Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Conveyor design cuts cleaning costs, claims manufactuer

A seam free conveyor belt reduces the places where food can stick to while being processed, helping cut the costs and labour needed for cleaning and sanitation, claims its manufacturer.

More support for pistachios' heart health benefits

Adding pistachio nuts to your daily diet could be an easy way to improve cholesterol levels, say researchers from Turkey, the world's fourth biggest pistachio nut producer.

Report calls for more emphasis on obesity reduction than food safety

Regulators should give greater weight to reducing obesity rates in comparison to increasing food safety, according to a new report.

Weekly Comment

Food industry must face its faults

The food industry must be honest if it is to convince consumers - and audiences - that it is not the corporate monster portrayed in the media.

Exotic sweet fruit concentrate gains GRAS status

A New Zealand product development company has announced that PureLo, the company's proprietary Luo Han fruit concentrate, has been affirmed as a GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) food ingredient.

Tate & Lyle year profits hit by sugar reform

Tate & Lyle's full year profit fell by 79 per cent to £ 42m due largely to reform of the European sugar market.

Cancer-fighting gum developed in Finland

Scientists in Finland believe that cysteine-containing chewing gum could become a new way of preventing upper digestive tract cancers.

Alcoa wins award for hot chocolate packaging

Alcoa Packaging has been recognised for its printing work on Nestle's new Hot Chocolate Syrup Shrink Sleeve, currently available in the US.

Increase in UK confectionery purchases

Household purchases of confectionery in the UK were up by 1.8 per last year, according to new research from Defra.

Nestlé to buy Australia's Uncle Tobys cereals, snack business

Nestle, the world's biggest foodmaker, has agreed to buy the Uncle Tobys cereal, soups and nutritious snacks brand from Burns Philp for A$890 million (€523.2m) to expand its range of healthier foods in Australia.

Kraft Australia to cut more than 300 jobs

Kraft Foods will axe 325 jobs at two of its Australian manufacturing sites under a two-year plan to reduce costs, it revealed on Wednesday.

Culinar develops fat-reducing food flavour system

The demand for low-fat food has significant implications for the flavour industry, as Culinar technical manager Ian Olof Lundberg explained last week.

Nestlé expands nutritious snack business

Nestlé is to strengthen its presence in the Australian nutritious snack market through the acquisition of the nation's Uncle Tobys snack business.

Weekly comment

Hacks v Lab-Rats: who's at fault for consumer confusion?

The relationship between journalist 'hack' and scientist 'lab-rat' must be developed if science is to get a fair deal in the press, and for consumers to be presented balanced and accurate science coverage.

FDF 'regrets' new English nutrition standards

New minimum nutrition standards for English school food, designed to ensure healthier eating, has resulted in the banning of certain products high in salt, fat and sugar.

Wrigley declares new share dividend

The board of directors at Wrigley has declared a regular dividend of $0.256 on each share of common stock and each share of class B common stock for the three-month period beginning 1 August 2006.

Chocolate BBQ - the hottest thing this summer?

A very unusual concept has been launched in the US just in time for the summer - the chocolate barbeque.

ABF's African sugar offer shows global vision

ABF's offer to acquire 51 per cent of Illovo, Africa's largest sugar producer, underlines how the new EU sugar regime has forced European sugar producers to think truly globally.

Hershey looks to tap healthy chocolate potential

Hershey's expansion of its health and nutrition initiative underlines the extent to which chocolate makers are keen to tap into consumer health concerns.

Indonesian sweetener market surges on cheaper products

Use of sweeteners in Indonesia has surged in the last year, as food and beverage makers seek cheaper alternatives to sugar.

Cereal and snack focus

Roquette opens its doors to healthy snack ingredients

Roquette, a global leader in starches, has developed new ingredients designed to help snack makers tap the health trend, as FoodNavigator discovered on a visit to the group's headquarters in Lestrem, France.

Health concerns drive emulsifiers market, says report

Rising health concerns and demand for low-fat foods is set to drive demand for food emulsifiers, according to a recent report by market researcher Frost & Sullivan.

Global strategy called for in obesity battle

Strong governmental leadership and policy changes including legislative and educational measures are necessary in order to curb the rising obesity epidemic, according to a new report.

Wild targets demand for 'natural' confectionery

Ingredient innovations are the engine driving further growth in the confectionery market, claims flavour firm Wild.

Sticky foods get moving on modular belt

A modular belt is designed to move sticky foods such as pastries, candies, fruits, vegetables and frozen seafood.

Australia moves to ban confectionery in schools

Australia has joined the global trend towards banning vending machines offering confectionery and soft drinks in schools.

Wrigley looks to build on chewing gum growth

Leading confectionery group Wrigley is set to launch new gum and candy products in time for the crucial summer selling season.

EU-US debate self regulation on obesity

An EU-US conference on obesity, being held in Brussels today, will attempt to draw conclusions on whether industry self-regulation can work.

Gum litter campaign promises success

A widespread educational campaign in the UK designed to reduce gum litter comes on the back of impressive global growth.

Roquette riding fast growth in Chinese confectionery

Confectionery companies in China are rapidly catching up with other markets by offering healthier, sugar-free products, but not without their own traditional flavours and texture, says leading ingredient supplier Roquette.

Australian sugar tax remains in new budget

Australian food and beverage makers face another year of tax on sugar but some further tax deductions when buying machinery, shows the new budget.

Nestlé removes artificial colours from Smarties

Pursuing a consumer health trend Nestle Rowntree has decided to eliminated artificial colours from its Smarties brand of confectionary.

Kraft and Premier Foods eye United Biscuits

US food giant Kraft is partnering with Britain's Premier Foods to launch a bid for United Biscuits, according to industry insiders.

Cadbury buoyed by ECJ tax ruling

The opinion of an advocate-general of the European Court of Justice on UK anti-tax avoidance rules could benefit multinationals such as confectioner Cadbury Schweppes.

Irish strawberries growers ride Superfoods wave

Irish strawberry production has topped 5,500 tonnes as consumers on the Emerald Isle put the emphasis on locally grown, tasty and nutritious produce.

Glycaemic index review could help food makers

A new review could help food developers and technical managers appreciate how dietary fibre influences the glycaemic index of foods, especially cereal products.

USDA finds partners to promote MyPyramid

The USDA has entered into cooperative agreements with three partners to increase the public's knowledge of both the Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid, one year after the scheme's online launch.

Key to success: recognize trends, says expert

The key to building long term relationships with consumers is a better understanding of people and their different and changing needs, according to food trend forecaster Phil Lempert. Food firms must focus on aging consumers, ethnic diversity and time constraints, he said this week.

'Bubble' chocolate set to take on the US market

A new aerated chocolate product is set to be unveiled at this year's 2006 All Candy Expo in Chicago.

Food Design taps demand for colourful confectionery

A UK-based food manufacturer has spent the past few months expanding its range of decorative sugar-based products for confectionery applications.

M&M's taps white choc demand through cinema tie-up

M&M's brand confectionery plans to unveil a white chocolate variety in order to tie in with the upcoming US release of the movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'.

Public sceptical of food safety measures, survey finds

Do media such as FoodProductionDaily.com and others overly hype food safety issues to the public?

CSM announces further streamlining measures

CSM's merger of two North American businesses is the latest move in a wide-ranging strategy to cut costs and achieve better operational focus.

Ginger processor says profit growth will continue

The world's largest producer of ginger for confectionery, Buderim Ginger, said on Friday that it expects to see higher profits this year, thanks to the long-term improvements made through its restructuring programme.

Infusion pump uses rotary device for accurate measurement

A new pump for the medical industry could also be used by the food sector to ensure the hygiene and the accurate measurement of liquids, its inventors claim.