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Freshpet, a company that specializes in premium refrigerated fresh pet foods for cats and dogs, has seen strong sales growth and improved margins. While the company has exceeded its sales targets for the first and second quarters, management is cautious about upgrading its long-term targets until it can consistently achieve these results. Freshpet plans to open new production lines to meet demand, but is focused on maintaining discipline and staying close to its capacity limits. Analysts are optimistic about Freshpet's future performance and believe it has the potential to become a mainstream dog food brand. [Extracted from the article]

Mars is considering acquiring Kellanova, a US snacks giant, in a potential mega deal that could create a business with annual sales revenue of at least $60 billion. Kellanova's share price surged by 19% in response to the news, while Mars, a privately owned company, would likely face scrutiny from competition regulators. Analysts suggest that a Mars-Kellanova merger could lead to further consolidation in the packaged food industry and attract activist investor interest. The deal would also provide Mars with popular snack brands like Pringles and Cheez-It. [Extracted from the article]

Tea prices have been increasing due to two main challenges faced by producers: a changing climate and evolving international tensions. The tea sector is experiencing a significant price increase, with prices rising by 50% in the last year and 34% in the last three months alone. Factors such as attacks in the Red Sea, heatwaves, and the rising price of fertilizers have disrupted tea production. Additionally, geopolitical tensions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, have further complicated the industry. The changing climate, including heatwaves and droughts, has also damaged tea crops in key producing countries. These challenges have led to supply chain disruptions and a shortage of fertilizers, resulting in higher production costs and slower delivery times. As a result, tea prices are expected to continue rising in the future. Consumer tastes are also diversifying, with increasing demand for green, fruit, and herbal teas. These trends, along with the impact of food and drink products on health and wellness, have contributed to price increases for less traditional tea flavors. However, the rising prices have not yet significantly affected consumers, but if the challenges persist, tea prices may increase in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Meat Alternatives; Vegetarian and Vegan; Analysis; Monde Nissin; Quorn Foods EN Meat Alternatives Vegetarian and Vegan Analysis Monde Nissin Quorn Foods N.PAG N.PAG 1 04/07/23 20230403 NES 230403 Monde Nissin took an impairment charge of more than $350m on its meat-alternatives business in further evidence the category is under pressure globally. While Bertacca envisages demand for meat alternatives will return to some normality in the UK once inflation subsides, or even "come back solid", he was asked to give some perspective on the US and European markets. [Extracted from the article]

Research and intelligence company group GlobalData - I Just Food i 's parent company - is also bullish, noting the overall value sales of packaged food in China crossed the US$1trn milestone in 2022, with an increase projected in 2023. Keywords: Pan-industry; Analysis; BRICs and beyond; Emerging markets EN Pan-industry Analysis BRICs and beyond Emerging markets N.PAG N.PAG 1 01/10/23 20230105 NES 230105 Until social unrest in November forced China's Communist Party to abandon its tough Covid-19 controls, the country's packaged food industry seemed in decent shape to produce solid growth in 2023. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Environment; ESG; Pan-industry; Analysis; Homepage EN Environment ESG Pan-industry Analysis Homepage N.PAG N.PAG 1 11/15/22 20221111 NES 221111 Food manufacturing companies and brands that thought the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the focus on climate change would have seen campaigners pull back on packaging have been left sorely disappointed. Efforts to reduce packaging, integrate more reusable packaging and ensure what's remaining is easily recyclable and contains as much recycled content as possible will all help companies curb emissions. Food companies insist commitment remains So will the ambitious climate commitments made by food companies see efforts to tackle packaging wane?. [Extracted from the article]

The company has changed the recipes for its Walkers Baked and Doritos Dippers products to meet the non-HFSS criteria, while its PopWorks puffy snack range now has three flavours that are non-HFSS. Health consciousness For all the uncertainty around the UK's legislative agenda, market watchers believe there is an underlying consumer trend manufacturers must follow and that non-HFSS products could leverage. [Extracted from the article]

Draper, whose brands are all plant-based and organic, says downgrading product quality is something many brands turn to cut costs but is "really quite sinister". Keywords: Bakery and Cereal; Confectionery; Savoury Snacks; Shelf-stable; Analysis; Homepage; Mondelez International EN Bakery and Cereal Confectionery Savoury Snacks Shelf-stable Analysis Homepage Mondelez International N.PAG N.PAG 1 11/11/22 20221107 NES 221107 It is broadly accepted that in times of economic turmoil sales of small luxuries do not suffer too badly. According to GlobalData research, 41% of consumers globally traded down to cheaper savoury snacks in the third quarter of 2022, whether within the same brand or moving to private label. At Nurture Brands, Draper says he isn't too concerned about the trend for trading down as "there is always a market for good-quality food" and his brands have "unique propositions". [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Frozen; Governance; Ice Cream; Analysis EN Frozen Governance Ice Cream Analysis N.PAG N.PAG 1 10/26/22 20221019 NES 221019 In June 2022, British conglomerate Unilever sold Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's ice cream business in Israel under a local licence for an undisclosed sum. Yet the deal was uniquely inked under the condition that a separate Ben & Jerry's board would continue to make social decisions for the company, while Unilever would be responsible for financial and operational decisions. What lessons can be learned from the Unilever/Ben & Jerry's conflict for companies that are either considering or in the process of a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal?. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Baby Food; Dairy & Soy Food; Robotics; Analysis; Danone EN Baby Food Dairy & Soy Food Robotics Analysis Danone N.PAG N.PAG 1 10/25/22 20221018 NES 221018 Giovanni Pacini is the global digital operations transformation director at Danone, a position he took in October 2020, tasked with introducing automated processes and a cultural shift in the group's factories worldwide. Baby Food, Dairy & Soy Food, Robotics, Analysis, Danone. [Extracted from the article]