Drinks

A supply chain cannot be run from an office, according to Adams

Site visits fundamental to securing growth: CCE boss

By Nicholas Robinson

Steve Adams is a sensation at Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE). A former electrical apprentice, he rose to become CCE group director of supply chain operations for Great Britain in April last year, following a four-year stint as operations director at the...

AG Barr is a sponsor for the Commonwealth Games

AG Barr’s game plan to boost image and sales

By Nicholas Robinson

Irn-Bru beverage manufacturer AG Barr is looking to this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to provide a boost to its image and sales, on a par with that achieved by Coca-Cola at the 2012 UK Olympics in London.

Britvic's Fruit Shoot brand has recovered its market share

Robinsons, J2O dampen Britvic stills performance

By Rod Addy

The weaker performance of Robinsons and J2O hit Britvic’s still drinks volume sales in its first financial quarter (Q1), struggling against rivals’ promotions, despite Fruit Shoot’s recovery.

Investment in premium chocolate maker Lily O'Brien's is one of the latest deals to be announced

2014 food deals – momentum builds

By Rod Addy

A flurry of UK food industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A) could take place in 2014 as sales already underway conclude and large firms seek to boost their equity.

Unite the union has claimed victory in its pay row with the Gaymer Cider Company

Gaymer cider workers claim victory in pay battle

By Michael Stones

Workers at the Gaymer Cider Company in Shepton Mallett, Somerset have claimed “victory” in their pay dispute with owner C&C Group, after being offered an unconditional 3% pay increase.

Consumers voted Tropicana Trop50 most innovative product in the drinks category

Consumers prefer low calorie and convenient innovation

By Rod Addy

Aerosol ham, self-cooking meals and non-melting ice cream are among the innovations consumers would like to see from food manufacturers, according to an independent survey by market analyst TNS.

Adams said the centre will have the capability to train up to 20,000 people a year

Coca-Cola Enterprises’ centre to attract industry recruits

By Nicholas Robinson

Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE) latest education centre will attract young people into the food and drink manufacturing industry and play its part in helping to train around 20,000 people a year that pass through the centres in total when it opens in Milton...

Tea sales were strong at ABF during its first financial quarter

ABF growth dampened by sugar price drop

By Rod Addy

Plunging world sugar prices hampered sales growth for Associated British Foods (ABF) in the first quarter of its current financial year, but its Twinings and Allied Bakeries brands delivered strong performances.

Action on Sugar aims to raise public awareness about sugar and how much of it is in foods

Sugar substitution way to escape public shaming

By Rod Addy

Food manufacturers should substitute sugar with other sweeteners more or face public shaming and risk missing significant commercial benefits, according to a prominent nutrition policy expert.

Recalling problems: Of the 55 alerts issued last year by the FSA, 45 involved product recalls

Cross-contamination and mislabelling causes most product recalls

By Rick Pendrous

Factory contamination of food and drink by pathogens and physical contaminants continues to present problems for the industry, according to an assessment of the reasons behind food alerts issued last year by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Lucozade used images of sports stars in its ad campaign

Sports drink ad claims attacked

By Rod Addy

A Lucozade Sport ad campaign has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for falling foul of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims rules.

Brewery firm’s cost bebefits from gas burner

Gas burner optimises brewing

Installing a TX 30 modulating gas and air burner system from Lanemark International has brought cost and efficiency benefits to AB UK's new brewery.

Sports drinks market topped by vanilla flavour

Vanilla flavour for high-protein products

Synergy’s recently launched powdered vanilla flavours for high-protein products were designed to deliver high-impact flavour in the challenging sports nutrition segment, where vanilla tops the popularity stakes.

Suntory's purchase of Lucozade and Ribena was the biggest food industry deal in 2013

Top 10 food industry deals in 2013

By Rod Addy

Interest in food and drink mergers and acquisitions (M&A) should rise in 2014, according to a report shortly to be published by London-based Oghma Partners.

Coca-Cola Enterprises 'absolutely committed to manufacturing at Wakefield'

Union threatens demo over Coca-Cola job cuts

By Rod Addy

Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE’s) move to lay off 47 employees at its Wakefield site has prompted trades union Unite to schedule a demonstration over what it believes are unnecessary plans.

Canadean Ingredients claimed online discussions painted stevia in a more positive light than other sweeteners

Stevia gains popularity on web, according to research

By Nicholas Robinson

More negative online discussions surround aspartame than other sweeteners, as consumers become embroiled in the bitter debate surrounding the health benefits offered by sugar alternatives, a new study has claimed.

Absolut Vodka has blazed a trail with its distinctive packaging

Absolut Vodka makes pack-to-pack difference

By Paul Gander

For premium brands looking for a point of difference, Absolut Vodka has blazed a trail with a second range of unique bottles, providing pack-to-pack as well as brand-to-brand differentiation.

The FSA has released pictures of the product under investigation

Source of killer cocaine drink still unknown

By Rod Addy

Food safety authorities are racing to trace the source of a Caribbean soft drink linked with a death in Southampton after it was found to contain dangerous levels of cocaine.

EFSA's aspartame opinion was debated at a House of Commons event

Aspartame sparks methanol row at food forum

By Nicholas Robinson

Experts have rubbished claims that the methanol content in aspartame threatens consumer health, following the publication of a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) risk assessment.

EFSA: aspartame consumption at recommended levels does not increase risk of cancer

Aspartame safe at current levels, concludes EFSA

By Nicholas Robinson

Aspartame posed no threat to consumers at current recommended levels of consumption, the outcome of a recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) risk assessment concluded yesterday (December 10).

The FSA's Committee on Toxicity stated the study raised no public health concerns

Sweetener backed by research before EFSA verdict

By Rod Addy

Controversial sweetener aspartame has sparked no health concerns in a study reviewed by the Food Standards Agency’s Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer products and the Environment (COT).

Irn Bru manufacturer AG Barr's results impressed City analyst N+1 Singer Equity Research

AG Barr results impress City analyst

By Michael Stones

Soft drinks manufacturer AG Barr’s third-quarter results have impressed City analysts N+1 Singer Equity Research and Investec.

The new distillery and visitor centre for The Macallan brand is expected to be finished in spring 2017

Scotland welcomes £100M Edrington distillery investment

By Rod Addy

Edrington Group’s £100M investment in a new distillery for its iconic brand The Macallan has been hailed as “phenomenal” by Richard Lochhead, the Scottish government’s rural affairs secretary.

Cargill has blended extracts from the stevia plant with high maltose syrup for its latest low-calorie solutions

FOOD INGREDIENTS EUROPE 2013, FRANKFURT

Multinational firms prepare for half-calorie drinks

By Rod Addy

Major soft drinks companies are gearing up to launching products with half the calories of current versions, thanks to proprietary technologies just hitting the market from ingredients developer Cargill.

Diageo is offering a deal to offset competition concerns about its whisky interests

Diageo mulls sale of Whyte & Mackay distilleries

By Rod Addy

Global drinks giant Diageo has confirmed it is considering selling most of the Whyte & Mackay (W&M) whisky distilleries it gained by taking over India’s United Spirits.

ProwLiz soluble wheat protein would suit a range of drinks, including colas

FOOD INGREDIENTS EUROPE 2013, FRANKFURT

Protein prominence grows with Cargill’s ProwLiz blend

By Rod Addy

Food ingredients giant Cargill has launched a vegetable protein formulation enabling soft drinks manufacturers to make ‘source of protein’ claims and the company plans further work on proteins in the future.

It's a goal – the FIFA World Cup and other sporting events will boost demand for international food, drink and grocery products, predicts Mintel

Top four shopping trends for 2014 named by Mintel

By Michael Stones

The top shopping trend for food, drinks and other grocery items next year will be towards products with international links, predicts market research organisation Mintel.

Slip up in the shops: 'Occasional errors do slip through,' admitted a spokesman, commenting on the autheniticity of price promotions

Supermarkets are guilty of ‘dodgy discounts’: Which?

By Michael Stones

Supermarkets should drop their “dodgy discounts and misleading multi-buys” and be more open with consumers who are increasingly worried about rising food prices, according to consumer watchdog Which?

Paterson has called on more firms to follow Sheperd Neame's lead

Follow brewers’ waste water lead: Paterson

By Laurence Gibbons

Environmental secretary Owen Paterson has called on food and drink businesses to follow the lead of Shepherd Neame brewery, after it completed a £3M development to cut water waste at its Faversham site in Kent.

Food and drink industry people on the move – in October

Food and drink industry people on the move – in October

By Laurence Gibbons

A government reshuffle, which saw food and farming minister David Heath and fisheries minister Richard Benyon both lose their jobs, leads our selection of people on the move in the food and drink industry this month.

Leeds Brewery offers four permanent beer brands, plus a range of seasonal varieties

Supermarket deals boost Leeds Brewery growth

By Rod Addy

Deals with Tesco and Sainsbury have helped build Leeds Brewery's sales, co-founder Sam Moss claimed, as it announced planned expansion of production and pub operations after securing £395,000 from Santander Corporate & Commercial.

A selection of Britvic brands

Britvic: Fruit Shoot market share recovers

By Rod Addy

Fruit Shoot has finally regained the market share it had before the recall that dented brand owner Britvic, with one analyst claiming overall financial performance heralded ‘a new chapter’ .

Menezes: 'Headwinds in some emerging markets'.

Analysts critical of Diageo results

By Rod Addy

Diageo’s first quarter (Q1) results were “a miss” for one analyst, while another claimed its performance was “muted” for the three months to September 30.

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