All news articles for January 2005

Russia reconsiders Polish dairy ban

Russian authorities are set to readmit Polish dairy exports, according to unconfirmed reports appearing in the Polish press last week, but will this be enough to satisfy overseas investors? asks Tom Armitage.

Danisco improves enzyme position on Genencor deal

Danisco is set to become the world's number two enzyme player, as the Danish ingredients firm signs a deal to acquire US biotech firm Genencor.

Thermo expands range of contamination service

Thermo Electron, which has developed a specialised unit to help food manufacturers in the UK deal with contaminated product batches, is moving into the packaging sector.

Ongoing opportunites from convenience in 2005

Convenience, that dominated growth in global product categories form 2003 to 2004, will drive new product development in the next 12 months. Drinkable yoghurts, sugar substitutes and pre-prepared foods all enjoyed year on year double-digit growth, reports Lindsey Partos.

EU: unified version for food labels across all states?

The European food industry could see a unified version of labels on foodstuffs, and accompanying cost-savings, as Europe's executive arm calls for standardised labels across the EU, writes Lindsey Partos.

Bank of America rebuffed by Parmalat judge

Bank of America, a leading figure in the Parmalat fraud trial, has had its claims for criminal compensation rebuffed by an Italian judge, Tom Armitage reports.

CLA-rich meat, milk to compete with functional foods

Meat and dairy products with higher levels of the healthy fat conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could be available in just three years, say scientists at the Rowett Research Institute in Scotland.

Emmi seals Unilever distribution deal

Emmi Logistique, the distribution division of leading Swiss dairy company Emmi, has entered into a long-term agreement to distribute Unilever's ice cream products across Switzerland and the Netherlands, Tom Armitage reports.

Arla seeks to heal UK milk price rift

Arla Foods UK, the UK subsidiary of Danish-Swedish dairy co-operative Arla Foods, announced yesterday that it is to put its milk prices on hold - a move which will appease British dairy farmers and also temporarily heal a long-running dispute with Robert Wiseman Dairies, Tom Armitage reports.

Australia to benefit from cheese price stability

Global cheese prices rose to new highs last year and are expected to remain firm this year, backed by strong demand in consuming regions and stagnant output among exporting countries such as Australia, reports Anand Krishnamoorthy.

Organic toddler investment to build up future brand loyalty

Rachel's Organic, a leading UK organic dairy manufacturer, has launched an organic yoghurt range targeted towards the toddler market, but is this just a sales-boosting gimmick or a rather shrewd marketing strategy, asks Tom Armitage.

Chr Hansen: Asian growth picks up shortfall in US

Growth in Asian and South American markets boost sales for colours firm Chr Hansen, counterbalancing a fall in revenue in North America for the first quarter of the year.

Chr Hansen launches new culture for low fat buttermilks

Meeting the challenge of organoleptic changes when fat is removed from low fat formulations, Chr Hansen launches a new culture to improve texture in sour cream and buttermilk, writes Lindsey Partos.

Bravo! starts to ship new fortified milk line

Bravo! Foods International has announced that it will begin shipping its new branded fortified milk drink to retail grocery, convenience and independent stores at the beginning of February.

First Chr Hansen food colour plant in China opens

Number one natural colours firm Chr Hansen makes inroads into the lucrative Chinese market, this week unveiling a new food colour factory to meet a rise in local demand, and marking the first step in a raft of investments in the region.

Arla plant closure to up cheese margins

Danish-Swedish dairy co-operative Arla Foods has announced it is to cease operations at one of its Danish cheese warehouses as a result of flagging sales of its hard and semi-hard yellow cheeses, reports Tom Armitage.

Milk labelling divides dairy industry

A campaign launched this month by the Center for Global Food Issues (CGFI) warning consumers against claims made on milk cartons has received short shrift from the organic industry, reports Philippa Nuttall.

Chinese milk boom to provide ongoing investment opportunities

The burgeoning Chinese milk sector is set to continue its rapid expansion on the back of increased consumer awareness and improved distribution networks, but can it provide adequate returns for overseas investors? Tom Armitage reports.

EU membership enhances food production potential

EU membership is the best way of guaranteeing the welfare of Europe's food production, according to a new report.

Russia must act in order to attract foreign investments

Russia must loosen limitations on ownership of the companies by foreign citizens and must improve transparency in order to attract more foreign investments, says a new report of the Organization on Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Competition number one food industry concern

Food companies are expecting a tough year in 2005 with competition and price pressures in the food chain rising to the surface as the key issues, reports Lindsey Partos.

Uniq dairy desserts take blame for disappointing 3Q sales

Uniq, the European chilled food group, announced yesterday that disappointing UK sales of its healthy desserts range had undermined improved sales growth across continental Europe, Tom Armitage reports.

Kraft extends nutrition labelling to US audience

Kraft Foods, the world's biggest food company, has announced its US operation is to provide consumers with more nutritional information about its products - a precedent already set by its UK division, Tom Armitage reports.

Alcan invests in growing Russian packaging market

Aluminium packaging giant Alcan is investing $55 million to build and equip two new Russian plants - a clear indication that foreign firms are beginning to take notice of the Russian packaging market, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Dairy Crest factory closure to focus on boosting branded line-up

Dairy Crest, the UK's biggest dairy company, has announced the closure of its Yeovil factory - a move which the company claims will allow it to pursue its ongoing strategy of building the profile of its branded products, Tom Armitage reports.

Foreign investment pours into China

As food ingredients suppliers take a stake in the burgeoning Chinese market new figures released by the United Nations confirm foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Asia and the Pacific rose by a massive 55 per cent in 2004 on the year before.

UK firm installs double-knifed cheese tower

UK-based The Cheese Company has invested in a cheese tower capable of a throughput of up to seven tonnes per hour - something that the manufacturer claims is a first for the industry.

Brussels boost for UK milk body

The UK Milk Development Council has received a £1.5 million (€2.1 million) grant from the European Commission which it will use to tackle the growing misconceptions surrounding dairy consumption, Tom Armitage reports.

UK licensing agreement to up dairy cattle health

A leading animal sciences group has sold the gene rights of a new breed of dairy cattle to a UK distributor which it claims will give farmers the opportunity to increase their milk yields as well as prevent the proliferation of cattle diseases such as mastitis, Tom Armitage reports.

New EU commissioner underlines food safety priority

Markos Kyprianou, the new Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection in Brussels, will continue in his predecessor David Byrne's foodsteps, pushing to maintain high levels of food safety in the EU.

APV launches new bulk butter packing line

APV has launched a new range of bulk butter packing lines that it claims is ideal for small, medium and large-scale carton filling applications in the dairy and food industries.

Lactalis continues recent acquisition flurry

France's biggest dairy producer Lactalis is set to acquire fellow French dairy producer Pochat, another acquisition aimed at strengthening its branded, consumer dairy product line-up, Tom Armitage reports.

Tetra Pak remodels novelty ice cream coating system

A Tetra Pak subsidiary has found a dipping and coating solution for novelty ice creams, which it hopes will eliminate sub-standard ice cream coatings - welcome news for ice cream manufacturers seeking to satisfy the quality-conscious consumer, Tom Armitage reports.

Dairy ingredients supplier selects special mixing equipment

Adams Food Ingredients, a subsidiary of leading Irish dairy firm Kerry Gold, has installed a new mixing vat which will allow it to halve production time for the manufacture of some of its dairy product ingredients, Tom Armitage reports.

San Miguel makes bid for National Foods

San Miguel, the Philippines-based packaging and food giant, upped bidding stakes for Australia's National Foods yesterday. The move falls in line with the company's policy to expand its presence in other global markets.

Cholesterol-lowering foods to be refunded under Dutch health insurance

Dutch health insurer VGZ is to reimburse policyholders who buy Unilever's range of cholesterol-lowering margarine, yoghurt and milk products in a bid to reduce medical costs related to heart disease, it said yesterday.

Campina secures investment strategy support for 2005

Campina, the Dutch dairy co-operative, has announced it is to focus investment across its milk, yoghurt and dairy-based dessert divisions in 2005, a move which will allow it to penetrate the burgeoning trend for branded dairy products in the Far East, and also consolidate its position across the 'saturated' European market, writes Tom Armitage.

Fundamental CAP reform now in force

Ten member states usher in fundamental reform of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as the new rules entered into force on 1 January this year.

GM cows to up cheese yield

Increasing cheese yields is a key preoccupation for cheese makers the world over. Targeting this concern, scientists in New Zealand have created cows genetically modified to produce high-protein milk for the cheese industry.

Campina exits from Polish dairy processing

Dutch dairy firm Campina will pull out of dairy processing and distribution in Poland to focus on the emerging Polish market for branded, consumer products, reports Chris Mercer.

Tight rules on food contact materials enforced

Food packaging firms enter 2005 facing tough new rules on materials used that entered into force in December 2004. Repealing the former framework Directive 89.109/EEC, the new regulation ((EC) No 1935/2004) lays down stricter demands on the purity of materials which come into direct or indirect contact with food in the packaging chain.

Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Headlines

On your radar

All news

Product news

Product innovations

Related sites

All news

Headlines

All news articles > January 2005

31-Jan-2005

28-Jan-2005

27-Jan-2005

26-Jan-2005

25-Jan-2005

21-Jan-2005

20-Jan-2005

19-Jan-2005

18-Jan-2005

14-Jan-2005

13-Jan-2005

12-Jan-2005

11-Jan-2005

10-Jan-2005

07-Jan-2005

06-Jan-2005

05-Jan-2005

04-Jan-2005

03-Jan-2005

Sign up for your free newsletter

Stay updated on the latest breaking news from your industry

On-Demand Webinars

On demand Webinars

Technical Papers

Weekly / Daily Free Newsletter

Other Newsletters

Related sites

All Decision News Media Sites