All articles by Alex Beckett – Page 5
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NewsHidden halal: an acceptable side to multicultural Britain?
The furore over halal meat could provoke a backlash when the UK has to decide whether to enshrine the slaughter method in law. Alex Beckett reports
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News
Own-label Christmas puds soar 30% in price
Christmas puds could be off the festive menu this year as poor harvests and food inflation send the cost of ingredients soaring more than 20% and push the shelf price of own-label puds up 30%.
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NewsKellogg’s puts spotlight on Cornflakes with M4 Torch stunt
Kellogg’s is making a monumental effort to catch the attention of motorists along the M4 with a 23-metre high ‘box’ of its Cornflakes.
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NewsUS hit Powerade Zero rolling out to UK retail
Coca-Cola announced this week that it is introducing Powerade Zero to the UK and insisted it had no plans to ditch Wayne Rooney as brand ambassador.
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NewsM&S green chief slams 'fire risk' eco-kettles
Marks & Spencer’s champion of green issues has branded the retailer’s eco kettles “bug-ugly” – and admitted he feared his cleaner could burn down his house by leaving the appliance switched on.
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News
McCullough named First Drinks marketing head
Glenfiddich and Russian Standard distributor First Drinks has promoted Una McCullough to marketing director.McCullough arrived at First Drinks in June as interim marketing director, but the role was given to her on a permanent basis this...
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Buyers fall crazy in love with ‘inspired’ products
Beyoncé-inspired popcorn, speciality teas containing real gold and tequila-infused ice cream could be launching into major retailers by Christmas, after winning plaudits at The Speciality & Fine Food Fair. Last weekend's event...
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Interviews
Big interview: Chris Mason - The master builder
After the buyout of C&C Group’s spirit business, First Drinks boss Chris Mason is sharpening his axe for some giant slaying. Alex Beckett reports
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News
‘Wall’s will be bigger in pastries than bangers’
Wall's is branching into hot pies and owner Kerry Foods predicts the 200-year old brand will be bigger in savoury pastry products than in sausages next year. Hitting the chilled fixture this week, Wall's Fully Loaded Hot Pies (rsp:...
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NewsCovent Garden soups turn extra chunky in pot format
New Covent Garden is beefing up for winter with what it claims are the first "extra chunky" soups to hit the chilled fixture. The Big & Bold range of single-serve pots (rsp: £1.89), the brand's first non-carton soups, come in chunky...
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NewsTabasco range turns up heat in branded chilled pizza sector
Tabasco has unveiled its new chilled pizza line-up, its first range of branded products outside the hot sauce category. The three-strong Tabasco Spicy Pizza range is in Tesco now with an rsp of £3.99 the same price as the Pizza...
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NewsRival to Simply Bake raises cold war stakes
Findus has raised the stakes in the freezer aisle with a range that rivals and it believes betters Birds Eye's Simply Bake To Perfection. The Fresher Taste ready meals, which will hit shelves next week, are similar to the high-flying...
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Cadbury makes an encouraging start to biscuit success plan
Cadbury's collaboration with Burton's Foods has sparked 40% sales growth in the total biscuit category suggesting it is well on track with its plans to be as big in biscuits as it is in confectionery.
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News
A new younger Aunt Bessie is unveiled in £6.5m brand facelift
Aunt Bessie has gone under the knife and ditched the specs in a bid to boost the frozen brand's appeal with younger consumers. Sales have risen just 1.7% over the past year to £151m [Nielsen 52w/e July 2010] and her facelift is part of a...
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NewsSeabrook sets its sights on southern expansion
Seabrook Crisps plans to build a multimillion-pound factory to help it boost sales to £200m by 2022 and expand distribution beyond its northern heartland.
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News
Cost-cutting threatens food poisoning ‘time-bomb’
Britain could be facing a “food poisoning time bomb”, according to a new report that claims food manufacturers are slashing spending on hygiene and safety training.
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NewsTetley tea folk make TV comeback
Tetley is bringing its tea-folk brand characters back to TV screens for the first time in a decade as part of a £9m new advertising campaign.
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News
Pukka targeting lads with only pies tailor-made for microwave
Pukka-Pies is about to make the nation's lads very happy it is launching what it claims is the market's only frozen pie range tailor-made for the microwave.
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News
British wheat crop set to cool inflation fears
Food inflation fears continue to grip the media but a very promising start to the British wheat harvest should allay fears of a significant rise in food prices, according to experts.
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News
Retail Prices: Major brands squeezed by own label in fight for space
Several major brands slashed promotional activity in the past month. The big exceptions were Birds Eye, Lindemans and Pampers. Alex Beckett reports