http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com Food and Drink Insight RSS Feed from Business Monitor International en Copyright 2008, Business Monitor International Ltd Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:30 GMT Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:30 GMT AFP RSS Generator Scandinavian confectionery firm Cloetta Fazer has announced an increase in sales but a drop in profits for the first half of 2008. The firm's sales increased by 9% to reach SEK1520mn (US$243mn), thanks to the consolidation of acquisitions and volume growth. However, Cloetta Fazer's operating profit dropped to SEK7mn (US$1.1mn), down from SEK33mn (US$5.3mn) a year earlier. http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68495/Cloetta-Fazer-Reports-Lower-H1-Profits-Plans-To-Demerge.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Retail giant Wal-Mart has announced plans to open between 12 and 15 new stores in Argentina by the end of 2009. The firm has revealed that the expansion will require an investment of between US$100mn and US$130mn, and the new stores will increase the firm's store network in the country by over a third. This substantial investment indicates that Wal-Mart is taking a renewed interest in Argentina, following a massive increase in consumer spending over the last two http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68496/Wal-Mart-Invests-In-Argentina.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Diversified Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is reportedly considering entering into partnership with UK-based supply chain solutions provider Wincanton in an effort to address the current inefficiencies being experienced by its fledgling retail network. Since Reliance entered India's high-growth modern retail industry in 2007, it has made significant investments in supply chain management, and yet the creation of an efficient and complete farm-to-store operation has proved hard to come http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68422/Reliance-Seeks-Expertise-As-Supply-Chain-Management-Proves-Tough.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT The largest supermarket operator in Chile, Distribución y Servicio (D&S), has announced an increase in sales and profits for the first half of 2008. D&S reports that total revenues for the period increased by 4.3% to reach CLP972,642mn (US$1,969mn), thanks to a 3.7% increase in sales and a 7% increase in revenue from other sources. Meanwhile, the firm's net profit for the period increased by 21.3% to reach CLP28,141mn (US$), thanks to a big reduction in operating http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68423/DS-Targets-Low-Income-Consumers.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Rumours of a possible takeover bid for Italian dairy group Parmalat have emerged following the firm's failed bid for Australian firm Dairy Farmers. The failed bid has left Parmalat with substantial cash reserves, but the business has recently been struggling to contend with rising costs and the increased price sensitivity among consumers. It is believed that the most likely bidder would be a private equity firm or a bank. However, one of Europe's dairy giants could also show an interest given Parmalat's strong brand and global http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68420/Parmalat-Emerges-As-Possible-Takeover-Target.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Diversified Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is reportedly considering entering into partnership with UK-based supply chain solutions provider Wincanton in an effort to address the current inefficiencies being experienced by its fledgling retail network. Since Reliance entered India's high-growth modern retail industry in 2007, it has made significant investments in supply chain management, and yet the creation of an efficient and complete farm-to-store operation has proved hard to come http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68421/Reliance-Seeks-Expertise-As-Supply-Chain-Management-Proves-Tough.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Argentine brewer and soft drink producer Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa) has reported strong results for the first half of 2008. For the six months ending June 30 2008, Quinsa, which is a subsidiary of international brewing giant InBev, reported net sales up 31% to US$811.9 and net profit up 47.9% to US$148.2mn. These results came on the back of a healthy increase in volume sales (see graph). http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68380/Quinsa-Reports-Strong-First-Half-Results.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT US agribusiness giant Cargill has commenced operations at its South East Asia Food Application Centre, in Kuala Lumpur. The new facility, which brings Cargill's refining, texturising and flavourings businesses, for all product categories, under one roof, is the company's third Malaysian plant and reflects the market's growing importance to Cargill's global expansion and diversification http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68378/Cargill-Intent-On-Maximising-Malaysian-Opportunity.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT A report released by agri-financing specialist Rabobank has suggested that the long-term security of the increasingly challenging Australian wine industry lies in its moving up the American value chain. While BMI agrees that the New World producer's historic emphasis on accessibility and low prices has created a volume-value imbalance that is hard to shake, we do not agree that an attempt towards premiumisation in the US is necessary the correct way to http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68379/Is-The-US-Australian-Wines-Saviour.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT In its interim trading statement, Ireland-based food group Greencore has reported a notable deterioration in consumer sentiment in the UK since June. Despite this the firm, which derives most of its sales in the UK and Ireland, reported that sales at its core convenience food business rose by 7.2% on a constant currency basis in the four months to July 31. However, the strength of the euro against sterling means that revenues at the convenience food division fell by 7.5% when currency movements are taken into http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68376/Greencore-Warns-Of-Worsening-Consumer-Sentiment.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Beer consumption has been experiencing impressive growth in Africa in recent years, as discussed in BMI's new Beer In Africa Report. Many of the world's major brewers have been increasing their operational activities in this fast emerging market, attracted to the vast long-term potential. In this report we outline the business activities and expansion strategies of SABMiller, Heineken and East African Breweries, three of the key players in this market. http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68377/Executive-Summary.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Leading Sri Lankan retailer Cargills (Ceylon) Ltd has confirmed plans to expand into the country's eastern provinces. Cargills will invest LKR80mn (US$0.74mn) in two new stores in Ampara and Batticaloa, adding to the two stores already established in the eastern district of Tricomalee and improving the retailer's chances of matching 2007's impressive 28% sales http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68330/Cargills-Sees-Growth-Op-In-Economic-Expansion.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Bavaria, the Colombian subsidiary of international brewing giant SABMiller, has announced that it is to sell its Agua Brisa bottled water business for US$92mn. The unit will be jointly acquired by The Coca-Cola Company and bottling firm Coca-Cola FEMSA. The move is part of SABMiller's strategy to focus on its core brewing operations and suggests that the firm's other non-brewing assets could be disposed of in the near http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68331/SABMiller-Disposing-Of-Soft-Drink-Assets.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT The UK's level of Consumer Price Inflation (the government's target measure) hit 4.4% in July after rising steadily for the past six months (see graph). The rising price of food and drink was responsible for a substantial proportion of this increase with the UK's National Statistics Office reporting that inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages hit 12% in July. The rising price of food and drink, along with slowing economic growth, has increased consumer price sensitivity and sparked a massive price war among the UK's leading retailers. http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68327/Retail-Price-War-Threatens-Producers-Margins.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT Dairy firms in the UAE and across the Gulf states are struggling with a shortage or fresh milk and are turning instead to skimmed milk powder as an alternative. This problem has been exacerbated by the heat of the summer months, during which time cows produce less milk. Although this is an annual occurrence, circumstances are more challenging this year due to the rising costs of imported animal feed, which shot up by close to 80% in recent months. The obvious solution for dairy companies operating in this environment would be to pass these increasing output costs onto consumers and http://www.foodanddrinkinsight.com/file/68328/Dairy-Firms-Struggle-With-Fresh-Milk-Shortage.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00 GMT