kept it the same during the recession, despite just over two-fifths (42%) believing it is not yet high enough on the shopper’s agenda.

A new code of practice on the labelling of pork products is to be drawn up following an agreement by pork producers, processors and retailers.

Sainsbury's is setting out its stall on sustainability with the roll-out of a carbon footprinting initiative to around 6,500 farmer suppliers. The scheme has already proved a success following trials in the dairy sector and has now been rolled out to beef and lamb producers, with pig and poultry farmers to follow in the New Year.

New voluntary guidelines for food and drink companies should help them better communicate information on portion size.

Asda has announced it is to dramatically increase the size of the Red Tractor logo on all the British meat it sells in its stores.

Paul McCartney has taken his campaign for ‘meat-free Mondays’ to a European Parliament hearing, although he received political brickbats for his trouble.

Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb will feature among some of Britain’s most cherished produce at an upcoming Christmas Market in London this week.

Supermarket chain Waitrose is to supply Welsh Black Beef exclusively through its branches in Wales from December in a launch supported by the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones AM.

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has raised concerns that shoppers could be being misled by plans for a traffic light system of labelling for meat.

Asda has rejected attacks over its commitment to British meat sourcing, branding the Eblex figures on which they are based as “unreliable”.

Two leading Food Standards Agency directors are to step down and their areas are being merged into one as part of the ongoing restructuring of the FSA.

Leading supermarkets have once again come under fire from farming leaders over the volumes of British meat on their shelves.

Farmers are outraged after Eblex’s recently published Beef and Lamb Watch figures for October revealed a further drop in the percentage of British meat on retail shelves.

Morrisons boss Marc Bolland has shocked the retail world by accepting the post of chief executive for high-street icon Marks & Spencer.

Unite has hailed a Budgens boss a “local hero” for supporting sacked 2 Sisters workers by removing the processor’s products from his shelves.

Sainsbury's is on course to declare robust growth in first-half pre-tax profits this week (11 November). These are expected to be strong, with underlying profits forecast to have risen 16% to £300m.

Marks & Spencer pleasantly surprised the stockmarket with better-than-expected interim results. Pre-tax profit increased a little from £297.8m to £298.3m.

Rumours in the stockmarket suggest that Tesco is poised to buy Dutch retail group Royal Ahold to buttress its expansion plans in the US.

Red meat processor Dunbia has been named ‘Own Brand Supplier of the Year 2009 – Best for Innovation’ by Sainsbury’s at the retailer’s annual supplier conference.

Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee were in London on Monday to celebrate the launch of British Sausage Week and award the multiple retail and London regional winners of the ‘Magical Banger’ competition.

A leading haggis producer is hoping to reinvent the Scottish national dish with the launch of a new microwaveable haggis.

J Sainsbury's shares rose sharply on speculation that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in which the Qatar Royal Family is heavily involved and which owns 26% of Sainsbury's shares as a result of an earlier, failed bid approach worth £10.6bn in 2007 is planning another bid for the supermarket group.

An ethically-minded Northern Ireland food company has won a contract to supply sausages to Waitrose stores across the UK.

The United States has lost patience with the European Union (EU) over its ban on imports of poultry carcases treated with four types of chemicals – effectively blocking most American chicken from sale.

Welsh pie manufacturer Peter’s Food is targeting the youth market with a new range of classic recipe meaty slices.

Chitty Foods is under investigation by Surrey Police over allegations that it mislabelled meat at its former Guildford abattoir.

Industry sources have suggested that the alleged offences could include falsely labelling meat as organic and labelling imported meat as British.

Tesco has launched a range of low-calorie venison sausages, formulated especially for slimming group Scottish Slimmers.

Unite has accused 2 Sisters of “behaviour more akin to a 19th-century mill owner” after the poultry processor sacked 59 people from its Smethwick site.

Cranswick, which supplies fresh pork and gourmet sausages to UK food retailers announced that while first-half sales rose as expected, its business has been dented by a rise in pig prices to record levels.

A new range of branded bacon is being launched by Denhay Farms in a bid to revitalise the market for streaky bacon. The company said its Spoiltpig streaky bacon, which is produced from pork reared to RSPCA Freedom Food standards, is aiming to remind consumers of the taste of streaky.

Food standards bosses have revealed more than 65% of poultry tested at retail level contains bacteria capable of food poisoning.

A study by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) took more than 3,000 samples of fresh chicken from retail shelves and found campylobacter was present in 65% of the samples. However, salmonella was detected in just 6%.

Despite the recession, convenience stores are booming on the sales front. Spar's members drove up like-for-like sales 5.2% in the three months to end of July.

Retailers are committing to Scottish food and drink by promising to create thousands of new jobs and extra investment in Scottish produce.

Meat processor Dunbia were the big winners on the night at a charity gala evening organised by the Co-operative Retail Trading Group (CRTG).

Organisers of British Sausage Week have announced that magician and assistant Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee will be the celebrity faces of the event this year.

Debbie & Andrew’s, best known for its sausages, is making its first foray into new markets with the launch of dual-branded Guinness pies.

Tesco and Morrisons have signed up to a campaign to improve country of origin labelling on meat products. The retail giants have agreed to back the Conservative Party’s ‘Honest Food’ campaign and provide more information to consumers about where its meat products come from.

Welsh lamb and beef are set to get a boost in Wales this autumn, as the True Taste roadshow hits the road.

Wm Morrison is pushing ahead on all fronts at a quicker rate than its rivals. In the first half (26 weeks ended 2 August 2009), the retailer revealed a 45% jump in pre-tax profit to £449m from £309m last year. Sales rose by 5% to £7.5bn - ahead of its rivals and fuelled by growth in its butchers' shops and bakeries. Stripping out £91m in pensions credit and property sales, pre-tax profit climbed 22% to £395m.

Dry-cured bacon producer Denhay Farms has launched a coupon campaign with firm Valassis for its spoiltpig range of bacon.

A sausage producer is celebrating after securing a multi-million-pound contract to supply an exclusive top-tier range to Marks & Spencer.

Tesco lost a little of its shine, as its share of the grocery market fell over the 12 weeks to 9 August, due to the intense cut-pricing pressure between the main supermarket groups.

Savoury pastry brand Ginsters of Cornwall has announced it is relaunching its individual 180g boxed pie range for this Autumn.

National advertisements for halal ready-meals were broadcast in France this week, in what is thought to be a first for mainstream European television.

The recession won’t stop game from getting off to a flying start this season, according to promotional body Game-to-Eat.

Butchers, supermarkets and sausage manufacturers are being urged to pull their best pork sausages out of the hat in the hunt for the country's most “magical” banger.

The BPEX competition marks the return of British Sausage Week, which will take place from from 2-8 November 2009.

A leading pie manufacturer played host to Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King in recognition of its charity work.

A second Brazilian beef exporter has agreed to stop sourcing cattle from farms involved in the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the publication of a guide to help retailers comply with food hygiene legislation.

The UK needs to radically rethink the way in which food is produced and processed if we are to enjoy food security in the future, Hilary Benn said today.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs secretary was talking at the launch of the country’s first food security assessment, which analyses the current state of the UK’s food supply and highlights the key challenges to a sustainable future.

The Competition Commission (CC) is to press ahead with plans to prevent multiple retailers from establishing a monopoly in local markets.

Tesco has come under attack from vegetarians for sending waste meat to be converted into renewable energy for British homes.

Butchers, meat suppliers and chefs are reporting an increasing demand for the range of economy speciality steaks developed by EBLEX.

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has revealed the final shortlist for its annual Community Partnership Awards.

A pie-maker in South Lanarkshire has been shortlisted for a British food competition with his Honeyed Venison Pie.

Supermarket chain Budgens has announced it will now stock Debbie & Andrew’s sausages in up to 193 of its stores nationwide.

Around 40-50 people protested outside a Tesco annual general meeting in Glasgow, where a motion to demand better working conditions for agency meat workers was defeated.

Haggis producer Macsween of Edinburgh has announced it has secured a £400,000 grant from the Scottish Government as part of Scotland’s Rural Development Programme.

A roundup of financial news from industry players

Supermarket chain Tesco has said that it is seeing shoppers returning to premium and ethical food ranges according to latest sales data.

Sausage duo Debbie & Andrew have said they are looking to seize an opportunity in the pre-cooked sausage market with the launch of ’15 Perfect Little Pork Sausages’.

Farming leaders are calling on the supermarkets to sign up to an independent ombudsman “while they still have the chance”. Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers’ Union, spoke out at the start of the last ever Royal Show today, and as the opportunity for supermarkets to give formal undertakings to the Competition Commission draws to a close.

The Co-operative was celebrating after taking the title of SuperMeat & Fish Retailer of the Year as the awards celebrated a decade of rewarding retail success.

The successful Fridge Raiders brand is aiming for further domination in the meat snacks market with the launch of a new brand extension - a chicken-on-a-stick.

Are you the meat industry's answer to Jenson Button? The race is on for the inaugural BDCI Karting competition, in a bid to boost funds for the industry’s leading charity.

A roundup of financial news from industry players

A Northern Ireland competition winner visited Liverpool recently to see her recipe cooked up by food writer Greg Wallace.

The Co-operative Group has announced plans to open a third convenience food store in Manchester, creating 40 jobs

With the Wimbledon Championships upon us, supermarket Waitrose has launched a pork and strawberry sausage at selected stores nationwide from today (22 June).

Less than a third of Britons believe that eating processed meat will increase the risk of bowel cancer, a YouGov survey has revealed.

The survey of 2,249 people, which was commissioned by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), revealed that only 32% of Britons think that eating meats such as bacon and ham will increase their risk of cancer.

Four days and 187 hard miles later, the Butchers on Bikes team rolled into Paris in triumph.

The weeks of training, or minutes in some cases, paid off as all 31 cyclists crossed the finish line under the Eiffel Tower. Hills, rain and French pedestrians proved no obstacle to the intrepid team, although the accomodation nearly finished some of them off.

ABP is set to install clipping technology at its Perth abattoir so farmers won’t have to remove faecal contamination from cattle hides.

New research suggests that eating curry several times a week could help prevent Alzheimer's.

International credit rating agency, Moody's, has altered its outlook on Tesco’s credit rating over fears about the retailer's high level of debt.

UK retailers are fuelling the destruction of the Amazon rainforest by sourcing beef from suppliers linked to illegal deforestation, Greenpeace has claimed.

Retailer Morrisons' "clear and unambiguous" country of origin labelling along with its support for British producers has been praised by farming minister Jane Kennedy.

Northern Foods has announced plans to shut its ready meals plant in Hull, putting 349 jobs at risk. The company said its operation was no longer viable following the loss of a ready meals contract with Morrisons.

For the armchair cyclists among the industry, those who really would have joined the Butchers on Bikes’ audacious trek from London to Paris if only their chain hadn’t fallen off their bike – hope is at hand.

The BoB team has launched a special Butchers on Bikes blog to allow the entire industry to keep up to date with the teams activities, both in the run-up, and during the ride itself.

Structural changes will be under discussion when the BDCI holds its Annual General Meeting next month. The charity will also consider a change from being an unincorporated entity into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

An animal rights group has re-erected a controversial billboard proclaiming that “feeding kids meat is child abuse.”

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has unveiled the inflammatory poster in Coventry, the home of Leanne Salt - a the 30-stone woman dubbed “Britain’s fattest mother”, who has admitted feeding her kids nuggets and burgers since they were six months old.

Strong meat exports have given a welcome boost to the UK meat industry, but producers will have to fight to remain competitive in the future, experts have warned.

Supermarket giant Asda is planning to use skin packaging for all of its meat joints in a bid to improve its environmental performance.

A government advisor has slammed the meat industry for its lack of action over climate change, warning that it is “miles behind” other food sectors.

The media has gone "beserk" over the so-called swine flu outbreak, according to the UK marketing director for Danish Bacon.

A £4m campaign to promote EBLEX’s Quality Standard Mark (QSM) has been launched to replace the long-running Beefy and Lamby characters. Featuring the strapline ‘Tough Standards. Tender Results’ the campaign gets under way on Monday, 18 May, to promote beef and lamb at the start of the barbecue season.

Dundee-based processor of wild Scottish venison, Highland Game, has launched its venison burger through 316 Morrisons stores nationwide.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's has announced a strong sales and profit performance for the past year, with significant growth potential for the future.

Asda has added a taste of rural Fermanagh to 20 of its UK stores as part of its Ethnic Ireland promotion.

Fundraising is under way for the Butchers on Bikes epic ride, with Aldi currently leading the field with a whopping £500 donation.

The charity bike ride will see a team of riders from across all areas of the meat industry make the trek from Smithfield Market in London to Rungis Market in Paris, totalling more than 186 miles.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has predicted that global import demand for meat will fall for the first time in over a decade this year.

The Black Farmer is hoping for success with the launch of ‘The Great White Hope’ chicken, the brand’s first free-range offering.

City rumours are once again circulating over a potential takeover bid for Sainsbury’s. Dealers are speculating that the Qatar Investment Authority, the investment vehicle of the Qatar Royal Family, is about to increase its share stake in Sainsbury from 27.3% to 29.9%.

The Competition Commission has published a public consultation on the proposal for a supermarket ombudsman to police the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCP).

ASDA’s subsidised semen initiative is already yielding results, with the first calves born successfully at Tom and Mike Powley’s farm in Yorkshire earlier this month.

Sausage firm Debbie & Andrew’s has increased its multiple presence after signing a deal with Waitrose to sell its Yorkshire brand sausages in the area.

Chairman of Assured Foods Standards (AFS), Colin Smith, will stand down this year after serving the full fixed six-year term of office.

American scientists have warned consumers to turn the barbecue down this summer, with new research suggesting that consumption of burnt and charred meat might increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Consumers believe that frozen food could offer better value in the current economic downturn, according to the latest research from the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) Frozen Food Group.

A leading foodservice supplier is hoping for success in the retail arena with the launch of a new sausage offer. Roberts of Port Dinorwic, a recipe dish manufacturer, has launched its renowned own-brand Traditional Pork Sausage.

A Scottish pie firm is aiming to get offal back on the nation’s tables with the launch of its brand new Lamb Kidneys Tubigo Pie. The pie, from Simple Simon of Biggar, is the second in its Luxury Larder range, alongside its Perfect Beef Wellington.

Bernard Matthews Farms is hoping to cash in on the credit crunch with a new addition to its top-selling family favourite. The company said the tough economic conditions were leading to a resurgence in frozen food and, in particular, frozen breaded poultry.

MTJ is now posting daily news and views on Twitter, the micro-blogging service taking the internet by storm.

Demand for locally produced meat is set to continue, with the latest research revealing that the UK market for regional and local food has increased by £1.3bn since 2003.

The food industry’s relationship with the media will come under scrutiny at the latest meeting of the Food Club International.

Marks & Spencer, which is gearing up to beat the big supermarket groups on the food price front, is moving towards another shareholder revolt over the extent of the power wielded by boss Stuart Rose

J Sainsbury has announced its best growth in sales in over 10 years. Total sales increased by 3.4% in the post–Christmas quarter, while like-for-like sales improved by 7% after adjusting for fuel and VAT

The Indian curry, Britain’s long-standing favourite ethnic food, has been knocked off the top spot by Chinese cuisine, according to a new report from Mintel.

A Liverpool butcher has failed in his bid to prove he was cheated out of more than £2 million by Somerfield.

Discount retailing giant Aldi is trialling a range of ready meals, using traditional cuts of meat from food supplier Roberts of Port Dinorwic.

Supermarket shelves are giving way to cheap imports of Irish beef, the National Beef Association (NBA) has claimed.

A nutritionist has cast doubt over the findings of a study that linked the consumption of fresh and processed red meat to increased risk of blindness.

The Pig Meat Task Force met for the first time yesterday to discuss the biggest challenges facing the supply chain.

Consumers still want to "buy green" despite the current economic climate, according to new research from the Carbon Trust.

Butchers, chefs, farms and mutton enthusiasts gathered at Lucknam Park Hotel in Chippenham for the last of this season's Mutton Renaissance Club open events.

British meat is disappearing from supermarket shelves under Labour rule, an opposition party has claimed.

Food experts from across Europe will meet in Prague tomorrow (12 March) for a two-day debate on the future of food labelling.

Supermarket giant Tesco has announced plans to turn all of its waste meat products into energy with food recycling service PDM Group.

The Co-operative claimed it is delivering on its commitment to support British pig farmers by converting all its own-brand pre-packed ham to 100% British pork from today (Monday 9 March).

Waitrose is hoping to retain recession poor consumers with the launch of an own brand label promising quality and value for money.

Tesco has won its appeal against the introduction of a "competition test" to limit retail expansion, but the Competition Commission (CC) has vowed to continue pursuing the proposal.

The Co-op has confirmed it is shutting down Somerfield's head office in Bristol, putting 750 jobs at risk, as it seals the billion-pound deal to purchase the chain

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Compassion in World Farming have announced the winner of the Chicken Out! campaign's design-a-label competition.

EBLEX is to ditch its Beefy and Lamby characters for its next consumer advertising campaign.

The Competition Commission has published proposals to strengthen and extend the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP).

Delegates at the 12th annual Langford Food Industry Conference will discuss the implications of global trends on meat production in the UK, it has been announced.

Booths is claiming to be the first UK food retailer to ensure 100% of its Lakeland Herdwick lamb is Freedom Food-accredited from this season.

The national body for Welsh meat promotion has announced it is aiming to get Welsh Lamb sold on German supermarket shelves.

Retailers and processors must become more innovative with forequarter cuts to balance out higher cattle prices, says the National Beef Association.

Meat manufacturers are likely to face even more pressure to reduce packaging following the publication of a damning report on supermarket packaging.

Bacon importers and UK processors were among guests at the glittering Provision Trade Federation (PTF) dinner in London last night.

Food industry executives and European decision-makers met in Brussels last night for a debate on EU food labelling proposals.

Jamie Oliver's pig programme has already had a big impact on spending habits, according to the latest figures from TNS Worldpanel.

Trust in the power of the consumer, not government, to see us through the economic crisis was the key message from Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy.

Asda has followed the lead of Morrisons and Tesco, announcing that it will create 7,000 new jobs this year.

Legendary singer songwriter Bob Dylan has given permission for his iconic music to be used in a UK supermarket commercial, it was announced today.

Sainsbury's is hoping to encourage consumers to rediscover some old classics on its meat counters.

Food inflation, which saw meat and fish prices soar, is easing, latest research from Verdict has claimed.

Tesco has infuriated the Irish pig industry by demanding that its suppliers pay compensation for profits lost during the dioxin recall.

Tesco has revealed the worst Christmas trading growth for over 10 years, but remains confident, promising new jobs and further price cuts.

Justin King, chief executive, Sainsbury's, has become president of IGD. Charles Wilson, chief executive, Booker Group has become vice-president.

Asda has announced that it will raise the age limit of cattle for use in its standard beef range from 30 to 36 months.

Slaughterhouses are now required to ask for specific information about the calves they receive for slaughter.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has called on supermarkets and food companies to introduce country- of-origin labelling so shoppers can choose to buy British meat.

Sales of British pork have soared during the festive season, according to figures from Waitrose.