Briefs

n The Costa Coffee chain has doubled its target of having 1,000 stores worldwide by 2010 to 2,000, quadrupling its present count. Costa plans to open 200 stores in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria within three years. Its estate already includes 157 outlets in 13 countries overseas.

n International food exhibition Sial saw more than 140,000 visitors through its doors (3% up on the last event) during the five-day exhibition in Paris, which hosted 5,302 exhibitors from 99 countries and showcased 460 new products.

n Warburtons has been awarded a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents gold award for health and safety operations at its Tuscany Park site in Yorkshire.

n ICI is to sell Quest, its flavours and fragrance business, to Givaudan for £1.2 bn. Subject to approval by shareholders, regulatory approval and employee consultation, completion will take place during Quarter 1, 2007.

n 14 staff at the Genesis bakery in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, have passed their Food Hygiene and Food Safety qualifications.

n Cargill’s Xtend Isomaltulose, a slow digestible sugar resulting in a low blood glucose and insulin response, has won the Hi Europe 2006 Gold Award for the best innovation in health ingredients.

n The Hovis TV commercial featuring a boy pushing a bicycle up a cobbled street was voted the third most iconic TV ad in a BBC Good Food Magazine poll. The "For mash get Smash!" commercial of 1974 for Smash instant mash was the top ad, followed by an ad for Cadbury’s Flake.