UK Chancellor Gordon Brown's attempts to clamp down on tax evasion
have 'dismayed' one of the country's biggest manufacturing sectors
- the Scotch whisky industry.
Consumers aged 50-64 are among the most affluent in Europe, and
while the food industry has been relatively slow to see the
potential of targeting this age group, a few companies have now
begun to roll out products designed for the...
A milk ingredient made by Dutch ingredients business DMV
International can effectively reduce blood pressure in hypertensive
patients, the company reported this week.
Early depletion of African gum stocks have driven up global prices
of gum acacia. US company TIC gums this week passed the price rise
of gum arabic on to the market.
The regional distribution of soybean production and processing capacity in the US has shifted dramatically during the last decade. Citing the impact of emerging markets, a new study claims this change will have important consequences for the US soybean...
The debate over which plant has the most antioxidants continues,
with new research showing black beans are a rich but overlooked
source of antioxidants equal to fruits like grapes, apples and
cranberries.
An Every Day Low Pricing (EDLP) strategy is more popular with
shoppers than one driven purely by promotions, according to a
recent survey in the UK. But a combination of the two is the best
means of keeping shoppers happy.
Despite the steady stream of new product launches in a number of
European markets, and continued growth of flavoured alcoholic
beverages (FABs) across the Continent, spirit manufacturers are
already predicting a gradual downturn in...
New rules that harmonise EU legislation on additives necessary for
the storage and use of flavourings were welcomed by industry last
week. Proposed by the Commission in 2002, amendments to Directive
95/2/EC on food additives other...
Labelling issues on the cards again for manufacturers as the UK's
food safety agency this week launches a consultation on the use of
alternative phrases to 'may contain' on food labels.
The major issues affecting the food and drink industry supply chain
were discussed at Ross Systems' recent annual users conference,
Rossworld 2003. The global software provider touched on vertical
industry-specific functionality,...
Just when the dust appeared to have settled on the Safeway takeover
affair, leaving Morrisons as apparently the sole bidder, a report
in the UK press today suggests that Asda has returned to the fray
with a bid designed to scotch...
With the Safeway takeover bid dominating the headlines for nearly a
year, the rest of the UK retail sector has been somewhat
overlooked. But there has been plenty of activity over the last few
months, in particular in the convenience...
After getting off to a slow start at the beginning of the year,
Romanian confectionery manufacturer Heidi Chocolats Suisse has said
it is now estimating a 15 per cent increase in sales this year.
A number of leading Croatian food and beverage manufacturers and
retailers have confirmed that they have started the first round of
discussions aimed at promoting the industry in the face of stiff
competition from foreign imports.
Hame Slovakia, a subsidiary of the Czech-based Hame Babice group,
has upped its estimates for growth in the 2003 financial year,
claiming that it now expects sales of its canned vegetables, purees
and meat products to improve by 5...
The new chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland
(FSAI) Ann Westby said yesterday that she wants all food
laboratories dealing with the FSAI in Ireland to be fully
accredited to ISO 17025 by the end of 2005. Speaking...
Ongoing consolidation of European food product companies means that
today's flavour firms will principally achieve market gains through
product innovation. Aiming to hit the top five flavour slot,
Danisco has a new president...
New research into the mysterious domain of taste by a US
neuroscientist suggests that calcium plays a key role in the
detection of tastes by taste cells in the tongue.
Dutch food ingredients and confectionery multinational CSM
continues its strategy to expand worldwide activities in the food
and pharmaceutical markets with the recent announcement that it has
completed the acquisition of the gluconic...
Despite a 'challenging' year that saw profit before tax falling by
24 per cent for the first six months, UK flavours company Treatt
has reined in results posting a steady, erring on grey, set of
figures for the year.
While new rules on allergens labels will enter into force early
next year in Europe, a new study released this week in the US
suggests incidents of peanut allergies in children are on the up.
Pressure is on industry and congress for...
Morrisons, the Bradford-based supermarket group, must make a bid
for the Safeway chain within 21 days after the UK government
yesterday accepted definitive undertakings from rival chains not to
bid for the company.
Global Technology Resources (GTR) has launched a new system
designed to detect, track and manage food safety threats across the
supply chain. Combining patented web-based global positioning
system (GPS) technology with radio frequency...
With several of the world's biggest drinks group accused last month
of deliberately promoting their brands to under age drinkers, the
issue of drinks advertising has never been hotter.
Not for the first time, chemicals company Rhodia has played down
reports in the French press that it is considering a sell-off of
its activities in silicon, food additives and phosphates as part of
an asset divestment programme aimed...
More than 40 per cent of bacteria found in chicken on sale in
Switzerland is resistant to at least one antibiotic, say
researchers publishing their findings this week in BMC Public
Health. The results could have wider implications...
Branded by some as political and others as sensible, a divided
Europe yesterday saw member states failing to suppport the
Commission proposal to authorise the first GM foodstuff - BT11
sweetmaize - since the de facto moratorium begun...
ICI subsidiary National Starch has significantly hiked up prices in
the US as rising costs across the board continue to put pressure on
the bottom line.
Moving deeper into speciality ingredients US company MGP
Ingredients has earmarked $1.7 million to expand its line of
textured wheat proteins and wheat protein- and starch-based resins.
The investment comes on the back of strong first...
Sterilox Technologies' A-2000 sterilisation and disinfection
generator has received food equipment safety certification from
public health body NSF International. This certification is granted
to food equipment and devices used...
If the market is still waiting to see who emerges as potential
buyers for Ahold's Spanish operations, put up for sale earlier this
year as part of a major restructuring plan, the sale of the
company's Latin American businesses...
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) asserts that the world trade
pattern for agricultural products in general, and for fresh
horticultural and fruit juices in particular, is changing rapidly.
Coming to terms with changes, two industry...
Zaporozhye Fat-and-oil Works, currently considered to be the leader
in the market for Ukrainian margarine products, has announced plans
to double its margarine production capabilities in an effort to
meet rising demand.
With EU enlargement just around the corner, many food and drink
businesses within the 10 accession countries are facing up to the
tough challenge of bringing their production facilities up to
required standards for quality and hygiene....
One of Romania's leading and longest established chocolate makers,
Excelent, has relaunched its Kandia branded chocolate under a
multi-million dollar investment. The money has also included an
extensive revamp of its production...
One of Switzerland's best known food products, chocolate, may have
suffered terribly during the heatwave this summer, but the
country's ice cream producers put in a contrasting performance.
Baby boomers are convinced that beer makes you fat and wine is good
for the heart, so finds a recent poll in Canada conducted by
Ipsos-Reid on behalf of the Brewer's Association of Canada.
This afternoon food specialists from member states will vote on a
proposal to end Europe's five year moratorium on genetically
modified foods. A deeply-divided issue, the outcome of the vote
will either disappoint or delight.
Flying the flag for market liberalisation Europe's food and drink
industry body has reinforced its support for a revival of WTO
negotiations. But the group also lays down conditions.
A leading producer of manufactured casings for food and non-food
applications in the US has built up a global information system to
improve business processes and information flow across the
enterprise. Teepak, a leading manufacturer...
After months of risk assessment scientists at Europe's first food
safety agency have given the green light to Monsanto's
herbicide-tolerant GM maize. NK 60 is as safe as conventional
maize, they declare.
With serendipitous coincidence, in the same week that the European
Food Safety Authority delivers its hotly awaited first opinion on a
GMO, bureaucrats and stakeholders have gathered in Brussels under
the aegis of the Commission to...
As scientists continue to look for ways to help us battle the
bulge, a new study suggests that our own hormonal makeup may offer
promising clues. A team of researchers has tested the hypothesis
that gastric distension in humans can...
Our response to food safety is often inconsistent and completely
irrational. This was the message of European Commissioner for
health and consumer protection David Byrne at yesterday's public
debate and policy making conference...
Talks yesterday between spirits group Diageo and the rest of
the Scotch whisky industry over the future of the Cardhu brand
unexpectedly led to the company agreeing too major changes to the
packaging and marketing of the whisky.
Leading Swedish dairy firm Skanemejerier has gained the rights to
use BioGaia's probiotic Reuteri bacteria in milk products for
launch on the Scandinavian market at the end of next year.
Morrisons could make a new bid for the Safeway supermarket chain
before Christmas, beginning the final leg of a sale process which
has lasted nearly a year.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced yesterday that
it is to open up its work to public scrutiny. The most significant
development will be the involvement of consumers and other
stakeholders in the authority's...
Cefic, European Chemical Industry Council, in conjunction with
EUROTOX has this week launched a €100,000 award for 'innovative
interdisciplinary research' in the field of toxicology.