Iced Drinks Giant Polar Krush Launches New Brand
Iced drinks giant Polar Krush has launched a new fizzy frozen brand. The brand, Vortex Fizzing Ice Storm, will be served in self-serve dispensing units, available in four flavours, lemon and lime, blue raspberry, strawberry and tropical. The dispensing units will feature HD digital video display and can serve 430 drinks per hour. Polar Krush is a family owned business that supplies iced drinks to soft play and trampoline parks, holiday parks, leisure centres and bars and restaurants. “We are innovators at Polar Krush and pride ourselves on providing excellent products and service to our customers. There is limited choice in the frozen carbonated drinks market which is why we made the decision to invest in the development of the Vortex brand. We want to tap into the growing popularity of fizzy frozen drinks and our aim is to offer consumers an exceptional taste experience, which is also a healthier and more environmentally responsible alternative to what’s currently available,” said Vortex sales director Michael Reid. Earlier this year, the Northumberland-based company introduced a 100 per cent recyclable spoon straw, made from made from paper and recycled cups. Polar Krush also acquired Fraser Distribution this year, which trades as Slushee UK, in a deal that included Slushee UK’s large fleet of machines. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
Yorkshire Agricultural Society Unveils New Look
For the first time in its distinguished 182-year history, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society has undergone a major brand overhaul. The new look consists of a new purple and yellow logo that spells out the Society’s name and a new website. The Harrogate-based charity said that its traditional green and gold crest, featuring the white rose of Yorkshire as its centrepiece, will still be used “when appropriate”. However, the new logo gives the charity a modern look that translates better across media platforms, including mobile phones. Another key reason behind the change was to make the Society’s name far clearer, with the crest only featuring the wording in small letters around its outside. “A new logo and a new website will drive the Yorkshire Agricultural Society forward as well as promoting more prominently the work it does. While celebrating our heritage and tradition, we want to enhance the Society’s profile in an exciting and contemporary way and appeal to the next generation of farmers and stakeholders who will continue our legacy,” said Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. The new website opens with the story of the Society, created by Leeds animation studio Northforge, which showcases the ways in which the Society encourages, promotes and supports agricultural communities. The new logo can also be seen at the end of the film. Created in 1837, the Society was established to celebrate and support the farming industry, with its first task to create a large-scale event, the Great Yorkshire Show. It now attracts 130,000 visitors over three days each July, attracting Britain’s finest livestock and equine competitors as well as Royal guests and industry leaders. At this year’s Great Yorkshire Show – on July 9-11 – there will a new exhibition stand to tell the Society’s story and to showcase the work it does throughout the year, from holding farmer health checks and education days to running Fodder, its farm shop and café at the showground, as well as operating Pavilions of Harrogate and Yorkshire Event Centre as events venues. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
Higgidy Pie Brand Records Period of Growth
Increased revenues have been recorded at handmade pie and quiche brand Higgidy. The company described its latest financial year as a “period of growth” following consolidation and brand investment. However, the capital expenditure as well as one-off costs pushed the business to a pre-tax loss. In the year to 30 September 2018, newly filed accounts revealed a turnover of £25.5 million, up from 12 months earlier when it recorded £23.8 million. The hike, according to the company, was driven by innovation and new product development. In the 2017/2018 period, Higgidy invested in its Shoreham-by-Sea base, spending more than £386,000 on plant, machinery and leasehold improvements. During that period, the accounts revealed the business made an operating loss of £90,000 compared to a profit of £888,000 in 2017. It is also worth mentioning that 2017’s figures were bolstered by a £1.5 million depreciation charge reduction. Higgidy said the operating loss was down to “heavy investment in product innovation” and a “further significant one-off expenditure” of £177,000. Moreover, the price of ingredients also increased and the business refused to pass that on to customers. In a statement filed with the results, Higgidy said: “We anticipate to continue to improve our profitability into the next year with continued investment in operational efficiencies.” In total, the pre-tax losses for the year were £180,320 compared to a profit of £816,698 in the previous period. Higgidy was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
