All articles by Catherine Dawes

  • SIAL PREVIEW SEPT 10
    News

    Focus On Sial: Sial of approval

    2010-09-25T00:00:00Z

    More than 120 UK exhibitors are preparing to make the trip to the Sial trade show in Paris to find out how to boost their exporting firepower. Catherine Dawes reports

  • VODKA-SALES-DOWN
    News

    Vodka sales down amid interest in rum and gin

    2010-09-04T00:00:00Z

    The British love of vodka looks more shaken than stirred in new data that shows the tipple has dramatically fallen out of favour with drinkers. Volume sales have slumped 5% [Kantar Worldpanel 52w/e 13 June], pulled down by a struggling...

  • BOMPAS AND PARR
    News

    Strange fruit

    2010-08-21T00:00:00Z

    Bompas & Parr have brought the world pulsating puddings, vaporised vitamins and more foodie weirdness. Catherine Dawes finds out what’s next on the menu for the creative duo

  • News

    Dried fruits prices are hit by harvest struggle

    2010-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Global events, including poor harvests and the weak pound, have pushed the commodity price of a number of dried fruits up by as much as 64% and prices could rise further. The hikes come as suppliers and retailers are firming up their...

  • News

    Ready meals back as scratch cooks get lazy

    2010-06-26T00:00:00Z

    Sales of chilled ready meals have bounced back to pre-recession levels hitting £1.04bn over the past year [KantarWorldpanel 52w/e 18 April 2010].Sales passed the £1bn mark in early 2008 but fell in the recession to a nadir of £967.8m in...

  • News

    Aggie gets behind cleaning range using power of probiotics

    2010-06-26T00:00:00Z

    They are better known for their associations with yoghurt, but probiotic bacteria are now being used in a new range of household cleaning products.The Aggie's Probiotic range fronted by How Clean Is Your House? presenter Aggie MacKenzie...

  • News

    AB InBev merger fuels good times for brands

    2010-06-12T00:00:00Z

    The merger of Anheuser-Busch and InBev has helped deliver two of the biggest successes in the alcohol category, with Budweiser and Stella Artois 4% reporting massive sales growth over the past year, according to The Grocer's Britain's 100 Biggest...

  • News

    McCutcheon TV ads send Activia sales soaring 22%

    2010-05-29T00:00:00Z

    It's a debate that divides men the length of the nation, but in yoghurt at least, brunette has triumphed over blonde.Martine McCutcheon's ads for Activia have been credited with driving 22.3% sales growth for the brand to £219.8m [IRI...

  • News

    The king of masstige

    2010-04-17T00:00:00Z

    Herbie Dayal tells Catherine Dawes about the values and products that have enabled KMI Brands to flourish since the company was hived off from King of Shaves

  • News

    Putting the sparkle into Isklar

    2010-03-27T00:00:00Z

    Despite the recession, the fastest-growing bottled water brand in the UK last year was a premium water from a glacial source. Catherine Dawes reports

  • COCA-COLA
    News

    Top of the pops: Coke smashes £1bn barrier

    2010-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Coca-Cola has become the first brand to top £1bn in annual UK grocery sales. Sales of the total Coca-Cola brand jumped £47.6m in the past year taking its total to £1,011.1m.

  • News

    New green targets? Been there, done that say multiples

    2010-03-06T00:00:00Z

    Retailers have cast doubt on the value of the second phase of the Courtauld commitment, which came into effect this week. The Wrap-backed Courtauld Commitment 2 (CC2) has set an industry target of reducing the carbon impact of food...

  • News

    Ben & Jerry’s, Tate & Lyle and Bulldog in Fairtrade switch

    2010-02-20T00:00:00Z

    Suppliers of products as diverse as ice cream, sugar and shave gel are gearing up for next week's Fairtrade Fortnight with a slew of newly accredited products. Ben & Jerry's said this week that its entire 18-strong ice-cream range in...

  • News

    Quality Test: Fresh cream eclairs

    2010-02-06T00:00:00Z

    There was a clear winner in this test, but there was little to differentiate the others.

  • PACKAGING JAN 10
    News

    Focus On Packaging: A sexy new look

    2010-01-30T00:00:00Z

    A good packaging revamp can distinguish a brand from the me-toos, boost its environmental credentials and drive sales growth. But overcook it and the opposite is more likely to happen, warns Catherine Dawes

  • News

    Top winemaker accused of 'faking it'

    2010-01-27T00:00:00Z

    A Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine producer has been accused of faking top vintages. The allegations, that Guy Arnaud was violating appellation rules by buying wine from outside the area and putting the Chateauneuf-du-Pape label on the bottles, was made by his daughter, who is currently involved in a dispute over the inheritance of his estate.

  • BEES
    News

    Colony Collapse Disorder and thrifty shoppers hit honey sales

    2010-01-08T00:00:00Z

    Honey sales are down 5.4%, by volume after six consecutive years of growth [TNS 52w/e 4 October 2009]. Own-label honey led the decline, with sales down 7.4% in volume [IRI 52w/e 31 October 2009].

  • HOVIS-LAD
    News

    The lad delivers: Hovis is the Top Product of 2009

    2009-12-19T00:00:00Z

    Hovis stormed into pole position in The Grocer's 2009 Top Products Survey chart, with the biggest growth in value of all the products across 76 key categories. Sales of Hovis loaves soared £56.9m, up 14.6% on last year to £445.8m ...

  • TOP-PRODUCTS-COVER-2009
    News

    Top Products 2009: Survival of the fittest

    2009-12-19T00:00:00Z

    With the recession weighing down on the industry, only the fittest can bear the strain. But deep discounts and trusted brands mean grocery is muscling on. By Catherine Dawes

  • News

    Demand for Polish food back on the up

    2009-11-18T00:00:00Z

    Demand for Polish food in UK branches of Tesco has risen for the first time in nearly a year.