Market

Uzbekistan has introduced new measures to stimulate the development of viticulture and wine production while reducing state participation in the sector.

La Linea Verde, an Italian market leader in the fresh fruit and vegetable segment (salads, ready-to-eat fresh foods and fresh fruit and vegetable drinks), has posted a 2018 turnover of €300 million, 26% up on 2017.

As part of a recovery plan involving investments of more than €50 million, Buitoni (Nestlé group) has completed the renovation and expansion of its historic pizza production plant in Benevento.

Nestlé has opened its new Bonjorno coffee factory in Egypt for an investment of EGP 250 million (CHF 13.9 million).

A no-deal Brexit in which the UK crashes out of the EU without an agreement would not only create problems in terms of customs duties and rising prices but may also threaten the UK’s food supplies.

Efficiency, flexibility, cost cutting and increased production capacity were the goals pursued by Faenza-based agricultural cooperative Caviro in its €6.4 million investment in two new packaging plants installed at its Forlì factory.

The Cuneo, Italy-based mineral water producer Lurisia recently completed an ambitious industrial expansion programme, an 8-million-euro two-year project involving the installation of a modern and highly sustainable Industry 4.0 production line.

Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA), a North American business unit of the Swiss food giant, has announced that by 2021 it will achieve at least 25% recycled plastic use across its product portfolio with the aim of reaching 50% by 2025.

Japanese beer group Asahi is set to purchase the business of British brewer Fuller Smith & Turner’s for £250 million ($327 million) through its European unit Asahi Europe Ltd.

ILSI paper on “Adhesives for Food Packaging Applications”

UNIDO ITPO Italy and Future Food Institute launch the third edition of the International Award in Agribusiness.

EOS Investment Management, a UK-based private equity firm specialising in alternative investment funds, has acquired FM Plastic, a flexible packaging converter that uses flexographic technology, through its Piacenza, Italy-based subsidiary Poplast.

In the USA and the UK, the traditional wine bottle is being replaced by bag-in-box, can and wine-on-tap packaging formats.

According to the Italian mineral water producers’ association Mineracqua, the Italian mineral water market has seen almost continuous growth since 1980 apart from a sharp decline in 2009-2010 and a smaller slowdown in 2013.

French group L’Occitane International has announced the acquisition of UK-based premium cosmetics and beauty products brand Elemis in a deal worth €900 million.
This is the most important operation following listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange and will enable to the French group to strengthen its position in the UK and the USA.
Founded in 1976, L’Occitane owns the brands L’occitane en…

Lidl is preparing to make further investments in Italy. For 2019 the German group has launched a €350 million plan to open 40 new stores and hire 2,000 new employees following a similar investment in 2018.

Alp.I, the special purpose acquisition company promoted by Mediobanca and listed on the AIM stock market, has reached a merger agreement with Antares Vision (BS), a global player specialising in the design, production and installation of traceability solutions for the pharmaceutical sector.

Camozzi Automation, a Camozzi Group member company specialising in industrial automation solutions, components and systems for liquid/gaseous fluid control and applications for the transport industry, recently opened a new logistic centre at Palazzolo sull’Oglio (BS), a highly efficient and sustainable strategic hub that receives products from the two factories located in Lumezzane and Polpenazze…

Krombacher, one of the largest German beer producers and owner of the Schweppes brand name, posted its best-ever results in 2018, including a consolidated turnover of €850 million (+10.1%) and a total output of 7.499 million hectolitres.

With a stable annual growth rate of around 10% and a young population with a rising income and a tendency to consume ready-made and organic food, the Vietnamese food industry offers considerable business opportunities to investors.