Podcasts

Aasted's SuperNova Energy Tempering Machine

Energy use halved with grassroots tempering, says Aasted

By Oliver Nieburg

Danish equipment supplier Aasted has been exhibiting a chocolate tempering machine at ProSweets in Germany that it claims uses an old process consuming 50% less energy than conventional tempering.

Cama aims for machine that never stops

Dispatches from ProSweets

Cama aims for machine that never stops

By Oliver Nieburg

Automatic changeovers that reduce down-time will be the trend informing confectionery packaging machinery in 2012, according to Renato Dell’Oro of packaging technology firm Cama.

Let up in sugar and cocoa commodity commotion unlikely, analyst

Let up in sugar and cocoa commodity commotion unlikely, analyst

By Jane Byrne

As the market and industry weighs the impact of turmoil in Ivory Coast on cocoa supply and tightness in sugar trade continues, we talk to Rabobank analyst Keith Flury to see whether there will be any let up in commodity commotion in 2011.

Opening up the applications for stevia sweeteners

Dispatches from HiE

Opening up the applications for stevia sweeteners

By Jess Halliday in Madrid

It started with beverages, but with intense work being carried out by the food industry on other applications for stevia sweeteners novel products are coming to market in the US, and in other global markets with regulatory approval - from yoghurts, to...

Beverage market to return to 2008 levels in two years - Krones

Beverage market to return to 2008 levels in two years - Krones

By Jane Byrne

Leading beverage filling and packaging technology company Krones reported a number of drink makers signing on the dotted line at German trade show Brau Beviale last week, and we caught up with executive chairman of the board, Volker Kroneseder, to get...

Dairy leading processing innovation at IPA 2010

Dairy leading processing innovation at IPA 2010

By Jane Byrne

Investments in European food processing machinery R&D are up on 2008 levels, with considerable innovation noted among exhibiting companies, reports the organisers of a trade event in Paris next month.

Spotlight falls on stevia blends and omega-3 at IFT

Dispatches from IFT

Spotlight falls on stevia blends and omega-3 at IFT

By Caroline Scott-Thomas, Jess Halliday and Mike Stones

FoodNavigator-USA's team on the ground at IFT in Chicago give their impressions of the trade show so far on award-winning innovations, new omega-3 and gluten-free ingredients, and great taste improvements in stevia sweeteners.

How stevia reshaped a family business

How stevia reshaped a family business

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

In an interview with FoodNavigator-USA.com, Dr. Luke Zhang explains why he thinks the future looks sweet for stevia - and for his company, GLG Life Tech, one of the world's major stevia suppliers.

Cargill calls for harmonized fair trade cocoa schemes

Cargill calls for harmonized fair trade cocoa schemes

By Jane Byrne

As Cargill expands its cocoa farmer training programme in the Ivory Coast this month, we caught up with managing director of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, Harold Poelma, to hear about developments in the sourcing of sustainably derived cocoa and his...

Ecomec claims hike in demand for used confectionery equipment

Dispatches from Pro Sweets

Ecomec claims hike in demand for used confectionery equipment

By Jane Byrne

The second hand confectionery equipment market is buoyant, with strong demand noted in the past 12 months, reports used machinery supplier Ecomec, who added that lack of access to credit within the industry is a predominant factor for the sales hike.

Managing the great Southampton switch-out

Dispatches from FIE

Managing the great Southampton switch-out

By Jess Halliday

The industry is under time pressure to remove artificial Southampton food colours from products before European warning labels are required next year. Helene Moeller, group product manager for ingredients at Wild, explains the challenges.

Snack Size Science: Hershey’s healthy chocolate cake

Snack Size Science: Hershey’s healthy chocolate cake

By Stephen Daniells

FoodNavigator's Snack Size Science brings you the week's top science every two weeks. This week we look at how to make chocolate cake healthier, and boosting the nutritional profile of gluten-free bread.

Early harmonisation urged for stevia standards, methods

Dispatches from EUSTAS stevia symposium

Early harmonisation urged for stevia standards, methods

By Jess Halliday in Leuven

As the stevia industry is poised for wide take-up, harmonisation and recognition of the need for standards is crucial to securing a good reputation from the outset, according to ChromaDex CEO.

Technical challenges to reducing sugar

Technical challenges to reducing sugar

Tate & Lyle’s manager of sweetener technology development gives insight into the role of sugar beyond providing sweetness, and how to pick alternative sweeteners that build back the properties.

Big hopes for EFSA’s big health claim day

Big hopes for EFSA’s big health claim day

Shane Starling reports from the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) much anticipated industry stakeholders’ meeting about health claims in Brussels today.

Innovation, food safety and economic pep talks in Anaheim

Dispatches from IFT

Innovation, food safety and economic pep talks in Anaheim

By The FoodNavigator team

Top prizes for innovation, stevia capacity and taste tests, food safety, and doing business in a tough economy... the FoodNavigator team shares thoughts on the opening day of the IFT trade show in Anaheim, California.

Stevia industry must support standards to limit adulteration

Stevia industry must support standards to limit adulteration

Increasing demand for stevia and reb A may soon attract the adulterers to crash the party. Mel Jackson, VP science for Sweet Green Fields (SGF) told FoodNavigator that, as his company announces a doubling of their production capacity, the industry must...

The true cost of health claims and why patience is a virtue

Dispatches from Vitafoods

The true cost of health claims and why patience is a virtue

By Stephen Daniells

Are health claims dossiers really that expensive, and has the ‘wait and see’ approach to submitting dossiers won? Stephen Daniells speaks to Joerg Gruenwald, PhD, President of Analyze & Realize, about how much it costs to compile a dossier, and why...

Craft chocolate makers count on artisan appeal

Craft chocolate makers count on artisan appeal

A group of craft chocolate makers is making the most of growing consumer interest in artisan chocolate. Alex Whitmore, member of the Craft Chocolate Makers of America and co-founder of Taza chocolate, explains why he thinks this trend looks set to continue...