Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Food sustainability may aid Australian agri-woes

The food industry is failing to grasp the importance of adopting sustainable crop techniques to protect against the effects of climate change, says an expert on business agriculture.

Europe-based bakeries come out on top

Japanese firm Yamazaki Baking is the world's largest bakery firm, heading a list dominated by Europe-based food groups, according to a new report from industry analysts Leatherhead Food International (LFI)

Euringus introduces organic pea fibre for Europe

French supplier Euringus is introducing a new organic pea fibre to its ingredient range, which it expects will help food makers meet demand for fibre-enriched products in Europe in the light of consumer campaigns.

Weekly Comment

Training the salt of the earth

On International Labour Day, workers across the world will be raising a glass in honour of the salt of the earth.

Cash injection for natural snack bar

The UK's fastest growing snack bar product is set for a cash boost as food manufacturer Eat Natural doubles its marketing spend - investing £1 million (€1.46m) in its core brand.

PepsiCo feasts on snack growth for first quarter gains

Beverage giant PepsiCo has increased sales by about nine per cent to $7.4bn (€5.3bn) during a strong first quarter for the year, as it continues to expand its global operations, particularly through its snack and potato chip lines.

Growers urged to protect crops against climate change

Following last summer's heatwave and subsequent dwindling supplies of cereals, farmers have been encouraged to prepare early for this year's growing season to try and mitigate the increasingly damaging effect of climate change on the bakery and snacks industry.

Fast food turns functional with cholesterol-lowering pizza

A new pizza dough mixture which incorporates cholesterol-lowering plant sterols is set to further expand the market for functional snack foods.

Food ads make fat kids eat more, study

A study at the University of Liverpool has shown up a strong tendency for children to eat more after watching food adverts on TV - a finding that lends support to recent UK curbs on junk food advertising around children's programmes.

Special edition: Global food trade

EU sugar reform sours at home and abroad

Still in its initial stages of implementation, the EU sugar reform effort appears dogged by problems - a significant quota cut in the last few months left producers scrambling to keep up while non-members seeking a stable trading partner remain concerned over its long-term effects.

Gas sensor speeds up packaging tests

A modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) sensor just introduced in the UK market speeds up the process of testing that the correct mix of gasses have been used in a product.

Whole grain promotion should be doubled - meta-analysis

The consistent evidence linking the consumption of whole grain to significant decreases in the risk of cardiovascular disease should push policy-makers to redouble their efforts to get the public eating more of the grains, scientists behind a new meta-analysis have said.

Weak bakery fails to halt ABF growth

After a problematic year involving tampering incidents and disappointing bread sales, UK food producer Associated British Foods (ABF) has posted a 7 per cent rise in profits which the group attributes to increased investment and acquisitions.

Bakers offered new moisture resistant sugar product

UK sugar processor British Sugar has developed a new line of moisture-resistant sugar to its dry ingredients range for bakers, which it claims can prolong shelf life and improve product quality.

Weekly Comment

Ditch the marketing madness

Marketing strategies - two words that incorporate everything from pseudo scientific research to shock value advertising campaigns. But shouldn't honesty be the best policy?

Competition heats up in crowded bakery market

At least 100 British bakery firms are vulnerable to aggressive predator companies intent on squeezing out weaker forces in the market, according to a new report from analysts Plimsoll.

ADM develops low-carb, high-protein snack process

Ingredients firm Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has developed a new method of manufacturing soy-based crisps - opening up further possibilities to the carb-free snack market.

Danisco highlights multifunctions of polydextrose, sweetener

Sugar replacement , calorie reduction and glycemic benefits were amongst the functions most cited by respondents to a Danisco survey on the use of its Litesse polydextrose and Laccitol sweetener.

Grain industry slammed for costly waste

Inefficiency in the UK cereals supply chain is costing the industry almost £1 million (€1.47m) a week and cereal manufacturers are partly to blame, according to a new report from the Centaur Grain group.

Quaker Oats to soften label claims, says CSPI

According to the Center for Science and the Public Interest, the Quaker Oats Company is dropping certain claims from its labeling, underscoring the sensitive nature of health claims for the functional food industry.

Bakery news in brief

UK bakery and snack chain Greggs is investing in new facilities on the back of a recently-launched national marketing campaign designed to further the company's market position.

2007:Year of the bacon buttie

The sandwich and snack market is set to a attract a new host of meat-loving consumers as manufacturer Danish Bacon promises to turn 2007 into 'the year of the bacon buttie'.

UK wheat proves its export credentials

Exporters are being urged to consider UK wheat after its suitability for all types of baking was demonstrated at this year's International Bread Baking workshop organised by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

Weekly comment

Food contamination: time for action

At a time when so many resources are being pumped into improving consumer health through food, it is pitifully ironic that more and more people are getting sick or dying from what they eat because of safety slips.

Food miles awareness drives UK potato sales

Consumption of potatoes - both fresh and dehydrated - is on the rise in the UK according to Mintel, a parallel trend attributed to increased awareness of food miles and desire for convenience.

Health hype fails to deter dessert-lovers

The furore over rising obesity rates has failed to dissuade UK consumers from tucking into desserts such as cheesecakes, trifles and cream cakes, judging from a new report from market analysts Mintel.

Kettle extends healthy crisp range

Premium UK crisp maker Kettle Foods is adding to its Crispy Bakes range, which offers consumers a healthier alternative to standard crisps, sales of which are suffering in the anti-obesity backlash.

Coatings protect bake-in packaging

US based packaging firm Michelman is set to unveil a raft of bake-in coating solutions for the bakery industry at trade fairs this year.

ADM to build new oils and fats R&D centre in Hamburg

Archer Daniel Midland has announced plans to build a European R&D Centre in Germany to develop new oil and fat technologies for the food and bio-fuels sectors and help improve existing ones.

Barentz grows bakery ingredients with MDB Twello buy

Barentz Europe is strengthening its position bakery ingredients with the acquisition of family-run MDB Twello - a move expected to boost distribution for the latter's ingredients and may thus introduce more manufacturers to lupin as an alternative to soy.

Crisp packing line boosts Walkers production

Crisp giant Walkers is set to receive new packaging technology this autumn, on the back of a successful contract with machinery firm Schubert UK.

Weekly comment

You cannot judge a juice by its cover

Have you heard this one before? There are two blackcurrants, one has a high vitamin content and the other - well it doesn't.

Chips are down for potato producers

Potato processors are feeling the pinch as supplies dwindle due to last year's poor harvest.

Marigot mineral complex improves gluten-free bread texture

Irish mineral specialist Marigot's Aquamin complex appears to have benefits beyond enhancing the mineral content of certain specialist bakery products: it has also been seen to improve the texture of gluten-free bread.

ARS invests in barley, oat research

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has dedicated a new research lab to the improvement of cereal crops such as barley and oats.

Med diet helps kids breathe easier - study

Getting children to consume a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce their risk of asthma by up to 80 per cent, suggests new research.

Project aims to tear strips off packaging problems

The effectiveness of tear strips used in cardboard packaging is being tested as part of a new project, which aims to market the findings later this year.

Folic acid fortification debate still proving divisive

Opinion remains divided over plans by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) for the mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid, following the publication of a new paper on the issue.

Snack brands slammed over secret sugars

UK consumer watchdog Which? has hit out at several snack and ready meal brands for their 'hidden' sugar content.

Palsgaard develops stress-resistant cake emulsifier

Danish ingredients manufacturer Palsgaard has developed a new instant cake emulsifier which safeguards cake quality throughout the stresses inflicted on batter during processing.

New easy open seals close packaging dilemma

Two different packaging seals offer easier opening with security -- while one is designed for industrial and commercial use, the other meets increasing consumer demand, the manufacturer claims.

Kids' cookie hits health niche

UK bakery supplier BakeMark UK, has developed a 'better-for-you' cookie for the children's snack market in order to introduce healthier snacking habits to sweet-toothed youngsters.

Junk food ad ban comes into force in UK

Stage one of controversial new restrictions on advertising of foods to children came into force in the UK yesterday after much heated debate; the FSA will review the impact of its nutrient profiling model in 12 months.

Weekly comment

Wanted: testing for supplements

The dietary supplement industry needs an independent testing program that is recognizable to consumers in order to enhance the credibility of its products as well as encourage solid science and sourcing.

Cake consumers head for premium end of the market

Leading UK cake-maker, Finsbury Foods, has announced interim results indicating that consumers are unwilling to give up indulgences despite growing awareness of the need for a healthier diet.