Anglo-Dutch group Unilever has sold its US-based distributor Iberia
Foods to the Brooklyn Bottling Group for an undisclosed sum. The
unit distributes and markets a wide of Unilever and other branded
products to the Hispanic American...
US agri-giant Cargill, the new owner of French starch company
Cerestar, made further steps to increasing its texturiser business
when the company announced this week its intention to form a 50/50
joint venture with Chinese company...
UK sugar group Tate & Lyle continues to divest itself of
non-core or under-performing assets with the announcement this
morning that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of its
monosodium glutamate (MSG)production unit...
Switzerland's Coop group is to buy the Waro supermarket chain for
an undisclosed sum, a move which will enable it to meet its target
for expanding the size of its stores and product range without the
lengthy approval procedure...
Safeway, the oft-maligned UK retailer, has posted a good set of
interim results, an indication, it claims, that its much-needed
revitalisation programme is paying off. This programme will
continue in the second half, with more new...
Double-digit growth in underlying profits in the first half have
left the UK's number two food retailer Sainsbury bullish about its
prospects for full-year growth. And new store formats, an increase
in the range of non-food items...
The decision to focus on franchised outlets, and to close two
overseas operations, took its toll on nine month results at Spanish
fast food chain Telepizza. But the worst may now be over for the
troubled company.
In the second story of the day on herbal products, we report that
the US American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), in a bid to
curtail all deceptive advertising, has unveiled a draft framework
for voluntary advertising practices...
Budgens, the UK convenience store operator, has called on the
regulators to investigate Tesco's proposed takeover of T&S on
the grounds of its affect on sales rather than simply marekt share
- an analysis which it claims...
This year has been something of an annus horribilis for
Dutch retail group Ahold, with the weakness of the economies in the
Americas taking a particularly heavy toll on profits. With third
quarter results falling heavily compared...
The Board of the Academy of Finland announced this week that it has
taken the decision to launch seven new research programmes in 2003
- one of which will focus on the societal and health effects of
genetically modified organisms.
The consolidation of the German beer market continued this week
with Belgium's Interbrew strengthening its position as the
country's leading foreign player, adding the Hannover-based Gilde
brewery to its Beck's and...
In light of recent proposals from the European Commission to
establish pan-European regulations for the use of health claims on
food products, the UK Food Standards Agency this week published a
new report that examines the impact...
The different characteristics of grapes and the soil they are grown
in help give wines their character, but according to Sri Lankan
firm Dilmah, the same is true of tea. The company has launched a
new range of teas under the Watte...
In a bid to compete on a more even footing with their larger rivals
on the international stage, Auchan and Casino have formed a new
company which will negotiate with both major brand owners and small
and medium-sized companies on...
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week re-launched the
thorny debate on the use of trans fatty acids in food processing,
and the labelling thereof, when it reopened the comment period for
a proposed rule first published...
Green Apple is the latest flavour variant to join the Smirnoff
vodka range from Britain's biggest drinks group, Diageo. The vodka
is being launched this month in the key US market, and is the fifth
flavoured variant of the Smirnoff...
Food additives will come under the spotlight in December in the UK
as food industry representatives meet to analyse the development of
this massive business - forecast to be worth €25bn by 2010.
Cargill Dry Corn Ingredients, a subsidiary of privately-owned US
agribusiness giant Cargill, continues to make inroads into Europe
with the announcement this week that its €6.05m state-of-the-art
masa flour plant is officially up...
Recent research work carried out at the Trollhättan/Uddevalla
University College in Sweden suggests that, although consumers feel
a commitment towards the environment, this is not enough to make
them choose eco-labelled food products.
Products made by small and medium-sized food producers will form
the backbone of Systeme U's ongoing development following the
signing of an agreement with FEEF.
Krispy Kreme, the US doughnut manufacturer and retailer is heading
to Europe with 25 stores planned in the UK over the next five
years. Spain is also on its hit list, but cracking the rest of
Europe may prove a tough task.
Britain's leading supermarket group Tesco opened a store geared
solely to health and natural alternative products in London last
week. The Nutri Centre chain, in which Tesco has a majority share,
is designed to meet growing consumer...
US ingredients company MGP Ingredients suffers a net loss for the
current year's first quarter as higher grain prices and reduced
sales in distillery products take their toll - but speciality
ingredients witness strong growth.
Last week we reported on the possible downgrade in share ratings
for Ocean Spray following the resignation of the cranberry
co-operative's CEO. Troubles continue this week with Northland
Cranberries, a fellow cranberry grower...
In a move that reflects the growing popularity in the UK towards
the consumption of a vegetarian diet, the Food and Drink Federation
(FDF) has launched a new voice for the £500 million (€786m)
vegetarian food and drink industry -...
The Famous Grouse, the favourite blended Scotch whisky among the
ever-demanding Scots, is investing heavily in marketing and
promotions this Christmas in a bid to garner a greater shares of
the market at a time of year when whisky...
Britain is still a nation with a sweet tooth, with chocolate
reigning supreme when compared to other European countries.
According to a new report from market analysts Datamonitor, the
popularity of chocolate and sweets continues...
Reports last week of the possible downgrade in share ratings for
Ocean Spray following the resignation of the cranberry
co-operative's CEO have been followed by more bad news this week.
Northland Cranberries, a fellow cranberry...
Arla sets out its stall as the leading speciality cheese producer
in the UK with the acquisition of HT Webb for an undisclosed sum.
The Scandinavian company said the deal reinforced its commitment to
the UK market where it has already...
Cranberry sales for US co-operative Ocean Spray Cranberries may be
booming in Europe but news this week that its CEO of three years,
Robert Hawthorne, has resigned led US ratings agency Moody's to
review a possible downgrade...
A scheme designed to promote ethical labour practices in the Cape
wine industry has been praised by wine retailers in the UK, which
have also pledged substantial financial support.
Year-to-date sales at French soft drinks group Teisseire declined
by 3 per cent, but this is only to be expected as it reorganises
itself as a producer of innovative juice drinks and revamps its
traditional cordial business.
Caprabo, the Catalan retailer, has become the leading supermarket
group in Navarra following the opening of 22 Caprabo-branded stores
there this week. The stores were all converted from the Super Mabo
fascia in just three days.
Growth from new format stores notwithstanding, Iceland's poor
performance pulled down overall sales at the Big Food Group in the
UK during the first half. Another disappointing performance given a
positive spin by chief executive...
A month of promotions in October helped lift French retail sales in
October compared to the previous year, but September's figures from
Spain show a marked decline in food sales, at least compared to the
previous month.
Swiss Dairy Foods, which went into receivership in September, has
announced that production and marketing of speciality dairy
products under the Toni brand will be transferred to fellow Swiss
dairy group LRG.
A Swedish researcher has found that nitric oxide, naturally present
in the body's immune system, may play a positive role in protecting
against tuberculosis. A supplement of the amino acid arginine,
which is found in peanuts,...
Ingredients company RFI Ingredients, a supplier of natural
ingredients for the food and functional food industries, has signed
a merger agreement, effective from 1 November, with US nutritional
blends company Nat-Trop. The move looks...
Despite a decline in consumer spending since 11 September, bottled
water volumes in the mature west European markets continued to grow
last year - and there is no sign of the growth slowing.
The turnaround at one of the UK's best-known companies Marks &
Spencer is complete, with the clothing and food retailer posting
first half profits well ahead of expectations. Keeping this
momentum going in the future will...
After months of deliberation and cogitation, Orgny-Naples, a
consortium of beet growers' co-operatives, on Friday said it had
finally reached an agreement with Edison to acquire the Italian
energy company's 53.8 per cent...
Interest in South Africa's trademark grape, Pinotage, is helping to
drive sales of the country's wines outside traditional export
strongholds such as the UK. For example, Norway's state monopoly
has just bought three...
Australian food ingredients group Burns Philp & Co. said on
Monday that despite a decline in sales, net profit had risen
sharply to A$56.8 million (€32m) in the first quarter ended 30
September compared to A$19.2 million a year...
While the major soft drink producers continue to innovate and
launch new products in saturated markets in the west, it is Asia
which is likely to power growth in the global soft drinks market
over the next five years, according to...
More than 50 hypermarket developments are stuck in planning hell in
Spain as a result of excessive legislation requirements - prompting
the major retailers to focus on supermarket growth instead.
Analysts in the UK are only interested in highlighting things that
will lead to speculation about a possible takeover, rather than
looking at the company's true financial performance, according to
Safeway's chief executive...
Five months after its initial launch, and just as the diet version
hits the shelves in the US, Vanilla Coke is to be launched in
Europe. Sweden will be the first country on this side of the
Atlantic to get the drink, followed by the...
The growing trend towards healthy drinks has prompted Finnish
brewer Hartwall to introduce a new variant to its Fenix drink, made
with cranberry juice from Ocean Spray.
