Latest baby food news and analysis articles 
An A to Z guide of the baby and infant food business
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.
Best bits: Food makers look ahead to another tough year
6 February 2012
2011 was a year of low consumer confidence, pressure from raw material costs and ever-increasing demands from retailers. This year is set to see more of the same.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
6 February 2012
The appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour caused a flurry of comment throughout the industry, with pundits outlining what the new chief's priorities ought to be. Unilever and Kellogg were among manufacturers that announced annual results, while Hain Celestial, reporting its half-year numbers, said it saw a number of acquisition targets in the US. Elsewhere, suppliers expressed anger at a decision in Europe to block the use of new nutrition claims.
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.
GERMANY: Dairy giant DMK forecasts sales jump
2 February 2012
German dairy giant DMK has forecast that its 2011 revenues will be over 12% higher than Nordmilch and Humana, the two firms that merged in March to form the company, achieved in 2010 combined.
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.
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.
US: Mead Johnson expects "solid" growth in 2012
27 January 2012
Shares in US infant formula maker Mead Johnson closed up in New York after the company said it expected "solid" sales and profit growth in 2012.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
27 January 2012
The UK government this week launched a series of measures, drawn up with industry, to drive the food sector's growth overseas. The so-called export action plan came in the week that food and drink giant Princes announced a venture in Italy and UK confectioner Zetar opened its first sales office in Europe. Zetar's CEO outlined the company's Continental sales target to just-food and, in a further interview with a top executive, Spar International MD Dr Gordon Campbell told us about the symbol retailer's expansion plans in India.
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.
just-food's research round-up
27 January 2012
Baby food, confectionery, meat and poultry and soup are the sector's featured in this week's just-food research round-up.
GLOBAL: Arla outlines 2012 investment plans
26 January 2012
Dairy giant Arla Foods plans to invest DKK1.88bn (US$333m) this year to increase capacity, improve efficiency and make the company more competitive.
RUSSIA: Fasska linked to salmonella infant formula recall
25 January 2012
Russian authorities are recalling infant formula from Belgian manufacturer Fasska after a salmonella outbreak.
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).
Sustainability Watch - Brian Shuttleworth, Heinz
23 January 2012
In the first Sustainability Watch of 2012, Ben Cooper discusses Heinz's sustainability strategy with Brian Shuttleworth, the company's director of operational risk and sustainability, and looks at how Heinz's knack for creating catchy taglines is helping to communicate the sustainability message to consumers.
AUS: Food industry body chief Carnell to leave
23 January 2012
The chief executive of the industry association that represents Australia's food manufacturing sector is to leave in March.
ITALY: Heinz mulls appeal after court bans Barilla comparison ad
20 January 2012
HJ Heinz is considering whether to appeal a court ruling in Italy that has banned an advert that compared its products with those from rival Barilla.
CHINA: Chan quits as Yashili CFO
20 January 2012
Chinese infant formula firm Yashili International Holdings has announced that joint CFO Chan Shing Yee is set to resign from the company.
BRICs and beyond: Fresh concerns over food safety in China
19 January 2012
The Chinese New Year is marked on Monday (23 January) but the same old questions over the safety of food made in the country have reared their head once again. Contaminated milk at Mengniu Dairy has renewed consumer concern and infant-formula maker Synutra International found itself linked to the death of a baby boy. Chinese food makers are working on improving supply chains but there is still much more to do, as Dean Best reports.
US: PepsiCo board "back Nooyi"
13 January 2012
PepsiCo's board of directors has said it will support the company's CEO Indra Nooyi, despite suggestions of internal unrest and questions over her strategy for the firm, according to reports.
CHINA: Tests prove no link to infant deaths - Synutra
13 January 2012
Chinese infant formula maker Synutra International said today (13 January) that government tests proved its products were not linked to the death of a child.
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.
UPDATE: US: No decision yet on baby food unit, says Pfizer
10 January 2012
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has said it has yet to decide on whether it will sell its infant nutrition business following claims that HJ Heinz, Nestle and Danone have made bids for the unit.
US: Heinz, Nestle, Danone "bid for Pfizer baby food unit"
10 January 2012
HJ Heinz, Danone and Nestle have all been linked to bids for Pfizer's infant nutrition business.
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.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
6 January 2012
just-food's first week back after the Christmas and New Year break included PepsiCo brushing off a US report of plans to cut 4,000 jobs, UK seafood firm Young's Seafood shedding over 500 posts and Arla Foods pledging to expand in Scotland - but saying the move could still affect employees. In the week between Christmas and New Year, we saw China's food sector rocked by its latest safety scandal, with news that dairy group Mengniu Dairy produced milk containing a carcinogen. Click on the headlines for more.
US: PepsiCo claims talk of 4,000 job cuts "inaccurate"
5 January 2012
PepsiCo has denied reports that it is looking to cut around 4,000 jobs and reduce pension contributions in a bid to boost earnings.
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.
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.
CHINA: Mengniu embroiled in new tainted milk scandal
3 January 2012
Chinese dairy processor Mengniu Dairy has admitted producing milk containing excessive levels of a cancer-causing chemical.
