Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Tate & Lyle taps into healthy ice cream market

Tate & Lyle has launched two new ice cream ingredients to help manufacturers tap into the current trend towards healthier eating.

Green method for delivery of cheaper flavour enhancers

US chemical engineers have developed a new, cheaper approach to designing microcapsules, tiny hollow spheres, used to deliver flavour enhancers.

Wholegrains better than other heart health foods despite high GI

People who eat wholegrain foods regularly can have a 20 to 40 per cent lower risk of heart disease and stroke compared with those who rarely eat wholegrain foods, according to a new review, reports Dominique Patton.

Karlshamns and Aarhus to merge?

Consolidation in food ingredients continues with Nordic fats and oil firms Aarhus United and Karlshamns set to merge, creating one of the world's leading suppliers of cocoa butter alternatives, reports Lindsey Partos.

Cadbury to roll out chocolate for calorie conscious consumers

Confectionery makers continue to tap into consumer weight and health concerns in a bid to boost stagnant sales as UK confectioner Cadbury launches a new range of chocolate bars with under 99 calories.

Cargill races into number three pectin position on Citrico deal

Hydrocolloid industry sees competition step up a gear as US ingredients firm Cargill, for the first time, buys into the pectin market through the acquisition of Citrico, reports Lindsey Partos.

Cargill snaps up Brazilian sugar mills

Hungry food ingredients giant Cargill to enter Brazilian sugar and alcohol production sector for the first time, announcing a new deal to buy Açucareira Corona sugar mills.

Biotrace launches two new allergen testing kits

UK-based Biotrace International has launched two allergen testing kits for detecting egg and peanut traces in food.

Ireland to follow neighbours' initiatives against obesity

Ireland is the latest European state to call for new guidelines on food labelling and a ban on vending machines in schools in order to slow down the growing rise in obesity.

Higher volumes mark 1Q for speciality fat firm Aarhus

Sales volumes improve for speciality fats but bulk vegetable oils continue to feel the pressure in the first quarter for fats and oils firm Aarhus United.

New food standards to drive US innovation

The US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is debating whether to create a new set of food standards in order to encourage more nutritious food formulation, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Monday comment

Time for a fair trade

The UK government must introduce a compulsory new supermarket code ofconduct if it is to make up for past mistakes and save the food industryfrom a spiral into anti-competitive practices.

Bush claims WTO talks vital for US food exports

President Bush reiterated the importance of using current WTO talks to expand foreign food export opportunities during the swearing in ceremony of US trade representative Robert Portman this week, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Industry briefs: Updated wafer machine; KitKat

Franz Haas Waffel has updated its machine for wafer and biscuit production, which includes a new high-capacity wafer baking system, and a new depositor for aerated creams, batters and marshmallows.

US agencies propose changes to food labelling standards

A public consultation to change or eliminate regulations on food labelling, including the methods of processing and packaging used by manufacturers, has been launched in the US by the three federal agencies responsible for regulating the standards.

Food ingredients weekly business roundup

Imperial Sugar received an offer of acquisition earlier this week, while Cargill announced its intentions to further invest in Brazilian sugar and General Mills had its rating outlook revised from negative to stable.

Cadbury off to 'good start' but tough trading ahead

British confectioner Cadbury Schweppes confirmed today that it remains on track to meet its annual financial targets, although warned of tough trading conditions in the second half, Tom Armitage reports.

Food labels and healthy signposts, food industry waits for consensus

UK food agency launches 'the largest research project to date', to establish the clearest route for food makers to use food labels to flag-up healthy foods.

R&D spending to stagnate in Europe?

The first ever survey of research and development (R&D) personnel across all industrial sectors in Europe reveals most participants predict there will be little change in their companies' R&D investment levels over the next five years, and perhaps even a slight decrease, reports CORDIS.

Danish sugar giant to wind up beet operation

Functional flavours and ingredients manufacturer Danisco, one of Europe's largest sugar suppliers, is to cease the processing of sugar beet at one of its sites in Lithuania, Tom Armitage reports.

FFG takeover begins for Technology Flavors & Fragrances

Publicly-floated US flavour supplier Technology Flavors & Fragrances is set to go private, as industry rival FFG Industries begins a tender offer to acquire all of the firms outstanding shares of common stock.

Ragolds to close following top brand sell-off

German confectioner Ragolds Süsswaren has said that it will cease operations at the end of the year - only days after it sold its top cough sweet brands to compatriot manufacturer Storck.

Confectioner's demise blamed on supermarket squeeze

Scottish confectioner John Millar and Sons has gone into receivership and blamed aggressive pricing from supermarkets for contributing to its demise, Tom Armitage reports.

Nanoscale technology: the future of food safety

Nanotechnology has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of food production at a time when consumer concerns over safety are increasingly influencing key business decisions, writes Anthony Fletcher.

New opportunities for sucralose on FDA rules

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed to amend the rules authorizing a health claim on non-cariogenic carbohydrate sweeteners, to include the non-nutritive sweetener sucralose.

Cadbury to take organic chocolate mainstream

British confectioner Cadbury is to enter the flourishing organic chocolate sector for the first time, after acquiring Green and Black's - the company behind the UK's fastest growing confectionery brand, Tom Armitage reports.

Cadbury takeover tattle sparks share surge

Shares in Cadbury Schweppes, one of the world's biggest chocolate manufacturers, have rocketed - as reports surface that US rival Hershey's, together with a private equity group, is plotting a takeover bid, Tom Armitage reports.

Chr Hansen eyes acquisitions as new owner brings cash

Chr Hansen is already on the look out for new acquisitions as the firm enjoys a fresh financial thrust from its new private equity owners, PAI partners, reports Lindsey Partos.

Cadbury stumps up £40m for chocolate factory revamp

Cadbury Schweppes, the world's number two confectionery manufacturer, is to revamp its famous Bournville chocolate-making facility, as demand for its Dairy Milk brand continues to soar, Tom Armitage reports.

Storck to sign branded cough sweets deal

German confectioner Storck is to acquire two brands of cough sweet, according to an unconfirmed report in the Financial Times Deutschland - something which will allow it to extend its lead in the competitive sugar-based confectionery market.

Codex to discuss GM food labels

New international standards for GM labels could be on the way as a meeting of the United Nations' Codex Alimentarius committee on food labelling kicks off in Malaysia this week.

Food firms falling behind in ability to innovate?

The food industry is falling behind in its ability to innovate, claims an article in this week's The Economist.

APV Baker identifies future confectionery markets and trends

APV Baker's collaboration with ingredients companies has led to the development of confectionery equipment that could help manufacturers tap into some key trends, writes Anthony Fletcher.

'Organic', 'low/no sugar' labels are key to success

Organic and low/no sugar are the tags food manufacturers should be looking at adding to their packaging if they want their products to enjoy strong and sustained growth, said AC Nielsen.

ASI launches food detection for tricky applications

ASI Instruments has launched ShieldPoint, a series of radio frequency capacitance switches designed for point level detection in challenging food applications such as sticky slurries,reports Anthony Fletcher.

Wrigley reaps early benefits of Joyco acquisition

Wrigley, the world's biggest gum manufacturer, has posted record Q1 profits and beat analysts' expectations - buoyed by impressive early sales from its recent acquisition of Spanish confectioner Joyco, Tom Armitage reports.

Private equity buys Chr Hansen

Ending months of speculation, the food ingredients arm of Chr Hansen has a new owner: not a fellow industry player but food acquisitive private equity firm PAI partners, reports Lindsey Partos.

Commission demands repayment of misspent CAP money

A total of €277.25 million of EU farm money misspent by Member States is to be claimed back following a decision adopted today by the European Commission.