Spanish food group Ebro Puleva has proposed to sell or spin-off its
sugar business at a time when stability has returned to the
European sugar industry.
Chinese ingredients company GLG Life Tech has signed a 10-year
agreement to supply Cargill with extract from the stevia plant to
make its rebiana sweetener.
Barry Callebaut has successfully closed its acquisition of a 60 per
cent stake in Malaysia's KLK Cocoa - a strategic move expected to
give the Swiss firm leverage to expand in the high-potential
Asia-Pacific region.
Unilever has pledged to use only palm oil certified as sustainable
by 2015, while also supporting calls for a moratorium on further
deforestation for palm oil in Indonesia.
Danisco has launched a proprietary fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC) it says is less sensitive to price fluctuations than calf-stomach derived versions.
Food ingredients that are key to low-fat foods are seeing the
fastest growth in their sectors as the health and wellbeing trend
continues, finds a new report.
Symrise has reported a sales increase for the first quarter of 2008
led mainly by emerging markets but bottom line figures suffered due
to higher energy and raw material costs.
DSM has turned in a strong first quarter, with its Nutrition
cluster registering 18 per cent year-on-year growth despite a weak
US dollar and rising raw materials costs.
Countries should not use export bans to cope with the current food
crisis as it would place further strains of the global situation,
said the World Bank.
FoodNavigator.com spoke to three companies taking part in the CEE
Pavilion at FiCEE about their plans to move into new markets, and
new products being aired at the show for the first time.
Danish dairy group Arla Foods is increasing its investment in
Argentina by a further US$10 million to boost its processing
capacity and target new markets.
A Unilever symposium at its Dutch research institute in Vlaardingen
has brought together some of its food industry partners and members
of academia to discuss ways companies can meet health and wellness
trends with an emphasis on...
NutraCea is expecting to see its first sales of stabilised rice
bran in Central and Eastern Europe following this week's FiCEE
trade show, where the ingredient has been warmly received for its
potential to reduce manufacturers'...
Ingredients firm Cargill yesterday completed the expansion of its
Polish wheat processing facility, designed to meet consumer demand
across the European bloc.
Demand for nature-identical flavours in Central and Eastern Europe
(CEE) remains strong, as lower prices override the Western clamour
for all-things natural and organic, say exhibitors at FiCEE.
Jan Dekker has launched a new ingredient to extend the use of
vegetable oils for frying - an innovation expected to save costs
for manufacturers as oil prices soar.
Ingredients supplier Wild has introduced a solution for adding natural antioxidants to light-coloured ice cream and baked goods products without compromising on flavour.
A new range of softer wholegrains do not need pre-soaking and so
the 'hard bite' texture often associated with grain products is
eliminated, the manufacturer claims.
Global food manufacturer General Mills last week said its US Rice
Chex cereal will from now on be gluten-free, as part of the firm's
plans to target the ever expanding free-from market.
Which? has renewed calls for greater controls on food marketing to
children, claiming that new technologies like text messages are
contributing to the 'pester power' of manufacturers.
The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation today into
Associated British Foods' plan to buy parts of Dutch yeast producer
GB Ingredients.
Food supplements manufacturers may have to reformulate thousands of
products aimed at both children and adults if calls for bans on the
use of certain artificial colours become reality.
Long term R&D strategies look to be paying off as Danisco is
recognised as being one of the strongest patentees compared with
other companies in the food sector.
Tomato pulp powder, a by-product of the tomato processing industry,
could be used at low levels as a thickening agent in ketchup, in
place of other hydrocolloids, says a study from Iran.
Fonterra is launching a new online sales channel for its dairy
commodities which will allow it to respond more quickly to price
changes - and may spur the development of an international dairy
futures or derivatives market.
A natural preservative can help extend the shelf-life of baked
products as well as maintain fresh flavor profile, according to its
manufacturer Vitiva.
European-based food groups are generally ahead of their US rivals
in providing health and wellness products to consumers, though they
must do more to ensure the focus is a core part of their business,
a new report claims.
Danish ingredients group Danisco today inaugurated a new
application and research facility in China, which the firm hopes
will help it further expand operations in an "important growth
area".
Artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children by the
Southampton study should be phased out in Europe, said the UK Food
Standards Agency today.
A 'soft landing solution' for the abolition of milk production
quotas within the EU is expected to ensure a smoother transition
for the industry than abruptly scrapping the system, according to a
new report.
Puratos and Novozymes have teamed up to develop a bio-solution to
help industrial cake manufacturers increase the softness and
freshness of their products, the companies have announced.
Real Good Food today reported a drop in profits for 2007, which the
UK-based firm blamed on ongoing EU sugar reforms as well as the
escalating price of raw ingredients.
Aromatech is targeting the Algerian market with price-competitive
flavours to suit the local palate, as inflated material costs are
making basic products unaffordable.
Malaysian multinational Sime Darby is to channel €34m into
expanding its value-added oils and fats presence in Europe,
including upgrading its existing Unimills facility and setting up
new palm oil facilities.
It is hard for food companies not to get drawn into the temptation of using attractive label claims that may be shrouded by a veil of doubt. But the real risk comes when the 'if you don't know, don't ask' question is finally answered.
Frutarom is launching new premium fruit, vegetable and herb
preparations made with a unique process, which is said to retain
their natural characteristics and reduce the need for additives.
Givaudan has reported strong sales for the first quarter ending
March 31 with results significantly boosted by the continuing
integration of Quest International.
Canadian specialty foods firm SunOpta has completed the acquisition
of Dutch organic ingredients company, Tradin Organic Agriculture,
it announced yesterday.
Cosun is expecting its recent acquisition of CSM Suiker to prop up
its margins somewhat in the coming year, as conditions remain tough
for the European sugar industry.
Tate & Lyle is expecting to report £11m less profit that
predicted for the year ended March 31, as a result of unfavourable
exchange rates against the US dollar, but is still expecting to
maintain levels seen in the first half.
Distributors Barentz Europe and Ernst Sander are officially
launching their joint venture, called Barentz-Sander, this week,
with an eye to bringing a bigger portfolio of ingredients to the
tricky Swiss market.
A composition and matter patent granted to Canadian supplier
Neptune Technologies & Bioresources for its omega-3 and
antioxidants boosted krill-based ingredients last year has been
validated by the European Patent Office.
Swiss chocolate company Barry Callebaut is to purchase a 60 per
cent share of Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa Products in a move
designed to increase its sourcing capacity in Asia.
Synergy has adopted a new structure for its businesses in the UK
and Ireland, with closer coordination of operations and development
activities and the ultimate aim of providing a 'one touch' service
to clients.