Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Super fruits set to dominate flavour market

So-called super fruits could prove to be the success story of 2006, according to Innova Market Insights.

Raspberries - the berries are booming

Raspberries possess about 50 per cent higher antioxidant activity than strawberries, and storage or processing into jams does not remove the valuable compounds, as growing consumer awareness of health benefits drive sales.

Baked goods gaining popularity in Indonesia

Sales of crackers, cookies and breakfast cereals are rising fast in Indonesia thanks to higher incomes and the large and growing population.

BASF launches non-GM maize solution for Africa

BASF has developed a non-GM solution to help African maize farmers eradicate a disease that is costing them an estimated € 1.2 billion a year.

Food ads to kids to be restricted

Proposed guidelines to restrict food advertising directed at children will herald a new era of tighter regulatory control in the UK, according to food law experts at Eversheds.

Real Good Food strengthens its position in bakery

Real Good Food Company (RGFC) has turned around its margins from a small loss to a modest five per cent, as a result of its acquisition strategy in the food sector.

Cereal makers back vital new EU food legislation

The European Breakfast Cereal Association (CEEREAL) has hailed two important pieces of European food legislation as "broadly positive' for the future of the industry.

Canada Bread broadens its UK bakery portfolio

Canada Bread has swept up the remaining assets and business of troubled British baker Harvestime in a move that broadens the firm's operations in the UK.

Weekly Comment

Salt debate leaves bitter taste

The current debate about the levels at which the UK's food regulator has set its salt reduction targets misses the point about how healthier eating habits can be achieved.

ARS researchers create high fiber fat replacer

Researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have created a fat replacement additive rich in soluble fiber, beta-glucan, to tap into the low-fat food market.

Codex launches food additive info service

Codex has launched a searchable web-based version of its standard General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) to inform food firms about the latest developments.

Rising costs impair profit for General Mills

Like many other food producers General Mills is suffering from rising costs, which are holding back profits, despite increasing sales, according to the latest financial report.

Food industry gives cautious welcome to salt targets

Newly published salt reduction targets have been cautiously welcomed by the UK food industry as being 'more realistic than the 2005 proposals', though health campaigners are furious.

Wholegrains better than refined grains to lower bad fats

Wholegrains, but not refined grains, could lower blood triglycerides, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, say researchers from the US Agricultural Research Service.

US firm boasts next generation sweetener

Six months after its launch, a new sweetener that claims to be all-natural, low calorie, low glycemic, nutritionally fortified and fully functional has attracted "staggering" interest. FoodNavigator-USA talks to manufacturer Quantum Food Design (QFD) to find out why.

Food labelling fight splits UK retailers

The food industry's debate on nutritional labelling has taken its latest twist, with Sainsbury's suspending its membership of the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Ad van Geloven makes Mora move

Ad van Geloven, the Dutch food group, has reached a final agreement with Unilever to acquire snack business Mora for an undisclosed fee.

Food industry meets ahead of new UK salt targets

The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) met with key industry players yesterday ahead of the anticipated launch of new salt targets.

Cereal suppliers cautious over new GM trade rules

The adoption of detailed documentation requirements for genetically modified (GM) food in the international trade of agricultural commodities has been met with caution by grain and cereal importers.

New rules could ban soda and junk food from Illinois schools

Elementary and middle schools in Illinois could be banned from selling junk food and soda in a move designed to improve children's health and mental abilities through good nutrition.

Europeans snack and dine through hectic lives, report

European consumers are increasingly skipping meals at home and instead opting to snack or eat in restaurants, a trend that is set to continue on the back of hectic lifestyles, says a new report by Datamonitor.

More evidence that whole grains could protect against colon cancer

Antioxidants in wheat, allied with dietary fibre, are the key to its anti-colon cancer properties, say researchers.

Specially formulated salt substitute cuts hypertension - study

A low-sodium, high-potassium salt substitute formulated to be flavourful and effective has significantly reduced blood pressure among high-risk subjects, scientists reported yesterday.

Stacking robot is fastest in world, company claims

A Spanish company claims to have developed what it calls the fastest robot in the world for the food processing industry.

Syngenta moves closer to launching GM wheat

Leading agribusiness Syngenta could be set to introduce the world's first genetically modified wheat seed by early next decade, a move fully supported by American wheat industry organizations.

Healthy eating trend endangers Northern Foods

Like other convenience food producers in the UK, Northern Foods is struggling amidst sliding sales - issuing its second profit warning in two months as consumers shun biscuits, pastries and pizza.

Glisten sees growth in healthy eating

Glisten, the UK-based confectionery and snack group, has reported encouraging interim results and has set its sights on tapping consumers' appetite for healthy eating.

Commission reopens debate on new labelling legislation

The European Commission has reopened debate on harmonising and increasing legislation on food labelling across the bloc, a move that could potentially lead to greater costs for businesses.

Tesco functional cereal bars fortify healthcare shelves

UK company Multiple Marketing has developed a new range of functional cereal bars in an attempt to cash in on the increasing demand for nutritionally beneficial and innovative wellness products that deliver functional health benefits.

Tate and Lyle targets snack makers with new crispy coating

Tate & Lyle's US food ingredients team has developed a new crunchy snack coating for products including fruits and nuts, which claims to produce snacks that are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

New flour ingredients could solve processing limitations

National Starch Food Innovation has introduced a range of natural, grain-based ingredients, which it claims maintain the positive attributes of traditional flours while expanding and improving the ways they can be used in packaged food products.

Health conscious consumers drive UK oat sales

Hot cereals such as porridge and oatmeal are benefiting from a revival among Britain's health conscious consumers, according to Mintel.

Defect removal system for potato strips ups production capacity

An automatic defect removal system for potato strips helps processors increase production capacity, its manufacturer claims.

Academic slams food labelling plans as 'too simplistic'

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA)'s proposed Multiple Traffic Light system is 'too simplistic, twenty years out of date, dreamt up by administrators rather than nutritionists and likely to confuse consumers', according to a university professor.

Mintel identifies key food innovations for 2006

Brain-power foods, portion control and products targeting the senior population are likely to be the food sectors to look out for in 2006, according to Mintel.

Quest launches allergen free nut flavours

Flavour firm Quest has developed an allergen-free flavour range that perfectly mimics nut flavours without actually being derived from nuts.

Danisco gears up for EU sugar reform

Danisco says that the finalisation of the new EU sugar regime and the recently announced transitional measures will not affect the firm's planned efficiency drive.

ICCO to discuss sustainability at Eurochocolate Modica

The world's cocoa suppliers are meeting in Italy this week to discuss sustainable production, an issue blighting the growth of the industry.

Walkers close Welsh factory

The closer of Walkers' factory near Swansea signals the end of fifty years of crisp production in South Wales as the firm moves to cut costs.

Best-selling product list confirms nutrition, convenience trends

A diet plan, a beer and 'light' snacks have come top of the list of best selling products for this year, according to Information Resources Inc (IRI), which said its 2005 product ranking results confirm that nutrition, taste and convenience remain the top consumer priorities.

Food industry not responsive to obesity, claims report

By not doing enough to tackle the growing obesity crisis, the food and beverage industry is storing up problems for the future, claims a new report.

Consultation launched to ban junk food in schools

The UK government has launched a consultation on standards for food sold in schools following recommendations from the School Food Trust calling for a ban on confectionery and snacks.

Danisco launches allergen-free cultures range

Danisco has developed a new range of completely allergen-free antimicrobials and protective cultures that could help food makers achieve allergen-free products.

New wheat variety could improve nutrition

CSIRO has developed a new experimental wheat variety with the potential to provide benefits in the areas of bowel health, diabetes and obesity.

CSM targets key food sectors for future growth

Poor 2005 results could mark a watershed for ingredients giant CSM, which is in the process of refocusing its business strategy.