Europeans warm to discount supermarkets

Discount retailing is still on the rise in Europe, as international expansion and increasing consumer acceptance are set to push sales up 36 per cent by 2010.

Kellogg's sales boost offsets rising costs

The world's leading cereal producer Kellogg's has posted a three per cent rise in second quarter net earnings, as strong sales in the Americas help compensate for rising commodity costs.

Sluggish protein market forces Tyson downgrade

US packaged meat processor Tyson Foods has been downgraded by Moody's Investors Service, following concerns the firm cannot cope with the current slump in global meat sales.

Bird's Eye exits private label business

The world's largest frozen foods business Bird's Eye plans to sell five US factories that make non-branded products, and instead concentrate on its more profitable trademarked range.

Blair demands food industry cooperation to tackle obesity

Government cannot be the only actor with responsibility over the current obesity crisis, said UK prime minister Tony Blair in a key note speech on public health yesterday.

CSM acquisition strengthens global bakery portfolio

CSM's $70 million acquisition of CGI Desserts, a supplier of thaw and serve bakery products, underlines again the firm's focus on the bakery market.

Steady results for Kraft

Global snack heavy weight Kraft Foods has reported steady results but figures show the impact of a year of change for the US based company.

Food firms "missing the value of waste"

British charity FareShare has launched a new recycling scheme offering food manufacturers a cheaper, greener solution to industrial waste disposal, saying they are missing out on the value of waste.

Thorntons' profits show sales slump

UK confectioner Thorntons has announced poor financial results after struggling with waning sales since the start of the year.

Carrefour prepares Greek partner for Cyprus expansion

Europe's largest retailer Carrefour has signed a €6m deal to open its first supermarket chain in Cyprus, following the firm's successful entry into the island's cash and carry market last...

Ice cream firms ride Britain's summer heatwave

Ice cream sales have shot through the roof in Britain over the last week thanks to an almighty heatwave, leaving producers working flat out to meet consumers' insatiable demand.

Cadbury at war over the colour purple

Global confectionery giant Cadbury Schweppes are appealing against a court ruling that they do not have exclusive rights over the colour purple.

Weekly comment

Vanity fayre: cosmetic foods are not nutraceuticals

Functional foods are generally defined as products imbued with additional nutrients with health-promoting properties. But the industry needs to be wary of foods that present no actual health benefit from...

Unlucky Northern Foods issues profit warning

After six months of sliding sales, rising production costs and now a devastating factory fire, Northern Foods' chairman has warned the year's first-half profits will be dented.

Tesco stalls over grocery market inquiry

Britain's leading supermarket Tesco is being accused of stalling the Competition Commission's (CC) grocery sector inquiry by asking for extra time to provide evidence of its business practices.

Hershey enjoys profit surge

Global confectionery giant, Hershey, has announced encouraging sales and rising profits - thanks to a strong focus on product innovation and seasonal marketing in the last year.

Dairy Crest shares soar, chief exec retires

Dairy Crest's shares rose to their highest point since early March Friday morning, after the group reported in-line trading and the retirement of its chief executive.

Carrefour expands its Romanian empire

Europe's largest retailer Carrefour has announced plans to invest €82m in Romania, following the purchase of key land sites in the country and the recent acquisition of the Hyperlo chain.

South of France wine brand gets green light

The 'South of France' wine brand, covering thousands of producers in France's biggest wine region, is set to hit supermarkets next year as winemakers look to regroup against the New...

Food companies target children online

Eight out of the world's top 10 food brands now target children through online marketing, prompting a discussion into current self-regulatory guidelines.

Real Good Food Company announces optimistic results

Despite warning of a possible drop in sales, UK bakery and ingredients manufacturer, the Real Good Food Company (RGFC), has said it is on track to meet targets when it...

Euro internet grocery sales set to boom

The European e-tail sector is likely to grow 186 per cent by 2010, but supermarkets should work to maximise market share by tackling consumer barriers such as stock availability and...

Nestlé to tap low-income consumers

Swiss manufacturer Nestlé is building new factories in Brazil and West Africa to manufacture products for low-income families, said chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.

Premier Foods makes shrewd UB offer

The UK's Premier Foods is believed to have offered United Biscuits an initial £1bn bid for its northern European snack food operations - even though City analysts claim the business...

Metro: Poor domestic sales prompt job losses

Real, the domestic arm of international retailer Metro Group, has announced more than 500 job cuts across 30-40 German stores as sales tumble 8.7 per cent.

EU ministers set for wine reform showdown

Plans for radical reform of Europe's ailing wine sector will be debated openly by EU member states for the first time Tuesday, with opposing blocs already emerging.

Figures reveal UK business collapse, says report

Business failure in the UK food retail, plastics and rubber industries has increased dramatically in the first half of 2006, according to a report published by credit checking group Experian.

Factory fire could burn hole in Northern Foods profits

Fire has devastated a UK bakery plant owned by struggling food processors, Northern Foods, in an incident likely to harm their already faltering profits.

Weekly Comment

Sex, pills and bad information

The Internet is offering a wealth of information to more and more people, but also an avenue for irresponsible businesses to exploit consumer health concerns.

Troubled Tyson slashes jobs and costs

US packaged meats giant Tyson Foods has announced plans to axe 420 jobs and execute a tough $200m savings plan, as it struggles to offset sliding profits caused by a...

Metro and Tesco snap up Casino's Polish stores

Casino, the ailing French supermarket chain, has sold its Polish operations to Tesco and Metro Group as it strives to repay debts in excess of €2bn euros.

Ahold faces distribution centre strikes

Dutch supermarket Royal Ahold is today facing strikes across its domestic Albert Heijn distribution and supply centres as workers dispute pay and contracts.

Carrefour regains strength in France

French retail giant Carrefour yesterday announced an 8.5 per cent rise in second quarter like-for-like sales, as the firm strengthens its domestic position through in-store makeovers and competitive pricing.

Inter Link Foods report record growth

The UK's second biggest cake maker Inter Link Foods has announced record profits for the eighth year running.

Premier Foods buys Campbell's UK

Premier Foods has today announced its purchase of Campbell's UK and Irish businesses for £450m (€651m), marking the firm's sixth acquisition in under four years.

Nestlé to build new US beverage factory

Swiss food giant Nestlé has announced plans to open a $359m (€281.9m) factory and distribution centre in Indianapolis, to cater for rising demand for its ready-to-drink beverages.

Nestlé launches premium ice cream brand in China

Swiss food maker Nestle has launched the premium ice cream brand Movenpick on the Chinese market, where it says it sees growing demand for luxury food products.

Casino's Polish store sale tempts Tesco

Speculation is mounting that France's number two supermarket Casino is planning to sell its Polish operations - with Tesco and Carrefour vying to snap up the unwanted stores.

Confirmed: Kraft buys Spanish UB unit

Leading food manufacturer Kraft has paid £575m (€829.6m) for United Biscuit's southern European snack business. The deal was signed off over the weekend, said British daily The Financial Times.

Which? slates sloppy nutritional labelling

Which? consumer watchdog is calling for standardised food labelling legislation to iron out consumer confusion, as many retailers and manufacturers reject the recommended FSA traffic light system in favour over...

Pyaterochka boosts sales with new stores

Leading Russian supermarket Pyaterochka has posted a like-for-like sales rise of 10 per cent for the second quarter of 2006, as it moves to expand store space.

Morrison's becomes acquisition target

Troubled UK supermarket group Wm Morrison's could become the latest acquisition target for a private equity consortium, as the firm struggles to overcome last year's problematic takeover of rival grocer...

Ahold to sell US supermarkets

Dutch retailer Ahold has said it will sell 46 Tops supermarkets in the American state of Ohio, as falling sales continue to impact profits.

FoE slams Tesco's CSR agenda

Ahead of today's Tesco annual general meeting - which will analyse ten environmental and social pledges set out by its CEO in May - Friends of the Earth has accused...

Consumers snub Arla's Mini30 milk

Arla Foods is scrapping its lower calorie Mini30 milk in Denmark only six months after the product was launched, because consumers do not like the taste.

Premier Foods bolstered by strong branded sales

UK manufacturer Premier Foods has said it expects to deliver strong half-year profits as sales of household names Branston and Ambrosia perk up and the newly acquired Quorn brand enjoys...

Hovis healthy range contribute to RHM profit

UK food manufacturer RHM remains undeterred by last year's slump in Mr Kipling cake sales - their financial second half results show business is improving with the aid of healthy...

Three charged over Coca-Cola trade secrets theft

Three people have been arrested in America for stealing top secret documents from Coca-Cola and attempting to sell them to its arch-rival, PepsiCo.

Bonduelle buys Unilever's frozen foods unit

Unilever has announced the sale of its remaining Spanish frozen foods brands to French food group Bonduelle.

ESA affirms commitment to healthy, nutritious snacks

Europe's savoury snacks industry last week pledged its commitment to nutrition and health and tackling obesity - but switching off advertising is not seen as an effective solution to driving...

AB Foods closes two UK sugar plants

Associated British Foods, owner of British Sugar, yesterday announced the closure of two sugar beet processing factories in northern England, but insisted it can still increase UK sugar output through...

Northern Foods executes drastic divesture plan

Ailing British food manufacturer Northern Foods has engaged the services of Stamford Partners investment bank to oversee the sale of its pudding and pies divisions, as the firm struggles to...

India backtracks on retail foreign investment

The Indian government looks likely to obstruct proposed foreign direct investment (FDI) concessions, choosing to support its fledgling domestic supermarket sector instead, according to local press reports.

Weekly Comment

Cadbury's mistake

Chocolate has a nice feeling to it - tasty, fun, luxurious and slightly sinful. This is comfort food, accessible to all and epitomised in the recent film, Charlie and the...

Barry Callebaut on solid financial ground

Leading chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has reported an increased operating profit (EBIT) of 14.6 per cent for the first nine months of fiscal year 2005/06.

Britvic tests out soft drinks concepts

Britvic has appointed consultant group Nunwood to carry out product and concept testing into a new range of innovative soft drinks, as the firm looks to keep up with changing...

CIAA to launch new voluntary labelling scheme

The CIAA is set to launch a common nutrition labelling scheme recommended for use by the food and drink industries across the EU tomorrow.

Rosé wine sales rocket

Once derided as a poor relation of real wine, sales of rosé have rocketed across Britain and France over the last few years as consumers look to expand their taste...