News on Chips and Snacks from Northern America

October 13, 2007

Key Technology's Iso-Flo boasts flexible, contoured composite spring arms

In composite design, the simplest solution tends to be the best. A case in point is an industrial spring arm manufactured by Gordon Composites Inc. (Montrose, Colo.) for the Iso-Flo vibratory conveyor system built by Key Technology Inc. (Walla Walla, ...

October 12, 2007

Jays negotiating with Snyder's

The Chicago-based maker of Jays potato chips is on the verge of getting a new owner in a deal that will first see the company file for bankruptcy protection for the second time in three years. Jays Foods Inc., which has been struggling financially beca...

October 12, 2007

New legislation would protect popcorn workers

Workers exposed to the butter-flavoring chemical, diacetyl, may get a reprieve. Exposure to diacetyl has been linked to a severe, potentially lethal form of lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans. Despite calls for action by unions, health-care provide...

new Salsa flavor helped grow SunChips in North America

October 11, 2007

Pepsico 3Q profit raised 17 percent, shares drop.

PepsiCo Inc., the worlds second- largest maker of snacks and soft-drinks, said third-quarter profit rose 17 percent and sales climbed 11 percent as it sold healthier chips and food tailored to local tastes in India and Russia. Products that led gain...

October 09, 2007

Corazonas Foods and Brandeis University partner to create cholesterol-reducing snacks

Corazonas Foods, Inc., creators of great-tasting, heart-healthy snack foods, has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Brandeis University to utilize its technology in creating several new categories of heart-healthy snacks. Brandeis’s innova...

October 05, 2007

ConAgra pledges to cut food ads to kids

Food giant ConAgra has joined a voluntary industry initiative to reduce its marketing to children as part of a widespread move to improve kids' nutrition and reduce the rates of obesity.Yesterday's pledge follows a call for information from the chairm...

October 05, 2007

Frito-Lay 'Flips Switch' on Solar Power at Phoenix Facility

Frito-Lay employees today dedicated the new solar electric power system that has been installed on the roof of their Arizona Service Center, the company's largest distribution center in the country. The 201-kilowatt system, made up of more than 1,000 ...

October 02, 2007

Analyst: P&G may get 3.5 billion for Pringles

P&G may get as much as $7 billion for Duracell, $3 billion for Folgers and $3.5 billion for Pringles, said Ali Dibadj, a New York-based analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein &Co. Chief Financial Officer Clayton Daley Jr. said last month that P&a...

October 01, 2007

How Frito-Lay is re-engineering its munchies to make healthier snacks

Perhaps no company has more at stake than chip-giant Frito-Lay, the world's biggest producer of snack foods, with $10 billion-plus in annual sales. Home of Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos and Tostitos, Frito-Lay represents 36 percent of parent company Pepsi...

Heat and Control's Mastermatic batch fryer is suitable for kettle chips production

September 27, 2007

Heat and Control has released Mastermatic batch fryers

Heat and Control has released a heavy-duty fryer allowing for the high-volume production of nuts, snacks and other foods.Heat and Control's Mastermatic Batch Fryers come in sizes that will produce between 600 and 800 finished pounds of product per hour...

September 27, 2007

Conagra announces dividend increase and share repurchase

Today the board of directors of ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE:CAG) announced two items related to the company's capital allocation program: The quarterly dividend has been raised to $0.19 per common share. This new rate will start with the Dec. 3, 2007...

September 27, 2007

US Authorities divided over popcorn lung regulations

A proposed bill that calls for emergency regulatory action to protect workers from diacetyl, a chemical linked to lung disease, has met with resistance from the Bush administration.The bill, submitted to the House of Representatives, would require the ...

September 26, 2007

Heat and Control's Chip-Stirr simplifies industrial batch frying

An automated chip stirrer can help boost out put by up to 25 per cent, according to its manufacturer.Heat and Control claims its Chip-Stirr is an advance on automating the process of making chips, thus reducing labour and training costs while producing...

September 26, 2007

Kraft Introduces New Butter Flavor Containing Diacetyl, The 'Popcorn Lung' Ingredient

Recently, after numerous complaints of serious illness from popcorn workers and one complaint of illness from a consumer, ConAgra and Pop Weaver removed diacetyl from its microwave popcorn and now proudly announce to their customers that their product ...

September 26, 2007

House approves regulating popcorn lung chemical diacetyl

Exposure to a microwave popcorn additive linked to a deadly lung disease would be swiftly regulated under a bill passed on Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives, defying a White House veto threat. The bill would order quick action by the Occu...

September 24, 2007

Common food additives may cut acrylamide formation in potato chips

Common food additives like calcium chloride and l-cysteine could reduce the formation of acrylamide in potato chips by about 85 per cent, according to a new study."This research presents a technology to inhibit acrylamide formation in fried potat...

September 24, 2007

Nutraceuticals could bridge gap in healthy snacks

More than 20 percent of American consumers indicate they are now seeking healthier snacking options, according to Datamonitor - spelling opportunity for healthy ingredient manufacturers.Consumer priorities are slowly shifting towards better-for-you fo...

September 20, 2007

ConAgra Foods reports stronger prices and volumes for Lamb Weston Potato Specialties operations

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE:CAG) one of North America’s leading packaged food companies, today reported results for the fiscal 2008 first quarter ended Aug. 26, 2007. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.36, including net $0.02 per diluted sha...