Vinamilk, the state-owned Vietnamese dairy group, is to form a
joint venture with Dutch counterpart Campina which will see the
latter group step up its investments in an Asia region turning
increasingly to dairy products, writes Chris...
US-based Graham Packaging is to acquire four Tetra Pak plants that
make HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic bottles for
nutritional beverages and value-added dairy beverages supplying
markets in Belgium, Brazil, Turkey, and the...
Dutch dairy producer Friesland Foods claims that increased sales
volumes of its key brands to Southeast Asia and West Africa have
helped it deliver "satisfactory" 2004 results, but a
continuing sales decline across Europe...
UK sugar and dairy powder firm Napier Brown Foods confirmed rumours
this week that it is in discussions that could lead to a possible
takeover, writes Lindsey Partos.
Danone, France's leading food manufacturer, is to double its stake
in China's Bright Dairy and Food to just under 10 per cent, a move
expected to herald a ramping up of Danone's investments in one of
the world's...
Contributing the biggest revenue stream to Givaudan, the flavours
unit posted sales of CHF 1.6 billion (€1 billion) sales in 2004,
representing stagnant growth on a like-for-like basis in Swiss
francs.
The sale of Chr Hansen's ingredients arm gains pace with reports
suggesting the unit could fetch nearly €1 billion ($1.31 billion),
writes Lindsey Partos.
New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra has upped its share price
offer for Australia's leading dairy company National Foods,
trumping a rival bid from San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and gaining
the unanimous backing of National...
Ambitious Irish ingredients and flavours firm Kerry sees costs
rising for the year and sales inching up by just over 1 per cent
for 2004, the company reports today.
Arla Foods' proposed sale of its packaging company, Danapak,
reflects a growing trend within the European dairy sector of
companies focussing exclusively on their core operations.
Nestlé, the world's number one food company, hopes to appease
investors by offering a sizeable dividend payout, despite
announcing a disappointing overall drop in 2004 sales, Tom
Armitage reports.
Foreign investors last week snapped up a 15 per cent stake in
leading Vietnamese dairy company Vinamilk, enabling it to extend
its competitive edge over nearest rival Dutch Lady Vietnam and also
channel investment into expanding its...
A clear demonstration of its faith in the growing whey-based
ingredients market, DMV International will pour nearly €60 million
into upgraded processing and food ingredients operations in The
Netherlands, reports Lindsey Partos.
Campina, the ambitious owner of dairy ingredients supplier DMV
International, will buy Belgian milk fat specialist Aveve Zuivel,
in a deal that brings the Dutch firm a new platform for innovations
in butter oil specialities, and improved...
Committee members of Danish-Swedish dairy co-operative Arla Foods
have voiced concerns over a financial technicality which could
throw its approaching merger with Campina into disarray, Tom
Armitage reports.
Danone, the French dairy conglomerate, announced today that net
profits had plummeted 62 per cent, following the costly €600
million write down of its water-cooler business last month, Tom
Armitage reports.
Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever is set to overhaul its
management structure - a move which it claims will help restore
top-line sales growth and allow it to draw a line under what it
called an "unsatisfactory" 2004 performance,...
Asian drinks conglomerate San Miguel has acquired a majority stake
in King's Creameries, a Singapore-registered ice cream producer -
but with new debt already financing its current expansion strategy
and a €1.07 billion bid to...
Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy co-operative, has extended its
share offer to buy Australian food group National Foods to 8 March
- despite National Foods' board urging its shareholders to back a
rival offer from Philippines-based...
The government of Uzbekistan has granted a production licence to
Russian dairy giant Wimm-Bill-Dann eight months after the firm
bought Uzbekistan's largest dairy group, but the country's good
investment potential is still...
The UK's third largest dairy processor claims that up to 60 per
cent of British dairy farmers are failing to make a profit, despite
announcing in its interim results yesterday that it had notched up
an increase in pre-tax profits...
Bank of America, a leading figure in the Parmalat fraud trial, has
had its claims for criminal compensation rebuffed by an Italian
judge, Tom Armitage reports.
Emmi Logistique, the distribution division of leading Swiss dairy
company Emmi, has entered into a long-term agreement to distribute
Unilever's ice cream products across Switzerland and the
Netherlands, Tom Armitage reports.
Growth in Asian and South American markets boost sales for colours
firm Chr Hansen, counterbalancing a fall in revenue in North
America for the first quarter of the year.
Number one natural colours firm Chr Hansen makes inroads into the
lucrative Chinese market, this week unveiling a new food colour
factory to meet a rise in local demand, and marking the first step
in a raft of investments in the region.
Danish-Swedish dairy co-operative Arla Foods has announced it is to
cease operations at one of its Danish cheese warehouses as a result
of flagging sales of its hard and semi-hard yellow cheeses,
reports Tom Armitage.
Uniq, the European chilled food group, announced yesterday that
disappointing UK sales of its healthy desserts range had undermined
improved sales growth across continental Europe, Tom Armitage
reports.
Dairy Crest, the UK's biggest dairy company, has announced the
closure of its Yeovil factory - a move which the company claims
will allow it to pursue its ongoing strategy of building the
profile of its branded products, Tom...
France's biggest dairy producer Lactalis is set to acquire fellow
French dairy producer Pochat, another acquisition aimed at
strengthening its branded, consumer dairy product line-up, Tom
Armitage reports.
San Miguel, the Philippines-based packaging and food giant, upped
bidding stakes for Australia's National Foods yesterday. The move
falls in line with the company's policy to expand its presence in
other global markets.
Campina, the Dutch dairy co-operative, has announced it is to focus
investment across its milk, yoghurt and dairy-based dessert
divisions in 2005, a move which will allow it to penetrate the
burgeoning trend for branded dairy products...
Lactalis, France's biggest dairy producer, has strengthened its
position in the UK market with the acquisition of the Scottish
group McLelland, maker of the Seriously Strong brand of cheddar,
paving the way for the archetypal...
The bolt-on acquisition of Rhodia Food Ingredients earlier this
year helps boost sales for Danish ingredients and sugar group
Danisco in an otherwise challenging 2004/05 first half.
Enrico Bondi, the government-appointed special administrator of
bankrupt Italian dairy group Parmalat, is set to sue a number of
Italian financial groups in an attempt to stifle mounting criticism
that he has given preferential treatment...
Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy co-operative, has announced it is
to sell off its under-performing Mexican cheese division, in
keeping with its long-term strategy to move away from
commodification, Tom Armitage reports.
The New Zealand dairy giant has threatened to walk away from it
takeover bid for Australian-based National Foods on the grounds
that the AUD$2 billion (€1.14bn) asking price is too much.
Lactalis USA, a subsidiary of French dairy group Lactalis,
announced earlier this week that it has acquired Rondelé Specialty
Foods, a US manufacturer of spreadable cheeses, in a deal which
will position it as the leading speciality...
Premier Foods has added another popular British food brand to its
diverse portfolio with the acquisition of the Bird's Custard brand
from US-based food giant Kraft. And this continued focus on 'Great
British brands'...
Dutch lactoferrin supplier DMV International and Arla Food
Ingredients could soon be part of the world's largest farmer-owned
dairy company as their owners Campina of the Netherlands and
Denmark's Arla Foods announce plans...
Two of Europe's leading dairy groups have unveiled a merger which
will propel to second place in the global dairy rankings and create
the world's largest dairy co-operative. Top of the agenda for
Campina and Arla Foods will...
Dairy ingredients firm Glanbia has bought the German nutrient
delivery systems company Kortus for €14.5 ($19.15) million, it said
yesterday, strengthening its product range and solution capability.
Richmond Foods, the British ice cream manufacturer, consolidated
its position in 2004 with a rise in turnover despite less
favourable market conditions than in the previous year. And the
company is confident of further growth in 2005,...
A focus on strong brands in a market dominated by own label
products helped Arla Foods UK post impressive growth figures in
2004. And with increasing pressure on milk suppliers from the
multiple grocers likely to curb profitability,...
Campina, the Dutch dairy co-operative, has blamed the strong Euro
and Europe-wide milk price instability in forcing it to lower its
milk prices, Tom Armitage reports.
Emmi, the leading Swiss dairy company, has announced it is to make
an initial public offering (IPO) in a bid to bolster export sales
and consolidate investment across its nutritional dairy-based
drinks division, Tom Armitage reports.
Number one cultures supplier Chr. Hansen is up for sale as its
major stakeholder decides to pull away from the ingredients slice
of the company to focus on the pharmaceutical unit. The move will
make the company's still growing...
Parmalat, the bankrupt Italian dairy group, is bracing itself for
the verdict of an Italian judge, which could force Enrico Bondi,
the group's government-appointed administrator, to reconsider
claims from former creditors worth...
The ingredients division of Danish cultures and colours firm Chr.
Hansen pulled in a DKK 369 million (€49m) profit for the year on
sales of DKK 3.4 billion (€460m), a slight dip on the previous year
on rising costs.
