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

By Dean Best | 12 September 2011

The slowdown in the UK economy appears to be helping one business. This week, Morrisons revealed financial results that showed it was adapting better to the challenging trading conditions than its rivals. Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, leading US executives indicated how tough the economic environment is in the US. Click on the headlines for more.

Morrisons prospers amid tough economic climate
The UK retailer is outperforming its peers and chief executive Dalton Philips is implementing a series of initiatives it hopes will drive further growth.

US: "Stagflation" hurting FMCG companies - PepsiCo CFO Johnston
PepsiCo CFO Hugh Johnston has claimed a "stagflationary environment" is harming consumer product manufacturers.

US: "New reality" makes Kraft split vital - Rosenfeld
The chief executive of Kraft Foods has asserted that the planned split of the company into two separate units is vital to face the "new reality" of the food industry.

UK/FRANCE: R&R Ice Cream buys French firm Pilpa
UK-based R&R Ice Cream has struck an agreement to buy French own-label firm Pilpa in a deal worth EUR27m (US$38.2m).

NZ/UK: Fonterra, First Milk sign whey protein JV
Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy giant, has signed a deal to make whey proteins with UK co-op First Milk.

UK: Pension row could lead to strikes at Unilever
Unilever workers in the UK are set to vote on whether to strike in protest at the company's plans to change its pension scheme.

On the money: Thorntons keeps faith in multi-channel strategy
UK chocolate maker Thorntons remains positive about its prospects and confident in its strategy despite reporting annual losses this morning (7 September).

Comment: Doubts remain over Campbell's new direction
The US food maker has had a challenging couple of years but is under the stewardship of new CEO Denise Morrison. However, can her "new strategic direction" pay off?

Comment: FDA-Fresh Del Monte spat helps no one
The row between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Fresh Del Monte Produce, which has led to the fruit and vegetable company filing lawsuits against the US food watchdog and Oregon Health Authority, poses some difficult questions for regulators, politicians and for companies.

CZECH: Ahold reveals plans to open "dozens" of stores
Dutch retail chain Ahold has confirmed it plans to open "dozens" of new stores in the Czech Republic.

Sectors: Bakery, Canned food, Cereal, Condiments, dressings & sauces, Confectionery, Dairy, Emerging markets, Financials, Food safety, Fresh produce, Ice cream, Mergers & acquisitions, Multichannel, Private label, Retail, Snacks

Companies: Morrisons, PepsiCo, Fonterra, Unilever, R&R Ice Cream, Thorntons, First Milk, Kraft Foods, Fresh Del Monte Produce, Ahold

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

The intensely competitive nature of the UK food retail sector came to the fore this week, with Tesco outlining how it believes it can revitalise stagnant sales, Morrisons underlining its plans to develop its fresh food offer and Waitrose insisting it will continue to be fight hard on price. The end of the week also saw the announcement that a consortium led by Iceland Foods chief executive Malcolm Walker had acquired the UK frozen foods retailer. Across the Channel, Carrefour confirmed its profits slumped in 2011 and said it would cut capital expenditure this year. And Dairy Crest, the UK's largest dairy processor, said it was mulling whether to sell its French unit St Hubert. Click on the headlines for more.

Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words

Iceland Foods founder and CEO Malcolm Walker told of his "delight" at purchasing the UK frozen food retailer today (9 March) after months of talks to secure the firm.

Talking shop: Morrisons prepares for fresh food battle

Morrisons may be mulling expansion into the world of online and convenience retailing but, with Tesco looking to fresh food to revitalise sales, the UK's fourth-largest supermarket group is also turning to its founding principles to drive growth, writes Katy Askew.

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