Health and nutrition top priorities for food companies, says Kerry chief

HEALTH, well-being and nutrition will remain top of the agenda for food companies for many years to come, Kerry Group chief executive Hugh Friel said yesterday.

The group's ability to create and produce lifestyle and nutritional foods, meeting consumers' demands for health and convenience, helped it achieve a strong performance, in 2003, he added.

Replying to questions at the group's AGM in Tralee, Mr Friel described the group as a 'well-oiled machine' which saw further opportunities in an enlarged EU and China, where it hoped to start manufacturing this year. Kerry now has the number one spot globally in food ingredients, with US turnover moving towards $1 billion.