69% of senior executives at UK-based food and beverage producers expect M&A activity to increase in the next 12 months, according to a report by Grant Thornton UK LLP which
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Theo Muller, the privately owned German-based dairy group which is also the leader in the UK yoghurt market, has increased its stake in British dairy group Dairy Crest to 3.04%.
Unilever is reported to be seeking to dispose of its Ragu and Chicken Tonight ambient sauce brands in the UK and Ireland to trade or private equity buyers. The move
Despite a declining turnover as customers moved away from the premium products that had been its traditional area of strength, Finsbury Food Group managed to deliver growth in key areas,
Douglas Conant, will step down as chief executive of Campbell Soup Company next July, at the end of the company’s financial year. Denise Morrison, president of Campbell’s North American soup,
Pret A Manger, the UK’s leading independent retailer of premium sandwiches, has become the first UK high street cafe brand to take all of its chicken from higher welfare sources
UK dairy group Dairy Crest has renewed its fresh liquid milk contract with retailer Morrisons through to 2015. “We are delighted to have been awarded this extension to our contract
Unilever is acquiring EVGA’s Greek ice cream brands (including Scandal, Variete and Karabola) and distribution network for an undisclosed amount. EVGA, which helped pioneer the Greek ice cream industry, will
Greencore, which is one of the UK’s leading convenience food manufacturers and also has operations in the US, expects group operating profit, excluding exceptional items and amortisation, on continuing businesses
Due to rising export sales of its biscuits and cakes in France, Netherlands, UK, US and Asia, Lotus Bakeries is investing Eur27m to expand production capacity at its Belgian operations
Swiss and international speciality bakery group Aryzta has reported a 2.2% increase in operating profit (including associates and joint ventures) to Eur305m from underlying revenue up 8.6% to Eur3.01b. The
Poland-based Morpol, which is one of the world’s leading salmon processors, has expanded its UK operations with the acquisition of Brookside Products for less than £1m. Based in Cumbria, Brookside
Nestle is creating Nestle Health Science and the Nestle Institute of Health Sciences to pioneer a new industry between food and pharma. These two separate organisations will allow Nestle to
Unilever is strengthening its personal care business by acquiring US-based Alberto Culver Company for $3.7b in cash. Alberto Culver generated sales approaching $1.6b and EBITDA of over $250m for the
Chinese food conglomerate Bright Food Group is reported to be holding exclusive talks to acquire United Biscuits, the British and international biscuits and snacks manufacturer, for more than £2b. Private
UK exports of food and non-alcoholic drinks grew to more than £5b in the first half of 2010 – a rise of 4.3% on the same period in 2009 –
Gloabl brewer Heineken has been presented with the 2010 World Business and Development (WBD) Award for its groundbreaking sustainable local supply chain initiative in Sierra Leone. Heineken is one of
Graham’s, Scotland’s leading independent dairy company, is acquiring Claymore Dairies for an undisclosed price. Claymore Dairies was sold earlier this year by Arla Foods and North Milk Co-op to a
Tata Global Beverages of India, which owns the UK-based Tetley Tea business, is planning to move into food via acquisitions. The beverages group is reported to be considering raising funds
Zetar, the UK confectionery and snack foods group, has completed its refinancing, agreeing new four year bank facilities with HSBC Bank. The refinancing provides Zetar with up to £45m in
British baker Warburtons is to close its site in Newport, Wales with the loss of 114 jobs. Acquired by Warburtons
The Commission has adopted a proposal to amend the Fruit Juice Directive, including a move to ban the addition of
Roshen, the Ukrainian confectionery manufacturer, plans to invest $250m in building a new production complex near by Cosyrevka town in
UK supermarket group Sainsbury has relaunched its premium ‘Taste the Difference’ range of own label food and beverage products. The
In response to rising coffee sales, McDonald’s is extending its freshly-ground coffee range with the addition of sustainably-sourced Espresso. The
Nestle is investing SFr50m (Eur38m) to establish its first R&D Centre in India. The facility will be built in Manesar,
The Real Good Food Company, the UK sugar, ingredients and bakery group, has reported a loss before tax of £1.298m,
Two of the UK’s three largest grocer retailers announced revamps of their own label food ranges in the past week. Asda’s
Dutch and the international dairy co-operative FrieslandCampina has entered into a collaboration agreement with energy supplier Essent for the production
In line with its strategy of increasing its exposure to emerging beer markets, Molson Coors Brewing Company has completed its
Asda, the UK’s second biggest-supermarket group, has relaunched its entire range of more than 3,500 own label food products and
SnackTime, one of the UK’s largest national operators of snack and chilled drink vending machines, has acquired Vendia UK for
Swiss dairy company Emmi has joined forces with MIBA, a group of milk producers in north-western Switzerland, to invest SFr2m
German-based Sudzucker, which is Europe’s largest sugar group, has reported a 57% increase in operating profit to Eur282m on sales
Businesses in the EU involved with importing or selling food and beverage products from China are walking, often blindly, into
Ed Haas, the Austrian confectionery manufacturer, has commenced production in a 6,000 sq m plant at Janossomorja in Hungary. Employing
Private equity firm Risk Capital Partners is reported to be looking to sell its 24% stake in Seafood Holdings, a
German beverages producer Eckes-Granini Group is planning a fruit juices joint venture with Turkish firm Yildiz Holding. Eckes-Granini is one
Northern Ireland’s £1.5 billion meat industry must work on strategies that will reduce costs and increase its ability to exploit
Over the past year value has declined in the UK on-trade across most categories yet value has grown in the
Attention returned to the UK dairy sector last week following a surprise profits warning by fresh liquid milk specialist Robert
The latest grocery market figures from Kantar Worldpanel, for the 12 weeks ending 5th September 2010 show respectable growth in
UK dairy group Dairy Crest has moved to reassure investors following rival Robert Wiseman Dairies’ shock profits warning due to
Atlantic Grupa, Croatia’s biggest food and healthcare company, is focusing on integrating its recent acquisition of Droga Kolinska, the largest
Italian drinks producer Gruppo Campari is acquiring the Carolans, Frangelico and Irish Mist brands from William Grant & Sons, the
Kraft Foods has just outlined its new global development strategy and expects to deliver organic revenue growth of 5% or
New research from Mintel Global Market Navigator (GMN) reveals that Germans are the biggest ice cream lovers in Europe, with
UK-based Hilton Food Group, the leading specialist retail meat packing business supplying major international food retailers in Europe, has reported
Almost 500,000 cubic metres of water have already been saved as 36 of the UK’s leading food and drink manufacturers