Latest financials news and analysis articles 
Food manufacturers and retailers crunch their latest numbers
On the money: Analysts hail Tyson Q1 despite profit slump
7 February 2012
Tyson Foods managed to garner the support of analysts on the release of its first-quarter results, beating estimates despite continued high feed costs.
US: Restructuring, impairment, spin-off costs hit Sara Lee profits
7 February 2012
Half-year profits at US food and beverage group Sara Lee have tumbled by 75% due to restructuring and impairment charges, as well as costs from its planned split.
US: The Pantry Q1 net losses improve
7 February 2012
US c-store operator The Pantry has lowered its first-quarter losses as a result of higher fuel prices and a reduction in costs.
On the money: Kellogg warns European profits could fall again in 2012
6 February 2012
US cereal giant Kellogg has warned the profits from its European operations could fall again this year amid the challenging economic environment on the Continent.
US: Feed costs weigh on Tyson Q1 profits
6 February 2012
US meat giant Tyson Foods has booked a drop in first-quarter profits as feed costs continue to weigh on the company's earnings.
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.
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.
In the spotlight - Question marks over Unilever's food unit return
3 February 2012
Unilever's food division has been under the microscope in recent months, with a series of disposals and growth in many categories slow, lagging behind its more buoyant non-food businesses As Michelle Russell writes, this week, as Unilever reported its 2011 results, the scrutiny returned.
JAPAN: Kikkoman sees Q3 improvement but cuts FY forecasts
3 February 2012
Japanese soy sauce maker Kikkoman Corp. has lowered its full-year earnings forecast, despite profit growth returning in the third quarter of its financial year.
AUS: Coles posts H1 sales growth
3 February 2012
Australian grocery retailer Coles has recorded higher half-year revenues after its fourteenth straight quarter of comparable-store sales growth.
BELGIUM: Colruyt nine-month sales climb
3 February 2012
Belgium-based retailer Colruyt has booked an increase in sales for the first nine months of its financial year.
FINLAND: Grocery profits up at retailer Kesko
3 February 2012
Finnish retailer Kesko has booked an increase in full-year profits from its food business, boosted by strong sales.
UK: Unilever defends food performance after Q4 volume slide
2 February 2012
Unilever CEO Paul Polman has defended the performance of the consumer goods giant's food business after the recent decline in the division's sales volumes accelerated in the last three months of 2011.
US: Kellogg ends 2011 with "strong" Q4
2 February 2012
Kellogg said today (2 February) it had ended 2011 with a "strong" fourth quarter, in which profits jumped by a quarter, boosted by improved earnings in North America and Asia-Pacific.
SWITZ: Acquisitions and foreign growth boost Emmi profits
2 February 2012
Swiss dairy Emmi has booked an increase in full-year sales, boosted by recent acquisitions and international growth.
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.
UK: Trading mixed at Dairy Crest
2 February 2012
Dairy Crest, the UK's largest dairy processor, today (2 February) a mixed trading update with branded sales boosting revenue but profits from its dairies division under pressure.
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.
JAPAN: Kirin Holdings chops profits forecast
2 February 2012
Kirin Holdings has cut its full-year profits forecast by 74% due to impairment charges.
NORWAY: Staff costs hit Rieber & Son FY profits
2 February 2012
Norwegian food group Rieber & Søn has posted a drop in full-year profits, hurt by a one-off cost related to job cuts during the year.
US: Nut maker Sanfilippo Q2 profits up despite sales dip
2 February 2012
US nut maker John B. Sanfilippo & Son has reported a jump in quarterly profits despite a dip in revenue.
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.
US: Hershey 2012 sales, profit growth to exceed targets
1 February 2012
Hershey has forecast that its sales and earnings will grow faster in 2012 than its long-term targets.
UK: Real Good Food Co. FY profits jump
1 February 2012
UK food ingredients and desserts supplier Real Good Food Co. has reported a jump in annual profits thanks to a focus on "value-added" business.
CANADA: Adonis aids Metro Q1 profits jump
1 February 2012
Canadian grocer Metro Inc's shares rose after a first-quarter spike in profits, revenue and like-for-like sales.
UK: Ocado's FY losses narrow
31 January 2012
UK online grocery retailer Ocado today (31 January) announced its full-year losses dropped 80% to GBP2.4m (US$3.79m).
UK: Analysts - questions remain for Ocado
31 January 2012
Analysts retain concerns about the prospects of UK online retailer Ocado even after it posted a reduction in full-year losses earlier today (31 January).
UK: Eat Natural sales jump but costs weigh on profits
31 January 2012
Rising commodity prices have weighed on annual profits at UK snack bar and cereal maker Eat Natural, offsetting higher sales in 2011.
