China, potentially one of the most promising markets for
genetically modified (GM) crops, is stalling the adoption of
transgenic plant cultivation as a cautious government ponders their
safety reports Anand Krishnamoorthy.
Three senior executives from China dairy group Yili have been
detained by police authorities allegedly investigating accusations
of company embezzlement. Analysts believe the news is likely to
send shock waves through the sectors...
With the market for canned food doubling in size in the course of
the last eight years, further growth is expected in line with the
rapidly expanding China economy in the coming years.
Wal-Mart China has confirmed that it is opening up its first store
in Shanghai. The store is due to open up next year and the company
has confirmed that recruitment of staff has begun, reports Simon
Pitman.
Wal-Mart has reversed its decision not to allow trade unions for
its store workers in China. Bowing to pressure from government
authorities, the move comes as a strong sign that international
food and beverage businesses must heed...
China is cracking down on government officials over alleged
misconduct that led to the deaths of at least 13 babies in China's
North-Eastern provinces following the illegal sale of fake milk
powder.
As retail regulations in China are set to undergo big changes, many
leading multinational retailers are queuing up in readiness to
capitalize on more liberal trading conditions. Simon Pitman
takes a closer look at the changes to find...
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions said that it will continue
to press foreign companies to unionise its operations in China. The
federation highlighted ongoing disputes with several foreign-owned
companies - including Wal-Mart...
Cambodia became the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s 148th member
this month, a move that should help the poorest country in the A-P
region improve its food production sector, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
A rise in global stocks of wheat after a 30-year low will offer
continued relief to the tighter prices experienced by the food
industry in previous years, but the food chain still needs to stay
on the alert.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) will be releasing a 'Chinese
Simplified' translation of its groundbreaking Global Standard
for Consumer Products on 26 October 2004.
With coffee sales in China growing by 90 per cent in the five years
up to 2003, international companies are queuing up to carve up
their slice of a market. Although tea is still the mainstay, the
rapid switch to all things western...
Danish brewer Carlsberg has acquired a 34.5 per cent stake in Wusu
Brewery, located in the Xinjiang Autonomus region. The move
represents Carlsberg's ambitions to increase its presence in the
less developed Western provinces.
China's food industry grew by 26.2 per cent in the first six months
of this year. And despite rising power and ingredients prices, The
China National Food Industry Association says that continued
economic strength, backed by...
The World Health Organisation met in Beijing this week to discuss
key threats to the safety of the world's food supply chain,
including a number of issues specific to the Asian Pacific region.
Singapore-based QAF limited, one of South East Asia's leading food
companies, has said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Singfood
Investment has entered into an agreement with Mega Ocean Holdings
to acquire a 27 per cent stake...
Unilever has reported a small fall in sales for its operations in
the Asia Pacific region during the first half of the year, as
overall results are dragged down by even worse performances in the
European and North American markets....
Farming in China needs serious investment if domestic food
production is to keep up with rising food consumption. But with a
growing emphasis on food quality and safety, future investment in
the sector looks seems an inevitable route...
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) says that it has come
across lead contamination in cornflour milled from imported corn
following routine food safety tests on a number of food products.
The organisation says that it has...
Mirroring China's record economic growth, mergers and acquisitions
activity has boomed to record levels this year. According to
PricewaterhouseCoopers M&A activitity in both Hong Kong and
China grew 168 per cent in the first...
US ingredients giant ADM saw double-digit sales growth for the year
but overall profits were dragged down by a volatile soybean market
in China. The company said that many cancelled orders from soy meal
buyers there had particularly...
The EU has lifted a two year ban on honey, together with a number
of seafoods and products of animal origin. The move is expected to
give a particular boost to the country's position as the world
biggest honey producer.
Although the Chinese economy is showing definite signs of slowing,
experts have said that it is not about to overheat. Investment,
particularly in the food and beverage sector, is continuing apace,
but this being coutnerbalanced by...
Carlsberg
and the Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries
(IFU) have drawn up an agreement with Lanzhou Huanghe Enterprise
Group to acquire 50 per cent of the LanzhouHuanghe Brewery's
operations in the Gansu...
Asian shrimp farmers have described a US ruling to increase tariffs
as 'regrettable' after increases of up to 112 per cent were slapped
on Chinese and Vietnamese producers' exports.
The establishment of large scale battery farms has pushed egg
production in China to 40 per cent of the world total. In turn
increased interest in egg-based foods, such as dairy products,
pre-packaged foods and bakery have all boosted...
A Hong Kong stock Exchange disclosure has revealed that investment
company Castlerigg International has bought a strategic 10.01 per
cent stake in China's Harbin Brewery, a move that looks likely to
put more pressure on international...
Although 2004 is now expected to yield a bumper grain harvest in
China, with provinces announcing record crop levels, Beijing is
taking action to halt the country's fall in per-hectare yield of
cropland over recent years.
Joint ventures (JVs) are rapidly falling out of favour as the
preferred way of establishing a foothold in the China food market,
according to new research. Persistent problems with intellectual
property are highlighted as the core...
SABMiller has confirmed that it will not proceed with its €500
million offer for Harbin Brewery, in a move that cedes control of
the key China brewer to rival Anheuser-Busch.
After years of struggling to meet increasing domestic demand for
soy products, Chinese government officials believe that discussions
with the Brazilian government may have solved the problem. Trade
talks held in Beijing this week...
Chinese wine imports increased by nearly 50 per cent last year,
according to figures released by the Beijing customs authorities,
with a value amounting to almost €26 million, an increase which is
being attributed to lower import...
Two of Europe's major retail chains, Carrefour and Metro, have
announced plans to expand their operations in China, while a third,
Tesco, is still on the hunt for a partner to enable it to enter the
country's market.
Anheuser-Busch has announced the completion of a deal to purchase
around 29 per cent of Chinese brewer Harbin, which is currently
subject to a hostile takeover bid by SABMiller.
Hangzhou Wahaha, one of China's leading manufacturers of fizzy
drinks has made its premier shipment of cola carbonated drinks to
the US, a first for a Chinese company.
Harbin, the leading Chinese brewery, has advised shareholders to
resist SABMiller's takeover bid for the company. The bid was
influenced by Ancheuser-Busch's 29 per cent acquisition of the
company earlier in the week. SABMiller...
China's growing band of beer brewers is claiming that rising costs
of ingredients coupled with rising production costs is likely to
put between 10 and 20 per cent on the price of a beer during the
course of this month, a factor...
A recent report from the Lund University in Sweden on the ongoing
invasion of the golden apple snail in southeast Asia claims that it
is now having a devastating ecological effect, something that will
continue to seriously farming...
A British Pig Executive (BPEX) delegation is visiting Beijing at
the end of the month to encourage British exports to China, the
world's biggest market for pork.
China has recently relaxed the rules obliging foreign retail groups
to take a local partner, a move expected to lead to rapid growth in
the number of international food and beverage retailers doing
business there. But despite Chinese...
To counteract China's alleged abuse of patent protection the US
government is proposing legislation that would mean greater tariffs
on a variety of Chinese products including food and beverage items.
Food ingredients companies head off to China with agriculture chief
Fischler next week on a mission to boost trade relations and create
new business opportunities for the food industry.
China claims to have had an early success in stamping out the bird
flu that has been causing severe hardships to the country's
numerous poultry farmers, after the mass culling of some nine
million birds over the seven weeks since...
Trade in food and beverage products is expected to grow
significantly on the back of an agreement made between China and
Vietnam which will end tariffs on nearly 500 seafood and
agricultural products during the course of the next...
Britain's biggest food retailer Tesco looks set to take a further
step towards its goal of competing with global giants such as
Carrefour and Wal-Mart with a move into the massive Chinese retail
market.
