A trial initiative in the UK suggests that the use of radio waves
to rapidly seal materials, enabling conventional plastics to be
economically replaced with recyclable and biodegradable
alternatives, has a bright future.
Norwegian group Orkla has revised its takeover bid for aluminium
group Elkem in order to make it more attractive to shareholders,
including US metal packaging giant Alcoa.
The growth of PepsiCo's savoury snacks business helped the firm to
a solid earnings rise in 2004 and also raises new questions about
the damage healthy eating trends will inflict on the food
industry's snack giants, argues...
Peter Mandelson, the newly-appointed EU trade commissioner, is
considering launching a review of the EU's stringent food hygiene
regulations in an attempt to tackle growing accusations that its
policies are protectionist and...
Alcan has appointed a new executive vice president, while Finnish
packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki has reinforced its group head
office with a couple of executive appointments.
Martek Biosciences has signed a non-exclusive license agreement
with Kellogg, under which it will supply the consumer foods giant
with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) for use in a
new line of fortified foods.
Packaging coding specialist Alpha Dot has introduced a bar code
validation unit in order to help manufacturers achieve complete
supply chain accountability.
Three members of the team that developed the new packaging material
used in the Tetra Recart system have won the Swedish forest
industry's Marcus Wallenberg Prize for 2005.
The Competition Commission (CC) today announced it has
provisionally cleared the completed acquisition by Napier Brown
Foods (NBF) of James Budgett Sugars (JBS), but voiced concerns
about the lack of competition in the UK sugar...
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism in the liver that explains how consuming foods rich in saturated fats and trans-fatty acids can send blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides soaring.
Imperial Sugar yesterday (Thursday) announced a higher
first-quarter profit, but predicted that operating income would
fall significantly in 2005 as the sugar industry remains
challenging, reports Philippa Nuttall.
A new nutrition bar chart on every pack of Kellogg's breakfast
cereal, enabling Britain's consumers to check salt, sugar and fat
content against guideline daily amounts, may cause confusion amid
too many conflicting systems,...
German retailer Metro is planning to start applying radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags, with improved performance and
capability, to cartons and cases in the fourth quarter of 2005.
The company that makes the proprietary, corn-based plastic resins
marketed under the NatureWorks PLA will be known as NatureWorks LLC
from this month onwards.
Tyson Foods said yesterday that the temporary suspension of
operations at some Tyson Foods beef plants will continue through 12
February and may extend beyond that date, underlining the ongoing
precarious state of the US beef industry.
Information Resources (IRI) says that the results from its ongoing
Six Sigma data quality initiatives will allow it to provide faster,
more accurate, and more actionable market information to companies
such as PepsiCo.
Sales for food enzymes crept up by a slight 2 per cent in 2004 for
number one enzymes player Novozymes, but a boost in low carb
beverages continues to lift profit.
Tetra Pak has launched what it claims is the world's first
microwavable aseptic package, a potentially lucrative breakthrough
in the ever-growing ready meals market.
Metal packaging manufacturer Corus says that EU recycling targets
are achievable, but believes more investment in the UK's collection
infrastructure is needed. Anthony Fletcher reports.
Ter Beke's acquisition of the Dutch Langeveld Sleegers, a market
leader in the field of processed meats slicing and pre-packaging,
could be of great strategic importance to the company, writes
Anthony Fletcher.
Aluminium packaging firm Alcoa, just named as one of the top three
most sustainable corporations in the world, has bought two
factories in Russia with a view to both dominating the region and
using its rich aluminium resources to...
Poland's EU membership will present new opportunities for packaging
companies as food producers look to increase the amount of packaged
food on the market, in order to meet higher standards and take
advantage of a richer population...
The continued ban by many countries on US beef exports and
increasing pork prices has forced Tyson Foods to forecast that its
full-year earnings would be lower than expected.
Lantech is introducing a new touchscreen control for all its
automated stretch wrap systems, which it claims offers a number of
productivity advantages.
United Confectioners Holding has initiated a complex
standardisation programme across its product range, a fact that
will allow products at different factories to be manufactured to
the same stable quality and taste, Angela Drujinina...
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.
Chr Hansen's vice president explains why the group is launching an
innovative and highly unusual marketing campaign across Eastern
Europe, and tells us what he hopes to learn from the experience.
Anthony Fletcher reports.
Good foresight on rising health trends and heavy investment in
premium brands have helped cereal and snack producer Kellogg to a
steady sales and earnings rise for 2004, with North America leading
the way, reports Chris Mercer.
Around one in ten supermarket bakery workers risk developing asthma
by breathing in dust from flour and bread mixes, according to a new
study which calls for greater awareness among retailers as the
number of in-store bakeries grows,...
A reputation for quality and efficiency across Europe and Asia have
helped Swiss baker Hiestand to predict it will beat its own
earnings targets for 2004. But the company's biggest challenge is
deciding where to go next, writes...
The wine industry's principle barrel and closure manufacturer has
sold its natural cork activities, but signed a contract to
outsource them as it needs. Kim Hunter Gordon reports.
Convenience, which 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...
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...
The popularity of low carb diets makes the message of National
Folic Acid Awareness Week more significant than ever, as women of
childbearing age may be risking the health of their babies by
cutting back on sources of the B vitamin.
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...
Strong year-on-year sales growth and a major new plant expansion at
premix leader Fortitech's Europe base demonstrates the insatiable
appetite for fortified foods in the region, writes Dominique
Patton.
Biosphere Industries' new starch-based moisture resistant packaging
material - PPM100 - is the latest natural raw material to achieve
approval from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI).
Lower cost baking equipment suppliers could lose out after the UK's
APV Baker announced its intention to implement price reductions and
a new marketing strategy, reports Chris Mercer.
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.
New research suggests that biodegradable polylactide (PLA) bottles
can be easily segregated from PET bottles in the waste stream, a
point that strengthens the environmental claims of the material.
CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and
Numbering)has launched a worldwide boycott of Tesco in response to
the retailer'sescalating use of RFID on consumer products.