Latest dried foods news and analysis articles 
A staple diet of news from rice to pasta
Promo Tracker: Waitrose offers deepest promotions
7 February 2012
Waitrose's promotions offered consumers the highest saving on average, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
6 February 2012
Hershey and Unilever were among the major food manufacturers that this week were the first to report their 2011 financial results. Unilever's profits inched up 1% and CEO Paul Polman pointed to the performance of its home and personal care operations - casting some questions over the prospects of its food operations. In the retail sector, this week saw the long-speculated appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour and analysts expressed concern about the outlook for Ocado despite narrowing full-year losses.
UK: Revamp leads Premier marketing chief Goldstone to quit
3 February 2012
Premier Foods plc marketing director Jon Goldstone will leave the UK food company after it decided to absorb the department into its commercial structure.
On the money: Hain Celestial eyes global growth opportunities
2 February 2012
The CEO of Hain Celestial has told analysts that the US food company will look to make more acquisitions this year, in the US and Asia.
US: Hain Celestial posts "record" H1 profits
2 February 2012
US food company Hain Celestial has hailed "record" first-half profits, boosted by expanded distribution and the acquisition of UK firm Daniels Group last year.
MEXICO: Kraft inaugurates tech centre
1 February 2012
The Mexican arm of Kraft Foods has opened a $50m innovation and development centre in Mexico City.
UK: Premier Foods in GBP50m ad spend
30 January 2012
Major UK food manufacturer Premier Foods plc has doubled its marketing spend to more than GBP50m (US$78.3m) in a bid to drive growth.
UK: Jam maker Duerr's eyes Premier's Hartley's unit
27 January 2012
UK jam maker Duerr's has signalled its interest in buying Premier Foods plc's Hartley's business, which is rumoured to be among the latest of the food giant's assets up for sale.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
27 January 2012
Carrefour again grabbed the headlines this week, with speculation intensifying that there could be change of leadership at the company. just-food understands an announcement is due in days. Elsewhere in retail, Asda outlined its expansion plans in the UK and we spoke to the CEO of Spar International about the symbol group's ambitions in India. Meanwhile, Premier Foods admitted more jobs could be lost at the company, we took a look at why US baker Hostess Brands filed for Chapter 11 and, in our latest Sustainability Watch, we discussed HJ Heinz's CSR strategy.
US: McCormick 2012 profit forecast weighs on shares
26 January 2012
Shares in McCormick & Co. fell today (26 January) after the US-based spice maker issued a forecast for 2012 profits that was lower than Wall Street expected.
Focus: Why US baker Hostess went stale
25 January 2012
US brands Twinkies and Wonder are so iconic they are known the world over, even in markets where the products are not sold. Yet despite having these cultural touchstones in its portfolio, US baker Hostess Brands has struggled over the last decade, entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection twice, most recently this month. Sam Webb looks at why this baking monolith has started to crumble.
UK: Public health goes local in policy shake-up
24 January 2012
Local governments in the UK will have more responsibility for public health in a set of measures announced by the coalition government today (24 January).
UK: Pension trustees back Unilever reforms
23 January 2012
The trustees of Unilever's UK pension fund have agreed to the company's plans to change the scheme, despite a series of strikes at its factories across the country.
CANADA: ConAgra acquires Del Monte Canada
18 January 2012
US food group ConAgra Foods has agreed to buy Del Monte Canada from private-equity firm Sun Capital Partners.
UK: Premier Foods creates 70 logistics jobs
16 January 2012
Premier Foods plc today (16 January) announced it will create around 70 new jobs at its logistics operation on the Swift Valley Industrial Estate in Rugby.
Quote unquote: just-food's week in words
13 January 2012
Major UK retailers reported a bit of a mixed Christmas, with Tesco's shares sliding following a trading announcement, while Sainsbury's claimed a "record-breaking" festive period. The fortunes of US baker Hostess Brands are more clear cut. The company this week entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time.
just-food's research round-up
13 January 2012
This week's featured research from the just-food store includes a look at worldwide flavour trends, analysis on the UK supermarket sector and a report on the sustainability strategies used by food and drink manufacturers.
On the money: M&S food shines but uncertainty remains
11 January 2012
Food helped Marks and Spencer enjoy a sales jump in its third quarter but some market observers fear a post-Christmas hangover.
UK: Duchy Originals annual profit jumps
11 January 2012
Duchy Originals, the upmarket UK food producer founded by the Prince of Wales in 1990, has made an annual profit after its 2009 deal with UK retailer Waitrose.
UK: Food boosts sales at Marks and Spencer
10 January 2012
Marks and Spencer's food business has driven an increase in quarterly sales at the UK retailer.
UK: Unilever workers to stage more strikes
9 January 2012
Unilever faces a fortnight of industrial action after unions stepped up their protests over changes to the company's pension scheme.
Street talk: Four resolutions for an uncertain 2012
9 January 2012
The consensus is that those hoping for an easier year in 2012 could be disappointed. Consumer confidence will remain in the doldrums, competition will remain fierce and economic uncertainty will continue. In his first column of the year, SymphonyIRI's Rod Street suggests some ways in which manufacturers and retailers could look to improve in 2012.
UK: Nestle UK to quit Croydon HQ
5 January 2012
Nestle has today (5 January) confirmed speculation it is moving the headquarters of its UK business.
BRAZIL: Biscuit firm M. Dias Branco buys rival Pelagio
5 January 2012
Brazilian biscuits market leader M. Dias Branco (MDB) has acquired local rival Pelágio Participações for BRL240m (US$130.2m).
IRELAND: Commodity prices drive jump in exports in 2011
4 January 2012
Commodity prices drove a 12% rise in Irish food and drink exports in 2011, according to the country's manufacturing association.
UK: Scottish food exports hit GBP1bn
3 January 2012
Food exports from Scotland hit a "record-breaking" GBP1bn (US$1.55bn) in 2011, according to the country's government.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 December 2011
Wal-Mart stunned the US food sector this week with a decision to pull a Mead Johnson infant formula brand after the death of a baby in Missouri. In the UK, two retailers, Thorntons and Ocado, faced the scrutiny of investors after profit warnings. And, just-food launched its international food basket to highlight the difference in price between national brands and own label in seven markets.
The most-read news articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
As well as our raft of insight articles, just-food continued to provide all the breaking news throughout the food industry in 2011. Below are the ten articles that had you clicking the most throughout the year.
The most-read analysis articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
just-food's most popular analysis articles in 2011 had a very international flavour. Denmark's move to levy a tax on saturated fat grabbed your attention, as did our features on India's infant formula and biscuit sectors. Click on the headlines for more.
US: New World Pasta to buy brands from Strom Products
22 December 2011
New World Pasta, a subsidiary of Spanish food company Ebro Foods, is set to acquire two brands from sales and marketing firm Strom Products.
