News in brief

JBF to build giant bio-glycol plant in Brazil to help Coca-Cola meet PlantBottle 2020 target

JBF Industries will build a giant new plant in Brazil dedicated to the production of the recyclable PET material used in Coca-Cola's PlantBottles to help the soft drinks giant meet...

RTS identifies growing market for natural flavour materials

Market research firm RTS has identified a burgeoning market for natural flavour materials as companies increasingly move away from artificial ingredients – but its first report on the market is...

Tetra Pak boosts Turkish output with lamination investment

Tetra Pak has invested €25m in lamination facilities at its Turkish packaging material plant, to lift beverage carton production capacity by 20%.

PepsiCo savors $363m US tax triumph over IRS

PepsiCo has won a US Tax Court judgment against the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which claimed the firm owed it circa. $363m in unpaid tax relating to operations in...

News in brief

Coke wows Kiwis with personalized PET bottles

Coca-Cola New Zealand is selling PET bottles of Coke personalized with one of 150 names popular in the country, and encouraging Facebook fans to 'share a virtual can'.

Orange Fanta ‘Bounce’ survives child-related advert complaint

Coca-Cola brand Fanta has escaped censure for a UK advert that the Children’s Food Campaign (Sustain) claimed encouraged excessive consumption of the drink and poor nutritional habits.

ABA slams sugar-sweetened beverage obesity studies

The American Beverage Association (ABA) has slammed a series of studies that link sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and obesity, accusing them of doing “nothing meaningful” to help address the issue....

Australian bottled water industry slowing to a trickle

Volatile economic conditions, environmental concerns and low consumer sentiment have hurt Australian packaged water producers, a new report by research firm IbisWorld has revealed. 

Downsize me: Will NYC-style portion curbs help battle the bulge?

The row over Mayor Bloomberg’s controversial plan to curb sales of super-size sodas in New York City has intensified with the publication of new research debating the role that sugary drinks play...

Tea blends could ignite Chinese craft beer craze: analyst suggests

An influential alcoholic drinks analyst says the launch of a novel beer blended with black tea could supply the spark that ignites a craft brewing revolution in China.

Purac touts its lactic acid ingredient for stabilising anthocyanin colours

Purac researchers have said that the company’s natural purified lactic acid ingredient reduces the fading of natural red-purple colours from anthocyanins in acidified foods and beverages by up to 50%...

News in brief

Stevia sweetened Pepsi NEXT hits Australia in cola first

Pepsi NEXT has been launched in Australia, but intriguingly the drink has been formulated with stevia for this market to achieve a 30% sugar reduction, rather than the 60% effected...

AkzoNobel ‘disappointed’ after UK Competition Commission initial verdict

AkzoNobel has said it is ‘disappointed’ after the UK Competition Commission (CC) preliminarily ruled against a merger deal over fears it could damage competition in the sector and see prices...

A.G Barr maintains Britvic merger radio silence

A.G Barr has not revealed any details on the progress of talks regarding its possible merger with PepsiCo bottler Britvic, as it reported H1 2012 results today.

Goddess Energy flirts with hoodia in energy drink

US firm Goddess Energy has launched an energy drink for women called Flirt, which is on East Coast sale as a dietary supplement with one interesting appetite-suppressing bioactive, Hoodia Gordonii.

Top analyst predicts FDA wriggle room in supplement-beverage guidance

With the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) poised to publish guidance on distinguishing between beverages and liquid dietary supplements, one analyst tells BeverageDaily.com he doesn’t see the agency cracking...

Coca-Cola Refreshments hails 'confidence' in management as union tastes Texas defeat

Coca-Cola has hailed a 'vote of confidence' in management, after staff voted against making its Fort Worth bottling site the firm's first corporate-owned unionized plant in the South.

Guest article

The challenges of ‘natural’ and ‘bumpy road’ tests: Efficient troubleshooting in action

Dealing with problems that may arise in the formulation of food and beverage products is vital for manufacturers. In the second part of his look at troubleshooting, Leatherhead Food Research’s...

Sunsweet teams up with CreAgri to develop beverages packed with olive polyphenols on new anti-inflammatory platform

Californian co-operative Sunsweet Growers has tied up with olive polyphenols expert CreAgri to develop a new range of juices containing Hidrox, a potent anti-inflammatory ingredient from olive juice.

Australian medical body calls for more controls on alcohol marketing

A new report by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has come out strongly against alcohol companies and the way they market to young people. 

Guest article

Expert outlines top 10 tips for efficient formulation troubleshooting

As foods become ever more complex, the need to be able to efficiently troubleshoot problems becomes even more critical. In this guest article, Wayne Morley, PhD, head of food innovation...

Pernod Ricard subsidiary slams Czech spirits ban

Pernod Ricard’s Czech subsidiary Jan Becher (JBKB) says the Czech government’s decision to ban all strong spirit sales in the country, following 20+ methanol-related deaths linked to local bootleg liquor,...

News in brief

'Suntory dreams ripped at the seams, but oh…'

After drinks giant Suntory Liquors said yesterday that it would step out with rival Beam Inc in Japan, Brown-Forman quickly swopped one distribution relationship for another, heralding a new fling...

Legal fight over bio-based isobutanol production

Two chemical companies are locked in an ongoing legal battle over the production of bio-based isobutanol, a substance used in the production of plastic bottles for soft drinks.

Old Robinsons double concentrate bottle lacked ‘category cues’: Britvic

Britvic Ireland admits that its old 1.25L double concentrate bottle was not meeting key category cues, which led it to revamp the range with a new 1L bottle launched in...

Czech methanol liquor deaths spur FSA warning

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising travelers to the Czech Republic to avoid locally produced bootleg spirits following a spate of methanol poisonings the country and over 20...

One small step for ThaiBev, one giant leap for Heineken…

Heineken has taken a giant leap forwards in its bid to take full control of Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), after rival ThaiBev and its concert parties said today they would...

COMMENT

Dr Pepper draws Creationist Christian fury with flavor 'evolution' poster

Dr Pepper has incited fury among Creationist Christians, after posting a Facebook poster showing the ‘evolution of flavor’ for its flagship brand, in a tongue-in-cheek twist on the evolutionary 'March...

News in brief

Californian firm claims fresh mint-flavored soda launch

Californian brand Minta claims it will create a new soda sub-category when it launches a new mint-flavored soda in the US this fall.

News in brief

Atkins launches trim resealable drinks packaging

The Atkins brand is making it easier for consumers to get in trim by launching convenient resealable pack formats for its ready to drink cartons.

SAB Miller researches cassava food byproducts to push ‘zero waste’ aim

After launching its first cassava-based beer in Mozambique last year, SAB Miller is taking part in an EU-funded scheme that involves researching alternative foods drawn from the crop’s byproducts.

Dry Lube predicts sustainable revolution for dry lubrication

Dry Lube says that one barrier to de facto use of dry lubrication technology for glass packaging lines is wariness among site engineers following imperfect past trials using rival products.

‘Dynamic’ market spurs novel research to boost red wine quality

Spanish researchers have developed a novel process that involves adding dehydrated waste grape skins to red wines before bottling to improve their color, aroma and phenolic content.

Soft drinks giants mull legal options as NYC soda ban gets green light

Beverage makers have blasted New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “discriminatory ban” on sales of super-sized sodas, while supporters have dismissed the industry’s “professionally manufactured outrage” and urged other states...

New study 'will boost earnings for New Zealand winegrowers'

A new research initiative is expected to bring a windfall to New Zealand’s wine industry, which has been adversely affected by climatic variations in the recent past.

‘Virtue not vice makes a dull beverage nice’: US research finds

US academics have found that exposing college students to stories of moral transgression or virtue prior to tasting a mixture of Gatorade and water affected perceptions of disgust and delight...

Premium drinks packaging demand hit by tough times: Visiongain

Premium drinks packaging is expected to suffer due to the after-effects of the global economic crisis, according to a report from Visiongain.

'Shrewd' ThaiBev billionaire still in hunt for Singapore prize Asia Pacific Beverages

ThaiBev said today that its concert party aims to takeover Fraser & Neave (F&N) in a S$9bn deal, as rumors abound that the former’s billionaire chair still craves control of...

News in brief

Coke goes global with new operating structure

The Coca-Cola Company has announced a number of new leadership appointments to support its new global operating structure, and said the changes were intended to 'streamline reporting lines' and intensify...

‘Angel’s Share’ sees Kentucky city serve Diageo air pollution notice

Diageo Americas Supply has been sent an air pollution ‘notice of violation’ letter by city authorities in Louisville, Kentucky, which alleges that excess ethanol emissions from warehousing used to age...

News in brief

CSI 'investigation' unveils new closure

Closure Systems International (CSI) has launched a closure for carbonated soft drinks and water beverages.

'NZ spirits industry ripe for investment'

A growing number of investors are eyeing New Zealand’s nascent spirits industry, with many small and medium-sized firms jostling to replicate the successes of the country’s wine growers, a new...

Scientists hail beverage-chocolate matches made in heaven

New research from Italian scientists suggests that consumers value coffee, liqueur wines and port as the most desirable pairings with chocolate, but that preferences depend on cocoa content.

PepsiCo president seizes 'once in lifetime' chance to fly new firm

PepsiCo says it feels sadness after the sudden resignation of president John Compton, who has left the firm to pursue a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity as CEO of Pilot...

Burma now awash with Sprite as well as Coca-Cola Light

The Coca-Cola Company has relaunched Coca-Cola onto the Burmese market, while Coca-Cola Light and Sprite are also now available, as it works to found a bottling venture with a local...

Bottled beer recalled from UK supermarkets due to glass contamination fears

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda are among six UK supermarkets that have had to withdraw bottles of beer over fears they may contain pieces of glass due to a manufacturing fault.

News in brief

Beer-imitating bath oil could cause pneumonia: German authorities

German authorities have notified the European Commission about the potential health risk posed by a Czech-produced bath oil identified as a food imitating product – in this case beer.

Asian Tiger ThaiBev poised to pounce on F&N?

ThaiBev said today it is exploring the possibility of making an offer for Fraser & Neave (F&N) with an unnamed third party, in a move that could still disrupt Heineken’s...

Major energy drinks brands should show greater transparency: industry insider

The co-founder of a ‘healthy’ US energy drink brand who once developed a product with rapper P. Diddy says the segment’s major players should be more open with consumers and...

Al Ain Dairy claims first UAE juice launch with stevia

The United Arab Emirates’ largest dairy and juice producer Al Ain Dairy tells BeverageDaily.com it is the first company in the region to introduce stevia into juices produced in the...

Coke takes first steps in bold new US beverage world

As the Coca-Cola Company launches a new range of water flavor enhancers under its Dasani brand from October allowing US consumers to personalize tastes, a top drinks analyst suggests it...

Coca-Cola Enterprises admits lost GB market share

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) admits that it lost volume and value share in Great Britain in H1 2012 due to promotional activity from rivals, but insists it regained ground over the...

Hershey sets up Indian subsidiary after ending Godrej joint venture

The Hershey Company has agreed a deal to buy Godrej Industries 49% stake in the two companies’ Indian joint venture and has announced plans to set up its own subsidiary:...

Coca-Cola Amatil sees 'enormous potential' in Foster's beer and spirit Bounty

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has completed the acquisition of Foster's Fiji Business for A$58m by buying a holding of around 89.6% in Foster's Group Pacific Limited (FGPL), and aims to launch...

Britvic Ireland downplays latest Ballygowan ‘off odor’ recall

Britvic Ireland told BeverageDaily.com today that the ‘off odor’ problem that led it to recall a third batch of Ballygowan mineral water yesterday related to a small-scale quality issue and...

News in brief

Döhler develops portfolio of ginger flavours

Döhler has developed a range of ginger flavours for a wide variety of applications, to tap into what the company says is a growing trend for ginger flavours in foods...

Pepsi bottler Suntory could gatecrash Britvic Barr party - analyst suggests

Japanese Pepsi bottler Suntory could enter the fray with a rival bid for Britvic, according to one City analyst, but he added that this was unlikely due to the firm’s...

Heineken S$5.6bn offer is our ‘best opportunity’ to realize value: Fraser & Neave chair

Fraser & Neave (F&N) announced today that shareholders will vote on the firm's proposed sale of its interest in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) to Heineken on September 28, and hailed...

News in brief

'Senior Service Navy Strength' gin rolls off slipway...

Hayman Distillers has launched a new 57% ABV 'navy strength' gin called Royal Dock that represents a style supplied to the British Royal Navy and merchant trade from 1863.

Tetra Pak presents…its cheapest ever screw-cap carton

Tetra Pak is launching a new carton for juices, milk, nectars still drinks and wine with an innovative ‘pull ring’ from March 2013, and hailed the lowest-cost screw cap carton...

Moody cloud hangs over Britvic, AG Barr talks to thrash out merger

Britvic and PepsiCo licensee AG Barr are locked in discussions over a merger, and with the latter's CEO Roger White earmarked for the top job, one M&A expert told BeverageDaily.com...

Victoria Bitter boosts alcohol levels as recipe changes backfire

Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) CEO Ari Mervis admits the SAB Miller subsidiary was wrong to change the recipe for Victoria Bitter (VB), but is changing the Aussie beer back...

Coca-Cola gets nod to market energy drinks in India

Beverage major Coca-Cola Company has been given the green light by Indian authorities to manufacture and sell energy drinks in the country.

'We’re growing in Africa, not fighting for beer share' – SAB Miller

SAB Miller insists the key attribute of the African beer market is rapid growth rather than competing for share, as in Europe, as the firm opens a new $100m brewery...

Cargill builds science for new high-intensity Monatin sweetener

Extracts from the South African plant Sclerochiton ilicifolius are amongst the ‘most potently sweet naturally occurring substances known’, report scientists from ingredients giant Cargill.

Jamba Juice all-natural lawsuit moves into new phase

A California judge has granted in part a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed against Jamba Juice over ‘all-natural’ claims, but has given the plaintiff the right to...

News in brief

Deadly Thai Ferrari crash ends in Red Bull heir's arrest

The grandson of Red Bull’s recently deceased billionaire founder has been arrested in Thailand, after he reportedly struck and killed a police officer.

Massive Campari takeover exploits ‘underdeveloped’ premium rum

Gruppo Campari today announced a US $414.7m deal to acquire Jamaican rum company Lascelles (LdM) de Mercado and said it planned to use its new heritage brands to spur 'underdeveloped'...

News in brief

Treatt introduces flavour modulators for improved sweetness profiles

Flavour ingredients supplier Treatt has added two new ingredients to its TreattSweet range, to improve sweet flavours in products containing high intensity sweeteners, including stevia.