The Federal Government has announced successful trade negotiations with India will enhance the export of macadamia nuts to the sub-continent. Concluded negotiations with India’s quarantine authorities will allow Australian macadamia nuts to be exported to India without fumigation previously required. Ongoing consultation with the Australian macadamia industry will allow heat treatment as an alternative to fumigation. Australian Macadamia Society CEO, Jolyon Burnett, said market access negotiations... ...Read more »

Kraft Foods is encouraging the Indian government to develop a comprehensive cocoa production development policy, claiming domestic supplies are too poor and scant to fuel its growing needs. Atul Bhatia, executive director for research and innovation at Cadbury’s Indian subsidiary, stressed in an interview with just-food that while cocoa is an essential part of his company’s business, imports are often essential. Production is not widespread – cocoa is not a native crop – and... ...Read more »

Unilever CEO Paul Polman last week outlined the manufacturer’s strategic shift towards emerging markets to take advantage of their rapidly-growing populations. Speaking at the Cannes advertising festival, Polman said that one of the major drivers of change is the shift of economic power to the east and the south. He asked if the current marketing agency model is the right one in “helping brand owners anticipate the needs of the next billion consumers in the fast growing markets of the... ...Read more »

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 »

US spice maker McCormick is working to build its presence in developing markets, with the company looking for 12% of its turnover to come from these markets by 2015, up from 9% in 2010. The company sees India as a key part of this strategy, with McCormick chairman, president and CEO Alan Wilson outlining “four avenues of growth” in the country. Wilson highlighted the importance of the market, saying that the country has five times the spice use than than of the US. He added that while... ...Read more »

Kraft Foods has filed a lawsuit against India’s leading biscuit manufacturer, Britannia Industries, over an alleged infringement of the copyright on its Oreo biscuit brand. Kraft confirmed yesterday that it has filed a suit in the Delhi High Court, seeking an injunction and damages for “infringement of trademark and copyright, passing off and unfair competition” of its Oreo brand of cookies. It is understood that Britannia’s recently launched ‘Treat-O’ biscuit... ...Read more »

Nestlé India has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC) to develop nutrition initiatives aimed at helping to manage diabetes. The collaboration – which focuses on increasing consumers’ awareness and knowledge of their diets – will see Nestlé work with N-DOC to understand the impact of local diets and changing lifestyles on the increasing incidence of the disease in India. Gary Tickle, Regional Business Head of Nestlé... ...Read more »

Nestlé has announced plans to accelerate its investments in India with the construction of new facilities. The firm said the investment will “re-emphasise its confidence in the country’s growth potential”. Nestle has spent over CHF15m (US$15.1m) in India over the last three years. The Swiss food giant’s current plans foresee a further investment acceleration in “2011 and beyond”, it added. Besides the expansion of its existing sites in Moga, Samalkha, Nanjangud,... ...Read more »

Cadbury has confirmed that it will “significantly” expand the production capacity for its confectionery portfolio in India. Officials for Cadbury India confirmed comments made yesterday (18 November) by managing director Anand Kripalu that capacity is a “challenge” for the firm and that the Dairy Milk maker will be looking to “drive up volumes”. Kripalu said the expansion will take place at the company’s existing six facilities in India but declined... ...Read more »

Immense opportunities in the Indian confectionery market are encouraging confectionery companies from the West to enter into the Indian horizon by launching more and more new products for Indian consumers. India, today, is in its ‘sunshine period’ owing to the fast paced economic development in the country. The country’s healthy growth has insulated it from the impact of the global economic turmoil. All these have led to higher consumer spending in the country. As a result, many multinational... ...Read more »