Wal-Mart China has confirmed that it is opening up its first store
in Shanghai. The store is due to open up next year and the company
has confirmed that recruitment of staff has begun, reports Simon
Pitman.
Wal-Mart has reversed its decision not to allow trade unions for
its store workers in China. Bowing to pressure from government
authorities, the move comes as a strong sign that international
food and beverage businesses must heed...
The rising price of global freight and fuel costs means that food
business worldwide need to streamline their operations. As the
transport requirement of China continue to put pressure on shipping
availabiliy, a new report suggests...
China is cracking down on government officials over alleged
misconduct that led to the deaths of at least 13 babies in China's
North-Eastern provinces following the illegal sale of fake milk
powder.
As retail regulations in China are set to undergo big changes, many
leading multinational retailers are queuing up in readiness to
capitalize on more liberal trading conditions. Simon Pitman
takes a closer look at the changes to find...
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions said that it will continue
to press foreign companies to unionise its operations in China. The
federation highlighted ongoing disputes with several foreign-owned
companies - including Wal-Mart...
Cambodia became the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s 148th member
this month, a move that should help the poorest country in the A-P
region improve its food production sector, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
A rise in global stocks of wheat after a 30-year low will offer
continued relief to the tighter prices experienced by the food
industry in previous years, but the food chain still needs to stay
on the alert.
The EU, Vietnam's largest trading partner, is the first major
partner to conclude its bilateral deal with Vietnam, giving a boost
to Vietnam's accession to the WTO.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) will be releasing a 'Chinese
Simplified' translation of its groundbreaking Global Standard
for Consumer Products on 26 October 2004.
European Commission president Romano Prodi and commissioner Pascal
Lamy are attending this week's ASEM 5 Summit in Vietnam, which
represents a landmark in Asia-Europe relations.
Latest research from market analyst Mintel shows that the Asia
Pacific rim is bursting with food and nutraceutical innovations
such as banana-flavoured mayonnaise and green tea cereal.
Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage firm San Miguel is
considering a bid for 40 per cent of Philippines' Del Monte
Pacific, currently held by insolvent Italian food group Cirio.
Vietnam plans to earn at least $2 billion in revenue from agro-food
exports to the European Union by 2010. The pledge comes in the face
of tough trade, health and safety regulations imposed by the EU
authorities, which should make...
Asian bird flu is back in the headlines again this week, after a
woman in Thailand died from the infection H5N1. Medical experts
believe that the death was caused by human contact, a fact that
could force a re-think over regulations...
With coffee sales in China growing by 90 per cent in the five years
up to 2003, international companies are queuing up to carve up
their slice of a market. Although tea is still the mainstay, the
rapid switch to all things western...
Danish brewer Carlsberg has acquired a 34.5 per cent stake in Wusu
Brewery, located in the Xinjiang Autonomus region. The move
represents Carlsberg's ambitions to increase its presence in the
less developed Western provinces.
China's food industry grew by 26.2 per cent in the first six months
of this year. And despite rising power and ingredients prices, The
China National Food Industry Association says that continued
economic strength, backed by...
The World Health Organisation met in Beijing this week to discuss
key threats to the safety of the world's food supply chain,
including a number of issues specific to the Asian Pacific region.
Singapore-based QAF limited, one of South East Asia's leading food
companies, has said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Singfood
Investment has entered into an agreement with Mega Ocean Holdings
to acquire a 27 per cent stake...
In Asia rising meat consumption is being fed by an increasing
number of highly refined and processed product launches. A look at
the Mintel's databases reveals that pâte, meat balls, cheese-filled
hotdogs are all on the menu.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development has
said that it is working with Australian authorities in an effort to
reduce waste caused during the production and harvesting of
temperate fruits.
Although Asian consumers have traditionally sought out their
vegetables in 'wet' markets, a lack of time and increasing income
levels is leading to a boom in the packaged vegetables sector, as
the latest releases from Mintel...
Thailand's tropical climate is said to have fuelled the country's
thirst for soft drinks, with consumption growing steadily in recent
years. The latest report from Canadean points to the fact that rapid
consumption of bottled...
Analysts believe that the ban on Vietnamese rice exports is likely
to give Thailand an added edge, helping to increase demand and
prices, while extending its leading position on the world export
market.
Unilever has reported a small fall in sales for its operations in
the Asia Pacific region during the first half of the year, as
overall results are dragged down by even worse performances in the
European and North American markets....
Farming in China needs serious investment if domestic food
production is to keep up with rising food consumption. But with a
growing emphasis on food quality and safety, future investment in
the sector looks seems an inevitable route...
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) says that it has come
across lead contamination in cornflour milled from imported corn
following routine food safety tests on a number of food products.
The organisation says that it has...
Mirroring China's record economic growth, mergers and acquisitions
activity has boomed to record levels this year. According to
PricewaterhouseCoopers M&A activitity in both Hong Kong and
China grew 168 per cent in the first...
US ingredients giant ADM saw double-digit sales growth for the year
but overall profits were dragged down by a volatile soybean market
in China. The company said that many cancelled orders from soy meal
buyers there had particularly...
The Philippines-based San Miguel Corporation has broken ground on a
non-alcoholic beverage facility in South Vietnam. The move comes as
part of the company's plans to increase its operations outside the
domestic market - aims...
Loders Croklaan, part of the Malaysian IOI Group and a world leader
in the production of palm oil based products for food use, has
confirmed the intended purchase of Malaysian palm oil specialties
company Soctek in an attempt to extend...
The Thai government has announced a series of planned investments
by Chinese companies, one of which includes a THB 500 million
(€10m) aimed at a leading Thai cooking oil business.
The latest Euromonitor report on the global soft drinks market
suggests that it is Asia that is the driving force behind market
growth. With this in mind we take a look at the latest soft drinks
launches in the region from the Mintel...
In Indonesia Nestlé and Coca Cola have announced the creation of a 50:50 joint venture, Water Partners Bottling (WPB). The new business is being used as a platform to acquire a 65 per cent share of PT AdeS Alfindo Putrasetia (AAPS), the number two player...
French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has reported double-digit growth
in the first quarter of 2004, driven by strong gains in Asia and
the US, but continued weakness in its domestic market took a toll
on Champagne sales.
The EU has lifted a two year ban on honey, together with a number
of seafoods and products of animal origin. The move is expected to
give a particular boost to the country's position as the world
biggest honey producer.
Nutrition House, part of the consumer goods group Pan Group, has
expanded its frozen ready-to-eat meals line with the launch of a
line of vegetarian meals, claimed to be the first product of its
type on the market in Thailand. The...
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has
denied reports that it has granted the first patent for processing
coconut water to the Philippines. Patenting of the technology has
been eagerly awaited as it is likely...
Although the Chinese economy is showing definite signs of slowing,
experts have said that it is not about to overheat. Investment,
particularly in the food and beverage sector, is continuing apace,
but this being coutnerbalanced by...
Carlsberg
and the Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries
(IFU) have drawn up an agreement with Lanzhou Huanghe Enterprise
Group to acquire 50 per cent of the LanzhouHuanghe Brewery's
operations in the Gansu...
The Thai department of agriculture says its is rapidly moving
towards the development of its tropical fruit production in the
country in an effort to gain a leading edge in an increasingly
liberalised pan-Asia Pacific market.
Yields of the Asian staple rice are plummeting at twice the rate
modellers had predicted due to the increasing effects of global
warnings, according to a report from the Philippines-based International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI)....
Asian shrimp farmers have described a US ruling to increase tariffs
as 'regrettable' after increases of up to 112 per cent were slapped
on Chinese and Vietnamese producers' exports.
Thailand has confirmed a new bout of bird flu, sparking fears of a
return of the winter outbreak that left over 20 people dead and
devastated the region's poultry industry, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
Australia's biggest wine producer, Southcorp, has announced an
extensive restructuring designed to counteract the affects of a
downturn in the US economy and a weakened Australian dollar. The
AUS93 million (€53.7m) package involves...
Philippine-based food and beverage giant San Miguel has reported
that consolidated net profits in the five months to May of this
year rose 32 per cent to PHP3.29 billion (€47.98m), due mainly to
higher operating income from increased...
The establishment of large scale battery farms has pushed egg
production in China to 40 per cent of the world total. In turn
increased interest in egg-based foods, such as dairy products,
pre-packaged foods and bakery have all boosted...
