Leading global spirits group Beam recently celebrated the filling of its 12 millionth barrel of bourbon since the repeal of Prohibition in the US in 1933. The commemorative white oak
Posts From mike
![Sainsbury’s Becomes Largest UK Retail User of AD](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SainsburyBIFFA-505x306_c.jpg)
Sainsbury’s has become the UK’s largest anaerobic digestion (AD) retailer after signing a ground breaking deal with Biffa, the waste management specialist. The three year deal means all food waste
![Dunbia Extends Pork Business](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DunbiaBanner4-505x306_c.jpg)
British and Irish meat processor Dunbia has expanded its operations through the purchase of English pork business Heathfield Foods. The deal increases the total number of processing facilities in the Dunbia Group
![$2.4 Billion Pringles Acquisition Delayed](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DiamondKettle-505x306_c.jpg)
US-based snack foods group Diamond Foods is delaying its acquisition of Pringles from Procter & Gamble. The $2.35 billion deal was agreed in April 2011 and was expected to close
The newly created DMK, Germany’s largest dairy co-operative, has unveiled plans for major restructuring in order to improve cost efficiency. DMK was formed in May 2011 following the merger of
![Sara Lee Close to Disposing of French Bakery Unit](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SaraLee-505x306_c.jpg)
Sara Lee is reported to be in negotiations to sell Eurodough, its French baked goods unit, as part of the US-based group’s strategy to divest its international bakery businesses. With
![Scottish Government to Introduce Minimum Alcohol Pricing](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ScottishGivernmentEnvironment-505x306_c.jpg)
The Scottish Government has published its Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Bill, which looks to set a minimum price for a unit of alcohol. It also sets the formula for calculating the
At the upcoming FIE, Danish manufacturer of emulsifier and stabilizer based systems, Palsgaard, will present new innovations within all of its application areas – bakery, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, margarine
![Natural Ingredients From Fortivia](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Fortivia-505x306_c.jpg)
Fortivia is a natural ingredients supplier specialized in rice by-products valorization. Its expertise in rice industry has been expended through different R&D projects which have led to the development of
Unilever has agreed to sell its Culver Specialty Brands division, in the US and Canada for $325 million (Eur230 million) in cash to B&G Foods. The business being sold includes
![Changes to Leadership Team at Premier Foods](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PremierBasket-image-505x306_c.png)
UK food group Premier Foods has announced changes to its leadership team to strengthen focus on the company’s renewed growth plan, under new chief executive Michael Clarke. In the new
![Kraft Foods to Invest $100 Million to Expand in Russia](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/RussiaMoscow-505x306_c.png)
Kraft Foods plans to invest $100 million to more than double the capacity of its coffee production plant at Gorelovo in the Leningrad region of Russia. Kraft Foods, which owns
![Ferrero Opens Plant in India and Plans One For Turkey](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/FerreroKinder-505x306_c.jpg)
Having recently opened a confectionery plant in India, Ferrero is now planning to build a new factory in Turkey. Earmarked for the production of Nutella and Kinder chilled products, the
![Coca-Cola Tightens Grip on North American Bottling](http://www.fdbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CocaCola15BillioinDollarBrands-505x306_c.png)
The Coca-Cola Company is further tightening control over its North American bottling operations with the acquisition of Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling, the fifth largest independent bottler in the US, for
More than 100 logistics professionals attended the VIP launch of Import Services’ new port-centric warehouse, a superb facility, adjacent to Southampton’s container port. Visitors included many of the companies Import
Russia has been in the news lately with PepsiCo announcing plans to build a $140m factory, its tenth plant in the country, as part of a $1b investment programme. The
![Vandemoortele to Extend Margarines and Fats Business](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/eating-505x306_c.jpg)
Belgium-based Vandemoortele Group, which specialises in the production of frozen bakery products and margarines and fats, is acquiring the margarine and frying fats activities of Dutch company Van Dijk Food
![Austrian Dairy Merger](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/dairy_products-505x306_c.jpg)
Austria’s largest and fourth biggest dairy groups, Berglandmilch and Tirol Milch respectively, are planning to merge. The deal is subject to agreement by the two companies’ 16,000 dairy farmer members
![Emmi Strengthens Position in Swiss Cheese](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/007593-505x306_c.jpg)
Emmi has consolidated its position within the Swiss cheese market following approval of its proposed acquisition of Fromalp by the competition authority. Fromalp, which specialises in the manufacture and distribution
![Aryzta Makes Strategic Acquisitions Worth $1.08b](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IAWSOwenKillian13-505x306_c.jpg)
Switzerland-based speciality bakery group Aryzta has made two strategic acquisitions to significantly strengthen its position in Europe, North America and in other international markets. Aryzta has acquired Fresh Start Bakeries
Dairy Crest has reduced its stake in its Irish dairy joint venture, Wexford Creamery, from 80% to 30%. Wexford Milk Producers, Dairy Crest’s partner in Wexford Creamery, has increased its
![Danone Bolsters US Medical Nutrition Business](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DanoneLogo-505x306_c.png)
Danone is acquiring Medical Nutrition USA for $ 62m in cash. MNI introduced the concept of liquid protein supplements for elderly people in the US long-term care market in 2003.
![Valio Opens New €40m Butter Plant in Finland](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ValioPekkaLaaksonenCEO3-200x157_c.jpg)
Finnish dairy group Valio has officially opened a new Eur40m butter facility at its plant at Seinajoki. According to Valio,
![Carlsberg to Increase Stake in Chinese Brewer](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/CarlsbergBottles-200x157_c.jpg)
Carlsberg is increasing its shareholding in Chongqing Brewery Co from 17.5% to 29.7%. The purchase price for the 12.25% stake
Darwin Private Equity has completed the acquisition of UK organic baby food business Plum Baby for £10m. Launched in 2006
![R&R Ice Cream Increases Presence in Mainland Europe](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/RichmondLifestyle2Boys-200x157_c.jpg)
R&R Ice Cream, with operations in the UK and Germany, is expanding its international business with the proposed acquisition of
French dairy group Sodiaal has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire Entremont Alliance, its loss making rival. The deal would
Finnish food group Raisio has introduced Dobrogea Benecol, a cholesterol lowering bread, in the Romanian market. Launched by Raisio’s Romanian
![Danone and Unimilk to Create Leading Dairy Business in Russia and the CIS](http://foodanddrinkbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/danone1-200x157_c.gif)
Global food giant Danone is to merge its fresh dairy products business in the CIS area with Unimilk, Russia’s second
![Cognac Fortifies Remy Cointreau](http://wdwhosting.com/~foodandd/beta/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/RemyCointreauCognac1-200x157_c.jpg)
Helped by a strong performance from its cognac division, French drinks group Remy Cointreau has reported a 7.2% organic growth
![Britvic Completes €237m French Acquisition](http://wdwhosting.com/~foodandd/beta/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/BritvicPaulMoody23-200x157_c.png)
In line with its ambitions to expand internationally, UK-based Britvic has acquired Fruite, an independent French soft drinks producer with