Acquisitions for UK food, ingredients and retail firm Associated
British Foods are key to reducing dependency of group profits on
ABF's leading revenue source British Sugar. This week the company
signs a deal with Unilever to...
On the cusp of reform to the EU's heavily supported sugar regime,
some of the world's poorest sugar exporting countries have called
on Europe 'to put fairness at the heart of the new regime'.
Expecting a higher uptake of vegetable fats by European chocolate
manufacturers following the new '5 per cent' chocolate rule, Danish
oils and fats supplier Aarhus United sees a drop in income for
2003, compounded by currency...
Wheat, corn and soybean prices will remain high for much of 2004,
warns the US agency Fitch Ratings, with the industry likely to see
a continual shifting of higher ingredients costs onto the food
manufacturer. But tough negotiations...
German confectionery ingredients supplier Alfred L. Wolff is
preparing to focus on the launch of a new coating ingredient aimed
specifically at the chocolate and panned confectioneries sector for
CME 2004.
With the Commission proposal for changes to the EU sugar regime but
a few months away, Commissioner Franz Fischler explains why sugar
reform is 'unavoidable.'
This week the new product releases in the region focus on the
confectionery sector, with a series of launches in Poland, Czech
Republic and Hungary which reflect the growing popularity of
chocolate.
The largest sugar producer in Europe Südzucker has divested all
shares in the Spanish food group Ebro Puleva through the group's
subsidiary Saint Louis Sucre, providing it with breathing space to
concentrate on speciality ingredients.
UK ingredients and additives supplier S. Black has extended its
flavour range for Irish and UK food businesses announcing a new
distribution deal with private Swiss company Firmenich.
Belgian group Cosucra Warcoing is significantly increasing its
inulin and oligofructose production capacity by converting a former
sugar plant to chicory processing, as it aims to meet growing
demand for the ingredients.
Having recently announced a large-scale withdrawal from the
Hungarian market, Kraft Foods has reaffirmed its commitment to the
Romanian market, by confirming a series of future investments in
its division there.
Almost one in four (23 per cent) German adults admits to often
skipping meals to keep their weight down - a massive 17.5 million
people. But according to a new survey of European dieting habits,
Germans are also the least likely to...
The dominance of the multiple retailers in the UK has had a
devastating effect on the specialist retail sector there, with the
massive buying power of the major chains allowing them to undercut
independent operators at the same time...
Organisers of the international food fair Salima 2004 claim that
exhibitor numbers are up on for the bi-annual event, to be held in
Brno, southern Moravia, from 2-5 March
The pressing problem of obesity in children has to be tackled
rapidly and efficiently to avert the heavy price society might pay
as incidences of obesity linked diabetes and heart disease surge.
New research from Australia confirms...
Kraft Foods says it is preparing to launch the international
chocolate brand Milka in Russia in an attempt to further increase
its slice of the confectionery market there.
Lock Inspections Systems is to highlight its metal detection
equipment specifically designed for the confectionery industry at
Confectionery Manufacturing Expo. Metal detection is of growing
concern in the food industry, particularly...
Despite a significant increase in sales leading global
confectionery company Cadbury Schweppes has reported a 33 per cent
drop in its net income, largely on the back of restructuring costs
and tough market conditions.
The Russian sugar industry has suffered under the weight of poor
logistics, erratic raw supplies and a lack of financing. We spoke
to a leading industry analysts to find out how the industry is
facing up to these challenges and what...
APV Baker says it has expanded the boundaries of product
possibilities available to the confectionery industry, through the
development of multi-colour and multi-component capability for
depositing systems.
Exalted of late for their antioxidant health benefits, fruit
berries continue to show growth in a range of food applications.
Fruit ingredients stalwart J.O. Sims has launched a new Canadian
produced berry onto the market marking...
A low-fat diet may help men with aggressive prostate cancer better
fight their disease and live longer, according to researchers who
showed that a diet low in polyunsaturated fats slowed cancer growth
and increased survival times...
War and disease have marked volatile prices for cocoa in the past
three years, peaking at 17 year highs in 2002 when the Ivory Coast
- source of two fifths of the world cocoa crop - endured civil war.
Research into genomes could contribute...
The Romanian chocolate sector looks set to become increasingly
competitive as the third largest player, Kandia, prepares to
finalise a merger with Excelent - a move that will create the
leading producer on the market.
Plant closures and 'competitive pressures?saw profits slide for US
sugar giant Imperial Sugar despite a rise in operating income for
the first quarter. Global sugar surplus keeps the prices down and
competition up.
In a move to protect home markets Chinese corn processor Global
Bio-chem will link up with Japan's Mitsui & Co to develop,
manufacture and sell the bulk reduced calorie sweetener sorbitol in
China under a new joint venture...
German sugar giant Suedzucker willl break ground on a new plant to
produce bioethanol fuel from wheat at Zeitz in East Germany.
Earmarked for completion by 2005, the plant will operate in
conjunction with the local sugar factory.
One in five Americans are currently following the low carbohydrate
diet as the fad Atkins-style dietary regime continues to take hold
of the weight-conscious consumer. But how long will it last?
Although growth has been rapid for Nestlé in the Russian
confectionery sector, there are a number of challenges to be
tackled in order to ensure future expansion - low per capita
consumption and ingredients supplies being the primary...
Confusing information on the nutrition content of food, along with
misleading health claims, have once again been brought under
scrutiny. Growing pressure in Europe for clearer labelling and
greater honesty about ingredients in products...
German confectionery company Alfred Ritter has confirmed that it is
to build a €25 million factory in the Moscow region which will be
used to make the company's well known brand of Ritter Sport
chocolate bars.
Europe and the US will hammer out the contentious issue of obesity
and the role food policy can play in getting to grips with this
major health problem at a Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) meeting in Brussels
today.
Although hit by the uncertainty of big contract renewal, the
UK-based Tate & Lyle Group has said that it expects profit
before tax in the third quarter of the year to 31 March 2004 to be
in line with expectations.
Despite higher raw material prices Corn Products International, a
US maker of corn syrups sweeteners, saw profits and sales rise for
the year, citing sales in North America and a better price-product
mix as key factors responsible...
Kraft Foods has said that it will close down its only production
facility in Hungary and move production elsewhere. The company has
hinted that production of confectionery and coffee could shift to
Slovakia and Austria.
Last year was not one of the best for sales of chocolate, with
political instability in the Middle East, a weak global economy,
lower tourist numbers in the Far East as a result of SARS and the
hottest European summer in decades all...
A large proportion of Russian sugar processors have experienced
recession over the last year - so says a survey of leading industry
figures. However, the abolition of import taxes on imported raw
sugar might make things easier in...
Haribo Dunhills, part of Europe's leading confectionery group,
German-based Haribo, is aiming to boost countline sales of bagged
confectionery in the UK with the launch of four new lines which for
the start of the new year.
With the failure of WTO talks in Cancun last year, pressure has
intensified on Europe's heavily subsidied sugar regime - trading at
three times the world price- to change. While critics want to see a
fairer regime with Europe...
Cloetta Fazer has reported signing a new long-term distribution
agreement with Brynild Salg for the continued sale of Cloetta
Fazer's products in Norway and the Nordic region as a whole.
Last summer's hot weather had a major impact on sales at Thorntons,
the British confectionery retailer and manufacturer, but the
company had a lot more to be happy about when it came to Christmas.
Innovation in cosmetics has taken an erotic turn. Pop singer
Jessica Simpson has launched a new line of beauty products that
features whipped body cream and chocolate body gloss.
The private equity arm of the bank Lehman Brothers has emerged as
the latest challenger to bid for Thorntons, the high street
chocolate retailer and manufacturer.
A WHO report on obesity prevention, which would urge governments to
promote healthy foods, is under threat from food makers supported
by the US administration, said consumer groups last week.
Forging a deeper share of the fat replacer market, the Circle Group
Holdings subsidiary FiberGel Technologies will supply its Z-Trim
zero calorie fat substitute to Swiss food giant Nestle, under a new
link-up announced this week.
Until recently, consumers with a sweet tooth have had little in the
way of choice when it came to reconciling their desire for sweets
and chocolate with the need to remain healthy.
