GLOBAL: The just-food survey on the prospects for 2011

just-food has asked its readers for their thoughts on the prospects for their business and the wider industry in 2011.

Readers were polled on a range of issues – including commodity prices, M&A, innovation, sustainability and the emerging markets.

The full results are below.

Question 1: To what extent do you see an improvement in the general economic conditions of the food industry in 2011?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Big improvement	5.9%
Some improvement	55.8%
No change	14.9%
Small deterioration	18.9%
Big deterioration	4.6%

Question 2: How confident are you about the the prospects for your business in the next 12 months compared to 2010?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Very confident	10.9%
Confident	51.9%
About the same	29.7%
Less confident	7.5%

Question 3: How much impact will the volatility in commodity prices have on your business this year, compared to 2010?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Greater impact	56.8%
Less impact	8.8%
About the same	27.5%
Don’t know	6.9%

Question 4: Do you think you will succeed in getting your retail customers to push through price increases?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Yes	21.9%
No	19.4%
On some products	45.4%
Don’t know	13.3%

Question 5: Will your spending on developing new products rise this year?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Yes	52.8%
No	12.8%
It will stay the same	25.5%
Don’t know	8.8%

Question 6: On which area will you most target your spending on new products?
Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Health and wellness	47.7%	222
Convenience	29%	135
Indulgence	10.3%	48
Other (please specify)	12.9%	60

Question 7: In the field of health and wellness, how do you see regulatory pressure changing in 2011?
Answer Options	Response Percent
More pressure from government	44.6%
Less pressure from government	8.6%
More co-operation between government and industry	34.3%
Don’t know	12.6%

Question 8: Industry consolidation: which actors will most drive M&A in the food industry this year?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Trade players	21.4%
Private equity	26%
Trade and private equity about the same	26.8%
Not sure	25.8%

Question 9: How will your spending on sustainability projects fare in 2011?
Answer Options	Response Percent
It will grow	43.6%
It will fall	7.4%
It will stay about the same	37.4%
Don’t know	11.6%

Question 10: Which retail format will see the most development in 2011?
Answer Options	Response Percent
Online	34.8%
Convenience	25.2%
Traditional supermarkets or hypermarkets	25.4%
General merchandise retailers expanding grocery sections	14.5%