UK chocolatier Thorntons has suffered a 63% decline in profits in its half yearly report and intends to close almost half of its own stores and focus on commercial retail sales.
Food safety consultancy and product recall specialists RQA have announced a major business restructure which will see global operations managed from Europe.
Current volatility in food markets is likely to continue however prices could begin to ease into 2012, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Global group International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has opened a dedicated facility in Dubai, with an industry insider hailing the move as strategic in terms of leveraging growing demand in the Middle East and Africa.
Despite the market stranglehold of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo on the Middle East and Africa, smaller carbonates firms could still exploit a trend towards rising consumption amongst youthful populations in these regions.
Exploiting expected growth opportunities in the Middle East and Africa, AB Enzymes reports it has initiated a tie-up with one of the main distributors in the region – Orkila - to aid its penetration into the bakery, beverage and food specialities markets.
Puratos is launching its bakery enhancers in the Middle East and in Asia in response to growing demand for “western type” cakes with a long shelf life, said the firm.
After a two month delay, sugar giant Agrana has started production at its new Egypt plant that will supply prepared fruit to dairy companies in the Middle East and North Africa.
Givaudan has reported 2011 sales of CHF 4.2bn, up 8.9% on 2010, with the firm’s Latin American flavours division leading the way with strong sales in beverage, confectionery and savoury.
Flavourings supplier Symrise claims it is now in a leading position for serving local clients in bakery and confectionery goods in the Middle East after establishing its own manufacturing site in Dubai.
Confectionery giant Nestlé has officially opened a (USD) $136m manufacturing facility in Dubai which is set to become the third largest Kit Kat plant worldwide.
Nestle’s Middle East affiliate has started producing powdered milk, confectionery and wafer products, at its new plant in Dubai, which has a capacity of 100,000 tons a year.
Dutch malt extract firm Diastatische Products is eyeing new opportunities for its malt extract ingredients in Belgium, Poland and the Middle East, and has a new distribution agreement with Univar to help it tap them.
As Gulfood opens its doors in Dubai the global food industry is turning its attention to the rich opportunities presented by the Middle Eastern market, and consumer tastes and preferences there.
Latin America and Asia led the way with strong sales for Givaudan’s flavour division in 2009, prodding it towards 1.9 per cent sales growth in local currencies in a tough year for industry.
Symrise has acquired fragrance and flavours maker Futura Labs to tap into opportunities in the fast growing regions of North Africa and the Middle East.
Tate & Lyle has reached an agreement to sell its minority stake in sugar refineries in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to Saudi-based sugar refiner Savola, the companies have said.
The UK food job market has seen an upturn in recent months, according to a recruitment expert, and it’s no longer a buyers market for those in the hiring seat. But for mainland Europe, recovery is still to come.
Doehler has opened a new applications centre in the Middle Eastern hub of Dubai, in a bid to tap the high-growth market and aid development of products to suit local tastes.
Cargill Texturizing Solutions has set up the global corporation’s first office in Algeria, as it spies growing opportunities for its ingredient range in the high growth North African market.
Chr Hansen has introduced a new yoghurt culture specifically designed to meet taste and texture preferences of Middle Eastern consumers, and help producers make cost savings.
Cargill has developed two new stabiliser ranges, including one for use in remotely prepared icings, which it claims simulate the easy-application properties of direct use icings.
Cargill is stepping up its sales capacity in the Middle East with a
new base in Dubai for Texturizing Solutions that will allow it to
collaborate more closely with customers in the region.
Ingredients supplier Wild has this week opened its first beverage
ingredients manufacturing site in the Middle East, building on the
growing demand for soft drinks in the area.
European Muslims are underserved by Halal food options, says
certification expert from Singapore, while Southeast Asia and the
Middle East are eyed by certified Western companies keen on
exports.
Groupe Danone's growing interest in the Algerian dairy market
underlines the importance of the North African / Middle East region
to European milk processors.
Nestlé, the world's biggest food firm, has taken out adverts in
Saudi Arabia to refute rumours that two of its dairy products are
Danish, as unlucky Arla Foods continues to suffer from 'those
cartoons'.
Arla Foods said its future on the key Middle East dairy market was
in jeopardy, after the group stopped production for the area amid a
widescale boycott on Danish products by Muslim consumers.
Natural flavours firm Wild taps into growing demand for processed
foods in Middle East and India, breaking ground on its first Middle
Eastern manufacturing plant to improve one-stop supply service to
the region.
Arla's switch of production from the EU to Saudi Arabia will save
the firm money and help it to benefit from the Middle East's
significant potential for high value diary products.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has launched a new online
global standards directory that provides details of BRC-certified
food, packaging and consumer product suppliers.
Russia's grain sector is going from strength to strength, and 2005
looks set to be a year of great opportunity for domestic and
international companies alike. Angela Drujinina reports .
Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa are strong growth areas
for the flavours market while in western Europe low calorie and low
carb diets will continue to spur demand, claims a new report,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa are strong growth areas
for the flavours market while in western Europe low calorie and low
carb diets will continue to spur demand, claims a new report.
Cheese spreads dominate the $1.1bn (€0.9bn) processed cheese market
in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region but as the food
service sector continues to develop sales of sliced and canned
cheese are slated to rise, reports Lindsey...
Ongoing growth in cultures sales to the dairy industry and health
markets helped the Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen post a modest
rise in revenue for the food ingredients division in the first six
months. Organic growth for the...
A strong rise in sales volumes in Western Europe helped Barry
Callebaut to post steady profit rise for first nine months. Company
on course to meet its target of EBIT SF200 million in 2002/03.
Danish ingredients company Danisco announced this week that it is
use new production facilities in Denmark to produce Natamax - a
natural, biological preservative.
Cadbury Schweppes announced that it has agreed to acquire a 51 per
cent equity interest in Kent, the leading sugar confectionery
manufacturer in Turkey, in addition to a majority equity interest
in its distribution arm, Birlik.
French group Groupe Danone has signed a partnership agreement with
the Egyptian Rachid group for the Egypt, Near and Middle East
region, in respect of its three core businesses, Fresh Dairy
Products, Biscuits and Beverages.
Ingredients Africa-Arabia will be held in Cairo, Egypt on September
1 to 4. It is the first international exhibition for food
ingredients, additives and flavourings in the Middle East and North
African area.
