== Greggs’ sales rise ==

Greggs’ like-for-like group sales rose 5.3% over the Christmas period, according to its latest trading update. Sales growth for the four weeks to 3 January 2009 were higher than in previous months. In the 28 weeks to 27 December 2008, the bakery chain’s like-for-like sales increased 3.9%, with a total sales increase of 6.6%.

== Cargill’s Oz move ==

Cargill is opening two new texturising sales and customer service offices in Australia to serve its Australian and New Zealand markets. From January, it will be able to offer its range of texturising solutions direct to customers located there, rather than through distributors.

== Tea-time at Starbucks ==

Starbucks is to focus more on its tea offerings with Tazo Full-Leaf Tea Lattes and Tea Infusions to be launched in the US and Canada this month. However a Starbucks spokesperson said that, at present, the coffee chain has no plans for these items to become available in the UK.

== Fine for Foodcorp ==

South African company Foodcorp, has agreed to pay R45.4m (£3m) after it admitted Sunbake Bakeries (operated by Foodcorp) fixed the price of bread it sold to consumers. The Pretoria-based Competition Commission said that the fine represented 6.7% of Foodcorp’s sales from its bakery operations in fiscal 2006.

== Ocean Spray target ==

Ocean Spray aims to grow its functional fruit ingredients in Europe by widening the remit of its European agent Boesch Boden Spies. Fruit and nut ingredient agency Boesch will represent Ocean Spray’s ingredients portfolio in Spain, Portugal, France, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Eastern European territories.