Paul Polman: Biofuel subsidy regime has spectacularly backfired

19-Jan-2011 - Unilever boss Paul Polman used his time on the podium at last night's City Food Lecture in London to unveil a radical new manifesto to improve food security and launch a blistering attack on “well-meaning but ill-conceived” policies on biofuels.

Weekly comment

CAP reform circus re-opens - but this time it’s serious

10-Jan-2011 - Roll up, roll up, the Great CAP Reform Circus is back in town. Missing those long arguments about the future of farm support? Hungry for more debate about how best to limit spiraling European farm commodity prices?

Bumpy ride ahead for grain, oilseed and protein, says Rabobank

15-Dec-2010 - Volatility in crucial food commodity markets, primarily due to shifts in the BRIC economies, are currently underappreciated in the market place, warns a new report from Rabobank Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR).

Trade factors are major trigger of food prices hikes, says IFPRI

02-Dec-2010 - Trade-related factors may have played a greater role in the food price crisis of 2008 than previously thought, according to a new analysis of data on rice, wheat, maize and soybeans by the IFPRI, which finds that price hikes came on the back of surges in export volumes.

City: Mass factory closures unlikely in Greencore - Northern Foods merger

17-Nov-2010 - While the proposed merger of Northern Foods and Greencore will inevitably mean job losses at both companies, it is unlikely to result in scores of factory closures, City analysts have predicted.

Sucralose sales up as Tate & Lyle’s speciality ingredients show ‘solid demand’

01-Oct-2010 - Sales of Tate & Lyle’s speciality food ingredients were solid in H1 of 2010, claimed the firm in its half-year trading update, where sales of speciality sweeteners such as sucralose “remained steady”.

Galam increases fructose prices

30-Sep-2010 - Israeli ingredients firm Galam is increasing prices for its crystalline fructose product on the back of rising raw material and energy costs.

Non-EU sales could drive UK food exports to record levels

24-Sep-2010 - UK exports of food and non-alcoholic drinks could reach record levels this year thanks to strong deliveries to non EU destinations, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Report ranks food ingredient leaders by revenue

03-Sep-2010 - Cargill, Südzucker and Tate & Lyle are ranked as the three leading global food ingredient companies, according to a listing based on annual turnover.

Kerry plans expansion in emerging markets

02-Sep-2010 - Kerry Group’s strong interim performance has prompted the Irish ingredients and finished product firm to raise its earnings forecast, with more investment planned in emerging regions.

Tapioca starch prices reach record levels

01-Sep-2010 - More price hikes for tapioca starch look to be on the cards as drought and pink mealybug infestation of Thai cassava crops has driven up raw material prices to unprecedented heights – with no relief on the horizon.

Givaudan to move savoury flavour production to Hungary

31-Aug-2010 - Givaudan plans to streamline its savoury flavour manufacturing production in Europe, with a new plant in Hungary designed to take over most of its current production from the UK and Switzerland.

Kerry Group buys Springthyme Oils for undisclosed sum

13-Aug-2010 - Kerry Group has acquired Lancashire-based infused oils maker Springthyme Oils, FoodManufacture.co.uk has learned.

Order levels back to normal in H1 2010, Symrise

10-Aug-2010 - Symrise has seen its flavour and fragrance orders rebound to pre-economic crisis levels and has expanded its business with some key customers in the first half of this year.

PureCircle shares slump on warning of lower profits

28-Jul-2010 - Stevia supplier PureCircle saw its share price plummet yesterday (Tuesday) after it said in a trading update that its profits for fiscal 2010 would be down on last year.

Hot weather could result in costlier flour, analysts

27-Jul-2010 - Bakers may expect to pay out more for flour on the back of the rally in global wheat prices this month, following production setbacks in the EU, Russia and Kazakhstan, claim industry commentators.

CP Kelco pumps additional $8m into Danish pectin plant

08-Jul-2010 - CP Kelco has announced that it is injecting $8m investment into its pectin plant in Skensved, Denmark to meet growing demand for its amidated pectin for use in low-sugar and sugar-free products.

FAO calls for ‘limited’ regulation of food futures markets

24-Jun-2010 - Some regulation of commodities futures markets could be beneficial – but should stop short of tight limits or an outright ban, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new policy brief.

Why Corn Products is moving into Europe

22-Jun-2010 - The planned acquisition of National Starch will launch Corn Products into Europe, and give it more leverage when dealing with five or six major food manufacturers that aim to cater to global tastes.

Danisco positive on FY despite sweetener struggles

22-Jun-2010 - Danisco achieved 6 per cent in revenue for its full year 2009/10 and strong profit growth; all divisions with the exception of sweeteners contributed to its margin expansion.

Corn Products buys National Starch for $1.3bn

21-Jun-2010 - National Starch is to be sold to US-based Corn Products International for US$1.3bn, current owner Akzo Nobel has confirmed. The news ends over two years of speculation over the business’ future and propels CPI into the European market.

Analyst: Tate & Lyle "unlikely" to buy National Starch

04-Jun-2010 - The acquisition of National Starch appears to be off the agenda at Tate & Lyle, with the firm now "set to fall into enemy hands", according to analysts at Investec Securities.

Non-dairy calcium also linked to prostate cancer, say researchers

04-Jun-2010 - Consumption of calcium from non-dairy sources could increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, according to the results of a study conducted among Chinese men.

Cognis comments spark €3.4bn buy-out figure

28-May-2010 - Speculation about typical asset valuing ion the chemicals industry by Cognis’s chief financial officer, Marco Panichi, has led to a figure of €3.4bn being attached to the German ingredient company, as buy-out speculation mounts.