Done deals

Kraft signs up with Australian cheese major for pan-Asia distribution

Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory (WCB) and Kraft Foods Australia have announced the start of a long-term partnership under which Kraft will produce specially formulated cream cheese under WCB's Sungold...

Danone wins Activia health claim in Switzerland

Danone has been granted a front-of-pack health claim by Swiss Authorities that says its Activia yoghurt aids digestion.

Parmalat reports ‘all-time high’ profits on back on emerging market success

Parmalat has reported all-time high revenue and profit for 2012 – a feat it has attributed to an “outstanding performance” from its emerging market operations and “greater geographical diversification” through its acquisition of Lactalis...

Redundant dairy workers to bring Stilton making back to Derbyshire

Two cheesemakers who were made redundant by Dairy Crest and Long Clawson Dairy are on a mission to bring traditional Stilton making back to Derbyshire.

Saputo to close Canadian cheese plant in domestic efficiency drive

Canadian dairy giant Saputo has announced plans to close a cheese manufacturing plant in Quebec – a decision aimed at improving the efficiency of its operations in the country.

Glanbia to capitalise on growth market strengths after 'strong' 2012

A “strong” financial performance in 2012 has left Glanbia is a “stronger position” to capitalise on its competitive advantage in growth markets, the Irish dairy processor has claimed....

Antimicrobial GM goat’s milk backed to quicken diarrhoea recovery

Genetically modified goats milk that contains high levels of a human antimicrobial protein known as lysozyme is effective at speeding up recovery from diarrhoea, say researchers.

Danone tops nutrition commitment index despite infant formula marketing ‘concerns’

Danone has topped the Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) for its efforts to address issues such as obesity and malnutrition - despite “significant concerns” about the company’s lack of compliance...

Parmalat brings in auditors to re-calculate LAG acquisition price

The $904m paid by Parmalat for sister business Lactalis America Group (LAG) could be cut by up to $144m if auditors deem the initial purchase price to be excessive, the...

News in brief

Arla Foods Milk Partnership in talks to become Arla UK owner

Arla Foods has entered into talks with supplier organisation, Arla Foods Milk Partnership (AFMP), to define what it required for AFMP members to become owners of Arla Foods UK.

Dairy Crest buys milk firm out of administration, saving 40 jobs

Dairy Crest has bought specialist milk business Proper Welsh Milk out of administration, saving 40 jobs.

News in brief

Dairy Crest unveils new formula-based milk contract

Dairy Crest and milk supplier representative Dairy Crest Direct (DCD) have announced the launch of a new formula-based milk contract – a move both parties hope will take “some of the...

EFSA health claims chief to share ‘magic recipe’ insights in Geneva

The chief of EFSA’s health claims panel will discuss where the agency stands on the topic in 2013, at this year’s Vitafoods conference and expo in Geneva in May.

Parmalat reveals LAG ‘profitability’ in attempt to dispel embezzlement concerns

Parmalat has moved to dispel concerns about the legality of its intra-group acquisition of Lactalis American Group (LAG) by revealing better than expected financial results that “confirm the profitability” of the business....

a2 Milk UK establishment costs offset A2 Corporation H1 sales increase

Costs relating to the establishment of the a2 Milk UK joint venture contributed to a H1 profits decrease for Australasian dairy processor A2 Corporation (A2C), the company has revealed.

Dairy Farmers of America facing court over alleged ‘manipulative’ dairy trading

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is facing court over allegations that it manipulated trading in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Cheese Spot and Milk Futures markets to drive up the...

Dairy Crest acquires struggling Proper Welsh Milk from administrator

British dairy processor Dairy Crest has acquired Proper Welsh Milk for £325,000 ($490,000) – just hours after the struggling Carmarthenshire-based dairy processor went into administration.

News in brief

Fonterra and A-ware confirm deal to develop ‘mutually-beneficial’ plants

Fonterra and Dutch premium cheese manufacturer A-ware Foods Group have signed an agreement that will see them establish separate, but “mutually-beneficial” cheese and dairy ingredient plants in the Netherlands....

Oxfam thanks food industry for ‘bland’ and ‘complacent’ response to damning CSR report

Oxfam will step up its campaign to improve the treatment of people and resources that form part of the supply chain of the world’s biggest food conglomerates, after it cast...

Parmalat not concerned by ‘unbelievable’ LAG deal annulment request

Parmalat is confident of a positive outcome in the civil hearing into its acquisition of Lactalis American Group (LAG) – despite yesterday’s request by prosecutors to remove the company’s board...

R&R Ice Cream declines to comment on takeover reports

R&R Ice Cream – Europe’s largest private label ice cream manufacturer - has declined to comment on reports that it is on the verge of a takeover by French private...

Food industry failing to manage animal welfare, warns report

The first ever structured benchmark of the world’s leading food companies suggests that farm animal welfare is not being properly managed and reported by the food industry.

Parmalat 'shocked' by prosecutors call to cancel LAG acquisition

Italian prosecutors have asked for Parmalat’s $904m acquisition of Lactalis American Group (LAG) to be cancelled and the Parma-based dairy giant’s board to be removed, according to reports.

Unilever & Nestlé tell Oxfam to bring other stakeholders to food ethics table

Unilever and Nestlé say Oxfam missed an opportunity for a wider and more comprehensive debate about food ethics after the NGO published a damning report on the supply chains of...

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

Fonterra will invest more than NZ$100m ($82.4m, €62.8m) in a new ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk and cream processing plant in New Zealand in an attempt to meet growing Asian demand...