News in brief

Flowers Foods obtains $300m loan to help finance acquisition of Hostess' bread business

Flowers Foods has obtained a $300m loan to help finance its acquisition of Hostess Brands' bread business.

Ultrasonic cutting device boosts flexibility for bakery industry

Quasar Automation is designing an ultrasonic cutting device for a range of applications, including tray bake cutting and portioning, which it claims offers considerably more flexibility than previous systems. ...

Grain policy

USDA slams India’s decision to export more year-old wheat

The United States Department of Agriculture has hit out at the Indian government for allowing the export of an additional 5m tonnes of wheat last month, calling it unviable unless...

Federation of Bakers tentative on increased British wheat imports

The UK could soon become a net importer of wheat for the first time in a decade, but The Federation of Bakers has said that there may be enough of...

Bakers welcome tougher penalties for plastic bread tray theft

The American Bakers Association (ABA) has welcomed a Maryland bill that will increase the penalties for theft of plastic bread trays – a criminal act that bakers say costs at...

Sorghum is celiac-safe: Study

The cereal grain sorghum is a safe food for consumers with celiac disease and therefore ideal for gluten-free formulations, new research finds.

LOOKING TO SPUR GROWTH IN AUSTRALIA?

‘Surprising’ opportunities for breads and rolls in Australia: Analyst

There is huge potential in sliced bread and rolls in Australia as consumers look for cheap and easy lunch options in the wake of a turbulent economy, an analyst says.

Sensient: New yeast extracts can help cut sodium by 50%

A new range of yeast extracts can deliver up to a 50% sodium reduction without compromising the taste or functional integrity of the finished product, according to Sensient Bio-Ingredients.

Puffed and toasted ancient grains plug unique texture and flavor demands, says ConAgra Mills

Puffed and toasted ancient grains fulfill consumer demands for unique texture and flavor in baked goods and snacks, says developer ConAgra Mills.

PFM delivers bespoke machine for Irish tortilla maker

Ireland’s The Flat Bread Company has diversified into the retail market thanks to an extra-wide flow wrapper designed specifically for the firm by Italian supplier PFM Packaging Machinery.

COMMODITY REPORTS: FAO

Europe drives 4.3% global wheat surge as US drops: FAO

Global wheat production will surge 4.3% for 2013 driven by a strong European and Russian harvest, the FAO says. The US yield is expected to drop 6%.

Food spray guns slash time and wastage for bakers, says KREBS Switzerland

Food spray guns for coating and glazing can reduce time and wastage for bakers, says developer KREBS Switzerland.

US attorney files objection of Hostess-Flowers sale on environmental law grounds

A US attorney has filed an objection on the Hostess bread business sale because the contract would release Flowers Foods from environmental liabilities.

Engrain to develop international variants of shelf-life promoting enzymes

Enzyme specialist Engrain will develop new variants of its two blends that extend shelf-life in packaged bread, its technical sales manager says.

‘Mixing different disciplines together is a great source of innovation’: Puratos R&D head

Bringing together teams to spark innovation and ideas is the driver behind Puratos’ €15m ($19.5m) investment in a new global research and development center, its R&D head says.

Federation of Bakers: Real Bread Campaign report is ‘selective and misleading’

The UK's Federation of Bakers has snubbed the Real Bread Campaign’s report and described it as fundamentally flawed, selective and misleading.

Flowers Foods wins majority of Hostess bread assets for $360m without auction

Flowers Foods has won the bid for a majority of Hostess bread assets including Wonder Bread and Nature’s Pride outside of auction after no other bidders stepped forward.

Coarser flours give best volumes in gluten-free maize bread: Study

Maize flours with coarser particle size are the most suitable for making gluten-free bread, a study finds.

The Real Bread Campaign slams UK industrial loaf sector on ‘wholemeal’ and ‘wholegrain’ misuse

The Real Bread Campaign has slammed UK industrial bread manufacturers on the misleading use of ‘wholemeal’ and ‘wholegrain’ and has called for meaningful legal definitions and robust regulation.

Health with a dash of color: SunSweet Bakery launches plum-infused purple baked goods

SunSweet Bakery has launched a new line of purple colored plum-infused baked goods that offer a tasty, new experience with a ‘myriad of health benefits’, it says.

Vie de France consolidates production as demand outstretches capacity

Vie de France Yamazaki has closed a frozen bread facility in Chicago to shift production to a larger plant in Atlanta as demands and expansion plans outstretch capacity.

Flour recall hits major US brands

Knock-on effect: US flour recall sifts through industry

A US flour and grain blend recall has hit major brands including Frito-Lay and Mondelez and forced widespread precautionary recalls on snacks, cereal and biscuit products.

Grupo Bimbo Q4 net profit plunges 81%

Increased financing costs and higher tax rates caused a plunge in net profit for Mexican bread titan Grupo Bimbo in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2012.

Natural antifungals from sourdough have food potential: Researchers

Powerful antifungal compounds produced from linoleic acid found in bread flour are the key reason for sourdough bread’s mould resistant properties, and have potential to be used in a host...

Tackling wheat woes and consumer taste: Puratos reformulates and launches new bread improvers

Puratos has reformulated and developed new market-specific bread improvers to address flour quality fluctuations and cater to consumer taste profiles, it says.