There is a growing demand for cocoa from Latin America to meet the
increasing popularity of premium chocolates in Europe and the US,
according to a speaker at the recent meeting of the World Cocoa
Foundation (WCF) in Ecuador.
French sugar and food solutions company Tereos has confirmed it is
hoping to acquire Danisco's sugar business, and that it is bidding
against Germany's Nordzucker.
Latest figures from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
suggest that there will be a rise in world production of cocoa
compared to last year and a rise, though smaller, in world
grindings.
Some food and beverage manufacturers may switch from high fructose
corn syrup (HFCS) to sugar as a result of high corn prices, but
this is only likely to be the case for relatively small scale
users, according to a consultant.
The Imperial Sugar Co today said it will rebuild the parts of its
Georgia sugar refinery that were damaged in last year's explosion,
reinstating it as the second largest refinery in the US.
Alkalising cocoa beans reduces the total flavanoid content by
two-thirds, reducing the antioxidant potential of the product,
according to new research.
Barry Callebaut has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Biolands of
Tanzania, Africa's largest exporter of certified organic cocoa,
after purchasing 100 per cent of its top-end cocoa for the past
eight years.
Citizens for Health, a US consumer advocacy group, has launched an
online campaign to warn consumers about the dangers of genetically
engineered (GE) sugar beets in food products.
Ingredients firm Cargill yesterday announced the construction of
its first ever sugar refinery in the US, as part of the company's
plans to provide all possible sweeteners or sugars to the food
industry.
Cosun is expecting its recent acquisition of CSM Suiker to prop up
its margins somewhat in the coming year, as conditions remain tough
for the European sugar industry.
Swiss chocolate company Barry Callebaut is to purchase a 60 per
cent share of Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa Products in a move
designed to increase its sourcing capacity in Asia.
Danisco is reorganising its ingredients business in a bid to target
market trends like health and wellness more closely, and deal with
issues that have been affecting parts of its portfolio.
In financial news this week, cocoa prices go up yet again, Cadbury
reveals more de-merger plans, and Sweet China is allowed to return
to the London stock market.
Four hybrid cocoa species developed in Ghana to have improved
resistance to pest damage during storage have similar nutritional
properties to conventional cocoa, says a study that topples a
barrier to commercial trade.
A coalition of ethical stock market investors have called on 63 US
food, beverage and restaurant companies to stop using genetically
modified (GM) sugar beet.
While most consumers agree that ethically-sourced cocoa is no bad
thing, an ever increasing number of different schemes risks
muddying the issue and puzzling chocolate fans.
Global confectioners Mars and Nestle have joined a sustainable
cocoa programme, which aims to establish a traceability system for
all farmers in the Ivory Coast.
A lawsuit has been filed against the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) over the approval of a herbicide resistant
genetically engineered sugar beet.
The Sudzucker group has reported a 18.3 per cent increase in sales
for the first nine months of its year thanks to special products
and fruit preparations, while sugar was responsible for a big drop
in operating profit.
The Vietnamese government estimates its overall cocoa crop will
reach 45,000 tonnes by 2015, aiming to make the catch the attention
of chocolate manufacturers around the world, according to Reuters.
Associated British Foods today announced the £100m (€139m)
expansion of subsidiary Illovo Sugar's facilities in Mali, as EU
reforms force the company to move operations out of the bloc.
Talks are under way in Hungary aimed at returning 50 per cent of
the country's sugar quota to the restructuring fund, in light of
the latest sugar reforms announced by the European Union.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has introduced a new line of
cocoa powders aimed at improving visual appeal and flavour in dairy
and bakery products.
Suedzucker has adjusted its profit and revenue expectations for
full year 2007/8 following EU moves to make sugar reform more
attractive to growers, indicating that the industry efforts to
lessen the blow for the industry could be...
The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producing countries
have said they are deeply concerned about the amendments to the EU
sugar reform, which brings to an end "preferential access" to
Europe's market.
The future of research into the potential health benefits of cocoa
should focus on the mechanisms and active compounds, with well
defined clinical trials key to this burgeoning segment, says a new
review by Nestlé.
Food safety and animal health top the agenda at
today's meeting of EU's agricultural ministers, with
the future of milk, wine and sugar production also up for
discussion.
Rising costs and shrinking supply of sugar molasses are driving up
the cost of yeast extract production, says Bio Springer, which is
today announcing a double digit price increase for its extracts as
of next year.
Syngenta has developed a variety of sugar beet for cultivation in
tropical climates that is expected to boost output and farmer
income, and has initiated two products to develop its use for food
and biofuel in India.
Associated British Foods (ABF) has forged an agreement with Chinese
sugar group Hebei Tian Lu, which is expected to revolutionise beet
sugar production technology and boost yields.
Agricultural firm Cargill has started construction of a new cocoa
processing facility in Ghana, in an expansion move designed to meet
increasing global demand for cocoa products.
A rising global demand for sugar is set to be met by an increase in
production, leading to a more stable market and
prices, forecasts the Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO).
Cocoa husks, a waste product from the chocolate industry, could
offer a valuable source of dietary fibre for the low-calorie food
segment, Spanish researchers report.
Leading cocoa producer Barry Callebaut has discovered the specific
bacteria responsible for flavour creation during extensive research
into cocoa bean fermentation - enabling the company to produce
better quality chocolate in the...
Scientists in Spain are reporting development of a new process to
make cocoa powder with eight times the levels of some flavonoids
linked to chocolate's beneficial effects.
Barry Callebaut is funding research aimed at discovering the
component in cocoa butter responsible for an observed improvement
in insulin sensitivity, with the ultimate aim of developing
chocolate products for diabetics.
UK sugar processor British Sugar has developed a new line of
moisture-resistant sugar to its dry ingredients range for bakers,
which it claims can prolong shelf life and improve product quality.
US based cocoa producer Cargill has developed a new method of
processing cocoa which allows for reduced fat content and greater
dispersibility in cocoa powder.
Chocolate giant Mars has filed a lawsuit against Natraceutical,
alleging that the Spanish company is infringing its patents on
polyphenol-rich cocoa extracts by selling CocoanOX extracts in the
United States.
Consumer watchdog Which? has hit out at confusing labelling of
sugar content in foods, placing the onus on manufacturers to put
full nutritional information on packs after a survey found high
levels in savoury foods that were not...
Tate & Lyle and Italian sugar producer Eridania Sadam have
formed a joint venture for the marketing and sales of all sugar
products to the Italian market, seen as an important step in
developing new sugar markets following EU...
