http://www.just-food.comDaily food comment - from just-food.com© 2012 All content copyright just-food.com. Published by Aroq Ltd.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:33:58 GMTWed, 08 Feb 2012 09:33:58 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.com100212011 was a year of low consumer confidence, pressure from raw material costs and ever-increasing demands from retailers. This year is set to see more of the same.http://www.just-food.com/comment/food-makers-look-ahead-to-another-tough-year_id118162.aspxMon, 06 Feb 2012 15:24:00 GMTTesco executives may feel they have a lot on their plate but their "to do" list is not as long as that sitting in front of their counterparts across the English Channel at Carrefour.http://www.just-food.com/comment/new-year-still-uncertainty-at-carrefour_id118041.aspxTue, 24 Jan 2012 15:41:00 GMTMuller and Robert Wiseman Dairies are talking up the benefits of the German yoghurt maker's planned takeover of the UK milk supplier but profits in the sector have been under pressure in recent months.http://www.just-food.com/comment/muller-faces-challenges-in-uk-milk-sector_id117946.aspxMon, 16 Jan 2012 15:41:00 GMTTesco's continuing difficulties in the UK forced the retailer to stun the City with something of a profit warning. As Chris Brook-Carter writes, the company needs to look beyond price to regain the ground lost to the likes of Sainsbury's.http://www.just-food.com/comment/values-not-just-value-must-underpin-tesco-revival_id117930.aspxFri, 13 Jan 2012 17:37:00 GMTMorrisons, the UK's number four grocer, kicked off a week in which the country's largest food retailers will report on their Christmas performance with slowing sales growth. And the company's predictions for 2012 would have made difficult reading.http://www.just-food.com/comment/morrisons-sets-scene-for-tough-2012_id117853.aspxMon, 09 Jan 2012 15:03:00 GMTThe consensus is that those hoping for an easier year in 2012 could be disappointed. Consumer confidence will remain in the doldrums, competition will remain fierce and economic uncertainty will continue. In his first column of the year, SymphonyIRI's Rod Street suggests some ways in which manufacturers and retailers could look to improve in 2012.http://www.just-food.com/comment/four-resolutions-for-an-uncertain-2012_id117852.aspxMon, 09 Jan 2012 14:54:00 GMTThe economic downturn has seen private label, already more prevalent in Europe than in the US, make greater strides across almost every market in the region. SymphonyIRI's Rod Street, pointing to the just-food international basket, launched today, says the price difference between own label and brand is 50% in some markets. Brand owners must act quickly, Street says, to work out where and how to defend their share.http://www.just-food.com/comment/own-label-gives-european-shoppers-more-for-less_id117748.aspxTue, 20 Dec 2011 14:54:00 GMTResearch out this morning emphasised just how tough 2011 has been. The forecasts for 2012 do not look much brighter but the UK food industry is hoping next year will be the start of a fresh push for growth overseas - and it needs government to support it.http://www.just-food.com/comment/uk-food-makers-need-support-for-success-in-2012_id117729.aspxMon, 19 Dec 2011 15:23:00 GMTTesco claims early results from the Big Price Drop - its campaign to lure cash-strapped shoppers and revive its UK sales - are positive. However, the view from The City was mixed after the retailer reported another quarter of falling sales in its domestic market. Dean Best believes Tesco should be given time - but competition from its rivals means the UK's largest retailer only has a certain amount of that.http://www.just-food.com/comment/tesco-must-look-beyond-big-price-drop_id117657.aspxMon, 12 Dec 2011 15:37:00 GMTFaced with a third week of political protests that have stopped the Indian parliamentary process in its tracks, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (7 December) announced controversial reforms to foreign direct investment in Indian retail will now be postponed. A consultation, which will involve opposition MPs, will now take place. However, MPs opposed to the ruling have hailed the announcement as the final nail in the coffin for the governments plans. Sam Webb takes a look at the ramifications of the government u-turn.http://www.just-food.com/comment/indian-retail-reforms-descends-into-morass_id117616.aspxWed, 07 Dec 2011 16:42:00 GMTGiven the slow pace of change in India, the news that plans to reform the country's retail sector have been put on hold should not be much of a surprise. But, Dean Best writes, the Indian government must stay on course and open up the industry.http://www.just-food.com/comment/india-pm-singh-must-push-through-reform_id117574.aspxMon, 05 Dec 2011 15:05:00 GMTMultinational retailers beware. For all the headlines last week, the passage into India's fledgling and potentially lucrative retail sector is likely to be anything but smooth.http://www.just-food.com/comment/caution-over-indias-retail-ruling_id117493.aspxMon, 28 Nov 2011 15:05:00 GMTInvestors and analysts clamouring for change at PepsiCo should beware the pull of short-term financial gain and recognise the long-term benefit of the company's focus on nutrition, writes Dean Best.http://www.just-food.com/comment/nooyi-has-pepsico-on-the-right-track_id117428.aspxMon, 21 Nov 2011 15:02:00 GMTThe recession and then sluggish economic recovery has led to a more regimented consumer. Armed with lists and looking for bargains, shoppers no longer consume as readily as before. Reflecting on the new reality, SymphonyIRI's Rod Street wonders if we are seeing an end to the conspicuous consumption of food brands.http://www.just-food.com/comment/brands-must-prepare-for-era-of-conscientious-consumption_id117396.aspxThu, 17 Nov 2011 15:30:00 GMTTwo potentially significant policy developments emerged last week - the EU approved the use of the sweetener stevia in food and drink products, while Russia moved nearer to finally joining the WTO.http://www.just-food.com/comment/eu-approves-stevia-russia-set-to-join-wto_id117338.aspxMon, 14 Nov 2011 15:45:00 GMTThere's been a sense of boldness from the world of food this past week, with companies making interesting moves into new products, acquisitions and territories.http://www.just-food.com/comment/firms-tackle-economic-gloom_id117261.aspxMon, 07 Nov 2011 13:32:00 GMTAfter a few months of relative calm, the food industry has, in the last week or so, seen a number of takeovers - signed or speculated - hit the headlines.http://www.just-food.com/comment/kerry-hain-celestial-greencore-put-ma-back-in-headlines_id117230.aspxWed, 02 Nov 2011 18:13:00 GMTIn the US, economists are growing more pessimistic about the country's growth prospects. In Europe, political disputes over the eurozone, rather than solutions to the crisis, are making the headlines. Against this backdrop, the emerging markets seem a more attractive prospect than ever. However, there are risks as well as rewards.http://www.just-food.com/comment/wal-mart-danone-demonstrate-pitfalls-of-emerging-markets_id117110.aspxMon, 24 Oct 2011 18:06:00 GMTYoghurt is a growing category in a challenging US market and PepsiCo is reportedly looking to enter the sector. However, if PepsiCo is interested in yoghurt, it will need to act quickly.http://www.just-food.com/comment/why-pepsico-could-be-eyeing-us-yoghurt_id117083.aspxThu, 20 Oct 2011 17:18:00 GMTThe prospect of a slow recovery in the West and the rise of the emerging markets in the East means FMCG companies in the US and Europe must change how they operate at home to survive, writes SymphonyIRI's Rod Street.http://www.just-food.com/comment/fmcg-firms-must-adapt-amid-power-shift_id117057.aspxWed, 19 Oct 2011 15:40:00 GMT