All articles by Alex Beckett – Page 18
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News
Global Brands looks to future with new management team
VK Vodka Kick producer Global Brands has reshuffled its senior management team to drive growth in its premium drinks portfolio. Mark James has been promoted from sales director to replace Steve Perez as managing director. Perez has been named...
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News
Dettol fights bacteria and winter flu germs
Reckitt Benckiser has launched an audacious campaign to get people to do their spring cleaning in the autumn.
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News
The greenest laundry cleaner yet from Ariel
Procter & Gamble is launching a version of Ariel that it claims cleans clothes effectively at temperatures as low as 15 degrees. The household goods giant is heralding Ariel Excel Gel as the biggest breakthrough to hit the £961m laundry category to...
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News
Peter’s eyes slice of Pukka-Pies’ market with Premier range
Welsh pie specialist Peter’s is hoping to grab a slice of Pukka-Pies’ market with a new ‘posh’ pastry range that launched into more than 400 Sainsbury’s stores this week. The Premier Pie range carries an rsp of £1.35, pitching it right in Pukka’s…
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News
Latvian caviar brand Mottra highlights its ethical credentials
Latvia’s only caviar brand, Mottra, is bringing what it claims is the only ethical caviar in the world to the UK. The company allows its sturgeon to mature after removing the eggs – rather than following the traditional practice of immediately...
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News
Company of Wine to bring out Tetra Pak alongside eco pouch
South African wine producer The Company of Wine People has announced plans to launch wines in Tetra Pak packaging under its Arniston Bay brand. The range will consist of a Chenin Blanc, a Pinotage Rosé and a Cabernet Merlot, rsp £6.49, and will hit...
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News
Pramanik takes helm of Imperial Tobacco in UK
Imperial Tobacco has appointed Amal Pramanik to the role of general manager for the UK. He replaces Peter Richards, who has been promoted to Western European regional director for Imperial Tobacco. Pramanik believes his previous role as general...
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News
Warburtons is champion thanks to success in south
Success down south has helped Bolton-based bakery Warburtons reach the number one spot in bread for the second year running. The company has also revealed plans for a revamp in October to stay ahead of the game. The brand is up 21% from last year...
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News
‘Faddy’ fruit-flavour ciders in danger of following alcopops
The cider sector is in danger of repeating the same mistakes as the once buoyant ready-to-drink category, Gaymer Cider boss John Mills has warned. The plethora of ‘faddy’ fruit-flavoured ciders that have hit the market in the last few years are in...
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Blockbuster brands switching ad spend to the silver screen
Grocery brands are deserting the small screen for the silver screen, with advertising spending at cinemas up 73% this year. While year-on-year advertising revenues for television sank by £35m in the first half of 2008, cinema was up £14m , according...
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Premier hopes to calm City nerves with Hovis relaunch
Premier Foods is pinning its hopes on Hovis as its new profit-generating champion brand. But won’t that big pile of debt get in the way? Alex Beckett reports
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News
Disney lines up Mickey for healthy kids ranges
Disney is hoping to inspire “pester power for healthy food” with its first UK frozen range of children’s favourites, all made in the distinctive shape of Mickey Mouse. Disney Consumer Products (DCP), its UK consumer arm, has spent the past two...
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News
Wheat under the weather
The cost of bread and other food is set to soar unless the wet and warm weather abates. This was the stark warning from crop experts, who said the record rainfall was causing misery as wheat slowly rotted in the fields, with farmers unable to...
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News
Retailers maintain highstandards
Online services rise to the occasion with another good performance. Shame about Sainsbury’s shocking use of 14 bags
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News
Feel Good Kids juice is ‘healthier option’
Soft drinks brand Feel Good is taking on Fruit Shoots and Innocent Kids with the launch of its first children’s range of juices, which it claims is healthier and more refreshing than the competition because of its high water content. Feel Good Kids...
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News
Green Giant grows up with soup range
Iconic vegetable brand Green Giant has broken with its 83-year tradition of producing only canned vegetables to venture into the soup category. General Mills-owned Green Giant said the brand’s family-friendly heritage would help the new ambient...
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News
Soaring inflation ‘set to cool down’
Food inflation skyrocketed in July, according to the latest data from The Grocer Price Index (GPI), but analysts predict prices will stabilise in October. July’s grocery prices were a hefty 4% higher than in June with a trolley of 100 goods from the...
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Profiles and QandAs
Putting pies back into chip shops is way to go
Holland’s Pies’ new managing director, Neil Court-Johnston, plans to turn around the declining sales of the traditional food manufacturer with the help of chip shops. Sales at the Baxenden-based company have dropped by some 10% to 15% over the past...
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News
Innocent finally makes its orange juice debut
Innocent finally makes its orange juice debut: Innocent finally makes its orange juice debut: After years of waiting for the right moment, Innocent is finally introducing its first straight orange juice to compete with Tropicana and Minute Maid. The smoothie company claims that its new Innocent Orange Juice, available with ...
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News
Kopparberg plays it cool over higher duty
Kopparberg plays it cool over higher duty: Cider maker Kopparberg has denied speculation it plans to fight the government over duty levels on flavoured cider and perry. The duty on a typical 15 x 500ml case of 4.5% abv cider is currently £2.16, but on an equivalent cider with added ...