All news articles for February 2013

India’s domestic meat and poultry sector criticised

India’s domestic meat and poultry sector criticised

By Raghavendra Verma, in New Delhi

India’s domestic meat and poultry industry is struggling to break free from being a traditional backyard trade, even if its exporters are improving standards, a Meat and Poultry Summit organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in New Delhi...

Rising onion prices often lead to politicians' tears

Inflation in India

Rising onion prices often lead to politicians' tears

By RJ Whitehead

There’s always a weakness somewhere, and for the Indian government this is often the price of onions. And what must really be worrying the ruling politicians in New Delhi, as the finance minister delivers his Union Budget, is how the price of onions has...

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

By Mark Astley

Fonterra will invest more than NZ$100m ($82.4m, €62.8m) in a new ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk and cream processing plant in New Zealand in an attempt to meet growing Asian demand for heat-treated dairy products.

Sports legend meets pragmatism as a brand enters India

Gulfood 2013 blog

Sports legend meets pragmatism as a brand enters India

By RJ Whitehead in Dubai

It is hard for a food industry trade show to pack the same level of glamour as, say, the Tokyo Motor Show, so it’s probably best for organisers not to try. But every now and again, in a moment of wild abandon, a celebrity or sports star graces a show’s...

Don’t expect tax and excise sops from Budget 2013

Food for thought

Don’t expect tax and excise sops from Budget 2013

By Ankush Chibber

Its that time of the year again. Yes, I know that is a cliche home run to begin with, but then one would find it difficult to describe the excitement that builds up every year towards the Indian Union Budget without indulging in one or two cliches.

ABF calls Oxfam food ethics attack ‘ridiculous’

ABF calls Oxfam food ethics attack ‘ridiculous’

By Shane Starling

Associated British Foods – worst-in-class in an Oxfam report critical of 10 food giants for essentially operating under a corporate social responsibility (CSR) “veil of secrecy” – has hit back, slamming the report ‘s findings as “ridiculous”.

Australian Greens push government over animal welfare

Australian Greens push government over animal welfare

By Carina Perkins

Australia’s Green party has called on the ruling Labor government to “put their money where their mouth is” and make good on promises to establish an independent office of animal welfare.

The next big food gold rush

Gulfood 2013 blog

The next big food gold rush

By RJ Whitehead in Dubai

Teams from both the European and Asian editions of FoodNavigator are on the ground at Gulfood 2013 in Dubai, a food, processing, packaging and ingredients show which, according to its blurb, claims to be the biggest in the world.

Popcorn, spirits and Les Mis: an Oscar-winning combination

Film tipples

Popcorn, spirits and Les Mis: an Oscar-winning combination

By RJ Whitehead

With the film awards season now in full flow, an Australian market research company has identified that cinemagoers are more likely to have a tipple than those who stay in and watch the television.

Dohler expands MENA might with Delta Aromatic acquisition

Dohler expands MENA might with Delta Aromatic acquisition

By RJ Whitehead

Already a mainstay in the Middle East ingredients market, Dohler has now announced further expansion in the region following its acquisition of the fruit processing and flavour unit of Delta Aromatic in Egypt.

Vital for Indian quick-service chains to develop own infrastructure

State of the industry

Vital for Indian quick-service chains to develop own infrastructure

By RJ Whitehead

The rapid change in India’s food consumption habits has spurred domestic and foreign quick service restaurant (QSR) chains to implement aggressive expansion plans. And according to a new Rabobank report, this growth is set to accelerate. 

Starbucks still not sure how to go social

Food for thought

Starbucks still not sure how to go social

By Ankush Chibber

In his latest column, Ankush Chibber looks at Starbucks' latest social snafu and wonders why brands don't learn from their mistakes.

How high can high-end omega-3 go?

Special edition: Omega-3 (Editor's blog)

How high can high-end omega-3 go?

By Shane STARLING

Just got off the phone to Ola Snove, the new(ish) CEO of Aker part-owned Norwegian omega-3 specialist Epax. Wanted to know his view on high-end omega-3 prospects that have attracted BASF and DSM to the sector. His word: “Stellar”.

Doctors hit out at alcohol’s ability to self-regulate

Australian advertisers

Doctors hit out at alcohol’s ability to self-regulate

By RJ Whitehead

Accusing Australia’s alcohol industry of being incapable of self-regulation, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called on the government to launch an inquiry into alcohol marketing amid what it calls an unprecedented push by the industry to...

Trans-Tasman food groups at loggerheads over labelling

Country of origin

Trans-Tasman food groups at loggerheads over labelling

By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand’s commercial fruit and vegetable growers’ association has branded as ridiculous the latest claims by the Australian vegetable industry group, Ausveg, that Kiwi food manufacturers are bombarding their country with sub-standard frozen vegetables.

NT container deposit scheme moves to court

Testing the law

NT container deposit scheme moves to court

By RJ Whitehead

Following an ongoing furious stand-off between drinks manufacturers, environmental groups and the local government, the Northern Territory’s opinion-splitting container deposit scheme has now reached the point of litigation.

Its not just about the food

Subcontinent tastes

Its not just about the food

By Ankush Chibber, FoodNavigator-Asia columnist

In the second article in a new a series examining Indian diets and health, our resident food columnist tells a personal tale of how he has seen his own diet change with the times.

New dietary recommendations draw mixed reaction from experts

Aussie obesity

New dietary recommendations draw mixed reaction from experts

By RJ Whitehead

One of Australia’s leading nutrition bodies has given its resounding approval to the release of the Federal Government’s new Australian Dietary Guidelines, although not all food experts have followed suit with the plaudits.

Aussie producers: like lambs facing a lion

Food for thought

Aussie producers: like lambs facing a lion

By Ankush Chibber

Loyalty. It is the lynchpin of all commercial success. One regular, loyal customer is more valuable to an entrepreneur than 10 new ones.

Fonterra: Why we need to talk about what's in our food

Right to reply

Fonterra: Why we need to talk about what's in our food

By Theo Spierings, CEO of Fonterra Co-operative Group

Last week, we published a critique of Fonterra's actions during the DCD furore, which saw lengthy delays between identifying the presence of minute quantities of the chemical in the company's milk. Having requested a right to reply, Fonterra's...

Watching these ads is a fool's errand

Food for thought

Watching these ads is a fool's errand

By Ankush Chibber

I am going to tell you a story–quite a long one, but one that ties in with one of the most serious breaches of trust we face as consumers. Now let me begin.

UAE, Dubai granted dairy export approval – camel milk processor

UAE, Dubai granted dairy export approval – camel milk processor

By Mark Astley

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dubai have been granted final approval to become the first Middle Eastern country to export dairy products into the European Union (EU), one of the region’s largest camel milk producers has revealed.

Wheat the high point of a heat-affected Australian harvest

Cropping a blow

Wheat the high point of a heat-affected Australian harvest

By RJ Whitehead

Heatwave conditions from early January and below average rainfall across Australia’s major agricultural regions have resulted in a less than favourable summer cropping season, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and...

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