The June 2014 edition of Gama News is now available. Click here to read it now.
The June 2014 edition of Gama News is now available. Click here to read it now.
German health and beauty company Beiersdorf is to open a new plant in Gurajat, India, the Economic Times reports. The new plant will be 70,000 square meters in size, will cost around Rs 1,000 crore ($166 million) and is planned to be finished by next year. “The Indian business has rapidly grown and we decided to set up the factory to get closer to the market and respond faster to …
Gama spoke to Oliver Perez, Marketing Director, Danone Portugal. What are your day to day activities as Marketing Director? As Marketing Director, my personal objective – and that of my department – is to oversee profitable growth for our company. In order to structure our work, we split our brands into two areas. Firstly, international brands, where our focus is on the implementation of promotional activities and innovation, managing the …
This week Gama takes a look at at the novel “starch-removing” claim being made by Pril Fat & Starch Dish Detergent, a new product line recently launched by German manufacturer Henkel. Promising to “effortlessly remove fat and starch”, Pril Fat & Starch is a reformulation of Henkel’s existing Pril dish detergent in Germany. Identifying that much of the effort in manual dishwashing relates not only to the effects of grease …
Streamline Foods Company, a manufacturer of jams and marmalades specializing in low sugar products, has launched a new range of squeeze bottle jams targeting children. The company is marketing the range under the Froot Shoot brand, licensed from Britvic and already well established in the children’s soft drinks market. The new Fruit Shoot jams, which will be available in Apple & Blackcurrant, Strawberry & Summer Fruits and Orange flavours, are …
Jamie Oliver and Sobeys have teamed up to launch a “Compilations Presents: Jamie Oliver Discovers Canada” line, with the stated aim of helping Canadian consumers make the most of summer. The Canadian Grocer reports that the limited-edition summer-themed product will include 13 SKUs and is in line with Sobeys’ promise to provide consumers with sustainable product offerings. According to Gillian Kerr, Vice President of marketing at Sobeys, “The line is …
A malt soft drink called Vigo is set to hit shelves in South Africa after showing positive results in other African markets. The drink’s manufacturer, Namibia Breweries Ltd, has chosen South Africa as the latest market for the drink, as a result of the brand’s success in Botswana and Zambia where it was launched in late 2013. Fastmoving reports that the brand has proven the opportunity for a malt-based soft …
Canadian supermarket chain Metro is to acquire a majority stake in Quebec bakery Premiere Moisson. The price of the purchase has not been disclosed. Among the aims of the deal is to allow the retailer to expand its offer in the bakery market, reports indicate. The Canadian Grocer reports that the bakery will retain 25% of the company and continue to manage all its stores and production plans. Metro CEO …
7-Eleven has signed a master franchise agreement with Seven Emirates Investment LLC to run the first 7-Eleven stores in the UAE, Fastmoving reports. The first convenience store is planned to open in Dubai by next summer, with the master franchisee planning to open new outlets as well as converting some existing stores to the 7-Eleven brand. “The UAE is a growing and dynamic part of the world and is attracting …
Ebro Foods, S.A. (Ebro) reports that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire 52% of the Italian company Pastificio Lucio Garofalo, S.p.A (Lucio Garofalo) for €62.5 million. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of June. Lucio Garofalo was founded more than 100 years ago and owns the Garofalo, Santa Lucia and Russo de Cicciano brands, with a significant presence in the premium dried pasta segment …
The US Supreme Court has recently ruled that POM Wonderful LLC may take Coca-Cola to court over claims that the latter’s marketing of Minute Maid pomegranate blueberry juice is misleading to consumers. Food Business News reports that the juice contains 0.3% pomegranate juice and 0.2% blueberry juice while less expensive apple and grape juice combine to make more than 99% of the drink. The report goes on to describe that …
Indian household and personal care company Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (Godrej) has announced ambitions to achieve sales of Rs 100 crore ($16.6 million) through its Protekt brand. The company was speaking as it unveiled product launches of a hand sanitizer, handwashes, and a skin mosquito spray under the Protekt brand. According to Sunil Kataria, Godrej COO, the market of sanitizer products and repellents has increased in the last few years …
Hamstad in the UK has launched a new range of Soupologie soups promoted as having “detox” benefits. Hamstad’s Detox Boost line can be eaten either hot or cold, and is positioned as a healthy lunch option. Availble in Beetroot & Pomegranate, Celery Apple & Ginger and Spirulina Greens varieties, it is said to be lightly seasoned with pink Himalayan rock salt. The line is also said to be suitable for both vegetarians …
Stated to be in support of its home state Vermont’s new labelling law on genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), Ben & Jerry’s has changed the name of its Chocolate Fudge Brownie to Food Fight Fudge Brownie. Entering the GMO debate, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s commented: “Vermonters want the right to know what’s in their food. Renaming Chocolate Fudge Brownie to Food Fight Fudge Brownie will help put some dough …
Hijos de Rivera has commenced production of Estrella Galicia at its first facility outside of Spain, as it looks to develop its business in the South American market. After 108 years of production taking place solely at its site in La Coruna, Spain, the brewer has now released its first batch brewed and bottled wholly in Brazil. Company technicians are said to have worked closely with the Brazilian facility over …
The US retailer Wal-Mart has vowed to triple spending on food safety measures in China in a bid to avert further recalls and mislabelling of products. The move comes after this year’s discovery of fox meat found in packages labelled as “Five Spice” donkey meat. The company said it would increase checks on vendors to ensure DNA testing was being implemented and all necessary permits were in place. The mislabelled …
After previous reports that Hillshire Brands would merge with Pinnacle Foods Group, the former has recently announced that the company’s board of directors have suggested terminating the agreement and instead moving forward with acquiring Tyson Foods, Inc for around $8.5 billion. This decision puts the the ball back in Pinnacle Food’s court, according to Food Business News. In a statement, Hillshire Brands said:“In accordance with the terms of the Pinnacle …
Butterkist Pop’n’Pour Microwave Popcorn is Gama’s focus this week, as we consider the latest addition to a growing UK popcorn market. Released by Tangerine Confectionery as a new line under the Butterkist brand, Pop’n’Pour is microwave popcorn with an added extra – a sweet topping that is served warm. Rather than being ready-flavoured, the popcorn comes in packs which contain separate sachets of sauce designed to be warmed up and …
Bright Food Group Co., a Chinese dairy and consumer-products group, has agreed to buy a majority stake in Israel’s Tnuva Food Industries Ltd., Bloomberg reports. The group, backed by the Shanghai government, has plans to expand overseas and it is said the deal would give Bright Food a broader range of high-quality products to bring into China to tap local demand. According to company spokesman Pan Jianjun, Bright Food has …
Gama spoke to Margarida Condado, Marketing Director, L’Oréal Portugal What are your day to day activities as Marketing Director? As Marketing Director I have responsibility for defining and implementing our brand strategy and marketing mix in the Portuguese market, in accordance with our international positioning. I also actively participate in the management committee of the Consumer Product Division at L’Oréal. As L’Oréal is the leader in beauty and innovation, my …
Simba, part of PepsiCo South Africa, has opened a new “state of the art“ potato chip manufacturing plant in Prospecton, KwaZulu-Natal. The plant – the third for Simba in South Africa – is designed to help the company to meet an increased for its Simba and Lay’s brands. The new plant is said to be strategically located to increase PepsiCo’s regional presence, and joins existing locations in Gauteng and the …
As part of a new social media campaign oriented around consumers’ flavour preferences, Cadbury Australia has unveiled its new “Flavour Matcher” app and associated promotional activities. According to Food Magazine, Flavour Matcher uses Facebook likes and interests in categories from popular consumer brands, charities and sporting clubs to music artists, TV shows, radio stations and movies to “match” consumers to different Cadbury Dairy Milk flavour profiles. As part of the …
French retailer E. Leclerc has unveiled a new online pilot store specialized in the sale of wines. Named Ma Cave Par E Leclerc (“My Wine Cellar from E Leclerc”), the store focuses on French wines and, according to Rayon Boissons, will initially offer a limited selection of wines focusing on the entry level end of the market. Consumers place an order which can they then pick up at a local …
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) has announced that it has concluded an agreement that will see it take ownership of the e-cigarette brand E-Lites. Under the terms of the agreement, JT is to acquire all the outstanding shares of Zandera Ltd. which JT described as offering the most recognized range of high quality rechargeable and ready-to-use e-cigarettes in the UK. “Our investment in Zandera provides the JT Group with an excellent …
PepsiCo has announced that it has opened a new baking category innovation centre in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, with the aim of driving new product innovations across the company’s brand portfolio. In a statement, PepsiCo described the new facility as being equipped with an advanced culinary center and development laboratories focused on creating and tailoring new baked products for distinct consumer benefits and taste preferences in Mexico and in PepsiCo markets …
Nestle is set to drop its Wonka brand of chocolate bars in the UK and Ireland less than a year after launch, European Supermarket Magazine (ESM) reports. The line, unveiled last September, is said to have exceeded £16 million ($27 million) in sales by the end of May 2014, but monthly sales have reportedly tailed off from an initial £3 million ($5 million) per month to just £1 million ($1.7 …
Auchan has announced that ISMS, Groupe Auchan’s supermarket division, has recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a supermarket business in Vietnam. CT Group is based in Ho-Chi-Minh City and specialises in commercial real estate. The agreement will see the creation of a food retailing business with AuchanSuper as the majority shareholder. In addition, the two parties will form a partnership in a real estate company offering suitable sites …
With the FIFA World Cup now underway, UK retailer Waitrose has reported that it has already begun to see a big boost in its sales of party foods and drinks. Figures released by the supermarket show that beer sales have increased 40% year on year and were also up 20% compared to the previous week. Frozen pizzas sales have increased by 30%, and ice cream sales are up 52%. In …
This week, Gama takes a closer look at the debut of Coca-Cola Life, a new lower-sugar version of the soft drink slated for launch in the UK this autumn. Life is Coca-Cola’s first major UK brand launch since Coca-Cola Zero in 2006. Positioned as a “lower calorie” cola with 37% less sugar than regular Coca-Cola, Life is sweetened with a combination of standard sugar and the much in-vogue sweetener stevia. …
Energy drink company Mother has recently launched a new product called Revive which it is positioning as a “morning beverage”. According to Australian Food News, Mother Revive has a lemon & lime flavour and contains caffeine, tea and yerba mate to give a “morning lift”. Commenting on the launch, Pamela Wyatt, Mother Marketing Manager, said: “Mother Revive provides Aussies with a wakeup call for the mornings when they are most …
As part of a programme to rationalize its production network, Danone has announced plans to close three manufacturing locations across Europe. The three plants affected are at Casale Cremasco in Italy, Hagenow in Germany, and Budapest in Hungary, with more than 300 posts at risk. Commenting on the move, Danone said it would work closely with the employees affected. “The future careers of our staff our our highest priority,” said …
A paper-based water bottle has recently been launched by Australian beverage company, Do Water, in a move which is described as a first for the Australian market. According to the company, the packs are lightweight, collapsible and recyclable. As reported by Australian Food News (AFN), the water is sourced from Sardinia and is also bottled on site. The company went on to say that the water is piped directly from …
Italian food producer Cameo has released its financial results for the financial year 2013, revealing an increase in revenue, gross operating profit and net income. Its total revenues of €272.1 million ($368.6 million) represented a 3.7% upturn on 2012, the company announced in a statement. Meanwhile gross operating profit was up 9.8% to €41.4 ($56.1 million) million, and net income was up 2.7% to €21.6 million ($29.3 million). Cameo, which is …
Gruma, the world’s leading supplier of corn flour and corn flour derivatives, has announced investments in acquisitions and in the construction of new production facilities as it seeks to expand its business. The Mexican company is investing between $150 and $170 million as part of its expansion plans. This includes the takeover of the Spanish tortilla Mexifoods as well as the opening of new plants in Russia and Malaysia. “In …
Yves Rocher, the leading French manufacturer of natural health & beauty products, has revealed that it intends to establish its first dedicated outlets in Brazil, with 10 stores to open by the end of 2014. Speaking to a French website, Arnaud Williart, the company’s Director of Africa, Middle East & Brazil said that the firm would take an approach of “humility but determination” in accessing the world’s third largest cosmetic …
Metcalfe’s Food Company has expanded its Topcorn Skinny Popcorn range in the UK with the launch of a new flavour variant – White Cheese. Described as as “freshly popped butterfly popcorn with a delicious cheese flavour”, the new product is said to have been inspired by a similar flavour that is popular in the USA. Real cheddar cheese and buttermilk are combined to create the blend, which is said to …
Nestle is aiming to capitalize on growth in the snack and breakfast food markets in the USA by launching new items under its Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s brands, Just Food reports. The move is part of an attempt by Nestle to revitalise frozen sales by focusing on growth categories. According to data quoted by Just Food, while frozen foods in the US have seen sales decline over the last two …
Scandinavian snack products manufacturer Estrella Maarud has been sold to the German Intersnack Group, according to media reports. Estrella Maarud is a major Scandinavian manufacturer of salted snacks and owns leading brands include Maarud in Norway, Estrella in Sweden, Finland and the Baltics, and Taffel in Denmark. Headquartered in Oslo, the company has manufacturing facilities in Disena (Norway), Angered (Sweden) and Kaunas (Lithuania). Acquired as part of a carve-out from …
German health & beauty and household care company Henkel has acquired all the shares of the French company Spotless Group in a deal, including debt, worth €940 million ($1.28 billion). The deal will allow Henkel to add key detergent, household and insecticide brands such as Eau Ecarlate, Dylon, Grey and Catch to its portfolio. “This acquisition is part of Henkel’s global strategy to selectively invest in attractive country category positions …
Son Tus Aromas, a low-cost chain selling its own label fragrances, is increasing its presence with the opening of 15 new stores across Spain. The chain was established few months ago in Denia (Alicante ) and currently operates several outlets in cities such as Barcelona, Malaga, Girona and Zamora. It plans to open the new stores by the end of 2014 Maria Angeles Garcia, co-founder and head of product and …
Global wine and spirits company Diageo has announced plans to build a distillery and six barrel storage warehouse on 300 acres of land in Shelby County, Kentucky, USA. The estimated investment will be $115 million and Diageo plans to have the distillery operational by 2016. Approval for the new facility, which will distill bourbon and North American whiskey brands, is being awaited from local authorities. Larry Schwartz, president of Diageo …
This week Gama turns its attention to on-the-go drinks and a new launch from Poland that combines the health benefits of fruit with the satiety benefits of cereal – Tymbark Fruktajl Fruit Drink Snack. Fruktajl – coined from the words ‘fruit’ and ‘cocktail’ – is the latest launch from Tymbark, a Polish manufacturer of fruit drinks, juices and fruit products. Sold in 250ml bottles and positioned as an on-the-go ‘snack’, …
Cloetta Group has announced that it has acquired the Irish confectionery company Aran Candies. Aran Candies is mostwidely known as the manufacturer of The Jelly Bean Factory brand, which produce 36 varieties of Jelly beans. Cloetta has acquired 75% of the share of the Irish company for SEK140m ($21 million) with the remaining 25% to be acquired by 2016. “Jelly Beans are known as a product to consumers world-wide, and …
Mars brands Galaxy and M&M’s have entered into the cake category with the launch of Galaxy Chocolate Cake and M&M’s Chocolate Cake. Aimed at women, the Galaxy chocolate cake is a chocolate sponge filled and covered with Galaxy buttercream and is priced at £12 ($20). Galaxy counters and ripple pieces are included to increase the visual appeal. The M&S’s chocolate celebration cake, priced at £10 ($17), is designed to create …
UK supermarket Waitrose has announced that it is begin selling tomatoes that have fallen from the vine or are misshapen in a drive to reduce food waste. The retailer has launched the new initiative as part of its aim to reduce food wastage, noting that tomatoes are among the fresh foods most wasted by the industry and consumers. Labelled “Limited Selection”, the tomatoes are being made available at 77 outlets …
Singapore based company Olam International Limited (Olam) has recently announced plans to invest $61 million to establish a new cocoa processing facility. As reported by Australian Food News (AFN), the company has 65 businesses that operate as a value chain, with Olam saying that the project will “leverage the strength of its Indonesian cocoa sourcing network and participate in the growth of Asian cocoa consumption”. AFN went on to say …
Cora is trialling a new hypermarket concept placing greater emphasis on in-store promotions and discounting. Promoted with the slogan “lowest prices in the region,” it highlights in-store promotions by grouping them together in a dedicated aisle. The idea has been unveiled at Cora’s site in Hornu, Belgium. Using ground floor lighting, a colour code indicates the various types of promotional activity: blue for discounted products, yellow for falling prices, and …
Wrigley has recently announced plans to launch Orbit for Kids, a new sugar-free gum marketed at children. The sugar-free gum is claimed to help and protect the teeth by stimulating saliva flow, neutralising plaque acids and helping to keep them clean. According to DentistryIQ, the gum is recognised for its benefits and has been awarded the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. Dr. Amanda Seay, spokesperson for Orbit for Kids …
UK discount retailer Costcutter has confirmed that the roll-out of its private label range remains on-track, despite initial “teething issues” related to its switching of suppliers. Costcutter’s private label range was launched earlier this year and already includes 250 SKUs. Senior buyer Alex Critcheley reported that its ready meals range, launched at the beginning of 2014, was selling well, and that 12 more products were due to be added soon. …
Following recent speculation it has been confirmed that ice cream brand Peters Food Group Limited (Peters) is to be sold by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP). Peters, which is one of Australia’s oldest consumer businesses, has been sold to UK-based R&R Ice Cream plc (R&R) backed by funds advised by French private equity firm PAI Partners (PAI). According to Australian Food News (AFN), terms of the deal have not been disclosed, …
The cider category is booming in Poland, with one of the country’s major cider players reporting a huge increase in sales in the first few months of 2014. Warwin SA, the owner of the Warka Cider brand, has reported that it sold more cider between the months of January and April 2014 than in the whole of 2013 and says its sales are still growing. In an interview with Portal …
Nestle has announced that it is to resume dairy production in various parts of South America in a deal that sees it buy back a number of facilities from dairy multinational Fonterra, as the two companies review their partnership in the region. Nestle and Fonterra first signed an agreement on dairy production in the continent in 2003, through the joint venture Dairy Partners Americas. The revised deal will see Nestle …
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