Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Ozone nano-bubbles harnessed to sterilise water

A new steriliser uses ozone nano-bubbles to produce a water mixture that can be used for food processing.

EFSA issues food additive info ahead of Codex

Europe's food safety authority has issued information on current food additive laws ahead of the upcoming Codex meeting in China.

Cider revival makes C&C sales fizz

Making cider cool again in Britain has earned Irish drinks group, C&C, a 25 per cent sales rise over the last year, the firm has announced.

Opportunity knocks for Fairtrade suppliers

Fairtrade foods are coming in from the fringe with record growth and wider selection, says new research from the UK, highlighting growing advantages for food and drink firms choosing the ethical path.

Heater offers extreme processing control

A redesigned heat transfer fluid system offers improved energy efficiency while providing accurate temperature control at up to 316C (600F), its manufacturer claims.

French wine starlet set for UK launch

One of France's fastest rising wine brands, Fruité Catalan, is set to launch in the UK later this year, BeverageDaily.com can reveal.

Weekly Comment

Turning advertisers into educators

Instead of trying to hide confectionery from children by restricting advertising, chocolate-makers should be encouraging them to make the same health-conscious choices as adults when it comes to confectionery they're sure to buy anyway.

Nano project aims to reduce packaging waste

Danone, the French food and beverage giant, is taking part in a research project into nanotechnology that could result in stronger plastic packing that also reduces waste.

Food industry slams UK ad ban

The UK food industry has criticised the country's advertising watchdog decision to extend food ad restrictions to young people.

More fibre in coffee than orange juice?

Coffee, a well-established source of antioxidants, may also be a richer source of soluble dietary fibre than orange juice, researchers in Spain have reported.

Wine bluffers rule UK

More than a quarter of young wine drinkers in the UK have pretended to know about wine to impress a date, says new research that unveils some interesting insights on wine education in Britain.

Health shift hands Nestlé record profits

Sales at the group rose to CHF98.5 billion (€60.5bn) while organic growth was 6.2 per cent and net profit was up 13.8 per cent to a record CHF9.2 billion (€5.6bn).

FAO looks to tap coconut water potential

A simple cold preservation process could help increase sales of bottled coconut water – a product yet to fully tap the growth of health and energy drinks.

Pepsi to put caffeine content on labels

Drinks giant PepsiCo is to disclose the caffeine content on cans and bottles of its flagship soda Pepsi, a move that comes amidst mounting debate surrounding the substance.

Grape over grain drives Foster's sales gain

Australian brewer Foster's has posted encouraging results in its first half report as improving performance amongst its global brands drove strong sales growth throughout its operations.

Brewers braced for soaring costs in 2007

Poor harvests for hops and barley, together with mounting energy bills, are set to significantly increase cost pressures on all brewers this year.

Carlsberg brews up a solid 2006

Growth in Western Europe's difficult beer market inflated Carlsberg's 2006 sales alongside more rapid growth in Asia, the firm has announced.

Spearmint tea makes women hair free

Women with a condition that makes them grow hair on their breasts, faces and stomachs may find symptoms relieved by drinking a few cups of spearmint tea, new research shows.

CCE execs get cash bonus ahead of job cuts

Top executives at Coca-Cola Enterprises will be awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars for the firm's 2006 performance, despite last week announcing a $1.7bn loss and a plan to cut 3,500 jobs.

Flat Korean market could prompt Coca-Cola sale

Coca-Cola's Australasian bottler may offload its operations in Korea, as it reviews its operations in the country amidst declining sales of its brands, due to consumer health concerns.

Weekly Comment

Coming clean in crisis management

In the area of crisis management, companies seem keen to repeat history by making the same mistakes -- over and over again.

Bottle washer reduces energy costs, manufacturer claims

A new heating system for bottle washing can reduce energy costs by up to 30 per cent, claims its manufacturer.

Coffee trade talks are on track, insists ICO

A senior official fought back at suggestions that talks to establish a new international agreement to promote coffee consumption and sustainable production have hit problems.

Nestlé plots sustainable coffee in Vietnam

Nestle is to invest in sustainable coffee production within Vietnam in order to protect the quality and competitiveness of its brands in the growing markets of Asia.

Traditional French begin switch to bag-in-box wine

The bag-in-box is finally making inroads into France's traditionally conservative wine market, according to experts who gathered here in Montpellier for a seminar this month.

Britvic to recycle drinks bottles

UK soft drinks group Britvic will begin recycling its glass drinks bottles, mimicking trends in the premium spirits sector and helping Britain lurch toward its EU recycling commitments.

Tetra Pak convenience package claims prolonged shelf life

A new convenience aseptic package for ice-lollies and juice drinks can hold different volumes without the need for machine changeovers.

Bubble bursts at CCE as job losses loom

Bottling group Coca-Cola Enterprises will cut five per cent of its workforce, around 3,500 jobs, after the firm was flattened by cost rises and falling demand for fizzy drinks.

Legislators vote in favor of five-step waste hierarchy

EU legislators yesterday voted in favour of proposals to introduce a controversial five-stage hierarchy of priority for the bloc's waste management policy.

Nestlé opens factory for the poor in Brazil

Nestle announced it has opened a factory in Brazil to supply milk powder and coffee to low income families there, in yet another sign of ethics becoming big business.

MEPs to debate EU wine reform

A controversial report that aims to water down proposals to reform the EU wine sector will be debated by Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg Tuesday night.

Weekly Comment

Allergens: no margin for error

It would be a mistake for governments and industry to misinterpret the recent progress in food allergen labelling as a final solution: there is much that remains to be done, for the well-being of both consumers and manufacturers.

Tests detect Alicylobacilli and its off flavours

Three ready-to-use tests provide beverage makers with a means of detecting Alicyclobacilli, blamed for contamination of drinks and for producing off flavours.

Ozone may cut wine allergies

Using Ozone to preserve grapes could replace the need for allergy-causing sulphites, possibly leading to healthier and less allergenic wine, scientists have found.

Caffeinated drinks may protect elderly against heart disease

Over-65s who drink four or more caffeinated beverages every day may reduce their risk of heart disease by a whopping 53 per cent, suggests research from the US.

Danone loses appeal in EU cartel case

France's Danone must pay a €42m fine for its role in a cartel in Belgium, an EU court has ruled, backing Commission plans to get tough on repeat offenders.

FSA asks: When was your first goji?

The UK's Food Standards agency is seeking evidence of whether goji berries were consumed in the European Union before May 1997 - a factor that which will determine their novel foods status and could impact availability of the superfruit.

FreshCan finds first Euro use in creatine drink

A can system developed by Ball Packaging Europe to protect sensitive ingredients for use in beverages has found its first use in Europe in a German creatine drink, and could help spur development of new sports and wellness products.

Unilever claims progress in Europe

Unilever crawled back to positive sales growth in Europe during 2006 with solid performances in ice cream, tea and heart health foods.

Constellation swoops for Swedish vodka

Constellation Brands has announced it intends to buy the fast-growing Svedka vodka brand for $384m, as the group looks to improve earnings by delving further into the US spirits market.

A drink to turn on your sex life

A new 'energy' drink containing an array of natural herbs claims it can help consumers improve their performance in the bedroom.

Vietnam agreement highlights Carlsberg's expansion aims

Danish Brewer Carlsberg hopes that a memorandum of understanding with a soon to be privatised Vietnamese rival, will allow it to make further inroads into the dynamic market for beer in the county.

Weekly Comment

Food versus fuel: is a happy ending possible?

The era of biofuels is here but this does not necessarily mean unending food price shocks or a critical diversion of agricultural production away from food.

Marigot adapts Aquamin for broader beverage uses

Marigot is introducing a new version of its Aquamin ingredient, intended to facilitate calcium fortification in the burgeoning beverage market without impairing taste or colour.

Europe's vodka purists lose out to labelling

A compromise deal focused on clearer ingredients labelling may end a dispute between European Union countries about what true vodka can be made from.

UK soft drinks cradle Cott growth

Access to aseptic drinks production and promising growth in non-carbonated soft drinks in the UK helped Cott Corporation, the world's largest private label soft drinks supplier, to increase sales last year.

Coke and Nestlé Enviga lawsuit filed

Drinks giants Coca-Cola and Nestlé have this week been officially slapped with a lawsuit for claiming their new Enviga energy drink can help consumers burn off calories.

Tate & Lyle to close UK citric acid plant

Tate & Lyle has been forced to close its UK citric acid operations in the face of intense competition from Chinese imports and oversupply in the world market.

Chinese tea exports brew record year in 2006

China has consolidated its position as one of the world's leading tea producers as export demand continues to drive growth in the sector, according to figures by China's chamber of commerce for the import and export of foodstuffs (CFNA).

Chemical online portal goes global

Food and drink companies can now get a second opinion on their chemical analysis using the world's first global online product safety assessment portal, its provider claims.