Dutch-based international food ingredients company CSM has reached
an agreement with Unilever on the acquisition of its bakery
ingredients business in Hungary.
The UK competition authorities have asked permission from the
European Commission to rule on the proposed merger of Arla Foods
and Express Dairies in the UK.
Latest research into the beneficial impact of peptides in fermented
milk might have on lowering consumer's blood pressure brings good
news for manufacturers of drinking yoghurts.
Dairy giant Arla Foods is planning to cut 600 jobs over the next
three financial years. The job losses will largely be contained
within the group's administrative departments.
Developed for Pati Prestige, French Group Mecaplastic has launched
a new packaging concept for ultra fresh traditional pastry under
modified atmosphere.
RhodiaFood, part of French speciality chemicals company Rhodia,
recently announced that it would hike up the price of its Rhodigel
food grade xanthan gum by 10 per cent.
EU finance ministers are today trying to agree plans to tax
cross-border income from savings. But officials say they cannot
predict whether they will be able to manoeuvre around the issue of
Italian milk quotas.
Dairy processor Robert Wiseman has posted an 11 per cent increase
in sales volumes for 2002, helped by investment in its dairy
facilities and important new supply contracts with the major
multiples.
The US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) believes that 2002 was a good
year for the industry, with exports exceeding $1 billion (€878m).
The export of some dairy products, however, declined.
Krest'yanskoe, a Soviet-era brand produced by a number of different
companies, remains the most popular brand of butter in Russia, but
its popularity is coming under increasing international pressure.
German enzyme company AB Enzymes, a subsidiary of ABITEC Group, the
food ingredient and specialty chemicals group, announced this week
that it has acquired Gamma Chemie, a German-based enzyme business.
A new Danish milk-based snack has been launched in Saudi Arabia.
The product, called Hayya, is aimed to provide kids with a
healthier alternative to chocolate.
A new technology which produces mozzarella cheese in ribbons rather
than blocks could give Ireland-based Glanbia Cheese a major
competitive advantage in the European pizza cheese market.
Mad Cow, a milk-based energy drink to challenge market leader Red
Bull, has been launched in the USA. The product is manufactured by
New Jersey-based Liquid Billboards.
With cheese sales declining as a result of price competition, the
unique marketing opportunity offered by the EU's Protected
Designation of Origin scheme could prove vital for boosting future
sales.
A substantial improvement in the profitability of its core dairy,
rice and sugar unit has helped Spain's Ebro Puleva group to
maintain profit levels in the first quarter despite a decline in
sales.
Tetra Pak has just launched the latest in its line of gable top
carton packaging systems, which has been specifically designed with
both hygiene and safety in mind.
Zip-Pak has announced the development of a zipper technology
specifically designed for barrier packaging that is said to
eliminate the need for equipment upgrades or retrofitting.
Swedish ingredients company Karlshamns reports that growing
competition and decreasing margins characterised the market for
chocolate fats designed to replace cocoa butter.
UK cheese producer Wensleydale has linked up with Ulma, a leading
player in the country's flexible packaging marketplace, for a new
packaging solution to cope with increasing production of speciality
lines.
The subsidiary of Raisio Group, Raisio Nutrition, has bought a
dairy in Istra, just outside Moscow and is due to start production
there as soon as government regulations are fulfilled.
Swiss food group Nestlé has reported solid organic growth for the
first quarter of 2003, stressing the importance of product
innovation during the period. But actual sales declined as a result
of the continued strength of the Swiss...
Arca Systems, which develops products and systems for materials
handling, has developed a new packaging system for soft drink
products together with The Coca-Cola Company.
French dairy ingredients company EPI Ingredients has launched a new
product under its Epilac line of fermented dairy proteins, for use
in high protein foods and supplements. Epilac 910 contains a 60 per
cent protein content making...
Dutch researchers have developed a model that predicts how cheese
will change when force is applied to it. The model will help to
predict how cheese might be damaged during packaging or
transportation.
Fromageries Bel, the French cheese group, has reported a slight
decline in sales as a result of the depreciation of the dollar and
poor economic conditions in core markets such as Germany and the
Middle East.
Danish dairy Vellev, part of the Arla Group, has improved its
working environment and efficiency by installing Invensys APV's Ws+
self priming pump at its dairy plant in Jutland.
Finnish dairy group Valio has reported a rise in sales, helped by
strong gains from cheese and ice cream. But profits were reduced as
a result of exceptional items related to the sale of a US unit and
the planned closure of a production...
Protient, the US-based protein producer, has begun production at
its new ultra-filtered soy protein isolate facility. The product
has numerous beverage applications.
Although nearly two thirds of the world's beer continues to be
distributed in refillable glass bottles, the real dynamism in the
drinks packaging market as a whole is coming from PET, claims a new
report from beverage analysts...
British manufacturer of carbohydrate ingredients Tate & Lyle is
to expand the capacity of its krystar crystalline fructose plant in
Lafayette, Indiana by 20 per cent. Due to be completed by August
2003, the company said that no...
French yoghurt manufacturer Danone has announced that it has raised
its stake in probiotics maker Yakult to 19 per cent, citing strong
performance of the Japanese company as the reason for its long-term
investment.
Serac, provider of packaging and processing machinery for the dairy
industry, is to preview its latest product range at the Anuga
Foodtec, in Cologne, Germany, next week.
One of Denmark's largest food trading companies, F. Uhrenholt
Dairy, has chosen Amcor's EasyPack system for its new Friendship
brand of grated cheese - Mozzarella Danesa.
With the UK Budget announcement planned for next week, the British
Retail Consortium has warned the Treasury not to increase the tax
burden on the retail industry - one of the few expanding sectors of
the British economy at the moment.
Danish scientists announce a breakthrough in the battle against the harmful Listeria bacterium, with the discovery of a common lactic acid bacterium that fights Listeria efficiently in foods.
A Brazilian brewery has contracted Krones to provide a Taxomatic
labeller which is now operating with extended technology to apply
foil to can lids as hygienic protection.
Amcor is building a second glass furnace on its existing wine
bottle facility in Gawler, South Australia, in a move that will
double its current production capacity.
Scottish dairy producer McLelland is investing a total of £13
million to extend its cheese-making operations in Stranraer. The
plans include the building of a new 10,000 ton cold store and
general storage facilities.
