UK: Tesco to implement plastic egg boxes in food waste reduction initiative
Tesco has announced that is to change its egg box packaging from board to plastic in an effort to reduce food waste. According to the retailer, if an egg breaks while in transit it can leak through a standard board carton and damage surrounding units. Up to a million eggs a year can be wasted […]
Tradeshow Insight: Food & Drink Expo 2014
From Monday to Wednesday of this week, the great and the good from the UK food and drinks industry gathered at the NEC in Birmingham for Food & Drink Expo. Now into its 20th year, the biannual event saw over 400 companies – ranging from startup brands to the industry’s major names – showcase the […]
Russia: AB InBev slates brewery for closure
AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, is closing its brewery in Perm, Russia in the face of lower alcoholic consumption in the country. The closure is AB Inbev’s third in less than two years and will see the number of plants in Russia reduced to 6, down from 9 in 2012. Tightened alcohol regulation leading […]
Czech Republic: Ahold acquires Spar business
According to media reports, Ahold has reached an agreement to acquire the Spar business in the Czech Republic. The move is a further step in Ahold’s plan to restructure its European business. After previously selling its ICA operations in Sweden (which yielded €2.5bn including dividends), the company is now aiming to strengthen the market position […]
UK: 2 Sisters Food Group announces factory expansion
Just Food reports that the 2 Sisters Group has announced a multi million pound investment plan that will see the expansion of one production facility and new jobs created at another. The result of a contract win with a “major customer”, the investment will lead to the creation of 90 new jobs at the company’s […]
Russia: X5 sells off stores in Ukraine
According to Ukrainian newspaper Capital, X5 Retail Group has agreed to make a deal with its local rival Varus and sell them its stores in the country. The estimated price of the deal is $5-10 million. This is believed to be the first Russian company to pull out of Ukraine since Russia’s annexation of the […]
UK: Sainsbury’s announces first quarterly sales drop in 9 years
Sainsbury’s, one of the UK’s biggest retailers, has announced its first drop in like-for-like sales in nine years, with comparable Q4 sales falling back 3.8%. Excluding fuel, takings were were down 3.1% in the period of March while year-on-year sales dropped 1%. Justin King, CEO of the company, commented: “We have seen a decline in […]
France: Segafredo Zanetti to launch Nespresso tea and coffee capsules
Leading Italian coffee producer Segafredo Zanetti is expanding into the capsules market with the launch of two new lines compatible with Nestle’s Nespresso machines. The tea range will be marketed under the Nespresso sub-brand Brodies and will comprise four varieties: Breakfast, Earl Grey, Green Tea, and Assam Black Tea. It will retail in boxes of […]
Spain: Gullon to invest up to €70 million in its two plants by 2016
As part of its 2014-2016 strategy plan, management at Spanish biscuit manufacturer Gullon has announced plans to invest €70 million ($97 million) over three years in its two production facilities. The investment will be divided equally between the factory named Gullon II and its newest factory Vida. At Gullon II, a plant of some 130,000 […]
UK: Warburtons submits plans for £20 million factory in Lancashire
Warburtons, the largest bakery group in the UK, is planning to build a new £20 million ($33 million) bakery next year. Subject to planning permission, the new plant will be built adjacent to an existing facility at a site in Burnley and will produce the Warburtons range of Sandwich Alternatives, as well as Wraps and […]