Latest food industry analysis
Comprehensive coverage of the food industry's latest, breaking news brought to you by just-food's leading network of international journalists.
How could Whole Foods takeover affect suppliers?
It is the deal that has got the industry talking - Amazon's move to buy Whole Foods Market, hailed by some as a "game-changer" for the secto...
Amazon's move for Whole Foods will focus minds
"Every so often an event occurs that shakes the industry to its core. Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods is one of those." So said one US r...
How Nestle's US candy review has divided analysts
Confectionery, particularly chocolate, is one of Nestle's flagship businesses and has often been the subject of speculation among industry w...
Foodservice, May '17: Pizza Hut, Fiesta, Elior
May saw Yum! Brands set out its plans to boost the performance of its flagging US Pizza Hut chain, investor pressure on US fast-casual opera...
Food policy almost invisible as UK election nears - analysis 31 May 2017
It's the economy, stupid. So goes the mantra for what drives voting choice and therefore electoral campaigning. But, to some, food policy should have been far higher up in the agenda in recent elections in a number of countries. That argument is being heard loud and clear in the UK as the country nears polling day on 8 June, not least with Brexit the key reason why Prime Minister Theresa May called the election. Ben Cooper analyses the food policy positions of the main competing parties and hears from industry and campaigners on why the issue should have far more prominence as the election nears.
India's new GST tax regime comes in for criticism - analysis 30 May 2017
India's pan-industry business association ASSOCHAM has hailed the central government's new GST regime, a move to standardise goods and services tax rates in the country, as the biggest economic achievement in the three years since Prime Minister Narenda Modi took office. However, as just-food reports, there is some concern about the new framework's potential impact on value-added products.
The small can be powerful in Australia - analysis 25 May 2017
The growth of Australia's grocery market is slowing but there remains opportunities for smaller brands to exploit. Nicholas Hill, senior account manager at IRI, looks at where those pockets are.
Yili leads Stonyfield chase but race not yet run - analysis 15 May 2017
Chinese dairy giant Yili has declared its interest in buying Stonyfield but just-food columnist Victor Martino contends there could be more twists and turns in the race for Danone's US organic dairy unit.
The performance of (and potential future for) Whole Foods Market hit the retail headlines in April but how should the US natural and organic grocer look to improve? Staying in the US, a notable acquisition by convenience-store giant 7-Eleven caught the eye. Meanwhile, in Europe, upmarket UK grocer Marks and Spencer looks, after years of shying away, set to take the plunge into the online channel.
One of the biggest M&A deals in the foodservice sector came in April, with European investment firm JAB Holding moving to buy US bakery-cafe chain Panera Bread, for more than US$7bn. Elsewhere, Restaurant Brands International set out its ambitions for Burger King in sub-Saharan Africa.
Kraft Heinz on M&A strategy, US challenges, UK performance - five things to learn from Q1 results 5 May 2017
Kraft Heinz this week booked first-quarter sales and earnings that were down year-on-year and which missed analyst expectations. The company echoed the downbeat comments of some of its peers about the US and reported issues in Canada. However, Kraft Heinz made some more positive noises about the second quarter, while, in the wake of its failed move for Unilever, it appeared to give some hints about its M&A strategy.
Wal-Mart aims to drive supplier progress on emissions with Project Gigaton - analysis 4 May 2017
Wal-Mart Stores has launched Project Gigaton, an initiative which sees the retailer task food manufacturers to reduce carbon emissions with the aim of cutting emissions in its supply chain by 1 gigaton by 2030. Ben Cooper looks at the move.
Mondelez on margin growth, North America pressure, Q2 caution - five things to learn from Q1 results 3 May 2017
Shares in Mondelez International, which issued its first-quarter results after the closing bell in New York on Tuesday (2 May), were up in after-hours trading, helped by the Oreo owner beating analyst forecasts on its underlying earnings per share and better-than-expected sales numbers. However, the snacks giant did have some weak spots in the opening three months of 2017, notably North America, and issued some notes of caution about the second quarter. Dean Best sets out what you need to know from the numbers and from Mondelez's outlook.
Danone's first-quarter update hit its shares - and it is likely the fall in its stock price was only part due to the numbers. The French yogurt maker reported meagre like-for-like sales growth as its challenges in fresh dairy continued. The company upped its forecast for its annual underlying earnings but still its shares declined, with some analysts frustrated at the way Danone plans to report on its new asset, WhiteWave Foods.
Nestle on margins, SE Asia growth, Americas challenge - four things to learn from Q1 update 24 Apr 2017
The rate at which Nestle's organic sales rose in the first quarter of 2017 was the slowest this century but the results, issued on Thursday, were dampened by calendar effects and were a tick above analyst expectations. Dean Best reports on the key takeaways from the figures and from Nestle's discussions on the numbers with analysts.
Post Holdings discusses rationale for Weetabix - five things to learn 20 Apr 2017
Post Holdings, the US food group, was this week announced as the new owner of Weetabix, the UK-based breakfast cereal business. The GBP1.4bn deal sees Post, one of the major cereal companies in the US, take on one of the leading players in the sector in the UK but one seeing muted growth in a challenging market – and a business seen to have hardly prospered under the ownership of China’s state-backed giant Bright Food. Post discussed its move with Wall Street analysts on Tuesday and Dean Best presents the key takeaways.
Who could buy Danone's Stonyfield business? - analysis 17 Apr 2017
Danone said yesterday (12 April) its acquisition of natural food company WhiteWave Foods was final. The announcement comes less than two weeks after the French group revealed it was putting its US Stonyfield organic dairy brand up for sale in exchange for gaining local regulatory approval for the WhiteWave deal. just-food's US columnist Victor Martino looks at the would-be acquirers for Stonyfield.
Why finding harmony on nutritional labelling no easy task - analysis 6 Apr 2017
Front-of-pack nutritional labelling has long been a subject of fierce debate within the food industry - and between food companies and public health professionals. The launch of a coalition of multinational food and beverage companies aimed at fostering a harmonised approach across Europe, Ben Cooper writes, promises more of the same.
March saw rumours of what called be a significant piece of M&A in the US grocery retail sector, one deal done in the Middle East e-commerce market and one major retail CEO standing by his plans to add to his business through acquisition. Dean Best reports.
Which companies could be eyeing up Reckitt Benckiser's condiments? - analysis 5 Apr 2017
Reckitt Benckiser, the UK consumer goods group behind brands including Durex condoms and Flash bleach (and, soon, Enfamil infant formula) looks set to sell off its food division. The company this week announced it would hold a "strategic review" on the "non-core" unit, which contains brands including French's mustard and Frank's Red Hot sauce. If RB parts company with the unit, a move analysts regard as a consequence of the group's focus on "consumer health", which companies may be interested in its condiments? John Shepherd looks at which suitors could be keen as mustard - and why.
March saw McDonald's set out its desire to make a big push into restaurant delivery, US chain Ruby Tuesday admit a sale of the business could be on the cards and The Restaurant Group, the UK chain behind Chiquito and Frankie & Benny's, announce its latest bid to improve its performance.
What could the chocolate industry's plan to end deforestation look like? - analysis 23 Mar 2017
Twelve chocolate and cocoa companies, including Nestle, Mondelez International, Hershey last week announced plans to work together to "end deforestation and forest degradation in the global cocoa supply chain", focusing initially on Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Ben Cooper speaks to industry and campaign representatives to set out what that plan could look like.
General Mills sales woes continue - analysis 22 Mar 2017
General Mills this week reported another quarter of falling sales, leading industry watchers to wonder if the US food giant will lessen its focus on its margin target but, more critically, whether the company can revitalise its top line. Hannah Abdulla reports.
Food giants aim for fresh start for food systems - analysis 16 Mar 2017
Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever and Kellogg are among the companies to have signed up to a global initiative aimed at improving food sourcing, reducing waste and supporting "adjustments" in food production methods to promote "healthy and sustainable diets". Ben Cooper looks at the Food Reform for Sustainability and Health (Fresh) programme, which has initially been backed by 25 companies.
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