Leche Pascual looks set for conflict once again with its main
rivals after participating in a study designed to compare the
benefits of pasteurised and natural yoghurts.
The UK's Dairy Council has responded to a survey conducted by
researchers from Helsinki University, which found that starting the
day without food was associated with unhealthy lifestyles.
Irish dairy group Glanbia has reached a settlement with the Irish
competition authority over allegations concerning the fixing of the
retail price of milk.
The volatile vanilla market has seen food manufacturers turning to
synthetic substitutes as prices per kilo soar from double to treble
figures in recent years.
Ebro Puleva saw its sales drop but profits rise in the first half
as it continued to streamline its business around three core
sectors - dairy products, sugar and rice.
The US-based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a
non-profit organisation, has published a report criticising the fat
content of ice cream.
Allied Domecq, the world's second largest spirits producer, has
teamed up with Parmalat UK to launch a range of premium dairy
desserts featuring three of its brands - Malibu, Tia Maria and
Harveys Bristol Cream.
Fun, convenience and health are the clear drivers of innovation in
the food industry, as the latest review of new products from
Mintel's Global New Product Database shows.
Scandinavians drink more milk than anyone else in Europe, but this
has not stopped them from becoming among the most avid consumers of
non-dairy drinks as well, helped by marketing efforts of retailers
and new product launches.
Organic drinks have increased in popularity in recent years. One of
the latest products to be launched is an organic milk drink
available in a recyclable carton.
The hot weather in the early part of the summer gave a major boost
to the Swiss ice cream industry, helping to offset disappointing
sales in the first quarter of the year.
The biggest milk drinkers in Europe, Scandinavians, are being
swayed by retailer marketing and new products to discover the
growing number of non-dairy drinks on offer, according to a new
report.
Two dairies, Danish-based Birkum Ost and UK-based Oakthorpe, have
been granted ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP accreditation. Both are owned
by dairy giant Arla Foods.
Unilever is to target the chilled dairy market in a number of
European countries from September as it pushes aggressively into
sectors with significant growth potential.
The Competition Commission's decision to investigate the proposed
merger between Arla UK and Express Dairies could have an adverse
effect on profits at the latter group.
Puck, one of Arla Foods' most popular brands in the Middle East, is
proving higlhy popular in the Danish market. The Arabian feta-style
cheese follows a growing trend for ethnic and, increasingly, Arabic
delicacies.
Leche Pascual is to invest €33 million in a new milk processing
plant in Barcelona to supply the Catalan market, despite the recent
boycott of its products there.
Starter cultures are at the heart of dairy research in Europe. A
network of scientists will identify new tools to give Europe's
dairy industry the competitive edge over USA, New Zealand and
Australia.
The European Agricultural Ministers' decision to reform the
European milk market last week has caused a degree of concern among
the continent's dairy producers.
New supply contracts with the UK's leading supermarket groups have
helped Robert Wiseman Dairies get off to an excellent start in the
first three months of the financial year.
Sales of Britvic's new milk-based carbonate Freekee Soda, launched
earlier this year, have been disappointing - evidence of the
difficulty of marketing any new product to that most fickle of
consumers, the teenager, claim market...
The DrinkFit dairy drink brand acquired by Friesland Coberco as
part of its takeover of Nutricia's dairy unit has been sold to
Germany's Klaus Wiese group for an undisclosed sum.
Danone has recently increased its stakes in both Yakult and
Wimm-Bill-Dann, but claims it currently has no plans for a complete
takeover of either firm.
A recently published report from Research and Markets suggests that
the overall share of consumer spending is falling for food and
drink manufacturers and retailers in Europe, conditions that are
forcing companies to re-think on which...
Rhodia Food, a subsidiary of French company Rhodia, has
strengthened its position in Australia with the signature of a
distribution agreement with Australian chemical giant Orica.
The latest round-up from Mintel's Global New Products Database
shows the popularity of health positioned foods is far from waning
with food manufacturers competing in the innovation stakes.
Italy's deputy minister for productive activities with portfolio
for foreign trade, Adolfo Urso, has announced that Italian cheeses
can finally be exported to China.
Arla Falkenberg, the Swedish cheese producer, has awarded Invensys
APV a contract valued at €4.5 million to design and install a new
cheese production line for its Falkenberg dairy in Sweden.
