Junk food such as burgers, chips and fizzy drinks, should carry
tobacco-style health warnings in a bid to reduce rising obesity
rates, a senior UK politician told leading food makers in a
government investigation into obesity yesterday.
In the wake of terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001
Europe's manufacturing industries have taken a knock but figures
released this week reveal that the food industry is managing the
course, registering a 'light...
The EU food and drink industry proved highly resilient in 2002,
increasing overall volume sales by 1.8 per cent at a time when the
bloc's industrial output as a whole declined.
Spar, the German retail group, is being forced to take drastic
measures to haul itself out of the red. With operating losses of
€65 million in the first half of the year, and a restructuring
programme undermined by the weak German...
Diageo's decision to change its Cardhu Scotch whisky from a single
malt to a pure malt - a blend of malts from different distilleries
- has met with widespread condemnation from the rest of the
industry, so much so in fact that...
Hard negotiations followed by new European rules put to bed
long-standing disputes over labelling issues that hung over
chocolate manufacturers. As more European manufacturers turn to
vegetable fats, the challenge is on for ingredients...
After several years of gains, growth in the Russian confectionery
market looks set to slow over the next six years or so, with only
premium chocolate products likely to bring big returns.
Public perception of risk - notably with regards to genetically
modified foods - is the focus of a high-profile conference to take
place in Brussels next week. Senior figures from the worlds of
politics, science and food will explore...
Ahold, the Dutch
retail group, yesterday admitted for the first time that the
'accounting irregularities' announced earlier this year had in fact
constituted fraud, and that it believed that no more than five to
10...
Rodrigo Rato, Spain's finance minister, has added his voice to the
debate over food prices which has pitched retailers against
suppliers. He said that Spain's various regional governments should
do more to present a united...
Controversial changes over two years ago to Europe's chocolate
rules - that had cocoa puritans and producers up in arms - came
into force in the summer, providing ingredients companies with a
raft of new opportunities.
The chances of Anders Moberg, the new chief executive of Ahold,
achieving the bonus targets announced yesterday look increasingly
unlikely as the Dutch supermarket group today announced a further
slide into the red for the first nine...
Snack and convenience food consumption plays a dominant role inthe
eating habits of almost half of British consumers, according tonew
research published by Teagasc. And Irish food companies should be
cashing in.
Danish oils and fats company Aarhus United saw third quarter profit
falling by over 50 per cent as reduced margins, lower exchange
rates, a decline in bulk oil sales and heightened competition, ate
into the bottom line.
Belgian ingredients company Orafti is to acquire Remy Industries, a
Belgium-based producer of food ingredients made from rice, the
company announced this week.
Shareholders in Ahold, the troubled Dutch retailer, will tomorrow have
the chance to debate the proposed bonus package of the company's
new CEO Anders Moberg - a package which almost scuppered Moberg's
appointment at an...
Friends of the Earth (FoE), the perennial thorn in the side of the
leading British supermarket groups, has criticised the two biggest
retailers, Tesco and Asda, over their fruit supply contracts.
A sluggish market hit by falling exchange rates, unrest in the
Middle East and SARS in Asia all contributed to a drab organic
revenue of 2 per cent for the year, Danish ingredients company Chr.
Hansen reported this week. But the tide...
Britain's biggest supermarket group Tesco has today reported third
quarter sales growth of 17.5 per cent, figures which beat all
analysts' forecasts and showed once again the ever widening gulf
between Tesco and rivals such...
When onlookers of the food ingredients industry claim that
consolidation will be a key trend in coming years they are
generally referring to mergers and acquisitions. But could it be
that consolidation in this increasingly competitive...
European Union regulators are preparing to introduce new
legislation which they hope will help them clamp down on the rising
tide of counterfeit goods flooding the trading bloc.
As one door closes another door opens. The FiE exhibition came to
an end on Thursday, but today marks the debut of a three day
ice-cream formulation extravaganza in Solingen-Gräfrath, Germany.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued yet another food
hazard warning over food products contaminated with the potential
carcinogen Sudan I. But in India, the country's spices board
reveals it is tackling the problem.
Cranberry company Northland posts a $4m profit in its fiscal fourth
quarter, an improvement over the prior year's net loss, and says it
market share is on the rise.
Britain is set to extend its lead in the European ready meals
market over the next five years, accounting for more than half of
all sales by 2007. But convenience is no longer enough to keep
consumers happy - they want health and...
Leading ingredients firm Danisco has announced its second licensing
deal for the Howaru probiotic strain with Chile's biggest dairy
processor Soprole. The agreement looks set to generate significant
interest among food makers...
Tropical regions could enjoy secure food supplies over the next
fifty years if local smallholder farmers are encouraged to help
themselves, says a university of East Anglia development expert
writing in this week's journal Science.
A new gelatine replacer from Dutch company DMV International
carried off the gold award for the most innovative new ingredient
on the marketplace, rounding off the first day of the bustling Fi
Europe exhibition that opened its doors...
Cargill Health & Food Technologies (H&FT) has been
showcasing its latest innovations in branded ingredients and
applications during Fi Europe 2003. The event, which is Europe's
largest gathering of international ingredients...
The international German mining and technology group RAG is to be
the new owner of Germany's third-largest chemical company, Degussa,
following news on Tuesday that the European Commission has approved
the acquisition.
Matching flavours traditionally used in one segment of the food
industry with products more common in another is becoming
increasingly widespread as companies seek ever more intriguing
combinations - such as lemon-flavoured crisps...
Spanish nutraceuticals firm Natraceutical is promoting a patented
olive powder to the European food industry this week, said to both
impart olive flavour and significantly raise the antioxidant
content of foods.
The Fi Europe awards committee, that last month creamed off eight
out of 40 new products shortlisted for the final selection, picked
the latest texturant in the FCI range from French company Limagrain
Cereales Ingredients for the...
Safeway, the British retail group, has reported first half sales
growth of 1.2 per cent, a good performance given the uncertainty
surrounding its future ownership. But a rapid conclusion of the
negotiations with Morrisons will be...
As German enzyme company AB Enzymes celebrates the 30th birthday of
its baking enzyme line xylanase, the company has marked the moment
with the launch of two new products in the Veron family.
Budejovicky Budvar, the Czech brewer, should be allowed the sole
rights to the Budweiser and Bud names in Austria if it can be shown
that both terms are linked inextricably with the town of Budweis,
according to a ruling by Europe's...
Holland Sweetener company, DSM's 50-50 joint venture with
Japan-based company Tosoh took some pleasure yesterday in launching
its high intensity sweetener Twinsweet on to the European market
after years of waiting for approval...
American cranberry co-operative Ocean Spray, seeking to build brand
awareness in Europe at FiE this week, has extended its ingredients
line further with a new mixed berry variant and glycerated version
of its Flavoured Fruit Pieces...
Sainsbury has appointed a former Marks & Spencer executive as
its new CEO, replacing Sir Peter Davis who will become chairman.
But Davis' ambitious attempt to pull the company out of the
doldrums continues to misfire, with...
Lutein supplement maker Kemin Foods has received an award from
market research firm Frost & Sullivan for its promotion
campaign for the FloraGLO brand.
A disappointment for the food industry the US government last week
predicted a cut in the forecast for soybean production to the
lowest level in nearly 30 years. Although up slightly on 2002
figures, the area for harvest is expected...
Ahold is to sell its Argentine unit Disco to Chile's Cencosud for
an undisclosed sum, drawing a line under a troubled 18 months at
the unit. The Dutch firm is still negotiating the sale of other
units in Brazil, Peru and Paraguay.
Scandinavian starch producer KMC has come up with a new range of
cold water swelling starches pitched at the convenience food market
under the brand ColdSwell.
Ahold has sold two underperforming Polish hypermarkets to French
rival Carrefour for an undisclosed sum as part of its drive to
focus on profitable businesses. But the company has shown no signs
of withdrawing from that market altogether.
A key driver of the food ingredients industry is the ability to
innovate. Innovation may bring about added value, and as such,
premium pricing opportunities. This is particularly true for
ingredients companies working in today's...
As speciality chemicals company Cognis heads for the FiE to promote
a number of ingredients - not least Tonalin CLA, results released
yesterday show a rise in organic growth for the health and
nutrition arm of the company in the third...
