The 2024 year in review: 12 months in food

We look back at 2024 and track the moments that shaped the industry this year. 

2024 has been a bit of a rollercoaster - from shifting government policies to controversial regulations, the food industry has been kept on its toes. Let’s have a look at the major developments as they happened month by month.  

January 2024

The UK food sector kicks off the year with a new food law stipulating that pre-packaged food or caseins sold there must include a UK address for the Food Business Operator (FBO). If the FBO is not in the UK, the address of the UK importer has to be included. This is to ensure that products comply with safety, labelling, traceability and market access standards.

A study linking a healthy plant-based diet with a reduced risk of type two diabetes is published in Vienna.  

At Foods Connected, we track the implementation of the 2022 HFSS regulations and how they are affecting NPD and product in-store placement across the UK grocery sector.  

We see other innovations in NPD, as One Good Thing launches the world’s first wrapper-free snack bar.  

And the conversation around allergen labelling hots up, following the death of Órla Baxendale, a British dancer in New York, who had an allergic reaction to peanuts, after eating a mislabelled cookie.   

February 2024

Supply chains come under pressure this month, as cocoa prices surge to a record high in February and impact chocolate prices.  

Conflicts in the Middle East impact transport routes around the Red Sea. So, we assess the resulting disruptions and explore how businesses can protect their supply chains.  

The UK continues to feel the effects of Brexit. With that in mind, Food & Drink Federation (FDF) Chief Executive writes to the Minister of State, Steve Baker, to express her concerns about the upcoming introduction Not for EU labels due to implemented in October 2024. She predicts it will impact investments in the sector as well as food exports.  

And we team up with US premier quick service restaurant Captain D’s to overhaul their supply chain management and help them gain complete visibility of their suppliers’ compliancy journey towards FSMA 204. 

March 2024

In the seasonal chocolate space in the run up to Easter, several UK brands directly respond to the issue of consumers feeling “unloved” by producing larger eggs with added extras as part of their offering.  

We take on the polarising EU Deforestation Regulation, explaining what it means to the industry and running down the changes food businesses need to make to comply ahead of the deadline.  

And the Foods Connected football team takes to the soccer pitch for the Football Tournament in Derry to raise funds for Foyle Down Syndrome Trust. 

April 2024

This month the retail sector braces for the release of the new BBFAW 2023 benchmark, and our Head of Animal Welfare, Compliance & Environment, Dr Fiona Roberts, is there to report from the launch.  

We head to GFSI in Singapore. With so many aspects of food safety covered on the agenda – from artificial intelligence, safe water usage to building food safety capabilities – it proves to be a fascinating couple of days. 

And as the US experiences its first real Avian Flu outbreak, we evaluate the impact on producers, manufacturers and processors.  

May 2024

May is a busy month for the Foods Connected team. We speak to 500 industry professionals across the US and the UK about traceability and evaluate the findings in our Traceability report. 

Our experts feature in the press. We speak with The Grocer to offer their insight into EUDR and make the front page, while our Head of Supply Chain & Procurement, Michael McCarthy, shares his expert insight on how to optimise your procurement costs for meat and livestock with Food Industry Executive.

Industry stalwart John Hood comes to our offices to chat about his career in the meat sector for our new Industry Voices interview series.  

And four of our amazing team take on the Samworth Charity Challenge - trekking, cycling and kayaking round the UK'S Lake District to raise an impressive amount for the Alzheimer's Society.  

June 2024

As we reach the year’s halfway point, we are recognised for our contribution to tech innovation in Northern Ireland at the North West Business Awards.  

We continue our focus on traceability in the food industry with our Story of a Hamper infographic.  

And our Operations and Customer-Success Director, Duncan Spencer-Brown, attends an event to commemorate the first anniversary of the BRC Mondra Coalition.  

July  2024

As July rolls round the Foods Connected volunteers join a food drive in aid of Foyle Food Bank at Tesco Derry/Londonderry, while out in Sydney our team volunteer at Our Big Kitchen in Bondi.  

We launch the second in our Industry Voices interview series, sitting down with Malachy O’Connor to discuss his fascinating career in food retail.  

And a new Progressive Grocer report on grocery trends in 2024 looks at attitudes about tech in the grocery space.  When retailers are asked about their spend on tech in the next 12-18 months, 66% say they are planning to increase it.  

August 2024

Allergen management becomes a big talking point in 2024. So this month, we sit down with Julianne Ponan MBE, the CEO of allergen-free brand Creative Nature, to talk airline snacks, Natasha’s Law and being consigned to the “allergy table”. 

Three members of our amazing team are shortlisted in the Women in Meat Awards, with Dr Fiona Roberts, Joanne Tosh and Sharon Scott all singled out for their stellar work in the food sector. 

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK announces a change in the labelling laws around free-range and barn eggs, which will mean that free-range eggs can be continue to be labelled as such throughout mandatory housing measures.

And we raise funds for a cause close to all of our hearts at Foods Connected, the Children’s Heartbeat Trust, by indulging in our annual doughnut day. 

September 2024

As we head into autumn, our Head of Innovation, Dr Stephanie Brooks, announces that Foods Connected are teaming up with Bia Analytical, Queens Belfast and leading food producer Finnebrogue to develop a bespoke generative AI chatbot project. 

The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) releases its fourth assessment of the antibiotics policies of the UK’s major supermarkets. 

We are announced as Digital Revolution Business of the Year at the NI Business Awards and Highly Commended in the Global Business category.  

And news breaks of our partnership with McDonalds in North America.  

October 2024

October brings with it World Animal Welfare Day and Temple Grandin.  The world-renowned animal behaviour specialist joins us in factory and on-farm for a two-day visit of Northern Ireland, before sharing her ideas on the industry in our Industry Voices interview.

The European Commission proposes a delay of 12 months to the full implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in response to “calls by global partners”. 

We sit down with Helen Clarke-Ferridge, Assurance and Governance Manager at Sofina Foods, to talk petting zoos, pigs and the future of the British pork industry. 

And federal officials in the US  announce the first H5N1 avian flu detection in pigs on a farm in Oregon where an outbreak had recently been reported in poultry. 

November 2024

With the year almost over, the much-discussed EU Deforestation Regulation has its deadline extended to 30 December 2025.  

This allows another legislation to step into the spotlight, The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). With the first deadline fast approaching – and some 50,000 companies set to be impacted – we analyse what the legislation requires and how best to prepare for it.  

Our Head of Innovation, Dr Stephanie Brooks, flies to Amsterdam to deliver a talk on AI in Agri-food at the Proactive Food Safety Conference. 

And we look ahead to 2025, with our article on next year’s emerging trends.  

December 2024

And as we finally reach the final month of the year, we celebrate the hard work of our fundraising teams, who have kayaked, jogged, baked and quizzed their way through 2024 to raise an incredible £14,910.50 for charities including Foyle Food Bank, Fareshare NI, NI & Children’s Hospice and more. 

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