Industry News
New AIP labelling course and site visit announced
The AIP has announced a new half-day training course: Labelling and Matching the Label with the Package. Delivered in conjunction with UPM Raflatac, the course will be held on Wednesday 23 July. [ + ]
tna expands food processing offering with FOODesign acquisition
Food packaging company tna has acquired Oregon-based FOODesign, expanding its portfolio to offer manufacturers a range of processing solutions. FOODesign will retain its brand and be integrated into the tna group. [ + ]
Arle Capital acquires Innovia Group for €498m
Arle Capital has acquired Innovia Group from the Candover 2001 Fund for €498 million with funds raised from a syndicate of new investors. This means that ownership remains with funds managed by the same international private equity company. [ + ]
Five-year plan to strengthen Aust sugar industry
Sugar Research Australia has announced a five-year strategic plan to strengthen the sugar industry. The plan includes efficient plant breeding, minimising pests and disease, optimising farming systems and production techniques and developing economically viable alternative uses for sugar cane. [ + ]
Nutricia expands milk drying and packing capacity
Nutricia has announced plans to acquire a spray dryer from Gardians, which produces nutritional dairy products, in addition to the blending, packing and can-forming business of Auckland company the Sutton Group. [ + ]
ACCC takes action against Coles for "unconscionable conduct"
The ACCC has alleged that Coles threatened "commercial consequences" if suppliers refused to pay a rebate that was "based on purported benefits … that Coles asserted had resulted from changes Coles had made to its supply chain". [ + ]
Extrusion processing could improve African food security
Food processing techniques could be key to solving the problem of food insecurity in Africa, researchers say. [ + ]
Paying more makes food taste better
Despite what Australia's love affair with cut-price food might suggest, consumers value food that is more expensive. Researchers have found that taste perception - as well as feelings of overeating and guilt - can be manipulated by price alone. [ + ]
Battling obesity is not just about eating less and moving more, expert says
There's more to losing weight than just eating less and moving more, according to Dr Claude Bouchard, who studies the genetics of obesity. [ + ]
Submissions open for NSW and Vic SCLAA awards
Submissions are now open for the SCL Awards programs for the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia New South Wales and Victorian divisions. Winners of these state programs will progress to the Australian Supply Chain and Logistics Awards. [ + ]
Demand for I&I cleaning chemicals to grow in food processing industry
Demand for industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning chemicals is predicted to grow rapidly in the US in the next four years. The Freedonia Group anticipates that demand for the products will rise more than 3% per year to $11.5 billion by 2018. [ + ]
Acrylamide in Aust foods and beverages comparable to global levels
The first phase of the 24th Australian Total Diet Study (ATDS) has been released by FSANZ. The study examines Australian consumers' dietary exposure to acrylamide and aluminium. [ + ]
Experts recommend moderate consumption of acrylamides
While the recently released Australian Total Diet Study revealed mostly good news for acrylamide levels in Australian food and beverages, experts are urging the public to consume products containing acrylamide in moderation. [ + ]
New 'pipeline' to deliver fresh Australian milk to China
Norco and PGS have delivered a trial shipment of nearly 1000 litres of fresh milk to China in a new cold chain 'pipeline'. The commercially viable cold chain pipeline will open the door for millions of litres of fresh milk exports to China each year. [ + ]
Shepparton UHT milk facility to cash in on Asian demand
Pactum Dairy Group's new UHT milk facility in Shepparton was officially opened today. The facility's four lines include Tetra Pak processing and packaging equipment which will handle UHT milk for proprietary and private label customers in Southeast Asia. [ + ]