Honey producers in China began exporting to the EU for the first
time in nearly three years last week after the authorities in
Brussels lifted a ban imposed amid safety concerns.
The government of Uzbekistan has granted a production licence to
Russian dairy giant Wimm-Bill-Dann eight months after the firm
bought Uzbekistan's largest dairy group, but the country's good
investment potential is still...
A substantial drop in organic sales growth in Asia and continued
problems with its eponymous anis brands were the only low points in
an otherwise impressive set of financial results for Pernod Ricard
in 2004, writes Chris Jones.
Innovation is the watchword in National Starch's rebranded image
but what does this really mean and what does the company hope to
achieve from its makeover, asks Philippa Nuttall?
Fast-food chain McDonald's, which this week celebrated 15 years in
Russia, plans to almost double its number of restaurants there over
the next three years - recognising the country as one of the
world's strongest emerging...
Irish food group Glanbia has picked up a €10.5 million contract to
operate Dairygold's CMP branded liquid milk and cream business,
allowing Dairygold to focus on consolidating sales across its
branded product line-up, Tom Armitage...
The French authorities have come up with a €70 million rescue
package for ailing wine producers, but as Kim Hunter Gordon and
Chris Jones report, they have once again failed to tackle the
principal problem - massive overproduction...
Britain's leading supermarket groups have been moving rapidly into
the convenience store sector in the last two years, seeing real
opportunities for growth by bringing their low price offer closer
to their customer base. Yet...
Sweden's Absolut vodka has consolidated its position as the world's
third-largest international spirit brand with a 5 per cent increase
in shipments in 2004 - buoyed in particular by an excellent
performance in its most...
Continuing moves into new segments of the confectionery market have
helped US gum maker Wrigley end 2004 with record sales and profits.
And the acquisition of Spain's Joyco, with strong market shares in
India and China, should...
Stricken Italian firm Parmalat, still being investigated for fraud,
has sold its loss-making North American Bakery Group to private
equity firm Catterton Partners, reports Chris Mercer.
Europe and the US continue to dominate demand in the €4.5 billion
flavours market, but Asia Pacific region is quickly catching up
thanks to high single-digit growth, reveal figures from a new
report.
Joining the heated debate on GM food crops and ingredients, a group
of agricultural experts, herded together under the UN-backed FAO,
declare an A to Z approach must be the only path for 'responsible
deployment' of GM crops.
Russian authorities are set to readmit Polish dairy exports,
according to unconfirmed reports appearing in the Polish press last
week, but will this be enough to satisfy overseas investors?
asks Tom Armitage.
Ingredients supplier Cargill targets the steadily growing polyol
branch of the sweeteners market, signing off over €76 ($99.16)
million in investments at plants in Europe and the US.
Moldovan wine producer Asconi Corporation is launching 14 new wine
ranges as the company seeks to build on a recent sales increase and
recover Moldovan wine's lost export markets in Russia, writes
Chris Mercer.
The US sugar association files a lawsuit against McNeil
Nutritionals, the supplier of successful sweetener Splenda,
following swiftly on from a complaint in November by US NutraSweet
supplier Merisant.
Fending off price erosion, the landscape of the fermentation
industry continues to change as ingredients firms consolidate for
market strength in €10.97 billion industry, writes Lindsey
Partos.
British cake maker Inter Link Foods has again taken advantage of
the country's piecemeal cake sector by making its biggest
acquisition to date. Meanwhile, UK bakery retailer Greggs, buoyed
by a recent sales rise, is to celebrate...
Danish ingredients giant Chr Hansen is about to launch an intensive
research and marketing campaign across Eastern Europe to learn more
about local taste preferences and beat the opposition to one of the
world's most promising...
World demand for packaging machinery is projected to rise over 4
per cent a year through 2008 to over $31 billion, with developing
nations expected to register the strongest market gains, according
to a recently published report by...
Convenience, that dominated growth in global product categories
form 2003 to 2004, will drive new product development in the next
12 months. Drinkable yoghurts, sugar substitutes and pre-prepared
foods all enjoyed year on year double-digit...
Danone's rapid expansion into the home and office delivery (HOD)
bottled water market has given it a global market share to match
that of rival Nestlé in recent years, but the growth has not come
without a price, writes Chris...
Food makers enjoying bearish prices for palm oil used extensively
in food applications could see a rise as Malaysia, the world's
number one producer, builds plans to reduce palm oil production,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli has reported its
highest-ever rate of organic growth for 2004, with its focus on
premium products allowing it to buck the general trend towards
reduced consumption of chocolate in favour of healthier...
The best that Russian farming has to offer is on display this week
in Berlin at the 70th annual International Green Week exhibition.
For the third year in succession, the Russian Federation is the
largest exhibitor at the show, reflecting...
Sixty year olds and over who cut back their salt intake to the
recommended 6g per day could reduce their risk of a stroke by up to
31 per cent, claims a group of cardiovascular experts in the UK,
reports Lindsey Partos.
Subsidiary of Dutch ingredients and foodstuffs group Royal Cosun
expands potato flake and granulates activities, acquiring Nestlé's
potato activities in Venray, the Netherlands.
A shortage of food technology experts and increasing job rotation
means that more workers across Britain's bakery industry are not
getting the training they need and do not fully understand the
processes involved, writes Chris...
Russia's large tea-drinking community is bracing itself for higher
costs as the south east Asian countries devastated by December's
tsunami increase their prices in a bid to rekindle much-needed
economic growth, writes Angela...
A recent ban on televised beer adverts in Russia may be reformed by
the country's parliament later this year after complaints from the
industry, but a new ban on outdoor drinking still looms in 2005,
reports Chris Mercer.
Dutch brewer Heineken is to begin licensed production of the
Guinness stout brand in Russia under the terms of a deal with
Britain's Diageo group announced last week - a clear sign of its
continuing intention to grow its share...
Pricing rounds in the tough sweeteners market draw to a close with
UK starch and sweetener supplier Tate & Lyle expecting a slight
fall in margins for Europe.
A deal with Britain's Diageo group to begin licensed production of
the Guinness stout brand in Russia was the highest profile
announcement by Dutch brewer Heineken last week, but with moves to
consolidate its position in China...
Dutch retailer Laurus will be glad to see the back of 2004, a year
which saw it struggle with widespread restructuring and a damaging
price war. But 2005 is not guaranteed to be any easier, as the hard
work of rebuilding its business...
Pressure on price and market share for Nutrinova, a leading
supplier of non-nutritive sweetener acesulfame-K, is set to rise as
a key patent for the sweetener will soon reach its deadline,
reports Lindsey Partos.
Tough European legislation on junk food advertising to children
could become a reality, if the food industry fails to produce an
effective self-regulatory framework to help society deal with
increasing obesity in children.
Growth in Asian and South American markets boost sales for colours
firm Chr Hansen, counterbalancing a fall in revenue in North
America for the first quarter of the year.
Irish food group Kerry joins the growing competition in the dynamic
Chinese food market, this week announcing a €20 million investment
programme to expand its presence there.
Growing demand for exotic flavours in food formulations guide UK
food ingredients firm JO Sims to source a wider range of tropical
fruits from South America.
US-based investment group New Century Holdings intends to
consolidatemarket leader Vel Pitar's position as Romania's
topbakery, writes Bogdan Tudorache in Bucharest.
Supplies for a range of vegetable oils used extensively by the food
industry are likely to improve for 2004/05 year on stronger yields
for peanuts, soybeans and rapeseed oil.
Somerfield, the British retail group, continues to struggle with
its Kwik Save unit, acquired in 1998. The company has taken a long
time to find the right trading format for the discounter and
recently took the decision to close or...
Hot on the heels of last year's entry into the Chinese market,
Britain's leading food retailer Tesco has strengthened its business
in South Korea with the acquisition of a number of stores from the
Aram Mart group. The move...