Elsevier Food International

Volume 7, No. 3 September 2004

Market Vision
At the Rome CIES World Food Business Summit in June this year, Elsevier Food International interviewed John Menzer, President and CEO of Wal-Mart International. Among the ancient ruins of the heart of the Roman Empire, Menzer explains how Wal-Mart seeks to avoid the historical fate of the rise and fall of its retail empire.

Every day high expectations

EFI Special
Which retailers are best positioned to be successful in the future? In alphabetical order these may well be the ones that will be making the industry’s headlines in the coming months.

Retail 100: The ones to watch

ECR
The consumer goods industry has been actively discussing collaboration, RFID and global data synchronisation. Yet, how can the promised efficiency gains be realised if basic data quality is mostly poor. In fact, is the industry not at risk of actually achieving the very opposite as collaborating companies continue to infect each other with poor data.

Internal data alignment: Data in dire need of a spring-clean

R&D
The low-carb diet fad is spreading across the globe. In their fight against overweight, tens of millions of Americans now avoid foodstuffs rich in carbohydrates. In the UK, increasing numbers of consumers are also eating according to the principles of diet-guru Atkins. Other European countries are expected to follow. Meanwhile food companies have shifted their R&D-focus towards low-carb substitutes. But will the hype last?

Cashing in on the low-carb trend

Country Profile
Retail prospects in Ukraine remain buoyant following a faster-than-expected economic recovery since 2000. Stable economic growth and a middle class possessing higher buying power entice foreign retailers to establish an early presence in the Ukraine.

Upbeat trends in Ukraine

Industry Profile
In recent years Heineken has developed from a cautiously managed company into an aggressive predatory player in the international beer market. The decease, in early 2002, of the ubiquitous Freddy Heineken who even after stepping back as chief executive controlled whatever happened at Heineken, and the appointment of a new CEO in April 2002 may well be two major landmarks in Heineken’s metamorphosis.

Heineken's metamorphosis

Fresh Foods
Despite the almost global popularity of low fat foods, consumption of cream has not suffered and it maintains its position as a popular cooking ingredient and a decadent treat. However, there is considerable disparity in consumption levels, which can be attributed to differences in food cultures such as preparation habits and food preference.

Sweden: Cream of the crop

Retail Profile
It is difficult to pick or punch holes in British retailer Tesco’s strategy, whether at its home market or internationally, as many a retail analyst will tell you following the company’s record-breaking set of financial results for 2003-2004, with group sales rising by 18.7 per cent to £33.6 billion.

Tesco's four-point master plan