Speculation over what Cadbury CEO Todd Stitzer meant – or did not mean – when he addressed investors in London this week added grist to the mill of the “Kradbury” saga. EU politicians and milk farmers exchanged views on the ongoing dairy protests on the continent, while the UK organic sector discussed how to reignite sales in the country.
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“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Stitzer does not believe that Kraft’s proposal makes strategic or financial sense for Cadbury and his comments should not be interpreted in any other way” – Cadbury tries to draw a line under the “press commentary” over what Todd Stitzer, the confectioner’s CEO, did – or didn’t – say at a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch seminar this week.
“If there are not serious and clear political decicions being taken to overcome the catastrophic situation of the dairy market, we will immediately start again” – Pascal Massol, president of French milk farmers’ union, the APLI.
“It defies belief that some people accuse the EU of “doing nothing” for the dairy sector. To say things like this is not just to be short-sighted: it’s to deliberately turn one’s back on facts which are staring everyone in the face” – EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel (pictured).
“Unlike Fairtrade and free range, we’ve got a multi-faceted offering and each of those aspects will appeal to different groups. There is a bit of a danger in going for one slogan in that you lose some of the holistic benefits of organic” – Huw Bowles, COO of organic dairy co-op Omsco and chair of the Organic Trade Board
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By GlobalData“The price differential [to a standard product] should be in the region of 20%. Prices shouldn’t be any greater than premium brands. If prices are more than premium brands, then organic doesn’t stand much of a chance of appealing to consumers” – Finn Cottle, trade director, Organic Trade Board.
“JBS and Pilgrim’s Pride are currently fierce competitors in the meat protein market, and a merger between the two would most definitely reduce competition and result in the exploitation of both producers and consumers” – Bill Bullard, CEO of cattle farming group R-CALF USA, outlines his opposition to JBS’s planned acquisition of US poultry firm Pilgrim’s Pride.
“This move, by the world’s largest beef producer and exporter, sends a strong signal to farmers that deforestation will no longer lead to quick profits” – Greenpeace welcomes JBS’s move to avoid deforestation in the Amazon.
“Brazil is so far the only region to significantly reduce milk production, some countries are yet to reduce milk supply at all and others are showing disconcerting signs of actually expanding” – Rabobank’s Tim Hunt.
“Consolidation has never gone off the agenda. We have to look at organic growth and consolidation. It’s always part of our strategy” – UK dairy co-op First Milk.
“Beijing would like to have some national retail champions. We assume that they’re not going to let the sector stay in the hands of the foreign retailers” – .Bruno Lannes, head of retail and consumer products at Bain & Co in Shanghai.
