Latest advertising & labelling news and analysis articles 
Marketing campaigns, nutrition labels, health claims and regulation
Quote, unquote: new UK nutrition labels
19 June 2013
The UK's largest food retailers and many of its leading suppliers are to use a front-of-pack nutrition label that incorporates traffic light colour-coding - long a point of contention in the industry. Not every major food manufacturer has signed up. Companies including Kellogg and Mondelez International have refused to join the initiative - for now.
UK: Mars, PepsiCo among signatories to hybrid nutrition labels
19 June 2013
Chocolate giant Mars and crisp manufacturer PepsiCo are among over 20 food makers and retailers to agree to adopt new "hybrid" front-of-pack nutrition labels in the UK.
UK: Advertising watchdog finds Morrisons ad "misleading"
19 June 2013
The UK's advertising regulator has ruled that a radio advert for Morrisons was "misleading" following a listener complaint.
just-food's research round-up: Dessert innovation trends, chocolate in emerging markets
19 June 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes innovation trends in ice cream and desserts, chocolate in emerging markets and savoury snacks in Europe.
UK: "Hybrid" front-of-pack labels to be unveiled tomorrow
18 June 2013
The UK government is set to launch the planned "hybrid" front-of-pack label - including traffic light symbols - tomorrow (18 June).
AUS/NZ: Ministers put forward front-of-pack "health star" labels
17 June 2013
Australia and New Zealand have set out plans to introduce a front-of-pack "health star" rating system for packaged foods on sale in the countries.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
17 June 2013
This week, just-food spoke with the CEO of Nestle Greater China, Roland Decorvet, who went into detail about the company's strategy in China and the challenges it faces there. We also garnered analysts' thoughts on Amazon's plans for its US grocery business and Carrefour's prospects for the African market. Elsewhere, JBS announced a deal to buy domestic poultry business Seara Brasil, Sobeys bought Safeway's Canadian operations, and B&G Foods snapped up Pirate Brands.
just-food's research round-up: Global biscuit industry, French cheese market
14 June 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes a global biscuit industry guide, a China health food industry report, and the cheese market in France.
EU: Parliament endorses final deal over baby, medical foods
11 June 2013
The European Parliament has endorsed a final deal agreed with EU member states on regulations on the composition of infant formula, baby food, diet replacements and special medical foods.
UK: Chobani granted appeal over 'Greek' yoghurt ruling
11 June 2013
US-based yoghurt producer Chobani has secured an appeal over a UK ruling that said it could not sell its products as Greek yoghurt in the country.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
10 June 2013
UK retailer Tesco last week published its latest trading update that the City suggested showed it had lost momentum and was facing challenges at home and abroad. Elsewhere, a fire at a poultry facility in China took the lives of nearly 120 workers. just-food also published a management briefing, which took at look at the global cereal market.
Editor's choice: The highlights on just-food last week
10 June 2013
A tragic fire in a Chinese poultry facility highlighted continued concerns over safety standards in emerging markets last week. The just-food briefing looked at the need to innovate to prevent breakfast cereal sales going soggy, insight that was swiftly followed by the news that Kellogg is launching a number of breakfast bar and drink products in response to changing consumption patterns. Meanwhile, chocolate giants Nestle and Mars were accused of price fixing in Canada. Here are the highlights on just-food this week.
just-food's research round-up: Global breakfast cereal market, UK grocery retailers
5 June 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes grocery retailers in the UK, global confectionery data, and the global breakfast cereals market.
Breakfast cereal: Manufacturers look to grow UK category
4 June 2013
Cereal manufacturers in the UK are facing a competitive market and flat sales volumes. While overall conditions have been somewhat sluggish, the breakfast category when taken as a whole has seen some pockets of excitement. Manufacturers have looked to capitalise on these and the industry's response has been a sharp focus on product development, promotional activity and marketing. But, Katy Askew asks, is this enough to breath fresh life into the boxed cereal category?
UK: Maple Leaf looks to lift NY Bakery Co. sales
4 June 2013
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods plans to increase its sales of New York Bakery Co. branded-bagels in the UK by expanding production and increasing marketing spend.
UK: General Mills stands by Cheerios interracial advert
3 June 2013
General Mills has said it will not withdraw its Cheerios cereal advert in the US, despite a backlash by some consumers due to its interracial cast.
The week ahead - Ahold, Tesco & Smucker results; free-from & export events
3 June 2013
Retail majors Ahold and Tesco are preparing to announce first-quarter results, while bakery group Aryzta and US spreads firm JM Smucker look set to detail continued progress in growing profits over the past year. Meanwhile, we can expect free-from to take centre stage in two European trade shows and UK exporters will be discussing opportunities in CEE countries.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
3 June 2013
This week saw the high levels of M&A activity we have seen throughout May continue, with the shock announcement that the board of US pork group Smithfield has given its unanimous backing to a takeover bid from Chinese pork group Shuanghui International.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
3 June 2013
The sale of US pork producer, Smithfield Foods, to China's largest pork processor, Shuanghui International grabbed the headlines last week, with management insisting the deal will help open the Chinese market to US hogs. CEO Larry Pope believes the transaction is "good news" for Smithfield and the US pork industry as a whole. Elsewhere, the Citi Global Consumer Conference got under way in New York where attendees heard presentations from multinationals such as General Mills and Mondelez International.
Citi Consumer Conference: General Mills looks to boost flagging US yoghurt
31 May 2013
General Mills, which has struggled to grow its US yoghurt brands, said yesterday (30 May) it would look to marketing and innovation to revitalise sales in the increasingly promotional category.
US: Kellogg settles lawsuit over Mini-Wheats ad claims
29 May 2013
Kellogg struck a deal to end legal action in the US over its claim that Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal improved the cognitive functions of children.
The just-food interview part two: Dairy Crest CEO on investing in sales growth
24 May 2013
Through the sale of its French spreads business, Dairy Crest has worked itself into a position where it has cash to invest in the business. As we heard in part one of this two part interview, CEO Mark Allen is working to reduce the group's cost base and move its product mix up the value chain. But equally important in Dairy Crest's drive to get the top line moving. Katy Askew caught up with Allen to find out how the chief executive plans to achieve this.
just-food's research round-up: Baby food in central Europe, biscuits in India
23 May 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes baby food markets in central Europe, biscuits in India, and UK bread production.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
20 May 2013
The week ended on a high note for Morrisons last week after it announced a venture to launch into the online channel with Ocado. The deal has again fuelled speculation that the deal could upset Ocado's current arrangement with Waitrose. Other deals this week included the acquisition of US baby food firm Happy Family by Danone. just-food also spoke with founder of Amy's Kitchen, Amy Berliner about its growth plans.
just-food's research round-up: the CIVETS markets, packaged food in the US
17 May 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes emerging food and drinks markets, packaging for an ageing population and packaged food in the US.
UK: ASA bans Yakult ad on health claims
15 May 2013
A TV ad for Yakult yoghurt drink has been banned by the UK's advertising watchdog for implying health benefits that were not supported by an approved health claim.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
13 May 2013
The quarterly results continued to roll in this week and we listened to a number of CEOs talk about the challenges and opportunities they face in 2013. Elsewhere, just-food covered Hofex, the largest food and hospitality tradeshow in Asia-Pacific, where we spoke with UK SMEs about their international ambitions. Retailer Delhaize Group has also begun the search for a new CEO following the resignation of Pierre-Olivier Beckers.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
3 May 2013
Two UK-based firms were the subject of takeovers this week: R&R Ice Cream, Europe's largest own-label ice cream firm, changed hands after PAI Partners struck a deal to buy the business; and Hain Celestial snapped up UK organic baby food brand Ella's Kitchen.
UK: ASA finds against claims from organic dairy HaLove
2 May 2013
The UK's advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority, has upheld a complaint against organic and kosher dairy HaLove.
Gluten free: The UK market
30 April 2013
The UK continues to witness a rapid increase in demand for gluten-free foods. The sector represents the largest within the UK market for free-from foods, targeted at people with food allergies or intolerances, and it is a category seeing dramatic growth.
