Press Releases

information & case studies

.: ‘Farm-Grown’ Branding Can Help to Connect with Consumers (Press Release - Sep 2006)

Research conducted as part of the Cereals Industry Forum (CIF) has demonstrated that branding explaining that Co-op flour is grown on its own farms could considerably increase its impact on consumers. The latest Value Chain Analysis (VCA) conducted as part of CIF by the Cardiff Business School looked at the production of flour for Co-op retail stores, and involved CPB Twyford, Yara, Farmcare, Whitworths and the Co-op.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Cereals	Region:	East of England

.: Helping to Get Fruit to Schools (Press Release - 24 Jul 2006)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has released the results of a project set up as part of the Government-funded School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. The Value Chain Analysis followed fruit grown on a Kent farm through harvesting, processing and delivery to a primary school in London.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Fresh Produce	Region:	South East

.: Animal Feed Chain Benefits from Reduced Transport Costs and Improved Sampling Efficiencies (Press Release - 26 Jun 2006)

A Cereals Industry Forum (CIF) Value Chain Analysis (VCA) has provided key recommendations on how sampling efficiencies can be improved and transport costs reduced along the poultry feed supply chain. The VCA was conducted by Cranfield Business School to look at the efficiency of the chain from the grain farmer and grain merchant, Saxon Agriculture, through to Bernard Matthews.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Cereals	Region:	East of England

.: Masterclass Leads to Potato Grader Improvement (Press Release - 18 May 2006)

The performance of Greenvale AP’s potato grader improved by 20% following a Food Chain Centre masterclass delivered by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Greenvale was the first fresh produce company to benefit from the masterclass which identified potential savings worth thousands.

Business areas:	Production Excellence	Sector:	Fresh Produce	Region:	East of England

.: Brewer Improves Efficiency Through Strategic Partnership (Press Release - May 2006)

An industry leading agreement between brewer Coors Brewers Ltd and Frontier Agriculture has been strengthened as a result of a Value Chain Analysis (VCA) organised as part of the Cereals Industry Forum (CIF). The CIF project has enabled Coors and Frontier to improve planning and communication and cut the cost of production.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Cereals	Region:	n/a

.: Price & Supply Stability for beef (Press Release - 07 Feb 2006)

A study of the chain supplying Scotch beef to the University of Warwick found that all parties could benefit in this and similar chains by agreeing consistent cattle prices in return for more regular delivery times.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: OrgaOrganic v Conventional Lamb – a Case Study Comparing two Supply Chains (Press Release - 01 Feb 2006)

Sales of organic foods in Britain are growing at a rate of £2million a week – twice the rate of growth of the conventional grocery market. To help the red meat industry take advantage of this growing market, the Food Chain Centre and the Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF) compared an organic lamb supply chain with a conventional one to see what lessons could be learnt by both.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre takes Farmers to the Dinner Table with New Consumer Guide (Press Release - 04 Jan 2006)

The Food Chain Centre is today (Wednesday 4th January) launching a unique online library of information about shoppers to help farmers. Available at www.foodchaincentre.com, it is the first time that information on how shoppers think and behave has been brought together in one place and presented specifically for farmers.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	Cereals Fresh Produce Dairy Red Meat Poultry	Region:	n/a

.: Savings Possible in Biscuit Production Chain (Press Release - Oct 2005)

The first Value Chain Analysis (VCA) has been completed as part of the Cereals Industry Forum (CIF), which is funded by the DTI and Defra, and jointly run by Home Grown Cereals Authority and the Food Chain Centre. It has shown that there is considerable scope for improvement in the production process. For instance, almost 50 percent of the grain delivered to millers Heygates either did not meet the allocated delivery slot or the quality specification.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Cereals	Region:	n/a

.: Coming Together to Cut Costs in Dairy (Press Release - 06 Sep 2005)

Teamwork across the supply chain is by far the best way for the dairy industry to cut costs and add value, according to a new report released by the Food Chain Centre.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Names Joanne Denney-Finch OBE as New Chair (Press Release - 09 Jun 2005)

IGD Chief Executive Joanne Denney-Finch OBE has been appointed as the new chair of the Food Chain Centre. She will replace Dame Deirdre Hutton who has been Chair of the Food Chain Centre since its inception in May 2002 and is stepping down to become Chair of the Food Standards Agency in July.

Business areas:	n/a	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre says a Prosperous Future for Food Production is Five Steps Away (Press Release - 09 Jun 2005)

At a conference today, Thursday 9th June 2005, Food Chain Centre Chair Dame Deirdre Hutton, declared her faith in a prosperous future for farming and food processing.

Business areas:	n/a	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: One Million Reasons Why Farmers Should Take Notice (Press Release - 22 Apr 2005)

A national Academy providing farmers with access to data on the shopping behaviour of one million shoppers was launched today.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Efficiencies Achieved in £3 million Contract to Feed the Forces (Press Release - 05 Apr 2005)

Collaboration between the Defence Catering Group, 3663 and Geo Adams & Sons Limited has resulted in substantial efficiencies being achieved in supplying pork legs and loins to the Armed Forces.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: 4500 Farmers Benefit from Best Practice Case Study (Press Release - 13 Dec 2004)

Over 4500 farmers are to benefit from the latest information from the Food Chain Centre (FCC) and Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF). The latest case study from Meadow Quality Co-operative focuses on two farmers who have both increased their financial returns through working with the Co-operative.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: Growers are Leading the Way in using Benchmarking, closely followed by Beef and Sheep Farmers (Press Release - 02 Dec 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years. The biggest has been with fresh produce growers who now lead the way with 30%. The Food Chain Centre has played a direct part in this through the launch and promotion of Hortbench in 2003.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Fresh Produce Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: East Anglian Farmers Take the Top Spot (Press Release - 02 Dec 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years, with East Anglian farmers taking the top spot (36% are now benchmarking).

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	East of England

.: East Midlands Farmers Beat National Average for Benchmarking (Press Release - 02 Dec 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years. With 27% of East Midland farmers using benchmarking compared with the national average of 24%

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	East Midlands

.: Initiative to Encourage More Farmers to Benchmark is a Spectacular Success (Press Release - 24 Nov 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Cereals Fresh Produce Dairy Red Meat Poultry	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Awarded Half a Million Pounds to Help Fresh Produce Sector (Press Release - 25 Oct 2004)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has been awarded a major grant by DEFRA, worth almost £500,000, to develop its work in the fresh produce sector.

Business areas:	Collaboration Production Excellence	Sector:	Fresh Produce	Region:	n/a

.: One Million Reasons Why Farmers Should Take Notice (Press Release - 14 Sep 2004)

The shopping behaviour of one million shoppers will be shared with farmers to help them identify new opportunities.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	Cereals Fresh Produce Dairy Red Meat Poultry	Region:	n/a

.: Whitbread Steak Supply Chain Analysed (Press Release - 15 Jun 2004)

A huge in-depth study of Whitbread’s Beefeater restaurants and their steak supply chain has uncovered a new team-based approach to satisfying customers.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: 20% Savings to be had in Sausage Supply Chain (Press Release - 08 Jun 2004)

Savings of up to 20% are potentially available across the pork sausage supply chain, according to a comprehensive case study published today by the Food Chain Centre and Red Meat Industry Forum.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre and English Farming and Food Parnterships - Putting Collaboration into Practice (Press Release - 04 May 2004)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) today announces that it will jointly publish with English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP) a catalogue of case studies highlighting successful examples of collaboration in the food chain. Publication will take place in the autumn.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Awarded Major Grant to Develop Promotion of Benchmarking (Press Release - 14 Jan 2004)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has been awarded a major grant by Defra, worth in excess of £300,000, to develop its work to promote benchmarking across the food and grocery industry.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Cereals Industry Forum Awarded £1.4 million to Improve Cereals Chain (Press Release - 29 Sep 2003)

In what is a significant success for the cereals industry, the Cereals Industry Forum has been awarded a major Government grant of £1.4m over the next three years to improve efficiency and competitiveness in the grain chain. The funds will be provided jointly by DTI and Defra.

Business areas:	Collaboration Production Excellence	Sector:	Cereals	Region:	n/a

.: Potential for 10% Savings in the Red Meat Sector Identified (Press Release - 16 Sep 2003)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) and Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF) estimate there is potential for red meat supply chain cost savings of up to 10% in the first of a series of guides entitled ‘Cutting Costs - Adding Value in Red Meat’, published today.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Red Meat	Region:	n/a

.: PROBE into British Horticulture Reveals Strengths in Efficiency and Customer Service (Press Release - 04 Aug 2003)

The Food Chain Centre, with funding from the Farmers’ Fund, has compared the UK’s leading suppliers of fresh fruit, salads, potatoes and vegetables against the world’s best and found they shine in efficiency and customer service.

Business areas:	Production Excellence	Sector:	Fresh Produce	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Awarded Half a Million Pounds for New Project to Help Dairy Industry [Also Best Practice Hub Grant awarded] (Press Release - 16 Jun 2003)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has been awarded a grant of £500,000 from Defra to help the English Dairy industry improve its efficiency. The FCC will work in partnership with bodies representing farmers, processors and retailers in the dairy chain including the NFU, the Milk Development Council, DIAL1 and BRC to help dairy farmers get their milk products to consumers more efficiently.

Business areas:	Business Strategy Collaboration Differentiation	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Gets Farmers on the Starting Blocks to Profitability (Press Release - 31 Mar 2003)

Today the Food Chain Centre (FCC) launched a starter pack* to help farmers reap the benefits of benchmarking. As the FCC’s research shows, benchmarking is a powerful way for farmers to compare performance, cut costs and improve profits but only a small number of farmers are benefiting. The pack explains how benchmarking works and guides farmers on how to get started.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Receives Half a Million Pounds to Help British Horticulture (Press Release - 12 Nov 2002)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has received a grant of £0.5 million from DEFRA to help UK horticultural businesses take on the best in Europe.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Fresh Produce	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Gets Green Light (Press Release - 26 Mar 2002)

Following this morning’s meeting at 10 Downing Street, IGD will be taking forward the proposed Food Chain Centre, as recommended by Sir Don Curry’s report into the Future of Farming and Food.

Business areas:	n/a	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: IGD Welcomes the Policy Commission's Challenge (Press Release - 29 Jan 2002)

IGD Chief Executive Joanne Denney OBE has today welcomed the recommendations of Sir Donald Curry’s Policy Commission on Farming and Food, which proposes a number of new actions to be facilitated by IGD.

Business areas:	n/a	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a