Archives for June 30, 2004

← 2004

Commodity rises to hit profit, warns food maker

There are signs that rising commodity costs are pinching the length of the food chain with US cereal product maker General Mills warning that, despite strong fourth quarter figures, the soaring costs will have an impact in the near future.

IFF avoids payout in butter flavours case

US flavours giant International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has avoided a hefty payout after a jury in the US ruled against four popcorn factory employees who claimed a butter flavouring caused harmful lung injuries.

Davis quits as Sainsbury warns on profits

J Sainsbury, Britain's third largest supermarket group, has warned that pre-tax profits are likely to be below forecasts this year as the company slashed its margins to compete with lower-priced rivals. The warning, coming at the start of a year which...

Baltika driving Russian premium beer growth

Brewers targeting the Russian beer market are increasingly shifting their focus to premium lager, despite the fact that large numbers of Russian consumers still cannot afford to buy it - an indication, above all, of the strength of market leader...

Industry slams sweetener study

A new study on artificial sweeteners reported in the news yesterday has fuelled a rapid response from the soft drinks industry, which branded the research by US researchers at Purdue University as 'pure speculation'.

Value-added label for consumer confidence

In a bid to flag up food quality to wary European consumers knocked by food safety crises, Brussels will pour millions of euros into a new labelling project for food products.

Chinese competition knives EU citric acid players

Pricing pressure on the global market for citric acid has forced DSM of the Netherlands to lay off staff at its Citrique Belge unit. And there's no sign of a recovery in the market, says an independent ingredients consultant,reports Philip Taylor.

Morrisons mulls further store disposals

Already obliged to sell off 52 stores as part of its acquisition of the Safeway chain earlier this year, British retail group Morrisons is now considering seeking a buyer for a further 120 stores, effectively shelving its initial plans to roll out a...