Danish ingredients group Danisco today inaugurated a new
application and research facility in China, which the firm hopes
will help it further expand operations in an "important growth
area".
French supplier Fytexia has launched three specialty ingredients on
the Chinese market in a bid to tap into the growing numbers
consuming food supplements in the world's fastest growing economy.
Ocean Spray is continuing to push into the Asia-Pacific
bakery market with a new partnership with Taiwan-based baker
ChiaTe, the company announced yesterday.
Swiss chocolate company Barry Callebaut is to purchase a 60 per
cent share of Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa Products in a move
designed to increase its sourcing capacity in Asia.
Japan's leading chocolate maker Meiji Seika has recalled a range of
confectionery products, after it was discovered that they contained
a novel sweetener made with an unapproved genetically modified
enzyme.
Ingredients company Danisco is responding to growing markets in
India with the opening of two new manufacturing units focusing on
functional systems and enzymes.
Dairy and ingredients firm Friesland Foods Kievit has constructed a
new drying plant in Indonesia for producing encapsulated
products to expand the group's portfolio in the wider Asian region.
Only one year after moving into Taiwan, US bakery firm Dunkin'
Donuts plans to open 100 new shops in Shanghai and the surrounding
provinces over the next ten years, the company announced last week.
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), a major soft drinks producer in Australia
and Asia, has acquired the country's Bluetongue brewery brand to
extend its premium beer focus in a bid to further diversify its
revenue stream.
Carlsberg will strengthen its position in Vietnam's burgeoning
economy with its new brewery built in association with a
domestic partner, the company announced this morning.
Energy drinks giant Red Bull may need to reconsider its expansion
plans for the Asia Pacific region if it is to capitalise on massive
potential in the area for energy drinks, says a new report by
Euromonitor.
Dutch infant nutrition group Numico is to increase its stake in
Indonesian company Sari Husada to capitalise on major growth in the
country for nutrition and health products.
Coca-Cola's Australasian bottler may offload its operations in
Korea, as it reviews its operations in the country amidst declining
sales of its brands, due to consumer health concerns.
Asia Pacific Breweries posted a 7.3 per cent rise in organic growth
through its first quarter results, as it increases its presence in
the region to meet growing demand for its products.
China, South America and Europe combined to offset disappointing
performances in North America and South Africa during brewer
SABMiller's third quarter.
Vietnam's first industrial park catering solely to food processors
is set to boost the country's position in value-added products for
export markets, says the project's founder.
VV Group, China's leading soymilk producer, has bought a stake in
an alcohol maker as it looks for more profitable business to
counter falling soymilk sales.
Three Malaysian oil plantation firms are to merge to create the
world's largest listed palm oil producer, accounting for 6 per cent
of global production, revealed adviser CIMB Investment Bank
yesterday.
Poultry processors in Australia are expected to implement
'significant price increases' for chicken meat, as drought leads to
surging grain prices, a major production cost for the country's
chicken farmers.
Belgian lactic acid producer Galactic will double capacity at its
joint venture plant in China to meet rising demand for the additive
in food production.
The rapid growth of China's fast food industry is boosting demand
for frozen French fries and other processed potato products,
helping to offset a downward trend in more mature markets due to
consumer health concerns, reveals...
Cocoa bean producer Pan Sino International has announced plans to
build Singapore's largest cocoa processing plant, increasing cocoa
bean supply for manufacturers.
Sterling Biotech has emerged as the world's second largest gelatine
producer after making its first international foray to acquire the
gelatine manufacturing facility of Chinese firm China Gelatin.
Australian dairies will drum up A$15 million in funding over the
next three years to support a new innovation centre that will be
tasked with finding ways to better compete with a challenging
marketplace.
Chinese dairy Yili, one of the country's top two, has increased
sales and profits in the first six months of the year despite
rising raw material costs, reinforcing its market share in the
fast-growing dairy sector.
New Zealand's meat promotion board launched an appellation for beef
sold in the important Korean market this week, in a bid to
differentiate its meat from its sizeable competitors, Australia and
the US.
Sugar growers in the Philippines are calling on the public to
boycott Kraft's Tang and Kool-Aid brands because the US firm
refuses to pay a sugar import tariff on the powdered beverages.
Prima Agri-Products, one of Malaysia's largest manufacturers of
Halal meat products, has joined up with Australian heavyweight food
maker, Comgroup, to help it tap growing demand for its products in
new markets.
New confectionery products and strong demand for beverages lifted
sales at Taiwan's Want Want Holdings by 28 per cent during the
first quarter, while higher margins helped it reduce the impact of
rising sugar prices.
Malaysia's largest soft drinks maker Fraser & Neave Holdings
says it will treble its exports sales in the next two years by
entering the Middle East's condensed milk market.
Asia Pacific Breweries is making headway in its aim to become the
region's leading brewer, with its first acquisition in the world's
second most populous nation, India.
Chinese dairies need to invest more in R&D to capitalise on
future growth in added value products like milk drinks, cheese and
yoghurts, advises a new report from consultants McKinsey.
Philippines-based Universal Robina will spend P5.6 billion (€87m)
this year to expand its branded foods range and increase its
presence in other Asian markets, URC president Lance Gokongwei told
reporters last week.
The world's biggest instant noodle maker, Indofood, said yesterday
that its 2005 net profit fell 68 per cent on the prior year to
IDR124 billion (€11.4m).
US soft drinks giant Pepsi opened its first research and
development centre outside the US in Shanghai yesterday, signaling
its commitment to the fast-growing Chinese market.
Uni-President, Taiwan's biggest food group, is looking for private
equity to allow it to expand further in the Chinese beverage
sector, according to a report.
South Korean brewer Hite announced Friday it work with Jinro, the
country's leading distiller, to create the leading bottled water
brand on the national market.
PepsiCo has announced it will invest another $850m in China over
the next three years in recognition of the country as a rapidly
emerging market for soft drinks and snack foods.
French dairy giant Danone has received approval from the Chinese
authorities to more than double its existing stake in China's
biggest dairy company, Tom Armitage reports.
Heineken last week announced its decision to acquire a 40 per cent
stake in the Chinese brewery Jiangsu DaFuHao, after intimating in
its February results that it would continue to look for investment
opportunities.
The future of the milk formula market in China lies with better
product quality and greater brand loyalty following the revelation
last year that much of the formula on sale there was fake. The move
towards higher margin products...
China is becoming an increasingly potent force in the worlds food
market, with sales continuing to grow each year in line with
substantial gains in consumer spending power, writes Chris
Jones.
Indofood, Indonesia's biggest food company, has reported 2004
profits severely hit by the devaluation of the rupiah, but remains
hopeful of an upturn in 2005 following efforts to reduce its
exposure to exchange rates and the...
