europe
NUTRA NEWS: DTI grant awarded to functional ingredients firm
A UK-based company has been awarded an innovation grant by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to fund its joint project worth £243,000 with the world-famous Institute of Food Research (IFR). Coressence, which is developing ingredients for the functional foods industry containing health giving nutrients from its own specially selected fruit varieties, has been […]
Soft drinks category grows 7%
In 2006 the UK soft drinks category grew seven per cent to reach sales of £8.3 bn in value, according to the annual Britvic soft drinks report. Apart from 2003 where the extraordinarily hot summer drove higher sales, this is the industry’s highest growth level in six years. Overall, the UK’s annual per capita consumption […]
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 […]
Rexam sells glass business
Rexam, the global consumer packaging company and the world’s leading beverage can maker is to sell its glass business to Ardagh Glass Group plc for £660m (£449m). The transaction is conditional on competition authority approvals in Germany and Poland. In 2006, Rexam Glass, which employs 3,600 people and focuses on the north European market, reported […]
Nestle announces record year
2006 was a record year for Swiss giant Nestle and saw the company achieve double-digit increases in EBIT, net profit and cash flow. Net profit rose by 13.8% to 9.2 billion Swiss francs (£5.6bn).“We are seeing the benefits of the Group’s transformation into a nutrition, health and wellness company, with stronger innovation and branding, as […]
Tackling the future of farming
The National Farmers Union’s (NFU) annual conference, held recently in Birmingham, had its eyes fixed firmly on the future of farming in the context of climate change, rapidly rising world demand for food, bio-energy and other factors to create threats and opportunities for Britain’s future farmers and growers. Speakers at the conference included NFU president […]
Nestle broadens strategic links with Barry Callebaut
Nestle and Barry Callebaut have announced their intention to broaden their strategic co-operation in Europe. The project spans three countries and includes the transfer of production facilities in Italy and France, as well as a long-term supply contract for Barry Callebaut to furnish chocolate mass to Nestle chocolate factories in Russia. The two parties expect […]
Possible goji berry ban
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking evidence of consumption of goji berries, the small red fruit from Asia, in Europe before 1997 after enquiries from food businesses on whether the berries can be sold legally in the European Union. If they are considered a ‘novel’ food, they will need to be authorised before they […]
The jewel in Pepsi-Cola’s crown
Pepsi-Cola has created a special can crafted from sterling silver and inlaid with diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The can estimated to be worth $100,000 (£77,436) is to be awarded as a contest prize during the American Super Bowl. This Pepsi precursor unveils a new image worldwide as new can designs are being rolled out across […]
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, […]
New report notes more product recalls
Marsh, leading risk and insurance services firm, has published a new report “Managing liability in the food and beverage sector” saying that regulators are now faster to withdraw products from the market. The report, which surveyed 232 companies in the food and beverage sector across Europe, drew the conclusion despite noting that food and beverage […]
Cadbury goes head to head with Wrigley
Cadbury Schweppes, the world’s largest confectioner, is to enter the UK chewing gum market in the first half of 2007 with the launch of Trident, the world’s fastest growing gum brand. Wrigley has had a virtual monopoly on the sale of chewing gum with about 95% of British sales. The launch underpins Cadbury’s confidence in […]
Croc meat on the menu
East Anglian farmer Andy Johnson is planning to set up a crocodile farm in the UK. Johnson, who already has several crocodiles for breeding stock, intends to produce and sell the crocodile meat in a farm shop in Cambridgeshire. He believes this will be the first commercial crocodile farm in the UK, and probably in […]
Avian flu poses no threat to cysteine supply
Avian flu poses a significant threat to the poultry stocks all over the world. Reports from Indonesia suggest that 200,000 birds are succumbing to the virus every month and infected poultry flocks have now been found in 27 of the country’s 33 provinces. The infection of poultry populations worldwide has important consequences for supplies of […]