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Food prices
With memories of peak prices in 2007-8 still vivid, manufacturers must keep a close watch on commodity markets. Sudden shifts can have a massive, overnight impact on costs - and worsen food insecurity in developing countries.
Givaudan to move savoury flavour production to Hungary
31-Aug-2010 - Givaudan plans to streamline its savoury flavour manufacturing production in Europe, with a new plant in Hungary designed to take over most of its current production from the UK and Switzerland.
Kerry Group buys Springthyme Oils for undisclosed sum
13-Aug-2010 - Kerry Group has acquired Lancashire-based infused oils maker Springthyme Oils, FoodManufacture.co.uk has learned.
Order levels back to normal in H1 2010, Symrise
10-Aug-2010 - Symrise has seen its flavour and fragrance orders rebound to pre-economic crisis levels and has expanded its business with some key customers in the first half of this year.
PureCircle shares slump on warning of lower profits
28-Jul-2010 - Stevia supplier PureCircle saw its share price plummet yesterday (Tuesday) after it said in a trading update that its profits for fiscal 2010 would be down on last year.
Hot weather could result in costlier flour, analysts
27-Jul-2010 - Bakers may expect to pay out more for flour on the back of the rally in global wheat prices this month, following production setbacks in the EU, Russia and Kazakhstan, claim industry commentators.
CP Kelco pumps additional $8m into Danish pectin plant
08-Jul-2010 - CP Kelco has announced that it is injecting $8m investment into its pectin plant in Skensved, Denmark to meet growing demand for its amidated pectin for use in low-sugar and sugar-free products.
FAO calls for ‘limited’ regulation of food futures markets
24-Jun-2010 - Some regulation of commodities futures markets could be beneficial – but should stop short of tight limits or an outright ban, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new policy brief.
Why Corn Products is moving into Europe
22-Jun-2010 - The planned acquisition of National Starch will launch Corn Products into Europe, and give it more leverage when dealing with five or six major food manufacturers that aim to cater to global tastes.
Danisco positive on FY despite sweetener struggles
22-Jun-2010 - Danisco achieved 6 per cent in revenue for its full year 2009/10 and strong profit growth; all divisions with the exception of sweeteners contributed to its margin expansion.
Corn Products buys National Starch for $1.3bn
21-Jun-2010 - National Starch is to be sold to US-based Corn Products International for US$1.3bn, current owner Akzo Nobel has confirmed. The news ends over two years of speculation over the business’ future and propels CPI into the European market.
Analyst: Tate & Lyle "unlikely" to buy National Starch
04-Jun-2010 - The acquisition of National Starch appears to be off the agenda at Tate & Lyle, with the firm now "set to fall into enemy hands", according to analysts at Investec Securities.
Non-dairy calcium also linked to prostate cancer, say researchers
04-Jun-2010 - Consumption of calcium from non-dairy sources could increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, according to the results of a study conducted among Chinese men.
Cognis comments spark €3.4bn buy-out figure
28-May-2010 - Speculation about typical asset valuing ion the chemicals industry by Cognis’s chief financial officer, Marco Panichi, has led to a figure of €3.4bn being attached to the German ingredient company, as buy-out speculation mounts.
Tate & Lyle shifts focus as profits fall
28-May-2010 - Tate & Lyle has announced a major shake-up of its business, shifting focus to specialty food ingredients and away from its traditional sugar business.
International manufacturers will be hit by Greek measures, analyst
26-May-2010 - Greek consumers are likely to curb their spending on relatively new additions to their diets due to the austerity measures, predicts Euromonitor's expert on Greece, meaning that multinational firms will be more affected than Greek companies making traditional-style foods.
Cognis details best ever quarter as buy-out speculation continues
26-May-2010 - German chemicals and nutrients giant Cognis has turned in its best ever Q1 operating profit as sales across its three core divisions exceeded 2008 pre-financial crisis volumes in 2008 for the first time - fueling ongoing buy-out speculation.
How the Greek food industry is squaring up to austerity
25-May-2010 - As Greece comes to terms with economic bail out measures, the food industry is prepared to feel some pinch but it expects to fare rather better than non-essential industries.
Kraft Food pledges commitment to Cadbury Ireland
19-May-2010 - Senior Kraft Food executives pledged their commitment to Cadbury Ireland this week in discussions with the Irish minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe.
Realistic prices should underpin food supply chain, says EU report
18-May-2010 - Improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the European food supply chain will be achieved only with realistic food prices not the current artificially low ones, according to a new report from the EU’s European Economic and Social Committee.
BASF confirms Cognis bid, says FT
10-May-2010 - BASF continues to be the subject of rumours that its supervisory board has approved a takeover bid for fellow German supplier, Cognis, which is owned by Permira PERM.UL and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.
Food firms could benefit from SME financing plans
07-May-2010 - As 20 per cent of SME loan applications are turned down, European Commission is mulling new ways for SMEs to access the funding they need – news that will be welcomed by smaller players in the food and beverage industry.
Price contradictions put industry in a precarious spot, says Fevia
06-May-2010 - The European food supply chain is being crushed between a hammer and an anvil, according to the Belgian food industry association Fevia, which is setting out to contribute to better understanding between actors and more collaboration.
Biotech sector buoyant in ’09, but SMEs still struggle
03-May-2010 - Last year was a bumper year for the biotech sector overall, according to a new report, as R&D budgets were slashed but majors’ sales soared. Innovative smaller firms may be feeling the pinch more, however.
Naturex met ’09 targets, goes for more growth
03-May-2010 - French plant-derived ingredient supplier Naturex has reported revenues and profits in line with its 2009 targets, and is working on the full integration of recently acquired Natraceutical assets.
Plantation acquisition to boost New Britain Palm Oil production
30-Apr-2010 - New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) has completed a major acquisition that increases its plantation area by more than 50 per cent, at a time when a shift is underway towards use of oil produced without causing deforestation.
Spotlight
  Natural mouthfeel is key for reduced-calorie formulations: GivaudanSwiss flavor giant Givaudan has launched a new programme aimed at developing reduced-calorie products that do not... |
 Reformulation drive risks dairy sector damage, Dairy UK warnsUK trade body Dairy UK has called on the nation’s government to do more to communicate the... |
 ABF’s ingredients division needs self-improvement: AnalystAssociated British Foods (ABF) is on track to deliver strong, full-year growth, however, high raw material costs... |
