The European Commission has cleared the way for EU imports of certain products of animal origin from China, including gelatine and some varieties of fish and shellfish. Honey, poultry and rabbit meat are still banned. Danish firm Dansk Supermarked has opened its first Netto hard discount store in Sweden through a joint venture with Ahold's Scandinavian partner ICA. A further 20 stores are planned this year. Scottish sausage skin manufacturer Devro said this year's trading figures would improve on last year's disappointing results, as it was beginning to see greater stability in most of its markets. Unilever chairman Niall FitzGerald said he was confident sales of the company's top 400 brands would grow at around 5% in 2002, despite last month's first quarter dip to 3%. The European Commission has given conditional clearance to Imperial Tobacco's E5.2bn acquisition of German cigarette maker Reemtsma. Danish brewer Carlsberg said cost efficiencies through integration of companies in Sweden, Poland and Turkey, plus continued growth in Eastern Europe, should push full-year turnover up by 10%. First quarter turnover to March 31 increased 9% to DKK7.57bn (£635m). The Guild of Fine Food Retailers has merged its Fine Food Fortnight with the Countryside Alliance's British Food Week to create British Food fortnight to run from October 26. Cadbury Schweppes chief executive John Sunderand told the company's annual general meeting that the first four months trading of 2002 had been satisfactory and he was confident of achieving the company's financial targets for the full year. Fitch Ratings downgraded Carrefour's credit rating, citing increased competition in the emerging markets it operates in and the maturity of its store concepts in Europe. Turkey producer Brandons has bought Moorland Poultry for an undisclosed sum. Bakery equipment manufacturer Mono Equipment has acquired US doughnut equipment manufacturer Belshaw Brothers from Enodis for $24.2m. Reckitt Benckiser achieved turnover up 5% to £855m and net profit up 30% to £70m for the first quarter of its financial year ending March 31. The Food Standards Agency is advising that meat from Zimbabwean, South African and Polish cattle over thirty months old may pose a slightly higher BSE risk than other legally sold imported beef. Safeway managing director, operations, Jack Sinclair has taken over as vice president of the grocery charity Caravan. BP and Safeway have topped the 50 mark with their mini supermarket and forecourt partnership with a new site at St Helen's Merseyside. {{NEWS }}

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