Aside from our relaunch, this week’s top stories focused on overseas investment by some of the biggest players in the food sector. Danone made its first foray into Australia with a dairy venture with local co-op Murray Goulburn. Carrefour expanded further in Turkey with the acquisition of local chain Ipek. PepsiCo laid out plans for yet more spending in China, while Metro Group said it would “step up” its investment in the country and the wider Asian continent. These are the top stories on just-food this week.
UPDATE: FRANCE: Faith in brands drives Danone’s Oz confidence
Danone has sent a warning to the likes of Fonterra and Parmalat that the French food giant will use its “expertise” in brands to gain a foothold in Australia’s dairy sector.
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Carrefour eyes Turkish delight
In a signal of Carrefour’s increased focus on “growth markets”, the French retailer is set to buy a local supermarket chain in Turkey.
INDIA: Bharti plans store openings
Bharti Retail plans to almost double the number of outlets it operates in India this year to secure its position in the country’s rapidly-emerging retail sector.
CHINA: PepsiCo to invest US$2.5bn in China
US soft drink and snacks maker PepsiCo is to invest US$2.5bn in its food and beverage businesses in China over the next three years.
GERMANY: Metro “steps up” expansion after 2009 lull
German retail giant Metro Group has outlined plans to “step up” its international expansion in 2010 after a challenging 12 months for the business.
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By GlobalDataUS: Nestle, PepsiCo body pledges to cut calories
A clutch of the largest US food makers, including General Mills, Nestle and PepsiCo, have pledged to cut 1.5 trillion of calories by the end of 2015.
UK: Con-Lib coalition outlines food policy goals
The UK’s Conservative-Liberal coalition government today (20 May) insisted it will reduce red tape for farmers and small businesses but increase regulation of the grocery supply chain.
FRANCE: Paris intervenes on retailer margins
France’s major food retailers – including Carrefour, Leclerc and Auchan – have agreed to exercise margin restraint during periods of crisis in fruit and vegetable production, following talks with President Sarkozy.
On the money: Wal-Mart looks to revitalise US sales
Wal-Mart today (18 May) indicated that it has embarked on a number of initiatives designed to revise negative sales trends at its namesake US stores.
US: Sara Lee CEO takes medical leave
US meat-to-baked goods group Sara Lee has announced that chairman and chief executive Brenda Barnes will temporarily stand down from her post for medical reasons.
