http://www.just-food.comDaily food news and comment - from just-food.com© 2013 All content copyright just-food.com. Published by Aroq Ltd.Fri, 24 May 2013 18:47:24 GMTFri, 24 May 2013 18:47:24 GMTjust-food.com - RSS feedjust-food.comhttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss20http://www.just-food.com/images/small_logo_style.gifhttp://www.just-food.com10021Campbell Soup Co. has struck a surprise deal to buy US baby food business Plum Organics.http://www.just-food.com/news/campbell-to-buy-us-baby-food-group-plum-organics_id123321.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 09:50:00 GMTDairy Crest has said it has had a "transformational" year, characterised by an increased focus on its domestic business and a drive to boost efficiency. The company is now plotting a number of investments designed to grow both the top and bottom line. In a two-part just-food interview, Katy Askew spoke to CEO Mark Allen about how Dairy Crest is improving its cost base and shifting to higher margin products.http://www.just-food.com/interview/dairy-crest-ceo-mark-allen_id123320.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 17:32:00 GMTArla Foods has offloaded UK milk drinks operation Crediton Dairy to a group of executives who worked for the unit's previous owner, Milk Link.http://www.just-food.com/news/arla-sells-crediton-dairy-milk-drinks-business_id123324.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 12:15:00 GMTThrough the sale of its French spreads business, Dairy Crest has worked itself into a position where it has cash to invest in the business. As we heard in part one of this two part interview, CEO Mark Allen is working to reduce the group's cost base and move its product mix up the value chain. But equally important in Dairy Crest's drive to get the top line moving. Katy Askew caught up with Allen to find out how the chief executive plans to achieve this.http://www.just-food.com/interview/dairy-crest-ceo-on-investing-in-sales-growth_id123322.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 10:10:00 GMTPrivate-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which earlier this year bought five food retail chains from Supervalu Inc, is said to be looking at more targets - including regional grocer Harris Teeter.http://www.just-food.com/news/pe-firm-cerberus-eyes-more-retail-deals_id123330.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 17:44:00 GMTFrench poultry processor LDC has set up a team to identity possible foreign acquisition targets.http://www.just-food.com/news/poultry-firm-ldc-eyes-foreign-ma_id123328.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 16:46:00 GMTThe problem of food waste is due to the low value people in the West put on cheap food. And cheap food is a product, in part, of the modern, industrial food system. However, amid some scepticism, the industry is trying to act on the problem. Ben Cooper argues, ultimately, the dynamics of supply and demand will right the situation.http://www.just-food.com/comment/wasting-away_id123327.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 16:01:00 GMTFrench poultry processor Doux has secured another extension to its period in administration.http://www.just-food.com/news/administration-extended-again-at-poultry-group-doux_id123325.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 15:31:00 GMTThe UK and the US will enjoy a public holiday on Monday and the shorter week is a quieter one for results. However, US poultry group Sanderson Farms and South Africa's Tiger Brands will report H1s, while Tate & Lyle plc will announce annual figures. In New York, Citi will hold a conference featuring the likes of Mondelez International and General Mills.http://www.just-food.com/news/the-week-ahead-citi-fmcg-conference-sanderson-h1s_id123333.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 18:44:00 GMTIndian food group Britannia Industries has booked higher net profit for fiscal 2012/13, boosted by higher sales.http://www.just-food.com/news/britannia-profit-surges-as-sales-gain_id123332.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 18:11:00 GMTPlum Organics this week joined Happy Family and Ella's Kitchen as three organic baby food brands set to have new, multinational owners. Campbell Soup Co. is to buy Plum, joining Danone and Hain Celestial as three food majors that have looked to invest in the growing category in just a month.http://www.just-food.com/news/the-highlights-on-just-food-this-week_id123329.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 17:10:00 GMTCampbell Soup Co. became the third major multinational to invest in the buoyant organic baby food sector in a month with a deal to buy US firm Plum Organics. Danone is another of the three food giants to do business in organic baby food - and this week it continued its investment in faster-growing categories and markets with a fresh attempt to crack China's booming yoghurt sector.http://www.just-food.com/news/just-foods-week-in-words_id123326.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 15:58:00 GMTRussian meat manufacturer Cherkizovo Group has seen operating profit halve during the first quarter as margins were hit by "historically high" grain costs and declining pork prices.http://www.just-food.com/news/meat-firm-cherkizovo-sees-extremely-challenging-q1_id123323.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 10:30:00 GMTSeneca Foods has booked an increase in full-year earnings on the back of higher sales and one-time gains.http://www.just-food.com/news/seneca-foods-fy-sales-earnings-rise_id123331.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedFri, 24 May 2013 17:54:00 GMTDairy Crest booked a 7% increase in full-year adjusted earnings this morning (23 May), as the UK dairy firm hailed a "transformational year" that saw it pay down debt and refocus on its domestic market.http://www.just-food.com/news/dairy-crest-adjusted-profits-rise-in-transformational-year_id123310.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 11:26:00 GMTWaitrose has sought to play down claims MD Mark Price has refused to meet Ocado counterpart Tim Steiner after the online specialist's deal with Morrisons.http://www.just-food.com/news/waitrose-plays-down-price-ocado-rebuff_id123316.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 16:16:00 GMTPrivate-equity firm Langholm Capital was this week reported to have put UK crisp group Tyrrells on the market. Langholm has declined to comment on the reports but the investment firm are said to have put a GBP100m (US$151.9m) price tag on the company.http://www.just-food.com/analysis/uk-crisp-firm-tyrrells-could-attract-snack-majors_id123314.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 14:55:00 GMTCarrefour has sold its stake in its venture with Dubai-based group Majid Al Futtaim - but said the franchise deal between the two companies will be expanded.http://www.just-food.com/news/carrefour-sells-stake-in-majid-al-futtaim-jv_id123312.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 12:52:00 GMTShares in supermarket group Morrisons have fallen on reports that investor Walter Scott has sold around 100m shares in the UK grocer.http://www.just-food.com/news/morrisons-shares-slide-on-shareholder-sell-off_id123309.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 11:06:00 GMTUK canned tuna producer Princes is to invest GBP6.4m (US$9.7m) in the expansion of its olive oil facility in Liverpool.http://www.just-food.com/news/princes-invests-in-olive-oil-facility-expansion_id123319.aspx?utm_source=article-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feedThu, 23 May 2013 17:32:00 GMT