Cognis has refused to confirm reports in the German press that it
is in advanced discussions with three potential purchasers, but the
outcome of a strategic review will be made public before the end of
the year.
Danisco's takeover of Genencor International, the EU sugar reform
and rising raw material prices feature prominently in the group's
recently published annual report.
European sugar giant Suedzucker expects a revenue increase of 5 per
cent in 2006 / 07, underlining the group's confidence in the future
of the EU sugar sector.
The food industry must face up to the challenges of modern
communication if consumer confidence is to be regained - and costly
mistakes are to be avoided, writes Keith Taylor.
Swiss biotech giant Syngenta has reported overall decreased sales
for the first half of the year, but is confident that growth will
come on the back of newly launched products.
The latest draft of a proposed EU amendment to the bloc's
regulation on contaminants widens the scope of limits on heavy
metals and mycotoxins in foods, as part of the changes.
The short sighted failure of greedy WTO trading partners to achieve
any sort of meaningful agreement on global agricultural tariffs is
bad for Europe's food industry.
Discount retailing is still on the rise in Europe, as international
expansion and increasing consumer acceptance are set to push sales
up 36 per cent by 2010.
The world's leading cereal producer Kellogg's has posted a three
per cent rise in second quarter net earnings, as strong sales in
the Americas help compensate for rising commodity costs.
US packaged meat processor Tyson Foods has been downgraded by
Moody's Investors Service, following concerns the firm cannot cope
with the current slump in global meat sales.
The world's largest frozen foods business Bird's Eye plans to sell
five US factories that make non-branded products, and instead
concentrate on its more profitable trademarked range.
DSM has said that it will not pass on rising costs to end markets
straight away, despite an otherwise excellent Q2 blighted across
the board by yet more increases in raw material and energy prices
stemming from political tensions.
Food companies and administrative bureaucrats attempting to dodge
the EU's laws better watch out - the bloc's fraud and corruption
watchdog is on their trail.
Chr Hansen chairman of the board of directors Jens Bigum has
announced his intention to step down once the group's annual report
and accounts are formally approved in December.
British charity FareShare has launched a new recycling scheme
offering food manufacturers a cheaper, greener solution to
industrial waste disposal, saying they are missing out on the value
of waste.
Europe's largest retailer Carrefour has signed a €6m deal to open
its first supermarket chain in Cyprus, following the firm's
successful entry into the island's cash and carry market last year.
Dutch ingredients producer CSM is poised to sell its lucrative
sugar business to Royal Cosun in an effort to streamline their
bakery portfolio and strengthen growth in pivotal areas.
Britain's leading supermarket Tesco is being accused of stalling
the Competition Commission's (CC) grocery sector inquiry by asking
for extra time to provide evidence of its business practices.
Functional foods are generally defined as products imbued with
additional nutrients with health-promoting properties. But the
industry needs to be wary of foods that present no actual health
benefit from piggy-backing on the popularity...
Europe's leading food manufacturers and retailers are expected to
announce they plan to shun soy grown illegally in the Amazon that
is resulting in depletion of the rainforest.
Tate & Lyle has launched a new sweetener solution for dairy
desserts, which claims to allow manufacturers to cut around a third
of calories and half of total sugars from their product
formulations.
Government subsidies can be useful instruments in correcting market
failures and working towards social objectives but can also distort
trade, warned the WTO.
After six months of sliding sales, rising production costs and now
a devastating factory fire, Northern Foods' chairman has warned the
year's first-half profits will be dented.
Splenda manufacturer Tate & Lyle on Wednesday said it has made
a strong start to the financial year, with first quarter results
well ahead of last years figures.
Europe's largest retailer Carrefour has announced plans to invest
€82m in Romania, following the purchase of key land sites in the
country and the recent acquisition of the Hyperlo chain.
Dutch ingredients firm DSM used the recent IFT trade show in
Orlando as a platform to launch its new natural-tasting yeast
extract ingredient on the US market.
The 'South of France' wine brand, covering thousands of producers
in France's biggest wine region, is set to hit supermarkets next
year as winemakers look to regroup against the New World onslaught.
Eight out of the world's top 10 food brands now target children
through online marketing, prompting a discussion into current
self-regulatory guidelines.
Global ingredients manufacturer, Tate and Lyle, has announced that
expansion at its new artificial sweetener facilities is on target -
heralding an imminent boost in supplies to manufacturers.
The European e-tail sector is likely to grow 186 per cent by 2010,
but supermarkets should work to maximise market share by tackling
consumer barriers such as stock availability and allocated delivery
times, says analyst.
Swiss manufacturer Nestlé is building new factories in Brazil and
West Africa to manufacture products for low-income families, said
chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.
Gadot Biochemical Industries is on the lookout for new ingredients
in the health food sector, and has entered into a strategic
alliance with UTEK Corporation to identify and evaluate emerging
technologies from research institutes...
Mariann Fischer Boel, EU commissioner for agriculture, said Monday
that the commission could consider putting limits on the Single
Payment Scheme if it is found that the scheme is not efficient.
Trade in organic products in France is now valued at almost $2
billion dollars and imports from non-EU countries continue to
increase, according to a USDA GAIN report.
The UK's Premier Foods is believed to have offered United Biscuits
an initial £1bn bid for its northern European snack food operations
- even though City analysts claim the business is worth £2.3bn.
US packaged meats giant Tyson Foods has announced plans to axe 420
jobs and execute a tough $200m savings plan, as it struggles to
offset sliding profits caused by a worldwide slump in beef and
chicken demand.
Casino, the ailing French supermarket chain, has sold its Polish
operations to Tesco and Metro Group as it strives to repay debts in
excess of €2bn euros.
Dutch supermarket Royal Ahold is today facing strikes across its
domestic Albert Heijn distribution and supply centres as workers
dispute pay and contracts.
French retail giant Carrefour yesterday announced an 8.5 per cent
rise in second quarter like-for-like sales, as the firm strengthens
its domestic position through in-store makeovers and competitive
pricing.
Swiss food giant Nestlé has announced plans to open a $359m
(€281.9m) factory and distribution centre in Indianapolis, to cater
for rising demand for its ready-to-drink beverages.