Functional food makers need to take a critical look at the level of
substantiation behind the health claims they are using to guarantee
their survival under a new European regulation, reports
Dominique Patton.
Alcan has acquired the assets of Parkside's flexible food packaging
plant in Zlotow, Poland in order to increase its presence in a
growing and competitive economy.
Rising ingredients prices dampened a strong first quarter sales
increase for Domino's Pizza, the world's biggest pizza delivery
firm, yet health may be the industry's biggest challenge in 2005,
reports Chris Mercer.
A new recycling plant in Brazil is the first in the world that can
separate the aluminium and plastic components used in packaging
cartons, according to Alcoa, a joint partner in the project.
The CBI is demanding a moratorium on business tax increases
following the publication of a survey that shows a drop in overall
confidence within UK manufacturing.
Cereal bar makers looking to slash carbohydrate and sugar levels
could find the solution in a new 'rebalance system' from sweetener
supplier Tate & Lyle, the company claims, writes Lindsey
Partos.
The drift towards grazing and away from sit-down meals is not yet
ended in the UK, with health-oriented sandwiches continuing to
drive forwards a market that already accounts for one third of the
nation's food and beverage sales,...
Private label organic juices are boosting sales volumes, helping to
propel the organic juice sales in North America to increase by a
considerable 21.4 per cent in 2005, claims UK market analysts
Organic Monitor.
Lubricant firms can now apply for the EU Eco-label if their product
has a low impact on the environment, something that could appeal to
manufacturers keen to increase their green credentials.
Tough new labelling regulations concerning allergens may be driving
up the number of product recalls by UK's food producers, warns food
safety consultancy RSSL.
Novelis has been named the 2004 Rexam European supplier of the year
in recognition of the firm's performance in quality, service, and
technology, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Reacting rapidly to the discovery of the banned colour Para Red in
processed foods, UK food laboratory RSSL has a new method to help
food makers detect this potential carcinogen, reports Lindsey
Partos.
A range of additives that allow extruders to improve melt strength,
increase throughput and reduce costs when processing polyester
resins has received FDA sanction for food-contact packaging
applications.
German firm AB Enzymes has launched a new enzyme preparation which
claims to extend the shelf life of baked goods and significantly
reduce manufacturers' production costs, reports Lorraine
Heller.
Kraft Foods is helping to finance a seat at the Monell Chemical
Senses Center, which should help scientists - and food companies -
to learn more about the intensity and quality of flavors.
A rugged, high-impact resistant packaging application has been
developed for suppliers wanting to minimise breakage and waste
during shipping and transporting.
The US department of agriculture (USDA) has issued two reports on
the evolving global requirements for the traceability and labelling
of agricultural biotechnology products.
A new environmentally friendly form of insulation for packaging and
freezing applications provides between five and seven times the
insulation capacity over current technologies, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
Substituting a modest amount of protein for carbohydrate may reduce
abdominal obesity, say researchers reporting on data gathered from
a diverse multi-ethnic population.
The trickle of food products contaminated with the illegal colour
Para Red continues in the UK, with the country's food agency
identifying nineteen more food products for recall yesterday,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Nurture's OatVantage ingredient can lower the risk of coronary
heart disease more than any other commercial oat product, according
to a company-funded study carried out at the University of
Minnesota.
The owners of Britain's RHM, Doughty Hanson, have begun preparing
the food group for a stock market flotation later this year after
implementing pension reforms and cutting away dead wood, says a
report in the UK's Financial...
Analysts have suggested that it is just a matter of time before
energy prices increase further, bringing more bad news to plastic
packaging manufacturers who are finding it increasingly difficult
to absorb rising costs.
Chr Hansen is already on the look out for new acquisitions as the
firm enjoys a fresh financial thrust from its new private equity
owners, PAI partners, reports Lindsey Partos.
German health ingredients firm Cognis Nutrition & Health will
introduce a new range of high quality plant extracts for foods and
beverages at Vitafoods, the industry show opening in Geneva
tomorrow.
Meat processing firm Kampomos has launched the first of its new
high margin product range in Russia, aimed at growing demand for
freshness and diversity among more affluent city-livers while also
easing pressure from high costs, reports...
Organic and low/no sugar are the tags food manufacturers should be
looking at adding to their packaging if they want their products to
enjoy strong and sustained growth, said AC Nielsen.
Kellogg has increased sales and profits in its first quarter
through clever pricing and strong marketing investment, helping the
firm to forge ahead in healthy snacks and beat off private label
competition in cereals, reports Chris...
Higher prices and lower grain costs largely offset down volumes in
Tyson Foods' meat lines, but ongoing BSE restrictions have helped
drag down the company's bottom line.
A leading global provider of synchronised supply chain and revenue
management solutions has helped a Chinese beverage firm maintain
its competitive advantage in what is a booming sector, writes
Anthony Fletcher.
CCL has transformed itself into a pure speciality packaging company
with the Cdn $265 million (€164m) sale of its North American CCL
custom manufacturing division to KCP Income Fund.
Lantech claims that its new C-300 case erector delivers
best-in-class reliability for a machine in the 10-case/minute speed
range by utilising a proprietary design that holds the case square
and erect throughout the process.
Young Russian snacks maker Sibirsky Bereg appears to have captured
consumers' imagination with an array of experimental flavours and
products, overtaking PepsiCo's Lay's brand in market share and
growing by up to 50...
Food enzymes contribute a quarter of sales revenue to the overall
enzyme business in the first quarter, says Danish firm Novozymes,
marking a one per cent rise in contribution on the previous year,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Moves to reform the European sugar regime will accelerate after the
EU loses its appeal against a World Trade Organisation decision
that its handouts to sugar farmers are illegal, reports Lindsey
Partos.
A new report argues that over-consumption is profoundly affecting
the global supply of water, threatening food production in the
future, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Dutch bakery ingredients firm CSM continues to focus on core
business, clearing the sale of its sugar confectionery unit Malaco
Leaf to investment companies Nordic Capital and CVC Capital
Partners.
Concentration within the steel industry could result in greater
price stability and lower costs for packagers, though this needs to
be put in context, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Shares in packaging group Amcor have fallen to a ten-month low
following rising raw material costs, though the Australia-based
company expects an improvement in the second half of 2005.
Tate & Lyle was yesterday taken to task by environmental groups
and local residents over its plans to extend its Splenda factory in
McIntosh, Alabama, reports Philippa Nuttall.
Leading British supermarket Tesco has decided to ditch the UK
government-backed traffic light food labelling scheme, opting
instead for its own numbers based system.