Campina, owned by Dutch dairy co-operative Royal FrieslandCampina, was once again the biggest selling A-brand in Dutch supermarkets in 2010. Campina maintained its lead for the ninth consecutive year, a position it first took in 2002.

Campina was one of eight FrieslandCampina brands in the top 100 best-selling A-brands in Dutch supermarkets, according to an annual survey compiled by the IRI market research company.

Campina also came first in the top 100 turnover ranking. Last year, consumers spent a total of Eur381m on Campina products in Dutch supermarkets. The brand includes Campina milk, yoghurt, vla (custard), cream and coffee creamers, Campina Boerenland, Campina Optimel (drinking yoghurts, yoghurts, soft curd cheese, fat-free custard with no added sugar), Campina Vifit (for improved vitality) and Campina Botergoud (butter).

In 2010, Friesche Vlag coffee creamers and longlife milk accounted for Eur77.8m in sales, sharing seventh place in the ranking with Friesche Vlag’s daily fresh dairy products marketed by Arla Foods (previously sixth). In 21st position once again was Mona, with Milner in 26th (2009: 24th) and Appelsientje in 33rd (2009: 27th). CoolBest registered a 0.6% increase in turnover, ending in 64th place (63rd in 2009). In 62nd place was Chocomel (2009: 58th) and in 66th was DubbelFrisss (2009: 56th).

47% of British adults who buy wine for themselves or others in supermarkets or off licences say that the first thing they decide upon is colour, according to new research published by the Wilson Drinks Report. 18% choose special offers on wine first, 13% choose the retail selling price, 9% decide on grape variety, 6% choose country of origin whilst only 3% choose the brand of the wine.

New consumer research carried out by YouGov for the Wilson Drinks Report also shows that 71% of British adults buy wine for themselves or others in a supermarket or off licence, a significant majority of the population.

Tim Wilson, managing director of the Wilson Drinks Report, comments : “This research is very interesting as it clearly shows that the very first thing that the average British wine shopper decides upon when choosing wine is colour. Supermarkets and off licences that mainly display their wines by colour are doing the right thing, according to our analysis. However, what is also very interesting is that grape variety is more important in shoppers’ decision making than either country of origin or brand. Few retailers display their wines specifically by colour and then grape variety, although some are now trialling wine style and food matching to encourage shoppers to buy better wines.”

The analysis by WDR shows 3 levels of decision making. Of the 47% of shoppers that choose colour first, 27% say that they then choose grape variety and the same proportion (27%) say that offers, including discounts, is their second decision after colour.

The research does not provide good news for wine brand managers. Only 2% of supermarket or off license wine shoppers who mostly drink red wine choose brand first when deciding which wine to buy. It is a similar story for those shoppers who mostly drink white wine : only 3% choose brand first when buying wine.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has reported that sales growth of its Jameson brand accelerated appreciably in the first six months of its current financial, with volumes growing by 16% to 3.17m cases, to produce one of its best performances ever. As it has done over the past decade, the sales value of Jameson grew faster than volume, achieving an impressive 18% growth. Indeed, premiumisation of the Irish whiskey brand with consistent value ahead of volume growth is a key objective of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

“This six month period has proven to be one of the most dynamic and successful periods ever for Jameson, as it reached two key milestones on its journey to become one of the world’s top spirit brands. Globally, Jameson sold over three million cases in 2010, and one million of these are consumed in its most important export market, the USA,” comments Alexandre Ricard, chairman and chief executive of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

Alexandre Ricard, chairman and chief executive of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

He continues: “The progress of Jameson within the Pernod Ricard family of brands has been one of our company’s great success stories, growing from 466,000 cases when Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard in 1988, to 1 million in 1996, 2 million in 2006 and achieving sales of over 3 million in 2010.”

To satisfy the growing global demand for the brand, Irish Distillers is planning a major expansion of its warehousing and maturation capacity in 2010. This development will be located at Dungourney, County Cork, subject to the normal planning process which is already under way.

Yoplait Group of France has granted exclusive franchise rights for the manufacture and distribution of Yoplait branded fresh dairy products, starting in UAE and later expanding in the rest of the GCC, to Arabian food producer Agthia Group.

The partnership with Yoplait is in line with Agthia’s business diversification strategy and marks Agthia’s entry into the dairy segment. Agthia will commence manufacturing and distribution of Yoplait branded products by the end of 2011, joining Yoplait’s network of franchised partners like General Mills in the US, National Foods in Australia, Ultima Foods in Canada, and Bing Grae in Korea.

Yoplait is the number two brand worldwide in the fresh dairy product category, with a number one position in key markets like the US and Australia, and a number two position in France, Canada, Korea, and Ireland. Through its franchise system, over the past 40 years, Yoplait has developed the brand globally with well established local partners. Yoplait branded products are currently marketed in over 75 countries.

“Yoplait is the number two brand in fresh dairy product market worldwide. International development is strategic for us, therefore we chose Agthia as a partner in the GCC,” explains Lucien Fa, chief executive of Yoplait. “We have no doubt this new relationship will be efficient to develop the presence of our brand in the GCC region.”

Swiss dairy processor Emmi is repositioning its products under the ‘Emmi’ umbrella brand. Typical Swiss symbols and the silhouette of a mountain peak in red and white are the key elements of the new packaging. For the first time, well-established products from the white (dairy and fresh products) and yellow (cheese) ranges will come under the same brand name. Some 150 well-known Emmi products will gain new, uniform packaging. Products from the yoghurt, desserts, ice cream, natural cheese, fondue, raclette, mozzarella, milk, cream and butter segments will be marketed as part of the ‘Emmi’ range.

The new, uniform packaging is based on the colours red and white. A harmonious mountain range and silhouette-like typical national symbols such as a flag-waver, edelweiss, a cow and a yodeller form the key elements. “As a Swiss company with products made from Swiss milk, we want to communicate this origin in a clear and comprehensible way to consumers. Emmi products are characterized by their outstanding quality. This is now also reflected in their packaging,” explains Robin Barraclough, head of marketing of Emmi Group.

The uniform ‘Swiss-look’ design has all the benefits of an umbrella brand and aims to increase consumer awareness and improve visibility in the chiller cabinet. The redesigned ‘Emmi’ range of products will be available from August 2010 in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Switzerland celebrates its birthday on August 1st. Together with internationally renowned light artist Gerry Hofstetter, Emmi, the country’s largest dairy group, is giving the Swiss population a special present to mark the occasion. The artist will illuminate well-known buildings in all four corners of the country on 1st August 2010. The light installations play on the new imagery of the Emmi umbrella brand.

Emmi’s entire product range is being repositioned under the ‘Emmi’ umbrella brand. Typical Swiss symbols and the silhouette of a mountain peak in the dominant colours red and white are the key elements of the packaging. Products from the yoghurt, desserts, ice cream, natural cheese, fondue, raclette, mozzarella, milk, cream and butter segments are marketed as part of the Emmi range.

The uniform ‘Swiss-look’ design has all the benefits of an umbrella brand and aims to increase consumer awareness. The redesigned ‘Emmi’ range of products will be available from August 2010 in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

“The simultaneous illuminations in Lucerne, Graubunden, Ticino and Vaud express the shared identity of the cantons and Emmi’s ties with Switzerland. The typical national symbols that Gerry Hofstetter is using for the illuminations will trigger a real sense of national pride. It’s a thank you to our loyal suppliers and consumers,” explains Robin Barraclough, head of marketing at Emmi Group.