Daily food news and comment - from just-food.comDaily food news and comment - from just-food.comFINLAND: Retailer Kesko posts rising food sales- July 14, 2008 Finland-based retailer Kesko has reported a 6.6% rise in half-year revenue, buoyed by rising grocery sales.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103073 UK: Tesco coy over "own-label push"- July 14, 2008 Tesco is staying tight-lipped over reports that it is set to launch a range of own-brand products in the UK in a bid to claw back customers turning to cheaper rivals.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103072 UK: Heinz drops "baked" from beans label- July 14, 2008 Heinz has removed the word "baked" from its iconic beans can as part of a "contemporary new look" for the product.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103071 UK: Food factory-gate price rises at 22-year high- July 14, 2008 Factory-gate prices among UK food manufacturers have seen the fastest rise for 22 years, according to Office for National Statistics data published today (14 July).http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103070 In The Spotlight - John Rishton, Ahold- July 11, 2008 John Rishton, the boss of retail giant Ahold, this week reshuffled his management bench amid the company's continuing quest to overhaul its business in the US. The Netherlands-based group insists its plans to revitalise chains including Stop & Shop and Giant-Carlisle are on-track but some industry watchers are questioning whether the business can thrive as competition heats up across the Atlantic. Dean Best reports.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103069 Top stories on just-food - 11 July- July 11, 2008 UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown spent much of this week discussing the global food crisis with his fellow G8 leaders in Japan and it was his blueprint for a new UK food policy that grabbed your attention this week on our news pages.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103068 GLOBAL: Fresh Doha draft sets stage for talks- July 11, 2008 Another draft agreement for the long-running Doha Development Round food liberalisation talks has been released at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which will be presented to trade ministers for crucial week-long negotiations starting 21 July.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103066 FRANCE: Poultry giant Doux to shed 640 jobs- July 11, 2008 Europe's largest poultry processor Doux is to close two of its French sites, with the loss of more than 640 jobs.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103058 EU: Cargill raided in EU cereals probe- July 11, 2008 US-based agribusiness giant Cargill is at the centre of an EU probe into alleged price-fixing among traders and distributors of cereals and other agricultural products.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103057 FRANCE: Casino enjoys home comforts in H1- July 11, 2008 Groupe Casino, the France-based retailer, has seen underlying half-year revenue climb almost 7% as the company shrugged off a challenging home market and saw sales jump overseas.http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?ID=103056 |