http://www.foodinternational.net Elsevier Food International articles on EFI Special en-gb http://www.foodinternational.net http://www.foodinternational.net/images/logo_rss.gif 34 144 Food International: Tomorrow's food industrie in perspective http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1510/food-100-leading-food-groups-under-pressure-.html A shortage in food commodities has brought the supply chain under pressure. However, Nestlé retains its position as the world’s largest food company, increasing sales by almost 18 per cent thanks to efforts to strengthen its position in the growing market for healthy foods. The global brewing industry continues to consolidate, evidenced by the rise of many brewers up the rankings: six out of the ten companies ranked between 11 and 20 in the list compete within the alcoholic beverages market. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 11, Number 2, May 2008 Jonathan Thomas Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:27:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1510/food-100-leading-food-groups-under-pressure-.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1152/pushing-frontiers-in-shopping-convenience-and-green-technology.html Enhancing the shopping experience, building image and saving energy. Three trends that urge food retailers to push frontiers in terms of in-store design, store layout and environment. Customisation of hardware and technology is key to meet future targets.Elsevier Food International, Vol.11, Number 1,February 2008 Vincent Hentzepeter Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:14:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1152/pushing-frontiers-in-shopping-convenience-and-green-technology.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/966/make-me-beautiful-.html Supermarkets are a good example of optimised building design solutions. They operate in a highly competitive space, and need to balance several important experiential and operational factors in order to compete. There is great complexity within a grocery store’s architecture and point-of-sale design, but also potential for great beauty. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 10, Number 4, November 2007 Karen Willoughby Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:40:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/966/make-me-beautiful-.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/893/retail-100-no-surprises-at-the-top.html With sales greater than the GDP of some countries, Wal-Mart tops the Retail Top 100 for 2006. In second place is France's Carrefour, the most international retailer in the world. Third is Germany's Metro Group, which in 2006 experienced its strongest year of growth since 1998. Following very close behind Metro is the UK’s Tesco that has recently focused on non-food store formats and online retailing to pursue growth opportunities...Elsevier Food International, Vol. 10, Number 3, September 2007Bryan Roberts Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:21:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/893/retail-100-no-surprises-at-the-top.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/852/-food-100-the-shadow-of-private-equity-.html In 2006, acquisition and divestment activity again played a prominent role in the top 100 ranking of the world’s leading food and drink suppliers. In Europe, takeovers by private equity firms were up by more than 40 per cent. This trend has led to concern from trade unions about possible large-scale job losses. The response from private equity firms is that they often improve the performance of the businesses they acquire. Elsevier Food International Vol.10, No.2 May 2007Jonathan Thomas Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:56:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/852/-food-100-the-shadow-of-private-equity-.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/583/private-labels-why-europe-is-leading-the-pack.html Private label products are seizing an increasing share of global retail sales and the momentum of growth is formidable. Europe often lags behind trends and developments in the US, but private label development shows the opposite picture. Here, Europe is clearly leading the way and is the world’s most advanced and sophisticated private label region. Elsevier Food International Vol. 10, Number 1, February 2007 Koen de Jong Thu, 03 May 2007 15:21:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/583/private-labels-why-europe-is-leading-the-pack.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1081/consolidation-divestments.html Like before, this year’s Leatherhead Food International’s Global Food Markets (GFM) looks at the world’s 100 largest suppliers of foods and beverages and comments on the reasons for companies moving up, down, into or out of this ranking. Consolidation is having a further impact on the top 100. However, companies are also divesting parts of their businesses that are either underperforming or too far away from their core activities.Elsevier Food International, Vol. 9, Number 2, May 2007 Jonathan Thomas Tue, 01 May 2007 10:01:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1081/consolidation-divestments.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/561/surviving-serious-competition-part-1.html Should store formats be a reflection of its customers’ preferences? In that case, the advent of so-called ‘no-compromise’ stores is no surprise. ‘No-compromise’ is what Hans Eysink Smeets calls a store concept offering its customers both high value as well as low prices. Eysink Smeets is an Amsterdam-based consultant who wrote the retailer’s perspective of this Elsevier Food International Special, which deals with fundamental questions on how to escape serious competition which strikes at the roots of a company’s business.Elsevier Food International, Vol. 10, Number 1, February 2007 Jim Scholes and Peter Wilson Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:30:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/561/surviving-serious-competition-part-1.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/562/surviving-serious-competition-part-2.html No-compromise supermarkets, offering both low prices and high quality, are sweeping the European markets. Hard discounters are offering more value without losing their low prices. Such chains are building dominant positions, with harsh effects, as full-service supermarkets, hypermarkets and department stores are learning the hard way. Once they were innovative concepts: full-service supermarkets, hypermarkets and department stores. However, their inability to adapt to changing market conditions will irreversibly lead to their demise. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 10, Number 1, February 2007 Hans Eysink Smeets Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:19:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/562/surviving-serious-competition-part-2.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/477/the-food-service-boom-rolls-on.html A multitude of factors contribute to the continuing worldwide boom in the food service industry. However, trends vary across the globe. In the USA and Europe, healthy options thrive, while traditional fast food sales drop in response to concerns over obesity and meat safety. The highest growth rates are forecast for the new and emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China.Elsevier Food International, Vol.9, Number 4, November 2006 Christiane Weinberger Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:39:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/477/the-food-service-boom-rolls-on.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/409/retail-100-wal-mart-still-way-ahead.html In an era when much of the industry is lauding the multi-channel strategy adopted by some of its larger participants – Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour are probably the frontrunners in this regard – it is interesting to note that some of the real growth stories in this year’s ranking include those retailers that predominantly or exclusively focus on a single operating concept. Elsevier Food International, Vol.9, Number 3, September 2006 Bryan Roberts Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:41:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/409/retail-100-wal-mart-still-way-ahead.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/167/aspirations-abroad-a-matter-of-staying-ahead.html Cross border retail expansion is a costly process of market entry and market retreat. Beneficial factors such as rising spendable income, an emerging but still fragmented market and availability of locations and real estate are not available on demand. And the flip side of such ideal conditions is fierce competition which quickly drives up cost. Government interference and corruption may also turn a promising market into a retail quicksand.Elsevier Food International Vol.9, Number 1, February 2006 Pascal Kuipers Sat, 25 Feb 2006 15:30:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/167/aspirations-abroad-a-matter-of-staying-ahead.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1092/a-safe-haven-in-uncertain-times.html Due to the Internet frenzy cooling off, the subsequent economic downturn since 2001 and the uncertainty in the post 9/11 world, investors are looking for safe havens. With European countries increasingly dismantling statefunded pension systems, and interest rates at record low levels, property has become a popular long-term investment. Retail real estate is in particular demand and hungry investors are keen to put up with increased risks as supply is limited and quality of assets can vary. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 8, Number 4, November 2005 Tue, 01 Nov 2005 10:27:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1092/a-safe-haven-in-uncertain-times.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/29/retail-100-uphill-climb-in-retail-ranks.html Although the elite circle of Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and Metro still maintains a firm grip on the frontline positions in the retail 100, new players have entered the top rankings via ambitious buyouts made last year in the US, Canada and the UK. Planet Retail surveys the retail arena and concludes that traditional grocers who survive through the rat race have shown not only innovative strategies but also astute international expansion and adept M&A activity.Elsevier Food International Vol.8, No.3 September 2005Bryan Roberts Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:56:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/29/retail-100-uphill-climb-in-retail-ranks.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/55/food-100-divestments-feature-as-companies-refocus.html Divestment was a recurring move in 2004 as the world’s top food and drink companies focus on their brands. With the maturity of markets in western Europe and North America, large-scale acquisitions have also dropped compared with previous years. Despite the tough economic climate, the leading companies showed resilience with the top ten suppliers posting a 6.3 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2005.Elsevier Food International Vol.8, No.2, May 2005 Jonathan Thomas Mon, 16 May 2005 20:13:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/55/food-100-divestments-feature-as-companies-refocus.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/46/global-account-management--what-next%3F.html In autumn 2004, IGD conducted a survey among senior executives from 25 leading global suppliers. The objective of the survey was to explore the retail supply industry's attitude towards global account management, to understand the benefits and the challenges of global trading relationships, and to gain an insight into how global account directors believe these relationships will evolve.Elsevier Food International Vol.8, No.1, February 2005 Fiona McTavish Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:02:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/46/global-account-management--what-next%3F.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1104/restructing-the-innovation-web.html For a customer-focused innovation strategy, companies have to revamp their R&D departments and rethink the way they interact with consumers. Knowing people’s needs and translating these into successful products can be done by partnering, outsourcing and by creating innovation networks, or most preferably a combination of these. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 7 Number 4, November 2004/STRONG> Mon, 01 Nov 2004 12:06:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1104/restructing-the-innovation-web.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1127/retail-100-the-ones-to-watch.html Exclusively for Elsevier Food International, M+M PlanetRetail selected the 25 retailers it feels are destined for greater things in the future, from its Top 100 retailers ranking. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 7 Number 3, September 2004/STRONG> Bryan Roberts/A> Wed, 01 Sep 2004 13:30:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1127/retail-100-the-ones-to-watch.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1245/restructuring-schemes.html Similar trends in corporate activity can be detected in the global food and drink market at present. These include rationalising production bases and thereby reducing costs, as well as placing increasing emphasis on healthy food sectors and consolidating brands. LFI's Top 100 listing ranks the world's leading food and drink groups by global sales. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 6, Number 1, February 2003 Jonathan Thomas Thu, 13 May 2004 12:15:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1245/restructuring-schemes.html http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1239/market-attractiveness.html China, Russia and India are clearly top priority markets for future retail expansion. In China's major cities, the retail market is already crowded with local and foreign retailers, but there is still enough potential for future growth. In Russia, land prices are soaring as international retailers increasingly realise that it is now or never if they want to establish themselves in this promising market. India is attractive for the long term but those retailers that want to secure a first mover advantage should act now. Elsevier Food International, Vol. 7, Number 1, February 2004 Sun, 08 Feb 2004 11:45:00 GMT http://www.foodinternational.net/articles/efi-special/1239/market-attractiveness.html