Malt- and chocolate-based drinks are often seen as relatively
unsophisticated in developed markets in the west, but in many
countries, in particular in Latin America, they are big business
indeed, marketed mostly as an excellent source...
France's lawmakers have banned soft drink and chocolate bar vending
machines in schools from the beginning of the 2005/06 school year,
a measure designed to nip the growing childhood obesity problem in
the bud.
Flavoured alcoholic beverages (FABs) took the UK market by storm in
the late 1990s, and while recent rumours of their death have been
greatly exaggerated, growth in the market does appear to be slowing
as consumers switch to more...
Overproduction by New World wine producers has pushed down prices
over the last few years, taking a major toll on producers' margins.
But a growing trend towards premium wines could save the day, in
both established and emerging...
The South Korean market is proving to be dynamic for coffee
exporters, as the population continues to embrace the fashion and
trends prevalent in the western lifestyle, reports the German
Coffee Assocation, Deutscher Kaffeeverband....
Germans have a reputation as Europe's beer-drinking heavyweights,
but an increasing lack of interest in beer among young consumers
there means that German brewers may have to look to other western
European nations such as Italy...
The alcohol policies of two EU Member States have been the focus of
differing judgements this week. Both France and Sweden claim that
their policies are designed to protect public health - but this, it
seems, is only acceptable when...
Efforts by Scotch whisky makers to attract a younger client base
are coming thick and fast, as distillers seek to break the
stranglehold of white spirits on the UK youth market. But is the
'pipe and slippers' image of whisky...
Scientists at Risø National Laboratory in Denmark and the European
Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France have made an
important discovery that could change the way aluminium is
manufactured.
After months of unsuccessful talks, the US yesterday successfully
secured a World Trade Organisation panel to investigate its claim
that the Mexican 'discretionary tax' introduced for corn sweeteners
such as high fructose...
Girls are more likely than boys to be overexposed to adverts for
alcoholic beverages in magazines, although the figures for both
genders are worryingly high, according to a recent study carried
out by scientists in the US. But is...
Taylors of Harrogate, an English tea company, has done the
seemingly impossible by selling tea to China. It has packed off its
first consignment and is hoping for follow-on orders, but should
this really come as a surprise considering...
The US cola wars have traditionally been fought on just two fronts
- Coca-Cola holding one and PepsiCo the other. But now a new player
is about to join the fray, and Britain's Virgin Cola is hoping that
its decision to focus...
A new report examining the range of techniques and technology that
manufacturers and processors can adopt to deliver product freshness
has just been published.
A new study on artificial sweeteners reported in the news yesterday
has fuelled a rapid response from the soft drinks industry, which
branded the research by US researchers at Purdue University as
'pure speculation'.
Brewers targeting the Russian beer market are increasingly shifting
their focus to premium lager, despite the fact that large numbers
of Russian consumers still cannot afford to buy it - an indication,
above all, of the strength of...
Artificial sweeteners may disrupt the body's natural ability to
'count' calories based on foods' sweetness, claim US researchers,
suggesting mouthfeel plays a crucial role in gauging calories and
casting a potential...
Persuading consumers to pay money for tap water - no matter how
well it is purified and packaged - is a difficult task, but growing
numbers of companies across Europe are successfully doing just
that. The key, it seems, is to focus...
US legislation forcing food manufacturers to clearly state if a
product contains any of the eight major food allergens has been
passed, following hot on the heals of stringent new legislation
coming into force in the EU.
Scientists from the University of Seville, Spain, have developed a
method of finger-printing champagne, cava, and other wines to
prevent cheaper products being passed off as the more expensive
varieties.
Cheaper sugar ingredients could be on the way for food makers in
Europe as draft plans for tough changes to the much criticised
sugar regime come to light.
Cheaper processing methods could be on the way for makers of
decaffeinated coffee as scientists in Brazil identify naturally
growing caffeine-free coffee plants. As the global coffee market
remains dogged by rock bottom prices through...
Unilever, Coca Cola and McDonalds have promised to stop using
environmentally-damaging chemicals in their refrigeration equipment
on an international level. The initiative, supported by the UN and
pressure group Greenpeace, will see...
Despite Germany's blisteringly hot weather in 2003, the country's
soft drinks market was badly affected by a controversial mandatory
deposit system which saw many retailers remove one-way containers
from their shelves, according...
Affordable refreshment and convenience were the underlying drivers
of growth in the UK soft drinks market in 2003 - although the hot
summer weather also played a major role.
Prices for flat rolled steel products in Europe have now in most
cases reached their highest level in the last two decades,
according to UK steel market analyst MEPS. This is likely to impact
the packaging industry.
A shift towards lower priced table wines helped lift Spanish wine
exports in the first quarter of the year, but the lower revenues
mean that double-digit volume gains were rather more modest when
converted into value figures.
Last year's exceptionally hot summer weather gave a major boost to
soft drink consumption in the UK, but a new report from market
analysts Canadean shows that the heatwave merely accelerated
the already rapid growth in one of...
Old World wine producers – who just 15 years ago had the British
wine market almost to themselves – still need to do more to counter
the ongoing threat from New World producers, a new report suggests.
But solving the problem is likely...
The Slovakian soft drinks market has grown by a healthy 31 per cent
since 1998, driven by increasing tourism and the arrival of the
multinationals, says a recent market report.
Energy and sports drinks continued their rapid rise up the soft
drinks rankings last year, driven by new product launches and an
increasing trend towards convenience and on-the-go consumption. But
while most of the growth has come...
Europe's PET bottle recycling market increased dramatically last
year, but there are fears that a similar increase in exports abroad
may lead to less environmental regulation.
Food makers opting for sugar rich recipes for their soft drink
formulations are under constant attack from consumer groups
claiming that the sugar content is harmful to teeth. But a new
study from the US finds that flavour additives...
On the back of this week's dramatic acquisition of China's Harbin
Brewery by the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch, ahead of its
nearest rival, SABMiller, Scottish & Newcastle has announced
that it has signed...
Tate & Lyle, the British sugar and starches group, is to expand
production of the sweetener sucralose at its plant in the US to
meet increased demand for its Splenda brand.
As government and health authorities continue to show concern for
the UK's binge drinking culture, new research suggests that
drinking less than ten alcoholic beverages a week does not increase
the risk of heart failure in patients...
Champagne is arguably France's greatest wine - at least in terms of
image if nothing else - the de rigeur celebration drink for
partygoers the world over. But in its home market, the sparkling
wine continues to dwindle in popularity...
The promotion of renewable energy is adding significantly to
processing costs, according to an industry body that represents
major energy consumers such as food packagers and chemical
processors.
There is a growing section of UK society which is still largely
untapped by the food and drink marketers, despite a growing number
of products, in particular functional food and drink products,
likely to appeal to them. The consumers...
Increasing production efficiency to generate higher profits is the
aim of every plant manager. But now manufacturers have to think
about their legal obligations to reduce waste and conserve energy.
Can new fluid handling technology...
UK-based consumer packaging company Rexam has completed its
acquisition of Latasa, Brazil's largest beverage can maker. Just
over 5 million shares of Latasa common stock and 80,000 preferred
shares have been acquired, bringing...
Polish trading company Uno Fresco Tradex has announced an
initiative that combines nine medium-sized food and beverage
companies aiming to export their products to other eastern European
markets. Simon Pitman found out how the integration...
A multi-functional beverage wet laboratory and an in-house data
system are two of the final touches to the new flavour Creative
Centre of the Quest Flavour business, based at the company's
international headquarters in Naarden,...
The UK's environmental regulator has cautioned food and drink
manufacturers that if they fail to comply with essential
environmental legislation they risk hefty fines. The warning comes
as a website is launched to help small...
Plzenskly Prazdroj, part of the SABMiller group, has launched a low
alcohol lemon-apple flavoured malt drink onto the Czech market, the
first of its kind.
Narzan, one of Russia's best-known mineral water companies, has
received a loan for $12.25 million from the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development as part of a combined equity
investment scheme.
People who shift their caffeine 'buzz' from a morning dose to small
amounts consumed throughout the day could avoid falling asleep, may
perform well on cognitive tests, and sleep soundly at night.
The Beverage Can Makers in Europe (BCME) has welcomed the advocate
general's conclusions in the EU Court cases regarding the German
packaging regime. He found that the discriminatory elements of the
German packaging order regarding...
