The latest study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, in the USA, has raised fresh debate over the regulation of Bisphenol A (BpA), a chemical compound often used as protective lining on the inside of cans containing food or beverages. The Harvard study’s findings were published on 22 November 2011, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers say their study is one of the first to quantify BpA levels in humans after ingestion of canned foods. Exposure... ...Read more »

Whilst growth in the iced coffee market continues to be dominated by Asia, levels of interest elsewhere in the world appear to be growing according to figures released today by international research body, Innova Database. According to Innova, the demand for iced coffee drinks appears to be growing, not only geographically, but also beyond its original home in the foodservice sector of many countries, particularly the USA. Innova Database’s research found that Asia accounted for nearly three-quarters... ...Read more »

Greek yogurt sales in the USA have increased by a staggering 2500 per cent in the last five years, making it one of the fastest growing products on the market. Figures from Swiss global financial services company UBS, show that Greek yoghurt brands are driving the vast majority of yogurt category growth in the USA, with sales growth exceeding 100% each year. According to UBS, in 2008 overall yoghurt category sales in the USA were dominated by traditional (non-Greek) yogurt, which represented 98%... ...Read more »

Sara Lee has entered an agreement to sell its North American refrigerated dough business to fellow US food group Ralcorp Holdings. The two companies said today (9 August) that Ralcorp would acquire the business for US$545m. It manufactures a range of private-label products including biscuits, crescent rolls, pizza and pie crusts and toaster pastries, which are sold to food and mass retailers. Sara Lee announced in May this year that it was evaluating strategic options for the business, which... ...Read more »

China is set to overtake the US as the world’s largest grocery market for the first time by 2014, new research has suggested. According to market research firm IGD, the Chinese grocery market will grow to a value of EUR761bn (AUD$1,202bn), outstripping the US that is set to be worth EUR745bn in four years’ time. IGD said that the Chinese economy was not as badly hit by the global economic recession as the US. Meanwhile, the IMF has predicted that Chinese economic growth could outstrip... ...Read more »

US researchers have suggested that organic products are failing to gain mainstream appeal in the country, despite increasing retail penetration and media attention. According to research firm TABS, there has not been a growth in the number of consumers who purchase organic products over the past 12 months. “The usage results for our latest study were remarkably similar to the results from last year’s study. Organic food and beauty products continue to be niche products, they have not... ...Read more »

The consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry (in the USA) performed significantly better than the rest of the market in 2008, as measured by the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Averages, besting both by at least ten points, according to a report released today by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). The study also found that CPG manufacturer median sales grew approximately 10 per cent last year, down just slightly from 2007 median sales figures. The... ...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 »