Fressnapf Tiernahrungs GmbH has taken over the majority in the French company "City-Zoo". With a total of ten markets of the same name, which have an average sales area of ​​1.100 square meters, City-Zoo turned over 2003 million euros in the 14,2 financial year. The markets are located in Annemasse (near the Swiss border), Grenoble, Dijon (Burgundy), Orléans (in the Center region on the middle Loire), Angers and Nantes (in the west) and in Cabriès, Marseille, Montpellier and Toulouse (in the South). City-Zoo employs a total of 150 people.

The master franchise partner and managing director of the new Fressnapf subsidiary is the previous owner Mathieu Bonnier, a veterinarian who founded the pet shop in 1993. The stores are converted to the Fressnapf concept and gradually renamed "Maxi Zoo".

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 911 times

Danish Crown and HK Ruokatalo announce joint majority stake in Polish meat company Sokolow SA.

Sokolow SA, which is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, is the market leader in branded meat products in Poland. The company is predominantly owned by international investors.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 624 times

Seasonally quiet demand

The supply of slaughter calves was not particularly plentiful in July. This was countered by a seasonally quiet but nevertheless steady demand from the slaughterhouses. The payout prices of the slaughter companies tended to be firmer in the middle of the month, but fell again towards the end of the month.

At the purchase level of the mail order slaughterhouses and meat products factories, the weighted federal average for slaughter calves billed at a flat rate was 4,28 euros per kilogram of slaughter weight in July, according to a preliminary overview, which was one cent less than in the previous month. The July 2003 level was thus exceeded by 30 cents.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 638 times

From 1 October 2004, Swedish Meats, Sweden's top-selling slaughterhouse and meat products group, will handle the majority of its foreign deliveries via its Danish competitor Danish Crown, which is currently the world's leading meat exporter. Both companies agreed on this at the beginning of July as part of a cooperation agreement.

Accordingly, from the beginning of October, the Swedish group will only export processed "Scan" branded meat products on its own. The majority of this is destined for the British Isles, where the group operates the subsidiary Scan Foods UK with relatively good success.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 575 times

DAT-SCHAUB takes over German manufacturer of natural casings

DAT-SCHAUB has come to an agreement with the previous sole owner of the DIF/Küpers Group - a German manufacturer of natural casings - on the acquisition of all shares in the company as of August 1, 2004.

Up to now, DAT-SCHAUB has only had limited activities in the very important German market. Therefore, DAT-SCHAUB wished to strengthen its position in this market by acquiring the DIF/Küpers group of companies with headquarters in Wietmarschen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 670 times

Voorlichtingsbureau Vlees invited to the 5th Berlin round

On May 1, 2004, the most extensive enlargement of the European Union to date was completed. The community grew with ten new members, eight of which are in Eastern Europe. These countries are characterized by agriculture and, in addition to around 70 million people, also bring around 10 million head of cattle and almost 29 million pigs to the EU. How do the meat industry and trade in the old EU countries assess this situation? Where are the opportunities and what are the threats? The information office of the Dutch meat industry looked into these questions and highlighted the various aspects of the eastward expansion of the EU as part of the 5th Berlin round.

The participants of the Berlin Round 2004:

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 682 times

Miller supports origin protection

Swabian Maultaschen are to be placed under protection throughout Europe as a “Protected Geographical Indication” (PGI). The Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture also supports the application of the "Schwäbische Maultaschen" protection group from Ditzingen in Baden-Württemberg for entry in the European register. A cross-border protection of origin would not only protect Swabian cultural assets from imitators from all over the world, but also secure the competitive advantage of domestic manufacturing companies, states Minister of Agriculture Josef Miller. According to the Swabian minister, the Maultaschen are an integral part of Swabian food culture. The Ministry of Agriculture has meanwhile submitted its approval of the specification to the German Patent and Trademark Office in Munich.

Since 1992, designations of origin for food and agricultural products can be protected against misuse throughout the EU according to Regulation (EEC) 2081/92. In Bavaria, 15 products are already registered as protected designations of origin (PDO) or protected geographical indications (PGI). "This puts us at the top of the list in Germany," said the minister. In addition to the "Swabian Maultaschen", twelve other typical regional specialties are currently in the registration process, such as the "Münchner Weißwurst", the "Schrobenhausener Spargel" or the "Aischgrüner Karpfen".

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 768 times

Inconsistent price development

The supply of cattle for slaughter was comparatively low in July; the local slaughterhouses in particular only had a limited supply of slaughter cows. Because in view of the priority grain harvest and other field work, the willingness of the fatteners to sell was low. The slaughterhouses therefore had to gradually pay higher prices in order to obtain enough animals, despite the very quiet trade in beef due to the holidays. This was especially true for young bulls, while the payout prices for female slaughter cattle changed little over the course of the month. Only toward the end of July were slightly higher requirements also imposed for slaughter cows.

At the purchase level of mail-order slaughterhouses and meat products factories, farmers received 3 euros per kilogram slaughter weight for young bulls of meat trading class R2,52 in July, two cents more than in the previous month. The comparable figure for the previous year was thus exceeded by 23 cents. As in the previous month, the weighted federal average for heifers in class R3 was 2,45 euros per kilogram, but that was 14 cents more than a year ago. In contrast, the average price for class O3 cows fell by three cents in July to €2,02 per kilogram slaughter weight. However, it was 23 cents higher than a year ago.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 605 times

Purchasing quantities of chicken meat have increased

In the first six months of this year, local consumers bought more chicken meat than a year ago, and they saved on turkey meat. As a result, total poultry purchases increased by just about one percent to 163.000 tons, according to data from the GfK Household Panel commissioned by ZMP and CMA. Chicken accounted for almost three quarters of the marketed goods.

In the first half of 2004, private households bought a total of almost 117.000 tons of chickens, around three percent more than a year ago. Fresh chicken parts recorded particularly large growth, increasing by almost four percent to 46.000 tons. Consumers were more reluctant to buy whole fresh chickens: At almost 11.000 tons, they bought about six percent less in the first half of 2004 than in the previous year.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 577 times

German tea industry satisfied with financial year

Tea remains the most consumed beverage in the world after water. The luxury food is also very popular with German consumers. As reported by the German Tea Association, the total consumption of green and black tea last year was 18.697 tons compared to 18.512 tons, just above the previous year's level. Thus, this German tea market remains stable at a high level with one percent growth in the rather difficult market environment "hot drinks".
 
The decisive factor for this success is above all the versatility of the product: Because tea offers the consumer individual pleasure experiences for every taste and occasion thanks to its variety of varieties. In addition, a healthy additional benefit of food is becoming increasingly important. Many no longer just want to enjoy, but consciously want to do something for body and soul. "Tea in particular offers the optimal conditions here. Numerous studies have shown that black and green tea have positive effects on health. Consumer surveys confirm that health aspects also play an important role when buying these teas. And tea consumed pure has no calories," explains Jochen Spethmann, Chairman of the German Tea Association, the good market position of tea. 

According to surveys by the ifo Institute, every German citizen drank an average of 2003 liters of tea in 26. The market distribution of black and green tea has stabilized in the past two years: black tea is the undisputed number one with a share of 81,0 percent, green tea has gained one percentage point and now holds a 19 percent market share. The quick alternative to loose tea remains popular: consumers buy around 40,0 percent of green and black tea in tea bags. The organic tea segment is stable with a 2,1 percent share of sales. 

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 603 times

Animal feed is cheaper than in June but significantly more expensive than last year

According to the Federal Statistical Office, in July 2004 the index of wholesale selling prices was 3,9% above the previous year's level. This was the strongest year-on-year increase since December 2000 (+4,3%). In June 2004 and May 2004 the annual rates of change were +3,5% and +3,6%, respectively. Compared to June 2004, the wholesale price index increased by 0,2%.

In July 2004, wholesale prices for ores, iron, steel, non-ferrous metals and semi-finished products (+ 27,4%), tobacco products (+ 14,3%), grain, seeds and animal feed rose particularly sharply compared to the previous year (+ 9,2%) and with solid fuels and petroleum products (+ 9,1%). On the other hand, goods in the wholesale trade with pharmaceutical products and medical aids fell by 6,7% and office machines by 4,7% compared to the previous year.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 554 times