All news articles for September 2017

Ollivier Chevreteau, sales director, EMEA, Serac at drinktec.

Serac to open an office in Dubai

By Jenny Eagle

Serac has seen growing success with Combox, its packaging production and filling technology in a single block unit, within dairy for cartons, pouches, cups and bottles.

Adult soft drinks: What flavors appeal to consumers?

Adult soft drinks: What flavors appeal to consumers?

By Rachel Arthur

Adult soft drinks are gaining in popularity: but what flavors appeal to this audience? From the beer cues of brewed soda to the sour tang of vinegar, natural ingredient company Döhler explores the tastes that are appealing to today’s consumers. 

Breweries and brewpubs boost employment in the craft beer sector. Pic:Getty/shanecotee

Craft brewing contributes $68bn to US economy

By Rachel Arthur

The US craft beer sector contributed $67.8bn to the US economy in 2016, with craft brewers responsible for more than 456,373 jobs, according to the latest economic impact report from the Brewers Association. 

Alcohol group slams attempt to ‘create crisis’ over sports ads

This week Down Under

Alcohol group slams attempt to ‘create crisis’ over sports ads

By RJ Whitehead

The Australian drinks industry has accused an alcohol awareness group of “attempting to create a crisis where none exists” after it called for TV ads promoting alcohol to be phased out at times when children were likely to be watching sports broadcasts.

United Caps has updated several of its standard beverage closures to reach more markets, the company said.

United Caps sees high demand in sports closures market

By Mary Ellen Shoup

United Caps plans to launch a new version of its ProSpring closure for sports drinks in early 2018 to enter new markets such as Germany following the success the cap had in the UK and other parts of Europe, the company said. 

pic:iStock/silverjohn

Innovation watch: Customising wine with Vinfusion

By Rachel Arthur

Exhibiting at drinktec, Cambridge Consultants presented its ‘Vinfusion’ technology: which lets consumers customize their wine at the point of dispense based on three parameters.

Coca-Cola Plus Coffee launches in Australia

Coca-Cola Plus Coffee launches in Australia

By Rachel Arthur

Coca-Cola has launched Coca-Cola Plus Coffee in Australia today: a cola with ‘the delicious taste of Coca-Cola Classic but with the unmistakable aroma of real coffee’.

©iStock

SORS used to detect markers of fake spirits

By Joseph James Whitworth

A handheld spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) device has been used to detect fake spirits by researchers at The University of Manchester.

Photo copyright: Mike Mozart/Flickr

Meth found in 7up bottles in Mexican city

By Joseph James Whitworth

Some bottles of 7up in Mexicali, Mexico were contaminated with methamphetamine and have been linked to one death and seven illnesses, according to officials.

Hong Kong resists sugar tax calls

Hong Kong resists sugar tax calls

By RJ Whitehead

Hong Kong authorities favour adopting health awareness schemes over introducing a tax on sugar to limit consumption.

PM dashes renewed calls for sugar tax

Australia

PM dashes renewed calls for sugar tax

By RJ Whitehead

Australian consumers already pay enough taxes at the supermarket and should not be forced to pay an extra 20% for sweetened drinks, the prime minister has said.

Pic: iStock/Akkharat Jarusilawong

No & low alcohol beer launches: the global picture

By Rachel Arthur

While the amount of innovation in the lower alcohol beer category remains limited on a global scale, Mintel predicts activity in the sector will speed up in years to come as millennials seek healthier and less calorific beer options. 

Craft beer choices now include low & no alcoholic beers. Pic:iStock/AngelikaKagan

Craft brewers are no lightweights in alcohol-free beer trend

By Lynda Searby

It’s not just the big brands who are staking a claim in the NABLAB (non-alcoholic beer and low-alcoholic beer) sector; craft brewers such as UK-based St Peter’s are courting consumers with zero alcohol brews that claim to offer a fuller flavor. 

WFSI aims to play into major health trends in the beverage category through its sweetener and flavor  ranges. ©iStock/Charlie_Edward

drinktec 2017

WILD Flavors & Specialty Ingredients expands sugar alternative options

By Mary Ellen Shoup

WILD Flavors & Specialty Ingredients (WFSI) has expanded its portfolio of sweetening solutions to offer sweeteners that when combined with certain flavors and texturants ingredients can deliver a similar mouthfeel to full-sugar beverages, the company...