Italian cheese producer Biraghi's battle to keep a geographically
protected trademark for its products has gone sour after the a EU
court rejected its claims yesterday.
There was more trouble for Danone's joint-venture operations this
week as the company launched legal action against
Colombia-based rival Alpina in a trademark dispute.
The European food and beverage probiotics market is expected to
more than double by 2013, according to a market report, with the
proposed EU health claims rules presenting "untapped" potential.
Unilever's European workforce will bear the brunt of the company's
proposed 20,000 job cuts over the next four years, a company
spokesperson said today.
A cheese containing a Chr Hansen probiotic has been launched in
Italy, a move which reinforces the growing trend for
companies to use probiotics outside of the traditional yoghurt pot.
Chr Hansen regards nutrigenomics as technology to underlie the food
industry's future away from one-size-fits-all nutrition, and has
placed exploration of this area high-up on its R&D agenda.
Whole milk will not be blacklisted as a product unsuitable to be
advertised on children's television in the UK, the Food Standards
Agency has revealed.
Leading dairy group Fonterra has hit out at new government
legislation in its native New Zealand that will force it to supply
local rivals with more milk over the next two years.
Two former subsidiaries of Italian dairy group Parmalat have failed
in their attempts to win compensation from financial institutions
alleged to have played a part in its one time parent company's
financial collapse.
Groupe Danone expects to conclude its acquisition of nutrition
company Numico in the first half of November, the two companies
said today, setting a timetable for the French group's bid to lead
the field in health and nutrition.
Research conducted for Nutrinova on the impact of sweeteners on the
taste of no-sugar yoghurts could help manufacturers develop
better-for-you products that meet consumers' sweet taste needs,
says the company.
Danone yesterday announced a major restructuring of its senior
management as it continues to refocus its operations towards being
a leading player in health and nutrition.
Packaging group Tetra Pak had today revealed it remains on track
with its aim of a 10 per cent cut in CO2 emissions by 2010, in a
bid to reduce the environmental impact and costs of its operations.
Milk and cheese products are more than twice as expensive in the
rest of the 27 European countries than in Eastern Europe,
according to a Eurostat report.
Campina will end a local joint-venture agreement for private label
milk production in Thailand to concentrate on creating
yoghurt-based products with another.
Packaging group Stora Enso will invest €15m into liquid packaging
board production in Finland in a drive to boost competitiveness
within its operations.
Fonterra, New Zealand's largest food group has pledged to step up
its commitment to tackling climate change amidst new findings from
the country suggesting businesses could profit from greater
environmental concern.
There are difficult times ahead for the global dairy industry
as it strives to meet growing challenges over
preserving supply, says the head of the European
Dairy Association (EDA).
Danone's soap opera-like conflict with Chinese joint venture
partner Wahaha continued to escalate yesterday, with the Asian firm
attacking its newly appointed chairman.
It seems even dairy products are getting nationalistic these
days, as one of the UK's leading cheese producers aims to tap
growing Scottish pride with its latest cheddar range.
Two of France's largest dairy firms yesterday agreed to form a
joint venture in a move to adapt to the effects of
EU reforms on the country's cheese production.
Kiwis, conserved vegetables, milk powder, butter, ghee, baby food,
instant coffee, alcohol, drinks, confectionery, and hi-breed corn
seeds are among the most counterfeited articles in the world
according to a new report.
Major players within the dairy industry are beginning to witness
unwanted reminders of the high cost climate change could have on
their operations, as prices for raw materials like milk continue to
soar.
An ongoing dispute over just how sweet and wholesome milk really
is, could be about to get political, if Australia's shadow
agricultural minister gets his way.
Group Danone is experiencing further set backs to its plan to
expand its presence into Asia's booming dairy markets, as an Indian
joint venture partner turns the tables on the dairy giant,
according to press reports.
A legal disagreement between Danone and a Chinese business
partner today got personal, after the dairy giant was branded as
being "despicable" for launching a
court action in the US.
Greater supply of organic milk in the US is encouraging product
innovation, according to Organic Monitor, while the opposite is
true in Europe, where shortages are still pinching.
A new review of what influences children's food choices will help
food companies develop and market appealing products - and aid
bodies that regulate marketing practices, says publisher CCFRA.
Masterfoods' U-turn over its plan to reformulate its famous
confectionery brands using animal-derived whey sets a precedent
that will prevent any other food manufacturer from flying in the
face of the global trend towards the...
Dutch dairy co-operative Campina has said it will close one factory
and sell off another in order to free up more funds for added value
cheese and milk, two sectors set to grow strongly in the EU.
The emergence of foods based on nutrigenomics could spark a shift
in the landscape of the food industry, says HortResearch's Karl
Crawford, and the industry needs to start considering how it is
going to cater for consumer demands.
Regional cheese producers are enjoying a revival in the UK, but the
market as a whole is struggling to grow volumes against an
unhealthy image with consumers.
A group of UK celebrities led by the footballer Wayne Rooney's
fiancée have linked up with dairy firms to promote the health
benefits of milk among teenage girls.
Marketing strategies - two words that incorporate everything from
pseudo scientific research to shock value advertising campaigns.
But shouldn't honesty be the best policy?
A dose of early summer sun and talk of another record-breaking heat
wave around the corner has put the UK ice cream industry in a
cautiously optimistic mood for 2007.
Dairy industry leaders in the UK have welcomed an announcement from
supermarket giant Tesco that it would pay more money to dairy
farmers via new direct contracts.
Food firms should be crossing their fingers that a new French
president can blow away the black cloud hanging over consumer
confidence in the country, says a new survey.
Stage one of controversial new restrictions on advertising of foods
to children came into force in the UK this week, a move criticised
as 'draconian' by the country's dairy industry.
Big hitters in the food industry, including Danone, Unilever,
Nestle and Coca-Cola, have announced they plan to roll out a
nutrition labelling system based on Guideline Daily Amounts in
France.
