Intake of chicory root fibres significantly reduces body weight, BMI, fat mass and waist circumference

A new systematic literature review with meta-analyses, conducted by Reimer et al^I, demonstrates that chicory root fibre intake promotes a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, waist circumference and, to a certain extent, body fat percentage. Based on this review, there is now even stronger evidence to show that supplementation with chicory root fibre can lead to clinically meaningful reductions in body weight and other weight management parameters.

Obesity is a major risk factor for diet-related non-communicable diseases. With one in eight people in the world living with obesity and 2.5 billion adults overweight,^II weight management has become a global health priority. With this in mind, these findings are of key importance, as they demonstrate that chicory root fibre inulin and oligofructose are effective and should be incorporated into products that aim to deliver science-based, positive results.

Included in the systematic review with meta-analyses, considered the strongest methodology in the hierarchy of scientific evidence, were 32 randomised controlled trials and almost 1200 participants. The studies were selected based on an extensive literature search and review process that followed the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and Interventions^III and the PRISMA standards of quality for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.^IV The inclusion criteria for the studies were based on the consumption of chicory root fibre in randomised controlled trials that were designed to gauge its effect on body weight, BMI, total body fat, body fat percentage, or waist circumference in adults of all health conditions.

Body weight was the primary outcome parameter for the systematic review with meta-analyses. This was determined in 29 of the trials that involved 1184 adults, and these demonstrated that supplementation with chicory root fibre resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 2 % reduction in body weight compared with the placebo. A priori¹ subgroup analysis based on chicory root fibre dose also highlighted a significant reduction in body weight at a dose of 10 g/d². In addition, the review revealed that the effectiveness of chicory root fibre on weight loss was not reduced over time, but became even more pronounced. The researchers further reported that weight loss was achieved independent of the health status of the individual.

Alongside reduced weight, chicory root fibre was shown to support reductions in BMI, fat mass and waist circumference parameters. Also, when the supplementation lasted for at least 8 weeks³, a reduction in body fat percentage was noted.

Commenting on the findings, Prof. Dr. Raylene Reimer, University of Calgary, Canada, said: “Prebiotics have been investigated for their ability to modulate the gut microbiota and affect various aspects of metabolic health. This systematic review and meta-analyses show that inulin-type fructans, specifically those derived from chicory root, beneficially impact multiple facets of body weight management. Given the positive outcomes seen across a wide range of participants, chicory root prebiotic fibre could be an important tool to help promote improved weight management.”

BENEO’s prebiotic fibres, Orafti^® Inulin and Oligofructose, are inulin-type fructans. They are natural, non-GMO, clean label prebiotic fibres that are derived from chicory root via a gentle hot water extraction method, unlike some other fibres that are artificially or chemically made. They can be used in a wide range of food and beverage applications including baby food, according to national legislations. As proven prebiotics, chicory root fibres (inulin, oligofructose) support a healthy gut microbiota and selectively promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, such as Bifidobacteria, in the gut. Being prebiotics, they also trigger a cascade of metabolic effects, resulting in the promotion of satiety, thereby helping people to naturally reduce their food intake.

¹A priori is a term applied to knowledge considered to be true without being based on previous experience or observation.
²This value is derived from the median of the investigated studies.
³This value is derived from the median of the investigated studies.
^IReimer RA, Theis S, Zanzer YC. The effects of chicory inulin-type fructans supplementation on weight management outcomes: systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 Sep 21:S0002- 9165(24)00751-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.09.019. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39313030.
^IIWorld Health Organization, Obesity and Oveweight, 1 March 2024, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
^IIIHiggins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA, eds. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons: Chichester (UK). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119536604#:~:text=Cochrane%20Handbook%20for%20Systematic%20Reviews%20of%20Interventions.%20Editor?msockid=19fad51910c86e391a14c18d110e6fd8
^IVPage et al. (2021) The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 372:n71. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n71

Flottweg SE is strengthening its management team and appointing Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Lengenfelder as a new member of the Management Board. Mr Lengenfelder joined the Flottweg SE Executive Board team on 1 November 2024, assuming responsibility as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this role, he will work with Dr. Kersten Christoph Link as CEO and Klaus Huber as CFO to further develop the company and drive forward its technological and operational focus.

Jörg Lengenfelder studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University in Nuremberg, specialising in production technology. He then held various management positions in the greater Munich and Erlangen area before running his own company for several years. His focus there included the development and production of automation systems for medium-sized production companies. In recent years, Mr. Lengenfelder worked in a managerial capacity for the Netzsch Group. As a member of the Executive Board and the global management team, he was responsible for operations at the plants in Germany, Spain, Brazil, India and China, among others. In addition to strengthening the supply chain, several new construction and expansion projects were realised under his direction.

The Supervisory Board of Symrise AG has appointed Walter Ribeiro to the Executive Board with effect from September 15, 2024. Ribeiro will take over the management of the Taste, Nutrition & Health (TN&H) segment, which was previously headed by CEO Dr. Jean-Yves Parisot. At the same time, Dr. Jörn Andreas steps down as a member of the Executive Board of Symrise AG as of September 30, 2024 to pursue his professional career outside Symrise. Until a successor is decided, Dr. Parisot will temporarily lead the Scent & Care (S&C) segment, for which Dr. Andreas was previously responsible.

Michael König, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Symrise AG: “With Walter Ribeiro, another internationally experienced manager from within the company’s own ranks has been appointed to the Executive Board. As global head of our Food & Beverage division, Walter Ribeiro has played a significant role in Symrise’s successful transformation into a leading provider in the field of nutrition in recent years. With him, the TN&H segment will be in the very best hands.”

At the same time, Dr. Jörn Andreas has decided to leave Symrise on his own request to continue his career outside the company. With his departure, Dr. Jean-Yves Parisot will temporarily take over the management of the Scent & Care segment. The search for a successor for the management of the segment has already been initiated.

Ribeiro (53) comes from Brazil and has lived with his family in Holzminden, the headquarters of Symrise AG, for many years. He has spent almost his entire professional career at Symrise in various management positions in Germany and abroad, including cross-segment management positions. Most recently, Ribeiro was responsible for the global Food & Beverage division in the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment.

With new management and expanded production area, the plant manufacturer is implementing a step in the long-term development strategy of the site

The Tychy (Poland) site of plant manufacturer Ruland is starting the new year with a new management team. The new management consists of Piotr Cieplinski, Marek Winkler and Bartłomiej Berger, all three long-time employees of the company. Founded in 1993 by Eugen Blaski, the site serves a great many beverage producers and breweries in Europe, but also supplies plant technology worldwide to all producers who process liquid products. Together with the company founder, the new management has initiated several modernisations in recent years as part of a long-term development strategy. A new ERP system, intensive staff training and, above all, the new production hall provide modern structures and workflows for plant engineering and construction.

Growing demand together with an increased need for manufacturing space for large plant modules made the new production hall necessary. In addition, it enables efficient processing of plant production up to loading. Two modern overhead cranes, eight permanent welding cabins with aeration and ventilation systems as well as dust extraction systems, a closed welding etching system with waste neutralisation facilitate the assembly of the individual plant modules.

At the same time as the new production areas, new office and social rooms were created for the continuously growing staff. Ruland Tychy currently employs 111 people, mainly engineers, plant designers, automation specialists, technicians and fitters.

Eugen Blaski hands over the management of the company with a good feeling: “We have initiated a number of modernisations that have put Ruland Tychy in a good position. Our three new managing directors know the technical requirements in plant construction very well. They know what potential Ruland and the team have and how best to use it.” Eugen Blaski will remain with Ruland Tychy in an advisory role.

About Ruland Engineering & Consulting
Ruland Engineering & Consulting GmbH plans and implements process plants worldwide. The owner-managed company offers its customers plant engineering of the highest quality. It supplies individual, innovative and practice-oriented solutions in the fields of tank farms, mixing and dosing systems, thermal plants as well as vacuum degassing plants, filtration plants, fermenters and CIP plants. Complete automation with its own control cabinet construction has been a speciality for many years. Ruland assembles its plants itself and also carries out commissioning, piping assembly and documentation. Services such as maintenance and spart parts management round off the plant construction spectrum.

Two leading companies, Sidel and Elettric80, have started a strategic alliance to provide comprehensive services ranging from production to warehouse, distribution centre and logistics management for beverage and food, home and personal care (FHPC) producers. Both companies will act as a one-stop source, allowing producers to become more flexible, safe and sustainable with Smart Factory tailored solutions. 

Today, beverage and FHPC producers are influenced by different factors that are challenging their performance. Among others, due to the growing e-commerce markets, the need for automated warehouses and logistics management becomes especially important. Sidel and Elettric80 have paired up their know-how in state-of-the-art packaging and highly automated and integrated intralogistics solutions to help producers stay competitive and meet the demands of the market worldwide.

Monica Gimre, CEO at Sidel Group: “For Sidel, it is a principle to always listen to our customers. A strategic alliance with Elettric80 is our approach towards achieving our goal of providing A to Z services to our customers, including intralogistics solutions. We are happy to be in a partnership with a company that shares the same values as we do, and I believe that the synergy and great teamwork between us will bring added value not just to our customers, but also to ourselves by opening space for learning and innovation together.”

Enrico Grassi, President at Elettric80: “Packaging lines with highly automated and integrated intralogistics areas at the end of the line will be the future of any production site. Along with Sidel, we are taking the next step in expanding our business opportunities by increasing our customers’ operational efficiency and sustainability. We are ready to complement this alliance with strong expertise in logistics process

Tetra Pak has announced its acquisition of South African based asset management company Gaussian to enhance its existing outcome-based solutions¹ for customers.

The acquisition is a result of a longstanding relationship between Tetra Pak and Gaussian. The companies have previously collaborated to develop and deploy plant-wide performance analysis services. These include benchmarking and opportunity analysis to identify cost saving and efficiency opportunities, delivered through services such as Tetra Pak® Plant Secure launched in 2018.

Tetra Pak’s customers will now have access to solutions based on industry physical asset management best practices. This enables them to maximise the value they can create in their factories through an informed ‘data-driven’ approach towards increasing efficiencies and reducing costs.

Roberto Franchitti, Executive Vice President Services, said: “Tetra Pak Services aims to be the world’s leading provider of Services to the Liquid Food industry, at the forefront of technology to help our customers excel in quality and performance.  The acquisition of Gaussian is a perfect addition to the Tetra Pak Services portfolio; their industry leading suite of tools, analytical and simulation capabilities means we can help our customers optimise their operations and competitiveness even more than ever. I am very excited by the opportunities this acquisition brings both for Tetra Pak Services and for the industry in general.”

Dean Griffin, Director Gaussian commented: “Having worked closely with Tetra Pak for a number of years, the decision to join the company was a natural one. We see more opportunities opening up by combining our respective areas of expertise. Tetra Pak’s unrivalled experience within the F&B industry and our knowledge of strategic modelling means we will be able to offer real business improvements for Tetra Pak’s customers.’

Founded in 2015, Gaussian has extensive international experience in asset management. The firm has delivered its services to a range of sectors including mining, power, infrastructure and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Gaussian also played a leading role in drafting ISO 55000, 55001, 55002, the first set of international standards for asset management.

¹Outcome-based solutions provide quantifiable and measurable value to Tetra Pak’s customers. This is achieved through services that improve plant efficiency, optimise processes, reduce costs and as a result generate growth opportunities.

Dr Matthias Moser takes over management of all companies and brands of the Food Ingredients Division

Lennart Kutschinski will accompany the Group in the future as a consultant

The Stern-Wywiol Gruppe is taking the next step in its coporate orientation and the brand focus strategy 2020 and is reorganising its tasks within the management board. With effect from 1 October 2019, all companies and brands of the Food Ingredients Division will be brought together in the management board under Dr Matthias Moser, who already heads the companies Hydrosol, SternEnzym, OlbrichtArom and hs Additives. In this connection, Lennart Kutschinski is leaving the management board of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe and the divisional management of the brands Mühlenchemie, SternVitamin and DeutscheBack.

Lennart Kutschinski will accompany Stern-Wywiol Gruppe in the future as a consultant on issues affecting the entire group of companies, including the expansion in particular. From January 2020 on, Hendrik Begemann will take over Lennart Kutschinski’s tasks at Mühlenchemie as the new Global Head of Business Unit. Hendrik Begemann is currently Managing Director of the Mexican foreign branch Stern Ingredients Mexico.

“With this new structure, the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe is ideally equipped to continue its story of growth,” emphasizes CEO Torsten Wywiol, “The company and the owner family Wywiol are personally grateful to Lennart Kutschinski for the services he has rendered nationally and internationally over the past 25 years in expanding the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe. We appreciate him enormously, both as a colleague and as a person, and we are very pleased that he will still be at our side in the future. Matthias Moser, an experienced manager from our own group, takes over the operative responsibility for our Food Ingredients companies. As Managing Director, he recently successfully developed several units and was instrumental in expanding our market position,” says Torsten Wywiol.

With great international experience, Mengoli spent 5 years with General Electric and was at the top levels of Tetra Pak for 15 years.

On 1^st June, Giulio Mengoli became the new General Manager of  the SACMI Group. His appointment was made official by the Board of  Directors of the parent company, SACMI Imola.

A native of  Padua, 49 years old, Giulio Mengoli has a long international experience, having held top positions in France, the United States, Brazil, Sweden and Italy.

The meeting with SACMI came in November 2018 and for 7 months Mengoli acted as General Manager of SACMI Business Units, immediately working alongside the present management to define the governance and strategic planning of the Group.

Giulio Mengoli takes over from Claudio Marani, who has led the SACMI Ceramics Division since 2000 and has been the Group’s General Manager since 2016.

“With the appointment of Mr. Mengoli as head of the SACMI Group – observed the president of SACMI Imola, Paolo Mongardi – we want to give a clear signal in the direction of further consolidation of the Group’s international vocation and strengthening of its leadership in all sectors of activity”. In the medium term, in addition to the development of core sectors, SACMI’s priorities include the issues of digital transformation and the circular economy, “to offer products and services that are increasingly customised and in line with the real needs of production and of the market”.

Tetra Pak has launched Tetra Pak^® Plant Secure, a game-changing plant management service that delivers profitability improvements for customers.

The new service starts with a detailed audit of all the equipment and systems across the customer’s value chain. This analysis, combined with Tetra Pak’s deep knowledge of the industry and benchmark data on food manufacturing, enables its specialists to identify opportunities and implement improvements across the customer’s entire operation. All Tetra Pak Plant Secure contracts come with targets around operational expenditure reduction and capital expenditure optimisation.

Dennis Jönsson, President and CEO of Tetra Pak Group said: “Our investment in Industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and data velocity has enabled us to better-support our customers in the digital era. Tetra Pak Plant Secure is a great example of how we use new technology to broaden our perspective and deliver bottom-line benefits for our customers.”

Pilot projects have been carried out in the Americas and in Europe, delivering results that are above customer expectations. For example, an Americas-based dairy producer reduced operational costs by more than 10 % in the first year of implementation, and the project continues to deliver further savings.

Tetra Pak Plant Secure is being rolled out to all food and beverage companies around the world.