just-food.com hot topics
Kraft follows its gut instinct - (9th May 2008)
The recent tie-up between Swedish biotech company Probi and Kraft Foods underlines how significant the probiotic food sector is becoming to major food producers. Probi will be supplying probiotic ingredients for Kraft’s expanding LiveActive range, aimed at tapping into a market where consumer interest and sales are on the rise. Ben Cooper reports.
Food Forum India 2008 - Quote, Unquote: Day Two - (8th May 2008)
The challenges of operating in India's fledgling organised retail sector took centre stage at day two of the Food Forum India 2008 conference in Mumbai yesterday (7 May). Meeting ever-changing consumer demands, a nascent supply chain and a sustainable relationship between supplier and retailer were key points of discussion. Here are some of the top quotes from day two's session.
Industry critical of Chinese food safety reform - (1st May 2008)
Following a number of high-profile scares and widespread concern in markets importing food products from China, reform of the country’s outdated food safety legislation had become a pressing priority. However, writes Dominique Patton, the new draft law, published by the National People’s Congress (NPC) last month, has attracted criticism from food companies.
Mars, Wrigley look to a sweeter future - (29th April 2008)
It was a deal that shook the confectionery industry but what will Mars' US$23bn takeover of gum maker Wrigley mean for the two companies? Dean Best reports.
The just-food interview – Oliver Wyncoll, Langholm Capital - (28th April 2008)
Private equity groups may be seen as asset-stripping predators but Langholm Capital clearly believes it is representative of a different breed, and its recent track-record in the food industry appears to back that up. In this month’s just-food interview, Katy Humphries spoke with Langholm principal Oliver Wyncoll about the fund’s approach and what it has in store for its most recent acquisition, Tyrrells Crisps.
Debate over colourings moves to EU - (24th April 2008)
The debate over the links between artificial food colourings and hyperactivity in children is now set to move to the European stage, and the recommendation last week by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) that UK ministers should push for an EU-wide ban on certain colourings suggests there are some interesting discussions ahead. Ben Cooper reports.
Shake-up at Loblaw leaves questions unanswered - (22nd April 2008)
Loblaw, Canada's largest food retailer, has faltered recently as Wal-Mart slowly builds its presence north of the border. It's all change in the company's boardroom, with Allan Leighton, once vital to the turnaround at Asda in the 1990s, charged with breathing fresh life into another grocer. But, as Dean Best discovers, Loblaw's strategy has left retail watchers unconvinced.
Nestlé faces a fight for US chocolate lovers - (18th April 2008)
Nestlé, one of the giants of the world's chocolate scene, has set its sights on the premium end of the market. The appetite for posh chocs is growing in the West, not least in the US, one of the company's target markets. But has Nestlé left it too late to be successful Stateside? Dean Best reports.
Russian question focusing minds of retail giants - (16th April 2008)
Wal-Mart's move this week to appoint a top Rewe executive to study how to break into Russia has again raised the question of when the US giant - as well as Carrefour and Tesco - will enter the fast-growing market. Dean Best reports.
In The Spotlight – Paul Bulcke, Nestlé - (11th April 2008)
Paul Bulcke has taken the helm at Nestlé during a turbulent time for the food industry. However, the world’s largest food company has, so far, weathered the storm unscathed. In fact, Katy Humphries writes, one of Bulcke’s biggest challenges will be to decide exactly what to do with the billion-dollar payout from the sale of Nestlé’s stake in US eye care company Alcon.
