N&W Global Vending has acquired the General Vending SA company, which joined the group as N&W Global Vending SA. General Vending, which was founded in 1989, has been operating as a retailer of automatic vending equipment in Belgium since 1992. The company became the official distributor of N&W products in 1995. General Vending acquisition represents a fundamental element for the development plans of N&W, which will strengthen its own presence in the heart of Europe by offering its customers an excellent sales and after-sales service. The combination of General Vending professionality as well as Mr Vito Arcuri's and Tiziano Baiguera's experience within the N&W organisation will be of fundamental importance for business growth.

Mike Ramey * Consumer associations around Europe have joined the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in calling for the European Commission to ban six synthetic food and beverage colourings suspected of being linked to hyperactivity in children.* Members of the FSA Board, meeting in London on Thursday (10 April), urged the Commission to outlaw the six additives as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the agency wants food and beverage manufacturers to phase-out the colourants from their products on a voluntary basis. Now BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation, has also called for a ban in a letter to European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. The issue was due to be discussed today (Friday, 11 April) at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health, part of the EU Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General (DG SANCO). Suspicions about the additives are largely based on an FSA-commissioned study conducted at the University of Southampton in England. Researchers reported that children showed signs of hyperactivity after consuming fruit drinks containing any of the six colourants: Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124). Earlier this month, scientists with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decided that the Southampton findings were not sufficiently conclusive to warrant an immediate ban on the colourants. * ‘Vulnerable consumers’* But BEUC Director General Monique Goyens said on Thursday: "It is unacceptable to leave on the market substances strongly suspected to increase hyperactivity in children, while having no added value at all except colouring food. The European Union must place the health of its most vulnerable consumers before any other interest." The letter to Commissioner Vassiliou was signed by BEUC and 41 other European organisations including consumer associations in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Ireland and Bulgaria. Other signatories included Britain’s Royal Society of Health, the British Dental Health Foundation and Friends of the Earth Europe. The letter said: “We, the undersigned 42 organisations from 12 member states, representing a wide range of consumer groups, food and health charities, and parents, call on the European Commissioner to employ the precautionary principle by suspending use of certain food colourings found to affect the activity and attention of children... “We call on the European Health Commissioner, as risk manager, to take a decision in favour of precaution and consumer protection. Use of the six colours should be suspended, and manufacturers should continue to seek alternatives. This is in line with what consumers want, and with current market trends.”

Vittel has joined Champion, LCL and Skoda as one of the four key partners of the Tour de France in 2008. The bottled water brand from Nestlé Waters will replace Nestlé Aquarel, the official water of the Tour de France since 2001. The partnership deal demonstrates the strength of a sporting event that, despite being plagued by drug scandals in recent years, retains its power of attraction to owners of popular consumer brands. Moreover, the move should enable Vittel to revive its sporting roots and benefit from widespread global publicity the cycling extravaganza brings. Hubert Genieys of Nestlé Waters commented: “Given its background with strong links to sport, its international reputation and its commercial strength, the Vittel brand adds a new dimension to the partnership that has joined Nestlé Waters and the Tour de France.” For Vittel, the partnership with the Tour de France in the middle of its summer peak is a powerful push to drive its multiple distribution networks. The Tour de France is the world's biggest annual sporting event watched by over 2 billion TV viewers. The aura of the Tour is particularly strong in countries where the Vittel brand has a strong presence, such as France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. It is expected Nestlé will develop large promotional advertising actions around the event sponsorship this summer. This is not the first time that the paths of the Tour de France and Vittel have crossed. The famous bottled water brand from the Vosges region of France was offered to spectators of the Tour de France in the 1960s via the publicity caravan and organised Flèche Vittel, predecessor of the current Team Classification. Furthermore, the Tour set off from the famous spa in the Vosges in 1968, Besides cycling, Vittel has supported many other French sporting events in the past. At the end of the 1960s, Vittel became a shirt partner for all teams in the France Football Championship while 30 years later the brand rolled out an ambitious sponsoring policy with several French Olympic federations including athletics and swimming. Vittel is the number two still water brand in France and the market leader in Germany. Around 55% of its sales volumes are exported around the world.

*Intersnack, the UK’s number one pretzel manufacturer, has revealed ambitious plans to re-launch its premium brand Penn State. * The sophisticated new look for Penn State will be rolled out in store from June and will be supported by a high profile, through the line marketing campaign. The campaign will include; redesign of the packaging, an exclusive sponsorship deal with Sky Movies Drama, sustained sales promotion activity, press advertising, and a national consumer PR push. Intersnack Managing Director Calum Ryder explained: “Penn State Pretzels already enjoy a significant share of the baked snack market and the product is synonymous with great flavours. The new branding and the support campaign will focus on Penn State’s genuine baked in taste and associate our pretzels with style and sharing good times. “Penn State is the number one brand in the UK pretzel market and we are confident that this extra investment in marketing and PR activity will translate into even greater sell through to the consumers.” Penn State was originally launched in 1997 and has since grown into the leading pretzel brand in the UK. With sales trebling across the last three years, a 60% distribution penetration in major multiples, and development of the impulse sector through cash & carry and wholesalers, Penn State has very solid foundations. The re-launch and associated marketing campaign demonstrate the ambitious plans that Intersnack has for the brand. A consortium of communications experts has been appointed to deliver an integrated campaign for Penn State. Led by brand ideas company Different, the launch includes a full packaging revamp by Roundhouse, PR by Press Ahead, and media planning and buying by Brilliant Media.

Cadbury Schweppes shareholders today (Friday 11 April) approved the demerger of the group’s American beverage business from its core confectionery operations by a 99.75% landslide vote during the annual meeting. There were no abstentions and only 0.25% of votes against the plan. Earlier in the day, Cadbury reported a disappointing performance by the Americas Beverages unit during the first quarter of 2008, although the confectionery operations grew strongly. Confectionery sales rose 7%, with price increases offsetting higher commodity costs and economy measures improving profit margins. However, revenue from the drinks business grew only 3% – or 1% on a like-for-like basis, excluding acquisitions and currency effects. The company said Americas Beverages had suffered from the loss of glacéau distribution rights to Coca-Cola bottlers, and a change in the timing of annual price increases for concentrate. Sales were also hit by Cadbury’s decision to raise beverage prices 4%, to offset increased commodity costs, while its bigger rivals Coca-Cola and PepsiCo raised prices only 2%. The share of Dr Pepper and other carbonates in the Americas Beverages portfolio “fell modestly,” but the core non-carbonates Snapple, Mott's and Clamato continued to perform strongly. “We confirm our previous 2008 guidance of business revenue growth of 3-5% , and underlying margins modestly lower year-on-year,” said the company. Cadbury Schweppes CEO Todd Stitzer commented: "We have had a strong start to the year in confectionery, with revenues in the first quarter driven by excellent performances from our gum and emerging market businesses, and higher pricing to recover increased commodity costs. Americas Beverages is performing in line with expectations, with revenues benefiting from good growth in our core non-carbonate brands. "While the economic outlook in 2008 is challenging, we are encouraged by the performances of our confectionery and Americas Beverages businesses, and the continued progress being made on their separate strategic agendas.” Now the demerger has been approved by shareholders, Cadbury Schweppes’ vast global confectionery business will be listed on the London Stock Exchange as Cadbury plc from 2 May, while Americas Beverages will become the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG), an independent US-based company listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 7 May. There will be no cash payout to Cadbury Schweppes stockholders, to avoid saddling DPSG with a heavy burden of debt. But in exchange for every 100 existing Cadbury Schweppes shares, stockholders will receive 64 shares in Cadbury plc and 12 shares in DPSG

*Tellurian Biodiesel, an independent distributor and marketer of biodiesel, has entered into a joint venture with Golden State Foods (GSF), supplier to the quick-service restaurant industry, to recycle used cooking oil into biodiesel. * The new venture, Encore BioRenewables, plans to launch its first biodiesel production facility in Southern California in early 2009. This, another plants that the company hopes to open in the future, will be sited near locations which aggregate used cooking oil from restaurants. Encore plans to sell the biofuel to trucking companies, municipal fleets and to GSF to fuel its distribution fleet, which services its customers in the quick-service restaurant industry. Encore BioRenewable's first plant will begin production at a rate of 5 million gallons of biodiesel annually. The facility's output will be expanded as American demand for renewable biodiesel continues to increase with the country's accelerated transition off of foreign oil.

The beverage division of Eichhof Holding comprises the production and distribution of beers, non-alcoholic beverages and wine and employs approximately 450 staff. The company is the owner of the Eichhof brewery in Lucerne, which has a production capacity of 400,000 hectolitres and 2007 domestic beer sales volumes of 361,000 hectolitres. Its main brand, Eichhof, is the leading mainstream beer in the Lucerne region. The company has an estimated 10% market share of the Swiss beer market. Soft drinks and wine account for 45% of total volumes. The purchase price is CHF 278.5 million (€176 million) or CHF 1657.30 for every Eichhof Getränke Holding share. The enterprise value is CHF 290 million, corresponding to a multiple of 12 times 2007 EBITDA, implying a significant premium to the sector average. The acquisition will be funded from existing credit facilities and will be earnings enhancing in 2009 and value enhancing in 2010. The intended acquisition will be effected via a public tender offer for the shares of Eichhof Getränke Holding AG, a company to be newly established through a demerger from Eichhof Holding AG. As a result of the demerger, every Eichhof Holding shareholder will receive one new share in Eichhof Getränke Holding. It is expected that the tender offer will be launched on 7 May 2008 and that the acquisition will close in Q3 2008. Heineken Western Europe Regional President Didier Debrosse commented: "This deal will strengthen our position in the Swiss market. The combination of Heineken and Eichhof's complementary brand portfolios with our commercial, operational and logistics best practices will drive growth. We acknowledge the strong local roots of Eichhof and the typical Swiss Eichhof brand will play an important role in the combined portfolio."

Manager of Animal Welfare, Bridget Peachey, said the popularity of YouTube and the use of the site by animal rights groups prompted the organisation to bring the positive aspects of the industry to light. “The Be Assured video not only highlights the voluntary approaches used by the farm sector to address animal care, it also outlines best practice in food safety, quality assurance and environment. “The Australian dairy industry has a well earned reputation for producing safe, quality products. The industry works with regulators to ensure the assurance systems used by farmers and companies through the supply chain provide safe dairy products to customers within Australia and overseas,” added Peachey. The video is taken from a Dairy Australia produced DVD, Be Assured: Australian Dairy Industry Quality Assurance System – A Paddock to Plate Approach, to provide a technical resource for Australian and international organisations of the dairy industry’s quality assurance measures. The DVD contains additional videos on Assuring Product Integrity – focusing on the post farm gate sector – from farm collection to the factory and then through the supply chain to the domestic and international customer. The DVD also has translations in Japanese and Mandarin for the Asian market.

Danone Waters UK & Ireland has announced that the marketing campaign for Volvic’s 1 litre for 10 litre (1L-for-10L) charity promotion will be backed by Hollywood movie star Thandie Newton. For every litre of Volvic water purchased in the UK, the company will provide ten litres of water to Africa in partnership with international relief and development charity World Vision. The British actress visited the site of an existing World Vision well in Mali, where she personally witnessed the difference a well can make in a community. She explained: "My trip to Mali was a humbling experience, and one that I will never forget. Having seen first hand the vital difference, clean, safe water makes to the lives of children, women and the wider community, I hope that people in the UK will get behind the 1L-for-10L campaign." A substantial marketing campaign is planned to promote the charity initiative on branded packs of Volvic Plain and Volvic Touch of Fruit from April through to September 2008. The campaign will run across different media including a national radio advertising campaign, a national print campaign and online activity which incorporates the launch of a dedicated website www.volvic1for10.co.uk featuring interviews from Thandie Newton, villagers and World Vision. The website will also keep consumers informed of how much water has been generated by the Volvic initiative. The planned target is to generate a total of over 6 billion litres of water in Africa over the next few years. Danone Waters Marketing Director Patrick Kalotis commented: “We’re delighted to have the backing of such a high profile actress as Thandie Newton involved. With Thandie’s help, the marketing campaign we’re launching for Volvic 1L-for-10L will generate high levels of consumer awareness.”

PepsiCo and Britvic Soft Drinks have announced that Gatorade, the world’s bestselling and most scientifically researched sports drink is to be launched in the UK in May, in grocery, impulse and leisure channels. Developed in 1965 by University of Florida physicians, Gatorade is the original and no 1 best selling sports drink in the world, with a 48% global market share. Gatorade is the most researched sports drink in the world, demonstrating its position at the cutting edge of sports science. With its optimal blend of fluids, electrolytes and carbohydrates, Gatorade is scientifically formulated to rehydrate, replenish and refuel athletes, and is used by more athletes than any other sports drink worldwide. Responding to consumers’ increasing preference for more natural products, the UK will be the first global market to launch a new formulation of Gatorade, which will contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners and no preservatives. Available in two flavours, orange and lemon, it is designed to appeal to all physically active consumers who want to perform at their best. Gatorade will be available in single and four-pack 50cl PET bottles, with a sports cap and an ergonomically designed bottle to fit comfortably into the hand whilst exercising. Sports drinks is one of the fastest growing sub-categories in the UK with sales up 16% to reach £154 million in value in 2007, according to the recently published Britvic Soft Drinks Report. Arif Haq, Gatorade Brand Manager at PepsiCo said: “Apart from its unique and unparalleled scientific heritage, Gatorade is also one of the world’s most iconic sporting brands. It is exciting to introduce it to the fast-growing UK category.” Simon Stewart, Marketing Director at Britvic, added: “Sports drinks is one of the fastest growing sub-categories in the UK with sales up 16% in 2007. With its unique optimal scientific formulation that is now free from artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners and preservatives, we believe Gatorade provides an unrivalled offering to the existing big players in the market and will therefore unlock considerable potential in the sports drink category.” Marketing push The launch will be supported by a £5 million marketing campaign targeted at active people. The campaign will comprise outdoor, press and online advertising as well as a heavyweight PR campaign, focusing on educating and supporting athletes at key sporting events across the UK in 2008. Britvic has an exclusive agreement with PepsiCo to produce and distribute Gatorade in the UK. Production of Gatorade has commenced with packs to be available on-shelf and in vending machines in grocery, impulse and leisure outlets from May 2008.

*European Bioplastics – the European bioplastics industry's association – supports the the German Packaging Directive amendment passed on 4 April 2008. The directive includes new regulation for bioplastic bottles which will come into effect on 1 January 2009. * Bioplastics is the term used for plastics produced from renewable resources or that are certified compostable to European standards. The bottles must be produced from at least 75% renewable resources and will be exempted from the compulsory deposit for single use drink bottles until 31 December 2012. Manufacturers must however participate in a dual system of recycling for the bottles. Bioplastics currently have a market share of less than 1% of the total plastics market, but the annual growth rate is however 20-30%. "Through this regulation, the Federal Government is encouraging the use of renewable resources in beverages packaging and therewith a substantial innovation from the plastics industry", stated European Bioplastics Chairman Dr Harald Kaeb. Recycling During the introductory phase, collection and recycling is proposed via the dual system, that is, using the yellow recycling sack/bin. Jöran Reske, European Bioplastics Vice-Spokesperson and responsible for environmental issues, commented, "This will mean the bottles will generally be fed into energy recovery, and based on the fact that they were created from renewable resources, will contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions". Approximately a dozen beverages are currently sold in bioplastic bottles worldwide. In order to handle rapidly growing demand, several companies from the bioplastics industry are at the point of making substantial investments into larger production plants.

*Innovation in the global beverage industry was celebrated on 9 April 2008 in Moscow, Russia, with the presentation of the 2008 beverage innovation awards. The awards, in partnership with UNESDA – the Union of European Beverages Associations, were kindly sponsored by SmartSeal from Norway. * With categories for juice, functional and adult drinks, along with categories for health, ingredients packaging, sustainability and marketing initiatives, the awards attracted more than 120 entries from 21 countries. The awards were organised by Zenith International Publishing through its beverage innovation magazine. The Best new juice or juice drink category, sponsored by Frigoglass, was awarded to Good Natured, for its pure orange and pure tropical juice using Rainforest Alliance certified farms. Other finalists were Coca-Cola España with Limon&Nada and true fruits GmbH with true fruit Smoothies. Highly commended in this category was J García-Carrión of Spain with Asda Not From Concentrate juice. The Best new functional drink category was won by Firefly Tonics, with Firefly Water, which infuses spring water with teas and superfoods as well as spices such as mint and lemongrass. Other finalists were RDA Organic, and Sonnenalm Getränkevertrieb GmbH with Antistress. Highly commended in this category were SkylarHayley with essn energy and Angel Drink GmbH. The Best new adult drink section was won by Pepsi with RAW, made using natural raw cane sugar. Other finalists in this category included Orchard Pig entered by design agency Blue Marlin, Afriplex from South Africa with ega, and Hib! from The Hibisicus Drinks Company. Coca-Cola Hellas and Coca-Cola Hellenic Trian Epsilon from Greece won the Best new health initiative category with their nationwide School Education Programme. Close behind was Coca-Cola Hellenic with the functional drinkEyzhn by Amita. Highly commended in this category was Micro Mobility Systems with Super Cap and Multon from Russia with Dobry Fortified. The Ingredient innovation category, sponsored by Velcorin, was won by the entry from Sonnenalm Getränkevertrieb GmbH of Austria with Antistress a functional drink made using stinging nettles. Other finalists were Bolthouse Farms. USA with BomDia and Dobry Winter from Multon in Russia. Highly commended were Kerry Bio-Science with Hyprol and Tate & Lyle with Promitor. SmartSeal of Norway won the Best packaging innovation with FLEX, a revolutionary range of no spill active closures. Other finalists were true fruit GmbH with its range of Smoothies and Waterwerkz with the PouchLink System for vending drinks. Highly commended in this category were Cubis with its square drinks container, Claessens Products Consultants with Ya Dessert, Arkema GmbH with the protective coatingTegoglas 3000+, and Demo Design & Moulds from Italy with its innovative bottle, Blobble. The winner of the Best sustainability initiative was Good Natured. In sourcing its fruit from Rainforest Alliance certified farms this ensures real benefits to the Costa Rican farm workers. The other finalist was Coca-Cola Beverages Hungary with its companywide sustainability programme. Highly commended were GSK which is now using 100% recycled plastic for its bottles, and Unilever France which now has all Rainforest Alliance certified tea. The Newcomer brand or business came from Blue Marlin, which submitted Coco, a premium coconut drink communicating refreshment, indulgence and respect for nature. Other finalists were the Smart functional range from Croatian company Jamnica and UK’s Good Natured. Highly commended in this category was also Multon with its fruit puree blend Rich Fruit Mix. Australian smoothie company nudie won the Best marketing campaign with the first fruit election campaign, which coincided with the Australian Federal Election. Other category finalists were Coca-Cola European Union Group (EUG) with its interactive Music campaign, along with Coca-Cola Hellas with Sprite. Highly commended in this category was the botaniQ original campaign from Coca-Cola Hellenic Eurasia. The Best overall concept award went to Coca-Cola España with Limon&Nada. The product is fun, comes in modern packaging with great graphics and has a simple focus on the naturalness of the ingredients. beverage innovation Editor Claire Phoenix commented: “The overall concept winner for Limon&Nada – meaning Lemon and Nothing – indicates the consumer need for something simple, natural and refreshing that is delivered in a modern, easy to drink format. Entries in each category were outstanding as can be seen from the 36 page entrants supplement. Congratulations to all involved for making the industry heart beat a little faster and showing a healthier and more environmentally aware way forward.” See the <1>. <1>: http://av.foodbev.com/absolutevc/?v=79