Nutricia has announced plans to acquire a spray dryer from Gardians, which produces nutritional dairy products, in addition to the blending, packing and can-forming business of Auckland company the Sutton Group. [ + ]

Sugar Research Australia has announced a five-year strategic plan to strengthen the sugar industry. The plan includes efficient plant breeding, minimising pests and disease, optimising farming systems and production techniques and developing economically viable alternative uses for sugar cane. [ + ]

The ACCC has alleged that Coles threatened "commercial consequences" if suppliers refused to pay a rebate that was "based on purported benefits … that Coles asserted had resulted from changes Coles had made to its supply chain". [ + ]

Submissions are now open for the SCL Awards programs for the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia New South Wales and Victorian divisions. Winners of these state programs will progress to the Australian Supply Chain and Logistics Awards. [ + ]

Despite what Australia's love affair with cut-price food might suggest, consumers value food that is more expensive. Researchers have found that taste perception - as well as feelings of overeating and guilt - can be manipulated by price alone. [ + ]

There's more to losing weight than just eating less and moving more, according to Dr Claude Bouchard, who studies the genetics of obesity. [ + ]

Food processing techniques could be key to solving the problem of food insecurity in Africa, researchers say. [ + ]

The first phase of the 24th Australian Total Diet Study (ATDS) has been released by FSANZ. The study examines Australian consumers' dietary exposure to acrylamide and aluminium. [ + ]

Demand for industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning chemicals is predicted to grow rapidly in the US in the next four years. The Freedonia Group anticipates that demand for the products will rise more than 3% per year to $11.5 billion by 2018. [ + ]

While the recently released Australian Total Diet Study revealed mostly good news for acrylamide levels in Australian food and beverages, experts are urging the public to consume products containing acrylamide in moderation. [ + ]

Pactum Dairy Group's new UHT milk facility in Shepparton was officially opened today. The facility's four lines include Tetra Pak processing and packaging equipment which will handle UHT milk for proprietary and private label customers in Southeast Asia. [ + ]

Norco and PGS have delivered a trial shipment of nearly 1000 litres of fresh milk to China in a new cold chain 'pipeline'. The commercially viable cold chain pipeline will open the door for millions of litres of fresh milk exports to China each year. [ + ]

Flexicon Corporation has announced the opening of a new facility in Singapore as part of its expansion into south-east Asia. [ + ]

Early bird registration for the 2014 AIP National Conference closes on 5 May. With 10 international speakers from seven countries and 40 speakers over two days, the conference will be held from 17-18 June at the Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney. [ + ]

Marel has a new managing director of its Fish Industry Center. Sigurdur Olason will succeed Jon Birgir Gunnarsson, who is leaving the company, on 1 May 2014. [ + ]