Business

Supermarkets milking the limelight in latest dairy price war battle

Opinion

Supermarkets milking the limelight in latest dairy price war battle

By RJ Whitehead

Just as Woolworths announced in Australia this week that its third-quarter revenue had risen 2.5% largely due to increased sales of milk, its arch rival, Coles, revealed it had signed new contracts with two dairy farmer co-operatives.

AB InBev indicates further China growth

AB InBev indicates further China growth

By RJ Whitehead

Buoyed no doubt by new premier Xi Jinping’s seemingly positive approach to the presence of international businesses in China, Anheuser-Busch InBev has indicated it plans to make further inroads in the country.

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

Company update

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

By RJ Whitehead

A great deal has changed in Japanese society since Nestlé opened the doors to its Far East division for the first time 100 years ago. And as the company moves into its second century, Japan now faces a raft of issue brought about by a chronically ageing...

Wilmar secures IP rights to grow China’s rice bran production

Intellectual property

Wilmar secures IP rights to grow China’s rice bran production

By RJ Whitehead

Wilmar and RiceBran Technologies have announced a series of licencing tie-ins to develop rice bran and its derivatives in China. The venture will seek to develop the human food ingredient and animal nutrition markets in the country.

Wal-Mart to continue China investment despite feeling the pinch

Wal-Mart to continue China investment despite feeling the pinch

By RJ Whitehead

Wal-Mart has announced plans to invest RMB500m (US$79.8m) to upgrade its Chinese stores. The statement comes in a bid to play down local media reports that the company’s growth plans were being hit by a spate of store closures.

An unconventional approach to capture the flavour of China

Case study: Firmenich

An unconventional approach to capture the flavour of China

By RJ Whitehead

According to Pierre-Alain Ceralli, Firmenich’s vice-president for flavours in China, the country now represents 20% of the total flavour industry’s potential. Furthermore, as China transforms its economy from export-led GDP to a domestic-led economic...

Crafty Coles' property plan leaves Woolworths with egg on its face

Supermarket wars

Crafty Coles' property plan leaves Woolworths with egg on its face

By RJ Whitehead

Some say it was sneaky, others say it was shrewd, but whatever the motivation, the latest stunt by Coles against its super-rival Woolworths has set the cat among the pigeons in the battle for Australian supermarket supremacy.

FMC to expand global production by one-third with new Thailand plant

Growth market

FMC to expand global production by one-third with new Thailand plant

By RJ Whitehead

Eager to move forward with supplying the fast-growing Asian market, food technology major FMC has broken ground on its major new microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand, through which FMC expects to increase its global...

Coca-Cola accused as US-China cyber war of words escalates

US FIRM ACCUSES CHINESE ARMY OF GLOBAL IP CYBER ATTACKS

Coca-Cola accused as US-China cyber war of words escalates

By Ben BOUCKLEY

Chinese authorities have accused Coca-Cola China of illegally mapping parts of Yunnan Province, while a high-profile US cyber-security company alleges that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is behind at least 115 cyberattacks on US firms, and three foreign...

Beam Inc. Scotches talk of Teacher’s whiskey losing Indian No.1 spot

Beam Inc. Scotches talk of Teacher’s whiskey losing Indian No.1 spot

By Ben BOUCKLEY

Beam Inc. insists to BeverageDaily.com that Teacher’s remains the bestselling Scotch Whiskey brand in India, despite press reports suggesting it has lost that position to Pernod Ricard’s 100 Pipers in the wake of Beam’s ongoing probe into potential local...

IFF opens new flavors facility in Guangzhou, China

IFF Opens New Flavors Facility in Guangzhou, China

By Elaine WATSON

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has opened a new flavors facility in Guangzhou, China, as part of a $100m investment in Greater Asia as it looks to increase its presence in emerging markets. 

Cadbury to face tough questions over so-called “phantom factory” scam

Indian investigation

Cadbury to face tough questions over so-called “phantom factory” scam

By RJ Whitehead

Almost exactly a year ago, Cadbury India was showing off its position as the country’s fourth most admired company, according to Fortune magazine; but today the chocolate major is preparing to fight accusations from tax authorities that it had deliberately...

Nufarm says goodbye to two major deals in just three months

Australian crops

Nufarm says goodbye to two major deals in just three months

By RJ Whitehead

Nufarm’s rocky start to 2013 continues with the Australian manufacturer and distributor of crop protection products announcing the end of its second long-term deal with a global agricultural company in three months.

Heading to the polls with new genetic horn test for cattle

Australian research

Heading to the polls with new genetic horn test for cattle

By RJ Whitehead

The transition to a polled cattle herd–or one without horns–could soon be even faster with a new, highly accurate poll gene marker test from Australia that is due to become available this year.

United Spirits: India regulator gives green light for $2bn Diageo deal

United Spirits: India regulator gives green light for $2bn Diageo deal

By Ben BOUCKLEY

The Indian Competition Commission (CCI) has approved Diageo’s purchase of a 53.4% stake in United Spirits (USL), saying that the £1.28bn ($2.04bn) purchase may boost the nation’s premium spirits market and improve consumer choice without jeopardizing...

Carlsberg mulls potential $1.2bn China M&A move in Chongqing

INDUSTRY VOICES: GUEST ARTICLE, HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Carlsberg mulls potential $1.2bn China M&A move in Chongqing

By Jacob de Lichtenberg

After a quiet beginning to 2013, M&A activity is heating up in China’s beer market, as Carlsberg said on Monday it was considering upping its stake in Chongqing Brewery, intensifying the fight among global brewers for production assets there.

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

By Mark Astley

Fonterra will invest more than NZ$100m ($82.4m, €62.8m) in a new ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk and cream processing plant in New Zealand in an attempt to meet growing Asian demand for heat-treated dairy products.

Sports legend meets pragmatism as a brand enters India

Gulfood 2013 blog

Sports legend meets pragmatism as a brand enters India

By RJ Whitehead in Dubai

It is hard for a food industry trade show to pack the same level of glamour as, say, the Tokyo Motor Show, so it’s probably best for organisers not to try. But every now and again, in a moment of wild abandon, a celebrity or sports star graces a show’s...

ABF calls Oxfam food ethics attack ‘ridiculous’

ABF calls Oxfam food ethics attack ‘ridiculous’

By Shane Starling

Associated British Foods – worst-in-class in an Oxfam report critical of 10 food giants for essentially operating under a corporate social responsibility (CSR) “veil of secrecy” – has hit back, slamming the report ‘s findings as “ridiculous”.

The next big food gold rush

Gulfood 2013 blog

The next big food gold rush

By RJ Whitehead in Dubai

Teams from both the European and Asian editions of FoodNavigator are on the ground at Gulfood 2013 in Dubai, a food, processing, packaging and ingredients show which, according to its blurb, claims to be the biggest in the world.

Vital for Indian quick-service chains to develop own infrastructure

State of the industry

Vital for Indian quick-service chains to develop own infrastructure

By RJ Whitehead

The rapid change in India’s food consumption habits has spurred domestic and foreign quick service restaurant (QSR) chains to implement aggressive expansion plans. And according to a new Rabobank report, this growth is set to accelerate. 

Starbucks still not sure how to go social

Food for thought

Starbucks still not sure how to go social

By Ankush Chibber

In his latest column, Ankush Chibber looks at Starbucks' latest social snafu and wonders why brands don't learn from their mistakes.

How high can high-end omega-3 go?

Special edition: Omega-3 (Editor's blog)

How high can high-end omega-3 go?

By Shane STARLING

Just got off the phone to Ola Snove, the new(ish) CEO of Aker part-owned Norwegian omega-3 specialist Epax. Wanted to know his view on high-end omega-3 prospects that have attracted BASF and DSM to the sector. His word: “Stellar”.

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