The European Responsible Nutrition Alliance (ERNA) has updated its selection of scientific fact sheets on vitamins, minerals and other substances to include four key bioactives on the European market. Fact sheets on L-carnitine, Conjugated linoleic acid, Coenzyme Q10, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) were released earlier in May. Details provided include their dietary sources, contribution to health, absorption and metabolism, and intake and safety.
FIJI SUGAR CORP TO SUPPLY TATE & LYLE
Tate & Lyle has entered into a long-term agreement with Fiji Sugar Corp on the supply of raw sugar for preferential import into the European Union market. The contract for the supply of up to 300,000 tonnes of sugar per year will run until 30 September 2015.
FMC BIOPOLYMER TO INCREASE PRICE
FMC BioPolymer announced a 7 percent price increase on its carrageenan and food/specialty grade microcrystalline cellulose products. The increase, which took effect on 1 June, applies to pricing worldwide or as contracts allow. The company cited rising energy, freight and raw material costs as key factors contributing to the price increases, although pointing out that improved production efficiencies and sourcing methods have helped offset part of the cost increase.
KHS ASEPTIC FILLER UNVEILED AT GEHL FOODS
A high-speed bottle filler by KHS, with the capacity to fi ll 600 bottles a minute, is now a proud feature of Gehl Foods packaging line. The US-based dairy aseptic facility is using the Innofi ll ACF System from KHS which is based on a hydrogen peroxide dry sterilization process. The machine has been approved by the FDA.
BARRY CALLEBAUT UPS PRODUCTION IN CHINA
Chocolate group Barry Callebaut is increasing its production capacity in China in response to rising demand. Sales increases in China are seen as a driver of the company’s growth. Although per capita consumption of chocolate in China will never match those of the Swiss at 10 kg, achieving a 2 kg per head quantity like the Japanese and Koreans would amount to a lucrative market, the company said.
CP KELCO CLOSES XANTHAN GUM FACILITY
CP Kelco announced that it completed the first phase of the previously announced closure of its Knowsley, UK xanthan gum production facility which has been a key supplier to the European and Japanese markets. The company said it is currently exploring a range of options for the Knowsley plant, including a sale of the facility and alternative uses. Located outside of Liverpool, the Knowsley facility was developed in 1978 by Tate & Lyle. Kelco International acquired the plant in 1981 and upgraded the process to its proprietary batch fermentation and recovery technology.
US-MALAYSIA COOPERATE ON JATROPHA GENOME
Malaysia's Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology Sdn Bhd (ACGT) and US-based Synthetic Genomics Inc announced the completion of a first draft assembly and annotation of the jatropha oil palm genome. This represents the first stages of research aimed at developing more high-yielding and disease-resistant plant feedstocks. Jatropha is known to grow readily on marginal lands not used for food production.
Unilever has announced it intends to appoint Paul Polman, 52, as group chief executive. He will succeed Patrick Cescau, who retires at the end of the year.
Germany's METRO Group is making plans to open its first Metro Cash & Carry wholesale store in Kazakhstan in the summer of 2009. The Group officially agreed to the investment with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Wednesday, a move which will extend METRO's activities to 33 countries.
Trent Ltd, the retail arm of the Tata group in India, is likely to invest around Rs 20billion ( €0.3 billion ) over the next five years in the roll out of 50 Star Bazaar hypermarket stores, according to Indian press reports.
The recent credit crunch has led all the major supermarket chains in the UK to increase promotions of cheap, unhealthy food, according to the country's National Consuner Council (NCC).
Auchan has published half year results for the first time as a result of new European regulations governing transparency. Although there has been a slow-down in mature markets, emerging markets remained buoyant for the French company and as a result sales for the first six months of 2008 were 9.4% higher than in 2007 reaching EUR18.7 billion.
Price promotions and the decision to only partially pass on food price inflation to customers have led to a downturn in second quarter margins for Ahold. Net sales for second quarter 2008 were EUR 5.8 billion, down 0.8% from the same period last year. At constant exchange rates, net sales increased by 7.3%.
