All articles by James Ball
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NewsThe OC&C Global 50: Survivors, thrivers and divers
After the storm of recession, dead calm. Sales have flattened for the top 50 fmcg giants of today but a few are speeding along, writes James Ball
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Category Report
The OC&C Global 50 2010
After the storm of recession, dead calm. Sales have flattened for the top 50 fmcg giants of today but a few are speeding along, writes James BallAs recession battered global markets, the world’s biggest fmcg companies proved their mettle.Huge, efficient and diverse, they ploughed through 2008’s economic storm – as ...
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NewsStop smoking kit sales are up, but so is tobacco...
Sales of products designed to help smokers kick the habit have soared in the past 12 months, exclusive Kantar data has revealed but the trend has failed to dent the growth of leading cigarette brands.
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News
Tesco directors cash in shares before tax hike
Tesco directors have cashed in almost £19m worth of company shares in the past three months, data from Digital Look has revealed.
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NewsLove it or hate it: Unilever’s 2009 results divide opinion
Value sales are down, but volume is up. Improved margins, but less-than-stellar results in Western Europe. What does it all mean, asks James Ball
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Comment and OpinionThe Grocer in the media: James Ball talks food inflation on BBC News
The Grocer's chief reporter, James Ball, spoke to the BBC about the 2.8% food price rise in Britain in January, the highest monthly rise for two years, which has prompted concerns for those on low incomes.
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News
Co-op mega-shed plans approved
The Co-operative Group has received planning permission for a huge 467,000 sq ft regional distribution centre in Andover. The project, which the group said would create 900 jobs in the area, was approved with 22 votes and one abstention.
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News
Kappler exits as Premier prepares to reduce costs
The departure of Premier Foods chairman David Kappler heralds a new round of cost-cutting as shareholders look for faster debt repayment, City figures have warned.
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News
Retail Prices: Inflation returns, pushing prices up 2.8% in a month
The VAT increase has brought inflation along with it, sending the average family food bill up £6 compared with December. James Ball reports
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News
Booze deals out of favour despite spin
Suppliers and retailers have been curbing promotions on alcoholic drinks, cutting the number of deals by 15% and upping alcohol prices by 4%, exclusive new figures produced for The Grocer show.
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NewsThe big steal: how Cadbury fell into Rosenfeld’s clutches
Just days ago Kraft's hostile takeover bid was dismissed by Cadbury as derisory. James Ball reveals the 10 factors that forced it to cave in to the US behemoth
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News
Retail Prices: Asda to the fore as retailers keep up promotional pace
An improving economy may have resulted in fewer offers this month compared with last year, but activity is still up month on month, says James Ball
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NewsAre the fmcg giants making the grade?
Fmcg manufacturing shares outperformed the stock market last year. But the picture was mixed…
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Analysis and Features
The Grocer Price Index: Why a falling inflation rate doesn’t mean lower prices
Despite prices going up in December because of the VAT increase and offers being cut back on staple items, inflation on food actually fell. James Ball reports
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NewsRetailers up prices under cover of VAT
Supermarkets have used the increase in VAT to pass on thousands of price hikes over and above the cost of VAT…
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Analysis and Features
Will high-value M&A deals stay locked out in the cold?
Insolvency buyouts were behind much of last year’s M&A activity and this year is unlikely to see a return…
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NewsCadbury goes viral for 2010 Creme Egg season
Cadbury has launched an extensive viral campaign to support this year’s Creme Egg season, which began this week.
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NewsMe, myself & Irene: Cadbury chief Todd Stitzer talks
In the 14 weeks since Kraft went hostile, Takeover Panel rules have limited Todd Stitzer and the Cadbury senior management team to now-tired rhetoric around Kraft's "derisory offer". On Monday day 32 in the rigidly timetabled takeover...
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News
Retail Prices: When promotions became the new normal for brands
The major fmcg brands ramped up their promotional spending in 2009, boosting the total number to 82,000, up 44% on 2008. James Ball reports
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Analysis and Features
The Grocer Price Index: Retail prices are finally falling, but don’t bank on it lasting long-term
Retail prices have fallen almost 2.5% since June, showing deflation is finally arriving in grocery. However, as they increased a massive 8% in the same six-month period last year, prices remain higher year-on-year overall for now at...