Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit and complained about the prices at a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow, Food International reported. The visit to the store in the Krylatskoye district   read more...

Heineken has announced plans to merge its local Kralovsky Pivovar Krusovice brewery with beverage group Drinks Union. According to local reports, citing Jiri Danek, head of Heineken's Czech business,   read more...

Rewe Group-owned Billa plans to open at least nine supermarkets in 2009-2010 in the Ukraine. A spokesperson for the company said: "We are planning the opening of another four supermarkets by the end   read more...

In an interview with LebensmittelZeitung, Metro Chief Information Officer Zygmunt Mierdorf announced the completion of phase one of Metro's 'Shape 2012' restructuring programme and looked ahead   read more...

The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner, COFCO (China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation) Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd., continued their expansion in China with the opening of   read more...

Delhaize reports that increased private label sales during the first quarter contributed to gross margin gains. The supermarket retail said, “Gross margin increased to 26.1% of revenues (25.3% in 2008) mainly   read more...

Retail analysts see more growth ahead for private label in France this year as hypermarkets and supermarkets compete against discounters to win over price-sensitive shoppers. In January and   read more...

PLMA is returning to China this year, organizing its second trade show pavilion in conjunction with the Shanghai International Sourcing Fair. PLMA’s Private Label Pavilion will be held 22-24 September   read more...

The recession offers a big opportunity for private label growth, but suppliers need to adopt the right mix of marketing and financial strategies to ensure long-term success, a leading industry consultant   read more...

Alimentaria, the International Food and Beverages Exhibition, will be held next year between 22-26 March in a single location: Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue. At the next edition, its eighteenth,   read more...

Krafy Foods has appointed Anthony Vernon as president of its operations in North America. Vernon's move to the role of president, Kraft Foods North America will come into effect in mid-August.   read more...

A Carrefour spokesperson reportedly said the retailer plans to sell or shut more than 20 of its Polish Carrefour Express supermarkets, the local press reported. Without citing sources, the reports added that   read more...

Dutch retailer Ahold said that it plans to buy back USD690 million worth of outstanding debt to cut net interest payments, funding the move using existing cash balances. Ahold said its subsidiary Ahold   read more...

In what it describes as a world premiere, Aldi's Hofer discount chain in Austria will have marked all products in its 'zurück zum Ursprung' private label line with their carbon footprint by 1 July. "Consumers   read more...

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Schwarz Group-owned discounter Lidl is to appoint Frank-Michael Mros as its new head for its operations in the UK. Mros was Managing Director of Lidl in   read more...