Archives for January 17, 2005

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Future of starch-based packaging looking good

A technique for changing the water repellency of plastic films usingcoatings of steam-jet-cooked starch has been developed by AgriculturalResearch Service (ARS) scientists.

EBRD funds small business growth in Balkans

Cacanska Banka in Serbia is the first bank to receive a loan under the EBRD's latest facility supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across western Balkan countries.

Barry Callebaut sees sales slide in Q1

Barry Callebaut, the world's top supplier of industrial chocolate to the confectionery industry, has reported a 6 per cent fall in first quarter sales revenues to CHF1.15bn ($0.97bn) as squeezed margins bite into the bottom line.

Increase in sales for Asconi Moldovan wines

Moldovan wine producer Asconi Corporation has announced that its 2004 case sales increased by 20 per cent on 2003 to almost 2 million cases. The news comes at the same time as the inclusion of 10 of the company's wine in a list of the 100 best wines...

Restructuring delay contributes to Barry Callebaut slump

Barry Callebaut, the world's leading supplier of chocolate to the confectionery industry, has reported a 6 per cent fall in first quarter sales revenues to CHF1.15bn (€0.79bn) as squeezed margins bit into its bottom line. The company's move into...

Russia maps out largest soybean plant

Novoye Sodruzhestvo, a Moscow-based holding company, intends to build Russia's largest soybean processing plant, according to the news provider Interfax.

Tomatoes: quality and supply up, prices down

Florida's tomato growers are still feeling the effects of the four hurricanes that swept through the state last year, said the Florida Tomato Committee today, urging food manufacturers to realize that supplies of the fruit are now plentiful.

Nine charged in Ahold fraud case

Nine food industry employees in the US have been indicted with aiding and abetting the massive financial fraud at US Foodservice, a division of Dutch retail group Ahold. The nine all worked for food companies supplying food to the company, and are...

InBev maintains profit forecast despite weak growth

InBev, the company formed last year by the merger of Belgium's Interbrew and the Brazilian giant AmBev, says it is on track for solid profit growth in 2004 despite missing its full-year volume growth target, writes Chris Jones.

Loders Croklaan highlights Malaysian connection

Dutch producer of oils and fats Loders Croklaan has changed its company logo in an effort to underline the connection with its Malaysian parent company IOI Group and emphasize their joint palm oil strategy.