Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Bemis sees upturn in flexible packaging demand

Bemis said a gradual improvement in demand for flexible packaging, especially for shelf-life extension products, was a major factor in it posting better than expected Q4 and year end results.

Sugar vs HFCS: What's in a name?

A consumer group has accused the Sugar Association of playing “confusing word games” in pursuit of a narrow commercial agenda.

X-ray machines boost detection and throughput for can lines

Enhanced detection, faster throughput and lower total cost of ownership are the benefits of upgrades to two X-ray inspection machines for use on can production lines, said Mettler Toledo Safeline.

News in brief

Ball invests in emerging markets as 2009 sales dip

Ball Corporation is investing in beverage can opportunities in China and Brazil as full year sales fall slightly on 2008.

Wild sells shares, plans global reach and IPO

Rudolf Wild GmbH has sold some shares to asset manager Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) in preparation for an eventual public listing, and plans to form a global flavour business with its US affiliate this year.

Americans fall out of love with imported beer

Americans are drinking less imported beer in the recession but Mintel research suggests that blame cannot be leveled at the economy alone.

Bericap launches new aseptic friendly sports cap

Bericap has launched a new sports drink closure that claims to combine suitability for aseptic filling with high flow rates.

Food nutrition labels fail to impress European consumers

Less than one-third of European consumers look for nutrition labels when shopping, according to a new study by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) published in the Journal of Public Health.

Antioxidant uptake from coffee unaffected by milk: Nestlé study

Adding milk to coffee does not reduce the bioavailability of antioxidants, says a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

News in brief

Appletiser cans go for a Rexam matt finish

Appletiser has begun using a matt over varnish technique from Rexam in the UK as the packaging firm continues to work on improving the impact of its can finishes.

MillerCoors misleads with “special” packaging claims, says watchdog

MillerCoors has come under fire from a US advertising watchdog for allegedly misleading claims made about its “Taste Protector” packaging.

AB InBev suspends Belgian job cut plans, blockade lifted

Blockades at Anheuser-Busch InBev breweries in Belgium have finally been lifted but the brewer has been forced to put job cut plans on hold.

Arla to make iced coffee for Starbucks in Europe

Starbucks chilled coffee may soon be on European supermarket shelves after the Seattle coffeehouse signed a deal with Arla Foods.

Comment

Cheesed off – jingoism takes the spoils in the Cadbury battle

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, quipped Mark Twain. Predictions of the demise of Cadbury following the approval of Kraft’s offer are premature and are flawed by knee-jerk anti-Americanism.

IFF scientists probe improved citral stability for beverages

A common flavour solvent may boost the stability of citral, one of the most important flavour compounds in citrus oil, and enhance formulations of beverage concentrates, says a new study.

Carton sector highlights UK packaging strategy flaw

A leading carton trade body has criticised the UK’s packaging strategy for failing to recognise the significance of renewable materials after a study found 90 per cent of consumers said packing should contain them.

Green tea antioxidants more bioavailable than thought?

The bioavailability of antioxidant catechins from green tea may be more than previously thought, says a new study from Italy.

Food sector boosting 100 per cent rPET demand

Phoenix Technologies has received a letter of no objection from Canadian authorities at a level up to 100 per cent for production of its food grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) resin.

News in brief

Eastman brings 360-degree shrink label material to Europe

Eastman has launched its Embrace LV copolyester in Europe for use as shrink film labels that can deliver 360-degree graphics.

Danisco enters niche probiotic juice category

Beverage manufacturers seeking to extend their health and wellness portfolio can now incorporate a clinical dose of an immune boosting probiotic strain to their refrigerated fruit juice range while keeping their all-natural positioning, claims Danisco.

Bad weather in China contributes to flat SABMiller volumes

SABMiller has reported disappointingly flat beer sales as South African volumes continue to slide and heavy snow and wet weather suppress Chinese demand.

Study tips pouches to double beverage market share

Pouches are tipped to more than double their share of the US beverage packaging market over the next decade as manufacturers look for greener options.

GLG launches lower cost stevia sweeteners

GLG Life Tech is preparing to capitalize on the market potential of natural sweeteners with a new range of lower cost stevia-based ingredients.

Nestlé target elderly with high-dose drink

Nestlé has launched a 200mL nutrient drink in Switzerland targeting the malnourished elderly – a segment of the population it says is deficient in key nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium and protein.

Tea compounds may boost attention span: Unilever

The tea compounds L-theanine and caffeine at levels obtained in a single cup of tea may improve attention, says a new study from Unilever.

Superfruit launches drop in 2009

US superfruit launches fell for pomegranate, cranberry, goji and mangosteen, according to data from market analyst, Mintel, a fact some market analysts are attributing to the recession and superfruit ‘fatigue’.

AB InBev blockade runs beer stocks dry

Workers at Anheuser-Busch InBev are into the twelfth day of a blockade of factory gates in Belgium that is running stocks dry at supermarkets and bars.

France ups Reb A limits for food

The French government has approved the use of stevia sweetener Reb A in table top sweeteners, and raised the levels at which it can be used in a range of no added sugar food and beverage products.

Could non-nutritive sweeteners boost energy intakes?

Consuming beverages sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners may lead to an increase in food consumption, and contribute to weight gain, says a new study from Purdue University.

Comment

Why Haiti must stay on the CSR agenda

50,000 and counting. We'll probably never know exactly how many perished in the 7.0 earthquake that brought Haiti, quite literally, crashing down last Tuesday, 12th January 2010, just before 5pm. But for those who survived and who make it through the hard days, weeks and months ahead, getting enough to eat will be a long term challenge.

News in brief

Unions accuse Crown of aggression towards workers

The United Steelworkers union (USW) and Unite have accused can manufacturer Crown Holdings of aggression towards workers in the UK, the US, and Canada.

China ensures continued global bottled water growth

Global bottled water sales increased in 2009 as growth in China compensated for declines in Western Europe and North America, according to Canadean.

USDA examines RTD tea opportunities in Mexico

A USDA market report has examined the potential in Ready To Drink (RTD) tea in Mexico for US drinks companies.

News in brief

WHO reveals global strategy on alcohol

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included recommendations for higher taxes and tighter advertising regulations in its draft global strategy report on alcohol.

Heineken buys up FEMSA beer business

Heineken has acquired the beer operations of the Mexican drinks giant FEMSA in exchange for a 20 per cent share in the Dutch brewer.

Green tea may slash lung cancer risk

Smokers who did not drink green tea at all may have a 13-fold increased risk of lung cancer, compared with those who drank at least one cup per day, suggests a new study from Taiwan.

$2m weight loss ruling sends warning to bogus claim makers

The recent federal district court ruling that has ordered a company to pay $2m to the Federal Trade Commisssion (FTC) for making misleading weight loss claims will act as “road map” in the sector, according to a veteran claims attorney.

Food packaging sector responds to nanotech criticism

Experts have questioned the conclusions of a UK parliamentary report that the food packaging industry is too secretive about advances in nanotechnology.

New machine promises improved pomegranate juice

Hefestus is launching a processing machine for pomegranate fruit that allows firms to squeeze a juice at a reduced cost without the bitter tasting peel.

Erythritol may boost whey-sports drink formulation

Adding common ingredients to whey-based sports beverages may improve the clarity of the finished product and allow greater consumer acceptance of this type of sports beverages, says a new study.

MPs attack industry in call for alcohol policy overhaul

A committee of British politicians has attacked drinks industry lobbying and called for higher duty on spirits and tighter advertising controls.

Comment

Cold snap could last longer for food sector

“More snow on the way.” So say the weathermen, and Europe is stocking up and hunkering down for a long, cold winter. But while the fluffy flakes will halt, at least come Spring, for the food sector the chill could be felt throughout 2010.

AB InBev cuts 800 European jobs, workers block Belgium gates

Anheuser-Busch InBev has revealed plans to cut 800 jobs across western Europe, prompting workers in Belgium to take company managers hostage.

High time for easier access to high pressure processing

Processors could soon have access to a cheaper way to test high pressure processing (HPP) technology – so-called ‘cold pasteurisation’ – as interest in the technique returns to the industry, reports sister title Food Manufacture.

Blueberries may boost memory in older adults: Study

Supplemental blueberries for only 12 weeks may boost memory in older people with early memory problems, says a new study from the US.

Grape juice may boost memory in elderly: Study

Daily consumption of Concord grape juice may enhance memory in older people with mild impairment in the brain function, says a new study from the US.

News in brief

US listed Chinese fruit juice firm plans investment

SkyPeople Fruit Juice plans to use subsidies from the Chinese government to expand R&D facilities and invest in new processing equipment.

Martens China picks Bericap scavenging closure for PET beers

Bericap has signed a new deal with Martens China to supply the brewer with a SuperShorty scavenging closure for its PET beer bottles.

Artificial sweeteners may trigger fullness hormones

The artificial sweetener sucralose may work together with glucose to stimulate the release of a protein that promotes a feeling of fullness, says new research from the US.

Mississippi to consider soda tax

Mississippi state representative John Mayo has introduced legislation to tax the syrup used to sweeten soda at a distribution level, according to local reports.

Glass packaging best for the environment

Glass packaging is a fully sustainable resource said a leading European trade body as it announced more than 25 billion jars and bottles weighing over 11 million tonnes had been recycled in 2008.

News in brief

Ball and Rexam outline executive appointments

Can makers Ball Corporation and Rexam have both announced new appointments at the top of their packaging operations.

SABMiller ABI complains of violence, workers threaten more strikes

SABMiller is facing the possibility that strikes at its soft drink operations in South Africa could spread to the beer division if no deal is reached tomorrow.

Sidel helps Nestle Waters remove grease

In partnership with Nestle Waters, Sidel has developed two grease-free parts for blow molds using its new thermo composite material Kohlox.

Acai benefits cholesterol levels: Rat study

The pulp of açai berries may counter the effects of a high-fat diet and reduce the risk of developing high blood cholesterol levels, says a new study with rats from Brazil.

Global functional drink growth eases in recession

Global sales of functional drinks continue to rise but the recession has dampened progress, according to a new Zenith report.

Tea prices could prompt over-supply, warns FAO

Record world tea prices in 2009 could cause some tea producers to plant more crops and lead to eventual oversupply to the market, the FAO warns.