New distributor plans organic assault
New UAE distributor Organic Larder wants to bring organic foods off the speciality shelves and into the mainstream, but its founder says Middle East consumers are slow to change.
Archives for April 4, 2016
Egypt sugar firm gets $100m EBRD equity injection
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will invest US$100m in Savola-owned United Sugar Company Egypt (USCE), to boost Egypt’s agribusiness sector.
Iranian doors open, but buyers yet to enter
Sanctions may be lifting but challenges remain for Iranian exporters, according to Pars Emerald Pistachio, which is aiming to focus on quality to expand its international sales.
Salt stimulates passive eating of fatty foods: Study
Salt provokes fatty food eating, and can even trigger increased food intake among people who have a preference for less fatty foods, Australian researchers have found.
Al Rawabi sees 15% growth, plans $21m investment
UAE dairy firm Al Rawabi will invest US$21.7m this year to boost production and enter new markets across MENA, after achieving 15% growth in 2015, the company announced.
Cross contamination at fault for Salmonella positive chocolate
Cross contamination was the most likely reason for a false-positive result for Salmonella in chocolate bars, according to a study.
Tereos & Cornelius Nordic ink Scandinavian partnership
Cornelius Nordic has secured distribution rights for Tereos in a Scandinavian partnership that will target the Danish and Swedish markets for ingredients such as starches, glucose syrups and polyols.
Lake District Biogas - green energy from Cumbrian cheese
Clearfleau, a British provider of on-site treatment solutions for the food and beverage sector, is commissioning a plant that will feed bio-methane into the gas grid in rural Cumbria in the UK.
Philippines exporters make record $110m from Gulfood
Firms from the Philippines booked more than US$110m in sales at Gulfood in February, beating last year’s total, but challenges remain for exporters to the Middle East.
Peter Kölln expands oat flake range after Ishida upgrade
Peter Kölln & Co, which produces oat flakes and muesli, has expanded its oat flake range after partnering with Ishida to upgrade its packing line.
Sugar reduction now a 'key mindset' of consumers, survey shows
Reducing sugar intake has become a key concern amongst many European consumers, with a quarter of those surveyed now preferring low sugar food products, a 2,500-strong survey has found.
Israel-Palestine meat crime gang busted
A string of people have been arrested after Israeli police discovered a meat smuggling syndicate suspected of transporting meat from the West Bank into Israel and selling it with forged kosher certificates.
Japan struggles to meet Middle East wagyu beef demand
Japanese wagyu beef is a hit in the Middle East, but producers are struggling to export to regional markets because of Halal issues, according to a Japanese food importer in the UAE.
Mexico’s nascent organic meat sector could be lifted by EU deal
The EU and Mexico have launched talks to deepen their trading relationship by negotiating a bilateral trade agreement on organic products. Such a deal could give a much needed shot-in-the-arm for the Mexican organic meat segment.
WTO ruling on Russia’s trade ban expected this week
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) will secretly announce its verdict on Russia’s EU pork trade ban this week, according to an official following the case.