food
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 […]
Scotland Food & Drink sets revised £12.5 billion growth targets
Scotland Food & Drink has unveiled new industry growth targets of £12.5bn (£13.8bn), and announced the backing of three additional sectors – fishing, aquaculture and agriculture. At its recent AGM, the leadership organisation urged the continued collaboration of the entire industry to help bring Scotland out of recession and gain a competitive edge in lucrative […]
Condensed operation expands
An increase in demand for sweetened condensed milk has led to German company WS Warmsener Spezialitäten putting its second production facility into operation. The new site means the company can now produce more than 30,000 tons of the product per year. “We will now be even more flexible when it comes to the Europe-wide supply […]
Muntons reveals plans for £500,000 Centre for Excellence
Malt and malted ingredients supplier Muntons has announced that it is to set up a Centre for Excellence at its UK headquarters in Stowmarket. The £500,000 investment, which includes a purpose-built facility, will become ‘a focus for innovation and new product development’ as part of a bid by Muntons to enhance and increase the range […]
Consumers want clearer GM labelling, says report
Consumers think that current labelling regulation for genetically modified (GM) foods is inadequate, according to a new report from the UK’s Food Standards Agency. The report used a combination of surveys, workshops and interviews to explore consumer attitudes to GM foods, as well as how those attitudes are formed. The general consensus was that consumers […]
FSA seeks meat research contractors
The Food Standards Agency is seeking a contractor, or contractors, to carry out research into future meat controls in the UK. The deadline for applications is Monday, 4 January, 2010. The Agency has carried out a range of work to identify food safety hazards in connection with the production of meat and to establish effective […]
Salt targets not likely to be met before 2024′
Millions of deaths could be prevented each year if individuals consumed 5g less salt per day. That’s the finding of a new review of research studies, which also calls for top-down regulations in addition to self-regulation by industry. Eating less salt reduces the risk of stroke by almost a quarter and the chances of heart […]
Honour for National Starch Food Innovation
National Starch Food Innovation’s cost-saving bakery ingredient N-Dulge FR starch claimed the bakery innovation of the year prize at this week’s Food Ingredients Excellence Awards 2009 in Europe, clinching the Most Innovative Food Ingredient award. The ingredient impressed the judges with its fat replacement potential and its performance in a range of baked goods.
Milestone for BRC recycling label
The 50th company has signed up to a new, universal on-pack recycling label launched seven months ago by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Since then, participants have put the label on 50,000 different product lines. Recent signatories include Pepsi, London 2012 and Yeo Valley. Over 85 per cent of grocery retail by turnover has signed […]
ADI action on ‘Southampton Six’
The European Food Safety Authority has lowered the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for three of the so-called Southampton Six food colours, but none of the scientific reasons given is associated with hyperactivity. A study published in 2007 concluded that cocktails of six artificial food colours – Allura Red (E128), Ponceau 4R (E124), Quinoline Yellow (E104), […]
Beneo Institute up and running
Beneo Group has launched the Beneo Institute – a new arm of its operation that will help its customers innovate in ‘increasingly complex and strict regulatory environments’. Speaking at the Fi Europe trade show in Frankfurt, Beneo Group executive board member Yves Servotte said the increasing regulatory demands placed on the functional foods industry was […]
Anti-ageing snacks market set to soar, says Leatherhead
Ever-increasing life expectancy is leading to growing interest in fortified snacks and baked goods, according to a new report from Leatherhead Food Research. The Market for Anti-ageing Foods report goes on to say that the global market for such foods shows massive potential, with an increasing number and variety of customers registering an interest in […]
ABF revenues up – but pre-tax profits fall
Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported a 12% rise in revenues to £9.3 billion this year. However, its pre-tax profits fell 6% to £495 million after a £65m loss on the sale of the group’s American packaged oil business. Adjusted pre-tax profits rose 4% to £655m. Profits in the group’s sugar business rose by 24% […]