Breaking News on Food Marketing and Retailing

EU article 13 health claims register

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

16-May-2012 - It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from the European Commission.

Comment

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

15-May-2012 - Vitafoods celebrates its 15th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial and belated) resolution of years of ambiguity regarding health claims in Europe.

Kellogg’s revamps brand, but significantly?

15-May-2012 - Global cereal giant, Kellogg’s is investing in a ‘significant’ revamp of its 106-year-old brand in a bid to resonate better with today’s tech savvy consumers, but analysts say it won’t be anything significant.

2011 UK carbonate sales fizz while fruit juice stalls

14-May-2012 - UK volume sales of fruit juices and dilutables fell last year, according to a new report from the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) but carbonates, smoothies and sports drinks all saw growth.

International Cocoa Initiative partners with ILO to tackle child labour on cocoa farms

14-May-2012 - The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), has entered a public-private partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to target 5,000 children in child-labour or at high risk of falling into child labour on cocoa farms in West Africa.

News in brief

‘Drink milk if you know what’s good for you!’ Vinnie Jones unveiled as new face of UK milk campaign

14-May-2012 - Footballer turned Hollywood hardman Vinnie Jones has been unveiled as the latest face of the UK ‘Make Mine Milk’ campaign.

Rexam reveals Pepsi trial of 'unique' FUSION aluminium bottle in Italy

11-May-2012 - Rexam has revealed to BeverageDaily.com that its FUSION aluminium bottle has established a foothold in Europe, with PepsiCo even trialing it in Italy this year, the first launch using a carbonated soft drink (CSD).

United Biscuits cools ‘rumours’ of milk chocolate Jaffa Cakes

11-May-2012 - United Biscuits has cooled reports that it is developing a milk chocolate version of its traditionally dark chocolate orange-flavoured treat, Jaffa Cakes, casting it off as ‘rumours’.

BrewDog slams ‘jealous’ Diageo for trying to fix innkeeping awards

10-May-2012 - Diageo has ‘apologised unreservedly’ after Scottish independent BrewDog accused it of ‘overbearing and blackmailing behaviour’ in leaning on a judging panel to prevent its smaller rival from winning an award.

Red Bull hopes new ‘Total Zero’ variant will give it wings after analysts warn of limited portfolio

09-May-2012 - Red Bull is launching a new variant of its eponymous energy drink with no calories, sugar or carbohydrates, adding to a limited product portfolio that analysts had identified as a weakness.

Pepsi NEXT risks re-hashing failed concept with new flavour: analyst

09-May-2012 - PepsiCo’s new mid-calorie cola brand ‘NEXT’ risks 're-hashing a failed concept behind a new flavour', despite data supporting low-calorie cola growth, according to Euromonitor International.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate enters Asia

07-May-2012 - US-based manufacturer and store franchise Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has signed a licensing agreement enabling it to enter Japan.

PepsiCo recalls Tropicana OJ after ‘microbiological contamination’ dispatch error

03-May-2012 - PepsiCo UK has initiated a recall of Tropicana Kids Orange Juice Drinks over fears the cartons contain potentially hazardous water rather than the typical orange juice blend.

Mars scientists develop research tool to establish cocoa health links

26-Apr-2012 - New methods for measuring the stereochemical forms of flavanols in cocoa that could determine whether health benefits can be derived have moved a step closer, say Mars.

Dr Pepper Snapple hints at new TEN launches in 2013 as non-carbonate sales slump

26-Apr-2012 - Dr Pepper Snapple Group's net income fell year-on-year in Q1 2012 with a marked slump in non-carbonate sales, although Dr Pepper TEN drove higher carbonates sales, with the firm hinting at further launches on this platform in 2013.

Industry damns sucralose study at cancer conference

25-Apr-2012 - Research led by the controversial Italian scientist, Dr Morando Soffriti, linking the artificial sweeteners sucralose and aspartame to cancer, was presented today at the Children with Cancer science conference in London; a move industry is damning “irresponsible”.

Novel plant blend could be a game changer in fight vs metabolic syndrome, claim inventors

25-Apr-2012 - Florida-based ATM Metabolics is in advanced negotiations with some of the biggest food and beverage brands in the US and Europe about incorporating Emulin - the insulin-mimicking active ingredient in GNC’s top-selling glucose control supplement GC7X - into packaged foods and drinks.

WEEKLY COMMENT

Fine words and cartoon cows: ‘ambitious’ UK dairy vision must be backed by cash

25-Apr-2012 - Another day, another food industry ‘vision document’ complete with funky cartoon cows. It seems that everyone is falling over themselves to get in on the act with such publications, especially in regard to everyone’s favourite food industry buzz word ‘sustainability’.

WEEKLY COMMENT

Heineken’s dog fight 'distress' shows the perils of viral marketing

23-Apr-2012 - Heineken has condemned images showing its branding displayed at a Mongolian dog-fighting event, but consumer disgust and the resultant media furore shows that viral web ‘branding’ is like a nuclear bomb, undeniably effective but with unpredictable and sometimes grotesque results.

Dragon Rouge seizes 'pressing need' to reposition Danone Actimel

20-Apr-2012 - Design agency Dragon Rouge has redesigned the UK packaging for Danone's Actimel yogurt drink in the country, citing a 'pressing need and opportunity' to reposition the brand.

Analyst warns that GSK’s ‘strategic masterstroke’ with Ribena Plus could backfire

19-Apr-2012 - Despite shrewd use of an EU ‘immunity support’ health claim, GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK’s) new Ribena Plus risks consumer confusion and cannibalisation of regular product sales, a beverage industry expert has warned.

Chr Hansen shares jump 9% on strong H1 profits

19-Apr-2012 - First half EBIT profits for 2011-12 surged 19% to €83m at Chr Hansen as it shrugged off the effects of severe fluctuations in the price of red colorant carmine, and ongoing probiotic health claim uncertainty in Europe – its biggest yet most stagnant market.

Coke looks to shake up carbonates with ‘sexy’ Jean Paul Gaultier bottle

17-Apr-2012 - Coke hopes that the glamour associated with such collaborations as its new venture with fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier will shake up a wider carbonates category hit by volume declines in some established markets.

‘Nimble’ SMEs: The innovators of industry

17-Apr-2012 - SMEs are not bound by corporate structure and are therefore flexible to respond to market changes quickly and innovate accordingly with many eyeing the premium, niche segment, according to industry expert.