Royal Numico reported an impressive 13.4 per cent growth for the
third quarter, inviting speculation of a possible takeover as rival
companies are attracted to its portfolio of lucrative baby food
brands.
British farmers are today planning another strike in protest over
low prices paid by retailers for their goods, adding to calls from
MPs and lobby groups for mandatory legislation to force
supermarkets into line.
Netto will open 50 stores a year in Poland, joining the current
wave of discounters that are realising the potential of Eastern
Europe, as thousands of small towns are crying out for cheap
modernised food retailers.
A report by the EU's food regulator not only indicates that it is
moving to recommend that table eggs be washed in the bloc, but also
provides insight to the different methods and equipment food plants
use to handle procedure.
Danish firm Palsgaard aims to reinforce its position in the
specialist emulsifiers and stabilisers market by increasing its
distilled monoglycerides production by 14,300 tons a year.
Food retailers are failing to attract 18-25 year olds and over-55's
to the single-serve dinner market, as a UK think tank predicts 35
per cent of the British population will live alone by 2021.
Supermarket managers in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are
cutting corners and risking consumer health by selling out-of-date
produce to achieve strict targets.
Merck Médication Familiale, the French subsidiary of Merck Consumer
Healthcare, has introduced its first standalone probiotic
supplement on the French market, following the strong demand for
its multivitamin-probiotic combination.
In an 18-month government initiative to cut food and packaging
waste, thirteen grocery retailers have pledged to act. But only one
scooped a prize at last week's National Recycling Awards,
highlighting the gulf between intentions...
A UK consumer watchdog has lambasted retailers and ham producers
for exploiting a legal grey area, after tests reveal that
supermarkets are failing to warn customers that private label ham
contains up to 25 per cent added water and...
Food companies do not yet face the ethical sourcing equation of the
clothing industry, where brands from Nike to Marks & Spencer
cannot afford a single claim of sweat-shop production. But the
moment is fast approaching for food,...
Europe's cereal starch sweetener industry is concerned that EC
sugar reforms, due for Council decisions at the end of November,
could unfairly penalise the sector.
Chr Hansen's aim of increasing its 50 per cent share in the Italian
meat cultures market depends on constantly improving communication
with customers, according to the firm's Italian meat sector
manager.
Increased demand for Tate & Lyle's calorie-free sweetener has
helped the company to record a first-half profit increase of 59 per
cent and successfully fend off spiralling raw material costs.
The European Commission is belatedly investigating reports that
French beef containing E Coli has been exported across the EU,
while half of the 43 tonnes of infected meat still circulates.
Today Unilever reported an 11 per cent drop in third quarter
profits, even though sales have risen by 3.5 per cent, prompting
analysts to doubt the effectiveness of its five-year product
reduction strategy.
Chiquita's modest improved net income of $0.3 million for the third
quarter 2005 suggests that the company is performing better, though
EU trade issues still cloud the horizon.
The UK's leading supermarkets are to create stricter guidelines for
employees selling alcohol in the run up to a government crackdown
on underage drinking.
The UK ranks second behind Canada in the level of productivity of
its food, drink and tobacco products work force, but Austria,
Finland and the Netherlands are on the way to overtaking the
island, according to an international study.
Aldi, the world's largest discount supermarket chain, is now
stocking premium brand-name product lines to compete more
effectively against discount rivals, as financial results indicate
a profit slide.
Supermarkets are seeking to exploit the underdeveloped fuel
retailing sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), claims a new
report by market analyst Datamonitor.
Britain's 'big four' supermarket chains may face pressure as the
Office of Fair Trading (OFT) withdraws its previous ruling
protecting the grocery sector from investigation by the Competition
Commission (CC).
Tate & Lyle's European food and industrial ingredients division
proposed increase of 10 to 15 per cent on new contracts for certain
products highlights again the impact of rocketing energy prices on
the ingredients market.
Continual productivity improvements are behind Novozymes' solid
performance since it was floated on the stock market in 2000,
according to CEO Steen Riisgaard.
The imminent assault on the over-priced Swiss grocery market by
discount retailers Aldi and Lidl has prompted supermarkets to mimic
UK-style price wars to marginalise the threat.
Swedish probiotic biotech company BioGaia is making headway in its
short-term mission to attain profitability, reporting a 39 percent
increase in sales to SEK 16.4 million for 3Q 2005.
An ambitious Italian gourmet food promotion programme could
transform the fortunes of a revitalised sector - as long as EU
bureaucracy doesn't ruin everything.
Good food may stimulate our senses, but it also reflects centuries
of culinary culture, customs and unique aspects of life, as
highlighted in a recent Slow Food exhibition in Montpellier.
National Starch's plan to increase the cost of its European
starches by up to ten per cent reflects growing industry concern
over rocketing energy prices.
Tesco has been cleared to acquire 21 former BP/Safeway petrol
stations from Wm Morrison after the UK's Office of Fair Trading
(OFT) chose not to refer it to the Competition Commission.
Britain's biggest retailers are responsible for the indiscriminate
destruction of fish stocks according to Greenpeace's latest report
revealing a list of the top-offending supermarket chains.
A European Commission programme designed to promote EU food
products outside the bloc has been welcomed by the food industry,
though criticism over European bureaucracy remains a recurrent
theme.
The European Court of Justice's feta ruling may give sole rights to
Greece, yet one of Europe's leading dairy producers has been
preparing for years to find a way round the new rules.
International food retailers pile on competitive pressure as they
show interest in an Italian supermarket chain - forcing smaller
local franchises to consolidate their efforts to survive.
The UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has referred Heinz'
acquisition of HP to the Competition Committee (CC) after growing
concerns that the merger will distort the grocery market.
Retailers may have to do more to reassure consumers of the safety
of their poultry products as the fears surrounding avian flu lead
to heightened awareness of the dangers of uncooked meat.
Butter is making a comeback on lower fat margarine as UK consumers
trade up to treat themselves, but the overall fats market is
shrinking and imported brands are taking the biggest winnings.
Budget supermarkets and premium retailers are rejuvenating
Britain's mature grocery sector by responding to new consumer
trends - while the stale supermarket centre-ground has reached full
saturation point.