Industry Developments

Premium UK supermarket retailer Waitrose is to launch its first store in Bahrain as it bids to strengthen its position in the high spending Gulf region. Forming part of the retailer's... 2010-06-02

Having consistently posted double-digit annual sales growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) over the last few years (including 2009), Unilever is well positioned to grow... 2010-05-28

Mars GCC has launched a US$40mn manufacturing facility in Dubai as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region assumes greater strategic significance. As emphasised by the fact that the... 2010-05-27

The Middle East region's largest dairy firm by annual sales Almarai is believed to be lining up an acquisitional entry into Pakistan with reports linking it to Haleeb Foods. While Almarai... 2010-05-26

Driven mostly by domestic and international expansion, Israel's Strauss Group - the country's largest food and drink company by annual sales - has reported a 15.5% year-on-year (y-o-y)... 2010-05-25

Leading South African food and drink company Pioneer Foods has reported a decline in H110 (six months to March 2010) earnings. Headline earnings per share dipped more than 50% year-on-year... 2010-05-24

Premium South African retailer Woolworths expects earnings per share (South Africa's main profit gauge) for the year to June 2010 to increase by more than 20% year-on-year (y-o-y).... 2010-05-21

In a real show of confidence in the re-emerging Zimbabwean consumer market, SABMiller's beer and soft drinks unit Delta Corporation is to invest US$112mn in the country over the next... 2010-05-20

A strong case can be made for Ghana to be considered Sub-Saharan Africa's most well-rounded growth story. Counting on a fairly sizable market (population in excess of 20mn), one of... 2010-05-19

South Africa's largest food company by annual sales (see table) Tiger Brands has cautioned that net income for the year to September 30 2010 will be weaker than previously anticipated,... 2010-05-18