Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Quaker pioneers new snack process to cut time, costs and waste.

US cereal and snack maker the Quaker Oats company has developed a new way of processing granola and snack-food products which cuts time, wastage and costs.

FSA aims to cut mycotoxins from cereal ingredients

Codes of practice to help UK farmers reduce the levels of mycotoxins in cereals could improve the safety of the ingredient supply chain.

CSM reports strong sales on back of restructuring

CSM has reported increased sales for 2006 following a period of significant restructuring.

CASH maintain pressure on UK bakers

Over 35 per cent of commercial bread in the UK does not meet FSA targets for salt levels, says a new survey from the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) that looks set to maintain pressure on UK bakers to reduce the salt content of their products.

ABF plans Kingsmill revamp

High commodity costs and waning brand support have contributed to a poor performance in bakery operations for UK food giant Associated British Foods (ABF) who are hoping a relaunch of its signature Kingsmill brand can reverse the downturn.

Nano project aims to reduce packaging waste

Danone, the French food and beverage giant, is taking part in a research project into nanotechnology that could result in stronger plastic packing that also reduces waste.

Bread and snack brands top grocery chart

Despite health concerns climbing ever higher on the consumer agenda, snack and bread products dominate the top five grocery brands in the UK as manufacturers see reformulated products gaining in popularity, according to a new report.

Weekly Comment

Turning advertisers into educators

Instead of trying to hide confectionery from children by restricting advertising, chocolate-makers should be encouraging them to make the same health-conscious choices as adults when it comes to confectionery they're sure to buy anyway.

New bakers prompt industry shift, report

New blood behind the helm of the UK's top bakery companies could point to a changing direction for the industry as a whole, according to a new report.

Ailing snack market hit by health worries

The UK sweet and salty snacks market has seen disappointing sales in the wake of Government efforts to reduce obesity by alerting consumers to the importance of a healthy diet.

Frito-Lay targets healthy consumers with fruit crisps

US snack giant Frito-Lay has become the latest manufacturer to invest in healthier innovation with the launch of fruit and vegetable-based crisps under the Flat Earth brand name.

Kraft plans roadmap for success

US snack giant Kraft has announced new initiatives which, it claims, will enable the company to hit long-term targets and reverse its recent revenue downturn.

TIC targets bakers with gum system for icings

Hydrocolloid supplier TIC Gums has introduced a gum system designed to prevent common problems in icings and glazes on baked goods.

Weekly Comment

Coming clean in crisis management

In the area of crisis management, companies seem keen to repeat history by making the same mistakes -- over and over again.

GDAs 'fundamentally flawed', claims health group

Food industry-backed front-of-pack nutritional signposting is 'fundamentally flawed', according to the National Heart Forum (NHF).

Healthy snackers opt for fruit

France's dried fruit snack market has more than doubled in value since 1998 – boosted by the trend for healthier indulgent snack options.

Climbing costs hit German snack market

Hot weather, the rising cost of raw materials and a poor potato harvest have contributed to a downturn in the German snack market – threatening profits for producers balancing mounting costs with waning demand.

FSA to discuss EU food labelling policy

The UK's food standards agency is planning a comprehensive review of EU labelling at its annual board meeting this morning.

Palm oil research targets food industry benefits

A new research centre in the UK focusing on palm oil research using latest molecular techniques could benefit the food industry.

DSM baking enzyme boosts batter, cuts costs

Ingredients manufacturer DSM has developed a new enzyme for the cake and pastry industry which promises to cut raw material costs while improving product quality.

Cognis launches low trans-fat emulsifier

Cognis has launched a new emulsifier with low trans-fat content to help food makers conform with consumer health demands.

FAO predicts favourable 2007 cereal production

A favourable outlook for world cereal production in 2007 could help ease price pressures on the food industry.

Kellogg rolls out new cereal and snacking options

Global cereal and snack maker Kellogg is set to rejuvenate consumer interest in core brands with a raft of new products for 2007.

Weekly Comment

Allergens: no room for mistakes

It would be a mistake for governments and industry to misinterpret the recent progress in food allergen labeling as a final solution: there is much that yet remains to be done, for the well-being of both consumers and manufacturers.

China to lead Unilever's Asia Pacific ambitions

Unilever, the world's second largest food company, is to increase its focus on its Chinese operations to allow the country to meet its potential as a market leader in the Asia Pacific food industry.

Biscuit baker gets cash boost

The leading French private label sweet biscuit maker, Biscuits Poult, has received a €12.5m boost from buyout fund firm European capital as the firm invests in the company's standing in the domestic bakery market.

French snacking nuts set for slump

Although still currently strong, the French nut market is due a downturn unless manufacturers invest in significant innovation, judging from a new report from the US Department of Agriculture.

Masterfoods vows to cut kids marketing

The owner of Mars and Snickers chocolate brands, Masterfoods, has pledged to stop marketing its products to children younger than 12 - a move that is sure to increase consumer confidence in the brand and appease advertising regulators.

ADM launches functional wheat protein isolates

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has launched a range of functional wheat protein isolates designed to enhance the taste, texture and appearance of cereal products.

Key to salt-tolerant wheat uncovered

A major advance in breeding new salt-tolerant varieties of wheat could have important implications for future supplies.

Snack body asks for action on commodity costs

With the increasing use of some of their raw materials for the production of biofuels, snack makers have called on the European Commission to take measures to ensure they do not face further price hikes for their supplies.

Room for growth in French snack sector

Manufacturers could be doing more to exploit the profitable French snack market, according to a new report from the US Department of Agriculture.

Enzymes improve quality of French fries, says study

Using pectolytic and hemicellulytic enzymes to change the microstructure of potato cells in French fries improves the quality of the finished product, suggests research from Novozymes.

Weekly Comment

Food versus fuel: is a happy ending possible?

The era of biofuels is here but this does not necessarily mean unending food price shocks or a critical diversion of agricultural production away from food.

BakeMark UK targets indulgent and healthy bakery

BakeMark UK is attempting to capture both health and indulgence bakery trends with the launch of two new products this month.

Finsbury tightens hold on UK cake market

UK baker Finsbury Foods has consolidated its leading position within the cake sector with the £37.5m (€56.6m) acquisition of the Lightbody Group this week.

UK bakers praised for salt reduction

Bakers have made significant progress in curbing salt content, according to a survey of well-known supermarket and bakery bread brands.