Focus on food security intensifies as politicians gather

18-May-2012 - Government should not rely on industry to fix the food chain, according to global charity Oxfam, speaking ahead of the G8 and Rio+20 Summits.

Yoplait processing reverts to France after Glanbia deal

18-May-2012 - Processing of Yoplait yoghurts for Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will revert back to France after dairy giant Glanbia’s sale of the franchise back to Yoplait.

LycoRed to target Eastern Europe

18-May-2012 - LycoRed plans to target Eastern Europe for sales growth, according to newly appointed global vice president of marketing and sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa Frederic Nanquette.

Cider drives profits for C&C

16-May-2012 - C&C Group has posted annual profit growth in its global alcoholic drinks business, driven by robust growth in cider.

Carbery explores flavours for ageing consumers

15-May-2012 - Carbery is exploring the potential of flavours to make protein-fortified products more palatable to ageing consumers, according to head of research and development Aine Hallihan.

C&C ripe for acquisition, says analyst

15-May-2012 - Drinks group C&C is ripe for acquisition, according to Phil Carroll, equity analyst at Shore Capital.

Zetar’s nuts hit by raw material price inflation

15-May-2012 - Zetar took a 5% hit in annual group revenue after exiting from low margin core commodity sales, particularly in processed and packed nuts, at the beginning of 2012.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil welcomes WWF review

14-May-2012 - The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has lent its backing to the WWF's Palm Oil Investor Review 2012.

News in brief

Thai firm implicated in Birds Eye bid

14-May-2012 - Thai food processor Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has been reported as a bidder for Europe’s Iglo Foods, which owns the Birds Eye brand.

Ireland launches technology transfer strategy for food firms

11-May-2012 - Ireland has launched a technology transfer strategy to support the development of its food and drink industry.

MEPs delay EFSA budget approval over conflict of interest and spending concerns

11-May-2012 - MEPs have voted to delay approving the way in which the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) spent EU funds in 2010 over concerns about possible conflicts of interest within the body and the high costs of its management board meetings.

Blommer predicts looming cocoa supply crisis

10-May-2012 - Demand for cocoa is expected to climb 30% in the next 10 years creating a 25% shortage of current supply, according to North American cocoa processor and chocolate ingredients supplier Blommer Chocolate Company.

Glanbia dismisses Dairy Ireland spin-off ‘speculation’

10-May-2012 - Demand for whey products underpinned a strong first quarter for Glanbia with analysts hailing an ‘encouraging start’ to the year, but the firm has dismissed talk that it plans to spin-off its Dairy Ireland business as 'speculation'.

News in brief

Bánáti steps down from EFSA board

10-May-2012 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced that Diána Bánáti has resigned as Chair and member of the Management Board, upon request.

Animal welfare concerns grow for food industry investors

10-May-2012 - Food processors across the globe face increasing pressure from investors to improve poor animal welfare standards, a leading financial expert and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) have warned.

Kemin debuts antimicrobial for ready-to-eat meat

09-May-2012 - Kemin has launched a new propionic acid-based antimicrobial ingredient for ready-to-eat meat applications.

Soaring demand for sustainable cocoa prompts World Bank to invest $55m in cocoa trader

09-May-2012 - A division of the World Bank has acquired a stake in cocoa trader Armajaro Trading to support sustainable farming practices and improve traceability within its supply chains.

Louis Dreyfus to acquire Imperial Sugar as investors try to block deal

09-May-2012 - Commodities group Louis Dreyfus has reached an agreement to acquire refined sugar processor Imperial Sugar for around $203m.

Dutch bar manufacturer VSI opens third factory

09-May-2012 - Dutch non-branded bar manufacturer VSI has begun operations at a €10m plant in Leerdam, Holland, which incorporates a research and development (R&D) centre and has the capacity to make triple-layered bars.

Symrise posts strong start to 2012

09-May-2012 - Symrise has unveiled strong first quarter results, buoyed up by performance in emerging markets such as Eastern Europe.