Market

15-May-2012 - Global cereal giant, Kellogg’s is investing in a ‘significant’ revamp of its 106-year-old brand in a bid to resonate better with today’s tech savvy consumers, but analysts say it won’t be anything significant.

US in-store bakeries continuing ascent – report

15-May-2012 - The US market for in-store bakeries is rising year-on-year with no decrease forecast, according to a report from the International Dairy, Deli and Bakery Association (IDDBA).

Coke takes ‘natural’ mid-calorie carbonate plunge in Pepsi NEXT wake with stevia-based trials

15-May-2012 - The Coca-Cola Company is poised to test its own mid-calorie sodas in the US using Sprite and Fanta using natural sweeteners including Cargill's stevia brand, hot on the heels of PepsiCo’s mid-calorie cola launch Pepsi NEXT.

Top 10 US beer brands: consumers shun ‘king of beers’ for crafty choices but Heineken scores

14-May-2012 - US beer consumers sprung a crafty surprise in an influential 2012 research poll by Harris Interactive, reporting higher satisfaction levels with smaller craft brands and below average scores for mainstream beers such as Budweiser and Coors.

Dispatches from the 6th Annual Food Technology & Innovation Forum, 2012, Chicago

Quote/Unquote: Heinz on rocking the boat, Coca-Cola on backing the right horse in beverages, why we’re really fat and how Jane Fonda helped one brand go viral …

14-May-2012 - If you didn’t make it to Chicago for the Food Technology and Innovation Forum last week – or were too busy speed-dating with suppliers in the exhibition hall to attend the conference - we’ve rounded up some of the best bits…

News in brief

CSPI urges industry and government to implement IOM anti-obesity measures

14-May-2012 - The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has urged the food industry, government and schools to implement measures recommended in a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to help curb rising obesity rates.

USDA predicts record corn harvest

14-May-2012 - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has predicted a record corn harvest in 2012-13, potentially easing cost pressures on food manufacturers by the end of the calendar year.

US chewing gum packs going pocket-sized, says analyst

14-May-2012 - Chewing gum packaging in the US is set to go micro as consumers look for lower priced products, according to an analyst.

Consumer group complains to FDA about ‘inconsistent’ NuVal nutrition ratings

11-May-2012 - The National Consumers League (NCL) has filed a formal complaint with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the NuVal on-shelf nutrition rating system – and urged the agency to standardize nutrition rating schemes.

Yoplait agreement will ‘solidify’ Canadian yogurt industry position - Ultima Foods

11-May-2012 - Ultima Foods has signalled its intention to “solidify” its leadership of the Canadian dairy industry through a double edged agreement that will see it continue to produce Yoplait brand yogurt and launch of its own brand of yogurt products.

More Americans would like extra info on-pack, IFIC survey finds

11-May-2012 - The proportion of Americans who say they would like extra on-pack information about their food has increased over the past two years, according to new poll results from the International Food Information Council (IFIC).

Blommer predicts looming cocoa supply crisis

10-May-2012 - Demand for cocoa is expected to climb 30% in the next 10 years creating a 25% shortage of current supply, according to North American cocoa processor and chocolate ingredients supplier Blommer Chocolate Company.

Declining raw milk prices support ‘strong’ Dean Foods Q1 results

10-May-2012 - US processor Dean Foods has reported 'stronger than forecasted' results for the first quarter of 2012 – citing the declining price of raw milk and solid growth across its segments as defining factors.

Kemin debuts antimicrobial for ready-to-eat meat

09-May-2012 - Kemin has launched a new propionic acid-based antimicrobial ingredient for ready-to-eat meat applications.

Red Bull hopes new ‘Total Zero’ variant will give it wings after analysts warn of limited portfolio

09-May-2012 - Red Bull is launching a new variant of its eponymous energy drink with no calories, sugar or carbohydrates, adding to a limited product portfolio that analysts had identified as a weakness.

Special edition: Where next for natural sweeteners?

08-May-2012 - From stevia to monk fruit, oats, agave nectar and coconut palm sugar. In the second of our spring special editions, we look at what’s next for natural sweeteners.

US ice cream and frozen dessert market tops $25bn

07-May-2012 - Sales of ice cream and frozen desserts in the United States were worth $25.1bn last year, according to a new report from Packaged Facts – representing a 2.4% rise over 2010, following two years of flat sales.

USDA aims to boost global cocoa production with extended World Cocoa Foundation deal

07-May-2012 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded its partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) in a bid to boost cocoa production in developing countries and improve livelihoods for cocoa farmers.

Fresh, real and global lead upcoming snacking trends, says Hartman

04-May-2012 - Snacking accounts for nearly half of all eating occasions in the United States – and healthier, more global ingredients are increasing in popularity, according to market research organization The Hartman Group.

Hershey maps cocoa farms in Ghana with GPS as labour group doubts commitments

03-May-2012 - Chocolate giant Hershey has announced plans to use GPS mapping for cocoa farms in Ghana to help farmers better manage their resources as labour groups continue to doubt the company’s commitments to eradicate the worst forms of cocoa child labour.

Could private label be losing its luster?

02-May-2012 - Sales of private label foods and beverages have been on the rise for more than a decade, but consumers are beginning to lose enthusiasm, suggests a new report from market research organization The NPD Group.

Special edition: FoodNavigator-USA 2012 trendspotter

01-May-2012 - What’s on the menu for 2012? Traditional fruits, Thai and Indian cuisine, freshness, different varieties of chili, plant proteins, smoke flavors, more part-prepared foods and Asian and Latin American flavors, predict trendwatchers…

US cholesterol levels drop over past decade

30-Apr-2012 - The proportion of US adults with high cholesterol dropped by about five percentage points over the past decade, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even as waistlines have expanded.

April in pictures: Pepsi NEXT, T&L back in action in Alabama, hot new flavor trends - and the pink slime fightback

30-Apr-2012 - While pink slime continued to garner column inches, April also saw the re-opening of Tate & Lyle’s sucralose plant in Alabama, the first hints that Pepsi’s latest attempt to corner the mid-calorie cola market might just have worked - and another deal from ConAgra.

Potent anti-inflammatory from olive juice bids for functional food and beverage fame

27-Apr-2012 - A suite of novel functional food and beverage concepts containing Hidrox - a potent anti-inflammatory ingredient from olive juice - is being developed by California-based CreAgri as it seeks to build on its success in the dietary supplements arena.