Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Weekly Comment

Training the salt of the earth

On International Labour Day, workers across the world will be raising a glass in honour of the salt of the earth.

CCE predicts earnings drop in 2007

Life is unlikely to get much sweeter for Coca-Cola Enterprises this year as rising input costs and a new restructuring scheme threaten to knock earnings further, it warned.

Digital refractometer improves concentration readings

A new digital refractometer can automatically scan liquids for concentration levels and offers the market leading measurement range, claims its manufacturer.

Alcoa to examine disposal of packaging business

Alcoa said this week it would examine disposal of its packaging and consumer units, which together generate $3.2 billion in revenues for the company.

Magic ingredient needed for diet soft drinks

A lucrative opportunity exists for the ingredients firm that can develop a new product to make diet soft drinks taste more acceptable to consumers, researchers have said.

Sustainable coffee paper runs at high speeds

A new flexible paper provides coffee packagers with an environmentally friendly wrapper that can withstand high speed line speeds, its manufacturer claims.

Boel sets out her stall for EU wine reform

Mariann Fischer Boel, Europe's agriculture commissioner, has attempted to rally supporters of her 'radical' wine reform proposals, but conceded that disagreements remained.

PepsiCo feasts on snack growth for first quarter gains

Beverage giant PepsiCo has increased sales by about nine per cent to $7.4bn (€5.3bn) during a strong first quarter for the year, as it continues to expand its global operations, particularly through its snack and potato chip lines.

Research examines improved safety for citrus supply

A group of research centres have banded together to examine ways of improving safety and quality along the supply chain for citrus products.

WTO opens inquiry on India's spirit tariffs

European wine and spirits firms saw the door to India open a little wider Tuesday, after the World Trade Organisation agreed to investigate the country's high import tariffs.

UK supermarket targets natural soft drinks trend

Britain's third largest supermarket is to remove artificial flavours and colours, as well as the aspartame sweetener, from its private label soft drinks.

Weekly Comment

Ditch the marketing madness

Marketing strategies - two words that incorporate everything from pseudo scientific research to shock value advertising campaigns. But shouldn't honesty be the best policy?

French wine militants attack supermarkets

Militant winemakers have claimed responsibility for explosions and fires at several supermarkets in southern France, raising concerns of a return to violence in the region.

Diageo plan to split Scottish & Newcastle

Diageo approached SABMiller to discuss carving up fellow alcoholic drinks giant, Scottish & Newcastle, adding to speculation over industry consolidation.

FDA reviews Italian aspartame study

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reaffirmed its position on the safety of aspartame, following a review of a European study that had linked the artificial sweetener to cancer.

Regulator says levying fees could harm independence

The EU's food safety agency has expressed reservations about a plan by the European Commission to make companies pay fees for risk assessments.

Are fruity cocktails a healthy drink?

Strawberries with alcohol may lead to an increase in antioxidant capacity, says new research from Thailand and the US that suggests a daiquiris could be classed as a health drink.

Anheuser-Busch accused of 'illegal' alcohol labels

Beverage giant Anheuser-Busch has been called on to cease marketing of its Spykes malt-based beverages, which have been accused of carrying 'illegal' warning labels.

Exclusive interview

Inside Nestle's R&D brain centre

In the first of a new series of exclusive interviews, Professor Peter van Bladeren, Nestlé's director of science and research, tells Stephen Daniells how collaboration is key to innovation at the Nestlé Research Center.

Kraft gives Kenco range a fresh look

Rising demand for premium coffee any place any time has prompted Kraft Foods to team up with a UK packaging group to spruce up its Kenco FreshSeal range.

Coca-Cola reaps global rewards

Beverage giant Coca-Cola has started the year on a high, posting its strongest first quarter results in half a decade due to growth in key international markets.

Less is more, UK wine consumers told

Wine industry leaders in the UK are attempting to make moderate wine consumption fashionable as part of a new responsible drinking plan spearheaded by the European Commission.

Heineken and co pay high price for beer cartel

Heineken has landed the seventh largest fine ever handed out by EU competition authorities, for a beer cartel it operated with other brewers, including Grolsch and InBev.

Testing tools help keep beverages pathogen-free

Two new testing tools from Döhler are designed to keep pathogens and impurities from contaminating beverage filling lines.

Falling coffee prices no cause for alarm, says ICO

Coffee prices fell again last month and are expected to continue dropping in April, the International Coffee Organisation has said.

Wastewater recycler uses combined technologies

A new treatment system integrates two technologies to recycle wastewater in plants, claims its manufacturer, helping food and drink firms to meet their environmental commitments.

Union threatens strikes at Coca-Cola

Plans to cut 3,500 jobs in a restructuring drive at Coca-Cola's main bottling arm may lead to widespread industrial action in the US, warned a prominent union for soft drinks sector workers.

Weekly comment

Food contamination: time for action

At a time when so many resources are being pumped into improving consumer health through food, it is pitifully ironic that more and more people are getting sick or dying from what they eat because of safety slips.

Cott eyes move for Cadbury drinks

Rumours were again swirling around Cadbury Schweppes this weekend, after the world's largest private label soft drinks maker said it was eyeing a move for the group's US drinks arm.

San Miguel cans Del Monte venture

San Miguel is to sell its minority stake in Pacific-based Del Monte, which it holds in a joint venture with the NutriAsia group.

Device cuts oxygen measurement time in half

A new device cuts oxygen measurement time in half for barrier polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, according to the manufacturer.

Symrise starts international citrus offensive

Symrise has unveiled plans to expand its citrus fragrance and flavour activities, with building underway for a new centre located close to the source of high-quality, natural fruits in Brazil.

EU to press ahead with India spirit tariffs dispute

EU officials say they are determined to make India drop its high import tariffs on wine and spirit drinks, after the country refused to stand before a dispute panel at the World Trade Organisation.

Late lager surge boosts SABMiller

Higher growth across several beer markets in SABMiller's final quarter has boosted the brewer's full year performance.

Knives come out in Danone China dispute

The ongoing spat between French giant Danone and Chinese business partner Wahaha is no longer a laughing matter with the multinational threatening to go to the court over the disagreement.

Weekly comment

You cannot judge a juice by its cover

Have you heard this one before? There are two blackcurrants, one has a high vitamin content and the other - well it doesn't.

Tate & Lyle files ITC case for sucralose patent infringement

Tate & Lyle has filed a United States International Trade Commission (ITC) case over alleged infringement of its patented sucralose manufacturing technology.

Ethyl Carbamate in food, drink as dangerous as diesel

The attention of product developers is turning towards health risks posed by ethyl carbamate, a naturally ocurring substance in fermented food and beverage products that is now classed as dangerous as acrylamide and diesel fuel.

Responsible drinking messages on the rise

Responsible drinking messages on alcoholic drinks labels, as well as tighter advert rules, are expected to be introduced across the EU's 27 member states in the near future.

Low friction guide reduces packaging line bottlenecks

A new beaded guide that can be fitted into processing and packaging lines allows multiple products to run side-by-side without bottle necks, while reducing damage, its manufacturer claims.

Wahaha rebuffs Danone's advances

Chinese beverage group Wahaha has hit out at plans by business partner Danone to acquire the groups remaining assets.

World thirst for Scotch whisky

Rising exports to different corners of the world helped Scotch whisky exports to reach their highest ever value in 2006, new figures show.

Which? criticises complicated sugar labelling

Consumer watchdog Which? has hit out at confusing labelling of sugar content in foods, placing the onus on manufacturers to put full nutritional information on packs after a survey found high levels in savoury foods that were not immediately apparent.

New analyser relieves pressure on drinks makers

The maker of a new analyser capable of monitoring carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen claims it can help brewers and soft drinks firms step closer to perfection.

Pepsi goes local in Chinese expansion

PepsiCo expects to double its Chinese workforce over the next five years as it looks to meet growing demand for its products in the country.

SABMiller milks local experience in Vietnam

Vinamilk, one of Vietnam's leading dairy companies, is to team up with global brewer SABMiller as its looks to enter the country's dynamic beer market.

Sour grapes blight Bordeaux wine event

Wine producers in Bordeaux's Saint-Emilion say they are to appeal against the suspension of the area's 'grand cru' label, a ruling that threatens to overshadow a crucial week in the Bordeaux calendar.

Weekly comment

Wanted: testing for supplements

The dietary supplement industry needs an independent testing program that is recognizable to consumers in order to enhance the credibility of its products as well as encourage solid science and sourcing.

Unilever, Provexis collaborate for healthy products

The identity of the mystery multinational with which Provexis has been exploring new formats of its Fruitflow technology is unveiled as Unilever; and the two companies also plan to collaborate over new IP on related products and processes.

Pneumatic bottler offers simplicity with accuracy

A new soft drinks bottling system, which uses only two pneumatics functions, improves filling accuracy while reducing maintenance costs, its manufacturer claims.

Can elections boost France's depressed consumers?

Food firms should be crossing their fingers that a new French president can blow away the black cloud hanging over consumer confidence in the country, says a new survey.