Two years after its launch, the 'virtual' Spanish supermarket
capraboacasa.com, is going from strength to strength. Sales through
the online business now account for 1 per cent of the chain's total
turnover, and grew...
Carrefour, the leading French food retailer, has operations in many
other countries, three of which have reported growth this month. In
Spain, sales grew 9 per cent, while in Greece the company posted a
16 per cent increase. Carrefour's...
As food allergies and intolerances continue to surge in the western
world a new report reveals that the market has grown by some 165
per cent since 2000. Valued at £55.6 million in 2002, a number of
key factors have driven this sector,...
As scientists warn the western world about the health implications
of eating too much sugar, food manufacturers and food/beverage
processors are reconsidering the additives they use in their
products and what alterations need to be...
Ahold's much publicised financial concerns have prompted
speculation that Europe's second largest food retail group could
become a potential takeover target. Both Carrefour and Tesco have
been linked to the Dutch group,...
Leader Price discount stores and Monoprix city centre supermarkets
were among the main drivers of growth for Casino, the French food
retailer, in 2002. They will also drive growth in 2003, but a
recovery at Dutch unit Laurus is also...
New legislation to tighten the 'origin of labelling' for food
products in the US continues to incite reactions with a coalition
of consumer and agricultural organisations this week claiming that
the United States Department...
Food manufacturers are reconsidering the additives they use in
their products and what alterations need to be made to meet
consumer demand for something sweet that is low in calories, or is
non-carbohydrate.
Ahold, the Dutch retailer at the centre of a massive accounting
scandal, has appointed an interim CFO to try and stabilise the
business. But claims that it knew of the US accounting
irregularities as early as 2001, and that other...
Producers, wholesalers, caterers and retailers in the UK are to
work with the government on a joint strategy to improve the food
and drink industry's economic, environmental and social
performance, so announced the government...
Speciality chemicals company Cognis reports that it increased its
returns from sales in 2002, despite flat sales, a difficult
economic environment and the US dollar exchange-rate.
Brits may have the sweetest tooth in Europe but new evidence
suggests that health and diet concerns are pushing the UK consumer
towards healthier sugar and gum confectionery options.
Exports of Spanish wine grew by less than 1 per cent last year in
both volume and value, according to the latest data. And at home
the situation is even worse, with consumption there continuing its
unrelenting decline.
Cranberry co-operative Ocean Spray voted on Saturday for a clean
slate - replacing most of its board with a brand new set of faces -
in the wake of lagging cranberry prices and a bid from rival
Northland Cranberries.
German supermarket group Tengelmann has taken 100 per cent control
of its Iberian subsidiaries Supermercados Plus after finally buying
out its long term partner, businessman Juan Abello.
The new European Food Safety Authority is still without a home and
under the menace of a reduced budget. A decision on the location is
urgently needed otherwise credibility is at risk, claims Lasse
Skovby Rasmusson, vice president...
On the same day that we report on the slow installation of the
European Food Safety Authority - suffering from a lack of unity at
a European level - the UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) gives a
clear sign that it believes unity...
The food industry could shortly be using a new, bio-based approach
to manufacturing mannitol - the minty-tasting sugar alcohol used as
a powdery coating on chewing gum, confectionery and pills - as
scientists report on new method...
The world's first fino wine made exclusively from organic grapes is
set to be launched this year by Spain's Bodegas Robles, one of the
country's leading producers of organic wines.
Danish speciality fats company Aarhus Olie yesterday reported mixed
results for 2002 revealing strong market share growth in supplying
the chocolate industry but increasing pressure on the bulk oil side
of the business. 2003 will...
Health is fast becoming a major selling point in the food and
drinks industry, with new products being launched every month
targeting specific ailments or simply promoting a general sense of
wellbeing. Last month was no different,...
US supplier of applied protein sciences Proliant and Trega Foods, a
manufacturer of cheese and dairy-based ingredients, have announced
a joint venture for the production and marketing of whey protein
isolates.
Consumers in Europe are increasingly concerned about risks derived
from genetically modified (GM) foods. New proposals tabled by the
European Commission aim to meet these concerns and propose to
regulate the labelling of food products...
After a 12-week trial of a self checkout system at Marks &
Spencer last year, Tesco has become the latest British food
retailer to investigate the self-scanning option. The company will
trial an ACM 700 machine from PSI at one...
Europe's biggest supermarket group Carrefour has reported a 15 per
cent increase in pre-tax profits in 2002 and said it had met its
target for sales growth - albeit when currency devaluations are
ignored.
Acquisitions helped US colour, flavour and fragrance manufacturer
Sensient Technologies boost its revenue by 15 per cent to a record
for $939.9 million (€861m) for the year ended December 31, 2002.
As the GM debate takes to the road in the UK this week with
promises of consumer feedback via conferences and meetings, here
below we have selected an article by Lyndsey Greig of market
analysts Frost & Sullivan that takes a closer...
The UK's first strawberry vodka has been launched by Stolichnaya,
the Russian vodka brand at the centre of an ongoing trademark
dispute. Stoli Strasberi contains real strawberries, and is being
marketed as an excellent cocktail...
The consumer desire to reduce salt intake, combined with increasing
criticism of the food industry with regards to the generous use of
salt in processed foods, is leading ingredients companies to
develop low salt alternatives.
Arla Foods has launched two new flavours for its Yoggi Yalla
yoghurt drink, the leader of the fast-growing Swedish market. But
the company also faces a lawsuit over its delay in marketing
products containing the sweetener tagatose.
US cranberry juice producer Northland Cranberries has expressed an
interest in making a bid for the juice business of rival Ocean
Spray. But the latter group has chosen to see the bid as just that
- an expression of interest - rather...
The CP Crop Integration Business Group (CPCI), a subsidiary of
Thailand's largest conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group, plans
to switch to producing UHT corn milk, instead of pasteurised corn
milk, aiming to extend shelf...
Spanish supermarket group Mercadona has reported a 28 per cent
increase in sales during 2002 as its policy of investment in new
and exisiting stores continued to pay off - but plans for expansion
into Portugal have been shelved.
The troubles at Ahold caused by accounting scandals in the US and
Argentina could lead to a sell off of several of its operating
units - and the UK's number one player Tesco is thought to be ready
to pounce.
At a time when the UK supermarket sector is under increased
scrutiny because of the plethora of bids for the number four player
Safeway, the role played by supermarkets in improving consumer
choice and convenience has been defended...
As our obession with healthy living and slimline figures soars
increasing numbers of people fall into the diet trap - one month
the weight falls off, and the next it returns, with avengance.
Budejovicky Budvar, the Czech state-owned brewer, has won the sole
rights to the name Bud and American Bud in Switzerland just a week
after another victory in the UK.
French grape polyphenol supplier Ferco Développement has stepped up
production capacity and increased its colorant range with the news
this week that it has fully acquired the production plant Sefcal, a
subsidiary of Chr Hansen, based...
Irish food ingredient and dairy company Kerry continues to move
forward with the group reporting on Tuesday a 22 per cent leap in
2002 profits after tax to €189 million thanks to a strong
perfomance across all businesses.
Functional drinks are growing in popularity across the world, but
the products which sell best in Japan are not necessarily the same
as those which do well in Europe or the US, meaning that there is
plenty of room for growth in all...
Danish chewing gum manufacturer Dandy, which changed its name in
October last year to Gumlink, is to establish a new research and
development centre in Vejle, Denmark.
Ahold's accounting fiasco - which means that its profits have been
overstated to the tune of $500m - has cost the heads of two senior
board members, sparked off two US lawsuits and led to new calls for
a harmonisation of accounting...
Warning of American job losses, a white paper issued today by the
American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) describes specific scenarios
under a country of origin labelling regulation that would dissuade
frozen food makers from using...
The world's largest processor of soybeans, US company Bunge, said
on Tuesday that fourth-quarter net income had more than doubled,
reflecting the acquisition of French rival Cereol last year and
healthy growth across all its...
Denmark's food and drink manufacturing companies are expected to be
the star performers in that country's economy this year, with
growth of between 6-10 per cent. The growth will come from new
product launches and international...
The six bidders for UK supermarket group Safeway have now become
five with the withdrawal yesterday of the US investment group KKR.
The remaining candidates, all of them retail specialists, now await
a decision from the regulators...
Claims by Swedish dairy company Arla that its Rosenborg cheese is
the most popular blue cheese in Britain have caused offence to
Stilton producers, who argued successfully that their cheese is by
far the most widely sold UK brand.
