Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) Chief Executive Terry Davis has said the price offered to Lion Nathan shareholders solidifies their view that last year’s offer by Lion undervalued their worth.The offer for the remaining Lion Nathan shares made by Kirin at the start of the week represented a price to earnings ratio of around 13.8, comfortably above the 10.5 offered for CCA by Lion in a bid backed by Kirin last November. “What has happened is that the very high multiples paid for Lion Nathan validates... ...Read more »

Fewer new products are showing up on supermarket shelves this year as companies temper innovation in an uncertain environment. New data from the Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows total food and drink product launches have been cut in half since last year (a 51% decline from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009). New product introductions also dropped markedly from the last quarter of 2008 – by 32%. Manufacturers typically release fewer new products during the first quarter of the year,... ...Read more »

Brand Finance, a leading independent brand valuation consultancy, has revealed their list of the 500 leading global brands, with Australia’s two largest supermarkets the only Australian brands in the food industry to make the list. All sectors were hit in 2008 by commodity price rises, the credit crunch, rising unemployment and tumbling share prices, the consultants noted, with an overall drop in brand value across the Global 500 for the year of 24%. The world’s most valuable brand was... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited, Australia’s largest soft drink producer, has recorded a record net profit after tax for the 2008 full year of $404.3 million, 10.4% up on 2007. CCA’s Group Managing Director, Mr Terry Davis, was delighted with the results considering the prevailing market conditions. “CCA has delivered a record profit result against a backdrop of the most challenging economic and trading environment we have experienced for many years,” he said. “The achievement... ...Read more »

In 2008, food and beverage claims classified as “Natural” – including all natural, no preservatives, organic and wholegrain – were the most frequently featured on new products globally, according to Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD). Claims of ‘fortified products’, on the other hand, took a hit, while declarations of “low” (e.g. low-fat) stagnated. Almost one in every four (23%) launches last year had “Natural”, a nine per... ...Read more »

One of Western Australia’s oldest companies and most recognised brands, Anchor Foods, has received recognition as the overall winner of the inaugural Westpac Food and Beverage Industry Awards, organised by the Food Industry Association of WA (FIA). The Fremantle-based company, which reinvented itself after being returned to Western Australian ownership two years ago, was awarded the Westpac Best Business Award, as well as winning the Innovation Category Award for its Lighthouse Special Purpose... ...Read more »

Western Australian food and beverage companies will take their produce to new international markets at three upcoming major food trade events. Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has invited local companies to explore promotional opportunities available in India, Japan and the United States. “I’m inviting local food and beverage companies, including wine producers, to promote their wares to the world through the WA booth at the International Food Exhibition in New Delhi to be held... ...Read more »

UK food and beverage manufacturers have pledged to continue to improve the nutritional value of their products despite reporting that economic concerns are beginning to weigh more heavily on their plans. Speaking at the ‘Tackling Obesity: Working Towards a Healthier Nation’ conference in London overnight, Melanie Leech, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, outlined the ways the food and drink manufacturing industry is responding to the challenges of the UK Government’s... ...Read more »

Fibre, green tea extract and soy protein are among the ingredients food and beverage manufacturers are turning towards to help lighten the growing pressures of the global obesity epidemic, according to Euromonitor International’s new report “Weight Management Ingredients in Foods and Beverages“. As consumers increasingly turn to healthier lifestyle choices and governments push to address and create a solution for rising obesity rates, manufacturers are looking towards ingredients... ...Read more »

All school pupils in grades one to three (P1 – P3) in Scotland are to be entitled to free school meals following successful pilot schemes. The move is designed to improve the nutritious content of foods eaten by young children. Plans for a national roll out were announced overnight after pilot schemes ran across five local authorities and 35,000 children between October 2007 and June 2008. Uptake of meals among these students rose from 53 per cent to 75 per cent. Within the target group of... ...Read more »