== Compass points to positive cost control ==

Catering company Compass Group said it was managing food costs in its UK operations "through price increases, supply chain efficiencies and menu planning" in its trading update last week. Strong performance seen in the first three months of the current financial year had been carried on in the second quarter, it said, and it expected a favourable impact of around £6 million on operating profit from the movement of key currencies for the six months to 31 March.

== South African bakery greets UK delegation ==

Leading UK food safety experts visited Mantelli’s bakery in Westlake, Cape Town, when they went to South Africa to advise food and drinks companies ahead of the 2010 football World Cup. The delegation also met with Food Bev SETA, the South African equivalent of UK sector skills council Improve.

Tesco takes time out on US store plans

Tesco has put its plans to roll out more Fresh & Easy stores in the US on hold for three months. Marketing director of Fresh & Easy Simon Uwins wrote on his weblog last week: "We’ve given ourselves a little time to...make improvements that customers have asked for." Tesco opened its first US store last November and had planned to add a further 50 outlets in California, Nevada and Arizona by February this year.

Co-op expands on store portfolio

The Co-operative Group has bought 10 convenience stores from Sainsbury’s, located in northern England and the Midlands. It will spend £2.5m refurbishing them. Co-op chief executive Peter Marks said the stores had "great potential". Bake-off sections will be rolled out gradually to the stores.

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