Smaller suppliers can offer retail chains such as Marks &
Spencer products which have a real point of difference compared to
their rivals - but the trick is not to overextend production and
diminish the very elements which make...
With the demise of breakfasts at home, spreads are coming under
increasing pressure as consumers demand increasingly convenient and
on-the-go foods, reveals the latest report from marketing analysts
Euromonitor.
"Too little information is dangerous", for European suppliers of
the food additive E425, otherwise known as konjac, the full force
of this dictum has fallen on their increasingly broad shoulders in
recent weeks.
Despite a more challenging global economic environment US
agribusiness giant Cargill this week reported a substantial rise in
earnings to $241 million (€221m) for the 2003 third quarter, up
from $151 million a year ago. Proceeds received...
US manufacturer of colours, flavours and fragrances Sensient
Technologies saw revenue rise for the first quarter ended 31 March,
2003 by 10.3 per cent to $235.1 million (Euros 215m), up from
$213.1 million for the same period in 2002....
In response to a surge in fruit ingredient sales, UK company J.O.
Sims, traditionally a fresh fruit supplier, has restructured its
business to create a dedicated ingredients division. The new unit
joins the other distinct divisions...
The two leading franchise operators of Carrefour stores, Hyparlo
and Guyenne & Gascogne, have reported contrasting first quarter
sales. Hyparlo was affected by the sale of its Italian unit, while
G&G was boosted by solid performances...
Two years after the merger of the Swiss co-operative retail group
with its 11 co-op suppliers, Coop Suisse has reported a 7 per cent
increase in sales for 2002 and double digit profit growth, boosted
in particular by strong sales...
Despite tougher trading conditions UK food and food ingredients
business Associated British Foods (AB Foods) reported on Tuesday
that operating profit had risen 14 per cent for the first 24 weeks
ended 1 March 2003 to £204 million....
Did you know that British farmers produce enough beef and lamb for
over 500 million Sunday roasts every year ? And over 68 million
pints of fresh milk every day ? According to the findings of a new
survey the majority of Brits do...
Innovation is the key to growth for many food companies involved in
the competition food market of the 21st century. This week market
analysts Mintel report on some of the latest products to hit the
supermarket shelves and shows competition...
The uncertainty over the future of the Safeway supermarket chain -
the focus of an intense bidding war by all its main UK rivals - has
taken its toll on results at the company, which is now cutting back
on its store refit programme.
Safeway is not the only UK retail chain attracting interest from
potential investors. Smaller rival Somerfield yesterday confirmed
that it had received an approach from a consortium of bidders, said
to include the former chairman...
Although the alcoholic drinks market as a whole is growing strongly
in Mexico, the country's consumption of spirits continued to
decline in 2002, according to a new report from industry analysts
Canadean.
North American Bakers Yeast division of Canadian company Lallemand
is due to complete its newly constructed yeast plant in Memphis,
Tennessee by the end of the month.
Last week the European Commission threatened 12 EU member states
with court action should they continue to ignore new EU legislation
regulating the release of GMOs into the environment. A new survey
released this week backs up the...
Metro, the German retail group, is to restructure its Extra Food
Stores unit, decreasing the number of outlets and thereby
increasing profitability across the business.
Swiss co-operative group Migros has reported turnover in excess of
SF20 billion (€13.4bn) for 2002, shrugging off poor economic
conditions and lower sales from three of its divisions.
US cranberry juice manufacturer Northland Cranberries, that
recently made a bid for rival Ocean Spray, on Monday reported a
rise in second quarter net income compared to the same period in
2002.
Companies across the food retailing sector are making good progress
with their use of new technologies and demonstrating the importance
of IT within their operations, according to the latest research
from CIES - The Food Business...
Carrefour, Europe's biggest food retailer, continued to improve its
market dominance in the first quarter of 2003, but sales were once
again impacted by currency problems in Latin America, Asia and
Eastern Europe.
Wm Wrigley, the US-based gum maker, is staring defeat in the face
in its bid to register its Doublemint trademark in the EU. A senior
legal advisor at the European Court of Justice yesterday said that
an earlier decision by a lower...
How to grab a slice of the growing functional food market came
under the spotlight last month when the Irish food board held a
seminar to identify opportunities for food companies.
Spanish retail group Eroski has reported an 11 per cent increase in
profits for 2002 to €89.4 million, driven by the expansion of both
its stores and the products on offer there.
Following hot on the heels of last week's announcement that net
income for the first quarter is set to exceed projections,
privately owned US agribusiness Bunge said yesterday that it now
owns 100 per cent of French oil processor...
Competition in the world's leading drinks markets is due to get
fiercer as consumers in the developed world continue to increase
their consumption, according to drinks industry analysts
Canadean.
German pharmaceutical and ingredients group Boehringer Ingelheim,
outpacing market growth, ended 2002 with a healthy rise in profits,
the company reports this week.
Supermarkets are cynically cashing in on growing consumer concerns
about health and nutrition, and many of the so-called 'healthy
ranges' they offer are not as beneficial as they claim - or so
claims the UK Consumers'...
The local coffee shop has evolved radically over the past few years
in the UK and the US. Gone are the days when the consumer is
presented with a watery cup of lukewarm coffee. Today, not only do
we have a plethora of styles - cappuccino,...
European Union farm ministers have agreed a number of changes to
the rules governing geographical indications such as Rioja and
Parma ham, allowing producers to argue their case for preparing and
packaging the product in the region...
Ingredients company Kemin Foods to present a new water soluble
formula of its established FloraGLO brand lutein at the upcoming
Vitafoods exhibition in Switzerland.
Food sales boosted results at Marks & Spencer in both the final
quarter and full year 2002, with Q4 sales boosted by initiatives
relating to Valentine's Day and Mother's Day more than compensating
for the fact that Easter...
After Blastin' Green, Funky Purple and Mystery Color comes Stellar
Blue, the latest variant of the traditional red ketchup from HJ
Heinz. The blue sauce - created at the request of consumers across
America - will be available...
Tesco has tightened its grip on the leadership of the UK food
retail market, announcing full year figures for 2002 which will,
ironically, do little to improve its chances of winning the battle
for control of Safeway. But the group...
British manufacturer of carbohydrate ingredients Tate & Lyle is
to expand the capacity of its krystar crystalline fructose plant in
Lafayette, Indiana by 20 per cent. Due to be completed by August
2003, the company said that no...
Policy decisions were top of the agenda for the first face to face
meeting in Sydney of the newly expanded Australia and New Zealand
Food Regulation ministerial council.
A crucial issue at the heart of the European food industry today is
the imminent enlargement of the European Union. For the ten
newcomers, the integration of current European food legislation,
critical for the country's ambitions,...
Director general of the UK's Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Sylvia
Jay last week said that the food industry should work to support
government initiatives communicating important dietary messages.
Giant flavour house International Flavors & Fragrances
continues to reorganise activities after acquiring, and
integrating, Bush Boake Allen with the news this week that it has
axed 150 jobs as part of a savings drive.
Ahold has stepped up the pace of its disposal programme. After the
decision to withdraw from Chile in February, the Dutch retailer has
this week said it plans to quit Brazil, Argentina, Peru and
Paraguay. And Asia and Eastern Europe...
Japanese food manufacturer Kikkoman made further moves into the
functional food market with the news this week that it has selected
sensory science company TIAX to create a new line of beverages,
nutrition bars and breakfast cereals...
Burgeoning Irish ingredients, flavours and consumer foods group
Kerry continues on the path to growth this week with the
announcement that it has acquired two food ingredients businesses
in the US for $67 million (€61.9m).
A brand new ingredients company is to hit the marketplace. Backed
by US soybean giant Bunge and ingredients company DuPont Protein
Technologies, Solae, touting itself as 'one of the world's
premier developers and marketers...
Innovative or unusual packaging can certainly help a product to
stand out from the crowd. Our latest look at the Mintel Global New
Products Database focuses on just a handful of the new shapes and
materials being used to market food...
Nestlé is the most popular chocolate producer in Russia, but other
international companies still play second fiddle to the numerous
local (or even regional) producers there. But the market is set to
grow over the next five years,...
Growing Finnish food and animal feed company Raisio is to acquire
all the shares of Swedish biotech company Diffchamb. The move marks
a step forward in the Finnish company's overall aim to expand its
Life Science unit business...
German food industry sales dropped by 1 per cent last year as the
countrywide recession continued - a decline which the BVE industry
association claims has already led to the loss of numerous jobs.
Unilever brand Flora pro.activ is backing a heart health initiative
organised by the Women's Institute in the UK, with major
sponsorship, promotions and educational programmes.
