Latest sustainability news and analysis articles 
From carbon footprints to footing the bill for ethical consumerism
just-food's research round-up: Baby food in central Europe, biscuits in India
23 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: Nestle to use UTZ-certified cocoa in Crunch bars
22 May 2013
Nestle has announced plans to source 100%-certified cocoa beans for its Nestle Crunch brand in the US.
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.
The week ahead - Wal-Mart Q1s, Post Holdings H1, ProTerra conference
13 May 2013
US breakfast cereal group Post Holdings kicks off a relatively quieter week of results with its half-year numbers on Monday. On Tuesday, meat giants Marfig and JBS will report on how it fared in the first three months of the year - as will Wal-Mart on Thursday. The week also includes an international conference in the Netherlands looking at the sustainable cultivation of soy.
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.
UK: Industry targets food waste, carbon with new pledge
9 May 2013
Manufacturers including Nestle and Mars, as well as retailers like Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, have pledged to further cut food waste and carbon emissions in the UK.
Sustainability Watch - International Finance Corporation's third-party lending
7 May 2013
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the division of the World Bank that lends to private corporations, is expanding its profile in the agribusiness sector. In the second part of this Sustainability Watch, Ben Cooper examines IFC lending through third parties.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
3 May 2013
M&A - as ever - was a hot topic on just-food this week. Some deals were done - Hain Celestial acquired UK organic baby food firm Ella's Kitchen and PAI Partners snapped European own-label giant R&R Ice Cream. Potential transactions were speculated about - the spin off of WhiteWave Foods prompted rumours over possible suitors and Unilever's ongoing problems in spreads led to talk it could one day sell the unit.
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.
Sustainability Watch - International Finance Corporation
30 April 2013
In this two-part Sustainability Watch, Ben Cooper looks at the lending activities of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the division of the World Bank that lends to private corporations, which is rapidly expanding its activities in the agribusiness sector.
UK: Wyke aims to become 100% self-sufficient in energy
30 April 2013
Wyke Farms, the UK's largest independent cheese maker, has said it aims to become one of the country's first national brands to become self-sufficient in green energy.
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.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
29 April 2013
Associated British Foods grabbed the headlines this week - for good and tragic reasons. Twenty-four hours before a factory in Bangladesh that supplied ABF's discount clothing chain Primark, just-food discussed the Kingsmill bread owner's half-year results. Another UK-listed major, Unilever, this week reported its Q1 sales, which missed analyst estimates on weaker spreads and ice cream sales. Elsewhere, we analysed the return of GM to national UK headlines and China's attempts to improve food safety.
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.
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.
UK: Co-op to begin re-stocking Divine Chocolate bars
19 April 2013
UK Fairtrade specialist Divine Chocolate is to be re-listed at The Co-operative Group's stores.
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.
US: Wal-Mart eyes US$1bn savings from energy moves
16 April 2013
Wal-Mart Stores is eyeing savings of around US$1bn through a six-fold increase in its renewable energy projects as it works towards a target of only using such sources by 2020.
US: Kroger commits to sustainable palm oil
16 April 2013
Kroger has pledged to source all palm oil used in its own-label products from sustainable sources by the end of 2015.
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.
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.
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.
Consuming issues - Cocoa's certification challenge
3 April 2013
Hershey's commitment to source 100% of its cocoa requirements from third-party-certified sources by 2020 has been broadly welcomed. However, what form that certification will take is unclear and is likely to remain so until the cocoa sector at large agrees sustainability standards and evolves the means to certify a huge amount of cocoa.
Sustainability Watch - Andy McCormick, Hershey
3 April 2013
Hershey has become the latest major chocolate company to make a bold public commitment to sustainable cocoa. Andy McCormick, Hershey's vice president, cocoa sustainability, spoke with Ben Cooper about the company's 21st Century Cocoa Plan and its commitment to collective efforts to achieve a sustainable cocoa sector.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
2 April 2013
Dairy featured heavily in our headlines last week. We interviewed Fonterra's CFO about the New Zealand giant's half-year results and plans for emerging markets. Swiss peer Emmi published its annual figures and we spoke to its international boss about its plans outside its domestic market. Meanwhile, in the UK, Greek yoghurt producer Fage won its court battle with rival Chobani over how the US firm labels its products here.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
2 April 2013
Last week, just-food grilled a number of top executives on their growth plans and strategy for the future. Fonterra CFO Jonathan Mason told how the New Zealand dairy giant is exploiting increased demand for dairy in emerging markets. The head of Emmi's international business talked about international sales targets. And Divine Chocolate's commercial director told us about how it is facing pressure on Fairtrade specialists.
just-food's research round-up: Company case studies, food for ageing population, European packaged food
28 March 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes company case studies, the European packaged food industry and food trends for an ageing population.
