Breaking News on Food Marketing and Retailing

Soft drink sales stalled when clear caloric information given, Johns Hopkins study

Sales of soft drinks to adolescents in Baltimore City nose-dived when study participants were exposed to ‘easily understandable’ information about calorie content, according to a new US study.

Red Bull fights Pit Bull filler to EU court defeat

Simply filling a soft drink bearing a trademarked brand name does not itself violate an EU directive regarding use of that sign, according to the European Court of Justice (CJEU) in a high-profile ruling involving Red Bull.

Pile on those truckin' pounds, say Kraft and peers, as opponents cite safety fears

US food giant Kraft says it hopes that more states are allowed to follow the lead of Maine and Vermont and allow heavier 97,000-pound trucks on interstate roads, although opponents fear safety issues.

News in brief

Thorntons issues profit warning

UK-based chocolatier Thorntons has announced that profits have been hit by weakened consumer demand and strong marketing competition ahead of its final year results due next year.

Cadbury finalises $1.3m settlement in chocolate price fixing conspiracy

A US Federal judge has accepted Cadbury’s $1.3m (€995,863) offer to settle in class action lawsuit over its alleged part in a suspected chocolate price fixing scandal also involving Nestle, Hershey and Mars.

Exclusive interview

Beneo: Prebiotic health claim rejections have put prospects “on hold”

The second part of this exclusive interview sees Beneo executive board member, Yves Servotte, explaining the cooling but not crushing effect of EU prebiotic health claim rejections on its inulin-chicory business.

2012 set to see some heavyweight M&A activity? Definitely, say leading food market analysts

Is there appetite for M&A activity in 2012? Food market watchers reckon the sector could see some heavyweight deals next year despite the on-going credit lending challenges.

Exclusive interview

Beneo board: “Let us not forget that functional food responds to a clear demand of the consumer”

In the first part of this exclusive interview, Beneo Group executive board member, Yves Servotte, explains how European Union health claim rules have informed strategic thinking at one of Europe’s biggest and most vocal ingredient vendors.

News in brief

EC gives green light for Panrico takeover

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Spanish bakery supplier Panrico by US based investment manager Oaktree.

United Biscuits silent on split rumours

Snacks giant United Biscuits has refused to comment on continuing rumours of a split at the firm which could lead to a possible sale of its snack and biscuit divisions.

X-ray irradiation of asparagus promises shelf life and safety boosts

Use of low dose x-ray irradiation on vacuum packed asparagus can increase both shelf life and microbiological safety of the product, according to new US research.

‘Some growth potential’ for gum and fair trade chocolate in Belgium – Leatherhead

Any growth in the mature Belgian confectionery market lies in fair trade chocolate and chewing gum, according to an analyst at Leatherhead Food Research.

News in brief

Euro-Colombian juice brand builds UK base

Innovative Euro-Colombian juice brand Juna has told BeverageDaily.com it is expanding fairly rapidly in London after launching in October, having just secured new listings at Selfridges and sandwich shop chain Birleys.

Warburtons coy on expansion plans as growth in gluten-free and Eastern Europe booms

British bakery firm, Warburtons, has announced plans to invest and diversify its business over the next ten years, both in the UK and abroad as it sees strong performance in gluten-free and eastern European markets.

Chocolate imbued with ‘good intentions’ and endorsed by Dalai Lama

A US company has introduced an organic chocolates range that it claims is infused with good intentions and has the Dalai Lama’s seal of approval.

Gin revival rumours greatly exaggerated: Euromonitor

Like author Mark Twain reacting to false reports of his death in reverse, rumours of gin’s sales revival have been greatly exaggerated, according to Euromonitor International.

UK chocolate bucks EU confectionery trend

Chocolate-hungry consumers are helping UK manufacturers buck the European trend of stagnant confectionery sales, according to market research organisation Mintel.

Chickpea flour plugs nutritional gap in gluten-free products

A new long-life flour ingredient derived from chickpeas enables gluten-free ready meals, biscuits, pastry, bakery, snacks and cereals, claims developer Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI).

News in brief

Irish recall after rubber pieces feared in bread loaves - FSAI

A batch of sliced bread is being recalled from stores in Ireland due to the possible presence of small pieces of rubber in the product.

Comment

Lobbyists, start your engines: Can a new health claims formula be won in the European Parliament?

Five years ago the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) became law. Around the bloc, hopeful EU healthy foods and supplements stakeholders submitted more than 44,000 health claim applications.

European consumer favours consistent quality in bread brand choice – study

European consumers prefer bread with soft and springy qualities that deliver consistent quality, according to a study commissioned by bakery ingredients firm Novozymes.

New research programme may boost algae ingredient supply chain

A new research project led by TNO could help to create a more robust and industrially viable algae ingredient supply chain, says the Dutch research group.

Premier Foods to sell Brookes Avana to 2 Sisters Group for €35m

UK-based Premier Foods has reached an agreement to sell its chilled bakery business Brookes Avana to the 2 Sisters Group as it focuses on eight ‘power brands’.

Taura targets Asian and US markets with fruit and veg inclusions

Taura Natural Ingredients, which was launching is URC Inclusions range at FIE in Paris last week, is aiming to enter both the US and Asian confectionery, snack, breakfast cereal and bakery markets with fruit and vegetable pieces produced by rapid concentration.

Laima looks to expand to China and Brazil

Latvia’s largest confectionery producer, Laima, has announced plans to increase its export proportion from 40% to 52% over the next three years, with intentions to target new markets outside of Europe.

Organic ketchup more nutritious than conventional, claims study

Ketchup made from organically grown tomatoes contain higher levels of beneficial antioxidant compounds – like polyphenols – than ketchup made from conventional tomatoes, say researchers.

RFID could push Norwegian super-chilled meat movement: research consultancy

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology could allow for more widespread uptake of super-chilling meat for transport within Norway, according to a technology firm active in the country.

Yeast extract producers defend ingredient against German backlash

European producers of speciality yeast products are defending the use of yeast extracts in food following claims from consumer advocates such as FoodWatch in Germany that the food industry’s use of such ingredients and labelling around them is deceptive.

News in brief

Two French food supplement associations to merge after “difficult negotiations”

The two major French food supplement groups – Synadiet and the SDCA – have reached an agreement to merge their activities, commencing January 1, 2012, after months of what one insider described as “difficult negotiations”.

Kraft’s snacks spin-off targets Asia and Latin America as Rosenfeld appointed head

Developing markets are to make up almost half of revenues for Kraft’s global snacks business as the spin-off business announces Irene Rosenfeld as its head.

Use of nano-materials in foods must be openly debated, warn experts

The use – and regulation – of engineered nano-materials in foods must be openly debated in public, otherwise they risk facing the same fate as genetically modified (GM) foods in consumer perceptions, according to a leading group of UK experts.

Kraft Foods and R&R Ice Cream in £100M deal

Up to £100M in sales could be generated by a new ice cream partnership between Kraft Foods and R&R Ice Cream, R&R claimed this week.

Insolvency affects fewer food firms

The food manufacturing sector has seen a fall in the number of companies becoming insolvent, according to a new study.

Niche bakery potential in Germany for small scale manufacturers – investment agency

Small scale manufacturers could capitalise on high consumer demand for niche bakery products that purport to give health benefits, according to an investment agency for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Consumers want back-to-basics omega-3s

Omega-3 consumers are showing a back-to-basics preference, which is favouring natural products, according to research conducted by Finnish market research firm Invenire Market Intelligence.