Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week

Last 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. IFE, as with most trade shows, is really an opportunity for SMEs to layout their wares for national and international buyers. On the other end of the spectrum, CAGE is an opportunity for larger listed companies to detail their strategic direction to the investment community. Understanding both perspectives is key to gaining an overview of the competitive dynamics of the international food sector. 

Industry giants present at CAGE investment conference
Nestle, Danone and Hershey are among those updating analysts and investors on the operations at the CAGE investment conference in London this week. just-food reports from the event.

Comment: The logic behind a PepsiCo/Mondelez tie-up
Could activist investor Nelson Peltz be at it again? Hot off the heals off one mega-deal in the food industry, the move to take Heinz into private hands, rumours are abound that Peltz is building up a stake in Mondelez International and PepsiCo with a view to merging the companies into a snack food Goliath.

just-food live from IFE 2013
just-food was at the IFE trade show in London this week to hear about how UK exhibitors are faring overseas and how the UK government plans to help firms targeting international markets.

UK: M&S share price up on takeover rumours
Marks and Spencer has seen its share price shoot up this morning (18 March) following rumours that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is planning an GBP8bn (US$12.1bn) bid for the UK retailer.

On the money: Sainsbury's unfazed by competitive promotions
Sainsbury's has said it will not be adding own-label products to its Brand Match price comparison scheme despite Tesco including private label in its new programme.

On the money: Co-op confident on convenience "leadership"
The 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.

HORSEMEAT: Asda corned beef found to contain 50% horse DNA
UK retailer Asda's own-label corned beef product has been found to contain more than 50% horsemeat following tests by a local authority.

BRICs and beyond: Dixy takes prudent approach to ambitious expansion
Katy Askew speaks to Dixy's head of investor relations Natalya Belyavskaya to find out about the Russian retailer's ambitious plans to expand over the next three years.

FRANCE: Lindt to boost production
Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli is investing close to EUR70m over the next two years in increasing production capacity at its sole French plant.

US: Hostess disposals get green light
Hostess Brands has received court approval to proceed with the sale of a swathe of brands, including Twinkies and Wonder Bread, in a series of deals worth around US$800m.