Food & Beverage
Dunkin' Donuts heats up competition in India with signature cold coffee line
In a bid to tap India's growing cafe culture, and to brew faster than its competitor Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts has launched its signature international ice blended cold coffee in the country.
Called the "Dunkaccino", the new brew is expected to give competitor Starbucks a run for its money. It is made by blending Dunkin espresso coffee (beans sourced from Karnataka) with ice, milk and another flavour.
Baby food shortage in Europe due to Chinese demand
Chinese demand for foreign brands soared after drought in Australia and New Zealand cut supplies from China's major sources of imported baby formula. Chinese parents who have enough money have largely shunned local brands since a contaminated milk scandal in 2008 left six babies dead and another 300,000 sick. With Chinese consumers turning to sources abroad, major retail outlets in Germany, the UK, Netherlands and Hong Kong have limited sales of several leading brands of baby formula. In Europe, parents have been stockpiling the milk powder at home, further intensifying the shortage.
Starbucks Asia sales up 8pc in 2Q13
Starbucks said on Thursday that its profit rose in its fiscal second quarter as a key sales figure climbed in the US, its biggest market. New drinks and food, such as its sandwiches and pre-packaged lunch boxes, helped lift sales.
The world's biggest coffee chain said global sales at established cafes rose 6 percent during the period. That included an 8 percent increase in Asia, where the company has been focusing its expansion efforts.
Yum! Brands 1Q13 operating profit down 41pc in China
Fast food giant Yum! Brands said on Tuesday that China division's sales and profits in the first quarter of 2013 were significantly impacted by adverse publicity from the poultry supply situation that occurred in late December 2012.
Same-store sales declined 20 percent in the country for the first quarter ended on 23 March 2013. Operating profit dropped 41 percent from USD256 million to USD154m.
Thailand's Tipco eyes juicy Asian markets
Tipco Foods Plc is in talks with Suntory of Japan to expand their cooperation on Tipco beverages in Asean, which is set to become a single market by 2016. Managing director Ekaphol Pongstabhon said Tipco is negotiating with its Japanese partner to make Tipco 100 percent juices at a Suntory factory in Indonesia.
Haagen-Dazs to shut last ice cream shop
Haagen-Dazs Japan Inc. said on Monday it will end over-the-counter ice cream sales in Japan to focus on sales at supermarkets and convenience stores that account for the majority of its earnings.
Goodricke plans online sales of tea in global market
Tea major Goodricke Group plans to start online sales of packet tea in international market in the next six months. “Currently, online sales of Darjeeling packet tea are restricted to the domestic market. We plan to do that on a global scale for which international agencies are appointed to develop the software to make payments gateways,” Managing Director of Goodricke A N Singh told reporters after the company’s AGM on Saturday.
McDonald's to hike prices in Japan for 1st time since 2008
McDonald's Corp.'s Japanese business will raise some burger prices by much as 25 percent next month, the fast food chain's first increase in the country since 2008.
Hamburger prices will go up to JPY120 from JPY100 and cheeseburgers will rise to JPY150 from JPY120 in Japan in May, McDonald's Holdings Co. Japan Ltd. said in a statement on Thursday. The hikes are part of the company's plan to boost profitability rather than a rise in materials prices, it said.
Malaysia’s QSR Brands to open 96 KFC, Pizza Hut Outlets at home and abroad
QSR Brands (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd, formerly known as Triple Platform and now controlled by Johor Corp, has announced it will open 21 KFC and five Pizza Hut outlets in Singapore, Brunei, India and Cambodia in 2013 as part of its overseas expansion plan. In addition it also plans to open 25 KFC and 45 Pizza Hut restaurants in Malaysia.
QSR will allocate RM245mil for capital expenditure this year for developing new KFC and Pizza Hut outlets, relocations and image enhancement. The company has earmarked RM180.5mil for the local market with the remainder for overseas operations.
Chinese prompt UK stores' baby milk limit
Shops in the UK are rationing sales of baby milk after Chinese visitors and bulk buyers cleared shelves to send it to China, where many parents fear local versions are not safe. The British Retail Consortium said many stores had imposed a two-box limit on each customer to deter the "unofficial exports" to China.
