Top stories on just-food this week

GM waded back into view this week with a report from the UK's Food Standards Agency detailing consumers' current wishes on the issue. Formal appointments were made for the European Commission, including a new agriculture chief, while Waitrose boss Mark Price was named as a contender for the top job at Morrisons. And Bakkavor and Greencore, two key players in private label, issued their latest numbers and claimed the market was seeing a recovery in convenience food. These were the top ten stories on just-food this week.

UK: Consumers want GM labelling, says FSA
UK consumers want products containing GM foods to be flagged through a labelling scheme designed to encourage transparency and consumer choice, a new study has found.

EU/ROMANIA: Romanians pick up food portfolio at Brussels
Romania has been awarded the powerful agriculture portfolio in a proposed new European Commission, with former agriculture minister Dacian Ciolos formally proposed to take over from Mariann Fischer Boel.

ICELAND: Recovery is on track, says Bakkavor
Bakkavor, the Iceland-based food group, has claimed it is recovering strongly after the company flagged a jump in third-quarter profits and rising sales.

IRELAND: Greencore shares up on gain in underlying profits
Shares in private-label food group Greencore rose in early trading this morning (25 November) as the Ireland-based firm posted a jump in underlying annual profits.

GERMANY: Metro revamps own-label range
Metro Cash & Carry, the wholesale arm of German retail giant Metro Group, has revamped its own-label range, which is to be sold across 30 markets.

UK: Heinz sells own-label frozen dessert unit
HJ Heinz has sold its private-label frozen desserts business in the UK to PoleStar Foods.

INSIGHT: Heinz to ramp up marketing spend in H2
US ketchup giant HJ Heinz has said that it will ramp up its marketing spending in the second half of the year in a bid drive sustainable sales growth.

UPDATE: UK: Nestle "mulling Cadbury bid"
Shares in Cadbury have jumped on reports that a bidding war for the UK confectioner could develop between Kraft Foods and rivals, including Switzerland's Nestle.

UK: Waitrose's Mark Price tipped to replace Bolland
Waitrose managing director Mark Price has been tipped as the leading contender to fill Marc Bolland's boots as chief executive of Morrisons.

UK: Premier defends GreenPalm use
Premier Foods plc, the maker of Mr Kipling cakes and Hovis bread, has stood by its decision to use palm oil sourced under the controversial GreenPalm scheme.