Melbourne has long declared itself Australia's most caffeine-crazed city, but the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research reveal that Sydneysiders are the most likely to buy fresh coffee. [ + ]

CHEP is offering its customers a $100 discount on CeMAT Australia conference and workshop attendance fees. [ + ]

Krones recently achieved a significant milestone: after commencing manufacturing in 2007, the company has delivered its 100th shell-and-tube heat exchanger. [ + ]

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has awarded a fellowship to Dr Carol Lawrence, an environmental and sustainability specialist at UPM Raflatac Oceania. [ + ]

Given the increasing noise around sugar's ill effects on health, one would expect the sugar-free confectionery market to be booming. But this isn't the case: sugar-free lines accounted for less than 7% of global confectionery launches in 2014. [ + ]

H.J. Heinz Company and Kraft Foods Group have announced they will merge to become The Kraft Heinz Company.

Jamestrong Packaging Australia & New Zealand has become the first international associate member of Empac, European Metal Packaging, the association that brings together European producers of rigid metal packaging and their supply chain partners. [ + ]

The Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation is set to become the must-have achievement for packaging professionals, thanks to a new partnership announced by the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP). [ + ]

Several additives that claim to break down polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene are ineffective in landfill and composting, a new study has found. [ + ]

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), in collaboration with Emberin, has announced the launch of the 'Drive Your Career' mentoring program, designed to support men and women to reach their potential in the food, beverage, manufacturing and packaging industries. [ + ]

It seems logical: limit the accessibility of fast-food outlets and fewer people will be obese. The problem is that, as sensible as this sounds, it apparently doesn't work: a fast-food ban in Los Angeles has failed to reduce obesity rates or improve consumers' diets. [ + ]

What do you think of the new requirements for nutrition content claims about dietary fibre? The Australian Food and Grocery Council has applied to FSANZ to have the transition date extended by one year to January 2017. [ + ]

The www.foodprocessing.com.au website and newsletters have moved to a new platform. All the same great news, articles, case studies and products are now available on all the mobile platforms.

Think that diet soft drink will help keep the middle-aged spread at bay? Think again. Despite their name, 'diet' soft drinks have been directly linked to belly fat in older adults. [ + ]

While meat consumption has grown in emerging markets, it has actually declined in developed markets. Greece's recession led to a severe decline in meat consumption in 2014, while India emerged as the top-growing meat market in the world.