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ROMANIA: Lidl plans expansion in Romania
8 February 2012
German discount retailer Lidl has told just-food that it is looking to grow its store network in Romania.
FINLAND: Retail co-op S Group reports 8% jump in grocery sales
8 February 2012
Finnish retail co-operative S Group has reported an 8% increase in its grocery sales for 2011.
LITHUANIA: Inflation boosted 2011 sales, admits retailer Maxima
8 February 2012
Inflation and not an increase in sales volumes helped drive revenues at Baltic retailer Maxima during 2011, its chief executive has admitted.
BRAZIL: Acquisitive Frutarom buys flavours firm Mylner
7 February 2012
Frutarom is set to make its third acquisition of 2012 after signing a deal to buy Brazilian flavours firm Mylner.
CHINA: Former Woolworths exec Foran to lead Wal-Mart's Chinese unit
7 February 2012
Long-time Woolworths Ltd executive Greg Foran has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores' operations in China.
EU: Honey gets ground-breaking PDO award
6 February 2012
The EU has for the first time granted legal protection to a traditional food product made in two countries – not just one – against being copied by manufacturers from outside its home region.
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.
2012 - Savvy shoppers, online key areas of retail focus
3 February 2012
In part two of our management briefing, Sam Webb talks to experts about the possible changes to the landscape of the food retail sector in 2012, amid power shifts, market volatility, evolving shopping trends and changing consumer habits.
NETHERLANDS: FrieslandCampina to buy Balkans dairies Imlek, Mlekara Subotica
2 February 2012
Dairy giant FrieslandCampina has signed a deal to buy Balkans processors Imlek and Mlekara Subotica.
UK: Tesco moves UK COO Robbins to new role
2 February 2012
Tesco has moved Bob Robbins, COO of its UK operations, to a new role just weeks after the executive attracted headlines for selling shares in the retailer days before a profit warning.
UK/RUSSIA: Higher sales will lead to "strong" FY, says Cherkizovo
2 February 2012
Russia-based meat processor Cherkizovo has said it is "optimistic" it will report a "strong financial performance" for 2011 after disclosing sales volumes for the 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.
RUSSIA: Burton's Wagon Wheels to roll-out in Russia
31 January 2012
Burton's Biscuit Co is to re-launch its Wagon Wheels biscuit in Russia.
EUROPE: Hershey in distribution talks
30 January 2012
US confectionery giant Hershey is in discussions to secure wider distribution of its products in more European markets.
GLOBAL: Food "ambassador" to promote UK exports
27 January 2012
A business "ambassador" will promote UK food and drink exports overseas under plans launched drawn up by industry and government.
INDIA: Spar in talks to expand in India
27 January 2012
Spar International is in talks with retailers in the India as part of a bid to grow its store network in the country.
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.
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.
UAE: Carrefour franchisee Majid Al Futtaim outlines 2012 expansion plans
26 January 2012
Majid Al Futtaim, Carrefour's franchisee in the Middle East and north Africa, has revealed up to 45 stores will be opened under the French retailer's banner in 2012.
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.
US/CHINA: WTO panel to probe Chinese duties on US poultry
25 January 2012
A WTO disputes panel has been created to decide whether Chinese anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US broiler chicken exports are legal.
US/BRAZIL: Ingredients firm Sensient opens Sao Paulo facility
25 January 2012
US-based food ingredients group Sensient Technologies Corp. has opened a new "colour and flavour complex" in Brazil.
Best bits: New year, still uncertainty at Carrefour
24 January 2012
Tesco executives may feel they have a lot on their plate but their "to do" list is not as long as that sitting in front of their counterparts across the English Channel at Carrefour.
SLOVAKIA: Nowaco buys ice cream maker Frost
24 January 2012
Denmark-based food group Nowaco has acquired Slovak ice cream firm Frost for an undisclosed sum.
BRAZIL: JBS denies Goias Verde acquisition rumours
24 January 2012
Major Brazilian meat processor JBS has denied rumours that it is in talks to buy vegetable producer Goiás Verde.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 January 2012
Müller's decision to bid for UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies was the first major M&A move of 2012 and sparked plenty of debate, with industry watchers arguing the German yoghurt maker will face challenges in a fiercely competitive industry. Strikes at Unilever, job cuts at Kraft Foods and US dairy processor Dean Foods and continued gloom over the prospects of retail giant Carrefour also attracted headlines this week.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 January 2012
Executives at Müller and Robert Wiseman Dairies espoused the benefits of the German yoghurt maker's decision to buy the UK milk supplier, a deal that divided analysts. Industry watchers also scrutinised the latest trading updates from Premier Foods plc, the UK's largest food manufacturer and Carrefour, the French retail giant, while Kraft Foods chief Irene Rosenfeld said the US group's 2011 results means it is one of the industry's better performers - on the day job cuts of 1,600 were announced.
