Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Oxygen sensor offers maintenance benefits

A new electro-chemical oxygen sensor allows beverage manufacturers to accurately measure gas levels during production, while reducing downtime needed for maintenance, its manufacturer claims.

Packaging briefs: Rusal and UK recycling shake up

UC Rusal moves to consolidate its position as the world's leading producer of aluminium-foil packaging by expanding in Russia, whilst manufacturers and retailers are faced with new proposals for recycling labels in the UK.

Capper targets larger packaging needs

A new capping technology can accommodate food and beverage industry demand for larger bottle and cartons, whilst preventing damage to the containers during repeated torque applications, its manufacturer claims.

Fresh, super and organic top trends for 2008

The top 10 trends to watch for next year include fresh and organic, superfruits, bold flavors, and probiotics beyond yogurts, according to Datamonitor's Productscan database.

Choices makes progress as global healthy foods mark

A food industry initiative launched this year is promoting one standard, easily recognisable symbol to aid identification of healthy foods across the world and encourage manufacturers to reformulate products along healthier lines.

Beverage briefs: financial rounds ups and Sitevi 07

In this week's round up, a number of European spirits manufacturers and brewers have enjoyed a strong opening six months to the financial year, while a technical show for wine production offers manufacturers a chance to catch up on the latest trends in the industry.

Industry attacks bottled water critics

Increasing criticism over the environmental impacts of consuming water from bottles instead of a tap supply is needlessly misleading consumer opinion, according to an international association representing the industry.

Spirits group calls for Chinese counterfeit crackdown

A quarter of all spirits brands claiming to be of European origin now sold in China are counterfeit, according to an EU liquor association.

Combined heat and power systems cut CO2 output, tests show

The use of micro- combined heat and power (CHP) systems can help small businesses cut CO2 emissions by up to 20 per cent if used in the right applications, according to a study by the Carbon Trust.

Weekly comment

Why all the fuss about stevia?

Over the past half year, stevia has been the focus of attention as the search for a perfect natural sweetener continues. But why are the birds circling when the ingredient has not been approved in the two major Western markets - the United States and Europe?

Grape-soy team-up enhances health benefits, says study

Teaming-up genistein from soy and resveratrol from grapes enhances the anti-obesity effects of the individual compounds, reports new research from the University of Georgia.

Cadbury's de-merger will boost profits, analysts say

Cadbury's de-merger of its US beverage business should increase margins for the confectionery business by 4.6 percentage points, despite an initial cost of £1bn, estimates Credit Suisse.

Natural trend raises Frutarom sales while profit tumbles

An increased demand for natural ingredients has led to a 23 per cent growth in Frutarom's sales for the third quarter, but profit is down because of rising raw material costs and the impact of acquisitions.

Nestle invests in research for beverages boost

Nestle intends to step up its focus on beverage production with the opening yesterday of its first research and development centre dedicated solely to drink brands destined for the food service industry.

Euro brewers share UK tax concerns

British brewers are not alone in wishing to drown their sorrows over declining profitability, as concern grows across Europe over the effect of taxes and commodity costs on the beer industry, a trade association has said.

Speakers set out challenges for EFSA's future

Attracting top scientists, speed of assessment, and communication are vital in ensuring EFSA's success as Europe's food risk assessor, said speakers at the authority's fifth anniversary conference in Brussels yesterday.

Flavours innovator offers fruity beer alternative

Herb and fruit infused beers are set to become a major growth category for brewers facing dwindling sales of ale, according to the manufacturer of a new range of natural flavours.

S&N says 'nothing is sacred' in profit push

Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) today said that no part of its operations are immune from restructuring designed to drive greater value from its beer brands, part of the company's bid to fight off a takeover offer by two rival brewers.

SABMiller goes for Grolsch in premium pay-off bid

SABMiller has today received the support of Koninklijke Grolsch's management to move ahead with a proposed €816m acquisition of the Netherlands-based brewer's operations.

Weekly comment

Are trade shows relevant?

The new crop of business cards yielded by another trade show season have been duly filed away. But the big question remains. Were the three days at FIE followed, for many, by another three at SupplySide West, really worth the blisters, the jet lag, and the not inconsiderable expense?

Provexis seals the deal with Coca-Cola

Provexis has confirmed an exclusive 12-month agreement with Coca-Cola for use of its tomato-based Fruitflow technology in beverages.

Briefs: SABMiller, Constellation, and Carlsberg

SABMiller warns of problems ahead due to rising cost of raw materials; Constellation Brands acquires US wine business of Fortune Brands; and Scottish & Newcastle rejects sweetened takover offer from Carlsberg and Heineken.

No room at the top in soft drinks market

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo continued to dominate the soft drinks market in 2006 accounting for more than a third of global sales in the sector, according to market analyst Euromonitor.

Brewers turn to software in move to cut energy costs

About 50 brewers have installed energy-saving software to automate their pasteurizers' consumption of water and steam, Sidel reported this week.

Live in Nuremberg

Brewers not braced for biogas, says expert

Brewers and dairy processors are failing to capitalise on the potential long-term cost and energy benefits of using biogas, according to a major supplier of the technology.

Cadbury reveals demerger proposals

Cadbury Schweppes yesterday filed regulatory documents outlining the demerger of its Americas beverage business into a new company, revealing the company's strategy to maintain its position as the world's largest confectionery manufacturer.

ADM launches bright and tasty cocoa powders

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has introduced a new line of cocoa powders aimed at improving visual appeal and flavour in dairy and bakery products.

Process innovation brewing at Brau Beviale

This year's Brau Beviale show kicks off in Nuremberg, Germany today, with players throughout all aspects of brewing and beverage manufacturing gathering to unveil and discuss the latest trends and innovations in the industry.

Ingredients innovations provide new routes for beverages

Henry Dixon, commercial director at BDB, underlines the challenge of taste, texture and affordability in the formulation of health and wellness products.

Health and wellness drives stabilisation solutions from CP Kelco

CP Kelco reacts to changes in the market with a range of solutions for the solubility and stabilisation for health-orientated functional ingredients.

Adaptable natural concepts target geographic taste profiles

WILD managing director Hans-Peter Voss explains how decades of experience in natural ingredients enables the firm to create targeted market solutions for beverage makers.

Coca-Cola forms threesome to quench coffee demand

The Coca-Cola Company hopes to meet growing demand for ready-to-drink coffee products by announcing yesterday that it will extend an agreement with Italian group Illycaffè to form a three-way joint venture with one of its bottling arms.

Metro Group completes Europe's largest RFID rollout

The Metro Group has upped the ante in Europe's move toward using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, completing the roll out of its use to 180 additional stores and warehouses in Germany.

Ball Packaging announces Indian drinks can plan

Ball Packaging Europe is to build a new production plant in India to tap growing demand in the country for its two-piece beverage cans.

Agreement forged to bring no-spill closure to market

Two European companies have signed an agreement they say will allow them to bring a new 'no-spill' closure for beverages to the market.

Dohler taps into superfruits trend

Herald Krug, head of ingredient systems at Dohler, delves into health claims, research and the role of superfruits in health and wellness.

Sales boom for BBH amidst takeover battle

Increasing profitability within the beer markets of Eastern Europe could further complicate the battle between Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg for control of their regional joint venture Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH).

News briefs: Pepsi, Pernod and space age hangover cures

In this week's briefs, PepsiCo targets Ukrainian juice demand, Pernod Ricard shakes up its management, and hangover cures go intergalactic.

RFID tag a cold chain management tool

A new radio frequency identification (RFID) logger combines tracking and tracing with temperature readings, giving processors a way to identify when food safety may have been compromised.

Sara Lee Q1 profits plunge

Rising commodity costs and increased media and promotional spend have led to a massive 40 per cent drop in profits for US food giant Sara Lee.

Unilever to take weight management to shots

The global number-one player in the weight management foods market, Unilever, has indicated it will be expanding this functional category into drinkable shots.

Industry sets voluntary deadlines on additive removal

UK food and beverage manufacturers have committed themselves to removing a group of six colour additives from their products by the end of 2008, according to a regulatory report published yesterday.

Bottled water demand growth slips in Western Europe

Growth in bottled water sales in Western Europe has slowed down to 2.5 per cent annually, compared to the 8 per cent increase in demand globally, according to new findings.

Industry outlines policy on environmental, production sustainability

In a policy document released yesterday, the EU's food and drink sector called on the European Commission to take account of economic conditions when setting environmental and production sustainability targets for industry.

Tea sales grow on health claims, says report

The US market for tea is expected to double over the next five years, boosted by a growing interest in wellness, says a new report by Packaged Facts.

Weekly comment

Meat, cancer and credibility

The big 'Cs' got the meat industry in trouble last week - cancer and credibility.

PepsiCo announces three-way split

PepsiCo today announced it will split its operations into three separate units in a move to better harness the growth of its snack and beverage businesses.

Packaging war wages for coffee giants

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is fighting back in an ongoing dispute over packaging with Kraft Foods by opening counter-legal proceedings over allegations it has infringed container designs used on its rival's coffee products.

Absolut maker sells off yeast plant

Beverage manufacturer V&S has announced its intentions to sell off a yeast production facility in Denmark to Canadian group Lallemand, as it continues to chase improving profitability in its spirit operations.

EU pollution directive sets controls for processing plants

All food and drink processers must now be in compliance with the EU-wide Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) directive, which aims to ensure plants reduce their environmental impact.

News Briefs: Kirin, Carlsberg and Frappucinos

In this week's round-up Kirin looks to increase pricing for its beers; Scottish & Newcastle take their battle with Carlsberg to the courts; and China welcomes the Frappuccino.