BakeMark International, an international provider of bakery
ingredients and supplies, is boosting its capabilities in fats for
the Eastern European market.
The popular 'myth' that milk has a high fat content is just one of
many preconceived ideas about the dairy product which the UK Dairy
Council is hoping to dispel with a new campaign targeting women in
particular.
A new tool for subtyping strains of Listeria monocytogenes
bacteria that cause foodborne illness has been developed in America
by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.
Swiss flavours and extracts manufacturer Emil Flachsmann is
introducing EFLA Trees of Life, a line of plant-based extracts
designed especially for the dairy industry to provide a functional
twist.
Sidel will showcase a PET blowing system at the forthcoming NPE in
Chicago, US that is said to be the fastest machinery of its kind -
beating two previous records.
Graham's Dairies has further expanded its operations. The business
acquired Stevenson Dairy Farm this week in a move that consolidates
its position as Scotland's largest family-owned dairy.
Yoghurt more than any other dairy product meets consumer demand for
healthy, convenient and tasty food - a factor which market analysts
Euromonitor claim will continue to drive sales of the product in
the years to come. Drinking yoghurts...
One of Europe's leading suppliers of plastic packaging, Superfos,
has redesigned its hot and cold filled food container in an effort
to harmonise shelf displays and increase warehouse utilisation.
International Specialty Products (ISP) continues to consolidate its
position on the ingredients market with the news this week that it
has acquired Brazilian ingredient systems company Germinal.
Competition in the biogum sector is set to hot up with the news
today that US company CP Kelco is looking to boost production
capabilities to reinforce its position in the biogums marketplace.
In the US, the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) is up
in arms this week claiming that new definitions for dietary fibre
compiled by Food Nutrition Board (FNB) are totally inadequate.
Valio's Belgian subsidiary, Valio-Vache Bleue, has taken over the
operational and commercial activities of International Food &
Business - Brussels Food Distribution (IFB-BFD).
Despite a year of protracted low prices together with high stocks
and poor demand the Irish Dairy Board (IDB) reported satisfactory
financial results for 2002.
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...