Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Food sustainability may aid Australian agri-woes

The food industry is failing to grasp the importance of adopting sustainable crop techniques to protect against the effects of climate change, says an expert on business agriculture.

Weekly Comment

Training the salt of the earth

On International Labour Day, workers across the world will be raising a glass in honour of the salt of the earth.

Association blasts New Zealand inspection plan

Plans by the New Zealand government to streamline meat inspections services to a single provider were branded as "misguided" late last week by one of the country's leading trade organisations.

Tate and Lyle expands Chinese presence

Tate and Lyle today launched a new production plant in Singapore that will allow it to ramp up production of its Splenda sweetener in the region.

Report highlights counterfeit food threat in China

The rapid growth of foreign food companies operating in China is driving the increase in the number of counterfeit goods in the country, says a new report.

PepsiCo feasts on snack growth for first quarter gains

Beverage giant PepsiCo has increased sales by about nine per cent to $7.4bn (€5.3bn) during a strong first quarter for the year, as it continues to expand its global operations, particularly through its snack and potato chip lines.

Danone on course for 2007 ambitions

Decline within Group Danone's Asian operations failed to dampen a strong first quarter performance for the company as like-for-like sales underwent a 10.1 per cent rise to €3.6bn.

Amcor cuts aimed at European turnaround

Australian-based packager Amcor said yesterday it will exit plants in Western European in a drive toward greater cost efficiency.

Special edition: Global food trade

Asia vital to future of Australian food exports

Australia's food and beverage sectors dominate the country's export market, but with global and regional trade becoming increasingly competitive, their continued health is far from certain.

URC plans snack spending for Asian expansion

Food group Universal Robina Corp (URC) plans to invest $40m (€29.5m) in expanding its biscuit and wafer production plants in Thailand and Vietnam to offset declining revenues from its more established markets like China.

Malaysian trade talks stall on GM labelling

The labelling of genetically modified (GM) goods within Malaysia has come further under the spotlight this week as the industry remains torn between its proposed bio-safety laws and free trade agreements between the US.

Bunge increases soybean focus with joint venture

Bunge is to increase its hold within the burgeoning Chinese soybean market through a joint venture with the Thai-based Charoen Pokphand Group.

Weekly Comment

Ditch the marketing madness

Marketing strategies - two words that incorporate everything from pseudo scientific research to shock value advertising campaigns. But shouldn't honesty be the best policy?

Arla milks Chinese potential with new plant

Danish group Arla Foods has started construction of a new powdered milk production plant, to expand its presence in the China's dairy sector.

Danisco turns to China for enzyme expansion

Danisco is to step up production of its enzyme products in the Asia Pacific region with the opening of a new production facility today in Wuxi, China.

Mass poisonings highlight China food safety concerns

The Chinese government is likely to come under further pressure to review its safety procedures following a recent wave of food poisoning outbreaks in the country.

Asia can make difference for Crown in 2007

Continued expansion in Asia and a 12.4 per cent rise in sales were the key highlights during the first quarter 2007 for international packaging group Crown.

South Korean-EU free trade talks imminent, says official

South Korea's food industry may benefit if government negotiations to form a free trade agreement with the European Union are successful.

Synergy invests in Asia markets with Thai technical centre

Synergy is opening a new technical centre in Thailand - a resource intended to help it tap local Asian markets and to lend its knowledge of western markets to manufacturers wishing to export to Europe.

Coca-Cola reaps global rewards

Beverage giant Coca-Cola has started the year on a high, posting its strongest first quarter results in half a decade due to growth in key international markets.

Nestle offloads dairy plant to milk core brands

Food Giant Nestlé has sold off one of its Vietnamese dairy plants to local group Anco Foods, as it looks to shift focus in the region to the production of its core brands.

Raise Australian drinking age to 20, says senator

An Australian political group has called for the lifting of the country's legal drinking age to 20, as part of plans to encourage greater responsibility amongst the country's drinkers.

Palm oil industry wary of uncertain futures

Malaysian palm oil futures hit an eight year high last week, as rampant demand by food and biofuels continues to deplete global stocks.

Weekly comment

Food contamination: time for action

At a time when so many resources are being pumped into improving consumer health through food, it is pitifully ironic that more and more people are getting sick or dying from what they eat because of safety slips.

San Miguel cans Del Monte venture

San Miguel is to sell its minority stake in Pacific-based Del Monte, which it holds in a joint venture with the NutriAsia group.

Late lager surge boosts SABMiller

Higher growth across several beer markets in SABMiller's final quarter has boosted the brewer's full year performance.

Asian growth drives CHS' grain profits

CHS this week announced a record profit of $218m (€168m) in its latest six months results, following strong growth in its grain and food processing segments.

Vietnam expects foreign investment boom

Vietnam can look forward to a sharp increase in direct foreign investment in 2007, with spending on new projects rising by 17.6 per cent, according to the government.

Industry must play part in sustainable tin mining, says expert

Food processors in Asia must pay the price if they wish to bring sustainability to Indonesia's blossoming tin-plate industry, a market expert has said.

Knives come out in Danone China dispute

The ongoing spat between French giant Danone and Chinese business partner Wahaha is no longer a laughing matter with the multinational threatening to go to the court over the disagreement.

Organic Standards talks to begin next month, says expert

The inaugural meeting of a new committee to establish guidelines for domestic and imported organic foods in Australia will take place next month, even without full industry representation, says an industry expert.

Weekly comment

You cannot judge a juice by its cover

Have you heard this one before? There are two blackcurrants, one has a high vitamin content and the other - well it doesn't.

Indofood pledges funds to expansion in 2007

Indofood, one of Indonesia's largest food producers has announced it is to plough the majority of its spending for the coming year into expanding its operations, following records profits last year, say reports.

Wahaha rebuffs Danone's advances

Chinese beverage group Wahaha has hit out at plans by business partner Danone to acquire the groups remaining assets.

National salt guidelines ignore WHO advice, says professor

Global salt intake is still too high, according to a leading academic, and many countries ignore the WHO's advice on a maximum intake of 5g/day by issuing guidance far in excess.

China to review food recall measures, says report

China's ministry of health is set to review its current food recall practices in a bid to adopt more stringent food safety practices amidst the dynamic growth of processing in the country, say news reports.

China to be leading consumer economy, says survey

A new survey of Asian business leaders has tipped China to rival America as the world's largest consumer economy, as it continues to witness dynamic growth in its food and industrial markets.

Folic acid fortification debate still proving divisive

Opinion remains divided over plans by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) for the mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid, following the publication of a new paper on the issue.

Pepsi goes local in Chinese expansion

PepsiCo expects to double its Chinese workforce over the next five years as it looks to meet growing demand for its products in the country.

Australia, NZ putting final touches to health, nutrition claims

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is ironing out the creases before finalising its proposed health and nutrition claims standard with nutrient profiling and percentage daily intakes up for comment.

Vinamilk begins SAB Vietnamese joint venture

Vinamilk, one of Vietnam's leading dairy companies is to team up with global brewer SABMiller as its looks to enter the country's dynamic beer market.

US-South Korea find last minute trade talks solution

South Korea and the US have finally come to an agreement over free trade talks just hours before a deadline to fast track the measures was set to expire.

Relief for GSK after successful Singapore vitamin test

GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Ribena range of juice drinks have been found to meet their stated claims of high vitamin C content in Singapore, according to the country's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

Australian organic standards group yet to be finalised

An Australian standards body working to establish a committee to rule on organic certification for domestic and imported food products has denied media reports suggesting that it has finalised representatives for the group.

Weekly comment

Wanted: testing for supplements

The dietary supplement industry needs an independent testing program that is recognizable to consumers in order to enhance the credibility of its products as well as encourage solid science and sourcing.