In more prosperous times, uncertainty from developing and launching new products is relatively more ‘acceptable’ (80% of all new products fail and all that). In these unprecedented times, ensuring that what you do will succeed and accurately quantifying ROI is now crucial. Some FMCG organisations may defer activity, however, we are finding many others are proactively innovating but with absolute (and better than before) knowledge of true ROI before investing and launching.
 

Food and environment secretary Hilary Benn  has ordered supermarkets to settle their debts with farmers and food producers struggling with the credit crunch.

Premier Foods has confirmed that it is seeking ways to reduce its massive debt burden, amid mounting speculation that the manufacturer could turn to the private equity sector for assistance.

A senior figure at Carlsberg UK has set out the brewer’s plans for a number of brands acquired in the wake of its successful joint bid with Heineken for Scottish and Newcastle (S&N).

Strong brands are a powerful weapon in a company's armoury, and when new rules emerged in the 1990s allowing colours to be registered as a trademark, the fight for brand recognition stepped up a gear, encapsulated in the ongoing case in Australia that sees confectionery giant Cadbury defending the colour purple.

Cadbury is to cut 580 management and factory jobs, taking the total shed over the past four years by the confectionery firm and its predecessor, Cadbury Schweppes, to more than 14,300.

SABMiller has recorded a 3% growth in lager volumes for the second half of its financial year – despite warning that prospects for the year are “uncertain”.

[FULL STORY]
 

Jamie Oliver continues to push forward with his Pass It On movement by giving away some of his best new recipes for free, on MySpace