Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Sports Beverage Company uncorks new capacity

Californian drinks firm Sports Pouch Beverage Company has confirmed the purchase of its third filling machine for the packs, which is expected to boost production capacity by an extra 20m products over the next year.

DSM spies further food and drink sports potential

A supplier of sports nutrition ingredients for beverage and food products says it continues to target expanding the applications and availability of products amidst burgeoning interest for active-lifestyle targeted goods.

Chilling and water dominate Coca-Cola green aims

Water efficiency use, bottle-to-bottle recycling of PET and a commitment to expanding Carbon Dioxide (CO2) refrigerators are some of the key claims coming from Coca-Cola’s latest sustainability report.

Green tea extract may lower blood pressure: study

Daily supplements of extracts from green tea (Camellia sinensis) may reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and markers of oxidative stress, and all within three weeks, says a new study.

Ajinomoto confirms aspartame price increase for Europe

Ajinomoto Europe has announced a 15 per cent price increase for aspartame produced at its plant in Gravelines, France, just weeks after the US business made a similar announcement.

Grapes may protect against salt-induced hypertension: study

A diet rich in phytochemicals from grapes may reduce the blood pressure increases associated with high salt intake, according to a new animal study.

Suck it and see: has the probiotic straw arrived?

The probiotic straw is a concept that has been a long time coming but one which may be about to move from its current niche status into the mainstream, according to Swedish probiotics supplier, BioGaia.

US leading crackdown calls on caffeinated energy drinks

Pressure is mounting in both Australia and the US to crack down on the sale and availability of caffeinated energy drinks to young people, according to news reports in both countries.

Head, shoulders way to go for lighter bottling, says Relco

A sealing manufacture is looking beyond amending body structure in bottles to the potential of caps and seals in supplying lighter weight solutions for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage packaging.

Drink your way to five-a-day

Drinking vegetable juice is an effective and acceptable way to increase an individual’s vegetable intake, according to new research from the US.

News in brief

Recession dampens taste for UK beer

Fears continue to grow for the institution of the great British pub as sales of the token pint of beer fell by 7.2 per cent during the third fiscal quarter over the same period last year.

Pack design: A secret weapon in uncertain times – report

As beverage makers struggle in the current financial downturn, innovative packaging designs could play a major role in boosting brand identity and performance, says a new report.

Comment

The hour of stevia is nigh

The course of true love never did run smooth. The same could be said of stevia’s road to regulatory approval as a food ingredient. One final concerted effort is needed to ensure approval of this hot ingredient.

News in brief

Danone agrees Frucor sale

The Asian arm of Danone has agreed to sell off Australasian energy drink brand Frucor to Suntory as part of a €600m restructuring of its operations.

News in brief

Nestle plans Russian coffee expansion

Nestle has announced it intentions to extend state-of-the-art coffee production at one of its Russian plants as part of a proposed €160m investment in freeze-dry technology.

News in brief

UK shelves stripped of vodka brand

A range of pre-mixed vodka drinks sold in pouches have been removed from UK retail shelves over fears that their distinctive packaging is too similar to soft drinks.

Stevia potential bigger than we thought, PureCircle

PureCircle is reviewing its operational strategy and development plans, as high purity Reb-A, derived from stevia, is attracting attention as a potential complement to sugar as well as a replacement for existing high intensity sweeteners (HIS).

Bionade may extend Olympic efforts for sport-drink push

A German manufacturer of organic soft drinks says it may consider further cooperation with individual Olympic organizations in order to boost the international reputation of its branded range of sports beverages.

Health claim embarrassment for Nestle, GSK, over wrong ads

The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency has upheld complaints against two ‘misleading and inaccurate’ adverts for Nestle’s Maggi Noodles and GlaxoSmithKline’s Horlicks which made unsubstantiated health claims.

Ingredient use key to optimising whey functional potential - industry

Despite a growing focus on finished whey products, one leading representative believes future development of the protein will be predominantly driven by its use as an ingredient in functional foods.

Crafty marketing could push European brewers out of US market

European beer exporters risk being squeezed out of the US market as Americans increasingly turn away from well-known European brands in favour of locally produced ‘craft’ beers.

Comment

Banks’ rescue package points the way for food crisis remedies

Question: When is a crisis not a crisis? Answer: When it’s a food crisis. Compare the two responses to failures in the food system and financial markets.

EFSA draft opinion flags need for more nanotech research

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a draft opinion that there are broad uncertainties over the safe use of nanotechnology for foodstuffs, and more research is recommended.

Weight management has ‘untapped potential’, says Euromonitor

Manufacturers are hungry for ingredients that can aid weight management, says a new report from Euromonitor, but long-term advantages will only come with legislative approval and consumer education.

Cost of caramel colors rises

DD Williamson is warning its customers that the price of its caramel colors could increase by up to 30 percent next year due to economic conditions.

Metallic compostable pack may herald green drink development

Recent developments in ‘metallised’ compostable packaging, developed in cooperation with a US drinks group, may lead to further advances for global use in beverage products like coffees and tea, claims the material supplier.

News in brief

Eastman claims PET court success

Chemical company Eastman is claiming it has been successful in defending a patent to manufacture a range of branded polyethylene terephlate (PET) resins for beverage packaging.

Soft drinks rivals: The brands they are a changin’

With Coca-Cola and PepsiCo posting differing fortunes in their latest financial results, the world’s leading soft drink makers are increasingly treading different paths to tackle changing attitudes to carbonated beverages, according to an industry analyst.

News in brief

Foster’s wine plan may drive beer sale

Australia-based Foster’s attempts to divest its wine operations is expected to open the global brewer to possible takeover bids, according to news reports.

Chr Hansen gives Nordic superfruit extract global debut

Chr Hansen has launched an extract from a red Nordic berry it says has the nutritional payload to be the “new cranberry or bilberry”.

Lubricant care may cut food and drink processors' costs

A fluid management service can drive up productivity by reducing downtime, and ensure value engineering by optimizing a food or beverage plant’s assets, claims Boccard UK.

News briefs: Britvic boost and Eastern European water

This week, Britvic says the strong performance of its global brands is keeping it on track to meet profit forecast and the Eastern European market for bottled water shows potential for further growth.

Taste enhancers to give impression of premium for liquor

A new range of taste enhancers have been introduced to try to improve the taste of liquor and provide mouth warming sensations that give the impression of a more premium product.

Europe looking beyond recycling in drink sustainability push

As groups like Coca-Cola push ahead with new consumer-targeted recycling schemes in the US, their European counterparts claim to favour a different approach to help ensure environmental sustainability.

Next generation caps will be lighter with pour appeal, says Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak says it has redeveloped two of its closure types in order to reduce the amount of plastic required in their manufacture, and to enhance their opening and pouring attributes.

AHD brings coconut ingredients to functional foods, beverages

AHD International is to supply functional food and beverage makers in the US with a range of coconut products, further to a new partnership announced yesterday.

Open innovation: Food industry needs better strategies, says review

The food industry should embrace the possibilities offered by open innovation if they are to succeed in an increasingly competitive market place, says a new review.

Weekly comment

Waking up to smell the caffeine

Before reading this you’re probably going to need a coffee, in fact why not have a few? After all who’s to say when enough is enough in our hunt for a caffeine kick.

News briefs: Coca-Cola, US beer imports and Viking politics

This week, Coca-Cola announces a Monster deal to boost its energy drink presence, imported beers are on the rise in the US and a British MP lends his support to a Viking beer.

Product and market diversity aiding drink maker resilience

The European beverage industry will find strength in variety in its attempts to offset the impacts of the current economic downturn, according to a new report.

Red wine linked to lower risk of lung cancer amongst men

Moderate consumption of red wine may slash the risk of lung cancer in men by as much as 60 per cent, suggests a new study from California.

Wild blueberries take antioxidant crown

Wild blueberries have greater antioxidant content than common fruits such as apples, bananas, red grapes and strawberries according to Cornell University researchers.

UK food and drink sector backs MEPs targets on emissions

The energy package voted through by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee yesterday has been welcomed by the UK food and drink sector.

Stevia gets Australian approval for food and beverages

The Australian food authority FSANZ has approved the natural sweetener steviol glycosides (stevia), as an ingredient in foods and beverages in Australia and New Zealand.

Private label potential boosted by US drink diversity drive

While branded beverages continue to dominate the US drinks industry, private label manufacturers are now catering for more health focused product segments such as juices and waters, according to a new report.

Colour and flavour rule consumer preferences: Study

The intensity of colour and the flavour are the key drivers behind consumer acceptance of beverages, says a new study involving Danone.

Russian optimism remains despite big brewers’ beer lull

Despite declining sales growth for leading brewers like Carlsberg and InBev in Russia, analysts and industry alike suggest that the country’s beer market is far from stagnating.

Aluminum foil in juice packaging extends shelf life, says study

Spanish researchers evaluated four different containers for the storage of mandarin juice and found that carton containers with an inner layer of aluminium foil best ensure the quality of the product.

Comment

Bringing organic back down to earth

Organic has an image problem. As some consumers fear they are, quite literally, priced out of the farmers market, it’s time to stir up more debate about organic as a set of principals, not as a status symbol.

Drink age limit divide grows amidst Scottish debate

Drinking age limits continue to dominate headlines in the UK as the Scottish Executive yesterday debated the potential merits of limiting sales to people over 21 at some retail outlets, amidst wider interest in the scheme.

Melamine detection service offered to EU food and drink sector

A new melamine detection and testing service is targeted at companies in the European food and drink sector including food and ingredient manufacturers and food importers, says Leatherhead Food International.

Chromium picolinate may boost satiety, reduce hunger: Study

Daily supplements of chromium picolinate may reduce food intakes, hunger levels, and cravings for fat, according to a new study from the US.

Flexible sensor offers rapid pack inspection, says SICK UK

A new 2D vision sensor provides an automated way for a company to check if its packaged products meet quality standards, says SICK UK.

News briefs: US power women and geothermal bottling

This week, Pepsi's Indra Nooyi and Kraft's Irene Rosenfeld are top of poll of the leading female execs in the US, and a bottled water group goes natural to strengthen the image of its products.

Special edition: Pricing social responsibility

Industry targeting misuse, not consumption in drink focus

In the final part of an ongoing series, BeverageDaily.com looks at the issue of pricing on alcoholic beverages amidst industry claims that more expensive products will not deter misuse.