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Food prices

Commodity prices have a knock-on effect throughout the food supply chain, from growers to the supermarket shelves. For formulators, the challenge is to reduce reliance on more expensive ingredients, but still deliver products that have the taste and texture consumers have come to expect.

Government should urgently raise sugar quotas: Report

29-Oct-2009 - Food and agricultural consultancy Promar has added its voice to those calling on government to raise sugar import quotas, saying that uncertain supplies lock in high costs for manufacturers and consumers.

Scoular goes to China for cheaper, GM-free soy

12-Oct-2009 - Scoular has signed a distribution agreement with a Chinese manufacturer to secure a lower cost, non-GM supply of soy protein isolate for nutritional products and meats.

Northeast farmers accuse dairy firms of price fixing

12-Oct-2009 - A group of northeastern dairy farmers has filed a class action lawsuit against four milk marketing firms, accusing them of monopolizing the market and fixing prices.

US agriculture head on breaking dairy boom and bust

09-Oct-2009 - Restructuring may be needed to break cycles of boom and bust in the dairy industry, said the US agriculture secretary this week, soon after Congress approved a $350m emergency aid package.

Recession not driving ethical spending underground

06-Oct-2009 - Tighter purses are not turning consumers away from ethical shopping with interest in all things sustainable or humane thriving despite the recession, according to market researcher, Packaged Facts.

Food prices could triple with climate change: Report

01-Oct-2009 - Food prices could more than triple by 2050 as the climate changes, according to a new report from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Quotas ignore industry's sugar price plea

29-Sep-2009 - The USDA has set sugar import quotas at the minimum level required under World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, despite pleas from industry to increase quotas in an effort to pull down prices.

Cocoa price spike may favor Kraft over Cadbury

28-Sep-2009 - World cocoa prices have just hit record highs sparking suggestions that the resulting cost changes could aid the Kraft bid for Cadbury.

Health and natural keep US market resilient

25-Sep-2009 - Health and natural ingredients are driving growth in the US food and drink market, which remains dynamic despite the recession.

Private label: battle of the brands

24-Sep-2009 - Private label is continuing to steal market share despite a more stable economy, but brands are fighting back on the battleground of health and convenience.

Commodity price cuts push up ConAgra's profits

23-Sep-2009 - Lower ingredient prices and a more profitable product mix helped ConAgra Foods achieve a big profit increase in its quarterly results, while overall turnover slipped.

New report makes the case for nationwide soda tax

21-Sep-2009 - The idea of taxing sugary beverages to reduce obesity and bring public health benefits has been raised again in a new report published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

GM seeds threaten food supply, claim researchers

11-Sep-2009 - Modern seed companies are reducing crop diversity – and this could have serious consequences for food supply as the climate heats up, researchers claimed at the World Seed Conference in Rome this week.

Climate change could devastate US crop yields: Study

01-Sep-2009 - Climate change could result in severe shortages of two of America’s most important grains, according to the authors of a new study published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Illinois raises taxes on candy and soft drinks

01-Sep-2009 - Illinois consumers will start paying higher taxes on some soft drinks and candy today under new rules from the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Food sector should prepare now for cap-and-trade, says report

21-Aug-2009 - Cap-and-trade carbon pricing could be particularly damaging to the food industry unless manufacturers start developing more efficient supply chains now, according to new analysis.

Private label sector continues to grow, says Nielsen

17-Aug-2009 - Sales of private label products are still growing, having “significantly increased” over the past year, according to new research from The Nielsen Company.

Private label growth driven by innovation, says Mintel

24-Jul-2009 - Private label product innovation has reached unprecedented highs and market share has rocketed as a result, according to market research organization Mintel.

Ocean Spray hails online auction as success

23-Jul-2009 - Ocean Spray has held its first online auction for its cranberry concentrate and claims it attracted “very strong participation”, with 34 buyers taking part out of the 37 who had registered.

Egg production prices to rise following new regulations

09-Jul-2009 - Egg prices may rise as producers are hit by new costs as a result of food safety measures.

Both GM and organic farming could help feed the world: Report

01-Jul-2009 - With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, investment in both GM crops and organic farming could help to ensure a reliable food supply, says a new report from Deutsche Bank.

Senate probe finds excessive wheat market speculation

25-Jun-2009 - Excessive speculation on the futures market fuelled last year’s wheat price surge that led to higher prices for industry and consumers, according to the results of a year-long Senate investigation.

Search for value signals 100-calorie snack pack demise

29-May-2009 - Portion-controlled packs are falling out of favor with consumers as they increasingly seek value ahead of convenience, according to market research organization Mintel.

Food companies to be hit by higher grain prices

14-May-2009 - Food companies are likely to struggle with high grain prices well into next year, according to the USDA’s first crop projection report of 2009.

Developing solutions to fight food fraud

13-May-2009 - Adulteration of food proteins - as seen in the recent melamine scandal - is becoming a greater threat to industry as the food supply has become more globalized and economic crisis drives manufacturers to seek cheaper ingredients, says Jim Griffiths of US Pharmacopeia.

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