Latest food industry analysis

Hatching new ideas - Big Food's incubator and accelerator programmes 11 Jul 2018

Andy Coyne

Our guide to some of the main food sector incubators and accelerators operated by major food manufacturers.

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Will incoming Hain Celestial chief usher in new era? 10 Jul 2018

Simon Harvey

Finding a successor to Hain Celestial founder and chief executive Irwin Simon could prove tricky in light of the pressure from activist investor Engaged Capital to sell the US business. But what might the options be for an incoming CEO faced with a product portfolio bloated by acquisitions and with 'Big Food' companies and retailers fast encroaching on its organic roots? Simon Harvey investigates.

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US ice cream deep-dive, part two – how might the larger players fight back? 10 Jul 2018

Andy Coyne

Part one of just-food's in-depth look at the US ice-cream market, Andy Coyne looked at how a sector dominated by big brands has been hugely disrupted by independent innovators. Now he examines how the category is likely to develop and how the larger players might fight back.

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Food industry M&A heats up in June leading to H1 high - data 10 Jul 2018

Dean Best

just-food's index of mergers and acquisitions in the international packaged food sector highlights the volume of deals being announced, as company strategists look to M&A to gain an edge on their competition. Here we present numbers for the first six months of 2018.

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US ice cream deep-dive part one – the march of the disruptors 9 Jul 2018

Andy Coyne

In the first of a two-part feature on the US ice cream category, Andy Coyne looks at how a sector dominated by big brands has been stood on its head.

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Can the food industry eliminate trans fats by 2023? 5 Jul 2018

Ben Cooper

The World Health Organization's REPLACE initiative aims to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats from the global food supply by 2023. Major food manufacturers have set the pace on trans fat elimination but the critical challenge for the WHO and the food industry is how to bring all food companies in all countries up to speed. Ben Cooper reports.

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UK government likely to give little ground on child obesity measures - analysis 29 Jun 2018

Ben Cooper

The food industry will engage in consultations on key pillars of the UK childhood obesity strategy's second phase, launched earlier this week. But, Ben Cooper writes, the food sector's opportunity to prevent the inclusion of controls on advertising and price promotions has passed. While battling for any and every possible concession, food manufacturers must brace themselves for the commercial consequences.

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Can Conagra weather shifting trends with Pinnacle Foods acquisition? 28 Jun 2018

Simon Harvey

Conagra Brands finally reached a deal this week to acquire Pinnacle Foods, creating a leading player in the US frozen food category with combined sales of US$11bn. Yet the market reaction was less than positive, with some analysts questioning whether the merger puts too much faith in demand for frozen foods holding up in the longer term and the inherent risk should it not. Simon Harvey takes a look.

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The Millennials are taking over. But why are they so miserable? 25 Jun 2018

Ben Cooper

This year sees the last of the Millennial cohort reach adulthood. The world over they punch above their weight in terms of their influence and the interest they receive from brands. However, the economic prospects for the generation differ widely between mature and emerging markets, Ben Cooper writes.

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Big Food's stake in the future - in-house venture-capital funds  25 Jun 2018

Andy Coyne

Our guide to some of the main in-house venture capital funds operated by major food businesses. 

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Should food majors develop subscription services? 20 Jun 2018

Simon Creasey

There are a growing number of fledgling companies developing subscription-box businesses across the consumer goods sector - but, so far, major food manufacturers have shied away from moving into the market. Simon Creasey weighs up why and whether we may see interest from food companies rise.

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The mixed picture in Europe's growing own-label market 15 Jun 2018

Olly Abotorabi, IRI

Private label across Europe continues to grow, and is making its presence felt right across the FMCG spectrum. No longer just dominant in the more traditional categories of ready meals and frozen food, there are some interesting developments across other categories in the major European markets. Olly Abotorabi, senior regional insights manager at IRI, looks at the recent performance of the private-label sector across Europe and sheds light on which categories are faring better than others.

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Food industry M&A volumes hold steady so far in 2018 - data 5 Jun 2018

Dean Best

just-food's index of mergers and acquisitions in the international packaged food sector highlights the volume of deals being announced, as company strategists look to M&A to gain an edge on their competition.

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Plastic pledges - reason to be positive or time to panic? 29 May 2018

David Burrows

The way plastic is used to package food and drinks has shot up the consumer agenda in recent months and, in response, there has been a flurry of food companies announcing pledges on their use of packaging. The pressure is on to act. However, David Burrows argues businesses should be mindful before leaping on the latest developments in packaging while NGOs are arguing some of the companies' commitments are far from ambitious.

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What are the options for incoming 2 Sisters CEO Ronald Kers? 24 May 2018

Simon Harvey

After 25 years at the helm of 2 Sisters Food Group, one of the UK's largest food companies, multi-millionaire founder Ranjit Singh Boparan is stepping aside. Having recently faced a recent hygiene scandal, which dug holes in its finances, he has hired Ronald Kers as CEO. Simon Harvey looks at the challenges ahead for the former Müller executive.

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Campbell Q3, profit warning, CEO exit - four things to learn 22 May 2018

Dean Best

Friday (18 May) proved a notable day in the recent history of Campbell Soup Co., with the US giant reporting a third-quarter loss, a profit warning and the immediate departure of CEO Denise Morrison. Dean Best reports.

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Trending now - key takeaways from UK's Food & Drink Trends & Innovations Conference 21 May 2018

Andy Coyne

Andy Coyne reports from the Food & Drink Trends & Innovations Conference in London, where the shock of the new was not such a great shock.

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The future of retail in China: using Big Data to create smart shops 18 May 2018

Lucy Britner

The way consumers shop in China is changing. The country's Internet giants are using e-commerce data to blend on- and off-line experiences in an effort to create a 'new retail' landscape. In this report, Lucy Britner offers an overview of the major changes and a closer look at how food and beverage companies are getting involved.

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Premier Foods gives grounds for (cautious) optimism - analysis 17 May 2018

Simon Harvey

What a difference twelve months makes as Premier Foods plc recorded its fastest pace of annual revenue growth in five years, a stark contrast to the disappointing results unveiled by chief executive Gavin Darby in 2017. And, at this juncture, the UK's fourth-largest food company is perhaps on a firmer footing to achieve its ongoing, yearly, sales growth target having seen a surge in demand in Australia and, at the same time, witnessed a revival in its Batchelors and Angel Delight brands. Simon Harvey investigates. 

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What are the prospects for insect-based food? 10 May 2018

Simon Creasey

Two major European retailers have started to stock edible, insect-based food, a sign a growing number of consumers are starting to accept the idea of eating the likes of crickets and mealworms. Simon Creasey looks at the scope of the market so far, consumer interest in the products and what the outlook for the sector could be.