The International Dairy Federation (IDF) will celebrate achievements in marketing with the 2008 IDF Marketing Awards. This year, a new category will cover environment to demonstrate the industry’s responsible approach towards environmental issues. The Awards will cover four categories: Innovation; Nutri-marketing; Marketing Communications; Environment. Dairy companies from all IDF member countries are offered the opportunity to benchmark their branded marketing activities against those of dairy companies from other countries. “These marketing awards provide an opportunity to exchange best practice information about business development and revenue generation. “Competitiveness, the generation of revenues, and a positive consumer message are the objectives of every dairy company and I believe the IDF can make an important contribution in these areas through these awards,” said IDF President Jim Begg. “These Marketing Awards are an important part of our IDF World Dairy Summit each year. I encourage dairy processors to celebrate successful marketing activities by submitting entries.” A panel of independent judges will judge the entries, short list three campaigns in each category and choose one as the winner. The winner of each category will be announced at the IDF World Dairy Summit in Mexico City, Mexico on 11-14 November. Information about the World Dairy Summit and the Marketing Awards are available from the IDF website.

For the past 75 years, V8 has been making healthy vegetable juices. Now Campbell's has created Campbell’s V8 soups to be sold nationwide in the US. Made of high quality pureed vegetables, the soups provide a full serving of vegetables in every bowl and are available in 18.3oz containers in five flavours: Golden Butternut Squash, Garden Broccoli, Tomato Herb, Southwestern Corn and Sweet Red Pepper. According to V8 seven out of ten adults in the US do not meet the daily recommended intake for vegetables. Furthermore, experts agree increased vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet is a key component in helping to reduce risk for chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. “Most people do want to get more vegetables in their diet, but say it can be a challenge because there aren’t a lot of choices that deliver on both convenience and taste,” said Kelly Berrie, Business Director, Wellness Innovation, Campbell Soup Company. “With this in mind, we’ve combined our V8 vegetable expertise with Campbell’s soup taste credentials to create another flavourful, easy way for people to increase their daily vegetable intake and help bridge the vegetable consumption gap.”

*CSA International, a leading certification and testing organisation, has launched a programme to test and certify products to the requirements of the new CAN/CSA B483 Drinking Water Treatment Systems standard. * This certification program will be available to assist manufacturers in demonstrating compliance to the new 2009 Canadian Building Code and the new Quebec Plumbing Code which reference the CSA B483 standard. "CSA International holds the number one market share in plumbing certification in the US and Canada and we have more than 30 years of expertise in this product area," said President Randall Luecke. Examples of new product certification offerings include water softener units, drinking fountains, under counter drinking water dispensing systems, plumbing fittings with integral water filtration systems, point of entry systems, household refrigerators with water filtration dispensers and other similar devices. To minimise redundant testing, CSA International will also recognise testing data for components independently certified by an accredited certification organisation to the NSF/ANSI Drinking Water Treatment Units Standards as appropriate. CSA International is a provider of product testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products. Recognised in the US, Canada and around the world, CSA International certification marks appear on billions of products worldwide.

In a bid to appeal to more customers Starbucks is changing its menu to include five new healthy breakfast options as well as speciality coffee, including a blend created specifically for its Middle East customers during the month of Ramadan. Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal, Chewy Fruit & Nut Bar, Apple Bran Muffin, Berry Stella and Power Protein Plate are now available in participating stores across the US and Canada. “Many Americans are too busy to make a healthy breakfast at home, but it’s the most important meal of the day,” said Katie Thomson, registered Dietician and Senior Nutritionist, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Our customers have told us they want delicious choices that offer real nutrition including whole grains, fruit, and lean protein to help fill them up and give them energy to make it to lunch.” The new breakfast assortment is claimed to be the next step in the company’s commitment to providing food and beverage selections that support a healthy lifestyle. Starbucks has also launched a new coffee collection based on its Clover brewing system. The brewing method will be used for small batches of speciality coffee that has been sourced from all around the world. Freshly ground and mixed the system will provide customers with a novel taste experience that will hopefully make them come back for more. In the Middle East and Egypt customers will also be able to enjoy especially bold tasting Ramadan coffee blends: Anniversary Blend and Arabian Mocha Timor. In addition, Starbucks will also be offering traditional Ramadan pastries such as: Fig and Coconut Bar, Pistachio Delight as well as the Date and Apricot loaf.

It seems that James Bond may be switching from his favourite vodka martini (shaken, not stirred) to a new non-alcoholic beverage: Coca-Cola Zero. Coca-Cola Great Britain has clinched a marketing deal with Sony Entertainment to link Coca-Cola Zero with the suave superspy’s latest cinematic adventure, 'Quantum of Solace', due to be released in the UK on 31 October. The company is producing a special limited edition package of the drink, rechristened 'Coca-Cola Zero Zero 7' in reference to Bond’s famous 007 codename. The British deal is part of a broader global partnership with Sony, and is Coca-Cola Zero’s first major international marketing collaboration since the brand was launched in 2006. 'Quantum of Solace', the 22nd Bond film, stars Daniel Craig in his second outing as 007. The film has been produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, and directed by Marc Forster. Edgier persona Bobby Brittain, Brand Director of Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this exciting project. “The new, edgier Bond persona is the ultimate embodiment of the Coke Zero brand personality, and is expected to deepen the brand's engagement with its core target audience of 20-something men." The launch of Coca-Cola Zero – unofficially dubbed 'Bloke Coke' – was the company's biggest brand launch since the arrival of Diet Coke almost 25 years ago. Coca-Cola Zero will be supporting the release of 'Quantum of Solace' with a through-the-line advertising campaign alongside promotional and on-pack marketing initiatives across a number of global markets.

As you know, the winners of the 2008 water innovation awards will be announced in Wiesbaden at the http://www.zenithinternational.com/events/event_detail.asp?id=52" target="_blank">5th Global Bottled Water Congresson 23 September 2008 as part of the Global Bottled Water Congress. A shortlist of finalists (winners and highly commended entries) has now been announced and they are listed below, in no particular order: Best bottle in PET Upland Natural Waters Sourcy (Vrumona BV) Chic (Sociedade da Agua de Monchique) Panama Blue (Panama Springs) Best bottle in glass Mist (Lucid Enterprises) Evian - Christian Lacroix design (Danone) Solé Arte (Solé Water) lverde (SPUMADOR Spa) Best label - sponsored by StoraEnso Walnut Grove (Vitro Packaging) Jupik Aqua (Hoop Polska Sp. Z o.o.) ganicwater (Ganic Consumer Products) Acqua Filette (Fonte Italia) Chic (Sociedade da Agua de Monchique) Beauty (Works with Water) Iskilde Best enhanced water concept Avra Herbal (Coca-Cola Hellenic Greece) Vitalis Smart (Unicer Águas SA) Nestlé Fitness (Nestlé Waters) used owater (owater) Best flavoured water concept ganicwater (Ganic Consumer Products) Formas Luso (Sociedade Central De Cervejas e Bebidas) Ritmo Luso (Sociedade Central De Cervejas e Bebidas) Best children's concept bot (bot beverages) Y Water (Y Water Inc) Iceni Water (Iceni Waters) Jupik Aqua (Hoop Polska Sp. Z o.o.) Best packaging innovation FLEX closure (SmartSeal) NitroPouch concept (Krones AG) Clean Valve for pouches (IPN Holdings BV) Best new brand or business - sponsored by IPN Isklar Y Water Iceni Waters Balance Water Company Best ethical or humanitarian initiative - sponsored by SGS Thirst Aid (Calypso) Pre-school water drinking programme (Eden Springs Israel) Tumai Water (Spero Group) PhilanthroH20 Give (PurBlue Beverages) Best marketing campaign Coca-Cola Beverages Austria Gerolsteiner Brunnen Highland Spring Coca-Cola Germany PepsiCo North America Eden Springs Israel * * Best environmental or sustainability initiative Isklar Carbon Action Plan pilot project (Highland Spring) Clean Valve for Pouches and pouch technology (IPN)

Britain's dairy industry has recently been on the receiving end of criticism over its impact on the environment. The dairy cow is widely blamed for contributing to the rise in greenhouse gases as she contentedly emits gas from both ends after chewing the cud. Yesterday the industry fought back on these and other issues affecting the public view of milk production. Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK, launched a drive to raise awareness of the sector's environmental progress. Speaking at Sorbie Farm, near Ardrossan, Ayrshire, he stated that there had already been massive improvements. "We are aware that we have to be in line with what our customers want and we do not want the government to impose regulations on us," he claimed. He instanced research work being carried out that would, in the medium term, see a 20% cut in emissions of methane gas by the ruminating cow. This, he said, could be achieved through improved knowledge of the animal's diet. The event's host, Alan Hogarth, who keeps 250 dairy cows at Sorbie Farm, is pioneering the use of an anaerobic digester to produce energy from the slurry they create. The gas produced on his farm amounts to 85,000 cubic metres a year and this is the equivalent of 170,000 kilowatt-hours. The gas is burned to produce electricity and heating for his farm, his home and a new milk processing and bottling operation. Slurry remaining after the gas extraction does not smell and cows can graze less than two weeks after it has been applied. But perhaps the best bonus for Hogarth is that, despite the cost of fertiliser rocketing in the past year, his own expenditure on bought-in fertiliser has fallen by 15% in the period. So far, the green energy produced on the farm is used entirely on site but Hogarth believes the government is falling behind practice in Europe, where energy produced from renewable projects yields higher payments than conventionally produced energy. His own plant was funded by the former Scottish Executive as part of a plan to reduce pollution on the beaches in nearby Ardrossan. These beaches have now been awarded blue flag status and Hogarth will shortly take over ownership of the digester. Plans at his farm are to further improve his green policies with the expansion of a milk round that he started in May. Running counter to national trends, where a larger and larger percentage of milk is traded by the major supermarkets, Hogarth, believes there is a real niche for milk delivered on the doorstep. Response has been good from the 400 households already supplied and he said customers were really keen on locally sourced milk, delivered in the traditional glass bottle and coming to the door via a small electric float. "We have a niche market and people who are getting my milk are now buying more per head than they used to. We wondered about using plastic bottles and we do use some for the retail market but the householder wants the recyclable glass bottle," he states. Collecting cash on the round is not the burden it once was. A quarter of customers pay through internet banking, taking away a great deal of the hassle from the job. Hogarth's ambition is to push his direct sales up to delivering to more than 1,000 houses by the end of the year. **

In a fast-paced world where consumers are becoming increasingly demanding and health-focused and environmental issues are a priority, SIAL 2008 offers a platform to help companies understand and break into tomorrow’s markets. The Paris-based expo covers a wide selection of industries and themes over five days. At least 5,500 exhibitors will attend from over 100 countries to present some of the 145,000 visitors with a multitude of innovations and up-coming trends. The event, which runs from 19-23 October at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in France, will be predicting important new food industry trends through the focus of five key themes: Innovation, trends, design and lifestyle at the Trends & Innovations Observatory, Retail World, SIAL d’Or and Food Design spaces. Natural, healthy and nutritious products can be discovered at the Nutrition Village, food & Beauty, health foods and dietary supplements areas. Sustainable development and Fairtrade are no longer just trendy buzz words, but economic imperatives. Companies around the world are implementing energy saving measures such as setting up eco-friendly factories and at SIAL 2008 80,000 recycled bags made from apple by-products will be handed out to visitors. SIAL also donates 50 tonnes of food products to charity. Global wine consumption is continuing its rapid rise, not only in established markets such as the US and the UK, but in the emerging markets of Russia, China, and South-East Asia. SIAL 2008 presents Best Buy, Wine Innovation Forum and the Wine Women Awards. > Finally, CIES and Buyers’ lounges, gala evenings and numerous awards ceremonies provide ideal environments where business meets pleasure.

The Coca-Cola Company is testing a fountain technology that can dispense more than 100 branded sparkling and still beverages from a single free-standing unit. The dispenser has been designed to pour a wide variety of brands in about the same space as today’s eight valve dispenser. The unit can be used for high-concentrate ingredients and micro dispensing, and introducing a new brand on this dispenser is about as easy as changing a print cartridge, the company claims. Coca-Cola North America FoodService and On-Premise President Chris Lowe, said: “We wanted a dispenser that offers consumers greater beverage variety while helping our customers increase beverage profitability. We started by ignoring preconceived notions of fountain beverages and explored how a fountain dispenser could look and work in the future.” Consumer tests run earlier this summer revealed that the satisfaction with the overall beverage experience increased 72% vs the current fountain experience. The dispenser also got high marks for ease of use, variety/choice, taste, value and fun experience. Second generation dispensers will begin testing in the first half of 2009, with a focus on performance, quality and reliability. A decision on commercialisation will follow completion of second generation tests. The dispenser also offers environmental and logistic benefits as the very high concentrate ingredients will reduce packaging waste and energy use, as well as significantly reducing the storage space required to support fountain dispensers.

Thomas Amstutz replaces Tim Seager who will leave The Carlsberg Group after almost one year as CEO of the French brewery. Thomas Amstutz’ successor as CEO of Feldschlösschen will be Thomas Metzger, currently CFO of the Swiss activities. Thomas Amstutz will take up the position as chairman of Feldschlösschen. The decision to change the management at Brasseries Kronenbourg has been taken to further strengthen the revitalisation plan of the French business and to ensure the right set of competencies. Thomas Amstutz has headed a very successful development of Feldschlösschen since he became CEO in 2005. Now his job is to lead the French organisation and business to future success by exploiting the big potential of Brasseries Kronenbourg in both the French market and abroad, based on a strong brand portfolio and the brewery’s historical ties to customers and consumers. “Optimization of our management teams is an ongoing process in The Carlsberg Group. Given his track record from Feldschlösschen and his general experience and leadership skills, we see Thomas Amstutz as the right man to take the brewery activities in France to the next level” said president & CEO of The Carlsberg Group, Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, who also welcomes Thomas Metzger as new CEO of Feldschlösschen. "We would like to thank Tim Seager for his many contributions to the management of Brasseries Kronenbourg and the Scottish & Newcastle-organisation," he added. The change of management will take place as of 8 September 2008.

International fruit juice ingredients supplier Cobell has just announced the launch of two new products – Juice Box and Smoothie Box The containers are similar in design to a wine box with self-sealing tap on the side of the box which means it doesn’t even have to be moved from the fridge. Customers can choose from either a standard range of NFC (Not From Concentrate) juices or smoothies or they can create their own bespoke recipes at Cobell’s own UK based juice-blending and aseptic packaging facility. The standard Juice Box juice range is currently available in: pineapple, cloudy apple, apple pear, forest fruits, summer fruits, apple, damson rhubarb, natural lemonade, grapefruit and orange. The standard Smoothie Box range is available in: mango passion fruit, cranberry raspberry and strawberry. Clients can experiment with their own juice or smoothie combinations at Cobell’s research and development facility and they can choose whether to have their own branding on the packaging or whether to use the vibrant and stylish designs of the Juice Box and Smoothie Box brands. Cobell sources its NFC juices from around the world and the range includes organic, non-gm, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance approved juices. Juice and Smoothie boxes are available in 3, 5 or 10 litre boxes and come with an easy self-sealing tap dispenser which allows for a clean and easy pouring of the juice or smoothie straight from the fridge. The aseptic packaging gives the product a six month ambient shelf life and once opened, the juice or smoothie has a 14 day open and chilled shelf life. Simon Pearson, Cobell Business Development Manager who heads the Juice Box and Smoothie Box sales team, said: “It is very exciting to be launching such a high quality and innovative product. We have already had a lot of interest from the catering sector who can see the huge benefits of being able to dispense chilled juices or smoothies directly from a tap on the end of the box. “As well as being convenient and the right size to be neatly stored in the fridge, the way that our juices are gently pasteurised in Cobell’s aseptic plant means that the shelf life is longer and the high quality of the product isn’t compromised. “We are already working with key regional distributors in Devon and Sussex to supply the speciality foodservice sector and we are in discussion with a number of direct-to-customer channels to launch both branded and jointly branded Juice and Smoothie boxes." Cobell’s aseptic and packaging facility is based near the company’s South West headquarters in Exeter, UK. As part of the aseptic packaging system, bags are opened, filled and sealed in one continuous process which utilises steam sterilising. This results in the bags remaining totally sterile on the inside, resulting in the increased shelf-life of the product.

Robinsons Fruit Shoot has broken through the £100m sales barrier, consolidating its lead as the largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) kids’ brand and kids’ favourite soft drink. As of June 2008, the Fruit Shoot brand (including pure juice Fruit Shoot 100% and flavoured water Fruit Shoot H20) was valued at £101.4m. The brand has achieved significant growth as it was valued at £73m in 2006. The Britvic-owned brand has grown consistently year on year, achieving 11.2% growth in the last 12 months. Fruit Shoot’s Senior Brand Manager, Noel Clarke said: “This puts Fruit Shoot, the kids’ favourite drinks brand in the elite club of £100m+ brands. Fruit Shoot has grown through a focus on innovation with the launch of Fruit Shoot H20 in 2006 and Fruit Shoot 100% pure juice in 2007. These new variants have added significantly to the brand’s value while the core Fruit Shoot range has grown organically, through increasing popularity with mums and kids. “Britvic will be putting further marketing investment behind the brand in the next 18 months to accelerate growth and are currently looking at further innovation to secure the brand’s place in the premier league of FMCG brands. ” * Fruit Shoot is a juice drink designed especially for kids, packaged in a brightly coloured sports bottle. The Fruit Shoot range is available in a variety of regular and no added sugar flavours and comes in two pack sizes – 200ml and 300ml. * Fruit Shoot 100% is a pure juice for kids, with each bottle counting as one of the five recommended daily portions of fruit and vegetables. It is available in orange, apple and apple blackcurrant and contains no ‘bits’. * Fruit Shoot H2O is a sugar-free flavoured water designed specifically for children’s palates. Packaged in 300ml clear bottles, the range is available in blackcurrant, orange and apple flavours.