Latest dried foods news and analysis articles 
A staple diet of news from rice to pasta
ITALY: Barilla FY profits slide
17 May 2013
Italian food group Barilla saw its profits slide in fiscal 2012 as continued economic uncertainty and rising raw material prices impacted earnings.
The week ahead - M&S, Dairy Crest FYs, Hormel Foods H1s
17 May 2013
UK meat processor Cranswick, dairy group Dairy Crest and Marks and Spencer, perhaps the most scrutinised name on the country's high street, are all set to announce annual results next week. In Europe, French poultry group LDC reports its FY numbers, while, in the US, Spam owner Hormel Foods will post its half-year results.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
17 May 2013
The week ended on a high note for Morrisons this 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.
RUSSIA: Nestle invests to strengthen supply chain
16 May 2013
The world's largest food maker Nestle is investing CHF29m (US$925,092) in new distribution facilities in Russia in a bid to strengthen its supply chain in the country.
UK: Premier rolls out Oxo seasoning shakers
13 May 2013
Uk food group Premier Foods has added a line of seasoning shakers to its range of products under culinary brand Oxo.
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.
just the answer: Walkers Shortbread on expansion in the breakfast aisle
10 May 2013
Walkers Shortbread recently launched a line of Weight Watchers breakfast biscuits, which are being produced under license in the UK. The company is hoping that the move will help it build on the growing demand for healthier options as well as the massive growth of the breakfast biscuit category. Katy Askew spoke to David Guest, commercial manager at Walkers Shortbread, about the group's hopes for the category.
UK: Industry targets food waste, carbon with new pledge
9 May 2013
Manufacturers including Nestle and Mars, as well as retailers like Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, have pledged to further cut food waste and carbon emissions in the UK.
EU: Brussels proposes reform, tougher fines after horsemeat saga
7 May 2013
EU food safety laws are facing reform under new proposals from the European Commission, which wants to "simplify and strengthen" controls in the wake of the horsemeat contamination saga.
BRICs and beyond: International SMEs testing the water at Hofex
7 May 2013
The rapidly expanding Chinese food sector has long been a focus for multinationals looking beyond developed western markets for expansion. However, it isn't just the international food Goliaths - with big bucks to spend on M&A or organic expansion - that are looking to China for growth. just-food caught up with some smaller enterprises hoping to tame the dragon at Hong Kong trade show Hofex - an event that prides itself of being the largest of its kind in Asia.
Comment: US firm Boulder eyes slice of UK gluten-free pie
3 May 2013
US health and wellness firm Boulder Brands has acquired a small UK-based gluten-free company, Davies Bakery. The US gluten-free specialist has ambitions to expand the UK business well beyond Davies' current scale. However, Katy Askew suggests, Boulder is likely to come up against stiff competition in the increasingly crowded space of the UK gluten-free sector.
US: Kraft reports mixed Q1 results
3 May 2013
Kraft Foods Group has booked a mixed set of first-quarter results, with higher sales and operating profit failing to offset restructuring charges, which dented the bottom line.
UPDATE: UK: Boulder to launch gluten-free brand Udi's in UK
3 May 2013
US health and wellness firm Boulder Brands plans to leverage its acquisition of UK gluten-free group Davies Bakery to bring its Udi's gluten-free brand to the UK market.
US: Boulder Brands sees Q1 jump, plots UK expansion
3 May 2013
US health and wellness firm Boulder Brands has booked an increase in first-quarter sales and earnings, boosted by a strong performance from its natural segment.
US: Acquisitive Hain Celestial gets Q3 boost
3 May 2013
Hain Celestial has reported a jump in third-quarter earnings on the back of "record" sales boosted by M&A in the UK.
US: ConAgra appoints McGough head of consumer foods
3 May 2013
ConAgra Foods has appointed Tom McGough to head up its consumer foods business following the resignation of current consumer foods president André Hawaux.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
3 May 2013
M&A - as ever - was a hot topic on just-food this week. Some deals were done - Hain Celestial acquired UK organic baby food firm Ella's Kitchen and PAI Partners snapped European own-label giant R&R Ice Cream. Potential transactions were speculated about - the spin off of WhiteWave Foods prompted rumours over possible suitors and Unilever's ongoing problems in spreads led to talk it could one day sell the unit.
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.
NORWAY: Orkla profits dip, looks to strengthen consumer foods
2 May 2013
Orkla has said it aims to drive continued improvements at its consumer foods unit as it booked a decline in operating profit during the first quarter.
UK: Mars' Seeds of Change launches rice, grain range
2 May 2013
Mars is to launch a range of rice and grain products under its Seeds of Change brand in the UK.
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.
Gluten free: The marketing and regulatory environment
30 April 2013
As the market for gluten-free foods expands in the future, it is highly likely the way companies target and market their products may undergo some form of change.
Gluten free: Germany, Canada, Australia among other growth markets
30 April 2013
Aside from the US and UK, where the gluten-free category is witnessing strong growth, there are a number of other gluten free markets look likely to develop elsewhere over the coming years.
Gluten free: The US market
30 April 2013
In addition to being one of the world's largest markets for gluten-free foods, the US continues to represent one of its fastest growing.
The week ahead - US retail conference; Kellogg, Kraft Q1s
29 April 2013
Wal-Mart, Kroger and Supervalu are among the US retailers presenting at a Barclays sector conference next week. The first-quarter results will continue to roll in, with Kellogg, Kraft Foods Group and Canadian retailer Loblaw part of a group of companies to publish numbers.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
29 April 2013
just-food spoke with ABF CEO George Weston this week following the release of the firm's first-half figures. The chief executive spoke about the performance of and prospects for the firm's food operations. Elsewhere, Ocado dismissed reports of a potential takeover by Morrisons, while Nestle defended a trademark lawsuit it has filed against Petra Foods over the Singapore firm's Delfi Take-It chocolate bar.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
29 April 2013
Associated British Foods grabbed the headlines this week - for good and tragic reasons. Twenty-four hours before a factory in Bangladesh that supplied ABF's discount clothing chain Primark, just-food discussed the Kingsmill bread owner's half-year results. Another UK-listed major, Unilever, this week reported its Q1 sales, which missed analyst estimates on weaker spreads and ice cream sales. Elsewhere, we analysed the return of GM to national UK headlines and China's attempts to improve food safety.
SPAIN: Ebro reaffirms strategy as Q1 profits rise
26 April 2013
Spanish food group Ebro Foods said today (26 April) that its strategy of "pursuing long-term sustainability" was paying off as it booked a 2% increase in first-quarter net profit.
NETHERLANDS: Wessanen acquires organic firm France Alter Eco
26 April 2013
Dutch organic food group Wessanen has signed a sales and purchase agreement to acquire French-based organic and fairtrade food firm France Alter Eco.
