Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Identification of beer proteins could help improve flavour, study claims

The authors of a new paper identifying new proteins in beer believe that the research could help brewers to fine tune the flavour and aroma of the drink.

Fair trade wine tipped to be next big thing in ethical alcohol

Datamonitor has predicted that fair trade will be the next big ethical trend to hit the alcoholic drinks market.

Special edition: Robotics

Robots still a nascent technology in confectionery processing

Robot-based product packaging and palletizing remain the areas for quick wins in the confectionery sector but robots, albeit in the leading EU based confectioners, are gradually taking on more tasks a step earlier at the processing stage.

EU imposes duties against subsidised PET imports

The EU has imposed new duties on subsidised imports of PET destined for the European soft drinks market from Iran, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sugary sports drinks often mistaken as healthy: Study

Many children and parents mistakenly associate sugary sports drinks with a healthy lifestyle, claim researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHealth).

SPECIAL EDITION - ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION

Food sector set to embrace robotic technology - BARA

Take up of robotic technology in the food sector is set to steadily increase as processors are forced to seek further efficiency gains and demand could challenge that of the automotive industry within a decade, said the head of a leading trade body.

Comment

High fructose corn syrup: A sugar by any other name

Once upon a time sugar was sugar, and sugar was most definitely not good for you. So the Corn Refiners Association move to rebrand high fructose corn syrup as corn sugar is a daring move – but should do little to sweeten its reputation.

Watch out for mixed flavours as tastes move away from orange

New industry research suggests that producers are shifting away from the traditional orange flavour and focusing more on mixed flavours that are less vulnerable to frozen concentrate orange juice (FCOJ) price hikes.

Coca-Cola agrees to Dr Pepper firewall in bottler deal

The Coca-Cola Company has agreed to set up a firewall to protect the interests of Dr Pepper Snapple as a condition for its $12.3bn acquisition of the North American arm of the bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE).

Unilever breakthrough may open up tea compound’s brain potential

Scientists from Unilever R&D have modelled the absorption and breakdown of L-theanine in humans, with results that may cast more light on the potential brain benefits of the tea compound.

Tetra Pak continues FSC carton roll out in Europe

Sweden, Denmark and Belgium are the latest targets in leading beverage carton supplier Tetra Pak’s deployment plan to have all its markets eventually covered by paperboard sourced directly from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests.

Ardargh buys Impress for €1.7bn

Ardagh Glass said the acquisition of Impress for €1.7bn is set to transform it into a major global packaging player with annual revenues of more than €3bn.

Nano-EGCG could take tea benefits into clear beverages

Modified whey protein may nano-encapsulate the green tea compound EGCG and slow its rate of degradation 3.2-fold, thereby offering nano-encapsulation potential for formulators, says a new study.

Crown to expand further in China with three new can plants

Crown Holdings announced yesterday plans to build three new beverage can plants in China – the latest in a string of developments as the company expands into emerging markets around the world.

News in brief

PureCircle announces sugar-stevia deal with Nordzucker

Stevia producer PureCircle has announced its third new European alliance in a week, teaming up with Nordzucker to develop and market stevia-sugar combos.

Emotional links can be made for unfamiliar flavours

Positive emotional responses to unfamiliar flavours can be conditioned, a new study suggests – but once flavours become familiar emotional associations cannot easily be erased.

News in brief

Nestle to build R&D centre in India

Nestle is investing around CHF50m in a new R&D centre in Gurgaon, India, as it expects 45 per cent of its global sales to come from emerging markets within a decade.

Fruit juice industry welcomes plan to ban sugar

The European fruit juice industry has welcomed a proposal from the European Commission (EC) to ban the addition of sugar to fruit juices - in line with its policy of reducing added sugars and promoting balanced diets.

New natural PepsiCo product could influence industry shift towards sugar

Sierra Mist Natural, PepsiCo’s reformulated carbonated soft drink product, may indicate a swing towards the use of sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, say two industry analysts.

New alliances in preparation for EU stevia approval

DoehlerGroup and PureCircle, Corn Products and Galam, Tereos and PureCircle… This week has seen a new flurry of alliances over stevia sweeteners, as the ingredients sector gets on its marks for EU approval – and a significant new market.

New guidelines on how to boost recycled content in plastic packaging

A new guide on how to boost recycled content in plastic packaging highlights practical solutions for overcoming common technical challenges, said the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

DD Williamson introduces organic acid-stable caramel color

DD Williamson has introduced a USDA-certified organic version of its class one acid-stable dark caramel color for use in beverages with pH below 2.5, the company has said.

News in brief

Analyst questions SAB Miller's new business model

As SAB Miller launches a new beer brand in the UK, an analyst at Nomura has warned that its embrace of a new business model could lead to some short-term volatility.

Sidel launches Bottle Switch to improve mold changeover time

Sidel has launched a new format changeover system called Bottle Switch to help improve flexibility and reduce mold changeover time.

Volvic sweetens green credentials with sugar-based eco bottle

Volvic has announced the launch of an eco-friendly bottle that is partly made from sugar-cane waste that will contribute towards a 50 per cent reduction in the container’s carbon footprint.

British Embassy in Warsaw probes Twinings grant

The British Embassy in Warsaw is probing the legality of an EU funding award for Twinings’ new Polish factory.

Comment

Why cavemen could hold the key to healthy eating

There’s something incongruous about the hi-tech modern food industry sniffing around the Palaeolithic era for the next big consumer trend. But hold the side order of cynicism. There might just be some logic to good old-fashioned instinctive eating.

Dairy leading processing innovation at IPA 2010

Investments in European food processing machinery R&D are up on 2008 levels, with considerable innovation noted among exhibiting companies, reports the organisers of a trade event in Paris next month.

Euromonitor report declares tea recession resistant

A new Euromonitor report on the global tea market indicates that tea was one of the better performing categories in the beverage market last year.

FDA warns Penguin Juice Company over pasteurization

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the Michigan-based Penguin Juice Company that its products are considered adulterated as they are not pasteurized, despite being labeled as such.

UK consumers swap the bar for the home, reveals new data

Fresh data on the UK alcohol market shows how the recession has persuaded consumers to spend less in bars and compensate by spending more at the supermarket or off license.

British drinks industry attacks deposit scheme proposal

The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has dismissed proposals to introduce a deposit refund scheme for bottles and cans as an extremely expensive way to tackle the waste problem.

Cranberry’s benefits extend to prostates: Study

The protective effects of cranberries toward urinary tract health may also extend to men’s prostates, according to a new study from the Czech Republic – the first of its kind to report such benefits.

Positive signs for beverage packaging market but uncertainties remain

Major uncertainties continue to make it difficult to predict a recovery in the global packaging market for beer and soft drinks, according to Canadean.

FDA warns against Viagra coffee

A coffee product claiming to assist erectile dysfunction has been deemed an unapproved drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to the presence of hydroxythiohomosildenafil, an analogue of sildenafil, used in the sexual aid Viagra.

News in brief

DD Williamson introduces student food coloring competition

DD Williamson has introduced a food coloring competition aiming to develop student awareness of natural colorants for beverage applications.

'Benchmark’ study on glass offers clear carbon footprint picture

A leading glass packaging trade body said its complete life cycle analysis (LCA) of the material represents a pioneering step forward for the packing sector as it called on other industries to follow its lead.

New protein concentrate for beverages from Cyvex Nutrition

Improved powder consistency and reduced bulk density without the need for premixing are the benefits claimed for a new dispersible grade of protein concentrate from California-based Cyvex Nutrition.

Coca-Cola to engage with suppliers to cut water use

The Coca-Cola Company plans to increase its engagement with suppliers of sugarcane, oranges and corn in an effort to reduce its water footprint.

TÜV tests reveal energy savings of Piovan PET dryer

Independent TÜV testing suggests that the new Genesys PET drying system from Piovan could reduce energy costs by 50 per cent compared to traditional technology.

Comment

Time to embrace balanced kids’ marketing regulation

Kids are not going to stop liking chocolate, pizza, ice cream, or fries. Heck, neither am I. So why is industry so afraid of mandatory restrictions on marketing to children?

Blood benefits see British choose beetroot juice

Research highlighting antioxidant-laden beetroot’s ability to reduce blood pressure and boost stamina are helping sales of beetroot juices in the UK, according to retailer Waitrose.

KHS to launch new Human Machine Interface at Brau Beviale

KHS is planning to launch a new Human Machine Interface (HMI) system at Brau Beviale that allows entire production lines and individual machines to be controlled using a single interface.

New report highlights eco credentials of bottled water

The European Federation of Bottled Water (EFBW) has published its first sustainability report highlighting progress in resource protection, packaging, water usage and energy efficiency.

European brewers must up marketing spend, says analyst

A Nomura analyst has warned that European brewers need to increase their marketing spending to better compete against spirits and private labels.

Danes propose stricter EU labelling for energy drinks

A recent proposal from Denmark is pushing for stricter EU requirements on the labels of energy drinks.

Coffee may protect against DNA damage: Study

A daily cup of coffee may reduce the oxidative damage to DNA by 12 percent, according to a pan-European study.

Sports drinks boost endurance among young team players

New research suggests that isotonic sports drinks can enhance the performance of young adolescents competing in team games.

Bisphenol A-free polymer coating touted as alternative to epoxy can lining

A new polymer coating suitable for use as a lining in food and beverage cans is free from bisphenol A (BPA) and is produced using around 60 per less energy than traditional epoxy materials, said the US company behind the product.

Corvaglia to bring lightweight closure to Mexico

Corvaglia has revealed it is near to closing a deal with a global brand to launch its lightweight closures in Mexico next year.

News in brief

Progressive Digital Media acquires Canadean

International digital media company Progressive Digital Media Group has completed its acquisition of Canadean, a market research firm that specialises in beverages.

Wild seeks inspiration in cider for new adult soft drink concepts

Wild has turned to cider as the basis for a new range of soft drink flavours aimed at adults looking for a grown up alternative to alcoholic drinks.

New Domino printer tackles sticky soft drink problem

Domino has launched a new continuous ink jet printer built to help manufacturers of carbonated soft drinks overcome problems associated with sugar build-up.

SternEnzym and Lallemand team up for distillery ingredients

German ingredient firm SterEnzym has joined forces with a Lallemand group to create a new range of enzyme and yeast combinations targeting sprit manufacturers in the eastern bloc.

Special edition: Beverage processing

Beverage machinery market tipped for rebound

The market for beverage processing machinery slumped last year but indications are that 2010 will mark a recovery as suspended or delayed projects are taken up again.

Breakthrough may help PLA take the heat from hot-filled apps

US researchers are claiming a breakthrough that could boost the heat resistance of bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) sufficiently, allowing it to be used in hundreds of new packaging applications.

Industry attacks Scottish minimum alcohol price proposal

New Scottish Government proposals to introduce a minimum price per alcohol unit of 45 pence have been dismissed as “wrong in principle” by the UK wine and spirit industry.

Project to quantify stability of natural food colours

Food research group Leatherhead is in the final stages of a testing project on natural food colours, which it expects will provide clear guidance on the stability and shelf-life of the ingredients.

Special Edition: Beverage Processing

Optical technology could end 'out of spec' beer losses

Factors such as faster filling speed and reduction of beer waste have accelerated the take up over the past 18 months of optical technology for oxygen measurement by leading breweries in the US and Europe over the well established amperometric systems, reports supplier Mettler Toledo.

PepsiCo plans to distribute Gatorade direct to retailers

PepsiCo is planning to begin distributing its Gatorade sports drinks direct to stores from its own and independent bottlers in the US and Canada.

Aussie-EU wine deal to protect Champagne and Port

Australian wine producers have pledged to phase out the use of important European names like Champagne and Port as part of a new wine agreement with the EU.

News in brief

Heineken to create Global Business Services organisation

Heineken recently announced it will create a Global Business Services organisation to deliver Purchasing and Business Process & Technology services across the company.

Special Edition: Beverage Processing

‘Natural’ juice trends driving aseptic packaging and filling innovations

Growing demand for natural and authentic products are the major drivers informing development of SIG Combibloc’s aseptic juice packaging and filling systems in the European market.