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Icelandic food sector hopes to come in from the cold - (6th November 2009)
In the wake of Iceland's financial meltdown, food manufacturers in the country have found themselves struggling with higher input costs. However, exporters have also flourished due to the weak currency. Gerald O'Dwyer reports.
COMMENT: Kraft weakness casts shadow of doubt over Cadbury deal - (4th November 2009)
Kraft's disappointing third quarter has cast doubt over the future of any possible takeover move on UK confectioner Cadbury. The US food group delivered disappointing revenues and reduced its full-year organic growth targets, contrasting sharply with the strong third quarter Cadbury delivered last week. While Kraft's results have not left its expansion plans dead in the water, the US food group may have an uphill struggle to convince Cadbury shareholders and the market as a whole that its bid is viable, Katy Humphries contends.
Obama taking food self-regulation to task - (2nd November 2009)
President Obama has made tackling childhood obesity and nutrition a key priority. The FDA’s recent announcement on nutritional labelling demonstrates the administration’s willingness to act in areas where it deems self-regulation to have been ineffective, Ben Cooper writes, and this proactive approach may not be confined to food labelling.
The just-food interview - the WWF and palm oil - (29th October 2009)
How to source palm oil is vexing the minds of many in the food industry. Growing consumer awareness of the links between palm oil, deforestation, the threat to wildlife and products on supermarket shelves is encouraging manufacturers and retailers to look for sustainable sources. However, only a few have grasped the nettle and, as Adam Harrison, senior food and agriculture officer for the WWF tells Dean Best, the industry needs to do much, much more - and quickly.
US: Unilever to "phase out" Smart Choices labels - (27th October 2009)
Food giant Unilever is to "phase out" its use of the Smart Choices Program, the food labelling scheme under fire in the US.
In the spotlight - Wal-Mart - (23rd October 2009)
The size and scope of Wal-Mart means that its annual meetings with analysts take place across two days. This week, the investment community heard the latest thoughts from the world's largest retailer and what they heard, particularly with regard to the US, would not have made happy reading for Wal-Mart's rivals. Dean Best reports.
It's natural for Tesco to boss climate change debate - (21st October 2009)
A speech by Sir Terry Leahy last week to the Sustainable Consumption Institute conference underlines Tesco’s determination to be a prominent actor in the climate change debate. Ben Cooper suggests it is natural for a company built on such an aggressive business model to seek to lead from the front and set the agenda, thereby taking the initiative away from its detractors.
High-risk Russian retail remains promising prize - (19th October 2009)
The surprise announcement that French retail giant Carrefour will exit Russia throws into sharp relief the number of challenges facing retailers in the market. While growing disposable local income had fostered the development of modern retailing, the dramatic impact of the economic downturn has put the spending power of Russian consumers under pressure. Retailers operating in the market have come in for a bumpy landing. Nevertheless, Russia still offers the greatest long-term growth prospects in Europe. Katy Humphries reports.
A bad few weeks for good bacteria - (14th October 2009)
The news today that a TV ad for Danone's Actimel yoghurt has been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog provides a further example of the controversy that has dogged the probiotics sector. Ben Cooper reports on a market that has somehow managed to attract growth and scepticism in equal measure.
UK: Cadbury has "incredible momentum" - Stitzer - (14th October 2009)
Cadbury CEO Todd Stitzer again claimed the UK confectioner would thrive as an independent company yesterday (13 October), hailing the company's "incredible momentum".
