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I can't believe that the commerce commission is concerned about Food Stuffs North Island and South Island actually going legitimate. They have already suggested that they effectively work together to avoid price competition ( which surely should be what should be investigated!) Surely the concern should be that there is actually only 2 supermarket chains splitting up the NZ market between them and ensuring the prices stay high. https://lnkd.in/gEsAkMfu

I see Chris Quin from Foodstuffs North Island Limited its at it again - trying to convince us that a bigger and more powerful supermarket monopoly is somehow in our best interests. In The Post last week, Mr Quin regaled us with a full 10-point list of all the fabulous benefits the further consolidation of our oligopolic supermarket sector would bring the country. Obviously, it's a bunch of disingenuous self-serving spin - and the reason why is easy to see. Nowhere in his exhaustive list does Mr Quin suggest that the hugely inflated prices Kiwi families are paying at the checkout will decrease. And the source of those inflated prices is easy to find - it's the excessive profits of Foodstuffs North Island Limited and Woolworths Supermarkets ... which, clearly, Mr Quin isn't interested in reducing. So before lecturing us further with his self-serving opinion pieces, perhaps Mr Quin can explain why a kilo of pure NZ lamb mince is £9.50 in the UK - that's about NZ$19.75 to you and me - despite having travelled halfway around the world, while the same kilo of mince is a full $32.99 in my local New World supermarket, just down the road from the farm the lambs were raised on. And more importantly, what he intends doing about that. If the answer is more of his hand-waving about "stronger cooperatives", then the path for the Commerce Commission is obvious - decline the Foodstuffs merger, forcibly break up the supermarket oligopoly, and prosecute both companies for abuse of market power under the Commerce Act. It's time for a lot less lobbying and a lot more legal action. https://lnkd.in/gFY9wWds Tex Edwards Ernie Newman GAG (Grocery Action Group Inc) Pierre van Heerden

<<CR Beverage IPO Could Fuel China's Bottled Water Price War>> The potential IPO of China Resources Beverage, CR Holdings' bottled water unit, could bring the ongoing price war among China's bottled water makers such as Nongfu Spring and Wahaha to a boiling point. The company could double its self-owned production capacity by 2025, with further capacity expansion to be funded by the IPO proceeds. Rising supply is likely to fuel further price cuts as firms battle for market share. Please access the full analysis by Ada Li Bloomberg Intelligence by clicking the full note: https://lnkd.in/gB-tuE8X #chinaconsumer #beverages #bottledwater #IPO

China’s largest “cheap eats” restaurant chain was cleared by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to make its IPO after its third filing this year https://lnkd.in/gsQJKzQW

Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI), one of the leading chain restaurant and food service groups in the Philippines, released its unaudited financial statements for the third quarter of 2024. SWS during the three-month period reached P5.4 billion, rising by 16% versus the comparable period last year. #bonds #stockmarket #stocks #finance #Business #Corporate #Corporation #Philippines #Financial #Invest #Investment #investingtips

"Clearance for proposed Foodstuffs merger declined." This is welcome news for New Zealand consumers and suppliers alike, as any lessening of competition is undesirable. Read more about it in this FMCG Business article: https://lnkd.in/g2e-BpB9

Southeast Asia's largest brewing company Thai Beverage announced a major restructuring. ThaiBev will completely exit the real estate business, transferring its 28.8% stake in Frasers Property to TCC Assets. In exchange, ThaiBev will receive shares of Fraser and Neave (F&N), increasing its stake from 28% to nearly 70%. The deal will allow ThaiBev to expand its presence in the non-alcoholic beverages and dairy products segment through F&N. The share swap is valued at approximately $1.6 billion and requires no cash transactions. The company expects that focusing on its core business will lead to a revaluation of its shares. Following the announcement, F&N shares rose by 26%, while Frasers Property shares increased by 5.6%. This restructuring is aimed at strengthening ThaiBev's position as a leading beverage and food producer in the region. Read more: Reuters https://lnkd.in/gr9QZhnV The Straits Times https://lnkd.in/g9W5rDny Bngkok Post https://lnkd.in/g6KDvCxN

Food and beverage M&A activity increased by close to a third in the UK in the second quarter of 2024, rising by 32.4%, new data from corporate finance house Oghma Partners has found. Mark Lynch, partner at Oghma Partners commented, "We expect deal volume to continue at these levels supported by improving economic conditions. The potential for further rate cuts by the BoE this winter should provide buyers, particularly financial buyers, with more opportunities to pursue M&A activity." #merger #acquisitions #UK #retail https://lnkd.in/ejmBK2VS

China Resources Beverage Gets Approval for Hong Kong IPO