http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com Food and Drink Insight RSS Feed from Business Monitor International en Copyright 2010, Business Monitor International Ltd Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:30 GMT Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:30 GMT AFP RSS Generator US soft drinks producer Hansen Natural has reported an increase in revenues and profits for 2009, shrugging off the weak economic environment that affected the results of many other soft drink firms. In the 12 months ending in December 2009, Hansen recorded sales growth of 10.6% to US$1.14bn, while operating income doubled to US$337.3mn. The previous year's results were affected by one-off charges due to distribution contact changeovers. The firm's flagship product, the Monster energy drink, has delivered resilient growth during the downturn and looks well placed to advance at an even greater rate as the economic environment shows signs http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86734/Hansen-Posts-Sales-Rise-On-Back-Of-CCE-Distribution-Deal-Ponders-Coke-Bottling-Shakeup.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Leading Thai alcoholic drinks producer Thai Public Beverage (ThaiBev) has announced disappointing full-year financial results for 2009. The company's sales climbed by 2.4% to THB108bn (US$3.3bn), while net profit increased by 2.2% to THB10.6bn (US$324mn). However, this top line figure masks a massive drop in beer sales, with spirits and soft drinks picking up the slack. Nonetheless, with strong growth in these subsectors supported by acquisitions rather than being purely illustrative of robust demand, ThaiBev will be keen to put 2009 behind it and look ahead to a more productive http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86735/ThaiBev-Keen-To-Put-Difficult-2009-Behind-It.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT In a major expansion move, Ukraine's largest confectioner in terms of annual production capacity Roshen is expected to invest US$230-240mn in a second confectionery plant in Russia, with construction expected to start by H110 (calendar year). Already well established in Russia, and with BMI forecasting 14.06% increase in confectionery value sales to RUB138.04bn to boot, Roshen's latest undertaking makes sense strategically as it looks to gain a greater foothold in the prized Russian market where its market share is estimated at http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86733/Roshen-To-Build-US$240mn-Plant.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Diageo's core African unit, East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), is expected to buy into Serengeti Breweries - Tanzania's second biggest brewer by market share - in 2010 after reaching an agreement with SABMiller. BMI welcomes the development having previously argued that EABL needed a much firmer presence in the promising Tanzanian market to beef up its long-term top line volume growth http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86732/Diageo-Unit-Set-To-Buy-Into-Serengeti.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Spanish chocolate producer Natra has posted a drop in sales and profits for 2009, with restructuring charges taking their toll on the firms bottom line. For the 12 months offending in December 2009, Natra's net sales fell to EUR421mn from EUR455.9mn, while the firm recorded a net loss of EUR52.2mn, compared to a net profit of EUR0.3mn in 2008. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also fell, coming in at EUR4.9mn, down from EUR39.4mn in http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86731/Natra-Posts-Net-Loss-Following-Difficult-Year.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Spain's largest food group, Ebro Puleva, has reported a rise in earnings but a drop in sales for 2009. During the 12 months ending in December, Ebro Puleva's net revenues declined by 7% to EUR2,198mn, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 13.5% to EUR308mn. The drop in sales value was apparent across the firm's three division (see chart) and was attributed to lower raw material prices, which it passed on to consumers through lower retail prices. However, the fall in sales was offset by lower costs and higher sales of value-added products, which helped the http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86678/Ebro-Puleva-Reports-Sales-Dip-Earnings-Growth.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Fast-moving consumer goods multinational Unilever's Ghanaian arm expects strong growth in 2010, following a challenging 2009. Customer development director Kwaku Boateng said the company anticipates more favourable external and internal market factors in 2010, which is a sentiment shared by BMI. On the macroeconomic side, 2010's GDP growth is forecast at 6.4%, which should drive up per capita food and drink consumption and in turn demand for Unilever's core brands. However, we do caution that anticipated double-digit inflation (consumer price index average) in 2010 may weigh down on consumer http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86679/Unilever-Targeting-Sharp-2010-Growth.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Western Europe-focused French mass grocery retail (MGR) giant Carrefour has tied up a new joint venture (JV) with Greek retailer Marinopoulos to target the Balkan region. As partners for nearly 17 years, Carrefour and Marinopoulos operate more than 500 stores across Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece. After relying largely on a saturating Western Europe (France alone accounted for 44% of net sales in FY08), BMI believes emerging market expansion to be key to Carrefour's long-term headline growth http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86680/Carrefour-Marinopoulos-JV-To-Pursue-Balkans.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Brazil's largest food firm, Brasil Foods (BRF), formed after Perdigão agreed to acquire its debt-laden local rival Sadia in May 2009, has reported a drop in sales for 2009 after exports were hit by the downturn in the global economy. For the 12 months ending in December, net sales dropped by 5% to BRL20.94bn. The firm delivered net profits of BRL228mn, compared to a pro forma loss of BRL2.4bn in 2008. However, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 47% to http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86677/Brasil-Foods-Reports-Sales-Decline-Waits-For-Go-Ahead-For-Full-Consolidation-of-Sadia.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT British spirits major Diageo has upped its stake in Chinese holding company Quanxing by 4%, to 53%, in a deal worth GBP14mn (US$21mn). The motivation for the investment was Quanxing's 39.7% stake in premium white spirit manufacturer ShuiJingFang. The acquisition will give Diageo a toehold in the high-growth domestic premium spirits industry to complement its existing foothold in the increasingly dynamic international spirits sector. Importantly, the deal will also give Diageo a chance to get closer to the international spirits market leader Pernod Ricard in China and to more effectively capitalise on forecast alcoholic drink sales growth of 55%, to http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86676/Diageo-In-Pernod-Ricard-Chase-With-ShuiJingFang-Buy.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Taiwanese food and beverage group Uni-President Enterprises has announced plans to increase capital expenditure on its Chinese mainland operations to TWD1bn (US$31mn) in 2012. The investment plans highlight the fact that mainland China remains the primary growth driver of the group's business even if domestic sales recovered from their slow start to the year to display impressive resilience in http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86637/Uni-President-Ramps-Up-Mainland-Capital-Expenditure.html Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00 GMT US snack producer Diamond Foods has agreed to purchase premium potato chip maker Kettle Foods from UK-based private equity firm Lion Capital for US$615mn. Diamond is reported to have seen off competition from United Biscuits, PepsiCo, Hain Celestial and Lance Snacks and was eager to secure the business as part of a move into consumer foods. The bid values Kettle at around 10-times its historic earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), which is at the top end of valuations in the consumer goods sector and can be attributed to the brand's strong growth http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86636/Diamond-Sees-Off-Competition-To-Take-Control-Of-Kettle.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Canadian private label soft drink specialist Cott Corp has reported a return to profitability in 2009. For the 12 months to January 2 the firm recorded net profits of US$81.5mn, compared to a loss of over US$100mn in the previous year. Net sales for the year were down by 3.1% but were up by 2.4% on a constant currency basis. The firm continued to experience weak demand in North America, where its volumes dropped by 1.2%, but registered volume growth of 2% in the UK and 10.2% in http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86634/Cott-Corp-Returns-To-Profitability-In-2009.html Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00 GMT US retail multinational Wal-Mart has confirmed that it will consider mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a means of boosting the competitiveness of its Japanese subsidiary Seiyu. This is latest in a long line of development and improvement drives unveiled by the US giant for its Japanese operations, and BMI cautions that Seiyu will need to be modest in its expectations for this strategy. The Japanese mass grocery retail (MGR) industry is already highly consolidated, with most major takeover targets already having been picked off. With the industry leaders AEON and Seven & I Holdings similarly committed to growth via M&A, http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86635/Wal-Mart-To-Consider-Japanese-MA.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka has said it has regained carbonated soft drink market leadership from its close rival Ceylon Cold Storage (CCS). The two companies are the clear market leaders in Sri Lanka's established carbonated soft drink industry. BMI expects future market share battles to concentrate more on emerging beverage categories, such as juices and ready-to-drink teas and coffees, which will be the key drivers of our 23% sales growth forecast to LKR12bn (US$105mn) in http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/86632/Coca-Cola-Regains-Lead-In-Soft-Drink-Market-Share-Battle.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT