2022
Russia invaded Ukraine causing huge global disruption to the export of key crops including wheat, barley and maize from leaving the “breadbasket of the world”. As a result, the impact on prices were significant for manufacturers, with much of the supply of raw materials increasing by 20%.
Defra and Devolved Administrations launched a consultation on proposals to update and amend The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998. Including folic acid as a new fortificant alongside proposing some exemptions from statutory flour fortification.
2020
Brexit saw the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, consequentially leaving the bakery sector to face long standing labour and ingredient shortages, transport issues and supply chain costs.
The emergence of the global COVID-19 pandemic saw a surge in the sales of wrapped bread and baked goods in 2020. Kantar data shows a 10.8% increase as at home lunches became the normal for people working from home.
2017
The Federation of Bakers celebrated the 75th Anniversary since the formation of the Federation of Wholesale and Multiple Bakers in 1942 which was established to assist in the organisation of wartime production and distribution of bread.
Public Health England (PHE) commenced an industry wide programme of sugar reduction in food and drink products including bakery morning goods. The Federation continues to work with PHE to help them appreciate the diversity of the morning goods category and the enormous challenges in meeting any reduction sugar guidelines.
2014
The Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIC) 1169/2011 came into force 13th December 2014 introducing the requirement to label nutrients added to wheat flour. Labelling on pre-packed bakery products generally appears as Wheat Flour [contains calcium, iron, niacin (B3) and thiamin (B1)].
On the 13th December 2016 FIC made nutrition labelling a mandatory requirement for most pre-packaged foods.
2013
The Department for Environment & Rural Affairs (Defra) issued a consultation on the Bread & Flour Regulations 1998 seeking views on its continued need and requirement to mandatory fortify wheat flour with calcium, iron, niacin and thiamin. Responses overwhelmingly were in favour of retention and so the Regulations remain unchanged.
2011
The Chorleywood Bread Process celebrates its 50th Anniversary! The Chorleywood Bread Process revolutionised bread production in the UK by facilitating larger scale production and producing a loaf with a longer shelf life whilst continuing to bring a healthy nutritious loaf of bread to the British public.
2010
Since the introduction of FSA salt targets for foods, plant bakers have continued to implement salt reductions in their products enabling salt in bread to be reduced by 37% by comparison to the levels in 2000. The average salt content of a sliced and wrapped loaf is now 1.1g per 100g.
2008
The 750 year old Bread Weights Legislation which stretched back to the Assize of Bread and Ale of 1266 and governed the weight of bread for sale in the UK was finally abolished by and EU Directive. The first 600g loaf of bread went on sale and now bread is sold in all sizes and weights.
2007
Due to poor wheat harvests and rising energy costs the price of a standard loaf reached £1 for the first time.
2006
The industry established an independent company, Bakers Basco Limited, to implement and manage a new industry standard ‘Omega’ bread basket to provide an industry wide solution for delivering bread and to address the loss and misuse of bread baskets which costs the industry millions of pounds each year.
2001
The long awaited Competition Commission Report into the Supermarkets was published and one of the recommendations was the setting up of a new Supermarket Code of Practice to redress the balance between the large supermarkets and their suppliers.
2000
The industry continued to battle with persistent below cost selling of bread by the supermarkets with regular promotions seeing loaves being sold at 19p.
