Outsourcing

Wexxar manager says loss of US manufacturing jobs driven by automation, not trade agreements, as Trump suggests ©iStock/andykatz

Pack Expo 2016

Packaging industry cautious on Trump’s US manufacturing promise

By Douglas Yu

Automation and increased profitability may make US President-elect Donald Trump's promise to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US empty, say some food packaging and processing industry leaders at Pack Expo in Chicago.

Union seeks injunction to block Oreo capacity shift to Mexico. Photo: iStock - chiarabramuzzo

Oreo bakers’ union files lawsuit against Mondelēz

By Douglas Yu

Mondelēz International faces a court case brought by disgruntled employees at its plant in Chicago, half of whom will lose their jobs after the company shifted the factory’s Oreo production to Mexico.

Chocolate with spices would appeal to Indian tastes but few companies are doing it, says India's only certified chocolate taster

Spice up the Indian premium chocolate market, says taster

By Oliver Nieburg

Multinational chocolate manufacturers are failing to cater to Indian tastes and should experiment with spices such as green cumin and saffron, according to India’s only professional chocolate taster.

Malaysian media accuses UK economic policy think tank of a conflict of interest given contact with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council and the country’s government.

“The IEA does not accept state money, and all of our research is independent of corporate funding.”

UK think tank denies Malaysian palm oil conflict of interest accusations

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has said categorically it does not accept state money, following accusations by a Malaysian media outlet that the UK think tank is in bed with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council and the country’s government.

Delegates at the European Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil debated sustainable palm oil in London this week

European RSPO 2014

Sustainable palm oil pressures worrying to emerging economies

By Nicholas Robinson

Food businesses and consumers don’t understand the impact emerging economies could face if pressure to source 100% sustainable palm oil builds too quickly, Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) sustainable development manager Fiona Wheatley claims.

Mars will start sourcing cocoa from India within the next two years

Mars to source cocoa from India

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Mars follows in Cadbury footsteps as it looks to source cocoa from India, a crop that still only accounts for a tiny fraction of world production.

Weiss launches

Europain 2014

Weiss powder praline aims to cut waste

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Powder praline will help confectioners cut waste and save production time previously lost with paste separation, says French chocolate maker Weiss.

Ecom denies that it has failed to make certification premium payments to farmers

Ecom-Armajaro denies failed co-op payments

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Ecom and Armajaro maintain they did not fail to pay farmers for certified cocoa beans as Ecom’s trading license is suspended and a media hotchpotch of leaked documents and official positions ensues.  

'The competitiveness of the European sugar-using food and drink sector is at stake,' industry committee says.

CIUS: EU must act on sugar shortage risk

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

The Committee of European Sugar Users (CIUS) has called on EU member states and the Commission to take adequate measures to avoid sugar shortages and guarantee a sufficient stock level at the end of this business year.

Bean blending sometimes necessary for private label to achieve desired flavors, says Cémoi

Bean blending all the rage for private label chocolatiers

By Oliver Nieburg

The premium private label chocolate industry is becoming increasing interested in the subtleties of cocoa and is willing to sacrifice single origins for a flavorsome blend, according to French chocolatier Cémoi.

Cargill says it has reduced supply chain risks with its new cultivated carrageenan texturizing products

Cargill cultivates carrageenan supply chain

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Cargill says it is diversifying its carrageenans portfolio in both location and species to combat the associated supply risks of the texturing ingredient derived from seaweed.

Indonesian deputy trade minister: “Given that cocoa bean demand for domestic processing is increasing significantly, we have to review our current import policy.

Indonesian trade minister urges cocoa import policy review

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

The Indonesian deputy trade minister has said that after successfully increasing domestic cocoa grinding capacity the country should lower cocoa bean import duties to prevent shortages in the future.