Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

New system sets standard for bread quality control

A new version of an image analysis system for baked products has been launched, designed to make quality control and ingredient testing an easier and faster process for the bakery industry.

Enzyme giant Novozymes reports solid growth

Continual productivity improvements are behind Novozymes' solid performance since it was floated on the stock market in 2000, according to CEO Steen Riisgaard.

New Cargill sweetener targets dairy desserts and baked goods

Ingredients giant Cargill has launched a new line of sweeteners designed to reduce the number of calories in frozen dairy desserts and sweetened bakery products such as cake, muffins and brownies, without altering the taste.

New soy protein line could benefit energy bar makers

Energy bar manufacturers could stand to benefit from a new line of soy proteins that are to be developed by Biotech giant Monsanto and soy ingredients supplier Solae, who claim their product will be better tasting and more soluble than any other on the market.

Duchy Originals to fill UK market gap for organic pastry

UK organic food company Duchy Originals is to enter the nation's niche organic pastry market, announcing this week that it is to open its first production facility to manufacture the product.

Sara Lee to sell coffee business, focus on food

US bakery and international consumer goods manufacturer Sara Lee has signed an agreement to sell its US retail coffee business as part of the company's bid to redefine its over-stretched product portfolio and turn around its financial fortunes.

Age and habit influence cereal choice, says study

Age and habit are key influencing factors when it comes to the type of cereal US consumers choose to buy, according to a recent study by Zogby International.

New fruit ingredient promises texture retention

A new fruit ingredient claimed to have all the attributes of fresh fruit - but with the added benefit of retaining its texture in both dried and frozen form - has been developed.

Natural enzyme found to improve bread quality and shelf life

Researchers in Ireland may have developed a naturally occurring enzyme preparation for baking, which increases loaf volume and crumb softness while also extending shelf life by three days.

IFST issues update on food allergies

With new European rules on food allergens enforced next month, the voice of UK food scientists issues an update of its statement on food allergies.

Weekly Comment

Putting a premium on substance over style

Food producers are flogging the term 'premium' for all it's worth, threatening to flood a market that relies on exclusivity for its success with well-packaged tat.

Flowers bakery expands to cope with higher demand

US bakery Flowers Foods last week announced that it is expanding its production facilities in order to cope with growing demand for its products.

Panera holds up against higher costs

Leading player in the US bakery sector Panera Bread looks to be holding its own in an industry squeezed by high raw material costs and a powerful retail sector reluctant to pass on price increases.

Chinese market sees biscuit boom

Biscuit consumption in China has soared in recent years, on the back of changing consumer lifestyles and a general growth in disposable incomes, according to a report published by Leatherhead Food International (LFI).

IBC closes seventh bakery in one year

Bankrupt US bakery group Interstate Bakeries Corporation (IBC) yesterday announced that it is to close another bakery as it continues its restructuring efforts in an attempt to get back on track.

Nestlé targets brands at hard discounters

Nestlé says it will embrace moves by hard discounters to sell more branded products as part of its plan to recover from difficult times on Europe's food and drink market.

Frutarom targets frozen bakery with first move into meat and fish systems

Cashing in on the soaring mega-trend for convenience food, extracts and flavours, Frutarom moves into meat and fish preparations for the first time.

Food industry commits to salt reduction by 2010 in Ireland

The market for salt-reduced food formulations set to rise in Ireland as government and scientists launch campaign to slice the salt from consumer diets.

UK bagel market boosted by health appeal

With the UK bagel market witnessing rapid growth in recent years, BakeryAndSnacks spoke to two of the nation's bagel manufacturers at the Anuga food show in Cologne last week to find out what most appeals to consumers.

Shopfitting maximizes bakery appeal in supermarket outlet

European bakery shopfitter Berner Ladenbau was at the Anuga food fair in Cologne last week, where it exhibited a new line of equipment it is to fit in the bakery-cafe of leading German supermarket chain Edeka.

Walkers whisky mince pies target UK Xmas market

Leading Scottish shortbread manufacturer Walkers Shortbread last week introduced its new whisky mince pies at the Anuga trade show in Cologne. The company plans to launch the product in the UK for the Christmas season.

New vegetable snacks target kids' nutrition

In response to growing concerns about children's nutrition, a Spanish candy firm is to launch a range of healthy vegetable snacks that it hopes will appeal to children who are already familiar with the brand name.

Barley beta-glucans for low-GI foods

Barley beta-glucans entering the health ingredients market will target growing demand for low-glycaemic index products, challenging oats and other fibres with unique properties.

Spiralling costs hit lactic acid prices at Purac

For the second time in six months, Purac raises prices for its range of lactic acids as raw material and energy costs continue to bite.

Danisco targets bread makers with two new enzyme launches

Five years in development, Danisco looks for strong gains from two new enzymes, a lipase to enhance flour performance and an amylase to extend the shelf-life of bread, targeted at bread makers.

Fortified bread targets children in US

A fortified bread product targeted at children is to be introduced this month in the US by George Weston Bakeries. The move comes as bakers are increasingly churning out kid-friendly products in an attempt to cash in on parents' growing concerns about their children's nutrition.

Gluten-free the key to boost craft bakery sales?

The production of gluten-free products could be the way for craft bakeries to increase sales, which are suffering in the face of lower priced mass-produced goods from industrial bakeries, according to German company Hanneforth Food For You.

Bakeries receive German quality mark at Anuga

European bakeries that have achieved consistent product quality for up to fifteen years were this week awarded by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) at the Anuga trade fair, held in Cologne.

Australian scientists design next Atkin's diet

Another day another diet. But while the latest weight-loss bible to be published in the UK has, unusually, been created by a well-respected research institute, it is already attracting controversy.

Weekly Comment

A hungry world needs a fit FAO

The crusade to end world hunger has been a bitter failure. But with the world set to sweep away a crooked food trading system, there is a chance to get it right - if only we could revive the FAO from dormancy.

IFF settles claims with lung-damaged popcorn workers

A flavoring company has settled claims with 19 popcorn factory workers who claim that a butter flavoring led them to develop lung disease.

Trend bakery products to feature at Anuga

The bakery sector is to be strongly represented at Anuga, one of the premier events for the food and drink industries, which is to kick off tomorrow in Cologne, Germany.

Danisco seeks clearance for bakery enzyme in Australia

Changes to Australia's food code continue, with the nation's food agency calling on companies and organisations to comment on a host of new proposals, including applications from DSM Nutritional and Danisco Australia.

Aarhus & Karlshamns become major force in fats

Two leading European manufacturers of oils and fats for the food industry last week joined forces in a move the companies hope will allow them to significantly expand their businesses in the US and Northern Europe.

Sara Lee to sell European apparel business, focus on food

Leading US bakery and international consumer goods manufacturer Sara Lee has announced that it has entered negotiations regarding the sale of its European branded apparel business. The move forms part of the company's bid to redefine its over-stretched product portfolio and turn around its financial fortunes.

Low-carb bar company buys Altu brand

UK functional food developer Provexis has sold its healthy bars line to a new company catering to consumers trying to cut down on carbs.

Walkers to open new snack factory in UK

Crisp and snack company Walkers is to open a new UK plant in Skelmersdale. The plant will produce Walkers snack products and will take over some of the production from the soon to close Swansea factory, the company has said.

Fiber products must emphasize benefits, says report

Fiber sells if intake is linked to benefits such as energy management, weight management and digestive health in popular foods such as bread, cereal and pasta, claims a new report.

Nestlé scientists apply modern physics to new food designs

Knowledge gained from modern physics will help food scientists construct the rational design of complex food materials for new food products, say Nestle scientists.

EU attacked for raising sugar exports

Sugar reform may yet hijack December's WTO talks as Australia, Brazil and Thailand again accuse the EU of shirking its obligations by planning to increase sugar exports by two million tonnes.

Kraft launches healthy Nabisco snack line

Leading US food manufacturer Kraft Foods has taken another step in the direction of health and wellness, launching a new line of wholegrain snack products under its Nabisco brand.

Weekly Comment

Junk Food Babes

If education is meant to deliver knowledge and wise choices, why are we doing so little to educate our children about food?

PepsiCo snacks fare well, but far behind diet drinks

PepsiCo continues to benefit from its healthy snacks ranges, though a modest sales increase in snack products in the past three months was overshadowed by a strong performance from the company's energy and diet drinks.

New Poland will still fight EU sugar reform

A new centre-right government in Poland is unlikely to curb the country's strong opposition to EU sugar reforms as Commission representatives look for common ground to break the 'no' camp.