Latest health & wellness news and analysis articles 
From reformulation to functional foods
just-food's research round-up: Baby food in central Europe, biscuits in India
22 May 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes baby food markets in central Europe, biscuits in India, and UK bread production.
US: The American Popcorn Co. teams up with Boulder Brands on NPD
20 May 2013
The American Popcorn Co., the owner of the Jolly Time brand, has worked with US group Boulder Brands to develop popcorn for "health-conscious" consumers.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
20 May 2013
The week ended on a high note for Morrisons last 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.
SPAIN: Natra pledges 100% certified cocoa sourcing
16 May 2013
Spanish chocolate and natraceuticals firm Natra has committed to sourcing 100% certified cocoa by 2020.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
US: Brand spend hits Inventure Foods Q1
2 May 2013
US speciality food group Inventure Foods has recorded a drop in first-quarter earnings as increased brand investment hit profits.
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.
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.
Consuming issues - GM debate comes down to question of trust
25 April 2013
The GM debate has re-emerged in the UK in the last couple of weeks with the news four major supermarket operators will allow their suppliers to use GM feed for poultry and eggs.
US: Inventure acquires Willamette berry business
25 April 2013
Inventure Foods has entered into an agreement to acquire the berry processing business from Willamette Valley Fruit Company for an undisclosed sum.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
22 April 2013
The industry's first-quarter results continued to pour in last week and two of France's leading retailers, Carrefour and Casino revealed sales figures that got analysts talking. Carrefour appeared pleased with its domestic performance, while Casino was encouraged by the results of recent pricing initiatives. Elsewhere, Tesco finally confirmed its plans to exit the US and revealed it had received and was pursuing interest in the business.
US: Hershey to introduce front-of-pack nutrition labels
19 April 2013
Hershey will put front-of-pack nutrition labels on the front of products on sale in the US and Mexico later this year.
just-food's research round-up: Colombian prepared meals market and baby food in Hong Kong
19 April 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes Colombian prepared meals market, confectionery in Belgium and baby food in Hong Kong.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
15 April 2013
UK-based R&R Ice Cream last week snapped up local rival Fredericks Dairies, a deal its CEO told us will help it compete better with Unilever. We spoke to M&A analysts about the potential sale of Burton's Biscuit Co. and to the chairman of Canada's Dare Foods about his expansion plans. In Europe, the sector was rocked by fresh horsemeat revelations, including news an Asda product contained the veterinary drug phenylbutazone.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
15 April 2013
3G Capital, the private-equity firm soon to own Heinz, last week turned to another investment - Burger King - for the US food giant's new CEO. In the UK, R&R Ice Cream, Europe's largest own-label ice cream supplier bought a local rival it said would boost its branded stable. Europe was shook by more horsemeat revelations. Meanwhile, we interviewed Sainsbury's on multichannel, Canada's Dare Foods and took a look at the possible suitors for Burton's Biscuit Co.
just-food's research round-up: Global ready meals, global ice cream, Belgian confectionery market
12 April 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes global ready meals, global ice cream and the Belgian confectionery market.
GLOBAL: Cargill to launch Truvia in Canada; eyes Brazil, India
11 April 2013
Cargill is to take its table-top stevia sweetener brand Truvia into Canada - and revealed it wants to launch the product into Brazil and India.
SWITZ: Danone Activia health claim approved
8 April 2013
Danone has gained approval for a health claim on Activia yoghurt in Switzerland.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
8 April 2013
China dominated our headlines in the first part of the week. Swiss firm Hero Group was forced to defend the safety of its infant formula in the country after allegations a local distributor mislabelled products. Wal-Mart, meanwhile, issued a statement to reiterate its expansion plans in China after it emerged it would close three stores there. Emerging markets continued to feature heavily, with news Qatar had bought a majority stake in Indian group Bush Foods Overseas. And we interviewed the CEO of ambitious Brazilian dairy group Vigor.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
8 April 2013
This week saw just-food speak with a number of company executives including the chief marketing officer of Burton's Biscuit Co. about the firm's plans and Vigor CEO Gilberto Xandó about the Brazilian dairy group's ambitions. Meanwhile, just-food published an in-depth analysis of our recent confidence survey, which brought together the opinion of food industry professionals from across the world.
