BRICs and beyond
Coverage and analysis of the world's fastest-growing emerging markets
BRICs and beyond: Nestle hopes to milk Chile's role as trade hub
16 April 2012
Its plans to create a local powerhouse in Chile's dairy industry may have been dashed a year ago but, 12 months on, Nestle has underlined the importance it places on the sector and on the country.
BRICs and beyond: Ferrero investment shines light on Mexican confectionery market
5 April 2012
Confectionery giant Ferrero last month announced plans to invest US$190m in the construction of a production facility in Mexico.
BRICs and beyond: Organic food's identity problem in China
9 February 2012
A sign that a branded food market is maturing is the growth of niches and demand for certified-organic products in China is starting to rise. However, as Mark Godfrey reports from Beijing and the south-eastern city of Xiamen, in China's fledgling organic sector, there are no common labelling requirements, leading to consumer confusion over what is truly organic, which could hinder development in the long term.
BRICs and beyond: Fresh concerns over food safety in China
19 January 2012
The Chinese New Year is marked on Monday (23 January) but the same old questions over the safety of food made in the country have reared their head once again. Contaminated milk at Mengniu Dairy has renewed consumer concern and infant-formula maker Synutra International found itself linked to the death of a baby boy. Chinese food makers are working on improving supply chains but there is still much more to do, as Dean Best reports.
BRICs and beyond: Spar International and emerging markets
12 October 2011
Sam Webb discusses emerging markets and consumer confidence with Tobias Wasmuht, international retail and marketing director of Spar International, as well as managing director of Spar China, having led expansion into the country in 2004.
BRICs and beyond: PepsiCo's health drive in Mexico
16 September 2011
PepsiCo plans to launch healthier snacks in Mexico to meet laws targeting obesity - and use its investment there as a base to sell the products further afield.
BRICs and beyond: Spectre of inflation returns in China
26 August 2011
Food prices are on the rise in China and analysts from all over the world are keeping a close eye on the situation. Inflationary changes in China do not just affect the people of Shanghai and Beijing – the whole world feels their ramifications, writes Sam Webb.
BRICs and beyond: Danone enters India's buoyant infant-formula market
12 August 2011
India's infant nutrition sector is expanding rapidly and it is set to have a new entrant - Danone. Last week, the French food group struck a deal to buy the nutrition business of local company Wockhardt Group, a move that means it will compete head on market leader Nestle.
BRICs and beyond: China's hypermarkets target provinces
28 July 2011
The flotation of China's largest hypermarket operator Sun Art Retail Group has highlighted the recent rapid growth in the sector and the potential that retailers believe the channel will continue to have. International chains have made their presence known in the country's main cities. Now, second- and third-tier cities are driving growth and becoming increasingly attractive targets for further expansion but, as Wang Fangqing reports, competition is fierce.
BRICs and beyond: Brasil Foods shareholders relieved as merger approved
19 July 2011
The announcement that Brazil's competition watchdog had given its blessing to the merger that formed Brasil Foods eased ongoing shareholder concerns that the deal would not get the green light. While the deal was approved, there were significant conditions placed on the deal. What will this mean for the future enterprise? Petah Marian reports.
BRICs and beyond: Hsu Fu Chi could sweeten Nestle's Chinese business
7 July 2011
A normally reticent Nestle this week admitted its interest in Chinese confectioner Hsu Fu Chi. The Singapore-listed firm is one of China's largest confectioners and, as Dean Best reports, analysts see the company's distribution in China and knowledge of local consumer habits as key factors in why the world's largest food maker could move for the business.
BRICs and beyond: Fonterra looking to milk Brazilian dairy market
27 May 2011
With recent investment in China - and a possible venture in India in the pipeline - Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy giant, is no stranger to the BRIC markets.
BRICs and beyond: Nestle ups Chinese presence with Yinlu buy
21 April 2011
Swiss food giant Nestle has expanded its Chinese footprint with the acquisition of a 60% stake in local food maker Yinlu Foods. The deal will widen Nestle's product offering in the market, grow distribution and significantly expand the group's Chinese sales. However, the acquisition's greatest upside is perhaps the local know-how that Nestle will gain by working with an experienced and trusted Chinese partner. Katy Humphries reports.
BRICs and beyond: PepsiCo's potential in Russia stands out
4 April 2011
The Consumer Analyst Group Europe (CAGE) conference last week heard from a number of the world's leading food makers keen to emphasise their plans for expansion in emerging markets. One company, Dean Best writes, had a particularly compelling narrative for analysts and investors.
BRICs and beyond: Turkey - the gateway to the world
25 March 2011
While Turkey is not seeing the same levels of growth as other developing markets like China and Brazil, retailers and manufacturers see potential in the market, not only as a developing market in its own right, but also for its strategic link between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Petah Marian investigates the opportunites Turkey offers.
BRICs and beyond: Foreign firms face fight for India's biscuit market
18 March 2011
Kraft Foods' recent move to launch its Oreo biscuit brand into India has drawn attention to what is a growing sector in the country. India's biscuit market is attracting growing multinational interest but powerful domestic players already dominate the market and the jury is out over whether foreign companies can easily grab market share. Mini Pant Zachariah reports for just-food from Mumbai.
BRICs and beyond: Heinz goes local in Brazil
11 March 2011
Heinz has announced its first major push into Brazil, with the acquisition of 80% of local tomato sauce maker Coniexpress. The deal provides Heinz with a significant footprint in the country and fits neatly with the US ketchup giant's push to grow revenues in emerging markets. Katy Humphries reports.
BRICs and beyond: Sodiaal's Candia in the Middle East and Africa
10 February 2011
Northern Africa and the Middle East are firmly in the geo-political spotlight, with the political unrest that surfaced in Tunisia last month spreading to the current ongoing protests in Egypt. There are also signs of dissent in Jordan and Yemen. just-food's Stuart Todd spoke to Jean-Luc Deher, international director of French dairy processor Candia, about the Sodiaal-owned company's presence in the region and the risks of operating in such an environment.
BRICs and beyond: Egypt crisis sparks food supply jitters in Europe
4 February 2011
The Egyptian political crisis could hardly have happened at a worse time for the European food industry, struggling to contain the recent significant increases in commodity prices.
BRICs and beyond: Which way will the Dragon turn?
20 January 2011
China. A land of opportunity and panacea for all that ails the global business community or an economic time-bomb ready to explode the World's fragile recovery and plunge us back into a second crisis in so many years?
