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Winkler und Dünnebier Süßwarenmaschinen GmbH (WDS), manufacturer of confectionery machines, will be represented at the leading world trade fair for bakery, confectionery and snacks – iba – in Munich in October 2023.

Food ingredients North America and SupplySide West come together to host the largest event in North America for food beverage and nutraceutical ingredients. Professionals with an interest in ingredients, nutrition and the North American market will once again benefit from the co location of two industry leading events this autumn. From 25 26 October (Expo Hall) and 23 27 October (Educational Se ssions) Food ingredients North America and SupplySide West will join forces to create a ‘super hub’ of innovation, edification and networking for the food, beverage, supplement and personal care industries. Visitors and exhibitors can capitalize on the collective strength of the two events through an extensive program of in person and streamed content.
Over 18,000 visitors from all over the world are expected to flock to Las Vegas to leverage the expanded eco system that has been created by bringing these two complementary events under one roof. With over 1,400 exhibitors confirmed, visitors will have unfettered access to top suppliers in the health, nutrition and supplement space, as well as the food and beverage ingredient industry. Collectively, they will showcase over 10,000 products spanning conventional and functional ingredients, herbal and natural medicines, flavors and fragrances, packaging and labeling solutions, and more.

In parallel to the show floor, the conference program will provide over 140 hours of insightful content. In the Fi North America Theater, industry experts and thought leaders will share their experiences, advice and success stories. ‘The future of food is upcycled: meet three ingredients leading the way’, ‘What does an inclusiv e-industry look like?’ and ‘How to build a great tasting functional beverage’ are among the sessions scheduled. The SupplySide West Stage will host a series of informative sessions, panel discussions and keynote presentations. These will cover a wide range of topics, from market trends and consumer insights to regulatory updates and
business strategies. Those who cannot attend in person may purchase a Virtual Pass, which will allow them to live stream all of the educational sessions and watch all content at their convenience.

The Syntegon Group appoints Torsten Türling as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He succeeds Dr. Michael Grosse, who will leave the company by mutual agreement on October 31, 2023, following three and a half successful years as CEO. For the next phase of the company’s development, Syntegon, a provider of processing and packaging technology, is strengthening its Executive Board with an experienced manager who will continue to drive the company's growth and innovation and will significantly reinforce its sales activities.

With Torsten Türling, Syntegon wins a growth-oriented strategist with a strong focus on implementation. He has over 30 years of international management and sales expertise, with extensive CEO experience at the helm of well-known listed and privately owned companies. Most recently, he served as CEO of Nilfisk, a leading global supplier of professional cleaning equipment based in Denmark and listed on the stock exchange. During his tenure, he initiated the strategic repositioning of the company and achieved significant progress in growth and sustainability. Previously, he was CEO of Ideal Standard International, where he was responsible for a successful turnaround. He further held various management positions at Linde AG and, as Managing Director of Linde Refrigeration, led its successful integration into Carrier Corporation following the spin-off. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Saarbrücken and a Master of Management from EM Lyon Business School in Lyon.

Dr. Michael Grosse has been CEO of Syntegon since 2020, and as such has been largely responsible for the company's successful transformation into an internationally independent company following its spin-off from Bosch at the end of 2019.

The German machine vision expert has enhanced its empty mould check systems for confectionery production lines, adding multiple new functions. The teach-in of similar moulds is facilitated by allowing users to copy entire parameter sets for editing and adjusting. There is a new efficient automatic function for correct mould position detection, which also provides useful data to machine builders about potential belt elongation. At customer's request, the manufacturer has also added an archive function for browsing the most recent images with negative results. Bi-Ber offers a range of systems for optical empty mould check based on colour image processing. The inspection systems are installed directly above the conveyor and, working at line speed, check whether the moulds contain product residues, fragments or splashes. This eliminates the need for the elaborate production of mould-specific stamps and time-consuming mechanical checks. The series currently comprises four options for varying line layouts with limited available space, each of which can be designed for different mould widths. In addition, customer-specific adaptations and tailored inspection systems are possible. Cameras, lighting and a touch panel PC are integrated in a single or two separate stainless-steel cabinets, depending on the model. Thus, there are suitable solutions for retrofitting in existing production lines, too.

Sugar is an age-old food with the power to exert an irresistible attraction on our palate. In the meantime, however, the negative effects of excessive sugar consumption on our health are well known. The topic of “sugar content in food” is receiving plenty of media attention around the world, and not only among health-conscious consumers. In some countries, legislation is now also setting targets that aim to reduce the amount of sugar in food. For example, in 2018, the UK introduced a sugar tax on high-sugar drinks to encourage manufacturers to formulate their products with less sugar.
At the same time, world market prices for sugar have risen due to numerous factors, which means that the food industry is increasingly looking at sugar-reduced recipes, including for cost-related reasons. These developments are reflected in the growing demand for sugar-reduced product variants as a substitute, or to complement classic product ranges.
Herbstreith & Fox offers optimal solutions for the development of sugar-reduced formulas and recipes. Our experienced professionals have developed specialised H&F Pectins, and work with our customers on specific functional properties to ensure a perfect solution for sugar-reduced fruit applications. By using our tailor-made, targeted or individually developed specialised pectins, high-quality fruit applications with optimal taste and texture can be developed, meaning that even the sugar-reduced variants meet the sensory requirements of consumers.

The results of the Statista Global Consumer Survey Content Special “Food & Nutrition” from 2021 and another Statista Survey from 2022 clearly illustrate the continuing trend towards a sugar-conscious diet: 42% of survey participants generally want to take a sugar-conscious approach to their diets, while 56% of consumers pay close attention to sugar content when buying processed foods. 

Increasing awareness of sugar consumption and a growing interest in low-sugar alternatives show that consumers are actively choosing to reduce their sugar consumption. Sugar is an essential ingredient in many sweet foods – such as confectionery, drinks and fruit spreads – as well as in many savoury products, such as sauces, bread and sausages. While consumers consciously want to enjoy the sweet taste in confectionery, they are often surprised by the amount of “hidden” sugar in savoury products.

Over 1,600 exhibitors expected in Cologne; International relevance on the rise; "Responsibility" as the central theme of the event Preparations for Anuga FoodTec 2024 are in full swing. From 19 to 22 March 2024, industry experts will gather in Cologne for the most important supplier fair for the food and beverage industry.
They will be there to talk about the latest developments and innovations in the industry - and that's a good thing, as Matthias Schlüter, Anuga FoodTec Director, points out: "Anuga FoodTec is and will remain the central and international meeting place for the industry. The latest exhibitor figures - almost exactly six months before the start of the fair - confirm the high professional and international relevance."
Visitors to Anuga FoodTec can look forward to comprehensive information about new technologies and concepts along the entire value chain from more than 1,600 exhibitors, with an anticipated foreign share of 60 percent. Matthias Schlüter: "We are expecting exhibitors from over 40 countries in March. In addition to the European participants, we are particularly pleased that numerous companies from the USA, Turkey, China, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Canada, Korea and, for the first time, an exhibitor from the United Arab Emirates will also be presenting themselves in Cologne in 2024. This colourful international mix ensures that visitors from all over the world will find exactly the solutions they need for their food and beverage production, from entry-level price models to high-end equipment, everything will be represented." Next year, Anuga FoodTec will again occupy an area of 140,000 square metres, which is equivalent to around 20 football pitches full of innovations.
Visitors will find solutions from the areas of Food Processing, Food Packaging, Safety & Analytics, Intralogistics, Environment & Energy and Automation & Digitalisation. Within the framework of the central theme of "Responsibility", the industry is facing up to current and future challenges and acknowledging its responsibility. The focus is on the question of how the industry must orient food production in the future in order to bring about a sustainable change in our food system and to be able to guarantee global supply security. In order to make "responsibility" tangible, accents will be set across the fair, it will be taken up by exhibitors and also reflected in the congress and event programme. In addition to the industry giants, medium-sized companies, specialists and start-ups will also present their innovative concepts.
The event is organised by Koelnmesse and supported by DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft - German Agricultural Society) as the technical and conceptual sponsor.

Barry Callebaut will create new global responsibilities within the enabling functions Finance, HR, and Technology to further improve processes, and launch a Customer Supply & Development organization with an experienced leadership team to drive this key area for the customers.  

The Executive Committee will be reduced to six from the current nine members. New members will be: Peter Vanneste, joining on November 1, 2023, as Chief Financial Officer, Jutta Suchanek, joining on October 1, 2023, as Chief People & Diversity Officer, and Dr Clemens Woehrle, joining on October 1, 2023, as Chief Customer Supply & Development Officer.

Jo Thys, currently Chief Operations Officer, will assume accountability as President Operations Strategy & Innovation, reporting to Woehrle. In addition, current CFO Ben De Schryver will return to a commercial role and assume responsibility for the North America regional division as Regional President. Vamsi Mohan Thati will become Regional President for the APAC, Middle East & Africa region. All regions will report directly to the CEO.

Steve Woolley, President & CEO Americas, Masha Vis-Mertens, CHRO, and Rogier van Sligter, President EMEA, have decided to pursue new endeavors outside of Barry Callebaut.

GNT will demonstrate how Exberry® colors created from fruit, vegetables, and plants can deliver a full spectrum of vibrant shades at Alimentaria Foodtech 2023 (26-29 September, Barcelona). Exberry® Coloring Foods are plant-based concentrates made from edible raw materials such as carrots, blueberries, and turmeric using physical processes and water. As a result, they qualify for cleaner and clearer label declarations and do not require E-numbers. Exhibiting at Stand A231, GNT will show Alimentaria Foodtech visitors how Exberry® can be used to replace artificial colors and additives such as carmine in almost any food and beverage application. Carla Compte, Sales Manager at GNT Iberia, said: “Based on the straightforward concept of coloring food with food, Exberry® meets modern consumer demands for visually appealing products with natural, easy-to-understand ingredient lists. Visit our stand and get a taste for how our clean-label colors can deliver the perfect solution for your products.” GNT has a vertical supply chain to provide the non-GMO fruits, vegetables, and plants used to create Exberry® Coloring Foods, with cultivation and harvesting monitored by the company’s agricultural engineers. Carla Compte added: “Our vertical approach means we can maintain the highest level of quality while also guaranteeing year-round availability for all EXBERRY® concentrates. In addition, it ensures our crops are fully traceable and grown using the natural, sustainable methods that consumers want to see.”