Markets

05-Oct-2011 - A new aspartame distribution deal will benefit the UK and Irish food and drink sector through security of supply, claims leading player Atlantic Chemicals Trading (ACT).

Indonesian palm oil group ditches sustainability roundtable in favour of national scheme

04-Oct-2011 - The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has withdrawn from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which currently offers the only international audit scheme for producers of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO).

News in brief

'Mindless munching' sees UK sweet sales soar

03-Oct-2011 - UK sales of bags, boxes and bars of sweets are rising by 5 per cent a year in volume terms, according to the latest available statistics.

Nestlé gets the green light for UK expansion

27-Sep-2011 - Nestlé’s scheme to expand operations at its Product Technology Centre in York cleared the final hurdle last week at a planning meeting of City of York Council.

Buyer wanted for Highland Toffee firm

26-Sep-2011 - The search for a buyer for Highland Toffee firm, New McCowans is hotting up after administrators Grant Thornton confirmed they are in discussions with interested parties.

Cargill to open its first Asian cocoa processing plant

21-Sep-2011 - Cargill has revealed plans to expand its cocoa and sugar operations in the emerging markets of Brazil and Indonesia.

Indonesia’s palm oil tax change comes under fire

19-Sep-2011 - Indonesia’s new tax structure for palm oil exports has sparked concern among competing refiners abroad and palm oil growers at home.

‘Critical’ EU sugar supplies demand urgent action: CIUS

16-Sep-2011 - EU sugar supplies are at their most critical levels since the 2005 sugar reform and are causing ‘extreme volatility, instability and disruption’ to the European food and drink industry.

Sky-high sugar prices threaten US jobs, warn confectioners

15-Sep-2011 - Inflated US sugar prices are threatening jobs throughout the country’s confectionery industry, warned the National Confectioners Association (NCA) in a letter to the US Department of Agriculture.

Speculation said to be key driver in food price instability

14-Sep-2011 - A new report from the World Development Movement (WDM) links financial speculation to the rising cost of foods, and calls for effective regulation to curb banks betting on food prices in financial markets.

Surging supply projections do little to suppress cocoa prices

13-Sep-2011 - Surging cocoa supplies did little to prevent front month prices for cocoa (cocoa futures) creeping up by 4 per cent throughout August, according to Euromonitor. “The big surprise has been that this rise has taken place on the back of strong supply projections,” said senior foods analyst Francisco Redruello.

‘Sweets for my sweet’ costly for Bulgarian confectioners

12-Sep-2011 - EU-wide sugar shortages have led to particular problems for confectioners in Bulgaria, according to recent comments from a trade body in that country.

PureCircle gets ready for EU stevia backing, opens UK office

08-Sep-2011 - In anticipation of stevia approval in Europe, leading producer, PureCircle, has announced that it is setting up its European headquarters in the UK to support customers in their launches throughout the region.

Nestle's take two on probiotic curd market in India

08-Sep-2011 - In an attempt to rebrand its pitch to Indian customers who are yet to transition towards healthier food products, Nestle India Ltd has phased out its existing probiotic dahi (curd) product in India for a new brand.

Barry Callebaut launches €22m European investment

05-Sep-2011 - Chocolate and cocoa products supplier Barry Callebaut is to invest €22m in upgrading and expanding its European facilities.

Entrepreneur: Energy strips could be worth $1bn in 3-5 years

31-Aug-2011 - The entrepreneur behind Sheets Energy Strips – novel dissolvable strips delivering an instant hit of caffeine and B vitamins - says the category could be worth $1bn in the next three-to-five years.

Browne’s plans to top the chocolate pops

26-Aug-2011 - The new owners of premium chocolatier Browne’s have outlined plans to put the company onto a “rapid growth” trajectory.

World sugar stocks on track for recovery

25-Aug-2011 - Sugar stocks should rise significantly from their current low levels, with analysts forecasting a global sugar surplus of around 9.5m tonnes in the 2011/12 (October-September) crop year, on the back of increased production in Europe and Asia.