25 May 2017 --- The UAE is introducing new fiscal measures to tax carbonated drinks by 50% and a 100% tax hike on energy drinks.
27 Apr 2017 --- The falling demand for fizzy drinks has hit Coca-Cola as the soft drinks giant posts its first quarter results and also announces 1,200 job losses. As global consumers continue to opt out of sugar sweetened soda in favor of healthier choices and a general change in tastes and preferences continues to sweep across many food and drinks sectors, growth is stalling at Coca Cola.
11 Apr 2017 --- In response to policy efforts aimed at limiting individuals' intake of sugary drinks, businesses could enact various strategies that would allow them to comply with the limits while preserving business and consumer choice. New research shows that one of these strategies - offering smaller cup sizes with free refills - can actually increase individual consumption of sugary drinks. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
10 Apr 2017 --- Low-sugar Coca Cola Life is to be phased out in Britain in June after sales of the stevia soft drink have nosedived. The move comes as Coca Cola increases its investment in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar as part of its on-going zero sugary strategy. This will allow the company to “simplify consumer choice between sugar and sugar-free formats” as Coca-Cola continues to focus on the growth of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke.
05 Apr 2017 --- The Beverage Association of South Africa (BevSA) welcomed changes to the proposed Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) tax outlined in the Budget speech, but maintains its concerns about the negative economic impact; limited health gains; as well as inadequate baseline studies in a submission to National Treasury on the matter.
29 Mar 2017 --- The Coca-Cola Company, together with its bottlers in Latin America, have announced the closing of the acquisition of Unilever’s AdeS plant-based beverage business. The Coca-Cola Company is now the sole owner of the AdeS brand.
21 Mar 2017 --- Millennial fruit juice drinkers in Europe overwhelmingly view 100% fruit juice as a healthy beverage, according to the findings of a new, independent consumer survey conducted by Concord grape juice supplier Welch’s Global Ingredients Group.
09 Mar 2017 --- Yesterday Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed the final Soft Drinks Industry Levy rates of 18 pence per liter and 24 pence per liter for the two sugar bands at 5g/100ml and 8g/100ml respectively. It is now over to MPs to pass the legislation, and then manufacturers and retailers to continue to raise their sugar reduction game.
08 Mar 2017 --- Kefir appears to be bucking the trend that has seen launch activity in drinking yogurts and fermented beverages remain relatively static in recent years. While kefir launch numbers are still limited globally, Innova Market Insights data indicate that they grew more than three-fold between 2011 and 2016. This is despite launches in the overall drinking yogurt/fermented beverages sub-category rising by a much more modest +60%.
28 Feb 2017 --- Sugar will continue to come under fire throughout 2017, although it remains the key ingredient delivering the sweetness and great taste that consumers are looking for. “Sweeter Balance” was tipped as trend 3 for 2017 by Innova Market Insights. The quest to combine taste and health is driving NPD, as the industry faces the challenge of balancing public demand to reduce added sugars and create indulgent experiences, while at the same time presenting clean label products.
23 Feb 2017 --- More than three years after Mexico enforced a one peso tax on sugary sweetened drinks, there is evidence that fewer people are buying sodas with an overall decline of 7.6%. The latest data shows purchases of taxed beverages decreased 5.5% in 2014 and 9.7% in 2015, yielding an average reduction of 7.6% over the study period.
23 Feb 2017 --- PepsiCo juice brand Naked are set to make several modifications during the next eight months to the labeling and marketing of its current line-up of pure fruit, veggie, protein and boosted juices. According to an agreement announced by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), it is set to give consumers a clearer understanding of the ingredients.
15 Feb 2017 --- Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS) has reported fourth quarter 2016 net income of $1.65 million, or 90 cents a share, which included an $0.11 per diluted share loss on the early extinguishment of certain debt. Reported EPS were $0.97 in the prior year period. Core EPS were $1.04, up 4%, compared to $1.00 in the prior year period. For the year, the company reported earnings of $4.54 per diluted share compared to $3.97 per diluted share in the prior year. Core EPS were $4.39, up 9%, compared to $4.02 in the prior year.
10 Feb 2017 --- Funds are being allocated by the Children’s Health Fund, launched in 2015 by food and farming charity Sustain and funded by a voluntary 10p ($0.20) levy on drinks with added sugar in over 134 of the UK’s leading restaurants, cafes and coffee shops.
10 Feb 2017 --- The Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) says any calls for even more political intervention in the Queensland sugar industry are both disturbing and unhelpful.
09 Feb 2017 --- Microbiological safety is a top priority for the food industry. The quick microbiological validation and approval of products coming from food and beverage production has an immediate affect on the profitability of the manufacturer. Doehler, a leading producer of natural ingredients for the food and beverage industry, offers a complete portfolio of solutions for detecting microorganisms in beverages under its DMD (Döhler Microsafety Design) brand.
07 Feb 2017 --- The European soft drinks industry has announced it will reduce added sugars in its products by a further 10% by 2020. The metric is average content of added sugar per 100 ml. The commitment will be rolled out across Europe. This initiative responds to changing consumer preferences regarding sugar intake and calls from Member States and the European Commission for a coordinated approach to reformulation and sugar reduction.
02 Feb 2017 --- The Beverage Association of South Africa (BevSA) has been strongly opposed to the planned 20% tax on sugary sweetened drinks ever since it was first mooted - but now the body has outlined its criticisms in Parliament.
30 Jan 2017 --- All-you-can-drink free soda refills in restaurants and other public eateries around France have been banned as a new law comes into force legislating against unlimited sugary soft drinks being offered as part of a promotion.
05 Jan 2017 --- US non-profit movement, The Praxis Project, that calls for social change and seeks to build better communities has filed a complaint in the federal court of California against Coca-Cola and trade body, the American Beverage Association, claiming they are deceiving consumers about the harms of consuming Coke and other sugar-sweetened drinks.
