Breaking News on Food Marketing and Retailing

Organic 'shock' failing to dent liquid milk sales - producer

The UK organic dairy market remains optimistic this week following the 'shock' announcement from a leading processor that it was cutting payments to farmers, according to another supplier in the segment.

A new dawn for funky fruit and veg

Michael Mann discusses the implications of the ending of EU legislation regulating the size and shape of fruit and veg.

Spotlight on UK food and drink firms' green initiatives

UK food and drink manufacturers have reduced their CO2 emissions by 17 per cent since 1990, which translates as an average of 58,000 tonnes less carbon dixoide (CO2) annually, claims the FDF.

Brewers spy cartons and taps behind convenience push

While beer makers’ use of box and draught tap packaging are hardly new innovations, some manufacturers hope new developments in these technologies may help capture consumer interest in the sector.

Chocolate covered bacon or chicken skin? Sophisticated, says Mintel

Chocolate consumers are becoming more adventurous, enjoying darker, more unusual flavour combinations with higher cocoa percentages, according to Mintel.

News in brief

Unilever supports brands with dry foods centre

Unilever has opened a new Centre of Excellent Dry Foods in Germany, which will be the hub of R&D on bouillon, seasonings, soups, sauces and mealkits to support its brands.

Nestle’s ‘uphill struggle’ in block chocolate market

Nestle has slashed spending on marketing its Heaven chocolate bar, launched just last year, prompting insiders to question the company’s marketing strategy and the logic of the launch in the first place.

PepsiCo ready for stevia product launches

PepsiCo said it is poised to launch two drinks sweetened with stevia in the US as soon as it is given the green light by the FDA over its GRAS status.

Organic sales set to slip, says Mintel

A new survey from Mintel shows that seeking out organic food is slipping down consumers’ ethical agenda as the credit crunch begins to bite.

Drink groups claim victimisation in UK tax cuts

UK government tax initiatives designed to put the feel good feeling back into the country’s consumers to get them spending has led to calls of ‘humbug’ from drink manufacturers, which claim they are again being unfairly targeted.

Nestle market share growing despite economic downturn

Nestle has said that it is unaffected by current economic conditions and has seen its share of the UK confectionery market rise to 15.6 per cent with a 0.5 per cent growth this year, according to a Reuters report.

Baobab to hit the big time next year, predicts Mintel

Dried baobab pulp, which gained novel foods approval for the EU in June, could be the headline superfruit of 2009, according to Mintel.

Weekly comment

Conjuring with calories: Regulation and labeling changes

There was something magical about the recent news that the caloric value of both gum arabic and erythritol have been officially lowered, but whether it turns out to be a sleight of hand or a real change remains to be seen.

Milk quota reforms distort trade, says UK dairy industry

EU agriculture ministers yesterday agreed on further measures designed to progressively liberalise the bloc’s dairy sector, but industry associations have said these will simply lead to more market distortion.

Frutarom eyes opportunities thrown up by financial turmoil

The global economic crisis will yield rich pickings for food firms with a strong capital structure. So believes Frutarom, which has reported another quarter of impressive growth figures on the back of its most recent acquisitions splurge.

Soft drinks fall with economy, says report

The European soft drinks market has been hard hit by the tightening economic environment, and many stakeholders in the industry are losing confidence in the prospects of the sector, according to a new report.

ECJ hands anti-competition verdict to Irish beef processors

The Irish beef industry’s attempts to reform have been scuppered by an ECJ ruling, which has judged a scheme for some processors to leave the market so as to raise profits for those who remain to be anti-competition.

Beer bottle hoarding gets San Miguel a fat fine

San Miguel Corporation, Southeast Asia's largest food and drinks manufacturer, has been handed a P130 million (€2 million) fine after being found to have engaged in unfair trade practices.

Rising prices harder to swallow in 2009

Food manufacturers will find it harder to pass on rising costs to consumers next year and, in a shaky economy, competition will remain intense, according to a new report.

News in brief

British Sugar promotes icing with decoration competition

British Sugar has found a novel way to promote its Icecraft Sugarpaste, by sponsoring a year-long search for the best amateur cake-decorator.

Irish authorities deny bottle water scare

Irish food safety experts have rubbished reports suggesting consumers in the country may be at risk from alleged contamination of some bottled water brands.

Unilever drops hoodia

Unilever is severing a multi-million euro arrangement with UK-based hoodia supplier, Phytopharm, after concluding the South African plant extract did not meet both safety and efficacy requirements.

Weekly comment

Tackling obesity is no fair-weather game

The long shadow cast by obesity over public health means that encouraging healthier eating should be high on the agenda of every food firm, come financial rain or shine.

Premium spirit push to defy drink concerns - report

Despite growing awareness and concern over the health impacts of alcohol consumption, global consumers are expected to flock towards premium and super premium spirit varieties in the future, says a new report.

FSA launches food fraud hotline

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set up a new hotline to allow individuals and businesses to report fraudulent activity in food sales and marketing in a much quicker and easier way than previously.

Confectioners on track for environmentally friendly Christmas

An industry initiative to reduce seasonal confectionery packaging waste has gathered pace with many manufacturers embracing biodegradable packaging and reducing package volume.

News in brief

InBev cleared for Budweiser buy

InBev says it will divest its responsibility for partially owned Canada-based brand Labatt to clear its acquisition of Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch.

Ministers on board with ‘Southampton six’ phase-out

UK ministers have agreed with a Food Standards Agency proposal on voluntary phasing out of the ‘Southampton six’ food colours by the end of 2009, according the agency’s chief executive.

Certificate system enables more support for sustainable palm oil

The first shipment of sustainable palm oil is set to arrive in Europe next week; but even if manufacturers do not use the oil directly they can still buy into the movement with certificates that allow them to state their support, explained the RSPO president.

EU scraps regulations on forbidden fruit

Ugly and misshapen fruit and vegetables are to be permitted for sale in Europe for the first time – but equal rights are still a dream for many grocery items covered by separate regulations.

China melamine scare may play into big dairy brands' hands

The global furore over the recent melamine contamination scandal in China appears to have driven major shifts in the country’s dairy industry, not all of them to the detriment of manufacturers, says a new report.

Italian biscuit maker gets first bite of Barliv

The first product using Cargill’s Barliv heart health ingredient is expected to hit shelves next month, following a long period of technical play and awareness-building on its cholesterol control effects.

Kerry anticipates five-year growth story in Russia

Kerry Ingredients and Flavours is expecting to see considerable growth in its business in Russia over the next five years, as a result of both its global customers investing in the country and its own investment efforts.

Weekly comment

Beijing Olympic Games clean-up a dirty business

This year’s Beijing Olympic Games may have been good for China’s public image but the smooth running of the event was built on multiple state-prompted sacrifices and the food ingredients industry was one of the lambs that copped it in the neck for ‘the greater good’.

Convenience driving Western European juice boost - analyst

Fruit loving western Europeans are increasingly turning to beverages like juices, smoothies and nectars in their hunt for a more convenient health kick as regional sales of the products were up by 1.6 per cent last year to €23 billion, says new findings.

DoH and FDF move up a gear in struggle against obesity

New steps in food’s role in the fight against obesity in the UK are being taken today by the DoH and the FDF.

EDA suggests time is right for milk price rethink

‘Significant changes’ are required in the approach of European politicians and dairy industries to milk pricing, says the head of the European Dairy Association (EDA).

Process innovation key to survival in credit crunch - KTP

Innovation is even more important for the food and drink manufacturing sector during an economic downturn, claims the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).

Yoghurt drink makers wary of soft drink challenge

As drink manufacturers strive to provide innovative functional products to increasingly health focused consumers, dairy goods such as yoghurt may be an emerging route able to help bridge demand.

EUFIC reveals results of European labelling survey

European consumers are generally aware of nutritional labelling systems and guideline daily amounts (GDA), according to a new survey – but not everyone actually looks for nutritional information on packaging.

Multivitamins and minerals help children's brain function: study

Daily supplements of multivitamins and minerals may improve the brain function of children, says a new study from British and Australian researchers.

Baked goods buoy ABF amidst price turmoil

Bakery products have underlined the overall resilience of UK-based processor and retailer Associated British Foods (ABF) despite what the company calls ‘steadily worsening economic conditions’ during the 2008 fiscal year.

Arla thinking functional in global reshuffle

Arla Foods says that innovation towards healthier products and ingredients combined with a major pushes for its whey protein operations will dominate the future direction of its European and global expansion strategies.

Credit crisis cuts M&A activity in food industry

Consolidation in the food industry shifts down several gears as the global credit crisis cuts into financing opportunities for merger and acquisition activity and cash-rich firms with strong balance sheets sit and wait.

Pepsi stays dairy-free despite yoghurt drink launch

Pepsi says that the Asian launch of a yoghurt-flavoured soft drink does not reflect a wider-company focus on harnessing the potential nutrition benefits of dairy beverages, despite a growing number of product launches across Europe.

FSA reassess drink and chocolate caffeine pregnancy stance

The UK-based Food Standard’s Agency (FSA) has revaluated its guidance on the recommended caffeine intake for pregnant women in a variety of products such as coffee, tea, cola drinks and even plain chocolate over health concerns.

Palm oil groups aim to ship sustainability to Europe

The palm oil industry is claiming a major triumph in terms of sustainability ahead of an incoming shipment of the product to Europe next week, which is seen by some as a milestone for ethical sourcing.

Competition watchdog extends probe of Danisco-Nordzucker deal

The Danisco deal to spin-off of its sugar arm to Germany's Nordzucker faces delays after German competition authorities take their review into a second phase, opting to investigate the €750m takeover further.

Weekly comment

A menu for American food policy

At the time of writing, the US is poised to go to the polls. The next two days are going to be hugely exciting. And when it’s all over, after the victor gets some well-earned rest… he’ll rub his sleepy eyes and ask: ‘What’s for breakfast?'.