Dairy industry set for global ‘squeeze’ as supply exceeds demand - Rabobank

The dairy industry will experience a “slow squeeze” in the final quarter of 2012 as global supply continues to exceed demand, Rabobank has claimed.

Dairy Crest St Hubert sale to private equity player will 'transform' balance sheet - City

Dairy Crest announced today that it has received a binding €430m offer from Paris-based Montagu Private Equity for the entire share capital of its St Hubert spreads business, a deal welcomed by...

General Mills aims to make up for lost time through US yogurt innovations

Yoplait manufacturer General Mills is set to launch a “strong innovation line-up” over the coming year in an effort to reclaim a greater share of the Greek-dominated US yogurt market.

Danone set to acquire majority share in Moroccan dairy giant

French dairy giant Danone has entered into an agreement that, if completed, will see it become the majority shareholder in Morocco’s leading dairy product firm.

The private label dilemma: To be or not to be?

Suppliers that want to jump aboard the private label surge will face a fine balancing act of co-producing for the sector and branded goods, according to Rabobank.

Lye-contaminated milk recalled in latest blow to Chinese dairy industry

Hundreds of cartons of milk have been recalled in China after a production line error left some products contaminated with alkaline water.

UAE dairy giant eyes camel milk export explosion

Developed market demand for camel milk products looks set to help drive the export ambitions of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) largest milk producer in coming years.

Glanbia breaks spin-off silence with new JV blueprint

Glanbia hinted yesterday that it is close to spinning-off its Irish dairy ingredients business, but said no deal would be sealed between management and its major cooperative shareholder before August.

Kraft urges FSANZ to remove plant sterol-enriched cheese packaging restrictions

Kraft Foods has urged Australasian authorities to remove restrictions on the package size of low-fat cheese enriched with phytosterol esters – less than two years after calling for their implementation.

Fonterra outside investor scheme not in the clear yet

New Zealand’s cooperative dairy giant Fonterra has voted in favour of outside investment for the first time but there is clear opposition to the move.

SABIC: 'tough' new HDPE grade shows our dairy commitment

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has launched a new blow-moulding grade of HDPE (high density polyethylene) to make bottles for milk, other dairy products and juices in ‘tough’ conditions.

Cartons trounce HDPE and PET in new life cycle study: SIG Combibloc

SIG Combibloc claims that a new life-cycle assessment (LCA) by Germany’s Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU) confirms milk cartons have a better environmental profile than HDPE or PET...

News in brief

Mitsubishi claims new dairy stake will help it hit Japanese markets

Japanese giant Mitsubishi says it new agreement to acquire a controlling 24% stake in Australia-based Tasmanian Dairy Products will help it expand its dairy manufacturing business and serve the Japanese market.

BREAKING NEWS

Arla Foods supply deal secures Chinese product pipeline for infant formula firm

Arla Foods has signed a financing and supply agreement with signficant pediatric nutrition and baby care product producer Biostime International Holdings to supply the Hong Kong-listed company with infant formula. ...

UK salt intake: Consumption falling, but still some way off targets

The average intake of salt in the UK population has fallen from 9.5 grams per day to 8.1, however consumption is still a long way from the 6 grams a...

China safety scandals represent advantage for foreign dairy firms – analyst

Western food safety standards represent a definite advantage to foreign firms attempting to enter the growing Chinese dairy market, an industry analyst has told DairyReporter.com.

Probiotics begin to flex their muscle in the sports nutrition market

The potential benefits of probiotic ingredients in sports nutrition products may extend beyond immune support, as emerging evidence suggests a potential to enhance protein utilization.

Bioactive whey proteins show benefits for blood vessels: Glanbia study

A whey-protein-rich ingredient may improve blood vessel function in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease, reports a new randomized, double-blind study supported by Glanbia.

Billerud to merge with Korsnas to create all-Swedish packaging fibre giant

Billerud  has announced it is to merge with fellow Swedish packaging outfit Korsnas as part of a bid to create a leading virgin-fibre market player with an annual turnover exceeding...

First Milk posts profits increase on back of Wiseman Dairies sale

Despite a “tough” year, UK dairy cooperative First Milk has posted pre-tax earnings of more than £13m – a figure significantly boosted by the sale of its shareholding in Robert...

UK Dairy 2020 strategy is not just another ‘vision document’ - endorsee

Dairy 2020 – the UK dairy sector’s latest sustainability strategy - is not just another food industry ‘vision document’, but a plan to add value to the whole dairy supply...

Danone issues profit warning over Spanish dairy consumption collapse

French dairy giant Danone has issued a profit warning for 2012 – reducing its operating margin target to account for the collapse of dairy product consumption in Spain and other...

LGG probiotic may protect day care kids from respiratory illness: Study

Long term consumption of milk containing the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain may protect children in day care from respiratory illness, says a new study from Finland.

New website aims to underline differences between natural and artificial trans fats

The Canadian beef and dairy industries have set up a new website designed to underline the difference between natural and artificial trans fats, highlighting research that suggests naturally occurring trans...

Dairy industry and retailer merchandising collaboration is ‘recipe for success’ - research

Retail merchandising displays that provide consumers with dairy-based ‘meal solutions’ could reap double-digit unit and dollar sales growth, US research has found.

Arla signs agreement with Mengniu to strengthen China exports

Arla Foods looks set to strengthen its presence in the Chinese dairy market and boost exports after signing a wide-ranging agreement with dairy giant Mengniu.

Mercury-tainted milk powder mires China in new safety scandal

A new food contamination scandal has hit China this week after elevated levels of mercury were detected in infant formula made by the country’s top producer.

Müller UK agrees to acquire Greencore Minsterley chilled desserts facility in £4m deal

Müller UK has reached an agreement with Greencore to acquire its Minsterley chilled desserts production facility in a deal worth £4.3m, plus stock.

Mengniu looks to ‘eliminate’ small farm raw milk sourcing in quality assurance effort

Chinese dairy giant Mengniu intends to source 100% of its raw milk supply from large-scale farms and ranches by 2015 - “eliminating” its association with small dairy farms.

Fonterra boosts dairy powder power with takeover swoop

Fonterra has signed a conditional agreement to acquire the milk processing assets of South Canterbury-based New Zealand Dairies (NZDL), and said the dairy site would boost its export capacity, where...

Infant formula marketing tightened as EU Parliament adopts PARNUTS amendments

The European Dietetic Food Industry Association (IDACE) says first-reading amendments to EU dietetic food laws approved in the European Parliament today can provide the basis for a ‘soft landing’ even...

Milk fat may lead to bowel diseases by altering gut bacteria: Study

Saturated milk fats commonly found in Western processed foods could be leading to changes in the gut ecosystem that result in higher risks of inflammatory bowel diseases, warn researchers.

R&R Ice Cream recalls ChokaBlok products over broken lolly stick contamination

R&R Ice Cream is recalling three flavours of a ChokaBlok ice cream products in the UK over fears they are contaminated with fragments of broken lolly stick.

Premium indulgence trend in Norway spells opportunities for manufacturers – analyst

A shift towards premium indulgent food products in Norway could create opportunities for manufacturers, according to an analyst.

Penford unveils ‘breakthrough’ casein replacer for imitation cheese

Penford Food Ingredients has introduced a new casein replacer for imitation cheese that it claims is a breakthrough for the industry, allowing for larger reductions of casein than ever before,...

News in brief

Chinese scientists breed low-lactose milk producing calf

Chinese scientists claim to have bred the world’s first genetically-modified calf that in two years will produce low-lactose milk.

General Mills’ Greek yogurt is ‘not yogurt at all’, lawsuit claims

A class action lawsuit filed in California claims that General Mills’ Yoplait-brand fat-free Greek yogurt is misbranded because it contains milk protein concentrate (MPC), which is not listed as a...

FrieslandCampina enter acquisition agreement in latest growth strategy move

Dutch dairy giant Royal FrieslandCampina (FC) has entered into an agreement with the Irish Dairy Board to acquire its Belgium-based continental cheese packing segment IDB Belgium N.V.

Private equity in pole position to acquire Dairy Crest spreads business - analysts

Dairy Crest's French branded spread business, St Hubert, is attracting a host of potential buyers, according to industry analysts - with private equity firms looking like favourites to complete an acquisition in excess...

'Untargeted' milk adulteration detection method in development – IDF

An “untargeted” infrared (IR)-based approach to preventing milk adulteration is under development, offering the dairy industry the ability to detect the presence of unknown adulterants.

Milk ingredient could protect against obesity – research

An natural ingredient found in milk could protect humans against obesity, even while enjoying a diet high in fat, research has found.

DAIRY INDUSTRY ANSWERS

Dairy industry answers: Nestlé China begins dairy farmers institute construction

Earlier this week, Nestlé began construction on its new Dairy Farming Institute in Shuangcheng, China. DairyReporter.com spoke to Nestlé China’s Jonathan Dong about the firm’s efforts to educate Chinese dairy...

European Dairy Association (EDA) welcomes ruling on ‘misleading’ soy yoghurt

The European Dairy Association (EDA) has welcomed a Dutch court decision stopping soy-based food and beverage manufacturer Alpro using the term ‘yogurt’ in isolation to market and advertise products.

Danone and Chobani lead ‘two horse’ US Greek yogurt race - analyst

Danone and Chobani have taken a clear lead in what has become a “two horse race” to dominate the US Greek yogurt market, Wall Street analysts have claimed.

News in brief

US Olympians sport milk moustaches to showcase benefits of milk

Five US athletes, currently preparing for the 2012 London Olympics, are the latest in a line of famous faces to star in adverts for the country’s ‘Got Milk?’ campaign.

South African infant formula purchase boycott lacks ‘merit’ - Nestlé

Nestlé South Africa has shrugged-off threats of a purchasing boycott relating to infant formula among the country’s Hindu community, stating that the encouragement by a religious leader lacks “merit.”

California raw milk producers deserve whey more from processor pricing - campaign

California-based dairy producers have called for an increase in the price paid to them for raw milk by cheese processors, in an effort to collect a greater share of the market value...

Chr Hansen aims at Poland’s €4m local cheese cultures market

Danish ingredients giant, Chr Hansen, is taking fire at Poland’s lucrative local cheese sector with a new, revived cultures line it says targets production requirements of the nation’s favoured cheese....

Saputo opposes raw milk price increase after ‘negatively impacted’ FY 2012 results

Dairy giant Saputo has called on authorities in California not to increase the price paid by processor for raw milk in the state, after posting results “negatively impacted” by a...

Consolidated Container Company acquired by Bain Capital Partners

Consolidated Container Company (CCC) said its acquisition by affiliates of Bain Capital Partners LLC will provide the platform to expand its capabilities and customer base.

Infant formula brain development benefits within range of breast milk - report

The brain development of infants raised on milk-based infant formula does “not differ significantly” from those fed breast milk and soy protein-based formula, a US study has claimed.

Probiotic health claims find an EU lifeline

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) may have rejected 100% of the probiotic health claim applications that have in recent years appeared in its inbox, leading some to suggest the...

Dean Foods forecasts dairy segment growth as raw milk price stabilises

Dean Foods is projecting double digit operating income growth in 2012 for its fresh dairy segment as raw milk commodity pricing becomes more “stable.”

Fonterra not breaking proposed farm gate milk pricing rules – NZ competition authority

Dairy giant Fonterra is operating within the rules when it sets the price it pays to farmers for their raw milk, the New Zealand Commerce Commission has confirmed.