China has recently relaxed the rules obliging foreign retail groups
to take a local partner, a move expected to lead to rapid growth in
the number of international retailers doing business there. But
despite Chinese consumers'...
Nestle's Hungarian division has announced a disappointing set of
financial results for 2003. Despite the fact that sales grew
significantly, the division was hit by the continuing strength of
the Swiss franc.
New research on walnuts - a key ingredient in a host of cakes and
bakery goods - will help manufacturers in the mature bakery market
gain a slice of the burgeoning health-promoting food trend.
A little-known molecule created in the intestine when soy is
digested is a powerful blocker of a potent male hormone involved in
prostate cancer and male pattern baldness, shows a new animal
study.
The Central and Eastern European packaging and processing sector
comes a very definite top with respect to market potential,
according to recent market research carried out for the Total
Processing and Packaging 2004, currently running...
Despite the development of a very important corpus of EU and
national legislation to protect EU citizens against currently
identified risks, several studies show that contradictory opinions
about perceived risks remain important among...
Danish fats and oils firm Aarhus United will shed a spinkling of
jobs in an effort to curb costs in the face of intensified
competition and lower than expected sales.
The latest metal detectors on show at Total 2004 suggest that
equipment suppliers are fully aware of the most pressing concerns
of food processors - guaranteeing food safety, ensuring
traceability and the facilitation of uninterrupted...
A diet rich in vitamin E appears to protect against both prostate
cancer and bladder cancer, according to new research that lifts
hopes for the vitamin after disappointing recent studies, writes
Dominique Patton.
Driving into value-added bakery ingredients is a key area for
growth in the mature bakery market. Recently baptised Bakemark UK,
a new merger between Arkady Craigmillar, Readi-Bake and Caravan
Brill, the UK firm will tap into growing...
Helping Europe reduce the massive 70 per cent of vegetable proteins
it imports for consumption, a new EU-funded project will focus on
how we can obtain quality proteins from grain legumes for both
human and animal consumption.
Hopping on board the fast-moving low carb train, Arla Food
Ingredients, the supplier of tooth-friendly sweetener tagatose,
says a new study from Australian scientists confirms the product's
low glycaemic response.
Japanese scientists may have explained why green tea stops the
progression of cancer. They report that the active component
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) binds to a receptor thought to be
behind the spread of cancer.
As food manufacturers and ingredients suppliers work towards tough
new rules on the labelling of food allergens, Europe's risk
assessment body concludes that current scientific evidence is
'insufficient to establish an intake...
As food manufacturers and ingredients suppliers work towards tough
new rules on the labelling of food allergens, Europe's risk
assessment body concludes that current scientific evidence is
'insufficient to establish an intake...
A new bearing grease effective in a wide range of food grade
applications has been developed. The main selling point of the
mineral oil grease, according to the manufacturer, is that it is
formed from a unique mix of aluminium complex...
The USDA has released an informational compact disc for federal and
state agriculture vets. The move is designed to prevent the
intentional and unintentional introduction of animal diseases into
the nation's food production chain.
New research appears to absolve the soft drinks industry from
responsibility for the low calcium intake among US adolescents but
it suggests that creative and effective ways of increasing levels
of the mineral, such as through fortified...
Britain's major food retail groups have frequently been accused of
contributing to the rapid demise of many town centres, with the
development of out-of-town supermarkets often leading to other
retail outlets setting up shop...
German retail giant Metro shrugged off currency effects and tough
economic conditions in its home market last year to post a 4 per
cent increase in sales - driven mainly by its larger store formats
such as cash & carry warehouses...
Convincing US consumers to buy bottled, purified tap water at a
premium price may be relatively easy for a company as adept at
marketing as Coca-Cola, but doing the same with the rather more
savvy European bottled water drinker appears...
'It is incorrect to focus on any specific food or ingredient in
attempting to address obesity,' cautions the US food industry, in
the face of mounting criticism that sugar intake plays a key role
in today's overweight...
Concerns over the presence of acrylamide in processed foods have
flared up again after the US food watchdog detects levels of this
carcinogenic chemical in a new batch of foods. The industry risks
being bruised.
Struggling British food retailer Sainsbury's has given itself a
£225 million shot in the arm with the sale of its US unit Shaw's to
the Albertsons chain. Despite good performances from Shaw's in
recent years - better,...
Days after EU ministers at the Agriculture Council huddled together
to chew over impending changes to the sugar regime, leading
sweeteners group Tate & Lyle tells the market that no surprises
are in store for 2005.
Exports of sugar confectionery from Switzerland rose by more than
10 per cent last year, offsetting a mediocre performance on the
home market. But with imports taking a lesser share of sales this
year, the industry hopes that focusing...
Maintaining a reliable source for food ingredient supplies has
proved to be one of the biggest challenges for Russian food
manufacturers in recent years. The National Food Ingredients
Manufacturers Union believes that a lack of domestic...
Walnuts, one of the oldest food ingredients known to mankind, are
the focus of an upcoming symposium organised by Europe that will
aim to bridge the gap between scientific, technical and user
communities. Opportunities for growth...
A UK firm is hoping to develop an extract of the plantain banana as
a medical food, after initial research shows it could treat
inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease, writes
Dominique Patton.
Competition in the European non-dairy sector stepped up last month
when the American organic and natural foods giant Hain Celestial
acquired the German soya-based desserts firm Natumi. A move set to
challenge the dominant player -...
One of Lithuania's leading grain processors, Malsena, has announced
that it is to invest in a pasta manufacturing venture aimed at
diversifying its current product portfolio and turning its
operations multifunctional.
Danish sugar and ingredients firm Danisco closes on its xanthan gum
production deal in China, consolidating the firm's stabiliser
presence in this emerging market. Just days after the firm posted a
weaker third quarter as higher...
End-to-end traceability is like the table stakes in a poker game -
if you don't have it, you won't stay in the game, argues an
industry expert. This new way of thinking could have a significant
impact on food production,...
New research appears to absolve the soft drinks industry from
responsibility for the low calcium intake among US adolescents but
it suggests that creative and effective ways of increasing levels
of the mineral, such as through fortified...
The growing popularity of ethnic foods and the consumer drive for
health-conscious foods helped to lift first quarter figures for
leading spice maker and flavour provider McCormick with the US firm
reporting double digit sales growth...
Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods has been hard hit by increased sales,
marketing and distribution costs of widening product portfolio. The
Russian dairy giant announced that its net income had fallen 40 per
cent, despite a significant increase...
Served straight from the barrel in the mosaic clad bars of Madrid,
Spain's favourite apertif is good for the heart, say scientists,
investigating the potential health benefits of sherry.
China's packaging industry is currently undergoing a growth rate
that is set to turn the sector into one of the country's leading
industries. Fed by the continued growth of the country's food and
beverage industry,...
The Canadian subsidiary of Anglo-Dutch giant Unilever Canada joins
the growing ranks of manufacturers to cut the trans fatty acid
content out of food products.
People appear to be eternally optimistic when it comes to dieting,
always believing that the next diet will lead to weight loss. But
the results of a new study suggest that this cycle of dieting will
continue as most are not prepared...
Adding-value in the mature liquorice confectionery market is a key
area for growth for this flavouring ingredient and flavour
enhancer. With the launch of a new extract last year, German food
ingredients company Alfred L. Wolff is...
Spearheading growth in the increasingly mature caramel colour
market French starch manufacturer Roquette has teamed up with US
colour firm Sethness to target manufacturers in and around central
Europe.
UK supermarket giant Waitrose has emerged as the favourite to pick
up the biggest package of Safeway stores from WM Morrison. It is
expected to buy up to 25 supermarkets for between £250 million
(€374m) and £300 million.
Burgeoning Irish food ingredients group carves deeper into the US
market announcing it will buy into fast growing 'lifestyle'
beverages through the acquisition of two US companies, Oregon Chai
and Extreme Foods.
Tesco has raised £640 million (€973) by selling off 33 of its UK
stores. The supermarket chain plans to rent the stores on a long
leasehold and carry on running the operations, and claims that
customers will not see any change.
Governments on both sides of the Atlantic need to better understand
how consumers perceive risk if they are to form better food safety
policies. The issue of bioterrorism however is helping to establish
a growing consensus among policy...
In under 50 days the ten accession countries will join the European
Union bringing the number of consumers from 382.4 million to 456.6
million. Failure to properly control food imports at the 'new'
borders may have disastrous...
The expansion of the European Union from 15 to 25 Countries in May
2004 could signal the promise of lucrative new markets for banana
producers, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organziation.
A recent study in Bulgaria suggests that the country's eating
habits are out of step with the rest of Europe. According to the
research expenditure on bakery items is the highest per head in
Europe, whereas meat is one of the...
Companies working with soy and soy derivatives face continuing
price rises for the raw material as the US - a leading global
producer and exporter of the crop - raises concerns about the
'unusually low soybean stocks level'...
