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The tension between good intentions and affordability in the French market

The ambition to eat better and consume more responsibly is clear among French consumers, yet the contents of their shopping baskets tell a different story. Data presented at Worldpanel by Numerator’s annual Consumer Day reveals a market caught in a complex paradox that innovative food companies can no longer afford to ignore. Although French shoppers express a strong desire to make more positive choices, they remain constrained by economic pressure and a renewed demand for everyday convenience. For brands, this gap between intention and action is defining the new rules of engagement in France. Price and convenience: the two main barriers to sustainable choices The shift towards more responsible consumption is not being held back by a lack of willingness, but by practical barriers. Price remains the main obstacle for 58% of consumers, a challenge compounded by limited promotional support in retail. Although “Nutri+” products represent 33% of the average shopping basket, they account for only 29% of purchases made on a budget or through promotions. Consumer habits have also evolved rapidly since the pandemic. The period when people spent more time cooking from scratch has given way to a growing demand for convenience. The share of ready-made meals consumed in France rose from 18.8% in 2019 to 20.8% in 2025. Today, a lack of practicality and a lack of time prevent 30% and 15% of shoppers respectively from making more responsible choices. Dietary restraint and health concerns are reshaping demand Despite these pressures, French consumers are adopting a more restrained approach to eating. Snacking occasions have fallen by 7.2% compared with 2016, while consumption of sugary drinks and alcohol has declined by 4% over the past decade. In addition, 49% of consumers actively try to limit food waste when shopping and preparing meals. Health remains the strongest driver of behaviour, with 60% of the population believing that food can have a negative impact on their health. As a result, 62% of French shoppers pay close attention to ingredient lists, with PFAS emerging as their leading concern this year. This focus on health is also contributing to a renewed interest in organic and certified products. Following a difficult period, the share of labelled products in household expenditure has increased by 2.5%. Transparency and ethics as new drivers of growth One of the key lessons for the agri-food sector is the mismatch between what consumers want and what is currently available on supermarket shelves. For example, “Solidarity+” products, which guarantee fair remuneration for farmers or support the inclusion of people with disabilities, account for 2.6% of engaged purchases, an increase of 10%, but represent only 2% of the total retail offer. Clear labelling can have a direct impact on sales. Products displaying the Nutri-Score now account for 52% of purchases in France. When information is clear and credible, consumers respond positively. The fair-trade brand C’est qui le patron ?! has achieved 23% market penetration, while animal-welfare claims have recorded a 41% increase in recent months. A new paradigm for brands For international and innovative brands, success in the French market depends on resolving the consumer’s central dilemma. The winning strategy is no longer simply to position a product as sustainable. Brands must deliver clear health and social benefits without compromising affordability or everyday convenience. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

The Connected Plate: How Social Media is Reshaping the French Food Market

A digital influence that has become essential The verdict is final: more than one in two French consumers now looks to their screen before heading to the table. A recent study by OpinionWay for SIAL Paris reveals the scale of a phenomenon that innovative food companies and consumer goods brands can no longer afford to ignore. In a French market traditionally renowned for its deep-rooted culinary heritage, digital influence is rewriting the rules. As of April 2026, 52% of French people report being influenced by social media in their food choices, marking a shift where the consumer journey from initial culinary inspiration to the final purchase is now inextricably linked to social platforms. Concrete behaviors reshaping consumption Beyond the mere like, this digital immersion is driving tangible commercial impact through concrete behaviors. Over the past twelve months, 38% of respondents prepared a recipe discovered online, while 28% experimented with entirely new foods and 23% purchased a product specifically because it had gone viral, such as the Dubai style trend. Among the 18-24 age group, these figures skyrocket, with 28% having already modified their eating habits following exposure to social content. For this generation, TikTok has effectively become the new gastronomic search engine. A market segmented by consumer profiles The study highlights a clear market segmentation where expectations vary significantly across demographics. Women appear generally more receptive to culinary accounts than men, with a 43% engagement rate compared to 31%. Age also dictates the type of content consumed, as those under 35 gravitate toward lifestyle influencers in search of identity and aspiration, whereas consumers aged 35 and over remain more attentive to official brand accounts and the advice of health experts. When virality turns into sales The boundaries between digital discovery and retail shelves are effectively dissolving. The meteoric success of products like Franui’s chocolate covered raspberries or the rapid growth of Inshape Nutrition, launched by the n°1 French YouTuber Tibo Inshape, demonstrates that digital virality creates immediate and real world demand in stores. Traditional retailers have been quick to adapt to this shift. A notable example is Leclerc’s collaboration with the influencer Totocuistot to promote its private label (Marque Repère), which generated an estimated 12 million impressions. The takeaway is undeniable: a product’s credibility is no longer solely determined by its packaging or price point, but by its ability to spark online engagement. A new paradigm for brands For international or innovative brands, the French market is no longer just a matter of securing retail listings. It has evolved into an ecosystem where social proof precedes the shelf. Success in France in 2026 requires a hybrid strategy by building a solid physical presence while simultaneously cultivating digital desirability capable of converting a user into a loyal buyer. To get in touch with us: sdelcroix@greenseedgroupe.com To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Private Label Manufacturers: Opportunities in the French Market

How French shoppers are turning store brands into a 1st choice within the French market Private labels are no longer a low-cost alternative but a structural pillar of French grocery retail. A late-2025 survey among 1,000 French consumers shows that store brands are now competing head-on with national brands across most FMCG categories. Price and value perception drive adoption Following the inflationary years of 2023 and 2024, private labels now account for 36% of FMCG sales in value and nearly 47% in volume, according to Circana. More than 80% of French shoppers regularly buy private label food products, 70% choose store brands in household care and 52% in beauty. Nearly one in four consumers say they buy only store brands, underlining their role as a default choice rather than a trade-down option. Legitimacy has strengthened significantly. One third of consumers perceive little difference between store brands and national brands, 16% prefer private labels and half declare greater loyalty to PL. While price remains important, quality perception has become equally decisive, with 72% of shoppers citing the balance between price and quality as their main reason for choosing store brands. Category contrasts remain strong In food, classic and premium private labels now enjoy high trust and purchase frequency, with perceived quality close to that of national brands. In household care, a lower-involvement category, price dominates purchasing decisions and private labels clearly outperform national brands, as their quality is considered equivalent. Switching does not require large price gaps, with differences of 5 to 20% generally sufficient. What this means for the French market Consumers are more price-sensitive than retail pricing suggests. While the average price gap between national brands and private labels is around 35%, most shoppers would switch for much smaller differences, and over 20% choose PL regardless of price. For retailers, private labels have become a strategic growth and loyalty lever. For national brands, differentiation and clear added value are now critical in a market where store brands are increasingly the default option. For manufacturers, these shifts signal a clear opportunity. If you have strong private label expertise, now is the right time to take a close look at the French market. Rising consumer trust, limited sensitivity to large price gaps and growing demand across food create favourable conditions for producers able to deliver quality, flexibility and value-added PL solutions. * Appinio for LSA trade magazine To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Snacking: The Growing Appetite Of The French For A Freer Way Of Consuming

Snacking is no longer a passing trend. In mainstream French grocery retail the snacking universe recorded sales of €23.3B in the period to 18th May 2025, notching +22% growth over three years, reflecting lifestyle changes, consumer expectations, and food identity. It is no longer just about satisfying hunger : it’s a combination of convenience, pleasure, and self-expression in everyday life. Societal shifts fuel this rise: 81% of the population live in urban areas, households are smaller, daily life is faster, remote work is widespread, and consumers experience chronic time pressure. Over the 12 months ending May 2025, convenience has driven growth in ready-to-eat categories : fresh pasta +6.6%, pizzas +5%, boxed meals +18.4%, and delivery spending has multiplied 2.5 times since 2019. Snacking also fulfills emotional needs, offering “bubbles of pleasure” in a context of low morale, budget constraints, and social isolation. Consumption is increasingly polarized and individualized. In retail, meal snacking has grown +3% in value, aperitifs +1.8%, sweet treats +3%, and individual drinks +13%, while convenience formats dominate. Hypermarkets and drive-throughs lag behind, revealing growth opportunities.   In commercial foodservice, snacking occasions are reshaping visits: 45% occur outside traditional mealtimes. Mornings are increasingly convenience-driven, with muffins, brownies, cookies, and soft drinks. Afternoons focus on indulgence: desserts, coffee, soft drinks, and savoury items like burgers and nuggets. Coffee shops visits have increased +14%, while independent bakeries emerge as key channels. Consumers seek intensity, energy, and identity. Protein products (Skyr +24%, high-protein yogurts +11%), energy drinks +14%, world cuisine (Asian sauces +12%, tortillas +12%, guacamole +8%), and spices (paprika +23%, hot sauces +14%) reflect diverse tastes. Plant-based, halal, and poultry alternatives express identity-driven choices. Snacking now spans healthy, indulgent, spicy, world-food, protein-rich, premium, and vegetarian options. Innovation is essential. Out-of-home trends, such as spicy products, vegetarian offerings, new fry formats, and coffee shop culture, often translate into retail success. SMEs can leverage agility, creativity, and variety to meet consumer demand, while large groups compete on scale. High purchase frequency, constant novelty, and cross-channel competition make speed and relevance key to success. Snacking 2025 is not the future of food: it’s already its dominant form. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

A New Model of Innovation: How Social Media Are Redefining Consumption

After years marked by health crises and inflation, 2025 signals a turning point. According to Nielsen data, FMCG sales are up +2% year-to-date (08 2025 vs 2024), while the number of SKUs has increased by +3.9%. These positive signs are not merely cyclical; they reveal a new model of value creation, shaped by connected, demanding consumers and the growing influence of social media as a driver of innovation. The way new products emerge has radically shifted. Nearly one in two innovations today originates from social media, whether through a viral TikTok challenge, an Instagram story, or the endorsement of a powerful creator. The traditional launch model, based on mass advertising and brand heritage, is being replaced by a bottom-up dynamic led by online communities. These “born-online” products create demand before supply, build scarcity before availability, and rely on virality to accelerate awareness. When successful, this model generates exponential visibility and rapid sales growth. Yet it remains fragile, with almost 50% of innovations still disappearing within four years due to weak in-store execution or a lack of long-term anchoring. In this new landscape, the product alone is no longer enough to ensure success. Growth is increasingly driven by the ecosystem that surrounds it. A loyal community built through authenticity and dialogue, coherence between the influencer’s persona and the product’s values, impactful packaging designed for both screen and shelf visibility, and flawless execution in stores all combine to sustain momentum beyond the initial buzz. In this landscape, the product alone is no longer enough to ensure success. Growth is increasingly driven by the ecosystem surrounding the product. A loyal community built through authenticity and dialogue, coherence between the influencer’s persona and the product’s values, compelling storytelling, impactful packaging, and flawless implementation in stores all sustain momentum beyond the initial buzz. Social-born brands demonstrate how creators can successfully convert online influence into tangible market performance. For instance, MrBeast’s Feastables (a line of creator-branded chocolate bars and snacks) leveraged his 430 million YouTube followers to turn content into commerce, achieving €2.4 million in revenue over just three months in France. Similarly, Franui (a frozen snack of chocolate-coated berries), a chocolate brand launched primarily through social media campaigns, generated €2.7 million in sales within 3 months according to Nielsen data. Meanwhile, Lindt Pistachio a limited-edition product following the “Dubaï chocolate” trend launched through a social-driven campaign, reached nearly €3 million in revenue in three months in 2025. These examples highlight that social-born products are not only viral phenomena but also significant revenue drivers, demonstrating the concrete market impact of creator-led and socially activated innovations. Nielsen insights reveal that consumers are changing faster than brands. They are moving from influence to functionality. Shoppers still seek inspiration, but they now demand proof over promise. Composition, origin, transparency, and sustainability have become decisive factors. Influence remains a powerful lever, but it must now be grounded in authenticity and credibility. The brands that succeed are those able to blend emotion with evidence, turning storytelling into a tangible experience. In this fast-moving environment, continuous monitoring of social and market data has become essential to spot weak signals, anticipate trends, and adapt quickly. Generations Z and Alpha embody this new paradigm. Hyper-connected and fluent across multiple platforms, they grant attention only to what aligns with their values. Their loyalty is short-term and tied to experiences rather than brands. They join a trend, drive it, and move on once it fades. For marketers, the risk is no longer missing the next big thing; it is becoming invisible in a world where visibility is measured in seconds of scrolling. According to Nielsen, 70% of Gen Z consumers discover products online first, and over half expect to see digital engagement before encountering a product in stores. Despite the acceleration of digital channels, traditional retail remains essential for scaling. Social-born brands still rely on supermarkets and hypermarkets to reach mass audiences, but the sequence has flipped: audience now precedes distribution. At the same time, established FMCG players are experimenting with influencer-driven collaborations to reignite consumer engagement. This hybridization reflects a deeper shift. The balance between digital and physical, between virality and longevity, is being reinvented. The FMCG market is entering an era where success requires listening before speaking, proving before promising, and co-creating before selling. Social media have not just redefined communication; they have rewritten the rules of innovation itself. In 2025, brands no longer lead the conversation. Consumers do. Sophie DelcroixManaging Director, Green Seed France To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Rethinking retail formats: How Auchan and Lidl are adapting to a changing market

Once the symbol of modern retail, the hypermarket model in France is being fundamentally rethought. With non-food sales in steady decline and shoppers adopting more purpose-driven, value-conscious behaviours, major players like Auchan and Lidl are redesigning their store formats, either by shrinking their assortments or adapting to new urban realities. For decades, hypermarkets thrived by offering food, apparel, appliances, and more in a single location. But that model is eroding. At Carrefour, non-food sales dropped by -6% in value in 2024, driven by category fragmentation and the rise of discount specialists such as Action and Normal. Auchan, facing structural difficulties, reported a -4.7% decline in like-for-like revenue in France the same year. Consumers are no longer treating the hypermarket as a one-stop destination. Instead, they’re shopping more selectively, often online or in discount chains. In response, Auchan has launched a bold transformation. The group plans to reduce the sales area of 77 of its 119 French hypermarkets by an average of 25% by 2027, without reducing the store footprint. The idea is to maintain the hypermarket format but reorganize the space to look and function more like a large-format supermarket. This means a smaller non-food section, an expanded food assortment, clearer signage, and a simplified shopping experience. Pilot stores in Mandelieu and Fréjus (south of France), inspired by Auchan’s model in Cascais, Portugal, are already testing this approach. For Auchan, this strategy is not only about shopper experience but also about efficiency, surface profitability, and relevance in a market where loyalty is increasingly hard-won. Lidl is also exploring how to adapt to more constrained urban spaces. In Versailles-Chantiers, near Paris, the retailer opened a 654 m² store (half the size of a standard Lidl) with a one-way shopping path and 100% self-checkout. The store is located inside a mixed-use building called “La Biosphère,” which also houses a Basic-Fit gym upstairs. However, the two operate independently. This atypical setup reflects Lidl’s ability to flex its format to fit high-traffic zones with space limitations. While this is not officially presented as a strategic shift, Lidl representatives describe it as “putting a foot in the door” of new urban models : an experiment that could inform future openings depending on performance. These two retailers are reacting to the same market shift: the end of the “everything, everywhere” retail promise. Instead, they’re betting on strategic focus, whether that’s a renewed commitment to food, more compact layouts, or collaborative spaces that add value beyond product. Hypermarkets may not disappear anytime soon, but they are being fundamentally redefined. The big question now: will these revised formats be enough to restore foot traffic and margins, or are we witnessing a transition toward an entirely new kind of retail? To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

The Protein Shift: From Niche to Norm in Retail Food Innovation

In 2025, protein-enriched foods are no longer limited to fitness aisles or specialist stores. They’re gaining traction across mainstream categories (bakery, pasta, snacking) as both retailers and manufacturers respond to rising consumer expectations around health, performance, and satiety. What was once a functional niche is becoming a structural growth driver. Protein Gains Visibility Across Product Categories Retailers are increasingly positioning protein-rich products as everyday solutions for active, health-conscious consumers. Carrefour, for instance, has partnered with the European gym Basic-Fit to offer a dedicated range of protein supplements, including whey powders and ready-to-drink shakes, in their stores. This exclusive launch responds to the ongoing convergence between grocery retail and wellness culture. Meanwhile, in packaged bakery, Carrefour has introduced a high-protein sandwich bread under its CARREFOUR Sensation brand, delivering 13g of protein per 100g, with a Nutri-Score B. The protein trend is also reaching pantry staples. Barilla launched its “Protein+” pasta range, made from lentils, chickpeas, and even peas, offering 17g of plant-based protein per 100g. The brand positions this range not as a substitute but as an evolution of classic pasta for consumers seeking a higher-protein, plant-forward diet without sacrificing its texture. The snacking category is also embracing protein claims. In French supermarkets, brands like Gerblé and Isostar offer protein bars targeting health-conscious and sport-driven consumers. Retailers such as Lidl or Système U expanded their offer by launching high-protein-based snacks into their private labels, meeting the demand for convenient and affordable options. In contrast, Papa Chiche, a French start-up, brings a more lifestyle-oriented take to the segment. Its fully plant-based protein-enriched bars and granolas are positioned for flexitarian consumers seeking clean-label alternatives without performance-driven branding. The Blurring Line Between Everyday and Performance Foods Across the board, the narrative around protein is evolving. Rather than being limited into “sports nutrition,” protein is being repositioned as a marker of quality, satiation, and dietary balance. Retailers are experimenting with new shelf placement, placing protein-rich products closer to staples rather than isolating them in niche corners. Some manufacturers, like Barilla, are even avoiding overtly “sporty” messaging to speak to a broader public. Meanwhile, collaborations like the Carrefour x Basic-Fit initiative point to growing cross-sector synergies between retail, health, and fitness ecosystems. In conclusion, the rise of protein-enriched foods in mainstream retail marks a broader shift toward nutritional performance as a key purchase driver. While total category volumes remain modest, value growth is accelerating, and consumers are showing a clear willingness to invest in foods that offer functional benefits without compromising taste or convenience. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Producers of plant-based products: at the crossroads of 2 major opportunities

The French “Conseil d’Etat” recently annulled two decrees banning the use of butchery terms for plant-based protein products, marking a victory for plant-based alternatives suppliers. Companies and professional associations expressed relief at this decision, denouncing the injustice of the ban that targeted only French producers. On January 20, Carrefour unveiled its goal to double its revenue from “free-from” products (gluten, nitrites, lactose, alcohol) within three years. It aims to reach one billion euros by 2030 and plans to offer the widest range of “free-from” products. The retailer will rely on a coalition of dairy (Candia), grocery (Nutrition & Santé, Gerblé), charcuterie (Herta, Fleury Michon, Groupe Aoste, and Cooperl/Madrange), and wine and beer (Brasseries Kronenbourg, Cordier Bonne Nouvelle, and its own subsidiary Maison Johanès Boubée) manufacturers to develop sales of “free-from” products. Carrefour is also committed to a plan to develop plant-based alternatives in its aisles by 2026. Why this is good news? The Council of State’s decision is good news for Carrefour as it allows the continued use of butchery terms for plant-based protein products. This facilitates the marketing and understanding of products by consumers, which aligns with Carrefour’s goal of developing plant-based alternatives in its aisles. By annulling the decrees, the Council of State indirectly supports Carrefour’s initiatives to offer a wide range of plant-based and “free-from” products, meeting the growing consumer demand for healthier and more diverse food options. This decision also represents a great opportunity for all plant-based product manufacturers, allowing them to better market their products and reach a wider audience. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Revolutionising Food Retail: The Emergence of Aura Retail

The recent alliance between Intermarché, Auchan, and Casino under the name Aura Retail is creating significant ripples in the French food retail sector. By combining resources, this alliance brings an unprecedented strength to the market, setting a new benchmark with an impressive €62.5 billion in annual revenue. As it steps into the arena, Aura Retail promises transformative changes in both pricing and strategy across the French grocery landscape. Strength in Numbers: Market Control and Reach With a collective hold over 29% of the food retail market, Aura Retail has become the top purchasing group in France, even surpassing longstanding leaders such as E. Leclerc. The alliance now oversees 15,000 stores globally, with the majority—13,000 stores—located within France. This expansive reach not only increases their market influence but also positions Aura Retail as a major player in the shaping of food pricing and competitive strategies. Streamlining Purchases for Competitive Pricing Aura Retail’s food purchasing operations, led primarily by Intermarché, have introduced a system that centralizes purchasing across three dedicated centres, overseeing tenders for 215 major brands and private labels. This streamlined approach allows the alliance to negotiate better deals with suppliers, potentially reducing costs that can benefit consumers. The impact of such centralized purchasing could prove vital as inflation pressures continue to affect the retail market, making affordable food options a priority for French families. Elevating Private Labels to New Heights With the growing consumer interest in private labels, Aura Retail is focusing on this segment by centralizing store brand tenders. This shift not only enhances competitiveness but also boosts profitability within the private label sector. According to recent 2024 studies, private labels now represent over 35% of food sales in France, marking a significant increase from previous years. By harnessing this trend, Aura Retail aims to bring high-quality private label options to a broader audience, which can further strengthen customer loyalty. Expanding Influence Beyond Borders: Partnerships with Everest and Epic Aura Retail’s ambitions extend beyond French borders through partnerships with international alliances, such as Everest and Epic, adding leverage to its bargaining power. These partnerships bring Aura Retail in direct collaboration with 40 global FMCG giants, strengthening their position when negotiating international contracts and creating opportunities to expand the presence of French retail products abroad. To safeguard small and local producers, the alliance has pledged to negotiate through separate channels, ensuring that smaller suppliers maintain a foothold and remain competitive in this evolving environment. Looking Ahead: The Future of French Food Retail The Aura Retail alliance marks a pivotal moment in the French food retail sector, showcasing a new way to leverage cooperative strength in a highly competitive landscape. As they navigate new challenges and opportunities, the alliance’s impact on market dynamics could bring lasting changes for both consumers and suppliers. In conclusion, Aura Retail’s strategic moves reflect a broader trend within the industry toward collaboration and centralization, setting a precedent that may shape the future of French retail. Whether this approach will prove sustainable remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Aura Retail has positioned itself as a key player to watch in the years ahead. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Paris 2024 Olympics: a boost for the grocery retail sector

The Paris 2024 Olympics significantly boosted sales in the grocery retail sector across France. According to NielsenIQ, sales of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) saw strong growth during the two-week competition. The Paris area, Île-de-France, the main host of the Olympic events, experienced notable growth with a +7.9% increase in value and +11% in units sold, accounting for over a third of national gains. Stores located near Olympic venues saw their revenue rise by 19%, while other regions, like Hauts-de-France (north of France), contributed 15% of the overall gains. Nationwide, FMCG sales rose by +4.4% in units sold and +2.8% in value, outperforming the London 2012 Olympics, which had only a +0.4% increase. Warm weather played a crucial role, with 81% of gains coming from categories sensitive to high temperatures. Sales of still water jumped by +50%, followed by non-alcoholic beverages and ice cream, with brands like Cristaline, Coca-Cola, and Evian leading the sales. The festive atmosphere of the event also contributed, with 12% of gains in Paris coming from “aperitif” products. Overall, the Olympics provided a significant boost to the grocery retail sector, demonstrating the potential of major sporting events to drive local economic growth. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

The global decline in innovation: a threat to the attractiveness of retail markets?

Innovation has been a key driver of growth and diversity in global markets for many years. However, a significant decline in innovation in the food industry is now threatening the wealth of choice available to consumers and the economic vitality of SMEs. Last year in France, according to Circana, new products accounted for just 0.6% of food sales in retail, 4 times less than five years ago. Innovations, levers for development In 2023, according to ProtéinesXTC, despite a slight recovery, global food innovation grew by only 3.9% (VS -12.7% in 2022), well below expectations, while in France, it grew by 8.2% (VS -23.3% in 2022). In France, “pleasure” is by far the most important aspect of food innovation at 61% and continued to gain ground in 2023 with +3.8 pts whereas the rest of Europe is “only” at 54%. This means that bringing pleasure to consumers must be a key factor in the development of innovations. Health is in second place at 17% but lost interest with a drop of 4.1 pts. French people are not as much interested in the health aspects as the rest of the Europe (24.2%). Ethics and convenience round out the reasons for purchase, with an average of 7% each and a fairly stable trend in France, rates that are similar to the rest of Europe. The main barriers to innovation The barriers to innovation are numerous and often interdependent: Financial risks: Innovation is costly; commodity prices have risen sharply as a result of a number of crisis (Covid-19, geopolitical conflicts, climate change), making R&D investments riskier than ever. Whereas before 2022, the one-year mortality rate for food innovations was 80%, “non- essential” innovations are now simply no longer being launched. Consumer demands: Consumer expectations are increasingly high. They are indeed more concerned about the costs of their purchases with inflation, as they still want quality products at the lowest price possible. This increases the complexity and cost of developing new products, which are on average 30% more expensive. The impact on SMEs According to Circana, the ranges of national brands fell by 2.9% compared with the previous year, while the range of value line products rose by 7.7%. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were particularly hard hit, with their shares of supply falling to 3.9%. Unlike large groups, they have limited resources to invest in long-term projects with no guaranteed return on investment. As a result, SMEs risk losing competitiveness and, in some cases, disappearing from the market. Consequences for the market and consumers The decline in innovation has a direct impact on the diversity of products available to consumers. Less innovation means less choice, which can lead to a uniformity of products on supermarket shelves. Manufacturers, on the other hand, tend to focus their innovations on those that have the best chance of success. Moreover, the gradual disappearance of mid-range products in favour of low-cost or premium ranges is further limiting consumers’ options. Products whose positioning is not clearly fixed at one end or the other might no longer emerge. Conclusion To revitalise the market and meet consumer expectations, it is crucial that brands and retailers return to innovation. This will require both incentive policies and a stable economic environment. Innovation is not only essential for economic growth, but also for maintaining a diversified and attractive offer for consumers. Without this revitalisation, markets are likely to decline, to the detriment of the entire value chain. The future of innovation will depend on how to overcome these challenges and create an ecosystem where innovation can once again flourish, ensuring renewed diversity and attractiveness in global markets. The impact on SMEs According to Circana, the ranges of national brands fell by 2.9% compared with the previous year, while the range of value line products rose by 7.7%. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were particularly hard hit, with their shares of supply falling to 3.9%. Unlike large groups, they have limited resources to invest in long-term projects with no guaranteed return on investment. As a result, SMEs risk losing competitiveness and, in some cases, disappearing from the market. Consequences for the market and consumers The decline in innovation has a direct impact on the diversity of products available to consumers. Less innovation means less choice, which can lead to a uniformity of products on supermarket shelves. Manufacturers, on the other hand, tend to focus their innovations on those that have the best chance of success. Moreover, the gradual disappearance of mid-range products in favour of low-cost or premium ranges is further limiting consumers’ options. Products whose positioning is not clearly fixed at one end or the other might no longer emerge. Conclusion To revitalise the market and meet consumer expectations, it is crucial that brands and retailers return to innovation. This will require both incentive policies and a stable economic environment. Innovation is not only essential for economic growth, but also for maintaining a diversified and attractive offer for consumers. Without this revitalisation, markets are likely to decline, to the detriment of the entire value chain. The future of innovation will depend on how to overcome these challenges and create an ecosystem where innovation can once again flourish, ensuring renewed diversity and attractiveness in global markets. Sophie DelcroixManaging Director, Green Seed France To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Top 5 keys to success in the French market

Developing a sustainable business in France requires a well-thought-out strategy and a deep understanding of the particular characteristics of the market. Here are 5 key steps to successful market introduction: Defining your objectives and assessing the risks & opportunities: Before trying your luck in France, you must clearly define your objectives and assess the risks and opportunities associated with market entry. Focusing on just one or two markets at a time helps avoid spreading your efforts too thinly. Knowing the French market: Understanding the cultural, economic, and commercial characteristics of the French market is essential. Extensive market research is necessary, but it is also crucial to work with local players to benefit from their expertise. Adapting your distribution strategy: Choosing the right distribution channel is crucial. The expertise of part-time key account managers, professionals who manage and develop relationships with the most strategic players, can be invaluable. Preserving brand identity: It is essential to maintain consistency in brand communication and presentation across all distribution channels. If you are a private label manufacturer, be aware of market standards and expectations before contacting retailers. Avoiding conflicts between distribution channels: It is important to avoid potential conflicts between different distribution channels, particularly in terms of pricing and competition. Keeping a good relationship with all players in the distribution network is essential to ensure the success of national expansion. In short, successfully establishing a presence in France requires careful preparation, in-depth knowledge of target markets, strong local relationships, strategic adaptation and effective management of distribution channels. Green Seed France offers comprehensive assistance throughout the set-up process: market analysis, local partnership development, account management, trade activities, communication and progressive expansion services. Don’t hesitate to contact us! To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Food & Beverage Sales & Marketing Services we offer at Green Seed

In the food and beverage industry, standing out requires more than just a great product. It necessitates a strategic approach that encompasses thorough market assessment, targeted planning, and seamless execution. At Green Seed, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive suite of marketing services designed to help businesses not just survive, but thrive in this dynamic landscape. Market Opportunity Assessment: Uncovering Hidden Gems Embarking on a successful international business journey begins with understanding the lay of the land. Our Market Opportunity Assessment service is the first step towards unlocking the potential of your products. With over three decades of experience in the food and beverage industry, we possess a wealth of insights and expertise to delve deep into market dynamics. From analysing market size, category trends, and competitor landscapes to conducting consumer taste tests and online forums, we leave no stone unturned. Armed with this comprehensive understanding, we identify key selling points and market gaps, laying the groundwork for a compelling market strategy tailored to your brand. Route to Market Strategy: Charting a Course for Success Navigating the intricate maze of market entry and sales requires a well-defined route to market strategy. Our seasoned experts at Green Seed specialise in crafting winning strategies that prioritise market segments, channels, and target customers. Whether it’s establishing direct sales channels, engaging with distributors, or forging strategic partnerships, we evaluate options meticulously to ensure optimal results. With a keen focus on supply chain optimisation, pricing strategies, and business planning, we equip your brand with a roadmap for sustainable growth and market penetration. Food Sales Execution: From Seed to Harvest The journey from ideation to market success is a multifaceted one, and our Food Sales Execution service is designed to guide you every step of the way. Our strategic planning process, aptly named ‘Seed, Incubate, Grow, and Harvest’, encapsulates the essence of our approach. We begin by nurturing your ideas, leveraging our international food marketing expertise to transform concepts into reality. Through meticulous incubation and growth strategies, we tailor plans to suit your brand’s unique proposition, ensuring alignment with market needs and consumer preferences. Finally, we reap the rewards of our collective efforts through meticulous execution, driving sales and fostering sustainable business growth in both domestic and international markets. The Three-Phase Sales Execution Process: Turning Strategy into Action Executing a successful sales strategy requires precision and finesse. Our three-phase sales execution process is meticulously crafted to translate strategic plans into tangible results. From prioritising customers and setting up crucial meetings with buyers to managing listings and fostering brand loyalty, we leave no stone unturned. Our focus extends beyond the sale itself, encompassing post-sales activities and robust customer relationship management to nurture long-term partnerships and drive continued growth. Food and Drink Marketing Services: Elevating Brands on the Global Stage Expanding your food brand overseas opens up a world of opportunities, but it also presents unique challenges. Our dedicated team of seasoned food and beverage marketing experts is here to guide you through every step of the journey. With a deep understanding of your products and global market dynamics, we craft targeted marketing strategies that resonate with consumers worldwide. Leveraging our local knowledge and global perspective, we navigate diverse markets with ease, ensuring seamless integration of marketing efforts for optimal brand exposure and growth. Brand Development: Building Identity and Recognition In the competitive landscape of food and beverage, a strong brand identity is paramount. Our brand development services are designed to help you carve out a distinctive niche in the market. Whether it’s naming, developing, or registering a new brand, our experts work closely with you to communicate your brand’s message and values effectively. With a keen eye on local nuances and consumer preferences, we ensure your brand resonates with audiences across different geographies, driving acceptance and loyalty. Packaging Development: Merging Form with Function Packaging plays a pivotal role in shaping consumer perceptions and driving purchase decisions. Our packaging development services combine aesthetic appeal with functional design, ensuring compliance with local regulations and market requirements. From conceptualisation to production, we guide you through every stage of the process, offering strategic recommendations and comprehensive support to create packaging solutions that captivate and engage consumers. Marketing Plan: A Roadmap for Success A comprehensive marketing plan is the cornerstone of any successful product launch. Our experts collaborate closely with your team to develop tailored marketing strategies that align with your business objectives. From detailed advertising and PR campaigns to trade promotion and social media engagement, we craft holistic marketing plans that drive brand awareness and consumer engagement, setting the stage for sustained growth and market success. Trade Promotion and Exhibitions: Maximising Exposure and Impact Trade promotion and exhibitions are invaluable opportunities to showcase your products and connect with key stakeholders. Our trade marketing strategies are tailored to individual accounts, optimising sales performance and driving business growth. From advising on relevant trade exhibitions to overseeing media communication and engagement, we ensure your brand stands out in a crowded marketplace, fostering meaningful connections and driving sales. Social Media and Consumer PR: Engaging Audiences in the Digital Age In today’s digital age, engaging with consumers on social media is essential for building brand awareness and driving trial. Our social media and consumer PR services encompass influencer campaigns, organic social media management, and digital advertising, creating buzz and excitement around your brand. Through strategic content creation and targeted outreach, we foster meaningful connections with your target audience, driving engagement and loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape. In conclusion, at Green Seed, we are more than just a marketing agency – we are your partners in success. With our comprehensive suite of services, industry expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence, we empower brands to thrive in the ever-evolving world of food and beverage. Let us help you unlock your brand’s full potential and take it to new heights of success, both domestically and internationally.

Casino stores takeovers: what are the economic and social stakes for other retail players?

The recent wave of Casino stores takeovers by French retail giants has raised a combination of both concern and optimism about the future of these stores. Indeed, these acquisitions have profound implications not only for the companies involved, but also for local communities and employees. Casino’s store sales package included 288 Casino supermarkets and hypermarkets. Intermarché had agreed to take over 190 and Auchan 98. But for competition reasons, Intermarché will have to sell 25 stores to Carrefour, and there are still 26 stores for sale. A worrying context In 2023, Auchan faced financial difficulties, looking for strategic solutions to relaunch itself in an increasingly competitive market. The purchase of Casino stores was part of the plan to revitalise the company. This underlines the challenges faced by the historical players in the retail sector in the face of the emergence of new consumption models and growing competition from online players. Social and economic issues The takeover of Casino stores by Auchan, Intermarché and Carrefour is also raising social and economic concerns, especially for the future of employees and suppliers. In Montmorillon (centre west of France), 106 employees of the Casino group’s Easydis logistics platform, threatened with bankruptcy, are worried about their jobs. Local authorities fear a “social tragedy” and warn of the potential repercussions for employment and economic stability. Future outlook With 26 Casino stores still to be sold the question of their takeover remains a subject of attention for retail industry experts. Speculation is at its peak as to the potential buyers and the strategies under consideration to ensure the long-term future of these establishments. To sum up, the takeover of Casino stores by Intermarché, Auchan and Carrefour represents a major turning point in the competitive landscape of French supermarkets. While these acquisitions offer opportunities for growth and consolidation for some, they also raise significant challenges in terms of integration, human resources management and the preservation of the local economic fabric. The future of these retailers will largely depend on the ability of the actors involved to meet these challenges and adapt to the constant changes in the market. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

The inevitable concentration of the French retail landscape

The dynamic shifts in the French retail landscape, particularly the recent changes involving Casino, Intermarché, Auchan, Lidl, and Carrefour, reflect a rapidly evolving industry. Facing financial challenges, Casino’s decision to sell its stores has led to an unexpected alliance between Intermarché – who has already reached an agreement with Casino few months ago to buy 119 stores – and Auchan, aiming to collectively bid on the hypermarkets and supermarkets up for sale. At the same time, Lidl has expressed an interest in taking over around 300 Casino and 300 Monoprix stores, another of the group’s financially troubled brands. Adding some more context to these changes, Carrefour strategically acquired the Cora and Match banners, comprising 60 hypermarkets and 115 supermarkets, for a total of €1.05 billion. This acquisition will enable Carrefour (18.9% market share as of December 2023) to recover 2.5% of market share and move closer to the leader Leclerc (24.6% share), against a backdrop of increased competition from players such as Amazon. Carrefour’s discreet yet skilful approach, led by CEO Alexandre Bompard underlines its commitment to consolidate the sector, explore alternatives to German discounters Aldi and Lidl and monitor other acquisition opportunities, such as Cdiscount and Monoprix. The ongoing consolidation suggests further shifts, with Auchan and Système U potentially joining the trend. ➔ What are the consequences for suppliers and consumers? Those ongoing transformations in the French retail sector are likely to have notable consequences for both suppliers and consumers. On the one hand, suppliers will have to face huge shifts in buying power, as major retailers consolidate or change ownership, but also important changes in market share and adjustments in distribution channels. Indeed, they may need to adapt to new routes, storage facilities or delivery schedules. Moreover, the competition among retailers could lead to changing pricing strategies and increased pressure on suppliers to meet evolving consumer and retailer demands. On the other hand, for consumers, these changes may manifest in shifts in product availability, pricing structures, and overall shopping experiences. Also, consumers may change brand loyalty as a result of changes in the availability of products and services. New store ownership or alliances may influence perceptions of brands associated with these retailers. Additionally, the competitive dynamics among major retailers could lead to increased efforts to attract and retain customers, by improving services, or other consumer-focused initiatives. Eventually, as the industry continues to undergo consolidation, the full extent of these consequences will unfold. Overall, the consequences for both suppliers and consumers will depend on how the retail landscape evolves, the success of the various business strategies, and the ability of companies to adapt to changing market conditions. The ongoing consolidation in the supermarket sector suggests that these changes will continue to take place, impacting various stakeholders in the retail ecosystem. Ultimately, being aware of the potential changes to come, we can wonder: to what extent will the changing French retail landscape contribute to deeper changes in consumer and supplier behaviour and preferences? To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

Innovation: the chilled food section focuses on plant-based products and practicality

In 2023, the chilled products sector, including dairy, butchery and charcuterie, will be swept along by the waves of plant-based products and convenience. According to the well-known French Trade magazine LSA, some of the following innovations are coming to market: • Cheese spray: We’ve already heard of aerosol cans of whipped cream, but now there is a cheese version to spray on your dishes, but for now, this innovation is reserved for the catering trade.• Birthday cake flavour: A Swedish quark, or low-fat milk-based fresh cheese, rich in protein and low in fat, comes in a festive and original limited edition, birthday cake flavour.• Cook in your bag: Delhaize’s marinated chicken strips are as practical and timesaving as ever. The cuts are sold in a special bag that you simply pop into the oven. One less washing-up chore!• Practical packaging: Convenience is still a key driver of innovation in every department. A high-fibre vanilla breakfast yoghurt comes in a re-sealable stand-up pouch, easy to use.• As close as you can get: Many players in the plant-based sector are still trying to come up with alternatives that are visually close to the original products. A meat substitute from Juicy Marbles for example, looks just like meat, with its marbled appearance. Innovations in food products are constantly on the increase. More plant-based, greater convenience, there’s no shortage of opportunities for innovation, and manufacturers are well aware of this. The question is, will these highly Americanized innovations appeal to consumers? To get in touch with our France team below Contact Us

Market shares: Aldi, Lidl, Leclerc and Carrefour, the winning quartet

According to Kantar, Aldi, Lidl, Leclerc and the Carrefour group each showed an increase of +0.2 points in market share over January 2023. Intermarché is also doing well, up +0.1 point, while Système U remains stable despite a good increase in consumer traffic. Discount chains in full swing Thanks to its increase in customer acquisition and the strengthening of operations to build customer loyalty, Aldi has confirmed its momentum with a 3.1% market share. For its part, Lidl reached 8.1% by managing to both recruit and stabilise its level of loyalty. A good performance for Leclerc and Carrefour With a 22.4% market share, Leclerc has progressed thanks to its hypermarkets (+0.3pt) in which traffic has grown by +4.5%. The Carrefour group has a market share of almost 20% (19.9%), with traffic up +6% and the acquisition of new 320,000 customers. Traffic in Système U up by +6.9% The Les Mousquetaires group is slightly behind its competitors with a gain of +0.1pt to 15.9%, thanks in particular to its two food brands, Intermarché and Netto. Système U remains stable (11.4%) but their level of traffic has improved by +6.9%, i.e. a much higher increase than the market (+2%). On the other hand, the groups that are losing the most ground (data not quoted in the Kantar press release) are Casino (-0.5 pt) and Auchan (-0.3 pt). To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

French retailer Carrefour tests Walmart-style home delivery to customers’ fridges in France

The French retailer Carrefour wants to go even further in home delivery and be one of the first retailers in France to offer a unique home delivery service to its customers. Carrefour is currently testing a home delivery service where the Carrefour delivery driver puts the fresh and frozen products in the fridge and freezer of the client. But in order to be eligible for this service, customers must be equipped with a special locking system for their front door. During the time slot chosen by the customer, the customer unblocks a temporary access to their door for the delivery driver and is warned when they enter their home. The delivery person pus away the fresh and frozen products in the refrigerator and freezer of the person being delivered. The dry goods are placed on the counter. The delivery driver then takes a photograph of the stored groceries and sends it to the Carrefour customer by SMS. This innovation aims to provide an additional service and to differentiate itself from traditional home delivery, a market that is worth almost 10 billion euros in France and is dominated by delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo. As far as retailers are concerned, the drive remains the dominant method of collecting goods online, but home delivery has made strong progress in France since Covid-19. But the necessary installation of a special locking system for the front door leaves one wondering about the complications that can arise and the costs which are associated with it. Nothing has yet been communicated about the cost of this delivery service and the amount that will have to be paid to have access to it. Which leaves one wondering how truly inclusive this service will be to customers. Although this service has already proved to be a success in the United States, retailer Walmart has already been offering this service, to its customers since 2019 but testing started in 2017. In addition to a door locking system that customers must also authorise, Walmart employees wear cameras to provide proof of their service and avoid possible suspicions of theft or damage to the customer’s home. The necessary installation of the secure lock does not seem to pose a problem for customers. In fact, in January 2022, Walmart announced that their home delivery to customers’ fridges called InHome would be available to 30 million households, compared to 6 million households previously. As a result of this expansion a further 3,000 employees are planned to be hired to support the expansion of the service. Despite scepticism, home delivery to customers’ fridges might soon be common to everyone. To get in touch with our France team Contact Us

The French are experimenting with new ways of changing consumption dates

French retailers and manufacturers are experimenting with new ways of changing consumption dates, with the aim of reducing food waste. Studies carried out in 2021 found that 71% of French people know that there are two different consumption dates, a rise from 55% in 2015. Encouragingly since the study in 2015, 42% of French people have changed their behaviour towards food consumption. French people are now more likely to consume products with a best before date and no longer systematically throw away food if the best before date has passed. At the end of August, British retailer Waitrose announced they were removing the use by dates on 500 products in their stores. Influenced by Waitrose and in an attempt to reduce food waste, French retailers and manufacturers are experimenting with way to extend use-by-dates, with hopes of reducing food waste. Back in 2018 Carrefour set themselves a plan to reduce waste by 50% by 2025 and today they have managed to reduce their waste by 35%. To do so the retailer has extended 500 product dates on all of Carrefour’s own brands (ten days more for grated Gruyère, twenty for dry ham, seven for yoghurts and fresh cream, etc.). At Système U, the best-before dates were extended by an average of 14 days for 223 products and by an average of 250 days for the best-before dates of 216 U-brand products. At E. Leclerc, an extension of five days on average has been implemented on more than 100 products. French yogurt brand Danone has already taken steps to educate consumers and make it easier for them to understand if their product is still fine to consume. According to Danone, switching to a best-before-date is much clearer for consumers and indicates to them that they can continue to enjoy their product even if the date has passed. After a public consultation carried out at European level between March and August 2022 with a view to changing the Inco regulation on consumer information and food labelling, a bill is expected by the end of the year which could lead to the abolition of use-by dates on certain products, although it has not yet been confirmed when this bill will be passed nor has it been decided which products this will affect.

In France discounters Lidl and Aldi showed the strongest gains in August

According to Kantar, discounters Aldi and Lidl achieved the best performance in FMCG and fresh food between August 8th and September 4th 2022. In detail, this gain is explained for Lidl (now at 7.8% market share) by “more customers with larger baskets” and Lidl’s popularity continuing to rise, according to Kantar. At Aldi, it is the recruitment of 444,000 new customers that has enabled it to increase its market share to 2.7%. The number one French retailer Leclerc gained 0.2 points in share over the period and welcomed 725,000 new customers to their stores. Carrefour hypermarkets, together with its local stores, are driving the group’s growth. This was enough to widen the gap with the next largest groups (Les Mousquetaires group fell by 0.4 points – a decline entirely attributable to its flagship brand Intermarché) and Système U, a rare occurrence to be noted, fell by 0.1 points). More generally during the period, hypermarkets performed rather well, as is the case with Auchan’s hypermarkets, which have seen an increase of +0.2% in market share. This development corroborates the comments made at the end of August by the directors of Auchan Retail. They noted a significant improvement in their activities in France, due in particular to strong investments in prices. This positive dynamic is part of a period in which the French have increased their spending. Kantar reports that the French have increased their spending on FMCG and Fresh foods by +4.9% in August when compared to the same period in 2021. This trend is linked to “an increase in the frequency of purchases which compensates for the drop in basket size in an inflationary context”.

Three technologies that will transform Carrefour’s shops

Technologies around checkout, picking and assortment are being developed or are about to be deployed to strengthen Carrefour’s physical stores. At its Bourget show (93), which brought together all of Carrefour’s partners in June, Carrefour presented their technological innovations that are being developed and will be soon deployed into their stores. These innovations are based in three areas of the stores cash collection, order preparation and assortment, which aim to make life easier and more efficient for shoppers. Data Optimised Assortment Using data from checkouts and loyalty cards, Carrefour began in June to provide assortment recommendations to its shops, both integrated and franchised. The Analytics Factory will use the shop’s sales history and that of other brands to suggest changes according to its size and location. Every month, Carrefour will recommend a hundred or so products that should be added as a priority or removed from the range. This solution will be of particular interest to small shops that have to make choices due to lack of space. This innovation will also suggest to each Carrefour shop which products to stock up on by forecasting consumer demand. This specific function has not yet been launched into stores because its functionality is still being tested in Carrefour bakeries, but it will soon be extended to other products. Carrefour is also working on creating a similar innovation for customers which will suggest healthier alternatives when the customer chooses a product with a bad Nutri-score (a front of pack label that classifies foods and beverages from A to E depending on their nutritional value). Smart PoS, the intelligent checkout For Carrefour the smart PoS is the most important innovation project underway. The retailer wants to free itself from its service providers and replace the software of its 67,000 checkouts with a new in-house programme, called Smart PoS. This intelligent checkout will be deployed during the year in France and Spain, and it should enable a much more dynamic operation, based on real-time data. To take an example, the intelligent checkout will be automatically applying current in store promotions as well as those linked to Carrefour loyalty cards to the total and displaying them on the customer’s screen. Another crucial innovation in these times of inflation is that prices are updated instantly, whereas previous systems could take a whole day to reflect the price changes in the store and on the customer’s receipt. Finally with Carrefour’s intelligent checkout if a barcode is not recognised at the checkout, the cashier will be able to look on Carrefour’s national database to find the product and its price, rather than the cashier having to go and look on the shelf which will save the cashier and the customer valuable time. U. Care, the picking ally In Carrefour shops, it is the shop employees who prepare online orders by picking up products directly from the shelves. Now in order to facilitate their jobs, Carrefour are launching an app called U.Care. This application shows employees the list of products they need to pick up in an optimised order. When they arrive at the product on the shelf, its electronic label will emit a light signal to help the employee find it. The application will also make it possible to declare a shortage of a product or an expired shelf life. Eventually, Carrefour would like to turn it into an all-in-one application that would also manage employee schedules and holidays, just like the American store Walmart with their Walmart One app.

Lidl outperformed French grocery market In May-June period

According to the latest data from Kantar, from the period 16th May to 16th June, Lidl was the best performing retailer in the French grocery market. The discounter reported a 0.4 percentage point gain in the period. Lidl now has 8.1% market share, and attracted 784,000 new households to its shops in one year, while maintaining a stable level of shop visits. An increase in media spend (+21%) has also helped lift the discounter’s presence, with increased numbers of shoppers demonstrating loyalty to the brand. Lidl is also benefiting from the inflationary context: +3.57% in May and +4.37% in June on FMCG according to NielsenIQ. This is because the French have placed it at the top of the list of retailers that improve their purchasing power according to an OpinionWay study for Bonial. Rival Aldi reported a 0.1 percentage point increase in the period, and now sits on 2.8% share – the discounter attracted an additional 430,000 customers in the period. Carrefour maintains performance Carrefour maintained its performance with a 0.1 percentage point increase in June, boasting a market share of 19.8%, with growth driven by the group’s convenience format, which gained an additional 200,000 customers. Carrefour’s hypermarket and supermarket estates are also gaining shoppers, Kantar noted, and have maintained their market share. Finally, market leader E.Leclerc gained 0.1 percentage points in the period, with a grocery share reaching 22.5%. Consumer Spend On The Rise Consumer spend in the period rose by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, with shoppers visiting stores more often (+0.4 additional visits), counteracting a slight drop in sales (€1 less per shop). The discount channel was the best performer in June, gaining 0.3 percentage points, while the convenience channel gained 0.1 percentage points. Online fell back, however, losing 0.4 percentage points.

Fair Trade exceeded €2 billion sales in France in 2021

Sales of fair trade products increased by 11% in 2020 and sales of fair trade dairy products jumped 44% in 2021 compared to 2020. The fair-trade model is proving to be of particular importance in a time of war and health and climate crises as consumers confirm their attachment to the values of fair wages for producers. The Fair Trade Observatory published the figures on Thursday 5 May 2022 at a press conference in Paris. Fair Trade sales grew by 11% to 2.04 billion euros last year, of which 35% was for French products (+9%) against +12% for products from international channels. The latter were mainly sold in supermarkets (54%) against 30% for products from French origin channels. Fair trade dairy products, whose sales have jumped by 44% since 2020, show the greatest increase, ahead of chocolate products (+28%). There is also a convergence between fair trade and organic products, since 88% of fair trade products are labelled organic. “The quality of the products is one of the factors in the development of fair trade, which is progressing despite the difficulties,” emphasised Jean-Pierre Blanc, the managing director of Malongo coffees, 66% of whose business is fair trade. In the food sector more than 500 brands are involved in fair trade relationships with agricultural producers and offer more than 10,200 labelled products to consumers, a number which has increased by 36% by 2021. This trend shows a growing commitment by companies to improve their relationships with their producer-suppliers and to promote their fair trade practices to consumers. A resilient model This trend is taking place in a context marked by rising prices for agricultural products since the start of the war in Ukraine and problems of inflation. “Our [fair trade] model has proven itself,” said Julie Stoll, General Delegate of Fair Trade France. Fair Trade avoids the speculative effects of unregulated markets. The fair price paid to the producer allows him to pay the production costs and to invest in agroecology. Our food represents ¼ of greenhouse gas emissions so decarbonising our food and transforming our agriculture is a major challenge”.

The Future for Cashless and Checkout Free Stores

Our daily lives have become shaped by digital technologies. From social media to virtual reality, even our supermarket shopping experiences have transformed over the years: self-checkouts, contactless payments and now checkout free stores. The idea of picking something up off the shelf and just walking out without physically paying seems crazy to some people, and that’s because it is. These checkout free stores rely on cameras and weight sensors to track what shoppers remove from the shelves, and what they put back. When they leave, they receive a virtual receipt to inform them that they have in fact paid for their items. The pioneer of this concept was Amazon, opening their first Amazon Go store in Seattle in 2018, then supermarkets such as Tesco in the UK, Auchan in France, Netto Marken Discount in Germany and Whole Foods in the US swiftly followed. But what is the final aim? To create a quicker, easier and more seamless shopping experience for the consumer? Or is it just a business model which allows supermarkets to maximise profits by saving on staffing costs and to collect more data from their customers? We can all agree that digital advancements in recent years have facilitated our daily lives but there are always disadvantages to such technologies. Some say that by removing the personnel from supermarkets we are damaging the economy due to the number of jobs lost. Furthermore, not everyone is ready for this next digital step forward, fearing that the future of consumption will be completely dehumanised. This type of store relies on consumers being technologically adept and owning a smartphone, leading to the exclusion of certain consumers who are technologically challenged. It is interesting to note that at the same time, some consumers prefer a more interactive shopping experience where they can ‘chit chat’ with the cashier. To meet this expectation, supermarkets such as Syteme U and Auchan have introduced ‘blabla’ tills, with Carrefour introducing this concept to 150 stores across France in January 2022. Customers, therefore, have the choice between going to a ‘blabla’ checkout or a regular one. Since COVID-19 people are now valuing human connections more than ever in their daily lives. It’s important for the social aspect of society and it creates a concrete link between supermarkets and their consumers which is preferential to some people over striving for increased digitalisation. The question remains: Will checkout free stores dramatically alter the future of bricks-and-mortar retail, or is it just a novelty to become obsolete in the next 5 years? For Amazon, it must be proving a success in the UK because after opening 15 stores London they are planning to open another 260 UK wide. However, for supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsburys, they have decided to evaluate customer feedback before proceeding further after Sainsburys opened a checkout free store for 5 months in 2019 before reintroducing checkouts due to customer dissatisfaction. It seems ideal for the consumer prioritising speed and efficiency, but checkout free stores were not designed with all consumers in mind. Moving forward, a hybrid store with the option of using a checkout OR walking straight out seems the best way to respond to all consumers’ needs. In any case, the future of supermarket checkouts remains a major topic for retailers and is yet to be defined.

Michelin Guide celebrates ‘resilient’ French cuisine, but wants more women

French chefs Arnaud Donckele and Dimitri Droisneau, celebrate after being awarded a third Michelin star. Launching its 2022 edition, the Michelin Guide celebrated an increasingly green and diverse French food scene, as well as its resilience after emerging from two difficult years of pandemic. Greeted each year with apprehension by chefs and gourmet food lovers, the famous red book revealed this year’s winners in Cognac in south-western France – the first time in its 122 years the ceremony has taken place outside Paris. Two restaurants were awarded its highest distinction of three stars. Arnaud Donckele, 44, known for his extraordinary sauces, shot straight to the top ranking for his new restaurant Plenitude in the Samaritaine department store in Paris. Husband-and-wife team Dimitri and Marielle Droisneau also joined the top rank for their Mediterranean restaurant, La Villa Madie, in Cassis, near Marseille, which judges praised for its “poetic home-style cuisine”. “With 49 restaurants promoted this year, included two three-star restaurants, we see that it is more than just resilience – that the French gastronomic scene is showing incredible vitality and creative power,” said the guide’s director Gwendal Poullennec. “2021 was another difficult year for restaurants. The impact of the pandemic continues to weigh on them. Prices for ingredients are rising enormously and recruiting and keeping staff is a challenge for everyone,” he added. “Despite everything, we have a great selection, but I see that we have too few women,” he said, calling on restaurants to continue the “profound changes” they have been making to improve the imbalance. Green star restaurants Much focus in recent years has been on more minimalist, sustainably sourced cooking, which the guide has been rewarding with “green stars” since 2020. There are now 87 green star restaurants in France, with six new additions in the new guide. Last year’s ceremony, in the midst of a months-long shutdown caused by the pandemic, was a low-key affair with only one chef – Alexandre Mazzia – promoted to three stars. But this year marked a rejuvenation, with a maskless crowd packing out the theatre in Cognac, a small town in western France, with a huge international reputation for its namesake spirit. Created in 1900 by tyre manufacturers Andre and Edouard Michelin as a guide for motorists, it now has editions across Europe, Asia, North and South America. In March, it announced it was suspending operations in Russia due to the war in Ukraine, just a few months after launching its first guide in Moscow.

French supermarket tills where chit-chat is welcoming growth in popularity

Checkouts where people are encouraged to take their time and chat with the cashier are becoming more popular in France. French supermarket chain Carrefour has launched what it calls ‘Blabla’ checkouts, where customers can take their time to chat with the cashier and have a more meaningful interaction. The idea comes from the Netherlands but is increasing in popularity in France. Carrefour first trialled the service in 2019, with other retailers Système U and Auchan following suit after with their own versions. The initiative was put on hold by Carrefour due to the coronavirus pandemic, but in mid-January this year it relaunched it. The company is now aiming to have at least one Blabla till in each of its hypermarkets around France by the end of March. There are already around 150 shops in France that currently have this type of slow checkout. The checkout is signposted in the aisle and each customer can choose to go through it. The idea is to take the time to talk to people who want to. There is no time limit, and while the checkouts are noticeably slower than traditional tills, customers are reportedly also conscious not to linger too long if others are waiting. It humanises the process The Carrefour in Épinal in the Vosges (Grand Est) has one Blabla till out of a total of 23. Patrick, a local customer, told Franceinfo he liked the idea of it. “I think it’s good. It humanises things a bit more,” he said. “I think it’s probably more pleasant for the cashiers. It’s a difficult job where people are indifferent, they hardly say hello. They are never happy. So I’d say it’s more of a plus.” Corinne, who works behind the Blabla till in the shop in Épinal, confirms Patrick’s belief that it is more enjoyable for the staff. Going against the self-service takeover The launch of the slow checkouts comes at a time when there are increasingly more self-service checkouts in supermarkets in France. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of hypermarkets with self-service checkouts increased from 81% to 88%. This includes 99% of Auchan’s hypermarkets, 92% of Carrefour’s and 95% of Hyper U’s.

France Launch Its First Entirely Vegan Butcher

Carrefour has launched the first-ever Vegan butcher. The collaboration with Dutch brand, ‘The Vegetarian Butcher’ promotes a plant-based diet for the meat-loving French. The retailer will have various alternatives on offer including Soy-based mince at €13.90 per kilo, Chicken-style chunks, Burger patties at €12.90 per kilo and ‘Chicken’ nuggets. Carrefour said on social media, “Bringing these two types of products together simplifies the shopping experience for our customers who want to go vegan. Carrefour is the first major retailer to market these delicious products that have already won over Burger King.” Vegan butcher shops are becoming increasingly popular, with shops opening in Chicago, Minneapolis, and the UK among other places. Most recently, France decided to get in on the trend and has opened its very first vegan butcher counter! The vegan butcher shop will be opened in a corner of the supermarket chain and will feature vegan options mechanized in a butcher shop-style manner. The news of the vegan butcher shop opening in France shows just how much the market is changing. France is notorious for consuming a lot of animal products and having low rates of veganism, but a report from the research institute Xerfi revealed that sales of vegan and vegetarian products are slowly increasing. Between 2019 and 2020 alone, sales of plant-based products rose by 17%. They expect the market value in the country to increase to around $700 million in the coming years. It’ll be interesting to see how the market continues to shift in favour of plant-based products.

French bakers in pain over cut-price supermarket baguettes

French bakers have taken aim at a major supermarket chain that is offering inflation-busting low prices for baguettes, saying the move will undermine competition in one of the country’s prized industries. Customers in Leclerc stores were greeted with the new baguette price — 29 cents (24p). That is 10 cents cheaper than Leclerc competitors Intermarché and Super U, and 16 cents less than at Carrefour stores. Meanwhile, the average baguette price in France is 90 cents. Bakers, farmers and millers came together the following day to attack Leclerc for its campaign. Stirring the ire of five key players in the industry that branded the measure as “shameful” and “destructive” in a joint press release signed by the national farmers’ union FNSEA, the National Association of French Milling (ANMF), the National Confederation of French Bakery and Pastry shops (CNBPF), the organization representative of the French cereals sector Intercéréales and the General Association of Wheat Producers (AGPB). “Just when the government and all our professions are working to pay farmers fairly, Leclerc launches this campaign that destroys values,” they said, accusing the supermarket of “demagogy”. In the joint statement, the five organizations emphasized the difficult circumstances they said they are facing. For many years now, they said they have been fighting to be paid more fairly, while the price of wheat has exploded worldwide in recent months, and production costs are also increasing “strongly.” “We’re trying to keep up jobs and quality, there’s a price for that,” the head of the ANMF millers’ association, Jean-Francois Loiseau, told AFP. “We have to pay people properly, those who plant, harvest, who gather the grain and make flour, those who make the bread. What Leclerc is doing is shameful,” he said. Leclerc boss, Michel-Édouard Leclerc, told business magazine Capital that prices for baguettes in his shops has been about 30 cents “for at least a year”…“In an environment where [prices for] everything are going up and will keep going up, we wanted to send a signal that Leclerc will keep prices accessible for consumers,” he said. “Players in this sector have to accept that Leclerc shops have control over their relationship with consumers,” he added. After an increase in 2021, the purchasing power per household in France is expected to fall by 0.5% in the first half of the year according to an assessment by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee).

Carrefour’s digital-first expansion brings cashierless tech to French shoppers

French retail giant Carrefour announced this month the launch of the first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered store in Paris, dubbed Flash 10/10 (10 seconds to shop and 10 seconds to pay). The concept of the technology store was first tested at the company’s head office in France for more than a year. According to the company, it has been designed to ensure a fast and accessible shopping experience for customers who can enter and exit the store without having to pass through a gateway. Powered by U.S.-based retail technology company AiFi, the store is equipped with 2,000 integrated AiFi sensors built into the shelves and 60 AI-powered cameras placed in the ceiling to help track customers anonymously to protect consumer privacy. The products picked up are automatically added to a virtual shopping cart, and once customers are ready to leave the store, their virtual baskets are validated at a checkout terminal where they can make a contactless payment without having to scan items or install an application. The launch of Carrefour Flash comes on the heels of the company’s first-ever Digital Day held this month, during which the French retailer announced plans to increase its digital investments by about 50% between 2022 and 2026, the equivalent of 3 billion euros. In a statement, Chairman and CEO Alexandre Bompard said the goal is “to transform Carrefour, a traditional retailer with e-commerce capabilities, into a digital retail company, which places digital and data at the heart of all its operations and its value creation model.” And by doing so, it “will unleash the full potential of omnichannel, which is today the DNA of Carrefour and a unique asset in the industry.” The key drivers of this 2026 digital strategy, which will be based on a “data-centric, digital first” approach, include the ramp-up of data and retail media activities, as well as the digitization of financial services and traditional retail operations, according to the statement.. Carrefour’s mobile app has been downloaded 33 million times, and with 800 million annual visits to its digital platforms, the firm’s goal to make digital expansion a pillar of its future strategy plan may well be within reach.

Picnic wants to conquer France city by city

Dutch online supermarket Picnic is officially launching in France. After a test in Valenciennes under the pseudonym TocToc, the company is now going for a phased roll-out. Picnic is now officially active in France, starting with the town of Valenciennes in the north of the country. Earlier, a limited test launch took place under the name TocToc, possibly to mislead the press, but now the Dutch company confirms its ambitions. From now on, all inhabitants of Valenciennes can register via the French app and Picnic will start a phased rollout, which will be done city by city, just like in the Netherlands and Germany. “We have been preparing the launch in France for two years,” says co-founder of Picnic Michiel Muller. “Valenciennes is a typical Picnic city: it is home to many families who like to save time by having their groceries delivered at home.” At the moment, the online supermarket has around 20 delivery staff and 10 electric delivery vans in France, which can deliver to 60,000 households from a hub in Anzin. By the end of this year, the pure player will have about 50 delivery staff and an expected 30 trolleys. The motto “Meilleurs prix, livrés gratuit” will appear on the vans. Picnic says it will also focus on local products in its assortment. At the beginning of May, German supermarket group Edeka increased its stake in Picnic, which was founded in 2015 in Amersfoort. The e-commerce player has been active in Germany since 2018 and today claims to have one million customers. This includes 650,000 customers in over 125 Dutch locations and 350,000 customers in some 40 German municipalities. In 2020, the turnover doubled to 500 million euros, and in 2021 Picnic aims for one billion euros.

French Supermarkets to Phase Out Plastic Packaging With Refill Stations

French grocery chains will have to begin switching to food refill stations as part of a new environmental bill. The law, which has been passed by the French parliament, will require retailers to phase out disposable plastic packaging and dedicate a fifth of their store to allow customers to buy dry food products using their own reusable containers. MPs in France have voted in favour of new legislation that would force large supermarket chains in the country to make it easier for customers to bring and shop using reusable containers. The anti-plastic packaging bill, which is a part of a swathe of environmental and climate resilience measures being debated, will still need to be discussed and passed by the Senate next month before being implemented. If passed, the legislation will require retailers with a storefront larger than 400 metres squared to dedicate 20% of their space to food refill stations by the end of the decade. It will apply to dry food products, such as pasta, cereals, beans, and rice. Smaller businesses and non-food shops such as off-licences and wine stores will not be subject to the new rules. Barbara Pompili, the minister of ecological transition, said that the law is designed to “not put distribution networks into difficulty”, but instead to promote the phasing out of disposable packaging to combat the world’s mounting waste crisis. Recent studies suggest that the global plastic crisis is so severe that even with an 80% reduction in plastic use, the planet will be left to tackle over 710 million tonnes of plastic waste.

Opinion: Lessons in retailer communications

The retail sector has been turned upside down in 2020: compulsory face coverings, one-way systems, contactless payments, the rise of Click & Collect… The pandemic has forced retailers to reinvent themselves to meet the new expectations of their customers. According to a recent survey of 114 British and French retailers (Critizr Jan 2021) , 91% said that the crisis has impacted their customers’ shopping experience. This underlines the importance of listening to both staff and customers to deliver a quality customer experience. Nearly half the retailers surveyed (48%) have made concrete changes and achieved positive results: increased online sales, better communication between customers and in-store staff – and 80% of retailers claim to have seen increased customer loyalty as a consequence. We have seen that under the pressure of this health crisis, retailers have been able to evolve. It remains unclear whether these changes will continue over the long term and if the sector will be able to maintain and develop this relationship with both staff and customers. As we enter 2021, customers continue to express their concern about the pandemic and their need to feel safe in stores. It is essential that retailers continue to build on what they have already put in place or consumers will quite simply switch to other providers. And the lessons of 2020 would mean nothing. Now more than ever, when people are seeking to get closer, to create or rekindle connections, our relationships with others remain essential. Let us hope that retailers have fully understood this. Sophie Delcroix Managing Director GS France

French Agriculture Minister Tweets France Will Not Support Cell-Based Meat Despite Rising Consumer Acceptance

French agricultural minister Julien Denormandie has made a controversial comment suggesting that France will not agree to the commercialisation of cultivated meat. There has been rising consumer acceptance driven by greater awareness of the health, sustainability, and food security advantages of cell-based proteins. Alternative protein experts have criticised the minister’s remarks, emphasising the need to transform the protein supply chain and shift away from traditional animal agriculture to tackle the climate crisis and threats of future zoonotic pandemics.  In a tweet published on December 3, Denormandie responded to the authorisation for cell-based food products by the Singapore government, suggesting that France would not be open to cultivated proteins.  “Is this what we want for our children, as a society? Me, no! I will clearly state it: meat comes from the living, not laboratories,” wrote Denormandie. “You can rely on me, in France, meat will remain natural and never artificial!” The comment followed the breaking announcement from San Francisco-based food tech Eat Just that it has received regulatory approval from Singapore to begin selling its cultured chicken, in what is the world’s first-ever commercial cell-based meat product.  The minister’s tweet has already attracted criticism from alternative protein experts, many of whom have pointed out the many advantages that cultivated proteins will bring. These innovations will revolutionise the broken meat supply chain, which is contributing an estimated 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions each year and driving unsustainable practices such as deforestation. E.U. Green Deal supporters have also emphasised the need for novel ways to produce protein to reduce our carbon footprint.  Responding to Denormandie on Twitter, Agriculture Cellulaire France, a French association whose mission is to inform and educate the public about cellular agriculture, wrote: “It would be a shame to reject an innovative production method that would allow France to be competitive in the fast-growing field of alternative proteins. Instead, we are promoting the development of a French sector that guarantees quality!” Matthew Vincent, founder of DigitalFoodLab and a food tech expert in France, said that the minister’s outright rejection of cell-based meat was “quite upsetting as it ideologically dismisses the technology without looking at its potential benefits. This kind of easy political reaction [that] look[s] after the votes of farmers…is also dismissive of all the efforts of French and European entrepreneurs working on cellular agriculture”. Many have further highlighted evidence that French consumers are no longer as dismissive of cell-based proteins as they have traditionally been. Cultivated meat has increased support in the wake of the coronavirus, which has highlighted the safety and health advantages of alternative meats. In September, research into cell-based meat acceptance revealed nearly half (44%) of French consumers were willing to try cultured meat.  Source : https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/julien-denormandie-france-minister-tweet-cellular-agriculture-not-for-french-people/

For the 25th Year, Carrefour is Hosting the Largest Ever Staged Food Banks for the Nationwide Donation Campaign –During This Health Crisis

This year, more than ever, the Food Banks need help and donations to tackle the economic and social crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic has created. Carrefour has been one of the campaign’s major partners since 1995 and is one of the biggest private donors to the Food Banks. They are getting involved once again for the 36th edition, calling upon its employees, highlighting essential products and collecting donations in more than 1500 stores. In 2019, The Nationwide Donation campaign was held in November and helped distribute the equivalent of several million meals to the poorest people (2000 tonnes of donations or some 4 million meals). With the pandemic, demand for food aid has exploded by between 20 and 25%, depending on the region. The result is that the Food Banks network has suffered a 23% fall in its stocks. This donation campaign is therefore essential for mitigating this situation. For this year’s edition, Carrefour will be hosting the donation campaign throughout France with the help of consumer awareness-raising volunteers grouped together in smaller teams. They will be following strict protocols to protect both themselves and the donors. Carrefour is donating €300,000 to the campaign. Source : https://www.carrefour.com/en/actuality/25th-year-carrefour-hosting-food-banks-nationwide-donation-campaign-largest-ever-staged

Carrefour France Open Up Its Marketplace To Independent Retailers For Free

Through its marketplace, which currently focuses on food, Carrefour provides small retailers with an accelerated solution for digitising their businesses, and is making it free to use during the lockdown. In June 2020, Carrefour launched a food marketplace which has already made products from more than a hundred retailers available to some 15 million people in France. 52% of these are SMEs, very small companies and start-ups. During the pandemic, to help food producers and retailers affected by the lockdown speed up their adoption of digital technologies, the Carrefour group is giving them free access to its marketplace until the end of 2020. This will give these new retailers free access to a very wide customer base without having to spend anything on marketing, and without needing to undertake any emergency development work on their own websites. Retailers can simply contact the Marketplace development unit and they will be able to digitalise their business in under a week. Currently specialising in food, Carrefour’s Marketplace will gradually open up to non-food products with the Black Friday sales event scheduled for the end of November 2020. Source: https://internationalsupermarketnews.com/carrefour-france-open-up-its-marketplace-to-independent-retailers-for-free/

Uber Eats, Carrefour Expand Partnership In France, Belgium

Uber Eats and Carrefour, the French supermarket and department store under one roof, announced an agreement covering deliveries beyond Paris and in Belgium. Terms of the deal were not disclosed in the Monday (July 27) announcement. Carrefour said it operates 12,300 stores in more than 30 countries, serves 105 million customers worldwide and has a workforce of more than 380,000. At the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in April, Uber Eats, the San Francisco-based online food ordering and delivery platform, and Carrefour teamed up to deliver groceries, hygiene and household maintenance products within 30 minutes from 15 Carrefour stores. Since the launch three months ago, the service has been expanded to 330 stores in 91 major urban areas, or 25 percent  of France’s population. It is expected to increase to 500 by September, the company said. Following promising results, Uber Eats and Carrefour have signed an exclusive deal to launch a shopping home delivery service for all of France. The idea is for shopping orders to be delivered within 30 minutes using meal delivery apps. The partnership with Uber Eats is not limited to France. An initial agreement was signed with Carrefour Taiwan last year covered eight cities and 38 stores. Carrefour promised it will launch in Belgium in September, with the service being available in Brussels and Liège. Other Carrefour Group countries will follow over the next few months, the firm said. “Carrefour is very proud of its collaboration with Uber Eats. It will provide customers in France and in other countries with access to a shopping home delivery service, with channels that supplement our existing services,” said Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Carrefour’s executive director of eCommerce, in a statement. Last month, Carrefour added a voice-activated shopping option to accelerate its expansion into food eCommerce. Users who adopt Google Assistant, the digital voice service on smartphones and other devices, can link their Google and Carrefour accounts to add items to a shopping list by just saying the words, such as butter,  milk, or other product names or specific brands. Uber Eats is not the only delivery service that has expanded in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Berlin-based Delivery Hero has shifted its business model to offer grocery services as well. DoorDash debuted a program to deliver household items beyond food such as paper towels, medicine, cleaning supplies or any item found in supermarkets. DoorDash partnered with 1,800 stores including 7-Eleven, Wawa, Casey’s General Store, CircleK and more SOURCE: https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2020/uber-eats-carrefour-expand-partnership-in-france-belgium/

Groupe Casino Offloads Vindémia Business For €219m

Groupe Casino has finalised the sale of its Vindémia business, which operates a number of stores on the islands of Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius and Mayotte, for an enterprise value of €219 million. The group said that proceeds from the sale amount to €207 million, based on an estimated net financial debt and working capital requirement at 30 June 2020, of which €186 million has been received. The completion of the sale follows the granting of approval by the French Competition Authority. Groupe Casino said that the sale means that the total amount of proceeds received from the sale of non-strategic assets to €2.0 billion since July 2018, out of a total signed to date of €2.8 billion. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/groupe-casino-offloads-vindemia-business-e219m-102407

Red Meat Exports Continue Despite Lockdowns

Latest trade figures from HMRC show that there continues to be a strong export market for Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef, despite the disruption caused by coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and beyond. UK exports of beef and sheepmeat are down in April 2020 compared with the same month the previous year, however the total comparison for the first four months of the year show more modest changes. Beef exports are up 2.8% by volume as against the first four months of 2019, although the value was down slightly from £144million to £131million. The volume of sheepmeat exports from the UK are down 18% as compared with the bumper export year of 2019, however the figures are broadly in line with the previous year. The value of exports in the first four months of 2020 was £121.7million, as opposed to £120.2million in 2018 and £127.9million in 2019. Pork exports continue to rise due to demand from China. “We’re still facing what could be an even greater uncertainty at the end of the year if a trade agreement between the UK and the EU is not agreed, potentially leading to high tariffs on European exports.” The trade figures also show that imports into the UK in April, notably of Irish beef and New Zealand lamb, have experienced a modest fall on previous years. According to Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the HMRC export figures show that demand is still present for Welsh meat, despite the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the closure of foodservice outlets. “HMRC’s UK trade figures for April mark the height of lockdowns in many countries, and reflect a period when many restaurants and hotels – important markets for beef and lamb from Wales – were closed,” said HCC data analyst, Glesni Phillips. “However, although export volumes are down somewhat as against last year due to the disruption, producers have adapted to changing demand,” she explained. “Lamb and beef from Wales is still being exported into retail and other sectors.” Phillips emphasised that the outlook for the rest of the year was one of great uncertainty. She said: “We are seeing lockdowns being lifted gradually in many countries, which should help the foodservice trade which is so valuable for the Welsh red meat sector. However it’s impossible to predict how quickly levels of hotel and restaurant demand will return to normal.” “We’re still facing what could be an even greater uncertainty at the end of the year if a trade agreement between the UK and the EU is not agreed, potentially leading to high tariffs on European exports,” she warned. “These figures also highlight that over 90% of the UK’s beef and lamb exports go to the EU.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/red-meat-exports-continue-despite-lockdowns/

Groupe Casino Offloads Vindémia Business For €219m

Groupe Casino has finalised the sale of its Vindémia business, which operates a number of stores on the islands of Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius and Mayotte, for an enterprise value of €219 million. The group said that proceeds from the sale amount to €207 million, based on an estimated net financial debt and working capital requirement at 30 June 2020, of which €186 million has been received. The completion of the sale follows the granting of approval by the French Competition Authority. Groupe Casino said that the sale means that the total amount of proceeds received from the sale of non-strategic assets to €2.0 billion since July 2018, out of a total signed to date of €2.8 billion. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/groupe-casino-offloads-vindemia-business-e219m-102407

Red meat exports continue despite lockdowns

Latest trade figures from HMRC show that there continues to be a strong export market for Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef, despite the disruption caused by coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and beyond. UK exports of beef and sheepmeat are down in April 2020 compared with the same month the previous year, however the total comparison for the first four months of the year show more modest changes. Beef exports are up 2.8% by volume as against the first four months of 2019, although the value was down slightly from £144million to £131million. The volume of sheepmeat exports from the UK are down 18% as compared with the bumper export year of 2019, however the figures are broadly in line with the previous year. The value of exports in the first four months of 2020 was £121.7million, as opposed to £120.2million in 2018 and £127.9million in 2019. Pork exports continue to rise due to demand from China. “We’re still facing what could be an even greater uncertainty at the end of the year if a trade agreement between the UK and the EU is not agreed, potentially leading to high tariffs on European exports.” The trade figures also show that imports into the UK in April, notably of Irish beef and New Zealand lamb, have experienced a modest fall on previous years. According to Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the HMRC export figures show that demand is still present for Welsh meat, despite the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the closure of foodservice outlets. “HMRC’s UK trade figures for April mark the height of lockdowns in many countries, and reflect a period when many restaurants and hotels – important markets for beef and lamb from Wales – were closed,” said HCC data analyst, Glesni Phillips. “However, although export volumes are down somewhat as against last year due to the disruption, producers have adapted to changing demand,” she explained. “Lamb and beef from Wales is still being exported into retail and other sectors.” Phillips emphasised that the outlook for the rest of the year was one of great uncertainty. She said: “We are seeing lockdowns being lifted gradually in many countries, which should help the foodservice trade which is so valuable for the Welsh red meat sector. However it’s impossible to predict how quickly levels of hotel and restaurant demand will return to normal.” “We’re still facing what could be an even greater uncertainty at the end of the year if a trade agreement between the UK and the EU is not agreed, potentially leading to high tariffs on European exports,” she warned. “These figures also highlight that over 90% of the UK’s beef and lamb exports go to the EU.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/red-meat-exports-continue-despite-lockdowns/

Carrefour, Google To Launch Voice Grocery Shopping Service In France

Carrefour and Google said they were launching a voice-based grocery shopping service in France as part of the French retailer’s ambition to accelerate its expansion into food e-commerce. The service works via Google Assistant – a digital voice assistance service on smart phones and other devices – and is part of a strategic partnership between the two companies initiated in June 2018, the joint statement said. “This innovation, developed with Google, will further accelerate the trajectory of e-commerce at Carrefour,” said Amelie Oudea-Castera, Carrefour’s executive director of e-commerce, data and digital transformation. Global Overhaul Carrefour is in the midst of a global overhaul to boost sales and profits and it plans to invest €2.8 billion in digital commerce by the end of the year in the face of competition from Amazon It is aiming to increase food e-commerce sales to €4.2 billion by 2022 from €1.3 bilion in 2019 and €1.0 billion in 2018. The new service will allow users who associate their Google account with their Carrefour account to add items to a shopping list by saying generic words such as butter or milk, or names of products or brands. The Assistant, which is connected to Carrefour’s e-commerce inventory, then converts the list into a cart of products available on the Carrefour.fr website. The specific items added to the shopping cart by Google Assistant will reflect the user’s product preferences, while giving them the option to delete, modify or add products. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/technology/carrefour-google-launch-voice-grocery-shopping-service-france-101032

Carrefour, Google To Launch Voice Grocery Shopping Service In France

Carrefour and Google said they were launching a voice-based grocery shopping service in France as part of the French retailer’s ambition to accelerate its expansion into food e-commerce. The service works via Google Assistant – a digital voice assistance service on smart phones and other devices – and is part of a strategic partnership between the two companies initiated in June 2018, the joint statement said. “This innovation, developed with Google, will further accelerate the trajectory of e-commerce at Carrefour,” said Amelie Oudea-Castera, Carrefour’s executive director of e-commerce, data and digital transformation. Global Overhaul Carrefour is in the midst of a global overhaul to boost sales and profits and it plans to invest €2.8 billion in digital commerce by the end of the year in the face of competition from Amazon It is aiming to increase food e-commerce sales to €4.2 billion by 2022 from €1.3 bilion in 2019 and €1.0 billion in 2018. The new service will allow users who associate their Google account with their Carrefour account to add items to a shopping list by saying generic words such as butter or milk, or names of products or brands. The Assistant, which is connected to Carrefour’s e-commerce inventory, then converts the list into a cart of products available on the Carrefour.fr website. The specific items added to the shopping cart by Google Assistant will reflect the user’s product preferences, while giving them the option to delete, modify or add products. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/technology/carrefour-google-launch-voice-grocery-shopping-service-france-101032

New west Wales health ambassador supports Stoc+ project

An animal health project has welcomed a new veterinary ambassador to support proactive animal health planning on beef and sheep farms in Wales. Alun Evans, who practises at Market Hall Vets, St Clears, joined the Stoc+ ambassador team a few months ago and has been advising farmers on vaccination uses and best practice through online videos through his role as a Stoc+ vet ambassador. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown, the Stoc+ project has adapted to working remotely with meetings and visits being held on virtual platforms. Its veterinary ambassadors have also taken a different approach, promoting proactive animal health planning and sharing advice on the red meat development programme (RMDP)’s website and social media channels. Stoc+, which is coordinated by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), aims to improve overall health of flock and herd on Welsh farms and ultimately, enhancing animal health planning and boosting production efficiency. Alun Evans explains: “Vaccinations against clostridial diseases are essential for beef and sheep farmers in Wales. Unfortunately, one of the first signs of clostridial disease is sudden death and so knowing the best time to give vaccinations is key for a healthy herd or flock.” Vaccinations are an important part of disease control, but there are other factors to consider such as the animal’s general health and specific antibodies of the disease. “Cattle and sheep usually require two doses four to six weeks apart. Some immunity can be passed from ewe to lambs; however, protection is only offered for a short period of time, therefore, it is important to vaccinate the lambs and calves as they grow.” Dr Rebekah Stuart, HCC flock and herd health executive, adds: “Farmers who are part of the Stoc+ project are advised to keep their health plans updated and to follow the tailored vaccine timetable developed during the visits. For further advice, farmers should consider consulting their vet to discuss the best way forward.” SOURCE : https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/farming/18502662.new-west-wales-health-ambassador-supports-stoc-project/

Carrefour Pledges To Cut CO2 Emissions By 30% By 2030

Carrefour has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from products sold in its stores by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019. It will be the equivalent of reducing 20 megatonnes of CO2 emissions, the retailer added. Carrefour has identified gas, electricity and refrigerants as the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from its stores. The retailer’s new carbon reduction objectives have been approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) led by the CDP, the Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF. In 2015, the Carrefour Group vowed to reduce its carbon footprint from stores by 40% by 2025 compared to 2010. However, it already achieved a 39% reduction in 2019. Focus Areas Carrefour aims to achieve the new goal by focussing on three areas – suppliers, consumers and transportation of goods. The retailer will encourage consumers and suppliers to focus on products that are local, eco-designed and require less packaging. It will also offer more plant-based food items. In terms of transport, the retailer will its optimise logistics models and develop alternatives to the use of diesel. By 2022, the company plans to triple its fleet of biomethane-fuelled trucks in France. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-pledges-cut-co2-emissions-30-2030-100184

New west Wales health ambassador supports Stoc+ project

An animal health project has welcomed a new veterinary ambassador to support proactive animal health planning on beef and sheep farms in Wales. Alun Evans, who practises at Market Hall Vets, St Clears, joined the Stoc+ ambassador team a few months ago and has been advising farmers on vaccination uses and best practice through online videos through his role as a Stoc+ vet ambassador. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown, the Stoc+ project has adapted to working remotely with meetings and visits being held on virtual platforms. Its veterinary ambassadors have also taken a different approach, promoting proactive animal health planning and sharing advice on the red meat development programme (RMDP)’s website and social media channels. Stoc+, which is coordinated by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), aims to improve overall health of flock and herd on Welsh farms and ultimately, enhancing animal health planning and boosting production efficiency. Alun Evans explains: “Vaccinations against clostridial diseases are essential for beef and sheep farmers in Wales. Unfortunately, one of the first signs of clostridial disease is sudden death and so knowing the best time to give vaccinations is key for a healthy herd or flock.” Vaccinations are an important part of disease control, but there are other factors to consider such as the animal’s general health and specific antibodies of the disease. “Cattle and sheep usually require two doses four to six weeks apart. Some immunity can be passed from ewe to lambs; however, protection is only offered for a short period of time, therefore, it is important to vaccinate the lambs and calves as they grow.” Dr Rebekah Stuart, HCC flock and herd health executive, adds: “Farmers who are part of the Stoc+ project are advised to keep their health plans updated and to follow the tailored vaccine timetable developed during the visits. For further advice, farmers should consider consulting their vet to discuss the best way forward.” SOURCE : https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/farming/18502662.new-west-wales-health-ambassador-supports-stoc-project/

Carrefour Pledges To Cut CO2 Emissions By 30% By 2030

Carrefour has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from products sold in its stores by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019. It will be the equivalent of reducing 20 megatonnes of CO2 emissions, the retailer added. Carrefour has identified gas, electricity and refrigerants as the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from its stores. The retailer’s new carbon reduction objectives have been approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) led by the CDP, the Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF. In 2015, the Carrefour Group vowed to reduce its carbon footprint from stores by 40% by 2025 compared to 2010. However, it already achieved a 39% reduction in 2019. Focus Areas Carrefour aims to achieve the new goal by focussing on three areas – suppliers, consumers and transportation of goods. The retailer will encourage consumers and suppliers to focus on products that are local, eco-designed and require less packaging. It will also offer more plant-based food items. In terms of transport, the retailer will its optimise logistics models and develop alternatives to the use of diesel. By 2022, the company plans to triple its fleet of biomethane-fuelled trucks in France. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-pledges-cut-co2-emissions-30-2030-100184

Private Label Tops 30% Share In Almost All European Markets: PLMA

Private label share is now above 30% in almost all of Europe, the latest edition of PLMA’s International Private Label Yearbook has shown. This year’s edition of the yearbook, which incorporates Nielsen data to the end of 2019, shows that private label has gained market share in 14 of the 19 countries surveyed. In the UK and Germany, private label share remains above 40%, while in Italy, its share rose by two percentage points, its biggest gain to date. Significant Growth One of the biggest increases in private label share was seen in the Netherlands, which was up more than seven percentage points to 37%, boosted by the inclusion of Aldi in the data for the first time. In France, where Aldi and Lidl are not included in Nielsen’s data, private label holds a unit share of 31% and a value share of 25%. Spain and Portugal, meanwhile remain strong markets for private label, with store brands accounting for half of all products sold in Spain, and 43% in Portugal. In central and eastern Europe, market share stayed above 40% in Austria and above 30% in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia, while in Switzerland, private label accounts for half of products sold. Norway led the way in Scandinavia, with private label market share climbing two percentage points to more than 34%. Sweden increased to 33%, while Finland stayed above 30%. Lastly, Greece reported private label market share of above 31% for the first time, while Turkey saw share rise two percentage points to more than 30%. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/private-label/private-label-tops-30-share-almost-european-markets-plma-99560

Private Label Tops 30% Share In Almost All European Markets: PLMA

Private label share is now above 30% in almost all of Europe, the latest edition of PLMA’s International Private Label Yearbook has shown. This year’s edition of the yearbook, which incorporates Nielsen data to the end of 2019, shows that private label has gained market share in 14 of the 19 countries surveyed. In the UK and Germany, private label share remains above 40%, while in Italy, its share rose by two percentage points, its biggest gain to date. Significant Growth One of the biggest increases in private label share was seen in the Netherlands, which was up more than seven percentage points to 37%, boosted by the inclusion of Aldi in the data for the first time. In France, where Aldi and Lidl are not included in Nielsen’s data, private label holds a unit share of 31% and a value share of 25%. Spain and Portugal, meanwhile remain strong markets for private label, with store brands accounting for half of all products sold in Spain, and 43% in Portugal. In central and eastern Europe, market share stayed above 40% in Austria and above 30% in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia, while in Switzerland, private label accounts for half of products sold. Norway led the way in Scandinavia, with private label market share climbing two percentage points to more than 34%. Sweden increased to 33%, while Finland stayed above 30%. Lastly, Greece reported private label market share of above 31% for the first time, while Turkey saw share rise two percentage points to more than 30%. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/private-label/private-label-tops-30-share-almost-european-markets-plma-99560

Average shelf-life of PGI Welsh Lamb lengthens

A significant lengthening in the average shelf-life of PGI Welsh Lamb has been made, a key objective in improving the long-term competitiveness of the industry. Previously, shelf-life figures ranged from around 21 to 28 days, but figures collated from processors confirm a 16% improvement over the year, to an average of 33 days. Some overseas producers have pioneered extending the shelf-life of lamb in recent years. Emulating this improvement has been identified as a key factor in helping Welsh lamb’s competitiveness in the domestic retail market, and in attracting new export customers. In leading the industry towards these improvements, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has worked at all stages of the supply chain. This has included holding training courses for farmers on best practice in terms of livestock presentation, and working with processing companies on improvements at abattoirs, cutting plants and in transportation. “Improving shelf life has been an important strategic aim, and it’s pleasing to have taken a significant step forward,” said HCC Chief Executive, Gwyn Howells. “The shelf life figure varies somewhat between different cuts; some products now have a shelf life of significantly longer than a month, which is a great help in attracting new export customers.” He added that it also aids the industry in being able to achieve a consistent year-round supply to retailers in Britain. “Since we started focusing on this area, many hundreds of farmers and agriculture students have attended our free courses on presenting livestock for slaughter,” explained Mr Howells. “We’ve also worked hand-in-hand with processors, and are continuing this work through our Welsh Lamb Meat Quality project. “We’re determined to continue this momentum and achieve even better results in years to come,” he said. SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/average-shelf-life-of-pgi-welsh-lamb-lengthens_55656.html

Average shelf-life of PGI Welsh Lamb lengthens

A significant lengthening in the average shelf-life of PGI Welsh Lamb has been made, a key objective in improving the long-term competitiveness of the industry. Previously, shelf-life figures ranged from around 21 to 28 days, but figures collated from processors confirm a 16% improvement over the year, to an average of 33 days. Some overseas producers have pioneered extending the shelf-life of lamb in recent years. Emulating this improvement has been identified as a key factor in helping Welsh lamb’s competitiveness in the domestic retail market, and in attracting new export customers. In leading the industry towards these improvements, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has worked at all stages of the supply chain. This has included holding training courses for farmers on best practice in terms of livestock presentation, and working with processing companies on improvements at abattoirs, cutting plants and in transportation. “Improving shelf life has been an important strategic aim, and it’s pleasing to have taken a significant step forward,” said HCC Chief Executive, Gwyn Howells. “The shelf life figure varies somewhat between different cuts; some products now have a shelf life of significantly longer than a month, which is a great help in attracting new export customers.” He added that it also aids the industry in being able to achieve a consistent year-round supply to retailers in Britain. “Since we started focusing on this area, many hundreds of farmers and agriculture students have attended our free courses on presenting livestock for slaughter,” explained Mr Howells. “We’ve also worked hand-in-hand with processors, and are continuing this work through our Welsh Lamb Meat Quality project. “We’re determined to continue this momentum and achieve even better results in years to come,” he said. SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/average-shelf-life-of-pgi-welsh-lamb-lengthens_55656.html

Paris Food Hub Emerges From Lockdown With Hopes Of Restaurant Return

RUNGIS, France (Reuters) – Business is stirring at a giant wholesale produce market near Paris after France loosened coronavirus containment measures this week, but food firms are waiting for restaurant and hotel trade to return before celebrating. The easing of France’s lockdown, one of the strictest in Europe, has brought some workers back to their jobs and seen the reopening of street markets that usually absorb part of the fresh produce channelled through the 234-hectare Rungis hub just south of the capital. Masks must be worn, touching the produce is banned and the wholesale market’s usually bustling cafes serve take-away only. “This week is thankfully a week in which our business has picked up,” Veronique Gillardeau, owner of seafood wholesaler Maison Blanc, said as Friday’s trade wound down before dawn in the fish hall at Rungis. “You usually have people greeting each other, meeting up at the cafe, there’s a special middle-of-the-night atmosphere here,” Gillardeau said. “All that side we’re having to forget.” HOME COOKING As lockdown closed restaurants and street markets, farmers struggled to get crops picked and transport became more complex. Wholesalers said supply snags or a switch to French produce from usual origins such as Spain caused price spikes in produce such as strawberries and asparagus. Some at Rungis eked back sales by offering new products and services. Meat and poultry suppliers say they have fallen back on butcher shops and provided more elaborate cuts as households have taken to home cooking. Some fruit and vegetable firms have teamed up with a home delivery service launched by Rungis to fill part of the gap left by restaurants. The resumption of street markets in and around Paris has helped suppliers. “We haven’t clawed everything back yet but it’s going much better,” Bruno Courillon, head of poultry wholesaler Eurovolaille, said, after losing up to 30% of his usual sales during the lockdown. Cedric Gidel, a customer of Eurovolaille who runs a poultry stand at the Aligre food market in eastern Paris, said he was back at his old spot this week, although social distancing measures meant footfall at the market was down by half. The closure until at least June of restaurants and hotels remains a cloud over Rungis. The French fish sector is reliant on restaurants for over half of its volumes. At Rungis, 45% of all firms are to some extent dependent on restaurant trade, said Stephane Layani, CEO of Semmaris, the company that manages the wholesale hub. “I am very worried,” he said from his office overlooking the complex. “The restaurant and hotel sectors are going to be helped but those further up the chain shouldn’t be forgotten,” he said, after the government announced measures to support its tourism sector. Wholesalers were also cautious. “You can’t say activity is like it was before COVID. As long as the restaurants are shut, it’s going to be tough for us,” said Gillardeau. SOURCE : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-food/paris-food-hub-emerges-from-lockdown-with-hopes-of-restaurant-return-idUSKBN22R2OM

Paris food hub emerges from lockdown with hopes of restaurant return

RUNGIS, France (Reuters) – Business is stirring at a giant wholesale produce market near Paris after France loosened coronavirus containment measures this week, but food firms are waiting for restaurant and hotel trade to return before celebrating. The easing of France’s lockdown, one of the strictest in Europe, has brought some workers back to their jobs and seen the reopening of street markets that usually absorb part of the fresh produce channelled through the 234-hectare Rungis hub just south of the capital. Masks must be worn, touching the produce is banned and the wholesale market’s usually bustling cafes serve take-away only. “This week is thankfully a week in which our business has picked up,” Veronique Gillardeau, owner of seafood wholesaler Maison Blanc, said as Friday’s trade wound down before dawn in the fish hall at Rungis. “You usually have people greeting each other, meeting up at the cafe, there’s a special middle-of-the-night atmosphere here,” Gillardeau said. “All that side we’re having to forget.” HOME COOKING As lockdown closed restaurants and street markets, farmers struggled to get crops picked and transport became more complex. Wholesalers said supply snags or a switch to French produce from usual origins such as Spain caused price spikes in produce such as strawberries and asparagus. Some at Rungis eked back sales by offering new products and services. Meat and poultry suppliers say they have fallen back on butcher shops and provided more elaborate cuts as households have taken to home cooking. Some fruit and vegetable firms have teamed up with a home delivery service launched by Rungis to fill part of the gap left by restaurants. The resumption of street markets in and around Paris has helped suppliers. “We haven’t clawed everything back yet but it’s going much better,” Bruno Courillon, head of poultry wholesaler Eurovolaille, said, after losing up to 30% of his usual sales during the lockdown. Cedric Gidel, a customer of Eurovolaille who runs a poultry stand at the Aligre food market in eastern Paris, said he was back at his old spot this week, although social distancing measures meant footfall at the market was down by half. The closure until at least June of restaurants and hotels remains a cloud over Rungis. The French fish sector is reliant on restaurants for over half of its volumes. At Rungis, 45% of all firms are to some extent dependent on restaurant trade, said Stephane Layani, CEO of Semmaris, the company that manages the wholesale hub. “I am very worried,” he said from his office overlooking the complex. “The restaurant and hotel sectors are going to be helped but those further up the chain shouldn’t be forgotten,” he said, after the government announced measures to support its tourism sector. Wholesalers were also cautious. “You can’t say activity is like it was before COVID. As long as the restaurants are shut, it’s going to be tough for us,” said Gillardeau. SOURCE : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-food/paris-food-hub-emerges-from-lockdown-with-hopes-of-restaurant-return-idUSKBN22R2OM

New HCC board convenes during continued crisis

New additions to the Board of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) met with their colleagues virtually with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic top of the agenda. Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, was also in attendance for the first formal bi-monthly meeting since the new appointments, although the Board has been holding interim weekly video conference meetings as part of its response to the Covid-19 crisis. The Minister and Board members heard of the continuing difficulties facing the red meat sector as a result of the current crisis, and discussed HCC’s ongoing measures to support the industry. “It’s unlikely that the hotel and catering sector will return to normality quickly – either in Britain or among our major export partners – so we are likely to see uncertainty for many weeks to come.” Retail trends and market price data were presented which showed that consumers are beginning to settle into more stable buying behaviours, but that the near-total loss of the foodservice industry was still having a major impact on the beef sector, and could also adversely affect the lamb trade over the coming weeks. After the lockdown was introduced in March, a surge in consumer demand was seen, but mainly for cheaper cuts of meat and mince. April’s figures show a steadier pattern, however Easter lamb leg sales were down on previous years as families were not able to enjoy festive gatherings. Deadweight prime cattle prices have followed a downward trend since the start of April, to sit around 20p below year-earlier levels, reflecting a loss of trade in steaks and roasting joints from hotels and restaurants. Cull cow prices in England and Wales have also experienced a significant drop following the lockdown announcement and the closure of pubs, many fast food outlets and public sector catering establishments. Three weeks ago, HCC launched an additional marketing campaign for both lamb and beef, working with leading chefs to encourage consumers to enjoy ‘restaurant-style’ food at home during lockdown. This has now been reinforced by a GB-wide £1.2 million campaign specifically to support the beef sector, uniting the three levy boards, HCC, AHDB and QMS. Kevin Roberts, chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru commented: “The new board members have joined the organisation at a time of significant pressure across the red meat industry. The talent and expertise that they bring to the table will be invaluable in helping our organisation to support the whole supply chain. “This is a very challenging period for the red meat sector. The lockdown has led to a major imbalance in demand for processors and price fluctuations for farmers as a result. It’s unlikely that the hotel and catering sector will return to normality quickly – either in Britain or among our major export partners – so we are likely to see uncertainty for many weeks to come.” Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our agriculture and red meat industry. I was pleased to join HCC’s board meeting today to hear their concerns and discuss how we can work together to support the industry at these challenging times.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/new-hcc-board-convenes-during-continued-crisis/

New HCC board convenes during continued crisis

New additions to the Board of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) met with their colleagues virtually with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic top of the agenda. Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, was also in attendance for the first formal bi-monthly meeting since the new appointments, although the Board has been holding interim weekly video conference meetings as part of its response to the Covid-19 crisis. The Minister and Board members heard of the continuing difficulties facing the red meat sector as a result of the current crisis, and discussed HCC’s ongoing measures to support the industry. “It’s unlikely that the hotel and catering sector will return to normality quickly – either in Britain or among our major export partners – so we are likely to see uncertainty for many weeks to come.” Retail trends and market price data were presented which showed that consumers are beginning to settle into more stable buying behaviours, but that the near-total loss of the foodservice industry was still having a major impact on the beef sector, and could also adversely affect the lamb trade over the coming weeks. After the lockdown was introduced in March, a surge in consumer demand was seen, but mainly for cheaper cuts of meat and mince. April’s figures show a steadier pattern, however Easter lamb leg sales were down on previous years as families were not able to enjoy festive gatherings. Deadweight prime cattle prices have followed a downward trend since the start of April, to sit around 20p below year-earlier levels, reflecting a loss of trade in steaks and roasting joints from hotels and restaurants. Cull cow prices in England and Wales have also experienced a significant drop following the lockdown announcement and the closure of pubs, many fast food outlets and public sector catering establishments. Three weeks ago, HCC launched an additional marketing campaign for both lamb and beef, working with leading chefs to encourage consumers to enjoy ‘restaurant-style’ food at home during lockdown. This has now been reinforced by a GB-wide £1.2 million campaign specifically to support the beef sector, uniting the three levy boards, HCC, AHDB and QMS. Kevin Roberts, chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru commented: “The new board members have joined the organisation at a time of significant pressure across the red meat industry. The talent and expertise that they bring to the table will be invaluable in helping our organisation to support the whole supply chain. “This is a very challenging period for the red meat sector. The lockdown has led to a major imbalance in demand for processors and price fluctuations for farmers as a result. It’s unlikely that the hotel and catering sector will return to normality quickly – either in Britain or among our major export partners – so we are likely to see uncertainty for many weeks to come.” Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our agriculture and red meat industry. I was pleased to join HCC’s board meeting today to hear their concerns and discuss how we can work together to support the industry at these challenging times.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/new-hcc-board-convenes-during-continued-crisis/

French Shoppers Embracing Convenience, E-Commerce, Kantar Says

French shoppers are embracing convenience shopping as well as e-commerce during the coronavirus crisis, new data from Kantar has showed. According to data fro the period from 23 March to 19 April (P4), consumers spent 14.5% more on groceries than in the same period last year. However there was a slowdown in spending compared to the previous monthly period, in which shoppers spent 21.5% more than in the corresponding period the previous month. According to Kantar, French households are shopping less often (-17%) but are filling their baskets more (+37%) as the COVID-19 epidemic continues. Online Sales The research firm found that 10% of French shopper spend is now conducted via the Internet (+3.8%), with the number of transactions via e-commerce channels rising by 70%. Some 2.4 million additional households shopped online in the period, Kantar said. In addition, the convenience channel increased its share by 2.5%, to almost 9% of the market. Supermarkets were up 2.3%, while hypermarkets saw their share down 8.1%, with 3.1 million shoppers shunning big box grocery in the period. Retail Performance In terms of the best-performing retailers during the period, Les Mousquetaires, which operates the Intermarché chain, saw its share up 1.7% to 16.7%. Système U saw a 0.7% increase in market share, to 11.9%, while Aldi was up marginally, rising 0.1% share to 2.3%.. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-shoppers-embracing-convenience-e-commerce-kantar-says-97815

French Shoppers Embracing Convenience, E-Commerce, Kantar Says

French shoppers are embracing convenience shopping as well as e-commerce during the coronavirus crisis, new data from Kantar has showed. According to data fro the period from 23 March to 19 April (P4), consumers spent 14.5% more on groceries than in the same period last year. However there was a slowdown in spending compared to the previous monthly period, in which shoppers spent 21.5% more than in the corresponding period the previous month. According to Kantar, French households are shopping less often (-17%) but are filling their baskets more (+37%) as the COVID-19 epidemic continues. Online Sales The research firm found that 10% of French shopper spend is now conducted via the Internet (+3.8%), with the number of transactions via e-commerce channels rising by 70%. Some 2.4 million additional households shopped online in the period, Kantar said. In addition, the convenience channel increased its share by 2.5%, to almost 9% of the market. Supermarkets were up 2.3%, while hypermarkets saw their share down 8.1%, with 3.1 million shoppers shunning big box grocery in the period. Retail Performance In terms of the best-performing retailers during the period, Les Mousquetaires, which operates the Intermarché chain, saw its share up 1.7% to 16.7%. Système U saw a 0.7% increase in market share, to 11.9%, while Aldi was up marginally, rising 0.1% share to 2.3%.. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-shoppers-embracing-convenience-e-commerce-kantar-says-97815

Retailer Carrefour Q1 Sales Growth Accelerates With France, Brazil

Carrefour saw its revenue growth accelerate in the first quarter, reflecting strong food sales in March in all its markets and notably in the core French market, as people stayed at home due to coronavirus lockdowns. Carrefour, Europe’s largest food retailer by sales, said it was sticking to its financial and operational targets under its 2022 strategy plan to boost sales and profits. “We are living a defining moment in our sector. This crisis underscores the relevance of Carrefour’s strategy,” Chief Executive Alexandre Bompard told analysts. The novel coronavirus crisis also made the need for a sound cost structure and a healthy balance sheet even more important, he said. Carrefour is in the midst of a five-year plan it launched in 2018 to cut costs and boost e-commerce investment as it seeks to lift profits and revenue and help it tackle competition from Amazon. TURNAROUND STRATEGY Its turnaround plan also includes expanding into convenience stores, scaling back non-food items and putting greater emphasis on organic food. Finance Chief Matthieu Malige said that first quarter profitability was “close to our initial expectations”. Carrefour benefited from stronger food sales but also incurred extra costs tied to keeping its supply chain running smoothly, protecting its employees and staff during the crisis, and rewarding employees who were in the field. First quarter sales reached €19.445 billion, driven by a solid performance in January and February and stockpiling by households in March ahead of coronavirus lockdown measures in all the group’s countries. Once lockdown measures were implemented, consumers favoured convenience and supermarkets which are closer to home and more accessible at the expenses of hypermarkets, a trend that was flagged by French rival Casino last week. Group sales rose 7.8% on a like-for-like basis from a year earlier, accelerating from 3.1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2019. FRENCH OPERATIONS In France alone, sales rose 8.1% at Carrefour’s supermarkets and 6.8% at its convenience stores. Carrefour’s large hypermarkets, which generate 51% of Carrefour sales in France and whose revival is one of Bompard’s priorities, had however a more subdued sales performance as consumers favoured local and online shopping. Same-store sales at Carrefour’s hypermarkets rose 0.9% in the first quarter following a 3.4% decline in the fourth quarter 2019. Bompard told analysts that purchasing power was going to be a major concern in all countries once lockdowns ease, and that hypermarkets could be “a good answer to purchasing power concerns”. In Brazil, Carrefour’s sales growth of 7.6% was boosted by a strong performance for the Atacadao cash-and-carry stores. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/retailer-carrefour-q1-sales-growth-accelerates-with-france-brazil-96981

Retailer Carrefour Q1 Sales Growth Accelerates With France, Brazil

Carrefour saw its revenue growth accelerate in the first quarter, reflecting strong food sales in March in all its markets and notably in the core French market, as people stayed at home due to coronavirus lockdowns. Carrefour, Europe’s largest food retailer by sales, said it was sticking to its financial and operational targets under its 2022 strategy plan to boost sales and profits. “We are living a defining moment in our sector. This crisis underscores the relevance of Carrefour’s strategy,” Chief Executive Alexandre Bompard told analysts. The novel coronavirus crisis also made the need for a sound cost structure and a healthy balance sheet even more important, he said. Carrefour is in the midst of a five-year plan it launched in 2018 to cut costs and boost e-commerce investment as it seeks to lift profits and revenue and help it tackle competition from Amazon. Turnaround Strategy Its turnaround plan also includes expanding into convenience stores, scaling back non-food items and putting greater emphasis on organic food. Finance Chief Matthieu Malige said that first quarter profitability was “close to our initial expectations”. Carrefour benefited from stronger food sales but also incurred extra costs tied to keeping its supply chain running smoothly, protecting its employees and staff during the crisis, and rewarding employees who were in the field. First quarter sales reached €19.445 billion, driven by a solid performance in January and February and stockpiling by households in March ahead of coronavirus lockdown measures in all the group’s countries. Once lockdown measures were implemented, consumers favoured convenience and supermarkets which are closer to home and more accessible at the expenses of hypermarkets, a trend that was flagged by French rival Casino last week. Group sales rose 7.8% on a like-for-like basis from a year earlier, accelerating from 3.1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2019. French Operations In France alone, sales rose 8.1% at Carrefour’s supermarkets and 6.8% at its convenience stores. Carrefour’s large hypermarkets, which generate 51% of Carrefour sales in France and whose revival is one of Bompard’s priorities, had however a more subdued sales performance as consumers favoured local and online shopping. Same-store sales at Carrefour’s hypermarkets rose 0.9% in the first quarter following a 3.4% decline in the fourth quarter 2019. Bompard told analysts that purchasing power was going to be a major concern in all countries once lockdowns ease, and that hypermarkets could be “a good answer to purchasing power concerns”. In Brazil, Carrefour’s sales growth of 7.6% was boosted by a strong performance for the Atacadao cash-and-carry stores. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/retailer-carrefour-q1-sales-growth-accelerates-with-france-brazil-96981

Casino’s Q1 Sales Growth Accelerates, Boosted By Food Demand In France

Retailer Casino, battling investor concerns over its high debt, said revenue growth accelerated in the first quarter, reflecting strong food sales in its core French market amid the coronavirus epidemic, and a robust performance in Brazil. Casino, which last month suspended its financial guidance for 2020 due to uncertainties tied to the coronavirus pandemic, said the lockdown in place in France since 17 March led to ‘unprecedented’ food demand, notably at its convenience stores and in e-commerce. Finance chief David Lubek told analysts he expected the trend to continue even as France exits lockdown from 11 May. “It’s likely demand for food retail will remain at high levels,” he said. Casino, which has been selling assets to reduce its debt and which also controls Brazil’s Grupo Pao de Acucar, posted first-quarter sales of €8.3 billion ($8.97 billion). Quarterly Performance On a same-store basis and excluding acquisitions, currency effects and revenue on fuel, sales rose by 6.4% compared to 1.6%growth in the fourth quarter of 2019. In France, total sales for the quarter came to €3.9 billion, an increase of 5.8% on a same-store basis. City centre convenience stores and e-commerce have been in particularly high demand since the lockdown started, with sales rising 3.6% at Monoprix and 12.6% at Franprix. Meanwhile Geant Hypermarkets sales grew by a more modest 1.5% on a same-store basis, of which 2.9% was in food. The environment has been more challenging in France for large hypermarkets since the lockdown as shoppers have favoured small stores and online. Geant Casino hypermarkets have, however, developed a home delivery solution in around 41 cities and established a partnership with Uber Eats, the group said. Growth In E-Commerce Casino‘s e-commerce business recorded same-store growth of 43% for the quarter, and a threefold increase in activity over the last four weeks, particularly led by home delivery, Drive and click & collect. Casino CEO and controlling shareholder Jean-Charles Naouri has been hunting for ways to ease the company’s debts – and those of parent company Rallye, which was placed under protection from creditors in May 2019 – through asset sales and refinancing efforts. In March, Casino agreed to sell 567 Leader Price stores in France, plus three warehouses, to German discount rival Aldi in a deal with an enterprise value of €735 million. Preparatory work for the closing has been initiated and is ongoing, the group said. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/casinos-first-quarter-sales-growth-accelerates-boosted-food-demand-france-96585

Consumers Shifting Purchase Patterns To Online Across Europe, IRI Study Finds

E-commerce is showing strong growth in Italy, France and Spain, as shoppers shift their purchase patterns from in-store to online, according to the latest COVID-19 Impact Consumer Spending Tracker from IRI. The latest edition of the tracker, which measures POS data up to week ending 5 April, shows that there has been a ‘consistent shift to e-commerce’ since the start of the crisis, however the trend towards stockpiling appears to have levelled off. Purchasing of non-food products, such as personal care and home care, has returned to moderate levels, with cosmetics sales down year-on-year – in the UK, non-food in general has shown a decline due to a drop off in cosmetic sales. Top Sellers The top-selling categories, according to the data, include Yeast (+282% growth in Italy and +175.3% growth in France), Baking Products (+49.3% growth in the UK) and Cookie Dough (+453.9% in the US). In the US, private label share has remained constant compared to the same period last year, with a non-food surge for private label paper products now having levelled off. IRI’s COVID-19 Impact Consumer Spending Tracker measures POS spend across hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount, convenience, online (dependent on country), in the UK, US, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Greece, and the Netherlands. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/coronavirus/consumers-shifting-purchase-patterns-online-across-europe-iri-study-finds-96618

Casino’s Q1 Sales Growth Accelerates, Boosted By Food Demand In France

Retailer Casino, battling investor concerns over its high debt, said revenue growth accelerated in the first quarter, reflecting strong food sales in its core French market amid the coronavirus epidemic, and a robust performance in Brazil. Casino, which last month suspended its financial guidance for 2020 due to uncertainties tied to the coronavirus pandemic, said the lockdown in place in France since 17 March led to ‘unprecedented’ food demand, notably at its convenience stores and in e-commerce. Finance chief David Lubek told analysts he expected the trend to continue even as France exits lockdown from 11 May. “It’s likely demand for food retail will remain at high levels,” he said. Casino, which has been selling assets to reduce its debt and which also controls Brazil’s Grupo Pao de Acucar, posted first-quarter sales of €8.3 billion ($8.97 billion). Quarterly Performance On a same-store basis and excluding acquisitions, currency effects and revenue on fuel, sales rose by 6.4% compared to 1.6%growth in the fourth quarter of 2019. In France, total sales for the quarter came to €3.9 billion, an increase of 5.8% on a same-store basis. City centre convenience stores and e-commerce have been in particularly high demand since the lockdown started, with sales rising 3.6% at Monoprix and 12.6% at Franprix. Meanwhile Geant Hypermarkets sales grew by a more modest 1.5% on a same-store basis, of which 2.9% was in food. The environment has been more challenging in France for large hypermarkets since the lockdown as shoppers have favoured small stores and online. Geant Casino hypermarkets have, however, developed a home delivery solution in around 41 cities and established a partnership with Uber Eats, the group said. Growth In E-Commerce Casino‘s e-commerce business recorded same-store growth of 43% for the quarter, and a threefold increase in activity over the last four weeks, particularly led by home delivery, Drive and click & collect. Casino CEO and controlling shareholder Jean-Charles Naouri has been hunting for ways to ease the company’s debts – and those of parent company Rallye, which was placed under protection from creditors in May 2019 – through asset sales and refinancing efforts. In March, Casino agreed to sell 567 Leader Price stores in France, plus three warehouses, to German discount rival Aldi in a deal with an enterprise value of €735 million. Preparatory work for the closing has been initiated and is ongoing, the group said. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/casinos-first-quarter-sales-growth-accelerates-boosted-food-demand-france-96585

Consumers Shifting Purchase Patterns To Online Across Europe, IRI Study Finds

E-commerce is showing strong growth in Italy, France and Spain, as shoppers shift their purchase patterns from in-store to online, according to the latest COVID-19 Impact Consumer Spending Tracker from IRI. The latest edition of the tracker, which measures POS data up to week ending 5 April, shows that there has been a ‘consistent shift to e-commerce’ since the start of the crisis, however the trend towards stockpiling appears to have levelled off. Purchasing of non-food products, such as personal care and home care, has returned to moderate levels, with cosmetics sales down year-on-year – in the UK, non-food in general has shown a decline due to a drop off in cosmetic sales. Top Sellers The top-selling categories, according to the data, include Yeast (+282% growth in Italy and +175.3% growth in France), Baking Products (+49.3% growth in the UK) and Cookie Dough (+453.9% in the US). In the US, private label share has remained constant compared to the same period last year, with a non-food surge for private label paper products now having levelled off. IRI’s COVID-19 Impact Consumer Spending Tracker measures POS spend across hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount, convenience, online (dependent on country), in the UK, US, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Greece, and the Netherlands. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/coronavirus/consumers-shifting-purchase-patterns-online-across-europe-iri-study-finds-96618

HCC Responds To Covid-19 Challenges

The near complete closure of the multi-billion-pound eating out sector at home and abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic has caused major instability in market prices, according to Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). HCC is responding to the crisis by targeting activity in the domestic market to robustly support the supply chain whilst guiding consumers towards new cooking options. The campaign will aim to encourage house-bound families and individuals to increase purchasing of PGI Welsh Beef and PGI Welsh Lamb from supermarkets, independent retailers and butchers. Rhys Llywelyn, market development manager at HCC said: “Consumers are seeking out new ways to cook whilst many have more time available to them. The campaign aims to guide these consumers on ways of cooking with steaks and larger cuts, to ‘bring the restaurant to your home’ and encourages experimentation with slow cooked dishes. We know how tender and succulent dishes cooked low and slow with PGI Welsh Beef and PGI Welsh Lamb can be, whilst being both nutritious and comforting. “For families, we’ll be making sure we spark a passion in kids by providing recipes suitable for all ages to get involved with. These will also help consumers use store cupboard staples and leftovers, and will suggest substitutions meaning they are accessible for all. We’ll even be offering advice on the safest methods of defrosting as many consumers will have frozen meat that was purchased in March. “We’ve found having chefs and influencers helping us to deliver our messages with video content to be really successful in the past. We’ll be looking to do the same to encourage consumers to bring the experience and luxury of restaurant dining to their own homes.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/hcc-responds-to-covid-19-challenges/

HCC responds to Covid-19 challenges

The near complete closure of the multi-billion-pound eating out sector at home and abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic has caused major instability in market prices, according to Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). HCC is responding to the crisis by targeting activity in the domestic market to robustly support the supply chain whilst guiding consumers towards new cooking options. The campaign will aim to encourage house-bound families and individuals to increase purchasing of PGI Welsh Beef and PGI Welsh Lamb from supermarkets, independent retailers and butchers. Rhys Llywelyn, market development manager at HCC said: “Consumers are seeking out new ways to cook whilst many have more time available to them. The campaign aims to guide these consumers on ways of cooking with steaks and larger cuts, to ‘bring the restaurant to your home’ and encourages experimentation with slow cooked dishes. We know how tender and succulent dishes cooked low and slow with PGI Welsh Beef and PGI Welsh Lamb can be, whilst being both nutritious and comforting. “For families, we’ll be making sure we spark a passion in kids by providing recipes suitable for all ages to get involved with. These will also help consumers use store cupboard staples and leftovers, and will suggest substitutions meaning they are accessible for all. We’ll even be offering advice on the safest methods of defrosting as many consumers will have frozen meat that was purchased in March. “We’ve found having chefs and influencers helping us to deliver our messages with video content to be really successful in the past. We’ll be looking to do the same to encourage consumers to bring the experience and luxury of restaurant dining to their own homes.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/hcc-responds-to-covid-19-challenges/

Covid-19 could have positive impact on food in France

More fruit and veg, more home cooking, more frozen, more sugar, more organic…how French shopping habits have changed during confinement The Covid-19 crisis in France could have a positive impact on the nation’s eating and cooking habits long-term, analysts have said – as sales of local and organic rise, and home cooks become more creative. Supermarket analysis firm IRI, which has been studying the food shopping habits of the population during the coronavirus crisis, said that the initial panic buying would give way to a greater focus on quality. It said: “An obsession with quality will once again take over from the [initial] temporary fear of scarcity, and the search for local products, a trend that was already strong before the crisis, will be strengthened by the search for great food self-sufficiency.” Threat to perishable items? The initial impact of confinement appeared rather negative, as shoppers rushed to stock up on goods, and fears grew for the supply chain. IRI said that the day before confinement was announced on March 17 (so on Monday March 16), supermarkets saw a 237% rise in sales, especially among long-lasting items and store cupboard food such as pasta, rice, and tins. Disruption to and anticipated problems with the logistics and transport distribution sector meant fears grew for perishable items such as seasonal fruits and vegetables – such as strawberries and asparagus, especially those sold in food markets, which would later largely be closed. There were also fears for AOP cheeses; and the 600,000 Spring lambs for Easter, of which estimates suggested just one in six would be sold. Similarly, farming union la Confédération Paysanne said that the closure of restaurants had contributed to an estimated surplus of 40 million litres of milk by the end of March. More vegetables and…frozen food Yet, the French public has not rejected fresh produce entirely. More than two in five (43%) of the French public said they had bought more fruit and vegetables since the beginning of confinement, said an online nationally-representative survey of 1,000 French adults by pollsters YouGov, for newspaper l’Obs. But in the same survey, almost a quarter (23%) said that they had bought more frozen food, especially meat. A study by consumer insight researchers Nielsen appears to confirm this, with business in the sector booming from less than 3% at the end of February, to 76% by the end of March. Newspaper l’Obs suggested that this mix of fresh and frozen is “not as paradoxical” as it may first appear, as it represents a desire to stay healthy during the crisis, but also to keep food for longer during an uncertain time. More home cooking Confinement has sparked a new trend in home cooking, with the same YouGov survey finding that 61% had been cooking at home during the crisis. Consumers have been forced to be creative, due to a lack of certain ingredients. Some items have been more difficult to find than others; 63% said they had consistently struggled to find flour, with Nielsen confirming that demand for flour and baking items had grown by 159%. Eggs have also been reportedly in short supply. As a result, there has been a rise in products such as the cornflour Maïzena (up 123%), which is often used as a thickener in sauces instead of wheat flour. On social media, consumers have been sharing recipes using alternative ingredients. One inventive Instagram user reported good results for an eggless chocolate mousse, replacing whisked egg white with the liquid from canned chickpeas (“pois chiches”, below). More sugar, but also more organic Uncertain times mean the demand for sugar and comfort food is high, with products such as honey and chocolate spread even more popular than usual. Yet, alongside this, organic brands have also seen a spike in sales, both in supermarkets and in specialist shops such as Biocoop, Naturalia, La Vie Claire, and Bio C’bon, with consumers appearing happy to spend more on their food. Alexandre Fantuz, marketing director of organic food marketing company Biotopia, said: “The value of the average shopping basket has risen by 48%, going from €40 to €59 since mid-March.” Organic produce sales have risen by 63% across the sector, including in hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, said Nielsen. Nielsen analyst, Antoine Lecoq, explained that this could be due to a number of factors. He said: “Firstly, these products are seen as more natural, and are especially sought out during uncertain times, or when globalised [processed] foods are coming under fire from critics.” Organic products are also likely to sell out less quickly. Mr Lecoq said: “When the shelves are empty, there is more chance of being able to find organic food in the aisles.” SOURCE : https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Covid-19-could-have-positive-impact-on-food-in-France-as-trends-show-changes-in-fresh-frozen-organic-home-cooking

Covid-19 could have positive impact on food in France

More fruit and veg, more home cooking, more frozen, more sugar, more organic…how French shopping habits have changed during confinement. The Covid-19 crisis in France could have a positive impact on the nation’s eating and cooking habits long-term, analysts have said – as sales of local and organic rise, and home cooks become more creative. Supermarket analysis firm IRI, which has been studying the food shopping habits of the population during the coronavirus crisis, said that the initial panic buying would give way to a greater focus on quality. It said: “An obsession with quality will once again take over from the [initial] temporary fear of scarcity, and the search for local products, a trend that was already strong before the crisis, will be strengthened by the search for great food self-sufficiency.” Threat to perishable items? The initial impact of confinement appeared rather negative, as shoppers rushed to stock up on goods, and fears grew for the supply chain. IRI said that the day before confinement was announced on March 17 (so on Monday March 16), supermarkets saw a 237% rise in sales, especially among long-lasting items and store cupboard food such as pasta, rice, and tins. Disruption to and anticipated problems with the logistics and transport distribution sector meant fears grew for perishable items such as seasonal fruits and vegetables – such as strawberries and asparagus, especially those sold in food markets, which would later largely be closed. There were also fears for AOP cheeses; and the 600,000 Spring lambs for Easter, of which estimates suggested just one in six would be sold. Similarly, farming union la Confédération Paysanne said that the closure of restaurants had contributed to an estimated surplus of 40 million litres of milk by the end of March. More vegetables and…frozen food Yet, the French public has not rejected fresh produce entirely. More than two in five (43%) of the French public said they had bought more fruit and vegetables since the beginning of confinement, said an online nationally-representative survey of 1,000 French adults by pollsters YouGov, for newspaper l’Obs. But in the same survey, almost a quarter (23%) said that they had bought more frozen food, especially meat. A study by consumer insight researchers Nielsen appears to confirm this, with business in the sector booming from less than 3% at the end of February, to 76% by the end of March. Newspaper l’Obs suggested that this mix of fresh and frozen is “not as paradoxical” as it may first appear, as it represents a desire to stay healthy during the crisis, but also to keep food for longer during an uncertain time. More home cooking Confinement has sparked a new trend in home cooking, with the same YouGov survey finding that 61% had been cooking at home during the crisis. Consumers have been forced to be creative, due to a lack of certain ingredients. Some items have been more difficult to find than others; 63% said they had consistently struggled to find flour, with Nielsen confirming that demand for flour and baking items had grown by 159%. Eggs have also been reportedly in short supply. As a result, there has been a rise in products such as the cornflour Maïzena (up 123%), which is often used as a thickener in sauces instead of wheat flour. On social media, consumers have been sharing recipes using alternative ingredients. One inventive Instagram user reported good results for an eggless chocolate mousse, replacing whisked egg white with the liquid from canned chickpeas (“pois chiches”, below). More sugar, but also more organic Uncertain times mean the demand for sugar and comfort food is high, with products such as honey and chocolate spread even more popular than usual. Yet, alongside this, organic brands have also seen a spike in sales, both in supermarkets and in specialist shops such as Biocoop, Naturalia, La Vie Claire, and Bio C’bon, with consumers appearing happy to spend more on their food. Alexandre Fantuz, marketing director of organic food marketing company Biotopia, said: “The value of the average shopping basket has risen by 48%, going from €40 to €59 since mid-March.” Organic produce sales have risen by 63% across the sector, including in hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, said Nielsen. Nielsen analyst, Antoine Lecoq, explained that this could be due to a number of factors. He said: “Firstly, these products are seen as more natural, and are especially sought out during uncertain times, or when globalised [processed] foods are coming under fire from critics.” Organic products are also likely to sell out less quickly. Mr Lecoq said: “When the shelves are empty, there is more chance of being able to find organic food in the aisles.” SOURCE : https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Covid-19-could-have-positive-impact-on-food-in-France-as-trends-show-changes-in-fresh-frozen-organic-home-cooking

Fitness Enthusiasts Discover The Benefits Of Welsh Lamb

Many active fitness enthusiasts were surprised to discover the strength and the depth of lamb’s nutritional credentials at tasting sessions which took place around the country. Volunteer consumer groups were invited to take part in the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project which forms one part of the three-strand Red Meat Development Programme (RMDP), a five-year Welsh Government and European Union-funded initiative aiming to enhance the red meat sector in Wales led by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). Following the taste test, information from leading scientists was presented to the consumers that described the nutritional benefits of eating red meat products, especially Welsh lamb. Consumers were told that Welsh Lamb provides protein, which is essential for muscle building and maintenance especially for sport competitors, athletes and people keeping fit and healthy. Welsh lamb contains critical minerals including haem iron, which is 2.6 times easier to absorb from lamb consumption than the non-haem iron, as found in vegetables like spinach. Sport enthusiasts who attended the taste panels were astonished to find out that lamb also carries a potent nutrient “six-pack” of zinc, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, B and D. Also, when trimmed lamb has a fat content of less than 8 per cent. At the Cardiff tasting event, local dancer Joseph Evans said: “The lamb tonight was absolutely amazing. As a dancer it is important that your health and nutrition is up to scratch. “I like to have certain meats in my diet but after this taste testing, I understand the benefits much more and how good Welsh lamb is for you. I’ll be definitely including more lamb in my diet from now on”. The concentrated consumer sessions saw nearly 500 participants undertake a controlled taste testing at three venues across the country. “Each volunteer also attends a post-tasting presentation that includes information about Welsh lamb’s vitamins, minerals and other benefits and receives free advice on how Welsh Lamb can be used to cook quick nutritional meals and receives a pack of recipe ideas.” said HCC meat quality executive Dr. Eleri Thomas, who leads the taste programme team. After hearing of lamb’s nutritional benefits, Llandaff North Women’s rugby players Beth Kenure and Stacey Horne both said they would be eating more lamb – and fellow player Sioned Young said she would use the recipe information she had received on the night to make sure she ordered Welsh lamb directly from her local butcher. “I was excited to receive the Welsh lamb recipes and I’ll plaster them all over my kitchen! I’ll be off to the butcher to ask for the specific cuts,” she said.  SOURCE : https://www.walesfarmer.co.uk/news/18364431.fitness-enthusiasts-discover-benefits-welsh-lamb/

Fitness enthusiasts discover the benefits of Welsh lamb

Many active fitness enthusiasts were surprised to discover the strength and the depth of lamb’s nutritional credentials at tasting sessions which took place around the country. Volunteer consumer groups were invited to take part in the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project which forms one part of the three-strand Red Meat Development Programme (RMDP), a five-year Welsh Government and European Union-funded initiative aiming to enhance the red meat sector in Wales led by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). Following the taste test, information from leading scientists was presented to the consumers that described the nutritional benefits of eating red meat products, especially Welsh lamb. Consumers were told that Welsh Lamb provides protein, which is essential for muscle building and maintenance especially for sport competitors, athletes and people keeping fit and healthy. Welsh lamb contains critical minerals including haem iron, which is 2.6 times easier to absorb from lamb consumption than the non-haem iron, as found in vegetables like spinach. Sport enthusiasts who attended the taste panels were astonished to find out that lamb also carries a potent nutrient “six-pack” of zinc, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, B and D. Also, when trimmed lamb has a fat content of less than 8 per cent. At the Cardiff tasting event, local dancer Joseph Evans said: “The lamb tonight was absolutely amazing. As a dancer it is important that your health and nutrition is up to scratch. “I like to have certain meats in my diet but after this taste testing, I understand the benefits much more and how good Welsh lamb is for you. I’ll be definitely including more lamb in my diet from now on”. The concentrated consumer sessions saw nearly 500 participants undertake a controlled taste testing at three venues across the country. “Each volunteer also attends a post-tasting presentation that includes information about Welsh lamb’s vitamins, minerals and other benefits and receives free advice on how Welsh Lamb can be used to cook quick nutritional meals and receives a pack of recipe ideas.” said HCC meat quality executive Dr. Eleri Thomas, who leads the taste programme team. After hearing of lamb’s nutritional benefits, Llandaff North Women’s rugby players Beth Kenure and Stacey Horne both said they would be eating more lamb – and fellow player Sioned Young said she would use the recipe information she had received on the night to make sure she ordered Welsh lamb directly from her local butcher. “I was excited to receive the Welsh lamb recipes and I’ll plaster them all over my kitchen! I’ll be off to the butcher to ask for the specific cuts,” she said.  SOURCE : https://www.walesfarmer.co.uk/news/18364431.fitness-enthusiasts-discover-benefits-welsh-lamb/

French supermarkets lend their support to French agriculture

The lockdown in France also affects farmers and growers: French distributors have now vowed to stimulate local fresh food products, through advertising or even by adjusting their offer. 30% less fruit and vegetables The fresh food markets in France now have to close as well, which is an additional blow to the agricultural industry which already was severely affected by the closing of restaurants and non-essential shops. In their panic buying, consumers are increasingly turning to long-life and frozen products and leaving fresh produce on the shelves. Interfel, the organisation of French fruit and vegetable producers, reports a 40 % drop in sales on the wholesale markets. Lidl reports a 20 to 30 % drop in fruit and vegetable sales since the start of the lockdown, whereas almost no flowers and plants have been sold at all. Therefore, most French distributors now promise to give extra attention to products of French origin. Système U promises to make every effort to promote the sale of seasonal products from France and to support national production, while Intermarché announces a nation-wide media campaign, LSA writes. French asparagus only More strikingly, some chains even go as far as to favour domestic produce altogether: from Wednesday on, Lidl will only sell strawberries and asparagus from France in its French stores. The discounter will even take Spanish variants, which were previously purchased, off the shelves and donate them to charity organisations. E.Leclerc will give priority to strawberries, cucumbers, asparagus and tomatoes from French soil. The originally planned promotion with strawberries from Spain, at the end of April, is replaced by one with French fruits. Carrefour, on the other hand, is committed to supporting the national fisheries through concrete measures. French farmers are also facing an acute shortage of labour now that the borders are closed. The agricultural federation FNSEA therefore calls for a large number of volunteers: the need for farm workers is estimated at 200,000 people over the next three months. As such, those who are temporarily unemployed due to the corona crisis are encouraged to go help farmers in the south of the country. SOURCE : https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/french-supermarkets-lend-their-support-french-agriculture

French supermarkets lend their support to French agriculture

The lockdown in France also affects farmers and growers: French distributors have now vowed to stimulate local fresh food products, through advertising or even by adjusting their offer. 30% less fruit and vegetables The fresh food markets in France now have to close as well, which is an additional blow to the agricultural industry which already was severely affected by the closing of restaurants and non-essential shops. In their panic buying, consumers are increasingly turning to long-life and frozen products and leaving fresh produce on the shelves. Interfel, the organisation of French fruit and vegetable producers, reports a 40 % drop in sales on the wholesale markets. Lidl reports a 20 to 30 % drop in fruit and vegetable sales since the start of the lockdown, whereas almost no flowers and plants have been sold at all. Therefore, most French distributors now promise to give extra attention to products of French origin. Système U promises to make every effort to promote the sale of seasonal products from France and to support national production, while Intermarché announces a nation-wide media campaign, LSA writes. French asparagus only More strikingly, some chains even go as far as to favour domestic produce altogether: from Wednesday on, Lidl will only sell strawberries and asparagus from France in its French stores. The discounter will even take Spanish variants, which were previously purchased, off the shelves and donate them to charity organisations. E.Leclerc will give priority to strawberries, cucumbers, asparagus and tomatoes from French soil. The originally planned promotion with strawberries from Spain, at the end of April, is replaced by one with French fruits. Carrefour, on the other hand, is committed to supporting the national fisheries through concrete measures. French farmers are also facing an acute shortage of labour now that the borders are closed. The agricultural federation FNSEA therefore calls for a large number of volunteers: the need for farm workers is estimated at 200,000 people over the next three months. As such, those who are temporarily unemployed due to the corona crisis are encouraged to go help farmers in the south of the country. SOURCE : https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/french-supermarkets-lend-their-support-french-agriculture

French Consumers ‘Directing Their Diet Toward Vegan Protein’ Says Food Expert

More and more French consumers are ‘directing their diets towards plant-based protein‘, according to a food expert. Corinne Aubry-Lecomte is the industrial, innovation and quality director at Casino Group – a leading French supermarket group. She cited a number of reasons behind the shift – including lifestyle, taste, and environmental or animal welfare concerns. Plant-Based proteins Aubry-Lecomte made the comments while speaking as the Beyond Burger launched in French supermarkets last month, saying: “Whether for reasons of lifestyle, taste, environmental or animal welfare concerns, more and more French consumers are directing their diet towards plant-based proteins. “We are always looking for products to expand our range of plant-based products and offer customers alternative choices. We’re thrilled to offer our customers the Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage. “As a leader in plant-based meat, Beyond Meat’s ground-breaking products have revolutionized how consumers enjoy protein.” Beyond Burger As a result of this growing demand, the Beyond Burger is now available in 500 supermarkets across France, in outlets including Monoprix, Franprix, Géant and Casino Supermarchés. Casino Group is the first major retailer in France to sell Beyond Meat products. “Consistent with our mission to enable consumers to Eat What You Love™ while loving the benefits of plant-based protein, we are excited to introduce French consumers to the delicious taste and texture of Beyond Burger, ‘said Bram Meijer, Beyond Meat’s regional marketing director for EMEA about the launch. “Our aim is to make plant-based protein more accessible, and we’re proud to advance that goal by entering into partnership with Casino Group, one of the largest retailers in France.” SOURCE : https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/-french-consumers-directing-diet-toward-vegan-protein

Carrefour Launches New Shop-In-Shop Concept Focused On Reselling

French retailer Carrefour has introduced a new shop-in-shop concept, Carrefour Occasion, which promotes ‘sustainable consumerism’ by allowing customers to resell used items. The shop-in-shop section will allow consumers to resell telephones, high-tech items, video games, jewellery, computer items, books, and CDs/DVDs. The retailer has partnered with Cash Converters, a company that buys and sells second-hand products, to execute the concept. ‘Circular Economy’ Pascal Clouzard, Carrefour France executive director, commented, “The launch of Carrefour Occasion increases Carrefour’s contribution to the circular economy. Thanks to the expertise contributed by Cash Converters, this new concept is fully in line with new consumer trends focused on mindful, sustainable consumerism and greater purchasing power.” The first Carrefour Occasion section has been introduced in the Les Ulis Carrefour store. The retailer is also planning to launch it in a second location, before a large-scale roll-out in other Carrefour hypermarkets. ‘Changes In Consumer Trends’ Bruno Bée, President of Cash Converters Europe, said, “This collaboration with Carrefour confirms our commitment to supporting and accelerating changes in consumer trends together with a major player that also believes in the circular economy.” Initially, the Carrefour Occasion will engage with customers who wish to have their items’ value assessed for sale. Experts from Cash Converters will select items, which will be stocked and sold by Carrefour Occasion from the beginning of April. Carrefour Occasion will conduct all transactions in cash except gold jewellery, which will require payment via bank cards or bank transfer for traceability reasons. The retailer will also offer a free one-year warranty on all products purchased from Carrefour Occasion. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-launches-new-shop-shop-concept-focused-reselling-92393

Auchan Retail Joins The European Plastics Pact

Auchan Retail has announced that it has signed the European Plastics Pact – a public-private initiative supported by a network of companies, states and NGOs in the continent. The move reaffirms the retailer’s commitment to fighting plastics pollution at an international level. The Netherlands, France and Denmark spearheaded the pact, which was signed by two of Belgium’s three regions and a host of firms, including German chemicals firm Henkel and Finnish oil refiner Neste. As part of its Auchan 2022 business plan, the retailer had already set the goal to eliminate plastics from its catering and fruit and vegetables segments, in all countries in which it operates, by 2022. It has also pledged to make 100% of packaging for Auchan products reusable, recyclable or compostable. In February 2019, Auchan joined the National Plastic Pact in France. Initiatives The retailer has already implemented several measures to reduce plastics from its operations and is two years ahead of European regulations. These include the introduction of tableware made of single-use plastics with eco-friendly materials, the use of reusable ‘nets’ in the fruit and vegetables sections in its stores, as well as alternatives for plastic bags. Auchan Retail is developing alternatives for plastic films used in the packaging of organic fruit and vegetables and is considering phasing out plastic from the packaging of certain own-brand products in the food and non-food categories. It also offers customers in Poland, France, and Luxembourg the option to bring their own container to reduce packaging. In France, the retailer has installed Ecobox kiosks in the parking lot of its hypermarkets for recycling plastic bottles. Presently, around 100 hypermarkets are equipped with these kiosks and have resulted in recycling approximately 100 million plastic bottles. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/packaging-design/auchan-retail-joins-the-european-plastics-pact-91959

French Consumers ‘Directing Their Diet Toward Vegan Protein’ Says Food Expert

More and more French consumers are ‘directing their diets towards plant-based protein‘, according to a food expert. Corinne Aubry-Lecomte is the industrial, innovation and quality director at Casino Group – a leading French supermarket group. She cited a number of reasons behind the shift – including lifestyle, taste, and environmental or animal welfare concerns. Plant-Based proteins Aubry-Lecomte made the comments while speaking as the Beyond Burger launched in French supermarkets last month, saying: “Whether for reasons of lifestyle, taste, environmental or animal welfare concerns, more and more French consumers are directing their diet towards plant-based proteins. “We are always looking for products to expand our range of plant-based products and offer customers alternative choices. We’re thrilled to offer our customers the Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage. “As a leader in plant-based meat, Beyond Meat’s ground-breaking products have revolutionized how consumers enjoy protein.” Beyond Burger As a result of this growing demand, the Beyond Burger is now available in 500 supermarkets across France, in outlets including Monoprix, Franprix, Géant and Casino Supermarchés. Casino Group is the first major retailer in France to sell Beyond Meat products. “Consistent with our mission to enable consumers to Eat What You Love™ while loving the benefits of plant-based protein, we are excited to introduce French consumers to the delicious taste and texture of Beyond Burger, ‘said Bram Meijer, Beyond Meat’s regional marketing director for EMEA about the launch. “Our aim is to make plant-based protein more accessible, and we’re proud to advance that goal by entering into partnership with Casino Group, one of the largest retailers in France.” SOURCE : https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/-french-consumers-directing-diet-toward-vegan-protein

Carrefour Launches New Shop-In-Shop Concept Focused On Reselling

French retailer Carrefour has introduced a new shop-in-shop concept, Carrefour Occasion, which promotes ‘sustainable consumerism’ by allowing customers to resell used items. The shop-in-shop section will allow consumers to resell telephones, high-tech items, video games, jewellery, computer items, books, and CDs/DVDs. The retailer has partnered with Cash Converters, a company that buys and sells second-hand products, to execute the concept. ‘Circular Economy’ Pascal Clouzard, Carrefour France executive director, commented, “The launch of Carrefour Occasion increases Carrefour’s contribution to the circular economy. Thanks to the expertise contributed by Cash Converters, this new concept is fully in line with new consumer trends focused on mindful, sustainable consumerism and greater purchasing power.” The first Carrefour Occasion section has been introduced in the Les Ulis Carrefour store. The retailer is also planning to launch it in a second location, before a large-scale roll-out in other Carrefour hypermarkets. ‘Changes In Consumer Trends’ Bruno Bée, President of Cash Converters Europe, said, “This collaboration with Carrefour confirms our commitment to supporting and accelerating changes in consumer trends together with a major player that also believes in the circular economy.” Initially, the Carrefour Occasion will engage with customers who wish to have their items’ value assessed for sale. Experts from Cash Converters will select items, which will be stocked and sold by Carrefour Occasion from the beginning of April. Carrefour Occasion will conduct all transactions in cash except gold jewellery, which will require payment via bank cards or bank transfer for traceability reasons. The retailer will also offer a free one-year warranty on all products purchased from Carrefour Occasion. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-launches-new-shop-shop-concept-focused-reselling-92393

Auchan Retail Joins The European Plastics Pact

Auchan Retail has announced that it has signed the European Plastics Pact – a public-private initiative supported by a network of companies, states and NGOs in the continent. The move reaffirms the retailer’s commitment to fighting plastics pollution at an international level. The Netherlands, France and Denmark spearheaded the pact, which was signed by two of Belgium’s three regions and a host of firms, including German chemicals firm Henkel and Finnish oil refiner Neste. As part of its Auchan 2022 business plan, the retailer had already set the goal to eliminate plastics from its catering and fruit and vegetables segments, in all countries in which it operates, by 2022. It has also pledged to make 100% of packaging for Auchan products reusable, recyclable or compostable. In February 2019, Auchan joined the National Plastic Pact in France. Initiatives The retailer has already implemented several measures to reduce plastics from its operations and is two years ahead of European regulations. These include the introduction of tableware made of single-use plastics with eco-friendly materials, the use of reusable ‘nets’ in the fruit and vegetables sections in its stores, as well as alternatives for plastic bags. Auchan Retail is developing alternatives for plastic films used in the packaging of organic fruit and vegetables and is considering phasing out plastic from the packaging of certain own-brand products in the food and non-food categories. It also offers customers in Poland, France, and Luxembourg the option to bring their own container to reduce packaging. In France, the retailer has installed Ecobox kiosks in the parking lot of its hypermarkets for recycling plastic bottles. Presently, around 100 hypermarkets are equipped with these kiosks and have resulted in recycling approximately 100 million plastic bottles. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/packaging-design/auchan-retail-joins-the-european-plastics-pact-91959

Largest ever Welsh Lamb tasting programme

One of the biggest ever Welsh Lamb controlled taste testing programmes has already logged nearly 500 consumers in three sessions in two months – and their initial popular verdict confirms Welsh Lamb’s place at the global top taste table. In total, nearly 2,000 consumers will take part in the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality programme, part of the five-year, Welsh Government and EU funded Red Meat Development Programme (RMDP) hosted by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) to help Welsh farming prepare for a post-Brexit world. The new consumer programme will look to assess, develop and enhance the meat eating quality of Welsh Lamb and help secure its enviable international reputation. The comprehensive taster’s network will help HCC to set up the process for a thorough baseline assessment of the current supply chain practices, check for meat quality variation and then build an eating quality assurance programme. This will seek to drive consistency by identifying and influencing key practices throughout the sheep meat production and processing pathways. “World leading meat scientists based at the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute, will now start analysing the scientific responses to the consumer’s individual opinions.” The Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Programme is funded as part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. “This project is about ensuring Welsh Lamb’s global reputation for excellence is not only maintained but enhanced across the supply chain,” said HCC Meat quality executive Dr. Eleri Thomas, who leads HCC’s in-house taste programme team. “World leading meat scientists based at the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute, will now start analysing the scientific responses to the consumer’s individual opinions. “Each volunteer also attends a presentation that will tell them of Welsh Lamb’s nutritional values and sustainable production and receives free advice on how to cook it and recipes that make for quick suppers or leisurely lunches,” said Dr. Thomas. Consumer reactions During discussions post-tasting many enthused over the seven samples on offer. “My favourites were real flavour pacemakers – tasty, juicy and tender,” said Steve Davies, part of the Cowbridge Runners team group who attended the main Welsh event at Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff teaching assistant, Sue Frost, learned a lot from the session. She said: “I thought the lamb I tasted today was exceptionally tender and very juicy; some of them had a noticeable, fantastic aroma. I really enjoyed it.” “Delicious! All seven pieces!” said an enthusiastic Janet Spearway at the third consumer session, held at Harper Adams University near Newport, Shropshire,  while the snap view of keen amateur photographer Jilly Broadbent was: “The first piece was amazing! The flavour was good, the aroma was good…juicy and tender;” Jilly, who attended with a group from the local Newport Photographic Society, confirmed: “I enjoyed it very much.”  SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/largest-ever-welsh-lamb-tasting-programme/

Carrefour Raises Cost Savings Goal As 2019 Core Profits Rise

France’s Carrefour has raised its savings target as Europe’s largest retailer delivered cost cuts of €1 billion last year, helping it fund e-commerce investments and price cuts for customers. It posted a well-flagged 7.4% rise in 2019 operating profit, reflecting savings in its domestic market and a robust performance in Brazil, its second-largest market after France. ‘Solid Results’ “The Carrefour 2022 plan is generating solid results and sets the group on a profitable growth trajectory,” Chairman and CEO Alexandre Bompard said in a statement. Carrefour is in the midst of a five-year plan to cut costs and jobs as well as boost e-commerce investment to lift profits and sales, and as it seeks like many peers to tackle competition from major online rivals such as Amazon. The French firm kept its annual dividend unchanged at €0.46 and set a new target to sell €300 million worth of non-strategic real estate assets by 2022. It had already hit a goal of disposing of €500 million of non-strategic assets by 2019, one year ahead of schedule. Carrefour said it was now targeting cost savings of €2.8 billion on an annual basis by end-2020 against a previous target of €2.6 billion, having achieved €2 billion to date. It also promised more savings beyond 2020. Its 2019 recurring operating profit reached €2.088 billion, in line with the company’s own guidance for €2.090 billion provided in January. Home Market In France, where Bompard has made reviving flagging sales at hypermarket stores a priority, operating profit rose 15.6%, also in line with company guidance. Carrefour is reaping the benefit in its home market of purchasing alliances with Britain’s Tesco and France’s Systeme U. Its turnaround plan includes having fewer sales promotions in France, scaling back on non-food items and a greater focus on organic food. In Brazil, where Carrefour agreed earlier this month to buy 30 stores from smaller rival Makro, operating profit rose 6.5% in 2019. The group kept all its other targets under its 2022 restructuring plan, including reducing hypermarket sales areas by 350,000 square meters and having Carrefour-branded products account for one-third of sales. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-raises-cost-savings-goal-2019-core-profits-rise-90865

Largest ever Welsh Lamb tasting programme

One of the biggest ever Welsh Lamb controlled taste testing programmes has already logged nearly 500 consumers in three sessions in two months – and their initial popular verdict confirms Welsh Lamb’s place at the global top taste table. In total, nearly 2,000 consumers will take part in the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality programme, part of the five-year, Welsh Government and EU funded Red Meat Development Programme (RMDP) hosted by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) to help Welsh farming prepare for a post-Brexit world. The new consumer programme will look to assess, develop and enhance the meat eating quality of Welsh Lamb and help secure its enviable international reputation. The comprehensive taster’s network will help HCC to set up the process for a thorough baseline assessment of the current supply chain practices, check for meat quality variation and then build an eating quality assurance programme. This will seek to drive consistency by identifying and influencing key practices throughout the sheep meat production and processing pathways. “World leading meat scientists based at the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute, will now start analysing the scientific responses to the consumer’s individual opinions.” The Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Programme is funded as part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. “This project is about ensuring Welsh Lamb’s global reputation for excellence is not only maintained but enhanced across the supply chain,” said HCC Meat quality executive Dr. Eleri Thomas, who leads HCC’s in-house taste programme team. “World leading meat scientists based at the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute, will now start analysing the scientific responses to the consumer’s individual opinions. “Each volunteer also attends a presentation that will tell them of Welsh Lamb’s nutritional values and sustainable production and receives free advice on how to cook it and recipes that make for quick suppers or leisurely lunches,” said Dr. Thomas. Consumer reactions During discussions post-tasting many enthused over the seven samples on offer. “My favourites were real flavour pacemakers – tasty, juicy and tender,” said Steve Davies, part of the Cowbridge Runners team group who attended the main Welsh event at Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff teaching assistant, Sue Frost, learned a lot from the session. She said: “I thought the lamb I tasted today was exceptionally tender and very juicy; some of them had a noticeable, fantastic aroma. I really enjoyed it.” “Delicious! All seven pieces!” said an enthusiastic Janet Spearway at the third consumer session, held at Harper Adams University near Newport, Shropshire,  while the snap view of keen amateur photographer Jilly Broadbent was: “The first piece was amazing! The flavour was good, the aroma was good…juicy and tender;” Jilly, who attended with a group from the local Newport Photographic Society, confirmed: “I enjoyed it very much.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/largest-ever-welsh-lamb-tasting-programme/

Carrefour Raises Cost Savings Goal As 2019 Core Profits Rise

France’s Carrefour has raised its savings target as Europe’s largest retailer delivered cost cuts of €1 billion last year, helping it fund e-commerce investments and price cuts for customers. It posted a well-flagged 7.4% rise in 2019 operating profit, reflecting savings in its domestic market and a robust performance in Brazil, its second-largest market after France. ‘Solid Results’ “The Carrefour 2022 plan is generating solid results and sets the group on a profitable growth trajectory,” Chairman and CEO Alexandre Bompard said in a statement. Carrefour is in the midst of a five-year plan to cut costs and jobs as well as boost e-commerce investment to lift profits and sales, and as it seeks like many peers to tackle competition from major online rivals such as Amazon. The French firm kept its annual dividend unchanged at €0.46 and set a new target to sell €300 million worth of non-strategic real estate assets by 2022. It had already hit a goal of disposing of €500 million of non-strategic assets by 2019, one year ahead of schedule. Carrefour said it was now targeting cost savings of €2.8 billion on an annual basis by end-2020 against a previous target of €2.6 billion, having achieved €2 billion to date. It also promised more savings beyond 2020. Its 2019 recurring operating profit reached €2.088 billion, in line with the company’s own guidance for €2.090 billion provided in January. Home Market In France, where Bompard has made reviving flagging sales at hypermarket stores a priority, operating profit rose 15.6%, also in line with company guidance. Carrefour is reaping the benefit in its home market of purchasing alliances with Britain’s Tesco and France’s Systeme U. Its turnaround plan includes having fewer sales promotions in France, scaling back on non-food items and a greater focus on organic food. In Brazil, where Carrefour agreed earlier this month to buy 30 stores from smaller rival Makro, operating profit rose 6.5% in 2019. The group kept all its other targets under its 2022 restructuring plan, including reducing hypermarket sales areas by 350,000 square meters and having Carrefour-branded products account for one-third of sales. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-raises-cost-savings-goal-2019-core-profits-rise-90865

Young Farmer Champions Welsh Red Meat In New Ads

An accomplished young Welsh farmer is starring in a nation-wide campaign promoting PGI Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef. Caryl Hughes, who farms in partnership with her family near Llanarmon Dyffryn, in the Ceiriog Valley, features in a new £250,000 campaign. The campaign, by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), will include radio and television advertising, on-demand tv advertising, print advertising and media partnerships. It will also feature core messages around Wales’ sustainable red meat production focusing on elements such as landscape, climate and water usage. The television advert sees Caryl at home on her farm in Ceiriog Valley and displays the dramatic landscapes and natural surroundings where she rears her own flock. Caryl is a familiar face within Welsh agriculture having previously held the role of National Sheep Association Young Ambassador and Montgomery YFC Chair. The young farmer has a degree in Agriculture from Aberystwyth University and, notably, was the first person to undertake the Llyndy Isaf Scholarship with the National Trust – where she managed a Snowdonia hill farm for a year combining sustainable farming practices with managing the outstanding natural environment. Having also competed on S4C’s Fferm Factor, Caryl is also someone comfortable both on film and in the field. She said: “Like most Welsh sheep and beef farmers, I am very proud of our industry, the food we produce and how we produce it. I’m very pleased to be involved in this campaign promoting exactly that.” “We wanted the real, authentic voices of Welsh farming to star in this campaign to show the real picture of Welsh red meat production,” HCC’s Market Development Manager, Rhys Llywelyn added: “Caryl’s knowledge, passion and experience are undeniable and she is a very credible ambassador for our industry and produce. We’re sure viewers and consumers at home will find Caryl relatable and engaging in this advert.” The new campaign launched on 13 February and can be seen and heard on various on-demand television platforms and radio stations throughout England and Wales. SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/young-farmer-champions-welsh-red-meat-in-new-ads_54991.html

Young farmer champions Welsh red meat in new ads

An accomplished young Welsh farmer is starring in a nation-wide campaign promoting PGI Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef. Caryl Hughes, who farms in partnership with her family near Llanarmon Dyffryn, in the Ceiriog Valley, features in a new £250,000 campaign. The campaign, by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), will include radio and television advertising, on-demand tv advertising, print advertising and media partnerships. It will also feature core messages around Wales’ sustainable red meat production focusing on elements such as landscape, climate and water usage. The television advert sees Caryl at home on her farm in Ceiriog Valley and displays the dramatic landscapes and natural surroundings where she rears her own flock. Caryl is a familiar face within Welsh agriculture having previously held the role of National Sheep Association Young Ambassador and Montgomery YFC Chair. The young farmer has a degree in Agriculture from Aberystwyth University and, notably, was the first person to undertake the Llyndy Isaf Scholarship with the National Trust – where she managed a Snowdonia hill farm for a year combining sustainable farming practices with managing the outstanding natural environment. Having also competed on S4C’s Fferm Factor, Caryl is also someone comfortable both on film and in the field. She said: “Like most Welsh sheep and beef farmers, I am very proud of our industry, the food we produce and how we produce it. I’m very pleased to be involved in this campaign promoting exactly that.” “We wanted the real, authentic voices of Welsh farming to star in this campaign to show the real picture of Welsh red meat production,” HCC’s Market Development Manager, Rhys Llywelyn added: “Caryl’s knowledge, passion and experience are undeniable and she is a very credible ambassador for our industry and produce. We’re sure viewers and consumers at home will find Caryl relatable and engaging in this advert.” The new campaign launched on 13 February and can be seen and heard on various on-demand television platforms and radio stations throughout England and Wales.   SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/young-farmer-champions-welsh-red-meat-in-new-ads_54991.html

French Consumer Confidence Rises Unexpectedly In January Despite Strikes

French consumer confidence rose unexpectedly in January despite major strikes against pension reform grabbing headlines and causing transport chaos through much of the month, a monthly survey has shown. The INSEE official statistics agency said its monthly consumer confidence index rose to 104 from 102 in December, when it hit the lowest level since July as massive transport strikes erupted. Economists polled by Reuters had on average forecast that the index would hold steady at 102, and none had expected a reading higher than 103. Strike Action Strikes against the biggest overhaul of the pension system since World War II shut down much of the French public transport for weeks in December and January. Retailers dependent on commuter traffic in Paris saw sharp drop-offs in business through the crunch holiday spending period and only little improvement after a weak start to winter sales this month. Nevertheless, INSEE’s survey found that households were less pessimistic about their future finances and were more likely to consider that times were opportune to save more. Unemployment Concerns Households’ fears about unemployment also remained low. The Labour Ministry reported on Monday that the number of people registered as out of work fell in the fourth quarter to its lowest level since late 2013. The improvement offers President Emmanuel Macron’s government some relief as it struggles to overcome resistance to its unpopular pension reform. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-consumer-confidence-rises-unexpectedly-january-despite-strikes-88013

£500k boost to support digital infrastructure in Welsh marts

Funding has been announced to support digital infrastructure investments by eligible livestock auction markets, collection centres and abattoirs. Half a million pounds worth of funding will be made available to small and medium-sized businesses across Wales. The fund has been awarded by the Welsh government as part of moves to strengthen and simplify digital animal traceability through a single multi-species database. Over the next three months, from February 1, eligible businesses which serve as Central Point Recording Centres (CPRCs) can apply for funding to upgrade their digital infrastructure. This will allow an increased use of technology, and support the required future introduction of Bovine Electronic Identification alongside the similar successful system for sheep, which is administered by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) subsidiary company EIDCYMRU. Once Bovine EID Tags are introduced, cattle can be scanned and the data transferred to a tablet or PC and uploaded to EIDCymru. CPRCs therefore play a central role in a robust system of animal traceability which gives consumers confidence and allows swift action to be taken in case of any outbreak of animal disease. Rural affairs minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “We are pleased to announce funding to help a significant number of small and medium sized businesses which are important to the rural economy in Wales in their capacity as CPRCs. “This funding will offer the support needed to upgrade IT infrastructure, allowing for the increased use of technology to further strengthen Wales’s already robust system of animal traceability. “Our announcement will provide an innovative solution to some of the potential issues which could deter some facilities from operating in the future. “Supporting CPRCs to embrace technology will also help make the next generation of farmers entering the sector aware of the advantages of EID in managing livestock.” Gwyn Howells, Chief Executive of HCC, said the £500,000 funding is a significant investment for the industry. “It will help a range of businesses to access the latest technology which will streamline the process of reporting animal movements, and add to the resilience and sustainability of the whole sector.” SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/-500k-boost-to-support-digital-infrastructure-in-welsh-marts_54883.html

French Consumer Confidence Rises Unexpectedly In January Despite Strikes

French consumer confidence rose unexpectedly in January despite major strikes against pension reform grabbing headlines and causing transport chaos through much of the month, a monthly survey has shown. The INSEE official statistics agency said its monthly consumer confidence index rose to 104 from 102 in December, when it hit the lowest level since July as massive transport strikes erupted. Economists polled by Reuters had on average forecast that the index would hold steady at 102, and none had expected a reading higher than 103. Strike Action Strikes against the biggest overhaul of the pension system since World War II shut down much of the French public transport for weeks in December and January. Retailers dependent on commuter traffic in Paris saw sharp drop-offs in business through the crunch holiday spending period and only little improvement after a weak start to winter sales this month. Nevertheless, INSEE’s survey found that households were less pessimistic about their future finances and were more likely to consider that times were opportune to save more. Unemployment Concerns Households’ fears about unemployment also remained low. The Labour Ministry reported on Monday that the number of people registered as out of work fell in the fourth quarter to its lowest level since late 2013. The improvement offers President Emmanuel Macron’s government some relief as it struggles to overcome resistance to its unpopular pension reform. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-consumer-confidence-rises-unexpectedly-january-despite-strikes-88013

£500k boost to support digital infrastructure in Welsh marts

Funding has been announced to support digital infrastructure investments by eligible livestock auction markets, collection centres and abattoirs. Half a million pounds worth of funding will be made available to small and medium-sized businesses across Wales. The fund has been awarded by the Welsh government as part of moves to strengthen and simplify digital animal traceability through a single multi-species database. Over the next three months, from February 1, eligible businesses which serve as Central Point Recording Centres (CPRCs) can apply for funding to upgrade their digital infrastructure. This will allow an increased use of technology, and support the required future introduction of Bovine Electronic Identification alongside the similar successful system for sheep, which is administered by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) subsidiary company EIDCYMRU. Once Bovine EID Tags are introduced, cattle can be scanned and the data transferred to a tablet or PC and uploaded to EIDCymru. CPRCs therefore play a central role in a robust system of animal traceability which gives consumers confidence and allows swift action to be taken in case of any outbreak of animal disease. Rural affairs minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “We are pleased to announce funding to help a significant number of small and medium sized businesses which are important to the rural economy in Wales in their capacity as CPRCs. “This funding will offer the support needed to upgrade IT infrastructure, allowing for the increased use of technology to further strengthen Wales’s already robust system of animal traceability. “Our announcement will provide an innovative solution to some of the potential issues which could deter some facilities from operating in the future. “Supporting CPRCs to embrace technology will also help make the next generation of farmers entering the sector aware of the advantages of EID in managing livestock.” Gwyn Howells, Chief Executive of HCC, said the £500,000 funding is a significant investment for the industry. “It will help a range of businesses to access the latest technology which will streamline the process of reporting animal movements, and add to the resilience and sustainability of the whole sector.” SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/-500k-boost-to-support-digital-infrastructure-in-welsh-marts_54883.html

Lidl Retains Positive Momentum In French Grocery Market: Kantar

Lidl grew its market share in France by 40 basis points in December, putting the discounter on a market share of 5.8% as the year drew to a close, according to the latest data from Kantar. Data for the period from 2 to 29 December (P13), found that traffic at the discounter grew by 3.2% in December, however its media spend (radio, press and TV) fell by 12% in the period. In total, for 2019, Lidl recorded an average of 5.9% market share, Kantar said. The discounter recently announced its target to open 50 new stores per year in France by 2022, having almost achieved that target last year with its takeover of 16 former Casino outlets and 17 former Leader Price stores. Rival Aldi, which according to media reports is in discussion with Casino to acquire its Leader Price business, saw its market share rise 10 basis points to 2.4% in December, growing both its customer numbers and customer loyalty in the period. Market Leader Elsewhere, E.Leclerc maintained its leadership position in the market, growing its market share by 30 basis points to put it on 22.2% share. The retailer saw a strong contribution from its Drive outlets, Kantar said, with overall traffic in its stores (and to Drive) growing by 0.7%. Across the full year, E.Leclerc recorded a market share of 21.6%. Système U was another strong performer, with a 20-basis-point gain in market share putting it on 10.8%, while Les Mousquetaires, which operates the Intermarché banner, seeing a similar market share gain, to put it on 14.8% in the month. Sales Drop Overall, FMCG sales for the period fell by 2.8% compared to the same period the previous year, Kantar said. This compared to a +0.1% increase in the previous period as well. “We know that Kantar has shifted its P13 Period which now includes the quieter post-Xmas week, however you would expect them to have adjusted for that,” commented analyst Bruno Monteyne of Bernstein Research. If that data is correct, then the French market is a lot worse and we struggle to fully understand why it is that bad.” As Montyene pointed out, 2019 was the first full Kantar period to annualise the gilets jaunes strikes, which began in November 2018. “[This] hurt Hypers traffic the most, although with French pension reform strikes also beginning in early December this year, the relief we might have expected for the FMCG market has evidently not materialised,” he said. “This hit Carrefour particularly hard, as CA leaned more heavily on promotional pricing than other retailers.”   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/lidl-retains-positive-momentum-french-grocery-market-kantar-86737

Casino to sell Leader Price to Aldi

French supermarket chain Casino wants to offload its discount chain Leader Price and is now supposedly close to a deal with Aldi. 750 million euros According to Reuters, an agreement between Casino and Aldi is imminent: both parties supposedly more or less agree on a 750 million euro value for the discount chain, but the deal is not signed yet. Neither Aldi nor Casino wished to respond to the article. Already in September last year, Casino confirmed rumours that the French retailer was conducting exclusive negotiations with Aldi to sell Leader Price. At the time, there was talk of a takeover price of “well over 400 million euros”. The French chain is burdened by heavy debt and is trying to tackle that with a divestment plan worth 4.5 billion euros. The sale of Leader Price is part of that downsizing. On its own French market, Casino has suffered greatly from the fierce competition including from E.Leclerc and discounters Aldi and Lidl. Online players like Amazon also present a big challenge. SOURCE : https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/casino-sell-leader-price-aldi

New partnership to boost Welsh PGI meat to London audience

A new partnership looking to boost Welsh PGI Beef and Lamb to key consumers in the south-east of England has been announced. Red meat body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) will link up with Wales Week London, an initiative which promotes Welsh culture to London-based audiences. The pairing will see Wales’s iconic PGI Welsh Lamb and PGI Welsh Beef brands featuring as partners of the major business and cultural festival. Protected Welsh meat will also be promoted over Wales Week London’s extensive social media channels. Wales Week London has grown rapidly from its inception in 2017. Last year it promoted over 100 events in over 50 venues, to over 10,000 attendees. Its social media impact alone was also impressive, generating two million impressions. Due to its success, activities are spread over two weeks, with the 2020 celebrations running from 22 February to 8 March. Food is a major part of the festivities, with Welsh food being showcased at events in Paddington Station, 10 Downing Street, PwC, BAFTA, as well as at leading London restaurants run by renowned Welsh chefs Bryn Williams and Tom Simmons, helping to raise the profile of Welsh food and farming. HCC’s Market Development Manager, Rhys Llywelyn, said: “London has been an important market for some time for Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef. “But partnering with Wales Week London and Wales Week Worldwide will bring an extra dimension to our work.” He added: “We have a major initiative during the early months of 2020 to highlight how Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef are high-quality and sustainable foods, reared non-intensively using the perfect natural environment that we have. “By working with our new partners we’ll extend the reach of this campaign to key consumers in the south-east of England in particular, where the profile of activities around St David’s Day is increasing and attracting growing audiences.” SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/new-partnership-to-boost-welsh-pgi-meat-to-london-audience_54793.html

Lidl Retains Positive Momentum In French Grocery Market: Kantar

Lidl grew its market share in France by 40 basis points in December, putting the discounter on a market share of 5.8% as the year drew to a close, according to the latest data from Kantar. Data for the period from 2 to 29 December (P13), found that traffic at the discounter grew by 3.2% in December, however its media spend (radio, press and TV) fell by 12% in the period. In total, for 2019, Lidl recorded an average of 5.9% market share, Kantar said. The discounter recently announced its target to open 50 new stores per year in France by 2022, having almost achieved that target last year with its takeover of 16 former Casino outlets and 17 former Leader Price stores. Rival Aldi, which according to media reports is in discussion with Casino to acquire its Leader Price business, saw its market share rise 10 basis points to 2.4% in December, growing both its customer numbers and customer loyalty in the period. Market Leader Elsewhere, E.Leclerc maintained its leadership position in the market, growing its market share by 30 basis points to put it on 22.2% share. The retailer saw a strong contribution from its Drive outlets, Kantar said, with overall traffic in its stores (and to Drive) growing by 0.7%. Across the full year, E.Leclerc recorded a market share of 21.6%. Système U was another strong performer, with a 20-basis-point gain in market share putting it on 10.8%, while Les Mousquetaires, which operates the Intermarché banner, seeing a similar market share gain, to put it on 14.8% in the month. Sales Drop Overall, FMCG sales for the period fell by 2.8% compared to the same period the previous year, Kantar said. This compared to a +0.1% increase in the previous period as well. “We know that Kantar has shifted its P13 Period which now includes the quieter post-Xmas week, however you would expect them to have adjusted for that,” commented analyst Bruno Monteyne of Bernstein Research. If that data is correct, then the French market is a lot worse and we struggle to fully understand why it is that bad.” As Montyene pointed out, 2019 was the first full Kantar period to annualise the gilets jaunes strikes, which began in November 2018. “[This] hurt Hypers traffic the most, although with French pension reform strikes also beginning in early December this year, the relief we might have expected for the FMCG market has evidently not materialised,” he said. “This hit Carrefour particularly hard, as CA leaned more heavily on promotional pricing than other retailers.” SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/lidl-retains-positive-momentum-french-grocery-market-kantar-86737

Casino to sell Leader Price to Aldi

French supermarket chain Casino wants to offload its discount chain Leader Price and is now supposedly close to a deal with Aldi. 750 million euros According to Reuters, an agreement between Casino and Aldi is imminent: both parties supposedly more or less agree on a 750 million euro value for the discount chain, but the deal is not signed yet. Neither Aldi nor Casino wished to respond to the article. Already in September last year, Casino confirmed rumours that the French retailer was conducting exclusive negotiations with Aldi to sell Leader Price. At the time, there was talk of a takeover price of “well over 400 million euros”. The French chain is burdened by heavy debt and is trying to tackle that with a divestment plan worth 4.5 billion euros. The sale of Leader Price is part of that downsizing. On its own French market, Casino has suffered greatly from the fierce competition including from E.Leclerc and discounters Aldi and Lidl. Online players like Amazon also present a big challenge. SOURCE : https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/casino-sell-leader-price-aldi

New partnership to boost Welsh PGI meat to London audience

A new partnership looking to boost Welsh PGI Beef and Lamb to key consumers in the south-east of England has been announced. Red meat body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) will link up with Wales Week London, an initiative which promotes Welsh culture to London-based audiences. The pairing will see Wales’s iconic PGI Welsh Lamb and PGI Welsh Beef brands featuring as partners of the major business and cultural festival. Protected Welsh meat will also be promoted over Wales Week London’s extensive social media channels. Wales Week London has grown rapidly from its inception in 2017. Last year it promoted over 100 events in over 50 venues, to over 10,000 attendees. Its social media impact alone was also impressive, generating two million impressions. Due to its success, activities are spread over two weeks, with the 2020 celebrations running from 22 February to 8 March. Food is a major part of the festivities, with Welsh food being showcased at events in Paddington Station, 10 Downing Street, PwC, BAFTA, as well as at leading London restaurants run by renowned Welsh chefs Bryn Williams and Tom Simmons, helping to raise the profile of Welsh food and farming. HCC’s Market Development Manager, Rhys Llywelyn, said: “London has been an important market for some time for Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef. “But partnering with Wales Week London and Wales Week Worldwide will bring an extra dimension to our work.” He added: “We have a major initiative during the early months of 2020 to highlight how Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef are high-quality and sustainable foods, reared non-intensively using the perfect natural environment that we have. “By working with our new partners we’ll extend the reach of this campaign to key consumers in the south-east of England in particular, where the profile of activities around St David’s Day is increasing and attracting growing audiences.” SOURCE : https://www.farminguk.com/news/new-partnership-to-boost-welsh-pgi-meat-to-london-audience_54793.html

Venturing into the organic market

Arguably one of the fastest-growing markets in France, the organic (Bio) market continues to develop with a yearly growth rate of +15.7%. Boasting a turnover of 9.7€ million (2018), we are yet to see this growth decrease. As the organic market began to blossom, it was specialised retailers that first jumped onto this craze, with supermarkets now following suit.According to Agence Bio, 65% of the French population would like to be able to access more organic products in supermarkets, 37% in convenience stores, against only 26% for speciality stores. To respond to this demand and tap into this rapidly growing market, large retailers have acquired existing specialist organic networks. In 2008, Monoprix purchased Naturalia, and since then, Carrefour created brand Carrefour Bio (with currently 33 stores), then acquired small local chain So.bio (12 stores). Whereas E.Leclerc created E.Leclerc Bio (29 stores). The benefits that these networks hold have enabled supermarkets to quickly advance in the sector. Benefits such as; direct links with small producers, access to professionals (dieticians, grocers, butchers, etc.), and improved sourcing links to specialised producers, a crucial factor of success in this sector. To maintain their market presence, large retailers have turned to price, striving to make organic products as accessible as possible through the use of aggressive retail prices. So.bio offers a 15-20% reduction on 5% of their products, whilst E.Leclerc Bio’s products are around 30% cheaper than specialists. The next few years will be a clear indicator as to whether it is the supermarkets who will dominate this market, or if specialised stores can fight back to remain competitive and keep their Consumers loyalty. SOURCES: LSA Conso, Les echos

HCC urges balance in debate over diet and climate change

In his New Year message, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales chairman Kevin Roberts has urged the media to take a balanced approach to covering issues of diet and sustainability in 2020. Roberts has criticised elements of the media in the past for failing to distinguish between environmentally-damaging farming practices across the world and the far more sustainable, low-intensity ways in which beef and sheep are reared in countries such as Wales. He congratulated journalists who were taking a more intelligent and balanced approach to the debate, and added that it was vital that consumers were well-informed at this time of year, as January usually sees a promotional push by campaign groups lobbying in favour of meat-free lifestyles. “Many journalists are now seeing through this, and seeking to bring balance to the discussion.” “I fully understand people wishing to make changes to their lives in order to live more sustainably,” said Kevin Roberts. “But the truth is that people can do that without taking whole groups of foods out of their diet, with all the negative health implications that can bring, by looking more at where and how their food is produced.” He said: “British farming has faced some pretty ill-informed criticism over recent months, by people relying on global average figures and stories about environmental practices which are – literally – half a world away from what goes on here. Many journalists are now seeing through this, and seeking to bring balance to the discussion. “Issues around deforestation and intensive production are alien to how lamb and beef is produced in Wales, using natural grass and rainfall, to very high standards of welfare and environmental management, and on land which wouldn’t be suitable for large-scale cultivation of crops. “Major international studies, such as the IPCC report on global land use for the United Nations, have said that sustainable forms of livestock farming are part of the solution to climate change and food security, not part of the problem. “Consumers can therefore be reassured that the majority of beef and lamb that’s available in UK supermarkets and independent butchers is produced domestically, by farmers whose environmental practices are in many ways examples to be followed by the rest of the world.” He explained that HCC’s £250,000 investment in a multi-media marketing and communications campaign, to inform consumers of the non-intensive and sustainable way in which sheep and cattle were farmed in Wales, was progressing, with advertising planned in the early weeks of the New Year. “There’s social media and PR work already under way linked to our campaign to promote the ‘Welsh Way’ of farming,” said Roberts, “and I’m excited about the multimedia TV, radio and digital advertising which will kick in over the coming weeks, using the latest technology to target the message most effectively.”   SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/hcc-urges-balance-in-debate-over-diet-and-climate-change/

Carrefour Acquires ‘Lunch Delivery’ Specialist Dejbox

Carrefour has announced the acquisition of Dejbox, a firm that specialises in lunch deliveries for business workers in suburban and outlying areas of selected French cities. Styled as an ‘online canteen’, Dejbox was founded in 2015 by entrepreneurs Adrien Verhack and Vincent Dupied, and offers a range of fresh, cooked and seasonal dishes at a set price, which are then delivered to a workplace at no extra charge. The platform was developed to ‘meet the needs of the more than 10 million French employees who work in the urban hinterland and very rarely have access to an onsite dining service’, Carrefour said in a statement. Locations Dejbox operates in Lille, Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes and Grenoble, as well as in towns neighbouring these major cities, and delivers more than 400,000 meals per month. The company employs 300 chefs and delivery personnel, which it says sets it apart from other ‘gig-economy’ based food delivery services. Carrefour said that it is confident that following the acquisition, Dejbox will be able to expand its French operations ‘at a rapid pace’, as well as move into international markets. Dejbox is currently working on enhancing its B2B services offering, which will enable companies subsidise part of the cost of employee lunches by transferring funds to employees’ Dejbox accounts. Strategic Acquisition “This acquisition, which reflects Carrefour’s desire to become the leader in grocery e- commerce, is a strategic one”, says Amélie Oudéa-Castera, executive director for customers, services and digital transformation at Carrefour. “It will give us the opportunity to expand our customer base to include employees of medium-sized, small and micro businesses and also invest in the fast-growing food delivery segment with an offering rooted in quality and affordability.” Echoing her comments, Dejbox co-founders Adrien Verhack and Vincent Dupied said that they believed Carrefour was the “best possible partner for helping us achieve our ambitious growth plans for Dejbox”.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/uncategorized/carrefour-acquires-lunch-delivery-specialist-dejbox-85711

HCC urges balance in debate over diet and climate change

In his New Year message, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales chairman Kevin Roberts has urged the media to take a balanced approach to covering issues of diet and sustainability in 2020. Roberts has criticised elements of the media in the past for failing to distinguish between environmentally-damaging farming practices across the world and the far more sustainable, low-intensity ways in which beef and sheep are reared in countries such as Wales. He congratulated journalists who were taking a more intelligent and balanced approach to the debate, and added that it was vital that consumers were well-informed at this time of year, as January usually sees a promotional push by campaign groups lobbying in favour of meat-free lifestyles. “Many journalists are now seeing through this, and seeking to bring balance to the discussion.” “I fully understand people wishing to make changes to their lives in order to live more sustainably,” said Kevin Roberts. “But the truth is that people can do that without taking whole groups of foods out of their diet, with all the negative health implications that can bring, by looking more at where and how their food is produced.” He said: “British farming has faced some pretty ill-informed criticism over recent months, by people relying on global average figures and stories about environmental practices which are – literally – half a world away from what goes on here. Many journalists are now seeing through this, and seeking to bring balance to the discussion. “Issues around deforestation and intensive production are alien to how lamb and beef is produced in Wales, using natural grass and rainfall, to very high standards of welfare and environmental management, and on land which wouldn’t be suitable for large-scale cultivation of crops. “Major international studies, such as the IPCC report on global land use for the United Nations, have said that sustainable forms of livestock farming are part of the solution to climate change and food security, not part of the problem. “Consumers can therefore be reassured that the majority of beef and lamb that’s available in UK supermarkets and independent butchers is produced domestically, by farmers whose environmental practices are in many ways examples to be followed by the rest of the world.” He explained that HCC’s £250,000 investment in a multi-media marketing and communications campaign, to inform consumers of the non-intensive and sustainable way in which sheep and cattle were farmed in Wales, was progressing, with advertising planned in the early weeks of the New Year. “There’s social media and PR work already under way linked to our campaign to promote the ‘Welsh Way’ of farming,” said Roberts, “and I’m excited about the multimedia TV, radio and digital advertising which will kick in over the coming weeks, using the latest technology to target the message most effectively.”   SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/hcc-urges-balance-in-debate-over-diet-and-climate-change/

Carrefour Acquires ‘Lunch Delivery’ Specialist Dejbox

Carrefour has announced the acquisition of Dejbox, a firm that specialises in lunch deliveries for business workers in suburban and outlying areas of selected French cities. Styled as an ‘online canteen’, Dejbox was founded in 2015 by entrepreneurs Adrien Verhack and Vincent Dupied, and offers a range of fresh, cooked and seasonal dishes at a set price, which are then delivered to a workplace at no extra charge. The platform was developed to ‘meet the needs of the more than 10 million French employees who work in the urban hinterland and very rarely have access to an onsite dining service’, Carrefour said in a statement. Locations Dejbox operates in Lille, Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes and Grenoble, as well as in towns neighbouring these major cities, and delivers more than 400,000 meals per month. The company employs 300 chefs and delivery personnel, which it says sets it apart from other ‘gig-economy’ based food delivery services. Carrefour said that it is confident that following the acquisition, Dejbox will be able to expand its French operations ‘at a rapid pace’, as well as move into international markets. Dejbox is currently working on enhancing its B2B services offering, which will enable companies subsidise part of the cost of employee lunches by transferring funds to employees’ Dejbox accounts. Strategic Acquisition “This acquisition, which reflects Carrefour’s desire to become the leader in grocery e- commerce, is a strategic one”, says Amélie Oudéa-Castera, executive director for customers, services and digital transformation at Carrefour. “It will give us the opportunity to expand our customer base to include employees of medium-sized, small and micro businesses and also invest in the fast-growing food delivery segment with an offering rooted in quality and affordability.” Echoing her comments, Dejbox co-founders Adrien Verhack and Vincent Dupied said that they believed Carrefour was the “best possible partner for helping us achieve our ambitious growth plans for Dejbox”.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/uncategorized/carrefour-acquires-lunch-delivery-specialist-dejbox-85711

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Visitors to the recent Royal Welsh Winter Fair turned sampling volunteers  in a promotional tasting session for a new, 2,000-strong Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) led consumer research initiative; the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project. “I don’t think you can beat it”; “I really rate it” and “Very tender, lovely texture- and it’s good to know its sustainable and natural” were a few of the flood of favourable comments from the audience volunteers to the project’s meat quality executive, Dr. Eleri Thomas. The plan will look to assess, develop and enhance the meat-eating quality of Welsh Lamb and secure its international reputation to help Welsh farming prepare for a post-Brexit world. It will engage with all aspects of the supply chain, aiming to boost farm productivity while ensuring that future red meat production meets the demand of an ever-changing and increasingly discerning consumer, at home and abroad. It is supported by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. The formal, carefully controlled project taste testing sessions will take place in January and February in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a wide and diverse group of samplers are being recruited to ensure the broadest possible range of consumer interests. “HCC’s stand at Winter Fair had a brilliant response from the public walk-ups who loved the great taste of sustainable Welsh Lamb and we are looking forward to the first of the consumer taste panel results in the New Year,” said Dr. Thomas. “However, this project is about securing Welsh Lamb’s position at the top of consumer shopping lists and so we’ll learn from them all and seek to inform the Welsh red meat supply chain about how we can make it even tastier in the future.” SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/visitors-get-flavour-of-new-welsh-lamb-consumer-taste-test-project/

France to become leading consumer of organic wine

France is set to become the world’s leading consumer of organic wine by 2021, having doubled its consumption since 2013, a new study suggests. In the next two years, France is set to overtake Germany as the world’s highest consumer, as consumption levels are expected to have doubled since 2013, according to a new study by British alcohol intelligence and data institute the IWSR, which follows the alcohol market in 157 countries. By 2023, consumption in France will represent as much as 20% of the global market, the study found, putting it ahead of current leader Germany, and next-largest consumers, the UK, and the United States. In 2019, the rankings showed Germany on top, followed by France, the UK, Italy, and the US. The figures suggest that organic wine consumption is growing, even as global consumption of “normal” wine is experiencing a downturn. The study for interprofessional organic wine association SudVinBio (Languedoc) comes as France prepares to hold the “Millésime Bio” organic wine salon show in Montpellier, on January 27 and 29, 2020. Organic wine production in France is also on the rise, the IWSR said, from 165 million bottles in 2013, to 361 million in 2018: a rise of 119%. By 2023, that figure is expected to have risen further, to 613 million. Rise in natural wine too Natural wine production is also growing in France, albeit more slowly, figures show. Natural wine has been called “going further than organic” and described by US magazine Eating Well as the “cleanest wine option”. It is often explained as wine that is made with as few interventions or additions as possible – including no synthetic or even organic treatments, fertilisers, or chemicals; no oak character from barrels, no filtering, and no added sulfites (sulfur dioxide, sometimes added to other wine to increase its shelf life). This is in contrast to organic wine, which is made and harvested with organic-certified grapes, but can sometimes include certain non-synthetic treatments and chemicals at certain stages of the process, depending on the producer. Some organic producers in Europe may also add small amounts of sulfites (less than 100 parts per million (ppm) for reds, and 150 ppm for whites) to increase the shelf life of organic wine. Natural wine producer Gilles Contrepois, from the Aude, began making natural wine in 2004, and believes it is “clear” that enthusiasm for natural wine is growing – although currently, the natural wine market is small, and represents 1% of the entire wine production in France. Mr Contrepois told local news source France 3: “People want to go further than organic, especially young consumers. There is clearly a craze for natural wine. We hear of ‘organic bashing’ more and more. Organic isn’t enough, because people know that there are still sulfites in the wine. “Consumers, especially young people, want to go further. I am convinced that we are really going to change the world of wine consumption, to go further into more interesting products, rather than boring wines without any surprises.” This month, Mr Contrepois will participate – along with 17 other local natural wine producers – in the second annual edition of Durban Corbières, a salon of natural wine, in the hautes Corbières. SOURCE : https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/France-to-become-world-consumer-of-organic-wine-by-2021-overtaking-Germany-as-natural-wine-grows-too

Visitors get flavour of new Welsh Lamb consumer taste-test project

Visitors to the recent Royal Welsh Winter Fair turned sampling volunteers  in a promotional tasting session for a new, 2,000-strong Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) led consumer research initiative; the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project. “I don’t think you can beat it”; “I really rate it” and “Very tender, lovely texture- and it’s good to know its sustainable and natural” were a few of the flood of favourable comments from the audience volunteers to the project’s meat quality executive, Dr. Eleri Thomas. The plan will look to assess, develop and enhance the meat-eating quality of Welsh Lamb and secure its international reputation to help Welsh farming prepare for a post-Brexit world. It will engage with all aspects of the supply chain, aiming to boost farm productivity while ensuring that future red meat production meets the demand of an ever-changing and increasingly discerning consumer, at home and abroad. It is supported by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. The formal, carefully controlled project taste testing sessions will take place in January and February in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a wide and diverse group of samplers are being recruited to ensure the broadest possible range of consumer interests. “HCC’s stand at Winter Fair had a brilliant response from the public walk-ups who loved the great taste of sustainable Welsh Lamb and we are looking forward to the first of the consumer taste panel results in the New Year,” said Dr. Thomas. “However, this project is about securing Welsh Lamb’s position at the top of consumer shopping lists and so we’ll learn from them all and seek to inform the Welsh red meat supply chain about how we can make it even tastier in the future.”   SOURCE : https://meatmanagement.com/visitors-get-flavour-of-new-welsh-lamb-consumer-taste-test-project/

France to become leading consumer of organic wine

France is set to become the world’s leading consumer of organic wine by 2021, having doubled its consumption since 2013, a new study suggests. In the next two years, France is set to overtake Germany as the world’s highest consumer, as consumption levels are expected to have doubled since 2013, according to a new study by British alcohol intelligence and data institute the IWSR, which follows the alcohol market in 157 countries. By 2023, consumption in France will represent as much as 20% of the global market, the study found, putting it ahead of current leader Germany, and next-largest consumers, the UK, and the United States. In 2019, the rankings showed Germany on top, followed by France, the UK, Italy, and the US. The figures suggest that organic wine consumption is growing, even as global consumption of “normal” wine is experiencing a downturn. The study for interprofessional organic wine association SudVinBio (Languedoc) comes as France prepares to hold the “Millésime Bio” organic wine salon show in Montpellier, on January 27 and 29, 2020. Organic wine production in France is also on the rise, the IWSR said, from 165 million bottles in 2013, to 361 million in 2018: a rise of 119%. By 2023, that figure is expected to have risen further, to 613 million. Rise in natural wine too Natural wine production is also growing in France, albeit more slowly, figures show. Natural wine has been called “going further than organic” and described by US magazine Eating Well as the “cleanest wine option”. It is often explained as wine that is made with as few interventions or additions as possible – including no synthetic or even organic treatments, fertilisers, or chemicals; no oak character from barrels, no filtering, and no added sulfites (sulfur dioxide, sometimes added to other wine to increase its shelf life). This is in contrast to organic wine, which is made and harvested with organic-certified grapes, but can sometimes include certain non-synthetic treatments and chemicals at certain stages of the process, depending on the producer. Some organic producers in Europe may also add small amounts of sulfites (less than 100 parts per million (ppm) for reds, and 150 ppm for whites) to increase the shelf life of organic wine. Natural wine producer Gilles Contrepois, from the Aude, began making natural wine in 2004, and believes it is “clear” that enthusiasm for natural wine is growing – although currently, the natural wine market is small, and represents 1% of the entire wine production in France. Mr Contrepois told local news source France 3: “People want to go further than organic, especially young consumers. There is clearly a craze for natural wine. We hear of ‘organic bashing’ more and more. Organic isn’t enough, because people know that there are still sulfites in the wine. “Consumers, especially young people, want to go further. I am convinced that we are really going to change the world of wine consumption, to go further into more interesting products, rather than boring wines without any surprises.” This month, Mr Contrepois will participate – along with 17 other local natural wine producers – in the second annual edition of Durban Corbières, a salon of natural wine, in the hautes Corbières. SOURCE : https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/France-to-become-world-consumer-of-organic-wine-by-2021-overtaking-Germany-as-natural-wine-grows-too

French Online Retail Sales Could Top €100bn In 2019

French shoppers are on course to spend over €100 billion on online in 2019, a rise of at least 8% on last year, as they splurge some €20 billion on web purchases over the Christmas period, France’s Fevad e-commerce federation said. French consumers spent €18.3 billion online during the festive season in 2018, which also encompasses Black Friday sales, according to Fevad. Amazon’s push into France has put pressure on traditional retailers such as supermarket group Carrefour to step up their online strategies, spurring growth in the sector. France is one of the leaders in Europe for online grocery shopping.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-online-retail-sales-top-e100bn-2019-82837

E.Leclerc Outperforms Rest Of French Market In Latest Kantar Figures

French retail market leader E.Leclerc posted a 70 basis point increase in the period from October 7 to November 3, according to the latest market share data from Kantar. The group now holds 21.1% of the market, with an increase of 350,000 customers in the P11 period. According to Kantar, Lidl also posted strong growth in the period, growing 60 basis points to put it on 6.2% market share. The discounter recruited more than 400,000 households in the period. Elsewhere, Le Groupement Les Mousquetaires, which operates the Intermarché banner, saw a 20 basis point rise, to hold 15.7%, while Système U grew by 10 basis points. Hypermarket Challenges Carrefour’s hypermarket operation continued to find the going tough in the period, with a 40 basis point decline to put it on 10% market share, while there was also a 10 basis point decline for its Carrefour Market operation. Auchan’s hypermarkets also saw a fall, of 50 basis points, to 7.3% market share. The online channel continued to gain share in the period, Kantar added, with online now accounting for 6.6% of total sales, and an additional 300,000 homes shopping online.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/e-leclerc-outperforms-rest-french-market-latest-kantar-figures-82839

French Online Retail Sales Could Top €100bn In 2019

French shoppers are on course to spend over €100 billion on online in 2019, a rise of at least 8% on last year, as they splurge some €20 billion on web purchases over the Christmas period, France’s Fevad e-commerce federation said. French consumers spent €18.3 billion online during the festive season in 2018, which also encompasses Black Friday sales, according to Fevad. Amazon’s push into France has put pressure on traditional retailers such as supermarket group Carrefour to step up their online strategies, spurring growth in the sector. France is one of the leaders in Europe for online grocery shopping.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-online-retail-sales-top-e100bn-2019-82837

E.Leclerc Outperforms Rest Of French Market In Latest Kantar Figures

French retail market leader E.Leclerc posted a 70 basis point increase in the period from October 7 to November 3, according to the latest market share data from Kantar. The group now holds 21.1% of the market, with an increase of 350,000 customers in the P11 period. According to Kantar, Lidl also posted strong growth in the period, growing 60 basis points to put it on 6.2% market share. The discounter recruited more than 400,000 households in the period. Elsewhere, Le Groupement Les Mousquetaires, which operates the Intermarché banner, saw a 20 basis point rise, to hold 15.7%, while Système U grew by 10 basis points. Hypermarket Challenges Carrefour’s hypermarket operation continued to find the going tough in the period, with a 40 basis point decline to put it on 10% market share, while there was also a 10 basis point decline for its Carrefour Market operation. Auchan’s hypermarkets also saw a fall, of 50 basis points, to 7.3% market share. The online channel continued to gain share in the period, Kantar added, with online now accounting for 6.6% of total sales, and an additional 300,000 homes shopping online.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/e-leclerc-outperforms-rest-french-market-latest-kantar-figures-82839

Campaign will aim to show Welsh Lamb and Beef is ‘sustainable’

A NEW, £250,000 multi-media marketing campaign to promote the positive environmental story behind Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef was launched by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) at its annual conference. HCC’s chairman Kevin Roberts said its board had dipped into financial reserves to underpin the winter and spring awareness-raising drive, incorporating traditional and new media advertising and led by the industry’s farming champions. It will highlight that beef and lamb produced the ‘Welsh Way’ – the theme of the conference – can be a positive choice for environmentally-conscious consumers. “We will defend, and positively commend, our industry’s position on climate change,” he told the red meat authority’s annual conference at Builth Wells, last week. “We say that it’s time to combat the constant rat-tat-tat of cheap jibes and false claims on matters that make a great difference to our businesses regarding veganism and environmental issues. Mr Roberts added: “We’ll make consumers more aware of how the Welsh Way of rearing livestock is completely different from intensive production systems elsewhere. Our way is non-intensive, our landscape is ideally suited to rearing livestock on natural grass and rainfall, and our farms act as a carbon sink which can help mitigate climate change.” The investment, which is additional to already-planned promotional spending in the British market, will feature marketing through HCC’s award-winning targeted social media strategy, as well as targeted advertising on digital TV and print media. “We have a positive message for consumers who are worried about climate change – lamb and beef produced the ‘Welsh Way’ is part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Mr Roberts. “British consumers want to know that their meat is produced responsibly, in non-intensive systems. This is exactly the story that we can tell about Welsh livestock farming.”  SOURCE : https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18042905.campaign-will-aim-show-welsh-lamb-beef-sustainable/

EU Mixed Fruit And Vegetable Juice Market – France Is The Largest And Fastest-Growing Consumer

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Mixtures Of Fruit And Vegetable Juices – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings. The revenue of the mixed juices market in the European Union amounted to $3B in 2018, flattening at the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, mixed juices consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011 with an increase of 11% against the previous year. The level of mixed juices consumption peaked at $3.2B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure. Consumption By Country in the EU The countries with the highest volumes of mixed juices consumption in 2018 were Germany (539K tonnes), France (496K tonnes) and the UK (413K tonnes), together comprising 63% of total consumption. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mixed juices consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. In value terms, France ($670M), the UK ($648M) and Germany ($578M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2018, with a combined 64% share of the total market. The countries with the highest levels of mixed juices per capita consumption in 2018 were France (7,591 kg per 1000 persons), Germany (6,555 kg per 1000 persons) and the UK (6,188 kg per 1000 persons). From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mixed juices per capita consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Production in the EU In 2018, the amount of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices produced in the European Union amounted to 2.2M tonnes, reducing by -7.6% against the previous year. In general, mixed juices production continues to indicate a mild deduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when production volume increased by 6% y-o-y. Over the period under review, mixed juices production reached its peak figure volume at 2.5M tonnes in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, production stood at a somewhat lower figure. In value terms, mixed juices production totaled $2.5B in 2018 estimated in export prices. In general, mixed juices production continues to indicate a temperate downturn. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011 with an increase of 14% against the previous year. Over the period under review, mixed juices production attained its peak figure level at $3.1B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, production failed to regain its momentum. Production By Country in the EU The countries with the highest volumes of mixed juices production in 2018 were Germany (631K tonnes), the Netherlands (349K tonnes) and France (245K tonnes), together accounting for 55% of total production. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mixed juices production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Exports in the EU In 2018, the mixed juices exports in the European Union stood at 960K tonnes, picking up by 7.6% against the previous year. The total exports indicated a strong increase from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices exports increased by +72.2% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 33% against the previous year. Over the period under review, mixed juices exports reached their peak figure in 2018 and are likely to continue its growth in the near future. In value terms, mixed juices exports stood at $1.2B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total exports indicated conspicuous growth from 2008 to 2018: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices exports increased by +86.4% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 30% against the previous year. The level of exports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the near future. Exports by Country The Netherlands (334K tonnes) and Germany (243K tonnes) represented the main exporters of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices in 2018, amounting to approx. 35% and 25% of total exports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Spain (110K tonnes), Belgium (67K tonnes) and the UK (58K tonnes), together making up a 24% share of total exports. France (38K tonnes) and Poland (24K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by the UK, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. In value terms, the Netherlands ($420M), Germany ($262M) and Spain ($136M) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2018, together accounting for 69% of total exports. These countries were followed by the UK, Belgium, France and Poland, which together accounted for a further 21%. In terms of the main exporting countries, the UK recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to exports, over the last decade, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Export Prices by Country The mixed juices export price in the European Union stood at $1,233 per tonne in 2018, surging by 12% against the previous year. Overall, the mixed juices export price, however, continues to indicate a mild descent. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the export price increased by 14% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the export prices for mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices reached their maximum at $1,436 per tonne in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, export prices remained at a lower figure. Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, major exporting countries recorded the following prices: in the UK ($1,568 per tonne) and France ($1,284 per tonne), while Germany ($1,076 per tonne) and Poland ($1,103 per tonne) were amongst the lowest. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Spain, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures. Imports in the EU In 2018, the amount of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices imported in the European Union stood at 1.1M tonnes, surging by 9.8% against the previous year. The total imports indicated a resilient increase from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices imports increased by +86.8% against 2012 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 46% against the previous year. The volume of imports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term. In value terms, mixed juices imports totaled $1.1B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total imports indicated a strong expansion from 2008 to 2018: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices imports increased by +60.7% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 44% year-to-year. The level of imports peaked in 2018 and are likely to continue its growth in the near future. Imports by Country The UK (292K tonnes) and France (289K tonnes) represented roughly 55% of total imports of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices in 2018. Germany (151K tonnes) ranks next in terms of the total imports with a 14% share, followed by the Netherlands (5.5%) and Belgium (4.9%). Sweden (30K tonnes), Austria (24K tonnes), Denmark (21K tonnes), Portugal (19K tonnes), Spain (17K tonnes) and Poland (16K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by the UK, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. In value terms, the largest mixed juices importing markets in the European Union were France ($277M), the UK ($252M) and Germany ($202M), with a combined 65% share of total imports. The UK recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to imports, among the main importing countries over the last decade, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Import Prices by Country In 2018, the mixed juices import price in the European Union amounted to $1,071 per tonne, remaining stable against the previous year. In general, the mixed juices import price, however, continues to indicate a moderate reduction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the import price increased by 9.3% year-to-year. The level of import price peaked at $1,365 per tonne in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, import prices failed to regain their momentum. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Poland ($1,575 per tonne), while Portugal ($715 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Denmark, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures. SOURCE : https://www.globaltrademag.com/eu-mixed-fruit-and-vegetable-juice-market-france-is-the-largest-and-fastest-growing-consumer/

Campaign will aim to show Welsh Lamb and Beef is ‘sustainable’

A NEW, £250,000 multi-media marketing campaign to promote the positive environmental story behind Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef was launched by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) at its annual conference. HCC’s chairman Kevin Roberts said its board had dipped into financial reserves to underpin the winter and spring awareness-raising drive, incorporating traditional and new media advertising and led by the industry’s farming champions. It will highlight that beef and lamb produced the ‘Welsh Way’ – the theme of the conference – can be a positive choice for environmentally-conscious consumers. “We will defend, and positively commend, our industry’s position on climate change,” he told the red meat authority’s annual conference at Builth Wells, last week. “We say that it’s time to combat the constant rat-tat-tat of cheap jibes and false claims on matters that make a great difference to our businesses regarding veganism and environmental issues. Mr Roberts added: “We’ll make consumers more aware of how the Welsh Way of rearing livestock is completely different from intensive production systems elsewhere. Our way is non-intensive, our landscape is ideally suited to rearing livestock on natural grass and rainfall, and our farms act as a carbon sink which can help mitigate climate change.” The investment, which is additional to already-planned promotional spending in the British market, will feature marketing through HCC’s award-winning targeted social media strategy, as well as targeted advertising on digital TV and print media. “We have a positive message for consumers who are worried about climate change – lamb and beef produced the ‘Welsh Way’ is part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Mr Roberts. “British consumers want to know that their meat is produced responsibly, in non-intensive systems. This is exactly the story that we can tell about Welsh livestock farming.” SOURCE : https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18042905.campaign-will-aim-show-welsh-lamb-beef-sustainable/

EU Mixed Fruit and Vegetable Juice Market – France Is the Largest and Fastest-Growing Consumer

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘EU – Mixtures Of Fruit And Vegetable Juices – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings. The revenue of the mixed juices market in the European Union amounted to $3B in 2018, flattening at the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, mixed juices consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011 with an increase of 11% against the previous year. The level of mixed juices consumption peaked at $3.2B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure. Consumption By Country in the EU The countries with the highest volumes of mixed juices consumption in 2018 were Germany (539K tonnes), France (496K tonnes) and the UK (413K tonnes), together comprising 63% of total consumption. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mixed juices consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. In value terms, France ($670M), the UK ($648M) and Germany ($578M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2018, with a combined 64% share of the total market. The countries with the highest levels of mixed juices per capita consumption in 2018 were France (7,591 kg per 1000 persons), Germany (6,555 kg per 1000 persons) and the UK (6,188 kg per 1000 persons). From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mixed juices per capita consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Production in the EU In 2018, the amount of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices produced in the European Union amounted to 2.2M tonnes, reducing by -7.6% against the previous year. In general, mixed juices production continues to indicate a mild deduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when production volume increased by 6% y-o-y. Over the period under review, mixed juices production reached its peak figure volume at 2.5M tonnes in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, production stood at a somewhat lower figure. In value terms, mixed juices production totaled $2.5B in 2018 estimated in export prices. In general, mixed juices production continues to indicate a temperate downturn. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011 with an increase of 14% against the previous year. Over the period under review, mixed juices production attained its peak figure level at $3.1B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, production failed to regain its momentum. Production By Country in the EU The countries with the highest volumes of mixed juices production in 2018 were Germany (631K tonnes), the Netherlands (349K tonnes) and France (245K tonnes), together accounting for 55% of total production. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of mixed juices production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by France, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Exports in the EU In 2018, the mixed juices exports in the European Union stood at 960K tonnes, picking up by 7.6% against the previous year. The total exports indicated a strong increase from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices exports increased by +72.2% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 33% against the previous year. Over the period under review, mixed juices exports reached their peak figure in 2018 and are likely to continue its growth in the near future. In value terms, mixed juices exports stood at $1.2B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total exports indicated conspicuous growth from 2008 to 2018: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices exports increased by +86.4% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 30% against the previous year. The level of exports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the near future. Exports by Country The Netherlands (334K tonnes) and Germany (243K tonnes) represented the main exporters of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices in 2018, amounting to approx. 35% and 25% of total exports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Spain (110K tonnes), Belgium (67K tonnes) and the UK (58K tonnes), together making up a 24% share of total exports. France (38K tonnes) and Poland (24K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by the UK, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. In value terms, the Netherlands ($420M), Germany ($262M) and Spain ($136M) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2018, together accounting for 69% of total exports. These countries were followed by the UK, Belgium, France and Poland, which together accounted for a further 21%. In terms of the main exporting countries, the UK recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to exports, over the last decade, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Export Prices by Country The mixed juices export price in the European Union stood at $1,233 per tonne in 2018, surging by 12% against the previous year. Overall, the mixed juices export price, however, continues to indicate a mild descent. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the export price increased by 14% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the export prices for mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices reached their maximum at $1,436 per tonne in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, export prices remained at a lower figure. Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, major exporting countries recorded the following prices: in the UK ($1,568 per tonne) and France ($1,284 per tonne), while Germany ($1,076 per tonne) and Poland ($1,103 per tonne) were amongst the lowest. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Spain, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures. Imports in the EU In 2018, the amount of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices imported in the European Union stood at 1.1M tonnes, surging by 9.8% against the previous year. The total imports indicated a resilient increase from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices imports increased by +86.8% against 2012 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 46% against the previous year. The volume of imports peaked in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the immediate term. In value terms, mixed juices imports totaled $1.1B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total imports indicated a strong expansion from 2008 to 2018: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.6% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, mixed juices imports increased by +60.7% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 44% year-to-year. The level of imports peaked in 2018 and are likely to continue its growth in the near future. Imports by Country The UK (292K tonnes) and France (289K tonnes) represented roughly 55% of total imports of mixtures of fruit and vegetable juices in 2018. Germany (151K tonnes) ranks next in terms of the total imports with a 14% share, followed by the Netherlands (5.5%) and Belgium (4.9%). Sweden (30K tonnes), Austria (24K tonnes), Denmark (21K tonnes), Portugal (19K tonnes), Spain (17K tonnes) and Poland (16K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by the UK, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. In value terms, the largest mixed juices importing markets in the European Union were France ($277M), the UK ($252M) and Germany ($202M), with a combined 65% share of total imports. The UK recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to imports, among the main importing countries over the last decade, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Import Prices by Country In 2018, the mixed juices import price in the European Union amounted to $1,071 per tonne, remaining stable against the previous year. In general, the mixed juices import price, however, continues to indicate a moderate reduction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the import price increased by 9.3% year-to-year. The level of import price peaked at $1,365 per tonne in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, import prices failed to regain their momentum. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Poland ($1,575 per tonne), while Portugal ($715 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Denmark, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures. SOURCE : https://www.globaltrademag.com/eu-mixed-fruit-and-vegetable-juice-market-france-is-the-largest-and-fastest-growing-consumer/

European Food Industry Insiders Experience Welsh Farming

Groups of journalists and importers from Sweden and the Netherlands have experienced Welsh sheep farming for the first time in a Welsh farm to fork experience to learn more about PGI Welsh Lamb. A group of food journalists from key Swedish food magazines toured Carmarthenshire and visited a traditional Welsh hill farm in Pumsaint earlier in the summer. The group saw how Welsh Lamb is farmed in a natural environment as well as seeing butchery demonstrations and sampling Welsh Lamb cuisine also. Meanwhile, more recently a crew of Dutch Meat Association butchers and meat importers explored Wales from south to north. The group travelled the country, visiting restaurants serving Welsh cuisine  and several of Wales’ processing sites in order to see the high standards adhered to in the Welsh red meat sector. The visits were organised by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) to encourage more sales of PGI Welsh Lamb and raise the product’s profile with European consumers. Significant coverage was gained from the Swedish inward mission and the Dutch Meat Association are a step closer in securing PGI Welsh Lamb shipments. Dunia Jamil, editor of leading Swedish food magazine Butikstrender wrote about her visit and Welsh Lamb, commenting ‘there are good natural conditions found for lambs in Wales as we could see on the spot. There are extensive pastures and green ground with streams and rivers in a varied terrain. Wales is excellent through the contrast of pastures in the lowland environment and the highlands with the hills and mountains.’ She continued ‘The conditions for production of lamb in harmony with nature and environment has also caused the EU to give Welsh Lamb PGI status – that is Protected Geographical Indication…that places Welsh Lamb in the same category as Parma Ham or Champagne as another example.’ HCC’s Export Market Development Executive, Deanna Jones, commented: The benefits of hosting these types of visits cannot be underestimated. Giving importers and journalists a first-hand experience of the product and the PGI Welsh Lamb story is highly beneficial; in this instance the journalists were in their element exploring Welsh fields and farmland which has resulted in great press coverage and a greater awareness of PGI Welsh Lamb in Sweden.’ SOURCE : https://businessnewswales.com/european-food-industry-insiders-experience-welsh-farming/

European Food Industry Insiders Experience Welsh Farming

Groups of journalists and importers from Sweden and the Netherlands have experienced Welsh sheep farming for the first time in a Welsh farm to fork experience to learn more about PGI Welsh Lamb. A group of food journalists from key Swedish food magazines toured Carmarthenshire and visited a traditional Welsh hill farm in Pumsaint earlier in the summer. The group saw how Welsh Lamb is farmed in a natural environment as well as seeing butchery demonstrations and sampling Welsh Lamb cuisine also. Meanwhile, more recently a crew of Dutch Meat Association butchers and meat importers explored Wales from south to north. The group travelled the country, visiting restaurants serving Welsh cuisine  and several of Wales’ processing sites in order to see the high standards adhered to in the Welsh red meat sector. The visits were organised by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) to encourage more sales of PGI Welsh Lamb and raise the product’s profile with European consumers. Significant coverage was gained from the Swedish inward mission and the Dutch Meat Association are a step closer in securing PGI Welsh Lamb shipments. Dunia Jamil, editor of leading Swedish food magazine Butikstrender wrote about her visit and Welsh Lamb, commenting ‘there are good natural conditions found for lambs in Wales as we could see on the spot. There are extensive pastures and green ground with streams and rivers in a varied terrain. Wales is excellent through the contrast of pastures in the lowland environment and the highlands with the hills and mountains.’ She continued ‘The conditions for production of lamb in harmony with nature and environment has also caused the EU to give Welsh Lamb PGI status – that is Protected Geographical Indication…that places Welsh Lamb in the same category as Parma Ham or Champagne as another example.’ HCC’s Export Market Development Executive, Deanna Jones, commented: The benefits of hosting these types of visits cannot be underestimated. Giving importers and journalists a first-hand experience of the product and the PGI Welsh Lamb story is highly beneficial; in this instance the journalists were in their element exploring Welsh fields and farmland which has resulted in great press coverage and a greater awareness of PGI Welsh Lamb in Sweden.’ SOURCE : https://businessnewswales.com/european-food-industry-insiders-experience-welsh-farming/

Carrefour advances in its new shop-in-shop strategy

Carrefour continues to advance its hypermarket strategy in France with the development of the shop-in-shop concept. After signing agreements with specialized stores such as Darty (consumer electronics) or Tediber (mattresses), now it’s time for the Aubert baby products chain. The company wants to continue accelerating the sales of non-food products in its hypermarkets and for this, it is signing alliances with specialized operators that allow the installation of stores inside its hypermarkets. Thus, Aubert, the specialist in children’s products, will open in mid-November a shop-in-shop of 280 square meters in the Carrefour hypermarket in the town of Claye-Souilly. The brand will install its own commercial equipment, with its employees and its own collection system. However, this alliance does not end here, as the implementation of a second Carrefour project with Aubert, scheduled for 2020, is planned. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/carrefour-advances-in-its-new-shop-in-shop-strategy/

Casino Agrees To Sell Poultry Production Plant To France’s LDC

French supermarket retailer Casino has announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its Luché Tradition Volailles poultry production unit to LDC, a family-run food and poultry business. The transaction will be finalised over the next few weeks following consultation with Luché Tradition Volailles’ employee representatives, Casino said. All employees of the poultry production unit will continue to work with the company. Luché Tradition Volailles specialises in the production and packaging of raw, ultra-fresh poultry products. Modernisation Project The retail group acquired the production unit in 2015 and has invested in a large-scale modernisation project to manufacture products from organic ingredients and livestock raised without antibiotics. The plant, located in Luché-Pringé near Le Mans, employs around 131 people. LDC, a manufacturer of poultry and prepared meals in France, generated revenue of €4.1 billion in 2018. Apart from manufacturing private-label products for retailers, the company also sells products under the Loué, Le Gaulois, Maître Coq and Marie brands. It operates 86 production plants in France and Europe and employs more than 21,800 people. Based in Sablé-sur-Sarthe in the Loire Valley region, LDC’s association with the Casino Group dates back to 1970. Casino described the transaction as “an opportunity for the Casino Group and LDC to combine their resources and thereby strengthen the high-quality French poultry chain.” SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/supply-chain/casino-agrees-to-sell-poultry-production-plant-to-frances-ldc-81196

Carrefour advances in its new shop-in-shop strategy

Carrefour continues to advance its hypermarket strategy in France with the development of the shop-in-shop concept. After signing agreements with specialized stores such as Darty (consumer electronics) or Tediber (mattresses), now it’s time for the Aubert baby products chain. The company wants to continue accelerating the sales of non-food products in its hypermarkets and for this, it is signing alliances with specialized operators that allow the installation of stores inside its hypermarkets. Thus, Aubert, the specialist in children’s products, will open in mid-November a shop-in-shop of 280 square meters in the Carrefour hypermarket in the town of Claye-Souilly. The brand will install its own commercial equipment, with its employees and its own collection system. However, this alliance does not end here, as the implementation of a second Carrefour project with Aubert, scheduled for 2020, is planned. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/carrefour-advances-in-its-new-shop-in-shop-strategy/

Casino Agrees To Sell Poultry Production Plant To France’s LDC

French supermarket retailer Casino has announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its Luché Tradition Volailles poultry production unit to LDC, a family-run food and poultry business. The transaction will be finalised over the next few weeks following consultation with Luché Tradition Volailles’ employee representatives, Casino said. All employees of the poultry production unit will continue to work with the company. Luché Tradition Volailles specialises in the production and packaging of raw, ultra-fresh poultry products. Modernisation Project The retail group acquired the production unit in 2015 and has invested in a large-scale modernisation project to manufacture products from organic ingredients and livestock raised without antibiotics. The plant, located in Luché-Pringé near Le Mans, employs around 131 people. LDC, a manufacturer of poultry and prepared meals in France, generated revenue of €4.1 billion in 2018. Apart from manufacturing private-label products for retailers, the company also sells products under the Loué, Le Gaulois, Maître Coq and Marie brands. It operates 86 production plants in France and Europe and employs more than 21,800 people. Based in Sablé-sur-Sarthe in the Loire Valley region, LDC’s association with the Casino Group dates back to 1970. Casino described the transaction as “an opportunity for the Casino Group and LDC to combine their resources and thereby strengthen the high-quality French poultry chain.” SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/supply-chain/casino-agrees-to-sell-poultry-production-plant-to-frances-ldc-81196

French market shares: E Leclerc and Lidl with steady steps

From August 5 to September 1, Leclerc recorded the largest increase in sales of PGC and self-service fees with a jump of 0.6 point to reach 21.9% market share. According to Kantar, this dynamic is due to “an increase in traffic linked to the recruitment of more than 500,000 households and the maintenance of the frequency of purchase of the brand’s customers”. With a gain of 0.4 points, Lidl reaches again the 6% market share. In August, the German-born distributor captured 5.9% of French household spending. “Lidl has attracted more than 400,000 new homes in its stores while benefiting from well-oriented baskets,” says Kantar. The other winners of the period are the Musketeers and System U. The group of Musketeers gained 0.3 points and weighs 15.2% of the expenses over the month of August. 14.1% for the only Intermarché brand. The New Traders, meanwhile, also gain ground (+0.2 points) and reach 11.5% of market share over the period. The month of August and the start of the season, however, were much more difficult for other distributors. According to our information, the Casino and Carrefour groups suffered the most, with respective decreases of -0.7 points and -0.4 points. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/french-market-shares-e-leclerc-and-lidl-with-steady-steps/

French market shares: E Leclerc and Lidl with steady steps

From August 5 to September 1, Leclerc recorded the largest increase in sales of PGC and self-service fees with a jump of 0.6 point to reach 21.9% market share. According to Kantar, this dynamic is due to “an increase in traffic linked to the recruitment of more than 500,000 households and the maintenance of the frequency of purchase of the brand’s customers”. With a gain of 0.4 points, Lidl reaches again the 6% market share. In August, the German-born distributor captured 5.9% of French household spending. “Lidl has attracted more than 400,000 new homes in its stores while benefiting from well-oriented baskets,” says Kantar. The other winners of the period are the Musketeers and System U. The group of Musketeers gained 0.3 points and weighs 15.2% of the expenses over the month of August. 14.1% for the only Intermarché brand. The New Traders, meanwhile, also gain ground (+0.2 points) and reach 11.5% of market share over the period. The month of August and the start of the season, however, were much more difficult for other distributors. According to our information, the Casino and Carrefour groups suffered the most, with respective decreases of -0.7 points and -0.4 points. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/french-market-shares-e-leclerc-and-lidl-with-steady-steps/  

Carrefour opens Flash, the fully automated store

After many tests made by many retailers in the field of autonomous stores, Carrefour comes up with a new format, that is totally automated powred by the technological contribution of the American start-up AiFi.. the Flash store is Installed in Massy, ​​it takes the form of a 56 m² shop selling 1,500 references, mostly organic and MDD in dry and fresh. For the six-month test, only employees and service providers in the group will be able to access it. The point of sale, developed with the technology of the start-up AiFi, is full of sensors (weight and RFID) coupled to cameras. Thus, the basket is detected automatically, and payment can be made by credit card, by mobile with the Carrefour Pay application or by facial recognition for previously registered employees. In the photo published online by an employee of the distributor, we can see that the shop is in two parts: a more closed where the picking takes place while the payment version is done in a more open space and a stop must be marked. The slogan takes up the promise of speed: your shopping in the blink of an eye. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/carrefour-opens-flash-the-fully-automated-store/

Carrefour opens Flash, the fully automated store

After many tests made by many retailers in the field of autonomous stores, Carrefour comes up with a new format, that is totally automated powred by the technological contribution of the American start-up AiFi.. the Flash store is Installed in Massy, ​​it takes the form of a 56 m² shop selling 1,500 references, mostly organic and MDD in dry and fresh. For the six-month test, only employees and service providers in the group will be able to access it. The point of sale, developed with the technology of the start-up AiFi, is full of sensors (weight and RFID) coupled to cameras. Thus, the basket is detected automatically, and payment can be made by credit card, by mobile with the Carrefour Pay application or by facial recognition for previously registered employees. In the photo published online by an employee of the distributor, we can see that the shop is in two parts: a more closed where the picking takes place while the payment version is done in a more open space and a stop must be marked. The slogan takes up the promise of speed: your shopping in the blink of an eye. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/carrefour-opens-flash-the-fully-automated-store/

New alliances for the grocery sector

For the French market, the past year has seen a rapid increase in the number of partnerships between retailers and pure online players. From the collaboration of Monoprix and Amazon, Casino and Ocado to Carrefour’s alliances with Glovo and Google; the list goes on. But what is behind this new style of trading relationship within the grocery sector? As well as stocking grocery products on their sites, many online players have placed lockers at the sites of retailers, whereby consumers can collect products that they have ordered online. Regardless of if they are grocery related or not. With the likes of Casino, Match, E.Leclerc, Intermarché, and G20 all participating in this new system, it appears to be quickly changing the appearance of the market. For the retailers, this is bringing an influx of new consumers to their stores, but with purchases already made online, the challenge is directing this influx into stores to purchase goods. So far there has been no evidence to support that this has been successful. Currently, the lockers are simply serving as a convenient collection point for online players. Nevertheless, being partnered with giant companies such as Amazon has been favourable for the stock market price of these retailers. In contrast, pure online players are offering retailers new expertise in terms of data management, client interface, artificial intelligence (AI) and so on. Retailers already hold an abundance of data surrounding consumer purchasing habits (predominantly collected from customer loyalty schemes), but do not yet have the expertise to utilise it effectively. The technological advances given by online players contribute to quick and precise delivery times, personalised product recommendations and seamless online transactions for consumers. The proof of this can be seen with Monoprix and Naturalia – both subsidiaries of CASINO – who now offer delivery of 2000 products to Paris and its surrounding areas in less than two hours. All thanks to their partnerships with Amazon. This type of activity is helping retailers to respond to the needs and expectations of customers, whilst increasing their competitiveness by diversifying their activities and at the same time helping to drive brand loyalty. So, what’s in it for the online players? As with any online marketplace, a commission will be received by the online partner from the sales of goods on their sites, generating profit for them whilst reducing it for retailers. As food shopping accounts for almost 50% of consumer spending in developed countries, access to this market provides online players with steady, continuous revenue. Knowledge surrounding consumers and their purchasing habits, products and the associated logistics of supplying them is also transferred to online players, broadening their scope of expertise without taking any risks. With non-food retailers now following in the footsteps of these brands (e.g. Boulanger with Amazon), retailers are playing a dangerous game as they risk supporting the creation of what could become unstoppable competitors. SOURCES: LSA Conso, European Supermarket Magazine, Carrefour.com

Hema to sell products through Franprix supermarkets in Paris

Hema To Sell Products Through Franprix Supermarkets In Paris Dutch discount retail chain Hema has partnered with Casino Group’s subsidiary Franprix to sell its product assortments in the latter’s supermarkets in Paris. As part of the deal, Hema will initially open its shelves in 15 Franprix supermarkets in Paris to offer kitchen items, home decoration, stationery, basic clothing and home textiles to its customers. The companies will assess the results of this pilot launch, and will determine whether to expand launch to more Franprix stores in the future. Hema CEO Tjeerd Jegen said: “We are very pleased with the cooperation with Franprix. This will enable us to quickly expand our activities in France in a short period of time. “For the first time, we will also be selling HEMA products through the stores of another retailer. This step is in line with our strategy to grow through partners such as Franprix, but also Walmart in the US and Canada. It also contributes to our ambition to make HEMA an international brand.” Headquartered in Paris, Franprix currently operates more than over 800 local supermarkets. Established in 1926, Hema operates more than 750 stores in 12 countries offering 32,000 own brand products and services. It employs over 19,000 associates. In July this year, the company announced plans to expand to the US and Canada with new standalone stores and online channels. Hema also partnered with Walmart to offer its household products through Walmart.com in the US starting this summer. Franprix chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Mochet said: “This is the first time we have conducted such a large-scale partnership with a company outside the Casino group for such a large number of products and a brand that is so well known and appreciated by the French.” SOURCE : https://www.retail-insight-network.com/news/hema-products-franprix-supermarkets/

Hema to sell products through Franprix supermarkets in Paris

Dutch discount retail chain Hema has partnered with Casino Group’s subsidiary Franprix to sell its product assortments in the latter’s supermarkets in Paris. As part of the deal, Hema will initially open its shelves in 15 Franprix supermarkets in Paris to offer kitchen items, home decoration, stationery, basic clothing and home textiles to its customers. The companies will assess the results of this pilot launch, and will determine whether to expand launch to more Franprix stores in the future. Hema CEO Tjeerd Jegen said: “We are very pleased with the cooperation with Franprix. This will enable us to quickly expand our activities in France in a short period of time. “For the first time, we will also be selling HEMA products through the stores of another retailer. This step is in line with our strategy to grow through partners such as Franprix, but also Walmart in the US and Canada. It also contributes to our ambition to make HEMA an international brand.” Headquartered in Paris, Franprix currently operates more than over 800 local supermarkets. Established in 1926, Hema operates more than 750 stores in 12 countries offering 32,000 own brand products and services. It employs over 19,000 associates. In July this year, the company announced plans to expand to the US and Canada with new standalone stores and online channels. Hema also partnered with Walmart to offer its household products through Walmart.com in the US starting this summer. Franprix chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Mochet said: “This is the first time we have conducted such a large-scale partnership with a company outside the Casino group for such a large number of products and a brand that is so well known and appreciated by the French.” SOURCE : https://www.retail-insight-network.com/news/hema-products-franprix-supermarkets/

Intermarché starts redesigning its 1,826 stores

“The store today has real limits,” notes the leaders of Intermarché. The group of independent traders suddenly presented Wednesday in Douvaine, Haute-Savoie, its new concept of supermarkets. Fifty points of sale will adopt it in 2020. The transformation of the fleet of 1,826 units will then spread out at a rate of 300 to 500 points of sale per year. “We have to refresh the customer experience,” says ITM Alimentary President Thierry Cotillard. The brand is based on the evolution of consumer habits with a radicality that it assumes. All subjects of the new consumption are discussed. Besides the traditional dry fruit silos, laundry, dishwashing liquid, oil, vinegar and wines to the printer. The environmental concern is reinforced with the exclusion of plastic disposable cutlery and cutlery and the supply of reusable cotton nets for weighing fruit and vegetables. As at Carrefour, customers can bring their own containers. A new department called “The Kitchen” appears. It features prepared meals made on site. Intermarché is setting, even in a semi-rural area, at the time of “meal solutions”. The bio is developed with the ambition of 45% of organic brands in 2020. The Musketeers operate the lever of their industrial tool. AgroMousquestaires operates 62 plants in France and generates 4 billion euros in sales. It is the fourth agri-food group in France. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/intermarche-starts-redesigning-its-1826-stores/

Intermarché starts redesigning its 1,826 stores

“The store today has real limits,” notes the leaders of Intermarché. The group of independent traders suddenly presented Wednesday in Douvaine, Haute-Savoie, its new concept of supermarkets. Fifty points of sale will adopt it in 2020. The transformation of the fleet of 1,826 units will then spread out at a rate of 300 to 500 points of sale per year. “We have to refresh the customer experience,” says ITM Alimentary President Thierry Cotillard. The brand is based on the evolution of consumer habits with a radicality that it assumes. All subjects of the new consumption are discussed. Besides the traditional dry fruit silos, laundry, dishwashing liquid, oil, vinegar and wines to the printer. The environmental concern is reinforced with the exclusion of plastic disposable cutlery and cutlery and the supply of reusable cotton nets for weighing fruit and vegetables. As at Carrefour, customers can bring their own containers. A new department called “The Kitchen” appears. It features prepared meals made on site. Intermarché is setting, even in a semi-rural area, at the time of “meal solutions”. The bio is developed with the ambition of 45% of organic brands in 2020. The Musketeers operate the lever of their industrial tool. AgroMousquestaires operates 62 plants in France and generates 4 billion euros in sales. It is the fourth agri-food group in France. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/intermarche-starts-redesigning-its-1826-stores/

French Schools To Offer At Least One Meatless Lunch Per Week

‘It is the school’s role to teach students to eat less meat for their health’ French schools will be required to offer at least one full, meatless lunch per week starting November 1. The announcement follows an agriculture and food law (loi Egalim) that was passed back in 2018 – and states all schools need to offer at least one lunch every week that doesn’t contain meat or fish. ‘Obligations’ According to Local France, Greenpeace spokesman Laure Ducos said: “There has been very little information circulated from the Ministry and there has been no decree. “There are therefore some cities that believe that it is not mandatory because there has not been a decree, but that is not true: the law has passed and it is, therefore, important to recall these obligations.” Rodrigo Arenas, president of the Fédération des Conseils de Parents d’Elèves – who has worked alongside Greenpeace – added: “It is also the school’s role to teach students to eat less meat for their health.” ‘Brilliant’ Earlier this year, Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver said it would ‘brilliant’ if schools went vegetarian during an interview with The Herald Scotland, in which he promoted his new cookery show Meat-Free Meals. “Generally, what a child and what a family needs is the same as what the planet needs – more veg, more nuts, more seeds, more legumes,” the star added. “If I had a magic wand, I’d love to go to David Attenborough and say, ‘Can we do a show called My Health, My Planet?’ Because I think that’s the conversation now.” SOURCE : https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/french-schools-meatless-lunch

French Schools To Offer At Least One Meatless Lunch Per Week

‘It is the school’s role to teach students to eat less meat for their health’ French schools will be required to offer at least one full, meatless lunch per week starting November 1. The announcement follows an agriculture and food law (loi Egalim) that was passed back in 2018 – and states all schools need to offer at least one lunch every week that doesn’t contain meat or fish. ‘Obligations’ According to Local France, Greenpeace spokesman Laure Ducos said: “There has been very little information circulated from the Ministry and there has been no decree. “There are therefore some cities that believe that it is not mandatory because there has not been a decree, but that is not true: the law has passed and it is, therefore, important to recall these obligations.” Rodrigo Arenas, president of the Fédération des Conseils de Parents d’Elèves – who has worked alongside Greenpeace – added: “It is also the school’s role to teach students to eat less meat for their health.” ‘Brilliant’ Earlier this year, Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver said it would ‘brilliant’ if schools went vegetarian during an interview with The Herald Scotland, in which he promoted his new cookery show Meat-Free Meals. “Generally, what a child and what a family needs is the same as what the planet needs – more veg, more nuts, more seeds, more legumes,” the star added. “If I had a magic wand, I’d love to go to David Attenborough and say, ‘Can we do a show called My Health, My Planet?’ Because I think that’s the conversation now.” SOURCE : https://www.plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/french-schools-meatless-lunch

High-profile Michelin Star chef supports Welsh lamb project

A RESEARCH project that aims to make sure premium PGI Welsh Lamb has the highest possible consistency and quality for years to come has been launched by HCC, with the help of a high-profile Michelin Star chef. The Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project will assess, develop and enhance the meat-eating quality of Welsh lamb to secure its enviable international reputation, and ensure that future red meat production meets the demand of an ever-changing and increasingly discerning consumer, both at home and abroad. The project is part of HCC’s five-year, three-project, Red Meat Development Programme to help Welsh farming prepare for a post-Brexit world. It is supported by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. Michelin Star chef Gareth Ward, of Ynyshir Hall Restaurant and Rooms, helped mark the unveiling of the Meat Quality Project alongside HCC’s taste team, led by Meat Quality executive Dr Eleri Price. “This project is about ensuring Welsh lamb’s global reputation is not only maintained but enhanced as we move into the post-Brexit trading world,” said Dr Price. “We are really delighted to have had such great support from Gareth Ward, a chef for whom excellence is an everyday watchword.” Using a consumer-led tasting network, HCC’s team will set up the process for baseline assessment of the current supply chain practices, check for meat quality variation and then build an eating quality blueprint that will seek to drive consistency by identifying and influencing key practices throughout the sheep meat production and processing pathways. Three, 120-strong consumer panel sessions are to take place in early 2020 and each volunteer at each session will taste test lamb samples sourced from different abattoirs and from different muscles. This information will be used to provide a valuable insight into lamb meat eating quality as samples will rated on tenderness, juiciness and flavour. “We will aim for the project to increase consumer awareness and demand for lamb products, and seek to ensure that farming practices are efficient and are meeting quality requirements. “Also, the project will aim to enhance commercial shelf-life; help towards reducing wastage and greenhouse gases; and increase market resilience of the red meat sector in Wales. “This can be achieved through an improved awareness of meat-eating quality and provide valuable information that could support future export market activities,” said Dr Price. SOURCE : https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17886210.high-profile-michelin-star-chef-supports-welsh-lamb-project/

The three big names that are promising to make shopping in France cheaper

Three big name discount stores are coming to France with the aim of widening competition for low-cost groceries and household items. The three firms, one British, one Danish and one from Spain, are launching themselves on the French market, firmly targeting bargain hunters. British firm B&M, also known as B&M Bargains, will open its first French store in the south west town of Castres on September 11th where it will sell a wide variety of homewares, DIY products, games and electrical items.   The Danish chain Normal, meanwhile, has already opened its first stores in France, with three shops in Paris and the suburbs opening in August. Both B&M, which started life in Cleveleys, Lancashire in 1978, and Normal are promising big discounts on some of the most popular items in France. The grocery seller Superco is actually owned by the French supermarket giant Carrefour, but the company launched its discount operation – which offers both fresh products and canned goods in a warehouse-like setting – in Spain. After seven years of successful operation in Spain, the company has decided to launch it on the French market. The first Supeco opened in Valenciennes in northern France on September 4th and four new locations are planned by the end of the year. “The appetite for discount is only increasing in France,” consumer goods specialist Olivier Dauvers told BFMTV. “Because the purchasing power of the French is increasing much less quickly than their willingness to buy. “This is also revealed by the movement of the yellow vests. And in this society of frustration, consumers want to give the maximum value to every euro spent.” Although Aldi and Lidl are well established in France, another big name of the bargains scene has been struggling recently. The iconic French brand Tati recently announced that it was closing all of its stores apart from the original Paris flagship in Barbès. Thirteen of the stores closed altogether while the rest were rebranded as the discount homewear label Gifi, which the company also owns. France is one of the most expensive places to shop in Europe, with recent EU wide data showing that the average weekly food shop in France is 16.4 percent higher than the EU average, while the UK is seven percent lower. In non food items France also showed some higher prices, with shoes and clothing coming out 10 percent higher than the EU average. SOURCE : https://www.thelocal.fr/20190909/the-three-big-names-that-are-promising-to-make-shopping-in-france-cheaper

Farmers support Love Lamb Week initiative

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) in the UK has thrown its weight behind the Love Lamb Week campaign. Taking place 1-7 September, the campaign is spearheaded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and encourages producers, butchers, retailers, restaurants and the public to show their support for British lamb by promoting the product in stores and sharing lamb recipes on social media. NFU livestock board chairman Richard Findlay explained why it is backing the campaign. “Love Lamb Week is a fantastic opportunity for farmers to promote the high-quality lamb we produce here in Britain.​ “This campaign comes at an important time. British farmers are heading towards an even greater period of uncertainty with Brexit on the horizon and our livestock farmers will be one of the most affected by a no-deal Brexit. 94% of sheep meat exports go to the EU every year, so it is more important than ever that we throw our support behind our sheep farmers and truly champion British lamb.”​ Earlier this year, AHDB launched a £1.4m marketing campaign to promote the lamb sector. The campaign ran in two bursts, one during the summer and one during Love Lamb Week. Last month, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) announced that numerous retailers and wholesalers signed up to take part in activities to promote PGI Welsh Lamb in the lead-up to Love Lamb Week. HCC market development manager Rhys Llywelyn said: “The British market is vital for Welsh Lamb, and is even more so now with Brexit causing uncertainty in terms of exports. We therefore regularly engage with all the large retailers to offer help with promotions, as well as independent butchers. We’re delighted with the response this year, and are pleased that Welsh Lamb advertising will reach so many consumers around Love Lamb Week and throughout the autumn.​ “Alongside our activity with retailers and wholesalers, we will also be ramping up our consumer advertising,” ​he added. “This year will see an unprecedented investment in online promotion in the UK market, which offers great value for money and enables us to target messages at groups of consumers who are most likely to be interested in Welsh Lamb.” SOURCE : https://www.globalmeatnews.com/Article/2019/09/03/Farmers-support-Love-Lamb-Week-initiative

Farmers support Love Lamb Week initiative

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) in the UK has thrown its weight behind the Love Lamb Week campaign. Taking place 1-7 September, the campaign is spearheaded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and encourages producers, butchers, retailers, restaurants and the public to show their support for British lamb by promoting the product in stores and sharing lamb recipes on social media. NFU livestock board chairman Richard Findlay explained why it is backing the campaign. “Love Lamb Week is a fantastic opportunity for farmers to promote the high-quality lamb we produce here in Britain.​ “This campaign comes at an important time. British farmers are heading towards an even greater period of uncertainty with Brexit on the horizon and our livestock farmers will be one of the most affected by a no-deal Brexit. 94% of sheep meat exports go to the EU every year, so it is more important than ever that we throw our support behind our sheep farmers and truly champion British lamb.”​ Earlier this year, AHDB launched a £1.4m marketing campaign to promote the lamb sector. The campaign ran in two bursts, one during the summer and one during Love Lamb Week. Last month, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) announced that numerous retailers and wholesalers signed up to take part in activities to promote PGI Welsh Lamb in the lead-up to Love Lamb Week. HCC market development manager Rhys Llywelyn said: “The British market is vital for Welsh Lamb, and is even more so now with Brexit causing uncertainty in terms of exports. We therefore regularly engage with all the large retailers to offer help with promotions, as well as independent butchers. We’re delighted with the response this year, and are pleased that Welsh Lamb advertising will reach so many consumers around Love Lamb Week and throughout the autumn.​ “Alongside our activity with retailers and wholesalers, we will also be ramping up our consumer advertising,” ​he added. “This year will see an unprecedented investment in online promotion in the UK market, which offers great value for money and enables us to target messages at groups of consumers who are most likely to be interested in Welsh Lamb.” SOURCE : https://www.globalmeatnews.com/Article/2019/09/03/Farmers-support-Love-Lamb-Week-initiative

The three big names that are promising to make shopping in France cheaper

Three big name discount stores are coming to France with the aim of widening competition for low-cost groceries and household items. The three firms, one British, one Danish and one from Spain, are launching themselves on the French market, firmly targeting bargain hunters. British firm B&M, also known as B&M Bargains, will open its first French store in the south west town of Castres on September 11th where it will sell a wide variety of homewares, DIY products, games and electrical items. The Danish chain Normal, meanwhile, has already opened its first stores in France, with three shops in Paris and the suburbs opening in August. Both B&M, which started life in Cleveleys, Lancashire in 1978, and Normal are promising big discounts on some of the most popular items in France. The grocery seller Superco is actually owned by the French supermarket giant Carrefour, but the company launched its discount operation – which offers both fresh products and canned goods in a warehouse-like setting – in Spain. After seven years of successful operation in Spain, the company has decided to launch it on the French market. The first Supeco opened in Valenciennes in northern France on September 4th and four new locations are planned by the end of the year. “The appetite for discount is only increasing in France,” consumer goods specialist Olivier Dauvers told BFMTV. “Because the purchasing power of the French is increasing much less quickly than their willingness to buy. “This is also revealed by the movement of the yellow vests. And in this society of frustration, consumers want to give the maximum value to every euro spent.” Although Aldi and Lidl are well established in France, another big name of the bargains scene has been struggling recently. The iconic French brand Tati recently announced that it was closing all of its stores apart from the original Paris flagship in Barbès. Thirteen of the stores closed altogether while the rest were rebranded as the discount homewear label Gifi, which the company also owns. France is one of the most expensive places to shop in Europe, with recent EU wide data showing that the average weekly food shop in France is 16.4 percent higher than the EU average, while the UK is seven percent lower. In non food items France also showed some higher prices, with shoes and clothing coming out 10 percent higher than the EU average. SOURCE : https://www.thelocal.fr/20190909/the-three-big-names-that-are-promising-to-make-shopping-in-france-cheaper

High-profile Michelin Star chef supports Welsh lamb project

A RESEARCH project that aims to make sure premium PGI Welsh Lamb has the highest possible consistency and quality for years to come has been launched by HCC, with the help of a high-profile Michelin Star chef. The Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project will assess, develop and enhance the meat-eating quality of Welsh lamb to secure its enviable international reputation, and ensure that future red meat production meets the demand of an ever-changing and increasingly discerning consumer, both at home and abroad. The project is part of HCC’s five-year, three-project, Red Meat Development Programme to help Welsh farming prepare for a post-Brexit world. It is supported by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. Michelin Star chef Gareth Ward, of Ynyshir Hall Restaurant and Rooms, helped mark the unveiling of the Meat Quality Project alongside HCC’s taste team, led by Meat Quality executive Dr Eleri Price. “This project is about ensuring Welsh lamb’s global reputation is not only maintained but enhanced as we move into the post-Brexit trading world,” said Dr Price. “We are really delighted to have had such great support from Gareth Ward, a chef for whom excellence is an everyday watchword.” Using a consumer-led tasting network, HCC’s team will set up the process for baseline assessment of the current supply chain practices, check for meat quality variation and then build an eating quality blueprint that will seek to drive consistency by identifying and influencing key practices throughout the sheep meat production and processing pathways. Three, 120-strong consumer panel sessions are to take place in early 2020 and each volunteer at each session will taste test lamb samples sourced from different abattoirs and from different muscles. This information will be used to provide a valuable insight into lamb meat eating quality as samples will rated on tenderness, juiciness and flavour. “We will aim for the project to increase consumer awareness and demand for lamb products, and seek to ensure that farming practices are efficient and are meeting quality requirements. “Also, the project will aim to enhance commercial shelf-life; help towards reducing wastage and greenhouse gases; and increase market resilience of the red meat sector in Wales. “This can be achieved through an improved awareness of meat-eating quality and provide valuable information that could support future export market activities,” said Dr Price. SOURCE : https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17886210.high-profile-michelin-star-chef-supports-welsh-lamb-project/

HCC – ‘Welsh Way’ can help tackle climate change

A WELSH meat board says a UN report shows that farming the ‘Welsh Way’ can be part of the solution to climate change. Last week’s launch of the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Geneva highlights how sustainable livestock production, similar to the low-intensity systems found in Wales, can be part of the solution to climate change, says Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). Billed as the first comprehensive study of the land-climate system on a global level, the IPCC Climate Change and Land report is designed to inform government policy across the world. It warns that reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors is crucial to limiting global warming, while emphasising that land must remain productive to ensure food security. HCC chief executive Gwyn Howells said that while some in the UK media had used the report selectively to advance an anti-meat and anti-farming agenda, Climate Change and Land was a welcome contribution, which highlighted how low-intensity livestock production systems such as those in Wales could make a positive contribution to global environmental management. “The report’s authors are quoted as saying that people need to consume balanced diets – a combination of plant-based products and food from sustainably-farmed animals,” said Mr Howells. “It also warns against taking land out of food production, arguing that this might impact on global food security.” He added: “The report also notes that food production systems and environmental impacts vary greatly across the world. “Sustainable, low-carbon agriculture is the common theme to its recommendations, but policies will vary according to local circumstances.” Dr Prysor Williams, senior lecturer in environmental management at Bangor University, gave keynote lectures on livestock farming and the environment at last week’s National Eisteddfod. He welcomed the report and called for more balanced coverage of its recommendations. “The IPCC report adds to the growing volume of work which highlights how farming and land-use systems the world over can contribute to mitigating climate change,” said Dr Williams. “There are ways in which Welsh farming can become even more sustainable, but it’s important to recognise that not all production systems are the same. “In Wales, sheep and beef farming are largely low in intensity. Natural pasture grazing produces most of the food that the animals need, while also helping to capture carbon if managed effectively.” He added: “Eighty per cent of Wales’ agricultural land is unsuitable for growing arable crops. The IPCC’s focus on food security illustrates that making the most of such land by efficiently turning pasture into protein can be an important part of the balanced diet that our global population needs.”  SOURCE : https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17833206.hcc—welsh-way-can-help-tackle-climate-change/

HCC – ‘Welsh Way’ can help tackle climate change

A WELSH meat board says a UN report shows that farming the ‘Welsh Way’ can be part of the solution to climate change. Last week’s launch of the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Geneva highlights how sustainable livestock production, similar to the low-intensity systems found in Wales, can be part of the solution to climate change, says Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). Billed as the first comprehensive study of the land-climate system on a global level, the IPCC Climate Change and Land report is designed to inform government policy across the world. It warns that reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors is crucial to limiting global warming, while emphasising that land must remain productive to ensure food security. HCC chief executive Gwyn Howells said that while some in the UK media had used the report selectively to advance an anti-meat and anti-farming agenda, Climate Change and Land was a welcome contribution, which highlighted how low-intensity livestock production systems such as those in Wales could make a positive contribution to global environmental management. “The report’s authors are quoted as saying that people need to consume balanced diets – a combination of plant-based products and food from sustainably-farmed animals,” said Mr Howells. “It also warns against taking land out of food production, arguing that this might impact on global food security.” He added: “The report also notes that food production systems and environmental impacts vary greatly across the world. “Sustainable, low-carbon agriculture is the common theme to its recommendations, but policies will vary according to local circumstances.” Dr Prysor Williams, senior lecturer in environmental management at Bangor University, gave keynote lectures on livestock farming and the environment at last week’s National Eisteddfod. He welcomed the report and called for more balanced coverage of its recommendations. “The IPCC report adds to the growing volume of work which highlights how farming and land-use systems the world over can contribute to mitigating climate change,” said Dr Williams. “There are ways in which Welsh farming can become even more sustainable, but it’s important to recognise that not all production systems are the same. “In Wales, sheep and beef farming are largely low in intensity. Natural pasture grazing produces most of the food that the animals need, while also helping to capture carbon if managed effectively.” He added: “Eighty per cent of Wales’ agricultural land is unsuitable for growing arable crops. The IPCC’s focus on food security illustrates that making the most of such land by efficiently turning pasture into protein can be an important part of the balanced diet that our global population needs.”  SOURCE : https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17833206.hcc—welsh-way-can-help-tackle-climate-change/

Kettle Foods partners with Essentra Tapes on its Re:close packs

Kettle Foods has partnered with Essentra Tapes to add its Re:close on its Kettle & More range, providing user-friendly packs for reclosability and freshness. The eight-colour printed Re:close tape is available on Lightly Salted Kettle Chips packs across retail outlets in the UK. On-shelf appeal “We wanted to promote our Kettle & More range and Re:close Tape seemed the perfect opportunity for us to do this​,” said Daisy Scott, assistant brand manager, Kettle Foods, based in Norfolk, UK. “We were pleased with the impact of the tape on shelf and the ease of application​.” The tape is applied to the existing vertical form fill and seal packaging lines with Essentra’s applicators, the 30mm wide resealable tape also incorporates an easy-to-use finger lift area that runs along both sides of its length, making it simple to lift away from the pack. Once opened, the pack can be resealed using the Re:close Tape, securing the contents and helping to maintain freshness. Utilising Essentra’s print capability, social media icons, prompts, seasonal messages and loyalty codes can be added to engage with customers. This can help take customers back to a brand’s website or to showcase different product ranges and promote repeat purchases. On-pack promotions​ “The ability to add on-pack promotions simply and cost-effectively, without the need to change the existing packaging artwork, is a real advantage to Re:close Tape,​” said Ian Beresford, head, marketing and development, Essentra Tapes. “Our high-definition print delivers spectacular results and we are delighted to see our Re:close promoting the latest Kettle & More range, whilst also providing the additional convenience to consumers of being able to reclose the original pack​.” SOURCE : https://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Article/2019/08/16/Kettle-Foods-partners-with-Essentra-Tapes-on-its-Re-close-packs

Kettle Foods partners with Essentre Tapes on its Re:close packs

Kettle Foods has partnered with Essentra Tapes to add its Re:close on its Kettle & More range, providing user-friendly packs for reclosability and freshness. The eight-colour printed Re:close tape is available on Lightly Salted Kettle Chips packs across retail outlets in the UK. On-shelf appeal “We wanted to promote our Kettle & More range and Re:close Tape seemed the perfect opportunity for us to do this​,” said Daisy Scott, assistant brand manager, Kettle Foods, based in Norfolk, UK. “We were pleased with the impact of the tape on shelf and the ease of application​.” The tape is applied to the existing vertical form fill and seal packaging lines with Essentra’s applicators, the 30mm wide resealable tape also incorporates an easy-to-use finger lift area that runs along both sides of its length, making it simple to lift away from the pack. Once opened, the pack can be resealed using the Re:close Tape, securing the contents and helping to maintain freshness. Utilising Essentra’s print capability, social media icons, prompts, seasonal messages and loyalty codes can be added to engage with customers. This can help take customers back to a brand’s website or to showcase different product ranges and promote repeat purchases.   On-pack promotions​ “The ability to add on-pack promotions simply and cost-effectively, without the need to change the existing packaging artwork, is a real advantage to Re:close Tape,​” said Ian Beresford, head, marketing and development, Essentra Tapes. “Our high-definition print delivers spectacular results and we are delighted to see our Re:close promoting the latest Kettle & More range, whilst also providing the additional convenience to consumers of being able to reclose the original pack​.” SOURCE : https://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Article/2019/08/16/Kettle-Foods-partners-with-Essentra-Tapes-on-its-Re-close-packs

Health, Environment Key To Success Of FMCG Brands In France: Kantar

French consumers are displaying a growing interest in organic and traceable products, a new study by Kantar has revealed, indicating that health and environment are among the top five concerns for French shoppers in 2019. ‘Striking A Balance’ Consumers are also looking at striking a balance between better quality and affordable prices as the family budget continues to be a key concern for French shoppers. The study also found that 63% of French households were willing to pay more for a better quality product. In 2018, the trend of ‘buying less to buy better’ was growing in popularity, resulting in a 1.2% decline in FMCG sales. Role Of CSR With a notable increase in interest among consumers about environment and sustainability, many firms have introduced corporate social responsibility programmes, the study pointed out. However, in addition to CSR initiatives, a typical brand’s success was found to be driven by traditional elements like competitive pricing, location, product range, experience, and quality. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/health-environment-key-success-fmcg-brands-france-kantar-78027

Auchan tests a new strategy

Auchan Retail reinforces its commercial strategy in its hypermarkets with a pilot initiative in France consisting of the installation of corners of other specialized retail stores, such as Electro Dépôt or Boulanger. According to several French media, the group is negotiating the arrival of different non-food distribution companies belonging to the Association Familiale Mulliez (AFM), such as Decathlon, Kiabi and Norauto. These tests will begin next October in two French hypermarkets, located in the towns of Beauvais, with a space of Boulanger, and Bagnolet, which will host an Electro Dépôt corner. According to a union document to which the LSA publication has had access, these shop-in-shop concept tests will last approximately six months and, based on their results, could be extended to other establishments. In this way, the tendency of the large group of hypermarkets to ally with other non-food retail brands to strengthen their offer, especially in consumer electronics and technology categories, advances. In this sense, Carrefour has already materialized several agreements, such as the one recently signed with Fnac Darty. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/auchan-tests-a-new-strategy/

Carrefour launches Spanish discounter Supeco in France

In September, French retail giant Carrefour is to open the first two stores of its Spanish discounter Supeco (‘supermercado economico’ or ‘cheap supermarket’) in France. The stores will open in Valenciennes, near the Belgian border. The discounter is going through a fast international growth. Combining discount and cash & carry Supeco announces itself as a chain that saves money on anything, from energy over logistics to decoration. The latter part is obvious in the very rudimentary design of the stores and the presentation of products in boxes and on pallets. Prices are displayed per unit and in bulk: a way for the chain to position itself as a combination of discount and cash & carry, targeting both families and professional customers. The first store is to open on 3 September, followed by a second one 22 days later. The main driver behind the French expansion is supposed to be Pascal Clouzard: the current head of Carrefour France led the group’s Spanish activities until 2017 and experienced the benefits of the discount chain first hand. Costs are significantly lower than in normal supermarkets, and the chain can benefit of a lower price image. Retail expert Olivier Dauvers believes the Supeco stores will mainly be used to replace struggling Carrefour Market stores, but in Trofarello (near Turin) the group also used a former hypermarket to house the first Italian store of the chain. In addition to the Turin store, Carrefour has already opened 40 Supeco stores in three countries: 23 in Spain, 15 in Romania and 2 in Poland. SOURCE : https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/carrefour-launches-spanish-discounter-supeco-france  

Health, Environment Key To Success Of FMCG Brands In France: Kantar

French consumers are displaying a growing interest in organic and traceable products, a new study by Kantar has revealed, indicating that health and environment are among the top five concerns for French shoppers in 2019. ‘Striking A Balance’ Consumers are also looking at striking a balance between better quality and affordable prices as the family budget continues to be a key concern for French shoppers. The study also found that 63% of French households were willing to pay more for a better quality product. In 2018, the trend of ‘buying less to buy better’ was growing in popularity, resulting in a 1.2% decline in FMCG sales. Role Of CSR With a notable increase in interest among consumers about environment and sustainability, many firms have introduced corporate social responsibility programmes, the study pointed out. However, in addition to CSR initiatives, a typical brand’s success was found to be driven by traditional elements like competitive pricing, location, product range, experience, and quality. SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/health-environment-key-success-fmcg-brands-france-kantar-78027

Auchan tests a new strategy

Auchan Retail reinforces its commercial strategy in its hypermarkets with a pilot initiative in France consisting of the installation of corners of other specialized retail stores, such as Electro Dépôt or Boulanger. According to several French media, the group is negotiating the arrival of different non-food distribution companies belonging to the Association Familiale Mulliez (AFM), such as Decathlon, Kiabi and Norauto. These tests will begin next October in two French hypermarkets, located in the towns of Beauvais, with a space of Boulanger, and Bagnolet, which will host an Electro Dépôt corner. According to a union document to which the LSA publication has had access, these shop-in-shop concept tests will last approximately six months and, based on their results, could be extended to other establishments. In this way, the tendency of the large group of hypermarkets to ally with other non-food retail brands to strengthen their offer, especially in consumer electronics and technology categories, advances. In this sense, Carrefour has already materialized several agreements, such as the one recently signed with Fnac Darty. SOURCE : https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/auchan-tests-a-new-strategy/

Carrefour launches Spanish discounter Supeco in France

In September, French retail giant Carrefour is to open the first two stores of its Spanish discounter Supeco (‘supermercado economico’ or ‘cheap supermarket’) in France. The stores will open in Valenciennes, near the Belgian border. The discounter is going through a fast international growth. Combining discount and cash & carry Supeco announces itself as a chain that saves money on anything, from energy over logistics to decoration. The latter part is obvious in the very rudimentary design of the stores and the presentation of products in boxes and on pallets. Prices are displayed per unit and in bulk: a way for the chain to position itself as a combination of discount and cash & carry, targeting both families and professional customers. The first store is to open on 3 September, followed by a second one 22 days later. The main driver behind the French expansion is supposed to be Pascal Clouzard: the current head of Carrefour France led the group’s Spanish activities until 2017 and experienced the benefits of the discount chain first hand. Costs are significantly lower than in normal supermarkets, and the chain can benefit of a lower price image. Retail expert Olivier Dauvers believes the Supeco stores will mainly be used to replace struggling Carrefour Market stores, but in Trofarello (near Turin) the group also used a former hypermarket to house the first Italian store of the chain. In addition to the Turin store, Carrefour has already opened 40 Supeco stores in three countries: 23 in Spain, 15 in Romania and 2 in Poland. SOURCE : https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/carrefour-launches-spanish-discounter-supeco-france

Carrefour Goes For Fast Home Delivery With Glovo Deal

Carrefour has teamed up with Spanish start-up Glovo to provide a fast home delivery service as the French supermarket group looks to deal with growing competition from the likes of Amazon as well as domestic rivals. Other supermarkets around the world are forming deals with online partners such as Amazon and others to meet growing demand from customers for home delivery services. Carrefour’s French rival Casino already has a partnership with Amazon, while Marks & Spencer has a joint venture with online food retail pioneer Ocado. The Partnership Carrefour’s Glovo partnership will cover four countries – France, Spain, Italy and Argentina – and will start operating by early October at the latest. The service will aim to deliver 2,500 products to customers’ homes within 30 minutes. “With this new partnership, Glovo and Carrefour will offer a 30-minute home delivery service that complements their existing e-commerce offers and allows them to address the needs of new customers,” said Carrefour director Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Glovo, which competes with platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo, said in April that it had raised €150 million ($168 million) of new funding. Glovo, founded in 2015, booked a €90 million loss in 2018, according to data provided by Delivery Hero, one of its shareholders. Digital Drive Carrefour, Europe’s largest retailer, is in the midst of a five-year plan to boost sales and profits. The plan includes €2.8 billion of investment in digital commerce and aims to increase online food sales to €5 billion by 2022. In 2018 alone, Carrefour’s online food sales grew by over 30% to €1.2 billion. “We appreciate Carrefour’s ability to deploy a very large range of e-commerce offers in France with traditional drives in rural areas (€600 million e-sales), pedestrian drives in urban areas (over 80 units), home delivery in urban areas (€100 million e-sales),” brokerage Bryan Garnier said in a note. “And now it is strengthening in express delivery with Glovo, a business that has historically been highly loss-making and could straighten out,” the analysts at Bryan Garnier said. Invest Securities, however, questioned the cost of deploying the delivery service outside France in markets which they said were only just beginning to emerge as food e-commerce outlets.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-goes-for-fast-home-delivery-with-glovo-deal-77859

Health And Indulgence Driving Snacking Trend In France: Mintel

As the snacking trend grows in France, market research firm Mintel looks at which claims – including gluten-free, high fibre, and high protein – are attracting shoppers in ‘the Hexagon’. While traditionally seen as unhealthy food to avoid, one-third of French consumers now say that snacks have become essential due to their busy lifestyles. Shoppers are, however, looking to combine ‘health’ with ‘indulgence’ when purchasing their ‘goûter’ – or afternoon snack. According to data from Mintel, gluten-free snacks are perceived by consumers to be ‘significantly healthier’ than their conventional counterparts. This is especially true for consumers aged 16 to 43-years-old, said the market research firm. French company Funky Veggie is one brand appealing to French consumers with their gluten-free cocunut balls. The balls are vegan, and filled with a chocolate and hazelnut centre. Made from dates and coconut, the balls are free from refined sugar, preservatives, flavours and additives. Belgian brandNature Addicts offers another gluten-free favourite for French shoppers. The firm’s Vanilla Energy Balls provide a source of fibre and are free from additives – and are cold pressed to better preserve ingredients. Aside form ‘gluten-free’, French consumers are also interested in snacks that are high in fibre, minimally processed, and that contain vegetable-based ingredients. “Brands should target younger consumers who are genuinely more convinced of the value od gluten-free claims on snacks. In terms of purchase intents, gluten-free products that stress minimally processed ingredients fare the best in the overall snacks category,” said global food and drink analysist at Mintel, Ophélie Buchet. Brands also need to innovate more with wholesome veggie ingredients as they command a higher purchase intent, Buchet continued. “The market for veggie snacks is becoming more crowded, however, and the difference will be made on the ‘real veggie’ content communicated clearly on pack”. SOURCE : https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/07/17/Health-and-indulgence-driving-snacking-trend-in-France-Mintel

Carrefour Would Have ‘More To Gain’ In Hypothetical Merger With Casino, Says Barclays

Should Carrefour and Groupe Casino ever decide to merge, they would create a business that would lead the market in France and Brazil, while also benefiting from ‘significant synergies’, a new report from Barclays has found. Barclays said that while talks between the two operates failed last year, a merger of the two French retail giants could be again on the table, given the challenges experienced by Rallye, Casino’s largest shareholder. In addition, Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard has suggested in recent interviews that “there will be consolidation in the retail sector in the coming years”, re-igniting discussions over whether the group is planning to make a move for one of its major rivals. In its report, Barclays suggests that a merged Carrefour and Casino would see potential gross savings of between 0.7% and 1.1% of total sales, which could be worth more than €1 billion. This would be value-accretive for shareholders, while execution risks would also be relatively limited, according to Barclays. Total sales at the combined entity would be in excess of €110 billion, with EBIT of around €3.3 billion. Competition Concerns The biggest hurdle to a merger would likely come from a competition perspective, with the recent collapse of the Sainsbury’s-Asda merger highlighting the ‘risk of presuming regulatory consent’, says Barclays. The hypothetical Carrefour-Casino entity would have a market share of around 30% in France and around 50% in Brazil, making it a leader in both markets, and likely necessitating significant store disposals. But the French competition authorities have moved in the past to approve deals that would see significant sector consolidation, such as that of Fnac and Darty in 2016. Fnac’s chief executive at the time, of course, was the current Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard, indicating that the young executive has previous when it comes to navigating a complex merger process. Commercial Synergies A proposed merger could present commercial synergies in that the formats of both are complementary; Carrefour is more skewed towards hypermarkets, while Casino’s store network is focused around supermarkets and convenience stores. Casino’s Géant hypermarket division could also benefit from conversion to the Carrefour banner, given the latter’s better price perceptions, says Barclays. However, Carrefour would likely be less enamoured by Casino’s Leader Price banner, with the banner seen as a ‘logical candidate’ for store disposals, in the event that the French competition authorities required them. Store disposals would also be a likely necessity in Paris, according to Barclays, as a combined Carrefour-Casino business would control around 80% of the selling space and between 72% and 85% of food spend in the capital’s inner city. Strong Liquidity Carrefour is also sitting on a growing cash pile, says Barclays, with the recent sale of an 80% stake in its operations in China for around €1 billion, and the sale of its Cargo Property Assets logistics division to Argan for €290 million. This provides Carrefour with ‘ammunition, if the company were to consider a partial cash offer’, according to Barclays. Carrefour would be unlikely to ‘pay a significant premium to Casino’s shareholders’, says Barclays, due to a number of factors: the weak negotiating position of leading shareholder Rallye; a lack of potential buyers within France for the Groupe Casino as a whole; and the relative weakness of Casino’s performance in France. Last year, Casino completed a €1.5 billion asset disposal programme, and promptly announced plans to dispose of a further €1 billion worth of assets, Barclays noted. However, this wasn’t enough to prevent a further downgrade of Casino’s debt rating in France, by ratings agency S&P, in April. Notably, Carrefour has been fairly quiet as regards snapping up Casino’s offloaded assets, with the majority of disposed stores since the start of the year being acquired by discounter Lidl or by independently-operated Leclerc members. ‘If such a combination were to proceed, we believe Carrefour would have more to gain’, Barclays said.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-gain-hypothetical-merger-casino-says-barclays-77773?auth=login

Carrefour Goes For Fast Home Delivery With Glovo Deal

Carrefour has teamed up with Spanish start-up Glovo to provide a fast home delivery service as the French supermarket group looks to deal with growing competition from the likes of Amazon as well as domestic rivals. Other supermarkets around the world are forming deals with online partners such as Amazon and others to meet growing demand from customers for home delivery services. Carrefour’s French rival Casino already has a partnership with Amazon, while Marks & Spencer has a joint venture with online food retail pioneer Ocado. The Partnership Carrefour’s Glovo partnership will cover four countries – France, Spain, Italy and Argentina – and will start operating by early October at the latest. The service will aim to deliver 2,500 products to customers’ homes within 30 minutes. “With this new partnership, Glovo and Carrefour will offer a 30-minute home delivery service that complements their existing e-commerce offers and allows them to address the needs of new customers,” said Carrefour director Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Glovo, which competes with platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo, said in April that it had raised €150 million ($168 million) of new funding. Glovo, founded in 2015, booked a €90 million loss in 2018, according to data provided by Delivery Hero, one of its shareholders. Digital Drive Carrefour, Europe’s largest retailer, is in the midst of a five-year plan to boost sales and profits. The plan includes €2.8 billion of investment in digital commerce and aims to increase online food sales to €5 billion by 2022. In 2018 alone, Carrefour’s online food sales grew by over 30% to €1.2 billion. “We appreciate Carrefour’s ability to deploy a very large range of e-commerce offers in France with traditional drives in rural areas (€600 million e-sales), pedestrian drives in urban areas (over 80 units), home delivery in urban areas (€100 million e-sales),” brokerage Bryan Garnier said in a note. “And now it is strengthening in express delivery with Glovo, a business that has historically been highly loss-making and could straighten out,” the analysts at Bryan Garnier said. Invest Securities, however, questioned the cost of deploying the delivery service outside France in markets which they said were only just beginning to emerge as food e-commerce outlets.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-goes-for-fast-home-delivery-with-glovo-deal-77859

Health and indulgence driving snacking trend in France: Mintel

As the snacking trend grows in France, market research firm Mintel looks at which claims – including gluten-free, high fibre, and high protein – are attracting shoppers in ‘the Hexagon’. While traditionally seen as unhealthy food to avoid, one-third of French consumers now say that snacks have become essential due to their busy lifestyles. Shoppers are, however, looking to combine ‘health’ with ‘indulgence’ when purchasing their ‘goûter’ – or afternoon snack. According to data from Mintel, gluten-free snacks are perceived by consumers to be ‘significantly healthier’ than their conventional counterparts. This is especially true for consumers aged 16 to 43-years-old, said the market research firm. French company Funky Veggie is one brand appealing to French consumers with their gluten-free cocunut balls. The balls are vegan, and filled with a chocolate and hazelnut centre. Made from dates and coconut, the balls are free from refined sugar, preservatives, flavours and additives. Belgian brandNature Addicts offers another gluten-free favourite for French shoppers. The firm’s Vanilla Energy Balls provide a source of fibre and are free from additives – and are cold pressed to better preserve ingredients. Aside form ‘gluten-free’, French consumers are also interested in snacks that are high in fibre, minimally processed, and that contain vegetable-based ingredients. “Brands should target younger consumers who are genuinely more convinced of the value od gluten-free claims on snacks. In terms of purchase intents, gluten-free products that stress minimally processed ingredients fare the best in the overall snacks category,” said global food and drink analysist at Mintel, Ophélie Buchet. Brands also need to innovate more with wholesome veggie ingredients as they command a higher purchase intent, Buchet continued. “The market for veggie snacks is becoming more crowded, however, and the difference will be made on the ‘real veggie’ content communicated clearly on pack”. SOURCE : https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/07/17/Health-and-indulgence-driving-snacking-trend-in-France-Mintel

Carrefour Would Have ‘More To Gain’ In Hypothetical Merger With Casino, Says Barclays

Should Carrefour and Groupe Casino ever decide to merge, they would create a business that would lead the market in France and Brazil, while also benefiting from ‘significant synergies’, a new report from Barclays has found. Barclays said that while talks between the two operates failed last year, a merger of the two French retail giants could be again on the table, given the challenges experienced by Rallye, Casino’s largest shareholder. In addition, Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard has suggested in recent interviews that “there will be consolidation in the retail sector in the coming years”, re-igniting discussions over whether the group is planning to make a move for one of its major rivals. In its report, Barclays suggests that a merged Carrefour and Casino would see potential gross savings of between 0.7% and 1.1% of total sales, which could be worth more than €1 billion. This would be value-accretive for shareholders, while execution risks would also be relatively limited, according to Barclays. Total sales at the combined entity would be in excess of €110 billion, with EBIT of around €3.3 billion. Competition Concerns The biggest hurdle to a merger would likely come from a competition perspective, with the recent collapse of the Sainsbury’s-Asda merger highlighting the ‘risk of presuming regulatory consent’, says Barclays. The hypothetical Carrefour-Casino entity would have a market share of around 30% in France and around 50% in Brazil, making it a leader in both markets, and likely necessitating significant store disposals. But the French competition authorities have moved in the past to approve deals that would see significant sector consolidation, such as that of Fnac and Darty in 2016. Fnac’s chief executive at the time, of course, was the current Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard, indicating that the young executive has previous when it comes to navigating a complex merger process. Commercial Synergies A proposed merger could present commercial synergies in that the formats of both are complementary; Carrefour is more skewed towards hypermarkets, while Casino’s store network is focused around supermarkets and convenience stores. Casino’s Géant hypermarket division could also benefit from conversion to the Carrefour banner, given the latter’s better price perceptions, says Barclays. However, Carrefour would likely be less enamoured by Casino’s Leader Price banner, with the banner seen as a ‘logical candidate’ for store disposals, in the event that the French competition authorities required them. Store disposals would also be a likely necessity in Paris, according to Barclays, as a combined Carrefour-Casino business would control around 80% of the selling space and between 72% and 85% of food spend in the capital’s inner city. Strong Liquidity Carrefour is also sitting on a growing cash pile, says Barclays, with the recent sale of an 80% stake in its operations in China for around €1 billion, and the sale of its Cargo Property Assets logistics division to Argan for €290 million. This provides Carrefour with ‘ammunition, if the company were to consider a partial cash offer’, according to Barclays. Carrefour would be unlikely to ‘pay a significant premium to Casino’s shareholders’, says Barclays, due to a number of factors: the weak negotiating position of leading shareholder Rallye; a lack of potential buyers within France for the Groupe Casino as a whole; and the relative weakness of Casino’s performance in France. Last year, Casino completed a €1.5 billion asset disposal programme, and promptly announced plans to dispose of a further €1 billion worth of assets, Barclays noted. However, this wasn’t enough to prevent a further downgrade of Casino’s debt rating in France, by ratings agency S&P, in April. Notably, Carrefour has been fairly quiet as regards snapping up Casino’s offloaded assets, with the majority of disposed stores since the start of the year being acquired by discounter Lidl or by independently-operated Leclerc members. ‘If such a combination were to proceed, we believe Carrefour would have more to gain’, Barclays said.   SOURCE : https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/carrefour-gain-hypothetical-merger-casino-says-barclays-77773?auth=login

The Organic Market In France

It is impossible to deny that France has a well-established and broad organic food market, but its take-off in the mainstream retail industry over the last few years is stunning. This separate but parallel growth alongside specialist organic retailers is a true sign of how organic food is no longer a niche or alternative food ‘fad’. Indeed, it is arguably no longer a ‘fad’ at all. Organic food is without a doubt one of the most important ‘trends’ or ‘waves’ in France today; 2018 saw the organic food market make a turnover of over €8 billion of which over €4 billion is in mainstream retail. 92% of responders in a study by Agence Bio/CSA at the end of 2018 said that they had consumed organic products over the last year whilst ¾ said they consume organic products once a month and 16% daily. Whilst organic F&B consumptions are noticeable amongst every age group, it is surprisingly popular amongst the 18-24s, generation Z who, despite their smaller financial means are (according to the Agence Bio poll) prepared to pay more money for products that they view as better for their health, cuisine, and environment. Older generations, on the other hand, are less likely to pay more for organic F&B due to the high costs; they do not view it as worth the money. * Another sign of organic F&B’s growing importance in France is its significant mainstream retail presence, particularly in the private label sector which accounts for over 40% of the organic F&B market share. Mainstream retail is now the N°1 distribution channel for 80% of organic consumers and overall annual growth is 25% (23% for convenience and 33% for click&collect. This has pushed specialist organic retailers to innovate in order to compete as their growth ‘lags’ at 15%. For example, Naturalia’s new “Marché Bio” or Biocoop’s “Dada”. In conclusion, no sector of the F&B industry has escaped the organic wave in France and it is on its way to becoming part of France’s mainstream. However, with a market in such flux, it is very difficult to predict the future. SOURCES: LSA, Points de Vente, Le Figaro https://mailchi.mp/90081930c0ea/international-food-news-july-578973

The Organic Market in France

    It is impossible to deny that France has a well-established and broad organic food market, but its take-off in the mainstream retail industry over the last few years is stunning. This separate but parallel growth alongside specialist organic retailers is a true sign of how organic food is no longer a niche or alternative food ‘fad’. Indeed, it is arguably no longer a ‘fad’ at all. Organic food is without a doubt one of the most important ‘trends’ or ‘waves’ in France today; 2018 saw the organic food market make a turnover of over €8 billion of which over €4 billion is in mainstream retail. 92% of responders in a study by Agence Bio/CSA at the end of 2018 said that they had consumed organic products over the last year whilst ¾ said they consume organic products once a month and 16% daily. Whilst organic F&B consumptions are noticeable amongst every age group, it is surprisingly popular amongst the 18-24s, generation Z who, despite their smaller financial means are (according to the Agence Bio poll) prepared to pay more money for products that they view as better for their health, cuisine, and environment. Older generations, on the other hand, are less likely to pay more for organic F&B due to the high costs; they do not view it as worth the money. * Another sign of organic F&B’s growing importance in France is its significant mainstream retail presence, particularly in the private label sector which accounts for over 40% of the organic F&B market share. Mainstream retail is now the N°1 distribution channel for 80% of organic consumers and overall annual growth is 25% (23% for convenience and 33% for click&collect. This has pushed specialist organic retailers to innovate in order to compete as their growth ‘lags’ at 15%. For example, Naturalia’s new “Marché Bio” or Biocoop’s “Dada”. In conclusion, no sector of the F&B industry has escaped the organic wave in France and it is on its way to becoming part of France’s mainstream. However, with a market in such flux, it is very difficult to predict the future. SOURCES: LSA, Points de Vente, Le Figaro https://mailchi.mp/90081930c0ea/international-food-news-july-578973

Carrefour to offer home delivery throughout France

Carrefour is rolling out two new online services. Within the domestic market of France, the supermarket group will start to offer home deliveries everywhere from 2020 onward. And this year, customers will already be able to pick up their orders within two hours.   Home delivery in 75 cities A statement to the French unions reveals Carrefour is steadily expanding its online services, according to trade journal LSA Conso. CEO Alexandre Bompard has announced the phased rollout of the services ‘Carrefour Livré Chez Vous’ and ‘Click and Collect’. Home delivery was first tested last year from 52 stores, including 23 hypermarkets. The deliveries generated a turnover of 107.3 million euros, Bompard told the employees.   Any city with 10,000 inhabitants This year, some 42 stores will be added, including 26 hypermarkets this time around. That should make it possible to serve about 45 city regions and 30 cities with medium or smaller populations by the end of 2019. By 2020, home delivery will be available in every French city with more than 10,000 inhabitants. Earlier on, the supermarket chain announced that specific warehouses are most effective in big cities such as Paris or Lyon, while in more thinly populated areas, online deliveries are best prepared manually within the stores. In the south of Paris, a new distribution centre and several new stores will be opened for the expansion.   ‘Click and collect’ within two hours The service ‘click and collect’ will be rolled out nation-wide. That service allows customers to pick up non-food items within two hours of ordering them. From July 23rd onward, this will be available in every Carrefour hypermarket that already has a ‘drive’ – a pick-up point for online food orders. Concretely, 189 French hypermarkets are involved. They will also have to make their actual supplies visible online from now on: available products can be reserved and picked up within two hours. In 2019, Carrefour is hoping to process some 813,056 online non-food orders, an exponential increase compared to the 29,582 orders in 2018. Next year, Bompard is hoping to pass the milestone of one million orders. By then, some 7,745 items should be available through click and collect.   SOURCE: https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/carrefour-offer-home-delivery-throughout-france

Carrefour to offer home delivery throughout France

Carrefour is rolling out two new online services. Within the domestic market of France, the supermarket group will start to offer home deliveries everywhere from 2020 onward. And this year, customers will already be able to pick up their orders within two hours.   Home delivery in 75 cities A statement to the French unions reveals Carrefour is steadily expanding its online services, according to trade journal LSA Conso. CEO Alexandre Bompard has announced the phased rollout of the services ‘Carrefour Livré Chez Vous’ and ‘Click and Collect’. Home delivery was first tested last year from 52 stores, including 23 hypermarkets. The deliveries generated a turnover of 107.3 million euros, Bompard told the employees.   Any city with 10,000 inhabitants This year, some 42 stores will be added, including 26 hypermarkets this time around. That should make it possible to serve about 45 city regions and 30 cities with medium or smaller populations by the end of 2019. By 2020, home delivery will be available in every French city with more than 10,000 inhabitants. Earlier on, the supermarket chain announced that specific warehouses are most effective in big cities such as Paris or Lyon, while in more thinly populated areas, online deliveries are best prepared manually within the stores. In the south of Paris, a new distribution centre and several new stores will be opened for the expansion.   ‘Click and collect’ within two hours The service ‘click and collect’ will be rolled out nation-wide. That service allows customers to pick up non-food items within two hours of ordering them. From July 23rd onward, this will be available in every Carrefour hypermarket that already has a ‘drive’ – a pick-up point for online food orders. Concretely, 189 French hypermarkets are involved. They will also have to make their actual supplies visible online from now on: available products can be reserved and picked up within two hours. In 2019, Carrefour is hoping to process some 813,056 online non-food orders, an exponential increase compared to the 29,582 orders in 2018. Next year, Bompard is hoping to pass the milestone of one million orders. By then, some 7,745 items should be available through click and collect.   SOURCE: https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/carrefour-offer-home-delivery-throughout-france

Lidl The Big Winner In Latest French Market Share Figures

Discounter Lidl was the big winner in the latest market share figures for the French market, published by Kantar. The retailer saw a 50-basis-point increase in value sales, to sit on 5.9% market share in the period from 13 May to 9 June (P6), attracting 460,000 new shoppers over the four weeks therein. According to Kantar, Lidl has been steadily increasing its customer numbers since the start of the year, and also retaining shoppers. Market Movers Other positive performers included Système U, which reported a 30-basis-point gain in the P6 period, to hold 10.8% market share. Système U has attracted an additional 170,000 shoppers, Kantar noted. Market leader E.Leclerc, meanwhile, reinforced its position at the top, with a 30-basis-point increase, to leave it on 21.7% market share. Store growth has contributed two thirds of its increase in sales, while its Drive network has contributed one third. Another retailer that has seen gains in the most recent period is Groupement Les Mousquetaires, which was up ten basis points, to 15%.   SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/lidl-big-winner-latest-france-market-share-figures-77287

Lidl The Big Winner In Latest French Market Share Figures

Discounter Lidl was the big winner in the latest market share figures for the French market, published by Kantar. The retailer saw a 50-basis-point increase in value sales, to sit on 5.9% market share in the period from 13 May to 9 June (P6), attracting 460,000 new shoppers over the four weeks therein. According to Kantar, Lidl has been steadily increasing its customer numbers since the start of the year, and also retaining shoppers. Market Movers Other positive performers included Système U, which reported a 30-basis-point gain in the P6 period, to hold 10.8% market share. Système U has attracted an additional 170,000 shoppers, Kantar noted. Market leader E.Leclerc, meanwhile, reinforced its position at the top, with a 30-basis-point increase, to leave it on 21.7% market share. Store growth has contributed two thirds of its increase in sales, while its Drive network has contributed one third. Another retailer that has seen gains in the most recent period is Groupement Les Mousquetaires, which was up ten basis points, to 15%. SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/lidl-big-winner-latest-france-market-share-figures-77287

Europe’s food sector shows highest growth of sustainable product sales

Food retailers in France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are finding growing consumer demand for sustainably sourced products, according to a survey of over 1,800 companies in the five countries by the International Trade Commission. The first retail survey of its kind, commissioned by the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade, covered seven other retail product groups: beverages, clothing, computers, household and office furniture, mobile phones, printed materials, and toys and games. However, the food sector stood out, with food products showing the highest growth of sustainable product sales (18.3%) in the last five years. In addition, 98% of food retailers reported increased sales of sustainable products over the past five years (compared to 85% for all), and 97% of food retailers expected sales in sustainable products to increase in the next five years, compared to 92% for all sectors. ‘CONSUMER BRANDS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY OUTPERFORM THOSE THAT DON’T’ ​ The ITC report is not the first to reveal the growing demand for sustainably produced products among consumers in recent years. According to market research firm Nielson, which carried out an online survey of 30,000 consumers in 60 countries in 2015, 68% said they were willing to pay extra for sustainable goods, up from 50% two years earlier. Companies that demonstrated a commitment to sustainability also saw their sales grow four times higher than those that did not. But the ITC report is the first survey to investigate the sourcing strategies among retailers. It discovered that 98.5% of those surveyed considered sustainability as a factor in product sourcing. In addition, 96% had implemented strategies to buy from sources that were certified as socially or environmentally sustainable. Three-quarters had sustainable sourcing commitments, which they implement through voluntary sustainability standards or corporate sustainability codes of conduct. The highest commitments to sustainable sourcing were among Dutch (91%) and German (84%) retailers. CONSUMERS INCREASINGLY SEEK PRODUCTS THAT REFLECT ETHICAL TREATMENT OF WORKERS AND ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS​ “‘The traditional way of doing business is outdated. It is time to think and act with respect and engage all actors in a virtuous circle​,” said David Gobert, general director of coffee company Les Cafés Dagobert, who was interviewed in the ITC survey. “Our company is born from an extremely personal ambition to link to producers, and break the unfair global coffee market that provokes very vulnerable situations through volatility and speculation. It has now been 10 years that we are working on sustainable chains for coffee, with quite a successful approach that does not need the big speculators and traders, and builds on simple human relationships with all our suppliers and directly with cooperatives and producers.”​ “We believe in a fair distribution of profits and benefits, and in doing business transparently,”​ added Luca Zocca, director of marketing and responsibility at Italian organic fruit and vegetable firm Brio. “We use sustainability standards to support organic farming, bring farmers together, protect biodiversity and nature, and safeguard human health. We also direct our activities towards a sustainable financial model aimed at fairly distributing the income generated along the supply chain, from farmer to end user.”​ WHICH SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS ARE BEING APPLIED?​ More than 60% of retailers in all eight sectors looked at were using more than three standards or codes for sourcing sustainable products. Organic and Fairtrade were the most frequently used standards in the food sector. The report noted that 25% of retailers used organic standards for sourcing food products, and 15% of retailers used Fairtrade. In the beverage category, 26% and 21% of retailers used these standards for sourcing beverages in 2015-2017 respectively. The EU is the second largest market after the US for products produced in compliance with organic standards, according to the study. Germany and France were the largest EU markets for organic products, with €10 billion and €7.9 billion respectively in retail sales, accounting for just over half of the EU market. Global retail sales of Fairtrade certified products rose over 80% from €4.36 billion in 2010 to €7.88 billion in 2016, according to Nielson. Recommendations for policymakers, retailers and suppliers​ EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: “In the EU we have put sustainability at the heart of our trade policy. This study shows that this was the right decision. Consumers increasingly care about where their products come from, and how they were made – they want to know that when they buy something, that the climate and workers’ rights have been respected. The good news is that retailers are beginning to respond. Today’s findings emphasise that we all have a role to play, as citizens, consumers, workers or entrepreneurs, in promoting open, fair and ethical trade.”​ Yet she said more action was still needed. “It is not just at EU level that action is required. National policymakers, local authorities, industries, individual companies and individual consumers have a role to play too. So far, voluntary standards have led the way, but for sustainable sourcing to be mainstreamed, governments and civil society must also show political will. We know that a growing number of consumers are already behind this endeavour, so I am optimistic that if we all work together, there can be a bright future for sustainable sourcing in the EU and beyond.”​ Reflecting on the crucial role that the demand for sustainable products plays for retailers and across value chains, ITC Executive Director Arancha González said: ‘This report carries an important message, especially for non-European businesses seeking to export to buyers in the EU: sustainability is key to your business model if you are to succeed in winning over European customers and consumers.’​ SOURCE : https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/05/29/Europe-s-food-sector-shows-highest-growth-of-sustainable-product-sales

Europe’s food sector shows highest growth of sustainable product sales

Food retailers in France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are finding growing consumer demand for sustainably sourced products, according to a survey of over 1,800 companies in the five countries by the International Trade Commission. The first retail survey of its kind, commissioned by the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade, covered seven other retail product groups: beverages, clothing, computers, household and office furniture, mobile phones, printed materials, and toys and games. However, the food sector stood out, with food products showing the highest growth of sustainable product sales (18.3%) in the last five years. In addition, 98% of food retailers reported increased sales of sustainable products over the past five years (compared to 85% for all), and 97% of food retailers expected sales in sustainable products to increase in the next five years, compared to 92% for all sectors. ‘CONSUMER BRANDS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY OUTPERFORM THOSE THAT DON’T’ ​ The ITC report is not the first to reveal the growing demand for sustainably produced products among consumers in recent years. According to market research firm Nielson, which carried out an online survey of 30,000 consumers in 60 countries in 2015, 68% said they were willing to pay extra for sustainable goods, up from 50% two years earlier. Companies that demonstrated a commitment to sustainability also saw their sales grow four times higher than those that did not. But the ITC report is the first survey to investigate the sourcing strategies among retailers. It discovered that 98.5% of those surveyed considered sustainability as a factor in product sourcing. In addition, 96% had implemented strategies to buy from sources that were certified as socially or environmentally sustainable. Three-quarters had sustainable sourcing commitments, which they implement through voluntary sustainability standards or corporate sustainability codes of conduct. The highest commitments to sustainable sourcing were among Dutch (91%) and German (84%) retailers. CONSUMERS INCREASINGLY SEEK PRODUCTS THAT REFLECT ETHICAL TREATMENT OF WORKERS AND ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS​ “‘The traditional way of doing business is outdated. It is time to think and act with respect and engage all actors in a virtuous circle​,” said David Gobert, general director of coffee company Les Cafés Dagobert, who was interviewed in the ITC survey. “Our company is born from an extremely personal ambition to link to producers, and break the unfair global coffee market that provokes very vulnerable situations through volatility and speculation. It has now been 10 years that we are working on sustainable chains for coffee, with quite a successful approach that does not need the big speculators and traders, and builds on simple human relationships with all our suppliers and directly with cooperatives and producers.”​ “We believe in a fair distribution of profits and benefits, and in doing business transparently,”​ added Luca Zocca, director of marketing and responsibility at Italian organic fruit and vegetable firm Brio. “We use sustainability standards to support organic farming, bring farmers together, protect biodiversity and nature, and safeguard human health. We also direct our activities towards a sustainable financial model aimed at fairly distributing the income generated along the supply chain, from farmer to end user.”​ WHICH SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS ARE BEING APPLIED?​ More than 60% of retailers in all eight sectors looked at were using more than three standards or codes for sourcing sustainable products. Organic and Fairtrade were the most frequently used standards in the food sector. The report noted that 25% of retailers used organic standards for sourcing food products, and 15% of retailers used Fairtrade. In the beverage category, 26% and 21% of retailers used these standards for sourcing beverages in 2015-2017 respectively. The EU is the second largest market after the US for products produced in compliance with organic standards, according to the study. Germany and France were the largest EU markets for organic products, with €10 billion and €7.9 billion respectively in retail sales, accounting for just over half of the EU market. Global retail sales of Fairtrade certified products rose over 80% from €4.36 billion in 2010 to €7.88 billion in 2016, according to Nielson. Recommendations for policymakers, retailers and suppliers​ EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: “In the EU we have put sustainability at the heart of our trade policy. This study shows that this was the right decision. Consumers increasingly care about where their products come from, and how they were made – they want to know that when they buy something, that the climate and workers’ rights have been respected. The good news is that retailers are beginning to respond. Today’s findings emphasise that we all have a role to play, as citizens, consumers, workers or entrepreneurs, in promoting open, fair and ethical trade.”​ Yet she said more action was still needed. “It is not just at EU level that action is required. National policymakers, local authorities, industries, individual companies and individual consumers have a role to play too. So far, voluntary standards have led the way, but for sustainable sourcing to be mainstreamed, governments and civil society must also show political will. We know that a growing number of consumers are already behind this endeavour, so I am optimistic that if we all work together, there can be a bright future for sustainable sourcing in the EU and beyond.”​ Reflecting on the crucial role that the demand for sustainable products plays for retailers and across value chains, ITC Executive Director Arancha González said: ‘This report carries an important message, especially for non-European businesses seeking to export to buyers in the EU: sustainability is key to your business model if you are to succeed in winning over European customers and consumers.’​   SOURCE : https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/05/29/Europe-s-food-sector-shows-highest-growth-of-sustainable-product-sales

French organic agriculture sees record growth

In France, organic agriculture confirmed its strength in 2018, particularly in production. This included both an increase in the lands devoted to organic agriculture and the consumption of organic products, but also job creation: the industry had its best growth in six years and doubled the production from five years ago. Five thousand additional farms were certified organic in 2018. In total, 41,600 farms are working in organic agriculture all across France, which represents 9.5% of farms. The agricultural surface dedicated to organic agriculture reached nearly five million acres in 2018, or 7.5% of the usable agricultural area of France. This represented a 17% increase in the land used for organic agriculture compared to 2017. The conversion of farms to organic is booming to meet the strong consumer demand. In 2018, organic egg laying hens represented 13.3% of the national total. The French regions of Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle Aquitaine were the three biggest regions when it comes to the number of organic producers in 2018. As for consumption, the market for French organic products continue to democratize. Nearly 5% of food consumed in French homes are organic agricultural products. In 2018, the market increased by 15% and reached 9.7 billion euros. Organic consumption is developing in all types of products. 69% of organic products consumed in France are produced in the country. The role of large distributors is strengthening with the sale of organic products in 2018, reaching 49% market share. Specialty stores represents 34% of sales and 12% are direct-to-consumer sales. Finally, the French organic market is second in the European Union, worth 9.8 billion euros.   SOURCE :https://frenchfoodintheus.org/4249

Carrefour sees more retail sector consolidation, including in France

PARIS (Reuters) – The boss of Carrefour said on Friday the retail sector was bound to consolidate in the coming years, notably in France, as competition intensifies, and that his mission was to make sure the French retailer came out a winner. When asked if Carrefour could exit underperforming countries such as Italy or China, Alexandre Bompard told an annual shareholders meeting he was confident his overhaul plan “could improve the operational situation in each of our countries”. Carrefour, which is Europe’s largest retailer, is in the midst of a five-year plan it launched in January 2018 to cut costs and jobs, boost e-commerce investment and seek a partnership in China with Tencent. Carrefour’s plan, which also entails a greater focus on areas such as fresh local products, organic food and sustainability, is aimed at helping the retailer boost profits and revenues, and tackle competition from Amazon. “There are a lot of competitors in markets like Italy or in France and weak sector margins and we are only at the beginning of the arrival of large platforms like Amazon. There will be difficulties and consolidations in coming years,” Bompard said. “My mission is to be in the winners’ camp and the transformation we are conducting will put us among winners,” Last year, Carrefour and French rival Casino were locked in a dispute after Casino said it had rejected a tie-up approach from Carrefour that Carrefour denied making. Since then, Casino’s parent Rallye has filed for protection from creditors. Meanwhile, French rival Auchan has sold most of its loss-making business in Italy, while it also faces tough market conditions in France. Last month, people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Carrefour was exploring the sale of a minority stake in its loss-making business in China and had started sounding out potential buyers. The group has, however, said a sale of the business in China was not on the agenda. In line with Carrefour’s ambition to become a leader in the global transition towards healthier and more sustainable food, its shareholders on Friday approved a new mission statement to include its commitment to the transition in its bylaws.   SOURCE : https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-carrefour-agm-idUKKCN1TF1UJ

Kettle Foods deepens its Norfolk roots with £2.7m potato processing investment

A well-known Norwich crisps brand has embedded its roots in Norfolk for decades to come by investing £2.7m in a new potato processing building – unlocking the factory’s future growth potential. Kettle Foods has been making crisps in Norwich for more than 30 years, with the majority of its potatoes grown within 30 miles of the factory. The new intake and grading building at the firm’s Bowthorpe headquarters is expected to handle 63,000 tonnes of Norfolk-grown potatoes in the next 12 months – but it has the capacity to process 120,000 tonnes per year, opening the door for future expansion. It includes a trailer bay able to unload eight bulk lorries; a grader to remove stones, soil and under-sized potatoes; a barrel washer; a “halver” to chop large potatoes to the correct size; and an optical separator which can identify and remove unwanted foreign objects by using three cameras, taking as many as 40 images of every item passing through the conveyors, to assess their colour and density. Finally, the last line of defence for food quality and safety is a state-of-the art x-ray to extract any dangers hidden from the cameras, ensuring that nothing but premium potatoes are transported via a water flume system to the cooking rooms. The two year project had been completed just an hour before the launch event. Ashley Hicks, Managing Director: “ 30 years ago our founders set up home in Norfolk to be as close as possible to our potato farmers and we still love using locally grown potatoes today. This new intake facility will enable us to expand so that Norwich remains the home of Kettle Foods for many more years to come.” “We are celebrating our 30th birthday this year so this is a really fitting milestone for us to be opening a building which will set us up for the next 30 years.” “We have got some state-of-the-art equipment we are using that is not used anywhere else in the UK potato industry, particularly the X-ray to make sure no foreign bodies get into our process. For us, that is the most important thing. We want to make sure that food safety and quality is critical.” Of the project cost, £1.7m is being funded by Kettle Foods with the support of parent company Campbell’s, and £1m has been grant-funded through the Growth Programme of the Rural Development Programme for England, provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The new building upgrades Kettle Foods’ entire potato intake process and moves it to a new building on land next to the existing factory – boosting intake capacity and freeing up internal manufacturing space for future expansion. Dan Hewitt, Kettle’s head of agriculture: “It is an absolute game-changer for Kettle Foods, and for Norfolk, and for our growers. The ability of this kit for cleaning and sorting potatoes, and foreign object detection, is absolutely the best in the business and this investment with our partners has given us a massive, massive advantage. The building has given us the capacity to go north of 120,000 tonnes a year. Until now the limitation to our growth was our intake, but that is no longer the case. We have freed up room for expansion within the factory.” The new building was formally opened by Melvyn Mickleburgh, who had worked at the old potato intake for 27 years and postponed his retirement to see the replacement facility up and running. He was joined by other long-serving workers and some of the farmers who supply potatoes to the factory. Trimingham farmer James Harrison is chairman of the Kettle Growers’ Group: “This investment gives us massive confidence. It is great to be supplying a local factory with a good product but seeing the investment they have made in the back-end is key for us as growers. It gives us security going forward.” SOURCE : https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-carrefour-agm-idUKKCN1TF1UJ

French organic agriculture sees record growth

In France, organic agriculture confirmed its strength in 2018, particularly in production. This included both an increase in the lands devoted to organic agriculture and the consumption of organic products, but also job creation: the industry had its best growth in six years and doubled the production from five years ago. Five thousand additional farms were certified organic in 2018. In total, 41,600 farms are working in organic agriculture all across France, which represents 9.5% of farms. The agricultural surface dedicated to organic agriculture reached nearly five million acres in 2018, or 7.5% of the usable agricultural area of France. This represented a 17% increase in the land used for organic agriculture compared to 2017. The conversion of farms to organic is booming to meet the strong consumer demand. In 2018, organic egg laying hens represented 13.3% of the national total. The French regions of Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle Aquitaine were the three biggest regions when it comes to the number of organic producers in 2018. As for consumption, the market for French organic products continue to democratize. Nearly 5% of food consumed in French homes are organic agricultural products. In 2018, the market increased by 15% and reached 9.7 billion euros. Organic consumption is developing in all types of products. 69% of organic products consumed in France are produced in the country. The role of large distributors is strengthening with the sale of organic products in 2018, reaching 49% market share. Specialty stores represents 34% of sales and 12% are direct-to-consumer sales. Finally, the French organic market is second in the European Union, worth 9.8 billion euros.   SOURCE : https://frenchfoodintheus.org/4249

Private Label Growth Overtakes National Brands In France

Private-label growth has overtaken that of national brands in France for the first time in over a year, new data has shown. According to IRI data for April 2019 (P4 2019), private label grew by 0.7% in the period, compared to 0.4% for national brands. Closing The Gap This is a marked difference from the previous period, in which national brands grew by 1.7%, but private label fell by 0.3%. Indeed, the closest that private-label growth has come to getting on a par with that of national brands was in December of last year (P12 2018), when national brands declined by 0.2% and private label declined by 0.4%. At the other end of the spectrum, in July of last year, the rate of growth in national brands was 5.0%, while private labels declined by 0.9% – a significant gap. Analyst Viewpoint Commenting on the findings, retail consultant Olivier Dauvers said, “The gap is small, of course, but it says a lot: a new era is opening up for retailer brands, whose competitiveness is improving, both through repositioning of the biggest names and a reinvestment in price. “Over the coming months, there will be, perhaps, exceptions to this trend, but the direction is clear: the return to favour of private label is going to last,” added Dauvers.   SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/private-label/private-label-growth-overtakes-national-brands-france-75229

French Govt Hopes To Ban Supermarkets From Destroying Unsold Non-Food Items

France is examining legislation banning supermarkets and producers from destroying unsold non-food items, said prime minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday, as governments around the world look to cut down on waste and protect the environment. “We can avoid the scandalous waste of products and objects that are in perfectly good condition,” Philippe told reporters. Focus On Non-Food Items France already has legislation in place to ban supermarkets from destroying unsold food items, and any new legislation would tackle objects such as clothing, electronics or plastics. France’s main supermarket retailers include Casino, Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc. Single-use plastic items such as straws, forks and knives as well as cotton buds are also due to be banned in the European Union by 2021 as the bloc pushes manufacturers to step up their recycling efforts. Last month, Carrefour and waste recycling company TerraCycle launched an initiative to tackle the problems of plastic waste threatening to destroy the environment. SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-govt-hopes-to-ban-supermarkets-from-destroying-unsold-non-food-items-75923

French Govt Hopes To Ban Supermarkets From Destroying Unsold Non-Food Items

France is examining legislation banning supermarkets and producers from destroying unsold non-food items, said prime minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday, as governments around the world look to cut down on waste and protect the environment. “We can avoid the scandalous waste of products and objects that are in perfectly good condition,” Philippe told reporters. Focus On Non-Food Items France already has legislation in place to ban supermarkets from destroying unsold food items, and any new legislation would tackle objects such as clothing, electronics or plastics. France’s main supermarket retailers include Casino, Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc. Single-use plastic items such as straws, forks and knives as well as cotton buds are also due to be banned in the European Union by 2021 as the bloc pushes manufacturers to step up their recycling efforts. Last month, Carrefour and waste recycling company TerraCycle launched an initiative to tackle the problems of plastic waste threatening to destroy the environment. SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/french-govt-hopes-to-ban-supermarkets-from-destroying-unsold-non-food-items-75923

Private Label Growth Overtakes National Brands In France

Private-label growth has overtaken that of national brands in France for the first time in over a year, new data has shown. According to IRI data for April 2019 (P4 2019), private label grew by 0.7% in the period, compared to 0.4% for national brands. Closing The Gap This is a marked difference from the previous period, in which national brands grew by 1.7%, but private label fell by 0.3%. Indeed, the closest that private-label growth has come to getting on a par with that of national brands was in December of last year (P12 2018), when national brands declined by 0.2% and private label declined by 0.4%. At the other end of the spectrum, in July of last year, the rate of growth in national brands was 5.0%, while private labels declined by 0.9% – a significant gap. Analyst Viewpoint Commenting on the findings, retail consultant Olivier Dauvers said, “The gap is small, of course, but it says a lot: a new era is opening up for retailer brands, whose competitiveness is improving, both through repositioning of the biggest names and a reinvestment in price. “Over the coming months, there will be, perhaps, exceptions to this trend, but the direction is clear: the return to favour of private label is going to last,” added Dauvers. SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/private-label/private-label-growth-overtakes-national-brands-france-75229

Kettle Chips releases crisp range with fruit and vegetable slices

ampbell Soup-owned Kettle Chips has launched a new range of potato crisps partnered with slices of fruit and vegetables. Three flavours are available in the UK: Kettle and apple slices with Norfolk pork sausage seasoning, Kettle and sweet potato slices with smoked chipotle and crème fraîche seasoning, and Kettle and beetroot slices with goat’s cheese and caramelised onion seasoning. Kettle said the flavours, which have been created by its chef Phil Hovey, transport consumers “to the flavours and textures of a complete meal in every bite”. Available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores from April, the 100g sharing bags will retail for £2.25. Last September, Kettle released a new line of Ridge Cut crisps in the UK, inspired by flavours from around the world. The range is available in sharing packs in three variants: Chinese spare ribs, barbecue beef brisket, and jalapeño Jack. Kettle said the crisps are made by freshly slicing whole potatoes rather than reforming the potato, which is said to carve out extra surface area for seasoning “for a big taste impact”. Kettle Foods, the manufacturer of Kettle Chips snacks, last June invested £2.7 million to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities of its Norwich factory. The Kettle Chips brand was acquired by Campbell Soup in 2017 as part of its $4.87 billion deal for Snyder’s-Lance. In its most recent financial results, Campbell’s recorded a 24.5% increase in second-quarter net sales, as it benefitted from the acquisitions of both Snyder’s-Lance and Pacific Foods. SOURCE: https://www.foodbev.com/news/kettle-chips-releases-crisp-range-with-fruit-and-vegetable-slices/

Kettle Chips releases crisp range with fruit and vegetable slices

Campbell Soup-owned Kettle Chips has launched a new range of potato crisps partnered with slices of fruit and vegetables. Three flavours are available in the UK: Kettle and apple slices with Norfolk pork sausage seasoning, Kettle and sweet potato slices with smoked chipotle and crème fraîche seasoning, and Kettle and beetroot slices with goat’s cheese and caramelised onion seasoning. Kettle said the flavours, which have been created by its chef Phil Hovey, transport consumers “to the flavours and textures of a complete meal in every bite”. Available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores from April, the 100g sharing bags will retail for £2.25. Last September, Kettle released a new line of Ridge Cut crisps in the UK, inspired by flavours from around the world. The range is available in sharing packs in three variants: Chinese spare ribs, barbecue beef brisket, and jalapeño Jack. Kettle said the crisps are made by freshly slicing whole potatoes rather than reforming the potato, which is said to carve out extra surface area for seasoning “for a big taste impact”. Kettle Foods, the manufacturer of Kettle Chips snacks, last June invested £2.7 million to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities of its Norwich factory. The Kettle Chips brand was acquired by Campbell Soup in 2017 as part of its $4.87 billion deal for Snyder’s-Lance. In its most recent financial results, Campbell’s recorded a 24.5% increase in second-quarter net sales, as it benefitted from the acquisitions of both Snyder’s-Lance and Pacific Foods. SOURCE: https://www.foodbev.com/news/kettle-chips-releases-crisp-range-with-fruit-and-vegetable-slices/

Carrefour testing discount hypermarket in Avignon

Unbeatable prices in a low-cost environment: that’s the Carrefour Essentiel concept in a nutshell. The retailer is currently testing the new formula in Avignon as one of the possible avenues to save Carrefour’s unprofitable hypermarkets. ‘The difference refunded five times’ Big red signs alert shoppers to the promise of unbeatable prices, round prices and ‘the difference refunded five times’. At the entrance there is a large outlet area as well as a more traditional promotional zone. Food products are put on display on metal warehouse shelves and on pallets. All fresh food departments are self-service, except for the butcher’s, which is outsourced. The store does have an extensive organic department. Non-food is very limited. Carrefour converted an existing, loss-making hypermarket to this new concept. The store’s surface was reduced from 10,500 sqm to 7,500 sqm and the assortment went from 32,000 to 15,000 sku’s, resulting in wider aisles and a clearer assortment that’s easier to ‘read’. Half of the 24 registers have been replaced by self-scanners. In short, the store’s name is aptly chosen: all the fat has been trimmed in order to focus on the essence. No decoration, no unnecessary items. There should be the potential for about ten outlets. Various avenues This low-cost model is just one of the testing grounds launched by Carrefour. Another one is a model that offers more local autonomy to franchisees (called ‘Rebonds’) as well as one that mainly focuses on food with an added restaurant section (‘Next’). In addition, the retailer will be franchising more stores. In every hypermarket, the non-food assortment will be reduced to make more room for fresh and organic and there will be automatic registers. Major stores will become smaller and the number of pickup points and delivery services will be expanded. Hypermarkets represent about 25% of Carrefour’s turnover on the French domestic market.   SOURCE:https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/carrefour-testing-discount-hypermarket-avignon

Carrefour testing discount hypermarket in Avignon

Unbeatable prices in a low-cost environment: that’s the Carrefour Essentiel concept in a nutshell. The retailer is currently testing the new formula in Avignon as one of the possible avenues to save Carrefour’s unprofitable hypermarkets. ‘The difference refunded five times’ Big red signs alert shoppers to the promise of unbeatable prices, round prices and ‘the difference refunded five times’. At the entrance there is a large outlet area as well as a more traditional promotional zone. Food products are put on display on metal warehouse shelves and on pallets. All fresh food departments are self-service, except for the butcher’s, which is outsourced. The store does have an extensive organic department. Non-food is very limited. Carrefour converted an existing, loss-making hypermarket to this new concept. The store’s surface was reduced from 10,500 sqm to 7,500 sqm and the assortment went from 32,000 to 15,000 sku’s, resulting in wider aisles and a clearer assortment that’s easier to ‘read’. Half of the 24 registers have been replaced by self-scanners. In short, the store’s name is aptly chosen: all the fat has been trimmed in order to focus on the essence. No decoration, no unnecessary items. There should be the potential for about ten outlets. Various avenues This low-cost model is just one of the testing grounds launched by Carrefour. Another one is a model that offers more local autonomy to franchisees (called ‘Rebonds’) as well as one that mainly focuses on food with an added restaurant section (‘Next’). In addition, the retailer will be franchising more stores. In every hypermarket, the non-food assortment will be reduced to make more room for fresh and organic and there will be automatic registers. Major stores will become smaller and the number of pickup points and delivery services will be expanded. Hypermarkets represent about 25% of Carrefour’s turnover on the French domestic market.   SOURCE:https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/carrefour-testing-discount-hypermarket-avignon

“The Small Business Accelerator”: Promoting growth and competitiveness”

The Agro-food small business accelerator is a personalized support program that aims at assisting small and medium agro-food sized businesses that demonstrate strong growth potential, particularly with working on innovative and international projects: a target of 30 businesses per session is set. A call for interested parties to join this program was launched early this year. The goal is to bring together potential candidates for the 2019/2020 program. It was as part of the Grand Investment Plan and in continuing in the spirit of the Estates-General of Food that the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food and BPIFrance came together to create this startup incubator. Placed under the collective banner of “La French Fab,” the selected small businesses will participate in a 24-month program to speed up their growth and to meet challenges that await them (moving upmarket, internationalization, securing production chains, diversifying opportunities, etc.). The first year of the Accelerator, financed in part by the Ministry of Agriculture and operated by BPIFrance, will bring together the 30 volunteer small businesses from the food and agriculture sectors. The companies will take part in the following program: Individual diagnostic aiming to identify growth priorities and aiding the business in developing strategic vision Two in-depth advice modules, individualized for the business, will be proposed based on the results of the diagnostic part mentioned above, in order to come up with a concrete action plan Collective training seminars, provided by French universities, on themes specifically adapted to the industry and to the profile of the businesses making up the group Networking events and providing access to important industry groups SOURCE: https://frenchfoodintheus.org/4127

“The Small Business Accelerator”: Promoting growth and competitiveness”

The Agro-food small business accelerator is a personalized support program that aims at assisting small and medium agro-food sized businesses that demonstrate strong growth potential, particularly with working on innovative and international projects: a target of 30 businesses per session is set. A call for interested parties to join this program was launched early this year. The goal is to bring together potential candidates for the 2019/2020 program. It was as part of the Grand Investment Plan and in continuing in the spirit of the Estates-General of Food that the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food and BPIFrance came together to create this startup incubator. Placed under the collective banner of “La French Fab,” the selected small businesses will participate in a 24-month program to speed up their growth and to meet challenges that await them (moving upmarket, internationalization, securing production chains, diversifying opportunities, etc.). The first year of the Accelerator, financed in part by the Ministry of Agriculture and operated by BPIFrance, will bring together the 30 volunteer small businesses from the food and agriculture sectors. The companies will take part in the following program: Individual diagnostic aiming to identify growth priorities and aiding the business in developing strategic vision Two in-depth advice modules, individualized for the business, will be proposed based on the results of the diagnostic part mentioned above, in order to come up with a concrete action plan Collective training seminars, provided by French universities, on themes specifically adapted to the industry and to the profile of the businesses making up the group Networking events and providing access to important industry groups SOURCE: https://frenchfoodintheus.org/4127

France ups resale threshold to favour food distributors & farmers

France has enforced measures designed to re-balance power in the supply chain and limit buy-one-get-one-free promotions. According to the legislation, enforced 1 February 2019, retailers must sell food products for a price 10% higher (at least) than the purchase price. The law amends a 1996 ruling prohibiting the sale of any product below its purchase price. This meant that when a food item was purchased from a producer for €1, the same item had to be sold for at least €1 in-store. This latest ruling means that the same product cannot be sold for less than €1.10. The decision comes after a government review of the food industry, Etats Généraux de l’Alimentation (EGA), concluded the previous threshold did not ensure all of a distributor’s costs, including transport, logistics and staff, were covered. Indeed, when detailing his priorities for the French agri-food sector last year, president Emmanual Macron argued that ‘strategic orientations’ and ‘major reorganisatons’ were required to safeguard the industry. During his speech in Saint-Genès-Champanelle in January 2018, Macron threatened to name and shame brands that “do not change their practices” ​to ensure “the right price [is] paid to farmers”. ​ In the days following Macron’s speech, the aforementioned legislation that addressed a perceived imbalance of power in the supply chain was proposed by France’s Ministry for Food and Agriculture. While consumers may be concerned that spending will increase, the ministry said just 7% of food products will be impacted by the ruling. Promotions  In addition to the above supply chain ruling, new legislation designed to cap retail promotions have also come into effect. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the number of promotions in France has grown rapidly in the last few years, from 14% in 2000 to 20% in 2016. Such promotions can reduce product value and affect the perceived value of agricultural produce in the eyes of the consumer. The latest legislation therefore caps price reductions at 34% of the item’s total value, with promotions approved for no more than 25% of the retailer’s total stock. In addition, the Ministry said promotions such as buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) can contribute to food waste, since it can encourage consumers to buy products they don’t need. The ruling therefore abolishes BOGOF promotions in-store, in favour of buy-one-get-two-free deals. BOGOF deals will be replaced by buy-two-get-one-free (Image: Getty/natasaadzic)   The rulings – both regarding the resale price of food products, and promotions – will be trialled for a period of two years. BOGOF focus​ Retail promotions, and in particular BOGOF, have similarly attracted attention in the UK. Last year, Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt detailed new measures​​ in a bid to halve the number of obese children in the country by 2030. This included banning displays of unhealthy foods at checkouts, and the inclusion of foods that are high in sugar, salt or fat in promotions, such as BOGOF deals. The UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) however, which represents the interest of the food and drink sector, spoke out against the measures at the time. “Advertising and promotions underpin the healthy, vibrant and innovative market for food and drink that UK shoppers love.​ “If government restricts our ability to advertise and promote new healthier options to shoppers, it could risk the success of the reformulation programme. Any further restrictions will have to pass stern tests around targeting and effectiveness.”​ SOURCE: https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/02/14/France-ups-resale-threshold-to-favour-food-distributors-farmers

France ups resale threshold to favour food distributors & farmers

France has enforced measures designed to re-balance power in the supply chain and limit buy-one-get-one-free promotions. According to the legislation, enforced 1 February 2019, retailers must sell food products for a price 10% higher (at least) than the purchase price. The law amends a 1996 ruling prohibiting the sale of any product below its purchase price. This meant that when a food item was purchased from a producer for €1, the same item had to be sold for at least €1 in-store. This latest ruling means that the same product cannot be sold for less than €1.10. The decision comes after a government review of the food industry, Etats Généraux de l’Alimentation (EGA), concluded the previous threshold did not ensure all of a distributor’s costs, including transport, logistics and staff, were covered. Indeed, when detailing his priorities for the French agri-food sector last year, president Emmanual Macron argued that ‘strategic orientations’ and ‘major reorganisatons’ were required to safeguard the industry. During his speech in Saint-Genès-Champanelle in January 2018, Macron threatened to name and shame brands that “do not change their practices” ​to ensure “the right price [is] paid to farmers”. ​ In the days following Macron’s speech, the aforementioned legislation that addressed a perceived imbalance of power in the supply chain was proposed by France’s Ministry for Food and Agriculture. While consumers may be concerned that spending will increase, the ministry said just 7% of food products will be impacted by the ruling. Promotions  In addition to the above supply chain ruling, new legislation designed to cap retail promotions have also come into effect. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the number of promotions in France has grown rapidly in the last few years, from 14% in 2000 to 20% in 2016. Such promotions can reduce product value and affect the perceived value of agricultural produce in the eyes of the consumer. The latest legislation therefore caps price reductions at 34% of the item’s total value, with promotions approved for no more than 25% of the retailer’s total stock. In addition, the Ministry said promotions such as buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) can contribute to food waste, since it can encourage consumers to buy products they don’t need. The ruling therefore abolishes BOGOF promotions in-store, in favour of buy-one-get-two-free deals. BOGOF deals will be replaced by buy-two-get-one-free (Image: Getty/natasaadzic)   The rulings – both regarding the resale price of food products, and promotions – will be trialled for a period of two years. BOGOF focus​ Retail promotions, and in particular BOGOF, have similarly attracted attention in the UK. Last year, Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt detailed new measures​​ in a bid to halve the number of obese children in the country by 2030. This included banning displays of unhealthy foods at checkouts, and the inclusion of foods that are high in sugar, salt or fat in promotions, such as BOGOF deals. The UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) however, which represents the interest of the food and drink sector, spoke out against the measures at the time. “Advertising and promotions underpin the healthy, vibrant and innovative market for food and drink that UK shoppers love.​ “If government restricts our ability to advertise and promote new healthier options to shoppers, it could risk the success of the reformulation programme. Any further restrictions will have to pass stern tests around targeting and effectiveness.”​ SOURCE: https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/02/14/France-ups-resale-threshold-to-favour-food-distributors-farmers

A Constantly Evolving Landscape ?

2018 was a very busy year for the French retail sector, with new purchasing alliances being forged just as old ones fell apart; with perhaps the most significant being Amazon’s first foray into the French online market. The arrival of Amazon in France has certainly set the fox amongst the chickens, spurning the mainstream retailers into new services and greater purchasing alliances. The deal in question is a partnership with supermarket chain Monoprix. Amazon now offers 6000 Monoprix products to its Amazon Prime customers whilst Monoprix’s online customers can now do their shopping through Amazon Prime. Though the service is only available in certain parts of Paris, it still marks a significant turning point. Food has always been a weakness for Amazon, therefore a partnership with a high-quality chain like Monoprix would go a long way to building a solid reputation amongst French consumers. This, however, was not the only significant partnership of 2018. In April Carrefour (2nd largest retail group) announced a purchasing alliance with Système U (France’s 5th largest group). Together with Cora (already in partnership with Carrefour), they now form France’s largest purchasing conglomerate – 35% of the market. The partnership is set to last 5 years, much longer than most. Equally, that of Casino and Auchan; the 4th and 6th largest chains in France. Also including the cash & carry chain Metro and Schiever, the purchasing consortium has been named Horizon and constitutes 23% of the market. Horizon will negotiate with approximately 110 large suppliers which represent 70-80% of their total purchases. Though purchasing alliances are no novelty, they have taken on a greater, more international scale. Carrefour launched a purchasing alliance with Tesco and Monoprix signed a deal with Ocado. The arrival of Amazon on French soil and the expansion of hard-discounters Aldi and Lidl have placed increasing pressure on the mainstream retailers, forcing them to adapt. The French retail market has never been more dynamic.

France: vegetarian and vegan market up by 24%

France: vegetarian and vegan market up by 24% According to a study published by the French research institute Xerfi, the sales of vegetarian and vegan products generated a revenue of 380 millions euros [437 million USD] last year in French large retail stores and supermarkets, which corresponds to a rise of 24%. If this increase is comparable to the gluten-free market, it is still far from the growth in the sales of organic products. While there still is a cultural barrier for some of the French towards veganism. Flexitarianism on the other hand is gaining in popularity. According to Xerfi, vegetarians and vegans represent respectively only 2% of the French population (about 1.3 million people) and 0.5% (about 340,000 people), while flexitarians represent about a third of the population, so nearly 23 million people. For the period 2019-2021, the vegetarian and vegan market in supermarkets should show a 17% increase yearly, which will exceed 600 million euros [690 million USD] within three years. Major retailers, attracted by the potential growth of the vegetarian and vegan market, have been playing an important role, launching their first vegetarian product lines in 2015, such as “Carrefour Veggie”, followed by major manufacturers like Danone, Nestlé, or even Fleury Michon, in order to diversify their offer. While it highlights the fact that the increase in the consumption of plant-based products is a “big trend”, the study published by Xerfi also points out that the alternatives to meat and milk proteins usually are “a short-lived craze”, and expects a gradual slowdown on the vegetarian and vegan food market beyond 2021. SOURCE: https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9060507/france-vegetarian-and-vegan-market-up-by-24/

Obrigado Releases First-ever Sustainability Impact Report

B-Corp Certified coconut beverage company highlights significant strides towards achieving zero waste while also providing valuable educational and economic opportunities in Brazil Obrigado, Brazil’s much-loved coconut beverage brand, released its first-ever Sustainability Impact Report today detailing the positive environmental, educational and economic impacts the company has made over the last years. Key accomplishments include: saving valuable water by using approximately 80 percent less water per coconut tree than normal irrigation systems, preserving 70 percent of the land it owns as untouched forest and saving 35,000 tons of CO2. As the first and only B-Corp Certified coconut beverage company, Obrigado is committed to sustainability with a goal to be zero waste within the next few years. “From educating hundreds of Brazilian children to providing valuable employment opportunities to local citizens, our impact report highlights the breadth and depth of our efforts to create a better world by improving the environment and empowering those in need.” Tweet this “Our philosophy is simple. We want to deliver high-quality, delicious tasting coconut beverages while also adding value to people’s lives and honoring nature,” said Roberto Lessa, CEO and chief sustainability officer for Obrigado. “From educating hundreds of Brazilian children to providing valuable employment opportunities to local citizens, our impact report highlights the breadth and depth of our efforts to create a better world by improving the environment and empowering those in need.” Key Sustainability Highlights: Utilizing approximately 80 percent less water per coconut tree than normal irrigation systems. Obrigado’s unique irrigation and barcode systems allow the company to read how much water and fertilizer each specific tree needs saving valuable water and fertilizer. Planting more than 400,000 trees thereby significantly contributing to combating climate change. Together, these trees have a carbon uptake of more than 35,000 ton of CO2, which is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 households per year. Creating 10.00.00m2 biodegradable anti-erosion blankets out of raw coconut materials, with a goal to be zero waste within the next few years. In 2013, Obrigado learned that more than 90 percent of the children in their community of Pedra Grande were illiterate so they established Instituto Gente, a non-profit foundation that provides schooling for the children of the native families. Revenue from every Obrigado product is invested into Instituto Gente. Obrigado owns its own sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil, where it grows its young, green coconut trees. To ensure the freshest coconut water taste, each of its trees has a barcode for complete traceability and the company uses a patented extraction process in which the coconut water is never exposed to air or light. This helps protect the integrity of the taste and freshness of its coconut water. Obrigado is all-natural, never from concentrate, has no added sugar or preservatives, and is strictly non-GMO. To view the full Sustainability Impact Report, please visit obrigado.com. About Obrigado Obrigado is a Brazilian coconut beverage brand that makes delicious and refreshing coconut waters, milks and juices from young, green coconuts that are grown on their very own sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil. To ensure the freshest taste of its beverages, each of its coconut trees has a barcode for complete traceability and quality. All of Obrigado’s products are all-natural, never from concentrate, have no added sugar or preservatives, and are strictly non-GMO. Obrigado, which means ‘Thank You’ in Portuguese, is brought to the United States by Aurantiaca USA LLC, an affiliate of Grupo Aurantiaca LLC. True to its brand name, Obrigado is committed to providing innovative and high-quality coconut beverages while also respecting the environment and its communities. The company is committed to zero waste and does its very best to turn every coconut into high-quality products that add value to people’s lives and honor nature. For more information about Obrigado, visit obrigado.com. SOURCE: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181220005130/en/Obrigado-Releases-First-ever-Sustainability-Impact-Report

Obrigado Releases First-ever Sustainability Impact Report

B-Corp Certified coconut beverage company highlights significant strides towards achieving zero waste while also providing valuable educational and economic opportunities in Brazil. Obrigado, Brazil’s much-loved coconut beverage brand, released its first-ever Sustainability Impact Report today detailing the positive environmental, educational and economic impacts the company has made over the last years. Key accomplishments include: saving valuable water by using approximately 80 percent less water per coconut tree than normal irrigation systems, preserving 70 percent of the land it owns as untouched forest and saving 35,000 tons of CO2. As the first and only B-Corp Certified coconut beverage company, Obrigado is committed to sustainability with a goal to be zero waste within the next few years. “From educating hundreds of Brazilian children to providing valuable employment opportunities to local citizens, our impact report highlights the breadth and depth of our efforts to create a better world by improving the environment and empowering those in need.” Tweet this “Our philosophy is simple. We want to deliver high-quality, delicious tasting coconut beverages while also adding value to people’s lives and honoring nature,” said Roberto Lessa, CEO and chief sustainability officer for Obrigado. “From educating hundreds of Brazilian children to providing valuable employment opportunities to local citizens, our impact report highlights the breadth and depth of our efforts to create a better world by improving the environment and empowering those in need.” Key Sustainability Highlights: Utilizing approximately 80 percent less water per coconut tree than normal irrigation systems. Obrigado’s unique irrigation and barcode systems allow the company to read how much water and fertilizer each specific tree needs saving valuable water and fertilizer. Planting more than 400,000 trees thereby significantly contributing to combating climate change. Together, these trees have a carbon uptake of more than 35,000 ton of CO2, which is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 households per year. Creating 10.00.00m2 biodegradable anti-erosion blankets out of raw coconut materials, with a goal to be zero waste within the next few years. In 2013, Obrigado learned that more than 90 percent of the children in their community of Pedra Grande were illiterate so they established Instituto Gente, a non-profit foundation that provides schooling for the children of the native families. Revenue from every Obrigado product is invested into Instituto Gente. Obrigado owns its own sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil, where it grows its young, green coconut trees. To ensure the freshest coconut water taste, each of its trees has a barcode for complete traceability and the company uses a patented extraction process in which the coconut water is never exposed to air or light. This helps protect the integrity of the taste and freshness of its coconut water. Obrigado is all-natural, never from concentrate, has no added sugar or preservatives, and is strictly non-GMO. To view the full Sustainability Impact Report, please visit obrigado.com. About Obrigado Obrigado is a Brazilian coconut beverage brand that makes delicious and refreshing coconut waters, milks and juices from young, green coconuts that are grown on their very own sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil. To ensure the freshest taste of its beverages, each of its coconut trees has a barcode for complete traceability and quality. All of Obrigado’s products are all-natural, never from concentrate, have no added sugar or preservatives, and are strictly non-GMO. Obrigado, which means ‘Thank You’ in Portuguese, is brought to the United States by Aurantiaca USA LLC, an affiliate of Grupo Aurantiaca LLC. True to its brand name, Obrigado is committed to providing innovative and high-quality coconut beverages while also respecting the environment and its communities. The company is committed to zero waste and does its very best to turn every coconut into high-quality products that add value to people’s lives and honor nature. For more information about Obrigado, visit obrigado.com. SOURCE:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181220005130/en/Obrigado-Releases-First-ever-Sustainability-Impact-Report

France: vegetarian and vegan market up by 24%

According to a study published by the French research institute Xerfi, the sales of vegetarian and vegan products generated a revenue of 380 millions euros [437 million USD] last year in French large retail stores and supermarkets, which corresponds to a rise of 24%. If this increase is comparable to the gluten-free market, it is still far from the growth in the sales of organic products. While there still is a cultural barrier for some of the French towards veganism. Flexitarianism on the other hand is gaining in popularity. According to Xerfi, vegetarians and vegans represent respectively only 2% of the French population (about 1.3 million people) and 0.5% (about 340,000 people), while flexitarians represent about a third of the population, so nearly 23 million people. For the period 2019-2021, the vegetarian and vegan market in supermarkets should show a 17% increase yearly, which will exceed 600 million euros [690 million USD] within three years. Major retailers, attracted by the potential growth of the vegetarian and vegan market, have been playing an important role, launching their first vegetarian product lines in 2015, such as “Carrefour Veggie”, followed by major manufacturers like Danone, Nestlé, or even Fleury Michon, in order to diversify their offer. While it highlights the fact that the increase in the consumption of plant-based products is a “big trend”, the study published by Xerfi also points out that the alternatives to meat and milk proteins usually are “a short-lived craze”, and expects a gradual slowdown on the vegetarian and vegan food market beyond 2021. SOURCE: https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9060507/france-vegetarian-and-vegan-market-up-by-24/

Kettle Brand Wasabi Ranch Krinkle Cut Potato Chips

Kettle Brand has introduced a cool-yet-spicy new variety to its snack portfolio: Wasabi Ranch Krinkle Cut Potato Chips. Said to blend creamy ranch and spicy wasabi for an “unexpected flavor fusion,” the chips retail for a suggested $3.79 per 8.5-ounce bag. SOURCE: https://progressivegrocer.com/kettle-brand-wasabi-ranch-krinkle-cut-potato-chips

Organic consumption associated with cancer risk: French study

A French study published in the Jama Internal Medicine journal links eating organic food to a lower risk of developing cancer.   In a population-based study of 68 946 French adults from the NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort, a “significant reduction”​ in the risk of certain types of cancer was observed among high consumers of organic food, compared to infrequent consumers. Researchers at the Sorbonne Paris Cité Epidemiology and Statistics Research Centre (INRA, Inserm, University Paris 13 and CNAM) conducted the epidemiological study. The researchers, led by Dr Julia Baudry, asked participants to report their intake of organic foods across 16 product categories. This was then translated into an organic scorecard, with scores ranging from 0-32, to distinguish frequent and infrequent organic consumers. The cohort was followed for seven years to investigate the incidence of cancer. During the follow up period, between 2009 and 2016, 1,340 new cancer cases were recorded and validated on the basis of medical records. A 25% decrease in cancer risk across all types was observed among “regular​” consumers of organic foods compared to more casual consumers. This association was particularly marked for lymphoma, when organic consumers had a 76% risk reduction. Lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women was also uncovered, with a 34% risk reduction among consumers with a high organic consumption score versus low. Taking into account various risk factors that may affect this relationship (socio-demographic factors, diet, lifestyles and family history) did not change the results, the research authors claimed. Taking into account various risk factors that may affect this relationship (socio-demographic factors, diet, lifestyles and family history) did not change the results, the research authors claimed. The study suggested that although further research is needed to confirm its findings, the promotion of organic foods could be an important public health measure to prevent cancer. “Promoting organic food consumption in the general population could be a promising preventive strategy against cancer,”​ they suggested. What is the cause? The study concluded that “one possible explanation​” for the negative association between organic food consumption and cancer risk is that the prohibition of pesticide use in organic production methods results in lower contamination levels. In 2015, the Agency for Research on Cancer classified certain pesticides, malathion and diazinon, as probably carcinogenic to humans, while tetrachlorvinphos and parathion were classed as possibly carcinogenic to people. In a statement, INRA added: “Another possible explanation is that potentially higher levels of certain micronutrients (carotenoid antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamin C or more beneficial fatty acid profiles) in organic foods.”​ The researchers suggested that attention should now turn to the “chronic effects of low-dose pesticide residue exposure from diet​” as well as “potential cocktail effects​” at the general population level. Conclusions ‘overblown’? The study has provoked widespread debate in scientific circles, with some researchers suggesting that it provides grounds for further examination and others claiming that its conclusions are far-fetched. “This is a solid observational cohort study from France and one of the largest to look at organic foods and cancer risk. It has all the usual biases of observational studies,”​ Prof Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, noted. “The data is most convincing for non-Hodgkin lymphoma because two previous studies showed the same preventive effects. The data suggest (but do not prove) that eating organic plants low in herbicides and pesticides may modestly reduce risk of cancers. This should stimulate greater scrutiny of the safety of these widely used chemicals in our foods which could have effects directly or indirectly via our gut microbes​.” However, Prof Tom Sanders, Professor emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College London, was more sceptical. According to his assessment, although the study tried to adjust for known cancer risks “residual confounding is still likely​”. “This an observational study, not a controlled trial. The participants who reported eating organic food most frequently were more likely to be non-smokers, had a lower body mass index (less obesity) and drank less alcohol – all factors that would be expected to result in fewer cases of cancer in this group… Their conclusion, that promoting organic food in the general population could be a promising cancer preventive strategy, is overblown.”​ Meanwhile, Associate Professor Rajaraman Eri, Head of Biomedical Sciences in the School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, at The University of Tasmania, concluded that the study makes a “good case” ​for the consumption of organic foods but added some “flaws” ​remain. “Firstly, the food questions were designed by the study group and the answers from respondents were self-reported without taking other factors, such as health and socio-economic status, into consideration. The other important missing link is the amount of food consumed by the subjects in this study.​ “This study establishes a good case for organic food consumption in lowering cancer risk but further research needs to be carried out before specific health advise can be provide to people in general.”​  

Organic consumption associated with cancer risk: French study

A French study published in the Jama Internal Medicine journal links eating organic food to a lower risk of developing cancer.   In a population-based study of 68 946 French adults from the NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort, a “significant reduction”​ in the risk of certain types of cancer was observed among high consumers of organic food, compared to infrequent consumers. Researchers at the Sorbonne Paris Cité Epidemiology and Statistics Research Centre (INRA, Inserm, University Paris 13 and CNAM) conducted the epidemiological study. The researchers, led by Dr Julia Baudry, asked participants to report their intake of organic foods across 16 product categories. This was then translated into an organic scorecard, with scores ranging from 0-32, to distinguish frequent and infrequent organic consumers. The cohort was followed for seven years to investigate the incidence of cancer. During the follow up period, between 2009 and 2016, 1,340 new cancer cases were recorded and validated on the basis of medical records. A 25% decrease in cancer risk across all types was observed among “regular​” consumers of organic foods compared to more casual consumers. This association was particularly marked for lymphoma, when organic consumers had a 76% risk reduction. Lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women was also uncovered, with a 34% risk reduction among consumers with a high organic consumption score versus low. Taking into account various risk factors that may affect this relationship (socio-demographic factors, diet, lifestyles and family history) did not change the results, the research authors claimed. Taking into account various risk factors that may affect this relationship (socio-demographic factors, diet, lifestyles and family history) did not change the results, the research authors claimed. The study suggested that although further research is needed to confirm its findings, the promotion of organic foods could be an important public health measure to prevent cancer. “Promoting organic food consumption in the general population could be a promising preventive strategy against cancer,”​ they suggested. What is the cause? The study concluded that “one possible explanation​” for the negative association between organic food consumption and cancer risk is that the prohibition of pesticide use in organic production methods results in lower contamination levels. In 2015, the Agency for Research on Cancer classified certain pesticides, malathion and diazinon, as probably carcinogenic to humans, while tetrachlorvinphos and parathion were classed as possibly carcinogenic to people. In a statement, INRA added: “Another possible explanation is that potentially higher levels of certain micronutrients (carotenoid antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamin C or more beneficial fatty acid profiles) in organic foods.”​ The researchers suggested that attention should now turn to the “chronic effects of low-dose pesticide residue exposure from diet​” as well as “potential cocktail effects​” at the general population level. Conclusions ‘overblown’? The study has provoked widespread debate in scientific circles, with some researchers suggesting that it provides grounds for further examination and others claiming that its conclusions are far-fetched. “This is a solid observational cohort study from France and one of the largest to look at organic foods and cancer risk. It has all the usual biases of observational studies,”​ Prof Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, noted. “The data is most convincing for non-Hodgkin lymphoma because two previous studies showed the same preventive effects. The data suggest (but do not prove) that eating organic plants low in herbicides and pesticides may modestly reduce risk of cancers. This should stimulate greater scrutiny of the safety of these widely used chemicals in our foods which could have effects directly or indirectly via our gut microbes​.” However, Prof Tom Sanders, Professor emeritus of Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College London, was more sceptical. According to his assessment, although the study tried to adjust for known cancer risks “residual confounding is still likely​”. “This an observational study, not a controlled trial. The participants who reported eating organic food most frequently were more likely to be non-smokers, had a lower body mass index (less obesity) and drank less alcohol – all factors that would be expected to result in fewer cases of cancer in this group… Their conclusion, that promoting organic food in the general population could be a promising cancer preventive strategy, is overblown.”​ Meanwhile, Associate Professor Rajaraman Eri, Head of Biomedical Sciences in the School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, at The University of Tasmania, concluded that the study makes a “good case” ​for the consumption of organic foods but added some “flaws” ​remain. “Firstly, the food questions were designed by the study group and the answers from respondents were self-reported without taking other factors, such as health and socio-economic status, into consideration. The other important missing link is the amount of food consumed by the subjects in this study.​ “This study establishes a good case for organic food consumption in lowering cancer risk but further research needs to be carried out before specific health advise can be provide to people in general.”​  

Kettle Brand Wasabi Ranch Krinkle Cut Potato Chips

Kettle Brand has introduced a cool-yet-spicy new variety to its snack portfolio: Wasabi Ranch Krinkle Cut Potato Chips. Said to blend creamy ranch and spicy wasabi for an “unexpected flavor fusion,” the chips retail for a suggested $3.79 per 8.5-ounce bag.   SOURCE: https://progressivegrocer.com/kettle-brand-wasabi-ranch-krinkle-cut-potato-chips

Quorn: “We Have Seen Growth Step up From 7 to 15 Percent”

Quorn are one of the foremost meat alternatives in Europe and the UK, and have been successfully selling their range of meat-free products since 1985. Due to the sharp increase in demand for vegan products, the Quorn brand recently expanded their production and announced the investment of £7 million in research and development, creating hundreds of new jobs at a facility in Yorkshire. Quorn were originally established as a vegetarian company but are following market trends and have now made several of their range egg-free and suitable for vegans. They are committed to sustainability and the future of food, invest heavily in green initiatives, and are the first global meat-alternative brand to achieve third-party certification of its carbon footprint figures. We were very pleased to speak with CEO Kevin Brennan regarding the recent developments. What is the current situation in your company?  At present turnover is  £230m, we have around 55% share in the UK and distributed in virtually all grocery stores in the UK. Which of your products is the bestseller and why? Mince and Pieces are our best sellers as they are versatile and work in many popular dishes such as chili, bolognese, and stir fry. © Quorn Please describe the current trend of the “bleeding burger” and why Quorn were keen to be involved in it?  There has been a lot of media hype around this. Burgers are a much bigger dynamic in USA than here and it is typically US firms hyping this. Having said that we recognise that a juicier (“bleeding”) product would work well here. We are keen to show it is something, with our capability, that we can deliver pretty quickly, i.e. by the end of this year. Who are your target demographic? We target vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians/meat reducers. Where are your products currently available and are there plans for expansion into other markets? We sell in over 20 markets including UK, USA, Nordics, Benelux, Germany and Australia. We are trying to grow these aggressively and are looking to expand into Asia thanks to our Filipino owner. How have things changed in your company after the recent investment? We have seen growth step up from 7 percent to 15 percent. Importantly we are now investing in major R&D projects that can drive step change innovation and product claims. Why, in your opinion, is 2018 the “year of the vegan” which has seen so many announcements of investment and developments such as your new centre? Certainly it has been one of this year’s major trends. I think what really drives it is that vegetarians often aspire to veganism so when more products are made available they do well. What is your company’s mission and how do you plan to achieve it? Our mission is to help consumer be healthier, and the planet more sustainable. We believe we can create a one billion Dollar business. Which innovations will come in 2018 and 2019? We have lots coming but it’s hard to talk about them at present. We introduced vegan deli this year and it is going very well. We have a major Ready Meals launch in Q4 and obviously the new burger planned. We have many other great plans but can’t share them yet.

KETTLE Chips launches globally-inspired new Ridge Cut range

Launching with three seasonings, the new KETTLE Ridge Cut range will be available nationwide from September. Inspired by the biggest and best flavours from across the globe, Chinese Spare Ribs, Barbecue Beef Brisket and Jalapeño Jack offer huge taste impact to complement the big bite of the ridge cut range. As with the whole KETTLE range, the new ridge products are made using only real food ingredients and are available in sharing packs with a handy pack Barbecue Beef Brisket following in October. Crucially, KETTLE’s new Ridge Cut chips are made by freshly slicing whole potatoes rather than reforming potato. This gives that signature KETTLE crunch and carves out extra surface area for seasoning to cover for a big taste impact. KETTLE Chips’ innovation chef, Phil Hovey says “Having the chance to create the brand new Ridge Cut range for KETTLE was a fun one. Ridge chips are always associated with big flavours but I wanted to produce a “KETTLE does it better” look at BBQ, bringing the real food ingredients and exciting cooking techniques into an area that has always been dominated by a fairly generic sweet, sharp Texas BBQ sauce. Barbecue is a cooking technique found the world over and experimenting with new techniques, smokes and woodchips is becoming increasingly popular here in the UK. Whilst each country has a favourite barbecue dish, ultimately, each utilises the same basic process whether it’s low and slow smokers in the Deep South, fiery Braais in South Africa or the precision cooked Yakatori of Japan. I’ve been inspired and played on a few of my favourite flavours; smoky barbecue beef brisket, sweet & sticky Chinese ribs and you’ve got to have creamy melted cheese & fleshy, acidic Jalapeños.” This is the second new launch in an exciting year for the team at KETTLE Chips, following the summer launch of the new Discoveries range and April and May’s successful TV and online advertising campaign highlighting the real food credentials of KETTLE Chips. Senior brand manager Kizzy Beckett says: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for the KETTLE Chips brand. Our goal is to create real food seasonings which consumers will love and which will continue to attract new shoppers to the brand. The overwhelmingly positive response we’ve seen to our advertising and our continuous product innovation make us a must stock – a position we’re really proud of.” SOURCE: http://www.retailtimes.co.uk/kettle-chips-launches-globally-inspired-new-ridge-cut-range/

KETTLE Chips launches globally-inspired new Ridge Cut range

Launching with three seasonings, the new KETTLE Ridge Cut range will be available nationwide from September. Inspired by the biggest and best flavours from across the globe, Chinese Spare Ribs, Barbecue Beef Brisket and Jalapeño Jack offer huge taste impact to complement the big bite of the ridge cut range. As with the whole KETTLE range, the new ridge products are made using only real food ingredients and are available in sharing packs with a handy pack Barbecue Beef Brisket following in October. Crucially, KETTLE’s new Ridge Cut chips are made by freshly slicing whole potatoes rather than reforming potato. This gives that signature KETTLE crunch and carves out extra surface area for seasoning to cover for a big taste impact. KETTLE Chips’ innovation chef, Phil Hovey says “Having the chance to create the brand new Ridge Cut range for KETTLE was a fun one. Ridge chips are always associated with big flavours but I wanted to produce a “KETTLE does it better” look at BBQ, bringing the real food ingredients and exciting cooking techniques into an area that has always been dominated by a fairly generic sweet, sharp Texas BBQ sauce. Barbecue is a cooking technique found the world over and experimenting with new techniques, smokes and woodchips is becoming increasingly popular here in the UK. Whilst each country has a favourite barbecue dish, ultimately, each utilises the same basic process whether it’s low and slow smokers in the Deep South, fiery Braais in South Africa or the precision cooked Yakatori of Japan. I’ve been inspired and played on a few of my favourite flavours; smoky barbecue beef brisket, sweet & sticky Chinese ribs and you’ve got to have creamy melted cheese & fleshy, acidic Jalapeños.” This is the second new launch in an exciting year for the team at KETTLE Chips, following the summer launch of the new Discoveries range and April and May’s successful TV and online advertising campaign highlighting the real food credentials of KETTLE Chips. Senior brand manager Kizzy Beckett says: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for the KETTLE Chips brand. Our goal is to create real food seasonings which consumers will love and which will continue to attract new shoppers to the brand. The overwhelmingly positive response we’ve seen to our advertising and our continuous product innovation make us a must stock – a position we’re really proud of.” SOURCE: http://www.retailtimes.co.uk/kettle-chips-launches-globally-inspired-new-ridge-cut-range/

Quorn: “We Have Seen Growth Step up From 7 to 15 Percent”

Quorn are one of the foremost meat alternatives in Europe and the UK, and have been successfully selling their range of meat-free products since 1985. Due to the sharp increase in demand for vegan products, the Quorn brand recently expanded their production and announced the investment of £7 million in research and development, creating hundreds of new jobs at a facility in Yorkshire. Quorn were originally established as a vegetarian company but are following market trends and have now made several of their range egg-free and suitable for vegans. They are committed to sustainability and the future of food, invest heavily in green initiatives, and are the first global meat-alternative brand to achieve third-party certification of its carbon footprint figures. We were very pleased to speak with CEO Kevin Brennan regarding the recent developments. What is the current situation in your company?  At present turnover is  £230m, we have around 55% share in the UK and distributed in virtually all grocery stores in the UK. Which of your products is the bestseller and why? Mince and Pieces are our best sellers as they are versatile and work in many popular dishes such as chili, bolognese, and stir fry. © Quorn Please describe the current trend of the “bleeding burger” and why Quorn were keen to be involved in it?  There has been a lot of media hype around this. Burgers are a much bigger dynamic in USA than here and it is typically US firms hyping this. Having said that we recognise that a juicier (“bleeding”) product would work well here. We are keen to show it is something, with our capability, that we can deliver pretty quickly, i.e. by the end of this year. Who are your target demographic? We target vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians/meat reducers. Where are your products currently available and are there plans for expansion into other markets? We sell in over 20 markets including UK, USA, Nordics, Benelux, Germany and Australia. We are trying to grow these aggressively and are looking to expand into Asia thanks to our Filipino owner. How have things changed in your company after the recent investment? We have seen growth step up from 7 percent to 15 percent. Importantly we are now investing in major R&D projects that can drive step change innovation and product claims. Why, in your opinion, is 2018 the “year of the vegan” which has seen so many announcements of investment and developments such as your new centre? Certainly it has been one of this year’s major trends. I think what really drives it is that vegetarians often aspire to veganism so when more products are made available they do well. What is your company’s mission and how do you plan to achieve it? Our mission is to help consumer be healthier, and the planet more sustainable. We believe we can create a one billion Dollar business. Which innovations will come in 2018 and 2019? We have lots coming but it’s hard to talk about them at present. We introduced vegan deli this year and it is going very well. We have a major Ready Meals launch in Q4 and obviously the new burger planned. We have many other great plans but can’t share them yet. SOURCE: https://vegconomist.com/interviews/quorn-we-have-seen-growth-step-up-from-7-to-15-percent/

Consumers Choose Premium Over Price When It Comes To Snacks: Study

According to a recent report by Nielsen, 40% of shoppers have said that they expect to pay a premium for healthy and functional snacks. The data reflects a change among consumers about the way they perceive snacks. They now consider healthy snacking options as opposed to chocolate, sweets, crisps and soft drinks. The Health Factor The attitude towards sugar and protein consumption is changing and consumers are more conscious about the ingredients in the products they purchase. There has been a rise in ‘organic’ products as well as products with a ‘free from’ claim. According to Nielsen’s Brandbank data, there were 22,960 products with the ‘free from’ claim in 2017. Additionally, it was found that a third of customers preferred products with a ‘free from’ claim. In April of this year, a study shared by market insights firm IRI found that healthy options were boosting the sale of snacks across Europe.  A Big Push By Private Labels Traditionally, snacking has been led by brands, but private labels have started entering the arena. Setting aside quality perceptions, private labels have now started to introduce premium snacking products. Differences in the rate of innovation, depth of range, and quality perception between private labels and brands were major factors that resulted in a gap in market share. As of now, the snacking category is worth £18 billion (€20 million) and is growing at 0.3% in value. The category requires a high level of innovation and continuous investment in new product development, Nielsen said. SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/it-is-premium-over-price-when-it-comes-to-snacks-study/64419

Obrigado Announces B Corporation Status

Obrigado, Brazil’s much-loved coconut water, is proud to have been declared a B Corporation brand following years of sustainable practices and a dedication to social responsibility. The company that built the business on promoting a healthy relationship with the environment, has incorporated these values into the business from day one to become the very first coconut water to be acknowledged for its efforts. Producing 100% pure coconut water that is made from fresh, young, green coconuts, the natural drink is harvested and produced on the brand’s very own sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil. Not only has Obrigado integrated sustainable values into everyday operations, it has made sure to focus on three fundamental pillars to ensure that the values are executed through all aspects of the production process. Protecting the rainforest Obrigado’s farms closely nurture hundreds of thousands of the finest Brazilian Green Dwarf trees using the Mosaic Principle to maintain an ecological balance. This sees 70% of its land set aside as an untouchable, natural preserve which maintains the balance for the 30% of the land that Obrigado farms. Not only this, to make sure the native animals and birds are not hindered by the activities, Obrigado installed eco-corridors where these animals can live undisturbed and move from one part of the forest to the next. Caring for the talented farmers Supporting the local community in Bahia, the business employs 52 proud Aristas, employing another 220 in other areas of the business. Obrigado makes sure each employee gets 60 hours of training per year to educate them on sustainable farming, irrigation and plant nutrition. Producing happy and healthy coconuts Saving liters of water, Obrigado has built an irrigation system that requires 40 liters instead of the normal 200 liters used industry wide. Striving to be a zero-waste company, the raw coconut materials are used to create 10,000,000 biodegradable anti-erosion blankets, with everything else used as fertilizer. Obrigado prides itself on its unique patented extraction method, which creates the freshest and purest coconut water possible. The liquid is never exposed to light or air when it leaves the nut, meaning that nothing else is added. About Obrigado The Obrigado brand is part of the Aurantiaca Group, a company situated in Bahia, Brazil. Other companies within the group are Aurantiaca Agricola (the coconut farms), Frsyk Industrial (the factory) and FibrazTech (the bio-mats producer). At the end of 2014 Aurantiaca introduced its first consumer coconut brand, Obrigado, in Brazil, with the first product being coconut water. Besides pure coconut water, it produces and sells flavored coconut water (Obrigado Mango Acerola) and Obrigado Coconut Milk (a blend of coconut cream and 100% coconut water), with plans to launch coconut butter and coconut oil products in the future. Obrigado’s mission is to passionately produce the best coconuts and coconut products in the world. The brand grows, nourishes and harvests all of its coconuts on its various sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil, using a patented extraction method. It has its own factory right next to the farms, to turn them into all kinds of delicious coconut products for consumers to enjoy. Apart from caring for its coconuts, Obrigado also cares for the local community. The company started Instituto Gente, a foundation that supports education and cultural projects for the local people of Pedra Grande, a rural community in the municipality of Conde where the farms are located. Learn more about Obrigado by visiting https://www.obrigado.com/en_us. About B Corporation B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or LEED certification is to green building. B Corps are certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Today, there is a growing community of more than 1,000 Certified B Corps from 33 countries and over 60 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business. By voluntarily meeting higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance, Certified B Corps are distinguishing themselves in a cluttered marketplace by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business.

Consumers Choose Premium Over Price When It Comes To Snacks: Study

According to a recent report by Nielsen, 40% of shoppers have said that they expect to pay a premium for healthy and functional snacks. The data reflects a change among consumers about the way they perceive snacks. They now consider healthy snacking options as opposed to chocolate, sweets, crisps and soft drinks. The Health Factor   The attitude towards sugar and protein consumption is changing and consumers are more conscious about the ingredients in the products they purchase. There has been a rise in ‘organic’ products as well as products with a ‘free from’ claim. According to Nielsen’s Brandbank data, there were 22,960 products with the ‘free from’ claim in 2017. Additionally, it was found that a third of customers preferred products with a ‘free from’ claim. In April of this year, a study shared by market insights firm IRI found that healthy options were boosting the sale of snacks across Europe.  A Big Push By Private Labels   Traditionally, snacking has been led by brands, but private labels have started entering the arena. Setting aside quality perceptions, private labels have now started to introduce premium snacking products. Differences in the rate of innovation, depth of range, and quality perception between private labels and brands were major factors that resulted in a gap in market share. As of now, the snacking category is worth £18 billion (€20 million) and is growing at 0.3% in value. The category requires a high level of innovation and continuous investment in new product development, Nielsen said. SOURCE: https://www.esmmagazine.com/it-is-premium-over-price-when-it-comes-to-snacks-study/64419

Obrigado Announces B Corporation Status

Obrigado, Brazil’s much-loved coconut water, is proud to have been declared a B Corporation brand following years of sustainable practices and a dedication to social responsibility. The company that built the business on promoting a healthy relationship with the environment, has incorporated these values into the business from day one to become the very first coconut water to be acknowledged for its efforts. Producing 100% pure coconut water that is made from fresh, young, green coconuts, the natural drink is harvested and produced on the brand’s very own sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil. Not only has Obrigado integrated sustainable values into everyday operations, it has made sure to focus on three fundamental pillars to ensure that the values are executed through all aspects of the production process. Protecting the rainforest Obrigado’s farms closely nurture hundreds of thousands of the finest Brazilian Green Dwarf trees using the Mosaic Principle to maintain an ecological balance. This sees 70% of its land set aside as an untouchable, natural preserve which maintains the balance for the 30% of the land that Obrigado farms. Not only this, to make sure the native animals and birds are not hindered by the activities, Obrigado installed eco-corridors where these animals can live undisturbed and move from one part of the forest to the next. Caring for the talented farmers Supporting the local community in Bahia, the business employs 52 proud Aristas, employing another 220 in other areas of the business. Obrigado makes sure each employee gets 60 hours of training per year to educate them on sustainable farming, irrigation and plant nutrition. Producing happy and healthy coconuts Saving liters of water, Obrigado has built an irrigation system that requires 40 liters instead of the normal 200 liters used industry wide. Striving to be a zero-waste company, the raw coconut materials are used to create 10,000,000 biodegradable anti-erosion blankets, with everything else used as fertilizer. Obrigado prides itself on its unique patented extraction method, which creates the freshest and purest coconut water possible. The liquid is never exposed to light or air when it leaves the nut, meaning that nothing else is added. About Obrigado The Obrigado brand is part of the Aurantiaca Group, a company situated in Bahia, Brazil. Other companies within the group are Aurantiaca Agricola (the coconut farms), Frsyk Industrial (the factory) and FibrazTech (the bio-mats producer). At the end of 2014 Aurantiaca introduced its first consumer coconut brand, Obrigado, in Brazil, with the first product being coconut water. Besides pure coconut water, it produces and sells flavored coconut water (Obrigado Mango Acerola) and Obrigado Coconut Milk (a blend of coconut cream and 100% coconut water), with plans to launch coconut butter and coconut oil products in the future. Obrigado’s mission is to passionately produce the best coconuts and coconut products in the world. The brand grows, nourishes and harvests all of its coconuts on its various sustainable farms in Bahia, Brazil, using a patented extraction method. It has its own factory right next to the farms, to turn them into all kinds of delicious coconut products for consumers to enjoy. Apart from caring for its coconuts, Obrigado also cares for the local community. The company started Instituto Gente, a foundation that supports education and cultural projects for the local people of Pedra Grande, a rural community in the municipality of Conde where the farms are located. Learn more about Obrigado by visiting https://www.obrigado.com/en_us. About B Corporation B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or LEED certification is to green building. B Corps are certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Today, there is a growing community of more than 1,000 Certified B Corps from 33 countries and over 60 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business. By voluntarily meeting higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance, Certified B Corps are distinguishing themselves in a cluttered marketplace by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business. SOURCE: https://www.bevnet.com/news/2018/obrigado-announces-b-corporation-status

Ready? Steady? Already cooked!

RISOTTO while loved by many, can be time-consuming to make. That’s the thinking behind Premier Foods’ latest launch under the Loyd Grossman umbrella, Risotto Kits, which are aimed at giving one and two person households a complete meal solution. The kits contain seasoned Italian risotto rice and a sachet of sauce and come in three flavours: Creamy Mushroom and White Wine; Butternut Squash and Sage; and Tomato, Ricotta and Red Chilli. Lisa-Jo Harvey, senior brand manager for Loyd Grossman, said: “We’ve designed the Loyd Grossman Risotto Kits as a quick meal solution for smaller households who want to enjoy restaurant quality food without the hassle of cooking from scratch.” SOURCE: https://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2018/08/ready-steady-already-cooked/

Honesty the best policy

Brand says modern consumers want to know exactly what they are buying TRANSPARENCY is vital for any brand that hopes to appeal to health-conscious consumers, with sugar content high on the agenda for many soft drinks shoppers. That’s the view of Mark van de Grift, global marketing director at Aurantiaca Group, the coconut producers behind Brazilian coconut water brand Obrigado. The marketing boss highlighted the production process behind Obrigado, which is bottled straight from the coconut in Brazil, as the straightforward type that appeals to today’s consumer. Van de Grift added that he believes this style of production has a particular appeal to younger generations. “The growing interest in health, fitness and nutrition amongst millennial consumers means that these shoppers are not only concerned about sugar content but are also looking for wider health benefits.”. This growing interest is something retailers would be wise to capitalise on, Van de Grift suggested, as even grab and go customers are still mindful of their health. “The premium soft drinks industry has released a breadth of products in line with the new healthy, ethical customer. “In order to promote these products to consume at home, retailers could offer discounts to encourage sales or offer them prime positioning near the grab and go aisles.” Van de Grift added that as the health benefits of coconut water become more widely known, he believes brands like Obrigado will see their sales soar. And retailers can help things along, Van de Grift reckons, by spreading the word and stocking brands with a story to tell. “As the demand for healthy drink options shows no sign of slowing down, retailers should stock products that also have a strong brand story to attract new consumers with a focus on provenance. “Premium brands shouldn’t be separated from other soft drinks in order to generate sales, the branding and messaging should reflect the price value,” he said. SOURCE: https://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2018/08/honesty-the-best-policy/

Ready? Steady? Already cooked!

RISOTTO while loved by many, can be time-consuming to make. That’s the thinking behind Premier Foods’ latest launch under the Loyd Grossman umbrella, Risotto Kits, which are aimed at giving one and two person households a complete meal solution. The kits contain seasoned Italian risotto rice and a sachet of sauce and come in three flavours: Creamy Mushroom and White Wine; Butternut Squash and Sage; and Tomato, Ricotta and Red Chilli. Lisa-Jo Harvey, senior brand manager for Loyd Grossman, said: “We’ve designed the Loyd Grossman Risotto Kits as a quick meal solution for smaller households who want to enjoy restaurant quality food without the hassle of cooking from scratch.” SOURCE: https://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2018/08/ready-steady-already-cooked/

Honesty the best policy

Brand says modern consumers want to know exactly what they are buying. TRANSPARENCY is vital for any brand that hopes to appeal to health-conscious consumers, with sugar content high on the agenda for many soft drinks shoppers. That’s the view of Mark van de Grift, global marketing director at Aurantiaca Group, the coconut producers behind Brazilian coconut water brand Obrigado. The marketing boss highlighted the production process behind Obrigado, which is bottled straight from the coconut in Brazil, as the straightforward type that appeals to today’s consumer. Van de Grift added that he believes this style of production has a particular appeal to younger generations. “The growing interest in health, fitness and nutrition amongst millennial consumers means that these shoppers are not only concerned about sugar content but are also looking for wider health benefits.”. This growing interest is something retailers would be wise to capitalise on, Van de Grift suggested, as even grab and go customers are still mindful of their health. “The premium soft drinks industry has released a breadth of products in line with the new healthy, ethical customer. “In order to promote these products to consume at home, retailers could offer discounts to encourage sales or offer them prime positioning near the grab and go aisles.” Van de Grift added that as the health benefits of coconut water become more widely known, he believes brands like Obrigado will see their sales soar. And retailers can help things along, Van de Grift reckons, by spreading the word and stocking brands with a story to tell. “As the demand for healthy drink options shows no sign of slowing down, retailers should stock products that also have a strong brand story to attract new consumers with a focus on provenance. “Premium brands shouldn’t be separated from other soft drinks in order to generate sales, the branding and messaging should reflect the price value,” he said. SOURCE: https://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2018/08/honesty-the-best-policy/

Milk alternatives hastening change in dairy industry

CoBank predicts continued double-digit growth in plant-based milk alternatives. Niche dairy products adapt to changing consumer preferences but complicate costs and logistics. As consumers increasingly seek beverages made from soy, almonds, coconuts and rice — even peas and oats — the dairy industry is responding with niche products of its own, but more changes are ahead as the traditional gallon jug milk business struggles to compete with plant-based competition. A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division predicts continued double-digit growth in the plant-based milk alternatives market. Sales are up 61% over the past five years, with slower growth of 15-25% projected by 2022. Meanwhile, cow’s milk consumption continues a decades-long slump. “The total volume of the alternative milk market is still relatively small and is not a major factor behind declining fluid milk sales,” CoBank senior dairy economist Ben Laine said. “However, plant-based milks are helping revolutionize how the dairy industry does business. Excitement around plant-based milk alternatives has forced traditional milk to differentiate into a number of premium products in order to compete.” Premium products buck trends Laine cited organic, grass-fed, ultra-filtered, lactose-free and a2 milk as niche products that buck the downward trend in milk consumption. These products command a higher price and compete more directly with plant-based alternatives. “Certain value-added dairy milk products will experience growth alongside plant-based beverages,” Laine said. Most consumers who buy alternatives are not completely abandoning milk. “Nine in 10 households that purchase plant-based alternatives also buy cow’s milk, and among those purchasing both, their cow’s milk choice is more likely to be organic or from the premium tier of milk products. That opens up opportunity for the dairy industry,” Laine said. If you can’t beat them, join them According to the report, some traditional dairy companies are adding plant-based alternatives to their portfolios. Even Dean Foods, the largest milk bottler in the U.S., recently invested in Good Karma Foods, a plant-based milk and yogurt company. An extreme example, Elmhurst Dairy in New York City, stopped producing cow’s milk altogether in 2016 and pivoted to nut-based alternatives. Still, CoBank said dairy case differentiation doesn’t come without complications. “Managing diversified product lines adds logistical challenges to an industry accustomed to a commodity product structure. For example, adding a grass-fed option to an organic milk portfolio requires separate handling all the way from farm to milk truck to bottling plant and onto retail shelves,” the report explained. Marketing costs are also increasing in the form of slotting fees. As plant-based beverages enter the dairy case, CoBank said many grocers are increasing slotting fees for this now-valuable real estate, altering the cost structure of the traditional low-margin gallon milk jug business. “Traditional milk bottlers have focused on keeping costs low and have avoided raising prices, hoping to slow the trend of declining demand,” Laine said. “New cow’s milk offerings will challenge the efficiencies of traditional large-scale supply chains handling smaller volumes of a wider variety of more specialized products.” SOURCE: https://www.supermarketnews.com/dairy/milk-alternatives-hastening-change-dairy-industry

£9.2 million to help Welsh red meat industry cope with Brexit

The programme will focus on three specific areas: animal health, genetics and meat quality. The Welsh Government has appointed an industry-led body to head a five-year, £9.2 million red meatdevelopment programme to help the country’s farming community prepare for Brexit. Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths announced at the Royal Welsh Show Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) would front the project. The Red Meat Development Programme is expected to be delivered in collaboration with a range of industry partners, and will consist of three strategic projects that will focus on animal health, genetics and meat quality. This application note assesses the chemical differences between squalane from shark liver oil and squalane from olive oil, and how the differences can detect origin and adulteration. Within the animal health planning project, HCC will set up – in conjunction with partner organisations and veterinary practitioners – an ambitious workstream which will demonstrate the long-term benefits of proactive flock and herd health planning. The genetics project will seek to highlight how using rams with known genetic performance can have a positive impact on the Welsh sheep flock. The third component of the programme will be a supply chain led project that will look to assess and develop the meat quality of Welsh lamb. The project will centre on evaluating practices that can be adopted pre- and post-farmgate to secure and enhance Welsh lamb’s position as a premium product. HCC’s Industry Development and Relations Manager John Richards said: “This is an exciting programme of investment in our red meat sector, taking a whole supply chain approach. HCC believes strongly in the future of the industry. With this targeted strategic work in the areas of animal health planning and genetics, as well as meat quality, we can drive the improvements that will be crucial to its future competitiveness. “HCC has worked for a sustained period to formulate an ambitious plan for a prosperous future for Welsh agriculture,” he added. “We thank the Cabinet Secretary for this investment, and look forward to making further announcements in the near future about how this work will be delivered.” Speaking at the HCC breakfast at the Royal Welsh Show, Lesley Griffiths added: “I am delighted to be able to announce this morning that I have approved £9.2m from the Rural Development Programme to support HCC’s Red Meat Development Programme. “The programme will play an important role in facilitating an improvement in the competitiveness of the red meat supply chain in Wales. As we prepare to leave the EU, this funding will help drive up the red meat industry’s resilience pre- and post-Brexit.” SOURCE: https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/72296/9-2-million-welsh-red-meat-brexit/

£9.2 million to help Welsh red meat industry cope with Brexit

The programme will focus on three specific areas: animal health, genetics and meat quality. The Welsh Government has appointed an industry-led body to head a five-year, £9.2 million red meatdevelopment programme to help the country’s farming community prepare for Brexit. Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths announced at the Royal Welsh Show Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) would front the project. The Red Meat Development Programme is expected to be delivered in collaboration with a range of industry partners, and will consist of three strategic projects that will focus on animal health, genetics and meat quality. This application note assesses the chemical differences between squalane from shark liver oil and squalane from olive oil, and how the differences can detect origin and adulteration. Within the animal health planning project, HCC will set up – in conjunction with partner organisations and veterinary practitioners – an ambitious workstream which will demonstrate the long-term benefits of proactive flock and herd health planning. The genetics project will seek to highlight how using rams with known genetic performance can have a positive impact on the Welsh sheep flock. The third component of the programme will be a supply chain led project that will look to assess and develop the meat quality of Welsh lamb. The project will centre on evaluating practices that can be adopted pre- and post-farmgate to secure and enhance Welsh lamb’s position as a premium product. HCC’s Industry Development and Relations Manager John Richards said: “This is an exciting programme of investment in our red meat sector, taking a whole supply chain approach. HCC believes strongly in the future of the industry. With this targeted strategic work in the areas of animal health planning and genetics, as well as meat quality, we can drive the improvements that will be crucial to its future competitiveness. “HCC has worked for a sustained period to formulate an ambitious plan for a prosperous future for Welsh agriculture,” he added. “We thank the Cabinet Secretary for this investment, and look forward to making further announcements in the near future about how this work will be delivered.” Speaking at the HCC breakfast at the Royal Welsh Show, Lesley Griffiths added: “I am delighted to be able to announce this morning that I have approved £9.2m from the Rural Development Programme to support HCC’s Red Meat Development Programme. “The programme will play an important role in facilitating an improvement in the competitiveness of the red meat supply chain in Wales. As we prepare to leave the EU, this funding will help drive up the red meat industry’s resilience pre- and post-Brexit.” SOURCE: https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/72296/9-2-million-welsh-red-meat-brexit/

Milk alternatives hastening change in dairy industry

CoBank predicts continued double-digit growth in plant-based milk alternatives. Niche dairy products adapt to changing consumer preferences but complicate costs and logistics. As consumers increasingly seek beverages made from soy, almonds, coconuts and rice — even peas and oats — the dairy industry is responding with niche products of its own, but more changes are ahead as the traditional gallon jug milk business struggles to compete with plant-based competition. A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division predicts continued double-digit growth in the plant-based milk alternatives market. Sales are up 61% over the past five years, with slower growth of 15-25% projected by 2022. Meanwhile, cow’s milk consumption continues a decades-long slump. “The total volume of the alternative milk market is still relatively small and is not a major factor behind declining fluid milk sales,” CoBank senior dairy economist Ben Laine said. “However, plant-based milks are helping revolutionize how the dairy industry does business. Excitement around plant-based milk alternatives has forced traditional milk to differentiate into a number of premium products in order to compete.” Premium products buck trends Laine cited organic, grass-fed, ultra-filtered, lactose-free and a2 milk as niche products that buck the downward trend in milk consumption. These products command a higher price and compete more directly with plant-based alternatives. “Certain value-added dairy milk products will experience growth alongside plant-based beverages,” Laine said. Most consumers who buy alternatives are not completely abandoning milk. “Nine in 10 households that purchase plant-based alternatives also buy cow’s milk, and among those purchasing both, their cow’s milk choice is more likely to be organic or from the premium tier of milk products. That opens up opportunity for the dairy industry,” Laine said. If you can’t beat them, join them According to the report, some traditional dairy companies are adding plant-based alternatives to their portfolios. Even Dean Foods, the largest milk bottler in the U.S., recently invested in Good Karma Foods, a plant-based milk and yogurt company. An extreme example, Elmhurst Dairy in New York City, stopped producing cow’s milk altogether in 2016 and pivoted to nut-based alternatives. Still, CoBank said dairy case differentiation doesn’t come without complications. “Managing diversified product lines adds logistical challenges to an industry accustomed to a commodity product structure. For example, adding a grass-fed option to an organic milk portfolio requires separate handling all the way from farm to milk truck to bottling plant and onto retail shelves,” the report explained. Marketing costs are also increasing in the form of slotting fees. As plant-based beverages enter the dairy case, CoBank said many grocers are increasing slotting fees for this now-valuable real estate, altering the cost structure of the traditional low-margin gallon milk jug business. “Traditional milk bottlers have focused on keeping costs low and have avoided raising prices, hoping to slow the trend of declining demand,” Laine said. “New cow’s milk offerings will challenge the efficiencies of traditional large-scale supply chains handling smaller volumes of a wider variety of more specialized products.” SOURCE: https://www.supermarketnews.com/dairy/milk-alternatives-hastening-change-dairy-industry

French regulator launches probe into Tesco-Carrefour deal

The Autorite de la Concurrence is quizzing suppliers on the competitive impact of the buying partnership. The French competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the strategic tie-up between Tesco and Carrefour. The Autorite de la Concurrence said it was looking into the competitive impact of the purchasing agreement to assess its effect on the food sector, both for suppliers and consumers. Tesco and Carrefour have embarked on a partnership to jointly buy own-brand products and other items over a three-year period in a bid to negotiate better deals with suppliers. The watchdog will be interviewing the suppliers affected by the deal as well as supermarket competitors. The regulator is also investigating similar alliances between France’s Auchan, Casino, Schiever, and Germany’s Metro, and Carrefour and Systeme U. The probe has been set up because a new wave of agreements between grocers are larger in scale than the deals signed previously. The supermarket partnerships now cover both branded goods and own-brand products, including food, cleaning, personal hygiene, and general merchandise. “Consequently, they potentially involve a significant part of the consumer goods marketed by the food distribution actors,” the watchdog said. Tesco’s deal with Carrefour came after its £3.7 billion with wholesaler Booker Group. In June, the supermarket announced that it had delivered its 10th consecutive quarter of sales growth, boosted by Booker’s integration. The group’s like-for-like sales were up 1.8% for the 13 weeks to May 26, with comparable sales rising by 3.5% in the UK and Ireland. Tesco’s UK supermarket sales rose 2.1% on a like-for-like basis, while Booker’s sales, including tobacco, jumped 14.3% over the period. Source: https://www.independent.ie/world-news/french-regulator-launches-probe-into-tescocarrefour-deal-37123554.html

French regulator launches probe into Tesco-Carrefour deal

The Autorite de la Concurrence is quizzing suppliers on the competitive impact of the buying partnership. The French competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the strategic tie-up between Tesco and Carrefour. The Autorite de la Concurrence said it was looking into the competitive impact of the purchasing agreement to assess its effect on the food sector, both for suppliers and consumers. Tesco and Carrefour have embarked on a partnership to jointly buy own-brand products and other items over a three-year period in a bid to negotiate better deals with suppliers. The watchdog will be interviewing the suppliers affected by the deal as well as supermarket competitors. The regulator is also investigating similar alliances between France’s Auchan, Casino, Schiever, and Germany’s Metro, and Carrefour and Systeme U. The probe has been set up because a new wave of agreements between grocers are larger in scale than the deals signed previously. The supermarket partnerships now cover both branded goods and own-brand products, including food, cleaning, personal hygiene, and general merchandise. “Consequently, they potentially involve a significant part of the consumer goods marketed by the food distribution actors,” the watchdog said. Tesco’s deal with Carrefour came after its £3.7 billion with wholesaler Booker Group. In June, the supermarket announced that it had delivered its 10th consecutive quarter of sales growth, boosted by Booker’s integration. The group’s like-for-like sales were up 1.8% for the 13 weeks to May 26, with comparable sales rising by 3.5% in the UK and Ireland. Tesco’s UK supermarket sales rose 2.1% on a like-for-like basis, while Booker’s sales, including tobacco, jumped 14.3% over the period. Source: https://www.independent.ie/world-news/french-regulator-launches-probe-into-tescocarrefour-deal-37123554.html  

Auchan, Casino and Metro to form new alliance

French retail giants Auchan, Casino and Schiever have agreed to form a new purchase alliance with German Metro, named Horizon. This new alliance will allow the chains to coordinate purchases both inside France and abroad. Ready for 2019 Horizon should enable the founding members to “negotiate in a more collaborating, balanced, and innovative way”, rather than simply aimed at transactions. The four companies assure suppliers that the allies would increase the pressure, a press statement says: rather, they promise to “guide small enterprises in their international development”. The four want to be ready to negotiate together in the 2019 talks, but are awaiting the verdict of the French competition watchdog that should arrive on 18 July at the very latest. Auchan and Casino had started their talks early this spring, while Metro and Schiever joined in later. The four have made agreements on relationships in three areas: international brands, national (French) brands and the agricultural sector. Small enterprises and individual farmers would still have to deal with the separate companies however. The four retailers will concentrate their negotiations with international retailers in Genève, Switzerland, while they will also streamline their private labels and cut general costs. French retailers have been seeking alliances for a while now: Carrefour and Système U have forged an alliance as well, while the same Carrefour also struck a deal with British Tesco. All of them fear the competition that Amazon will bring when it starts to really focus on delivering groceries in France. SOURCE: https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/auchan-casino-and-metro-form-new-alliance

Auchan, Casino and Metro to form new alliance

French retail giants Auchan, Casino and Schiever have agreed to form a new purchase alliance with German Metro, named Horizon. This new alliance will allow the chains to coordinate purchases both inside France and abroad. Ready for 2019 Horizon should enable the founding members to “negotiate in a more collaborating, balanced, and innovative way”, rather than simply aimed at transactions. The four companies assure suppliers that the allies would increase the pressure, a press statement says: rather, they promise to “guide small enterprises in their international development”. The four want to be ready to negotiate together in the 2019 talks, but are awaiting the verdict of the French competition watchdog that should arrive on 18 July at the very latest. Auchan and Casino had started their talks early this spring, while Metro and Schiever joined in later. The four have made agreements on relationships in three areas: international brands, national (French) brands and the agricultural sector. Small enterprises and individual farmers would still have to deal with the separate companies however. The four retailers will concentrate their negotiations with international retailers in Genève, Switzerland, while they will also streamline their private labels and cut general costs. French retailers have been seeking alliances for a while now: Carrefour and Système U have forged an alliance as well, while the same Carrefour also struck a deal with British Tesco. All of them fear the competition that Amazon will bring when it starts to really focus on delivering groceries in France. SOURCE: https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/auchan-casino-and-metro-form-new-alliance

Rise of the Phenix: The French startup giving a second life to food waste

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), a third of the world’s food output is lost or wasted between the time it is produced and the time it is consumed. This statistic is all the more alarming given that agriculture and food are major industries in terms of energy consumption, environmental impacts (CO2 emissions, pesticide use, etc) and health issues. Food waste is also a social problem: while 4 million people in France cope with food insecurity and have to rely on food banks, more than €2bn (£1.8bn) worth of food is thrown away each year by retailers. Tesco removes best before dates on fruit and veg in bid to cut waste In economic terms, according to a study conducted for Ademe (the French environmentand energy management agency), the losses related to food waste in France represent an economic value of €16bn – a figure equal to a third of the amount spent servicing the national debt. The waste produced by our industrial food system constitutes a major challenge, one that national and supranational decision-makers need to address. At the international level, the fight against food waste can play a major role in achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals. The European Union is committed to halving food waste by 2030 and actively supports the transition to a circular economy through several research projects financed by the H2020 programme. In the UK, food bank use reached its highest rate on record earlier this year (Alamy) In France, major legislation passed in 2015 on the energy transition was a first significant step in raising public awareness about the issue of waste and moving towards a more circular economy. With its National Pact to Combat Food Waste in 2016, France made a commitment to reduce the phenomenon by half by 2025. The first national law against food waste, known as the “Loi Garot”, establishes a set of measures to reduce and manage this problem, particularly at the food retailing level. This law establishes a hierarchy of priorities. First of all, it is vital to curb food waste at the source (for example, by selling products that are usually rejected). Second, unsold food items that are approaching their best before date should be repurposed/recycled either through donation or transformation (by allowing foraging or the transformation of produce into compost). Third, some produce can be converted into animal feeds. And lastly, there is composting and energy recovery, notably through methanation. This law introduces a new regulatory constraint: it is now illegal for retailers to discard unsold (before sell-by date) food items. Vast sea of plastic and pollution in the Caribbean: in pictures This rule reinforces the aims of an existing tax incentive introduced in 1981 under the “Coluche law”, which provides for a 60 per cent tax deduction for food retailers and producers who donate foodstuffs instead of generating waste. This measure highlights the central role of regulation in the innovation process. And it illustrates the hypothesis of Porter and Van der Linde, according to which properly crafted environmental regulations not only help to reduce environmental externalities, but they can also lead to profits for innovative companies. Nevertheless, the fight against food waste should not only be considered from the angle of public policy initiatives. There should also be innovation-based approaches spearheaded by entrepreneurs and private-sector actors. In recent years, numerous startups or citizens’ initiatives have been launched to curb food waste. One of them is Phenix, a firm that “helps companies to reduce waste by tapping into the potential of what they throw away”. Launched in 2015, this startup organises and optimises redistribution flows for unsold food items. It has experienced rapid growth and highlights the new logics of innovation at work in this field. Phenix initially developed around a digital platform that connects distributors (firms that generate unsold food items) with various organisations that receive these flows (food banks, associations or the animal feed industry). The initiative subscribes to a business logic, with profit and growth objectives, while at the same time pursuing an environmental and social mission. It is therefore an example of what is known as a “mission platform”, built on a hybrid model that combines different action logics. While developing Phenix, cofounders Jean Moreau and Baptiste Corval first focused on building the two sides of their digital platform. They targeted the biggest players in food retailing, whose unsold food items are valued at between €500 and €2,000 daily per retail outlet. In less than four years, they gathered 900 stores, which are now using solutions developed by Phenix to optimise the process of using/reusing, repurposing or recycling unsold items and waste. At the same time, the two entrepreneurs managed to bring on board numerous charitable organisations involved in food donations and distribution, such as Banque Alimentaire (food bank), Secours Populaire Francais (major nonprofit that combats poverty and discrimination) or Restos du Coeur (chain of French meal centres/soup kitchens), by organising the collection of food donations free of charge. How to cook using food waste with Francesco Mazzei Particularly in rural areas, there are few associations that have sufficient physical means to collect donations from large and medium-sized supermarkets. The Phenix platform is therefore gaining a foothold as an intermediary that can enable connections in real time between supply (unsold items) and demand (food needs) by structuring the way exchanges are carried out between two completely different organisational worlds. From an economic point of view, the platform’s suppliers gain several advantages: they reduce their waste disposal costs, which are traditionally paid to garbage collection companies and organisations (Veolia, Suez, Paprec, etc), and benefit from a tax deduction on any donations they make. For example, if a store offers €1,000 worth of bottled milk via the platform and an association accepts the donation, the store can deduct €600 from its taxable revenue – out of which Phenix collects a commission. The role of this company is not confined however to that of a dematerialised intermediary. Phenix is building and structuring its own “business ecosystem”, ie the relationships between companies and the various stakeholders involved in food donations – through several mechanisms. In many cases, Phenix sets up, manages and operates the physical and logistics flows of food aid. Although the founders had a light structure in mind when they launched the initiative, they gradually came to understand the importance of developing logistics and operational expertise, which entailed the creation of jobs to operate the local collection and distribution networks. In 2017, of the 75 people employed by Phenix, 50 are dedicated to working with clients on the ground to reduce their waste. The substantial “thickness of intermediation” (not only digital, but also logistic and human) deployed by Phenix is a major factor in its success. Phenix also plays a structuring role by developing partnerships and innovation projects related to food waste. The company is extending its model and developing a capacity for coordination vis-a-vis the other actors in the ecosystem in order to reduce waste at the source. For example, since 2017 Phenix has been working with Zero-Gachis to make full use of products that are close to their sell-by date on retailers’ shelves. The company has also created a Phenix Lab, an initiative to incubate and support the next wave of startups in the circular economy. Through its “studies and consulting” wing, the company is also developing relations with public sector actors, producers and industrial companies that want to reduce food waste further upstream in the value chain. Four million people in France cope with food insecurity and have to rely on food banks (Alamy) Since its founding, Phenix has doubled its revenues every year, attaining €4.5m in 2017 – developed through a portfolio of 900 clients and 550 associations. To finance its growth, the start-up has raised €2.5m and is getting ready to launch another funding round this year. Industry diversification constitutes one avenue for future growth. First they would have to open the model to non-food waste, strengthen their research and consulting activities and also innovate in the retailing industry. The capacity of charitable associations to absorb the flows collected seems destined to reach its limits, and the company will need to find new outlets. In terms of geographic diversification, the company is now present in France, Spain and Portugal, and has plans to expand to new countries. Nevertheless, this strategy raises the question of whether the model can be replicated in other legislative and competitive contexts. In the United Kingdom, where public authorities prioritise competition and the voluntary initiatives of businesses in the ecosystem, Tesco stores are considered one of the pioneers in this area and are preparing to launch their own platform, FoodCloud, which aims to facilitate connections between the supply of food retailers and the demand of local associations. It remains to be seen whether FoodCloud will go as far as Phenix in its role as architect of relations and flows, or if the UK will see the emergence of a multitude of more fragmented initiatives. A final challenge, and not the least of them, concerns the ability of Phenix to remain a “mission platform” while developing its model. At the heart of the company is a hybrid mission that combines social and environmental benefits with ambitious goals for growth and profitability. The Phenix case is currently the focus of a study being carried out within the framework of the R2PI European research project.  Aurelien Acquier is a professor of strategy, organisations and society, Louis Chappet is a manager in management research, and Valentina Carbone is a professor of supply chain management and sustainable business models, all at ESCP Europe. This article was originally published on The Conversation SOURCE:https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/phenix-food-waste-environment-france-health-recycling-a8419226.html

Developing Trends: Flexitarians in France

In a recent study, it was found that compared to 2014, 82% of French people say that they are now paying more attention to the food they consume. It is clear from the way that supermarkets are now investing in, and including more and more food options for those who follow a particular lifestyle (vegetarian, veganism, gluten free etc), that this segment of the market will grow over the following years.

French Alliances : Carrefour and Système U/ Auchan and Casino

In the end, Système U chose Carrefour. On April 25, shortly after the announcement of an alliance between Auchan and Casino, Carrefour and Système U disclosed plans to conclude ‘a five-year cooperation that will focus on the negotiation of the purchase of the biggest national and international brands’. Yet, at the start of the month, Système U was still considering an alliance with Casino and Auchan. The Carrefour/Système U alliance is due to be operational from autumn 2018, in preparation for the 2019 annual negotiations. According to the joint communication sent by the two companies, ‘the scope of this agreement, intended to strengthen the competitiveness of both brands, will expand, including non-market purchases.’ On the other hand, trade and promotional policies will remain separate. But what is perhaps more interesting, is that both Carrefour and Système U announced at the same time their desire to begin a partnership with argicultural sectors as well as aims to strengthen their commitment to producers regarding fair payment to farmers. The consolidation of the Carrefour/ Système U alliance will make it possible for a block leader to emerge in France. Including the sales of Louis Delhaize (Cora, Supermarket Match), already associated with Carrefour, the three partners together account for 34.3% market share on the PGC (Respectively, 20.4% for Carrefour, 10.6% for U, 3.3% for L. Delhaize (Kantar Worldpanel data)). A market share of approx. 35% on food is also likely to obtain the best negotiations and deals when facing competitors such as the global giants of consumer goods like Coca-Cola, Unilever and Danone. However, the most important aim is to restore margins diminished by the continual price war. Of course, this is not the first time such alliances have taken place, and most certainly won’t be the last, as these alliances tend to come and go regularly within the market.

French Alliances : Carrefour and Système U/ Auchan and Casino

In the end, Système U chose Carrefour. On April 25, shortly after the announcement of an alliance between Auchan and Casino, Carrefour and Système U disclosed plans to conclude ‘a five-year cooperation that will focus on the negotiation of the purchase of the biggest national and international brands’. Yet, at the start of the month, Système U was still considering an alliance with Casino and Auchan. The Carrefour/Système U alliance is due to be operational from autumn 2018, in preparation for the 2019 annual negotiations. According to the joint communication sent by the two companies, ‘the scope of this agreement, intended to strengthen the competitiveness of both brands, will expand, including non-market purchases.’ On the other hand, trade and promotional policies will remain separate. But what is perhaps more interesting, is that both Carrefour and Système U announced at the same time their desire to begin a partnership with argicultural sectors as well as aims to strengthen their commitment to producers regarding fair payment to farmers. The consolidation of the Carrefour/ Système U alliance will make it possible for a block leader to emerge in France. Including the sales of Louis Delhaize (Cora, Supermarket Match), already associated with Carrefour, the three partners together account for 34.3% market share on the PGC (Respectively, 20.4% for Carrefour, 10.6% for U, 3.3% for L. Delhaize (Kantar Worldpanel data)). A market share of approx. 35% on food is also likely to obtain the best negotiations and deals when facing competitors such as the global giants of consumer goods like Coca-Cola, Unilever and Danone. However, the most important aim is to restore margins diminished by the continual price war. Of course, this is not the first time such alliances have taken place, and most certainly won’t be the last, as these alliances tend to come and go regularly within the market.

SIAL Paris 2018 Set To Inspire The World’s Food Industry

SIAL, the International Food Exhibition (Salon International de l’Alimentation), will take place from October 21 – 25, 2018 at Paris Nord Villepinte, north of the French capital. This biennial event has become the go-to, inspirational meeting place for the entire food-processing industry. For over 50 years, SIAL has grown in importance, showcasing innovations in the food business of today, while previewing the food solutions of tomorrow. “All eyes in the food industry will be turned toward Paris in October 2018,” asserted Nicolas Trentesaux, director of the SIAL network. “Let us not forget that the food industry is one of the most dynamic industries in the majority of the G20 countries. Coming to SIAL Paris is about discovering opportunities for growth and new trends. It is about benefiting from an excellent springboard to attain the ambitious objectives aspired to by the actors of the food industry.” Trentesaux added, “SIAL Paris is a unique, inspirational platform for testing new markets, launching new products, and meeting the key professionals in the sector to discuss the challenges that lie ahead. It is also a veritable laboratory, with R&D departments from around the world finalising their innovations to test them in the aisles of the exhibition. More than 2,500 innovations will be unveiled to the world for the very first time as part of SIAL Innovation, serving up yet more inspiration to the food-processing industry.” SIAL Paris will bring together representatives from the world’s food sector, enabling participants to share and discuss the solutions of today and those of tomorrow, thus addressing the challenges the food sector is set to face in the next 30 years. Close to 90% of the exhibition floor space has already been reserved and over 80 countries have already confirmed their attendance. Over the course of the event’s five days, exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their products to more than 160,000 professional visitors from all over the world. Depending on their preferences, their expectations and their needs, visitors will be able to explore the exhibition on a sectoral or regional basis. There will be a breadth of offering that only SIAL Paris is able to guarantee to attendees, whatever their background. SIAL continues to view itself as the forum of reference for promoting emerging sectors in the food industry. Since 2016, when this initiative was launched, the trade show has set up dedicated spaces for the promotion of tomorrow’s food solutions, which will be a key feature of SIAL Paris 2018. Hence, SIAL Paris will showcase alternative food – a new theme combining organic, free-from, eco-friendly and sustainable products with semi processed foods. A space for round tables and talks, as well as guided tours, will enhance the alternative food area. In 2018, beverages will also be under the spotlight. And, because SIAL Paris is such a unique showcase for France’s food-processing industry, products carrying the “Made in France” label will be assembled and promoted under the same banner. Furthermore, the equipment and services zone will be back to allow micro-enterprises and SMEs to better present their technologies and equipment. Meanwhile, a new feature of the trade show dedicated to forecasting trends, titled Future Lab, will constitute a hub for European start-ups, while providing global industry studies and experiential spaces. Additionally, “Cuisine Moderne” will be on the menu at SIAL Paris, as represented by renowned chef Yannick Alléno, who is sponsoring the event this year. Alléno is an advocate of a reinvigorated French cuisine – rich in its legacy from the past and ambitious in its creations for the present and the future. As the event’s sponsor, Alléno will be taking part in the selection committee for the prizes that are due to be awarded by SIAL Innovation. He will define a thematic foodservice trail and will select the products presented by the exhibitors for inclusion in a hamper bearing his name. He will also be appearing on SIAL TV on October 21, the opening day of the exhibition. SOURCE: https://www.hospitalityireland.com/sial-paris-2018-set-inspire-worlds-food-industry/60125

Why do the French eat the most chilled pizza in Europe?

Pizza is quintessentially Italian staple but it is the French who consume the most chilled pizza in Europe, accounting for 36.5% of the market. Convenience is a key driver for all consumers but it is the way French people associate chilled foods with freshness that results in the surprising statistic about chilled pizza consumption. Data and analytics company GlobalData’s Q4 2017 global consumer survey showed that 32% of French consumers associate freshness as the main benefit of chilled food — five percentage points higher than the average European consumer (27%). So it is the actual positioning in the chilled aisles — and hence the perception of freshness — that adds a healthier outlook to pizza for French consumers and results in chilled pizza sales. “The findings indicate to manufacturers operating in the prepared meals sector that there are opportunities to capitalise on, even within a country renowned for its sophisticated cuisine,” said Marilena Loparco, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData. “Demand for chilled pizza, and indeed other convenience foods in France, could be further enhanced by the inclusion of ingredients with beneficial health credentials, such as incorporating ancient grains or vegetables into the pizza crust for health-oriented French consumers; and potentially increase France’s stronghold of the chilled pizza market in Europe.” SOURCE: https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/business-solutions/news/why-do-the-french-eat-the-most-chilled-pizza-in-europe–961127878

Why do the French eat the most chilled pizza in Europe?

Pizza is quintessentially Italian staple but it is the French who consume the most chilled pizza in Europe, accounting for 36.5% of the market. Convenience is a key driver for all consumers but it is the way French people associate chilled foods with freshness that results in the surprising statistic about chilled pizza consumption. Data and analytics company GlobalData’s Q4 2017 global consumer survey showed that 32% of French consumers associate freshness as the main benefit of chilled food — five percentage points higher than the average European consumer (27%). So it is the actual positioning in the chilled aisles — and hence the perception of freshness — that adds a healthier outlook to pizza for French consumers and results in chilled pizza sales. “The findings indicate to manufacturers operating in the prepared meals sector that there are opportunities to capitalise on, even within a country renowned for its sophisticated cuisine,” said Marilena Loparco, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData. “Demand for chilled pizza, and indeed other convenience foods in France, could be further enhanced by the inclusion of ingredients with beneficial health credentials, such as incorporating ancient grains or vegetables into the pizza crust for health-oriented French consumers; and potentially increase France’s stronghold of the chilled pizza market in Europe.” SOURCE: https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/business-solutions/news/why-do-the-french-eat-the-most-chilled-pizza-in-europe–961127878

SIAL Paris 2018 Set To Inspire The World’s Food Industry

SIAL, the International Food Exhibition (Salon International de l’Alimentation), will take place from October 21 – 25, 2018 at Paris Nord Villepinte, north of the French capital. This biennial event has become the go-to, inspirational meeting place for the entire food-processing industry. For over 50 years, SIAL has grown in importance, showcasing innovations in the food business of today, while previewing the food solutions of tomorrow. “All eyes in the food industry will be turned toward Paris in October 2018,” asserted Nicolas Trentesaux, director of the SIAL network. “Let us not forget that the food industry is one of the most dynamic industries in the majority of the G20 countries. Coming to SIAL Paris is about discovering opportunities for growth and new trends. It is about benefiting from an excellent springboard to attain the ambitious objectives aspired to by the actors of the food industry.” Trentesaux added, “SIAL Paris is a unique, inspirational platform for testing new markets, launching new products, and meeting the key professionals in the sector to discuss the challenges that lie ahead. It is also a veritable laboratory, with R&D departments from around the world finalising their innovations to test them in the aisles of the exhibition. More than 2,500 innovations will be unveiled to the world for the very first time as part of SIAL Innovation, serving up yet more inspiration to the food-processing industry.” SIAL Paris will bring together representatives from the world’s food sector, enabling participants to share and discuss the solutions of today and those of tomorrow, thus addressing the challenges the food sector is set to face in the next 30 years. Close to 90% of the exhibition floor space has already been reserved and over 80 countries have already confirmed their attendance. Over the course of the event’s five days, exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their products to more than 160,000 professional visitors from all over the world. Depending on their preferences, their expectations and their needs, visitors will be able to explore the exhibition on a sectoral or regional basis. There will be a breadth of offering that only SIAL Paris is able to guarantee to attendees, whatever their background. SIAL continues to view itself as the forum of reference for promoting emerging sectors in the food industry. Since 2016, when this initiative was launched, the trade show has set up dedicated spaces for the promotion of tomorrow’s food solutions, which will be a key feature of SIAL Paris 2018. Hence, SIAL Paris will showcase alternative food – a new theme combining organic, free-from, eco-friendly and sustainable products with semi processed foods. A space for round tables and talks, as well as guided tours, will enhance the alternative food area. In 2018, beverages will also be under the spotlight. And, because SIAL Paris is such a unique showcase for France’s food-processing industry, products carrying the “Made in France” label will be assembled and promoted under the same banner. Furthermore, the equipment and services zone will be back to allow micro-enterprises and SMEs to better present their technologies and equipment. Meanwhile, a new feature of the trade show dedicated to forecasting trends, titled Future Lab, will constitute a hub for European start-ups, while providing global industry studies and experiential spaces. Additionally, “Cuisine Moderne” will be on the menu at SIAL Paris, as represented by renowned chef Yannick Alléno, who is sponsoring the event this year. Alléno is an advocate of a reinvigorated French cuisine – rich in its legacy from the past and ambitious in its creations for the present and the future. As the event’s sponsor, Alléno will be taking part in the selection committee for the prizes that are due to be awarded by SIAL Innovation. He will define a thematic foodservice trail and will select the products presented by the exhibitors for inclusion in a hamper bearing his name. He will also be appearing on SIAL TV on October 21, the opening day of the exhibition. SOURCE: https://www.hospitalityireland.com/sial-paris-2018-set-inspire-worlds-food-industry/60125

Obrigado to Serve as Official Beverage Sponsor of Broadway Show ‘Escape to Margaritaville’

IRVINE, Calif. — Theatregoers can now sip on a refreshing and delicious beverage while enjoying Escape to Margaritaville, the new Broadway musical comedy featuring the songs of iconic singer-songwriter-author Jimmy Buffett, thanks to a sponsorship by Obrigado coconut water. The international beverage brand is the official non-alcoholic beverage sponsor of the Broadway show. Escape to Margaritaville is now playing at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre (210 West 46th Street) where it began performances on February 16, 2018 ahead of an Opening Night on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The musical takes place on a tropical island and features both original songs and the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics. The theatre includes colorful, island-style bars serving Obrigado coconut water. “Obrigado coconut water is sourced from Brazil, which is known for its tropical paradise,” said Leonardo Castello Branco, Marketing Director at Obrigado. “We’re excited to serve as the official beverage sponsor of a fun show like Escape to Margaritaville that mirrors the vibe of our brand.” Obrigado is all-natural, never from concentrate, has no added sugar or preservatives, and is strictly non-GMO. The company owns its own farms in Bahia, Brazil, where it grows its trees and gives each tree a barcode for complete traceability. To ensure the freshest taste, Obrigado also uses a patented extraction method that prevents air and light – which can alter the taste – from touching the coconut water. For more information on Obrigado visit obrigado.com. Tickets to Escape to Margaritaville on Broadway are available at the Marquis Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929; for groups of 12 or more, call Group Sales Box Office/Broadway.com at 1-800-BROADWAY x2). About Obrigado Obrigado coconut water is coconut water in its purest state. The company is committed to providing quality coconut water while respecting the environment, combining advanced processes and sustainable practices from tree to bottle. Obrigado is sourced from young, green coconuts grown in the Northeast region of Brazil, including its own farms in the state of Bahia where each tree has a unique bar code for traceability and quality. Obrigado is brought to the U.S. by Aurantiaca USA LLC, an affiliate of Grupo Aurantiaca LLC. For more information about Obrigado, visit obrigado.com. About Escape to Margaritaville Escape to Margaritaville is the musical comedy that Newsday called “paradise on Broadway.” The show features both original songs and the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and many more. With a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl,” “Raising Hope”) and Emmy Award nominee Mike O’Malley (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Shameless”), this new production is choreographed by Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine (Come From Away, Rock of Ages) and directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley (Come From Away, Memphis). SOURCE:https://www.bevnet.com/news/2018/obrigado-serve-official-beverage-sponsor-broadway-show-escape-margaritaville

Obrigado Serves as Official Sponsor of ‘Escape to Margaritaville’

IRVINE, Calif. — Theatregoers can now sip on a refreshing and delicious beverage while enjoying Escape to Margaritaville, the new Broadway musical comedy featuring the songs of iconic singer-songwriter-author Jimmy Buffett, thanks to a sponsorship by Obrigado coconut water. The international beverage brand is the official non-alcoholic beverage sponsor of the Broadway show. Escape to Margaritaville is now playing at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre (210 West 46th Street) where it began performances on February 16, 2018 ahead of an Opening Night on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The musical takes place on a tropical island and features both original songs and the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics. The theatre includes colorful, island-style bars serving Obrigado coconut water. “Obrigado coconut water is sourced from Brazil, which is known for its tropical paradise,” said Leonardo Castello Branco, Marketing Director at Obrigado. “We’re excited to serve as the official beverage sponsor of a fun show like Escape to Margaritaville that mirrors the vibe of our brand.” Obrigado is all-natural, never from concentrate, has no added sugar or preservatives, and is strictly non-GMO. The company owns its own farms in Bahia, Brazil, where it grows its trees and gives each tree a barcode for complete traceability. To ensure the freshest taste, Obrigado also uses a patented extraction method that prevents air and light – which can alter the taste – from touching the coconut water. For more information on Obrigado visit obrigado.com. Tickets to Escape to Margaritaville on Broadway are available at the Marquis Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929; for groups of 12 or more, call Group Sales Box Office/Broadway.com at 1-800-BROADWAY x2). About Obrigado Obrigado coconut water is coconut water in its purest state. The company is committed to providing quality coconut water while respecting the environment, combining advanced processes and sustainable practices from tree to bottle. Obrigado is sourced from young, green coconuts grown in the Northeast region of Brazil, including its own farms in the state of Bahia where each tree has a unique bar code for traceability and quality. Obrigado is brought to the U.S. by Aurantiaca USA LLC, an affiliate of Grupo Aurantiaca LLC. For more information about Obrigado, visit obrigado.com. About Escape to Margaritaville Escape to Margaritaville is the musical comedy that Newsday called “paradise on Broadway.” The show features both original songs and the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and many more. With a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl,” “Raising Hope”) and Emmy Award nominee Mike O’Malley (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Shameless”), this new production is choreographed by Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine (Come From Away, Rock of Ages) and directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley (Come From Away, Memphis). SOURCE:https://www.bevnet.com/news/2018/obrigado-serve-official-beverage-sponsor-broadway-show-escape-margaritaville

Brazilian coconut water brand Obrigado expands to Europe

Brazilian coconut water brand Obrigado is set to expand into Europe, just two and a half years after launching on the Brazilian market. Obrigado, which is also available in the US, is produced from fresh, young green coconuts that are harvested on the brand’s own sustainable farms in the state of Bahia. Its name, which translates from Portuguese as simply ‘thank you’, is a nod to the brand’s natural ingredients and recognition of its gratitude for nature’s resources. The drink will be available in the UK – the brand’s first market outside the Americas, and its first in Europe – with more than 1,400 points of distribution across the Greater London area. Mark van de Grift, global marketing director for brand owners Grupo Aurantiaca, is heading up Obrigado’s nationwide roll-out plans to gain listings in premium independents and multiples. He said: “We believe that Obrigado is exactly what the British coconut water category is missing with the brand’s unique patented extraction method which allows the product to be 100% pure, nothing added. Consumers today have an ‘always on’ lifestyle but are ever more health conscious; they also have a real focus on provenance. “One of Mintel’s top food and drink trends for 2018 is ‘full disclosure’ – as the only brand on the market with its own land where all coconuts are sourced, this is something that’s core to our brand.” In 2017, annual coconut water sales in the UK broke the £100 million mark for the first time and are forecast to quadruple over the next five years. ‘£2.3 million launch activity’ In only two and a half years on the Brazilian market, Obrigado reached 12.5% market share at its peak in 2017, having sold more than 12 million litres of coconut water. This launched Obrigado into the top four coconut water brands in Brazil, making it one of the most successful brand stories in the country’s recent history. Obrigado, which is also available in the US, is now looking to replicate this success with its launch in the UK. “Obrigado is committed to educating consumers on the benefits of coconut water and shaking up the category in the UK,” added Adhy Singagerda, CEO of Aurantiaca Europe. “To achieve this, we will be spending £2.3 million in this market, helping to result in category growth.”  SOURCE: https://www.foodbev.com/news/brazilian-coconut-water-brand-obrigado-in-european-expansion/

Brazilian coconut water brand Obrigado expands to Europe

Brazilian coconut water brand Obrigado is set to expand into Europe, just two and a half years after launching on the Brazilian market. Obrigado, which is also available in the US, is produced from fresh, young green coconuts that are harvested on the brand’s own sustainable farms in the state of Bahia. Its name, which translates from Portuguese as simply ‘thank you’, is a nod to the brand’s natural ingredients and recognition of its gratitude for nature’s resources. The drink will be available in the UK – the brand’s first market outside the Americas, and its first in Europe – with more than 1,400 points of distribution across the Greater London area. Mark van de Grift, global marketing director for brand owners Grupo Aurantiaca, is heading up Obrigado’s nationwide roll-out plans to gain listings in premium independents and multiples. He said: “We believe that Obrigado is exactly what the British coconut water category is missing with the brand’s unique patented extraction method which allows the product to be 100% pure, nothing added. Consumers today have an ‘always on’ lifestyle but are ever more health conscious; they also have a real focus on provenance. “One of Mintel’s top food and drink trends for 2018 is ‘full disclosure’ – as the only brand on the market with its own land where all coconuts are sourced, this is something that’s core to our brand.” In 2017, annual coconut water sales in the UK broke the £100 million mark for the first time and are forecast to quadruple over the next five years. ‘£2.3 million launch activity’ In only two and a half years on the Brazilian market, Obrigado reached 12.5% market share at its peak in 2017, having sold more than 12 million litres of coconut water. This launched Obrigado into the top four coconut water brands in Brazil, making it one of the most successful brand stories in the country’s recent history. Obrigado, which is also available in the US, is now looking to replicate this success with its launch in the UK. “Obrigado is committed to educating consumers on the benefits of coconut water and shaking up the category in the UK,” added Adhy Singagerda, CEO of Aurantiaca Europe. “To achieve this, we will be spending £2.3 million in this market, helping to result in category growth.” SOURCE: https://www.foodbev.com/news/brazilian-coconut-water-brand-obrigado-in-european-expansion/

Blue Diamond Launches Crafted Gourmet Line of Almonds, Embraces Entertaining Category

Blue Diamond, the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, today announced a new line of Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds, created for any entertaining occasion. The new product line is the latest example of Blue Diamond’s dedication to offering high quality California-grown almonds that deliver on flavor and taste. What makes this new line of Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds unique is the process. First, the almond skins are removed for a smooth texture and nutty crunch. The almonds are then roasted, seasoned, and cured with a blend of herbs and spices to create a rich and savory taste. Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds are available in four unique and trend-worthy flavors, including Pink Himalayan Salt; Black Truffle; Garlic, Herb and Olive Oil; and Rosemary and Sea Salt. The new line complements other gourmet foods like cheese, charcuterie and olives. They can be included in any grazing table creation or enjoyed on their own. “Gourmet foods are an exciting new genre for Blue Diamond and this is an example of our dedication to food innovation,” said Blue Diamond Senior Vice President, Global Consumer Division, Raj Joshi. “We were inspired by foodies and moments of celebration when developing this Gourmet line. People love finding new delicious foods and sharing them with friends and family. We hope this new line becomes a go-to addition for any special occasion, whether it’s a dinner party, holiday, book club, or happy hour.” Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds are a rich new addition to Blue Diamond’s wide range of more than 20 almond flavors– from bold varieties like Sriracha or Salt ‘n Vinegar to oven roasted varieties like Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel. “With high-quality ingredients, and an elevated new package and overall presentation, this is much more than just a new line of almonds,” said Joshi. “From the orchard to the table, special care goes into each bag of Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds.” Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds will be available in March 2018 and will be sold at most major retailers. About Blue Diamond Blue Diamond Growers is the world’s leading almond marketer and processor. It led the development of California’s almond industry since the co-op was founded in 1910 and opened world markets over 100 years ago when Spain and Italy were the major producers of almonds. While the U.S. market is the largest single market for almonds, over 70 percent of them are exported to 95 countries worldwide. Almonds are California’s largest food export and they rank among the top ten food exports in America. California produces over 80 percent of the world’s supply. For more information, visit www.bluediamond.com. SOURCE: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180305005284/en/Blue-Diamond-Launches-Crafted-Gourmet-Line-Almonds

Blue Diamond Launches Crafted Gourmet Line of Almonds, Embraces Entertaining Category

Blue Diamond, the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, today announced a new line of Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds, created for any entertaining occasion. The new product line is the latest example of Blue Diamond’s dedication to offering high quality California-grown almonds that deliver on flavor and taste. What makes this new line of Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds unique is the process. First, the almond skins are removed for a smooth texture and nutty crunch. The almonds are then roasted, seasoned, and cured with a blend of herbs and spices to create a rich and savory taste. Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds are available in four unique and trend-worthy flavors, including Pink Himalayan Salt; Black Truffle; Garlic, Herb and Olive Oil; and Rosemary and Sea Salt. The new line complements other gourmet foods like cheese, charcuterie and olives. They can be included in any grazing table creation or enjoyed on their own. “Gourmet foods are an exciting new genre for Blue Diamond and this is an example of our dedication to food innovation,” said Blue Diamond Senior Vice President, Global Consumer Division, Raj Joshi. “We were inspired by foodies and moments of celebration when developing this Gourmet line. People love finding new delicious foods and sharing them with friends and family. We hope this new line becomes a go-to addition for any special occasion, whether it’s a dinner party, holiday, book club, or happy hour.” Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds are a rich new addition to Blue Diamond’s wide range of more than 20 almond flavors– from bold varieties like Sriracha or Salt ‘n Vinegar to oven roasted varieties like Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel. “With high-quality ingredients, and an elevated new package and overall presentation, this is much more than just a new line of almonds,” said Joshi. “From the orchard to the table, special care goes into each bag of Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds.” Blue Diamond Crafted Gourmet Almonds will be available in March 2018 and will be sold at most major retailers. About Blue Diamond Blue Diamond Growers is the world’s leading almond marketer and processor. It led the development of California’s almond industry since the co-op was founded in 1910 and opened world markets over 100 years ago when Spain and Italy were the major producers of almonds. While the U.S. market is the largest single market for almonds, over 70 percent of them are exported to 95 countries worldwide. Almonds are California’s largest food export and they rank among the top ten food exports in America. California produces over 80 percent of the world’s supply. For more information, visit www.bluediamond.com. SOURCE: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180305005284/en/Blue-Diamond-Launches-Crafted-Gourmet-Line-Almonds

Quorn Launches New Vegan Deli Lines To Meet Consumer Demand

Meat-free giant Quorn has expanded its vegan offering – in response to more consumers opting for plant-based food. The company is adding two new products to its vegan range – Chicken Free Slices and Smoky Ham Free Slices. ‘Versatility’ A Quorn spokesperson told PBN: “As the vegan trend continues to boom, Quorn can add some versatility with two new deli lines. “Vegan sandwich fillings are hard to come by – or were in 2017 – but Quorn has come up with the ultimate lunchtime solution with its new products. “Both are high in protein and the Quorn Chicken Free Slices are low in saturated fat, perfect sandwiched with crunchy lettuce and a dollop of vegan mayonnaise.” Gluten-free Coeliacs or those with an intolerance to gluten can also enjoy the products. The spokesperson adds: “The best bit? They’re both gluten-free.” According to Quorn, the new products will be available in Sainsbury’s from January 31. Source: https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/quorn-launches-new-vegan-deli-lines-consumer-demand

Quorn Launches New Vegan Deli Lines To Meet Consumer Demand

Meat-free giant Quorn has expanded its vegan offering – in response to more consumers opting for plant-based food. The company is adding two new products to its vegan range – Chicken Free Slices and Smoky Ham Free Slices. ‘Versatility’ A Quorn spokesperson told PBN: “As the vegan trend continues to boom, Quorn can add some versatility with two new deli lines. “Vegan sandwich fillings are hard to come by – or were in 2017 – but Quorn has come up with the ultimate lunchtime solution with its new products. “Both are high in protein and the Quorn Chicken Free Slices are low in saturated fat, perfect sandwiched with crunchy lettuce and a dollop of vegan mayonnaise.” Gluten-free Coeliacs or those with an intolerance to gluten can also enjoy the products. The spokesperson adds: “The best bit? They’re both gluten-free.” According to Quorn, the new products will be available in Sainsbury’s from January 31. Source: https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/quorn-launches-new-vegan-deli-lines-consumer-demand

French Organic Food Sector: Growing from Strength to Strength

According to many major retailers, the demand for organic food is at its highest in over a decade. The growth of this sector is going from strength to strength with a fast-growing European market worth more than 22 billion euros. Within this, the French Organic market amounted to 6.9 billion euros at the end of 2016, with a 22% rise registered for the first half of 2017. With more than 21 organic farms being created every day in France, organic is now part of everyday life. Already, 9 out of 10 French people today say they consume organic produce at least occasionally. Yet this should come as no surprise, as continual strong growth in the organic sector has been steadily occurring over the past decade. In 2006, there were 1,676 organic shops in France, by the end of 2016, there were 2,606. Moreover, this growth is occurring across all areas of the sector, from shop expansion to increased public interest. More and more supermarket chains have been investing in organic sections and/or aisles within their stores, and now even specialist stores are looking at expansion. For example, Carrefour Bio is aiming to open an additional 150 stores by 2021. However, what may be the most interesting are the results from a survey conducted by Bio Linéaires magazine. The study shows that today, 42% of the study respondents say they mix the buying of their organic products between specialist shops and supermarkets, a 17% increase compared to 2015. Furthermore, 71% of those surveyed say that seeing advertising on the subject encourages them to consume organic products. Looking towards the future, the growth of this sector is likely to continue. With the takeover of Whole Foods Market by Amazon leading to the arrival of digital developments for the Organic sector, there are many possible avenues to explore regarding the Organic Food Sector in France.

Exports could be key to Welsh red meat industry success, says levy board

The Welsh red meat industry has been advised to eye-up export opportunities, according to chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Ke… Visit www.meatinfo.co.uk today for more information! Source: https://meatinfo.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/21937/Exports_could_be_key_to_Welsh_red_meat_industry_success,_says_levy_board_.html

Exports could be key to Welsh red meat industry success, says levy board

The Welsh red meat industry has been advised to eye-up export opportunities, according to chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Ke… Visit www.meatinfo.co.uk today for more information! Source: The Welsh red meat industry has been advised to eye-up export opportunities, according to chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Ke… Visit www.meatinfo.co.uk today for more information!

Quorn protein on par with animal sources

Protein found in Quorn meat-free foods may be just as good for muscles as animal proteins, new research suggests. Food labelling usually lists protein as a simple number, but some proteins have better “bioavailability” than others – meaning more can be used by the body. Animal proteins like milk are known to have high bioavailability, making them an excellent source of building blocks for muscles. Researchers from the University of Exeter compared milk protein with Mycoprotein – the fungi-based protein source found in Quorn foods – and found “equivalent” bioavailability. The study was a collaboration between Quorn Foods and the University of Exeter, and the university scientists say more research is now needed to see if the high bioavailability of Mycoprotein translates to beneficial effects, equivalent to animal proteins, on muscle tissue for various different groups of people. “In the last decade or so, nutritional research has led to more and more people – including athletes and older people – being advised to consume more protein than the standard recommended daily allowance,” said first author Mandy Dunlop, of the University of Exeter. “At the same time, government and societal concerns about the sustainability and environmental effects of producing animal-based proteins like meat and dairy products have been growing. “Quorn’s Mycoprotein is produced with far less impact on the environment, and our research shows the bioavailability of its protein is equivalent to that of milk.” Consuming protein results in an increased availability of amino acids and insulin in the blood, leading to “muscle protein synthesis” (muscle building) in the hours after eating. Extensive research has been done on animal proteins, many of which have high bioavailability, and these are often recommended to people who need extra protein to maintain or remodel muscle tissue. Many plant proteins have lower bioavailability – but the researchers say bioavailability in Quorn’s Mycoprotein is “very good”. “Indeed, though milk protein was digested more quickly, the overall availability of amino acids derived from Mycoprotein over a four-hour period following a meal was equivalent to the same amount of protein derived from milk,” said senior author Dr Benjamin Wall. “We concluded that Mycoprotein provides a very bioavailable dietary protein source, and speculate that it would be an effective source of protein to support muscle building in a variety of populations. “This study also took a dose-response approach such that the data give us some direction for how much protein individuals should consume within a meal depending on whether they are looking for sufficient, or optimal, effects on muscle tissue; though definitive conclusions on this will require further work, especially to translate to longer-term effects on health and/or performance.” The paper, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, is entitled: “Mycoprotein represents a bioavailable and insulinotropic non-animal-derived dietary protein source: a dose-response study.” ### The research was funded by Quorn Foods.   Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-10/uoe-qpo100917.php

Quorn protein on par with animal sources

Protein found in Quorn meat-free foods may be just as good for muscles as animal proteins, new research suggests. Food labelling usually lists protein as a simple number, but some proteins have better “bioavailability” than others – meaning more can be used by the body. Animal proteins like milk are known to have high bioavailability, making them an excellent source of building blocks for muscles. Researchers from the University of Exeter compared milk protein with Mycoprotein – the fungi-based protein source found in Quorn foods – and found “equivalent” bioavailability. The study was a collaboration between Quorn Foods and the University of Exeter, and the university scientists say more research is now needed to see if the high bioavailability of Mycoprotein translates to beneficial effects, equivalent to animal proteins, on muscle tissue for various different groups of people. “In the last decade or so, nutritional research has led to more and more people – including athletes and older people – being advised to consume more protein than the standard recommended daily allowance,” said first author Mandy Dunlop, of the University of Exeter. “At the same time, government and societal concerns about the sustainability and environmental effects of producing animal-based proteins like meat and dairy products have been growing. “Quorn’s Mycoprotein is produced with far less impact on the environment, and our research shows the bioavailability of its protein is equivalent to that of milk.” Consuming protein results in an increased availability of amino acids and insulin in the blood, leading to “muscle protein synthesis” (muscle building) in the hours after eating. Extensive research has been done on animal proteins, many of which have high bioavailability, and these are often recommended to people who need extra protein to maintain or remodel muscle tissue. Many plant proteins have lower bioavailability – but the researchers say bioavailability in Quorn’s Mycoprotein is “very good”. “Indeed, though milk protein was digested more quickly, the overall availability of amino acids derived from Mycoprotein over a four-hour period following a meal was equivalent to the same amount of protein derived from milk,” said senior author Dr Benjamin Wall. “We concluded that Mycoprotein provides a very bioavailable dietary protein source, and speculate that it would be an effective source of protein to support muscle building in a variety of populations. “This study also took a dose-response approach such that the data give us some direction for how much protein individuals should consume within a meal depending on whether they are looking for sufficient, or optimal, effects on muscle tissue; though definitive conclusions on this will require further work, especially to translate to longer-term effects on health and/or performance.” The paper, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, is entitled: “Mycoprotein represents a bioavailable and insulinotropic non-animal-derived dietary protein source: a dose-response study.” ### The research was funded by Quorn Foods   Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-10/uoe-qpo100917.php

Dorset Cereals launches gently spiced carrot and apple muesli

Associated British Foods-owned Dorset Cereals has introduced its first fruit and vegetable muesli in a gently spiced carrot and apple flavour. The limited-edition variant is made from a blend of rolled and toasted flakes with carrot, dried fruits and crunchy pecans, and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Containing no added sugar, Dorset Cereals said the sweetness of the apple is the ‘perfect accompaniment’ to the savoury carrot. The brand claims that enjoying vegetables at breakfast time is increasingly popular, with vegetables being added to yogurts and cereals. The muesli is best served with milk, yogurt or fruit juice. Source: https://www.foodbev.com/news/dorset-cereals-launches-spiced-carrot-apple-flavoured-muesli/

Dorset Cereals launches gently spiced carrot and apple muesli

Associated British Foods-owned Dorset Cereals has introduced its first fruit and vegetable muesli in a gently spiced carrot and apple flavour. The limited-edition variant is made from a blend of rolled and toasted flakes with carrot, dried fruits and crunchy pecans, and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Containing no added sugar, Dorset Cereals said the sweetness of the apple is the ‘perfect accompaniment’ to the savoury carrot. The brand claims that enjoying vegetables at breakfast time is increasingly popular, with vegetables being added to yogurts and cereals. The muesli is best served with milk, yogurt or fruit juice. Source: https://www.foodbev.com/news/dorset-cereals-launches-spiced-carrot-apple-flavoured-muesli/

Pots & Co Bring British Elegance to French Stores

The culinary arm of European integration has continued to flourish during the last year, exemplified by classy British desserts company Pots & Co’s seamless arrival on French super- and hypermarket shelves. Reception of these beautifully designed ‘Exceptional Puddings’, now in Carrefour stores, has been warm, with eager anticipation of listings in further supermarkets and much curiosity focused on their « so-British » origins. Indeed, with creator Julian Dyer having been dubbed a second Jamie Oliver, it seems that British charm has also played its role in winning the French press over. One could say that the Anglo-Franco love affair has come full circle in the case of Pots & Co when taking into account Dyer’s professional origins as a trainee chef in Bordeaux. It’s not just the enduring amity between our two countries that has provoked such positive reactions, but also the meticulous attention to detail in terms of ingredients and design which intrigues. Consumers have been encouraged by the press to see the ceramic pots as items to collect, while the brand’s commitment where possible to premium and preservative- and artificial colouring-free ingredient lists has also been noted. The use of Devon cream and Cornish sea salt – comforting, regional British exoticisms de luxe – invited praise from snacking.fr , keeping in with the French trend of liking to know where their food hails from. It is success stories such as these which encourage faith in British-European market relations after the Brexit vote, and we expect implantation of British products abroad to continue inspiring enthusiasm and confidence in business as they have in the past. (Sources : Trade Press – Linéaires, LSA & www.snacking.fr, 2016)

Opening Of Costco France- A Unique Concept For France

The US group, number two worldwide in mass wholesale, opened its first megastore in France on Thursday 22nd  June 2017. This first French site, situated in the town of Villebon-sur-Yvette (about 15 miles south of central Paris) covers approximately 13,500 m2 and features 3,800 stock keeping units. For the opening of the store around 200 employees were recruited, a number that is only set to increase as time goes on. This style of store is not what the French consumers are used to. It is said that it can almost be viewed as a revolution, as Costco’s methods- little range in product, almost no service and much lower prices- are rarely practised in France. Therefore, it is foreseeable that the US group will face intense competition on the French market with other retailers such as Carrefour, Auchan or wholesaler METRO. However, the US group already has several strategies in place to entice the French consumers into their store. To start with, the membership subscription fee isn’t as high compared to other countries. In the US, a yearly membership fee costs $55, whereas the fee has been set at only €36 (equivalent to approximately $40). This has clearly been a success, as the French site was said to open with 30,000 members. Additionally, another strategy is to follow the brands strategy of selling luxe items at a reduced price. With this, Costco France will no doubt win over clients in no time. After all, who can refuse, when grand cru wines like Château Margaux are being sold at 300 euros less than the usual price? Looking towards the future, Costco management has indicated that they plan to continue to expand their stores across France with the aim of opening another 15 units in the country by 2025. This will likely have a significant impact on the landscape of the French market and it will be interesting to see what new developments emerge from it. But the key question remains, will this new style of retail win over the French consumers?

Opening of Costco France- A unique concept for France

The US group, number two worldwide in mass wholesale, opened its first megastore in France on Thursday 22nd June 2017. This first French site, situated in the town of Villebon-sur-Yvette (about 15 miles south of central Paris) covers approximately 13,500 m2 and features 3,800 stock keeping units. For the opening of the store around 200 employees were recruited, a number that is only set to increase as time goes on. This style of store is not what the French consumers are used to. It is said that it can almost be viewed as a revolution, as Costco’s methods- little range in product, almost no service and much lower prices- are rarely practised in France. Therefore, it is foreseeable that the US group will face intense competition on the French market with other retailers such as Carrefour, Auchan or wholesaler METRO. However, the US group already has several strategies in place to entice the French consumers into their store. To start with, the membership subscription fee isn’t as high compared to other countries. In the US, a yearly membership fee costs $55, whereas the fee has been set at only €36 (equivalent to approximately $40). This has clearly been a success, as the French site was said to open with 30,000 members. Additionally, another strategy is to follow the brands strategy of selling luxe items at a reduced price. With this, Costco France will no doubt win over clients in no time. After all, who can refuse, when grand cru wines like Château Margaux are being sold at 300 euros less than the usual price? Looking towards the future, Costco management has indicated that they plan to continue to expand their stores across France with the aim of opening another 15 units in the country by 2025. This will likely have a significant impact on the landscape of the French market and it will be interesting to see what new developments emerge from it. But the key question remains, will this new style of retail win over the French consumers?

Innovation at IFE

The one thing which excites all of us at the Green Seed Group is discovering genuine food and drink innovation. While every market has its own particular characteristics and requirements, this is the one thing which buyers everywhere are looking for to drive new growth in both retail stores and foodservice locations. New food and drink concepts – many of which are inspired by health trends from the US and Asia – often come to market first in the UK, then once tested and proven, cross over into other European markets and further afield. If the UK is now viewed by many as Europe’s innovation hub, then the IFE, the International Food and Drink Event, www.ife.co.uk, which takes place in London 19-22 March, is its industry platform. IFE is the biggest and most important UK food show and takes place every two years. It showcases the widest variety of pioneering food and drink and offers an unrivalled sourcing opportunity. Health and convenience combine as the main stimulus for new product introductions in line with UK consumer trends: free from foods, healthy botanicals, sustainable snacks and condiments made from produce otherwise destined for waste, compostable packaging, tree water drinks, alternative grains and seeds, fresh meal kits, salad bowls, coconut with everything, ethnic inspiration, protein rich foods – especially vegetable proteins – and an explosion in food to go…. IFE is bursting with inspiration. Among the 1,350+ exhibitors you will also find producers from 57 world markets in addition to the UK suppliers on show, and a range of stimulating seminars and events taking place. The full international office network of Green Seed will be at the show and we would be delighted to catch up with you and help with advice, introductions and information. Click here for free registration Access to the show is very easy: the Excel exhibition centre is just 1 mile from London City Airport and special air fare reductions of up to 20% have been negotiated with British Airways and Cityjet from a number of different locations, which you can access here. We very much look forward to seeing you there. Simon WARING Managing Director – Green Seed UK swaring@greenseedgroup.co.uk France Pots & Co Bring British Elegance to French Stores The culinary arm of European integration has continued to flourish during the last year, exemplified by classy British desserts company Pots & Co’s seamless arrival on French super- and hypermarket shelves. Reception of these beautifully designed ‘Exceptional Puddings’, now in Carrefour stores, has been warm, with eager anticipation of listings in further supermarkets and much curiosity focused on their « so-British » origins. Indeed, with creator Julian Dyer having been dubbed a second Jamie Oliver, it seems that British charm has also played its role in winning the French press over. One could say that the Anglo-Franco love affair has come full circle in the case of Pots & Co when taking into account Dyer’s professional origins as a trainee chef in Bordeaux. It’s not just the enduring amity between our two countries that has provoked such positive reactions, but also the meticulous attention to detail in terms of ingredients and design which intrigues. Consumers have been encouraged by the press to see the ceramic pots as items to collect, while the brand’s commitment where possible to premium and preservative- and artificial colouring-free ingredient lists has also been noted. The use of Devon cream and Cornish sea salt – comforting, regional British exoticisms de luxe – invited praise from snacking.fr , keeping in with the French trend of liking to know where their food hails from. It is success stories such as these which encourage faith in British-European market relations after the Brexit vote, and we expect implantation of British products abroad to continue inspiring enthusiasm and confidence in business as they have in the past. (Sources : Trade Press – Linéaires, LSA & www.snacking.fr, 2016) Nordic UK Manufacturers Doing Well in Nordic Countries Strong brands at home in the UK are doing well in Nordic countries, performing the same abroad as they have done in the UK. Kettle Chips is the fastest growing brand of premium crisps in Denmark, Cafedirect is expanding its Fairtrade business and Tiger Tiger sauces are going into major distribution. Success is a result of focusing on what you are good at at home, and then adjusting to and transferring this capability into new markets. These achievements are the result of 2-3 years’ preparation Jakob True Green Seed Nordic Managing Director UK UK Food To-Go Market Booming The UK food to go market is booming and growth looks set to continue. It accounts for some 25% of total eating out spend and is the fastest growing part of the market. IFE will showcase dozens of suppliers capitalising on this trend. According to retail analysts IGD the food to go market was forecast to be worth £16.1 bn for the full 2016 year – an increase of 6.8% on the previous period. Growth is coming from specialist food to go specialists like Pod, with increasingly health-driven menu propositions, but also coffee specialists with wider lunchtime options, evening food and seasonal ranges, and convenience retailers with dedicated food to go counters and changing food offers for different times of day. Supermarkets are trialing new ideas alongside the traditional sandwich and snack menu, and quick service retailers increasingly offering salad and other healthy options. Spain The Snacks Market in Spain The snacks market in Spain is experiencing accelerated growth as compared to other food categories on the back of several factors: innovation in new seasonings, new products for new types consumption and new brands and operators coming into play. The total market including snacks and nuts has achieved in 2016 a record size of 300.000 tones with a total value of €2,000 million growing 3% in volume and 1.5% in value. If we focus on the snacks category (125.000 tonnes and €850 million of sales in all channels), a significant growth can be seen in premium presentation of crisps with new seasonings, crisps with healthy attributes, corn based products for dipping and tubes of crisps. The balance of branded products versus Private Label remains stable with a 51 vs. 49 % ratio in the modern trade channel, which accounts for 73% of total sales in volume and 68% in value, with the balance being sold in the strong food service and traditional channels. The key levers in the developments of this snacks category are: 1. New types of consumption driving extraordinary growth of corn based nacho/tortillas and preformed chips for dipping a. The Nielsen panel has just issued a report showing the importance of dipping as a vector in socialisation of consumption normally in the afternoons/evenings b. The so called “aperitif” moment is driving growth specifically in artisanal style crisps 2. The dichotomy of the pleasure versus health driving developments to their extremes: a. Innovative products based in “pleasure” factor developing new seasonings, BBQ style, cheese based, etc. and packaging as for example crisps in tubes which are growing particularly at a rate of 20%+ according to IRI agency data b. Innovation based in the “healthy” factor using natural ingredients and fewer preservatives and artificial flavourings. In this sub-segment the “veg crisps” are arriving on the shelves with a significant growth rate 3. The operators are investing again in production and packaging facilities after some years of low levels of innovation. Local companies as APEX, Tosfrit or Grefusa are investing amounts circa the mark of €5 million according to a latest report issued by Alimarket magazine. Also worth noting the introduction of Japanese and South African companies with new snacking concepts based in peas, dried fruit and dried meat or fish. The Netherlands UK Company Symington’s Brings Innovation to the Dutch Instant Snacking Category After a successful start in Jumbo and Superunie member Deen, number one Dutch retailer Albert Heijn has started to work with UK company Symington’s. Since June 2016 the two brands Naked Noodle and Mugshot are available at Albert Heijn in a nationwide distribution. Mugshot is a convenient, tasty and healthy snack for busy and on the go snackers who are still health conscious. Naked Noodle offers different authentic pan-Asian noodle recipes aimed at “foodie” instant snackers and is available at Albert Heijn in three egg noodle and two rice noodles variants. Since the listing both brands have contributed to strong innovation of the category and have been adding substantial value to the instant snack category in Albert Heijn. Symington’s is an excellent example of the potential that innovative UK brands can have in the Dutch market. Italy Italian Consumers in Search of Premium Products, Despite the Crisis In Italy, as in the rest of the world, consumers are increasingly looking for products that can attract them both rationally and emotionally. Despite the recent period of economic crisis with 44% of Italians today declaring that they do not consider their economic position any better than five years ago, premium products are nevertheless showing strong growth (i.e. all products with a price 20% higher than the market average). In fact, data shows that the growth of these products is stronger than that recorded in most of the market FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) categories to collectively generate an increase in value of 15.6% over the last year. It is also interesting to note that this phenomenon is often related not so much to leading brands but to niche ones, that increasingly over the past years have adopted winning differentiation strategies with respect to the rest of the market. These brands have understood that in Italy it is not simply a matter of price; indeed, only 15% of consumers define a product as a premium due to its cost. This scenario is what emerges from the Nielsen Global Premiumization Survey where 30,000 internet users were interviewed in 63 countries, including Italy, to analyze the behaviors and habits of consumers specifically in relation to ‘premium’ products. What are then for Italians the peculiarities that identify this type of products? In line with other European countries, the quality of ingredients and materials with which they are made is the first requirement for the 45% of consumers. This is followed by the offer of functions / higher performance than other products, the ability to do more things than the rest of the market, but also the offer of a superior customer experience (respectively 39%, 34% and 30%). In line with the trend of recent years, the research also shows how the attributes of “green” products are translated into a strong premium potential. Italians in fact claim to be willing to pay a higher price for environmentally friendly products (20%) and even more for those composed of natural and organic ingredients (22%). It is therefore not surprising that the consumers surveyed indicated fresh produce as the categories in which they are willing to spend more: 31% for meat or fish, 26% for dairy products (milk, yogurt or cheese) and 23% for bread and bakery specialties. 17% were also willing to spend more for rice and cereals, compared with 9% in France and 8% in Germany. It is important to remember that there are many different methods to entice consumers to try new premium products. While in fact, Italians personally do research before deciding to buy a premium product (33% of them), 25% make purchases based on word of mouth from friends and family. However, for companies brand image remains essential in order to convey their brand message and emotionally engage the consumer as emotional impulse buys still account for 22% of premium purchases by consumers. GERMANY Innovation from the UK The British food and drink industry has a long and celebrated history in the field of innovation. This was helped by the ground-breaking trends of leading food retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco who recognised earlier than most of their competitors in Continental Europe that the way forward to develop successfully and profitably was to create a valuable brand around the company name, develop private label (building the brand and not just to concentrating on price) and focus on innovation to differentiate from competition. There are many examples of product categories / brands from the UK where this home-based innovation was proved to be transferable to a strong, price-led market such as Germany. It starts with the whisk(e)y category where malt whisky has developed strongly over the last 20 years. And more recently, Kettle Chips have shown there is strong growth potential for a more discerning target-market in the premium potato chip market. Similarly, in the biscuit segment, Walkers has established itself firmly through a consequent skimming strategy, just concentrating on top quality distribution channels. Since last year, the UK No. 4 chocolate manufacturer Kinnerton has selected also just a targeted number of outlets for its Magnum chocolate range using the license from the Unilever ice cream brand. British suppliers / retailers are renowned for their skill and expertise in chilled food and in general for short shelf-life products with extremely high taste expectations. A good example of this is GÜ chilled desserts which over the last 5 years have been well received by the German trade and consumers. A visit to IFE near London City Airport on March 19 – 22, 2017 is a good way for food / drink buyers to see what future trends are and to link this with store visits to see in which direction the market is going. Belgium Jordans Cereals Lead the Belgian Wholesome Category When Jordans first entered the Belgian market, the breakfast category was still dominated by the traditional jam and spread products. Cereals were still very much in their infancy and centered around the standard flake and children’s offering. Mueslis and granolas, on the other hand, were mainly to be found in specialized health stores. The British cereal manufacturer quickly established itself as the leader in the development of the wholesome cereal category in mainstream retail. With consumers looking for more authenticity and natural ingredients, Jordans was able to respond to fast evolving needs by offering a high quality natural product range which would soon take prominent place on shelves and be recognized as a category destination. Highly recognizable from the start in its bag format and strengthened by a very loyal consumer base, the Jordans brand evolved further with its innovation of the crunchy muesli category. Next to its core Original Crunchy and Country Crisp ranges, Jordans has since then successfully launched its Super Berry Granola and Jordans bar products, answering the need for even more wholesomeness. The wholesome category is clearly growing and supported by a number of macro trends, which will continue to drive its development over the forthcoming years. Health, transparency, simplicity are all but a few of those trends but they cannot come at any price. Brands indeed have to understand that consumers are not prepared to compromise on taste, a fact that Jordans has fully embraced. North America 2017 Outlook: US Import Opportunities Improve The 2016 Presidential election saw a period of uncertainty for many importers into the United States; with both candidates promising sweeping international trade policy reform. With major financial market volatility, business planning and capital commitments for international business expansion became even more challenging. While at this point, it’s still too soon to foresee the total impact of the political change; it’s predicted that conditions for importers from certain trade zones notably the UK and Europe will improve. For example, the UK and the US, with their newly elected leaderships and shared post-Brexit values, will continue to bolster and support each other’s international economic growth. For UK food manufacturergerms, this foreshadows a great opportunity to expand their businesses overseas to the US. Another near-term factor is the impact of currency exchange rates on UK and US trade. The current decline in the Sterling against the US Dollar is good news for UK importers into the US. This is an opportunity particularly for UK food companies to increase their US marketing programs or even establish a US entity to fully reap the benefits of the improved conditions. Also, UK business could see an increased opportunity to be acquired by a US entity. For more information on this and on expanding your business footprint to the US, please contact Green Seed Group North America at david.wilson@greenseedgroup.com

Pots & Co Bring British Elegance to French Stores

The culinary arm of European integration has continued to flourish during the last year, exemplified by classy British desserts company Pots & Co’s seamless arrival on French super- and hypermarket shelves. Reception of these beautifully designed ‘Exceptional Puddings’, now in Carrefour stores, has been warm, with eager anticipation of listings in further supermarkets and much curiosity focused on their « so-British » origins. Indeed, with creator Julian Dyer having been dubbed a second Jamie Oliver, it seems that British charm has also played its role in winning the French press over. One could say that the Anglo-Franco love affair has come full circle in the case of Pots & Co when taking into account Dyer’s professional origins as a trainee chef in Bordeaux. It’s not just the enduring amity between our two countries that has provoked such positive reactions, but also the meticulous attention to detail in terms of ingredients and design which intrigues. Consumers have been encouraged by the press to see the ceramic pots as items to collect, while the brand’s commitment where possible to premium and preservative- and artificial colouring-free ingredient lists has also been noted. The use of Devon cream and Cornish sea salt – comforting, regional British exoticisms de luxe – invited praise from snacking.fr , keeping in with the French trend of liking to know where their food hails from. It is success stories such as these which encourage faith in British-European market relations after the Brexit vote, and we expect implantation of British products abroad to continue inspiring enthusiasm and confidence in business as they have in the past. (Sources : Trade Press – Linéaires, LSA & www.snacking.fr, 2016)

Costco set to arrive in France

Global retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation is poised to expand its international operations next year, with a move to Paris, France. After several years of negotiations with government officials, the company has been given the green light to open its first warehouse on French soil, in the Parisian suburb of Villebon-sur-Yvette. Number two in the world for retail distribution with revenues of over $100 bn p.a., Costco has been looking to grow its business portfolio in Europe for several years, with France seen as a key target. This will be their third market entry in the region, following successful ventures into the UK (26 warehouses) and Spain (2 warehouses). Costco’s tried and tested warehouse-club formula, offering large discounts on a limited product range, will certainly be something of a novelty in France. As retail analyst Angel González illustrates, “there’s nothing exactly like Costco in France to date: it sits between richly stocked markets like Carrefour and ‘Cash and Carry’ wholesalers that sell only to other businesses.” With a typical Costco warehouse offering just 4,000 SKU’s (versus the 80,000 that can be found in a Carrefour or Auchan hypermarket), price competitiveness and quality come at the expense of product diversity. While some questions remain about French consumers’ readiness to adapt to Costco’s membership fee system and bulk-buying format, there can be no denying the retailer’s ability to compete with key players on cost, despite the market’s ongoing price war. This first store could be just the beginning for Costco’s French connection however. Speaking to the press last month, Gary Swindells, head of operations in France, said that “Costco hoped to open up about 15 warehouse-stores over the next decade, of which 4 – 6 would be in the Paris area”. With memberships rising as high as 100,000 per warehouse, this is certainly an ambitious plan.

Costco set to arrive in France

Global retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation is poised to expand its international operations next year, with a move to Paris, France. After several years of negotiations with government officials, the company has been given the green light to open its first warehouse on French soil, in the Parisian suburb of Villebon-sur-Yvette. Number two in the world for retail distribution with revenues of over $100 bn p.a., Costco has been looking to grow its business portfolio in Europe for several years, with France seen as a key target. This will be their third market entry in the region, following successful ventures into the UK (26 warehouses) and Spain (2 warehouses). Costco’s tried and tested warehouse-club formula, offering large discounts on a limited product range, will certainly be something of a novelty in France. As retail analyst Angel González illustrates, “there’s nothing exactly like Costco in France to date: it sits between richly stocked markets like Carrefour and ‘Cash and Carry’ wholesalers that sell only to other businesses.” With a typical Costco warehouse offering just 4,000 SKU’s (versus the 80,000 that can be found in a Carrefour or Auchan hypermarket), price competitiveness and quality come at the expense of product diversity. While some questions remain about French consumers’ readiness to adapt to Costco’s membership fee system and bulk-buying format, there can be no denying the retailer’s ability to compete with key players on cost, despite the market’s ongoing price war. This first store could be just the beginning for Costco’s French connection however. Speaking to the press last month, Gary Swindells, head of operations in France, said that “Costco hoped to open up about 15 warehouse-stores over the next decade, of which 4 – 6 would be in the Paris area”. With memberships rising as high as 100,000 per warehouse, this is certainly an ambitious plan.

Marriages of Convenience

“The best defence is a good offence”: this old adage seems to have been taken to heart by French retailers over the last 12 months. Faced with stiff competition on pricing from the ultra-competitive E. Leclerc, the big players of the French retail landscape have been looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs without upsetting their shareholders. As such, the final quarter of 2014 saw 6 of the France’s 7 biggest national retailers enter into joint purchasing agreements as a means of combatting the country’s incessant price war. Auchan and Système U, numbers 5 and 6 respectively in terms of market share, led the way, announcing their decision to combine purchasing forces in September of last year. The move, which was initially limited to purchases of branded products supplied by large companies, was intended to give the two companies greater leverage in price negotiations with the giants of the food-production industry. According to analysts, the move will allow the joint retailers to purchase products for up to 1% less than if each were to buy separately – a substantial reduction in an age where every little helps. The two protagonists have now gone further in their commitments to this engagement, declaring in May of this year that their purchasing agreement would extend to private label goods as well. While talk of store exchanges and even a potential merger is rife, both parties remain coy about future consolidation. In riposte to the move between Système U and Auchan, which brought their effective market share up to 22% (n° 1 in France as of September 2014), the Casino and Intermarché groups merged their own buying teams just two months later. The resultant central buying service INCAA (Intermarché Casino Achats) now represents the largest ‘retail group’ in the French market, with a 26% slice of the cake. This just left Carrefour and the typically-independent E. Leclerc as stand-alone big players in an increasingly concentrated buying space. However, with all other potential suitors already paired off, the Carrefour empire had to look down the line to 7th placed Cora Group to find a partner for joint purchasing. This match, a seemingly defensive move against the advances of ‘Système A’ and ‘Casintermarché’, did bring the pair’s nominal market share to around 25% however. The longevity of these marriages of convenience remains to be seen, but their emergence will certainly fan the flames of price war in French retail.

Marriages of Convenience

“The best defence is a good offence”: this old adage seems to have been taken to heart by French retailers over the last 12 months. Faced with stiff competition on pricing from the ultra-competitive E. Leclerc, the big players of the French retail landscape have been looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs without upsetting their shareholders. As such, the final quarter of 2014 saw 6 of the France’s 7 biggest national retailers enter into joint purchasing agreements as a means of combatting the country’s incessant price war. Auchan and Système U, numbers 5 and 6 respectively in terms of market share, led the way, announcing their decision to combine purchasing forces in September of last year. The move, which was initially limited to purchases of branded products supplied by large companies, was intended to give the two companies greater leverage in price negotiations with the giants of the food-production industry. According to analysts, the move will allow the joint retailers to purchase products for up to 1% less than if each were to buy separately – a substantial reduction in an age where every little helps. The two protagonists have now gone further in their commitments to this engagement, declaring in May of this year that their purchasing agreement would extend to private label goods as well. While talk of store exchanges and even a potential merger is rife, both parties remain coy about future consolidation. In riposte to the move between Système U and Auchan, which brought their effective market share up to 22% (n° 1 in France as of September 2014), the Casino and Intermarché groups merged their own buying teams just two months later. The resultant central buying service INCAA (Intermarché Casino Achats) now represents the largest ‘retail group’ in the French market, with a 26% slice of the cake. This just left Carrefour and the typically-independent E. Leclerc as stand-alone big players in an increasingly concentrated buying space. However, with all other potential suitors already paired off, the Carrefour empire had to look down the line to 7th placed Cora Group to find a partner for joint purchasing. This match, a seemingly defensive move against the advances of ‘Système A’ and ‘Casintermarché’, did bring the pair’s nominal market share to around 25% however. The longevity of these marriages of convenience remains to be seen, but their emergence will certainly fan the flames of price war in French retail.

Hamal Signature: artisanal seafood spreads enter leading French retailer

In February 2015, Hamal Signature, leader in the Belgian spreads market, launched a specific seafood spread range composed of three SKUs in the French retailer Carrefour under the brand Délio. Hamal Signature’s products are premium, made with high quality ingredients, and stand out from their competitors thanks to their high fish content. Keen on the possibility of using these USPs to expand into the French market Hamal Signature enlisted the help of Green Seed France to carry out a qualitative research and a market assessment, to adapt the brand so that it would better suit French consumer demands, and to approach retailers. The three initial products listed – mackerel, trout and tuna based spreads – are now present in approximately 130 Carrefour hypermarkets and 250 Carrefour supermarkets across France. This has given Hamal Signature the perfect foothold to further develop their brand in a market with a great culinary tradition, a high demand for quality products and yet also an increasing appreciation of new, exciting flavours and originality.

Hamal Signature: artisanal seafood spreads enter leading French retailer

In February 2015, Hamal Signature, leader in the Belgian spreads market, launched a specific seafood spread range composed of three SKUs in the French retailer Carrefour under the brand Délio. Hamal Signature’s products are premium, made with high quality ingredients, and stand out from their competitors thanks to their high fish content. Keen on the possibility of using these USPs to expand into the French market Hamal Signature enlisted the help of Green Seed France to carry out a qualitative research and a market assessment, to adapt the brand so that it would better suit French consumer demands, and to approach retailers. The three initial products listed – mackerel, trout and tuna based spreads – are now present in approximately 130 Carrefour hypermarkets and 250 Carrefour supermarkets across France. This has given Hamal Signature the perfect foothold to further develop their brand in a market with a great culinary tradition, a high demand for quality products and yet also an increasing appreciation of new, exciting flavours and originality.

Dorset Cereals arrive in France

As of February 2015 two products from the British manufacturer Dorset Cereals’ granola range – a berry granola and a honey granola – will available on the shelves of the French retailer Monoprix. Dorset’s products put quality and nature first, made with real oats that are gently baked to achieve a delicate golden brown and optimal crunchiness, perfect with milk, in yoghurt or even by themselves as a little snack. Working alongside Green Seed France and looking to replicate its UK success, Dorset’s deal with Monoprix for its granolas will be in exclusivity. Once the Dorset brand is launched in February, the two references will be present in over 150 Monoprix stores across France. Monoprix will be supporting the launch with a press release. The timing of Dorset’s entry into the French market could not be better, right at the start of a 2015 expected to see strong healthy eating trends.

Dorset Cereals arrive in France

As of February 2015 two products from the British manufacturer Dorset Cereals’ granola range – a berry granola and a honey granola – will available on the shelves of the French retailer Monoprix. Dorset’s products put quality and nature first, made with real oats that are gently baked to achieve a delicate golden brown and optimal crunchiness, perfect with milk, in yoghurt or even by themselves as a little snack. Working alongside Green Seed France and looking to replicate its UK success, Dorset’s deal with Monoprix for its granolas will be in exclusivity. Once the Dorset brand is launched in February, the two references will be present in over 150 Monoprix stores across France. Monoprix will be supporting the launch with a press release. The timing of Dorset’s entry into the French market could not be better, right at the start of a 2015 expected to see strong healthy eating trends.

Carrefour sees more retail sector consolidation, including in France

The Organic Market in France

    It is impossible to deny that France has a well-established and broad organic food market, but its take-off in the mainstream retail industry over the last few years is stunning. This separate but parallel growth alongside specialist organic retailers is a true sign of how organic food is no longer a niche or alternative food ‘fad’. Indeed, it is arguably no longer a ‘fad’ at all. Organic food is without a doubt one of the most important ‘trends’ or ‘waves’ in France today; 2018 saw the organic food market make a turnover of over €8 billion of which over €4 billion is in mainstream retail. 92% of responders in a study by Agence Bio/CSA at the end of 2018 said that they had consumed organic products over the last year whilst ¾ said they consume organic products once a month and 16% daily. Whilst organic F&B consumptions are noticeable amongst every age group, it is surprisingly popular amongst the 18-24s, generation Z who, despite their smaller financial means are (according to the Agence Bio poll) prepared to pay more money for products that they view as better for their health, cuisine, and environment. Older generations, on the other hand, are less likely to pay more for organic F&B due to the high costs; they do not view it as worth the money. * Another sign of organic F&B’s growing importance in France is its significant mainstream retail presence, particularly in the private label sector which accounts for over 40% of the organic F&B market share. Mainstream retail is now the N°1 distribution channel for 80% of organic consumers and overall annual growth is 25% (23% for convenience and 33% for click&collect. This has pushed specialist organic retailers to innovate in order to compete as their growth ‘lags’ at 15%. For example, Naturalia’s new “Marché Bio” or Biocoop’s “Dada”. In conclusion, no sector of the F&B industry has escaped the organic wave in France and it is on its way to becoming part of France’s mainstream. However, with a market in such flux, it is very difficult to predict the future. SOURCES: LSA, Points de Vente, Le Figaro https://mailchi.mp/90081930c0ea/international-food-news-july-578973