Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words

In a week when two of the UK's Big Four issued sales numbers, it is perhaps unsurprising that the spotlight should shine on how their respective CEOs see their businesses performing. Away from Tesco and Sainsbury's so-called "row", the usually taciturn Carrefour insisted it would not quit "growth" markets like China and Brazil, while some saw the imminent sale of Dutch retailer Super de Boer as providing some relief to Carrefour's domestic rival, Casino.

Here is who said what about the burning issues this week.

"We're not lagging behind. We're actually ahead of our main competitors. We're growing share in volume and value terms" - Sir Terry Leahy insists Tesco has caught up and passed its UK rivals.

"In terms of market performance, I think it is very dangerous when people try and quote figures that are supposedly confidential for a week or two. We just reported a quarter to last Saturday, so our figures are bang up to date and we are very happy across that period. We have outperformed the market by quite some margin" - Sainsbury's CEO Justin King insists his company is performing strongest.

"I don't know whether that was a good acquisition for Casino. Obviously they are relieved that someone is going to take that off their hands" - Verdict Research retail analyst Daniel Lucht says the French retail giant will be pleased when it sells its majority stake in Dutch grocer Super de Boer.

"Carrefour does not usually comment on rumours, but given their persistence, the company denies that it will stop its activities in growth markets" - the world's number two retailer - usually so reticent - moves to quash speculation it plans to quit China and the like.

"We are beginning to see some encouraging first steps, but at present the support measures offered by the EU do not go far enough. The future of European dairy farming is still on the scales" - the European Milk Board remains unconvinced at the EU's claims to be helping dairy farmers.

"Consumer spending will go up in China because the government are encouraging it. We feel very bullish about China going into 2010" - PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi is looking east.

"Ready meals are coming back, biscuits are continuing to grow, the pizza market is growing. What we are looking to do is speed that growth up" - Paula Widdowson, director of corporate social responsibility for Northern Foods, talks up the prospects for the UK food maker - after slowing sales hit its shares.

"We have been overwhelmed by the response of the Australian public; it has been an insightful debate" - Kraft Foods Australia's Simon Talbot is philosophical about the local furore over the changes made to the Vegemite name.

"We're disappointed to be singled out in this campaign and, given that the FSA also say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we'd be even more disappointed if people were left wondering what they should serve for breakfast if toast and cereals were off the menu" - Kellogg is unhappy at the UK food watchdog's attack on breakfast in its latest "salt awareness" campaign.

"The US COOL requirements are so onerous that they affect the ability of our cattle and hog exporters to compete fairly in the US market" - Canadian government minister Stockwell Day explains why Ottawa has asked the WTO to intervene on US country-of-origin labelling law.