Announcements

Job offersmore »

Specialsmore »

Recent commentsmore »

Top 5 - yesterday

Top 5 - last week

Top 5 - last month

Remaining news more »

Economic newsmore »

Exchange ratesmore »

EU 'on verge' of settling banana dispute with Latin America
Shares in Dublin-listed banana importer Fyffes plc jumped almost 8pc on the back of optimism that the European Union is close to settling its 16-year-old trade dispute with Latin American banana producers.Hopes rose that the EU and Latin American banana exporters may reach an accord that would reduce import..... 0 comments

German onion prices slightly higher
As a result of a lively demand, especially as far as export to Eastern and Southern Europe is concerned, the prices for onions in Germany have risen somewhat. Yellow onions are between Euro 12 and Euro 14 per 100 kgs. (ex station). The price for red onions has remained stable at Euro 20 per 100..... 0 comments

Greek citrus campaign is underway
All citrus producing regions have now started harvesting oranges and clementines. The crop looks average in terms of volumes with no particular issues on fruit size. Weather has been favorable so far with sufficient rains resulting in a qualitative crop.Greece has managed one of the highest percentages of..... 0 comments

Turnover of organic products in Germany falls
The market research company Gfk states that the turnover of organic products in Germany fell by 4% in the first 6 months of 2009 in comparison to the same period last year. At discounters the fall was 6%. The prices of the products fell by 7%. Gfk thinks that due to the economic crisis consumers chose..... 0 comments

EU's measures on Turkish pears' imports
Controls will be strengthened and specific import conditions imposed after detecting several times high levels of “Amitraz” pesticide in pears imported form Turkey.Member States unanimously approved the European Commission’s draft proposal during the meeting of the Permanent Food Supply-Chain and animal..... 0 comments

UK: Potato yields higher than 2008
This year's potato crop was up 3.5% on last year at 6.2m tonnes, according to a provisional Potato Council estimate.The planted area was relatively unchanged at 130,231ha, but favourable growing conditions meant the average yield was over 3% higher at 47.2t/ha, compared with 45.7t/ha last year.But, drier..... 0 comments

Co-organised by IFEMA and FEPEX, the fair took place between 4th and 6th November at Feria de Madrid
Spain: The first edition if Fruit Attraction surpasses all expectations and emerges as a grand forum for business
The first edition of FRUIT ATTRACTION, the Fruit & Vegetables Trade Show, which is co-organised by IFEMA and FEPEX, the Spanish Federation of Fruit, Vegetable, Flower and Live Plant Producing Exporters, took place between 4th and 6th November at Feria de Madrid. It concluded with a set of highly..... 0 comments

Fears for fair trade farmers if 'banana war' ends
Britain's shoppers are being urged to keep faith with fair trade Caribbean banana growers as Europe and Latin America prepare to declare a ceasefire in the 16-year "banana wars," one of the world's longest-running trade disputes.Banana prices should fall as a result of the deal, as Brussels cuts the import..... 0 comments

Bulgaria: Demand of Shopian fruit soars across markets
Srinagar: Despite low production, the apple crop of South Kashmir’s Shopian district is in huge demand across the country.Reports reaching Press Bureau of India said that different varieties of Apple crop particularly delicious from South Kashmir’s Shopian district are in huge demand in almost all the fruit..... 0 comments

Euro higher as officials try to support dollar
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet again backed comments by his U.S. counterpart, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who earlier this week noted the importance of a strong dollar."I have repeatedly been on the record in saying that I appreciate the statements made by the U.S. President,..... 0 comments

Malta imports more fruit & vegetables
Malta imported from the EU over 23 million euros worth of fruit and vegetables in the first nine months of this year, but with only 17 million euros worth of local fresh produce.The National Statistics Office reported that the Pitkali market had seen 33.6 million kilos of local produce sold, the value of..... 0 comments

X5 Retail Group to open 140 "Pyaterochka" soft discounters in Russia by the end of the year
X5 Retail Group, Russia's largest retailer in terms of sales, is planning to accelerate its expansion in the domestic market through the opening of 140 soft discounters under the Pyaterochka (Five) brand name by the end of the current year.According to the company, most of the future discounters Pyaterochka..... 0 comments

UK: Sainsbury’s Trials BOGOF Later Scheme
Sainsbury’s has announced that it is matching Tesco with a Buy One Get One Free Later offer. The scheme, which has been welcomed by food waste campaigners, allows shoppers to pick up their free product at a later date via a voucher system. The trial launches today and will run for seven days at 470..... 0 comments

Romania - French retail giant opens hypermarkets
French retail group Auchan has opened its 7th hypermarket in Romania, local media reports. The new hypermarket is located in the city of Timisoara and will be the largest store in the western part of the country.The store has 10,500 sq m sales area, 60 cash registers and a range of over 50,000 products in..... 0 comments

European School Fruit Scheme needs sound implementation and proper communicatio
Although the European School Fruit Scheme (SFS) kicked off at the beginning of the 2009/2010 school year, substantial concerns remain regarding the sound implementation of the scheme and the appropriate communication policy around it. These were the key elements of the message passed yesterday by Freshfel..... 0 comments

Damco boosts regional commercial strength with the appointment of CCO for North Asia
Damco announced that Anne Marcotty has joined the company as Chief Commercial Officer for its North Asia operations, to further strengthen the company's position as the region's leading logistics provider. Anne will be based in Hong Kong and takes on overall responsibilities for business development in the..... 0 comments

Focus on technology, marketing and logistics management
Business Forum presents fresh convenience trends
Berlin, 18 November 2009 – Following its successful debut in 2008, FRESHCONEX, the international trade fair for fresh produce convenience, is taking place next year for the third time at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. An excellent market overview of the products and services in this very dynamic sector will..... 0 comments

Specialist in sorting lines for fresh fruits and vegetables
Spain: High quality at Fruit Attraction for Unitec
The presentation of the range Unitec for the detection of fruits and vegetables internal quality at Fruit Attraction ended with a strong interest in it.At the first edition of Fruit Attraction, the last innovations about fruits and vegetables quality’s selection systems have been successfully proposed by..... 0 comments

Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre, Scotland June 22-24, 2010
2010 Internatioal potato processing & storage convention
The magazines Potato Processing International and Potato Storage International and the web portal www.potatobusiness.com are delighted to announce their next convention, again in a combined format, will take place at Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre, Scotland, June 22-24, 2010.In a world of increasing..... 0 comments

"Vegetables from France" under pressure
This year 20 to 30% of the growers of vegetables run the risk of insolvency. Because of this development and the economicrecession"Légume de France", a special interest group for vegetable growers, will hold a meeting on 19 and 20 November. "The prices of vegetables for the period from April to August have..... 0 comments

Suitable for various case sizes to Tangmere Airfield Nursery Ltd
Holland: Burg’s Machinefabriek supplies multifunctional washer for packing cases
Recently by Burg's Machinefabriek in Oostdijk, Holland, a very advanced fully automatic packing case washer with case handling mechanism was sold to Tangmere Produce Ltd. To be in a position to satisfy the specific wishes of the customer the washing installation was built moduleby module. In this way the..... 0 comments

"Demand could be bigger"
Holland: Supply of white and red cabbage 10 to 15% less because of drought
As a result of the drought, supply of red and white cabbage is about 10 to 15% less compared to last year. Gerard Sevenhuijsen of Tuindersbelang in Warmenhuizen, Holland who are mediators of red and white cabbage, tells. "The quality of the cabbage is good, although they are slightly smaller because of the..... 0 comments

Spanish Proexport sells 22% less cabbage
The Spanish producers and exporters organisation Proexport reports a decrease in turnover of 20 percent in cabbage sales. During last season the organisation sold 22% less green cabbage compared to the previous season. The totalis 228,986 tons. The sale of broccoli decreased by 18% to 87,203 tons. The..... 0 comments

Telephone survey results
Are Ukrainians willing to buy genetically modified products
According to press release given by Gorshenin Institute to UNIAN, Almost 90 % of Ukrainians are against the import of products treated with Genetically Modified Organisms. Those are the results of the phone survey conducted by Gorshenin Institute on 13/1109-15/11/09.According to the survey results absolute..... 0 comments

U.K. Oct. annual consumer price inflation up 1.5%
Consumer prices in Britiain rose at a monthly pace of 0.2% in October, for a 1.5% rise from the same month last year, the Office for National Statistics reported Tuesday. Economists had forecast a 0.1% monthly rise and a 1.5% year-on-year change. The data marked an acceleration in the annual rate from 1.1%..... 0 comments

European Currency Tumbles To 2-month Low Against British Pound
During early deals on Tuesday, the European currency plunged to a 2-month low against the British pound and a 13-day low versus the Japanese yen. The euro also weakened against the dollar, but it climbed to a 4-day high against the Swiss franc.Eurozone unadjusted trade surplus stood at EUR 3.7 billion in..... 0 comments

Largest Ukrainian retail group Amstor will be sold to private investors
"Smart-Holding, a diversified Ukrainian Holding, is planning to buy the largest Ukrainian retail group Amstor, Ukrainian media reports."The acquisition will take place after its approval by the Ukrainian Antimonopoly Committee", - sources in the company has told. Both parties have already agreed the..... 0 comments

M&S ads boost Waitrose sales
Retail jobs at Waitrose could gain from the company’s sales increase, which is reportedly a result of an advertising campaign by Marks & Spencer.M&S recently ran an advertising campaign comparing their prices to that of Waitrose’s Essential items.Products like Waitrose’s tea bags, penne and sausages..... 0 comments

Sainsbury's submit plans for expansion Premium Article !
Plans to expand a Whitley Bay supermarket are close to being submitted.Sainsbury's unveiled plans for store improvements and an extension in the store last month, and the firm is now hoping to submit the application that could see an extra 10,000 sq ft of sales space through the construction of a new..... 0 comments

Supply chain reconfiguration for Musgrave Retail Partners GB
At IGD's annual Supply Chain Summit last month, Scott Wharton, Supply Chain Director, Musgrave Retail Partners GB described how the business has delivered a network reconfiguration of its supply chain and how partnering with its independent retail customers who know their local markets has been crucial to..... 0 comments

Growth in German and French economies
The German economy grewduring the third quarter 0,7 percent compared to the previous one. This has become clear from figures published by the national bureau of statistics last Friday. The growth is slightly less than expected, but nevertheless a confirmation that Germany gas left the recession behind...... 0 comments

A $778 million loss suggests shipping will trail trade in recovery
Maersk signals slow sailing ahead
A.P. Moller-Maersk AS reported a hefty loss for the first nine months of the year, a sign that shipping will recover at a slower pace than trade as an excessive shipbuilding spree continues to take its toll.Copenhagen-based Maersk said Thursday it lost $778 million for the period. Maersk, the world's biggest..... 0 comments

Poland: prices of pears for export
Price of Lucas pears remains stable. On Tuesday, November 17, producer price for pears of this variety, size 60+ was 0.80 – 0.90 PLN (0.19-0.22 euro)/kg.On the contrary the price of Conference has increased recently. On Tuesday, the producer price for these pears, size 60 + was even 1.60 PLN (0.39 euro)/kg. 0 comments

EU: Over €23m of fruits and vegetables imported
Over €23 million worth of fruit and vegetables were imported from the EU in the first 9 months of this year, compared with just €17 million worth of fresh local produce.Replying to a Parliamentary Question by MP Carmelo Abela, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said that a total of 23.5 million kilograms of fruit..... 0 comments

UK: Organic Alliance expands Food Safety Program
Organic Alliance has expanded its food safety and quality program to include newly expanded global markets. The company said that in order to help support implementation it has entered into an agreement with Lighthouse Food Safety and Quality to serve as Organic Alliance’s partner resource for food safety,..... 0 comments

‘Banana wars’ deal may be signed this week
The “banana wars”, the longestrunning dispute in the history of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is close to being settled.European and Latin American trade officials are pushing for a deal to be signed this week. As a result, the European Union would cut duties significantly on bananas and other tropical..... 0 comments

Dutch cooperative blurs food prejudices
Johan Schut pulled a folding knife from his hip pocket, inserted the tip into the base of a bright, crispy head of romaine lettuce and severed it in two.“See there, the little brown specks with black legs?” He lifted one of the busy beasts onto the tip of his blade. “It’s a family of aphids. This is a..... 0 comments

Spain: Successful Fruit Attraction
The first FRUIT ATTRACTION, a Fair for the Trade Sector of Fruits and Vegetables, co-organized by IFEMA and FEPEX held from 4 to 6 November at Feria de Madrid, has registered a total of 12,628 professional participants, according to figures audited by the AFE, Spanish Fair’s Association, surpassing all..... 0 comments

Smaller Brussels sprout crop Flanders due to dry summer
The Brussels sprout season will come at 'cruising speed' next month. The high temperatures and low rainfall during this summer have caused a somewhat smaller crop and smaller sprouts. "But they are firm sprouts of very good quality and in addition have first class storing qualities," Lava, the head..... 0 comments

German consumer describes cucumber as calorie-low, healthy, fresh and juicy
Calorie-low, healthy, fresh and juicy: that is how the German consumer describes a cucumber. The belief that they are healthy and 'calorie-low' are really strong. Terms and associations which can be used well when advertising and positioning cucumbers. More assortment choices desirableThe lack of..... 0 comments

Berkman Forwarding
“We want to extend our customs dealings in the fruit and vegetable business"
Berkman Forwarding B.V. is a forwarder/NVOCC (Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier) who in addition to their own offices in Barendrecht, Holland, also have their own branches in China, Vietnam, India and USA, they also cooperate with reliable andwell-established businesses in other countries. The company is..... 0 comments

Netherlands: Apple and pear stocks on 1 November 2009
0 comments

UK: McCain backs potato range with £7m campaign
McCain Foods is supporting the relaunch of its Prepared Potato range with a £7m campaign..The ‘Good Unlimited' ad, by Beattie McGuinness Bungay, features McCain's Smiles, Wedges and Sweet Potato products.It is based around a Willy Wonka-style potato factory. Potatoes are tickled by a ‘potato tickler' to..... 0 comments

UK: Cost of ginger to double after dry spell
The price of making Indian and Chinese dishes could rise as the cost of root ginger may more than double.A price war has kept the cost to £1 per pound, but buyers warn that it could hit £2.15 as the amount grown in the Far East has fallen because of a dry summer.Farmers in China, who produce a third of the..... 0 comments

UK: Hotel chain bans garlic from Christmas menu to increase chances of festive kisses
A leading hotel chain is banning garlic from its Christmas menu, saying the move will increase workers’ chances of stealing a festive kiss from colleagues.Holiday Inn said its Fresh Breath Menu, available at 70 hotels across the country, will be completely garlic-free - no garlic bread, sausage or..... 0 comments

"Spring onions, cherry tomatoes, pomegranates and chili peppers"
Holland: It's Egyptian season at Kohl Fruit Trading
The Egyptian season has begun again at Kohl Fruit Trading. The first containers of spring onions, cherry tomatoes and pomegranates have arrived and this week the first container of chili peppers will be sent. "If we turn over same volumes as last year we will be pleased", says Geoffry Kohl...... 0 comments

Tunisia,Poland to strengthen bilateral cooperation
Mr. Abderrazak Daaloul, Secretary of state in charge of fisheries and Mr. Chokri Mamoghli, Secretary of State in charge of External Trade conferred on Saturday with Mr. Wieslaw Woda, President of Poland-Tunisia Friendship Group currently in Tunisia on a working visit at the head of the Polish delegation.Mr...... 0 comments

Italy: New biological control system for fresh-cut products
After numerous years of research in collaboration with Microbiological Institute of "Sacro Cuore" - University of Piacenza (Italy), the Italian firm Zanaglia & Zaniboni has developed a biological control system (bio preservation) towards bacterial carriers in fresh vegetables for the Fresh-Cut..... 0 comments

PepsiCo's Rostov plant to launch potato chips production by end of Nov
PepsiCo will commence production of Frito Lay chips at its plant in Azov (Rostov region) the end of November, the region's Deputy Governor Alexander Noskov said at a press conference on Friday at Interfax's office in Rostov on the Don."The construction readiness of the plant is in place and a test launch has..... 0 comments

Russia: PepsiCo plans to increase potato chips production in CIS countries
PepsiCo is planning to implement an agricultural program of potato cultivation in Belarus, said yesterday the vice president of corporate affairs of PepsiCo CIS countries Sergey Glushkov.According to him, currently PepsiCo owns the Europe's largest chips production factory which is located in the city of..... 0 comments

Imports of fresh fruit to Russia in 2008 and 2009
Russia's imports of American fruit are forecast to decrease 30 percent due to decreasing incomes and customers moving to the less expensive varieties.The drastic appreciation of the dollar verses the rubles makes Washington apples and other American fruit less competitive on the market compared with more..... 0 comments

Swedish potato crop down on last year
The potato harvest in Sweden this year will be significantly lower compared to last year’s figures, according to local media reports.The main reason seems to be the reduction in the total area planted to potatoes. More and more potato farmers are experiencing losses and leave the potato business.According to..... 0 comments

Herbert launch new 5m barrel washer at British Potato
Herbert Engineering are looking forward to rounding up a very busy year of shows at the British Potato event, being held in Harrogate on the 25th and 26th November. As the event is solely dedicated to the potato industry, Herbert has opted to display a range of its potato handling equipment including the..... 0 comments

Switzerland: The "Domaine des Loveresses" building new greenhouses
After hail damage, the "Domaine des Loveresses" in Swiss' s Vaud region was left with nothing but a ghost of a greenhouse. After several months of looking for architects and contractors, Mr. Philippe Cornu, company G.M., has decided to start the re-construction.The "Domaine des Loveresses" is a family owned..... 0 comments

Greens to be gorgeous: Why eating your five fruit and veg a day makes you
Eating fruit and vegetables can make you look more attractive, scientists suggest.In a study, volunteers were asked which skin tone made people appear most healthy and desirable.The researchers at St Andrews University in Scotland found that Caucasian men and women both preferred the 'rosy' look created by..... 0 comments

London skyline recreated in fruit 'n' veg
An edible model of London's skyline has been recreated using fruit and vegetables.The project, which was commissioned by the Good Food Channel and photographed by Carl Warner, features 26 different types of produce.The Houses Of Parliament have been made from asparagus, beans and baby sweetcorn, while Big..... 0 comments

Jorge Sampaio, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations
The 28th International Horticulture Congress, to be held in Lisbon from 22 to 27 August 2010, begins with an opening address from the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, a former President of the Portuguese Republic. The aim of the Alliance is to support,..... 0 comments

Austria October consumer price inflation rises
The Statistics Austria announced that the consumer price index or CPI rose 0.3% year-on-year in October, faster than the 0.1% growth in the previous month.On a monthly basis, the CPI increased 0.1% in October, unchanged from the prior month.Meanwhile, the harmonized index of consumer prices or HICP rose 0.1%..... 0 comments

Euro choppy after middling US retail sales data
The euro traded in choppy waters early in New York Monday, after a slight improvement in U.S. retail sales failed to spark an extension of its overnight gains.The retail sales report came on the heels of data that showed an expansion in Japanese economic activity, which set the stage for the euro and other..... 0 comments

Penny Market and Plus open stores in Bulgaria
The German diversified discount retail chain Penny Market opened its first batch of 14 stores in Bulgaria, a press company release said.The stores are in Sofia, Veliko Turnovo, Rousse, Vratsa, Radomir, Lovetch, Nova Zagora, Botevgrad, Svilengrad, Knezha, Novi Pazar, Pavlikeni and Dobrich. The company has..... 0 comments

UK: Sainsbury’s loses market share to rivals
More than £11m of spending was switched from Sainsbury’s to its competitors in the 12 weeks to November, according to TNS Worldpanel data leaked to The Times.In the period, Sainsbury’s gained a net £700,000 from Asda and smaller gains from Netto and Farm Foods.However, around £2m of spending was switched to..... 0 comments

Retail technology for recessionary times
Supermarket News recently highlighted five "must-have" technology tools for grocers to manage the downturn. Of the mentioned technologies, which should grocers most focus on to best manage the downturn? 0 comments

Auchan to expand its presence in Ukraine
French retail group Auchan is planning to open 3 hypermarkets in the Ukrainian capital Kiev by the end of the current year, thus expanding its Ukrainian chain up to 7 hypermarkets, according to General Director Auchan Ukraine Gerard Gallet.According to Gerard Galle, next week the company will open a new..... 0 comments

UK: Debenhams starts festive price war
Department store chain Debenhams has thrown down the gauntlet to its retail rivals as it announced a £250 million four-day sale and predicted a high street Christmas price war.The group said it would slash the prices of tens of thousands of items in a move it claimed would blow the starting whistle on a..... 0 comments

NL: Ahold's expansion plans aim to boost share price
Dutch-based international supermarket chain operator Royal Ahold NV (AH.AE) says it's finally ready to use its massive cash pile to expand through targeted acquisitions--a move analysts say is largely aimed at boosting Ahold's lagging share price and preventing the international supermarket group from..... 0 comments

Alnatura: Organics
"Germans to go organic because of climate"
The slowing growth in the market for organic food has less influence on the eco-retail trade than on that of conventional food, according toGötz Rehnof Alnatura. The most important reason is that organic customers "Will have a look", they expect a 'holistic approach' from the trade and demand..... 0 comments

Italian wall lizard in vegetables and fruit
In the town hall in Rijssen, Holland an Italian wall lizard was found last Tuesday. It is not clear how the exotic little animal got inside. It was probably hiding in fruit or vegetable boxes, which were storedin front of the town hall during the weekly market. As municipal employees themselves did not..... 0 comments

Poland: prices of imported tomatoes
This year’s season for Polish greenhouse tomatoes is almost finished. First imported tomatoes appeared on the market.On Friday, November 13 on the wholesale market in Bronisze, the price of 6 kg Spanish tomatoes size G was 18 PLN (4.38 euro)/6 kg. 0 comments

Switzerland: Pesticides warning over imported vegetables
Basel’s cantonal laboratory says a number of vegetables imported from Asia have too many pesticides.Officials in Basel-City tested 32 samples from four Asian grocers. Over a quarter of them had levels that significantly exceeded safety standards. Pesticide in one sample of curry exceeded allowable levels..... 0 comments

United Kingdom - Asda warn of supermarket price war
Price competition between retailers this Christmas will be the most cut-throat for a decade, Asda forecast yesterday.Asda and Tesco, Britain's two food retailing market leaders, went public yesterday with promises of hundreds of millions of pounds of savings for customers as the sector enters its busiest..... 0 comments

Lack of mushroom experts in UK is causing life-threatening delays to treatment, warns professor
The professor who identified a toxic mushroom that left the author of acclaimed novel The Horse Whisperer seriously ill has warned of a critical shortage of similar experts.Nicholas Evans, 59, and his brother-in-law, Sir Alistair Gordon-Cumming, 55, fell ill after eating the deadly webcaps, which they had..... 0 comments

Swine flu causes surge of garlic sales in Serbia
Belgrade's open-air markets were a welter of busy customers on Friday, pushing and shoving to buy one item — garlic.In Serbia, garlic has long been regarded as a good luck charm and a guard against many ailments. As far as the public is concerned, that includes the swine flu pandemic, which recently has..... 0 comments

Bulgaria: Rewe outlines Penny plans
German retail giant Rewe has revealed it plans to open 20 Penny discount stores in Bulgaria by the end of next year. 0 comments

British transport contractor will operate LHV without permit
A British transport contractor has announced that he will put a LHV (Longer Heavier Vehicle) on the road without the permit required for this vehicle.A few years ago the British government decided to definitely put the LHV on ice. The transport contractor Denby is risking heavy fines...... 0 comments

German consumer satisfied with colour, taste and variety of peppers
German consumers are satisfied with the colour, taste and variety of peppers. In general they know that peppers are healthy, but not everyone knows how healthy. The purchases of peppers could be increased, provided the German consumer receivesmore information about the health aspects of these vegetables and..... 0 comments

German trend to have homegrown fruit pressed
Juice pressers profit from the trend for healthy food. Small growers and households take apples of all kinds and sizes packed in bags and baskets by car to the farm of presser Gerald Rosenberger in the neighbourhood of Janisroda near Naumburg, Germany. The quantity of fruit from gardens brought to be pressed..... 0 comments

European economics preview: Eurozone economy forecast to exit recession
Quarterly national account data from Germany, France and the Eurozone are due on Friday, headlining a hectic day for European economic news.At 2:00 am ET, Germany's Federal Statistical Office is set to release third quarter GDP data. On a sequential basis, the economy is forecast to expand 0.8% in the third..... 0 comments

Henk Kuipers of HeCo Fresh:
Holland: “Hopeful about Moroccan import season"
From 1st October the team at HeCo Fresh will occupy new premises in Nieuw-Amsterdam, Holland. "We have occupied an area of 2,700 m2 about 200 metres down the road" Henk Kuipers says. HeCo Fresh is at present busy marketing the last greenhouse vegetables and the change-over of import products. At..... 0 comments

Russia’s GDP shrinks 8.9% in third quarter
Russia’s economy contracted 8.9 percent in the third quarter compared to a year earlier, but grew from the previous quarter in the first signs of a possible recovery, the government said Thursday. Russia’s GDP grew 13.9 percent in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter, according to the..... 0 comments

UK: Asda sales growth hit by falling food prices quarter
Asda warns this season will the 'most aggressive on price for a decade'Asda said falling food price inflation was "entirely" to blame for a slowdown in its underlying sales growth in the third-quarter, as it forecast this Christmas will be the most cut-throat on price for a decade.But the Wal-Mart-owned..... 0 comments

Holland: Permit to export pears to China comes closer
A permit to export pears to China comes another step closer.Recently the PD (Plant Disease Service) had talks with China about the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). The risk analysis must prove to the Chinese that the risk from certain pests and diseases are not a threat."Ten Chinese scientists have looked very..... 0 comments

Auchan opens seventh hypermarket in Romania
Auchan opened the seventh hypermarket in Romania, at Timisoara inside Iulius Mall, which will employ 350 people.The new hypermarket will have a retail space of 150,000sqm and market over 50,000 products.The new location will bring the total number of Auchan units to 7 in the country: two in Bucharest (Titan..... 0 comments

British organic produce is safer than French
According to the 2008 annual report of the British Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC), 6.2% of samples of organic produce sold in Britain contained pesticide residues, against 21.7% of organic products sold in France in 2008, as set in the note of the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumption..... 0 comments

Citrus market in Ukraine: what next?
Feverish demand on citruses during this week led to great advance in prices in Ukraine weekly issue, “APK-Inform: vegetables and fruits” informs. However according to forests of top-level Ukrainian importers of fruits this situation will become stabilize shortly after. In the judgment of experts there are no..... 0 comments

UK: Deadline looms for Grower of the Year Awards 2010 entries
Growers of fruit and vegetable crops hoping to scoop top honours at the prestigious Grower of the Year Awards 2010 have less than a week to submit their entries.The deadline is next Wednesday (18 November).Awards organiser Kate Collins has asked that anyone intending to post their entry registers their..... 0 comments

Holland: By far the most onions exported to Afrika
In the first fourteen weeks of the new season 2009/10 (6 July till 9 October 2009) 233 million kg of Dutch onions were produced, that is 25 million more than last season. In week 41 of 2009 (5 till 9 October) 17 million kg of Dutch onions were produced. The most important buyers were African countries (6,000..... 0 comments

Tesco increases market share
Tesco's Clubcard loyalty scheme has helped it increase market share again after losing out to discount rival such as Aldi and Lidl. Photograph: Marco Secchi/Getty ImagesTesco has increased its share of the grocery market for the first time in nearly two years after doubling the points accrued to its Clubcard..... 0 comments

Damco strengthens position as one of the leading suppliers of reefer logistics
Damco extends reefer logistics in several key markets. Damco has over the last months hired several experts within reefer logistics in North America, South Africa and South America in order to further improve the service levels for customers that require reliable and timely reefer logistics services to..... 0 comments

UNIVEG Bulgaria has initiated the construction of a brand new distribution centre in Bulgaria
UNIVEG Bulgaria is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UNIVEG group of companies and is a market leader in the retail distribution of fresh and frozen products within the region. The business is embarking upon the construction of a new warehouse to offer cross-docking possibilities in Sofia. UNIVEG Bulgaria..... 0 comments

Stiermarken largest apple region
Austrian biological apple production doubled
In Austria about 200,000 tons of apples are harvested from little more than 6,000 HA (14826 acres). Most of these come from Stiermarken (165,000 tons) with 4,800 HA (118610 acres) of apple orchards. Also in Lower Austria (480 HA), Burgenland (364 HA) and Upper Austria (225 HA) a considerable quantity of..... 0 comments

Namibian grapes from Cool Fresh International
Cool Fresh Namibia is a unique and ground-breaking project within the global activities of Cool Fresh International of Ridderkerk, The Netherlands. The Namibian organisation of Cool Fresh International is responsible for a large scale agricultural operation in excess of 700 hectares, and this..... 0 comments

Market prospect for December 2009 (week 49 to week 52 inclusive)
Market prospect for the main Flandria products
This market prospect for the main Flandria products is applicable for December and was drawn up on Friday 16 October. The forecasts are based on the expected deliveries at that time. The current auction prices are compared with the prices in the same period last year. The average prices are also compared...... 0 comments

Dutch grant available for investment projects in emerging countries
We frequently read articles about companies in the agri-business sector, who cooperate with other companies in emerging markets. Are you thinking of a joint investment with your partner in an emerging market, continue to !Are you aware that you can apply for a grant from the Dutch government to invest in..... 0 comments

Russian grocer Magnit's sales growth slowed in Oct
Russian grocery chain Magnit reported slightly slower sales growth for October in a fresh sign recession-hit consumers are not yet ready to take spending back to pre-crisis levels.Like most retailers, fast-growing Magnit is struggling with low consumer confidence and spending after Russia slid into its first..... 0 comments

Westfield reports strongest U.K. sales in 7 years
Westfield Group, the world’s biggest owner of shopping malls by market value, said retail sales in October at centers in the U.K. have risen at the fastest pace in seven years.The rate of store closings has also fallen since the March quarter, Managing Director Steven Lowy said in a conference call today..... 0 comments

UK: M&S gears up for Christmas with online and party food deals
Marks & Spencer is to offer online shoppers delivery for a penny from today(11 November) until the end of the week.The initiative is part of the retailer's 125th birthday celebrations but is also likely to boost online business at the start of the festive season.M&S usually charges shoppers £3.50 for..... 0 comments

Euro up on strong risk appetite from Australia data
The euro rose against the dollar and yen in Asia Thursday as stronger-than-expected Australian jobs data for October encouraged investors to buy riskier currencies such as the European unit.The Australian dollar also gained to a 15-month high at $0.9372 and a 2-week high at Y84.23 in early Asian trading, up..... 0 comments

Portugal Oct inflation flat vs previous month
Portugal's consumer price index was flat in October from the previous month when it rose 0.2 percent, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said on Wednesday.Year-on-year inflation last month was at a negative reading of 1.5 percent, compared to minus 1.6 percent in September. Average annual inflation, the..... 0 comments

Metro Group's Real continues rapid expansion in Russia
Real, a European hypermarket group, member of the German trade and retail giant Metro Group Real has opened its first shopping center in the city of Rostov (South of Russia) with a total area of 39 550 sq. m.The crisis has not prevented the company to complete all the construction works in time. According to..... 0 comments

UK: DuPont recognized for its strong agricultural products
DuPont received three prestigious Agrow Awards in recognition of innovation and excellence in its agricultural product and technology development efforts. "We are honored by the recognition of our work to develop better products for our customers," said James C. Borel, DuPont executive vice president. "Our..... 0 comments

Ireland: Smurfit Kappa posts 3Q net loss; demand stabilizes
Smurfit Kappa PLC (SK3.DB) said it swung to a third-quarter net loss due to the global economic slowdown, a rise in recovered fibre input costs and continued pressure on corrugated prices in Europe, but said demand for products was "generally stable" in the quarter.Europe's largest maker of cardboard..... 0 comments

UK: Sainsbury's looks ahead with confidence as profit rises 33%
Sainsbury's is confident of a solid performance in the second half of the financial year after pre-tax profit increased by a third in the six months to October.The retailer's overall sales, including VAT, increased by 3.7% to £11.2bn compared to the same period last year. With weekly transactions now more..... 0 comments

UK: Supermarkets should have doors on freezer and fridge cabinets
Consumer Focus, a government customer organisation in the UK, has spoken out about supermarkets and open freezer cabinets wasting energy. There are tens of thousands freezer and chiller cabinets in supermarkets across the UK which are not closed, which makes shopping prices higher.The costs are passed on to..... 0 comments

British consumer less worried about economy
During November 2009 the confidence of the British consumer in the economy increased. The Consumer Confidence Index of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) increased from 65 in April to 75 in November. The opinion regarding the economic climate has reached the highest level since the low point during the..... 0 comments

Minister of Agriculture of Andalusia visits semi-closed hothouse Prominent
On Friday 6th November the minister of agriculture for Andalusia visited the semi-closed hothouse of Prominent. The minister was mainly interested in the use of durable energy in agriculture and horticulture. The semi-closed hothouse is a good example of this. In Spain it is being considered whether..... 0 comments

Lasting profit from Iceland, also in 2009
Gathering of cucumber growers from eight countries
Last weekDe Ruiter Seeds, Philips Lightingand Koppert Biological Systems together organised a gathering of cucumber growers from eight countries, namely The Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. This was the fourth time that a get-together for the growersfrom the..... 0 comments

Interview with General Director of Grupo Hortiberia, Fermín Sánchez Navarro, in Fruit Attraction 2009
"The quality of Grupo Hortiberia’s products is the main advantage over its closest competitors"
For Grupo Hortiberia’s General Director, Fermín Sánchez Navarro, attending international professional meetings such as 'Fruit Attraction' is a very interesting opportunity "to expand horizons with new customers attending this event".1. What is it like for Groupo Hortiberia to be present at the first Fruit..... 0 comments

Spain:
Agro-Food Cooperatives analyze in the European Parliament the situation of horticulture sector.
The organizations representing the cooperative of Fruits and Vegetables in Spain (Cooperative Agro-food), Italy (Fedagri-Confcooperative and Legacoop-agroalimentare) and France (FELCOOP) presented on Tuesday the 10th Nov to the heads of the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament (PE), their..... 0 comments

Cool weather delays cauliflower exports into Europe by 10 days
A drop in temperature has delayed cauliflower exports into Europe by 10 days. Southern England Farms Ltd started to harvest winter crops at the beginning of November but has only managed to supply orders to its UK Domestic customers so far, due to slightly cooler temperatures. It is thought that Exports will..... 0 comments

UK: Morrison, Waitrose get lift from new stores-data
British food retailers Wm Morrison Supermarkets (MRW.L) and Waitrose are outperforming competitors thanks to new store openings as falling food price inflation slows sales growth for the nation's grocers, industry data showed on Tuesday.Market researcher Nielsen said sales at grocery multiples rose 4.2..... 0 comments

Scotland’s supermarkets double in a decade
The number of supermarkets in Scotland has doubled in the last ten years, according to analysis carried out by The Herald.The number of superstores owned by the eight major supermarket chains has grown from 206 in 2000 to 408 in 2009.Tesco appears to be leading the march as it has doubled its presence in..... 0 comments

Top 15 European retailers to capture 66% sales growth by 2014: RNG
In a latest report “European Retail Forecast,” RetailNet Group (RNG) has announced that the top 15 European retailers are expected to capture 66% of retail sales growth by 2014 from a base share of 43% in 2009. The top retailers’ share of growth is accelerating as retailers develop greater capabilities and..... 0 comments

Tesco's UK grocery market share rises to 30.7% 12 weeks to Nov 1
Tesco PLC's U.K. grocery market share rose to 30.7% in the 12 weeks to Nov. 1, according to Taylor Nelson Sofres World Panel market share data Tuesday.Tesco, the U.K.'s biggest retailer by sales, saw its market share rise from 30.6% for the same period last year.The nation's second biggest retailer, Asda..... 0 comments

Why buy a glass house when polycarbonate is stronger and increasingly affordable?
UK: Greenhouses: why polycarbonate beats glass
I suppose I am a bit of a traditionalist at heart and if challenged would defend glass as the best material for greenhouses, cold frames and the like. Any ''working’’ garden with a brimming and beautiful greenhouse and some cold frames complete with clusters of plants in various stages of training or..... 0 comments

UK: Sainsbury H1 profit seen up 16 percent
J Sainsbury, Britain's third-biggest grocer, is expected to post a 16 percent rise in first-half profit on Wednesday and flag a tougher second half amid falling food price inflation and stiff competition.Data from market researchers TNS Worldpanel and Nielsen on Tuesday is expected to confirm Tesco,..... 0 comments

Private German railway fights for customers with free apples
Using free apples and other surprises OLA, a private rail company, will try to win the favour of rail travellers. In November three tons of Elstar apples will be offered in the trains, announced the company on Monday in Schwerin, Germany. The apple stunt is the beginning of a new campaign. Every month..... 0 comments