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All news articles > May 2005

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31-May-2005

Ingredients industry business roundup

ConAgra has agreed to pay shareholders millions in compensation, while Nestlé has announced plans to concentrate trading more of its stock in the US.

WILD extends exotics for flavoured water market

Drinks makers looking for gains in the vibrant flavoured water market could opt for new additions to WILD's exotic natural fruit range, says the German flavour firm.

Premium chocolate lifts stagnant sales in Europe, new report

Encouraging signs for chocolate makers in Western Europe as a new report suggests sales of chocolate tablets could be picking up after a dip in recent years.

Grands Chais riding the French wine storm

As chunks of the French wine industry descend into chaos, one family firm is standing tall, proudly talking of a strong sales rise based on clever marketing tactics that producers worldwide could learn from.

Oat science leads to new functional foods

Dutch retailer Albert Heijn is launching a bread carrying a cholesterol-lowering health claim based on its oat beta-glucan content, writes Dominique Patton.

30-May-2005

Round-up: Foster's reels in Southcorp

Foster's has Aussie firm Southcorp in the palm of its hand after increasing its stake in the wine company to more than 90 per cent, reports Chris Mercer.

Tagging makes RFID labels secure, says Creo

Canadian packaging technology company Creo has teamed up with XINK Laboratories, a company that makes conducting ink for printing radiofrequency identification (RFID) antennas, to address RFID tag security issues.

Monday comment

Whining about wine

France is a fading power in the world of wine. And will continue to be, until it turns its face towards a globe where consumers buy what they know.

Rice biotech link up brings gains to Hisparroz

Ambitious rice giant Hisparroz will link up with a gene discovery firm to bring new rice varieties to market and fresh gains to the bottom line, the Spanish group has announced.

27-May-2005

Missed breakfasts and hectic lives drive snacks

A new report from market analyst Datamonitor reveals that UK consumers are continuing to abandon traditional sit down family meals in favour of snacks.

26-May-2005

Cadbury to roll out chocolate for calorie conscious consumers

Confectionery makers continue to tap into consumer weight and health concerns in a bid to boost stagnant sales as UK confectioner Cadbury launches a new range of chocolate bars with under 99 calories.

First omega-3 milks in UK target demand for brain food

The first omega-3 milks to hit the UK market will benefit from increasing demand for healthy children's food, following a wave of media reports on research into brain food and the poor quality of school lunches, writes Dominique Patton.

25-May-2005

Branded milk buoying UK dairy sales

Strong branded milk lines stepping away from generics, and a rise in porridge, tea and coffee consumption are helping to turn around figures for milk use in Britain.

24-May-2005

Ireland to follow neighbours' initiatives against obesity

Ireland is the latest European state to call for new guidelines on food labelling and a ban on vending machines in schools in order to slow down the growing rise in obesity.

Court rules in favour of Campina's milk-derived meat alternative

Dutch dairy giant Campina has clearance to call its new milk derivative product Valess a 'meat alternative' but must provide more nutritional information about the recipe on its website, a Dutch court rules, reports Lindsey Partos.

23-May-2005

W&DB rises as UK beer hits tough times

Acquisitions have helped Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries to a solid sales rise in the UK, the country recently named as one of the world's toughest beer markets by Goldman Sachs, reports Chris Mercer.

Strong branding builds up sales for UK dairy

Strong branded milk lines stepping away from generics, and a rise in porridge, tea and coffee consumption are helping to turn around figures for milk use in Britain.

Fazer buys into Moscow's bake-off trend

Finnish bakery group Fazer has bought its way in to Moscow to take advantage of the growing demand among restaurants for bake-off bread products and frozen dough, reports Chris Mercer.

20-May-2005

Kerrygold buoys FY profits at Irish Dairy Board

The Irish Dairy Board (IDB) has shrugged off slashed CAP subsidies and taken advantage of favourable international trading conditions to notch up a steady increase in both profits and turnover during 2004 trading, Tom Armitage reports.

19-May-2005

Cadbury off to 'good start' but tough trading ahead

British confectioner Cadbury Schweppes confirmed today that it remains on track to meet its annual financial targets, although warned of tough trading conditions in the second half, Tom Armitage reports.

18-May-2005

Blueberry boom in Britain driven by health benefits

Sales of blueberries in the UK have rocketed over the last year as consumers seek the health benefits recently linked to the fruit.

Wiseman reassures anxious investors after FY results

Robert Wiseman Dairies has moved to allay its shareholders' concerns after announcing a disappointing decline in the company's full-year profits, stemming from last year's loss of a lucrative contract to supply Asda with fresh liquid milk, Tom Armitage reports.

Food labels and healthy signposts, food industry waits for consensus

UK food agency launches 'the largest research project to date', to establish the clearest route for food makers to use food labels to flag-up healthy foods.

17-May-2005

Confectioner's demise blamed on supermarket squeeze

Scottish confectioner John Millar and Sons has gone into receivership and blamed aggressive pricing from supermarkets for contributing to its demise, Tom Armitage reports.

Functional bread gains footing in France

French baker Paul has launched bread containing omega-3 fatty acids as functional products gather pace in France's boulangeries, despite some industry and public scepticism after years of poor product development, reports Chris Mercer.

16-May-2005

Cadbury to take organic chocolate mainstream

British confectioner Cadbury is to enter the flourishing organic chocolate sector for the first time, after acquiring Green and Black's - the company behind the UK's fastest growing confectionery brand, Tom Armitage reports.

EU advisor delivers penultimate blow to feta campaigners

A key advisor to the European Court of Justice said last week that certain Greek manufacturers should be given the exclusive right to manufacture feta cheese, Tom Armitage reports.

13-May-2005

Healthy sandwiches head UK snack sector

The drift towards grazing and away from sit-down meals is not yet ended in the UK, with health-oriented sandwiches continuing to drive forwards a market that already accounts for one third of the nation's food and beverage sales, writes Lorraine Heller.

12-May-2005

Australia attacks juice health claims

Allegations that Australia's booming fruit juice industry is misleading consumers by exaggerating health claims will be investigated by the country's competition watchdog, as the juice world looks on, reports Chris Mercer.

New labelling regime driving up product recalls

Tough new labelling regulations concerning allergens may be driving up the number of product recalls by UK's food producers, warns food safety consultancy RSSL.

11-May-2005

Cadbury takeover tattle sparks share surge

Shares in Cadbury Schweppes, one of the world's biggest chocolate manufacturers, have rocketed - as reports surface that US rival Hershey's, together with a private equity group, is plotting a takeover bid, Tom Armitage reports.

Carlsberg hit by shrinking Western beer market

Falling beer markets across Western Europe have claimed Carlsberg as their latest victim, handing the Danish brewer heavy losses in its first quarter despite strong performances in Russia and Asia, reports Chris Mercer.

Haagen-Dazs targets low fat demand

Consumers watching their waistlines continue to drive low fat formulations: ice cream giant Haagen-Dazs launches its first 'light' ice cream version of its classic brand.

10-May-2005

Cadbury stumps up £40m for chocolate factory revamp

Cadbury Schweppes, the world's number two confectionery manufacturer, is to revamp its famous Bournville chocolate-making facility, as demand for its Dairy Milk brand continues to soar, Tom Armitage reports.

Food agency pulls more Para Red products

The trickle of food products contaminated with the illegal colour Para Red continues in the UK, with the country's food agency identifying nineteen more food products for recall yesterday, writes Lindsey Partos.

09-May-2005

Young women crucial to drinks sector growth

There will be fewer young adults around for alcoholic drink firms to target over the next five years but those that are will drink more and be more demanding, with women the driving force, reports Chris Mercer.

Arla, Dairy Crest to profit from UK milk shake-up

UK milk processors Arla Foods and Dairy Crest have had their lucrative contracts to supply fresh milk to UK multiple retailer Morrisons extended - at the expense of rival dairy company Robert Wiseman, Tom Armitage reports.

Food firms falling behind in ability to innovate?

The food industry is falling behind in its ability to innovate, claims an article in this week's The Economist.

04-May-2005

Dairy Crest scrambles after regional dairy co-op

Dairy Crest, one of the UK's leading dairy processors, has confirmed that it is in "advanced discussions" to acquire one of the UK's largest regional dairy co-operatives, Tom Armitage reports.

Ice cream makes you happy, say Unilever scientists

After the dank summer and sales of 2004, ice cream makers looking to boost 2005 figures will find comfort in new research that claims ice cream actually 'makes you happy', reports Lindsey Partos.

03-May-2005

Coca-Cola to test functional citrus drinks

Opportunities are flourishing for flavour suppliers targeting health-positioned drinks as number one soft drinks firm Coca-Cola says it will push R&D investment in health positioned products.

Marketing and health keep Kellogg rising

Kellogg has increased sales and profits in its first quarter through clever pricing and strong marketing investment, helping the firm to forge ahead in healthy snacks and beat off private label competition in cereals, reports Chris Mercer.

02-May-2005

Anheuser strikes back in Budvar battle

Anheuser Busch has won the right to sell 'Bud' beer in Austria in its latest court tussle with Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar, as firms looking to protect Geographic Indicators a forced to raise their game, reports Chris Mercer.

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