http://www.just-food.com/ Dean's food industry blog - from just-food.com en-us ©2008 All content copyright just-food.com. Published by Aroq Ltd. Sat, 10 May 2008 01:01:12 GMT Sat, 10 May 2008 01:01:12 GMT just-food.com - RSS Feed just-food.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 20 http://www.just-food.com/images/small_logo_food.gif http://www.just-food.com/ 100 21 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1458&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Asda’s sport-loving boss Andy Bond has a quest. He wants to find the British sporting stars of the future. God knows we need them. Yesterday (8 May), a missive from Asda landed on my desk outlining the UK retailer’s support in the search for the next David Beckham and, um, Andy Murray. As part of its “long-term commitment to grass-roots sports in the UK”, the Wal-Mart owned grocer is putting up GBP2m (US$4m) to provide free sporting lessons to kids during their school holidays. “Asda Sporting Chance is all about making sports more accessible and giving thousands of kids the chance to participate in sports in their local community,” Bond said. “Sport has always been integral to my life and it gives me a sense of tremendous pride that Asda is now helping to provide a wealth of sporting activity for kids in the community at no extra cost to mum.” All very noble, I’m sure you’ll agree. But then, a minute later, another missive from Asda arrives. Hang on. It’s the same press release. They must be proud of themselves. Oh, I see. The first was dated – bizarrely – as Tuesday 30th November, 1999. The second had the correct date, some eight-and-a-half years later. With Britain’s recent sporting record mixed at best, and kids showing more interest in Grand Theft Auto than Grand Slams, why do I get the feeling that Asda may be getting the chequebook out again in 2016? editor@just-food.com () Fri, 09 May 2008 12:55:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1458&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1457&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 It’s not that long ago that I left university (although those six years have flown by) but today (8 May) I was reminded of life as a student. No, not falling asleep in lectures on Machiavelli or pogo-ing around to the latest indie band in some Strongbow-soaked underground bar but the challenge of shopping on a budget. Thankfully, that reminder didn’t come in the form of a salary cut from the bean counters at Aroq. Instead, I was sent the latest advice on how to save a few pennies as food prices rise. In the UK, a website called LoveFoodHateWaste.com has been set up to educate consumers on how to make the most of the food that they buy (if only they had things like this way back in 2001). The site is dedicated to educating people about the need to reduce the amount of food they throw away. A new article on the site shows how to reduce food waste and save some cash in the process. The site gives five quick tips from keeping your store cupboards well-stocked to better portion control. “It’s amazing how many meals you can get from one chicken!” the website exclaims. I haven’t a clue. Too busy spending my student days at the nearest KFC. editor@just-food.com () Thu, 08 May 2008 15:28:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1457&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1456&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 As expected, the Food Forum India conference in Mumbai as thrown up some bullish forecasts about the potential of the country’s food industry. India, for all its challenges over distribution, infrastructure and, not least, political opposition to expansion in the retail sector, will be a “trailblazer” for the global food industry. That bold prediction came from Kishore Biyani, the CEO of Indian conglomerate Future Group, which owns India’s largest retailer Pantaloon Retail. Now, Biyani is betting big on the growth of organised retail in India. His Pantaloon business has some ambitious expansion plans, not least for its discount chain KB’s Fair Price. However, doing business in India remains fraught with problems. From the lack of modern agriculture and inadequate distribution to the fierce local opposition to the growth of organised food retail, challenges abound. While India is seen as providing all the answers to food manufacturers and retailers suffering in stagnant Western markets, industry would do well to remember that lots of unanswered questions remain, too. For the latest coverage from Mumbai, please click here. editor@just-food.com () Wed, 07 May 2008 14:20:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1456&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1455&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Washington is facing more flak over its biofuels policy – this time from the boss of one of the country’s largest chicken producers. Clint Rivers, president and CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride, has issued some stern words against the US government’s promotion of ethanol, directly blaming the policy for his company’s financial problems. Rivers blamed Washington’s thirst for biofuels for the job cuts at his company and across the US agriculture sector as food makers battle against rising costs. On this side of the Atlantic, politicians are now beginning to question the EU’s backing for biofuels. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, for one, is promising a review into the issue as food prices rise. In the US, however, widespread political opposition to biofuels is only starting to get off the ground. Following last week’s call from the Governor of Texas to slash the amount of corn used for biofuel production, a couple of dozen of Republicans are now voicing their discontent over the policy. Notable, one of those angry Republicans is John McCain. Would a new broom in the White House sweep away a policy that is losing support fast? editor@just-food.com () Tue, 06 May 2008 15:37:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1455&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1454&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Some housekeeping from just-food: tomorrow (5 May) is a public holiday in the UK… …which will no doubt see us spending the day away from the coalface sheltering from the pouring rain. just-food’s coverage will return on Tuesday (6 May) with, notably, live coverage from the Food Forum India event in Mumbai. editor@just-food.com () Sun, 04 May 2008 20:28:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1454&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1453&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 The Mars / Wrigley deal demonstrated that there is some life in the financial markets yet. And, here in the UK, there has been a sign that, despite a positive lack of serious M&A this year, there are some who have great confidence in the potential of small, high-growth businesses in the food industry. Langholm Capital, the private equity fund, has followed its acquisition, ownership and sale of burgeoning cereals business Dorset Cereals with the purchase of another thriving niche firm, Tyrrells Crisps. just-food interviewed Langholm principal Oliver Wyncoll last week and he told us that growing demand for natural food and for heritage and provenance has been a key factor in his firm’s investments. Private equity has got something of a bad press in recent months with some firms seen as asset-stripping predators out to make a quick return without putting up any significant investment. Langholm, however, believes its backers – Rabobank and Unilever – show that it is part of a different breed. It’s apparently successful model for building niche brands appears to back its argument. editor@just-food.com () Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:39:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1453&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1452&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 The executives at confectioner Mars and gum giant Wrigley didn’t take long to chew over their US$23bn merger. Chairman Bill Wrigley revealed that Mars counterpart Paul Michaels first approached him just three weeks ago on 11 April. “A day I remember well,” Mr Wrigley laughed as he addressed reporters in the company’s hometown of Chicago following the announcement of the deal today (28 April). Mr Wrigley hailed the transaction, saying it will take the company on to the next level. Notably, he suggested that the deal will make the rest of the confectionery industry sit up and take notice – and that more consolidation in the sector would be likely. But, above all, the size of the deal demonstrates that, despite concerns over the credit crunch and the health of the financial markets, there is still enough cash flowing around for such a mega-deal. And, that when two companies want to join together, a courtship of 17 days is long enough. editor@just-food.com () Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:03:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1452&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1451&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 If you thought rationing had been left behind in a world of post-war Britain and Pathé News, then think again. For rationing has reappeared in the most unlikely of markets - the US. Last week, two of the country's largest wholesalers, Costco and Wal-Mart-owned Sam's Club, decided to restrict sales of rice amid growing concerns over supplies. Now, it would be wrong to overstate the extent of the move. We're not about to return to mornings of queues and ration-books. However, the restrictions do indicate that anxiety over commodities is deepening. Fears of a looming rice shortage have grown in recent weeks with prices hitting record highs and major rice-producing nations introducing export restrictions. Those fears are not just centred on rice. Concern among food manufacturers of all shapes and sizes over corn costs isn't going away, while in France, milk prices are set to soar by over a quarter. The cost of corn has become inextricably linked to the production of biofuels - particularly in the US and the EU. Sections of the food industry have slammed government policy in Washington and Brussels over biofuels and now it appears there are cracks in the political consensus over the issue. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said last week that London would look again at its support for EU-wide targets on biofuels. In Texas, meanwhile, the state governor has asked Washington to be allowed to slash the amount of corn it diverts for biofuel production. The Texas governor has won support from sections of the US meat industry with companies like Tyson Foods and Pilgrim's Pride having recently been hit by rising commodity costs. The US meat sector has seen jobs cut and plants closed in recent months as businesses look to boost efficiency in the face of rising costs. However, one piece of good news did emerge from the US meat business last week. Poultry group Sanderson Farms announced plans to expand, a move seemingly at odds with the cuts seen elsewhere. Nevertheless, with Tyson, Pilgrim's and Sanderson set to file earnings reports in the next month, a clearer picture of the impact of commodity costs will no doubt emerge. editor@just-food.com () Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:10:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1451&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1450&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 A couple of interesting studies were out this week that shed some light on what is or what isn’t going on in the US economy at the moment. The extent and depth of the current economic crisis is being debated ad infinitum. Is this the beginning of the darkest economic cloud to descend on the Western economies since the Great Depression, or is it merely the correction of a market that had gotten over hyped and over heated? Well, the opinions of those desperately trying to juggle the numbers in the face of the storm have taken a turn for the worst, a survey suggests. A US survey of CFOs and senior comptrollers conducted by Grant Thornton found that 59% believe that the US economy will worsen over the next six months, while 39% believe it will improve or remain the same. This represents a significant change in outlook since the same survey was last taken only six months ago, when 36% felt the economy would worsen and 64% believed it would improve or remain the same. That said another set of figures this week, gave some credence to the argument that we are talking ourselves into a worse situation than we actually need to. All the doom and gloom prophesised by the media becomes self-fulfilling, when the bare facts of the matter suggest the outlook isn’t nearly as bad as doom mongers would have us believe. The figures are highlighted on our sister site just-style in an article examining the extent the credit crunch has hit retail sales in the US and Europe. The EU's official statistics agency Eurostat shows retail sales in euro-zone clothing stores were 3.2% higher in January this year than last. The US Department of Commerce shows US clothing store sales were 2.3% higher this February than last - and the UK's Office for National Statistics shows its clothing sales an extraordinary 4.9% higher in February than last year too. As our correspondent says: “Do these public servants count differently from the retailers? Well, slightly, but whatever's going on in major clothing retailers, it's certainly not melt-down.” editor@just-food.com () Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:43:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1450&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1449&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 just-food is at the Biscuit Cake Chocolate and Confectionery Conference in the UK town of Rugby today (24 April). Our reporter Michelle Russell has uncovered some stats sure to cheer the hearts of many a chocolate-loving woman... Is it no wonder women love chocolate so much? Not only does it release those special endorphins to help us through stressful and depressing moments all women have come to experience, but, according to new research, cocoa can now improve the texture of our skin. According to research carried out by Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut, cocoa consumption over a 12-week period improved the skin quality and smoothness of those tested by 12% as well as reducing the width (-1%) and volume (-4%) of wrinkles. So instead of pasting chocolate on our faces and bodies in a bid to look good, we can now fully release that temptation and chomp away to our hearts content. All us women will now have to consider is whether we’ll be happy to be considered clinically obese or whether we want to wave goodbye to flawless skin forever. Although, with the main theme of the Biscuit Cake Chocolate and Confectionery Conference in Rugby today (24 April) focusing on portion control, I think that decision may already have been made for us. editor@just-food.com () Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:14:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1449&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1448&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Sections of the UK dairy industry will cheer this morning’s (23 April) embarrassing climbdown from The Office of Fair Trading. News that the OFT has admitted some of its claims against Morrisons were wrong will no doubt provoke renewed calls that UK business is being monitored by an over-zealous competition watchdog. There were, of course, calls during last year’s inquiry into price-fixing in the dairy industry that the OFT had got it all wrong. It was claimed that retailers and dairy producers had moved to raise prices on milk, butter and cheese in 2002 and 2003, not for financial gain, but to secure supplies amid fears that farmers were fleeing the sector. However, then – and now – one is inclined to believe that if farmers had been paid a decent price in the first place, then they wouldn’t have been quitting milk production in droves, tired of not being able to make a reasonable return – or even cover costs. And, like in 2002 and 2003, today’s news of the OFT payout to Morrisons has hit the average UK consumer in the pocket. Because, of course, the OFT settlement will come direct from HM Treasury. editor@just-food.com () Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:29:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1448&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1447&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Today (22 April), apparently, is Earth Day. The brainchild of a US politician, Earth Day is held each year on 22 April to boost awareness of environmental issues in the US and in a clutch of countries around the world. It seems, however, that the event is bigger news in the US and Canada, where companies of all shapes and sizes have jostled to get news of their “green” initiatives out to the wider public. Food retailers seem to trying to outdo each other in a bid to push their environmental credentials and capture what some see as the ever-more lucrative green dollar - and long may that competition continue. However, environmental issues have been in the food industry spotlight for months; isn’t it time that retailers showed a little more imagination than a bag for life? editor@just-food.com () Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:14:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1447&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1446&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Greenpeace has today (21 April) accused Unilever of not giving a monkey’s about its impact on the environment with demonstrations over the company’s use of palm oil. Protestors dressed as orang-utans staged demos at Unilever’s HQ in London and at another of its sites in the UK to draw attention to the conglomerate’s alleged role in the destruction of the Indonesian rain forest. Let’s be honest, the pictures do raise a smile but the activists argue that the monkeying around raises a serious issue. According to Greenpeace, Unilever is helping destroy the habitat of the orang-utans by buying palm oil from companies that are “systematically destroying the rainforests of Indonesia”. “Unilever is contributing to one of the greatest environmental crimes happening in the world right now,” Greenpeace executive director John Sauven says. "By doing nothing to stop its suppliers destroying rainforests and peatlands to grow palm oil, Unilever is helping to kill off the last remaining orang-utans on the planet and massively speeding up climate change. Unilever, of course, uses palm oil in brands from Dove soap to margarine but insists it is leading the charge in making palm oil production more sustainable. “We share the same concerns as everyone else about the expansion of palm oil production,” the company says. “The problem is simply that demand of palm oil has exploded. This is due partly to growing demand from India and China and also due to the use of palm oil as a feedstock for biofuels in the energy sector. “It is essential that all those involved sign up to agreed criteria to make sustainability work on the ground - but this is not an easy process and is taking longer than we would all like. Nevertheless, we remain absolutely committed to finding a solution.” Unilever, however, will need to work hard to make sure one day’s protests does not become a monkey on its back. editor@just-food.com () Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:02:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1446&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1445&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Week by week, the BRIC economies - quite rightly - command thousands of column inches in business pages around the world. Soaring economic growth and rising incomes in Brazil, Russia, India and China present a lucrative opportunity for companies of all shapes and sizes, not least in the food industry. Success in the US, however, is still equally important. The US remains the world's largest economy and, despite the downturn across the Atlantic, many executives in our industry harbour lofty ambitions for their businesses in the country. Step forward, Paul Bulcke. Nestlé's new CEO appears to want the company to make greater strides in premium chocolate, with the US one of the company's target markets. At first glance, it appears a wise move. Demand for posh chocs is booming the US and is forecast to keep on growing. Bulcke, however, faces tough competition. The success of Lindt and the imminent US launch of Cadbury's Green & Black's will present tough obstacles for Nestlé to overcome. Will Buckle regret missing out on Godiva? Sir Terry Leahy is another believer in the American Dream. Last week, the boss of UK retailer Tesco took his chance to rebuff recent criticism of the company's fledgling US venture. The Tesco chief executive derided the flak as "gossip" and insisted the Fresh & Easy chain will "last for a generation". That said, the jury is out on whether Tesco has the know-how to succeed in the US, not least because two weeks after saying it would put the brakes on expansion, it announced plans to open another clutch of stores in Las Vegas. Cue puzzled looks among some retail watchers. Staying with retail, one question that looks close to being answered is the sale of UK convenience chain Somerfield. Last week, The Co-operative Group confirmed what we had told you earlier this month with the announcement that it is in talks to buy Somerfield. Are the UK's "Big Four" retailers set to become a "Big Five"? editor@just-food.com () Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:26:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1445&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1444&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 The race to be London’s next mayor is heating up (the vote is on 1 May) and an upmarket burger chain has decided to get in the act. Gourmet Burger Kitchen has made a burger for each candidate – with current Mayor Ken Livingstone represented by a red chilli burger. The Ken Burger has been described as "Hot, fiery and a bit of a mouthful" Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick declined to take a bite out of the Livingstone burger – or that of rival Boris Johnson. A blue cheese burger has been made in honour of the "hidden depths" of the Conservative candidate, although the company said the burger was "a bit cheesy". Michael McGough (below) of the UK Independence Party wasn’t so squeamish however and had a chomp on the “Ken Burger”. Gourmet Burger Kitchen said it will be recorded sales to see which is the most popular. "After all", managing director David Sykes deadpanned, "gut instinct plays an important part in everyone’s decision at election time." editor@just-food.com () Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:23:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1444&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1443&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 There’s nothing like a news vacuum to get the rumours swirling around a business. Tesco’s fledgling US venture, Fresh & Easy, has been at the eye of some speculation pretty much ever since the doors on the first store were opened in November. Analysts in the US have questioned if the 61 Fresh & Easy stores were meeting sales targets and the doom-mongers were given a shot in the arm a couple of weeks ago when Tesco announced it would put the brakes on expansion across the Atlantic. Today (15 April), however, was the first opportunity Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy had to lay down the company’s version of events. Sir Terry dismissed the claims from critical analysts as “gossip” and said he was “very encouraged” by the early performance of Fresh & Easy. “If I’m armed with the actual facts, why should I worry about gossip?” he shrugged. “You’ve got to take into account that there are a lot of vested interests behind some of the commentary. It’s a time when there is a lot of gossiping around companies and mixed among that is genuine, if misplaced, criticism.” Today was a day when Tesco – and Sir Terry – put its international business centre stage. The Liverpudlian kicked off his presentation with a focus on Tesco’s overseas operations and words like “breadth” and “broad-based” littered his summary of how the company is performing abroad. “Our new businesses are really coming of age; they are about the same size as Tesco was a decade ago when it started out internationally,” he said. “We’ve built a whole new Tesco in the last few years and the group’s growth perspectives are better now than ever before.” Sure, there may be teething troubles in the US, or challenges in operating in Japan’s stagnant retail sector but Tesco’s chief executive remains calmly upbeat about the international outlook for the UK retail giant. editor@just-food.com () Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:38:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1443&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1442&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 The row over food additives moved on last week with the UK’s Food Standards Agency standing by its study into a possible link between certain colourings and hyperactivity in kids. And it seems the debate and subsequent media fall-out is even reaching the eyes and ears of the nation’s children. On Thursday, the FSA called for a voluntary ban on the use of artificial colourings in the UK. The move followed last month’s lukewarm response from Europe’s top food scientists to a report from the UK’s Southampton University – commissioned by the FSA – that claimed to show a link between food additives and children’s behaviour. The UK food industry, predictably, cried foul and said the majority of food manufacturers here had phased out the use of the colourings that had been linked to hyperactivity. However, the most interesting comment made on all this came from my nine-year-old brother. He was on Easter holiday from school last week, and on a trip to the local newsagents, he was asked whether he wanted any sweets. He had a browse along the shelf, plumped for a well-known confectionery brand – but then put them back. “I can’t really have those Mum, can I. They’ll probably make me angry,” he said. Those kids are more aware and more discerning over their food than we give them credit for. editor@just-food.com () Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:26:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1442&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1441&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 Barcelona is so vibrant that the doom and gloom pervading the World Retail Congress seems out of step with the atmosphere elsewhere in the city. The third and final day of the World Retail Congress in Barcelona has been a more muted affair - particularly on the food retailing front, and as the clouds gather above, it's easy to see the weather as a metaphor for the prospects for retailers over the next 12 to 18 months. All in all, a fascinating and fun trip to Barcelona but one that may have left some of the executives present feeling a little uneasy... editor@just-food.com () Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:24:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1441&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1440&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 The future strength of the BRIC markets has been the key topic of discussion in Barcelona today (10 April). During day two of the World Retail Congress, we have heard some of the leading players in the Indian and Chinese retail sectors talk up the prospects for growth in those markets for both domestic and international retailers. Of the four BRIC markets, Russia, India and China attract thousands of column inches in the business press, with analysts and industry very bullish in their forecasts for growth, with consumer spending all three markets soaring. This morning, however, it was the turn in the spotlight of the boys from Brazil. Ivan Ramalho, a trade minister in the Brazilian government, extolled Brazil’s virtues as a market ripe for foreign investment. Ramalho, no fewer than three times, told an audience of hundreds of retail executives that Brazil was “open” to more and more investment from multinational retailers. The minister also made a point – more than once – of saying that Brazil did not have the heavy regulation that some other emerging markets have as a possible obstacle to foreign investment. “The Brazilian market is very open; we do not have regulatory restrictions and the Brazilian government is promoting a business environment in the country,” Ramalho said. The obvious inference was to Brazil’s BRIC stablemate, India, where restrictions on direct foreign investment remain. Will Brazil’s apparent pro-business policy prevail against more conservative environments? editor@just-food.com () Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:15:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1440&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1439&lk=alrt3&amd=3080 The speakers on day one of the World Retail Congress in Barcelona seem split between the two camps. The vibrant oranges and yellows of the Congress that adorn this auditorium in Spain's second city initially hint at a sense of optimism - although that is swept aside by a pessimistic assessment of the global economy by Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times. "We are in a period of revulsion and financial collapse - which we are only part-way through," Wolf said, as he walked his audience through the impact of the global credit crunch, the downturn in the US and soaring commodity prices. Carrefour CEO Jose Luis Duran was next up and attempted to talk of the "opportunities" that are available for growth for the world's retailers. Nonetheless, even he was forced to admit that there are "significant challenges" faced by the industry. For Duran, though, focusing on building a robust brand, policies around sustainability and product innvoation are among the strategies that will be key to navigating through the stormy waters of a global economic downturn. Nevertheless, Duran admitted that there are clouds on the horizon of even the most promising of emerging markets, namely China, which is suffering from food price inflation at almost 25%. Wolf warned that the world's emerging markets, which will continue to provide lucrative growth opportunities in this time of economic turbulence, will see their growth rates slow - although with Russia and China showing signs of over-heating maybe that isn't so bad. Building blocks of cardboard boxes flank either side of the main foyer, pointing delegates to seminar rooms and the main auditorium. An approporiate analogy in these times of economic headwinds. Will business be blown over or, will some, through some careful construction, build businesses to withstand the strongest gusts? editor@just-food.com () Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:04:00 GMT http://www.just-food.com/bd.aspx?id=1439&lk=alrt3&amd=3080