All news articles for March 2005

Mannitol method to slash price for low cal sugar replacer?

A new method that uses powerful enzymes to convert fructose and sucrose into the low calorie sugar alcohol mannitol receives patent protection, opening up cheaper sources for this chewing gum ingredient, reports Lindsey Partos.

Aarhus sell off likely in April

The sale of Danish cocoa butter replacer Aarhus United is 'taking longer than anticipated' with news today that the majority stakeholder is still waiting to confirm a buyer, Lindsey Partos reports.

US food-industry M&A activity stable

The number of food-industry M&As in the US declined by 5 per cent last year compared to 2003, according to the Food Institute.

Splenda sales boost trading at Tate & Lyle

Tate and Lyle said today that overall trading had continued to be strong during the last three months boosted by demand for its high intensity sweetener Splenda.

UK agriculture sector records rising output

The value of the UK agricultural industry's gross output including subsidies directly linked to product increased by 2.5 per cent to £16.9 billion while intermediate consumption rose by 5.4 per cent due in part to the rise in the oil price, to £9.0 billion, according to Defra.

Sainsbury slashes Easter egg packaging by 30%

UK supermarket giant Sainsbury's is slashing the amount of packaging used on its own brand Easter Eggs in repsonse to growing pressure on the food industry to cut back on waste.

Nestlé expands Romanian biscuit production

Swiss food giant Nestlé has boosted its Romanian production capacity with the installation of a new chocolate wafer production line at its Timisoara-based unit, Joe. The investment reflects the rapid growth of the Romanian snack market, reports Bogdan Tudorache.

Chocolate makers to push heart health benefits?

Eating dark chocolate improves glucose metabolism and decreases blood pressure, reveals fresh research, bringing new leverage to the market potential of chocolate for food makers,writes Lindsey Partos.

Organic, fair trade cocoa and sugar supplier born

Leading merchant of cocoa, sugar and coffee ED&F Man has launched Corigins, a US-based supplier offering traceable, quality sugar and cocoa ingredients, Philippa Nuttall reports.

European Commission backs GM ingredients framework, despite discord

GM ingredients are here to stay as Brussels confirms 'full confidence' in the regulatory framework that controls the entry of biotech foodstuffs into the European food chain, reports Lindsey Partos.

Cadbury increases efficiency through package coding

A Cadbury Trebor Bassett division in the UK has installed a package coding management system (PCMS) to accurately control pack coding at two production sites.

Cloetta Fazer to close subsidiary in Poland

Cloetta Fazer, the Swedish confectionery group, has finally lost patience with its perennially underperforming Polish unit, deciding to close the Gdansk-based company after failing to elicit an improvement in its performance, writes Chris Jones.

UK food watchdog launches labelling consultation

Food industry pressure over nutrition labelling has begun to pay off as the UK Food Standards Agency launches a consultation for the final stage in its simple signposting project using guideline daily amounts as one of two central themes, reports Chris Mercer.

Rhodia acquisition brings gains to Danisco in Q3

Acquisition of Rhodia Food Ingredients brings growth to Danisco in a third quarter squeezed by low growth in flavours, writes Lindsey Partos.

Harkin gears up to table food advertising to kids bill

Democrat Tom Harkin, senator for Iowa and health and nutrition advocate, announced at a press conference earlier this week that he will propose a bill enabling the FTC to regulate food advertising to children, Philippa Nuttall reports.

Obesity - diabetes link: much more than food?

As EU Commissioner Kyprianou launches a new platform involving the food industry and stakeholders to tackle rising obesity levels, new research finds influences on diabetes - obesity link could be much more than food, reports Lindsey Partos.

Lindt notches up record sales, mass market threat lurks

Swiss chocolatier Lindt and Sprüngli has announced record sales figures during 2004, on the back of improved export sales and burgeoning consumer demand for premium chocolate products in Western Europe, Tom Armitage reports.

RSSL extends food allergen tracking test to slash risk

In light of tougher allergen label rules food makers eager to slash the risk of potentially harmful food allergens in their product range may welcome the expansion of its testing portfolio, says UK laboratory Reading Scientific Services, Lindsey Partos reports.

Chr Hansen: Innovation key to unlocking Czech potential

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with Chr Hansen in Prague at the beginning of a five-week marketing odyssey designed to bring the company closer to the emerging markets of Eastern Europe.

Danisco ramps up xylitol production in China, new deal

Danisco protects market position in Asia, completing a joint venture deal in China to ramp up production of its xylitol sweetenener, writes Lindsey Partos.

EU food and drink industry commits to obesity challenge

New voluntary labelling initiatives, a tighter advertising code and increased investment in innovation could be on the way for food manufacturers as the European Commission, along with a dozen stakeholders, launches a platform to curtail the rising numbers of obesity in Europe, reports Lindsey Partos.

PFM targets Interpack to unveil latest innovations

Italian packaging group PFM is set to present a number of new packaging innovations at Interpack 2005 next month.

Malaysian firm gets taste for Japanese biscuits

A Malaysian firm selling Japanese biscuits has said that it is considering establishing its own production facility in Malaysia should initial sales of its products prove attractive to Malaysian biscuit eaters.

Flavonols in chocolate could be behind heart health benefits

Another study on chocolate finds that the dark variety decreases blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity in healthy people, lending weight to its potential for heart health.

Lobbyists face EU sugar reform struggle

EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has dealt a blow to sugar reform lobbyists across Europe and developing countries by voicing her opposition to special arrangements for different states when proposals are adopted later this year, reports Chris Mercer.

Mars shunts UK production to Europe, 700 jobs axed

Mars, one of the most recognisable chocolate confectionery brands in the world, has confirmed that UK production of its Twix and Starburst brands is to be outsourced to Continental Europe, ending weeks of speculation and axing 700 jobs in the process, Tom Armitage reports.

Wrigley eyes expansion beyond gum, plays down acquisition speculation

Chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley has revealed that its 2005 business strategy will once again focus on expanding beyond its core line of gum-based confectionery and has played down speculation that it is on the acquisition trail, Tom Armitage reports.

Meincke to present new systems at Interpack

The new Danish owners of Meincke, the specialist bakery and confectionery equipment supplier, say they aim to attack a strongly growing market for premium cakes and biscuits by unveiling new products at the up-coming Interpack expo, reports Chris Mercer.

New rules to govern nutrition label errors

New regulations will tighten error margins on food nutrition labels as a new study claiming many UK foods, including biscuits and pizzas, are significantly higher in fat and sugar than their labels suggest, threatens to further dent consumer trust, reports Chris Mercer.

Glisten starts to see benefits of 'one-stop shop'

Glisten, the acquisitive UK confectioner, has reported strong first half figures reflecting its rapid growth, but highlighted the increasing cost of integrating its growing number of niche businesses as it seeks to turn itself into a 'one-stop-shop' for retailers and manufacturers alike, reports Chris Jones.

ADM gains €70m on sale of share stake in Tate & Lyle

US oilseed and cocoa processor Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) said on Monday it will post a gain of €70 million in its fiscal third quarter, due to the sale of a 27.9 million share stake in UK starch and sweeteners firm Tate & Lyle, reports Lindsey Partos.

China steps up food safety licensing

Producers of 28 different foodstuffs will be required by the Chinese government to apply for production licences as part of the Beijing government's ongoing measures to improve food quality and safety, writes Chris Jones.

Lime's success suggests a tangy future

Lime was the new black in 2004, according to data revealed yesterday to FoodNavigatorUSA.com from Productscan Online

Confused Europeans snub nutritional label information

The majority of European consumers appreciate the benefits of eating healthily but remain confused over the terminology used in nutritional labelling, according to a recent report by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC), Tom Armitage writes.

Sugar-free exports drive Swiss confectionery sales in 2004

Industry association Biscosuisse says that Swiss confectionery sales have risen marginally in 2004, topping last year's record-breaking turnover figure and notching up an increase in domestic sales for the first time in four years, Tom Armitage reports.

Russian children's food market needs legislative overhaul

Legislation governing the production and marketing of products aimed specifically at Russian children needs to be completely overhauled or the nation could face serious health problems in the future, suggests new research, Angela Drujinina reports.

Flagging growth for flavour leader Givaudan

Contributing the biggest revenue stream to Givaudan, the flavours unit posted sales of CHF 1.6 billion (€1 billion) sales in 2004, representing stagnant growth on a like-for-like basis in Swiss francs.

Flawed research exaggerated US obesity crisis

The US Centre for Disease Control has helped to create a climate of fear by exaggerating America's obesity crisis, claims a consumer and industry group, as one major cereal producer warns the whole obesity issue is becoming too emotional, reports Chris Mercer.

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