Scientists in the US and Spain are trying to determine the factors
behind public perceptions of meat quality, in order to better plan
future business strategies and establish consistent labelling.
Malt- and chocolate-based drinks are often seen as relatively
unsophisticated in developed markets in the west, but in many
countries, in particular in Latin America, they are big business
indeed, marketed mostly as an excellent source...
Europe's retailers are among the most international in the world,
but one market where they are still under-represented is Latin
America. Yet as the region's economies begin to strengthen after
several difficult years, the...
Troubled Dutch retailer Ahold ended 2003 with losses of €1 million
- a major improvement on the €2.1 billion losses a year earlier -
but stressed that there would be further hardship ahead in 2004
before the real benefits of its Road...
Japan may be about to review its policy of testing all slaughtered
cattle for mad cow disease, a practice Tokyo has asked Washington
to adopt as a condition for resuming US beef imports. This is
encouraging news for US meat processors,...
As soyoil prices hit 19 year highs, poor soybean harvests and
increased demand from China take their toll on the world's leading
oilseed processor with Bunge North America announcing that from
early this month it will idle production...
East European consumers are enjoying an ever wider choice of soft
drinks as markets open up and purchasing power increases. And
growth in the market shows no sign of slowing, as popular local
brands continue to hold their own against...
Despite higher raw material prices Corn Products International, a
US maker of corn syrups sweeteners, saw profits and sales rise for
the year, citing sales in North America and a better price-product
mix as key factors responsible...
A new article raises concern that the banning of antibiotics in
food animals may harm both human and animal health. The report,
published this month in the Journal of Antimicrobial
Chemotherapy, argues there is little to no scientific...
Two more cattle herds in Washington State, US were quarantined over
the weekend as the number of animals linked to a cow infected with
mad cow disease increased.
US agriculture secretary Ann Veneman has announced a series of
e-Government initiatives in response to public fears over beef. In
a recent Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care
Poll, over one in five American adults...
Investment fund Russia Partners II has acquired the Moscow-based
Ice-Fili ice cream producer and confectionery group Zvezdny,
according to a report in the Vedomosti newspaper.
Pricing pressure hits another ingredients company as leading
Australian yeast supplier Burns Philp sees low margins cutting into
profit for the quarter.
In the space of seven days US agri-giant Bunge has not only plunged
deeper into Far Eastern oils but also shed the private label retail
bottled oil business of its edible oil division.
Two years ago to the day terrorist attacks in the United States
struck a nation, leaving the country shocked, angry and vulnerable.
As the country continues to recover, national security remains very
much a top priority, in particular...
As Europe and the United States square themselves for the battle of
the GM at the upcoming WTO trade talks in Cancun, Mexico next week,
it would appear that US consumers are far less concerned than their
politicans about biotechnology,...
Australia's largest food and ingredients company Burns Philp &
Co saw net profit rise by 16 per cent to A$170.0 million (€100m)
for the fiscal year ended June 30 but earnings were impacted by
acquisitions - not least Australia's...
Strong results across a range of business units helped US
agribusiness Cargill post a stable set of figures for the
fourth-quarter of 2003. Food ingredients operations in Europe,
Latin America and North America claim a particularly...
Agribusiness giant ADM will dissolve a joint venture with US corn
sweetener company after the two companies stuck an agreement under
the auspices of a federal judge, reports the Washington
Post.
Cargill and Riceland Foods have announced their intention to link
up to manufacture, market and sell lecithin products to food,
pharmaceutical, and technical customers.
French supermarket group Casino has announced that its US arm Smart
& Final is to sell its Florida-based foodservice and store
businesses in order to concentrate on its core operations in the
western United States.
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.
Despite an increase in sales UK flavour and fragrance company
Treatt described trading for the six months to 31 March 2003 as
'challenging' this week, with profit before tax falling by
24 per cent to £955,000 (€1.3m) compared...
Food Safe, a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded Aquentium,
has filed a patent application with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office for its proprietary food sanitisation process.
Robertet, the French flavours and perfume group, announced on
Monday strong financial growth for the fourth year running. For the
year 2000 the company...
The debate on the yield superiority of traditional crops over
organic crops is set to continue as a recent study reveals that
corn and soybeans were only minimally reduced when organic
production practices were used instead of conventional...
Food and drink products have often been at the heart of trade
disputes between countries, but in recent years they have become
not the reason for these disputes but rather weapons wielded by
politicians. The US call for a boycott...
Warning of American job losses, a white paper issued today by the
American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) describes specific scenarios
under a country of origin labelling regulation that would dissuade
frozen food makers from using...
Functional drinks are growing in popularity across the world, but
the products which sell best in Japan are not necessarily the same
as those which do well in Europe or the US, meaning that there is
plenty of room for growth in all...
Ireland's Glanbia and Uruguay's Conaprole have joined forces to
help develop the market for dairy ingredients in Latin America. A
new joint venture company, Conabia, based in Mexico, will develop
sales throughout Central...
Aquentium, has filed a trademark application for #1 Patriot Food
Safe Fruits and Vegetables, its food safety process for the
protection of fresh food products, with the United States Patent
Trademark Office and is planning to license...
Anyone who has visited the United States will have witnessed the
generous portions that regale the multitude of eateries. But
according to new research to come out of the States, this is in
fact a new phenomenon, and one which has...
Cheerwine, the quirky US soft drink which is popular in the
southeastern states, is now available for the first time in Europe.
Norway will be the first market for the cherry-flavoured soft drink
outside North America.
Carbonate sales might be fizzing, but a new report from beverage
analysts Canadean shows that the growth in sales of still drinks is
even greater - and that the rate of growth is likely to continue to
gather pace for the next few...
In the US, an agreement has been signed for Marathon Products, a
leading supplier of food safety equipment, to supply Food Safe with
its requirements for temperature monitoring equipment.
Dutch food retail group Ahold - whose exemplary business
performance of the last few years has become decidedly tarnished in
recent months - has announced it is to sell its Netherlands-based
health store chain De Tuinen to Holland...
UK flavour and fragrance company Treatt saw turnover increase 11
per cent for the year with a slight dip in pre-tax profit from
£2.83m in 2001, to £2.77m for 2002, the company reports today.
Investment in the USA is paying off.
Anglo-Dutch group Unilever has sold its US-based distributor Iberia
Foods to the Brooklyn Bottling Group for an undisclosed sum. The
unit distributes and markets a wide of Unilever and other branded
products to the Hispanic American...
This year has been something of an annus horribilis for
Dutch retail group Ahold, with the weakness of the economies in the
Americas taking a particularly heavy toll on profits. With third
quarter results falling heavily compared...
While the major soft drink producers continue to innovate and
launch new products in saturated markets in the west, it is Asia
which is likely to power growth in the global soft drinks market
over the next five years, according to...
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this week that it is
to establish a standard of identity for white chocolate.
The standard will provide for the use of the term `white
chocolate' as the common or usual name of...
Laurent-Perrier Champagne has released a new version of its Grand
Siecle La Cuvee wine in the US, at the same time reducing the price
to around €80 a bottle in a bid to attract greater numbers of
consumers to high quality wines.
Bulk imports of Chinese honey contaminated with low levels of
chloramphenicol (CAP), a potentially harmful antibiotic and
unapproved food additive, have been discovered by US Customs and
the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this...
Europe's leading food retail chain Carrefour has surprised even
itself with the publication of first half results which were much
better than expected.
Swiss food group Nestle on Friday declined to comment on market
talk it might want to buy US confectionery maker Hershey, but said
it would be keen on regaining its top-selling Kit Kat brand in the
United States.
ConAgra Foods, the number two North American food company, has
received antitrust clearance for the planned sale of 54 per cent of
its fresh meat operations to an investor group.
The acquisition of Unilever's Mazola and associated brands in North
America by UK food company Associated British Foods (ABF) reached
completion on Tuesday, following clearance from the necessary
regulatory approvals.
