Top stories on just-food this week

just-food had something of an Eastern flavour this week with stories in Japan and China grabbing the headlines. Two of Japan's largest food groups, Meiji Dairies and confectioner Meiji Seika, have decided to merge amid intense domestic competition. Across the sea in China, the country has been rocked by a baby formula safety scare, with leading dairy Sanlu Group under the microscope. Meanwhile, slightly closer to home, Carrefour, the French retail giant, has found itself at the centre of renewed speculation about an imminent entry into Russia - a market we analysed in our Hot Topic section.

These are the top stories on the site this week. Click on the headlines to view.

JAPAN: Meiji Dairies and Meiji Seika to merge
Japan's Meiji Dairies and the country's number two confectionery maker Meiji Seika today (11 September) confirmed that they will merge next year, forming a newly-created holding firm, Meiji Holdings Corporation.

CHINA: Sanlu recalls formula amid government probe
China's ministry of health has said that it was "highly likely" that infant formula made by the Sanlu Group was contaminated with cyanuramide, also known as melamine, a chemical that can cause kidney stones.

RUSSIA: Carrefour mum on Russian plans
French retail giant Carrefour has remained silent on reports that it is planning to open stores in Russia's Krasnodar region.

Retailers set to prosper as Russian packaged food market grows
The news that Carrefour may soon be joining the growing ranks of international retailers in Russia will have come as little surprise to observers of a rapidly-developing retail market. According to a just-food report, packaged food growth in Russia has outstripped that in any of the other BRICM markets over the past five years, while the food retailing landscape continues along a path of dramatic transformation. Ben Cooper reports.

INDIA: Kraft silent on Indian entry
US food giant Kraft Foods has remained silent on reports that it is looking to enter the Indian market by buying a stake in a local food firm.

CANADA: Maple Leaf identifies source of contamination
Maple Leaf Foods, the Canadian food manufacturer at the centre of a listeria outbreak that has been linked to 12 deaths, has identified the probable source of contamination at its Toronto production plant.

UK: Shop price rises outpace producer hikes
UK retailers are increasing food prices at a quicker rate than their suppliers, according to the latest government figures.

UK: Value positioning helps Morrisons beat the downturn
Morrisons said this morning (11 September) that its value ranges helped to drive like-for-like sales gains as consumers looked to cut spending during the economic downturn.

UK: Waitrose pricing initiatives hit profits
The John Lewis Partnership today (11 September) revealed that discounting initiatives have eaten into first-half profits at Waitrose, as the upmarket supermarket group cut prices in a bid to retain market share in the increasingly difficult trading environment.

UK: Innocent moves into food with veggie snacks
Innocent, the UK beverage firm, has made its first push into food with the launch of a range of vegetable snack pots.