The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling company, which this week announced
solid sales growth led by emerging markets in Eastern Europe, has
confirmed its interest in Serbia's second largest mineral water
bottler as the company plans...
The Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) on Wednesday added its
voice to the chorus calling for the FTC to examine the McNeil
Nutritionals led advertising campaign for the artificial sweetener
Splenda, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Diageo, the world's biggest spirit group, has announced a drop in
first half profits, caused by foreign exchange rates, weak demand
in Europe and the continued decline of the ready-to-drink segment,
writes Chris Jones.
With the countdown extended, talks continue this week in Geneva
between the US and Brussels to move the entrenched trade dispute on
genetically modified organisms forward.
A new study reminds food manufacturers that the distinct €14
billion children's food and drink market must not be "overlooked",
with opportunities still ripe in a host of product sectors,
reports Lindsey Partos.
Improving communication between food scientists working on the
harmful chemical acrylamide identified in starch-rich fried foods
two years ago, Europe's food agency this week publishes an
'information base' with updated...
Democrats Tom Harkin and Eliot L. Engel wrote a hard-hitting piece
in the LA Times on Monday about the human cost of the chocolate
trade, but the cocoa industry has hit back by reaffirming its
commitment to responsible farming.
Ongoing research into the impact proteins - both meat and soy - can
have on the bone health finds that calcium absorption from these
two important sources of dietary protein is similar.
The practice of partnering computer simulations with real-world
experiments is becoming more vital as scientists delve deeper into
the potential of nantechnology, according to a US scientist.
Anthony Fletcher reports.
DSM, the largest food fermentation company in the world (in value
terms) sees its combined food units beating industry growth for the
year, but bakery still under pressure, reports Lindsey
Partos.
There are rich pickings for food makers focusing on innovative
products for the breakfast market, as a UK think tank finds less
than one in five consumers actually enjoys the first meal of the
day.
A legal action brought by a northern English cheese producer
against the European Commission over the right to use the label
feta on its products has finally reached the European Court of
Justice - the UK, however, has declined to...
Swiss Research believes it has created the "holy grail" of
sweeteners, a natural alternative to the synthetic varieties
frequently lambasted by the media, it officially announced on
Tuesday, Philippa Nuttall reports.
Archer Daniels Midland said yesterday that it has acquired Solae's
global soy isoflavone business, including its entire portfolio of
US and foreign patents.
Benefits and risks of coffee drinking on consumer health are the
focus of two new studies that ultimately reveal the positive, or
negligible impact, of this popular beverage.
Against the backdrop of tighter traceability rules the UK's food
watchdog will focus on the relationship between food ingredients
and the final food label, at an upcoming seminar between
stakeholders next month.
House of Bread Franchising has finally decided to start producing
organic bread after a decrease in ingredient prices makes
production a viable business option, reports Philippa
Nuttall.
Campina, the ambitious owner of dairy ingredients supplier DMV
International, will buy Belgian milk fat specialist Aveve Zuivel,
in a deal that brings the Dutch firm a new platform for innovations
in butter oil specialities, and improved...
GM food ingredients under attack, again, this week as environmental
group accuses Brussels of 'exposing EU states' to risk from
genetically modified corn.
Food is the most common source of zoonotic infections in humans,
suggesting that tightening biosecurity measures at the beginning of
the food supply chain is vital.
Strong sales growth at a young, up-market coffee and sandwich chain
in Poland, Latvia and the Czech Republic reveals opportunities for
suppliers and retailers as rising economic prosperity points to a
growing eastern European 'Starbucks...
The number of imported chocolate products into Switzerland has
increased for the fourth year running - but will the EU's looming
CAP reforms soon bring this burgeoning trend to an end, asks Tom
Armitage.
Merrydown, the British beverage group whose focus on adult soft
drinks has helped it overcome the declining fortunes of cider, has
agreed to a takeover by SHS, a consumer goods sales and marketing
specialist. The group hopes that...
Rising raw material costs lead to decline of $0.58m in Galaxy's
gross margin for 3Q 2005, leading to price hikes and expense cuts
throughout the remainder of the fiscal year.
Non-carbonated soft drinks in emerging Eastern European markets,
especially Russia, held up sales growth during a challenging period
for the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), despite a €49
million one-off charge sending...
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will encourage
Uzbekistan to implement economic reforms by pledging nearly €3
million to improve quality and double capacity at a private
domestic brewer, reports Chris Mercer.
InBev has spread rapidly beyond the borders of its native Belgium
in the last few years, with major acquisitions in Asia, Latin
America and Europe. But the world's biggest brewer is not always
successful in its takeover bids,...
US agri-food firm Cargill will consolidate its position in raw
materials - the building blocks for a range of common ingredients
also supplied by the company - with the acquisition of Italian firm
Pagnan.
Ter Beke is reported to be interested in buying some of Sara Lee's
French and Benelux charcuterie businesses, a move that would
further consolidate the Belgian food processor's market presence in
Northern Europe.
Food safety comes to the fore again as new study builds on growing
evidence that foods of animal origin, contaminated with
Escherichia coli, can lead to urinary tract infections in
women.
Speciality oil firms will have the chance to voice their concerns
on global food codes as 100 government delegates meet to discuss
the fats and oil industry at a week-long session, kicking off in
the UK next week.
Several recently published studies have revealed the nutritional
benefits of peanuts and USDA figures released last week show that
there is no shortage of supply for food manufacturers.
Global stocks of soybeans continue to rise after last year's price
spiking draw-down, with oilseed production for 2004-05 projected to
reach 390.2 million tonnes, providing a 'comfort-zone' for
inventory levels.
An increase in research and development and other expenses caused
Senomyx's revenue to slip 23 percent in Q4, according to the
results published by the company last week.
A landmark settlement on trans fats in the US last week will incite
global food makers, fearful of litigation, to delve further into
new food formulations that use alternative ingredients to eliminate
harmful fatty acids, reports...
The British arm of Nestlé has become the latest food producer to
revamp its nutrition labels, yet the country's food industry is on
rocky ground by entrenching its support for guideline daily amounts
against the government's...
Prices for key raw materials used by the food industry are lighter
this month on gains in wheat, corn and soybean inventories, but
analysts suggests wheat prices are open to upside risk.
Sales are down but profits have perked up for chemical giant
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) with National Starch bringing a
considerable chunk to the growth.
Prices for key raw materials used by the food industry are lighter
this month on gains in wheat, corn and soybean inventories, but
analysts suggests wheat prices are open to upside risk.
The hurricanes that swept through the US last year caused great
devastation to many crops. Grapefruit prices, in particular,
soared, provoking flavor companies including IFF to come up with
alternatives, Philippa Nuttall reports.
Increasing affluence and changes in diet in China to open up new
opportunites for European yeast extract suppliers, but the threat
from Chinese suppliers has kicked off, writes Lindsey
Partos.
Tate & Lyle's Splenda brand in the news again this week as
McNeil Nutritionals, the table-top supplier of this increasingly
popular sweetener, takes the US sugar industry to court.
Cheese manufacturers operating in the UK's £2.6 billion cheese
market could benefit from increased product diversity on the
supermarket shelves, finds a recent industry - consumer event
organised by dairy ingredients firm DSM,...
