Unimilk, Russia's second largest dairy producer, has confirmed that
it has received a €34 million credit line from Moscommercebank. The
company is hoping that it can now start to make investments in its
production facilities,...
EU agriculture commissioner Franz Fischler has confirmed Hungary's
Operational Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Approved upon accession, the programme is part of a €422.8 million
investment which aims to make...
Ball Packaging Europe, part of the US-owned Ball group, has
announced that it is to build a $40 million can packaging facility
located on the outskirts of Belgrade, Serbia.
Consumer concern about BSE, eggs and the safety of meat is
declining but awareness about fruit, vegetables, and salt
consumption is on the up, cites the fourth annual food survey from
the UK's food watchdog.
US agribusiness beat off tougher market conditions to post a 68 per
cent rise in revenues on the back of higher sales and improved
performance across the board.
The growth in sales of exported Plzensky Prazdroj beer in 2003 has
meant that the group is in a good position as the Czech Republic
readies for EU accession in May. The accession will give the
company a better position in the European...
A brewer in Sweden is facing the GM debate head on. The company
claims to have launched the first food product to use genetic
modification as a marketing tool.
Despite higher raw material prices Corn Products International, a
US maker of corn syrups sweeteners, saw profits and sales rise for
the year, citing sales in North America and a better price-product
mix as key factors responsible...
International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) reports continuing job
cuts and a drop in profits for fourth quarter. But stronger flavour
sales in North and South America helped offset a weaker scenario in
Europe.
Kraft Foods has said that it will close down its only production
facility in Hungary and move production elsewhere. The company has
hinted that production of confectionery and coffee could shift to
Slovakia and Austria.
There was a time when a widespread wheat shortage spelt inflation,
and a global shortage meant global inflation. This year, with
stocks at a 30-year low and wheat prices soaring, it is possible
consumers may never even notice. All...
Wheat has always been an integral part of Russian agriculture and
its food industry. However, a limited domestic market, reduction in
Russian livestock and a slow down in the consumption of bakery
products is forcing the industry...
Since 1998, the Observatory on Loyalty Cards at the University of
Parma in Italy has been monitoring the progress of 40 loyalty card
schemes operated by retailers across Europe. In a report for
M+M Planet
Retail, Cristina Ziliani...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
Number one global flavours and fragrance player Givaudan is feeling
the weight of acquisitions, currency conversions and higher raw
material costs, taking a SF68 million (€43m) charge in 2003 and
axing 300 jobs.
This month sees the launch of the biggest research project that the
EU has ever funded in the seafood sector. Spanning the entire
chain, millions of euros poured into the programme will track the
consumer-driven fish to fork concept,...
