US food giant ConAgra, which yesterday announced record profits,
will now be waiting for the financial year's end to assess the
negative impact the recently confirmed sale of its processed meats
division will have.
The EU competition authorities have approved the formation of a
joint venture within the flexible packaging industry in Northern
Europe between Danapak, Denmark and Teich Aktiengesellschaft,
Austria.
Anglo-Dutch food and consumer products giant Unilever is putting
its Malaysian palm oil estates up for sale, according to a report
in the Malaysian publication, Business Times.
Following a decline in the share of coir (coconut husk) materials
used in packaging, the Asia Pacific Coconut Community, representing
coconut producers in the region, has formed a strategic alliance to
develop the industry.
Constar International, the US manufacturer of plastic drinks
bottles, has increased the size of its proposed initial public
stock offering to 16 million shares and cut the price to a range of
each share.
Bizerba, the UK-based packaging equipment manufacturer, has
launched a new checkweigher designed to provide weight measurement
and process control for food and beverage packaging.
The Biodegradable Products Institute in the US has awarded its
first Compostable Logo for food service items to Biocorp and
Veriplast International for biodegradable cups and food containers
manufactured by Cargill Dow.
The University of Florida has said that its newly introduced degree
course specialising in packaging currently ensures all its
graduates have job placements within the industry.
UK-based chilled desserts supplier Kensey Foods claims to have
increased the efficiency of its coding system by installing a
package coding management system from Claricom.
Sonoco has appointed Patrick Keese to the post of vice president,
global marketing, consumer products, with effect from 1 October
2002, the company's senior vice president has announced.
D'Angelo Brands, the Canadian food and beverage processor, has
purchased a state-of-the-art fruit juice processing plant in
Tiverton, Ontario. The purchase includes a 25,000 square foot
facility located on five acres of land.
An expert on PET packaging from the PA Consulting Group is to
present a paper on the advantages of using the material at
Nova-Pack Europe, to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany on 26th
September.
Caraustar Industries has announced that the waiting period under
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act relating to the
company's previously announced acquisition of the industrial
packaging operations of Smurfit-Stone...
FoodTrace, developed by the global FXA Group, has developed a
software tracking system that allows manufacturers to trace the
entire food production process, from the farm to the dinner table.
The sale of the cider unit CSR - announced last week by Pernod
Ricard - will see the disposal of the last remaining non-core
business, allowing the French group to finally devote all its
efforts to building its wine and spirits empire.
Just under two weeks ago, a study published in the prestigious
Journal of the National Cancer Institute confirmed that
PC-SPES, a widely used 'natural' treatment for prostate cancer, was
in fact contaminated with synthetic...
A manufacturer of sterilisers for medical equipment in Thailand is
branching out into the production of sterilised curry pastes for
the domestic and export markets.
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.
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.
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...
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.
