January 2010 Entries

First Page: WalMart announces major reorganization, new online initiative

Janury 29 2010 - WalMart officials announced a series of changes at company, including the unification of operating divisionsand a new unit that will be responsible for driving online growth around the world Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Li & Fung expects to buy $2 billion for Wal-Mart in its first year as non-exclusive buying agent

January 29 2010 - The Board of Directors of global sourcing company Li & Fung Limited announced the signing of a series of agreements with Wal-Mart. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Metro presents new private label strategy in Bulgaria

January 29 2010 - German retail giant Metro has officially presented its new private label strategy in Bulgaria, according to local media reports. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Wal-Mart Stores to create "Global Merchandising Centers" as part of new global sourcing strategy

January 28 2010 - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced today a new global sourcing strategy, that involves the creation of Global Merchandising Centers, a change in leadership and structure, and a strategic alliance with Li & Fung, a global sourcing organization. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Magnit and X5 Retail Group spearhead retail space growth in Russia

Janury 28 2010 - Magnit and X5 Retail Group grocery chains were the leaders of the Russian retail market last year in terms of sales area construction accounting for nearly 52% of the total area launched in the country. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: M&S signs sustainable seafood charter

Janury 28 2010 - Marks & Spencer has become the first UK retailer to sign WWF’s Seafood Charter, committing to sustainable sourcing of all its fish products by 2015. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Sale of Super de Boer stores referred to Dutch competition body

January 27 2010 - The European Commission has referred the proposed acquisition of 80 Super de Boer supermarkets by the company Schuitema to the Dutch Competition Authority. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Britvic continues to grow soft drinks sales

January 27 2010 - Britvic has reported an 11% increase in total sales compared to the previous year, with carbonated drinks in the UK leading the way. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Heineken closes Czech brewery

January 27 2010 - Dutch brewing giant Heineken has said that its planning to close its Louny Brewery in Czech Republic due to falling demand for beer in the country and the group's global strategy to cut costs. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Food & Drink Exporters Association calls for UK export strategy to tap emerging markets (UK)

January 26 2010 - British food and drink producers are in danger of missing out on new global business opportunities unless a nationally coordinated export strategy is established, warns the Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA). Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Metro Group opens new representative office in Berlin

January 26 2010 - Metro Group, one of the world’s largest retail groups, has officially opened its new representative office in Berlin, according to German media reports. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Real Good Food grows bakery sales to major retailers (UK)

January 26 2010 - The Real Good Food Company’s bakery division, Hayden's, has reported “significant growth” in sales to its major customers, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Costa Coffee. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Tesco ventures into movie making (UK)

January 25 2010 - Tesco is teaming up with a new media company to create exclusive DVD Premier feature films based on books by best-selling authors. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Leading Russian retailers to focus on discounter segment in 2010

January 25 2010 - Many of the leading Russian retailers this year are planning to start expansion of the domestic discounter segment due to its successful growth rates in 2009.  Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Ferrero bows out of battle for Cadbury

January 25 2010 - Italian confectioner Ferrero has ruled itself out as a bidder for Cadbury, paving the way for Kraft whose £11.5bn offer was recommended by the Cadbury board. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Carlsberg faces strike in Denmark

January 22 2010 - According to the company’s recent report,  around 600 of its brewery workers and drivers in Denmark went on strike on Friday over pay, halting its beer production in the country. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Tyson Foods shifts production from Iowa to Tenessee and Texas - 480 jobs lost

January 22 2010 - Tyson plans to shift some production from its Council Bluffs, Iowa, case-ready plant to its facilities in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and Sherman, Texas. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Rewe Group opens centralized bakery facility in Germany

January 22 2010 - Rewe Group  has opened a new bakery in the southern part Germany to supply  its 1,100 Rewe and Penny Markt stores. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Tesco launches first buy one, get one free later deal (UK)

January 21 2010 - Tesco has launched a trial deal which allows customers to buy one product and claim another free at a later date. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Whole Foods launches healthy eating education program in 289 locations

January 21 2010 - Whole Foods Market officially launched today the "Health Starts Here" initiative at all 289 locations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Ahold posts 3.4% sales growth in Q4 (Netherlands)

January 21 2010 - The Dutch grocer, Ahold, has reported a Q4 net sales increase of 3.4% compared to the same quarter in 2008, despite being hit by deflation and customers trading down. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Bharti–WalMart opens its first fresh produce sourcing hub in India

January 20  2010 – In order to source fresh produce directly from the farmers Bharti-WalMart has today opened its first Agricultural Cooperative Center in Northern Indian state of Punjab. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Campari to distribute Morrison Bowmore Distillers spirits in Germany

January 20 2010 - Campari Germany expands its international portfolio through the signing of an agreement with Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd for the distribution of its premium spirits. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Co-op plans marketing restructure (UK)

January 20 2010 - The Co-operative Group is to combine the buying and marketing teams in its food business into one, reports claims. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: X5 sales up 33% in 2009 (Russia)

January 19 2010 - Russia's largest retailer X5 reported strong sales growth in fiscal 2009 ,  a 33% jump from previous year. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Kraft's $19.7 billion closed the deal with Cadbury

January 19 2010 - Cadbury’s board has agreed to an increased takeover offer from Kraft, valuing the company at around £11.5bn, and recommend that its shareholders accept the terms. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Casino 2009 Fourth-Quarter sales up 2.2%

January 19 2010 - French Casino reported today Q4 2009 results. Consolidated net sales rose by 2.2% on a reported basis in the fourth quarter of 2009. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Uniq back to profitable growth in Q4

January 19 2010 - The convenience food group Uniq said it has returned to sales growth in the UK where it is now wholly focused, following the recent disposal of its French, German, Polish and Netherlands business units. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: After been accused of price gouging, Casino owned Exito is nationalized by Chavez (Venezuela)

January 18 2010 - Exito, a supermarket chain in Venezuela, owned by the French group Casino was nationalized by a decree of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Bharti-Wal-Mart facing problems to register private label 'Great Value' in India

January 18  2010 – Bharti-Wal-Mart joint venture is currently facing problems with trademark of its food products like tea, snacks foods, ketchup, jellies and jam. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Mars pledges 15% sat fat reduction of key brands (UK)

January 18 2010 - Mars Chocolate UK has pledged to achieve a significant reduction in saturated fat across a number of its core chocolate bars. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Carrefour reveals 2009 sales and appoints new head of France

January 15 2010 - Carrefour has reported full year sales growth of almost 1% in 2009, mainly driven by Brazil and China, according to its CEO Lars Olofsson. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Metro posts 3.6 percent sales drop in 2009 (Germany)

January 15 2010 - German Metro, the world’s third biggest retail group announced that its sales fell by 3.6 percent to €65.5 billion ($95 billion) in 2009. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Polish expansion helps boost Jerónimo Martins sales (Portugal)

January 15 2010 - Portuguese retailer, Jerónimo Martins, said its preliminary 2009 sales grow by 6.1%, as its expansion plans in Poland appear to be paying off. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Grupo Pão de Açucar reports strong fourth quarter

January 14 2010 - Compania Brasileira de Distribuição (CBD) , a joint venture between Casino (France) and the local Diniz family reported Q4 net sales of 4.22 billion. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Delhaize plans for faster growth after weak Q4

January 14 2010 - The Belgian supermarket group Delhaize said it is introducing a raft of initiatives in order to emerge from tough economic times as a much faster growing food retailer. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Waitrose voted best grocery retailer in shoppers poll (UK)

Jabuary 14 2010 - Waitrose has been voted top Food & Grocery Retailer in a survey of 6,000 shoppers, by retail analysts Verdict Research. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Barry Callebaut expects flat chocolate market in 2010

January 13 2010 - The world's largest chocolate maker, Barry Callebaut, expects the global chocolate market to remain flat in terms of volume in 2010 but remains confident that it will outperform the market. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Wessanen appoints new CEO to lead its organic food strategy (Netherlands)

January 13 2010 - Royal Wessanen is to appoint Sara Lee man Piet Hein Merckens as CEO and chairman of the executive board, to lead the company in its ambition to become the “organic food champion in Europe”. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Kraft, Lord Mandelson and Unite add to Cadbury debate as Ferrero bows out (UK)

January 13 2010 - The battle for Cadbury rumbles on as reports claim that Ferroro, who had been tipped as a potential rival to Kraft for the British confectioner, has decided not to bid. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: SUPERVALU back to profit on $9.2 billion in sales

January 12 2010 - Minneapolis based SUPERVALU INC. reported today third quarter fiscal 2010 net sales of $9.2 billion and net earnings of $109 million. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Lidl launches new GM-free dairy range (Germany)

January 12 2010 - Lidl became the first major German supermarket chain which starts to sell a new GM-free dairy range under its own brand "Ein gutes Stück Heimat" "A good piece of home". Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Loyalty scheme helps Tesco boost festive sales (UK)

January 12 2010 - Tesco, the UK’s biggest retailer, has reported its strongest Christmas trading performance for three years.   Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Heineken to acquire Femsa beer business

January 11 2010 - The Dutch brewer Heineken has announced it will acquire the beer operations of Fomento Económico Mexicano, SAB de CV (Femsa) via an all share transaction, creating what it describes as a major new platform for growth. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Haldanes acquires eight more stores (UK)

January 11 2010 - Haldanes Stores, the new supermarket company which launched in November, has acquired eight more stores stretching from Cumbria to Essex.    Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Carrefour still seeks buyers for its Russian supermarkets

January 11 2010 - Carrefour continues to seek buyers for its several supermarkets in Russia, considering the possibility of signing an agreement with Karousel and Real retail chains, according to Russian media reports. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Food industry “too secretive” about nanotechnology (UK)

January 08 2010 - The Food and Drink Federation has leapt to the defence of its members after a Lords committee criticised the food industry for being secretive about nanotechnology research.  Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: PriceSmart reports $308.7 million in net sales for Q1 2010

January 08 2010 - San Diego based PriceSmart, Inc reported today its results of operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 which ended on November 30, 2009. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Dr Pepper partners with Electronic Arts to offer custumers exclusive video game content

January 08 2010 - Electronic Arts Inc. and Dr Pepper today launched an innovative brand marketing program delivering custom built interactive entertainment to Dr Pepper fans. Read more [FoodBizDaily.com]

First Page: “Record” Christmas tops off strong third quarter for Sainsbury’s (UK)

January 07 2010 - Sainsbury's said it delivered a strong trading performance for Q3 and boasted of serving, on average, one million more customers each week over the quarter. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Wal-Mart de Mexico opened 78 new stores in December 2009

January 07 2010 - Wal-Mart de Mexico opened 78 new stores in the country in December 2009, generating more than 2,200 permanent jobs in 13 states. Read more [FoodBIzDaily]

First Page: Magnit plans record investments in Eastern European retail this year (Russia)

January 07 2010 - Magnit, a well-known Russian retail group this year plans to invest more than $1 billion in its further expansion in the domestic market, which, according to analysts. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Waitrose star performer in latest Nielsen sales league (UK)

January 07 2010 - Food retailer Waitrose led the grocery sector in the weeks up to Christmas with sales growth of 13.6% for the three months to December 26, according to reports. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: CarrefourSA plans to open 100 new express stores in 2010 (Turkey)

January 06 2010 - CarrefourSA, a joint venture between Sabancı Holding and Carrefour will open 100 new express stores and four hypermarkets in the New Year, according to Guillaume Deruyter, director general. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: M&S sees food sales rise but warns of tough 2010 (UK)

January 06 2010 - Retailer Marks and Spencer has reported a 1.3% rise in UK food sales in the third quarter, which it said was driven by “innovation” and “value”. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: German Lidl may acquire Romanian and Bulgarian business of Plus

January 06 2010 - Lidl discount chain, owned by Germany's retail group Schwarz Group, indicates interest to acquire the Bulgarian business of its German competitor Plus retail chain. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Family Dollar reports better than expected results

January 06 2010 - Family Dollar Stores, Inc.  today reported that net income per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 increased 16.7% to $0.49 compared with $0.42 for the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: With USD 3.7 billion in cash Nestlé says yes to DiGiorno, no to Cadbury

January 05 2010 - Nestlé has agreed to acquire Kraft Foods' frozen pizza business in the US and Canada for USD 3.7 billion in cash. The business includes brands such as DiGiorno, Tombstone, California Pizza Kitchen, Jack’s and Delissio. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Asda steps up grocery price war (UK)

January 05 2010 - The supermarket price war shows no sign of abating as Asda unveiled what it described as its biggest price cuts in a decade, according to reports. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Pilgrim's Pride cuts 230 corporate jobs in first phase of integration into JBS

January 05 2010 - Pilgrim's Pride Corp. announced today the elimination of approximately 230 corporate and administrative positions across the organization under the first phase of its integration with JBS USA. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Auchan develops new 'Raduga' concept in Russia

January 04 2010 - French retailer Auchan continues to develop its new "Raduga" concept in Russia  through the opening of outlets under the new banner. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Smithfield sale of RMH Foods and China's Maverick is completed

January 04 2010 - -- Smithfield Foods, Inc.  announced today that it completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of RMH Foods, LLC to a group of investors led by the Rocke family. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

First Page: Supermarkets reveal Christmas performance (UK)

January 04 2010 - Ocado and Waitrose have both reported strong sales increases over the Christmas week, with Asda also showing a solid performance, according to IGD Retail Analysis. Read more [FoodBizDaily]

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