PLA Innovation of the Week: a novel new sorbet dessert that looks like sushi

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New drinks review: children's treats inspire a new generation of spirits

Attempts to increase the appeal of spirits among younger consumer age groups through dessert and candy flavor blends feature in this month's summary of novel drinks launches. Meanwhile, an innovative whisky introduction shows that coconut remains a flavor to watch in the spirits market, while cola is uncovering its functional side with an unusual fat-burning launch.

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New food review: nutritionally enhanced broccoli emerges as new "super superfood"

The race to develop ever more nutritionally beneficial foods has gathered pace, as revealed in this month's summary of the latest food industry launches, with the launch of a new broccoli enhanced with cancer-fighting agents. Meanwhile, the egg category could be, quite literally, set for a shakeup, with the launch of an innovative aerosol format.

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New drinks review: customization trend evolves with new energy additive

A new "water enhancer" that can be used to turn any conventional beverage into an energy drink is the innovation that headlines this month's rundown of novel launches from the drinks industry. Other developments to feature include a selection of innovative flavors for the dairy drink market, and a surprising melding of alcoholic drinks and cupcakes.

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PLA Innovation of the Week: a pie baking kit with everything you need for a homemade pie

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Budweiser: new-look cans unlikely to reverse falling sales

The brewer has released a new - and seemingly more modern - Budweiser can design in an attempt to attract younger consumers and in doing so counter declining brand sales. However, against a backdrop of acute consumer price consciousness and shifting category taste preferences, it is doubtful that the redesign will have any significant, long-term impact on overall brand sales.

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P&G: getting one step closer to its consumers

My Beauty Advisor, Procter & Gamble's new mobile app, will provide personal care consumers with a more personalized and interactive way of shopping for its beauty and grooming products. While the app will undoubtedly help to foster loyalty among the firm's existing customer base, persuading non-core brand users to download the app will prove to be a key barrier to more widespread usage.

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Comax Flavors introduces a promising flavor-masking ingredient

Comax Flavors hopes to expand in the flavor ingredients market with the launch of Comax's Sodium-Masking Flavors. A key selling point of the new ingredient is that it helps to mask the unintended salty taste in sports beverages. In products such as these where sodium is a winning addition but an overly salty taste is undesirable, masking ingredients are a welcome innovation.

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Australia: two of the country's largest grocery retailers found guilty of "local washing"

Woolworths and Coles, the "big two" in Australian grocery retailing, have been named, shamed, and fined for incorrectly labeling imported produce as "local." While Australians are generally keen to support their local community, violations such as these threaten to weaken the local movement. At a time when rising food prices are already putting pressure on local offerings, authenticity is key.

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General Mills: new drive on sustainable packaging

By 2015 US food giant General Mills plans to reduce its environmental footprint by ensuring that 40% of its global output is sold in more sustainable and efficient packaging. Although the drive towards sustainability addresses consumer concerns over the environment, recent health scares regarding recycled paperboard present a timely reminder that such issues are never clear cut.

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