“Companies worry too much about the cost of doing something. They should worry about the cost of not doing it.” Philip Kotler
Food for thought . . .Tapping into consumers' unprecedented interest in health and wellness is the name of the game in food and beverages today, but misfires are all too common. The ground is littered with high-profile efforts that have, to be kind, underperformed... What's going wrong? Many companies make the core error of taking a "generic" approach to launches and marketing that's based on broadly-expressed consumer attitudes about health and wellness, rather than on providing a specific solution based on actual behaviours. Consumer attitudes can be very misleading, to say the least . . For instance, more than 70% express concern about fat, sugar and salt in their diets and claim they try to eat lean meats, fruits and vegetables. Yet, according to the FDA, only 6% actually have healthy diets. Karlene Lukovitz writing in MediaPost Marketing Daily
Food Industry News CANADA: Maple Leaf identifies likely source of listeria
Maple Leaf Foods says that two meat-slicing machines at its now-closed Toronto plant were the likely source of listeria contamination that has been linked to 19 deaths. Reuters, www.flex-news-food.com. Read more
 US: The incredible shrinking cereal box
Consumers are starting to notice a few less snaps, crackles and pops in their Cocoa Krispies lately. That's because cereal boxes - and the amount of cereal inside - are shrinking along with most food packages in the grocery store ... "They're raising the prices a little, and shrinking the boxes a little," said Marcia Mogelonsky, consumer analyst with Mintel International. CNN Money. Read more
 UK: Britain gets an offal taste of austerity
Offal is either a heavenly delicacy which no serious diner could spot on the menu and forgo, or it constitutes the suspicious smelling parts of an animal that no sane eater would willingly eat. So what, then, to make of the news that sales of animal organs have been surging in Britain? The Independent. Read more
 UK: Hard-pressed consumers find comfort in bacon burgers, cheap beer and bus travel
It is a sign of the recessionary times. McDonald's, the world's largest restaurant chain, reported sales up 8.5% in August, with revenues at their established European franchises up 11%. Burgers with bacon, in particular, are enjoying a renewed bout of popularity in Britain and France. The Independent. Read more
 UK: Africa needs GM food, says top scientist
Could hunger be beaten by GM technology? The UK government's former chief scientific adviser criticises anti-GM advocates such as Prince Charles today in an outspoken attack on those who believe organic farming will be able to feed the growing population of the developing world. Read more
 US: Kraft calls for biofuels policy overhaul
The biofuels policy in the US is resulting in soaring global food prices, along with unprecedented high input costs for the food industry, and needs to be changed, according to chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, Irene Rosenfeld (left). Foodnavigator USA. Read more
Ingredients Stuff Callebaut CEO says chocolate prices to rise
Barry Callebaut, which makes chocolate for groups such as Nestle and Cadbury, told a Swiss newspaper the price of chocolate products will rise by up to 18% to offset spiraling costs. The Guardian. Read more
 Enzyme plays a role in sweetener production, study says
Japanese scientists have identified an enzyme in licorice root that is critical to producing glycyrrhizin, a natural sweetener said to be significantly more potent than sugar. Microorganisms or plants could be genetically engineered to contain the enzyme, enabling the industrial production of glycyrrhizin. The Telegraph. Read more
Consumer trends in the Flavour Industry - StudyAll new flavour developments in the industry are driven by consumer insights. Ongoing studies on flavour trends and engaging themselves with the end consumers will provide the manufacturers an edge to retain and grow the market share.
Generally, flavour trends are cyclical in nature. The growing significance of ethical flavours and health-centric flavours is a lucid example of this fact.
In order to sustain in the highly dynamic flavours market, companies are focusing on improving the technologies that enhances shelf life, flavour potency and physical characteristics of formulations to support the modern trends. www.flex-news-food.com. Read more
Health & Nutrition Orthorexia: Obsessing over healthy diets, a new eating disorder
Have you heard about this new eating disorder? It's an obsessive preoccupation with eating healthy foods (and only healthy foods). John Stossell recently did a piece for ABC News. NutritionData.com. Read more
 Australian study: Chewing gum takes the stress out of life
Chewing gum: an anxiety reliever; an alertness kick; and a stress reducer, all rolled into one. So finds new research from Australia, adding fresh ammunition to boost a challenging market led by major players Wrigley and Cadbury. Foodnavigator USA. Read more
 Vitamin B-12 may prevent memory loss
Older people with lower-than-average levels of vitamin B-12 are more likely to experience brain shrinkage, which is linked to memory loss and dementia. Other studies have found that two out of five people are deficient in the vitamin, found in meat, fish and milk. BBC. Read more
New Product Stuff  UK: Innocent Drinks: moving into vegetables could be far from smooth
Innocent Drinks has extended its brand to include vegetable-based products for the first time, with the launch of four varieties of prepared meals that will initially be available in Waitrose stores. The move continues the company's health focus, but it is debatable whether Veg Pots will have the same appeal as its popular fruit smoothies. Read more
 US: POM Wonderful announces launch of POMx Iced Coffee
Does not include or taste like pomegranate juice, but comes in two creamy and delicious flavors: Cafe au Lait and Chocolate. POMx Iced Coffee is made with all-natural ingredients including Italian-roasted Arabica coffee beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Read more
 US: Nestle introduces Glowelle, a daily beauty drink dietary supplement
Glowelle is formulated with a proprietary blend of high antioxidant vitamins, phtyo-nutrients, botanical and fruit extracts to help fight the signs of aging by nourishing skin from within. Read more
 UK: Tasty Veg on the way from Birds Eye
Birds Eye, the UK's leading Frozen Food brand is set to shake up the frozen vegetable category with the launch of a new range of Birds Eye 'Tasty Veg'. Read more
Thought-provocation Has the bottled water well finally run dry?
The market for bottled water may be drying up. Despite massive discounting, brands like Aquafina and Poland Spring are experiencing a sales drought unlike any the category has ever seen ... "The category has felt the impact of the negative publicity it has been receiving lately," said John Rowan, editorial director at Beverage Marketing, New York. AdAge.com. Read more
 Health, indulgence, expediency key to growth in dairy
Rising average annual incomes, exotic flavor mixes, health and wellness concerns, and increased exposure to western lifestyle and eating habits together amplify the sales of dairy products. Launch of innovative dairy products such as vitamin-enriched, organic and convenience/snack foods will continue to propel sales. PR Web. Read more
Whacky Stuff YECCH! Are these the world’s nastiest canned foods?
And then there the "other" canned foods, like one website’s pick for the worst convenience foods ... Okay, I’ll admit – I haven’t tried a lot of the products they list. But what good could possibly come from popping open a can of Pork Brains in Milk Gravy? Read more
That's it for this week, folks!
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