Food campaigners took a swipe at Europe’s food industry and politicians after the European Parliament voted against imposing traffic light labels. Danone and Marfrig explained why they have again expanded overseas, while US retailer Kroger commented on the threat of Wal-Mart and UK grocer Sainsbury’s expressed caution over the country’s economy.

“Almost 20 years after taking our first steps in Russia, Danone-Unimilk represents a strategic move for Danone in a region which is offering a promise of growth in the years ahead, and where we will be pursuing ambitious goals for the future” – Danone chairman and CEO Franck Riboud sets out his stall for Russia after the French firm’s deal with Unimilk.

“By adding the resources and expertise of Keystone Foods and its management team, we are expanding Marfrig’s business with a scale and sustainable supply chain needed to meet the very significant growth opportunities within the industry and to attend to the needs of our global clients” – Marfrig chairman and president Marcos Molina believes the acquisition of US firm Keystone Foods will bolster the Brazilian meat group.

“Given that the food industry has invested more than EUR1bn in a campaign to block traffic light labelling, including television adverts, lunchtime debates with MEPs, and a stand with a “prize draw” inside the European Parliament it is not surprising that profits have triumphed over the continent’s health” – Christine Haigh of UK pressure group The Children’s Food Campaign is unimpressed by the decision politicians in Europe made on food labelling.

“We’re more cautious. Consumers have seen what’s coming and that’s reflected in their sentiment. The monthly cycle remains significant; spending more when they get paid and holding back when they don’t. I think it’s right to be cautious” – Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King is watching UK consumer sentiment closely in the run-up to next week’s Budget.

“One country’s brand is another country’s core innovation for the next year” – Paul Norman, Kellogg International, insists he sees potential for the cereal giant’s brands in a number of markets.

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“Our strategy of owning number-one brands in North America that would be our first focus. So we would look for branded products that are number one. We look at them in three areas. We look at strategic. Those will be the larger ones. We look at bolt-ons, those that would be just a nice add to one of our brands or categories, and then enabling acquisitions, which are usually the smaller in nature such as Uncrustables and Snack’n Waffles were enabling acquisitions” – Richard Smucker, executive chairman and co-CEO of US food group JM Smucker, lays down the company’s criteria on acquisitions after posting fourth-quarter results.

“Our behaviour in those markets and in every market is based upon our plan, what we believe to be consistent with our Customer 1st strategy and what we think our customers want. We can’t do that with a blind eye to what competition does, but we also can’t let competition dictate to us what we’re going to do in those markets, and we’ve chosen not to” – David Dillon, chairman and CEO of US retail giant Kroger, reporting the company’s first-quarter results, says it is standing firm amid growing competition from Wal-Mart.

The JM Smucker and Kroger quotes from conference call transcriptions carried in full on http://www.SeekingAlpha.com.