Horizon Milling has developed three new prototypes that demonstrate how food manufacturers can easily incorporate a concentrated source of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants into great-tasting snacks, cereals and bars using all-natural GrainWise Wheat Aleurone. GrainWise Wheat Aleurone is a concentrated source of essential vitamins, including thiamin, niacin and folic acid; and important minerals, including phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc. It includes antioxidants from whole wheat and contains 45% dietary fibre. “It can be challenging for food manufacturers to develop all-natural products that are also rich with nutrients,” said Kyle Marinkovich, marketing manager, Horizon Milling. “Because GrainWise Wheat Aleurone is all-natural and packed with nutrition, it’s a great way to enrich consumer products while still remaining all-natural.” According to Marinkovich, today’s consumers are looking to get maximum benefits from their food, and simply because a product is labelled “all-natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it has a broad nutritional profile. “GrainWise Wheat Aleurone helps our customers deliver maximum value to consumers who seek concentrated nutrition in their all-natural foods,” he said. The following three prototypes are new examples of how food manufacturers can use GrainWise Wheat Aleurone to enhance the nutrition profile of their products.

Glassmaker O-I has further boosted the environmental credentials of glass packaging with the launch of a new lightweight standard half-litre beer bottle. The bottle is made by O-I for Adnams beers, and won a Starpack award in 2007. The new 300g container, which is available to all UK brewers in clear and amber glass, uses the same blank moulds as the Adnams bottle. This has enabled O-I to reduce the weight of its standard half-litre beer bottle by around 33%. Figures released by WRAP (the Waste Resources Action Programme) indicate that, if all 500ml ale bottles reduced weight at this rate, the reduction would save 10,055 tons of glass, with all the associated environmental savings in terms of carbon, energy consumption, quarrying and transportation*. O-I is pioneering these dramatic improvements through its highly developed expertise in narrow neck press and blow (NNPB) manufacturing technology. Paul McLavin, UK sales manager for O-I, says: “This investment by O-I demonstrates our commitment to the continued environmental improvement of our industry and our customers’ businesses. The benefits proved by the Adnams development and the subsequent use of this technology by Marston’s are now available to all.” *Based on figures devised by James Ross Consulting for WRAP, 2006

Bio-Synergy has launched a new functional beauty drink called Beauty From Within. The product contains white grape juice, Aloe vera, green tea extract and vitamins A, D and E – all of which are believed to be useful ingredients that can help maintain healthy skin. Vitamin A is known to maintain skin health and increases the rate of skin turnover as well as aiding collagen production. In addition, research has shown that the vitamin is best absorbed through the gut and not via the skin. Vitamin C is known for its effectiveness as an anti-oxidant and the ability to enhance the synthesis of collagen, resulting in a more youthful appearance. While vitamin E helps to repair the skin and protects against pollution. The main ingredients, white grape and green tea, also have anti-oxidant properties and can improve skin tone and elasticity. Finally, Aloe vera is renowned for a multitude of therapeutic benefits. According to the company, both Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham are said to be fans of the anti-oxidising and fat metabolising beverage.

We applaud Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Connor for his common sense decision to continue the moratorium on milk from cloned animals, while USDA and other government agencies review the implications that the approval of this niche technology would have on trade and public health. Numerous surveys reveal that consumers are not comfortable with the idea of buying milk from cloned cows, and more time is needed for the American public to gain a better understanding of this new technology. US dairy exports have grown significantly during the past few years, reducing the cost of government support programmes. However, milk and food from cloned animals have not been approved for consumption in most countries that are importing our products. Therefore, it would be prudent to wait until all major foreign trading partners have reviewed and approved the same cloning technology in their respective countries. Moving too fast on this technology without a thorough and deliberative dialogue at all levels could also unintentionally lead to reduced domestic consumption of milk, a nutrient-dense food that is an excellent source of nine essential nutrients, including protein and calcium. USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend at least three daily servings of dairy as part of a healthy diet. We're reassured that the Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that there are no health or safety issues with food from cloned animals. During the moratorium, we encourage the biotechnology industry to work with consumers to help them gain a full understanding of the technology.

Leading Brands, Inc. has launched a sports energy drink called Die Hard. The company has pledged that for every can sold $0.10 will be donated to help American war veterans. According to Leading Brands, it has taken nine years of research to develop the non carbonated sports drink that hydrates, replenishes electrolytes and energy. Initially, four flavours – Lemon, Orange, Punch and Berry – will be available in 16oz cans in the US and Canada. Only natural flavours and sugars as sweeteners are used in making Die Hard. The beverage is marketed towards those consumers who “Live Hard, Play Hard, Die Hard” and it will be replacing Trek and Nitro in the company’s portfolio. Leading Brands Chairman Ralph McRae adds: "A dozen years of military service taught me that we can never do enough to help support, rehabilitate and re-train those injured while selflessly protecting what we believe in. Die Hard's Pledge to Veterans is, for me, particularly heart-felt. Our mantra at Leading Brands is 'Better Ingredients - Better Brands'. In the case of Die Hard we should add 'Better Principles - Better Brands.'"

The <1> that Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) is to be acquired and divided between Carlsberg and Heineken has been condemned by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). S&N’s UK activities are set to be acquired by Heineken, and Camra will be seeking urgent reassurances over the future of S&N’s real ale interests. Mike Benner, Camra’s Chief Executive, said: “The relentless obsession with pushing global lager brands is a failing strategy in the UK beer market, and this is fuelling consolidation and hitting profits hard. The inevitable result of consolidation is brewery closures, brand losses and less choice for Britain’s consumers.” Mr Benner added: “The deal raises many questions for real ale drinkers in the UK. What impact will this have on traditional real ales such as John Smith's, and smaller regional brands such as Magnet? We will be seeking reassurances from the new owners that they will invest in their real ale brands and breweries to meet the demands of today’s beer drinkers, who are increasingly demanding real ale.” Camra is concerned about the impact the takeover could have on WaverleyTBS, a major distributor of real ales, the contract brewing of Theakston’s Best Bitter and the partnership with the Caledonian Brewing Company. It's expected that the takeover will be considered by the European Commission, and Camra is calling for an in-depth review of competition and consumer choice in the EU beer market. Mike Benner continued: “The lager-led approach of the global brewers has been flawed for years, and consumers demand choice, quality and provenance. Fortunately, the increasing number of small and independent real ale breweries in the UK are rising up to fill the void in the market, where demand for local and regional beer continues to grow.” Bob Stukins, Camra's Director of Breweries Campaigning, said: “This is a sad day for British brewing. S&N was the last remaining major brewer in British hands and the deal is unlikely to show any benefits for consumers.” S&N’s main real ale brand is John Smith’s cask. However, it also brews Theakston’s Best Bitter on behalf of T&R Theakston, and owns 30% of Scottish brewery Caledonian’s brands. Camra will be seeking assurances from the new owners that these enterprises will be preserved. <1>: /ArticleDetail.aspx?contentId=95

Tara Dairy and LycoRed of Israel have developed an innovative new line of fortified dairy products targeting women 30-40 years old. The You line of functional foods includes milk with 2% fat, soft cheese (3% fat) and a yogurt drink. The products are fortified with a vitamin and mineral formulation providing 25% of the recommended daily amount. “LycoRed specialises in fortification solutions for functional foods and beverages,” said LycoRed Vice President Global Marketing and Sales, Udi Alroy. “Manufacturers can’t afford to risk negatively impacting taste or odour when they fortify their products. Our fortification capabilities enable us to combine ingredients without cross-interaction, to create the more neutral flavour profile demanded by functional foods. Consumers are looking for easy, tasty and healthy products. LycoRed helped Tara to meet this challenge.” The new dairy line contains a unique vitamin and mineral formulation that helps protect a woman's health by addressing concerns, including bone, brain, skin, heart health and digestive health. Active ingredients, including calcium, iron, vitamin D, E and B, are combined to deliver the ultimate health benefits that women desire. “Our goal is to develop new concepts in dairy fortification that provide the added value of health and innovation,” explained Deputy Marketing Manager at Tara Dairy, Nir Kanias. “This new line is the result of our innovative move to develop, for the first time in Israel, the concept of 'dairy just for women'. We found out that there's a real need for a dairy line that is tailored specifically to suit the hectic lifestyle and specific needs of the Israeli woman.”

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants will deliver significant cuts in CO2 emissions in 15 bottling facilities across 12 countries of operation, including eight European Union Member States. Coca-Cola Hellenic has announced plans to reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 20% across all of its production facilities through the development of 15 energy-efficient power plants to be in operation by the end of 2009. The decision to build the energy efficient power plants follows the start-up of a similar CHP plant at the company’s bottling facility in Hungary (pictured) which achieved a reduction of CO2 emissions by 43% during its first year of operation. At the same time, energy costs were reduced by €400,000. “The benefits realised through the construction of the Hungarian CHP plant led to our decision to roll out further facilities as part of a large-scale energy efficiency initiative,” said Coca-Cola Hellenic Managing Director Doros Constantinou. “As the 15 new plants come into service, we will continuously review the benefits achieved with a view to adding more plants across the Group.” The European Commission Vice President, Mr. Günter Verheugen, attending the announcement, commended Coca-Cola Hellenic and its partner company ContourGlobal on its commitment to contribute to the European Union’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions across Member States well ahead of the 2020 deadline. "Coca-Cola Hellenic is an active member of the CSR Alliance. This initiative shows that the Alliance is not about words but about bringing change. It demonstrates that environmental and economic goals can be pursued in unison. It also demonstrates how innovation is not just a driver of economic competitiveness, but also a contributor towards achieving wider social goals, such as addressing climate change” he said. The 15 CHP plants will be constructed by US energy company, ContourGlobal, a privately held power development company that operates eight businesses on four continents, with offices in London, New York, Durham, Paris, Kiev and Sao Paolo. The plants will supply highly efficient, clean electricity as well as hot and chilled water to 15 of Coca-Cola Hellenic’s bottling facilities in Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia in the European Union as well as in Nigeria, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine. Two installations will be built in each of Italy, Russia and Romania. The energy-efficient power plants will reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% per plant compared with current energy use and will provide electricity, heat and cooling for production facilities. Excess electricity will be delivered to the national grid of each country, thereby supplying them with greener power. By 2020 the EU plans to reduce annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 20% from the Kyoto baseline of 1990. In order to achieve this goal, it is preparing to adopt an Energy Package demonstrating ways that the reduction can be achieved, with targets set for individual countries.

Leading Brands of Vancouver, Canada, reported substantial losses over the first three quarters of its 2007/08 fiscal year. Gross sales in the nine months to 30 November 2007 fell 32% to US$27.45 million, and the company lost $3.28 million (or $0.18 per share) after breaking even in the same period of 2006/07. Leading Brands’ sales in the third quarter of the current year were 25% down at $8.56 million, and the company finished with a loss of $1.64 million (or $0.08 per share) against a loss of $584,000 in 2006/07 Leading Brands, which claims to be “North America’s only fully integrated premium beverage company", is refocusing its operations on producing and distributing its own drinks, rather than working for other brand owners. But the changeover is proving a costly business. The company’s drop in revenue was due to the discontinuance of three lines previously produced under contract. Meanwhile, however, sales of Leading Brands’ proprietary beverages such as TrueBlue blueberry juice drink have been increasing – growing 55% in the second quarter of 2007/08, and 63% in the third quarter. Chairman and CEO Ralph McRae highlighted this point, telling shareholders: “This was the first time in my memory that our core business grew from the second quarter to the third. Seasonality normally works against that trend. Both gross and net sales in Q3 were up slightly over Q2. “Last year, gross sales dropped almost 27% from the warmer summer quarter to the cooler fall quarter, which is the norm in the beverage business. Continued strong branded beverage growth fuelled that condition this year.” The company also announced that Donna Louis has resumed the post of Chief Financial Officer, replacing Don Haliburton who has left the company.

Reuters – Carlsberg and Heineken on Friday agreed a joint cash bid of 800 pence a share for Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) that will split up the British brewer of Foster's and Kronenbourg. Denmark's Carlsberg and Amsterdam-based Heineken said they had agreed a deal recommended by S&N which valued Britain's biggest brewer and the world's sixth-largest beermaker at 7.8 billion pounds ($15.3 billion). The bidders say the approval of the European Commission and other competition authorities will be required and it's expected the deal will be completed in the second quarter. S&N and Carlsberg have agreed to release projected information for their 50-50 Russia-based joint venture Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH) for 2008 through 2010, which had been a sticking point in the three-month long takeover saga. Under the proposed breakup plan, Carlsberg will acquire S&N's 50% stake in BBH to give the Danish brewer full control of this Baltika brewer in the former Soviet Union, and also S&N's interests in France, Greece, China and Vietnam. Heineken will take over S&N's British business, which includes Strongbow cider and John Smith's beer, along with its operations in other European markets such as Belgium, Portugal, Ireland – plus its US and Indian businesses. "In a single step, we have created the world's fastest-growing global brewer," said Carlsberg Chief Executive Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen in a statement. "We now have full control of our destiny in Russia and other BBH territories." No final S&N dividend for 2007 will be paid.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for the food and beverage industry to adopt a uniform system of nutrition labelling to avoid confusing shoppers. “Parents tell me of their frustrations with the different food labelling they find on shelves when trying to make decisions on what their family eats,” he said during a keynote speech on health at King’s College London in January. “We are reviewing the multiple labelling systems currently in use, and I want to see consensus on a single labelling system, easily understood by consumers, which will deliver real improvements in the health of the country.” At present, major food and beverage manufacturers including PepsiCo and Kellogg’s use the Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) system, while supermarkets including Asda and Sainsbury’s use the “traffic light” system recommended by the official UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

NewTree, the company that invented a new approach to chocolate, combining great taste and health, has launched three exciting products. To develop these products, NewTree used a new Barry-Callebaut couverture chocolate responding to these needs: chocolates with an improved nutritional profile (less sugar and more fibre), without compromising taste. Hans Vriens, Chief Innovation Officer at Barry Callebaut, said: "Our goal is to make eating chocolate more permissible for the consumer. This is now possible thanks to a new technique, which allows us to maintain the fine taste of the chocolate, yet diminish the sugar percentage – and to add nutritional substances such as dietary fibre. This results in a delicious chocolate with an improved nutritional profile." Chocolate, already rich in valuable nutritional elements such as antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, can be part of a healthy and balanced diet. Barry Callebaut's chocolate with improved nutritional profile now gives the opportunity to add extra nutritional claims such as 'reduced in fat' or 'reduced in sugar and rich in fibers'. The chocolate manufacturer offers clients several services to work out the best recipe and best product placement on the market for the developed product – a concept already tested and approved by NewTree. Benoit de Bruyn, NewTree's Managing Director, said: "We're constantly pushing our limits to create innovative chocolates with an added value for the consumer. NewTree focuses on two aspects: great taste and health. Until now, no 'reduced in sugar' chocolate had met our organoleptical criteria. This new product of Barry Callebaut is the first we found! "Our chocolates also required extensive R&D work: we are indeed launching three great-tasting chocolates called Alpha, because they contain specific Omega-3 (good fatty acids) in addition to the new Barry Callebaut chocolate we use. We believe our latest innovation, with specific health benefits, has a bright future in the sector, as consumers are more aware of the relation between what they eat and their general wellbeing."