Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Weekly comment

Temporary workers and corporate responsibility

As ever more food companies find themselves in the position of having employed migrants who were mistreated by illegal labour providers, it may be time for firms to start taking more responsibility for the temporary workers many of them rely on.

EFSA nutrient profiling opinion gives no guidance, advisor

Companies need to keep a close eye on the next steps in the development of the European Commission's nutrient profiling system, says an advisor from EAS, since EFSA has failed to give an indication of foods that will be included.

Absolut buy to aid Pernod Ricard's spirit domination

Pernod Ricard claims it has further consolidated its grip on the global wine and spirits market after winning the battle to purchase Sweden-based Vin & Sprit (V&S), manufacturer of Absolut vodka.

Microwave pipe technology enables uniform food heating

A manufacturer of microwave technologies claims to have developed a more efficient tube-based heating system for aseptic liquid and semi-liquid food products.

News briefs: Red Bull, Diageo and easy-carry vodka

This week, Red Bull launches a new natural cola brand as a first step away from energy drink production, Diageo receives a setback in its vodka expansion plans and a US-based vodka manufacturer launches a new bottle with a built in handle.

Red wine antioxidant may kill cancer cells

The antioxidant resveratrol, found in grape skins and red wine, can cripple the function of pancreatic cancer cells while sensitising them to chemotherapy, says new research.

Drink makers divided over Diageo pregnancy labels

The Alcohol industry remains divided over calls by the UK arm of Diageo for the country's government to introduce mandatory health warnings for pregnant women on drinks packaging.

Coca-Cola outlines coffee diversification plan

Coca-Cola has today finalised details of its ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee joint venture with Italy-based Illycaffè in a bid to further diversify its non-carbonated portfolio of brands.

Weekly comment

Calm crucial for energy products

Energy drinks are a runaway success but extreme marketing and product formulation has the potential to cast a shadow over the multi-billion dollar global industry.

US processors alerted over fruit scare

US food processors have been warned by the country's food safety body against using cantaloupes shipped from a Honduran grower and packager, over concerns of a potential salmonella risk.

Soft drink and beer giants head east in Euro focus

While they may produce very different types of beverages, multinational manufacturers Heineken and PepsiCo have both committed to further expansion within the high growth markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

Nestle chief warns biofuels threaten food supplies

Nestle SA chief executive Peter Braback condemns proposals for increasing biofuel production as morally unacceptable, warning they will have devastating effects on food supplies.

Deal could make traffic lights mandatory, claims report

Supermarkets in the UK could be 'forced' to adopt the Food Standards Agency's traffic light labelling scheme, claims newspaper.

Hansa Heeman partners Sidel for new plant

Soft drinks group Hansa Heeman has extended a partnership with a long-term processing and packaging supplier in constructing a new bottling plant to meet its specific needs in the still and carbonated water segment.

News briefs: Baltika, Ball packaging and Campari

This week, Campari reportedly mulls expanding its global spirits operations, Baltika pledges to step up exports to Spain, and Ball Packaging adopts an innovative new printing system for its beverage cans.

Wine industry seeking low-weight solutions for glass

Major players in the wine industry are set to team up with packagers and other stakeholders to improve cooperation in supplying lightweight glass bottles to tackle environmental concerns over the product.

Foster's turns back on 'added energy' drinks

Foster's today announced that it will immediately remove added energy and higher alcohol ready to drink (RTD) brands from its portfolio of goods sold in Australia due to concerns about irresponsible drinking.

New no-spill caps set for global launch

A new sealing device for liquid containers extends the product's shelf life, preserves freshness and reduces waste, its manufacturer claims.

Propionic acid beverage could boost satiety

A new study suggests a dairy beverage fermented with propionic acid may boost feelings of satiety, but work will be needed on optimal dose and palatability of market-viable food concepts.

Gene discovery provides insight into fruit shape and size

The identification of a gene that controls the shape of tomatoes provides new insights into the mechanisms of plant development, offering future opportunities for altering the size and shape of fruits.

Co-extruded plastics offer compostable tailored packaging

A new range of compostable bio plastics can be combined to grant various benefits for the packaging of beverage and food products, ranging from sealing and barrier forming to aesthetic and surface qualities, their manufacturer claims.

Soft drink makers press 'natural' innovation claims

Beverage manufacturers will continue to focus on using innovative "natural" ingredients in their products amidst growing concerns over the safety of their current formulations, according to the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA).

Pepsi venture moves for Siberian soft drinks maker

PepsiCo says that its hopes to jump-start its manufacturing presence in the high growth soft drink markets of Eastern Europe and Siberia with the acquisition of local group Sobol.

Weekly comment

Allergen-free: time for clarity

Claiming 'free from' is not a light statement to make. Lives depend on it. As scientific progress questions the validity of such claims, it is time to establish exact guidelines and communicate these to people for whom ingredients are a matter of life and death.

Study finds glass bottling produces similar carbon emissions to PET

A study published by WRAP suggests that the bottling of Australian wine in the UK using light glass bottles with a high recycled content produces roughly the same CO2 emissions during production and transportation as PET bottling.

Oil prices fuels coffee sustainability concerns

High oil prices are set to exacerbate coffee supply concerns by deterring growers from using fertilizers in cultivating the crop, according to new figures from the International Coffee Organisation (ICO).

European health group calls for 'rational' alcohol taxing

All EU governments should consider following the UK in increasing tax on alcoholic beverages, though on the basis of charging alcohol content rather than product definition, according to a senior member of a European alcohol policy forum.

News briefs: UK soft drink demand and Aquafina re-launch

This week, UK group Britvic finds the country's consumers demand for beverages changing and PepsiCo targets functional demand with the launch of a new range of waters.

TNA brings distribution and filler innovations to Interpack

Two innovative new packaging machines from TNA are set to make their debut at Interpack next month: a transfer and distribution system and an automatic inserter.

Unilever breakthrough could take food foams to new level

Researchers from Unilever have reported breakthrough results that proteins from fungus could produce food foams with stability that exceeds anything currently available.

Pectin, whey encapsulate vitamins for beverage

Encapsulating water-soluble ingredients in a whey protein-pectin complex could extend their use in acidic beverages, suggests new research from Canada.

Carlsberg not expecting delay in Heineken competition review

Carlsberg says it does not expect any delays in obtaining full regulatory support for its planned joint purchase of brewer Scottish & Newcastle (S&N), despite an on-going review of its purchase partner Heineken by the EU competition body.

Heineken and Diageo extend Africa team-up plans

Diageo and Heineken are to expand their cooperation within the South African market to tap into growing demand for premium beers, ciders and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages.

Nestle Waters braces for environmental battle

Nestle Waters has this week announced a £3m (€3.9m) investment for marketing for its local UK-based bottled brands during 2008, as it moves to win hearts and minds against increasing environmental criticism of the product.

Weekly comment

Warning signs: reconsidering shock tactics

Here's a possible new marketing angle for food and beverage manufacturers: "Food can kill".

Prebiotics battling for ingredient acceptance

Prebiotics are struggling to gain the respect and interest of consumers in a gut health and immunity market that has come to be dominated by probiotics, according to an influential industry pundit.

Tetra Pak to expand processor training

Tetra Pak, a global manufacturer of food processing and packaging systems, says it hopes to expand a training scheme designed to educate users of its processing technology to be more efficient.

Soft drink group calls for smoothie/juice tax cut

The British soft drink industry has today called on the country's government to cut Value Added Tax (VAT) on fruit juices in order to entice more consumers to their potential health benefits.

Packaging firms face future financial squeeze

A new report warns that the future remains challenging for European packaging firms, as rising input and transportation costs will continue to weigh down on the industry.

News briefs: Kraft coffee, Molson Coors and celebrity wines

This week, Kraft Foods increases the prices for its coffee brands, Molson Coors plots global expansion and celebrity booze is all the rage.

Alcohol may raise blood pressure more than thought

Alcohol intake may increase blood pressure to a much greater extent than previously thought, researchers from the University of Bristol report.

Doehler citrus innovation buoyed by Brazilian investment

Doehler is stepping up its presence within both the sourcing and processing of citrus fruits via a Brazilian investment designed to meet changing needs of beverage manufacturers.

Heineken bites into Transylvanian beer market

Heineken says it hopes to consolidate its position within the high growth Romanian beer and mineral water market by acquiring Transylvania-based brewer Bere Mures for an as yet undisclosed fee.

Nestle report focuses on corporate responsibility

A new report, released yesterday by Nestle, outlines the steps the company claims to have taken to make a positive social and environmental impact.

Weekly comment

The great food price smash-and-grab

While the world's media is bemoaning rising food prices, the French government is sniffing around the food industry for signs of gleeful profiteering. If it is right, the long-term losses of the nouveau cher will be far greater than the handful of centimes gained.

Drinks brands sued over alcohol/stimulant mix

Two of the biggest drinks groups in the US are being sued over drinks which, it is alleged, contain ingredients that could be unsafe.