How Competitive are the Major Supermarkets?

HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England, November 19 - Do we save money by driving to the so-called cheapest supermarket
shopping choice? Not always it would seem. That's why deli wholesaler
( www.cotswold-fayre.co.uk/ ) Cotswold Fayre is exposing the myth that
supermarkets are cheaper. Consider Asda's recent announcement that a list of
selected items would all be sold at a fixed price of one pound each. Then it
turns out that almost one in five of the items were selling below one pound
before the offer. But that didn't make any difference… the punters flocked
in their usual thousands to take advantage of this "great offer" and at the
same time spend much more on all the other temptations put in their way. The
anomaly in the offer was exposed in the Grocer Magazine (August 1st 2009), a
trade publication not seen by the general public.

Marks and Spencer - Chairman Interviewed on Half-Year Results

LONDON - In a video interview on www.cantos.com, Stuart Rose, M&S Chairman, and Ian Dyson, Group Finance and Operations Director, give their views on the company’s half year results, a period which saw M&S hold market share in General Merchandise and record an improved performance in Food.

Tesco Switches to Secureseal to Protect Fleet

ENFIELD, England - Tesco is improving security of goods in transit with Secureseal’s tamper-evident trailer seals. Secureseal will replace electronic seals for all new build trailers and also replace faulty electronic seals in order to achieve optimum levels of security sealing across its 4,000 strong trailer fleet.

Tesco Selects CA ecoSoftware to Manage Carbon Footprint Data Worldwide

DITTON PARK, England -

- Software Will Help Retailer Automate and Manage Existing Efforts to Meet Ambitious Carbon Reduction Targets

Parents Look Online for Back to School Bargains

LEEDS, England - The summer is coming to an end, the new school year beckons, and the cost of school uniform and equipment is starting to add up. Whilst many parents are frantically shopping around for the better deals, many people are turning to online deals sites such as VoucherSeeker (www.voucherseeker.co.uk/discount-vouchers) for voucher codes for money off items.

EANS-News: Alapis Announces its Share Capital Increase to Raise c. EUR 451.1 million

ATHENS, Greece -

- Not for Release, Publication or Distribution Directly or Indirectly in or Into the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa or Japan or any Other Jurisdiction in Which Such Publication or Distribution Would be Unlawful - This Announcement is not a Prospectus and is not an Offer to Sell or a Solicitation of any Offer to buy any Securities in the United States or in any Other Jurisdiction

Voluntary Product Recall for Kinnerton Ben 10 Alien Hero Projector Torches

LONDON - Kinnerton Confectionery (Company) Ltd is issuing a precautionary recall of Ben 10 Alien Hero Projector Torches sold as part of a Ben 10 Easter Egg Pack between February and April 2009

“ASDA Helps the Motorist - Will the Chancellor Help the Haulier?” asks the Road Haulage Association

LONDON - The Road Haulage Association has reacted strongly to the news that supermarket giant ASDA is to slash the cost of a litre of unleaded and diesel to less than GBP1.

PayPoint Calls for ‘Better Local Living’

LONDON -

- Campaign Launched Today to Support Local Communities in Britain

From today, The Better Local Living campaign urges local communities to support community stores and drive greater community spirit. To launch Better Local Living, the campaign’s creator, PayPoint, has investigated Britain’s attitudes to the concept of community and the communities they live in.

Global Downturn Drives Change in Liquid Food Packaging Design

BASINGSTOKE, England - The combined pressures of the economic downturn and volatile energy and packaging materials prices have intensified competition and created fundamental change in food and beverage markets over the last two years according to a new report published by beverage research specialists, Canadean. Many brand owners throughout the world have been forced to re-configure their existing product ranges and develop new categories, products and packaging designs aimed at more cost-conscious, budget-restricted consumers.

Unite Challenges Tesco CEO Terry Leahy at AGM

LONDON - Today (3rd July), Jack Dromey, Unite’s Deputy General Secretary, will issue a challenge to CEO Terry Leahy at Tesco’s AGM to personally meet with workers employed at companies that supply meat to Tesco.

Shareholders to Vote on Union Resolution at Tesco AGM

LONDON - In a first for a British trade union, Unite the union, will table a resolution at Tesco’s AGM on Friday 3rd July. The resolution calls for action to end the exploitation and discrimination of workers employed by companies in the UK and Ireland that supply meat to Tesco.

Bhs Launch ‘School Buddy’ Service

LONDON -

- Over Three Quarters of Parents Who Find Getting the Right Size and Fit of Uniform Difficult Said the ‘School Buddy’ Service Would Improve the Quality of Their Shopping Experience ***

Organic Grower Eef Maassen and Top Class Restaurant “Kaatje bij de Sluis” Join Forces to Promote Tasty Organic Tomatoes

WADDINXVEEN, The Netherlands - As of this week the faces of organic grower Eef Maassen and entrepreneurs Peter Postma and Harald Hovenkamp (top chef and host at the renowned “Kaatje bij de Sluis” restaurant in Blokzijl) can be found on the new and unique “bonbon” style carton boxes filled with organic “Piccolo” tomatoes.

PTI Recycling Systems Formed to Sell/Service Modular, Food-Grade rPET Production System Globally

HOLLAND, Ohio - A compact, modular system to produce food-grade, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) resin is now available globally. The system has been designed to cost-effectively address increased international rPET demand for blow molding, injection molding and thermoforming applications, by efficiently turning post-consumer PET containers into reusable food-grade resin.

ASDA Rolls Back Transport Costs With Paragon Software

DORKING, England - ASDA is reducing the cost of transporting goods by using advanced map-based transport optimisation software. The innovative routing and scheduling system from Paragon Software Systems allows ASDA’s logistics experts to model better routes and make more efficient use of its fleet and drivers. This is forecast to save ASDA between 5 and 10 per cent on the fleet costs of transporting goods to stores, which the company reinvests into the business to reduce costs to shoppers.

Why Men are Happy to be Losing Pounds Online

LONDON - More men than ever before are turning to the internet to diet and stay healthy.

As National Men’s Health Week begins on 15th June, www.tescodiets.com can reveal a staggering 200% increase in the number of men signing up to its diet service over the past six months. In response to this, tescodiets.com is launching a new tailored version of its site - www.tescodiets.com/forhim.

The REWE Group Expands Nationally and Abroad

COLOGNE, Germany - 2008 was a Successful Year With Record Sales and Strong Growth

During fiscal year 2008, the REWE Group was able to strengthen its position in Europe as a leading trading and travel company. Within the food trade, the Cologne-based group of companies both enhanced its ability to compete and also increased its capacities. It achieved this by organic growth and by carefully selected national and international acquisitions. Within the travel and tourism business segment, too, the REWE Group was able to increase revenue considerably, which served to strengthen its leading position.

UK Public More Interested in Voucher Codes Than MPs Expenses

LEEDS, England - According to research by Hitwise, the UKs leading online competitive intelligence service, more people searched for the term ‘voucher codes’ than they did ‘MPs expenses’ in the month of May, 2009.

Interflora’s Case Against M&S Heads to Europe

LINCOLN, England - Interflora’s court case against M&S (Case No: HC08C03440 ) is to be referred to the European Court of Justice. Interflora launched proceedings against M&S in December 2008 to stop M&S bidding on its protected ‘INTERFLORA’ trade mark as an AdWord on the Google search engine. Interflora’s case against Flowers Direct, brought at the same time, has been settled, with Flowers Direct agreeing to stop bidding on INTERFLORA’s brand for the time being.

Lidl Builds With Enfinity NV and Solarmarkt AG Solar Plants on Rooftops Throughout Europe

WAREGEM, Belgium and FREIBURG and NECKARSULM, Germany - Framework Agreement for the Installation and Maintenance of Solar Systems for Electricity Generation Concluded

68% Of Online Retailers Admit Payment Fraud Threatens Business Growth

LONDON - Over Two Thirds (68%) of Retailers Admit Payment Fraud Remains the Most Daunting Element of Running an Online Business - 60% of Online Retailers do Not Know if They are Currently PCI DSS Compliant - Three Quarters (75%) of Respondents Intend to Invest in Their Online Business Throughout 2009

Heinz Beanz Factory Celebrates Golden Jubilee With Visit From The Queen

WIGAN, England - The Queen Accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh Opens New Heinz Packing Operation

Marks & Spencer - Results Interview With Chairman

LONDON - In a video interview M&S Chairman Stuart Rose looks at the UK retailer’s results for the 52 weeks ended 28 March 2009. He discusses current trading, performances in the group’s Food and General Merchandise businesses, International and Online operations, the 20:20 change programme plus outlook.

Safety Recall for Vita+ Basmati Rice for our Consumers

LANGKAMPFEN, Austria - Vita+ recalls its basmati rice product 500gr. (consumable before 25.July.2009, production lot 8042504822 only) due to a minimal risk of an excessive ratio of Mycotoxine (Aflatoxin B1) in a few packages.

FAGE TOTAL Yoghurt Announces the Winners of Mamma Mia Competition

ATHENS - TOTAL yoghurt and FAGE the biggest dairy industry in Greece, are delighted to announce the winners of the “Mamma Mia the Movie” competition: www.totalmammamia.com/

Ofra Strauss, Chairperson of Strauss Group, and Erez Vigodman, President & CEO of Strauss Group, Announced Today That Avi Ben Assayag, Deputy CEO of Strauss Group Has Requested to Resign

TEL AVIV, Israel - Ofra Strauss, Chairperson of Strauss Group said today:

“I am sorry about Avi Ben Assayag’s decision to leave the Group. We recognize and appreciate all the processes he has been leading in recent years and thank him for his great contribution to Strauss. We offered Avi key leadership positions in order to continue with the Company, however, we respect his request to explore new avenues and are certain he will succeed in whatever he chooses to do.”

FrieslandCampina Delivers Good Performance in Difficult Dairy Year

AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands - Diversity in Geographical Markets, Broad Range of Value-Added Products
and Brands Prove Added Value

Now Losing Pounds Needn’t Cost Pounds

LONDON - Free Two Week Diet Plan With Food Costing Around GBP2 per day

New research from tescodiets.com reveals that nearly 50% of consumers
think joining a slimming club means they will have to spend more on their
weekly shop, whilst over a third think they would also have to buy foods they
wouldn’t normally purchase.

Tarpan Vodka - A New Premium Vodka Brand From Poland Has Entered the UK Market With Ambitions to Become One of the Leading Polish Brands

ZAHNA, Germany - Tarpan Vodka Launches in the UK

Produced by the Tarpan distillery and imported by Drinks and
Food UK Ltd., Tarpan is a high quality, triple-distilled vodka from the
beautiful region of Masuria in North Eastern Poland. The name ‘Tarpan’ means
‘wild horse’ and refers to the now extinct herds of Tarpan that used to roam
the vast plains of Masuria. Both the Masurian region and the term ‘Tarpan’
have positive associations for Polish consumers.

Green Expectations: Consumers Still Want to Buy Green - But Expect Evidence of Action

LONDON - Businesses Should Seize Opportunity to Demonstrate Green Credentials

New research from the Carbon Trust Standard shows that consumers still
want to buy green despite the current economic climate, with 62% of consumers
saying environmental concerns influence their purchasing decisions ‘the same
as a year ago’ and just over a quarter saying they influence them ‘even more’
than in 2008.

Carrefour - CEO Lars Olofsson on 2008 Results and Strategic Objectives

LONDON - Carrefour, the world’s second largest retailer, today released its full
year 2008 results and commented on its strategic objectives.

Arla Foods Intends to Acquire Friesland Foods Fresh Nijkerk

AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands - Arla Foods amba and Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. have reached agreement in
principle about the sale and purchase of all the shares in Friesland Foods
Fresh Nijkerk by Arla Foods. The transaction includes the Friesland Foods
Fresh Nijkerk fresh dairy business, its assets and the brands Breaker,
Milk&Fruit and Kwarkyoghurt. A ten-year licence agreement has been entered
into for the use of the Friesche Vlag brand for fresh dairy products in the
Netherlands only. The former Campina brand, Melkunie, is also part of the
transaction. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second
quarter of this year. FrieslandCampina is guaranteeing the supply of raw milk
to the factory in Nijkerk until 1 January 2017. The transfer of the Friesland
Foods Fresh operations to Arla Foods is partly dependent on European
Commission approval.