Russian fish consumption is rising as consumers turn to healthier,
safer and cheaper alternatives to meat, but with good quality fish
products hard to come by in some parts of the vast country, a new
fish sausage formula created by...
Packaging and dispensing solutions manufacturer International
Dispensing Corporation has commercialised what it claims is the
world's only aseptic gravity flow valve (GFV) for the food
industry.
InBev has acquired the remaining 50 per cent of Lion Group's beer
business in China $131.5 million. The move gives the leading
international brewer a 100 per cent controlling stake in the
business, further enhancing its operations...
Global prices for ingredients such as soy and wheat are still
vulnerable to increases as global harvests could be impacted by
weather risks and generally low stocks, something that will
inevitably hit the China market hard as it is...
Cunning investment, joint ventures and an expanding foods division
have helped Irish baked goods and agribusiness group IAWS to
increase pre-tax profits by 19 per cent for the year to July. But
conditions in the agricultural sector...
A film being developed to improve the permeability of gases for use
in space stations could also provide a breakthrough for food
packaging, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Month-on-month growth for Tate & Lyle's zero calorie sweetener
will offset a dip in figures at the firm's European starch
operations as long term investment in added-value ingredients
starts to pay off.
Researchers in the UK have developed a new robotic arm that is
fully mobile, has accuracy that rivals industrial fixed robot arms
and could cost significantly less.
Siemens is to expand its RFID systems offering into the UHF range
in order to lower customer warehousing costs, improve supply chain
visibility and enhance tracking and tracing applications.
The Polish government's plans to sell off the last eight remaining
Polmos businesses look ill-fated, as industry experts predict that
the weakness of the remaining brands and market saturation means
that bankruptcy is a likelier...
Plzenský Prazdroj, the leading Czech brewer, has completed the
first stages of an upgrade to its Plzen brewery as part of aims to
boost the production of its Pilsner Urquell beer to export markets.
In line with other packaged food companies such as Unilever and
General Mills, ConAgra Foods has posted lower quarterly profit due
largely to higher raw material costs.
A scientific breakthrough from freezing specialist Asymptote has
been granted a European patent, opening the door to the
multi-billion pound frozen food market, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
Engineers from the US have demonstrated that stirring a mix of
granular ingredients faster or longer in food manufacturing won't
always give you a smooth blend, writes Anthony Fletcher.
The largest wholesale bakery in the United States, Interstate
Bakeries, has filed for bankruptcy amid a tide of mounting debts,
rising costs and falling sales, but the company's new fix-it
specialists have vowed that the show...
Ergonomic and dynamic picking systems have been installed at two
cutting edge distribution centres in the UK with the aim of
achieving significant supply chain cost savings.
More science is needed to encourage food and drink makers to invest
in new formulations using third generation whey products, finds a
new report that suggests more clinical trials and documentation
could overcome this barrier to growth,...
Lithuanian flour and pasta manufacturer Malsena is aiming to
further develop its position as a multi-functional manufacturer
with plans to make a huge investment in the production of
value-added ingredients for the bakery sector.
Damage from Hurricane Ivan that struck the US last week could send
prices for peanuts, a common confectionery ingredient, rising as
reports suggest that virtually all of the nation's 2004 peanut crop
could be at risk.
UK developer and marketer of high-nutrition food and drink
products, Nutrinnovator today reported on trading for the last six
months and confirmed its future focus on functional food and
beverages.
Buhler has unveiled the latest model in its range of extrusion
systems. The BTSK-30 is a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, which
the company claims is suitable for laboratory use and corresponding
production capacities.
General Mills is the latest food manufacturer to report a decline
in net profit this year, and again the blame goes on raw material
price hikes and fierce competition in the retail sector writes
Anthony Fletcher.
Low-carb diets are still on the fringe of British eating habits,
with high drop-out rates and consumer cynicism over health
benefits, according to a new report - confirming the UK bakery
industry's view that low-carbs pose no...
Campina, the international co-operative dairy company, has revealed
how it plans to expand sales of its dairy-based beverages arm -
with the introduction of a uniform line of bottle packaging.
Chocolate makers could see savings from new research that sets out
to tackle the common problem of fat bloom, an unsightly white
powdery film that forms on the outside of chocolate, writes
Lindsey Partos.
A new campaign to reduce sugar levels in foods and consumer diets
in order to tackle the national obesity problem is reportedly being
considered by the UK government, to run after the current attack on
salt is over, writes Chris Mercer.
The industrial gas division of German equipment provider, Linde,
has launched Biogon, a range of pure gases and gas mixtures,
compatible with increasingly stringent measures being introduced
throughout the region.
Savoury spreads are growing in variety as snack alternatives become
increasingly popular in Central and Eastern Europe. And looking at
the region's latest launches for this category it is clear that
manufacturers are targeting...
Our periodic round-up of personnel moves within the food production
and packaging industry includes the high-profile appointment of a
new chairman at Unilever and the creation of a new division at
Supreme Plastics.
The majority shareholder in Danish vegetable oil firm Aarhus United
could soon place its considerable stake on the market, citing a
potential difference in long-term investment interests.
Pushed by a UK minister, food makers handed in plans at the weekend
to slash the salt content in processed foods but the industry has
criticised the government move, suspecting political
spin,reports Lindsey Partos.
The drinks industry believes fortified beverages are the answer to
claims that Americans are increasingly drinking sweetened soft
drinks at the expense of more nutritious alternatives.
A new report suggests that while the benefits of sourcing in China
outweigh the additional logistics costs, western companies must
still be prepared to deal with significant procurement and sourcing
issues if they are to prosper.
China's soft drink industry continues to boom, with market analysts
Canadean estimating that continued growth now means annual
production is in excess of 20 billion litres. And with retail
prices continuing to fall and expendable...
Heavy summer rain has been blamed for hampering this year's UK
wheat harvest as early results show that quality is lower than the
national average for the last three years - something which has led
to price increases in the UK...
American Dairy, one of the leading manufacturers of milk powder
products in China, has completed its new soybean powder mill - a
move that firms up its presence in the all-important soybean
processing sector.
Berger Wild, the largest processor of European game, has installed
new Ishida weighing technology at its factory in Fischhaus, Germany
that will allow the company to produce 500g convenience packs for
the retail market.
Flexible packaging specialist Exopack has developed a patented
two-handle plastic bag for the Cargill Salt Business Unit of
Cargill, one of the world's largest marketers of salt products.
More bad news for packaging firms - BASF has announced further
price rises for the plastic polystyrene. Costs are set to be
increased in Europe by €100 euros per metric ton.
The consumption of baking mixes in the Asia Pacific region may be
low, but a rash of new launches on the market suggests that all
that might be set to change, as time-starved households move
towards quicker, easier alternatives.
Nanotechnology offers food production many potential benefits, but
its development must be guided by appropriate safety assessments
and regulation if risks are to be minimised, according to a UK
report.
Risk analysis is on the table at an upcoming European Codex session
next week in Bratislava, with the EU 25 offering its support to a
proposal for new principles on the issue, while calling for
flexibility in an effort to accommodate...
Revenues from Czech dairy exports might have increased by 30 per
cent in the first six months of the year, but the Czech Dairy
Association says it is increasing dairy prices, not higher volumes
due to accession, that is boosting the...
Although the market for bakery mixes in Central and Eastern Europe
remains small, it is growing as consumers strive to bake at home
and save time. The latest look at the launches for this category
shows that variety is the driving...
Researchers exploring the flavour thresholds of orange juice have
made strides towards designing more precise flavour profiles for
better quality citrus juices that will ultimately cut costs for
beverage manufacturers and provide...
Sun Interbrew, Russia's second largest brewer, has announced strong
six month and second quarter financial results, reflecting a
continuing rise in beer sales backed up by a strong control over
costs.
K-Tek has launched a liquid detector guided by wave radar readings
that are immune to fluctuations in specific gravity and variations
in dielectric constants.
Young people who consume energy drinks with alcohol to improve
their stamina on a night out are likely to see no such effect,
suggests new research on the market leader Red Bull.
