Georgia-Pacific, a global business group with major packaging
concerns, said on Thursday it has delayed the planned spinoff of
its consumer products and packaging division, originally expected
in the first half of next year, citing...
The Institute of Packaging and the PPMA are working together to
offer UK packaging and print businesses the chance to reach new
worldwide markets with government financial support.
Sleeman Breweries has signed an agreement with Sapporo Breweries of
Japan to provide contract production for Sapporo's products in the
United States, beginning in December 2002.
Nampak, one of South Africa's leading food and beverage packaging
providers, is to spend nearly €10 million to optimise capacity and
productivity at its newly acquired production facilities in both
South Africa and Europe.
Belgian speciality beer maker Duvel Moortgat shrugged off declining
volumes in France and the Netherlands to post a 9 per cent rise in
first half turnover, helped by strong performances in the UK and
US.
The Scotland-based Macfarlane Group, which has been trying to
refocus as a distribution company after decades as a packaging
manufacturer, sank into the red in the six months to 30 June.
Poor weather in May and June reduced consumers' demand for prepared
salads and reduced profit growth at Britain's Geest. But a return
to sunnier weather in the latter part of the summer allowed the
company to salvage some...
Tetra Pak Hungaria, the Hungarian subsidiary of the Swedish
packaging producer, will turn out 1.55 billion containers this
year, up from 1.40 billion last year, CEO Thomas Kormendi said in a
report from Hungarian publication MTI Econews.
In Germany, the Dusseldorf administrative tribunal has ruled that
the planned introduction of compulsory deposits on drink cans does
not comply with the law on waste and recycling, according to a
report in Die Welt.
Shrimp and chicken processors whose products contain chemical
traces banned by the EU could face the closure of their businesses,
as well as a ban on exporting, according to a report in the
Bangkok Post.
Wilbo, a Polish food processor, has said that it will still go
ahead with the planned expansion of its manufacturing facilities
despite disappointing financial results, according to a report in
the Polish News Bulletin.
The high cost of labour in the Netherlands has prompted dairy group
Campina to close down one production facility and transfer
production to other sites, including one in Germany where the costs
are much lower.
Swiss food producer Nestle has been given the green light to
complete the purchase of Chef America, while Dutch retail group
Ahold will extend its foodservice presence in the US with the
acqusition of Lady Baltimore Foods.
A researcher in environmental engineering at Staffordshire
University in the UK has developed a technique to convert unwanted
cooking oil into a 'biodiesel' which is a much cleaner alternative
to fossil diesel.
Rexam Beverage Can's Wakefield plant in the UK has introduced Frank
Media's Cuedox Corrective Actions Manager system to enhance
productivity and safety.
Purchases and new production facilities have so far marked the
healthy growth of Dutch life science company DSM in 2002. This week
the company announced further acquisitions with the purchase of the
food coatings activities of Vaessen...
Green Earth Packaging has assumed responsibility for all production
at the EarthShell facility in Goleta, California, in the US and
will now begin commercial production as an EarthShell licensee.
The UK chocolate maker and retailer has recorded its first rise in
underlying sales for three years, but still believes there is
potential for improvement through existing operations.
Packaging Automation, the UK packaging equipment specialist, has
successfully installed its latest machinery, the Vision 182 system,
at Wrexam-based Delta Dailyfoods.
In South Korea the ubiquitous plastic-made instant noodle
containers and styrofoam plates will be separately collected and
recycled starting from next year, the Environment Ministry there
has said.
In the US, Hormel Foods has said that it is continuing production
as normal at its Austin, Minnesota, food production facility
following an explosion which injured five employees.
Lonza has said that it is selling its fatty acid and glycerine
operation in Painesville, Ohio, to US firm Twin Rivers Technologies
for undisclosed terms, according to the Swiss-based chemicals and
components company.
The Packaging Education Forum will induct five packaging
professionals into the Packaging Hall of Fame during its annual
Packaging Leadership Awards ceremonies, held on 5 November, in
conjunction with Pack Expo in Chicago.
The impact of the strong Swiss franc meant that sales growth at
bakery group Hiestand slowed slightly in the first six months, but
the company maintains that it is in line for further growth, not
least following a major new deal with...
Hershey will find out on Wednesday whether its appeal against a
court ruling postponing the sale of the confectionery group has
been successful. In the meantime, rumours continue to circulate of
a potential joint bid for the firm...
A new nationwide award scheme in the UK aimed at recognising
increased quality and safety in seafood processing is being
introduced in a bid to improve standards.
Most consumers in the UK do not understand the risks of not
drinking enough water, and that the wide variety of bottled waters
available to them have more differences than simply still or
sparkling. We spoke to Ian Hall of the Natural...
A new energy bar with guarana has been launched by UK confectionery
group Cadbury Schweppes, the first 'mainstream' chocolate bar to
enter the energy market. Boost Guarana is said to offer as much
extra energy as an energy...
Alcan, the Canadian beverage packaging provider, has announced that
it will begin a consultation process with employees and union
representatives on the proposed closure of the Burntisland facility
in Scotland.
Foodmach, the Australian food and beverage packaging equipment
provider, has said that its employees have taken the opportunity to
share ownership of its materials handling solutions business.
Minnesota Corn Processors shareholders have approved a €400 million
merger with agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland, linking the
top two players in the US ethanol market.
The US Institute of Medicine yesterday released new guidelines on
healthy eating in a bid to reduce the growing levels of
cardiovascular disease in the US, guidelines which have been
broadly welcomed by the US food industry.
Maxwell Technologies' prolonged effort to commercialise technology
that uses pulses of extremely intense light to sterilise beverages
has been officially closed in the US.
The European Parliament yesterday approved by an overwhelming
majority a motion to raise the proposed amount of packaging waste
that should be recycled from 55 per cent to 65 per cent.
Molins, the UK packaging equipment provider, is aiming to lead
consolidation in the packaging machinery industry after returning
its own division to the black in the first half.
Malaysia plans to set up a halal food conglomerate with companies
from China and the Middle East to promote the country as a hub for
the processing and packaging of Muslim food.
US Standard & Poor's Rating Services has said that Europe's
packaging sector is starting to see the benefits of restructuring
activities filter through, with some groups benefiting from higher
selling prices and better...
Snapple Beverage Group, headquartered in New York, US, is deploying
InterchangeDigital's Parts management and workflow solution to
enhance its packaging capabilities.
Adding to the increasing body of evidence that suggests chocolate
may be beneficial to the health comes new research that reveals
this 'ultimate temptation' may help fight off cancer and heart
disease, and, with a certain...
The sale of the leading US chocolate bar maker Hershey Foods has
been put on hold in order to allow the courts to assess the likely
social and economic impact of the disposal. But will the
restrictions likely to be imposed on the...
Associated British Foods, one of Europe's largest food
conglomerates, has chosen Denver, Colorado, as the headquarters and
manufacturing hub for its newly established US bakery operations.
The Food and Drink Federation has come out in support of the
British Retail Consortium's warning of the dangers of setting
unrealistic targets forrecycling of packaging, ahead of today's
vote in the European Parliament.
Cadbury Nigeria, the confectioner and drinks maker, has hit out at
allegations by Nigerian regulators that it imported chocolate
labelled with deliberately misleading safety and quality
information.
Ball, the multinational food and beverage packaging provider, has
said it is investing approximately $43 million (€43.3m) to expand
its existing Milwaukee metal beverage container plant to install a
new, high-speed food can line and...
Hormel Foods, a multinational manufacturer of food, meat and
poultry products, has said it will complete the transformation of
its Illinois, US, plant from a pig slaughter operation to a
value-added product processing facility.
Thai Industrial Gases, a division of the worldwide BOC gas
processing company, has established spiral freezer manufacturing
capabilities to serve Asian food processors.