This week, Kellogg reported its first-quarter results and, despite sales and profits being down, CEO John Bryant said the firm was on the right track. Elsewhere, Mondelez International took steps to bolster its e-commerce efforts, announcing a tie-up with technology firm ChannelSight. Dean Foods announced it was bringing its 31 milk brands under one label, a move we analysed to find out whether it could put the dairy maker back on the road to recovery after a string of loss-making quarters. Here is the week in quotes.
"In 2009 and 2010, the then interim CEO had a quick look at the company and said: 'Is there a kernel in this organisation we can take out and focus on and grow?" – Ronald Merckx, CEO of Wessanen, describes what led to the company's transformation into a pure-play foods company focusing on the "natural and healthy" categories.
Go deeper with GlobalData
"Improvement will be a process, but we're encouraged by the results so far this year and expect gradual progress as we move through 2015 and into 2016" – Kellogg CEO John Bryant says the company's under-pressure US morning foods business is showing signs of improvement.
"We’re confident of a good response from consumers: 72% of Kiwis tell us that if organic milk was more affordable they would buy it more often. A further 25% told us that if it was available in their regular supermarket that would also make a difference" – Fonterra Brands MD, Tim Deane, says the organic milk it is launching under its Anchor brand in New Zealand, will be at an "everyday price".
"By turning more of our branded content into buying opportunities for consumers, we'll also continue to improve our return on investment and this will help fuel growth for our power brands" – Bonin Bough, chief media and e-commerce officer at Mondelez International, on the firm's latest tie-up with technology firm ChannelSight in a bit to maximise e-commerce sales opportunities.
"Our study presents a worrying picture of rising obesity across Europe. Policies to reverse this trend are urgently needed" – Dr Laura Webber of the UK Health Forum says more needs to be done as the World Health Organisation predicts an "obesity crisis" by 2030.
"When [consumers] voiced concerns over the amount of sugar in our products we were determined to find a solution" – Susan Pitt, marketing manager for Yoplait, comments on General Mills latest move of reducing the sugar content in its Yoplait Original yoghurt by 25%.
"It is a bit like the permeate-free issue here [Australia], marketers will seek to differentiate by creating a fear in consumers’ minds about something harmless and then deliver a free-from offering. It gives a short term benefit, but can undermine confidence in the category, and ultimately everyone makes the same claim and any advantage is short-lived" – Joanne Bills, director at Australian consultancy firm Fresh Agenda, says Dean Foods' touting of the "hormone-free" benefit of its newly branded DairyPure national milk, might only bring some short-term benefits.
"One of the advantages is they have is a good range. They like the fact they sell some products that other supermarkets don't" – Richard Clarke, analyst at Sanford Bernstein, says Sainsbury's has a strong range on its side and is unlikely to make big cuts.
"After the melamine scandal, the government has taken measures to get rid of unreliable, irresponsible companies and supported the big ones, especially Mengniu and Yili" – Peter Peverelli, director of Eurasia Consult, a Netherlands-based consultancy focusing on China’s food industry, tells just-food the country's dairy scene is no longer clogged up with smaller dairy firms following the melamine scandal seven years ago.
"If this law is allowed to go into effect, it will disrupt food supply chains, confuse consumers and lead to higher food costs" – Pamela Bailey, president of US trade Grocery Manufacturers Association, comments after a court rules against the association's request for a preliminary injunction to block Vermont's implementation of a new labelling law that would mean foods containing GMOs would have to flag this on their packaging.
