Celanese Corporation
's (
CE
) sweetener and preservative business Nutrinova unveiled a new
Sunsation platform that will help food and beverage manufacturers
to develop products that have zero calories.
Sunsation Sunett SL, the first product in the Sunsation basket,
is a sweetener system for zero or low calorie food and beverage
products. This product can be used in a broad range of foods and
beverages including carbonated and energy drinks, cocktail mixers
and powdered drink mixes, yogurt and other dairy products. It can
also be used in juices, lemonade and punches.
Nutrinova introduced the Sunsation platform to develop the
drop-in sweetener solutions that address consumer trends and needs.
The products used by the company in the platform have been approved
for use in food and beverage applications in most places.
International sensory analysis company ISI also confirmed that
Sunsation Sunett SL considerably adds sweetness to sugar-reduced
and sugar-free products.
Nutrinova is a division of Celanese and is part of its Consumer
Specialties division. In April 2012, Celanese released its
first-quarter 2012 financial results. The Consumer Specialties
division posted sales of $264 million in the quarter.
During the quarter, Celanese reported adjusted earnings
(excluding one-time charges and gains) of 72 cents per share, down
from 96 cents a year ago. The profit was below the Zacks Consensus
Estimate of 77 cents per share. However, profit, as reported,
jumped 28.9% year over year to $183 million (or $1.15 per
share).
Sales for the quarter went up 3% to $1,633 million, exceeding
the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,616 million. The growth was
driven by higher volumes and pricing in the company's acetyl
intermediates and industrial specialties divisions. However, higher
costs and weak demand in Europe led to a decline in operating
profit by 91.8% to $98 million during the quarter.
Celanese, which competes with
BASF SE
(
BASFY
) and
Methanex Corporation
(
MEOH
), currently retains a Zacks #4 Rank, reflecting a short-term (1 to
3 months) Sell rating.
BASF SE (BASFY): Free Stock Analysis Report
CELANESE CP-A (CE): Free Stock Analysis Report
METHANEX CORP (MEOH): Free Stock Analysis
Report
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