The image of secret radio chips planted inside the home from larder
to bathroom, transmitting data freely to Corporation Inc, is enough
to curl the toes of more than anti-capitalism activists.
This week's roundup covers ingredients companies relocating and
expanding, firms in the courtroom and corporations finalizing new
mergers and acquisitions.
P.L. Thomas, the only US representative at the recent Gum Arabic
industry meeting in Sudan, tells Anthony Fletcher why the
international commitment to secure long-term supplies of gum Arabic
is such an important breakthrough.
Expectations of a fall in global coffee supplies of coffee will
keep up pressure on market prices, as fresh figures indicate world
coffee production will drop in 2005/06.
The increase in ethical consumerism means that food makers should
seriously consider the commercial implications of eco-labels,
though tighter regulation is still needed, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
Ingredients companies including Cargill and Chr Hansen are
expanding facilities and picking up acquisitions in order to meet
growing global demand, writes Anthony Fletcher.
Nestle, the world's biggest foodmaker, has apologised to Chinese
consumers after the country's safety authorities detected too much
iodine in one of its milk-power brands.
Kansas Wheat Commission administrator David Frey is off to
Afghanistan, Symrise has a new CEO while Kyowa Hakko has appointed
a new marketing manager in order to break the US market.
It is a perversion of the 21st century that while affluent
societies continue the quest to slice the fat from their
increasingly obese populations, five million children die from
hunger each year, and more than 850m people go chronically...
French plant extracts supplier Naturex said today it will buy US
rival Pure World for around $37 million (€30m), or $4.30 per share
in cash, reports Dominique Patton.
Diversifying supplies and managing risk for the world's most
expensive, and popular, natural flavour, for the first time
ingredients giant Danisco receives a batch of sustainable organic
vanilla from an Indian monk, reports Lindsey...
Standardized nutrition labels are dampening market competition by
helping large food manufacturers gain an even sharper edge over
their smaller rivals, according to a new Duke University study.
Helping the food industry to manage the risk of unsafe chemicals in
food, a UN-backed initiative focuses on pinpointing the presence of
a wide range of contaminants in retail foods.
New appointments this week in the ingredients industry include a
new director of marketing at Galaxy and a number of new department
of agriculture positions.
Hydrocolloid industry sees competition step up a gear as US
ingredients firm Cargill, for the first time, buys into the pectin
market through the acquisition of Citrico, reports Lindsey
Partos.
A lawsuit has been launched against ingredients giant Corn Products
International, alleging that one or more of its directors violated
federal securities laws by issuing false and misleading statements
to the market.
Imperial Sugar received an offer of acquisition earlier this week,
while Cargill announced its intentions to further invest in
Brazilian sugar and General Mills had its rating outlook revised
from negative to stable.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has expressed concern that
fungicide supplies may be inadequate to control a major outbreak of
soybean rust, reports Anthony Fletcher.
Publicly-floated US flavour supplier Technology Flavors &
Fragrances is set to go private, as industry rival FFG Industries
begins a tender offer to acquire all of the firms outstanding
shares of common stock.
International drinks supplier Brown-Forman embarks on new
opportunities in the increasingly affluent Indian society,
targeting the beverages market with the launch of its fruit
flavoured Finlandia brand of 'luxury' vodka.
Cereal bar makers looking to slash carbohydrate and sugar levels
could find the solution in a new 'rebalance system' from sweetener
supplier Tate & Lyle, the company claims, writes Lindsey
Partos.
The most recent forecast for this year's California almond crop
signals a decline on that reaped 12 months ago, heralding an almost
certain price rise, reports Philippa Nuttall.
Melville, New York headquartered Comax Flavors, has opened a new
factory in Shanghai to serve the rapidly growing Chinese market,
the company reported yesterday.
Ice-cream manufacturers gearing up for the season should take note
as Haagen-Dazs and Unilever announce in the same week the
introduction of low-fat offerings for this summer, writes
Philippa Nuttall.
Price rises for soy-related ingredients are still under pressure as
drought, high production costs and a strong real all impact soybean
production for Brazil's 2004-05 crop, writes Lindsey Partos.
Growing consumer awareness of the importance of healthy oils and
food manufacturers' desire to eliminate hydrogenated oils from
their recipes have boosted sales for Spectrum Organic Products.
Fruit juice maker Old Orchard is once again making the most of
recent health research pertaining to various fruits, adding a
blueberry-pomegranate option to its range.
Decreased demand for low-carb products has continued to be a
headache for MGP Ingredients in the 3Q, decreasing earnings and
revenue compared to the same period last year.
Organic and low/no sugar are the tags food manufacturers should be
looking at adding to their packaging if they want their products to
enjoy strong and sustained growth, said AC Nielsen.
Ending months of speculation, the food ingredients arm of Chr
Hansen has a new owner: not a fellow industry player but
acquisitive private equity firm PAI partners, reports Lindsey
Partos.
Bunge said last week that its first-quarter profit shot up 40
percent on the back of increased soybean yields, provoking the
company to raise its outlook for the year, writes Philippa
Nuttall.
The growing organic business is gaining more attention from food
manufacturers. In an effort to understand better the benefits of
such products, Dean Foods and its WhiteWave Foods division have
donated $100,000 to the Organic Center...
Tate & Lyle was yesterday taken to task by environmental groups
and local residents over its plans to extend its Splenda factory in
McIntosh, Alabama, reports Philippa Nuttall.
Low growth and higher production costs in the US knock first half
profit for Chr Hansen's ingredients business, that posted a 9 per
cent fall in profit for the first six months of the year.
International Flavors & Fragrances saw a sharp fall in
first-quarter profit, blaming falling sales and the sale of a
business last year in its results published today.
Splenda's battle with the Sugar Association over its advertising
campaign seems to be doing little to dissuade food and drink
manufacturers and their consumers of its merits as Diet 7 Up
becomes the latest product to be made...
Syngenta Crop Protection today launched an early warning web-based
system to help growers protect their crops against Asian soybean
rust, the disease which has persuaded some US farmers to reduce the
number of acres planted with soy...
Pressure on soy prices likely to continue with a new report
revealing China is expected to reduce its principal soybean
planting area, while increasing corn and rice planting in 2005.
