Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Chavez military move sees O-I summon Venezuela to tribunal

Bottle producing giant Owens-Illinois (O-I) is taking Venezuela to a World Bank Tribunal, after the socialist country’s hostile nationalisation of 2 of the company’s plants last October.

Hot drinks play Cinderella as soft drinks drive innovation, Euromonitor

Beverage industry innovation is led by hot rather than soft drinks, with the latter significantly more profitable and associated with an increased interest in new product forms, according to Euromonitor.

Dispatches from the ADA conference 2011

Bazi launches bid to dominate new healthy energy shot market

The firm behind Bazi – an antioxidant-rich energy shot claimed to trump rivals in the nutrition stakes – reckons it could be a $100m brand in four to five years as consumers look for something that will give them more than a caffeine blast.

Soda tax could threaten Irish economic recovery, industry body warns

Irish government plans to introduce a 'sugar tax' on carbonated drinks could lead to widespread job losses within the Irish food and beverage industry and threaten the nation's economic recovery, Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) has claimed.

China targets world domination in global packaging

China is aiming to be the biggest packaging producer in the world by 2012, according to a recent study.

Australian wine giants call for tax changes

Australia’s Premium Wine Brands and Treasury Wine Estates call on the government to reform the current value-based levies and abolish the wine equalisation tax (WET), as the country’s tax summit looms on the horizon.

Coffee lowers depression risk in women up to 20%: 10-year study

The risk of depression lowers by up to 20% with increased caffeinated coffee consumption, a study of more than 50,000 US women has found.

Favourable tax changes boost Finnish can boom, Rexam

Positive changes to the Finnish tax regime have encouraged a rapid transition from bottled to can beer in the country, according to consumer packaging giant Rexam.

$3bn Russian investment makes perfect sense for Coca-Cola, analyst

Coca-Cola’s continuing expansion in Russia makes sense from an economic standpoint, while the risks to consumer goods firms of doing business in the country are over-estimated, according to an analyst.

News in brief

Ingredients group Sudzucker reports earnings hike of 9%

German food ingredients giant Sudzucker, in a trading statment in advance of its results, reports positive earnings for the half year.

Cargill flavours buy not transformational but good fit for Kerry, analyst

Kerry’s acquisition of Cargill’s flavour systems for €168m ($230m) is by no means transformational but will boost the Irish ingredient firm’s beverages and dairy flavours portfolio, claims an analyst.

Canadian energy drink ‘drug’ designation not in consumer interest, CBA

Tough new regulations concerning classifying energy drinks as 'stimulant drug containing drinks' in Canada are not in the interest of consumers, according to the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA).

Energy savings claimed for vacuum pump modulisation

Power savings of up to 45 per cent are claimed to result from the modularisation of vacuum pumps in the brewing industry, according to equipment supplier KHS.

Functional drink benefits 'not as impressive' as implied, suggests Which?

Consumer watchdog Which? says it has held trials relating to health claims for 'functional' drinks, and found that the effects of one specific calorie-burning soft drink were not 'as impressive as implied', while the likes of Yakult and Actimel add pounds to shopping bills.

5-Hour Energy ramps up from seven to nine million bottles a week

5-Hour Energy is now selling nine million bottles of its energy shots a week compared with seven million last year, a 28% rise in volume, the firm has revealed.

News in brief

'Big 3' claim beverage carton material sourcing getting greener

Major players in the carton packaging manufacturing sector have declared the number of their plants meeting key sustainability criteria has doubled since 2010.

Rexam highlights ‘medical concerns’ of high caffeine soft drinks

Sales of energy drinks are booming, but a new report from Rexam also highlights growing concerns about high caffeine soft drink use amongst young people, especially in the developing world.

City unsurprised by Foster's board approval for new SABMiller offer

SABMiller announcement yesterday that it had agreed the terms of a recommended cash offer for Foster's with that firm's board of around A$9.9bn (€7.42bn) came as no surprise, according to one City analyst.

Harvard study supports coffee’s anti-diabetes potential

Caffeinated coffee may not only give you a kick in the morning, it may also reduce the risk of developing diabetes, suggest results of a human trial by Harvard researchers.

PureCircle sales fall, awaiting EU stevia approval

PureCircle said that a “delay” in regulatory approval for stevia in the EU was a factor contributing to lower-than-expected sales for the year.

Corrugated pallet cover is greener, lighter and generates cash - Sonoco

A new pallet protection system for bottles and cans is lighter, greener and more cost effective, said Sonoco.

New recycling schemes needed despite improvements

Further improvements are needed in the collection and recycling of aluminium beverage cans, despite recycling rates for the cans increasing across the EU, according to the European Aluminium Association (EAA).

Kerry aims to boost stability of natural citrus flavours

Natural flavours supplier, Kerry Ingredients, has flagged up a six month dateline for the conclusion of an existing project aiming to optimise the stability of natural citrus flavours for use in beverages.

Beverage carton material sourcing getting greener, say big 3

Major players in the carton packaging manufacturing sector have declared the number of their plants meeting key sustainability criteria has doubled since 2010.

News in brief

EC ponders appeal in €31.7m Grolsch cartel case

The European Commission (EC) said it will analyse last week's ruling of the European General Court before deciding whether to appeal, after the latter annulled a €31.7m fine levied on Grolsch for cartel activity.

Tetra Pak pledges to ‘accelerate’ green product innovation

Tetra Pak has pledged to accelerate green product innovation after an environmental report commissioned by the company showed that consumers want well-priced eco-friendly packaging.

Red wine for ‘joy and strength’ in China: Analyst

International wine manufacturers should look to cultural preferences for niche and premium red wines to be successful in China, according to an industry analyst.

Consumers continue to seek alternatives to artificial flavours, reports Leatherhead

Consumers are set to treat artificial flavourings with an ever greater degree of suspicion, if not hostility, claims a UK report looking at future flavour trends in the food and drink additives market.

Ball Packaging targets new markets with Serbian canning line

Ball Packaging Europe has opened a new €35m production line at its Serbian plant in Belgrade, as it seeks to penetrate into “new markets”..

Diet soft drinks risk ‘rosy self-deception’ on obesity, Euromonitor suggests

Consumers of diet soft drinks risk the “rosy self-deception” that such products ‘cancel out’ excess calories consumed through food, while they could also encourage over-eating, Euromonitor International has suggested.

EU court annuls €31.7m Grolsch price-fixing fine

The General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg has annulled a €31.7m fine imposed on Grolsch relating to a Dutch beer price-fixing cartel.

‘Critical’ EU sugar supplies demand urgent action: CIUS

EU sugar supplies are at their most critical levels since the 2005 sugar reform and are causing ‘extreme volatility, instability and disruption’ to the European food and drink industry.

Enzymes make gains in food and drink additives market

A new report shows enzymes, acidulants and hydrocolloids are the best performers in terms of global food and drink additive growth but preservatives and sweeteners are suffering due to the industry migration from artificial ingredients.

New corn fibre gum extraction process offers emulsion boost

A new process to isolate corn fibre gum and preserve more of its functional components may contribute to better emulsifying properties, say researchers.

‘We’ve learnt our lesson’, says Alkalized water firm after ASA sanction

Alkalized water firm Balance Water says it has “learnt its lesson” after the UK Advertising Standards Authority ruled yesterday that its advertised health claims were unsubstantiated.

News in brief

Rocket Fuel re-enters UK market

Food Brands Group has re-launched its Rocket Fuel coffee product, which comes packaged in self-heating cups, onto the UK market.

Nestlé battles Kraft to retain global hot drink dominance

Despite its status as the world’s largest hot drinks manufacturer, Nestlé faces a tough battle for global dominance with Kraft in coffee due to the rising popularity of fresh coffee, according to Euromonitor International.

Wild Flavors to acquire mint specialist A.M. Todd

Wild Flavors has said it will acquire certain assets of natural mint flavor specialist A.M. Todd Group to allow it to expand into new markets and better respond to its customers’ demands.

New ‘handy can’ set to fizz on UK market, claims Ball Packaging

Ball Packaging Europe is set to launch a new ‘handy can’ within the EU, which will be trailblazed in the UK by PepsiCo and its filling partner Britvic.

EU member states back lower Sunset Yellow usage levels in drinks

EU member states have voted in favour of restricting use levels of controversial food colour, Sunset Yellow (E 110), in flavoured drinks.

Red Bull accuses Canadian rival of trademark infringement

Energy drinks giant Red Bull has accused Canadian firm Bullseye Beverages Ltd of infringing Red Bull trademarks and misleading consumers with its Bullseye Energy Drink.

News in brief

Inbev recalls Stella Artois cider due to bursting risk

InBev UK has recalled three batch codes of Stella Artois cider due to a risk of fermentation that may cause bottles to burst unexpectedlty, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has issued a product recall notice.

PepsiCo agrees to sell stake in $548m Thai soft drinks firm

PepsiCo has agreed to sell its majority 41.5 per cent stake in Thai soft drinks and bottling firm Serm Suk (SSC), after ThaiBev (THBEV) announced plans to acquire the latter for $548m last week.

Emulsifier alternatives may only have niche food and drink appeal

Emulsifier replacers or alternatives are likely to be used only in the premium end of food and drink products due to cost concerns, claim UK experts.

Coca-Cola reaffirms €17m French investment plan

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has reaffirmed its plan to invest €17m in its Les Pennes-Mirabeau facility in France.

PureCircle gets ready for EU stevia backing, opens UK office

In anticipation of stevia approval in Europe, leading producer, PureCircle, has announced that it is setting up its European headquarters in the UK to support customers in their launches throughout the region.

News in brief

UK calls for specialists for food controls

The UK Food Standards Agency is looking for specialists to carry out a range of official inspection services.

News in brief

Finns consider diluting drinks to cure alcohol hangover

Finnish government-sponsored research has suggested watering-down drinks such as beer, to curb problems associated with excess alcohol consumption.

Brussels looks set to end sugar quotas by 2016

The EU is set to abolish the system of sugar production quotas for the bloc as well as guaranteed minimum prices from 2016, according to a Brussels source.

If at first you don't succeed... Could it be 3rd time lucky for PepsiCo in mid-cal beverage market?

Early feedback from trials of Pepsi Next - PepsiCo’s third attempt to create a successful mid-calorie cola - has been “very favorable”, bosses have revealed.

Australian takeover panel rejects SABMiller Foster’s complaint

The Australian Takeovers Panel has rejected SABMiller’s claim that Foster’s published “misleading and deceptive” information in its financial results last week.

Red wine in moderation may lead to weight loss: study

Light consumption of red wine in particular may protect against weight gain, according to a recently published review study from Spanish academics at the University of Navarra.

Revolutionary beverage carton recycling site inaugurated

A ground-breaking Spanish plant that recycles previously discarded materials used in beverage cartons has been officially inaugurated.

Industry hails first global measurement system for packaging sustainability

New global guidelines on packaging sustainability will help companies reduce their carbon footprint while boosting efficiency and spur more effective communication between players throughout the supply chain, said Unilever’s Nigel Bagley.

UK children could exceed ADI levels for Sunset Yellow, finds EFSA

A decision is awaited from the Commission on the use of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) in non-alcoholic flavoured drinks following a revised exposure assessment from EFSA showing some children in the UK could still be over the ADI levels for the additive.

Néstle Waters hit with $50m class action

Néstle Waters is the subject of a $50m class action, filed by a US customer who has accused the drinks giant of an 'oppressive and fraudulent scheme' regarding late payment fees, in a complaint filed with New Jersey Federal Court.

AB Enzymes set to move up a gear in Middle East and Africa

Exploiting expected growth opportunities in the Middle East and Africa, AB Enzymes reports it has initiated a tie-up with one of the main distributors in the region – Orkila - to aid its penetration into the bakery, beverage and food specialities markets.

News in brief

Trouble brewing in France, as ASA strikes out Kronenbourg ad

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint about a national press advert extolling the French origins of Kronenbourg 1664.

Whey more potential in protein market, claim new partners Fonterra and First Milk

European food and sports beverage makers are set to benefit from a new dairy ingredients joint venture, which is aimed at increasing whey protein manufacturing capacity in Europe as well as improving the speed and reliability of the supply of such ingredients, claims Fonterra.

Pernod Ricard steadies European ship

French spirits giant Pernod Ricard has successfully grown European sales in 2010/11 after a worrying 5% slump last year, due to a “recovery in consumer spending”.

Interview: Mark Gottsacker, president, Global Bottling Partners

Smoothly does it. The secret to success in protein beverages

Protein beverages can have mass market appeal if firms get the formulation right, keep calories down and refocus marketing efforts on the people that are actually drinking their products, rather than the people they think are drinking them, according to one recent market entrant.

Berry Plastics in double takeover swoop

Berry Plastics Corp announced the acquisition of two packaging companies this week as it aims to boost its market share in North America.

Fine filtered milk gets thumbs up in test market

Initial feedback from a trial in Ohio suggests milk fine filtered to remove ‘impurities’ could be a big hit with US consumers, claims Dean Foods subsidiary WhiteWave Foods.

Half of Americans drink sugary beverages daily, says CDC

Almost half of the U.S. population indulge in sugary drinks on a daily basis, according to a new report from the CDC.