europe
Tate & Lyle trading on target
Tate & Lyle has issued a trading update for the six months ending September 2008 ahead of the announcement of the interim results due in November 2008 in light of the board change announcement. Iain Ferguson, chief executive, said,“The Group continues to trade satisfactorily. We expect profits from the Group’s continuing operations in the first […]
‘One size fits all’ is ineffective
Obesity issues, changing lifestyles and rising levels of disposable income have helped drive the health and well-being food market worldwide. However, manufacturers are being warned not to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach to the category if they want export success. The latest findings from the International Health, Well-being and Organic Report, produced by […]
Eurozone driving growth in food and drink exports
The Eurozone may be slipping towards a recession but UK food and drink exporters are bucking the trend and finding significant business opportunities in the area. In the first quarter of 2008, UK food and drink exports continued to soar, up 13.2% on the same period in 2007 to reach a record-breaking £2,892.2 million, highlighting […]
PACKAGING NEWS: Gizmo gadget is a major breakthrough
RPC Bramlage -Wiko, part of the RPC Group, the European rigid plastics packaging manufacturer has launched a new gadget. It is a closure – called Gizmo – which instantly releases and mixes active ingredients at the point of use. Invented and patented by Gizmo Packaging, the Gizmo is unique. When opened by a single turn […]
Looming crisis in meat supply chain
Red meat supplies are tightening across Europe and unless retailers desist from keeping prices artificially low, meat supply could be in danger. This stark warning came from Peter Barr, Meat and Livestock Commission chairman, during the last ever MLC board meeting before it is replaced with a new statutory levy board. He said,“There is a […]
One industry, one voice
The British Coffee Association (BCA) and The Coffee Trade Federation (CTF) have merged. They will operate under the title of the British Coffee Association (BCA) acting as a single entity and being the authority on the coffee trade and industry of the UK. The BCA will provide the representative voice for all the UK coffee […]
Plea for no increase on fuel duty
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is backing a campaign to reduce fuel costs, and urging the government not to raise diesel duty for the second time in six months. VAT on fuel went up by 2p per litre in October 2007. The FPB believes that a similar rise in April will further harm many […]
PROCESSING: Machinery first for bakery
As part of a £1 million investment programme, a Milton Keynes bakery is the first in the UK to install Kanig’s new concept low stress bread line. The machinery has been by bought by Giles Foods, for its rapidly expanding Pain Artisan bakery which produces frozen, chilled and ambient baked and part-baked speciality breads and […]
EU Commissioner opposes his own expert authority
European Commissioner Starvos Dimas intends to refuse to authorise two genetically modified Bt maize lines, Bt11 and 1507, for cultivation in the EU. In doing this, he is overriding the expert scientific opinion of the European food safety commission (EFSA). While Dimas is justifying the decision on potential risks to the environment, ESFA claims that […]
Changing temperatures continue to affect onion yields
The 2006-2007 season was one of the most difficult for processing onions. The drought conditions and heatwave in 2006 meant onions simply stopped growing, because the varieties that are grown in the UK typically shut down when the temperature rises above 30 degrees. In complete contrast, 2007 has turned out to be one of the […]
Kraft completes acquisition of Danone’s Biscuit Business
Kraft Foods completes the multi billion acquisition of Groupe Danone’s biscuit business. The addition of Danone’s leading biscuit business will transform Kraft’s growth strategy by strengthening its lead in the company’s fastest growing global segment, and plans to significantly expand its presence in both developed and emerging markets. Sanjay Kholsa, president of Kraft International comments,“In […]
Air freight ban is not the answer
A leading UK organic body has moved to distance itself from the Soil Association’s plans to ban the import of organic food by air. A leading UK organic body has moved to distance itself from the Soil Association’s plans to ban the import of organic food by air. Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G), which was […]
Allergen labelling regs due
The final changes to the allergen labelling regulations will be implemented on 25 November 2007. The food labelling amendment concerned is No2 Regulations SI2005 No 2057. From this date some ingredients from allergenic sources that are not deemed to be a risk to allergy sufferers will be exempt from mandatory labelling. However, this also means […]
Syral acquires five Tate & Lyle plants
Syral, Tereos’ starch subsidiary, has finalised the acquisition of five Tate & Lyle production facilities. Syral now owns six production sites – Marckolsheim and Nesle in France, Greenwich, UK, Saragossa in Spain and Saluzzo, Italy, which has been converting three million tonnes of cereal into 1,500,000 tonnes of starch products and 115,000 m3 of alcohol. […]