Here at Meat Management we thought it only right to take a look back at 2016 and the biggest stories from the industry that captured your attention.
So, here’s a countdown of the top ten most-read stories on the Meat Management website last year.
(To view the original story click on the headlines)
10. Site closure for 2 Sisters Food GroupIn November, 2 Sisters Food Group announced proposals to close its retail packing operation at its St Merryn Plant in Merthyr Tydfil. It is said that the closure could result in 350 job losses.
9. Tulip set to split business into four divisionsBack in September, Tulip confirmed it was to split its business into four divisions – Tulip Fresh, Tulip Added Value, Tulip Agriculture and Dalehead Foods – in order to address some of the key challenges currently facing the company and “regain its mojo”.
8. World’s largest meat business faces corruption chargesAt the start of 2016 in early February, the world’s largest meat supplier, Brazil-based JBS, saw its share price tumble after nine people connected either to the conglomerate that includes JBS or Banco SA were charged with wrongdoing and financial crimes by federal prosecutors in Sao Paulo.
7. 2 Sisters founder says Brexit could spell disasterAhead of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, 2 Sisters Food Group chief executive, Ranjit Singh Boparan, warned that Brexit could “decimate the British food industry”, citing the uncertainty, the reduced access to foreign workers, and the potential loss of access to the single market.
6. Industry stalwart Colin Cullimore dies aged 86Meat Management reported the sad news of the death of industry stalwart Colin Cullimore CBE, who was best known for heading up the Dewhurst Butchery business during its heyday, at the start of the January following his passing on 22nd December 2015.
5. Dunbia invests in food developmentIn March, Northern Irish meat processing firm, Dunbia, announced that it was to invest close to half a million pounds to strengthen its Food Development team, with new positions for innovation project managers, food technologists and an innovation chef.
4. Bernard Matthews acquisition to be investigatedThe Boparan Private Office confirmed the acquisition of Bernard Matthews in September, however in October it was reported that the Competition and Markets Authority was investigating the sale as it had “reasonable grounds for suspecting that it is or may be the case that enterprises conducted by Ranjit Singh Boparan and Baljinder Boparan and the business formerly carried on by Bernard Matthews Limited have ceased to be distinct”.
3. Asda buys meat suppliers Forza AW Limited and Kober LimitedAsda acquired two of its key meat suppliers, Forza AW Limited, which produces cooked meats, and Kober, which is the retailer’s sole bacon supplier, back in January 2016.
2. The 2016 Meat Management Industry Awards winners are revealedThe prestigious Meat Management Industry Awards were held at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, London in May and 2016's second most-read story on the website was the announcement of the winners of all the awards, from Britain’s Best Burger and Britain’s Best Butcher’s Shop, to the Young Manager of the Year and The Excellence Award.
1. Multimillionaire Alfie Best invests in the pie industry
The most read story of 2016 was the news that Romany gypsy entrepreneur Alfie Best acquired 40% of Wiltshire-based pie business, Eat Square, in January.A new range of pies, including gluten free products, were launched at the start of February and the company aimed to take production from 500 pies a week to 500 a day by the end of the year. We wonder how they got on…
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
