Scottish company IceRobotics is a step closer to bringing its
robotic milking technology to market following a second round of
investment from the National Endowment for Science, Technology
& the Arts (NESTA). The company is...
Irish dairy group Glanbia has begun construction of a new cheese
and whey manufacturing facility expected to generate sales of
around $350 million per annum when completed next year.
Danone, the French dairy product, bottled water and biscuits group,
may have said that it is not interested in acquiring any assets of
bankrupt Italian group Parmalat, but this does not mean that it is
not on the acquisition trail.
The emergency decree passed late last month by the Italian
government in a bid to save dairy giant Parmalat from collapse
looks set to win support from the European Commission on the back
of guarantees that there will be no state...
Uncertainties over milk purchasing levels and payments caused by
the financial crisis at dairy giant Parmalat is forcing southern
European farmers into a race to secure guaranteed sales that may
quickly put pressure on milk prices.
Tetra Pak has launched an internal enquiry following claims by a
former Parmalat executive that the world's largest packaging group
made payments directly to the accounts of Parmalat's owners, the
Tanzi family.
As the scandal surrounding Italy's food and giant Parmalat deepens,
Berlusconi's government rustles up emergency measures to tackle
'Europe's Enron', with a strategy to save jobs and pay the
suppliers.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received complaints
from members of the public and from the dairy giant Muller about a
Danone yoghurt advert published in a UK magazine. The ASA decided
that the advert used health claims...
The food industry has underestimated the scale of the problem with
Enterobacter sakazakii contamination. According to research carried
out in this week's issue of The Lancet,( 30 December 03, pp
5,39)
Farmers in the UK have again been urged to cut the level of milk
production by the milk year-end in March or face a 'super-levy'
from the European Union.
The US government could save more than $200 billion in healthcare
costs in the next five years if it could persuade American adults
to eat three or four servings of dairy foods each day, estimate the
authors of a new report.
The decline in the number of Scandinavian dairy producers has
echoed a trend that appears to be taking shape in Ireland. Figures
released on both regions suggests that there may be a shortage in
European dairy farmers in future years,...
Arla Foods and Delta Dairies have ended their joint venture in the
production of feta cheese in Greece. The termination came into
effect 1 January 2004.
In a bid to reinforce customer relations in Latin America, the
dairy ingredients business unit of DSM Food Specialties' has
expanded its presence in Latin America with the opening of a new
sales and customer services office in...
Things just keep going from bad to worse for Parmalat. Just a week
after it escaped defaulting on a bond repayment by the skin of its
teeth, and with barely enough time for new chairman and turnaround
expert Enrico Bondi to warm his...
Lactimilk, the subsidiary of Spanish group Ebro Puleva which
produces the Leyma, Ram and El Castillo brands, is to invest
between €36 and €45 million over the next three years in
relaunching all three brands.
Children should be strongly encouraged to regularly include
calcium-rich foods and drinks in their diets, report US
researchers, after a new study confirms the negative association
between the mineral and body fat.
Set against the backdrop of difficult trading conditions for
branded food manufacturers, raw material prices and a negative
currency impact played down first half figures for ingredients
giant Danisco.
The proposal by the EU to redefine the rules governing what
constitutes as yoghurt has come up against a wall of opposition in
the UK. The two-fold proposal calls for only products that contain
live bacteria to be defined as yoghurt.
Arla Foods believes that it must upgrade its activities in Europe
if it is to compete in global markets - this has partly been caused
by the increase of own label products in the European market, and
in particularly, in Scandinavia.
The New Zealand government has accused the EU of interfering with
the country's butter trade. The attack had been ignited by the EU's
new rules on the timing of imports.
The Dairy Industry Association (DIAL) has urged milk farmers in
England and Wales to cut the levels of milk production or face a
hefty fine from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
UK-based company Packaging Automation has developed a revolutionary
new machine for blue stilton that is claimed to wrap products in
packaging capable of containing strong smells. The concept,
designed for Glanbia Foods, is the result...
Analysis from Teagasc economist, the agriculture and food
development authority, has revealed that dairy farmers may see
mixed fortunes in the near future. There is to be a decline in the
number of dairy farmers, but those who remain...
A study carried out in the Czech republic has revealed that central
European dairy cows produce milk with higher levels of calcium in
the winter months of the year than they do in the summer months.
Talks between Lidl, the German retail company, and Tine, the
Norwegian dairy group, have this week been terminated as the result
of a milk packaging dispute.
One of Switzerland's best known food products, chocolate, may have
suffered terribly during the heatwave this summer, but the
country's ice cream producers put in a contrasting performance.
The Functional foods market in Europe is a strong sector that
commentators say is expanding at a rapid rate. This has led many
food producers to look for innovative ways to make food healthy
when creating a new product. And in particular...
The 10 soon-to-be member states of the EU need to invest in the
dairy sector in order for the states to be in line with EU
standards by 1 May 2004, the date of accession.
BakeMark International is making available a new complete range of
cream alternatives aimed at the burgeoning bakery and food service
industries. The company is confident that the products are of such
quality that they could be used...
The ongoing heated debate in the UK that addresses the issue of
growing multiple retailer power in terms of milk pricing reached an
agreement for many farmers last night.
Leading Swedish dairy firm Skanemejerier has gained the rights to
use BioGaia's probiotic Reuteri bacteria in milk products for
launch on the Scandinavian market at the end of next year.
Last week's USDA report revealed that imports of European dairy
products in the US has widened the deficit gap in the country. The
widening of the deficit has meant that alliances have been formed
by US groups in an attempt to...
In recent years UK butter sales have been on the increase and as a
result of this Lurpak's original brand of butter has become more
popular. Its producer, Arla Foods, says that Lurpak Lighter
Spreadable growth in sales has resulted...
Dairy giant Arla Foods has posted slightly increased profits of DKK
1,094 million (€147m) for the 2002/03 financial year - but it's not
been all plain sailing. Facilities have been closed and the Swedish
vote against the Euro...
Irish dairy co-operative, Dairygold, has announced 500 jobs are to
be lost from its work-force of 3000. The company says that heavy
financial losses in the year has led to the large cull in jobs, and
in the near future more jobs are...
Equipment firm Invensys APV has been awarded an exotic multi
million-pound project to expand existing dairy facilities in the
United Arab Emirates. The UK-based company, which is a major
supplier of process equipment, engineering...
Traditionally, aluminium cans have been unable to hold milk
products due to the risk factors associated with the decorative
inks and varnishes that are tattooed onto the container. In the
past these varnishes and inks have been unable...
When onlookers of the food ingredients industry claim that
consolidation will be a key trend in coming years they are
generally referring to mergers and acquisitions. But could it be
that consolidation in this increasingly competitive...
As one door closes another door opens. The FiE exhibition came to
an end on Thursday, but today marks the debut of a three day
ice-cream formulation extravaganza in Solingen-Gräfrath, Germany.
Pizza lovers and fast food addicts can rejoice at the announcement
that the fat content of Pizza, which is approximately four grams of
fat per 8" pizza, has now been sliced by 35 per cent.
Tine, the Norwegian dairy company, and the Irish Dairy Co-operative
have signed an agreement regarding the production of Jarlsberg
cheese in the Irish market place.
The debate over UK milk prices last week took a step up in
intensity. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
announced its plans to carry out an inquiry aimed at bridging the
gap between retail prices and production prices...
Danone's on-off acquisition of Russian dairy market leader
Wimm-Bill-Dann appears to be off again, at least for the time
being. WBD has today announced that talks have been broken off with
the French group, which was negotiating...
A group of scientists from the Dutch National Institute of Public
Health and the Environment, have found that young children who eat
products which are high in milk fat are less likely to develop the
chronic condition asthma.
Leading ingredients firm Danisco has announced its second licensing
deal for the Howaru probiotic strain with Chile's biggest dairy
processor Soprole. The agreement looks set to generate significant
interest among food makers...
Nestlé may be
the world's biggest food company but this does not mean that it is
not averse to teaming up with smaller local players to give it a
helping hand with production or distribution of its brands.
Three Dutch cheese processors have joined forces in an attempt to
produce and market goat's milk products. Heijkoop, De Jong and CBM
believe that a combined effort can increase their efficiency and
market strength as well as...
