Industry Developments

Private equity firm Lion Capital LLP has announced it is to acquire The FoodVest Group from rival private equity firm CapVest PLC. FoodVest is one of the largest frozen food firms... 2008-07-23

The two largest retailers in the Netherlands have both indicated that so far there has been no visible impact from the global economic slowdown. With GDP continuing to grow steadily... 2008-07-22

Energy drink Red Bull will now be sold in France using its original recipe after the country was forced to withdraw a 12-year ban on the product. The drink, owned by Austria based... 2008-07-18

The Co-operative Group (Co-op), the self-styled ethical retailer that owns around 2,200 food outlets in the UK, has agreed to buy rival retailer Somerfield for GBP1.57bn (US$3.2bn).... 2008-07-17

Shares in Italian dairy producer Parmalat hit a record low on July 15, after the firm cut its profit forecast for 2008. In a statement to the Italian Stock Exchange, Parmalat revealed... 2008-07-16

Irish drinks firm C&C has issued a downbeat trading statement, blaming unsettled weather and a deteriorating economy for a slowdown in sales. In the four months to the end of... 2008-07-15

The managing director of Lidl in France, Pascal Tromp, has revealed that he expects discount chains to benefit from upcoming changes in French planning legislation. The 'Law to Modernise... 2008-07-14

The Coca-Cola Company has submitted a planning application to build a new US$300mn manufacturing and innovation facility in Ireland. The plant will be built in the county of Wexford,... 2008-07-11

French retail giant Carrefour has moved to ease investor's concerns with a new five-point plan to tempt back shoppers and cut costs. The retailer has been forced to act after disappointing... 2008-07-10

Swiss chocolate producer Barry Callebaut has announced dynamic sales growth in the first nine months of its 2008 fiscal year. The company, which supplies cocoa and chocolate products... 2008-07-09