This week, we published interviews with senior executives from Brazilian food giant BRF as it embarks on international expansion. Elsewhere, staff at United Biscuits’ Aintree factory in Liverpool pushed forward with strike action and Finnish group Raisio secured control of Benecol in the UK, Ireland and Belgium.
“Because of the growth of and consumer preference for chilled frozen there has been a lack of innovation, a lack of let’s call it – in a very American way – sex appeal in frozen” – BRF’s Europe CEO Roberto Banfi BRF says the company is looking to drive excitement in the frozen category.
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“This is a highly counter-productive outcome, and creates a significant threat to the future of the site over some truly minor changes in existing and planned working practices” – United Biscuits warns plans by staff at UK plant to take industrial action put the site in jeopardy.
“The long-serving workforce has been driven to this action by an ever-increasing management culture of disrespect and bullying. This has to come to an end. There will be no constructive progress in the relationship between the workforce and management until this fundamental issue is resolved” – Stuart Fegan, national officer for the GMB comments on strike action at United Biscuits’ factory in Aintree, Liverpool, after talks regarding worker conditions, break down.
“In terms of Benecol products, Raisio’s long-term strategic goal is to enhance competitiveness in the existing markets, to expand into new markets as well as to innovate new products. Through this arrangement, we will have the opportunity to develop Benecol business on our own terms, following our strategic objectives” – Raisio CEO Matti Rihko (pictured) following the Finnish firm’s acquisition of the Benecol business in the UK, Belgium and Ireland from Johnson & Johnson.
“We’re living in a food carnival …. These flavors are so stimulating they hijack our brain” – says former FDA chief, David Kessler, speaking of the plethora of sweeteners and natural and artificial flavors found in processed foods, including yogurt.
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By GlobalData“It may not be the ideal everyone would like but it’s the best option available to us” – Professor Jack Winkler of Cambridge University tells the Food Matters Live conference industry needs to take lead on improving consumer health, amid disinterest among most shoppers and political reluctance to get involved.
“As part of Kellogg’s strategic goal of becoming a global snacks leader, the company has submitted a formal mandatory tender offer file to acquire at least the majority of the shares of Bisco Misr” – a spokesperson for Kellogg confirms it has submitted a bid for Egyptian snack maker, Bisco Misr.
“We highly value and are firmly committed to safeguarding our intellectual property” – A spokesperson for Wrigley tells just-food, after the firm moves to block Perfetti Van Melle’s application to register “WTF” as a trademark in the US, saying it would infringe on its Winterfresh chewing gum trademark, and confuse customers.
“The rapid expansion of the marketing of highly processed foods is undermining health in much of the developing world, leading to rapidly rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases” – Tim Lobstein, policy director for the World Obesity Federation calls for regulatory action to control food markets for better public health.
“Strategically, its easy to see how Gardein products overlap with Birds Eye’s presence in the store (frozen) and complement the strategy Pinnacle has pursued with most of its brands – take them a little bit up market, with a little more value add” – Athlos Research’s Jonathan Feeney shares his thoughts on why Pinnacle Foods moved to acquire meat-free food firm Garden Protein.
