New distributor plans organic assault
New UAE distributor Organic Larder wants to bring organic foods off the speciality shelves and into the mainstream, but its founder says Middle East consumers are slow to change.
Archives for April 4, 2016
Egypt sugar firm gets $100m EBRD equity injection
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will invest US$100m in Savola-owned United Sugar Company Egypt (USCE), to boost Egypt’s agribusiness sector.
Iranian doors open, but buyers yet to enter
Sanctions may be lifting but challenges remain for Iranian exporters, according to Pars Emerald Pistachio, which is aiming to focus on quality to expand its international sales.
Salt stimulates passive eating of fatty foods: Study
Salt provokes fatty food eating, and can even trigger increased food intake among people who have a preference for less fatty foods, Australian researchers have found.
Al Rawabi sees 15% growth, plans $21m investment
UAE dairy firm Al Rawabi will invest US$21.7m this year to boost production and enter new markets across MENA, after achieving 15% growth in 2015, the company announced.
Dr Pepper Snapple increases investment in Bodyarmor
Dr Pepper Snapple Group has increased its equity investment in the makers of premium sports drink brand Bodyarmor.
Caveman Foods CEO: There should be a Paleo set in every store
Though not everyone is convinced that the dietary rot set in once we stopped hunting and gathering and started to grow crops and raise animals for food, there’s no doubt that the ‘Paleo’ diet is gaining traction, and Caveman Foods – the brainchild of...
US pork body praises government efforts to curb antibiotic resistance
The National Pork Board in the US has praised Barack Obama’s administration for a draft proposal on combating antimicrobial resistance, which it claimed mirrors steps already taken by American pork producers.
Vegan meal delivery service Veestro will expand with $1.5 million fundraise
An infusion of $1.5 million will help vegan meal delivery startup Veestro fully take advantage of growing consumer demand for organic, plant-based food and ready-to-eat meals delivered to their doors.
Cross contamination at fault for Salmonella positive chocolate
Cross contamination was the most likely reason for a false-positive result for Salmonella in chocolate bars, according to a study.
Mintel: Asia-Pacific market is being shaped by four key ‘mega-trends’
Healthier alternatives, brand story, visual eating and changing lifestyles describe the four key food and drink trends in Asia-Pacific, according to market intelligence agency Mintel.
Bone broth pioneers level-up with new branding, packaging that will elevate category overall
As the nascent bone-broth category comes into its own, early pioneers in the space are rebranding with professionally polished packaging that communicates their products’ benefits and points of differentiation to better take advantage of the segment’s...
Tereos & Cornelius Nordic ink Scandinavian partnership
Cornelius Nordic has secured distribution rights for Tereos in a Scandinavian partnership that will target the Danish and Swedish markets for ingredients such as starches, glucose syrups and polyols.
Lake District Biogas - green energy from Cumbrian cheese
Clearfleau, a British provider of on-site treatment solutions for the food and beverage sector, is commissioning a plant that will feed bio-methane into the gas grid in rural Cumbria in the UK.
Philippines exporters make record $110m from Gulfood
Firms from the Philippines booked more than US$110m in sales at Gulfood in February, beating last year’s total, but challenges remain for exporters to the Middle East.
WHO: Governments responsible for beating diabetes epidemic
The World Health Organisation has called on governments in South Asia to take vigorous and concerted action to “prevent, treat and beat” diabetes, which has reached epidemic proportions and is expected to further increase in coming years.
India
Foodpanda to offer money-back guarantee on 45-minute deliveries
India’s biggest online food ordering platform, Foodpanda, has introduced a money-back guarantee that food will be delivered within 45 minutes.
Sugar reduction now a 'key mindset' of consumers, survey shows
Reducing sugar intake has become a key concern amongst many European consumers, with a quarter of those surveyed now preferring low sugar food products, a 2,500-strong survey has found.
Israel-Palestine meat crime gang busted
A string of people have been arrested after Israeli police discovered a meat smuggling syndicate suspected of transporting meat from the West Bank into Israel and selling it with forged kosher certificates.
Peter Kölln expands oat flake range after Ishida upgrade
Peter Kölln & Co, which produces oat flakes and muesli, has expanded its oat flake range after partnering with Ishida to upgrade its packing line.
Mexico’s nascent organic meat sector could be lifted by EU deal
The EU and Mexico have launched talks to deepen their trading relationship by negotiating a bilateral trade agreement on organic products. Such a deal could give a much needed shot-in-the-arm for the Mexican organic meat segment.
Japan struggles to meet Middle East wagyu beef demand
Japanese wagyu beef is a hit in the Middle East, but producers are struggling to export to regional markets because of Halal issues, according to a Japanese food importer in the UAE.
WTO ruling on Russia’s trade ban expected this week
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) will secretly announce its verdict on Russia’s EU pork trade ban this week, according to an official following the case.
South Asia radius
Regulator issues post-Maggi clarification on MSG stance
The presence of monosodium glutamate from natural sources in noodles and pasta is not illegal under food safety legislation, India’s food regulator has announced in a bid to end confusion over the taste enhancer’s status.
Beta-alanine supplements may allow middle aged people to exercise for longer
Twenty-eight days of supplementation with 2.4 grams per day of beta-alanine was associated with longer workouts for middle aged men and women, and improvements in cognitive function, says new data from SUNY University at Buffalo.
VMG Partners & TerraVia launch algae-fueled investment vehicle TerraBrands
It is only a matter of time before microalgae becomes a mainstream food ingredient, predict the founders of TerraBrands, a new partnership between private equity firm VMG Partners and microalgae specialist TerraVia (formerly known as Solazyme).
5-Hour Energy awarded $20 million in counterfeiting case
5-Hour Energy has settled its claims against most of the more than 70 defendants named in a high-profile, consolidated lawsuit concerning a nationwide counterfeit operation.