New Zealand’s infant formula export brand is being put at risk by “inexperienced companies cashing in” on booming demand from China, according the Infant Nutrition Council (INC). The INC, which comprises the major manufacturers and marketers of infant formula in Australia and New Zealand, said the issues facing the infant formula industry are not about composition, but claims that have been made. “Recent media reports have highlighted that companies that lack basic supply chain integrity... ...Read more »

The espresso machine and coffee giant Nespresso has announced that three of its most popular ‘limited edition’ flavours – Vanilla, Dark Chocolate and Caramel – are returning as part of the permanent Nespresso Grand Crus range. Nespresso, which is an operating unit of food manufacturing giant Nestle, said it had reintroduced the flavours, based on feedback of its Club Members, as ‘Vanilio’, ‘Ciocattino’ and ‘Caramelito’. The new permanent flavours are combined with the ‘Livanto... ...Read more »

The espresso machine and coffee giant Nestle Nespresso said it has taken inspiration from Italy’s coffee culture to create two new limited edition coffees, which will be released in April 2013. Nestle Nespresso, which is an operating unit of food manufacturing giant Nestle, said the two new ‘Limited Edition Grand Gru’ coffees are based on the distinct coffee cultures of the Italian cities of Napoli and Trieste. The two new flavours are named after the cities. The ‘Nespresso Trieste’ flavour... ...Read more »

Chinese authorities have destroyed nearly two tonnes of chocolate cake imported into the country by furniture giant Ikea on the grounds that the cake violated food quality standards. The Shanghai quarantine bureau said it also destroyed batches of Kraft cream cheese and 2.7 tonnes of Nestle chocolate bars in its latest round of quality inspections on imported products. The agency said it destroyed 1,872 kilos of chocolate almond cake imported by Ikea that were said to contain unacceptable levels... ...Read more »

Nestle CEO Paul Bulcke has used his keynote speech at the ‘City Food Lecture’ in the United Kingdom to highlight the threat of water scarcity to the food industry. Citing figures from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Bulcke predicted that population growth and an increase in meat consumption would  increase the pressure on water supplies. Water scarcity, he said, will be the cause of huge food shortages in the next 15 to 20 years. “This is an issue that must be addressed... ...Read more »

Nestle Australia-owned Jenny Craig has assured its Australian consumers that there is no need to worry about horse meat in their ready-made weight loss meals. Jenny Craig Managing Director Amy Smith told Australian Food News today that there was no horse meat in its products, following news earlier this week that Nestle had found traces of horse meat in some other pasta brands sold in Italy and Spain. “In Australia and New Zealand, Jenny Craig sources 100 per cent of its red meat from Australia,”... ...Read more »

Nestle Australia’s chocolate favourites such as Kit Kat, Smarties and Club chocolate will now be sourced from “independently certified sustainable cocoa.” In what Nestle describe as an Australian-first, all cocoa for its retail confectionary business will be sourced from certified and sustainable farms which aim to eliminate the use of child labour and ensure a sustainable supply of cocoa. Nestlé Australia Business Executive Manager Confectionery and Snacks, Martin Brown said the 10-year “Nestle... ...Read more »

Hong Kong citizens taken action to designate baby milk formula as a “reserved commodity” following insufficient supplies in Hong Kong. The reasons for the short-term shortage of infant formula in Hong Kong is due to mainland Chinese stocking up on infant formula prior to the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, when the majority of stores in Hong Kong and China will be closed for ten days. Following Hong Kong government restrictions on the amount of infant formula that can be purchased, a petition... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last week announced that it would not oppose the proposed acquisition of Pfizer Nutrition, a global infant nutrition business, from Pfizer Inc by Nestlé S.A after accepting a court enforceable undertaking. However, the undertaking requires Nestlé to license Pfizer Nutrition’s Australian infant nutrition business’ brand portfolio to an independent purchaser to be approved by the ACCC. Nestlé and Pfizer Nutrition are two of the three largest... ...Read more »

Nestle, owner of Nespresso, and Starbucks Corporation, which own the Starbucks Verismo system, are in a heated battle over the global single-serve coffee market.  The coffee pod market is booming globally. Nespresso is already hugely popular in Australia, where Starbucks’ single-serve coffee machines are yet to be released. Nestle Nespresso have a number of different machine manufacturers including Krups, Turmix, Delonghi and Magimix. Market research company Euromonitor recently also reported... ...Read more »