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Convergence ‘megatrend’ will marry soft drinks to dairy in 2012, Rabobank

22-Feb-2012 - Consumer demand for health and wellness beverages worldwide is leading to greater convergence between soft drinks and dairy beverages, according to Rabobank.

DAIRY MAN OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY

Dairy man of the month – Albert Adroer (Premium Ingredients)

22-Feb-2012 - DairyReporter.com asked Albert Adroer, general director of Spanish functional ingredients firm Premium Ingredients, what makes him tick in the dairy world, and also how he unwinds in the fair Spanish city of Barcelona.

France calls on Commission to ban Monsanto GM corn

22-Feb-2012 - The French Government have called on the European Commission to suspend the authorisation to grow Monsanto’s genetically modified MON810GM corn seeds in the EU.

News in brief

Probiotic penetration: Yakult takes a shot at Southern India

22-Feb-2012 - Yakult Danone India has announced that it has launched probiotic health drink Yakult onto the Southern Indian market, with the product now on sale in the city of Hyderbad.

Ingredients and flavours strong for Kerry within ‘stable, unsurprising’ results

21-Feb-2012 - Favourable consumer trends for healthy formulations and natural flavours ensured steady growth in the ingredients and flavours segment of Kerry Group.

CSM profit slump prompts rethink

21-Feb-2012 - Ingredients firm CSM has taken a 30% profit plunge in its 2011 results as it looks to refocus its strategy, which will lead to job losses.

Policy must underpin Irish export growth in 2012

20-Feb-2012 - Growth opportunities in Ireland’s food and drink export market will continue amid volatile domestic conditions, but government policies need to align with and underpin industry growth strategies, according to Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII).

News in brief

Flavour success underpins’ strong’ Givaudan results

20-Feb-2012 - Swiss flavour and fragrance giant Givaudan has reported strong sales momentum in its Flavours Division, despite “a challenging business environment.”

Sugar report reignites GDA and traffic light debate

17-Feb-2012 - UK consumer advocates Which?, evaluating sugar levels in breakfast cereals, claim manufacturers need to better inform busy parents and other consumers about the ingredients in their cereals, claiming that traffic light labelling is the most blatant way of doing so.

New impetus behind ProTerra standard aimed at accelerating take-up of non-GM soy

17-Feb-2012 - In a bid to encourage more food manufacturers to switch to non-GM soy, cereals and grains, a new not-for-profit organisation and consumer orientated logo has been set up around the established ProTerra standard.

Ukrainian cheese producers must look beyond ‘unreliable’ Russian partner, analyst

17-Feb-2012 - Ukrainian cheese producers must look beyond their ‘unreliable partner’ Russia in an effort to secure new markets for cheese in regions such as the EU, according to a locally based analyst.

‘We are quite nothing in Asian dairy’, Danone CEO admits

17-Feb-2012 - Danone CEO Franck Riboud admits his company is ‘quite nothing in Asian dairy’, but says the French giant is not prioritising that category within the region, and will take time developing its business there.

News in brief

Kraft appoints new legal head

17-Feb-2012 - Food giant Kraft Foods has appointed Gerhard "Gerd" W. Pleuhs to lead its global legal team after its current head plans to leave in April.

Kellogg becomes #2 global snacks firm with Pringles buy; analysts react

16-Feb-2012 - Kellogg’s $2.7bn deal to acquire Procter & Gamble’s Pringles will significantly boost its global snacks presence and open existing products up to new markets, according to analysts.

Sun sets in East: Emerging markets deliver for Nestle in 2011

16-Feb-2012 - Food giant Nestle has recorded modest growth in 2011 driven by strong performance in China and other emerging markets leading its CEO to say wealth potential is moving from West to East.

Wider appeal in ‘free from’ foods is redefining requirements

15-Feb-2012 - The gluten-free segment is set to rapidly grow, driven by a wider appeal from health-focused consumers but manufacturers must be innovative with taste and texture amid an expectant consumer group, according to a new Leatherhead report.

P&G sells Pringles to Kellogg after Diamond deal loses its luster

15-Feb-2012 - Procter & Gamble has struck a $2.7bn deal to sell Pringles to Kellogg after its $2.35bn deal with former suitor Diamond fell through following a probe into its payments to walnut growers.

Thorntons plans store closures as profits slump

15-Feb-2012 - UK chocolatier Thorntons has suffered a 63% decline in profits in its half yearly report and intends to close almost half of its own stores and focus on commercial retail sales.

Chr. Hansen promises bigger holes in Swiss cheese with new cheese culture

15-Feb-2012 - Chr. Hansen has launched a new propionic (organic acid) culture for Swiss cheese that it says significantly cuts fatty acid content in comparison with past products, while the company claimed it also has a ‘less soapy and pungent’ flavour than other cultures tested.

Corn Products International to change its name to Ingredion

14-Feb-2012 - Corn Products International has unveiled plans to change its name to Ingredion to better reflect its role as a supplier of a broad range of ingredients.

Female consumers target of energy drink innovation in Sweden

14-Feb-2012 - Marketers in Sweden are targeting women with new product launches in the energy drink segment while organic and fair trade versions are also showing growing appeal in that market, claims Euromonitor International.

Kraft, General Mills and ConAgra: analysts’ tips on Pringles suitors

14-Feb-2012 - Kraft Foods is the likeliest candidate for Procter & Gamble’s Pringles brand after a deal with Diamond Foods looks lost, though other candidates may be lurking, according to analysts.

News in brief

Commission backs German firm Saria's bid to acquire meat companies

13-Feb-2012 - The European Commission has approved the bid by German company Saria Bio-Industries for joint control over Dutch group Teeuwissen Holding and Spanish company, Jagero II.

Treatt aims for full-flavoured jalapeno distillate, without the bite

10-Feb-2012 - Demand for increased taste, odour and aroma without the heat has driven the development of a savoury jalapeno flavour application that can be used in sauces, dips and beverages.