James Beeson

In a brewing industry where hops are driving most of the conversation in terms of newer, more compelling flavours in beer, in my new feature for Craft Beer & Brewing I investigated the growing trend of breweries turning to heritage malt varieties so as to explore new dimensions of flavour in their own beers. I spoke to several brewers, including Toby Mackenzie at RedWillow, Danny Tapper at Beak and Gareth Young at Epochal, plus Alison Milne at Crafty Maltsters and Dr. David Griggs at Crisp Malt to find out how breweries are using these heritage malting barley varieties, what kind of results they're getting from them, and who's interested in drinking them. You can read the answers to those questions here: https://lnkd.in/ge6PsiSk

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Dan Sparshatt of Golden Acre Foods | B Corp talks to Food Manufacture about the evolution of the UK's World Foods category in this exclusive interview #worldfoods #foodtrends #ukfoodtrends

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Scottish breweries are closing at a rate of more than one a month as they face a double peril. Writing this week about a decrease in the number of smaller breweries it emerges the decline in craft beer makers has this year become steady, yet it comes as demand is at its height. So what’s happening? My Business Week column Article: https://lnkd.in/ebf_TFst #craftbeer #breweries #businessvoices

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Our latest #podcast is out now and features the amazing powerhouse industry figure that is Nimisha Raja MBE. Listen here: #foodpodcast #entrepreneur #businessleaders

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Statistics published today show the food and drink industry in Wales grew by 10% last year. Businesses in the sector had a total turnover of £24.6bn in 2023, compared to £22.3bn in 2022. The statistics are for the food and drink supply chain, which contains manufacturing and packaging, agriculture and fishing, retail and wholesale, and non-residential catering.

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Breaking News – the latest update from British Lion egg processors - is now available to read.   Including the influencers who are calling for British Lion eggs in British made food, and the updated Code of Practice for processors.    https://lnkd.in/e2Y3qfdP]   #Britishlioneggs #breakingnews #EggIngredients #foodsafety #foodprocessing

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NEW: BrewDog is pivoting towards lager as it looks to become the fourth-largest brewer in the UK off-trade. With Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company's bestseller San Miguel set to switch to Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I in January, there was an opportunity for BrewDog to leapfrog the supplier, group sales director Stuart Harrison said. In a bid to win the battle for fourth spot, the Scottish brewer would place greater emphasis on lager to appeal to more shoppers, Harrison said. “Penetration of craft has plateaued,” he said. “There are no new consumers coming into craft. So we have to drive penetration to craft. That is why you will see a lot of focus from us next year on Lost [Lager].” Lost Lager, first introduced by BrewDog in 2018, will this year overtake Punk IPA to become the brewer’s biggest-selling beer in grocery, accounting for around 22% of its total off-trade volumes. As well as driving sales of Lost Lager via new pack formats and promotions, BrewDog would invest behind its 3.4% abv lager Cold Beer and extend its Wingman sub-brand into lager next year, Harrison said. Read more via The Grocer.

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🎄 Discover the top #foodanddrink trends set to take over the UK this festive season. Click the link to read in full. #christmas #foodtrends #drinktrends

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🌟 Shoutout to Scotland's Small Food & Hospitality Businesses! From the charming cafes of Perthshire to the distilleries of Aberdeenshire, your dedication to quality and craftsmanship shines through. Your brand promise is your promise to your customers - it's what keeps them coming back for more. Embrace your uniqueness, celebrate your heritage, and let your brand promise be your guiding light. Together, let's showcase the best of Scottish hospitality to the world! Success in the food and hospitality industry doesn't happen by chance. It requires careful planning, goal-setting, and continuous measurement of progress. As a brand marketing expert, I can help you define clear objectives for your business and develop actionable strategies for achieving them. Whether you're aiming to increase foot traffic, boost online sales, or improve customer satisfaction, let's work together to set SMART goals and track your progress towards success. You can read more in my latest blog post about making your brand promise a priority: https://lnkd.in/e9mTUpvw #GoalSetting #BusinessPlanning #KPIs #SuccessMetrics #HospitalityGoals #BusinessStrategy #ScottishCuisine #Craftsmanship #Heritage #BrandPromise #BespokeBusiness #SupportLocal

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Great news, but i'd love to know your thoughts, These results show an almost 29% reduction in added sugar consumption for chikdrem and 40% in adults. However, there's lurks a bigger risk: many have switched to artificially sweetened drinks, which are linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, gut disorders, and more. Producing more low-sugar options that are well-formulated, offering flavour without compromising health is the way forward, but big manufacturing needs to be all over this with better formulations and no get out of jail card for being hit with sugar tax by just replacing one 'bad' ingredient for another more fatal ingredient. Stevia glycosides and sucralose, are widely used as sugar substitutes in these low calorie /zero sugar drinks. While they help reduce calorie intake, they come with potential health risks: Stevia Glycosides: Digestive Issues: Can cause bloating, nausea, and diarrhea in some individuals. Blood Sugar Impact: Despite being non-caloric, studies suggest they negatively affect insulin and glucose levels. Gut Health: negatively affects gut microbiota, leading to digestive disorders. Metabolic Effects: Some studies link it to altered glucose and insulin responses, potentially increasing diabetes risk. Heat Instability: When heated,(pasteurised) it can break down into potentially harmful compounds. Our soft drinks are laced with these harmful sweeteners. do we solved one problem but created a bigger one. Overall, great results but it raises concern for what was the solution.. what are yout thoughts? . #Health #Nutrition #Wellness #PublicHealth

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What if #chocolate could be more than a treat: that it could transport you through time and memory? UK brand GNAW Chocolate is flipping the chocolate game on its head with daring, nostalgia-infused #flavours like Sticky Toffee Pudding and Raspberry Mojito, all while championing #sustainability with solar-powered production and compostable packaging. This isn’t just chocolate – it’s an experience. #ChocolateInnovation #Sustainability #FoodTrends2024 https://lnkd.in/eT2DTsnP

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For anyone out there with an interest in drinks brands, I'd recommend this book from David Gluckman: https://lnkd.in/e4mCW_CA This new paperback edition also includes a 'Retro' section, looking back on some of the brands in the book : * How does he feel about Baileys as it approaches its 50th anniversary? * Why the unique Sheridan's bottle has only hosted a single product. * What he (intensely) dislikes about Ciroc. * How Aqua Libra was emasculated by Britvic. * Why companies shy away from genuine, perceptible product advantages. * How to create a martini Scotch whisky. * How he would solve the No-Lo spirit issue...

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My latest Canvas8 report is out. This month, I investigate how the cost of living crisis is affecting the behaviour of British #beer drinkers #CostOfLivingCrisis #consumerreport #uk #beerindustry https://lnkd.in/dhbrspWC

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A new survey of UK consumers commissioned by In Ovo suggests a compelling business case for cull-free eggs. Some key highlights: - When UK consumers are informed about the practice of chick-culling, two-thirds find the practice unacceptable. - UK consumers who express a willingness to pay for cull-free eggs report being willing to pay £0.13 more per egg, or over 13x the added production cost of in-ovo sexing. - Nearly half of UK consumers report that they would switch supermarkets to purchase cull-free eggs. Read more about the survey and the compelling business opportunity behind more ethical eggs on our blog. https://lnkd.in/gHmZ5Gvu

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The UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has welcomed a further inflation drop to 4% in February, though warned that unstable weather conditions within many agricultural sectors around the world could pose further significant challenges #inflation #UK #confectionery #snacks #bakery #economy #costoflivingcrisis #confectioneryproduction #strategy #investment #foodlabelling #EU #policy #trade #export #import #climatechange #cocoa #cropdeficits The Food and Drink Federation Karen Betts https://lnkd.in/eUhAsZ7A

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