US canned and bottled juice manufacturer Ocean Spray has installed
integrated packaging software to streamline its packaging system
across all operations.
The European Commission has approved, under the Merger Regulation,
the acquisition of Linde's refrigeration business (Linde
Kältetechnik) by United Technologies Corporation.
A new, multi-product breakfast cereal plant has been installed by
APV Baker for Nacional, a leading Portuguese company, which will
enable it to make a wide variety of extruded products.
McCain Foods, one of the world's largest producers of quality
frozen foods, has installed FullTilt's I-Accel collaborative
product information management (CPIM) software in order to achieve
data synchonisation and standardised...
Schneider Packaging Equipment has unveiled its new robotic case
packer-palletiser. The company believes that this all-in-one
concept, which combines a case packer and a palletiser, offers
manufacturers a cost-effective end-of-line...
The French are among the most frequent breakfasters in Europe,
according to a recent study - but traditional tastes are changing
rapidly with cereals beginning to take considerable market share
from the less trendy crackers and biscuits....
After months of unsuccessful talks, the US yesterday successfully
secured a World Trade Organisation panel to investigate its claim
that the Mexican 'discretionary tax' introduced for corn sweeteners
such as high fructose...
With deadlines for compliance looming, RFID specialist Odin
technologies has released a report analysing the top four EPC
(electronic product code) compliant RFID readers.
US-based food manufacturer Hormel Foods is about to launch two
chilli brands in new easy-to-open carton packaging from Tetra Pak,
marking a significant change in packaging preference.
Swedish packaging manufacturer Iggesunds Paperboard claims that the
recently introduction of video analysis equipment at its production
facility has significantly improved efficiency.
The European Commission's decision to accept eight national
allocation plans for CO2 emission allowances clears over 5,000
plants to enter the emissions market next January, with food
processors among the factories named.
Packaging equipment giant Ishida has lost a patent case against
Australian firm TNA over a dispute concerning Ishida's Apex and
CBM2 bagmaker machines.
Swiss-Swedish carton packaging company Tetra Laval says it will
appeal yesterday's decision by the European Commission to impose a
fine of €90,000 for an alleged failure to provide information in
the long running investigation...
Green tea extract is being tested by UCLA cancer researchers to see
if combined with a molecularly targeted therapy, it will prevent
the recurrence of bladder cancer in former smokers.
German-based wholesaler and retailer Metro Group has selected
Intermec Technologies to provide a range of RFID (radio frequency
identification) inventory tracking systems for its Metro Group
Innovation Centre, which opened today in...
Food scientists continue in their quest to investigate the presence
of the potential carcinogen acrylamide in everyday food products
with Swiss researchers calling for further research into the
processing conditions of gingerbread,...
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...
GE Advanced Materials has developed Noryl PKN, a resin capable of
extreme temperature resistance. This, says the company, makes it
ideal for food packaging that goes direct from the deep freeze to
the microwave.
German radio frequency identification technology company KSW
Microtec is gearing up to launch a new RFID label for tracking
supply chain integrity for perishable foods.
The installation of new ACF (Aseptic Cold Filling) line equipment
at Eckes Granini's factory in Bad Fallingbostel, Germany, will
radically change the way in which the firm operates.
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.
Demand for healthier oils and fats is increasing as obesity reaches
epidemic levels. The trend is also driving research efforts to
develop innovative methods to enhance oil and fat properties, say
market analysts at Frost & Sullivan.
Bird's Eye is removing additives from all its products in the UK, a
move that could send shockwaves through the lucrative but
under-fire ready meals sector.
US agri-giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has stepped up
production of its trans-fat alternatives driven by increasing
market demand - and before new labelling rules come into force.
The UK's Environment Agency has warned manufacturers that they must
be prepared for imminent changes affecting the management of
hazardous waste, while the Environmental Services Association (ESA)
is concerned that safety standards...
Results from the first few months of this year indicate that
stainless steel production in 2004 will reach another peak level,
according to steel market analyst MEPS. But EU production is likely
to expand by just one per cent in 2004...
Jacob's Bakery, the British biscuit and snack manufacturer owned by
French group Danone, has launched a new summer promotion on packs
of Iced and Choc Gems which offers consumers a free, re-useable
camera in exchange for three...
Organic producers are meeting for the first time to discuss the
importance of organic seeds for international organic markets, the
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said today.
Danish bread and cake firm Hatting has expanded into the growing
Russian market, investing millions of euros at a new production
facility in the Moscow area.
Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen has benefited from the growing
demand by food makers for natural colours. Higher sales of natural
colours helped to lift profit figures in a third quarter that also
gained from the increasing popularity...
UK business has attacked the government for handing out what it
claims is a £4 billion annual bill as a result of 'sloppy'
environmental laws, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Campina, one of Europe's largest dairy companies, has produced a
statement that outlines the measures taken to improve the group's
environmental performance.
Although the market for honey in China has fluctuated in recent
years the country continues to be by far the leading producer in
the world. And with per capita consumption set to rise, a recent
report from Access Asia indicates that...
Neogen, the US-based manufacturer of food safety and analysis
equipment, has developed what it claims is the world's first system
designed to read, store and analyse results from lateral flow
tests.
The retail-driven drive towards universal usage of RFID technology
throughout the supply chain looks unstoppable, but are we getting a
bit carried away too soon? Anthony Fletcher reports.
Chemical giant BASF has resumed production of the metal-free
phthalocyanine pigment Heliogen Blue. The new material, used in
packaging, conforms to the existing specification and its quality
corresponds to that of the existing product.
A new report from BCC emphasises the importance of innovative
packaging concepts such as oxygen scavengers, MAP and RFID to the
future of food production.
There are signs that rising commodity costs are pinching the length
of the food chain with US cereal product maker General Mills
warning that, despite strong fourth quarter figures, the soaring
costs will have an impact in the near...
A leading international player in the design, manufacture and
supply of powder handling systems for the food and ingredients
industries, has further strengthened its sales team to improve
response times to UK clients.
The US-based Supply-Chain Council (SCC) has published Version 6.1
of the Supply-Chain Operations Reference-model (SCOR), a business
process model used to describe and measure the business activities
associated with all phases of satisfying...
A new study on artificial sweeteners reported in the news yesterday
has fuelled a rapid response from the soft drinks industry, which
branded the research by US researchers at Purdue University as
'pure speculation'.
RHM, the British company behind some of the country's best-known
brands of bread and cake, could be floated on the stock market
sometime next year, valuing the company at around £1 billion,
according to press reports.
Estonia, Slovenia and Lithuania have all pegged their currencies to
the euro as a first step towards adopting the euro in 2007 - a move
that is expected to cause many food and beverage businesses to keep
tighter reins on their pricing...
Artificial sweeteners may disrupt the body's natural ability to
'count' calories based on foods' sweetness, claim US researchers,
suggesting mouthfeel plays a crucial role in gauging calories and
casting a potential...
