04 Feb 2019 --- When it comes to processing coffee beans, longer fermentation times may result in a better taste. This is according to Luc De Vuyst, M.Sc., Ph.D., Professor of Industrial Microbiology and Food Biotechnology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Lactic acid bacteria also play a positive role in this process and other species of microbes may contribute. However, more investigation is needed in this area, according to the research, which was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
10 Dec 2018 --- Flavors and fragrance supplier Symrise is now offering a collection of specialty flavors designed to deliver the popular tastes of coffee and tea to dairy products, including milkshakes, yogurts and ice cream. According to Symrise, this new collection provides “a gateway to a unique and fully indulgent, authentic taste adventure to lovers of these beverages through a variety of flavors that expand beyond the known and following the trend wave.”
10 Dec 2018 --- Costa Coffee and Barclaycard have collaborated to launch the UK’s first reusable coffee-cup with integrated contactless payment technology. Powered by Barclaycard’s bPay technology, Costa Coffee’s Clever Cup allows users to make purchases with the cup, top up their in-store credit balance and track payments online or via a dedicated app on both iPhone and Android devices. Launched last month in Costa Coffee stores across the UK, this reusable innovation is expected to decrease the volume of discarded coffee cups.
12 Nov 2018 --- A newly discovered wild tea plant native to China appears to have little to no caffeine and all the benefits of regular tea, according to a study published in ACS’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
02 Oct 2018 --- FrieslandCampina Kievit has conducted consumer research in the Philippines into coffee, tea, and hot chocolate usage and preferences, giving beverage manufacturers in the region insights in trends and how best to innovate and grow their businesses. At the same time, the company has opened a brand-new Innovation Kitchen in Manila, to help partners tailor-make relevant concepts for the market.
02 Oct 2018 --- Italian coffee maker Lavazza is set to buy the coffee business of US food giant Mars Inc. to expand its sales in the US, in a deal estimated at US$650 million. The companies announced yesterday (01 October) that Lavazza had agreed to buy Mars Drinks, a business which includes Flavia and Klinx systems, two brands in the office coffee service (OCS) and vending machine segments.
28 Aug 2018 --- Nestlé and Starbucks have closed their partnership deal granting Nestlé the perpetual rights to market Starbucks Consumer Packaged Goods and Foodservice products globally, outside of the company’s coffee shops. The US$7.15 billion deal means that Nestlé can sell Starbucks products such as Seattle’s Best Coffee and TeavanaTM/MC outside of the US.
27 Aug 2018 --- The coffee sector is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, with several major acquisitions taking place last year among key manufacturers, including Nestlé and Unilever. The focus seems to be on upscaling premium coffees, exploiting the growing market for cold-brewed coffee and the sector has experienced dramatic growth in recent years. Youth interest is vital as it demonstrates the potential for coffee among this audience. The percentage of Americans drinking coffee on a daily basis increased to 62 percent in 2017, up from 57 percent in 2016, according to the According to the National Coffee Association’s (NCA) 2017 National Coffee Drinking Trends (NCDT) consumption tracking report. Among the drivers behind the increase was soaring consumer enthusiasm for gourmet coffee varieties across most demographics.
22 Aug 2018 --- American made food manufacturer J.M. Smucker saw strength in its US retail coffee business in its Q1 2019 results, with sales up 2 percent to US$490m and profit up 20 percent to US$148m to offset softness in the US retail consumer foods business. Sales in the US retail pet foods business rose 29 percent to US$671m and profit edged up 3 percent to US$100m. Total adjusted operating income was up 5 percent during the quarter to US$317m.
09 Aug 2018 --- Dessert-inspired treats, iced drinks, premium ingredients and unexpected flavors will be prominent on beverage menus across Europe this Christmas, according to research from Kerry Taste & Nutrition (Kerry). Most of Europe is still experiencing the effects of a very hot summer and heatwaves throughout, but flavor thoughts are already turning to the festive season, a crucial sales period in the beverage market. Kerry has therefore announced this year’s consumer trends, key flavors and easy-to-make concepts, based on its proprietary research tool to help customers drive footfall.
19 Jul 2018 --- Nestlé has inaugurated a new Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule production line in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam which will ramp up processing to 2,500 tons of coffee per year (equivalent to 130 million capsules), using high-quality coffee beans from Vietnam. And over the next few years, the volume is expected to grow further.
19 Jul 2018 --- SIG has developed a new microwaveable aseptic carton designed specifically for on-the-go consumption of liquid dairy, non-carbonated soft drinks and broth with low viscosity products. The new “Heat&Go” pack is aluminum free and can be heated in a microwave, either in a vending machine, store, café, home or office. SIG cite the rising consumer trend for hot drinks that can be consumed on-the-go – particularly in Asia – as the inspiration behind the design.
26 Jun 2018 --- New coffee brand Token is using blockchain technology to directly link Western coffee drinkers with the communities that grow and roast their beans in a potentially disruptive move for the global coffee industry. An initiative by FairChain Foundation, and supported by FairChain roaster Moyee Coffee, Token is the first fully end-to-end-blockchain powered coffee brand.
25 Jun 2018 --- Fonterra is set to meet the demand for adventurous tea and coffee drinks around the world as changing consumer tastes are leading to a growing trend toward adding more than just milk and sugar to a hot beverage.
14 Jun 2018 --- The future of the coffee sector looks bleak due to a wide variety of complex and systemic social, economic and environmental issues threatening the future of coffee production, according to the Coffee Barometer 2018. The collaboration between of Conservation International, COSA, Hivos, Oxfam-Worldshops and Solidaridad says that price volatility, climate change and recurring outbreaks of pests and diseases threaten a structurally increasing global supply of good quality coffee, while consumption and, therefore, demand is expected to increase.
08 Jun 2018 --- Starbucks has signed up to a long-term 21-year agreement giving Arla Foods license to continue to manufacture, distribute and markets the corporation’s premium milk-based ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee beverages for the EMEA region.
11 May 2018 --- Nestlé has launched a new cold-brew coffee that is all-natural with high-quality ingredients that have been crafted into a ready-to-drink coffee beverage, tapping into the growing trend of bringing the coffeehouse experience into the fridge.
09 May 2018 --- FrieslandCampina Kievit’s foaming creamer range has been created to cater to consumer demand for premium Italian coffee from a sachet. The foaming creamers Vana-Cappa 25W, Vana-Cappa 40V, Vana-Cappa 26W and Vana-Cappa 23W promise new heights in indulgence based on a high, creamy froth, a lasting, spoonable foam, a premium mouthfeel and superior taste, according to the company.
16 Apr 2018 --- In the US, over a five year period between 2011 and 2016, cold brew coffee consumption soared by more than 500 percent – and now it’s growing rapidly across Europe. Tapping into the cold-brew coffee trend, which is tipped to be even bigger this year, is France-based cold concentrations expert Ederna.
29 Mar 2018 --- England will introduce a deposit return system (DRS) on all plastic, glass and metal drinks containers, the UK minister for the Environment, Michael Gove has announced. Such schemes have successfully been running in neighboring countries Germany and Sweden and Scotland announced a similar plan last year. These schemes have managed to boost collection rates for beverage packaging to over 90 percent in some states. The announcement has been met with positive feedback amid concerns over the potential costs of implementation.
