The gloves are off in central European fuel retail

Rapid network expansion and upstream muscle are the unstoppable forces pushing Lukoil to the fore of fuel retailing in central and eastern Europe (CEE). The firm is the key mover in the region, expanding its site presence by a remarkable 180% over the past three years. But selling petrol is not simply a numbers game: Lukoil is also successfully incorporating a strong shop proposition.

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SEB/Swedbank: all together now

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Scottish & Newcastle: brewing up a storm in the East

The major attraction is Hartwall's 50% share of Russia's leading brewer BBH. S&N has been relatively weak in high-growth emerging markets, but its recent acquisitions including Hartwall are changing the situation. As a result, the rumored three-way merger between S&N, SAB and Miller is looking increasingly unlikely.

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RWE: march across Europe continues

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PKN Orlen: braving the Baltics

PKN Orlen has begun outlining its retail intentions for the Baltic region as it moves closer to the official acquisition of Lithuanian refinery Mazeikiu Nafta. While this deal gives PKN access to much-needed upstream assets, its lack of retail presence means it will have a lot of work do to if it intends to grow organically in markets where the likes of Lukoil and Statoil are firmly established.

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Nordea: predicts export-driven growth in Baltics

Nordea's has forecast an export-driven economic recovery for the three Baltic states. This prediction will be received optimistically by all the Scandinavian banks who remain heavily exposed to the region, which was one of the worst-hit areas of the recession in Europe. Given their significant loan books in the Baltics, the prospect of a recovery is particularly good news for SEB and Swedbank.

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New household goods review: lunchtimes get green makeover

Saving money and being kinder to the environment are two key concerns for consumers today. This month's look at new household goods launches finds a number of products that are designed to be economical, such as a 2-in-1 paper towel and napkin product, and a six-ply toilet roll. Meanwhile, the Fresh Snack Pack aims to appeal to green packed lunch makers with its reusable bag design.

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New food review: acai and aloe add variety to bread category

Efforts to enliven the taste and dietary value of bread are the headline feature of this month's rundown of the latest novel product launches from the food industry, with a number of manufacturers unveiling unusual fruit-based loaves. Meanwhile, with the Easter season approaching, producers are turning to dynamic packs in an attempt to capture some of the lucrative gifting market.

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New drinks review: duo sachet brings "mix and match" concept to drinks

In this month's roundup of novel drinks industry launches, the personalization trend once again takes center stage with the introduction of a new powdered drink that allows consumers to blend individual flavors according to their own taste. In packaging news, novelty musical Christmas tins have arrived for the tea category, while butterscotch flavor "beer" for children is also hitting the shelves.

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New drinks review: beverage industry sets sights on raising self-esteem

Boosting alertness, stamina, health, and even intelligence is ground previously well-trodden by the beverages industry, but a new product featured in this month's rundown of the latest innovative drinks launches makes the novel claim of increasing confidence. In other news, temperature and light sensitive packaging is exploring new niches within the alcoholic drinks market.

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