Experimenting with flavours, flexibility and variety, confectionery makers are thinking outside the bar to provide consumers with chocolate and confectionery innovation that will drive consumer purchasing over the next five years, according to the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) Confectionery Industry Trend Report 2009 from America. “Insight from the confectionery industry’s leading influentials provides an appetising future for consumers and the industry alike,”... ...Read more »
First there was wind and solar energy, now UK supermarket operator Sainsbury’s is opening a store where the checkouts will be powered by people.In a European first, Sainsbury’s is installing a revolutionary invention which creates green energy every time a customer simply drives into the car park to do their shopping. The system ensures that whenever a vehicle passes over the ‘Kinetic Road Plates’ in the car park, energy is captured which would otherwise be wasted. Sainsbury’s... ...Read more »
A showcase featuring some of the Australasian confectionery industry’s most innovative and ground breaking new products and services was a major highlight at the industry’s premier annual conference, ConTechPlus, held last month. The inaugural Supplier Innovation Showcase, run by the Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia (CMA) to celebrate confectionery supply chain innovation, attracted extensive interest from throughout Australia and overseas. The four finalists were Innovia Films,... ...Read more »
Biosilo Foods, an American company focussed on innovation in the food and beverage industry, has developed a snack called Gamer GrubTM, designed for “hungry gamers” who want to continue playing games while consuming snacks. Released last year, the product is on display at this year’s E3 Expo - world trade show for computer and video games, held this week in Los Angeles. Gamer Grub is designed to give gamers the opportunity to think faster and win more. The company says it is “formulated... ...Read more »
Kellogg Company, the world’s leading producer of cereal, has announced that it will add fibre to many of its ready-to-eat cereals in the US and Canada. In recognition that fibre is an important nutrient, and building on the company’s 100-plus year commitment to fibre, it proposes, by the end of 2010, nearly 80 percent of its US ready-to-eat cereals will be at least good to excellent sources of fibre. David Mackay, Chief Executive Officer of Kellogg says that the announcement is progress... ...Read more »
Media Cart, a computer screen fixed on the nose of supermarket trolley to provide targeted communication, will officially launch their first fleet of trolleys into Australia in October. The system offers shoppers access to a wide range of features including ads for store specials, a map showing product locations in the store and even nutritional information and recipes relating to products. The concept was developed by two Australians, David Brice and Geoff Brown, who were keen to create a more effective... ...Read more »
Unilever has reported organic sales growth of 4.8% for the first quarter despite a fall in volumes. The consumer products group said higher pricing had been a strong contributor to their growth and noted that their Australian operations had a strong quarter. “Organic growth of 4.8 % was underpinned by continuing double digit growth in our D&E (developing and emerging) markets and strong performance in our Americas region,” CFO Jim Lawrence advised. “Growth continues to be broad... ...Read more »
The latest Asia-Pacific Food and Beverage Business Vitality Index, produced by market intelligence firm Global Intelligence Alliance Group (GIA), has seen consumer products giant Unilever come out on top. The Anglo-Dutch company was the overall leader ahead of 20 leading food and beverage firms in the Asia Pacific region. The research looks into three dimensions: innovation, regional presence and revenue performance, to determine the potential impact of each business on the industry. American giants... ...Read more »
Fewer new products are showing up on supermarket shelves this year as companies temper innovation in an uncertain environment. New data from the Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows total food and drink product launches have been cut in half since last year (a 51% decline from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009). New product introductions also dropped markedly from the last quarter of 2008 - by 32%. Manufacturers typically release fewer new products during the first quarter of the year, but 2009’s... ...Read more »
Clean Seas Tuna has advised that its ongoing Tuna research and feed trials have been successful, with continuous spawning over a 35 day period from 12 March 2009 to 16 April 2009. In a world first, over 50 million fertilised eggs and 30 million larvae were produced. “Our dream has become reality,” Chairman Hagen Stehr proclaimed. “Hatchery staff at our Arno Bay complex, assisted by some of the worlds best propagation scientists need to be congratulated.” “The achievements... ...Read more »