Wheat has always been an integral part of Russian agriculture and
its food industry. However, a limited domestic market, reduction in
Russian livestock and a slow down in the consumption of bakery
products is forcing the industry...
Surging wheat prices are leading to some hard bargaining along the
supply chain over where the extra costs can and should be taken,
according to millers and bakers.
The steel packaging industry in Central Europe is set to prosper,
as long as outmoded means of production can be upgraded. The
consumption of steel packaging in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic
and Slovakia is projected to grow at...
The World Health Organisation (WHO) held talks yesterday with drugs
firms and international laboratories on developing a vaccine to
fight the bird 'flu virus that is ravaging parts of East Asia.
There are now fears that the crisis...
Higher world populations and changes in dietary patterns - notably
in emerging economies - are leading to a steady increase in food
demand which will have a positive impact on world grain prices,
says a grains analyst this week.
Technological advances have revolutionised the industrial bakery
sector over the last few years, and plants are now much safer
places than they were even just a decade ago.
Japanese consumers are among the most demanding in the world when
it comes to food safety and quality, and so it is no surprise that
they are also among the most vociferous opponents of genetic
modification of food.
The Russian dairy market has seen phenomenal growth in recent
years, driven largely by the development of Wimm-Bill-Dann and
other western dairy companies. France-based dairy equpment supplier
Erca-Formseal shares its experiences...
Leading Czech dairy producer Madeta, has announced that it will
invest CK150 million (€4.6 million) to expand production and
modernise its existing plant in Cesky Krumlov, southern Bohemia.
A new metal detector capable of picking up ferrous and
stainless-steel contamination within aluminium foil-wrapped
products has been developed. Manufactured by German technology firm
Sartorius, the product, called the Observer, could...
A large proportion of Russian sugar processors have experienced
recession over the last year - so says a survey of leading industry
figures. However, the abolition of import taxes on imported raw
sugar might make things easier in...
The latest food and drink product launches from Mintel reveal a
broad spectrum of innovative product launches for the Central and
Eastern European region, which all carry a seasonally wintry
association.
In today's time-pressed society, breakfast is often one of the
first things to be sacrificed. Commuters might grab a quick bite
behind the wheel of their car, or at the train station, while
office workers occasionally grab a...
Millions of dollars in investment poured into a new technology may
pay off for US food manufacturer Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings.
Targeting the low-fat market, the company said that it has
developed a revolutionary "slow...
Many food producers believe that phosphorus fertiliser is necessary
to increase yields of wheat, barley, corn and other crops - the
problem is that it is expensive. But new research in the US
suggests that applying phosphorus every...
The European pig meat sector faces a major crisis. The Euro is
currently very strong against the dollar, feed prices are very high
due to last summer's drought and consumer demand for pork is low.
These factors come on top of...
Britain may not be the biggest country in Europe, but this does not
stop its denizens from being among the most mobile. UK commuters
spend more time travelling than all of their European counterparts
- and take advantage of that time...
Crackers have traditionally had a loyal following in the UK, mainly
as an accompaniment to cheese. But producers are now trying to
attract new consumers, not only through diversifying their product
offering but also through raising...
Slovenian meat and poultry processor Perutnina Ptuj has announced a
20 per cent increase in its revenues for 2003 on the back of strong
domestic demand - results that are expected to fuel further
expansion outside the domestic market.
The Latvian Minister of Agriculture has proposed that the Latvian
government acts as a medium between the EU and Russia in an effort
to promote greater trade between the two for food products.
Organic farming was recognised as a viable means of achieving
sustainable development at the European Hearing on Organic Food and
Farming yesterday. Franz Fischler, member of the European
Commission responsible for agriculture, rural...
The Russian Agricultural Ministry is already estimating the impact
of EU enlargement on its exports of grains, claiming that
soon-to-be implemented quotas could cost it more than €300 million
year.
In a speech given yesterday in Brussels, Dr Franz Fischler, EU
Commissioner for Agricultural, Rural Development and Fisheries,
outlined a number of pressing areas relating to enlargement, with
quality and administrative issues being...
Speciality ingredients continue to deliver improved results for
wheat-based ingredients supplier MGP Ingredients with the company
this week raising its estimated revenue for the year on the back of
higher than expected sales.
US-based Checkpoint Systems, the world's largest integrator of
(RFID) technology into consumer product packaging, has announced
the expansion of its RF source tagging design centre. This could be
of interest to European manufacturers,...
Global packaging group Sonoco has just opened a new manufacturing
facility in Brazil to produce steel easy-open closures for use on
metal cans. Annual capacity of the plant is projected to be more
than one billion closures.
Wessanen, the Dutch wellness foods group, is to close one of its
British breakfast cereal production units as part of its cost
cutting programme, Operation Phoenix.
The Russian cheese market is expanding at a faster rate than any
comparative market in Europe as a whole, yet still the majority of
cheese sold there is produced by western European companies. In an
attempt to gain a stronger hold...
The ring pull has been a godsend to consumers across Europe.
Searching frantically for that elusive tin opener or cutting
oneself on a poorly-executed can opening was once an integral part
of dinner preparation, but thankfully no...
European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
David Byrne yesterday expressed confidence that Thailand was free
from avian flu that is ravaging other parts of East Asia.
The largest US organic and natural food retailer Whole Foods Market
(WFM) has this week entered the European market with the
acquisition of British group Fresh & Wild for $38 million.
Dutch retailer Ahold's efforts to streamline its business are
continuing apace, with yesterday's announcement that the US convenience store business
was to be sold followed today by news of a realignment at the
retail headquarters...
Dutch group Kiremko, a manufacturer and installer of machinery
required for the processing of potatoes into French fries, chips
and other speciality snack products has developed, in co-operation
with ACEco, a new device that it claims...
A survey published today suggests that packaging companies across
Europe are taking the EU's packaging and packaging waste
directive's essential requirements seriously. The independent
survey of Europen members shows that...
Buying entry into the nascent European trehalose sweetener market
last year from British Sugar, US company Cargill will welcome
claims from scientists this week that the ingredient could ease
Huntington's disease.
Despite recent publicity that suggested Atkin's was modifying its
advice to recommend less meat, low-carb diets seem to be more
popular than ever with one in three Americans watching their
carbohydrate consumption.
Major Swiss food maker Nestlé is to add a novel fat replacer to its
products, revealed the US-based Fiber Gel Technologies,
manufacturer of the ingredient, last week.
Meat processors, along with food retailers and wholesalers in the
US, have agreed to draw up a programme to provide consumers country
of origin information. The group believes this will prove cheaper
and more workable than the proposed...
Whole Foods Market, the largest natural and organic food retailer
in the US, is to make its first entry into the UK with the
acquisition of Fresh & Wild, a London-based company which
operates a small chain of natural food stores.
Russia may be slowly adapting a number of western food and drink
habits - the rise of the country's beer industry is evidence of
that - but there is still plenty of life left in some of the
country's more traditional food...
The Estonian Brewers' Association is concerned that a requirement
to buy back empty beer cans for recycling could get out of hand
once the country joins the EU in May. Trans-border purchases of
beer, already very high, will increase...
The last few years have seen a quickening in the pace of new
product launches by the world's top two soft drinks companies, with
new flavour or formula variants of the traditional Coca-Cola and
Pepsi brands leading the way.
With Hungary's entry into the EU in May, producers of one of the
country's main food specialities will face a particular challenge.
Moves by the Union to phase out the force feeding of geese over the
next 15 years are likely...
Competition in European flavours heated up this week as Cargill,
the largest private company in the US, signed on the dotted line
for UK flavours group The Duckworth Group (TDG).
Last year was a tough one for French closures and barrels group
Oeneo, formerly
known as Sabaté Diosos. But the company ended the year with results
in line with expectations as restructuring efforts at both the
closures and...
Russia has already run roughshod over international trademark
regulations with regard to one of the country's best known vodka
brands, Stolichnaya, but it now appears that a second brand,
Cristall, could also see its trademark...
Azucarera Ebro, the Spanish food group, and its compatriot
Intermalta, a malt producer, have created a new company called
Maltacarrion which will specialise in the production of malt for
the brewing industry.
German company Weener Plastik Packaging Group has entered into a
strategic alliance with Canada-based CCL Industries, a global
developer and manufacturer of packaging and labelling solutions.
Both businesses believe that the arrangement...
Automated Packaging Systems launched its Autobag AB 255 large
bagging system this month. The company claims that the AB 255
provides improved operation efficiencies for bags up to 16 inches
wide, including faster operating speeds,...
The German government has reached an agreement on the regulation of
genetically modified crops. After months of bitter argument, the
ruling coalition has finally put forward a proposed genetic
engineering law that will allow GM food...
