*ExtendSnacks, manufactured by US company Clinical Products Ltd, has extended its range of "around the clock glucose control" products with ExtendShake. * The nutrional shake formula claims to be backed by six clinical studies, to help control hunger, avoid blood sugar lows and highs, and provide energy that lasts – benefits that are of great value for diabetes, weight management or fitness-minded consumers. Developed by endocrinologist Dr Francine Kaufman, ExtendSnacks have earned 15 patents worldwide to date. Dr Kaufman is head of the Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, a past president of the American Diabetes Association, and is featured regularly as a medical editor and adviser to the media. “No other snack food brand is backed by such in-depth and credible science, yet we present a simple glucose and hunger control programme," said Vijay Chauhan, President of ExtendSnacks. "That simplicity makes a real difference in our everyday lives." ExtendShakes are sold in convenient 32g powdered packets that mix easily with skimmed milk or water. There are five packets per retail carton in three flavours: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. ExtendShakes are low in fat, contain 15g of protein, 5g of fibre, and are fortified with 24 vitamins and minerals.

*Scottish bottled water company Highland Spring has revamped its Gleneagles mineral water bottle. The new-look identity is available through a selection of the UK's most exclusive hotels and restaurants. * Gleneagles is also sold in selected markets in Europe, the Far East and the US. The brand is the only bottled water stocked by the Scottish Whisky Heritage Centre. UK communication specialists 999 Design won the contract to rebrand the identity of Gleneagles and communicate the elegance, style and quality of the brand. The design company has been working with Highland Spring for over five years. The firm has offices in three locations: Glasgow, London and Manchester. 999 Marketing Director Gavin Clark commented: “Gleneagles water is a very elegant brand with an exclusive customer base and 999 is delighted to have worked on such an exciting project. Our brief was to develop a new identity worthy of the brand; which is served in some of the best restaurants and hotels across the UK and overseas. Mr Clark highlighted that the stylised lettering that appears in liquid form on the bottle helps to communicate how stylish and refreshing Gleneagles is. Richard Beeston of Highland Spring said: “In rebranding Gleneagles our objective was to enhance its premium, sophisticated image and reflect the superior quality of the pure Scottish water and the iconic award winning glass bottle. Mr Beeston explained that the Gleneagles brand has luxury positioning at fine dining venues and said he was pleased with the creative execution or the rebrand which has been welcomed by customers and executives within the on-trade.

A diet high in dairy calcium may aid weight loss, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity. Dr Judith Bryans, Director of the Dairy Council and Registered Nutritionist said: “Previous studies have shown that consuming low-fat dairy, as part of a calorie controlled diet, may have a beneficial effect on weight, but how it may do this is unclear. It has been proposed that calcium may reduce fat absorption. This study therefore investigated the effect of dairy calcium on fat excretion.” In this study men and women were given a high-calcium diet for seven days, followed by a one-week break, and then a low calcium diet for a further seven days. The fat levels excreted by the participants during both calcium diets were analysed and recorded. Low-fat dairy foods were the main source of calcium given to the participants, and the researchers found that increasing dairy calcium from 700mg/day to 2300mg/day more than doubled the fat excreted by the participants. They suggested that the calcium may decrease the amount of fat absorbed by the body and this could potentially lead to weight loss. Another new study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism, found that consuming three portions of dairy a day, as part of a healthy balanced diet may help with weight maintenance. The subjects were put on a weight-loss diet for the first three months. Those who lost 10kg or 10% of their body weight, were then divided into two groups and followed for a further six months to see if they would maintain their weight. The first group ate three servings of dairy each day, while the second group ate less than one. At the end of the study, both groups had similar weight and body composition despite a greater calorie intake by the group which had more dairy. Dr Bryans continued: “This is another very positive study, as the researchers concluded that recommended levels of dairy may be included as part of a weight maintenance diet without contributing to weight gain.” In this study a serving of dairy was 1 glass (240ml) milk, 1 pot (227g) yogurt or 42g hard cheese. In the UK, the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) of calcium for adults is 700mg per day, and to achieve this The Dairy Council recommends 200ml of milk, 150g of low-fat yogurt or 30g (matchbox size) of hard cheese.

*The V8 brand is updating its classic 'Could've Had A V8' advertising campaign with a new twist to motivate people to get more vegetables in their diets. * 'Long Live Vegetables' features real people, over the age of 60, who all have two things in common – they're extraordinarily active for their age, and they drink V8 100% vegetable juice nearly every day. In the ads, an 83-year-old competitive water skier, 66-year-old wingsuit flyer and 67-year-old stunt car driver are seen in action, but their ages aren't obvious. As the ads play out, the truth is revealed, creating a 'wow' moment for viewers. The spots end with: "'Could've had a V8', she/he just did." This is the first time the V8 brand has used real people in its advertising, as opposed to actors. Senior Brand Manager Greg Dolan said the idea of using 'super seniors' was born out of the brand's mission to help nourish people's lives and motivate them to get more vegetables every day, as part of a healthy, active lifestyle. "For most people, the expectation is that getting older means slowing down," said Dolan. "We took a different approach with 'Long Live Vegetables' by using real people's extraordinary stories as inspiration for everyone to live life to the fullest, no matter what their age." In fact, the casting call specifically sought adults over the age of 60 who engaged in strenuous activity, had a youthful vibrancy and would be seen as everyday heroes to typical people. And, of course, they had to be regular V8 drinkers. One of the people selected for the ads, 83-year-old Frances Woofenden of West Palm Beach, Florida, said she hopes this campaign excites people to try new things, including getting more vegetables in their diets. "When I heard about the search for people to star in the 'Long Live Vegetables' campaign, I was excited to try out. I love V8, and I want to help educate others about how easy and important it is to get more vegetables in your diet," said Woofenden. "Eating healthy and getting regular exercise have been key factors in my ability to competitively water ski at the age of 83, and if I can do it, I believe others can too." In addition to the three television commercials, the 'Long Live Vegetables' campaign also includes four print ads that feature two other personalities, Dr. Sherman Bull, the oldest person to summit Mt. Everest at the age of 64 and Joyce Gladstone, 75, winner of the senior karate board-breaking championship. The campaign, created by Young & Rubicam, New York, will run on television, in print publications and online starting in November.

*Cumberland Packing Corp is launching a 100% natural, zero-calorie sweetener in a green packet called Stevia Extract In The Raw. * Already available in national supermarket chains such as Meijers, A&P and many others, high consumer interest has resulted in exceptional, early sales. Relatively new to American consumers, stevia extract is derived from the leafy green foliage of the stevia plant, native to South America, and used indigenously as a sweetener for over 400 years. It has also been vastly popular in Japan for over 30 years and commands just over 40% of the sugar substitute market there. What's different now is the new extract is 99% pure, meaning the previous licorice like aftertaste associated with its predecessors has all but been eliminated. All that's left is the natural sweetness of the Stevia leaf without any calories. "Stevia Extract In The Raw is only the second addition to what we hope will be a growing 'In The Raw' family of products," explained Jeff Eisenstadt, President and CEO of Cumberland Packing Corp. "Like our 'Sugar In The Raw' flagship brand did 20 years ago, Stevia In The Raw is breaking new ground in the natural foods market as a cutting edge, 100% natural sweetener. Our 'In The Raw' customers can now enjoy two of the best natural sweeteners on the market." Jeff continued, "We're using the term 'Get Raw' to describe a new state of mind already very prevalent with our customer base. 'Getting Raw' means getting natural – getting back to basics and doing the right thing for your body, the environment and the people around you. It's a powerful idea that we hope to incorporate with charitable programs that will make a difference in this regard."

The new site is designed to 'showcase the brand’s unique contribution to Australia’s diverse food and beverage culture'. As well as listing the full range of Schweppes mixers, cordials, traditional soft drinks and mineral water, the site features reviews of leading restaurants, cafés, bars and nightspots across the country, and offers complimentary beverage and meal vouchers. The company says proudly: “From iconic outback pubs to hidden inner city bars and restaurants, Schweppes have gone out of their way to reveal the diverse skills, cultures, and personalities that sustain Australia’s outstanding food and beverage culture. “One-on-one interviews with top Australian chefs, baristas, and restaurant owners are a central feature of the site, and provide subscribers with up-to-date insider information on issues such as seasonal specialties, local produce and regional events.” After spinning off its North American drinks business as the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) earlier this year, Cadbury announced it was also reviewing the future of Schweppes Australia. Industry insiders have little doubt that the Australian drinks business will eventually be sold off – when market conditions and the price are right. Potential buyers for the business are thought to include Australasian Coke bottler Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), Australian soft drinks maker P&N Beverages, and the Japanese giants Kirin and Suntory (the latter having just clinched a deal to buy the New Zealand drinks group Frucor from Groupe Danone of France). As well as distributing Schweppes in Australia, Cadbury also markets a range of beverages including Cottee’s cordials, Spring Valley Juice and Solo bottled water, and also produces PepsiCo beverages for the local market.

**The Financial Times has selected WaterAid for its 2008 FT Seasonal Appeal.** WaterAid is an international charity with a vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. The seasonal appeal will include a series of articles from November through to mid-January, highlighting WaterAid's work. The articles will feature WaterAid's initiatives in some of the poorest countries in Asia and Africa, enabling people to gain access to vital water, sanitation and hygiene education. It's hoped this special series will encourage readers to donate to WaterAid and greatly increase awareness of the importance of water and sanitation worldwide. Previous appeals have raised over £2.2m ($3.7m) for other charities. Lionel Barber, Editor of The Financial Times, said: "This year's FT Seasonal Appeal charity has, for the first time, been selected by FT staff from around the globe. We're delighted to be supporting WaterAid and we hope this campaign will help place water and sanitation issues further up the global agenda."

Superfos, manufacturers of injection moulded plastic packaging, has developed a tool that enables precise calculations of the carbon footprint of each packaging solution. The goal is to reach lower CO2 emissions through green innovations. The packaging manufacturer has an ongoing focus on reaching a smaller carbon footprint. The CO2 tool calculates each packaging container’s precise CO2 emissions through the choice of raw material, energy consumption in production, transport and disposal. “The calculator is both an important part of our carbon footprint strategy and our response to an increasing customer wish combined with a lack of market standards in this field. "Though packaging accounts for only 10% of an average product’s total CO2 emission, there is still room for improvement. And precise calculations give us a head start on reaching a smaller carbon footprint because it enables us to pick out the best way to take action,” said Product Design Manager Torben Noer from Superfos. As energy systems and waste disposal are very different from country to country, it used to be difficult to calculate the actual footprint on each market. However, this problem is solved in Superfos’ calculator. A real break-through, according to Torben Noer: “Our calculator enables us to differentiate between the waste handling, energy systems and recovery systems in each market including whether there is a recycling system or not. "Furthermore, the calculations show that the use of virgin plastic is environmentally expensive, so we are focusing on various ways to reduce the need for virgin material. In one calculation, natural fillers save about 7 grams of CO2 on each container. Added up to a million containers, this equals the CO2 emission from an average car driving all the way around the world!”

Leading water cooler manufacturer Ebac has appointed Laura Newby and Julia Harte to its UK team to boost sales and support infrastructure in the UK. Laura, who has been promoted internally because of her excellent customer relationship skills, will be working closely with Julia, who has a Masters Degree in Business Management as well as three years' experience of Sales Management. Laura and Julia’s main focus will be promoting the newly launched FMax POU water cooler, which has seen an incredibly high demand for demonstrations. Julia said: “We’ve been astonished at the amount of people who want to see the new FMax POU, and I’m looking forward to getting out there and showing off this revolutionary cooler. There seems to be a real buzz around this product, so I’m excited to have joined Ebac at this time.” Laura added: “We’ll also be looking to improve the support system for our customers when they need help and assistance. Other companies have sales staff that won’t offer any technical support, whereas we want to provide the complete solution to our customers from one person.”

*UK dairy company, Arla Foods, has appointed Samantha Glassford as Brand Manager on one of its fastest growing brands, Lactofree. * Samantha joins the team after 18 months as a Retail Consultant for retail marketing agency, The Bezier Group – working on Argos, Boots, M&S Finance, Cadbury, GSK and Unilever – and prior to that, as Product Marketing Manager for Mamas & Papas. Samantha, whose experience includes delivering bespoke insights to influence and shape retail marketing campaigns alongside in-store environment and shopper interaction projects, will work closely on the implementation of the lactose-free brand’s in-store activation and drive forward its on-going national advertising, PR and digital strategy campaigns, most notably on the brand’s new product development. Lactofree launched in 2006 as the UK’s first ever lactose-free dairy drink. The portfolio now includes natural and flavoured yogurts, recently launched in all major supermarkets, and Lactofree cheese, which will launch in January 2009. Both foods were hailed as ‘most missed’ by those with lactose intolerance following consumer insight. The new yogurt and cheese will be accompanied by an extension of the Lactofree milk range, with whole milk standing alongside its already existing semi-skimmed milk variant. Samantha Glassford commented: “It is an extremely exciting time to join Arla and manage an innovative brand like Lactofree as it undergoes considerable growth. I am very much looking forward to taking a hands on approach to deliver new above and below the line campaign strategies and working on products that makes such a difference to consumers and their lifestyles”.

Food processing and packaging solutions supplier, Tetra Pak, has announced global availability of Tetra Gemina Aseptic, a roll-fed gable top shaped package with full aseptic performance for the packaging of both juice and milk-based products. Two new package sizes have been commercially released in the Tetra Gemina Aseptic family: Tetra Gemina Aseptic 500 ml Square and Tetra Gemina Aseptic 750 ml Square. The new sizes open up opportunities for customers to enter alternative retail channels, and develop new products at attractive price points. The Tetra Gemina Aseptic package is also available in 500 ml, 750 ml and 1000 ml sizes. Tetra Pak has produced more than 400 million Tetra Gemina Aseptic packages to date based on the leading Tetra Pak A3/Flex platform, which has been deployed in Spain, France, Russia, Portugal and Kazakhstan. 80% of customer orders for the Tetra Pak A3/Flex for Tetra Gemina Aseptic include the new QuickChange option. QuickChange conversion between Tetra Gemina Aseptic package sizes enables customers to quickly change package sizes to respond to market preferences, seasonal cycles or new promotional opportunities. Independent research in eight markets using a sample base of over 1,500 consumers shows that the Tetra Gemina Aseptic package delivers an attractive design, excellent functionality and product differentiation. The research conducted in 2007 also confirmed that the package's unique top and distinctive shape combined with easy handling and high pouring performance provides convenience to the end user. With Tetra Gemina Aseptic, customers and retailers benefit from strong shelf-impact and the advantages of ambient distribution, at a competitive cost.

*The European Parliament has voted in support of an EU-wide School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which urges an expansion in the EU programme for distributing fruit and vegetables in schools. * The aim is to encourage healthier eating habits in children and combat the obesity epidemic. MEPs would like to see more funding for the programme and they also suggest giving priority to local seasonal produce. The <1> was adopted with 586 votes in favour, 47 against and 41 abstentions. The European Commission has proposed a budget of €90m for this programme for the school year 2009-2010. This budget is not enough, argue MEPs: it is equivalent to giving every child aged 6 to 10 one piece of fruit a week for 30 weeks. The scheme should consist of a portion of fruit per pupil per day and not only be aimed at school children aged six to ten years, as the Commission proposes. Niels Busk said: "The best thing would be for every child to have a piece of fruit every day and that means more money from the Community budget. The majority of the Agriculture committee agreed on a number of €500m and National co-funding. "I don't necessarily agree with that, I hope we can correct it in the vote. On behalf of my group I have proposed that €350m should be set aside plus contributions from the Member states, that would give you a lot more than a total of €500m." The report also calls for the practical arrangements for the programme to be clarified. MEPs say it should cover only fresh fruit and vegetables produced within the EU and not processed fruit and vegetable products. In response to this last requirements OIETFL, the European Association of the EU's fruit and vegetable processisng industries representing the interest of the manufacturers of canned, frozen and dehydrated vegetables, claimed that it was incorrect to to state that processed fruit and vegetable products are of lesser nutritional value. OIETFL President Mr. Garcia Gomez commented on the scheme: "The key point is to provide the Member States with sufficient flexibility to let them decide how best to implement schemes at a national or even regional level, taking into account diverging national nutritional recommendations and cultural habits." <1>: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=5665632