Latest world foods news and analysis articles 
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Promo Tracker: Waitrose offers deepest promotions
7 February 2012
Waitrose's promotions offered consumers the highest saving on average, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
Confectionery, flavours, packaging: just-food's research round-up
7 February 2012
The chocolate sectors in perhaps the land of chocolate - Switzerland - and in the fast-growing emerging market of Vietnam are featured in this week's selection of reports from the just-food research store. A look at successful sustainability initiatives, the evolution of the flavours market in a downturn and the rise of nanotechnology in packaging are also highlighted.
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.
UK: Unilever agrees to union talks over pension changes
3 February 2012
Unilever is set to meet again with union officials to discuss moves to change the company's UK pension scheme, plans that have enraged staff and led to a series of strikes.
UK: Revamp leads Premier marketing chief Goldstone to quit
3 February 2012
Premier Foods plc marketing director Jon Goldstone will leave the UK food company after it decided to absorb the department into its commercial structure.
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.
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.
UK: More Premier jobs to go after Cadbury contract loss
25 January 2012
More jobs are to go at UK food maker Premier Foods plc after the country's largest food manufacturer lost one of its contracts to supply Cadbury.
UK: Public health goes local in policy shake-up
24 January 2012
Local governments in the UK will have more responsibility for public health in a set of measures announced by the coalition government today (24 January).
AUS: Food industry body chief Carnell to leave
23 January 2012
The chief executive of the industry association that represents Australia's food manufacturing sector is to leave in March.
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.
UK: Sugar helps sweeten ABF revenues
19 January 2012
A jump in sugar revenues, on the back of high prices, has helped drive sales at Associated British Foods.
UPDATE: UK: Weak trading overshadows Premier job cuts - analysts
17 January 2012
Shares in Premier Foods plc jumped today (17 January) after the UK's largest food manufacturer provided an update on its "growth plans" - but analysts remained concerned about the company's recent trading.
UK: Premier Foods to cut 600 jobs
17 January 2012
Premier Foods plc has announced plans to cut around 5% of its workforce as its bid to lower costs continues.
EU/NETHERLANDS: EU refers Royaan, Ad van Geloven snacks merger to Dutch watchdog
17 January 2012
The European Commission has referred the proposed merger between Dutch frozen snack makers Royaan and Ad Van Geloven to competition authorities in the Netherlands.
UK: Premier bakery boss Williams to lead grocery after Hunter U-turn
17 January 2012
Iwan Williams, MD of Premier Foods plc's bakery operations, is to also lead the UK manufacturer's grocery business - at least on an interim basis - after Graham Hunter, the executive lined up for the role, decided to join Tangerine Confectionery.
just-food's research round-up
13 January 2012
This week's featured research from the just-food store includes a look at worldwide flavour trends, analysis on the UK supermarket sector and a report on the sustainability strategies used by food and drink manufacturers.
Street talk: Four resolutions for an uncertain 2012
9 January 2012
The consensus is that those hoping for an easier year in 2012 could be disappointed. Consumer confidence will remain in the doldrums, competition will remain fierce and economic uncertainty will continue. In his first column of the year, SymphonyIRI's Rod Street suggests some ways in which manufacturers and retailers could look to improve in 2012.
IRELAND: Commodity prices drive jump in exports in 2011
4 January 2012
Commodity prices drove a 12% rise in Irish food and drink exports in 2011, according to the country's manufacturing association.
US: General Mills launches LatAm-inspired Cheerios
4 January 2012
General Mills has added a cereal containing a flavour used in Latin American desserts to its Cheerios stable in the US.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 December 2011
Wal-Mart stunned the US food sector this week with a decision to pull a Mead Johnson infant formula brand after the death of a baby in Missouri. In the UK, two retailers, Thorntons and Ocado, faced the scrutiny of investors after profit warnings. And, just-food launched its international food basket to highlight the difference in price between national brands and own label in seven markets.
The most-read news articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
As well as our raft of insight articles, just-food continued to provide all the breaking news throughout the food industry in 2011. Below are the ten articles that had you clicking the most throughout the year.
The most-read analysis articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
just-food's most popular analysis articles in 2011 had a very international flavour. Denmark's move to levy a tax on saturated fat grabbed your attention, as did our features on India's infant formula and biscuit sectors. Click on the headlines for more.
The most-read comment articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
Our comment pages in 2011 looked at Tesco's challenges in the US, the uncertainty that surrounded the country's largest dairy processor, Dean Foods, the disposals made by the UK's largest food manufacturer, Premier Foods plc, and the price war that developed between Australia's two largest retailers, Woolworths Ltd and Coles.
UK: Leatherhead to fund study into salt reductions
16 December 2011
Scientists at Leatherhead Food Research are to co-fund investigation into how UK food manufacturers can further reduce salt in their products.
UK: Supermarket promo deals "misleading"
5 December 2011
Promotional offers used by UK supermarkets are misleading and could even raise consumers' shopping bills, according to an investigation by the BBC.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
5 December 2011
India's planned retail reform continued to dominate the headlines, while we analysed two other contentious issues - industry efforts to tackle child labour in cocoa production and the true potential of intense sweetener stevia. Elsewhere, Unilever and McCain Foods faced union strife and Diamond Foods warned a probe into payments to growers could hit the company.
UK: Premier Foods appoints Moran as CFO
25 November 2011
UK food manufacturer Premier Foods plc has today (25 November) appointed Mark Moran as its CFO.
