Why Big Data Collaboration could be the new ECR - opinion 23 Jun 2017

José Carlos González-Hurtado, president, IRI International

With growth in FMCG in many western economies hard to come by, manufacturers and retailers need to step up efforts to work together, argues José Carlos González-Hurtado, the president of IRI's international operations.

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Direct-to-consumer to play minor role in US grocery e-commerce - column 20 Jun 2017

Victor Martino

With the e-commerce channel growing in the US but still in its early stages, food manufacturers are weighing up various ways to build a presence in the channel. just-food's US columnist Victor Martino argues suppliers should think carefully before putting too much emphasis on selling directly to consumers.

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Food brands must avoid being egotists to thrive - guest opinion 12 Jun 2017

Stuart Galvin, Smp

Look at the top-line data on the UK grocery market and it shows a sector in rude health. However, at present, inflation has become central to the market's growth, while the performance of own-label is outpacing brands. In a guest column, Stuart Galvin, business director at shopper marketing specialist, Smp, argues one way brands can help themselves is to no longer be the hero of their own marketing strategies.

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UK election result raises food sector hopes of better Brexit - column 9 Jun 2017

Ben Cooper

The result of the UK's General Election has stunned much of the country and many observers worldwide. The poll produced a hung parliament, with the Conservative Party, led by UK Prime Minister Theresa May, the largest in the House of Commons but without a majority of seats. May has embarked on talks with Democratic Unionist Party in a bid to form a minority government that can function with the working support of the Northern Ireland party. As Ben Cooper reports, the DUP's stance on Brexit, as well as the now improved standing of Labour, could lead to a softer Brexit that many food manufacturers would support.

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UK election result - all eyes on Northern Ireland as Brexit talks near 9 Jun 2017

Dean Best

Cor Blimey! exclaimed one Labour-leaning UK tabloid this morning (9 June) as the country awoke to another election result that confounded pollsters.

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Paris climate partners resolute but US cash will be missed - column 5 Jun 2017

Ben Cooper

Ben Cooper examines the implications of the US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

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Over-supplied US dairy must adapt to prosper - column 1 Jun 2017

Victor Martino

On World Milk Day, an annual event devised by the UN to push the importance of the white stuff as food, US columnist Victor Martino urges his country's dairy sector to work harder on innovation and marketing to turn its over-supply into outsized sales.

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AmazonFresh enters Germany's nascent e-commerce market - column 10 May 2017

Andrew Pearl, Profitero

As Amazon launches its AmazonFresh in Germany, Andrew Pearl, director of strategy and insights for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at e-commerce analytics firm Profitero discusses the implications for retailers and brands.

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Brexit tension to be expected - opinion 2 May 2017

David Leggett

Over the Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, the country's headlines were dominated about last week's meeting between Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker - and how badly it was supposed to have gone. The UK has dismissed the reports as "Brussels gossip". However, David Leggett suggests we should expect the next two years to be tense.

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UK sugar debate becoming more measured - column 1 May 2017

Ben Cooper

Ben Cooper reports from a UK conference on sugar this week and finds a shift in the tone of discussion from debate to action.

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Radical thinking needed to revitalise Big Food - opinion 28 Apr 2017

Martin Deboo

With first-quarter results rolling in, Jefferies consumer goods analyst Martin Deboo argues the numbers underline the issues facing the sector's largest players.

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How FMCG brands can capitalise on e-commerce opportunity in Japan 28 Apr 2017

Andrew Pearl, Profitero

Andrew Pearl, director of strategy and insights for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at e-commerce analytics firm Profitero, casts his eyes further afield to Japan, a market showing promise for e-commerce FMCG.

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Why snacking is the new meal - column 9 Apr 2017

Victor Martino

just-food's US columnist Victor Martino believes the country is seeing "the deconstruction of the traditional meal" - and snack foods are the reason. But how can packaged foods tap into a trend Martino says is here to stay?

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Unilever’s latest blueprint contains no huge surprises. Yet - editor's viewpoint 7 Apr 2017

Dean Best

Unilever announced the fruits of its business review - convened after the company brushed off interest from Kraft Heinz - yesterday (6 April). The Knorr and Magnum maker set out a measured plan, which included the wise decision to leave the spreads business. But could bolder action be on the horizon in the longer term? Dean Best reports.

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Uncertainty reigns but UK exporters facing Brexit pragmatically - column 30 Mar 2017

Dean Best

The UK has triggered Article 50 of the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty, so formally firing the starting gun on its departure from the 28-member bloc. Brexit is the most important political and economic event in the UK for a generation and has divided the country. A majority of the UK’s food sector wanted to stay in the EU and have significant concerns about the post-Brexit future. However, increasingly, businesses are acquiring a pragmatic view about the future – with some real anxieties remaining but a recognition opportunities could be seized – a stance heard last week at the IFE trade show in London. Dean Best reports.

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Why better understanding of price vital to drive profits - column 29 Mar 2017

Dr Anthony Graham, IRI

Food manufacturers operating across Europe, faced with differences in how sensitive different markets are to price, need to develop innovative pricing and promotional strategies to win, Dr Anthony Graham, IRI's executive vice president of international solutions and innovations, argues.

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Kraft Heinz's Unilever approach shines light on investors and sustainability - column 17 Mar 2017

Ravi Varghese, Ceres

One talking point that emerged from Kraft Heinz's approach for Unilever was the companies' approaches when it comes to corporate responsibility and sustainability. Unilever is seen as being in the vanguard of developing a sustainable business; Kraft Heinz, with its emphasis on cost control and margin improvement, less so. But how far do investors care? In a guest column, Ravi Varghese of US sustainability non-profit Ceres challenges mainstream investor thinking that sustainability is a drag on efficiency.

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Why Fairtrade can still be watchful partner for food companies 13 Mar 2017

Ben Cooper

Mondelez International's decision to change the way it works with Fairtrade sparked questions about the future of the ethical certification. just-food contributing editor Ben Cooper argues Fairtrade still has a role to play for food companies looking to source more sustainably.

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Why personalisation will take-off in US food 8 Mar 2017

Victor Martino

As they search for paths to growth, there is increasing interest among food companies operating in the US in developing products or services that are more tailored to consumers. just-food's US columnist Victor Martino surveys the activity so far and argues investment in personalisation will intensify.

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Why analytics will help UK suppliers hit sugar target 2 Mar 2017

Dan Finke, IRI

Last summer, the UK government announced its plans to tackle childhood obesity in England - and reducing sugar is the central aim. Food manufacturers have been tasked with cutting sugar intake by 20%, with the focus initially on nine categories. Dan Finke, the managing director of IRI's UK arm, explains why suppliers should be looking at their pricing and promotional strategies to meet that target and to market a portfolio that may contain high- and low-sugar products.