Singapore based Olam International is to acquire UK confectionery fats supplier Britannia Food Ingredients (BFI) along with a logistic services component for £33.5m ($50m)
Leading cocoa supplier, Archer Daniel Midlands (ADM), has confirmed that it is keeping its cocoa processing plant in Kumasi, Ghana open in spite of challenges related to acquiring light crop beans for processing.
A significant boost in detection capabilities, flexibility and the assurance of food quality and safety compliance are benefits claimed by Mettler Toledo Safeline for its new metal detection system for free-falling products in vertically packed lines.
The European Commission, in a policy about face, said it may open the import quota or allow the sale of out-of-quota sugar into the bloc - a move that would bring relief for bakers and other food makers set to negotiate new sugar contracts.
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced a new bipartisan bill in the Senate this week intended to phase out the sugar support program, claiming sugar prices are artificially high and cost American jobs.
The deficit in the EU sugar supply could put production at risk for confectioners and other food and drink industry users of the commodity if market intervention does not occur, said Irish trade body FDII, who are calling on the EC to keep out-of-quota...
The potential heart health benefits of polyphenol-rich cocoa powder may be related to a ‘novel mechanism’ of boosting HDL (good) cholesterol, says a new study from Japan.
Leading maker of bulk chocolate, Barry Callebaut, has bought and exported the cocoa beans it needs to fulfill its processing needs, said a company spokesperson in reaction to the suspension of Ivory Coast exports.
It was an Emperor’s New Clothes moment for the US food industry last week, when it was revealed that a major initiative touting its responsible advertising to kids actually allows promotion of many unhealthy foods. Is anyone really surprised?
Lack of clarity on the implications for the cocoa industry of the financial penalities imposed by the EU on the Ivory Coast has prompted trade representatives in the bloc to seek additional information from the Commission.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is currently assessing the impact of an explosion that occurred on a production line at its cocoa processing facility in Wormer, Netherlands, which was followed by a short, intense fire.
A new study on the public health impact of fat tax and subsidies for healthy options concludes they should be included as a suite of policy measures to encourage healthy eating – even though they may have a negligible effect on disease risk.
The European Commission is still unable to say when the controversial nutrient profiling model in the EU health claims Regulation will be finalised, two years after food manufacturers were told it would be published.
This week saw chocolate maker Lindt reporting strong growth across all its main regions and consolidated sales of CHF 2.58bn for its financial year 2010, with an analyst claiming the time is ripe for the firm to capitalise on recovery in consumer sentiment.
Milk fats, used as ingredients in confectionary and bakery, could be enriched with compounds called diacylglycerols which may aid weight control, according to a team of Dutch researchers.
The complacency being exhibited by Brussels over the ongoing dioxin contamination incident is every bit as concerning as the carcinogenic chemical that has found its way into the food and feed chains since the end of last year.
The first 100 per cent single source chocolate from Vietnam is being launched by Belgian B2B producer, Grand-Place, who in a bid to increase output is investing heavily in improving the quality of the cocoa beans from the region.
Confectioners must continuously innovate to capture a share of the global gums market, as nearly 80 percent of gum purchases are made on impulse, claims a new report from Global Industry Analysts (GIA).
Proposals to overhaul the fee inspection regime at food and feed facilities in the UK would result in a more consistent and clearer system - but one that would cost businesses more, said the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The fall in cocoa grindings by 2.4 per in the fourth quarter of 2010 is not an indication of slowdown in the recovery of the chocolate market in Europe, claims an industry analyst.
Supplying hydrocolloids requires more foresight and investment than ever before, as producers are caught in the squeeze between tight supply and growing demand, and changing functionalities, says Cargill director.
As part of its wider initiative to make its manufacturing more energy efficient, UK sweet maker Tangerine said it is installing a combined heat and power (CHP) system that will incur savings of around £200,000 and 630 tonnes of carbon each year.
Chr Hansen is exploring ways of stabilising the supply of cochineal, the raw material used to make natural red colour carmine, as demand for the South American insect is outstripping supply.
Confectionery and food end use segments are fuelling the recovery of the polyols market post-recession, with increasing demand for low calorie foods seen as the primary driver, finds new research.
Brazilian researchers claim a spectrometry based tecnique is a cost effective and simple way to determine levels of minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in chocolate.
Research aiming to improve understanding around the sensory attributes of confectionery is the objective of new collaboration between US chocolate giant Hershey and academia.
Gourmet and specialty chocolate, and emerging markets, drove sales volume growth for Barry Callebaut in Q1, but Western Europe and the US are still showing mixed results.
The global market for confectionery products is forecast to reach US$186.3bn by the year 2015, driven by the growing popularity of sugar-free categories, exotic flavours and region-specific products, claims a new report from Global Industry Analysts (GIA).
Additional safeguards to reduce the risk of chemicals migrating from inks in packaging to food products are included in a new edition of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standard for Packaging.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has welcomed an initial proposal that could end an ongoing US-Mexico trucking dispute that has seen Mexico impose tariffs on a long list of US exports.
Roll up, roll up, the Great CAP Reform Circus is back in town. Missing those long arguments about the future of farm support? Hungry for more debate about how best to limit spiraling European farm commodity prices?
Market uptake of sustainable palm oil will need to accelerate in 2011 in order to keep up with rapidly growing production, claims the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
UK confectioner, Lees Foods, aims to mitigate the recent surge in coconut prices and ongoing hikes in packaging material costs through improved efficiencies and passing off a proportion of input costs to its customers.
London-based Bompass & Parr says its flavour-changing chewing gum that brings Willy Wonka’s famous three-course meal confection closer to reality could be on sale within 12 months.
Flavour development company Senomyx has forged a partnership with confectionery manufacturer Cadbury Adams USA, a Kraft Foods division, to develop and commercialise new flavor modulators for gum and medicated confectionery products.
Kraft is likely to have a robust defence in relation to the reported investigation into any tax bill it might be liable for following its takeover of Cadbury in February 2010, claims a UK tax law analyst.
Archer Daniel Midlands (ADM) has said it is now the 100 percent owner of Golden Peanut Company after it acquired all outstanding stock from Alimenta (USA), from Alimenta S.A, an international trading company based in Switzerland.
Imperial Sugar Company returned to profit during fiscal 2010 as its Port Wentworth refinery continued to boost production following a 2008 explosion, although its losses widened in Q4, the company said.
Delivery of cocoa bean supplies to ports in the Ivory Coast appears to be unaffected by the recent political turmoil following last month’s election in the West African country.
Change4Life healthy food vouchers are just the ticket for food industry marketers. But changing eating habits requires consistent, co-ordinated policy – not hand-outs to ease the population’s post-Christmas conscience.
Governments need to implement reforms and promotions to make organic products more attractive to convenience- and price-driven consumers if the organic market is to increase substantially, says a new study.
A wide-ranging regulation that would see the overhaul of rules governing food contact plastics in the European Union (EU) has taken a major step towards becoming law later this year.
