http://www.just-food.com/companies/the-co-operative-group_id362Latest The Co-operative Group industry news - from just-food.com© 2013 All content copyright just-food.com. Published by Aroq Ltd.Wed, 22 May 2013 22:24:58 GMTWed, 22 May 2013 22:24:58 GMTjust-food.com - RSS feedjust-food.comhttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss20Belton Cheese has been on something of a roll, expanding its business into new international markets with fresh distribution deals in countries as far afield as the US and Japan. The group announced yesterday (30 April) that it is further growing its overseas presence through an agreement to expand into Russia's high growth dairy market. Katy Askew caught up with Belton sales manager Phil Jones to find out more.http://www.just-food.com/interview/uk-firm-belton-cheese-looks-to-drive-international-growth_id123041.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupWed, 01 May 2013 17:43:00 GMTThe GM debate has re-emerged in the UK in the last couple of weeks with the news four major supermarket operators will allow their suppliers to use GM feed for poultry and eggs.http://www.just-food.com/comment/consuming-issues-gm-debate-comes-down-to-question-of-trust_id122953.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupThu, 25 Apr 2013 12:14:00 GMTDiscount clothing chain Primark again grabbed the headlines for Associated British Foods as it booked higher half-year profits and sales - and saw its shares hit a record high. But what about ABF's grocery business? Dean Best spoke with CEO George Weston about the performance of and prospects for the UK group's food operations.http://www.just-food.com/interview/the-just-food-interview-associated-british-foods-ceo-george-weston_id122930.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupWed, 24 Apr 2013 15:52:00 GMTA union representing Premier Foods workers has questioned whether the company entered into "meaningful" discussions ahead of its move to close its Birmingham Hovis bakery tomorrow (23 April).http://www.just-food.com/news/union-questions-premier-bakery-closure-consultation_id122915.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupTue, 23 Apr 2013 14:55:00 GMTUK retailer The Co-operative Group has opened a GBP22m (US$33.6m) distribution centre in north Derbyshire that is expected to create around 300 new jobs.http://www.just-food.com/news/the-co-operative-opens-gbp22m-distribution-centre_id122917.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupTue, 23 Apr 2013 14:07:00 GMTUK Fairtrade specialist Divine Chocolate is to be re-listed at The Co-operative Group's stores.http://www.just-food.com/news/co-op-to-begin-re-stocking-divine-chocolate-bars_id122889.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupFri, 19 Apr 2013 17:03:00 GMTUK fresh vegetable supplier Produce World has launched a consumer brand under the name Burgess Harvest Veg.http://www.just-food.com/news/produce-world-launches-burgess-harvest-veg-line_id122692.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupTue, 02 Apr 2013 16:07:00 GMTUK retailer The Co-operative Group is relaunching and rebranding its own-label healthy range with the addition of new products.http://www.just-food.com/news/co-op-relaunches-own-label-healthy-line_id122691.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupTue, 02 Apr 2013 15:40:00 GMTUK-based Divine Chocolate was one of the first Fairtrade-only FMCG brands when it launched in 1998. However, the entry of larger, mainstream companies into the category, while increasing awareness of Fairtrade and boosting sales, has had an impact on the specialists. Divine commercial director David Francis spoke to Dean Best about competition, retail support for Fairtrade and the promotional battle in the UK.http://www.just-food.com/interview/divine-chocolate-battles-pressure-on-fairtrade-specialists_id122618.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupWed, 27 Mar 2013 15:34:00 GMTLast week saw the just-food team hitting the streets to bring you coverage from two key events in the industry calender: the IFE trade show in London and the Consumer Analyst Group of Europe (CAGE) conference.http://www.just-food.com/news/the-highlights-on-just-food-last-week_id122605.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupMon, 25 Mar 2013 08:38:00 GMTThe Co-operative Group has insisted it is well placed to maintain what it sees as a "leading" position in the UK convenience sector, even as competition steps up and the country's supermarket groups look to expand their convenience network.http://www.just-food.com/analysis/co-op-confident-on-convenience-leadership_id122583.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupThu, 21 Mar 2013 11:02:00 GMTThe Co-operative Group has booked a drop in full-year earnings for 2012, with food profitability hampered by its investments in pricing and the weak consumer outlook.http://www.just-food.com/news/co-op-food-profits-down-on-price-investment_id122581.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupThu, 21 Mar 2013 08:29:00 GMTBoparan Holdings, the parent company of 2 Sisters Food Group, has continued its drive to rapidly expand its footprint with the announcement that it has acquired the remaining Vion meat businesses in the UK. Katy Askew takes a look at how ambitious 2 Sisters hopes to succeed in a market where Vion struggled.http://www.just-food.com/analysis/boparan-continues-ma-march-with-vion-buy_id122406.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupTue, 05 Mar 2013 15:41:00 GMTThe UK's Food Standards Agency has released a second set of test results from the industry revealing 99% of products sampled proved negative for traces of horse DNA.http://www.just-food.com/news/fsa-second-test-results-largely-negative_id122280.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupMon, 25 Feb 2013 12:32:00 GMTResults from the first set of UK tests on beef products for horsemeat have in the main cleared the country's retailers.http://www.just-food.com/news/uk-fsa-publishes-first-test-results_id122180.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupFri, 15 Feb 2013 14:50:00 GMTABP Food Group has said the beef meatballs it supplied to Waitrose which were this week recalled by the UK retailer amid fears they contained pork tested negative for traces of the ingredient.http://www.just-food.com/news/pork-tests-on-waitrose-skus-negative_id122133.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupWed, 13 Feb 2013 14:18:00 GMTUK upmarket retailer Waitrose has recalled its British beef meatballs after the product were found to potentially contain traces of pork.http://www.just-food.com/news/waitrose-recalls-beef-meatballs-over-pork-fears_id122131.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupWed, 13 Feb 2013 11:27:00 GMTThe UK government is to meet industry officials to determine whether the supply chain needs to be placed under greater scrutiny to ensure food security in the country.http://www.just-food.com/news/government-to-consult-on-supply-chain-security-defra_id122100.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupMon, 11 Feb 2013 15:15:00 GMTTesco has admitted an own-label spaghetti bolognese in the UK contained horse DNA.http://www.just-food.com/news/tesco-own-label-spag-bol-contained-horse-meat_id122111.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupMon, 11 Feb 2013 19:32:00 GMTAs our understanding of the horse meat contamination scandal develops the number of food products drawn in is likely to expand, raising some fundamental questions about the security of our food supply.http://www.just-food.com/comment/horse-meat-scandal-likely-to-widen_id122090.aspx?utm_source=company-feed&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=rss-feed&utm_content=the-co-operative-groupFri, 08 Feb 2013 15:57:00 GMT