PepsiCo

Briefing: How can brands capitalise in US foodservice?

4 Mar 2015

There are increasing signs foodservice is gaining share from the grocery retail channel in the US. However, branded manufacturers face the thorny question of how to use their brand strength in conjunction with foodservice operators, many of whom have their own, equally strong, brand pulling power. In this installment of the just-food management briefing we look at how brands can be leveraged in foodservice.

Briefing: Why foodservice could offer US firms route to growth

3 Mar 2015

A swathe of mainstream US packaged food manufacturers are searching for growth as grocery retail stagnates amid significant changes to consumer habits. In just-food's latest management briefing, we look at whether the foodservice channel could present opportunities for growth.

Briefing: Foodservice in the US - what the analysts say

3 Mar 2015

The US foodservice market is worth US$702bn and is set to experience growth of close to 4% this year, according to US consultants Technomic. With mainstream grocery retail stagnant, could the foodservice channel offer packaged food manufacturers a route to growth? We speak to four industry analysts in the US to see how they view the opportunity for manufacturers in the foodservice sector.

CAGNY: PepsiCo cites benefits of keeping company together

20 Feb 2015

PepsiCo has insisted its "better together" concept which draws on driving sales by combining its snacks and beverage businesses as one unit "is working".

Food industry quotes of the week: Danone, Mondelez, PepsiCo

20 Feb 2015

This week, Danone reported its full year numbers with a rise in organic sales but lower earnings on a reported basis. Elsewhere Mondelez acquired free-from snack maker Enjoy Life. The Consumer Analyst Group of New York also took place and featured presentations from Kellogg, PepsiCo and Mead Johnson. Here is the week in quotes

Food industry quotes of the week: Mondelez, Kellogg, Amira

13 Feb 2015

It was a week of numbers on just-food, with PepsiCo, Kellogg, Flowers and Kraft all issuing a mixed bag of financial results. We were also present at Gulfood in Dubai this week, reporting on companies looking to make their mark in the Middle East. Elsewhere, Amira Nature Foods was caught up in corruption allegations and investment firm Arlon announced the acquisition of a stake in Brazilian frozen veg maker Grano Alimentos.

Food industry news of the week: Amira, Kellogg, ConAgra

13 Feb 2015

Campbell Soup Co., ConAgra Foods and Kellogg all indicated they are finding the going tough in the US this week with cuts to financial forecasts. Away from the results, however, it was global rice supplier Amira Nature Foods that grabbed the headlines after being accused of corruption.

On the money: PepsiCo managing its way through "volatile market"

11 Feb 2015

With its exposure to volatile currencies and growing instability in developing countries, PepsiCo saw macro-economic issues weigh on its top-line performance in 2014. Conditions are expected to remain challenging in 2015 but the group remains confident it can continue to manage its way through such headwinds in the year to come. Katy Askew reports.

PepsiCo sees higher volumes but FX weighs

11 Feb 2015

PepsiCo today (11 February) booked a fall in annual earnings as foreign exchange and an increase in some expenses hit the bottom line. Shares were nevertheless up in pre-market trade as the group's fourth-quarter numbers beat analyst forecasts.

PepsiCo mixes snacks in UK product launch

10 Feb 2015

PepsiCo is to launch Walkers MixUps - sharing bags of snacks mixing flavours or lines - in the UK.

PepsiCo jobs under threat at Walkers site

2 Feb 2015

PepsiCo has confirmed over 50 jobs could go at a Walkers crisps plant in the UK.

PepsiCo takes SunBites into savoury biscuits

2 Feb 2015

PepsiCo has decided to take its UK snack brand Walkers SunBites into the savoury biscuits category.

PepsiCo rolls out "sweet" Cheetos

26 Jan 2015

PepsiCo has announced the launch of a sweet snacking option under its Frito-Lay Cheetos brand in the US.

Food industry news of the week: Unilever, PepsiCo, Lifeway

23 Jan 2015

Unilever was this week the first major food group to announce results for 2014 - a mixed year - and CEO Paul Polman admitted the company had slow in reacting to changes in consumer demands on spreads. The chief executive of Lifeway Foods told just-food the US culture dairy products group was - contrary to reports - not in talks to sell the business.

PepsiCo names Peltz appointee Bill Johnson to board

19 Jan 2015

PepsiCo has handed a board seat to former Heinz CEO Bill Johnson, who is also an advisor to Nelson Peltz, the activist shareholder that has been pushing for change at the US food and drinks giant.

Food industry news of the week: Marfrig, Morrisons, Cadbury

16 Jan 2015

Brazil-based food giant Marfrig announced the surprise resignation of CEO Sergio Rial this week after just a year in the position. Another chief executive is to go at UK retailer Morrisons, with its board believing its best chance to return to growth is without Dalton Philips.

Food industry quotes of the week: First Milk, Morrisons, Marfrig

16 Jan 2015

UK dairy co-operative First Milk was this week forced to come out and calm fears over its financial position after announcing it would delay payments to farmers. Staying in the UK, Morrisons announced chief executive Dalton Philips would leave as the UK grocer battles to reignite sales. And Brazil-based food giant Marfrig revealed its CEO had resigned from the business.

M&A Watch: Who could be on 3G Capital's radar?

12 Jan 2015

Given 3G Capital's industry focus, its background of partners and track-record, the next big takeover target for the co-owner of Heinz is almost certainly a legacy branded business in the FMCG world. But which companies other than PepsiCo and Campbell Soup Co. could or should be on that big-ticket target list? We tip Kellogg and, lower-hanging in terms of rationale, General Mills.

Food industry news of the week: Tesco and suppliers, General Mills closures

9 Jan 2015

Tesco this week claimed it wanted to "regenerate" its relationship with suppliers, with a strategy that looks set to cut the number of SKUs on sale in stores. Meanwhile, speculation emerged Brazilian private-equity firm and Heinz co-owner 3G Capital is looking at further acquisitions in the food industry.

3G "eyeing PepsiCo, Campbell acquisition"

7 Jan 2015

The co-owner of Heinz, Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital, is reportedly weighing up the acquisition of another major food company.

PepsiCo opens snacks plant in Saudi Arabia

17 Dec 2014

PepsiCo has opened a production facility for snack products in Saudi Arabia to service Middle Eastern markets.

PepsiCo trims Chicago workforce

12 Dec 2014

PepsiCo has confirmed plans to cut its Chicago-based workforce as part of its ongoing moves to improve productivity.

PepsiCo's Lay's heads "billionaire food brands" list

12 Dec 2014

PepsiCo's Lay's snacks brand heads a list of the world's "billionaire food brands" compiled by industry analysts Euromonitor.

PepsiCo adds to Quaker portfolio

11 Dec 2014

PepsiCo has sought to tap into consumer interest in so-called super grains and in protein in the US with new products under its Quaker cereal brand.

PepsiCo launches Tostitos Rolls

8 Dec 2014

PepsiCo's Frito-Lay snack business is launching Tostitos Rolls in the US.

Food industry news of the week: Unilever on spreads, PepsiCo and Danone in Russia

5 Dec 2014

Some very interesting news came out of Unilever's investor day in London yesterday (4 December). The FMCG giant plans to separate its struggling spreads business into a standalone unit, prompting further speculation that the group could be gearing up for a sale of its spread brands including Flora. Unilever's acquisition earlier in the week of a US gelato maker underlined that the company is, however, willing to invest in growth areas of its food portfolio. Meanwhile, on the emerging market front, the local dairy arms of PepsiCo and Danone faced criticism from Moscow. Elsewhere, a move from Britania Industries made some commentators question how food makers can capitalise on the rapidly developing e-commerce opportunity in India - if they can at all. Here are the highlights from just-food.

PepsiCo, Danone rebuff Russian dairy quality attack

1 Dec 2014

PepsiCo and Danone have moved to counter accusations from Russia's agriculture minister over the quality of their products.

Comment: Russia's Danone, PepsiCo criticism points to more challenges

1 Dec 2014

For US and European companies exporting products to Russia, the operating environment has been challenging to say the least. Recent comments from Moscow would suggest that the going could get tougher for multinationals who operate local subsidiaries in the country as well, Katy Askew suggests.

On the money: Why analysts are looking beyond 2014 at Snyder's-Lance

5 Nov 2014

Shares in Snyder's-Lance fell yesterday after the US snack group's third-quarter results missed Wall Street's expectations and the company revised its 2014 forecasts. However, analysts, looking into next year and beyond, believe the prospects look bright for the business.

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week

13 Oct 2014

just-food reported direct from the annual IGD industry convention in London this week, with a leading light in the grocery retail sector ruffling a few feathers with comments about manufacturers and retailers. Elsewhere, China's Bright Food made its latest deal in Europe, with the acquisition of Filippo Berio olive oil owner Salov and we interviewed the CEO of Finsbury Food Group after the UK baker announced a move for local peer Fletchers Group.