Several major beverage companies plan to begin selling flavored
water early next year, a move that could bost their sales in the
rapidly growing bottled water market, according to a report by the
Associated Press (AP) this week.
SlimFast owner Unilever has gained the exclusive global rights to
an appetite-suppressing compound extracted from the hoodia gordonii
plant by UK-based Phytopharm, reports Dominique Patton.
Prices for the popular hydrocolloid gum arabic used in a range of
food applications have doubled in 12 months as political turmoil
and poor stocks leave the market exposed, writes Lindsey
Partos.
A breakthrough into the US market boosts the bottom line for UK
natural flavours firm Treatt that saw sales for the year across the
Atlantic rising by over 40 percent to €10 ($13.29) million,
parallel to a sales dip elsewhere, writes...
Circle Group owned FiberGel Technologies last week launched a
non-GMO version of its fat replacement and dietary fiber supplement
in order to satisfy European demand.
Lactalis USA, a subsidiary of French dairy group Lactalis,
announced earlier this week that it has acquired Rondelé Specialty
Foods, a US manufacturer of spreadable cheeses, in a deal which
will position it as the leading speciality...
Dutch lactoferrin supplier DMV International and Arla Food
Ingredients could soon be part of the world's largest farmer-owned
dairy company as their owners Campina of the Netherlands and
Denmark's Arla Foods announce plans...
Price increases for key raw materials used by the food industry
threaten over the next 12 months as low global stocks remain open
to unexpected disruptions.
Penford Food Ingredients announced earlier this week that it has
expanded its manufacturing capabilities to make sure supplies of
potato starch are consistent after a poor harvest in Europe,
reports Philippa Nuttall.
Almond growers need no longer worry about how to manage their crops
without damaging the environment or lowering their yields, thanks
to a recently published guide from the University of California.
A USDA food safety and inspection service report suggests that an
interim final rule designed to reduce the incidence of Listeria
monocytogenes (LM) in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products
is working.
Japanese aspartame supplier Ajinomoto will ramp up production of
its sweetener on the back of growing demand for low calorie food
and beverages, the Tokyo-based firm announced this week.
US-based processor MGP Ingredients has initiated two
energy-efficiency projects as part of its overall programme to
achieve significant cost savings across its operations.
After Florida's tomato crop was devastated by four hurricanes in
October, volumes are finally getting back to normal, according to
shipment data from the state's tomato committee.
Looking to new market gains in the UK, US and Australia, German
ingredients group Degussa has revamped its line of bakery cream
systems to target food makers with a competitive package.
German flavors and fragrance firm Symrise has teamed up with
SweetGredients to use Spherix's new sweetener Gaio tagatose to
develop a new generation of flavors.
Americans' attitudes about genetically modified (GM) foods remain
divided, although their opinions appear not be deeply held and can
be influenced by new information and events, according to a study
released this week, reports...
The Corn Refiners Association released its 2004 annual report on
Wednesday, focusing attention on the 'healthy' aspects of corn and
away from negative opinions of corn-derived products.
Despite a fall in prices, the cost of wheat-based ingredients is
likely to remain under pressure on the back of ongoing low global
stocks, risks to Australian and Canadian production and a possible
restocking from China.
Privately owned Gelnex, which pioneered the production of type A
pork skin gelatin in South America, has recently opened a beefskin
gelatin plant in Brazil. Philippa Nuttall spoke to the
company's CEO about the challenges the...
Number one cultures supplier Chr. Hansen is up for sale as its
major stakeholder decides to pull away from the ingredients slice
of the company to focus on the pharmaceutical unit, reports
Lindsey Partos.
Danisco believes it has made ice crystals in ice cream a thing of
the past by creating a technology that will help manufacturers
control heat shock, reports Philippa Nuttall.
Food makers can expect to see the price of hydrocolloids continue
to move upwards as suppliers, knocked by squeezed commodity
supplies coupled with higher energy and transport costs, pass rises
onto the market.
The last two years have seen a significant increase in businesses
using fair trade coffee, but Philippa Nuttall asks whether
the US is really serious about ethical food ingredients.
CP Kelco, bought by JM Huber last month, has launched Kelogel HM-B
gellan gum, a hydrocolloid system designed to provide suspension of
cocoa and minerals in ready-to-drink dairy based beverages.
Danisco has taken up the low-carb, low-sugar baton and run with it,
developing a line of flavors aimed at food manufacturers developing
artificially sweetened and reduced sugar beverages and dairy
products.
Philadelphia based FMC BioPolymer the number one supplier of
food-grade carrageenan will raise prices for this gum by up to 8
percent as raw material costs cut into margins, suggesting that
cheaper alternatives, such as the semi-refined...
ADM, the giant processor of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa for use
in foods, saw profits in the first quarter soar by 77 percent,
fuelled by a drop in oilseed and grain prices.
Reorganization activities in Europe caused a dip in International
Flavors & Fragrances' earnings in the third quarter of 2004,
but North America continued to see strong growth, particularly in
its flavors division.
Improved margins and risk management tools help the world's biggest
oilseed processor Bunge more than double its profit for the third
quarter, despite a knock back from soybean trade in China.
Food manufacturers using pecan nuts in their food products can
expect a hike in price as recent hurricanes in the US destroyed
nearly half the crops in major producing states.
Kellogg reported a solid 7 percent increase in its earnings for the
third quarter with the North America region also putting up a
strong performance thanks to the successful introdution of new
product lines.
United International Enterprises Limited (UIE), the majority
stakeholder in vegetable oil firm Aarhus United, confirms it will
sell its considerable stake in the Danish firm, due to be divested
by January 2005.
In line with growing consumer demand for organic products, Butter
Buds Food Ingredients has introduced a certified organic line of
natural butter, cream and cheese concentrates.
After a slightly slow start to the year, the confectionery group
Hershey Foods, saw sales rise and the gross margin expand in the
third quarter, despite rising commodity costs.
Novis, now with almost half a million readers, yesterday earned
broad industry recognition with two further publishing awards,
following on from its best publication prize earlier this year.
Corn Products International has announced improved sales and
improved earning for the first nine months of 2004, though as the
company had previously forecast, the second half of the year is
proving more challenging.
Colors and flavors group Sensient Technologies this week reported
an increase in earnings for the third quarter of 2004, a welcome
result after a drop in profit in the first six months of this year.
