The use of hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP) ingredients is on the
rise, according to the Association Internationale de l'Industrie
des Bouillons et Potages (AIIBP).
Speculation is mounting that France's number two supermarket Casino
is planning to sell its Polish operations - with Tesco and
Carrefour vying to snap up the unwanted stores.
Leading food manufacturer Kraft has paid £575m (€829.6m) for United
Biscuit's southern European snack business. The deal was signed off
over the weekend, said British daily The Financial Times.
Leading Russian supermarket Pyaterochka has posted a like-for-like
sales rise of 10 per cent for the second quarter of 2006, as it
moves to expand store space.
The rise of organic food is a knee-jerk reaction to consumer health
fears, and threatens to unhelpfully steer us away from improving
the quality of food generally.
Troubled UK supermarket group Wm Morrison's could become the latest
acquisition target for a private equity consortium, as the firm
struggles to overcome last year's problematic takeover of rival
grocer Safeway.
Ahead of today's Tesco annual general meeting - which will analyse
ten environmental and social pledges set out by its CEO in May -
Friends of the Earth has accused the grocery chain of misleading
shareholders and customers with...
UK manufacturer Premier Foods has said it expects to deliver strong
half-year profits as sales of household names Branston and Ambrosia
perk up and the newly acquired Quorn brand enjoys a double-digit
rise in demand.
The Chinese ingredients industry, which is bursting with potential,
remains a confusing place. An IFT seminar provided the opportunity
for businesses to navigate this key market.
Associated British Foods, owner of British Sugar, yesterday
announced the closure of two sugar beet processing factories in
northern England, but insisted it can still increase UK sugar
output through efficiency gains.
Ailing British food manufacturer Northern Foods has engaged the
services of Stamford Partners investment bank to oversee the sale
of its pudding and pies divisions, as the firm struggles to offset
plummeting profit margins.
The Indian government looks likely to obstruct proposed foreign
direct investment (FDI) concessions, choosing to support its
fledgling domestic supermarket sector instead, according to local
press reports.
Chocolate has a nice feeling to it - tasty, fun, luxurious and
slightly sinful. This is comfort food, accessible to all and
epitomised in the recent film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Leading chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has reported an
increased operating profit (EBIT) of 14.6 per cent for the first
nine months of fiscal year 2005/06.
Tate and Lyle has announced the launch of Meritab - a new direct
compressible dextrose that can be used in confectionary,
nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
French retailer Carrefour has been found guilty of allowing
hypermarket staff to be paid directly by suppliers, depriving the
employees of payroll benefits and collective bargaining agreements.
Global sales in fairtrade products have increased 37 per cent to
€1.1bn (£758m) in the last year, as leading supermarket chains
switch sourcing policies to tap the growing consumer trend for
ethically produced goods.
A review of the European Union's dairy strategy will take in place
in 2008, with intervention prices, storage subsidies and milk
quotas all up for discussion.
Following a month of negotiations, Sara Lee has agreed the sale of
its European meats business to Smithfield for $575m (€457.6m), as
both firms reposition themselves in the marketplace.
Specialised diploma courses for various manufacturing segments of
the food industry will be created in the UK, part of a bid to
increase the skills levels in the industry.
The current move towards harmonising global regulations on
genetically modified food is a good thing, though agreement on
labelling remains as far away as ever, an IFT conference heard this
week.
Leading oilseed producer Bunge has developed a new process to
incorporate protein into candy bars, which the company claims does
not have a negative impact on the product's texture and taste.
The world's leading spice manufacturer McCormick has bought
Epicurean International's portfolio of Thai cooking ingredients and
convenience foods for $97m (€77m).
President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Margaret
Lawson has become vice president for science and innovation at
global food colour manufacturer DD Williamson.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has announced that it
is on-course to meet salt reduction recommendations but stressed
that more research and investment is necessary if the ultimate
targets for 2010 are to be achieved.
American manufacturer Kraft will make a bid for United Biscuit's
southern European division, while Premier Foods and a Dutch equity
firm negotiate for stakes in UB's northern European operations.
Members of Britain's GMB workers' union have voted three to one in
favour of industrial action against Asda Wal-Mart, following months
of dispute over pay and collective bargaining rights in depots
around the country.
Unilever must change its British television advert for Flora
pro.activ margarine as it contains unsubstantiated health claims,
said the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Food technologists and manufacturers will be swarming to Florida
tomorrow to learn about the latest ingredients innovations as the
2006 IFT annual meeting and food expo opens its doors in Orlando's
Orange County Convention Center.
Fresh air, agricultural expertise, research resources… and NZ$100m
(€48m) funding: BioPacificVentures is proposing an attractive
package to European and American functional food start-ups that are
prepared to relocate all or part...
The chairman of Kraft Foods, the world's second biggest food
company, Roger Deromedi, has launched an attack on EU and US trade
barriers that are driving up the price of commodity ingredients
such as sugar and coffee.
As expected, restructuring costs within Danisco's sugar division
have impacted full year results, though organic growth was
'satisfactory under the given trading conditions'.
At a time when consumer perceptions of famous brand names are at an
all time low - and private label goods are taking an ever
increasing market share - retailers must start acting more like
brand managers to improve their bargaining...
French colloid firm CNI has been recognised by the government as
the best export agent of 2005, representing something of a coup for
the Iranex group-owned ingredients business.
A European supplier of organic flavour extracts has added a range
of new ingredients to its portfolio, designed to produce a cleaner
label and boost the profile of organic products in the eyes of
consumers.
Europeans are more optimistic about biotechnology than ever before,
but this acceptance does not extend to their view of genetically
modified foods, according to a new survey.
Britain's National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) has this
week launched a campaign highlighting supermarkets' wasteful
packaging policies, but industry experts insist under-packaging
causes more waste.
