British supermarket chains have traditionally focused primarily on
food products, spurning the hypermarket-style mix of food and
non-food items managed so successfully by their French
counterparts. But all this has changed in recent...
Belgian retail group Colruyt this week reported
better-than-expected results for the 2003/04 financial year after a
predicted price war failed to materialise.
Already obliged to sell off 52 stores as part of its acquisition of
the Safeway chain earlier this year, British retail group Morrisons
is now considering seeking a buyer for a further 120 stores,
effectively shelving its initial...
There are signs that rising commodity costs are pinching the length
of the food chain with US cereal product maker General Mills
warning that, despite strong fourth quarter figures, the soaring
costs will have an impact in the near...
As popularity soars for the low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins
diet scientists warn this week that even a 'moderately' high
protein diet could reduce a woman's chances of becoming pregnant.
Mounting criticism of...
Job cuts are underway for the number four flavours player Symrise
with the equity fund owned firm warning 500 employees will be axed
from the workforce under a new drive for cost effectiveness,
increased competitiveness and top line...
Food and drink manufacturers set great store by the need to
advertise their products in an increasingly competitive
marketplace, but new research this week suggests that the food
purchases of many Britons are being influenced not...
With a plethora of brands from which to choose and long-established
patterns of consumption, the prospects of significant growth in the
French chocolate market might seem remote. But a new report
suggests that there is plenty of movement...
Facing up to changing tastes and demands is part and parcel of
everyday business for the global food industry, but a recent survey
in the US suggests that assessing just exactly what today's
consumer wants is becoming increasingly...
Russian market research company Market Advice has conducted an
extensive study into sauce preferences in the country's capital.
The study reveals that mayonnaise remains a firm number one, with
leading condiment maker Unilever...
Energy and sports drinks continued their rapid rise up the soft
drinks rankings last year, driven by new product launches and an
increasing trend towards convenience and on-the-go consumption. But
while most of the growth has come...
Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods, one of Russia's leading dairy and soft
beverage companies, has announced a fall of 25.4 per cent in its
net quarterly income due mainly to the rising price of milk and
depreciation of equipment.
Fruit and vegetables confirmed their position as the most readily
available products in UK supermarkets in the second quarter of the
year - although just six of 200 product lines were found to have
100 per cent availability during...
Every supermarket owner is constantly seeking ways of driving
growth across every product category, be it through innovation,
promotion or refurbishment. But a recent survey suggests that their
best efforts are being let down at the...
Auchan, the French retail group, has reported remarkably good
figures for 2003 despite its reliance on its home market, where low
levels of consumer spending have impacted sales at a number of its
rivals.
Poor first quarter figures from two of Europe's leading food retail
groups were attributed to both companies' exposure to the US
market, where the weak dollar has significantly impacted
euro-denominated sales. But neither...
British retailers are widely regarded as some of the best in the
world, leading the way in areas such as own labels, loyalty cards
and retail services. But many of them are, it seems, failing to
perform to the best of their ability...
The dynamic performance of the Romanian chocolate sector continues
to gather pace with the announcement from Supreme Chocolat that it
has increased its sales in the first quarter by an impressive 120
per cent.
Spain's soft drinks market is expected to grow by around 7 per cent
this year, a slight slowdown compared to 2003's heatwave-boosted
performance but nonetheless healthy growth driven by premium and
functional products.
Two European food retail groups issued their first quarter results
last month, figures which reflected the ongoing tough conditions in
many countries across Europe and the rest of the world.
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) - the US' leading food processor - has
reported record third quarter results across all its segment
operations. The company's processing segments benefited from
rallies in corn and soybean futures...
As society ponders the reasons for the rising tide of obesity in
children, researchers in the US suggest that the 'striking
alterations' in children's meal patterns over the past 20 years may
not be related to the current...
A day before the enlargement of the EU, which will see eight
central and eastern European countries join the Union, one of
Europe's biggest retail groups, Metro, has reported first quarter
growth driven by an excellent performance...
In one of the EU's most expensive food retail markets, Sweden's
Axfood group is to merge its supermarket and convenience store
businesses in a bid to cut costs and lower its prices - vital if it
is to see the same level...
Commodities from fair trade sources will play a key role in future
growth for food manufacturers, with a new report finding the vast
majority of British consumers are influenced by ethical issues when
they buy food products. Genetically...
Scotch whisky exports reached their second highest level ever in
2003, confirming Scotland's favourite spirit as one the biggest
sources of revenue for the UK manufacturing sector and the
government's coffers. All the more...
Dairy leaders are reaping the benefits of increasing consumer
interest in functional foods, with both Danone and Nestlé this week
reporting strong growth in probiotic and other healthy products,
report Danny Vincent and Dominique...
The Ukraine city of Odessa is fulfilling its ambitions to become a
hub for the country's food and beverage processing industry having
reported a 35.7 per cent production growth in the sector during the
course of 2003.
Roasted ground coffee is still by far the biggest category in the
German coffee market, but sales dropped by 2 per cent last year as
consumers switched to more exciting variants such as Cappuccino and
Espresso, writes Chris Jones.
Roasted ground coffee is still by far the biggest category in the
German coffee market, but sales dropped by 2 per cent last year as
consumers switched to more exciting variants such as Cappuccino and
Espresso, writes Chris Jones.
Focusing on expanding its operations in Romania has helped French
retail group Hyparlo offset the impact of the sluggish domestic
economy - and clear its debts to free up more cash for further
growth, writes Chris Jones.
Swiss co-operative retailer Migros has ended 2003 with a slight
increase in sales compared to the previous year, with low levels of
consumer spending taking a major toll on its performance. But with
the increase coming only as a result...
Exports of sugar confectionery from Switzerland rose by more than
10 per cent last year, offsetting a mediocre performance on the
home market. But with imports taking a lesser share of sales this
year, the industry hopes that focusing...
German retail giant Metro shrugged off currency effects and tough
economic conditions in its home market last year to post a 4 per
cent increase in sales - driven mainly by its larger store formats
such as cash & carry warehouses...
People appear to be eternally optimistic when it comes to dieting,
always believing that the next diet will lead to weight loss. But
the results of a new study suggest that this cycle of dieting will
continue as most are not prepared...
Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods has been hard hit by increased sales,
marketing and distribution costs of widening product portfolio. The
Russian dairy giant announced that its net income had fallen 40 per
cent, despite a significant increase...
The decision by French retail group Guyenne & Gascogne to
rapidly amortise the goodwill it accumulated as part of its
investment in Spanish company Centros Comerciales Carrefour has
paid dividends, allowing the company to post...
Jeronimo Martins, the Portuguese supermarket group, ended 2003 with
a return to profitability as the results of its restructuring
programme begin to be seen. But with market conditions still
expected to be tough in 2004, sustaining...
Britain's third and fourth largest grocers have shown contrasting
sales performances in recent weeks, and Morrisons' recent takeover
of Safeway means that Sainsbury is now under serious threat of
dropping further down the...
Supermarkets account for around 5 per cent of the UK's annual
energy consumption, pump 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere per year from their delivery lorries and produce enough
plastic carrier bags to cover all...
Leading Macedonian food processor Kolinska is reaping the benefits
of last year's investment in its production facilities, increasing
sales volumes and profits significantly. And more is to come,
having just bought out a 19.7...
The last few years have seen a sharp increase in the number of
discount stores throughout Europe, with recessions in many of the
Continent's leading economies prompting consumers to tighten their
belts and shop around for bargains.
After three successive years of depressed consumer spending and low
prices, German retailers are hopeful that 2004 will see a return to
growth, albeit at a relatively low level.
A survey of sunflower and soya oil manufacturers in Russia reveals
that they are struggling against poor soy bean supplies, out-dated
production equipment and excessive market competion. Although
manufacturers still envisage market...
Carrefour, the French retail giant, said that it met its profits
growth targets for 2003 but that it was raising the bar even higher
in 2004 as it revamped its French operations and continued its
worldwide expansion.
With Germany mired in one of the worst post-war recessions, the
excellent 2003 performance of Cologne-based retail group Rewe was something of a
novelty. But the group is clearly confident that the performance
will not be a one off,...
Almost one in four (23 per cent) German adults admits to often
skipping meals to keep their weight down - a massive 17.5 million
people. But according to a new survey of European dieting habits,
Germans are also the least likely to...
Hypermarkets and discount stores are likely to increase their share
of the grocery retail market in central and eastern Europe in the
years following European Union accession, according to a recent
study of shopping habits in the...
Supermarkets have invested a great deal of time and money in
improving the quality of service that they offer to their customers
in recent years, and this has become as much a way of
differentiating between fascias as the products...
It was in January 2003 that Yorkshire-based food retailer Wm
Morrison surprised the British supermarket sector with the
announcement of a £2.9 billion takeover bid for larger rival
Safeway. Now, more than a year later, the finishing...
