Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Weekly Comment

WTO's failure is food industry's loss

The short sighted failure of greedy WTO trading partners to achieve any sort of meaningful agreement on global agricultural tariffs is bad for Europe's food industry.

ABF expands yeast extract capabilities

ABF Ingredients is expanding its yeast extracts and proteins manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America in order to tap growing demand.

Kellogg's sales boost offsets rising costs

The world's leading cereal producer Kellogg's has posted a three per cent rise in second quarter net earnings, as strong sales in the Americas help compensate for rising commodity costs.

UK kava kava ban upheld

The herb kava kava is to remain banned in both medicinal and food products in the UK, following a review of the latest scientific evidence weighing its reputed benefits for alleviating anxiety and inducing sleep against the risk of liver toxicity.

Steady results for Kraft

Global snack heavy weight Kraft Foods has reported steady results but figures show the impact of a year of change for the US based company.

CSM acquisition strengthens global bakery portfolio

CSM's $70 million acquisition of CGI Desserts, a supplier of thaw and serve bakery products, underlines again the firm's focus on the bakery market.

Low GI diet best for weight loss, suggests study

An Australian research team has reported that a low-GI carbohydrate-rich diet leads to weight loss of five per cent or more and reductions in 'bad' cholesterol levels.

Health trend will hit sales, says business forum

The UK-based International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) has warned snack food manufacturers that reluctance to address the growing obesity epidemic could hit them where it hurts - their sales figures.

CSM to focus on bakery

Dutch ingredients producer CSM is poised to sell its lucrative sugar business to Royal Cosun in an effort to streamline their bakery portfolio and strengthen growth in pivotal areas.

Unlucky Northern Foods issues profit warning

After six months of sliding sales, rising production costs and now a devastating factory fire, Northern Foods' chairman has warned the year's first-half profits will be dented.

Weekly comment

Vanity fayre: cosmetic foods are not nutraceuticals

Functional foods are generally defined as products imbued with additional nutrients with health-promoting properties. But the industry needs to be wary of foods that present no actual health benefit from piggy-backing on the popularity of the category and watering down its reputation.

European food giants to shun illegal Amazon soy

Europe's leading food manufacturers and retailers are expected to announce they plan to shun soy grown illegally in the Amazon that is resulting in depletion of the rainforest.

Macphie cut hydrogenated fats

Scottish food manufacturer, Macphie, has cut all hydrogenated fats from its range of ingredients supplied to the baking industry, in a move that will tap into a market concerned about health and dietary issues.

Real Good Food Company announces optimistic results

Despite warning of a possible drop in sales, UK bakery and ingredients manufacturer, the Real Good Food Company (RGFC), has said it is on track to meet targets when it announces interim results later in the year.

Which? report issues red alert for some breakfast cereals

A new Which? report on cereal nutrition, has found many popular breakfast cereals including those for the more health conscious palette to be high in salts, sugars, and fat.

Tate and Lyle set to double sucralose production

Global ingredients manufacturer, Tate and Lyle, has announced that expansion at its new artificial sweetener facilities is on target - heralding an imminent boost in supplies to manufacturers.

Nestlé to tap low-income consumers

Swiss manufacturer Nestlé is building new factories in Brazil and West Africa to manufacture products for low-income families, said chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.

Premier Foods makes shrewd UB offer

The UK's Premier Foods is believed to have offered United Biscuits an initial £1bn bid for its northern European snack food operations - even though City analysts claim the business is worth £2.3bn.

Folic acid debate rages in Ireland and Australia

Ireland's National Committee on Folic Acid Fortication today recommended that most white, brown and wholemeal breads sold in the country be fortificed with 120 micrograms of folic acid per 100g of bread in a bid to reduce incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs); however similar measures under debate in Australasia have met with a challenge.

Factory fire could burn hole in Northern Foods profits

Fire has devastated a UK bakery plant owned by struggling food processors, Northern Foods, in an incident likely to harm their already faltering profits.

Drought threatens on-target EU cereal production

This year's total EU cereal harvest remains in line with the last five years, though droughts continue to put pressure on prices.

Cargill launches low fat, high protein soy flour

Cargill Texturising Solutions has launched Prolia, a defatted soy flour designed to provide cost and functional advantages to manufacturers.

Weekly Comment

Sex, pills and bad information

The Internet is offering a wealth of information to more and more people, but also an avenue for irresponsible businesses to exploit consumer health concerns.

Healthy snacks grow at expense of less healthy options, report

The general trend towards healthier eating has resulted in American consumers turning away from carefree snacks, and opting instead for healthier products, according to Snack Food Trends in the US, a new report by Packaged Facts.

Cereal plantings on the up

The UK's Home Grown Cereals Association (HGCA) have announced that cereal plantings in Great Britain have grown, in a report that spells good news for UK bread wheat exporters.

Finsbury profits exceed expectations

UK cake and bread manufacturer, Finsbury Foods, has announced its yearly profits will be in excess of company predictions, cementing its position in the speciality bakery sector.

Inter Link Foods report record growth

The UK's second biggest cake maker Inter Link Foods has announced record profits for the eighth year running.

Cereal fibre and vegetable protein may cut hypertension

An increased intake of vegetable protein and cereal fibre could cut the risk of hypertension by up to 50 per cent, says a new study from Spain.

Kids' snacks try for healthier option

In the wake of UK government concerns over childhood obesity and pressure from health watchdogs, crisp manufacturers have been pursuing healthier alternatives to kid-friendly brands.

EU crackdown on pistachio exporters

An EU investigation of pistachio exporters in Iran has found the country's food safety procedures still fall short of international standards.

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.

Confirmed: Kraft buys Spanish UB unit

Leading food manufacturer Kraft has paid £575m (€829.6m) for United Biscuit's southern European snack business. The deal was signed off over the weekend, said British daily The Financial Times.

Room for growth in organic bakery

UK sales of organic food have risen by 30 per cent this year to almost £1.6bn (€2.3bn) according to a new report from the Soil Association - and bakery manufacturers are catching the trend.

Weekly comment

Organic food is selfish

The rise of organic food is a knee-jerk reaction to consumer health fears, and threatens to unhelpfully steer us away from improving the quality of food generally.

Hovis healthy range contribute to RHM profit

UK food manufacturer RHM remains undeterred by last year's slump in Mr Kipling cake sales - their financial second half results show business is improving with the aid of healthy Hovis products.

Med diet better than low-fat for heart health says "landmark" trial

Eating a Mediterranean diet with extra nuts or olive oil is significantly better for heart health than a low-fat diet, says a "landmark" clinical trial from Spain.

Largo buy iconic Tayto brand

In a move to safeguard their position in the Irish market, Largo Foods, the country's largest snack food manufacturer has added the iconic Tayto crisp brand to its portfolio for €62.3m.

ESA affirms commitment to healthy, nutritious snacks

Europe's savoury snacks industry last week pledged its commitment to nutrition and health and tackling obesity - but switching off advertising is not seen as an effective solution to driving change in the market.

Cereal polyphenols may boost immunity, slow aging

Polyphenols from cereals could restore the immune system function and could potentially extend lifespan, suggests an animal study from French and Spanish researchers.

Study supports vitamin D fortification of bread

Bakery manufacturers could soon find themselves obliged to fortify bread with vitamin D, following the results of a new study.

ASDA push for Fairtrade label for UK farmers

Supermarket giant ASDA are taking steps to make the Fairtrade kitemark available for use by UK farmers.

Snack research could cut salt and costs

Findings from a new study could mean that soon manufacturers will be able to cut salt without compromising flavour.

Mikro-Technik fibres enter N America with SunOpta

Germany's Mikro-Technik is set to expand distribution of its functional wheat and bamboo fibres and powdered cellulose products in the North American market, thanks to an exclusive agreement with SunOpta.

MGPI to start production of new fibre enhancer

MGP Ingredients is set to start full production of its fibre enhancement product FiberRite RW, which has so far been available in limited supply during a period of market testing, said the firm.