Latest retail news and analysis articles 
From Wal-Mart to Wumart and Carrefour to Coles, the latest in food retail
Quote, unquote: new UK nutrition labels
19 June 2013
The UK's largest food retailers and many of its leading suppliers are to use a front-of-pack nutrition label that incorporates traffic light colour-coding - long a point of contention in the industry. Not every major food manufacturer has signed up. Companies including Kellogg and Mondelez International have refused to join the initiative - for now.
UK: Mars, PepsiCo among signatories to hybrid nutrition labels
19 June 2013
Chocolate giant Mars and crisp manufacturer PepsiCo are among over 20 food makers and retailers to agree to adopt new "hybrid" front-of-pack nutrition labels in the UK.
UK: Advertising watchdog finds Morrisons ad "misleading"
19 June 2013
The UK's advertising regulator has ruled that a radio advert for Morrisons was "misleading" following a listener complaint.
just-food's research round-up: Dessert innovation trends, chocolate in emerging markets
19 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.
UK: "Hybrid" front-of-pack labels to be unveiled tomorrow
18 June 2013
The UK government is set to launch the planned "hybrid" front-of-pack label - including traffic light symbols - tomorrow (18 June).
US: 7-Eleven promises action amid claims of immigrant exploitation
18 June 2013
7-Eleven has insisted it will start an "aggressive" investigation into the hiring policies of its franchisees after store owners and managers were charged over allegations they exploited immigrant staff.
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).
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.
US: Lidl confirms interest in US market entry
14 June 2013
Discount retailer Lidl has confirmed it is exploring the possibility of entering the US market.
In the spotlight: Sobeys joy but questions for Safeway
14 June 2013
Canada's second-largest grocer Sobeys has swooped to buy the local business of US supermarket giant Safeway. Sobeys has paid a full price for Safeway's Canadian arm but, writes Dean Best, the market was broadly positive and agreed with the company's optimism. For Safeway, however, the sale does leave some questions.
US: 7-Eleven franchisees sue for "falling behind" competition
14 June 2013
Two franchisees of US retail chain 7-Eleven have filed a lawsuit against the convenience store chain for allegedly "failing to keep up with the competition".
US: FY earnings fall at c-store retailer Casey's
14 June 2013
US convenience retailer Casey's General Stores saw its earnings fall in fiscal 2013 but sounded an optimistic note for the new financial year.
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.
US: Billionaire Burkle "in talks to buy Fresh & Easy"
13 June 2013
US billionaire investor Ron Burkle is reportedly in discussions to buy Tesco's US chain Fresh & Easy.
CANADA/US: Sobeys to buy Safeway's Canadian arm
13 June 2013
Canadian food retailer Sobeys is to acquire Safeway Inc's business in the country.
Talking shop: Amazon's fresh step in fledgling US online grocery
13 June 2013
Amazon has made another stride in taking on US food retailers with the roll out of its fresh grocery business into the second most populous city in the US, Los Angeles. The move is sure to make other players in the market sit up and take notice but will it be enough to really shake up the US online grocery channel and give it the much needed boost it requires? Michelle Russell takes a look.
On the money: Sainsbury's private label winning over rivals, brands - CEO
12 June 2013
Sainsbury's has bucked the downward trend in the UK grocery market to book its thirty-fourth consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth thanks to a strong performance from its top- and mid-tier own label lines.
What the analysts say: Sainsbury's Q1
12 June 2013
Sainsbury's has booked another quarter of like-for-like sales gains - bucking the downward trends in the wider UK grocery market and outperforming its peers. However, LFL growth has slowed significantly and management has sounded a downbeat note on the consumer outlook. Here is the City's take on Sainsbury's first quarter results.
UK: Sainsbury's books "solid" Q1
12 June 2013
Sainsbury's hailed a "solid" start to the year as it grew sales in the face of tough year-on-year comparables and a weak consumer environment.
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.
US: Sales drives FY profits at Annie's
11 June 2013
US natural and organic food group Annie's Inc saw profits climb in fiscal 2013 on the back of increased sales and a lower tax rate.
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.
Editor's choice: The highlights on just-food last week
10 June 2013
A tragic fire in a Chinese poultry facility highlighted continued concerns over safety standards in emerging markets last week. The just-food briefing looked at the need to innovate to prevent breakfast cereal sales going soggy, insight that was swiftly followed by the news that Kellogg is launching a number of breakfast bar and drink products in response to changing consumption patterns. Meanwhile, chocolate giants Nestle and Mars were accused of price fixing in Canada. Here are the highlights on just-food this week.
UPDATE: UK: Iceland eyes international, online growth
7 June 2013
UK frozen food group Iceland Foods has indicated it plans to expand its business by growing international and online sales.
SPAIN: Dia rolls out online grocery trial
7 June 2013
Spanish discount retailer Dia has rolled out a trial of an online grocery offering at two of its neighbourhood stores in Madrid.
UK: Tesco positive on outlook for central, eastern Europe
7 June 2013
Tesco has struck an upbeat note about central and eastern Europe, where its sales are under pressure and where economic conditions remain challenging.
UK: Iceland Foods sees profit dip
7 June 2013
Frozen food retailer Iceland has booked a mixed set of full-year results, as the bottom line was hit by one-off expenses.
