Prepared foods

Chilled pasta took 28% of the total Western European pasta market last year, compared to 25% five years earlier

Packaged food sales increase in ‘two-speed’ Western Europe

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The Western European packaged food market has grown 5% since 2009, with chilled pasta, sustainable foods and frozen yoghurt leading the way, according to Euromonitor International – but Europe is still a divided market.

Confusing food labels are named and shamed on Twitter

By Niamh Michail

A Spanish consumer rights group has launched a naming and shaming Twitter campaign after it found one third of consumers surveyed has bought the wrong product due to confusing food labels.

When companies try to be cool: A lesson in 'wackaging'

By Niamh Michail

Wackaging – using cute and quirky language on a product’s packaging – seems to be everywhere. But with consumers becoming increasingly cynical, should manufacturers stop trying to be cool?

Permira, the owner of the Birds Eye brand, will retain a 9% stake after the acquisition.

UK’s Birds Eye brand Iglo sold for €2.6bn

By Joyeeta Basu

Europe’s largest frozen foods business Iglo Group has been bought by a pair of US investors for €2.6bn, at 2.4 times return on the original investment made by parent company Permira.

Nutrition labelling alone not effective in comparison study

Front-of-pack labels are equally effective - but none works alone

By Niamh Michail

Front-of-pack labelling can be useful but health policy-makers are naïve if they think that this alone will result in healthier food choices, say researchers -  environment, motivation and psychology must be actively influenced too.

How to restore consumer confidence after a food scandal

By Niamh Michail

Accountability is key to rebuilding consumer confidence in the industry following a food scandal  - a company’s response to accusations of contamination is almost as important as its actual role in causing it, according to a new study.

The company's confectionery sales surged at Easter, it said.

Early Easter sweetens sales for Nestlé

By Joyeeta Basu

Nestlé has reported a better than expected sales jump of 4.4% with sales totalling CHF 20.9bn (€20.25bn), boosted by sales of bottled water and chocolate.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of French consumers said low-salt and low-sugar products were a priority for foods eaten on the run

French consumers seek healthier on-the-go foods

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

France may be notorious for its leisurely lunch breaks but less structured ways of eating are taking root, with a third of consumers saying they often eat on the run, according to an Ipsos poll.

Japan’s low carb consumption makes it lightest of all G8 nations

Japan

Japan’s low carb consumption makes it lightest of all G8 nations

By RJ Whitehead

An analysis of the G8 nations has highlighted striking differences in calories and other macronutrients purchased from packaged food in these countries with Mediterranean and Japanese diets being the healthiest, according to Euromonitor.

The acquisition will help Solina expand its business scope in Western Europe, said the company

Solina Group acquires Paulig flavours division

By Joyeeta Basu

France's Solina Group will acquire the industrial flavouring division of Paulig to increase its presence in Nordic countries and Russia, the company has said.

Is baby food creating fussy eaters?

Is baby food creating fussy eaters?

By Niamh Michail

Fostering children's willingness to try new flavours and foods has clear benefits for the food industry -  yet researchers say baby food manufacturers may be inadvertently creating picky eaters.

What can company founders tell us about successful product development?

How do start-ups approach new product development?

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Some of the best and brightest innovation in the food and drink industry comes from start-ups – so how do they approach NPD? And what can companies of all sizes learn from their approach?

Packaged fruit'n'veg is low in vitamins and nutrients

Is it worth buying nutrient-poor packaged fruit 'n' veg?

By Niamh Michail

Fresh-cut fruit and veg are sold as an instant vitamin boost. But chlorine disinfection, refrigeration and up to three weeks on the shelf mean their vitamin content is often low – so is there any point in buying them?

A new method for cooking rice that could slash calories by increasing levels of resistant starch may have applications for food companies using rice.

Changing how rice is cooked could cut calories

By Nathan Gray

A novel cooking and cooling process for rice could help slash the number of calories absorbed by the body by more than half by increasing levels of resistant starch, say researchers.

Reducing waste is the top priority, but food companies and retailers are also working together to redistribute surplus food

How retailers are working with suppliers to fight food waste

By Fintan Hastings, external affairs adviser, British Retail Consortium

The close relationship between supply chain partners means they are well-placed to help each other tackle food waste, says Fintan Hastings, external affairs adviser at the British Retail Consortium.

First used for taxonomy but now for food fraud: proponents say DNA barcoding allows for greater traceability

DNA sprays and added bacteria to fight food fraud

By Niamh Michail

Spray-on DNA or added bacteria may be the future of the fight against food fraud   - but analysts warn that consumers could react against more additives being used to guarantee a product’s authenticity or naturalness

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