News
General Mills to acquire Brazilian food maker Yoki
General Mills has said that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Yoki Alimentos, a privately-held food company headquartered in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.
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Confectionery & Snacks
The latest articles in the confectionery and snacks industry.
News
Pepperidge Farm recognised for innovation and sustainability
Pepperidge Farm was honoured this month with two packaging awards: the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation and an Ameristar award from the Institute of Packaging Professionals.
Report
Supermarket special offers not so ‘special’, says Which?
A Which? investigation into more than 700,000 supermarket prices has uncovered dodgy pricing tactics that could lead shoppers to believe they’re getting a better deal than they are.
Report
Consumers plan to spend less on dining out, says study
Consumers across Europe are waiting for signs that economic conditions are stabilising before returning to spending freely — they plan to spend less per meal in the coming year.
News
Diamond Foods secures $225m investment
Diamond Foods and Oaktree Capital Management have entered into definitive agreements to recapitalize Diamond’s balance sheet with an investment by Oaktree of $225m in Diamond.
Opinion
Private label world view
Out of 42 countries surveyed by Nielsen, the Swiss led the world of private label with a 45% retail share in 2011, as reported in France’s LSA magazine on 10 May.
News
Nespresso makes investment in Colombian coffee growers
Nespresso has committed to five more years of investment in its sustainability programme in Colombia.
News
Kraft shareholders give ‘Mondelez’ approval
The shareholders of Kraft Foods have voted to change the name of the company to Mondelez International.
News
Finding innovation at Vitafoods Europe 2012
In this FoodBev.com podcast, Shaun Weston hosts a roundtable discussion with Claire Phoenix, Geoff Platt and Claire Rowan from Vitafoods Europe 2012 in Geneva.
News
Ralcorp acquires Petri Baking Products
Ralcorp Holdings has completed the acquisition of Petri Baking Products, a producer of private-brand wire-cut cookies.
Opinion
Boutique café culture thriving in the UK
It was a treat for the taste buds to visit this year’s Caffè Culture show at London’s Olympia.
Report
Own-label overtook branded for the first time in 2011
With the economic climate remaining fraught and an ever expanding range of high quality own label ranges offered at food retailers, the influence of private label products has never been stronger.
Opinion
Tempting consumers with functional foods
Claire Phoenix reports on her findings from day one of Vitafoods Europe 2012.
News
GMB union urges Nestlé to diversify to avoid job cuts
GMB is calling for Nestlé which is the biggest food company in the world to diversify its product base and its markets in its last remaining Scottish plant.
News
General Mills to cut 850 jobs in restructuring move
General Mills has confirmed a productivity and cost savings plan designed to improve organisational effectiveness and focus on key growth strategies.
News
ConAgra Foods acquires pita chip business
ConAgra Foods has acquired Kangaroo Brands’ pita chip business.
News
Vitafoods Europe 2012, in pictures
Various images from Vitafoods Europe 2012, which took place at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. Photos by Shaun Weston.
Opinion
Improving digestive health with chocolate milkshake
Claire Rowan on digestive health products at Vitafoods Europe 2012.
News
Report from Vitafoods Europe 2012, day one
Claire Rowan and Shaun Weston report from the first day of Vitafoods Europe 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Report
First human study shows cranberry polyphenols in urine
A new study reveals for the first time that a unique class of cranberry polyphenols, Type-A proanthocyanidins (PACs), are found in human urine after consumption of a cranberry beverage.
News
Sainsbury’s to create 6,000 new jobs
Justin King has told the Sunemployment Roadshow that Sainsbury’s is committed to supporting the economy’s growth and boosting skills by employing more people than ever before.
Innovations
The Grown Up Chocolate Company
UK based The Grown Up Chocolate Company has taken four childhood classics and brought them into the present with a grown up twist by using the finest, fresh, quality ingredients.
News
Lifeway Foods expands retail presence
Lifeway Foods, a supplier of kefir cultured dairy products, has entered an agreement nearly tripling distribution of its kefir line in Target stores.
Report
Study shows that healthy food can be affordable
Agriculture deputy secretary Kathleen Merrigan is promoting healthy food access and is highlighting a new report that underscores that fruits and vegetables are an affordable part of a balanced diet.
News
Photos from Caffè Culture 2012
Caffè Culture 2012 was attended by our very own Hannah Oakman, who took a great selection of pictures. The event showcases the best the café and hospitality sector has to offer.
News
Greggs named Sandwich Chain Of The Year
Greggs has been named ‘Specialist Sandwich Chain of the Year’, at last night’s British Sandwich Industry Awards, beating Pret A Manger, Subway and O’Briens to the title.
News
Kraft grocery spin-off to be tax free
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided a favourable private letter ruling confirming the tax-free status of the planned spin-off of the company’s North American grocery business.
News
FAO plans to halve food waste in 10 years
FAO’s 31st Regional Conference for the Near East has called for a 50% reduction of food losses and food waste in the region in order to improve regional food security.
News
Frito-Lay to validate and label products as gluten free
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division has conformed a multi-year initiative to validate many of their products as gluten free, with package labelling to follow.
Innovations
Kraft confectionery for Father’s Day 2012
Kraft Foods is launching limited edition packs of Toblerone and Terry’s Chocolate Orange for Father’s Day (17 June). The new Toblerone pack features a ‘Dad of the Year’ plaque on 400g packs.
News
Glanbia agrees sale of Yoplait franchise back to brand owner
Following a strategic review of its consumer products business, Glanbia has agreed new terms to its long standing relationship with Yoplait, the owner of the global Yoplait yogurt business.
Report
Weight in pregnancy best controlled by diet, study shows
Pregnant women, including those who are obese or overweight, should be encouraged to minimise weight gain through diet, according to major new research from Queen Mary, University of London.
News
Financial digest, 18 May 2012: Milk Link, Yum!, Prestige
The latest financial news for 18 May 2012 includes Brazil Fast Food, Yum! Brands, Prestige Brands and Milk Link.
News
Fall in Euro improves European frozen imports
Recent market data shows surging year-on-year growth for the frozen food retail market, which is up by 5.2% in value.
News
Esio Beverage enters agreement with Kraft
Esio Beverage Company has entered into a strategic agreement with select Kraft Foods refreshment beverage brands for use in its Esio Beverage System.
Report
Which? report highlights the need for clearer labelling
A Which? investigation, published during National Sandwich Week, has highlighted the need for clearer front of pack nutrition labelling, including traffic lights.
News
Sainsbury’s launches mobile groceries shopping website
Sainsbury’s has launched a mobile version of its online groceries shopping website, meaning shoppers now have full access to all Sainsbury’s products from their phones and handheld devices.
News
Australian dairy secures major Coles contract
A major new private label yoghurt contract will see Coles sourcing over four million litres of milk each year from the Tasmanian dairy industry.
News
Experts call for sugary drinks tax in the UK
Experts at Oxford University are calling for the introduction of taxes on sugary drinks as one measure that would encourage healthier diets and help tackle the obesity crisis in the UK.
News
Parliamentarians discuss UK food and drink exports
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Food and Drink Manufacturing met to discuss how food and drink exports can be a significant driver for economic growth.
News
Corn Products International becomes Ingredion
Corn Products International shareholders have voted to change the company’s name to Ingredion to better showcase its role as a global ingredients solutions company.
Report
US is too slow to address obesity epidemic, says report
America’s progress in arresting its obesity epidemic has been too slow, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Report
Lactose-free dairy market is booming, says new report
The market for lactose-free dairy products has doubled in the past five years – and is set for similarly impressive growth over the next five, says a new report.
News
Consumer group complains about NuVal nutrition rating
The National Consumers League (NCL) has filed a formal complaint with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a nutritional scoring system.
Report
Indulgence and health polarise the biscuits market
Two opposing forces within the sweet biscuits market are at work globally, according to Innova Market Insights.
News
Starbucks opens first store at Helsinki Airport
Starbucks Coffee Company and SSP, a provider of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, has opened the first Starbucks store in Finland at Helsinki Airport, located in Terminal 2.
News
ConAgra closes acquisition of Odom’s Tennessee Pride
ConAgra Foods has closed its acquisition of Odom’s Tennessee Pride, a producer of frozen and refrigerated breakfast sandwiches and sausage.
News
Food Standards Agency launches labelling consultation
Keeping track of what we eat and choosing healthier foods could be made easier thanks to a consultation launched on front-of-pack (FoP) nutrition labelling by the FSA.
Report
57% of women say food costs keeps them from eating healthy
Women find many excuses not to eat healthy and many feel bad about it, but according to a new national poll, the cost of healthful foods is the top deterrent that keeps 57% of women from doing so.
Innovations
Britannia Tiger Krunch Fruit & Nut Cookies
In India, Group Danone has launched Britannia Tiger Krunch Fruit & Nut Cookies. Formulated with iron, they’re available in a 55g pack priced at the equivalent of $0.1/€0.07.