United Biscuits rolls out healthier crisps

Following its decision to cut saturated fats from top snack lines, European biscuit and crisp manufacturer United Biscuits UK (UBUK) is venturing further into healthier reformulation with the relaunch of...

Northern Foods struggles after bakery slump

UK food group Northern Foods is struggling in the competitive domestic bakery market - adding heat to rumours it may be forced to sell off its core Fox's biscuit brand.

Agora's suppliers deliver to single point

Food processors supplying Agorà, one of Italy's largest retailers, will now have a single point of delivery for their products.

Food and drink prices on the rise

Prices for food and drink have risen sharply in the UK over the last year, in a sign that higher input costs are increasingly being passed down the supply chain.

EU switches wine reform focus

Plans to rip out 400,000 hectares of vines to drain the EU's bulging 'wine lake' will be watered down to put greater emphasis on marketing wines abroad, Commission officials have confirmed.

ABF grows grocery operations

Associated British Foods (ABF), owner of the UK's third largest bread brand Kingsmill, has extended its grocery portfolio with the acquisition of Indian food brand Patak's.

No deal in international coffee talks

Coffee processors and producers will have to wait another year for a new International Coffee Agreement after talks over the last week failed to make a breakthrough.

Ireland recommends vitamin D supplements for infants

The Irish Food Safety Authority (FSAI) has recommended the implementation of a national policy of vitamin D supplementation in all infants aged 0-12 months.

Bird flu infects two people in UK, tests confirm

Two people have been infected with the bird flu virus that has caused an outbreak on a farm in North Wales, tests have confirmed.

Coca-Cola to pay $4.1bn for health-drinks maker

Coca-Cola will pay $4.1bn (€3.05bn) to acquire Glacéau and its full range of health-based water brands, including Vitaminwater.

Ethnic foods drive innovation from manufactures, flavour cos

Growth in the retail ethnic foods in Europe is outpacing overall growth in the foods and drink sector, according to Leatherhead Food International, offers new challenges and opportunities to manufacturers...

Underperforming bakers struggle in competitive UK market

Testing times lie ahead for UK bakery manufacturers, according to industry analyst group Plimsoll, who say one in four companies are currently at risk of failure.

MEPs flatten alcohol tax plan

Plans to raise minimum excise tax on beer and spirits in the EU came to a standstill this week, after a hammer blow from the European Parliament.

Groups aim to double UK vegans by year-end

Twenty-five UK groups have joined forces to form a Super Vegan Dream Team to promote the vegan diet, say the organisers of a vegan event in Bristol, buoyed by attention...

British Sugar rolls out clean-label syrup

UK ingredients manufacturer British Sugar has developed a new liquid sugar product, suitable for both bakers and confectioners and designed to re-introduce traditional golden syrup to a modern, more health-conscious,...

Non-GMO driving Russian food price increase

New voluntary screening and voluntary 'No GMO!' labelling is driving up food prices in Moscow, according to reports, with food manufacturers complaining that the voluntary certification is becoming mandatory for...

Rumours abound as Cadbury looks to chocolate market

News that Cadbury may be on the verge of selling off its beverages arm has prompted rumours of multiple acquisitions for its chocolate half - in what would be a...

Dairy exports set to fall, says EU

Rising demand for dairy in the European Union is likely to see the bloc's dairy industry lose market share in several export markets over the next decade, a Commission report...

Mediterranean diet linked to low lung disease risk

Consuming a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruit, vegetables and fish, may reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 50 per cent, says new research from Harvard.

Britvic back on the growth track

Soft drinks maker Britvic had sales of carbonated and still soft drinks ahead of the UK market in its first half, an encouraging sign for the industry's prospects.

UK waste reduction guide designed to help industry

A new UK guide designed to help retailers and processors cut down on packaging waste serves as an example for other EU companies.

Asda reformulates to cut out artificial additives

UK supermarket Asda said it is removing artificial colours and flavours from all of its private label food and beverage products - the biggest indication to date of the shift...

Tate & Lyle rebalances private label dairy desserts

Tate & Lyle is introducing two new ingredient systems under its Rebalance range for desserts and sauces with reduced sugar or no-added sugar.

Functional foods need closer monitoring - experts

Functional foods need systematic monitoring because not enough is known about their long-term safety and effectiveness, Dutch scientists have stated.

Snack makers urged to target health nuts

Manufacturers of nut snacks could boost lacklustre sales by marketing the products from a health platform and being more vociferous in publicising the nutritional benefits of a diet rich in...

Dairy Crest to shut milk facility

More consolidation is looming in UK dairy, after Dairy Crest said it may close its milk bottling and production factory in Totnes.

Campina re-jigs dairy for added value future

Dutch dairy co-operative Campina has said it will close one factory and sell off another in order to free up more funds for added value cheese and milk, two sectors...

No split for personal care division says Unilever

The chairman of Unilever has this week hit out at claims that the group may divide into two separate entities for food and personal care production to boost its operations.

Splenda ad slogans banned in France

A European court has said that the marketing of the sweetener Splenda is misleading to consumers, and has ordered that its advertising slogans be ceased.

Mars maker angers vegetarians with product reformulation

Confectionery company Masterfoods has come under fire in the UK for altering the formulation of some of its best-known chocolate brands.

Euro Freeze prosecuted for selling illegal meat

Euro Freeze (Ireland) has received a £13,000 (€19,000) fine after being prosecuted in a UK court for illegally putting false health certificates on meat products.

CASH maintains pressure on UK soup formulators

Almost 50 per cent of commercial soups in the UK do not meet targets for salt levels, says a new report from the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH)....

New vegetable snack targets healthy eaters

Food researchers in Italy have developed a new process for the formulation of vegetable-based snacks in a bid to bridge the gap between fast, on-the-go snacking and meeting consumer health...

Magners cider eyeing Europe expansion

C&C Group, the Irish owner of Magners cider, said it is looking to expand the brand in mainland Europe after breakthrough success in the UK last year.

Starbucks supports coffee trademark plan

Ethiopia's coffee industry, one of the largest in the world, was this week closer to establishing a set of premium trademarks for its beans after signing up coffeehouse giant Starbucks.

Chiquita struggles on after Q1 loss

Leading banana supplier Chiquita has reported a $3m loss for its first quarter, hit by increased industry costs, unfavorable pricing and an exit from unprofitable business in Chile.

Europe must act on wholegrain health claims, says expert

The new health claims regulation has rekindled interest in exploring the benefits of wholegrains, said consultant Prof David Richardson, but there is a need for action in Europe to ensure...

Health concerns drive latest Danisco range

Danisco claims it latest pectin-based ingredient ranges will cater for the growing demand amongst sweet-toothed consumers for healthier and nutritious confectionery.

Alcoa makes bid for Alcan

Alcoa today announced $33bn (€24bn) hostile bid for Alcan in a move to consolidate two of the world's largest aluminium suppliers to the beverage and packing industries.

Bourse may be best for confectioner, says report

Pobeda, a Bulgarian confectionery company, could be set to list on the country's stock exchange as it moves to take greater advantage of the growing trade opportunities offered by EU...

Green Watch

UK brewer takes industry lead on climate change

Solar panels, a roof made of plants and a plan to become carbon neutral have scooped UK brewer Adnams a top environment award, providing another example of how the drinks...

Danisco discusses sale of flavour division

Danisco has confirmed the truth of market rumours that it is involved in negotiations over the possible sale of its flavours division.

Debate rages on innocent McDonalds trial

A decision by juice and smoothie group, innocent, to trial its drinks in McDonalds restaurants has caused debate among the UK firm's consumers.

Vitiva targets Russian meat sector with Elite deal

Slovenian ingredients firm Vitiva is seeking to tap potential for its rosemary markets in the Russian meat sector, with a new strategic alliance with Elite Food Ingredients of Moscow.

Snacks dominate Kellogg quarter growth

Cereal giant Kellogg this week said it had stronger than expected first quarter results as net sales rose nine per cent to $3bn.