Energy and sports drinks continued their rapid rise up the soft
drinks rankings last year, driven by new product launches and an
increasing trend towards convenience and on-the-go consumption. But
while most of the growth has come...
European beef consumption - hit badly by the BSE and foot and mouth
scares - is increasing once again, and industry professionals
meeting this week in Dublin are being urged to try a new tack in
order to further promote sales - promoting...
Delhaize, the Belgium-based supermarket group, last week launched a
new pan-European brand which it hopes will cater for the increasing
demand for low cost, everyday products.
The aisles were not brimming with people at the FI-CEE exhibition,
which opened its doors in Berlin today. But the general consensus
is that the show has been well targeted and that attendees are
there to do business, reports Simon...
Food Ingredients Central and Eastern Europe is due to open its
doors next Tuesday, 25 May for a three-day event held at the German
capital's Messe Berlin exhibition hall, where Simon Pitman
will be reporting on the all the news.
A day before the enlargement of the EU, which will see eight
central and eastern European countries join the Union, one of
Europe's biggest retail groups, Metro, has reported first quarter
growth driven by an excellent performance...
The Central and Eastern European packaging and processing sector
comes a very definite top with respect to market potential,
according to recent market research carried out for the Total
Processing and Packaging 2004, currently running...
The expansion of the European Union on 1 May will provide major
opportunities for British food and drink suppliers, both for
exporting their products and for establishing local production
facilities. But there are threats as well...
At first glance, a petrol station might not seem like the obvious
choice of outlet for premium food and drink products, but growing
consumer demand for healthy, tasty and above all convenient
products – not to mention increased competition...
The last few years have seen a sharp increase in the number of
discount stores throughout Europe, with recessions in many of the
Continent's leading economies prompting consumers to tighten their
belts and shop around for bargains.
The movement of US agri-giants onto European soil gathers pace with
Bunge, the world's leading oilseed processor, signing a €17.4m deal
on a bankrupt edible oils firm in the emerging market of Poland.
The US-based natural food group Hain Celestial is snapping up
German manufacturer of soy, oat and rice-based drinks Natumi,
expanding its operations in Europe and giving it access to a
non-dairy production facility in the region.
Countdown to the integration of 10 new member states in Europe this
April begins under the aegis of the Irish presidency. For
manufacturers, a clear understanding of the marketplace in these
countries will be vital to pitching the...
The European research commissioner Phillipe Busquin has extolled
the virtues of a new EU-funded study that aims to turn around 4
million tonnes of tomato by-products into proteins, sugars, fibre
and oils.
The EU has provided €2.2 million of funding for a new project that
aims to promote transnational cooperation in plant genomics
research and, ultimately, better coordinate the €80 million spent
annually in Europe on such activities,...
US ingredients companies continue to make moves into the European
marketplace with FiberGel Technologies, a supplier of the fat
replacer Z-Trim, announcing it has linked up with Swiss company
DKSH to target European consumers with...
Since 1998, the Observatory on Loyalty Cards at the University of
Parma in Italy has been monitoring the progress of 40 loyalty card
schemes operated by retailers across Europe. In a report for
M+M Planet
Retail, Cristina Ziliani...
French dairy producer and drinks company, Danone, has confirmed
that its it to buy the Russian company Chok and Rolls, which
currently belongs to Spanish confectionery company Chupa Chups.
Over production, European enlargement, and emerging competitive
markets are three key issues facing the European tomato processing
industry today. But the development of new food additives from the
skin and seeds of the tomato could...
Beer sales in most of western Europe rose strongly last year as
consumers across the Continent looked for any means possible to
cool down during the heatwave in July and August.
German retail group Schwartz is to open up to 30 stores in Hungary
over the next two years under its Lidl discount store banner,
according to reports in the Hungarian press.
The spectacular growth rates of the late 1990s may be a thing of
the past, but the functional energy drink market in western Europe
shows little sign of running out of steam, according to a recent
report.
The British are the biggest consumers of chocolate in Europe,
munching their way through more than 10 kg each every year. A
reflection of Britain's ongoing love affair with snacking - and
consumers' reluctance to choose...
Following a year of investments in its production facility, leading
Hungarian pasta producer Soos Tesztagyarto, based in Vecses, near
Budapest, has said that it is now gearing up to increase its yearly
production to meet demand from...
One of Romania's leading and longest established chocolate makers,
Excelent, has relaunched its Kandia branded chocolate under a
multi-million dollar investment. The money has also included an
extensive revamp of its production...
Cefic, European Chemical Industry Council, in conjunction with
EUROTOX has this week launched a €100,000 award for 'innovative
interdisciplinary research' in the field of toxicology.
The EU food and drink industry proved highly resilient in 2002,
increasing overall volume sales by 1.8 per cent at a time when the
bloc's industrial output as a whole declined.
When 145 countries walked away from the negotiating table at the
World Trade Organisation meeting in Cancun in September,
disappointment hung in the air over a failure to make real
progress. Since then bureaucrats and politicians...
In a transaction that aims to provide Hungarian shoppers with a
wider variety and cheaper prices, the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and Raiffeisen Zentralbank
Oesterreich have arranged a €160 million loan to finance...
Germans are the most traditional eaters in Europe, while the
British are the biggest fans of take-aways and the Spanish are the
least likely to invite friends round for dinner - at least
according to a new report from Mintel released...
Dutch based company Acatris, recently formed through the merger of
food and health companies Daminco, Orffa Health & Nutrition,
Schouten USA and SoyLife Nederland, has sold the the assests of its
brewery division in a bid to concentrate...
Delhaize is to roll out its City convenience store format in a
number of European markets, tapping into the trend towards town
centre outlets offering a range of essential grocery items. The
company will focus on Germany, Greece,...
A new organic programme in the US has lifted sales of organic food
and drink while western Europe saw growth slowing down on 2002
figures. New report predicts drop in growth for industrialised
world, but acceleration in developing...
The 21st century must rebalance the excesses of the 20th century -
from pollution to food. This month there were visible signs that
Europe is trying to get to grips with the labelling of
health-related products with the Commission...
A network of scientists in Europe, co-ordinated by NIZO food
research, are developing a design tool to clarify the relationship
between the configuration of the drying installation, process
conditions, product composition and final...
Russia, Slovakia and Hungary are just three of the markets tipped
for major international retail expansion this year by consultancy
firm AT Kearney. But previous favourites such as China and Mexico
should be avoided because of increasing...
Starter cultures are at the heart of dairy research in Europe. A
network of scientists will identify new tools to give Europe's
dairy industry the competitive edge over USA, New Zealand and
Australia.
Marks & Spencer is the first retailer in the UK and Ireland to
use a new type of eco-friendly wrap for its butter packaging.
LeanCover is said to be very resource efficient and has a low
environmental impact.
Privately-held Swiss botanical extracts company Emil Flachsmann is
to come under the wing of flavours multinational Frutarom,
following an agreement between the two companies announced this
week. The combined businesses expect sales...
Soluble fibre, the rising star of the ingredients world, has
traditionally been found and consumed in solid foods such as
cereals, vegetables and fruits. A new generation of soluble fibres
- formulated by a number of ingredients...
International food company Nutreco and Canada-based Genex Swine Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding today. This concludes the merger between Nutreco's swine genetics company, Hypor, and Genex.
Against the backdrop of imminent European enlargement the Food
Ingredients Central and Eastern Europe (FiCEE) exhibition, which
first took place in Hungary in 1999, will be held in Berlin next
year, organisers CMP Information announced.
After years of restrictions related to BSE and FMD, as well as
unfavourable economic conditions caused by the strength of
sterling, British food and drink exports rose for the first time
since 1998 last year. A continued focus on...
Brits may have the sweetest tooth in Europe but new evidence
suggests that health and diet concerns are pushing the UK consumer
towards healthier sugar and gum confectionery options.
The troubles at Ahold caused by accounting scandals in the US and
Argentina could lead to a sell off of several of its operating
units - and the UK's number one player Tesco is thought to be ready
to pounce.
Belgian retail group Colruyt has continued its expansion into the
wholesale food distribution business with the acquisition of two
Paris-based companies, Jean Didier and Harrydis.
Chr. Hansen - Food Ingredients saw net sales rising by five per
cent in Europe, South America and Asia/Pacific for the first
quarter ending 30 November 30, 2002 but plunging by six per cent in
North America. The overall impact - the...
Britons are confirmed snack-o-holics, according to a new report
from Datamonitor, meaning that there are excellent growth prospects
for snack makers in this market. And while snack consumption
patterns are different on the Continent,...
The makers of the market leading energy drink Red Bull have
introduced a sugar-free version to the UK market this month. The
company claims it is the first global energy drink brand to address
the growing consumer demand for diet...
