Green makes new M&S bid
Philip Green, the billionaire retail entrepreneur, has renewed his bid to take over ailing clothing-to-food group Marks & Spencer amid an increasingly bitter battle of words with opponents of the bid.
Archives for July 6, 2004
Polish food prices set to fluctuate
The Central Bank is expecting deflation of food prices in the summer months, while prices will grow in September through December, but at a lower pace than in April when the growth was much higher than expected creating uncertainty for the food...
Shared values should drive crossover growth
Cross-segment product launches are nothing new in the food industry, but the pace of new product development appears to have quickened in recent years as manufacturers seek to leverage the strength of their brand by reinventing it in a new product...
Milk offers good medium for fighting childhood disease
Milk powder fortified with vitamins and minerals, as well as milks with prebiotic and probiotic bacteria, can prevent major, often fatal, childhood diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, and have a significant impact on growth, according to new...
Underage alcohol ad exposure on the increase
Girls are more likely than boys to be overexposed to adverts for alcoholic beverages in magazines, although the figures for both genders are worryingly high, according to a recent study carried out by scientists in the US. But is the liquor industry...
Allergen test for new food labels
Scientists have developed new tests to detect nut allergens in processed foods that could help food makers adhere to the tough new European rules on food allergens to be enforced later this year.
Obesity: US, UK attitudes differ
Obesity levels in the US and Britain are among the highest in the world, and it is not surprising, therefore, that it is in these two countries that the debate over how to tackle the problem - and who is to blame - is the most advanced. But a recent...
Estonian meat company mooting Russian exports
Rakvere Lihakombinaat, an Estonian meat processing business owned by the Finnish HK Ruokatalo group, says it is mulling plans to start exporting its meat products to the vast Russian market, according to a Ruokatalo manager in charge of Baltic operations.
Kalev gets ISO certification and moves into bakery
Having just announced ISO certification, Estonian confectionery maker Kalev has made a second acquisition to extend its reach into the bakery market.
Lifeway Foods to acquire cheese producer
Lifeway Foods, a manufacturer of cultured, probiotic and functional foods, has agreed to acquire a privately-held gourmet cheese producer based in Philadelphia.
Soy isoflavones show no impact on health in older women
The increasingly popular supplements of soy isoflavones do not seem to help lower cholesterol, improve bone mineral density or benefit brain function after menopause, new research suggests.
Kiwi allergies to open up synthetic flavour market?
Opportunities for the synthetic kiwi flavour market have opened up after findings from a small study in the UK show that the kiwi fruit appears to be a significant food allergen capable of causing severe reactions, particularly in young children with...
Cargill focus on added-value juice
US ingredients supplier Cargill has moved deeper into the value-added juice market by selling off a large slice of its Brazilian juice operations to two local companies.
Glucosamine price rises set to boost market for quality products
Investigations into the dumping of shrimp on the US market has caused major price rises in the joint health ingredient glucosamine, a shrimp derivative. But if prices stabilise at these levels, they could make higher quality glucosamine more...
Blue colours for calcium boost
As food developers and marketers are aware, bright colours hold a strong appeal with children. Jumping on the back of this phenomenon Danisco in the US has launched a new flavour concept to add to milk.
Heinz mulls transferring production to Poland
Heinz of Poland has confirmed that its production facility in Pudliszki in the west of Poland is undergoing production trials for Heinz products that are currently manufactured in western Europe, suggesting that big change could be afoot for Heinz'...