Latest emerging markets news and analysis articles 
The potential and pitfalls of the planet's developing markets
BRICs and beyond: Mengniu plays catch-up in infant formula with Yashili buy
18 June 2013
Chinese dairy giant China Mengniu Dairy Co. just got bigger. It has entered into an agreement that will see it take control of local infant formula maker Yashili. Mengniu is looking to reverse its fortunes in a category in which it has struggled. However, with concerns over food safety remaining high, there is a long road ahead as the company - and the country as a whole - look to build a safe and reliable dairy supply. Katy Askew reports.
DENMARK: Campbell buys baked snack maker Kelsen
18 June 2013
Campbell Soup Co. has acquired Danish baked snack company Kelsen Group in a bid to grow its international presence, particularly in China.
CHINA: Mengniu looks to take full control of Yashili
18 June 2013
China Mengniu Dairy Co. has tabled a takeover bid worth around HK$11.35bn (US$1.46bn) to take full control of local infant formula maker Yashili International.
just-food's research round-up: Dessert innovation trends, chocolate in emerging markets
18 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.
US: Smithfield investor claims Shuanghui offer "undervalues" pork group
17 June 2013
Investment firm Starboard Value, which holds a 5.7% stake in Smithfield Foods, has suggested the proposed takeover of the US pork processor by China's Shuanghui International "significantly" undervalues the company.
Best bits: Nestle China boss espouses benefits of thinking local
17 June 2013
To succeed in emerging markets, you have to think - and act - locally. That was the central message from just-food's interview with the boss of Nestle's business in Greater China, Roland Decorvet.
CHINA: Mengniu "nears announcement on Yashili stake buy"
17 June 2013
China Mengniu Dairy Co. is expected to announce it has struck a deal to acquire a controlling stake in local infant formula firm Yashili International Holdings.
CROATIA: Retailer Agrokor to buy majority of rival Mercator
17 June 2013
Croatian retailer Agrokor has agreed a deal to acquire a majority stake in Slovenian rival Mercator for EUR240m (US$320m).
EGYPT: Juhayna bids for biscuit firm Bisco Misr, Mondelez linked
17 June 2013
Egyptian dairy group Juhayna Food Industries has made a takeover bid for local biscuit and cake manufacturer Bisco Misr.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
17 June 2013
The latest just-food interview saw the boss of Nestle's business in Greater China discuss the food giant's strategy in the market and why he believed the world's largest food manufacturer had the edge on its rivals in the region. It was a week of a number of notable pieces of M&A, including Canadian retailer Sobeys' move to buy Safeway Inc's business in Canada and JBS's deal to acquire Seara Brasil from local meat rival Marfrig.
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.
CHINA: Stevia developer GLG to team up with COFCO
14 June 2013
Canada-based stevia firm GLG Life Tech plans to team up with state-backed Chinese food giant COFCO to develop food and drink products containing the sweetener.
CHINA: Infant formula firm Synutra claims progress after challenging year
14 June 2013
Chinese infant formula firm Synutra International has insisted it has seen its core business return to profitability in the fourth quarter at the end of a year which saw sales fall and losses widen.
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.
The just-food interview part two: Nestle "best placed" to meet Chinese challenge
13 June 2013
Nestle is witnessing dynamic growth in China thanks to a combination of M&A and organic growth. As we discovered in part one of this two part interview, regional chief Roland Decorvet attributes much of this success to Nestle's use of both local and global brands. But operating in China is not without its challenges. Katy Askew caught up with Decorvet to find out more about why he believes Nestle is best-placed of all the multinationals to succeed in China.
The just-food interview part one: Nestle China CEO sees dynamic growth
13 June 2013
The potential offered by the Chinese market is nothing new. And nor is Nestle's presence in the country. The world's largest food group started trading in Hong Kong in 1874 and opened its first sales office on the mainland in 1908. In recent years Nestle has stepped up the pace with the development of a distinctive model it believes will drive expansion. In part one of the just-food interview, Roland Decorvet, chairman and CEO of Nestle Greater China, spoke to Katy Askew about the company's strategy in the market.
CHINA: Shuanghui coy over possibility of Hong Kong listing
13 June 2013
China's biggest pork producer, Shuanghui International, has remained coy over the possibility it might list in Hong Kong as a way of fully financing its planned acquisition of US meat processor Smithfield Foods.
CHINA: Mondelez starts biscuit plant expansion
13 June 2013
Mondelez International is to double production at a biscuit plant in eastern China.
UK: Heinz eyes job losses at infant nutrition site
13 June 2013
Heinz has blamed the cost of shipping infant milks made in the UK to China for its move to cut jobs at its plant in Kendal.
INDIA: Mars launches "eggless" Snickers for veggies
13 June 2013
Mars has developed a Snickers bar containing no eggs for vegetarians in the Indian market.
MOROCCO/LEBANON: Mondelez consolidates production, closes two factories
12 June 2013
Mondelez International has confirmed plans to close two factories, in Lebanon and Morocco, as it looks to streamline its gum production base in the region.
MYANMAR: PepsiCo nears snacks distribution
12 June 2013
PepsiCo could start distributing snack brands in the Asian country of Myanmar this year.
BRAZIL: Marfrig "optimistic" about future after Seara Brasil sale
11 June 2013
Marfrig has said the sale of its domestic poultry business would make the Brazil-based meat group "stronger" and allow it to focus on growth opportunities elsewhere.
BRICs and beyond: Carrefour takes chance on Africa
11 June 2013
French retail giant Carrefour has announced plans to expand further into Africa through a joint venture with consumer goods distributor CFAO. The deal will see it develop stores across eight countries and represents a new signal of intent from the world's second largest retailer as it looks to place an early marker down in what is becoming a fast growing emerging market. Michelle Russell takes a closer look.
INDIA: Amul Dairy plots US production
11 June 2013
India's largest dairy brand Amul is expanding beyond India for the first time by planning to launch its first overseas production facility in the US.
PHILIPPINES: Del Monte Pacific lists in Manila
11 June 2013
Shares in Singapore-based Del Monte Pacific have started trading in the Philippines, the second listing for the food and drinks group.
BRAZIL: JBS to buy Marfrig's domestic poultry unit
10 June 2013
Brazilian meat giant JBS is to buy domestic poultry business Seara Brasil from local rival and fellow international meat processor Marfrig.
INDIA: Government clarifies FDI regulations
10 June 2013
The Indian government has moved to clarify the legislation that is being introduced to liberalise rules governing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retailers.
The week ahead: Sainsbury's & Smithfield results; international meat, poultry, seafood expos
10 June 2013
A quiet week for financial updates as results season winds down, with Diamond Foods, Sainsbury's and Smithfield preparing to issue updates. Trade shows will see food companies setting out their wares in various continents from North America to Africa.
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.
