News

Danone SA has sold its biscuit division to US based Kraft Foods Inc. for EUR 5.3 billion. The plans of the new owner regarding Hungary are unknown yet.

Retail food prices are rising in Germany as well. Fresh products like milk and bread cost three per cent more than a year ago on average, while poultry is ten per cent more expensive. A price rise of 5-10 per cent per litre is expected for milk.

Retailers will be banned from freezing meat and producing meat products from frozen meat after 1. August. The EU decree becoming effective, will at the same time allow slicing, portioning and pre-packaging of meat products.

The British supermarket chain Sainsbury s will begin selling wine in PET bottles in September. The bottles are almost indistinguishable from traditional bottles, but only weigh 54 grams, as opposed to 400 grams.

Food Express is about to embark on foreign expansion with support from investor. Their targets are Germany and Austria in the West and Russia and the Ukraine in the East.

From Romania to Hungary. The American company Bunge is moving part of its cooking oil production to its Martfű plant.

Hungarian innovation in packaging for beverages. The Samcap utensil system can be used for the preparation of mixtures composed of several ingredients, which cannot be mixed prior to use.

One millionth holiday cheque issued in 2007. Customers have purchased HoReCa services using this method in the value of HUF 10 billion by the middle of the summer.

Continuing development for drugstores. Drugstores hold a 23 per cent share in the market of the 60 household chemical products monitored by Nielsen.

Arena Plaza expected to open at the end of October. Almost 200 retail outlets occupying 65,000 square meters will be accommodated by the huge mall.