Bakery

Mooncakes and China: Think cosmopolitan, fat-free and green

23-Sep-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Young Chinese consumers have adopted global ideals around health and sustainability, driving a cosmopolitan edge to the country’s traditional Mooncake Festival, Euromonitor says.

Weetabix unveils Alpen bars for Chinese market

12-Sep-2014 By Lynda Searby

Alpen bars targeting busy professionals are the first Weetabix products to be formulated specifically for the Chinese market, following the UK company’s majority buy-out by Chinese conglomerate Bright Foods in 2012.

Weston Milling and AB Mauri merge in Australia

01-Sep-2014 By Kacey Culliney

George Weston Foods’ Weston Milling will merge with AB Mauri Australia/New Zealand to form a large bakery ingredients business across the region.

Kids’ cereal in New Zealand needs regulatory overhaul, say researchers

26-Aug-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Policies governing nutrient and health claims, labeling and use of mascots on breakfast cereals in New Zealand need a serious re-think, researchers say.

Mooncake Festival 2014: The biggest event in Asia’s cake calendar

26-Aug-2014 By Kacey Culliney

The annual Mooncake Festival celebrated in China and Vietnam is by far the biggest event for cake manufacturers in the region, says an analyst.

China’s bakery boom: How to have your cake and eat it

08-Aug-2014 By Kacey Culliney

China will become the world’s second most valuable bakery and cereals market by 2018, and understanding lifestyles will be key to capitalizing on this growth, says Canadean.

Pecans: America's forgotten nut?

29-Jul-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Pecans are not top of mind for US manufacturers and ingredient players but the antioxidant-rich nuts can move way beyond the famous pie, says the head of Georgia’s Center for Pecan Innovation.

“The IEA does not accept state money, and all of our research is independent of corporate funding.”

UK think tank denies Malaysian palm oil conflict of interest accusations

28-Jul-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has said categorically it does not accept state money, following accusations by a Malaysian media outlet that the UK think tank is in bed with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council and the country’s government.

China

General Mills spends big on Asian product development

16-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

In a move to channel more investment into its growing Chinese market, food major General Mills has opened its first major technical centre outside of its Minneapolis headquarters.

Australia

Goodman Fielder agrees to takeover bid from Wilmar and First Pacific

03-Jul-2014 By Andrew Schreiber

Iconic Australian food maker Goodman Fielder has finally agreed to an A$1.34bn (US$1.26bn) offer by Wilmar International and First Pacific Company to acquire the company after the last two bids were turned down.

Coles ‘freshly baked’ claims false, rules Australia Federal Court

18-Jun-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Australian retail major Coles misled consumers with false claims that its bakery products were ‘freshly baked’ in store when they were par-baked, the Federal Court of Australia has ruled.

Hard and crunchy = fewer calories?

21-Apr-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

Consumers perceive foods that are either hard or have a rough texture as having fewer calories, says a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Up to one-third of Indian grain being lost to substandard warehousing

10-Apr-2014 By RJ Whitehead

India needs around 43m tonnes of additional warehousing and storage capacity if it wants to reduce the amount of food grain that is at risk of being damaged by poor conditions.

Celiac Disease breakthrough?

Natural protein elafin ‘promising’ in battle against gluten toxicity: Study

08-Apr-2014 By Kacey Culliney

The human protein elafin could be delivered into the gut using a probiotic bacterium to reduce the inflammatory reaction typical of celiac disease, researchers suggest.

The FoodNavigator Forum

How does sugar affect health? Find out at FoodNavigator’s Sugar Debate: Separating Fact from Fiction

12-Mar-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Sugar – at least in excess – has been blamed for everything from heart disease to obesity and cancers in recent months. But is it as bad as all that?

Almonds & their skins show prebiotic potential: Human data

06-Mar-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Fiber-rich almonds and almond skin may selectively boost the populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut, says a new study funded by the Almond Board of California.

Something like a phenomenon: Bakery in China

19-Feb-2014 By Kacey Culliney

The bakery sector in China is a social phenomenon - considered by many as a trendy, Western sector, says a Shanghai-based consultant.

American Institute of Baking buys Chinese certification body

12-Feb-2014

The American Institute of Baking has entered into an agreement to acquire Beijing Sino-Swiss ADC, an officially approved certification body in Beijing, China.

Samjo starts up new plant with eye on China’s bakery market

28-Oct-2013 By Ankush Chibber

Korean food firm Samjo Celltech is set to begin production of sauces and seasonings at its new plant in the Chinese city of Weihai in eastern Shandong Province, the company said on Monday.

Chinese tastes moving to cereals in spite of last year’s predictions

17-Oct-2013 By RJ Whitehead

China’s bakery and cereal sector is expected to grow by almost US$15bn up to 2017 as this predominantly Western export continues to take hold in Chinese homes.

Sunsweet: Prunes are fashionable in Japan but face image problems in US

11-Oct-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Prunes hold bakery promise in Japan because they are fashionable and highly regarded for digestive health properties, but there are challenges in the US given the fruit’s image problem, says Sunsweet Ingredients.

RAN: Kellogg cannot deflect palm oil heat onto supplier

08-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Kellogg cannot shirk its palm oil responsibility by deflecting attention to its supplier, says RAN following a statement from Kellogg calling for productive talks between its supplier Wilmar and the environmental group.

Mrs Bector’s investor 'looking to divest stake in biscuits business'

02-Oct-2013

Rumours persist that one of India’s leading bakery and condiments companies is looking to sell off the controlling stake in its biscuits business to private equity investors.

Live from the 20th International Congress of Nutrition

Prof: 'GI can be more powerful obesity-fighting tool in Asia than the west'

20-Sep-2013 By Shane Starling in Granada, Spain

Prebiotics and other fibres have a big role to play in curbing spiraling obesity, diabetic and pre-diabetic rates in emerging economies like India and China, according to one respected nutrition academic here at the ICN in Granada.

Greenpeace and RSPO clash over forest fires

05-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Food companies that only use certified sustainable palm oil have been accused of “certifying destruction”, according to a Greenpeace report released to coincide with the first European Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) summit in Berlin this week.

One-third of Chinese faced with excess aluminium consumption

26-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Alum-based baking ingredients are to blame for almost one-third of Chinese people consuming quantities of aluminium above the recommended maximum safe level in their diets, according to new research.

Health awareness and scares behind rise of non-dairy toppings in India

22-Aug-2013 By Raynah Coutinho

Fueled by growing health concerns and new-found awareness of lactose intolerance among the consumers, India’s non-dairy toppings segment is growing in strength.

Machinery firm says Japan is 15 years ahead in cake innovation

20-Aug-2013 By Kacey Culliney

North America and Europe can learn a lot about cakes from Japan – a market that is significantly advanced in terms of innovation in the field, says cake machinery firm Masdac International.

Cargill registers concern with palm oil supplier about child labour allegations

01-Aug-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has accused Cargill of using child labour in its palm oil supply chain – and Cargill says it has registered its concern with supplier KLK.

Japan remains undecided on lifting US wheat ban after GMO scare

26-Jul-2013 By Kacey Culliney

There are no clear plans yet to lift Japan's ban on US western white wheat, a Japanese government official says following a meeting between its ministry and the USDA last week.

RSPO commends members on quick action to quench fires

11-Jul-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Five RSPO-certified palm oil producers accused of contributing to Indonesian forest fires have submitted digital images of their plantations in an effort to clear their names – and the RSPO has commended them for fast action.

Market research

Western tastes give pizza a bigger slice of China's prepared foods pie

10-Jul-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Ready meals will continue to lead the prepared meals market in China, but pizza is expected to show the fastest growth up to 2017, according to a new report by Canadean.

'Irresponsible marketing to children' complaint forces Kellogg Australia to pull TV ads

10-Jul-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Kellogg has pulled LCMs and Coco Pops television adverts in Australia after the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) upheld a complaint from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) that the marketing irresponsibly promoted high sugar products to children.

Sunfield Australia slammed with A$48,000 fine for repeated undeclared cake allergens

03-Jul-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Australian bakery Sunfield and its director have been convicted and fined for repeatedly selling cakes containing undeclared food allergens.

Analysis: GrainCorp takeover

All deals destined to go ahead as Australia surveys new Asian age

28-Jun-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Now the ACCC, Australia’s anti-trust commission, has given the green light to ADM’s proposed acquisition of GrainCorp, foreign interests will control all major grain handling facilities and grain ports in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and...

Interview

‘Milk protein products offer safe haven for embattled Chinese’

17-Jun-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Last month, Arla Foods Ingredients launched its new Nutrilac Natural Improvers range together in both Europe and China. The idea was to provide natural and functional proteins derived from milk to enhance the bakery process while still being able to list...

ACCC legal action lands Australian supermarket Coles in court over 'deceptive' bread claims

12-Jun-2013 By Nathan Gray

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has begun legal proceedings against supermarket chain Coles for alleged false, misleading and deceptive bakery claims.

Africa, Asia to lead rise in global sugar demand through 2021, report says

06-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

Rising demand in Asia and Africa will drive significant growth in global sugar consumption, according to a new Rabobank report. The report, Global Sugar to 2021, projects global sugar consumption to grow from 166 million tons to 203 million tons in raw...

Japan blocks wheat imports after illegal GMO crop scare in US

31-May-2013 By Kacey Culliney

The Japanese government has placed a temporary ban on Western White wheat imports after unauthorized genetically modified wheat was found growing in the US.

Egg and dairy free demands mount on top of gluten-free, says Foodstuffs New Zealand

28-May-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Sales of gluten-free bread and cereal in New Zealand are surging, but consumers are increasingly demanding egg and dairy free options too, according to grocery distributor Foodstuffs.

ADM edges closer to A$3.4bn GrainCorp takeover

29-Apr-2013 By Kacey Culliney

ADM will put forward a third, higher bid of A$3.4bn ($3.5bn) for Australian bulk grains specialist GrainCorp after a full financial review of the company.

China 'sparked idea' behind whey protein bakery improvers: Arla Foods Ingredients

25-Apr-2013 By Kacey Culliney

China was part of the inspiration behind the development of whey protein bakery improvers, a senior manager at Arla Foods Ingredients says.

High fructan barley holds wholegrain promise, says CSIRO

16-Apr-2013 By Kacey Culliney

A barley variety high in fructans and positively linked to improved gut health holds promise for wholegrain foods, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).

Australian tastes

Milk bars losing out to servos as Australia gains a sweet tooth

02-Apr-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Supermarket service stations are gaining ground on corner shops, and baked staples now losing out to chocolate and confectionery, according to new research from Australia.

LOOKING TO SPUR GROWTH IN AUSTRALIA?

‘Surprising’ opportunities for breads and rolls in Australia: Analyst

27-Mar-2013 By Kacey Culliney

There is huge potential in sliced bread and rolls in Australia as consumers look for cheap and easy lunch options in the wake of a turbulent economy, an analyst says.

Asian tastes

FoodNavigator-Asia

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