*Ebac has just made its 10 millionth WaterTrail – enough trails to dispense 5.4 billion litres of water and stretch halfway around the moon. * Since introduction in 1993, Ebac's patented WaterTrail has become the method of choice for some of the most successful companies in the water cooler business today. As an alternative to sanitisation, WaterTrail has a proven record for hygiene and simplicity of use. Ebac says that unlike traditional sanitisation methods, WaterTrail replacement is 100% effective and carried out onsite in a matter of seconds, helping cooler companies to save time and money by visiting more customers per day.

This environmentally smart system offers foodservice operators a way to serve their own premium carafe water, and reduce their dependency on serving prepackaged water. Mark Selander, marketing manager of Everpure, said: "As the burgeoning green movement makes its way into foodservice industries, businesses across the country, from restaurants and hotels to top US universities and hospitals, are working to minimise their carbon footprint. "To heed that call, Everpure developed the Exubera Pro System, which is a complete filtration and dispensing system that gives foodservice operators the ability to create their own premium water and provide consumers with an environmentally friendly alternative to prepackaged water." To ensure consumers are receiving the same water options as with prepackaged premium water, the Exubera Pro System allows the serving of chilled, chilled carbonated and ambient premium water. It is a turnkey solution that includes only six steps, beginning with the testing of the establishment's water followed by an in-depth analysis resulting in a fully customised, complete filtration system that takes ordinary tap water and makes it extraordinary. Offering under-counter and counter-top models, the Exubera Pro Water Appliance is easy to install and maintain, offers excellent carbonation, little upkeep and advanced features. Most importantly, the system enables the operator to reduce the costs and hassles associated with pre-packaged drinking water including tracking inventory, finding storage space, generating additional waste and purchasing costs. Instead foodservice operators are able to reduce costs, maintain profitability and reduce their waste and environmental footprint.

The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) and Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) have announced that the companies have signed an agreement to make the Crush beverage portfolio available in the majority of PBG’s territories throughout the US. Under the terms of the agreement, PBG will have a perpetual licence to manufacture, sell and distribute the brand, which includes such flavours as Orange Crush, Diet Orange Crush and Grape Crush, in about 80% of its territories throughout the US. The agreement is effective immediately and PBG will begin distribution in early 2009. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Crush brand is currently available in less than 40% of the US. The agreement with PBG will nearly double its market penetration, positioning the brand well for future growth. Flavoured carbonated soft drinks now account for almost half of all carbonated soft drink sales in the US, and Orange Crush and Diet Orange compete in the fourth largest segment of the flavour category. Orange and grape flavours represent a 5% share of the CSD market in the US. Crush has been a fixture in the CSD space for decades, with tremendous name recognition among consumers. Market research shows that three out of four Americans are aware of the brand.

The Wottle has been designed as an all-year-round 'must have' accessory for drinking water on the move while creating less waste. The 500ml Wottle features Orla Kiely’s signature Stem design, a rubber finger grip that can be adapted for portability and is designed to carry about town in a handbag. Brita and Orla Kiely were committed to creating a bottle that was not only practical and stylish, but also had impeccable ethical credentials. The Wottle is made from 100% recycled materials, including HDPE plastic. To keep its carbon footprint to a minimum, it's made exclusively in the UK, ensuring water drinkers can combine style with environmental responsibility. Orla Kiely said: “To be involved in the redesign of such an everyday product is always a challenge, and working with such a great concept made it all the more inspiring. It was exciting to consider the environment alongside practicalities and aesthetics. "Thinking ‘reusable’ instead of ‘disposable’ is a great place to start becoming environmentally friendly, but style should never be compromised and we’re really happy with the finished product.” The Wottle can be used in conjunction with Brita’s filtered water product range for homes and offices. Brita’s filter cartridges are 100% recyclable – the company has been recycling its cartridges since 1992 and recently launched a major in-store recycling scheme where customers can drop their used cartridges in Brita’s blue recycling bins at participating retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos and Robert Dyas. Brita Marketing Director Neal Jones added: “Instead of producing an exclusive, limited edition batch for publicity, our aim as a company is to help change people’s consumption habits and reduce waste by making the Wottle generally available. Working closely with Orla Kiely means we’ve achieved that goal, but also created a unique product for style-conscious consumers.”

One person has died as a result of a listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Ontario. Another 16 people are sick, according to The Public Health Agency of Canada. The agency added that ready-to-eat meat products are being investigated as a possible source. Also this week, Maple Leaf Foods expanded its recall of deli meat products and temporarily closed a plant where products suspected of listeria contamination were made. Maple Leaf and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have warned the public to avoid these products. "The outbreak has not been definitely linked to Maple Leaf products," said Michael Tansey, Public Health Agency of Canada Media Relations Chief. "Further testing is ongoing. Who's to say what that testing will reveal?" According to the Meatingplace.com report, it will be at least a couple of days before test results will be confirmed. To date, there are 17 confirmed cases of the outbreak strain of listeria in four provinces, including 13 in Ontario, two in British Columbia, one in Saskatchewan and one in Quebec.

UK supplier Kleena Coola has added Beca-Bins to its range. The bin is designed to promote recycling of cups within the office and to collect used disposable cups and any associated waste liquid. The unit has a central funnel for waste liquid, which collects in the base bin ready for emptying. Cups are then placed in one of the outer collection chutes ready for recycling or disposal. The standard Beca-Bin not only helps keep the workplace tidy but also reduces the volume of disposable cups by around 75% and lowers cleaning and waste management costs, while introducing the possibility of recycling.

*Research and development work into boosting the recyclability of plastic milk bottles is to be launched in the UK by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). * It is inviting tenders to develop a cost-effective label, ink and adhesive system for use on HDPE milk bottles that will not contaminate the plastic during recycling, with the aim of encouraging its greater use in new bottle manufacture. WRAP’s target is for 50% of the milk industry’s capacity to commit to implementing the new system by 2011. The work will include: assessing the challenges in bottle, ink, adhesive and label design and identifying potential solutions; developing a viable system that does not taint the recycled polymer during the recycling process; evaluating the system’s economic and environmental viability; Large scale trials of a developed solution. Paul Davidson, Plastics Sector Manager, said: “A successful system will not only improve the quality of the recycled polymer, but it will enable new milk bottles to be manufactured with a higher recycled content in closed loop recycling systems. “Increasing the use of recycled content will deliver CO2 savings through greater substitution of virgin polymer in the manufacture of new bottles, as well as conserve valuable resources and divert waste from landfill.” The closing date for tender submissions is 12 September 2009.

*PepsiCo and Starbucks, already partners in a deal to sell bottled Frappucinos, are turning their attention to bottled tea. The two companies plan to give the Tazo brand greater exposure and expand distribution. * Tazo's RTD line will be integrated into the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership (PLP), expanding the joint venture between PepsiCo and Unilever. Starting in mid-October, the bottled teas will be made available nationwide through the PepsiCo bottling system. "By joining forces with the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership, we're tapping into a long history of innovation and expertise in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of refreshment beverages," said Gerry Lopez, President, Global Consumer Products, Foodservice & Seattle's Best Coffee. "This move puts us in a prime position to take our successful Tazo bottled tea business to an even higher level." Starbucks' relationship with PepsiCo dates back to 1994, when the two companies formed the North American Coffee Partnership (NACP) – a joint venture that helped build the RTD coffee category in the US through the development and distribution of Starbucks bottled Frappuccino, Doubleshot espresso, Doubleshot Energy + Coffee and other beverages. "Unilever and Starbucks have been great partners of PepsiCo for over a decade, so culturally it's a great fit," said Mary Barnard, GM/VP, Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership. "By engaging the passionate base of Tazo consumers already established by Starbucks, leveraging the strength of the Pepsi bottling system and employing the beverage expertise of the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership, we'll be able to share Tazo RTD products with a larger audience than ever before." "As the leading marketer of tea beverages in the world, we're always looking for opportunities to bring our global expertise to more tea lovers," said James Wong, Vice President, Business Development, Unilever Americas. "We're really excited about this opportunity to expand the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership and enter into this agreement with Starbucks, whose brands and mission we genuinely admire." Tazo has created more than 100 unique tea, fruit and herbal beverages in bottled, filterbag, full leaf and tea latte concentrate varieties. All Tazo tea blending is done on-site at Tazo headquarters in Portland, Oregon, to ensure quality and flavour consistency. Samples from the world's finest tea gardens arrive daily, and after thorough testing, only 10% of the teas tasted find their way into Tazo blends. Acquired by Starbucks in 1999, Tazo is the exclusive tea offered at Starbucks coffeehouses worldwide, and Seattle's Best Coffee cafes in the US. Kraft Foods, which previously distributed the Tazo RTD product line as part of its 10-year relationship with Starbucks, will continue to distribute Tazo filterbag teas and tea latte concentrates, as well as Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee packaged coffees in non-cafe channels.

Actor and singer Jessica Simpson has been chosen to represent Stampede Light Plus, a light beer from Stampede Brewing Co. Started by a fitness expert and former Anheuser-Busch marketing employee, Lawrence Schwartz, and formulated by the late Dr Joseph Owades (the creator of the first ever light beer in 1967 – now Miller Lite), Stampede Light has drinkability and marketing appeal that speaks to health-conscious consumers. "We believe that people who choose to look after themselves, those who do the things to make their lives better, should have the opportunity to do this in all aspects of their lives," said Schwartz. "Why not the beer they drink? Stampede Light appeals to those consumers – people like us, people like Jessica, and people who want to live a healthier lifestyle." Stampede Light Plus is a full-bodied German-style light lager beer, made with malt and hops. In addition, the beer has been infused with B vitamins, folic acid and folate. The beverage is distributed nationally in the US through the Miller, Coors, and Anheuser-Busch network of wholesalers.

The rebranded Dairy Event and Livestock Show, the UK’s largest livestock trade event, will be staged at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on 17 and 18 September 2008. Organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF), the show will offer comprehensive business, technical and financial information to dairy farmers, processors and dairy manufacturers. This year the event is expected to welcome over 13,000 visitors together with more than 450 exhibitors representing all sectors of the industry, including Dairy UK’s MilkMade area. MilkMade is an exhibition that was established in response to farmers’ interest in diversifying by adding value to their milk, for example by producing flavoured milks, yogurt, cheese or clotted cream. RABDF was aware that these farmers would require a new set of resources as well as skills if they were to succeed. With support from Dairy UK, the Association has developed the MilkMade exhibition over the last five years as a focal point where they can find out more about milk processing, packaging facilities and cool storage technology and also obtain advice to help them with their business planning and market research. In addition, MilkMade will include exhibitors offering ideas on ice cream making together with other marketing innovations. The event has become a firm fixture on the calendar for international visitors who have realised that the UK’s specialist events have now become the business leaders in their respective fields. This year, representatives from at least 30 different countries are expected, keen to learn about potential trading opportunities.

Monsanto has announced it will get out of the artificial growth hormone business. Its product, also known as rBST, rBGH or the brand name, Posilac, was banned in the EU and in Canada because of concerns for the health of cows – concerns that led Oakhurst Dairy to reject its use in the production of Oakhurst milk. The family-owned dairy fought to keep its Farmers' Pledge, 'No Artificial Growth Hormone Used', on the Oakhurst milk label. When the announcement came last week that agribusiness giant Monsanto was getting out of the dairy hormone business, it was a victory of sorts for Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy. Oakhurst was the first major dairy in the country to reject the use of artificial growth hormone (also known as rBST, rBGH, bovine growth hormone, or Posilac) in the production of its milk – and to put this information on its label in the form of a Farmers' Pledge 'No Artificial Growth Hormone Used'. Five years ago, Monsanto sued Oakhurst, alleging that its label misled consumers into thinking there was something wrong with milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormone. In a David and Goliath contest that had nationwide implications, the independent, family-owned dairy fought Monsanto to preserve the right to inform customers that Oakhurst milk is produced without the use of artificial growth hormone (rBST, rBGH, bovine growth hormone or Posilac). Oakhurst president Stan Bennett is proud of his company's long-held position: "From the beginning, we made the decision not to use artificial growth hormone in our milk production because we felt it was the right thing to do. Questions and concerns from consumers over the use of artificial growth hormone, decisions in Europe and Canada to ban the substance and our concerns for the health of cows that willingly give us their milk every day, all contributed to our decision to keep artificial growth hormone out of the production of our milk – one of nature's most perfect foods." Oakhurst retained the right to put its Farmers' Pledge regarding artificial growth hormone on its milk label but added a disclaimer: 'FDA states: No significant difference in milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormone'. In recent years, many other milk producers, retailers and now cheese producers have added similar "no artificial growth hormone used" or "no bovine growth hormone used" language to their labelling and marketing communications. In response to consumer demand for more natural foods, all of New England's major milk producers have followed Oakhurst's lead, rejecting the use of rBST, rBGH or Posilac. "We fought a good fight and this most recent decision by Monsanto makes us as a company feel somewhat vindicated," said Stan Bennett. "I'd like to think that, in some small part, we played a role in that decision."

UK supermarket Sainsbury's has opened a 'green' store in Dartmouth, Devon. According to the company, the store will use 50% less energy from the national grid, and will produce 40% less carbon dioxide than a normal store. Sainsbury's also planted 400 trees to compensate for the 200 that were used to build the timber frame. The building site itself also chipped in by recycling 90% of construction waste. Neil Sachdev, commercial director at Sainsbury's, said: "We've been keen to experiment with a number of energy-saving measures here, from sun pipes, which provide amazing natural light, to using a timber frame rather than steel, which consumes less energy in its production, but looks good too." Sainsbury's also unveiled a delivery lorry that's powered by the gas produced from rotting rubbish such as waste food, garden waste and newspapers dumped in landfill. The lorry made its first daily drop-off at the new Dartmouth store in a 300-mile round trip from the firm's depot in Bristol. Sainsbury's is the first UK supermarket to deliver food using the green fuel technology.