Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

More study needed on green tea HIV link

Drinking green tea may help to prevent the spread of the HIV virus, a study suggests, but the authors have warned more research is needed.

Industry heavyweights push GDA labels in France

Big hitters in the food industry, including Danone, Unilever, Nestle and Coca-Cola, have announced they plan to roll out a nutrition labelling system based on Guideline Daily Amounts in France.

New enzymes help distillers cut costs

Alcoholic drinks makers could benefit from a new range of enzymes that claim to increase production at the same times as significantly reducing operating costs.

Xango to launch new functional juice in Europe

A new juice containing a host of added value ingredients, including the latest superfruit, mangosteen, will be launched in Western Europe this summer to target the growing functional food sector.

Another Indian company moves in on sucralose

An Indian pharmaceutical firm has completed a new sucralose facility and is ready to begin production of the popular sweetener, using what it claims to be a non patent-infringing process.

SAB to build new brewery in Russia

SABMiller, the international brewer, has said it will invest $170m in a new brewery in Russia as the firm continues to profit from demand for premium beer in the country.

New PET resins improve clarity at lower cost

Eastman Chemical Co. has launched three new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins that it claims offer better bottle clarity along with reduced production costs.

Tetra Pak invests in China

Tetra Pak plans to tighten its grip on China's growing beverage and dairy markets with a €60m state-of-the-art packaging materials plant in the country, it announced Tuesday.

Sweetener study shows no cancer link in humans

An epidemiological study in Italy concluded that there is no indication of an association between sweetener consumption and cancer risk - findings that lend some support to EFSA's conclusions on the safety of aspartame.

EU steps up fight against India's spirit tax

The European Union this week escalated its dispute with India over the country's import tariffs for wine and spirits, calling on the World Trade Organisation to intervene.

GlaxoSmithKline admits false health claims

Australian legislation on nutritional labelling has come under the spotlight with the announcement by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that its Ribena drinks brand may have misled consumers over the amount of vitamin C it contains.

Weekly Comment

Swallow your tongue

Fluffy language is increasingly clogging up the information air passages, and the food and drink industry must accept blame like everyone else.

Functional Diet Coke anyone?

Coca-Cola North America has announced its plans to launch Diet Coke Plus, a carbonated calorie-free beverage with the added value of vitamins and minerals, that could put the concept of functionality at the front line of the soft drink category.

Coffee culture comes home to brew

Sales of coffee machines in the UK more than doubled last year as consumer look to bring a piece of coffee house culture to their homes, new research shows.

Anheuser-Busch looks to China

US brewer Anheuser-Busch is to expand its Chinese distribution outlets as it looks to offset declining sales growth in its domestic operations.

Crown expands easy-open closure range

Crown Closures Europe has put out three new diameters for its Ideal brand, expanding the range for which it can be used for packing foods and beverages.

UK Budget leaves wine sector sour

The UK wine and spirits industry has said it is 'deeply disappointed' by the UK chancellor's plans to raise duty tax on wine, announced in his 2007 Budget Speech Wednesday.

Cocoa polyphenols may offer diabetes benefits - study

Dietary supplementation with cacao liquor proanthocyanidins (CLPr) reduced blood glucose levels in obese diabetic mice, and may offer human diabetics significant benefits, says a new study from Japan.

Reducing coffee's acrylamide may also hit flavour, antioxidants

A study by the European Commission and Nestlé Product Technology reports that efforts to reduce the acrylamide content of coffee also negatively affect flavour and nutritional benefits.

Roquette sweetens low-sugar market with soluble fibre range

Helping confectioners target the health trend, French ingredients firm Roquette has developed a new soluble fibre range suitable for use in low-sugar, low-calorie jellies and gums.

Cadbury to cut 438m out of costs, reveals newspaper

Cadbury Schwepps will attempt to drive down costs in its confectionary arm by £300m (€438m) a year and enter the US sports drink market, according to a newspaper report.

Sugar crops improve after hurricane losses

Sugar production in Florida increased during the last crop year, reaching "more normal" production levels after significant losses during the string of hurricanes in recent years.

Industry responds to fructose-obesity study

The Corn Refiners Association has responded to the recent research linking fructose consumption to obesity, stating that fructose cannot be related to high fructose corn syrup.

Labeller adds tamper safety to containers without changeovers

A new machine that can attach up to 400 tamperproof labels to containers per minute runs continuously without changeovers, its manufacturer claims.

Nestle Waters seeks turnaround with Philippines sale

Nestle Waters said the sale of its Filipino operations to local group Universal Robina Corp (URC) would better serve its interests in the country.

Weekly Comment

Rise and shine: the GM wake-up call

News that a variety of GM corn produced signs of liver and kidney toxicity in rats should be a wake-up call for better testing and more transparency from biotechs, if GMOs are to be accepted by increasingly sceptical consumers.

Nestle cuts water use at manufacturing plants

In a bid to cater to consumers' environmental concerns, Nestlé has pledged to further cut its water use and effluent discharges.

Cadbury set for confectionery split

Cadbury Schweppes has said it will separate its confectionery and US soft drinks businesses, sending ripples of speculation across the financial sector about the firm's motives.

France Under One Roof

Allez les Bleus! Is French wine coming back?

A creeping optimism about France's prospects on the much sought-after UK wine market appeared to be taking hold of several French wine producers and exporters at an industry show this week.

Cadbury to split drinks and confectionery businesses

Cadbury Schweppes has said it will separate its confectionery and US soft drinks businesses, sending ripples of speculation across the financial sector about the firm's motives.

Krones to unveil new aseptic sterilisation process

Germany-based Krones next week plans to unveil a new sterilisation process for the aseptic filling of sensitive beverages.

Hart set to create Tetra Pak rival with SIG takeover

New Zealand billionaire Graeme Hart is now set to take over SIG Holding, creating a rival to Tetra Pak in the beverage packaging market.

Coffee price decline in February, says ICO

Coffee prices recorded a further downward correction in February but were still at higher levels than the average for 2006, according to the ICO.

Food science recruits on the rise

One of Britain's top universities for food science says interest is growing in the subject, offering the industry hope of beating a severe shortage of recruits.

Soft drinks maker seeks natural fizz, for friendship and more

Product development gurus are increasingly attempting to use consumer trends for natural ingredients and more nutritious beverages to drive growth in the carbonated soft drinks category.

Amstel deal leaves SAB with a headache

Heineken has taken back its Amstel beer brand in South Africa, leaving previous licence owner and rival brewer, SABMiller, facing an uphill struggle to maintain sales in the country.

Weekly comment

GM: A healthy debate

The development of genetically modified crops to improve human health could be the golden ticket for advocates to persuade the wary public that GM is not a wholly nefarious idea after all. But will a new, healthy spin be enough to counter deep-rooted fears that genetic modification, by its very nature, poses an equal and opposite threat to human health?

Rexam to sell glass business to Ardagh

Ardagh Glass today announced an agreement to buy Rexam's glass container business for €660m.

Tate & Lyle confirms UK citric acid closure

Tate & Lyle will cease production of citric acid at is UK plant at the end of the month following the completion of an employee consultation process.

Energy drinks boost US beverage market

Energy drinks last year stormed the US beverage market, outperforming all other categories, while one sports drink inched its way into the nation's top five trade marks by displacing a popular soda brand, according to a new report.

Food packaging to use recycled water bottles

Water bottles will be turned into packaging for food at a proposed €17.6m recycling plant in the UK.

US joins row over India's spirit tariffs

The US this week followed the EU in filing a complaint with the World Trade Organisation over India's import tariffs on wine and spirit drinks.

Industry calls for action on biofueled price rises

The EU's food and drink industry yesterday called on the bloc's governments to take action on halting price rises for their supplies, as more crops are diverted for biofuel production.

Big brands fortify Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard, the world's second largest alcoholic drinks group, said it expected net profits to grow by a fifth for its full year following more strong performances from spirit brands.

Innovation to boost premium soft drinks, says Britvic

Consumer trends for health and indulgence are expected to drive "significant" growth in premium soft drinks over the next five years, the marketing head of Britvic has said.

Tstix technology takes on the teabag empire

A new infusion technique that allows one product to do the job of both teabag and teaspoon has grabbed interest from major companies and is looking to usurp the teabag's stranglehold on the hot beverage market.

Industry calls for long-term direction on emissions trading

UK food and drink companies are part of coalition of government, business and environmental groups, who yesterday issued a manifesto calling on the EU for clearer directions on the bloc's carbon emissions trading scheme.

Fake vodka poses health risk in UK

Thousands of litres of fake vodka seized at an illegal bottling plant in Wales may pose a serious danger to consumers' health, officials have said, warning the drinks trade to be on its guard.

FSA continues to drive traffic light labelling

A new TV ad designed to raise awareness of traffic light food labelling was launched yesterday in the UK.

Carlsberg strengthens Vietnamese hand with Habeco deal

Carlsberg has acquired a 10 per cent stake in Vietnam's second largest brewer as it looks to increase its market share in the country's growing beer market.

Britvic to launch UK soft drinks report

The highest and mightiest of Britain's soft drinks industry will meet Wednesday to discuss innovation and trends in the sector.

Weekly Comment

No excuses for illegal labour

There is no legitimate defence as to why some companies continue to use illegal labour. This isn't the vice trade, this is the food industry: no excuses.

Drinks giants prepare for Absolut battle

A host of alcoholic drinks firms, including Bacardi, are believed to be eyeing Swedish vodka brand Absolut, seen as a crown jewel in the international spirits world.

Budvar cool on sale speculation

Czech Brewer Budejovicky Budvar has hit out at speculation the country's government is poised to sell the company as soon as possible.

France tightens food and drink advert rules

All adverts for food and drink in France must now carry healthy eating messages or companies will face fines, under rules launched by the government (Thursday) to tackle obesity.

Wine is key to longer life, says new study

More evidence that drinking moderate amounts of wine every day can increase life expectancy has been put forward by Dutch researchers.

New programme to boost apprenticeships

The UK will create a new programme to boost the number of apprenticeships available in food and drink manufacturing, part of a bid to increase skills levels in the industry.