Through the joint venture, Ilko Coffee International, consumers in 10 European countries will be able to purchase three premium ready to drink coffee products. The products are: Caffè: bold, full-bodied character, real Italian ‘chilled caffe.’ The first ready to drink coffee to offer black (no milk) espresso based coffee. Cappuccino: intense uplifting aromas of illy espresso, blended with milk and dark cacao. Latte Macchiato: smooth, fresh illy espresso experience, swirled with milk. The products will be available in premium cans (15cl for Caffè and 20cl for the milk variants). All three offerings will be available in 10 European Coca-Cola Hellenic markets including Austria, Croatia, Greece and the Ukraine. The initial launch is a result of a joint venture between Ilko Coffee International and Coca-Cola Hellenic. Additional countries in Europe, Asia, North America, Eurasia and the Pacific are slated for expansion throughout the remainder of 2008 and into 2009 and will be delivered through the Coca-Cola system. The highly profitable RTD coffee category globally is valued at just under $16 billion and has experienced several years of growth that is expected to continue. Globally (excluding Japan), the ready to drink coffee category has grown at an average rate of 10.1% over the past five years. “When we announced the partnership between The Coca-Cola Company and illy a few months ago, we committed to deliver the perfect ready to drink espresso experience,” said Muhtar Kent, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Coca-Cola Company. “Today, we believe we have delivered on that promise with an authentic Italian coffee experience. I look forward to this partnership delivering these great brands across the globe and enhancing our global leadership in the fast growing RTD coffee category.” “Over the past few months, we put the effort into bringing to life the illy taste in three new ready to drink espresso based products,” said Andrea Illy, illycaffè chairman. “Now, our objective is to give consistency – together with Coca-Cola – to what premium ready to drink coffee is. Coca-Cola in its history has invented entire new product categories. illycaffè is the company that greatly contributed to the definition of the espresso category. Together we will redefine how people engage with a ready to drink coffee in order to experience a true small luxury pleasure.” The companies announced an agreement in October 2007 to focus on premium ready to drink coffee based beverages. Ilko Coffee International is based in Milan and will be led by Vinay Kapoor, a Coca-Cola executive with over 14 years of successful experience across a number of geographies and across multiple functions.

Kenzai has created an organic ready-to-drink iced version of the traditional blend: Kenzai Green Tea – the UK’s first organic ready-to-drink iced green tea. The tea is made using real tea leaves and contains no additives, preservatives or colourings. Served in a classic glass bottle, Kenzai’s traditional blend is infused with vitamin C to kickstart the immune system and metabolism. Kenzai also produces a white tea. White tea is a lesser known traditional tea, known for having amazing health benefits and a smooth and delicate flavour. Kenzai White and Green teas are available in recyclable 330ml glass bottles from all good specialist food shops (and online at www.kenzai-tea.com), priced £1.75 per bottle.

Cargill launches a novel water ice experience using Lygomme functional system. The international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services, Cargill, has introduced a new 'jelly ice on a stick' concept designed to surprise and delight both children and the young at heart. The unusual texture of this water ice owes its 'chewy creamy' appeal and confection like mouthfeel to Cargill's trademarked Lygomme FZ 615 functional system. This stabilizer system, from Cargill Texturizing Solutions, allows a water ice mixture to be combined with the texture and flavours of a jelly candy. The new system allows processors to make a wide variety of iced treats, from water ices on a stick to sorbet cones, tub sorbets in individual or family sized packs and is able to foam water ice at high overrun levels.

This year's Alimentaria trade show received 158,000 individual visitors and 5000 companies,an increase of 4% over the previous year. The event, based in Spain, Barcelona, had a significant presence of professionals from abroad - around 33,000 from 155 countries, 21% of total visitors. The EU contributed the majority of international exhibitors. Italy, with 296 firms; Germany, with 50; Belgium, with 59; France, with 131; the Netherlands, with 31; Portugal, with 40; Greece, with 72; and the United Kingdom, with more than 35, were the companies with the largest number of representatives. In terms of participants from outside the European Community, China sent 40 companies; Egypt, close to 20; Argentina, 20; the United States, 20; and Turkey, 15. There was significant participation from Latin America and a marked increase in the presence of new EU member countries, as well as those from the Asian continent. Bulgaria, Hungary, Panama, Cyprus and Egypt made their first appearance. 7,800 business meetings Among the most successful activities, one which will have some of the greatest impact on the future in the form of new business, were the international projects involving business owners from Latin America, Asia, the countries of the Central and Eastern EU, the United States and Canada. Participants included close to 200 Spanish companies, 500 foreign buyers and 150 foreign manufacturers. Close to 7,800 business meetings were held. At Innoval, one of the two innovation showcasing areas there was a stream of exciting new products. Here only a few are mentioned, for instance: the company Connein presented a new pizza in the shape of a cone; Avoro Foods revealed extra virgin avocado oil; Krups and Heineken, a beer tap for the home; Nesquik, a relaxing cocoa powder for children; The company Casanovas presented liquid salt and salt in gel form; H.Mallafré, olive oil with passion fruit; Alinaco, pizza with a Spanish potato omelette base; Inodducky-Mas Parés; while Marqués de Vizhoja, single-serving size shots of eau-de-vie for coffee. Other discoveries at Alimentaria were olives stuffed with fruit, tea just for men, tinned clams marnière, bottled edible seaweed, beer with cola and the first cured salmon ham, ‘jalmón’. Noteworthy new products included a novel liquid smoke which gives meat the true flavour of an open-air barbecue; a gum which speeds up and extends suntans; café latte in a Tetra Brik; pre-cooked and peeled eggs; vodka in a toothpaste tube and an anti-ageing drink. A Royal opening Josep Lluís Bonet, President of Alimentaria and Fira de Barcelona, stated: "I am highly satisfied with how the show went. " He also gave thanks for the "support" of the Royal Family who inaugurated the show on 10 March. Also in attendance were acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Elena Espinosa, Generalitat of Catalonia President José Montilla, and Catalonia’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action, Joaquim Llena, among other authorities.

Germany's Voeslauer is launching two forerunners of its improved Near Water line. Bitter Orange and Limette-Kolanuss will be available from 1 April 2008. “No artificial additives and sweeteners are used, as the need for authentic products is needed more and more due to increased customer awareness," said Birgit Aichinger, Marketing and PR Manager at Voeslauer. "The new Voeslauer Balance is the ideal refreshment for people who would like to have a healthy diet and who would like to enjoy a drink that's unspoiled and very much organic.” The two new products will complement the other six flavours, which include Pineapple-Grapefruit, Strawberry-Pepper, Pear-Cactus-Fig, Red Currant & Raspberry, Red Grape and Apel-Cranberry. Voeslauer has given the Near Water range a complete makeover, which reflects the health awareness of today’s customer. No preservatives are used, and the 100% natural ingredients provide the unique taste. The innovation is that Voeslauer no longer uses non-organic sweeteners – only fructose is used to give the new products their unique and healthy sweetness.

The finalisation of the sale of Dutch Rademaker Den Boer BV to Oven Products Holland BV means that there will now be two companies Den Boer Baking Systems BV and Rademaker BV. The strategy of both Rademaker BV and Den Boer Baking Systems BV is to act as independent players in the market. The two companies are keeping the possibilities open for cooperation on projects in the future. The management from Den Boer Baking Systems BV consists of the Van Heukelum family. In 1995 they sold the then company Den Boer to Rademaker BV.

According to BENEO-Orafti the health aspects of new dairy drink products are more important than 'convenience' which used to be the main promotion driver. Dairy drinks that promote health have been bucking the global trend in new product development decline over the past three years. Since dairy drink new product launches reached their peak in 2005 with 2,329 brought to market globally, the number launched has been dropping year on year. However, the number of dairy drinks created that promote health benefits has been on the increase. BENEO-Orafti Marketing & Communication Manager Tim Van der Schraelen, explained further: “We have seen a growing emphasis on health in society as obesity becomes a global problem and although ‘convenience’ is still a big driver in the promotion of dairy drinks (34% of new products launched use it to sell the product), ‘health’ has overtaken it as the primary claim used to encourage sales (with 42% of producers using it to sell the product). With this in mind, we have seen a ten-fold increase in the number of dairy drink products brought to market that contain inulin and oligofructose over the last five years. From small beginnings back in 2002 when only 15 dairy drinks contained this active food ingredient, 2007 saw 164 products brought to market globally that contained inulin and oligofructose.” With the largest proportion of dairy drink innovations being carried out in Western Europe and Asia, followed by North America, it is interesting to note that North America leads the field with dairy drinks that contain inulin and oligofructose (10% of dairy drinks on the market in North America contain this active food ingredient, as opposed to 7.4% in Western Europe and 4.8% in Asia). With growing concerns over health issues and the increasing education of consumers on the subject of well-being, it is interesting to note that gut health is a significant driver used to position dairy drinks. With almost 17% of the products containing inulin and oligofructose launched over the last five years using ‘low fat’ as a driver for positioning and 13% using ‘gut health’, it is interesting to note that only 3% opted to use ‘low sugar’ as a key driver.

The proposed acquisition is subject to approval by competition authorities. The company expects to complete the deal in the second quarter of 2008. The cost of the transaction, which will be funded from existing credit facilities, hasn't been disclosed. Heineken expects Drinks Union to enhance earnings in 2009 as well as bring value increases by 2012. Central and Eastern Europe of Heineken N.V Regional President Nico Nusmeier said: "With this transaction we have significantly extended our reach and consolidated our position in a profitable beer market. Our geographic presence, coupled with our strong, balanced portfolio of regional and national brands, will allow us to extract greater value from the considerable growth opportunities in the Czech market." Drinks Union market share Drinks Union owns a total of four breweries, all located in North and East Bohemia. Two of the breweries are located in Usti nad Labem, one in Louny and one in Kutna Hora. The company has a total production capacity of 0.9 million hectolitres and employs 523 staff. Regional market positions are complementary to Heineken's existing positions in the Moravian and Prague regions.The brand portfolio consists of the national brand Zlatopramen and the regional Breznak, Louny and Dacicky brands. In 2007 sales volumes totaled 900,000 hectolitres including export and the company currently has a domestic market share of 4%. In the Czech Republic, one of Europe's reference beer markets, Heineken currently owns the Starobrno and Krusovice Breweries, with breweries in Brno, Znojmo (Moravia) and in Krusovice (Bohemia). Heineken's existing brand portfolio includes Starobrno, Hostan, Zlaty Bazant, Krusovice and Heineken.

*A recent pre-clinical study has found DHA Omega-3 from algae may decrease an important risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. * Conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, using a mouse model, a diabetic rat model and cultured human cells, the study found that DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) increases the production of LR11 – a protein vital for clearing the brain of the enzymes that make the beta amyloid plaques thought to cause Alzheimer's disease. The investigators used Martek's DHA from microalgae for a portion of the research. Alzheimer's patients are known to have reduced levels of LR11 – a member of the ApoE/low density lipoprotein receptor family. The publication suggests that DHA, by increasing the production of LR11, may be useful for early intervention and prevention of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Late-onset Alzheimer's is the most common form of the disease. It occurs later in life and has no obvious family inheritance pattern. However, several risk factor genes may interact with each other, as well as with environmental factors, to cause the disease. This study adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that DHA may play a role in decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US is now funding a multi-million dollar clinical study on the effects of vegetarian DHA from microalgae in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The vegetarian DHA used in the NIH study is manufactured by Martek. Results will be available in 2010. Dr Edward B Nelson "This study adds to the evidence supporting the important brain health benefits provided by an enhanced DHA status, and there are a number of ongoing studies investigating the role of DHA in reducing the risk for neurological diseases like Alzheimer's," said Martek VP Medical Research Dr Edward B Nelson. Martek's trademarked life'sDHA is a vegetarian form of DHA Omega-3 – a long chain Omega-3 fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eye and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that people of all ages, from infants to ageing adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA Omega-3 in the diet. Scientific reviews have noted the importance of DHA Omega-3 in proper brain and eye development and function, there are also clinical studies underway to evaluate its role in decreasing the prevalence of certain neurological disorders.

Eating a Cabernet Pepperberry Paste with your cheese, a Red Wine Chilli Sauce made with Native Pepperberry with your steak or a Native Pepperberry infused Red Wine JUS with your salads could curb the harmful effects of free radicals and soothe the ravages of time, a study has found. Clinical research has shown that Australian Native Fruits contain 'exceptional' levels of disease fighting antioxidants. Research at Food Science Australia, a joint venture between the CSIRO Australia’s peak scientific body and the Victorian Government has shown that bush foods have very powerful antioxidant properties. When compared with the renowned 'superfood' blueberry some of the bush foods that were tested contained around five times the amount of antioxidants of blueberries. The harsh Australian landscape may account for the findings the study suggested. Co-author Dr Izabela Konczak stated: “Australian plants have developed in complete isolation from the fruits of the northern hemisphere, with some plants, such as the Tasmanian Pepperberry, associated with hardy Antarctic flora." “If we expose plant cells to stress they produce compounds which protect the plant, and these work in humans as well and can protect us from nasty free radicals,” Konczak continued. She also added that: “Eating antioxidants could prevent the development of chronic diseases and stem the ageing process.” Pepperberry and red wine Australian Native Pepperberry has an aromatic flavour that enhances the peppery characteristics of a good red wine, according to Martin Cheney from Australian Harvest. The company produces a selection of healthy gourmet foods based on the Bio-Grape an extract from red wine grapes which contains over 600 powerful antioxidants. The combination of Australian Native Pepperberry, Organic Red Wine and the Bio-Grape skin extract are used in a range of innovative organic gourmet foods which are all tested and rated for their high antioxidant content. All the products in the range have an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) Rating which is an international standard for the measurement of the antioxidant activity of food. The Australian Harvest products that use Australian Native Pepperberry includes Organic Cabernet Pepperberry Paste, Organic Chilli Shiraz Paste, Organic Shiitake Chilli Paste, Organic Red Wine Chilli Sauce, Organic Red Wine Jus and Australian Harvest Red Wine Mustard.

*A newcomer to the growing canned wine market, Wild Pelican, offers worldwide wines in Rexam’s 20cl aluminium cans. * Unlike the majority of wines currently available in cans, Wild Pelican is a still wine. The range includes Spanish, South African and French wines for the red, white and rosé respectively, with a sparkling white wine and second red wine expected later this year. A test launch at ski resorts in the French Alps has had unprecedented success where a chain of leading après ski bars has supported the launch with promotional wine coolers and umbrellas, The stylish matt finish cans, will be in the UK, Scandinavia and Benelux in Spring/Summer this year, with availability in both on-trade and off-trade channels. The 20 cl size is suitable for airlines and mini bars as well as cinemas, supermarket shelves and simply drinking at home. Christiaan Huisman, Founder and Co-owner of Vinovation International, Brand Owner of Wild Pelican, commented: “Our aim was to differentiate from the wine in cans already on the market. The creation of Wild Pelican originated out of a love for wine and by taking a consumer perspective; creating a brand that allows the consumer to explore some of the best wines the world has to offer whenever and wherever.”

Costa and OJSC Rosinter Restaurants Holding "Rosinter" today open Costa's 1,000th store in Moscow's Pushkin Square. The opening of this store marks the arrival of Costa Coffee in Russia. British Costa is the UK's largest and fastest growing coffee shop chain and plans to open its 700th milestone UK store next month. It now operates over 30 stores overseas in 22 countries (Europe, the Middle East, China and India). Rosinter is the leading casual dining restaurant chain in Russia and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), operating 216 restaurants in 8 countries and 24 cities. The new joint venture, formed in December 2007, plans to open 200 Costa stores in Russia over the next 5 years, focusing on Moscow and St Petersburg in its first year, then expanding to other Russian regions thereafter. The partners' initial investment is approximately $10 million and they also intend to open Costa stores in Ukraine and Belarus at a later date. After the first opening, eleven coffee shops currently operated by Rosinter under its proprietary brand Moka Loka will be converted to the Costa brand. Over 50% of the 11 million people in Moscow visit coffee shops regularly and to date, there is only one other international coffee brand established in Russia. There is a wealthy demographic of young Russians whose average income is growing by 16% per annum. Increasingly, they are spending a higher proportion of their disposable income in coffee shops. This is the market that Costa aims to capture. Costa Ltd Managing Director John Derkach said: "Costa's arrival in Russia is another milestone on our journey to become a global coffee brand. Rosinter is an ideal partner who brings a wealth of market insight, which will help us to expand quickly, whilst making sure we deliver what Russian customers want. We have studied Russian tastes and have expanded our cake range. We are also working towards introducing a selection of coffee with alcohol."