The largest grocery retail chain in Russia, Perekryostok, is set to
receive a syndicated loan of $75 million from a group of western
banks, the retailer has confirmed.
Stronger sales in North America and developments in the dairy
industry helped beat the impact of dollar-euro currency conversions
in the first three months of the year. Weak growth in Europe, South
America and Asia saw overall earnings...
Higher raw material prices, a tighter competitive market place and
uncertainty over HFCS contracts in the US sees UK carbohydrates
ingredients company Tate & Lyle announcing a disappointing
trading update for the third quarter.
The UK National Farmers Union this week slammed a report from Oxfam
on farming and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform
proposals, branding it as inaccurate and one-sided.
The European Commission held an orientation debate on GM crops
yesterday, hours after proposing to authorise a GM sweet corn BT11
for food use. From the Commission's point of view, a comprehensive
EU regulatory framework on GMOs...
Higher world populations and changes in dietary patterns - notably
in emerging economies - are leading to a steady increase in food
demand which will have a positive impact on world grain prices,
says a grains analyst this week.
Like its larger compatriot Carrefour, French supermarket group
Casino
ended 2003 with sales slightly ahead of the previous year but
continued to suffer at the hands of adverse currency exchange
rates.
Swiss food retailer and foodservice supplier Bon appétit
finished the year with a strong December performance but this was
not enough to help it overcome the effect of a number of
restructuring measures during 2003.
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company has completed the acquisition
of the Croatian mineral water Company Gotalka. CCHBC said that the
transaction was part of the joint acquisition strategy with The
Coca-Cola Company.
The Russian dairy market has seen phenomenal growth in recent
years, driven largely by the development of Wimm-Bill-Dann and
other western dairy companies. France-based dairy equpment supplier
Erca-Formseal shares its experiences...
Leading Czech dairy producer Madeta, has announced that it will
invest CK150 million (€4.6 million) to expand production and
modernise its existing plant in Cesky Krumlov, southern Bohemia.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture has revealed that dairy
exports to the EU tripled in 2003 and that in the light of further
demand from the EU overall dairy production is set to increase by
50 per cent for 2004.
Accession will create changes in food and drink trade further a
field than just the European Union. In Russia a number of issues
relating to accession are set to make an impact on both production
levels and quality, but the outlook...
In a surprise move US chemical company Hercules is to sell its
three-year old stake in hydrocolloid leader CP Kelco to emerging
CMC player Huber, sparking speculation as to when Huber might take
full control of CP Kelco.
Carving a deeper position in Europe, US caramel colour leader D.D.
Williamson has acquired a UK colour plant from French starch and
starch derivative company Cerestar, now owned by agro giant
Cargill.
Reducing the incidence of food posioning through eating sprouted
seeds will form the heart of discussions with stakeholders at an
upcoming seminar organised by the UK's food watchdog.
Flying in the face of the massively popular low carb Atkins diet,
controversy linked to the efficacy of the regime looks set to
continue with new evidence suggesting the precise opposite - a high
carbohydrate - low fat diet - is 'better...
With BSE rocking the North American beef industry and Avian 'flu
devastating East Asia's poultry industry at the moment,
traceability has become a buzzword in food production. No surprise,
then, that Canadian food processor...
Following the Avian 'flu crisis in Asia, a major UK food retailer
is already promising its customers that all its chicken products
can be fully traced. Are European consumers getting jittery about
chicken, and what effect could...
In light of the great British artery-clogging breakfast tradition,
the UK cereals trade industry this week celebrates the health
benefits of the first meal of the day, spinning a refreshed version
on this all time favourite.
Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods has said that it will install new
manufacturing lines at its two dairy plants located in Ukraine. The
announcement comes at the same time as press reports which indicate
the company is about to make a 60 per cent...
A large proportion of Russian sugar processors have experienced
recession over the last year - so says a survey of leading industry
figures. However, the abolition of import taxes on imported raw
sugar might make things easier in...
French dairy producer and drinks company, Danone, has confirmed
that its it to buy the Russian company Chok and Rolls, which
currently belongs to Spanish confectionery company Chupa Chups.
Over production, European enlargement, and emerging competitive
markets are three key issues facing the European tomato processing
industry today. But the development of new food additives from the
skin and seeds of the tomato could...
Young adults with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids may be less
prone to hostility, say researchers, and this could in turn reduce
their risk of heart attacks.
To shoppers in France, the increasing fuss being made of the
rollout of chip & PIN technology across the UK retail sector
must seem like a storm in a teacup.
Italian food group Parmalat said on Monday that it had a net debt
of €14.3 billion ($17.6 billion) in September 2003, almost eight
times the figure given by former managers of the troubled group.
Millions of dollars in investment poured into a new technology may
pay off for US food manufacturer Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings.
Targeting the low-fat market, the company said that it has
developed a revolutionary "slow...
Consumer indifference - not to say hostility - towards
genetically-modified products in the UK means that British
supermarkets are likely to stay firmly GM-free in 2004, according
to an annual survey of retailers carried out by www.gmfoodnews.com.
Wal-Mart's announcement that it requires its top 100 suppliers to
place radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on all cases and
pallet loads by January 2005 has effectively secured the future of
this technology in the US....
Each country has its own distinct culinary taste, and this has
proved to be both a help and a hindrance to the world's major food
groups. The British, for example, have taken to curry as if they
had invented it themselves, but...
New aqueous ozone technology, designed to make food safer by
eliminating Listeria, has been accepted by the US Department
of Agriculture's food safety inspection service (FSIS).
Manufacturer BOC claims that the anti-microbial...
Thailand's tardy admission that its poultry industry is being
decimated by an outbreak of Avian 'flu brought forth a swift EU
response. A ban on Thai imports into the bloc was put in place
almost immediately.
Shemen Industries, Israel's leading producer of edible oils and
soya meals, is in negotiations with US agri-giant Cargill over a
future partnership with its soy isoflavones division, according to
a report in the Globes Online.
The antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic
properties attibuted to essential oils can be used as natural
additives in a range of foods. New research into basil and thyme
essential oils reveals their ability to...
With the failure of WTO talks in Cancun last year, pressure has
intensified on Europe's heavily subsidied sugar regime - trading at
three times the world price- to change. While critics want to see a
fairer regime with Europe...
Ways for industry to avoid losing billions of euros and dollars
through mad cow disease could find their solutions in maths and
physics, claim researchers at the University of
California.
Supermarkets are forever seeking new ways of driving up sales -
expanding their product ranges, introducing new services such as
banking and insurance, developing online shopping services - but
building growth essentially boils down...
Laurus, the Dutch retail group, last week reported sales of €3.8
billion for 2003, a decline of 8.5 per cent on the previous year
and a disappointment for the company which was beginning to see the
light at the end of the tunnel after...
A report last week suggested that Spanish hypermarkets
were on track to recover some of the market share lost to
supermarkets in recent years as a result of store opening
restrictions. But new data suggest that the supermarket sector...
NSF International (NSF) has unveiled a new protocol that
establishes product safety and performance requirements for
microbiological water purifiers. Protocol P231: Microbiological
Water Purifiers is based on recommendations from...
Russian retailer Ramenka has announced plans to increase
investments in its Ramstore supermarket chain for 2004 by
approximately 30 per cent to $130 million.
Slovenian meat and poultry processor Perutnina Ptuj has announced a
20 per cent increase in its revenues for 2003 on the back of strong
domestic demand - results that are expected to fuel further
expansion outside the domestic market.
Russia's largest beer company, the Baltika Brewery has released
preliminary financial results for the year 2003 which show that it
is continuing to return a solid performance, despite a substantial
restructuring programme and...
In a bid to clarify labels and in response to consumer concerns,
the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a consultation on
the use of alternative phrases to 'may contain' on food labels.
More hours spent commuting in today's hectic society mean more
possibities for eating and drinking in transit, with the UK and
Germany coming out on top, writes a new report from market analysts
Datamonitor.
At the end of a successful year for Estonian food retailers, all
indications are that the number one player is now the Saastumarket
chain of discount stores - however, the market still remains
fragmented.
