Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

KKR speculation highlighting Chinese milk potential

03-Dec-2008 - As speculation mounts over equity group KKR’s rumoured bid for Chinese milk producer Modern Farms, a source close to the potential deal suggests that the country’s dairy sector may see a wealth of future investments.

Weekly comment

Why farm support puts food on plates

01-Dec-2008 - “Four legs good, two legs bad.” When the pigs take over the land in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, they have no hesitation; any creature with four legs is beyond reproach and any human is bad, mad and dangerous to know.

SMEs set to benefit from amendments to EU food labelling proposal

27-Nov-2008 - The draft report on the European Commission’s proposal for the provision of food information to consumers in the EU suggests substantial amendments which would offer small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more flexibility.

Dairy price won’t settle soon, says Fonterra

18-Nov-2008 - Volatile dairy prices are likely to continue in the mid term at least, New Zealand Fonterra has warned, signaling a need for on-going margin vigilance for food makers using dairy derivatives.

IDF optimistic long-term despite cost crunch

14-Nov-2008 - Despite ‘see-sawing’ commodity prices during a year of supply chain uncertainty, a leading dairy industry representative foresees an optimistic future ahead.

Chr Hansen taking control in Eastern cultures push

12-Nov-2008 - Chr Hansen says that inauguration of a new legal entity within Romania is far from just a cosmetic change to their expansion plans and will offer greater control in the development and sale of its dairy cultures.

EDA suggests time is right for milk price rethink

10-Nov-2008 - ‘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).

News in brief

Friesland to sell Kaasfabriek Eyssen

07-Nov-2008 - Friesland Foods has announced plans to shave off its Kaasfabriek Eyssen business to Kaptein, as it is not a core part of its cheese-making operations.

Chr Hansen sees results of tight focus

07-Nov-2008 - Chr Hansen has reported a year of strong growth in 2007/8, putting it in a strong position to expand in the life sciences arena, and in particular health and nutrition.

Weekly comment

A menu for American food policy

03-Nov-2008 - 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?'.

Weekly comment

The hour of stevia is nigh

27-Oct-2008 - The course of true love never did run smooth. The same could be said of stevia’s road to regulatory approval as a food ingredient. One final concerted effort is needed to ensure approval of this hot ingredient.

Destination Luxembourg for frustrated Euro milk-makers

24-Oct-2008 - Luxembourg will provide the stage for a show of growing discontent among European dairy farmers next week, over concerns about the ongoing reform to the bloc’s agricultural policy.

News in brief

Dairy Farmers vote on takeover bid

23-Oct-2008 - The future of Australian milk co-operative Dairy Farmers hangs in the balance as members decide whether to approve a take-over by National Foods; one of the country’s largest food and beverage groups.

News in brief

Parmalat’s Citigroup claim rejected

23-Oct-2008 - Parmalat’s claim for damages against Citigroup, regarding an alleged breach of duty of trust, has been rejected by the Superior Court of Bergen County, New Jersey, United States.

News in brief

Saputo acquires Ontario dairy company

22-Oct-2008 - Canadian dairy company Saputo has acquired Neilson Dairy; formerly a division of Weston Foods Canada.

Danisco spies cardiovascular potential in beta-glucan buy

22-Oct-2008 - Danisco, hungry to boost its presence in cardiovascular health, has taken a minority stake in a New Zealand-based manufacturer of what it claims is a high concentrate beta-glucan.

Weekly comment

Banks’ rescue package points the way for food crisis remedies

20-Oct-2008 - Question: When is a crisis not a crisis? Answer: When it’s a food crisis. Compare the two responses to failures in the food system and financial markets.

Milk farmer concerns persist over processor payouts

14-Oct-2008 - As a leading UK Dairy Processor prepares to increase payouts for their milk supplies from next month, the issue of sustainable pricing for supplies looks far from resolved.

News briefs: Fonterra in China and Friesland Foods

10-Oct-2008 - This week, Fonterra announces support for a Chinese charity to protect infants and mothers in rural areas and Friesland says it will not budge on its provisional 2007 milk price.

News briefs: Fonterra, Saputo and ice cream voting

03-Oct-2008 - This week, Fonterra spies an end to rising commodity prices; Saputo reviews its operations following a fire in its US operations and ice cream gets political.

News briefs: Fonterra, First Milk and Emmi

26-Sep-2008 - This week, Fonterra commits to its troubled Chinese operations, and Europe-based groups First Milk and Emmi reveal their latest financial performances.

FAO calls for tighter scrutiny of infant formula markets

26-Sep-2008 - Infant formula manufacturers need to invest further in safety controls in order to regain public confidence after the Chinese melamine scandal, FAO has said.

New EU proposal aims to make mergers, divisions simpler

26-Sep-2008 - The European Commission has published a new proposal to simplify company mergers and divisions, thereby reducing the administrative burden, especially for SMEs.

Chr Hansen thinking local in global cultures approach

19-Sep-2008 - While many Danish multinationals such as Carlsberg and Lego have opted to shift production abroad to drive their global success, Chr Hansen believes a domestic approach holds the building blocks for world dairy culture domination.