Business

More than a buzzword: Net zero sustainability commitments must make business sense for food firms – expert panel

08-May-2023 By Pearly Neo

The commitment to and achievement of net zero goals must make real business sense for food and beverage companies in the region in order to ensure these remain a key part of business operations as opposed to just fulfilling a trend.

General Mills optimistic on yogurt business as it eyes more markets

22-Feb-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

General Mills has been working to turn around its yogurt business and is starting to see slow signs of improvement but "there is more work to do," CEO Jeff Harmening said during the CAGNY (Consumer Analyst Group) conference in New York City.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Cook County Sweetened Beverage Tax officially expires

04-Dec-2017 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The sweetened beverage tax in Cook County, Illinois, expired on Friday after four months of “overwhelming and relentless opposition” from retailers, consumers and policy makers.

Euromonitor: 20 most influential megatrends to shape the world by 2030

07-Sep-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Euromonitor International has identified 20 of the most influential megatrends to shape the world by 2030 with analysis on eight megatrends with the furthest-reaching impact on industries and consumers in the years to come.

USDA teams with SCORE to match young farmers with mentors

10-Aug-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

When starting a business, it helps to have someone who has been there before to help avoid pitfalls and secure success, but finding a trusted expert to fill this role can be difficult, which is why earlier this month the US Department of Agriculture teamed...

FoodFutureCo unveils 2017 cohort: 'It isn’t enough to have a great concept; consumers, retailers and investors are looking for companies with a higher purpose'

03-Mar-2017 By Elaine Watson

FoodFutureCo - a food business accelerator program targeting mission-driven companies in scale-up mode – has unveiled its second cohort, spanning spring water, local produce, kids’ snacks and fermented foods. 

Boulder Brands lines drive 13% surge in Pinnacle Foods Q1 sales

29-Apr-2016 By Vince Bamford

Boulder Brands has added more than $100m to net sales of Pinnacle Foods in its first ten weeks as part of the business.

'Consumers love French fries, but they are looking for healthier alternatives'

28-Mar-2016 By Elaine Watson

Farmwise frozen veggie fries contain 30% vegetables and beans, and 70% potatoes, and have been flying off the shelves in conventional as well as natural channels, says co-founder and CEO Dave Peters, who caught up with FoodNavigator-USA at the 2016 Expo...

Ahold to roll out new-look bakery departments across US business by year-end

04-Mar-2016 By Vince Bamford

Retail giant Ahold aims to have completed the roll out of new-look bakery departments across its entire US estate by the end of the year.

Artizone business model was viable, but the money ran out, says founder

24-Feb-2016 By Elaine Watson

“We have delivered food from the best shops, farms and artisans. It was a wonderful journey, and while we learned a lot from it, it has come to its end,” says a message on the homepage of online delivery service Artizone, which closed its doors on February...

Premium Brands buys US sausage-maker Isernio’s

09-Jul-2015 By Rod Addy

The acquisition of US sausage brand Isernio’s has been announced by global speciality food business Premium Brands Holdings Corporation.

Kellogg posts $293m net loss - Special K and Kashi drag down business

13-Feb-2015 By Kacey Culliney

Kellogg’s 136% profit plunge for the fourth quarter (Q4) is disappointing and can mainly be attributed to continued poor performances in Special K and Kashi, its CEO says.

Non-GMO reboot has not revitalized sales of Smart Balance spreads, says Boulder Brands

07-Nov-2014 By Elaine Watson

Boulder Brands - which announced a high-profile re-launch of its Smart Balance spreads on a non-GMO platform in March - has admitted that the move has not transformed the brand’s flagging fortunes.

Food Vision 2014 ready to encourage radical thinking and explore innovative opportunities

14-Mar-2014

Over 100 food industry leaders and senior directors from Europe, Asia and the Americas will soon convene in Cannes, France for the 2014 Food Vision summit to discuss key issues facing today’s global industry, from sustainability to innovation; alternative...

Dispatches from Snaxpo 2014: Frito-Lay marketing insight, part II

Frito-Lay: The real battle is winning over the 'empowered' consumer

05-Mar-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Consumers and their demands are in charge of business; driving everything we do in marketing terms and pulling us into their world, says Frito-Lay’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

60-second interview: The day job

What do you do? Karl Kramer, president of innovation and commercial development at Tate & Lyle

18-Feb-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

In the first of a series of 60-second interviews with movers and shakers in the US food and beverage market, FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Karl Kramer, a 30-year food and beverage industry veteran, on how he got into the business of commercializing...

JM Smucker ‘excited’ by growth potential of Enray Inc after acquisition

22-Aug-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

It’s been a good week for JM Smucker: The company just announced the ‘small but important’ acquisition of Enray Inc., reported its ‘strongest first quarter earnings ever’, and continued to see stellar growth for the Uncrustables brand.

Campbell Soup in talks with CVC Capital Partners over potential sale of its business in Europe

12-Aug-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Campbell Soup says it is in final and exclusive negotiations for the potential sale of its business in Europe - which includes soups and simple meals brands Liebig and Royco in France; Erasco in Germany; Blå Band in Sweden; and Devos Lemmens and Royco in Belgium...

Organic foods and beverages help drive the growth of green, report says

07-Jun-2013 By Hank Schultz

Sales of green products and services increased right through the recent economic downturn, with sales of organic foods and beverages among the leading categories, a new report says.

Analyst: Unilever should consider ditching spreads if things don’t improve

26-Apr-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Unilever should put its spreads business ‘on notice’ if things don’t improve, says one analyst after Unilever posted another set of quarterly results where strong growth in personal and home care was offset by a weak performance in food, notably spreads.

McCormick CEO: Everybody is expecting this year's growth to be driven much more by volume than pricing

04-Apr-2013 By Elaine WATSON

While surging commodity prices have meant that much of the industry’s growth in the past year or two has come from pricing rather than volume, things are beginning to change, says seasonings and spices giant McCormick.

Glanbia eyeing 2012 profits target despite marginal growth

07-Nov-2012 By Mark Astley

Irish dairy giant Glanbia is “confident” of delivering its full year profits target, despite reporting marginal growth for the first nine months of 2012.

Novel plant source of omega-3s DHA and EPA should be commercialized by 2020, says Cargill

09-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

A completely new source of the coveted long chain omega-3s EPA and DHA should be commercialized by the end of the decade thanks to a multi-million-dollar tie up between ingredient giants BASF and Cargill to produce the next generation of canola oils.

Q4 net profit soars 83% at Corn Products International

10-Feb-2012 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Net profit soared 83% at Corn Products International in the fourth quarter of 2011 on the back of higher sales, increased prices, and a one-off accounting gain, the company said Thursday.

Treehouse eyes up strategic acquisitions in bid to expand private label empire

07-Nov-2011 By Elaine Watson

Treehouse Foods will be on the acquisition trail in 2012 as it seeks to drive consolidation in the private label sector via “strategic acquisitions”.

Sara Lee: Innovation is the answer to commodity price hike challenge

11-Aug-2011 By Elaine Watson

A steady stream of new products scheduled to hit the market in 2012 will help packaged goods giant Sara Lee grow sales volumes and protect margins in 2012, bosses have promised.

Digital technologies driving food industry growth

22-Jun-2011 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Digital technologies are creating major opportunities for the food industry, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).

FTC scrutinizes eco-friendly claims

08-Oct-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed changes to its guidelines for ‘green’ label claims to help marketers avoid making statements that could mislead consumers.

Sara Lee to focus on food and beverage with sale of air care firm

06-Jul-2010

US group Sara Lee has announced the sale of its air care business Ambi Pur to Procter & Gamble as it looks to consolidate itself as a top international food and beverage player.

Consumer foods division drives 19 percent profit boost at ConAgra

26-Mar-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

US foods giant ConAgra reported a 19 percent boost in third quarter profits on Thursday, driven by increased sales in its consumer foods sector – but its commercial ingredient business is still suffering.

Monsanto posts fourth quarter loss

12-Oct-2006 By staff reporter

Biotech giant Monsanto has seen profits dip in its fourth quarter,
after a disappointing performance from its soybean and seeds
business.

Food firms must keep up with changing retail

22-May-2006 By Lorraine Heller

Retailers must be quick to accept and quick to discontinue new
products if they are to succeed in the changing retail landscape,
according to a new report.

Volume sales lifts Degussa 1H

10-Aug-2004

Building on a stronger start to the year, Germany's third largest
chemicals group reports continued growth into the second quarter
with an increase in demand pushing up sales and earnings for the
period but the firm warned that...

Profit hike for spice kings

25-Sep-2003

US spice giant McCormick & company posted an improved set of
figures for the third quarter boosted by strong sales, acquisitions
and better distribution.