This week just-food spoke with the CEO and CFO of Bakkavor, one of the UK’s largest own-label food manufacturers, who spoke of the challenging trading conditions it faces in the country. Another UK retailer Marks and Spencer posted lacklustre fourth-quarter food sales, which analysts say raises doubts over the positioning of the group’s food business. Elsewhere, Canadian retailer Couche-Tard made a bid for Casey’s General Stores – which the US retailer promptly rejected.
“It’s still unacceptable. Their plan is still to have wages lower than the competition. It’s still about cost-cutting. It’s not about a real future for Carrefour” – a spokesman for the Setca union on Carrefour’s plans to scale back its presence in Belgium
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“We are very concerned actually. We are seeing strong inflation in input costs, especially dairy at a very high level. We are seeing oil price going up which will reflect on packaging costs. There are a lot of signs out there that there will be quite substantial inflation in 2010 and there is quite a lot of promotional activity and very strong competition on the market” – Bakkavor CEO Agust Gudmundsson tells just-food about the challenging trading conditions in the UK
“We hope that after the election there will be greater clarity on economic policy and how this will impact our customers individually” – M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose speaking at the retailer’s earnings conference
“Doubt still persists in relation to the market positioning of the group’s food business” – Hargreaves Lansdown equity analyst Keith Bowman suggested that M&S’s food unit is yet to define its position in the food retail market place
“That debate must continue, as a matter of urgency, in the next Parliament and I fully expect the next Business, Innovation and Skills Committee to play a key role in any future reform” – Peter Luff, chairman of the business select committee talks about the controversy surrounding the Kraft takeover of Cadbury and future takeovers
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By GlobalData“The question now is about reaching an agreement with the employees and the companies. They want too much money. The basic question is about money” – a spokesperson for The Finnish Food and Drink Industries Federation speaks of concern at three-day strike
“The dairy industry is vitally important to the Welsh economy, and I am conscious of the pressures the industry currently faces. Through co-operation we will be able to secure a sustainable, efficient and innovative Welsh dairy sector” – Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones announces investment for the Welsh dairy industry
“I would definitely expect [further investment]. The 2 Sisters business has a history of ploughing money back in over the years, which is what has made it so successful so I can’t imagine that would change with this new business,” a spokesperson for The Boparan Group on its future plans following announcement to buy Five Star Fish
“My head, which is ruling my heart at the moment, is telling me that the chances of that are extremely small but it does no harm to make the point that this is a very popular measure” – Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George on the push for the implementation of a grocery ombudsman before the general election.
“We agree with you that the US convenience store operators are currently undervalued. However, we will not hand over to you the significant long-term value of Casey’s that rightly belongs to our shareholders” – Casey’s General Stores Robert Myers slams suitor Couche-Tard for trying to buy the business on the cheap.
