Breaking News on Food Marketing and Retailing

New blend makes antioxidant rich chocolate easier to create, says Wild

Wild has launched a blend of plant extracts to help chocolate manufacturers create antioxidant rich products without needing to buy special quality cocoa beans.

Imported ready meals a worry for many Irish

Over 50 per cent of Irish consumers are concerned about the safety of food imported from outside the EU – and 43 per cent about food from other EU member states – a new survey has indicated.

Krones posts H1 loss as year-on-year profits plummet €107m

Krones posted a €16m loss in the first half of 2009 as the continued global economic downturn triggered a slump in sales – compared to a €91m profit for the same period last year.

Gum poised to return to form for Cadbury, says analyst

Chewing gum used to be the hot performer for Cadbury but sales have dropped well below chocolate. Bernstein Research now expects the downward trend to be reversed.

Red Bull hit with record fine for breaching packing regulations

Red Bull UK has been ordered to pay a record £271,800 for flouting regulations on the recovery and recycling of packaging waste over a period of eight years.

Self cleaning barcode system cuts costs and downtime, says company

A unique self-cleaning method that ensures low cost of ownership, minimal downtime and high quality printing of barcodes onto outer case packaging are the benefits claimed by the manufacturers of the system.

Chocolate boom helps Cadbury beat market expectations

Buoyed by strong second quarter chocolate sales, Cadbury has beaten market expectations for the first half of the year.

News in brief

Abbott invests in growing Indian functional foods market

US pharmaceutical firm Abbott has made a significant push in the Indian nutrition market, following its acquisition this week of some of the nation’s leading infant and adult nutrition brands.

Spend more to market healthy foods, says FSA

The UK’s Food Standards Agency has published tough draft recommendations for reducing saturated fat content and portion sizes in sweet baked goods, chocolate and beverages – as well as an increase in marketing spend on healthier products.

Functional foods and ingredients booming in India

Despite low levels of public awareness compared to western markets, functional foods and ingredients are finding growth in areas of India, as consumers switch on to the promise of healthier foods, beverages and supplements.

Post-market food review highlights EU consumer priorities

A review of all new food and beverage product launches in Europe over the past year has revealed an increased focus on three top-of-the-mind consumer issues: The quest for all things natural, the need for speed, and the avoidance of allergens.

Unilever cuts trans fats from soft spreads

Unilever has announced that it will cut the trans fats from its soft spreads, while keeping levels of saturated fat below two grams per serving – even though it could already claim ‘zero trans fats’ on labels.

Weekly comment

Imagining a world where we eat less meat

Cutting back meat consumption is the new darling cause of pop stars. But if necessary environmental and health goals are to be achieved, the whole supply chain needs to be strumming along in tune.

Cadbury settles out of court with Amcor over price fixing allegations

Cadbury has settled out of court with Amcor on the eve of a AUS$236m (€135m) lawsuit in which the packaging supplier stood accused of price fixing.

Private label growth driven by innovation, says Mintel

Private label product innovation has reached unprecedented highs and market share has rocketed as a result, according to market research organization Mintel.

Bottled water association files lawsuit against Eco Canteen TV ads

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is taking Eco Canteen, a manufacturer of stainless steel beverage containers, to court in the US, after its TV advertising campaign allegedly made “false and misleading” claims about bottled water.

Huge differences in salt levels found in global food brands

New research on salt levels in global products from some of the biggest food manufacturers has revealed wide and random variations.

Prebiotic follow-on formula ads censored in UK

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled against Nutricia-owned Milupa over adverts promoting its prebiotic-fortified, follow-on formula, Aptamil.

Commission rejects quota reduction pleas in dairy crisis report

The European Commission has rejected any reduction in milk quotas despite protests from dairy farmers struggling to cope with falling prices.

Rock maker fined for too much colouring

A UK manufacturer of traditional seaside rock has been fined for using too high levels of Ponceau 4R, one of the ‘Southampton Six’ colours implicated a study of hyperactivity in children.

News in brief

Evian signs rPET deal with French recyclers

Evian Volvic has signed an agreement to source recycled PET material from a newly opened plant owned by France Plastique Recyclage (FPR) in a bid to boost it green credentials.

Mars taps into nostalgia trend with Treets return

Mars is bringing back the Treets chocolate snack in the UK to capitalise on the growing popularity of old classics.

Talk more to food industry, committee tells policy makers

More dialogue is needed between the food industry and policy makes to ensure future food security in the UK, with an increase in sustainable domestic production, says a new government report.

Arla free to continue lactose-free advertising

Danish dairy, Arla, has had UK advertising for its lactose-free milk backed by the voluntary advertising watchdog, after the ad was challenged for being misleading.

Weekly comment

Mainstream press ‘exposed’ for health claim sensationalism

Not again! As if industry is not struggling enough with the severity of the European Food Safety Authority’s nutrition and health claims rulings so far, the situation has not been helped by the kind of articles that appeared in the UK press today and yesterday.

New confectionery factory opened at Nestle site

Nestle marked the consolidation of its packaging supply chain in the UK last week with the official opening of a new co-packing factory at its distribution centre in York.

News in brief

CIAA elects Pérez as president

The Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU has elected Jesús Serafín Pérez, CEO of Spanish firm Fuensanta, as the new president of its board.

Views canvassed on GM in Europe

The spectrum of opinions on genetically modified organisms is to come under new scrutiny in a European consultation project to assess EU legislation governing the controversial crops.

Martek wins omega-3 EU Novel Foods approval

Global DHA leader, Martek Biosciences, has gained a draft European Union Novel Foods approval for its proprietary omega-3 ingredient, life'sDHA, to be used in a host of food and beverage applications.

Krones declares ultra-light PET bottle ready for supermarkets

Krones has conducted tests and declared its new ultra-light PET bottle ready for supermarkets.

Asda claims victory in aspartame ‘nasty’ case

A High Court judge has found in favour of Asda in its court battle with Ajinomoto over food and beverage ‘no nasties’ labelling, which listed aspartame as an ingredient not used. Ajinomoto plans to appeal.

RPC develops packaging for Sherbet Fountain revamp

RPC Containers Market Rasen has created a plastic tube and lid for the re-launch of the Sherbet Fountain brand from Tangerine Confectionery.

News in brief

Thorntons chocolate sales melt in the heat

The recession and the hot weather have conspired against chocolate sales as UK-based Thorntons reports dip in quarterly revenue.

Traditional French foods falling out of favour: Study

A new study of French eating habits has shown consumption changes over the last decade – especially among young adults who are hungry for packaged and convenient foods.

Cadbury workers threaten strike action over pay dispute

Workers at Cadbury are preparing to ballot on industrial action following a pay dispute that sparked protests last week.

Calls for supermarkets to publish packing stats rubbished as publicity stunt

Calls by town hall chiefs to force UK supermarkets to publish packaging statistics have been dismissed as a publicity stunt by an industry body, which said retailers already use the minimum of packing material.

Weekly comment

Safety is no accident in food factories

Industrial accidents are not funny. Does anyone need a reminder? Apparently yes; judging by how some headline writers and bloggers made light of the plight of Vincent Smith who died last week after falling into a vat of liquid chocolate at a New Jersey processing plant.

Deals woo shoppers back to ethical, premium products

UK supermarket Tesco says it has seen sales of its premium, organic and fair-trade products return to growth this year, as special offers on top notch goods convince shoppers that they are good value for money.

Japanese brewing giants consider merger

Media reports have suggested that beverage giants Kirin and Suntory are close to a merger but Kirin insists that nothing has been agreed.

News in brief

SABMiller cuts long run European growth forecast

SABMiller has cut its long-term forecast for European sales growth as the global recession eats into demand for beer.

Private label peak has passed, says analyst

Branded food and beverage manufacturers are fighting back against private label, according to a Bernstein researcher, and after a switch caused by price ‘sticker shock’ many consumers go back to their favourite brands.

Almost 25 percent more foods labeled as humane, says survey

The availability of humanely produced food products in US supermarkets has risen by nearly a quarter since last year, according to a survey from The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

Organic sector to coordinate on key messages

The UK’s organic sector is waking up to the need to market its key messages and is planning a conference to examine consumer attitudes and share experiences.

Mars loses Bounty Bar trademark case

Mars has lost its battle to regain trademark rights for the shape of its Bounty Bar at the European Court of First Instance on Wednesday.

News in brief

Coca-Cola turns to packaging to boost beverage sales

Coca-Cola hopes that packaging innovation will help to differentiate its products and drive sales in the highly competitive US carbonated drinks market.

Whole Foods Market seeks non-GMO seal

Whole Foods Market has partnered with the Non-GMO Project to test for the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in its private label products in order to independently verify them as GM-free.

Reformulation on track in the tough times, data indicates

Food reformulation is not slowing down in the recession, according to figures published by the FDF, but regulators should be aware that economic factors could affect priorities going forward.

Aging population could boost sales of healthy foods

Foods that are perceived to bring added health benefits are forecast to be among the fastest growing market trends over the next decade, according to a new report from the NPD Group.

Weekly comment

Defining nano: Size does matter

The Atlantic Ocean separates continents; it also separates schools of thought on the definition of nanotechnology. In order to educate manufacturers and consumers on nanotechnology a definition is critical.

All eyes on sustainable food under Swedish presidency

The CIAA has invited the Swedish presidency to take part in the recently launched Round Table on Sustainable Production and Consumption (SPC); while Sweden has made food and the climate one of its priorities for agriculture over the next six months.

News in brief

Chr Hansen uncorks website on wine cultures

Chr Hansen is boosting awareness of its wine cultures with the launch of a new website to demonstrate its offerings, expertise, and way of working.

Sustainable packing an emerging consumer trend - study

The increasing importance of sustainable packaging as a consumer issue means companies need to constantly reassess the amount of packing they use, according to a new report.

EU funding vital to cushion extra animal welfare costs, say meat processors

Europe’s meat processors will suffer unless the European Commission meets extra costs resulting from a new regulation on improving animal welfare at slaughter, said an industry body.

Recycling RFID tags cuts food waste, traceability costs: Study

Reduced food waste and lower traceability costs could result from a new independent study which confirms that RFID tags can be used effectively more than once.

Dispatches from EUSTAS stevia symposium

Early harmonisation urged for stevia standards, methods

As the stevia industry is poised for wide take-up, harmonisation and recognition of the need for standards is crucial to securing a good reputation from the outset, according to ChromaDex CEO.

News in brief

PepsiCo opens its first green plant in China

Beverage and food giant PepsiCo has pledged to invest $1bn in China and has opened its first eco-friendly plant in the western city of Chongqing.

EU scraps ban on misshaped fruit and veg

Less food waste and more choice will result from the EU’s decision to scrap completely its 20-year ban on misshaped fruit and vegetables.

Supermarkets still using too much packaging, says survey

UK supermarkets are using too much plastic packaging for food products and both retailers and packing manufacturers could do more, a new survey has concluded.

Focus on sweeteners among Mintel taste test winners

Sweeteners old and new were in the spotlight as Mintel announced the products that won its taste test from last month’s IFT trade show in Anaheim.

Tate & Lyle reveals global consumer research on fiber

With global consumption rates of fiber still well below recommended intake levels, consumers in Latin America and the US are most aware of the need to add more fiber into their diets, while awareness in Europe still lags behind.

PepsiCo forms partnership with Japanese snack company Calbee Foods

Food and beverage giant PepsiCo has acquired a 20 per cent share of Calbee Foods Company; Japan’s largest snack firm.