Food Northwest Newsletter April 2009

Food Northwest Awards 2009 - Inspiration and Innovation

2009 sees the fourth annual Food Northwest Awards take place, celebrating business success in the food and drink industry across the Northwest. From farm to fork, the Food Northwest Awards reflect the rich variety of food production and businesses within the region and celebrate the energy, enthusiasm, innovation and hard work of companies, large and small.

The Food NW Awards 2009 will be celebrated at the Manchester Hilton on June 25th featuring a daytime business clinics and Fine Food Awards event, and in the evening a gala awards dinner hosted by ITN and Granada TV newsreader, Lucy Meacock.

Entry to the awards is free and further information and application forms can be found at www.foodnwawards.co.uk

Reaseheath Funding Announcement

A grant of £4.7million has been awarded to Reaseheath College in Nantwich by the NWDA.

The grant will support the creation of an Enterprise Delivery Hub which will provide a pool of specialist knowledge and state of the art resources so rural businesses can grow through better information and new technology. The Hub will provide specialist support to all rurally-based businesses based in the Northwest, from start-ups to international food manufacturers. Funding from the NWDA will also cover the kitting out and refurbishment of food halls, modern incubation kitchens and an anaerobic digester to reduce waste.

Environmental Solutions Event

Food Northwest is staging this high profile event at the Heath Business Centre in Runcorn on Thursday April 30th

Once again Food Northwest is partnering with Envirolink and Envirowise. Building on the successful Food Waste Solutions Events of the previous years, the new broader remit this year will include workshop sessions on Biomass, Water usage and Packaging (including ASDA Case Study).

Presentations on the day will feature amongst others,Richard O’Keefe, Director of Food Northwest and Chris Greenhalgh from the NWDA, who will gives details on new funding initiatives in the region.

To download the booking form please click here.

For further information visit:

www.foodnw.co.uk / www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk / www.envirowise.gov.uk

or contact Food Northwest on 01928 511011.

Nantwich Show 29th July 2009

Nantwich and South Cheshire Show Wednesday 29th July 2009 is hosting the Mornflake Food Hall with space for 50 exhibitors.

Stands are charged at £50 per metre frontage; tables are an additional £7.50 (wooden, folding legs); chairs £3.50; power: double socket - £90, single £75; and water £80.

Nantwich Show gets between 25,000 and 30,000 people through it's gates and is the largest one day agricultural show in the country. It's also well known for being the biggest Cheese Show in the world.

If producers are interested in taking a trade stand please email: k.lamb.123@btinternet.com for further details and a booking form.

Congratulations...

Laila’s Fine Foods

Frozen food company and Food NW member; Laila’s Fine Foods, have been given £250,000 through the Transitional Loan Fund.

Blackpool based Laila’s, which employs more than 100 people and supplies Far Eastern and European ready meals, is one of the first in the region to benefit from the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s business assistance package.

www.lailasfinefoods.co.uk

Duerrs

Historic North West food manufacturer F Duerr and Sons has clinched a new deal to supply honey to supermarket giant Tesco.

The company, which is run by fifth-generation family members Mark and Richard Duerr, is experiencing strong sales growth in this area, with honey sales set to quadruple to £8m thanks to a number of contract wins from the major grocers. Duerr, the UK’s oldest remaining independent family preserves producer, has secured a new listing to supply 800 Tesco stores for its Clear Blossom honey. Sales of speciality clear honey have remained buoyant despite the recession, and according to research group TNS rose 22% last year.

Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA)

The Prescot based kitchen appliances manufacturer has scooped two trade awards and been named as a finalist in a further two.

Now in their fourth year, the Get Connected Product of the Year Awards are regarded as a recognition of the best of the best in the UK electrical industry, with awards voted for by independent and multiple retailers as well as kitchen specialists and installers. This year, products from GDHA’s premium brand, Stoves, scooped the top award in both the Major Domestic Appliances category and the Cooking Appliances category. Denver Hewlett, chief executive of Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, said: “This is fantastic news for the company. “Any awards voted for by retailers are very important to us, as they represent the views of our customers. In the current climate, winning recognition for the quality of our products is a very important part of making sure we stand out from the competition.”

Manson Insurance Group

Gary Jamieson
Finance House, 55 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY

Tel: 0161 245 1264

email: gary.jamieson@mansoninsurance.co.uk

Manson Insurance Brokers provide professional insurance solutions to well managed businesses within the food and drink sector. Assisting a range of businesses from suppliers and processors of raw materials and products to those who deliver manufactured or processed goods. Their knowledge and expertise enables them to build strong relationships with a number of leading insurers and create bespoke risk solutions.

How can Directors and Officers protect themselves from being sued?

Did you know that Directors and Senior Officers can be personally liable for claims arising from the decisions and actions they take whilst managing their businesses?

Company Directors and Officers have far reaching responsibilities and duties associated with their positions, which may expose them personally to claims for damages and compensation – from a myriad of sources including shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and creditors.

When Directors are accused of breaching these duties, actions may be brought against them personally, as well as the company itself, with potentially devastating consequences, even if they have done nothing wrong. A common misconception is that Directors of limited liability companies have limited personal liabilities. This is not the case. Directors’ personal liabilities can be unlimited, and may even transfer to their personal estates after death in some circumstances.

Areas where Directors are vulnerable include:-

VAT/Inland Revenue Investigation
Investigation by official receiver
Health/Safety/Hygiene breaches
Employment Law

If you would like to find out how you can protect yourself from potential legal action, please contact Gary Jamieson on 0161 245 1264 or email gary.jamieson@mansoninsurance.co.uk

www.mansoninsurance.co.uk

Manson Insurance Brokers is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England and Wales No 999584.