Hungarians embrace trend for organics while Czech sales rebound
Posted - July 1, 2011
Hungarians embrace trend for organics while Czech sales rebound
By Warren Beaumont
Hungary has a brace of “green” companies that produce organic foods such as fruit, pastries, jams and edible oils, with the environment and quality as top priorities, according to Beata Balazs, a Budapest consultant in a report from the Hong Kong TDC. Firms such as BioHungaricum, Biokal International, Biokontroll Hung
ADVANTAGE, sourcing whole food brands
Posted - December 20, 2010
ADVANTAGE, sourcing whole food brands
By Adriana Michael
Passion and commitment are common traits shared by pioneers and leaders of the global organic and natural health movement. Jerry Zeifman, President of Canadian firm Advantage Health Matters, is an entrepreneur who exemplifies these qualities in his quest to promote health consciousness through the use of whole food supplement strategies and raw superfoods through a sustainable, eco-friendly business model.
A dynamic and leading Canadian importer and distributor of some of the most cutting-edge brands of organic supplements in the market, Jerry could be considered a
Mexico
Posted - August 15, 2010
Mexico
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Healthy Life launches health food stores into China
Posted - August 15, 2010
Healthy Life launches health food stores into China
Leading Australian natural products distributor and franchise retailer Healthzone Limited, franchisor of over 130 Healthy Life health food stores in Australia, announced the further expansion of its international operations in China in early August. Just opened are the first Healthy Life China store in Shanghai’s iconic Jin Mao Tower J-Life shopping Centre and a second company store in mid-August in Asia’s largest new shopping centre, the Sun-Moon-Light (SML) Shopping Centre in Shanghai, with five further high profile stores scheduled for opening in 2010 and strong franchisee interest.
Peter Roach, executive chairman of stock exchange-listed Healthzone Limited said the Healthy Life China franchise forecasts up to 100 new stores by the end of 2012. “Establishing the Healthy Life Franchise in China is another step towards control of the promotion and retailing of Healthzone owned brands and distributed products throughout Australasia,” Mr Roach said. “As the leading natural products retailer, brands and distribution business in Australia, Healthzone intends to duplicate this dominant position in the region within the next five years.” Healthzone had sales revenues for the year to June 30, 2009 of $104 million with Healthy Life store sales running at 10% growth to the March quarter 2010.
To support the strategy Healthzone is advancing the registration of own brand HL Vitamins, Healthy Life Food, Natural Alternative and branded bod organic cosmetics for the new Healthy Life China retail model. Australian Healthy Life stores are 60-90sqm and hold 3500-4500 skus, while Chinese stores are 30-60sqm and will hold 2500skus of own brand and third party distributed products. Australian stores are 30% food/70% personal care and supplements, while Chinese stores use a 20%/80% model.
Healthzone has successfully operated over 1600 Aurinda retail counters in China over the past 12 years through the experienced local management based in the Healthzone Shanghai office. Also announced in August by Mr Roach was that Healthzone Limited had entered into a strategic alliance with Asia’s leading healthcare company Eu Yan Sang International, which acquired a 14.99% stake in Healthzone.
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Whole Foods Market continues strong sales resurgence
Posted - August 1, 2010
Whole Foods Market continues strong sales resurgence
North America’s leading organic food and natural products chain Whole Foods Market appears to be riding a resurgence in consumer demand for health and wellness after it reported 8.8% comparable store sales growth for the 12-week third quarter ended July 4, 2010. Sales increased 15% to $2.2 billion. Comparable store sales increased 8.8%, or 6.3% on a two-year stacked basis. Identical store sales, excluding three relocations, increased 8.4%, or 4.6% on a two-year stacked basis.
The 3Q sales results compares with 13% sales growth and 8.7% comparable store sales growth in the 12-week second quarter ended April 11, while Whole Foods has enjoyed a huge turnaround in sales since the third quarter of 2009. “We are pleased with our results which compare very favorably to most other food retailers and show we are continuing to gain market share. Our identical store sales increased 8.4%, accelerating from the second quarter and our highest increase since 2006. Despite tougher comparisons and the recent dip in reported consumer confidence, our two-year stacked identical store sales also sequentially increased to 4.6%,” said John Mackey, co-chief executive officer and co-founder of Whole Foods Market.
“Today we are also very excited to announce six new leases. We have eight leases in negotiation and expect an accelerated pace of lease signings to translate into a higher number of new store openings starting in 2012.” Excluding LIFO inventory accounting, gross profit margin increased 13 basis points to 35.0% of sales with an improvement in occupancy costs offsetting higher costs of goods sold as a percentage of sales. During the quarter WFM opened six stores, acquired two stores and divested two stores related to the FTC settlement agreement (Wild Oats-related) in the third quarter. WFM currently operates 298 stores totaling approximately 11.2 million square feet.
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Germany still leads the pack
Posted - January 30, 2010
Germany still leads the pack
Based on a report produced by Dr. Klaus-Juergen Holstein, Ein Herz fuer BIO magazine
Germany still represents the biggest organic market in Europe, with potential for growth, followed by France and Great Britain. Organic sales account for 6.5% of the total food sales in Germany, 3.4% in France and 2.2% in Great Britain.
Compared to the other two countries, the German food market is generally low-priced, including organic food. The German organic sales concentrate mainly on fruit and vegetables, supplements and wellness food from rice cakes to vegetarian spread, and on dairy products.
Regarding channels of distribution, at the end of the 1990s small specialist shops dominated with over 40% of organic sales. Today, the 2000 specialist shops account for only 23% of total sales. Supermarket chains with around 40,000 outlets account for 35 %, and 19% of sales go through discount-markets, which with 10,000 retail shops account to 40% of total food sales.
Specialist shops do not have a well developed structure yet.There are only two large chains , Alnatura and Denn
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Posted - May 19, 2009
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Italian Firm Reaches Latin America
Posted - March 30, 2009
La Finestra’s Next Frontier: Latin America
By Adriana Michael, O.W.N.
It
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Fast and Organic?
Posted - November 1, 2008
Trends: organic, fast, fresh food
By Adriana Michael - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Recently, the available selection of organic products has grown explosively. US domestic sales of organic food and beverages are estimated to reach $23.6 billion in 2008, up from roughly $20 billion in 2007 and just $1 billion in 1990, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Yet eating only organic food can still be challenging enough while at home. Vacations, business trips or simple errands make it almost impossible
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Billion Dollar Boom
Posted - September 11, 2008
Organic and Natural Markets Expanding Rapidly
America
Send your comments to: editorial@organicwellnessnews.com
Specialist shops do not have a well developed structure yet.There are only two large chains , Alnatura and DennItalian Firm Reaches Latin America
Posted - March 30, 2009
La Finestra’s Next Frontier: Latin America
By Adriana Michael, O.W.N.
It
Fast and Organic?
Posted - November 1, 2008
Trends: organic, fast, fresh food
By Adriana Michael - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Recently, the available selection of organic products has grown explosively. US domestic sales of organic food and beverages are estimated to reach $23.6 billion in 2008, up from roughly $20 billion in 2007 and just $1 billion in 1990, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Yet eating only organic food can still be challenging enough while at home. Vacations, business trips or simple errands make it almost impossible
Billion Dollar Boom
Posted - September 11, 2008
Organic and Natural Markets Expanding Rapidly
America
