Business

10-Nov-2011 - POM Wonderful has branched out into the ingredients supply market with plans to launch its POMx pomegranate polyphenols as a functional ingredient for other manufacturers to use on a global basis.

SunOpta profits hit by commodity costs, despite 25% sales increase

09-Nov-2011 - Canadian natural and organics group SunOpta has reported a 25% increase in sales compared to Q3 last year but lower profits, citing higher commodity costs, which hit its sunflower business in particular.

Brenner pharma/food: Stevia market is turning into the ‘wild wild West’

09-Nov-2011 - The stevia market is “turning quickly into the wild wild West” as more firms enter the fray in a bid to cash in on growing demand for the all-natural sweetener, according to one supplier.

Sara Lee completes American Fresh Bakery sale

09-Nov-2011 - Sara Lee has completed the sale of its American Fresh Bakery business to Mexican firm Grupo Bimbo for $709m.

IFF profits slip on higher raw material costs

08-Nov-2011 - International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has reported a 6% increase in quarterly revenue, although higher pricing did not keep up with double-digit growth in raw material costs, the company said.

Hansen prepares for 2012 launch of 16.9oz Uber Monster 'brewed energy drink'

07-Nov-2011 - Monster Energy maker Hansen Natural Corporation will unveil a novel, non-alcoholic “brewed energy drink” next year called Uber Monster, its boss has revealed.

Investing in the Greek yogurt boom: Agro Farma to open second Chobani yogurt facility

07-Nov-2011 - New York-based Agro Farma has said it intends to open a $100m Greek yogurt manufacturing facility for its Chobani yogurt, in Twin Falls, Idaho.

News in brief

Treehouse eyes up strategic acquisitions in bid to expand private label empire

07-Nov-2011 - Treehouse Foods will be on the acquisition trail in 2012 as it seeks to drive consolidation in the private label sector via “strategic acquisitions”.

News in brief

Sara Lee prepares to unleash ‘wave of innovations’ in 2012/13

04-Nov-2011 - Bosses at Sara Lee have promised to deliver “major innovations” in coffee and meat products next year as they try to seize back the initiative in the wake of soaring commodity costs.

Welcome to the GastroLab: IFN introduces the model gut

04-Nov-2011 - A model gut designed to help manufacturers more rapidly determine which ingredients will survive the rigors of the digestive tract before spending a fortune on clinical tests has been launched by product development firm International Food Network (IFN).

Customer demand, CSR goals and financial gains spark solar power projects at Campbell's

04-Nov-2011 - Retailer and consumer demand for more sustainable practices is one factor driving Campbell Soup Company's development of major solar power generation projects in California and Ohio, according to the company's vice president of infrastructure engineering and environmental programs.

Kraft says strong Q3 due to ‘powerful combination’ of new products and higher prices

03-Nov-2011 - Kraft Foods has reported a 22% rise in net profits for the third quarter, citing higher prices, which offset increased commodity costs, and a spate of successful product introductions.

News in brief

Wild closes deal with mint flavour house AM Todd

03-Nov-2011 - Switzerland-based Wild Flavors has finalised the acquisition of US based AM Todd, a producer of natural mint flavors and value-added mint ingredients, and also has specific technologies for organic flavors and ingredients.

Tate & Lyle sees ‘considerable commercial opportunity’ for Soda-Lo

02-Nov-2011 - The microscopic salt crystals at the center of a new sodium reduction licensing deal between Tate & Lyle and UK-based start-up Eminate will initially be manufactured in the UK by toll manufacture, but might be directly produced by Tate & Lyle in the future, the firm has revealed.

Hain Celestial: ‘We continue to be very bullish about our US business’

02-Nov-2011 - While some of the biggest names in grocery have suffered volume declines in the US as consumers cut back and prices have risen to offset commodity and fuel inflation, Hain Celestial has bucked the trend and continued to generate strong growth in its home market.

Consumers ‘thrilled to death’ with Dr Pepper Ten, CEO insists

31-Oct-2011 - The CEO and president of Dr Pepper claims that all the evidence thus far signals that customers are 'thrilled to death' with the firm’s controversial new ‘men-only’ low-calorie drink Dr Pepper Ten.

Tate & Lyle signs agreement for salt reduction technology

31-Oct-2011 - Tate & Lyle has announced an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Eminate Ltd for its novel salt reduction technology Soda-Lo.

Corn Products International: Inventories will not return to pre-2008/9 levels

31-Oct-2011 - So much stock has now been taken out of the supply chain that customer orders should not “fall off the table” as they did in 2008/9 if commodity markets go back into a spin, according to Corn Products International (CPI).

Big Interview: Johann Tergesen, president, Burcon NutraScience

Plant protein, the final frontier: From canola to flax, hemp and pea

31-Oct-2011 - If there’s a plant with protein in it, Burcon NutraScience has probably had a good shot at extracting it. But is the market ready for flax protein isolate? Elaine Watson caught up with president and chief operating officer Johann Tergesen to find out.

Hershey is king of the swingers in c-store segment

31-Oct-2011 - The king-size candy bar has emerged as the fastest growing pack type in convenience stores this year and was a key driver of sales for Hershey in the third quarter, bosses have revealed.