All Blogs

Dow hits 13,000

Toops Scoops — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:14:15 -0800

The dollar edged up against the euro in the wake of a euro-zone agreement to approve a long-awaited bailout for Greece, reports MarketWatch. U.S. stocks gained and bonds fell, indicating the deal made investors feel more confident shifting to riskier from safer assets, which initially boosted the euro. However, analysts cautioned that the deal may undermine Greece's ability to grow out of its debt burden ... Yesterday, the Dow hit 13,000 for the first time since May 2008, although it closed slightly lower ...

Hartman trends for 2012

Toops Scoops — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:24:30 -0800

Here are 12 consumer trends that food/beverage makers should be attuned to in 2012, according to Bellevue, Wash.-based research and consulting firm The Hartman Group. In addition, Hartman's forecasts which foods/ingredients will be hot this year, and which will become passé.

Consumer/Cultural Trends include:

Meal fragmentation -- Today's households are run as "loose democracies" in which children have an equal say in what, where and when the family should eat

Cargill To Host Free Webinar on Solutions for Salt and Sodium Optimization

Niki Larson — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:17:49 -0800

Cargill is hosting a free Webinar on February 29 with Food Processing's very own Erin Erickson as moderator.

The webinar will provide an overview of the discussion of the rapidly changing environment surrounding sodium levels in foods. Our experts will discuss the status and implications of sodium reduction issues including dietary guidelines, menu and labeling legislation and other initiatives. Our panel will also identify technical solutions for salt and sodium optimization.

Date: Wed., Feb. 20, 2012
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Cost: Complimentary

Snacking on sea vegetables

Toops Scoops — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:11:35 -0800

Each year brings new trends, and according to Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the 2012 food trends is eating sea vegetables, like seaweed and algae, as snacks, reports WDIV-TV.

PepsiCo scores highest in Super Bowl commercials

Toops Scoops — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:05:41 -0800

Winning commercials at this year's Super Bowl according to Nielsen include Doritos' "Sling Baby," which earned the rare distinction of being both the most memorable and best-liked ad, indexing 177 on the former and 190 on the latter, reports Marketing Daily. Doritos' "Man's Best Friend" came in at No. 2 in the best-liked (indexing 182), and a third place on best-remembered (indexing 173). M&M's' "Just My Shell," debuting the mysterious Ms.

Valentine's Day aphrodisiacs and wish lists

Toops Scoops — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:20:10 -0800

If you'd like to celebrate Valentine's Day with some famous aphrodisiacs, Chef Michael Formicella's blog at Meatingplace.com identifies some well-known examples used through the ages.

Whole wheat products with baked-in cost savings

Jim Marrs — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:20:04 -0800

Jim Marrs
Technical Service Representative,
Horizon Milling

With more than 65% of Americans trying to fit more whole grains into their diets, the market is ripe for whole wheat baked products. Yet increasing whole grain content can present formulation challenges that drive up costs.

Cargill's WheatSelect® white spring whole wheat flour can help food manufacturers avoid some of the added expenses often tied to increasing whole grains while producing products that appeal to the growing whole grain segment. WheatSelect flour has optimal granulation size, mixing resiliency and ability to absorb water can reduce bowl costs and save time and labor.

WheatSelect requires roughly 25% less vital wheat gluten than other white whole wheat flours to produce the same volume; at approximately 90 cents a pound for vital wheat gluten, that's a significant savings. WheatSelect also requires few formulation or processing changes and no other added dough conditioners to achieve the same volume and tolerance as other white whole wheat flours. Also, WheatSelect performs consistently because it doesn't require large adjustments in mixing from batch to batch.

What's HOT for college students?

Toops Scoops — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:49:05 -0800

Hot off the press for Valentine's Day is Just Born's Hot Tamales 3 Alarm Report on "What's Hot with College Students." Hot Tamales brand Chewy Cinnamon Flavored Candies is a leader of all things "hot" and shares this lighthearted look at young college students between the ages of 18-24.

Still catching up

Toops Scoops — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:12:45 -0800

Shareholders of Corona, Calif.-based Hansen Natural Corp. voted to change the company's name to Monster Beverage Corp. ... Private equity firm PAI Partners has agreed to sell its 25.66 percent stake in Danish food ingredients company Chr. Hansen to Novo A/S for about $715.56 million ... Snak King has acquired the Chicago-area snack company C.J. Vitner in a deal that includes distribution centers in Chicago, Indiana and Wisconsin, and a factory in Freeport, Ill.

New Truvia product offers cost savings for beverage manufacturer

Wade Schmelzer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:55:55 -0800

Wade Schmelzer
Principal Food Scientist
Cargill Health & Nutrition

Truvia® stevia leaf extract, Cargill's natural zero-calorie sweetener, is a revolutionary way to achieve sweetness in beverages without all the calories. Now, a new product grade, Truvia stevia RA80, is creating opportunities for manufacturers to save on ingredient costs while formulating great tasting reduced calorie beverages.

Truvia stevia RA80 contains 80% rebaudioside A (the best-tasting part of the stevia plant's leaves). It has performed extremely well for formulators looking to reduce sugar in beverage applications such as juice drinks, sweetened teas, carbonated beverages, dairy-based beverages and alcoholic drinks. Up to 30% sugar reduction can be achieved, depending on the beverage, while maintaining great taste and flavor relative to traditional full-sugar beverages.

We’re all aware that there is increasing consumer demand to reduce sugar and calories in foods and beverages, but as formulators, we also have to consider the rising market prices for traditional, nutritive sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners and other ingredients while working to create reduced sugar products. Sugar reduction using Truvia stevia RA80 provides a unique opportunity for manufacturers to naturally reduce sugar in products while potentially offering ingredient cost savings up to 20%.*