Dairy UK calls on EU policymakers to show ‘confidence’ in industry competitiveness

Dairy processor representative, Dairy UK, has called on the European Union (EU) policymakers presiding over the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform to demonstrate “confidence” in the competitive ability of the...

Industry calls on EU governments to reject food taxes

EU governments should refrain from ‘discriminatory’ food taxes and take a more holistic approach to obesity prevention, according to a joint position paper from FoodDrinkEurope and trade union organisation EFFAT.

Asian margins matter less than growth in key markets, Carlsberg CEO

Carlsberg CEO Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen says the firm is currently less concerned with building Asian margins than securing growth in a key region, particularly in markets such as China and...

EC proposes reduced legislation in wake of horse meat crisis

The European Commission has proposed reduced legislation and tougher fines among a raft of measures to protect against food fraud in light of the recent horse meat scandal.

News in brief

Danone on Sirma bottled water buy: 'Turkey is a strategic region'

Danone has signed an agreement to buy a 50.1% controlling stake in Turkish bottled water player Sirma, and said that Turkey was a 'strategic country' for its waters division.

GSK's iconic tonic: Abandon Ribena and Lucozade to Big Beverage

GlaxoSmithKline will sell its “iconic brands” Lucozade and Ribena to a beverage giant – if the price is right – the company announced in its Q1 results yesterday.

Denmark to scrap decades-old soft drink tax

Denmark has announced that it will abolish its soft drink tax as part of a raft of measures intended to create jobs and boost the economy.

Thorntons commercial focus pays off over key seasonal period

UK chocolatier Thorntons has reported increased sales in the third quarter as its focus on the commercial channel drove performance over Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter.

Coca-Cola Enterprises could cut up to 288 UK distribution jobs

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has warned that it could make up to 288 UK staff redundant as it exits its direct store delivery (DSD) operation serving the foodservice sector towards the...

News in brief

SAB Miller CEO steps down due to serious illness

SAB Miller CEO Graham Mackay has stepped down from his position after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, with the firm’s board praising his ‘immense contribution’ to SAB Miller.

French food industry could lose 5,000 jobs this year, warns trade association

French food industry trade association ANIA has warned that the coming months could see up to 5,000 job losses in food sector.

International Kerrygold success drives Irish Dairy Board 2012 sales

The Irish Dairy Board (IDB) has reported turnover exceeding €2bn for 2012 on the back of a strong performance by its Consumer Foods business – most notably its Kerrygold butter brand.

Coca-Cola loses 2012 UK soft drinks share to Pepsi

Coca-Cola lost UK volume share in 2012, while Pepsi grew both its volume and value share and Lucozade and Red Bull’s success reflected growing consumer interest in functional drinks.

Nestlé Deutschland will appeal ‘unjustified’ multi-million fine

Nestlé will fight to revoke a €20m fine imposed by the German cartel office for illegal exchange of competition-relevant information with other food majors including Kraft and Unilever.

‘We take this matter very seriously’: Carlsberg admits German cartel probe involvement

Carlsberg has confirmed to BeverageDaily.com that it is under scrutiny as part of a wider, ongoing investigation by the German Federal Cartel Office, which also includes AB InBev.

BILLION DOLLAR BAKERY DIVESTMENT CONFIRMED

Eight months later: CSM sells bakery supplies for $1.05bn

CSM has agreed to sell its bakery supplies businesses to private equity firm Rhône Capital for $1.05bn, eight months after its announcement to reposition as a bio-based ingredients firm.

Union fights ‘unacceptable’ Molson Coors pay cuts at Britain’s largest brewery

Unite the Union is fighting plans by Molson Coors to cut staff pay at its Burton on Trent brewery by up to £9,000 per year, and claims workers in similar...

Fairtrade chocolate: Where are sales growing?

Fairtrade chocolate sales are growing in Western Europe and North America, but an analyst does not expect significant development in emerging markets.

‘Simply unacceptable’: Unite slams Diageo and peers over UK tax loophole

Unite the Union says the use of a legal loophole that it claims allows large multinationals such as Diageo to reduce tax payments on UK profits 'simply isn’t acceptable'....

Diageo’s $150m global supply chain shakeup ‘likely’ to cost jobs

Diageo will spend around £100m refocusing its global supply and procurement operations to reflect acquisitions in key emerging markets, but says the streamlining operation will probably mean job losses.

Nestlé coffee factory fire sparks mass evacuation

Nestlé tells BeverageDaily.com that it chose to evacuate hundreds of staff from its main UK coffee factory yesterday – which makes its Nescafé and Dolce Gusto brands – after machinery...

Raisio sells €7m oat, soy and rice business to Norwegian firm

Finnish ag-food giant Raisio has sold its €7m a year oat, soy and rice foods business that includes its Soygurt business to €330m Norwegian food company Kavli.

EU sugar quota reform: 2015 v 2020? Is it time to give sugar beet a caning?

On the day 27 associations issued a joint open letter imploring the EU to keep to its word and scrap widely despised sugar quotas across the bloc in 2015 -...