Financial & Industry

14-Feb-2012 - Marketers in Sweden are targeting women with new product launches in the energy drink segment while organic and fair trade versions are also showing growing appeal in that market, claims Euromonitor International.

Kraft, General Mills and ConAgra: analysts’ tips on Pringles suitors

14-Feb-2012 - Kraft Foods is the likeliest candidate for Procter & Gamble’s Pringles brand after a deal with Diamond Foods looks lost, though other candidates may be lurking, according to analysts.

News in brief

Commission backs German firm Saria's bid to acquire meat companies

13-Feb-2012 - The European Commission has approved the bid by German company Saria Bio-Industries for joint control over Dutch group Teeuwissen Holding and Spanish company, Jagero II.

Treatt aims for full-flavoured jalapeno distillate, without the bite

10-Feb-2012 - Demand for increased taste, odour and aroma without the heat has driven the development of a savoury jalapeno flavour application that can be used in sauces, dips and beverages.

IFF profits slump 56% on ‘unprecedented’ raw material costs

10-Feb-2012 - International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) saw net profits slump 56% in the fourth quarter due to one-off costs and ongoing high raw material prices, but adjusted results were largely in line with analysts’ expectations.

Hike noted in world food prices - the first in 6 months

10-Feb-2012 - Global food prices have jumped nearly 2% marking the first increase since July 2011, claims the price index from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Smilde negotiating partnership with Hafner for Délices du Palais

10-Feb-2012 - Dutch firm Smilde Bakery has announced it is in negotiations with French company Hafner to take over the French operations of its Délices du Palais business.

Tate cautioned on sucralose prices; Q3 results don't surprise

09-Feb-2012 - In a competitive sucralose market, Tate & Lyle should price the sweetener keenly to ensure significant market share in the future, claims an analyst as the group releases ‘reassuringly dull’ Q3 results today.

Raw material price hikes boost sales for AAK

09-Feb-2012 - AarhusKarlshamn (AAK) has posted modest growth in its fourth quarter (Q4) and final year results driven by raw material price increases and strong performance in its core food ingredients segment.

News in brief

Tata and PepsiCo see Indian nutrient beverage scope

09-Feb-2012 - Tata Global Beverages has announced that it plans to market a nutrient beverage in India in a joint venture with PepsiCo, as both firms seek to profit from rising ready drink sales in the country.

Cargill eyes Eastern Europe with €20m chocolate upgrade in Germany

09-Feb-2012 - Cargill has announced plans to invest €20m in two cocoa and chocolate production facilities in Germany as it looks to boost its presence domestically and in Eastern Europe.

Industry backs EU call on cocoa child labour and warns 100% certified is no guarantee

08-Feb-2012 - The chocolate and cocoa industry has backed an EU resolution to tackle child labour in cocoa production and warns children may still have produced cocoa that is 100% certified.

News in brief

Valio hit by Swedish milk imports but brands show strength

08-Feb-2012 - Finnish dairy processor Valio has revealed that Swedish milk imports hit the profitability of its 'basic milks unit' in 2011, but the firm has hailed the success of recent additions to its branded product portfolio, which include 'digestion yogurt', soft quark and fermented milks.

Asia-Pacific and Americas to underline Kerry Group growth, predicts analyst

08-Feb-2012 - Kerry Group is set to continue to reap the benefits from health and wellness trends, and, in particular, can continue to leverage the industry’s ongoing salt, fat and sugar reformulation efforts, claims an analyst.

New pasteurised fresh cheese possibility excites Premium Ingredients

08-Feb-2012 - Spanish-based ingredients specialist Premium Ingredients is set to launch a new range of ingredients at Gulfood 2012 in Dubai, one of which is a novel concept that allows for the production of pasteurised fresh cheese without whey separation.

Frutarom buys up Brazilian sweet flavour house

08-Feb-2012 - Israel-based supplier Frutarom has acquired Brazilian flavour house Mylner for $15.7m (€11.84m), underlining its strategy of plugging any gaps in its flavour portfolio or market base.

Yoghurt and smoothie makers target of LycoRed colour line

07-Feb-2012 - Dairy manufacturers are the target of a new colour range from Israeli supplier LycoRed with red, yellow and orange shades derived from lycopene and natural beta-carotene that promise stability even in fortified yoghurt drinks.

Push for universal gluten-free symbol in Europe

07-Feb-2012 - The Association of European Coeliac Societies has adopted Coeliac UK’s gluten-free symbol as it looks to standardise gluten-free labelling across Europe.

Blue chips beat dairy blues with A-brands and innovation: Rabobank

06-Feb-2012 - Leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firms active in dairy have been particularly successful in increasing margins since 2006, despite rising commodity costs and a hostile economic environment, according to a new report from Rabobank.