It seems there’s a growing perception of an association between drinks with large quantities of sugar and obesity. While there is no direct medical link between sugar alone and overweight or obesity, there’s no doubt that untangling this notion is one of the greatest challenges for soft-drink manufacturers and retailers.

Continue reading “Do Soft Drinks Make you Fat?” »

It was nearly extinct at the end of the last century. But now more than 1.6 billion people are infected with the disease and global hotspots continue to be burdened with insufficient screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Continue reading “Growth of Tuberculosis Causes a Public Health Crisis.” »

The rise against factory produced food is gaining momemtum amongst U.S. consumers. Ask an American about ‘food miles’ or the ‘slow food movement’ five years ago and few would’ve known what you were talking about. Today, however, awareness of these trends is like a badge displaying your green credentials. As these issues catch on the market for foods which fit the profile of this trend is likely to grow significantly.

Continue reading “Local and Fresh Foods: Are they just a privilege for the Middle Class?” »

Ever heard of Phoods and Bepharages?

Well now you have.

They are food and drink products with additional health related benefits. Functional, Fortified and Inherently Healthy Foods and Beverages: The U.S. Phood Market suggests functional food and drinks are an exploding market which is so important that the writers of the report have created their own words - “phoods” and “bepharages”!

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Hybrid cars have been receiving endorsements from the worlds most glamorous people. But, some say these cars are merely a fashion statement not a sensible environmental alternative.

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The driving force behind adoption of new technologies will be consumer demand. That’s according to a new report 2007 Trends to Watch: Media and Broadcasting Technology. It forecasts greater convergence of telecoms, media and entertainment which will transform the technology landscape.

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Pride in the home has sparked a boom in spending on renovation and cleaning in Europe. As a result the market for products and services to help renovate and clean is expanding rapidly. The report Changing Attitudes to Home Hygiene suggests there are particular needs and lifestyles influencing household care behaviour.

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There is huge untapped potential in the ethical consumer products market says a new report Ethical Consumers and Corporate Responsibilities. It forecasts that U.S. retail sales of grocery products making some form of ethical claim will grow from nearly $33 billion in 2006 to more than $57 billion in 2011.

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Healthy eating trends are driving demand for healthier products from forecourt retailers. They must respond to capture the full market potential, says the report, Category Growth in Forecourt Convenience Retailing.

Consumers are increasingly eating on the go. They are more discerning in their food choices, looking for alternatives to current service station offerings. They want to be provided with flexible and convenient eating options which fit in to their busy lifestyles. Growing demand for food and drinks which are convenient, healthy and indulgent at the same time is evident.

Continue reading “We Demand a Healthy Choice, Say Consumers at Service Stations” »

The discussion around food miles continues to grow. It’s become a really hot topic over the last few months for government, industry, and environmental and consumer groups. At its core are environmental and social concerns relating to the impact our food choices are having on the environment, a growing interest in the safety, ethics and origins of the food we eat, and spiralling costs in relation to energy usage.

Continue reading “Food Miles: The Debate That’s Going The Distance” »