Hain Celestial: the cost containment challenge

As food companies jostle for organic product market share, one company is confidently snapping up important minor players. Hain Celestial's [HAIN] latest acquisition of Acirca Foods reinforces its position as a major force in the specialty market, but cost containment will remain a major challenge for Hain's and the entire organics and specialty products industry.

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Britvic: tweenagers prove elusive

Britvic's recently launched Freekee Soda soft drink faces a make or break summer period. With faltering sales three months into launch, Britvic is realizing the difficulties of appealing to young consumers. Despite their growing purchasing power, tweenagers are a difficult consumer group to crack.

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Kraft: cutting itself down to size

As US obesity levels rise, Kraft [KFT] has been under increasing pressure to promote a healthy lifestyle. After a court case involving Kraft's Oreo biscuits, new reforms are set to reduce portion sizes and to remove all advertising from schools. While Kraft's move makes sense, it will not be able to completely distance itself from the obesity issue.<BR />

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Food: US consumers will eat out more in 2007

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On-trade drinking: US market to grow at just 1.3% CAGR

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Proctor & Gamble: sunny delight not so hot

Proctor & Gamble [PG] has put its drinks brands Sunny Delight and Punica up for auction. The decision to sell Sunny Delight in particular marks a realization that recent negative publicity and changing consumer trends have affected the future revenue prospects of the brands.<BR />

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EU food claims: now 100% accurate

The EU has announced proposals to ensure that all product claims are backed by fact and do not mislead consumers. This has alarmed manufacturers and advertisers, who believe they may no longer being able to provide the information they want. However, despite their protests, the EU will stick to its guns to continue its mission of targeting growing obesity rates.

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Anheuser-Busch: going light

With the UK launch of Michelob Ultra, Anheuser-Busch [BUD] is revisiting old ground. The move comes just two years after the brewer pulled Bud lite, a similar low calorie beer alternative. Although consumer health concerns have risen since then, success for the new variant depends on effective communication and deciphering the extent to which UK consumer attitudes to beer are changing.

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Healthy food: packed lunch potential for CPG companies

A new report from the Food Standards Agency shows that children's packed lunches are high in fat, salt and sugars - worse in fact than school meals. Food companies can profit from the concern this causes by creating ranges of healthy, fun meals which parents and children will both find attractive.

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Thresher Group: Blockbuster competition

Thresher Group is looking to become a one-stop shop for all that a consumer could want for a good night in. Alongside its alcoholic drinks range it is planning to offer indulgent meals as well as movies to rent. This move highlights a trend towards offering an occasion-specific proposition and the lucrative potential of targeting 'staying in'.

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