All news articles for December 2016

Different texture combinations used to market foods in 2016. ©iStock

What will the top texture trends be in 2017?

By Louis Gore-Langton

In 2016 15% of new food products launched in Europe employed themes concerning texture combinations – often on well-established product types such as yoghurt. FoodNavigator looks at some of the strongest product categories riding the texture wave into...

It's been an action-packed year for the beverage world. Here are some of the highlights. (Pic:iStock/marekuliasz)

The year that was: Headlines of 2016

By Rachel Arthur

From mergers and acquisitions to innovations in packaging and flavors, we take a look back over some of the headlines of 2016. 

Cider sales boom as festive early-adopters swap brands

This week Down Under

Cider sales boom as festive early-adopters swap brands

By RJ Whitehead

Cider is not only Australia’s fastest-growing alcoholic beverage by far, its consumption also spikes dramatically during the southern summer months, market research suggests.

FSSAI orders energy drinks to comply to regulations

India

FSSAI orders energy drinks to comply to regulations

By RJ Whitehead

India’s food regulator is gearing up to impose a limit on caffeine contained in energy drinks. From July 1, manufacturers will be compelled to comply with FSSAI regulations, according to a notification published last week.

Robots that brew beer, carbon neutral factories, and better tasting medicine... read on to see how the beverage industry has been innovating this year. Pic: iStock/stevanovicigor

6 beverage innovation highlights of 2016

By Rachel Arthur

It’s easy to be cynical about the term ‘innovation’ – a buzzword used by marketers in the hope of attracting attention in a crowded marketplace. But here we take a look at some of the products and projects from the beverage world in 2016 that we think...

'Rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater we just need to look at it and find a way of making sure the vulnerable consumer is protected,' says GSK. ©iStock/EldadCarin

Dispatches from the #SNC16 congress in Frankfurt

Could energy drinks be cut out of the EU caffeine claim loop?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) is lobbying for two different solutions to the EU caffeine claim hold up, one of which could see use of the claims limited to sports supplements only.  

IPES: Existing EU food policies 'do not fit together, and are not delivering – individually or collectively.' ©iStock

Europe’s Plan B: The ‘Common Food Policy’

By Louis Gore-Langton

An independent think tank, IPES, has been set up to advise the EU and work towards creating a common food policy that would create a sustainable, healthy and profitable food system – a ‘plan B’ to the failures of the current framework.

© iStock/Macio Silva

EU invests €60m in Polish food firm Maspex

By Louis Gore-Langton

The investment will go to improving facilities and increasing employment for the Polish juice, sauce and pasta manufacturer, already one of the largest in Eastern Europe.

© iStock/Piotr_Malczyk

2016: The year of the sugar tax

By Richard Whitehead, Elaine Watson, Will Chu, Niamh Michail, Louis Gore-Langton, Rachel Arthur

Debate around sugar taxes has hit the limelight this year, with the controversial topic grabbing headlines around the globe.  

We seek an agile mind to report on the ever-evolving, ever-important world of nutrition...could it be you? ©iStock/BrianAJackson

NutraIngredients is hiring

By Shane STARLING

Can you break news in multiple formats? Are you comfortable interviewing a CEO or Greenpeace protester, food scientist, politician or legal hound? Do you have the temperament to handle daily deadlines as you work on Europe’s leading nutrition sector publication?...

Picture credit: BillerudKorsnäs

‘Biggest growth area for liquid packaging is southeast Asia’

BillerudKorsnäs to build ‘world’s largest’ packaging board machine for $622m

By Jenny Eagle

BillerudKorsnäs, which manufactures confectionery, snacks and beverage packaging, is investing  SEK 5.7bn ($622.25m) in a KM7 (Karton Machine) to produce liquid board, cartonboard and liner at its factory in Gruvön, Sweden, to start operations in Q1,...

Pic:iStock/nisimo

British gin exports to US rise 553% in the last decade

By Rachel Arthur

2016 has been a ‘record breaking year for UK gin’ with the spirit continuing to grow in popularity in the country. Meanwhile, the popularity of Downton Abbey and James Bond has helped boost exports to the US. 

Chinese sweetener prices rising at last after spate of plant closures

China direct

Chinese sweetener prices rising at last after spate of plant closures

By RJ Whitehead

After a year-long race to the bottom by Chinese manufacturers, acesulfame-K sweetener prices have grown steadily since May, with analysts expecting further increases then stabilisation as suppliers, including segment giant Anhui Jinhe, hold back on production.