A new study, published in the 7 February 2012 issue of the journal Respirology, has drawn a link between high soft drink consumption and increased risks of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A team of researchers led by Dr Zumin Shi, of the University of Adelaide, conducted research on consumption of soft drinks from March 2008- June 2010. The researchers used computer-assisted telephone interviewing nearly 17,000 participants aged 16 years and older in South Australia between... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola has announced the final 50 names that feature on bottles of Coke across Australia for January 2012. Back in November 2011, the multinational beverage manufacturer announced that it would be extending its Australian ‘Share A Coke’ promotion. The promotion began in October 2011, when Coca-Cola South Pacific introduced 150 names to bottles and cans of Coke. The company allowed people a chance to vote for the final fifty names to be featured on Coke bottles in 2012 through its Facebook... ...Read more »

While the bad news for tomato-growers on Friday January 6, 2012 was that all Heinz tomato-sauce and ketchup ceased production in Australia, the big picture is that several massive investments in glasshouse tomatoes are creating opportunities for a new world-leading tomato industry in Australia. Many were disappointed by the Heinz closure of its Gigarre operation, which had been foreshadowed by Heinz  seven months earlier (as Australian Food News reported on May 27, 2011). Job loss concerns still... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has reported that its new technologies for the self-manufacture of lighter PET plastic beverage bottles delivered a reduction in the carbon footprint of each bottle by 22%. This is said to be equivalent to 1700 cars being removed from Sydney roads per year. CCA’s claims are set out in a detailed Corporate Responsibility Report issued this week by the company. The Corporate Responsibility Report ironically coincides with recent financial reporting by CCA that  featured its... ...Read more »

Coca Cola Amatil is expecting to make around A$165 million in profit from the sale of its shares in the joint venture beverage manufacturer Pacific Beverages to other shareholder, multi-national brewer SABMiller. Pacific Beverages brands include Peroni, Miller Genuine Draft and Pilsner Urquell. Coca Cola Amatil expects to record a profit of around A$60 million for 2011, comprising the above-mentioned profit less around A$105 million in the extra costs associated with the restructuring of fruit producer... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola has announced today its decision to extend its much talked about ‘Share A Coke’ campaign into 2012. The multinational beverage manufacturer is now asking Australians to nominate 50 new names to feature on bottles of Coke. In October 2011, Coca-Cola started introduced 150 names to bottles and cans of Coke as part of its ‘Share A Coke’ campaign. Coca-Cola South Pacific’s Marketing Director, Lucie Austin said, “The response from consumers and their interactions with the campaign... ...Read more »

The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers have given their approval for the use of steviol glycosides, a natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant, as an ingredient in foods and beverages in the European Union. The new regulatory policy will enter into force twenty days after it is published in the EU Official Journal.  This means that products sweetened with steviol glycosides could be available to consumers across Europe by as early as 3 December 2011. Steviol glycosides are considered... ...Read more »

American multi-national beverage corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, today reported strong third quarter and year-to-date 2011 operating results Releasing its third quarter results today, The Coca-Cola Company reported worldwide volume growth of 5 per cent in the quarter and 6 per cent in the year up to Tuesday 18 October 2011. It reported third quarter net revenues of US$12.2 Billion. The Coca-Cola Company reported growth in its sparkling beverages brands, with worldwide brand Coca-Cola volume growth... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Australasia (CCAA) has invested A$35 Million in new “blowfill” technology at its Thebarton production facility in Adelaide, enabling the company to design and manufacture its own bottles using less raw materials. CCAA’s Managing Director, Warwick White, described the new technology as the single largest capital investment in the company’s history, adding that it will fundamentally change the nature of manufacturing in the business. He said, “The introduction of this technology... ...Read more »

In a world-first Australian experiment, Coca-Cola is replacing the “Coke” branding with one of 150 of Australia’s most popular personal first names for its next summer marketing campaign. The company has allocated 268 million bottles and cans for personalisation. The campaign will include the use of Youtube and Facebook, encouraging people to promote the personalised bottles and broadcast their own names via SMS for display on a major advertising sign in Sydney’s King’s... ...Read more »