Kraft Foods Inc., one of the world’s leading food manufacturers, has announced optimistic progress in the middle of their three-year turnaround plan. At the Lehman Brothers Back-to-School Consumer Conference yesterday, the company outlined their plan to focus their attention on five categories, 10 brands and 10 markets. “At the midpoint of our three-year turnaround, we’re successfully rebuilding our brands through investments in quality, innovation and marketing across our global... ...Read more »
Anyone who owns or has recently visited a convenience store or supermarket is aware that energy drinks are hot. Leading market research firm Mintel reports that the retail market for energy drinks is now valued at $4.8 billion, a growth rate of over 400% from 2003, and they now believe the buzz for energy drinks is being transferred to food manufacturers. Drinking for energy The number of “energy drinkers” is still growing briskly, according to Mintel. In 2003, only 9% of adult respondents... ...Read more »
Leading food manufacturer Heinz has announced their Fiscal 2008 sales increased by 12%, as the company searches for growth from the booming health and wellness food sector. H. J. Heinz Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William Johnson advised that the surge in sales past the $10b milestone for the first time was driven by the successful introduction of numerous new products, many of them catering to the fast-growing healthy lifestyles segment. Growth in emerging markets such... ...Read more »
Cargill, a leading agribusiness company, believe that their new taste tissue imaging system will help food and beverage companies deliver better-tasting products to consumers. Cargill has received a patent for the breakthrough technology in taste tissue imaging and taste modification, and claim the system is superior to the cell screening technology currently available in the flavor, food and beverage industries. The patented technology will allow Cargill to effectively discover taste modifiers -... ...Read more »
The grocery sector has ended packaging growth in the UK despite a sharp increase in sales, the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) said overnight. WRAP has been working in consultation with the UK’s top retailers and brands to achieve this target and believe the sector is now on track to cut food and packaging waste. This success is the result of the ‘Courtauld Commitment’, according to WRAP. This is a voluntary agreement between WRAP, Defra (Department for Environment,... ...Read more »
As trying economic conditions dampen consumer confidence and spending in the US, Kraft has implemented a new strategy to help drive supermarket sales of their brands. The “Wall-to-Wall” sales concept has resulted in a change in the method by which Kraft representatives work with retailers. In essence it has led to greater contact and communication, with many Kraft sales reps now frequenting stores on a daily basis in an endeavour to boost sales. The reps are responsible for the majority... ...Read more »
Cargill has expanded its capabilities with the opening of a new Snacks and Cereal Product Innovation Centre in Minneapolis. The company are hoping the new research centre will enable them to help food manufacturers create innovative new products that drive sales growth. “The new facility unites Cargill’s product formulation and pilot plant scale-up capabilities under one roof, enabling the company to help customers accelerate new product development and testing and increase speed to market,”... ...Read more »
Wipak has created new films in their Walothen range which they believe offer a sound alternative to conventional coated films and increase efficiency. Walothen C 25 XLS E is an uncoated film that is capable of sealing at a temperature as low as 65° Celsius. The low-temperature sealing BOPP grades increase productivity during the packing process, according to Wipak. Packers can reduce costs and increase their output as secondary packaging (such as a carton) is no longer required and the packing equipment... ...Read more »
High-tech ice-cream and freeze-dried kiwifruit were on the menu at yesterday’s opening of a $25 million food pilot plant at Massey University - reportedly the most advanced facility of its kind in Australasia. The complex will be used for research and teaching as well as for commercial purposes, enabling companies to benefit from both the state-of-the-art equipment and the expertise of the largest cluster of food technologists in New Zealand. More than 100 visitors from across the... ...Read more »
Food manufacturers are to gain access to a new analyzer, which can efficiently determine moisture and fat levels in meat products. CEM Corporation, a leading global provider of laboratory instrumentation, has announced that AOAC International, a non-profit scientific association, has approved Official Method 2008.06, which utilizes microwave energy for direct moisture analysis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry (NMR) to determine fat content in raw and processed meat and meat products. The... ...Read more »