UK food and drink manufacturers have shown their resilience by launching more than 8,500 new products this year, despite the toughest economic trading conditions in decades, the latest Business Confidence Survey from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has revealed. Its third-quarter survey showed that this year’s product launches had increased by about 500, signalling that the sector is on course to its growth target of 20% by 2020.

Angela Coleshill, FDF director of competitiveness, said: ...
Continue reading ...

Food brands, quick service chains and grocery retailers stand to benefit from a huge surge in sales across China - but also face sizeable obstacles to long-term growth. A study by the Boston Consulting Group suggested an "unprecedented shift" in eating habits now underway throughout the world's most populous nation is set to have a "transformational impact."

In the first instance, such a transition encompasses greater expenditure levels, alongside incorporating moves towards different categori...
Continue reading ...

The Turkish dried fruit sector is eyeing China, India and Russia as target markets, according to a press release from the Aegean Exporters’ Union, or EİB. The sector’s 2023 exports target is $5 billion.

The Turkish Dried Fruit Exporters’ Union’s sectoral board announced that they would organize a Sectoral Trade Delegation visit to the three BRIC countries selected as target markets, the press release read.

The sectoral board is a top-level decision-making mechanism in cultivation a...

Continue reading ...

UK exports of food and non-alcoholic drinks could reach record levels this year thanks to strong deliveries to non EU destinations, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF). Full-year sales to overseas markets could break the £10bn barrier for the first time, its latest report forecasts. Meanwhile, exports of food and non-alcoholic drink reached more than £5bn in the first half of this year; up 4.3% on the same period in 2009 driven by buoyant growth to non EU markets.

Exports to ...

Continue reading ...

Tighter spending, more stringent regulations and growing health concerns are all major factors impacting the European market for healthy foods. Recently released reports of Euomonitor for various EWuropean markets have been summarized by nutraingredients.com. You can read the articles with these links:

first article
second article
Continue reading ...

PepsiCo is undertaking a major innovation drive seeking to rejuvenate some of its leading brands and tap in to the latest communications technology.

Quaker, which was acquired by Pepsi for $13.8bn (€10.6bn; £8.7bn) around a decade ago and currently delivers $2bn in annual revenues, is one of the brands that will be the subject of a heightened focus. As well as protecting Quaker against the challenges from low-cost and own-label alternatives, this effort also hopes to encourage more people t...
Continue reading ...

Continue reading ...

Coca-Cola has announced that it will serve as a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay (OTR) helping to spread the magic of the Olympic Games well beyond London, and inspiring communities across the UK to participate in the biggest celebration of world sport.

Coca-Cola has been continuously associated with the Olympic Games since 1928 – longer than any other sponsor – and has supported the OTR since 1992. Coca-Cola will be drawing on its unrivalled heritage of involvi...

Continue reading ...

According to Forbes magazine, Reputation Institute, a global private consulting firm based in New York, uncovered 28 companies that have established international merit. Earlier this year it conducted a survey to assess the strength of the world's 600 largest companies (by revenue) in their home countries. Then consumers in 24 countries, from Brazil and the U.S. to Spain and South Korea, judged the 54 highest-rated companies, giving them more than 181,000 reputation ratings--from 0 to 100--on...
Continue reading ...

Dairy group Danone is at the top of the list for category dominance in the European food sector, followed by Unilever and Nestle, according to a new report by Sanford C. Bernstein Research Company of USA. The researcher identifies a sustainable top line growth based on categories, markets, category dominance and execution. Holding the top position in a category is considered a major business advantage, not only because of higher sales volumes but also because it allows for improved negotiatio...
Continue reading ...

According to a study published in the US journal Health Affairs, some 16.4% of kids aged 10-17 were obese in 2007, the study claimed - up from 14.8% in 2003 and equating to almost 10.6m obese children. Two of the researchers behind the study claimed US children were "snacking more than ever" on "junk" foods. "Our findings suggest that the obesity epidemic among children may not yet have reached its plateau for some groups of children," the authors claimed. They added that those most likely to...
Continue reading ...

The world's biggest food group Nestle looks well placed to show balanced growth between volume and price in 2010 and outperform its two arch European rivals in a year of likely sluggish economic recovery.

29 analysts out of 39 surveyed by Reuters see Nestle shares as a "buy" or "strong buy" and say its shares look cheap compared to its two rivals based on its forecast performance and its bumper returns from dividends and share buybacks.

While Unilever and Danone had to cut prices in the latter ...
Continue reading ...

According to the survey released by Brand Finance (R) Walmart is the most valuable global brand with a brand value of 41.4 bill USD.  Coca Cola is the number 3 in the ranking and the best valued food brand in the list.

The study provides an opinion on the point-in-time value of the world’s leading brands. Each brand has been accorded a brand rating: a benchmark study of the strength, risk and future potential of a brand relative to its competitor set as well as a brand value: a summary me...
Continue reading ...

Heinz CEO, William R. Johnson argued in a presentation to investors that there are four reasons why the industry has a strong upside.

First, he highlighted the growth potential of Emerging Markets, where the ranks of new middle class, brand-conscious consumers are increasing at a rapid rate. "Emerging Markets represent a target-rich base of consumers who are likely to spend more and more of their income on branded packaged foods as they prosper", said Johnson. "Emerging Markets are on track...

Continue reading ...

U.S. food makers are looking overseas for more profitable growth over the next few years, as they often must rely on short-term price promotions to drive sales at home.

Kraft Foods Inc said its acquisition of Cadbury would accelerate long-term growth, though it expects the deal to hurt 2010 results."The U.S. consumer is all grown up, and future growth in consumer spending will be outside the U.S.," said Edward Jones analyst Matt Arnold.From that perspective, Kraft buying Cadbury makes a great ...

Continue reading ...

Today the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of the fourth consecutive rise in its monthly Food Price Index, a ‘food basket’ made up of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar.

Food prices reached a peak in June 2008, causing serious food security concerns and rioting in some parts of the world. For the food industry, higher ingredient costs were passed along the food chain and had an impact on the bottom line of many businesses – not to mention end consumersâ€...

Continue reading ...

Todd Stitzer, chief executive of Cadbury, will this week face pressure from shareholders to prove that Britain's favourite chocolate manufacturer can deliver strong growth as an independent company, as a renewed takeover bid from US food giant Kraft looms.

Danone said it was prepared to spend a total of GBP 915m on acquisitions as the world’s largest yoghurt maker reported better than expected third-quarter sales and confirmed full-year guidance.

Nestle, said it is even "leaner, fitter and ...

Continue reading ...