How well do we really know that what we read is real, especially in those sectors where everyone is optimistic and the opportunities are large. Here’s an example.

Biofuels Digest recently published a story entitled

which clearly did not follow up source material enough, which although ambiguous to varying degrees did admit to this being a plan and not the start of operations as the story indicates.

Of course takes off sounds like goes into production, but in the African way project tells us that ita bigger thing and not an actual refinery that is taking off.

“Establishes” and “owned by” implies something real has been built, but “is to be established” makes it clear this is a plan and not a plant.

This is the only clear and concise reporting of the event.

Is it just jounalists using different words to add to the interest, an enthusiasm for the subject or a purposeful attempt a hiding the reality

The movement in the Organic food market is important to Africa is we do intend increasing the use of Organic as a selling point, but also because it is an indicator of how people in Europe are going to react to increasing food prices.

Tesco, the UK chain, decreased it’s prices in August 2008 by up to 25 per cent, “in response to feedback from consumers who are feeling the effects of the credit crunch” Tesco believe
consumers were already less willing to pay the premium price of Organic Foods, in the face of higher prices on basic commodities and the general economic downturn.

Late in August USA Today reported on declines in the growth of Organic food in the USA, which they linked to their premium price.

At the end of August the Guardian reported on data collected for it by market research group TNS.

The information showed the UK suffered the worst decline in sales over the last 10 years. Although the Soil Association had different data they acknowledged the fact that the consumers situation was definitely effecting sales.

The Private Sector Development Blog of the World bank noted the decrease reported on by the Guardian , but added that the effect on purchases from Developing Countries will be lower because most Organic Food is purchased from Developed Countries.

Another article by the Guardian wondered whether this quick reversal in the face of the economic downturn indicates that the Organic movement is just a fad.

On the other hand the Dane’s consumption of organic foods seems not to be effected by food price increases.

Tree Hugger believes this is a result of an older organic system and the fact that retail is wider spread, down to the corner store.

Interesting is the fact that Restaurants & Caterers can be certified at bronze, silver and gold levels, depending on the content of organic ingredients in their food.

The final question is what effect will the current financial crisis, assuming its is going take years to correct, have on the development of the Organic Sector over the short and medium terms.

Food & Drink Europe report on the the frequency of new product label claims determined by International market research company Mintel.

This kind of information gives some kind of view of the trends in what the consumer wants. Some previous posts refer to other information –

This survey was difficult to compare directly with the previous information posted because of the approach.

The UK & Europe both had “no preservatives or additives” as the most frequent advertising claim, being used on around one fifth of all labeling on new launches. This is in line with the wellness/health type issues of the previous post.

The USA had Kosher as the most frequent labeling message on new foods, being used on over a third (38%) of new products. The “no preservatives or additives” was the second most frequent in the USA, making it overall the most used claim.

Other claims used frequently included ‘organic’, ‘All natural’, ‘low/no/reduced transfat’, ‘microwaveable’, ‘time/speed’, ‘low/no/reduced sugar’, and ‘gluten-free’.

What is Apple doing to us in South Africa?

According to this email from Apple, the iPhone launches tomorrow.

But yesterday

• the iStore could not tell me the price
• the iStore could not tell me the carrier contracts that would apply

and today the carrier Vodacom could not tell be

• when the phone would be available
• what contracts they would have
• how they would handle those

So is it another Apple implementation failure or just disrespect for South African customers? After all we have been denied music through iTunes till now, but it seems there’s enough income to apple if we are allowed the apps store

Just to note I have tried many times to get something out of apple on why we don’t have access to music and if we don’t we bet bombarded with iTunes add emails – can they not filter on .co.za.

Last week there was little colour in the Pilansburg Game reserve

 
Today there was lots of colour in Pretoria

For a really detailed and technologically strong document on the production of all kinds of juice there is nothing to beat this free publication on the FAO site.

This is an immensely informative book that covers all technologies from the simplest hand processing to the state of the art aseptic systems.

It provides contacts to suppliers and links to other information. It is, however, a bit light on the practical things such as factory design, process management, business design etc. Petrer Fellows’ book on Fruit and Vegetable processing, can probably be used by the new entrepreneur to supplement this technological information.

Yes, it is just a designers fun site – but I wonder how many orders he would get if he put it online?

Listen to this address from Bill Gates. the worlds most active philanthropist. He speaks of Microsoft Innovation Centres in Africa that will serve 6 000 business people each.

Watch here for more on Microsoft Innovation Centres.

I have a lot of admiration for entrepreneurs. It can be tough and stressful road creating a business that will grow and last.

 

from: SMME-Blog.net
(click image for full story online)

 

Over the last 18 years I’ve worked for both small entrepreneurial businesses and large established organisations. Small entrepreneurial businesses are one of the most exciting to be involved with despite being hugely challenging. Fresh and innovative ideas are often brought to life in a free spirited and flexible environment.

If you look at the table at the side you’ll see typical key areas listed that are associated with an entrepreneurial business, but are they all good and are some downright bad?

The answer to the above is actually quite simple. The truth is that it depends where the business is in its life. For new small entrepreneurial businesses the above list is common, but as the company grows it needs to develop and change. For example, with 3 employees the above list is just fine. Multiple the employees by a hundred to 300 and with the above list melt down will result unless there is swift change in key areas. Here is the rub of course. As the business grows it needs to develop and change, but making change is a painful process and gets avoided. However, you just cannot avoid change if you want your business to grow and there are methods to make it less painful.

In an interview with green2tech

Jeff Broin of ethanol producer Poet said the following

8). In the great debate over how much corn ethanol is affecting food prices, what do you think about some newer reports that have said biofuels have affected food prices significantly?
Every study depends on the assumptions of its author, and the opponents of renewable fuels have been able to generate a few that say what they want. Almost every independent study I’ve seen has said that ethanol production has had a very small impact on the consumer’s price for food, especially in comparison to the impact of rising energy prices.

A study from the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M said, “The underlying force driving changes in the agricultural industry, along with the economy as a whole, is overall higher energy costs, evidenced by $100 per barrel oil.” Just do the math. A semi can haul 4,200 boxes of corn flakes at a time, and with 10 ounces of corn in each box, that’s a total of 46.9 bushels of corn. At a $6 bushel, the corn in all 4,200 boxes has a value of $281.40. To haul those boxes 1,500 miles, however, would cost $881.25 with diesel priced at $4.70 per gallon. That means it takes 21 cents of diesel per box to get it to the store, yet the value of corn in that box is less than seven cents. What do you think is the real driver of higher food prices?

But this study surely has nothing to say about biofuels not pushing up the price of food? In fact what would the fuel cost have been if the truck was run on biodiesel?

Its also flawed in that the calculation is for $100 crude & $ 4.70 / gallon diesel – even at $50 crude and the corresponding diesel price of $ 2.86 / gallon (extrapolated from GasBuddy data) the diesel cost is still 13 cents. This is a of food retail and consumer demands not fuel costs!

Lets not even start calculating the packaging cost and the wholesale and retail margins!