International News Briefs

London-based two-store health foods chain Freshlands has merged with an as yet unnamed retail company created by industry veteran S.M. “Hass” Hassan, according to Natural Products News. Hassan, founder of Boulder, CO-based Alfalfa’s Markets—now part of the Wild Oats Markets (OATS) chain—will serve as the new company’s managing director until a full-time U.K. resident can be found. The company expects to open a third Freshlands store, in London, by February 1999.

Britain’s Prince Charles in October presented 23 awards for the U.K.’s best organic produce at the 12th annual Soil Association Organic Food Awards in London. Among the winners was Planet Organic, of London, which won retailer of the year.

The U.K. said it secured agreements to end the testing of cosmetic ingredients on animals. All British companies with licenses to carry out the tests have voluntarily relinquished them, and the Home Office won’t issue any new licenses, said Home Office Minister George Howarth. Animals will continue to be used in medical and biological research.

Herbalife International Inc. (HERBA) said it expanded into countries neighboring existing South African operations. Availability of products in Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho brings HERBA’s total market to 42 countries.

Nestle SA is buying a 60% stake in Excelsia Foods Ltd. of Dabur India Ltd., a health food maker. Excelsia is a joint venture between Dabur and Osem Investment Ltd. of Israel, which is 47% owned by Nestle. Profits for Nestle India Ltd. surged 57% to 351 million rupees, or $8.3 million, in the first half of 1998.

U.K.-based Tesco launched 200 new own-label organic lines in more than 50 of its stores and said it wants all its top-selling conventional lines to be available in organic form by the end of 1999. Competitor Waltrose pledged to convert to organic any produce line that it can source in sufficient quantities, subject to meeting normal criteria for quality and value.

Tokyo cosmetics and health food vendor Fancl Corp. debuted on the OTC market in November. The company grew sales 20% in each of the past two fiscal years and leads the Japanese additive-free cosmetics industry with an estimated 38% share.

Phytopharm PLC (U.PPH) of London said in November it signed Heska Corp. (HSKA) as a partner in developing Phytopharm’s botanical compounds for use in animal health. Heska will pay Phytopharm an undisclosed sum to evaluate one of the compounds, with an option to develop and market it for the North American animal health market.

The Dutch government filed a suit with the European Court of Justice in October over the European Union Life Patents Directive, which allows patenting of biotechnological discoveries such as the genetic manipulation of plants and animals. The Dutch seek to nullify the directive on legal grounds, saying it violates international treaties and basic human rights.