This week has seen a raft of financial results that have given us a chance to gauge the health of the sector. It’s been a mixed bag – Kellogg‘s sales and profits slid – but there were positives to take from the likes of Kraft Foods and Unilever. Elsewhere, Wal-Mart Stores has its eyes on emerging markets expansion, we have had analysis of Whole Foods Market’s performance and a discussion of public health policy in Canada.
On the money: Kellogg CEO looks to 2011 after “disappointing year”
Kellogg CEO David Mackay has attempted to look ahead to 2011 after admitting the US cereal giant had had a “disappointing year”.
On the money: Kraft responds to input cost spike
Rising input costs remained in the spotlight for Kraft Foods on its third quarter earnings call, with pricing in response to higher commodity costs a key driver in its third quarter results.
On the money: Unilever shares jump as analysts praise Q3
Shares in Unilever were up more than 5% this afternoon (4 November) after City analysts praised the consumer goods giant’s third-quarter performance.
Focus: Canada a template for collaboration on public health
Nutritional labelling is an area where government and industry tend to have lively debate but are not always singing from the same hymn-sheet. Ben Cooper reports on a new Canadian consumer education campaign, aimed at improving consumer understanding of the nutrition facts panel on packaged food, where industry and government appear to be in constructive harmony.
Focus: US industry takes initiative on front-of-pack labelling
The Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute have announced the launch of a new industry-led front-of-pack nutrition labelling system in the US. Ben Cooper assesses how it might be received by policymakers and campaigners.
Talking shop: Whole Foods expands as organics recover
For all the talk of a persistent lack of consumer confidence on both sides of the Atlantic, there are indications that natural and organic food manufacturers and retailers are seeing demand recover after a tough two years.
US: Lion Capital funds buy Bumble Bee Foods
Funds advised by private-equity group Lion Capital are to acquire the operating companies of seafood firm Bumble Bee Foods, a portfolio company of Centre Partners Management LLC.
On the money: Chiquita plans European “transformation”
Chiquita Brands International looks set to make some major changes to its European operations after its third-quarter results were driven down by weakness in the region.
UK: Heinz workers prepare to strike over pay
Workers at one of Heinz’s major UK plants are preparing for industrial action over a pay dispute.
