Business news
Companies join forces in research
A dozen leading companies have joined forces in a £10 million (£14m) partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to support research aimed at helping the food industry develop products that deliver enhanced health benefits for consumers. The founder company members of the new Diet and Health Research Industry Club are Britvic […]
NUTRA NEWS: Beverage industry embraces African plant extracts
PhytoTrade Africa, the Southern African Natural Products Trade Association, and Afriplex, a specialist South African plant extract manufacturer, have joined forces to provide the beverage and nutraceutical industries with a range of unique African plant extracts. “This partnership is built on our shared desire to develop the economic potential of Africa’s natural resources by bringing […]
NUTRA NEWS: Fonterra appoints new head of value added ingredients
Fonterra has appointed Andrei Mikhalevsky to head up its new value added business of Fonterra Ingredients with products including customised dairy commodities as well as technically complex dairy ingredients. Mikhalevsky will be managing director, based in the US, while long-term dairy veteran John Shaskey focuses on the company’s commodity business as managing director of Fonterra […]
Unilever to step up Polish soup production
Dutch-British food giant Unilever looks to consolidate its position as market leader in the Polish soup market. The country remains one of the largest soup consumers in Central and Eastern Europe with growth of 60% in 2005 and a high increase in this year as well. œTwo-digit growth is also expected in the following years, […]
Nestle and EPFL partnership
The Nestle Research Centre (NRC) and EPFL, one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, have signed a five-year agreement to conduct research on the relationship between nutrition and the brain. Nestle will contribute CHF 5 million (£3.1m) per year to research at EPFL’s Brain Mind Institute with the research extending from studying the […]
Turkey is best of British
Bernard Matthews Food Service has won Best Catering Product for its latest idea for school meals. The company’s British Turkey Breast Steak met with high praise from the independent panel for judges at the 2006 British Turkey Awards, The ‘top quality’ product was considered an extremely useful choice for caterers. The British Turkey Steak is […]
Nespresso opens new Swiss site
Nestle Nespresso plans to open a new coffee production and distribution centre in Avenches, Switzerland in 2008. The company’s CHF150 million (£94.9m) investment is expected to result in more than 230 staff at the site by 2010. The new production centre will be around 9,000 sq metres, and the distribution centre will be 8,000 sq […]
Beer boost to ailing crisps market
Beer flavoured crisps are being launched on the bar market by snack company Kettle Foods. The UK Kettle Chips maker has added new Mature Cheddar and Adnams’ Broadside Beer variety to its range of premium crisps. The beer flavouring, provided by English brewers Adnams, has been introduced to target the luxury end of the crisp […]
£3 million quiche investment for Thomas Food
Quiche manufacturer Thomas Food Group (TFG) is embarking upon a new development programme targeting the premium end of the market. In particular, the company is developing a new range of premium quiches aimed at the rapidly expanding food-to-go market. A £3 million (£4.4m) investment programme is currently underway at its two production sites in Milton […]
Tate & Lyle invests £4.5m in research
Tate & Lyle has announced that it will contribute £4.5 million over a five-year period to King’s College London to set up a new centre for research into the link between nutrition and health. Collaboration between the company and the university dates back to the 1970s when research by scientists from King’s College London and […]
Tangerine deal creates new confectionery opportunity
Tangerine, the Blackpool-based confectionery firm, has bought the confectionery arm of Burton’s Foods for an undisclosed sum. The deal creates the UK’s largest independent sugar confectionery firm increasing Tangerine’s turnover from around £45 million to nearly £60 million. Commenting on the deal, Tangerine chairman Steven Joseph said,“This is fantastic news for Tangerine, and confirms our […]
French crush on Britvic
French company PAI Partners is tipped as the favourite to acquire British-based soft drinks firm Britvic, which is reported to be the target of an international takeover. Britvic is said to be struggling in the fizzy drinks market as health-conscious consumers look for alternative options. The company, which owns Robinsons in Norwich and the Tango […]
New expansion for Strathaird
The recent completion of a new two-storey office development at Strathaird Salmon, in Inverness, will improve operational efficiency and help spearhead the launch of new products. The £300,000 investment, which was made by parent company Young’s Bluecrest, will for the first time bring the senior management, finance, administration and technical teams all under the one […]
Beer loses out to wine
Overall consumption of alcoholic drinks among the senior population is forecast to drop 42% to one billion litres by 2010 as consumers are switching from beer to spirits and wine. Overall consumption of beer is forecast to halve by 2010 in favour of the preference for stronger drinks. Pure alcohol is set to rise by […]