- The food business blog -
Dean Best's unique web log on the global food industry, key events, people and his own daily experiences. If you would like to offer your comments, opinions, suggest topics or just have a good rant, please feel free to email: Dean Best. |
Page number: 1 of 81 ( 810 records)
Asda's search for the sport stars of the future
9th May 2008 12:55
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?
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
Five ways to cut your food bill
8th May 2008 15:28
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
Why questions remain over India's potential
7th May 2008 14:20
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
McCain speaks out as US anger at biofuels grows
6th May 2008 15:37
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?
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
A note from just-food
4th May 2008 20:28
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
Private equity shows faith in food
29th April 2008 15:39
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
By gum! Just three weeks - and the Wrigley deal is done
28th April 2008 18:03
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
Why anxiety over commodities is deepening
28th April 2008 16:10
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
US economy - a new Great Depression?
25th April 2008 16:43
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.”
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
Fed up with wrinkles? Eat more chocolate!
24th April 2008 15:14
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.
Like this? Share it with
|
|
[?] |
permalink url | comment on this blog
What's this?
Your Comments
Just make it dark chocolate - without dairy, artificial flavours and high fructose corn syrup. And still eat it in moderation. It is a mild pick-me-up with anti-oxidants galore! Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Haven't we always known that chocolate makes you fat, and fat cells under the skin reduce the appearance of wrinkles? It's not necessarily a positive message, is it?
Martin Williams, United Kingdom