The week's two major stories broke within hours of each other on Wednesday - Tesco admitted it was "likely" to leave the US and Germany's Intersnack snapped up United Biscuits' salty snacks business. Elsewhere, ex-Tesco CEO Terry Leahy led a private-equity buy-out of UK discounter B&M Retail and Canada's Saputo agreed to buy Dean Foods' Morningstar arm. Meanwhile, Singapore agribusiness giant Olam International found its finances under scrutiny and we interviewed the head of Nestle's operations in equatorial Africa.
Tesco set for likely US exit
Five years after entering the US and yet to make a profit, Tesco has signalled it is likely to quit the market. just-food's coverage included comment from Tesco CEO Philip Clarke and analysis of the decision.
Germany's Intersnack takes bigger bite of UK market
In another German raid on the UK food industry, the Pom-Bear owner has agreed a deal to buy United Biscuits' salty snacks business, including Hula Hoops, McCoy's and Skips. just-food interviewed Intersnack international marketing director Bernd ter Glane.
SINGAPORE: Olam under fire after bond issue
Olam International has once again come under fire from advisory group Muddy Waters after the commodity company obtained a combined bond and warrant issue to the value of US$750m.
The just-food interview: Ian Donald, Nestle CEO of equatorial Africa
The importance of expanding in emerging markets is a constant message from Nestle, a company that has one of the industry's largest footprints in the developing world. While Nestle is expanding in high-growth markets like China, the world's largest food group is looking beyond the BRICs as it establishes a presence in every quarter of the globe. In this month's just-food interview, Katy Askew spoke to the chief executive of Nestle's operations in equatorial Africa, Ian Donald, to discover how the company is working to drive long-term growth in the region.
CANADA: Saputo snaps up Dean Foods' Morningstar unit
Canadian dairy firm Saputo has signed a deal to acquire the Morningstar business of Dean Foods.
Category crunch: UK pork sector in state of flux The UK pork sector hit the headlines when Dutch food group Vion announced plans to exit the market. The sudden withdrawal of a major player highlights the challenges pork processors are grappling with, including rising input costs and tough pricing negotiations. Nevertheless, as the sector embarks on a process of consolidation and capacity is taken out of the category, the balance of power could be shifting down the pork supply chain. In part one of our two-part Category Crunch, Katy Askew examines some of the issues facing the sector. On the money: Smithfield confident on fresh pork turnaround Smithfield Foods is confident its fresh pork business will deliver profitable results this year, even as it is squeezed between depressed consumer sentiment and the need to raise retail prices. FRANCE: Poultry giant Doux pledges investment as administration extended Ailing French poultry giant Doux has said it would spend EUR35m (US$45.7m) to modernise its plants as a local court allowed it more time in administration. In the spotlight: CD&R's B&M deal could fire up discount competition Private-equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice's acquisition of a majority stake in UK cut-price retailer B&M Retail may see competition heat up further in the country's fast-growing discount channel. Talking shop: Auchan takes on Metro's Real eastern Europe division Under-pressure German retail giant Metro Group has sold off another tranche of stores, with French peer Auchan taking on the bulk of its Real hypermarkets outside Germany. We look at why Metro has offloaded the stores and why Auchan has added more hypermarkets - a format under scrutiny.
