Brazil has become the top-ranked developing market for retail expansion, according to consultants at A.T. Kearney.The firm said today (6 June) that Brazil jumped from fifth last year on its Global Retail Development Index (GRDI). Brazil’s rise came as India and China slipped in the list. The GDRI ranking mirrors the “dramatic changes” that have taken place in global markets, and the varying impacts they have had on different emerging economies, said A.T. Kearney. It found that South... ...Read more »

Fonterra has confirmed that its Chilean subsidiary Soprole has withdrawn a proposal to merge its business with Nestlé’s liquid and dairy business in the country. Fonterra CEO Andrew Ferrier said today (6 April) that Soprole and Nestlé have agreed to withdraw the application as the companies believed “the conditions to continue with the application were not appropriate”. The New Zealand co-operative and the Swiss dairy giant have no plans to present a new application to the Chilean... ...Read more »

Fonterra and Nestle confirmed today a proposal to expand their Dairy Partners Americas (DPA) joint venture into Chile.Fonterra subsidiary Soprole and Nestle Chile today filed an application with the local competition authority in Chile, seeking approval for a 50:50 joint venture between parts of Soprole’s and Nestle Chile’s local dairy businesses. If approved, DPA-Chile will have sales of approximately NZ$770 million per annum – with a large proportion of this coming from Soprole’s... ...Read more »

The Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement will come into force tomorrow 6 March, 2009, opening up greater opportunities to meat, wine and dairy exporters.This was the first Free Trade Agreement to be concluded by the Rudd Government and comes into force a week after Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, signed the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA. “I urge Australian exporters to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by the Australia-Chile FTA now that it has entered into force,” Mr... ...Read more »

The Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement is set to come into force on 6 March, 2009, allowing a host of Australian exporters a greater opportunity to enter a growing market. The Minister for Trade Simon Crean welcomed the start of the FTA saying it would take the relationship with Chile to a new level. “I am proud of this agreement. This is the first Free Trade Agreement to be concluded by the Rudd Government and, with this announcement, will be the first to enter into force. It is an agreement... ...Read more »