It seems that James Bond may be switching from his favourite vodka martini (shaken, not stirred) to a new non-alcoholic beverage: Coca-Cola Zero. Coca-Cola Great Britain has clinched a marketing deal with Sony Entertainment to link Coca-Cola Zero with the suave superspy’s latest cinematic adventure, 'Quantum of Solace', due to be released in the UK on 31 October. The company is producing a special limited edition package of the drink, rechristened 'Coca-Cola Zero Zero 7' in reference to Bond’s famous 007 codename. The British deal is part of a broader global partnership with Sony, and is Coca-Cola Zero’s first major international marketing collaboration since the brand was launched in 2006. 'Quantum of Solace', the 22nd Bond film, stars Daniel Craig in his second outing as 007. The film has been produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, and directed by Marc Forster. Edgier persona Bobby Brittain, Brand Director of Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this exciting project. “The new, edgier Bond persona is the ultimate embodiment of the Coke Zero brand personality, and is expected to deepen the brand's engagement with its core target audience of 20-something men." The launch of Coca-Cola Zero – unofficially dubbed 'Bloke Coke' – was the company's biggest brand launch since the arrival of Diet Coke almost 25 years ago. Coca-Cola Zero will be supporting the release of 'Quantum of Solace' with a through-the-line advertising campaign alongside promotional and on-pack marketing initiatives across a number of global markets.

As you know, the winners of the 2008 water innovation awards will be announced in Wiesbaden at the http://www.zenithinternational.com/events/event_detail.asp?id=52" target="_blank">5th Global Bottled Water Congresson 23 September 2008 as part of the Global Bottled Water Congress. A shortlist of finalists (winners and highly commended entries) has now been announced and they are listed below, in no particular order: Best bottle in PET Upland Natural Waters Sourcy (Vrumona BV) Chic (Sociedade da Agua de Monchique) Panama Blue (Panama Springs) Best bottle in glass Mist (Lucid Enterprises) Evian - Christian Lacroix design (Danone) Solé Arte (Solé Water) lverde (SPUMADOR Spa) Best label - sponsored by StoraEnso Walnut Grove (Vitro Packaging) Jupik Aqua (Hoop Polska Sp. Z o.o.) ganicwater (Ganic Consumer Products) Acqua Filette (Fonte Italia) Chic (Sociedade da Agua de Monchique) Beauty (Works with Water) Iskilde Best enhanced water concept Avra Herbal (Coca-Cola Hellenic Greece) Vitalis Smart (Unicer Águas SA) Nestlé Fitness (Nestlé Waters) used owater (owater) Best flavoured water concept ganicwater (Ganic Consumer Products) Formas Luso (Sociedade Central De Cervejas e Bebidas) Ritmo Luso (Sociedade Central De Cervejas e Bebidas) Best children's concept bot (bot beverages) Y Water (Y Water Inc) Iceni Water (Iceni Waters) Jupik Aqua (Hoop Polska Sp. Z o.o.) Best packaging innovation FLEX closure (SmartSeal) NitroPouch concept (Krones AG) Clean Valve for pouches (IPN Holdings BV) Best new brand or business - sponsored by IPN Isklar Y Water Iceni Waters Balance Water Company Best ethical or humanitarian initiative - sponsored by SGS Thirst Aid (Calypso) Pre-school water drinking programme (Eden Springs Israel) Tumai Water (Spero Group) PhilanthroH20 Give (PurBlue Beverages) Best marketing campaign Coca-Cola Beverages Austria Gerolsteiner Brunnen Highland Spring Coca-Cola Germany PepsiCo North America Eden Springs Israel * * Best environmental or sustainability initiative Isklar Carbon Action Plan pilot project (Highland Spring) Clean Valve for Pouches and pouch technology (IPN)

Britain's dairy industry has recently been on the receiving end of criticism over its impact on the environment. The dairy cow is widely blamed for contributing to the rise in greenhouse gases as she contentedly emits gas from both ends after chewing the cud. Yesterday the industry fought back on these and other issues affecting the public view of milk production. Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK, launched a drive to raise awareness of the sector's environmental progress. Speaking at Sorbie Farm, near Ardrossan, Ayrshire, he stated that there had already been massive improvements. "We are aware that we have to be in line with what our customers want and we do not want the government to impose regulations on us," he claimed. He instanced research work being carried out that would, in the medium term, see a 20% cut in emissions of methane gas by the ruminating cow. This, he said, could be achieved through improved knowledge of the animal's diet. The event's host, Alan Hogarth, who keeps 250 dairy cows at Sorbie Farm, is pioneering the use of an anaerobic digester to produce energy from the slurry they create. The gas produced on his farm amounts to 85,000 cubic metres a year and this is the equivalent of 170,000 kilowatt-hours. The gas is burned to produce electricity and heating for his farm, his home and a new milk processing and bottling operation. Slurry remaining after the gas extraction does not smell and cows can graze less than two weeks after it has been applied. But perhaps the best bonus for Hogarth is that, despite the cost of fertiliser rocketing in the past year, his own expenditure on bought-in fertiliser has fallen by 15% in the period. So far, the green energy produced on the farm is used entirely on site but Hogarth believes the government is falling behind practice in Europe, where energy produced from renewable projects yields higher payments than conventionally produced energy. His own plant was funded by the former Scottish Executive as part of a plan to reduce pollution on the beaches in nearby Ardrossan. These beaches have now been awarded blue flag status and Hogarth will shortly take over ownership of the digester. Plans at his farm are to further improve his green policies with the expansion of a milk round that he started in May. Running counter to national trends, where a larger and larger percentage of milk is traded by the major supermarkets, Hogarth, believes there is a real niche for milk delivered on the doorstep. Response has been good from the 400 households already supplied and he said customers were really keen on locally sourced milk, delivered in the traditional glass bottle and coming to the door via a small electric float. "We have a niche market and people who are getting my milk are now buying more per head than they used to. We wondered about using plastic bottles and we do use some for the retail market but the householder wants the recyclable glass bottle," he states. Collecting cash on the round is not the burden it once was. A quarter of customers pay through internet banking, taking away a great deal of the hassle from the job. Hogarth's ambition is to push his direct sales up to delivering to more than 1,000 houses by the end of the year. **

In a fast-paced world where consumers are becoming increasingly demanding and health-focused and environmental issues are a priority, SIAL 2008 offers a platform to help companies understand and break into tomorrow’s markets. The Paris-based expo covers a wide selection of industries and themes over five days. At least 5,500 exhibitors will attend from over 100 countries to present some of the 145,000 visitors with a multitude of innovations and up-coming trends. The event, which runs from 19-23 October at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in France, will be predicting important new food industry trends through the focus of five key themes: Innovation, trends, design and lifestyle at the Trends & Innovations Observatory, Retail World, SIAL d’Or and Food Design spaces. Natural, healthy and nutritious products can be discovered at the Nutrition Village, food & Beauty, health foods and dietary supplements areas. Sustainable development and Fairtrade are no longer just trendy buzz words, but economic imperatives. Companies around the world are implementing energy saving measures such as setting up eco-friendly factories and at SIAL 2008 80,000 recycled bags made from apple by-products will be handed out to visitors. SIAL also donates 50 tonnes of food products to charity. Global wine consumption is continuing its rapid rise, not only in established markets such as the US and the UK, but in the emerging markets of Russia, China, and South-East Asia. SIAL 2008 presents Best Buy, Wine Innovation Forum and the Wine Women Awards. > Finally, CIES and Buyers’ lounges, gala evenings and numerous awards ceremonies provide ideal environments where business meets pleasure.

The Coca-Cola Company is testing a fountain technology that can dispense more than 100 branded sparkling and still beverages from a single free-standing unit. The dispenser has been designed to pour a wide variety of brands in about the same space as today’s eight valve dispenser. The unit can be used for high-concentrate ingredients and micro dispensing, and introducing a new brand on this dispenser is about as easy as changing a print cartridge, the company claims. Coca-Cola North America FoodService and On-Premise President Chris Lowe, said: “We wanted a dispenser that offers consumers greater beverage variety while helping our customers increase beverage profitability. We started by ignoring preconceived notions of fountain beverages and explored how a fountain dispenser could look and work in the future.” Consumer tests run earlier this summer revealed that the satisfaction with the overall beverage experience increased 72% vs the current fountain experience. The dispenser also got high marks for ease of use, variety/choice, taste, value and fun experience. Second generation dispensers will begin testing in the first half of 2009, with a focus on performance, quality and reliability. A decision on commercialisation will follow completion of second generation tests. The dispenser also offers environmental and logistic benefits as the very high concentrate ingredients will reduce packaging waste and energy use, as well as significantly reducing the storage space required to support fountain dispensers.

*Described as a cosmeceutical vitality drink, this calorie-burning formulation from Marquis Platinum is said to deliver cellular refreshment, metabolic enhancement and mood elevation. * Containing pine bark extract and green tea catechins EGCG, Marquis Platinum is available in 355ml (12fl oz) cans.

*Arizona-based Boink International has developed Boink as a healthier energy drink using natural additives without caffeine. * The key ingredient is Cayenne pepper, which contains capsaicin – said to improve circulation and act as a catalyst for other herbs and nutrients. In 8oz PET, the drink is also said to boost alertness, metabolism and digestion.

The new drink is a citrus-flavoured, 44cl stimulation drink mirroring the adrenalin-filled drama on the US Counter Terrorism Unit.

Tomorrow, the Eighteenth Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting will stage what organisers believe to be the largest and longest running water tasting competition in the world. water innovation magazine has been invited to participate at the event held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Over 100 entrants are expected to compete in five categories: Municipal, Bottled Non-carbonated, Purified Drinking Water, Bottled Sparkling and the People's Choice Package Design. All day Saturday, the public will have an opportunity to vote for the People's Choice award for best packaging. They will also be able to taste water along with the distinguished panel of media judges. Watermaster Arthur von Wiesenberger, noted expert and author directs the challenge of evaluating a product where tastelessness is deemed by many as the most sought after quality. The unique event has been dubbed the "granddaddy of water tastings," by von Wiesenberger. We will reveal the results of the taste contest early next week.

Dodekamin Black from Asahi Soft Drinks in Japan contains seven energising amino acids, three vitamins and stamina boosting maca and guarana. A shelf-stable drink, the ingredient maca is usually associated with sexual energy. According to Mintel’s 2007 Energy Drinks US report, age plays a significant role in the consumption of energy drinks with 34% of consumers tending to be in the 18-34 age group, at least in the US.

DLR Associates in the US is aiming at Hispanic consumers with its 16oz Potencia Energy Drink. President Daisy Ramirez explained how the appetite suppressing ingredient tamarind is known to be beneficial for gut and colon health. Other ingredients include taurine, guarana, ginseng, niacin and vitamin C. Two more variants are planned.

*US-based 1in3 Trinity promises to "energise your mind and body with the fruit of the spirit". This pomegranate and grape flavoured energy drink seems to be the only energy drink with a religious positioning. * Containing taurine, caffeine, ginseng and ginkgo biloba, it's available through Christian cafes and fitness juice shops.