Belgium
Food and drink exports soar by 11 per cent
Food and non-alcoholic drink exports rose to over £12 billion (€14bn) last year, according to new figures. The previous year’s results (2010) proved a landmark for the industry when figures broke through the £10 billion (€12bn) barrier, but the 2011 results show performance is up by 11.4 per cent on 2010. Export growth has been […]
UK food and drink exports soar
UK food and non-alcoholic drink exports grew to £5.8 billion (€6.7bn) in the first half of 2011 – a rise of over 13 per cent on the same period in 2010, according to new figures from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF). Exports to the EU increased by 12.6% to £4.4 billion (€5.1bn) with the […]
New distribution agreements for PromOat
Swedish company Biovelop AB has announced the signing of distribution agreements for its PromOat beta glucan soluble fibre ingredient in a further 13 countries around the world. The newly signed agreements cover the distribution of PromOat in Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Iran, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and Ukraine. “We are […]
Recession-busting chocolate sales
Chocolate sales around the world have defied the recession, according to new research from Mintel. In China and the Ukraine, chocolate confectionery sales rose 18% and 12% respectively in 2009, and Mintel predicts continued growth through to 2013. Other countries have also seen chocolate bars, bags and boxes flying off the shelves, albeit at lower […]
Beer sales fall flat
Cash-strapped consumers shunning bars, pubs and restaurants has led to beer sales across West Europe falling by more than four per cent in the first half of 2009 – the equivalent of 580 million litres, or more than a billion less UK pints of beer – according to leading beverage research agency Canadean’s Quarterly Beverage […]
Premium lager market set to lose its fizz, says new report
For a 20-year period from the mid-1980s, premium lager was the major growth sector of the whole beer category, overtaking the UK’s indigenous dark beers and standard strength lagers to become a market worth £11.1bn by 2006. However, in its new Premium Lagers, Beers & Ciders Market Report, market intelligence provider Key Note predicts that […]
Salt rules ‘dangerours to the elderly’
A ‘Salt and the Elderly’ forum is being held in Belgium to highlight the risk, particularly to the elderly, from a diet low in salt. Hyponatraemia (low sodium level in the blood) is dangerous and the symptoms, which start with tiredness, difficulty in concentrating and a loss of balance can develop into confusion and even […]
Award for Belgian researcher
A £5,000 international research prize has been won by a 35-year old Dr Chantal Smout, a researcher from Belgium. The award, announced by stabiliser systems supplier G. C. Hahn in Lübeck, Germany, was for“Structure engineering of fruit and vegetable products by controlling the enzymatic activity of endogenous and exogenous pectinases. Anne-Christiane Thomsen, general manager, believed […]
Campina invests £80 million in Belgian plant
Campina has opened a fully refurbished production facility in Aalter, Belgium, representing an investment of £80 million. The plant will produce long-life dairy products such as Yazoo and Yogho Yogho, for Europe and other parts of the world. Production capacity is expanded, with an annual capacity of 275 million units (UHT bottles), employing 500 people. […]
Uniq CEO plans reorganisation
Geoff Eaton, the new chief executive of Uniq plc, has announced a programme of initatives for the convenience food group, in the face of a challenging trading environment. A major reorganisation of the UK division sees the creation of six, entrepreneurially-led, customer focused business units – three desserts businesses, sandwiches and dips, prepared salads, and […]