First Exports of UK Beef To the USA in 20 Years Underway

The first shipments of UK beef are to depart for the USA today, marking a historic moment for UK farmers and food producers.

Following the USA’s longstanding ban on EU beef – introduced in the wake of the BSE outbreak in 1996 – market access for UK beef was granted in March 2020. UK beef producers now have access to the US market for the first time in over 20 years.

Today’s news means the sector can now begin to reap the economic benefits of trade with the US – with industry estimating beef exports will be worth £66 million over the next...

McDonald's to Test Reusable Cup Model for Hot Beverages 

McDonald’s Corporation has announced a global partnership with TerraCycle’s circular packaging service, Loop, to test a new reusable cup model for hot beverages. The initiative, which will first be trialed in 2021 across select McDonald’s restaurants in the UK, helps customers enjoy their favorite McDonald’s hot drink in a reusable cup, while cutting down on packaging waste. The model marks significant progress toward innovative circular packaging solutions that help protect the planet for communities today, and in the future.

This unique new partnership will conveniently allow customers to reduce waste by choosing a durable Loop-created cup, for a small deposit. The deposit can then be redeemed by returning the cup to participating McDonald’s UK restaurants in order to be...

Rabobank Beef Quaterly Q3 2020: New Faces Shaping Future UK Beef Imports 

Once outside the European bloc, the UK is expected to become the fifth or sixth largest beef-importing country. Consumer acceptance and non-tariff barriers will play significant roles in determining which countries ultimately supply the UK beef market in the future.

Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU continue to progress. “While pure economic reasoning and geopolitics normally play strong roles in trade negotiations, we believe that, in the case of the UK, consumer acceptance and non-tariff barriers will be equally significant in determining...

Urner Barry to Offer New Market Coverage of UK Beef Trade

First of its kind coverage of the UK beef market will include quotations, news and analysis

Urner Barry, the leading provider of protein market news and information in the food industry, is pleased to announce a brand-new coverage area with the launch of a UK beef market report.

Adding to the timely, accurate and unbiased reporting on the U.S. beef market, Urner Barry will now offer coverage of the beef trade in the United Kingdom. This initiative provides transparency and insight into international market dynamics at a time when information is more critical than ever.

"We are excited for the opportunity to invest in the UK beef industry and continue our tradition of helping people make better trading decisions by providing independent, accurate and timely market information,” said Urner Barry CEO Joe Muldowney. “We're grateful for the incredible support we've seen so far from the U.K. on this endeavor and look forward to...

Consumers Are Eager to Dine Out and Support Local

Fatigued by cooking at home, consumers are anxious to dine at their favorite restaurants according to a new Oracle Food and Beverage study. The survey found that 59% of US and 47% of UK consumers plan to dine-out as soon as they are able. In fact, as soon as it's deemed safe to reopen, 26% of US respondents and 14% of the UK said they plan to return in the first week.

Diners are looking for reassurance on cleaning procedures and technology to reduce contact with servers. Forty percent of those surveyed in the US and 39% in the UK said they would feel safer if they could view the menu from their mobile device, while...

Mintel: A Quarter of British Millennials Say COVID-19 has Made a Vegan Diet More Appealing 

The prospect of a diet packed with chickpeas, lentils, and quinoa appears to be more tempting as of late, as new research from Mintel reveals that a quarter (25%) of young British Millennials (aged 21-30) say that the COVID-19 pandemic has made a vegan diet more appealing.

These plant-loving Millennials are not alone, as the research reveals that a vegan diet is proving more attractive to over one in ten (12%) of all Brits, rising to almost a quarter (22%) of Londoners, since the start of the pandemic.

This comes as Mintel research indicates there is a strong belief in the healing power of plants, as half of Brits (51%) believe plant/botanical ingredients (eg herbs, spices) can have...

Mintel: UK Online Grocery will Grow by Around 33% in 2020

The latest research from Mintel reveals the online grocery market is forecast to grow by 33% in 2020 to reach an estimated value of £16.8 billion, up from £12.7 billion in 2019. This phenomenal rise follows four consecutive years of slowing growth: in 2019 growth fell to a historic low of just 2.9%. The market is set to be worth £17.9 billion by 2024, growing by 41% over the five year period.

Online shopping behaviour as a whole

This comes as Mintel reveals a dramatic change in online shopping habits over the COVID-19 lockdown period, habits that Mintel believes could prove lasting. In the very early days of the spread of the coronavirus in the UK, before social distancing measures were announced, 7% of Brits...

47 Members of Congress Send Letter Requesting U.S. Chicken Market Access to the United Kingdom

Arkansas Representative Steve Womack (R, AR-3), along with 46 Members of Congress, yesterday sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requesting that U.S. chicken products be included in any new trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

The letter specifically addresses the European Union’s long-standing, unscientific ban on U.S.-exported chicken due to an American practice of using chlorine during processing. The U.K. formally adhered to the E.U.’s food safety standards in 1997 and American chicken has been banned from entry since that time.

“With almost one of five pounds of chicken being exported, a robust and expanding overseas market is extremely important to the economic health and well-being of the U.S. chicken industry,” said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown. “Including U.S. chicken is critical in...

Meat Institute Signs MOU with the British Meat Processors Association

With trade negotiations set to begin between the United States and the United Kingdom, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) to benefit members of each organization and to support and promote mutually beneficial regulations, standards and policies to enhance bilateral trade in meat and poultry products.

“Members of the Meat Institute and the British Meat Processors Association share many common goals, especially regarding food safety, sustainability, nutrition and worker safety,” said Meat Institute Senior Vice President for International Affairs Bill Westman. “As our governments begin trade talks, it is important to...

Cranswick Acquires White Rose Farms 

Cranswick plc, a leading UK food producer, announces that it has acquired the Buckle family’s pig farming and rearing operations as well as the family’s 50% share of the White Rose Farms Limited pig production joint venture set up by Cranswick and the Buckle family in 2018. The enlarged pig enterprise, to be known as White Rose Farms, specialises in the production of Red Tractor assured pigs in Yorkshire and will continue to be led by Rick Buckle.

Following the acquisition of Packington Pork in December, which specialises in British free range and outdoor pigs, today’stransaction further increases Cranswick’s self-sufficiency in UK pigs processed to over...

Mintel: UK Sales of Meat-Free Foods Shoot Up 40% Between 2014-2019 

From meatless steak bakes to plant-based Whoppers, it seems that vegan food product launches are now in full swing as new research from Mintel reveals a nation hungry for meat-free foods.

Over the past two years, the number of Brits who have eaten meat-free foods has shot up from 50% in 2017 to 65% in 2019. Meanwhile, sales of meat-free foods have grown an impressive 40% from £582 million in 2014 to an estimated £816 million in 2019. Such is the popularity of meat-free food that sales are expected to be in excess of £1.1 billion by 2024.

According to Mintel research, the proportion of meat eaters who have reduced or limited the amount of meat they consume has risen from 28% in 2017 to 39% in 2019. Women are more likely than men to have...

Cranswick Releases Financial Results 

Cranswick plc released an unscheduled trading update.

Current trading

The Group’s Adjusted Profit Before Tax (under IFRS16, pre-exceptionals) for the year ending 31 March 2020 is now expected to be higher than current market forecasts.

The interim results announcement dated 26 November 2019 stated the Group had delivered a robust performance, in a competitive UK market. That performance, and market backdrop, in the UK continued...

Chlorine-Washed Chicken and Hormone-Treated Beef Ban to Remain After Brexit

Chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef will not be allowed into the UK under any trade deal with the US, the Environment Secretary has told the BBC’s Countryfile program.

In an exclusive interview, Theresa Villiers told presenter Tom Heap that the current EU ban on such imports will be carried over into UK legislation following Brexit.

Ms Villiers said: “We will not be importing chlorinated-chicken. We will not be importing hormone-treated beef. Both of those are...

REPORTER: Brexit Uncertainty: A Shadow Over Agri-trade

A tug of war between those in favor of an exit and those who wish to remain within the single market regime has showed little sign of easing. More than three years since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union the “divorce” process remains in limbo.

WHAT NEXT?

Despite Boris Johnson’s exit attempts, the UK’s membership was yet again extended until January 31, 2020.

Much of what happens next will be determined by a snap election set for December 12, 2019. Provided there are nomore delays, the UK exits...

Brexit: EU Agri-Food Chain Representatives Welcome the Deal and Call for a Swift Ratification