BRICs and beyond
Coverage and analysis of the world's fastest-growing emerging markets
BRICs and beyond: Mengniu plays catch-up in infant formula with Yashili buy
18 June 2013
Chinese dairy giant China Mengniu Dairy Co. just got bigger. It has entered into an agreement that will see it take control of local infant formula maker Yashili. Mengniu is looking to reverse its fortunes in a category in which it has struggled. However, with concerns over food safety remaining high, there is a long road ahead as the company - and the country as a whole - look to build a safe and reliable dairy supply. Katy Askew reports.
BRICs and beyond: Carrefour takes chance on Africa
11 June 2013
French retail giant Carrefour has announced plans to expand further into Africa through a joint venture with consumer goods distributor CFAO. The deal will see it develop stores across eight countries and represents a new signal of intent from the world's second largest retailer as it looks to place an early marker down in what is becoming a fast growing emerging market. Michelle Russell takes a closer look.
BRICs and beyond: Hershey wisely goes local in China
30 May 2013
Hershey, long criticised for the slow speed with which it entered faster-growing confectionery markets, has seen sales jump in China in recent years on the back of its homegrown chocolate brands. However, chocolate is not China's largest confectionery sector and competition is fierce. Hershey has wisely launched a candy brand targeted at Chinese consumers. Candy is crowded, too, but as, Dean Best writes, the move demonstrates the company knows products tailored to local needs could help it gain ground faster.
BRICs and beyond: Hard-headed Danone makes fresh China yoghurt foray
22 May 2013
Danone is to make another attempt to tap into the booming demand for fresh dairy products in China. The French food group is teaming up with Chinese dairy giant Mengniu, the largest yoghurt producer in the country. However, the two companies' previous attempt as a venture ended after just a year. Can Danone succeed this time? Dean Best reports.
BRICs and beyond: Russian retailer Magnit looks to retain top spot
17 April 2013
Russian retail colossus Magnit has overtaken X5 Retail Group to become the country's largest by sales. While anticipated, speculation is now likely to turn to whether Magnit can extend its lead, or if X5 has what it takes to up its game and claw back the number one position.
BRICs and beyond: Vigor eyes dairy top spot in Brazil
3 April 2013
When Brazilian dairy processor Vigor bought 50% of rival Itambé in February, it said it went from being the fourth-largest in the country to third. However, its ambitions do not stop there, writes Paula Krizanovic.
BRICs and beyond: Dixy takes prudent approach to ambitious expansion
18 March 2013
Dixy significantly beefed up its presence in Russia's food retail sector when it acquired local peer Victoria Group two years ago. While the company still has its foot on the throttle, with some ambitious plans to expand over the next three years, Dixy's attention has now turned to a lower-capital intensive organic growth phase. Katy Askew spoke to Dixy's head of investor relations Natalya Belyavskaya to find out more.
BRICs and beyond: Heinz's Chinese frozen food exit paves way for growth
26 February 2013
The news that Heinz plans to sell its Chinese frozen food business may have raised a few eyebrows. In an environment where food multinationals are seemingly always on the look out for M&A opportunities in dynamic emerging markets, led by China, it is not often that you hear of international firms offloading assets. However, Heinz was coming up against a number of challenges in the category and a more focused, streamlined Heinz in China could be better-placed to drive profitable growth. Katy Askew reports.
BRICS and beyond: Arla Foods plans emerging markets leap
11 January 2013
Growing competition for space in key emerging markets appears to have convinced Arla Foods that it needs to act now if it is to secure a market for its milk supplies beyond 2015.
BRICs and beyond: China's slowdown a bump in the road
22 October 2012
The impact of the global economic crisis can be seen in consumer behaviour the world over and last week it was announced that - as expected - China's economic growth rate slipped during the third-quarter. This has raised concerns that companies attempting to offset weakness in developed economies by tapping into the potential of this emerging world powerhouse could be in for a tough time. Nevertheless, Katy Askew suggests, the underlying growth drivers in China mean that the "sleeping giant's" potential remains vast.
BRICs and beyond: Hershey hopes for sweeter future in India
28 September 2012
Hershey's passage into India has proved anything but smooth but clearly the US confectionery giant is a believer in perseverance.
BRICs and beyond: Russia's X5 struggles to deliver on strategic objectives
22 August 2012
X5 Retail Group has had a turbulent year. Management changes and a significant strategic shift that has sidelined the importance of M&A to the group's expansion plans have combined with an intensely competitive market to leave Russia's largest retailer losing share to its peers. Katy Askew suggests the next 12 months will be telling for the company.
BRICs and beyond: Auchan bets on India's potential
17 August 2012
The French retailer has become the latest multinational to enter India. We look at its new partnership with local player Max Hypermarket.
BRICs and beyond: South-South the new direction for Fairtrade
24 July 2012
Having seen strong and resilient growth in established developed markets, the Fairtrade movement is increasingly turning its attention to 'South-to-South' trade. Ben Cooper reports.
BRICs and beyond: Kraft eyes taste of success in India with Toblerone launch
11 July 2012
US food giant Kraft Foods confirmed its much-speculated launch of Toblerone into India last week. Michelle Russell takes a look at why Kraft has introduced Toblerone into India, which brands it will compete against and the projected growth for the sector.
BRICs and beyond: Olam highlights Nigeria's potential
27 June 2012
Olam International's acquisition of Nigerian dairy group Kayass highlights the growing investment in the country. The move contributes to Olam's increasing presence in the Nigerian packaged food industry and the agribusiness giant intends to expand its food production base in the country further.
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.
