The Last 12 Issues...

August 2006 features:

• Aseptic cold filling (ACF)
• A focus on glass bottling
• Regional report on Belarus

A whey-based beverage and impressive juice range are reported to rely on ACF technology at Rivella’s plant in Switzerland. The soft drink habits and growth potential of Belarus are analysed and the influence of choosing glass bottles is at both an environmental and emotional level are examined.

July 2006 features:

• Sparkling water
• Botanical ingredients
• Plant design
• Innovation in colas
• Packaging design
• Water treatment

The issue queries whether carbonated water losing its fizz and examines innovation within colas in order to sustain the category. A review of the Vitafoods show highlights botanical ingredient usage whilst on the packaging front the importance of design is crucial to on-shelf impact . Water is key in soft drinks; the latest in water treatment is reported.

June 2006 features:

• Sports drinks in Asia
• Germany’s soft drink fortunes
• Plant design
• Soft drinks in Sweden
• Tingling the taste buds
• Responsible water usage

In World Cup month we have a special feature on sports & energy drinks along with a report on whether the world’s most important football event will impact on the host country’s soft drinks fortunes. There is an analysis of the Swedish soft drink market with a case study of how a soft drink plant in Stockholm reduced its change-over times from two hours to 20 minutes. Environmental advice is offered on ways in which soft drink manufacturers can maximise efficient water usage and save money.

May 2006 features:

• The function of ingredients
• The science behind the words
• Carton ­ the practical pack
• Alimentaria 2006
• Caps and closures

Functional ingredients is the main focus of this issue reporting on not only the latest nutraceuticals but also recent EU regulatory developments. Dr Anton Alldrick examines the opportunities for health or performancing enhancing beverages whilst RSSL provides the reasoning for the importance of key elements in the ingredient mix. On the packaging front the carton is featured along with the latest in caps and closures developments. A review of the key European Alimentaria event from our Spanish correspondent is also included.

April 2006 Features:

• Growth in Russia and East Europe
• Anuga FoodTec highlights
• British bottled water drinking
• Asian innovation in bottled water
• Ultra clean filling

Bottled water is the main feature along with a supplement that assesses the growth market opportunities of Russia and East Europe. There are articles on British bottled water activity and the purity and naturalness of Asian bottled waters. Russia and East Europe features include soft drinks and bottled water activity in Bulgaria along with an analysis of the market and a profile of the top eight soft drinks companies operating in Russia. On the technical side there is a report on processing and filling technology innovation and an article explaining the differences between ultra clean filling and aseptic cold filling.

March 2006 Features:

• Growth in China (16 page supplement)
• A juicy outlook
• Flavour control

The Focus on China supplement examines the country’s economy, and provides an analysis of beverage consumption, taste trends, do’s and don’ts of doing business in China along with profiles of the leading soft drink companies. The future fortunes for juice and nectars in West Europe are along with a science-based examination of flavour control.

February 2006 Features:

• Using Sweeteners
• Sugar Regime Changes
• Flexible Pouches
• Crystal Clear Forecasting
• Creative Cola
• Logistics

An analytical look at sweeteners covers the implications of the proposed EU sugar regime, the science behind the market and opportunities for new sweeteners and an examination of the low calorie strategies used by leading carbonates, juices and teas in the USA. On the packaging front there is a feature on the impact of flexible pouches in the single-serve market. The parameters for effective market forecasting are discussed and the story is reported of one indigenous budget cola brand’s challenge against the cola giants in Peru. An update on the latest in logistics includes materials-handling products and systems showcased at the Italian Ipack-Ima event.

January 2006 Features:

• Dairy and soy
• The Nordic tastes
• Brazil to boom?
• Tagging the future
• Labelling rules
• FIE highlights

Dairy beverages are enjoying significant sales growth within the soft drinks industry pioneered mainly by Scandinavian innovation. The issue charts the growth of milk and dairy beverages and the impact of soy on western Europe markets. On the other side of the globe, the Brazilian soft drinks market - the fifth biggest in the world - is analysed. Legislative issues surrounding new labelling laws are reported and on the technical front Radio Frequency Identification RFID - the new buzz acronym – is featured, particularly the opportunities and benefits for retailers and brand owners..

December 2005 Features:

• Ecuador’s Appetitie
• Peak Performance from Amino Acid-Based Drinks
• L-Carnitine’s functionality
• Fruity Wellness from Fruit2day
• Correcting the Image
• Perfect Packaging

Ecuador is a vibrant market; this analysis suggests that a stable economy would guarantee a long period of growth. With functionality and health and wellness remaining buzz words for the beverage industry, this issue addresses various aspects: the functional roles of amino-acids and L-Carnitine, the European debut of a ‘wellness’ drink aiming to fill a health niche and how brands should communicate the health benefits of soft drinks when they are charged with encouraging childhood obesity. On the packaging front, innovation in cans manufacture suggests that they are becoming the perfect pack..

November 2005 Features:

• FIE Preview
• Glass Packaging
• Energy Drinks
• Going Places with Sinalco
• Flavour Trends
• Membrane Filtration

Highlights of Europe’s leading ingredients show are previewed and the prospects of glass bottling in the European marketplace assessed. A comparison is made of the impressively growing energy drinks market in the US with that of the UK. A feature covering global flavour trends questions whether the market has become saturated, whilst on the technical side, water treatment with membrane filtration is examined. Completing the issue is a profile of Sinalco, one of Germany’s greatest and oldest brands.

October 2005 Features:

• Yuppies To Puppies
• Solid Smoothies
• The Midas Touch
• PET And Design
• Aseptic Advances

Ecuador is a vibrant market; this analysis suggests that a stable economy would guarantee a long period of growth. With functionality and health and wellness remaining buzz words for the beverage industry, this issue addresses various aspects: the functional roles of amino-acids and L-Carnitine, the European debut of a ‘wellness’ drink aiming to fill a health niche and how brands should communicate the health benefits of soft drinks when they are charged with encouraging childhood obesity. On the packaging front, innovation in cans manufacture suggests that they are becoming the perfect pack. .

September 2005 Features:

• India’s thirsty potential
• Health and wellness trends
in Asia Pacific
• Children’s buying habits
and health concerns
• Energy drinks in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
• drinktec preview

As children in the UK return to school the report examines their health concerns and what they might find in their school lunchbox. Health issues are also covered in an analysis of health and wellness developments throughout the Asia Pacific region. In other parts of the world the journal reports on the emerging Indian soft drink market and the performance of energy drinks in eastern Europe. September witnesses one of the world’s leading beverage events, the drinktec exhibition held in Munich, which is reviewed.

August 2005 Features:

• Tamper Evidence
• A Flat Future?
• CSD Conundrum
• Poor Quality Can Damage
• Healthy Drinking
• From Coal To Water
• Fluid Processing

Carbonates go under the spotlight. Growth has slowed worldwide as the category competes against stiff competition from bottled water, juices and functional drinks. The issue also highlights recent developments in tamper evidence and visits a Polish mineral water plant. Technical content includes a report on fluid processing in an energy efficient way.

July 2005 Features:

• Vitafoods International
• To Russia With...
• Tasting The Quality
• Dynamic Dairy
• The Plus Factor
• Enviromental Design
• Building The Brand

The growing dairy soft drinks section is examined. The issue also reports on a functional three days at the Vitafoods International show, a fermented lemonade (Germany’s fastest growing soft drink), adult soft drinks and the Russian market. Packaging issues are covered in articles on how the can can build the brand and environmental design.