Global
Chinese biscuit market on a high
Changing consumer lifestyles and growing disposable incomes has
augmented China's biscuit market in the recent years, confirmed a
report by Leatherhead Food International (LFI). With biscuit sales
increasing by 20.1 per cent in the last five years, China has become
the third largest market for the product, after US and India.
LFI said that the Chinese consumed a total of RMB 18.8 billion
(€1.9billion) worth of biscuits in 2004 or the equivalent of 1.1 kg per
head. Moving into specifics, the report revealed that consumers
showed a preference for sandwich biscuits, chocolate-coated biscuits and specially crafted biscuits, with
small pack sizes of 100-200 gm proving to be most popular. Also, while sweet biscuits accounted for 60
per cent of the market, savoury biscuits came in at 39 per cent and cereal bars accounted for just one per
cent of sales. LFI report further pointed out that the functional biscuit market, though relatively small,
showed a 20 per cent year-on-year growth. The other products that have shown fast growth in recent
years in the Chinese market include sweet yoghurts, chilled deserts, fast food, ice cream and cheese.
EU's food sector not
competitive enough
According to a
European Commission
report, the EU's food
sector is lagging behind
its main competitors,
especially in areas of
innovation in
products and
processes, investment
in R&D and use of information
communications technology. "The
investment rate is relatively low and
labour costs are high," the Commission
stated, adding that the sector is extremely
fragmented and dominated by a large
number of SMEs (small to medium
enterprises) that are less permeable to
innovation than big multinational
companies. Moreover, the low labour
productivity growth indicated that
information communications technology
was not used as much by food and drink
companies compared to other industry
sectors. In fact, only 19 per cent of
companies were found to be using on-line
procurement and business to consumer
electronic services were also limited. With
regard to product innovation, the
Commission pointed out that the EU
makes 30 per cent less biotechnology
patent applications than the US.
USDA launches food nutrition
search tool
At a recently held American Dietetic
Association's annual conference in St
Louis, Mo, the ARS Food Surveys
Research Group (FSRG) - launched a free,
computer-download version of its
searchable nutrient database of typically
consumed foods. ARS is the US
Department of Agriculture's chief
scientific research agency. ‘What's In The Foods You Eat-Search
Tool’ is a consumer-friendly resource
that provides a 61-nutrient profile
on thousands of food products
people eat. Once downloaded,
the search tool can be used
without an internet
connection and serves a 60-
nutrient profile for each of
more than 13,000 food. Also, the data is
provided in commonly consumed portion
sizes and weights and comes with easy-touse
help screens.
The search tool provides further
support to MyPyramid Tracker users who
wish to view the 61-nutrient profile for the
same individual food they key in under
their personal profiles. For instance, if the
tracker shows cholesterol intakes are too
high, the user could then go to the search
tool, key in the same food and find out
which one needs curbing.
Jones Soda to enter the
confectionery segment
Seattle-based Jones Soda has disclosed
plans to launch a new product - Flavor
booster candy - thus marking its entry in
the confectionery segment. Subsequently,
the company has entered into an exclusive
licensing agreement with Big Sky Brands.
Available in metal tins and three flavours
of green apple, fufu berry, and berry
lemonade, the Flavor Booster candy could
either be eaten like a conventional or
could be placed in water to obtain a fruitflavoured
beverage.
Also, similar to Jones Soda's beverage
drinks, quotes sent in by consumers will
feature under each lid. Commenting on
the new product, Peter Van Stolk, Chief
Executive, Jones Soda, said, "When Big
Sky approached us with the idea of making
Jones Flavor Boosters, we felt this was a
great opportunity to showcase our
premium flavours in the candy section of
the store."
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