News in brief

Build a BRIC strategy fast, IGD urges industry

Brazil, Russia, India and China will feature in the top five biggest grocery markets by 2015, with China set to snatch the top spot from the US in 2012, predicts IGD.

News in brief

Nestlé invests in South African cereal factory

Nestlé is investing around CHF 67m into two new factories in South African, one of which will produce two of its cereal products.

Thailand the immediate focus of Unifine in Asian expansion

Increasing demand for western style pastries in Thailand is behind ingredients supplier Unifine’s goal to expand its presence in that market this year.

Frozen bakery buys see Kerry capitalise on Asia-Pacific growth

Kerry Group has strengthened its presence in Asia-Pacific region after acquiring General Mills’ Australian bakery businesses for a sum believed to be around €20m.

Ohly opens yeast extract plant in China

Ohly has officially opened a new yeast extract plant in Harbin, China, giving it an Asian production arm to complement existing plants in the US and Europe.

DuPont and USDA team up to tackle emerging food safety threat

A new joint project between DuPont Qualicon and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to develop testing to detect hard-to-identify strains of E.coli that are not regulated and have...

Buoyant Australian almond crop forecast as Asian snack demand grows

Australia's almond production is expected to rise by 25 per cent in 2010 - up from 36,500 tonnes this year to 46,100 tonnes, announced the Almond Board of Australia (ABA)...

Bunge building export terminal to meet Asian grain ambitions

Bunge has begun construction on a new grain export terminal it claims will be the first such structure to be built in North America for twenty years as part of...

Unilever finds strength in emerging markets and innovation

Unilever’s activities in the developing and emerging markets and the US have proved key to growth in Q1, but private label presents a challenge to brands.

Companies look to Asia as an economic buffer

Food and beverage companies should look to Asia to bolster their business in times of economic crisis, while differentiating their products closer to home, according to a Frost and Sullivan...

Major international project to boost South Asian cereal production

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has announced a $30m collaborative project which aims to boost South Asian cereal production by five million tonnes a year.

Ministers on board with ‘Southampton six’ phase-out

UK ministers have agreed with a Food Standards Agency proposal on voluntary phasing out of the ‘Southampton six’ food colours by the end of 2009, according the agency’s chief executive.

Emerging markets and flavours a boon for Symrise

Symrise has reported good sales growth in local currencies the first half of 2008 driven by flavours and emerging markets, although fragrance growth was hit by the drop-off in consumer...

Ocean Spray goes for Asian bakery market

Ocean Spray is continuing to push into the Asia-Pacific bakery market with a new partnership with Taiwan-based baker ChiaTe, the company announced yesterday.

Cereal makers missing emerging market boon

A large number of global breakfast cereal manufacturers are failing to take advantage of the potential for their products in markets such as Eastern Europe and Asia, according to consumer...

Tate & Lyle woos Asia with R&D drive

Tate & Lyle has opened a new research and development centre in Shanghai, China to help manufacturers develop food products that are targeted to the preferences of Asian consumers.

Kellogg seeking acquisitions in Asia

Kellogg, the world's biggest breakfast cereal maker, is in talks to buy a Chinese food company as part of its plans to boost sales in Asia, according to a report.

Starch firm expands in Asia

Number one dextrose producer Corn Products International will drive operations forward in Korea, buying up the remaining slice of its Korean business from Doosan corporation.

Asian rice production lifts global supplies

A significant drive from Asian rice producers has helped boost global paddy production in 2004 to an estimated record 611 million tonnes. But the Food and Agriculture Organisation says that...

Emerging markets and health lift Danisco H1 results

Set against the backdrop of difficult trading conditions for branded food manufacturers, raw material prices and a negative currency impact played down first half figures for ingredients giant Danisco.

Snack maker narrows its focus to Southeast Asia

Thailand's Useful Food, one of the country's largest snack producers, has revised its regional growth plan by focusing on Southeast Asia rather than the whole...

P P Payne Tape for South American Biscuits

P P Payne's Supastrip tear tape has been selected by biscuit giant Kraft Nabisco for use in the South American market. TheSupastrip will be used...