Best bits
By: Dean Best
Dean Best's views on the industry's hot issues.
Best bits: Food makers look ahead to another tough year
6 February 2012
2011 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.
Best bits: New year, still uncertainty at Carrefour
24 January 2012
Tesco 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.
Best bits: Muller faces challenges in UK milk sector
16 January 2012
Muller 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.
Best bits: Morrisons sets scene for tough 2012
9 January 2012
Morrisons, 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.
Best bits: UK food makers need support for success in 2012
19 December 2011
Research 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.
Best bits: Tesco must look beyond Big Price Drop
12 December 2011
Tesco 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.
Best bits: India PM Singh must push through reform
5 December 2011
Given 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.
Best bits: Caution over India's retail ruling
28 November 2011
Multinational 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.
Best bits: Nooyi has PepsiCo on the right track
21 November 2011
Investors 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.
Best bits: Kerry, Hain Celestial, Greencore put M&A back in headlines
2 November 2011
After 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.
Best bits: Wal-Mart, Danone demonstrate pitfalls of emerging markets
24 October 2011
In 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.
Best bits: Why PepsiCo could be eyeing US yoghurt
20 October 2011
Yoghurt 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.
Best bits: Sainsbury's strikes back in UK grocery battle
10 October 2011
The competition from the UK's deal-chasing consumers has stepped up a notch with Sainsbury's plan to roll outs its Brand Match price-comparison scheme, writes Dean Best.
Best bits: Danish fat tax gives industry plenty to chew over
3 October 2011
Across the North Sea today, Denmark will hear its new government's plans for the country when prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and her new cabinet present their policy programme. When the Danes chew over those plans tonight, perhaps over dinner, they will also likely be discussing a policy introduced by the previous administration that went live over the weekend and has attracted global headlines.
Best bits: Retailers gather in Berlin to talk shop
26 September 2011
The uncertain economic outlook, fed by the fears over Greece's public finances and pessimism over the growth prospects of markets like the US and the UK, is a key theme of this week's World Retail Congress in Berlin.
Best bits: Metro Group, Sara Lee and Ralcorp face questions
19 September 2011
The speculation over the future of Metro Group's chief executive intensified last week, casting doubts over the direction of the world's fourth-largest retailer.
Best bits: The worst may be yet to come
12 September 2011
The UK woke to a blustery Monday morning today (12 September) and to the gloomy news that households in the country are yet to face the full effects of the 2008/09 economic slump.
Best bits: Morrisons to follow Tesco, Carrefour in spotlight
5 September 2011
Last week's food retail headlines were made by Tesco and Carrefour. This week, Morrisons will be the next grocer to face questions over its strategy.
Best bits: Real and metaphorical headwinds hitting retail
30 August 2011
The chief executive of The Co-operative Group last week highlighted the economic headwinds hitting the UK retail sector, while, in the US, Hurricane Irene added to the metaphorical storms.
Best bits: Ralcorp stands firm as ConAgra ups ante
15 August 2011
ConAgra Foods, keen to tap into the growing private-label market in the US, has made a higher bid for Ralcorp Holdings. Its takeover target, however, has again rejected the company's advances.
