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.
Dutch dairy producer Friesland Coberco says it is transferring its
China manufacturing operations to its joint venture partner,
Tianjin Sino-Finnish Dairy Research due to the 'rapidly
deteriorating conditions' in the dairy...
Nestlé Ireland has angered local politicians and businessmen with
the decision to close its chocolate crumb manufacturing facility in
Mallow, a move which could have a devastating knock-on effect for
local partner, Dairygold. But...
Germany's two largest dairies have terminated an agreement to
merge. Nordmilch, Germany's leading dairy co-operative, and Humana
Milchunion were set to merge in January 2005, but since have cited
"timing" and "restructuring...
Dairy Crest, the British milk supplier which lost out to rivals
Arla and Wiseman in the recent rejig of supermarket supply
contracts, remains confident of a "satisfactory" full-year
performance after a first half of solid...
First Milk, the biggest farmer-owned milk supplier in the UK, is to
take a 15 per cent stake in Robert Wiseman Dairies, one of the
country's top milk processors, in a deal seen as bringing the two
sides of the dairy supply chain...
Arla Foods, the Danish-Swedish dairy co-operative, has announced
that its Canadian subsidiary has acquired the National Cheese
Company, a Canadian manufacturer of speciality cheeses, in a bid to
cash in on the continuing popularity...
The European Commission has proposed forcing companies to disclose
all financing done off the books as part of a four-point initiative
to prevent accounting scandals such as the recent bankruptcy of
Parmalat.
Hungary's competition watchdog has fined French dairy giant Danone
HUF10 million for manipulating and misleading consumers with its
advert for Danone Activia yoghurt, writes Chris Mercer.
Fonterra intends to make an off market takeover offer for all of
the shares of National Foods Limited [NFD] in a bid to open up the
lucrative Asian food and beverage market, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
In yet another twist arising from one of the largest scandals in
Italian corporate history, Parmalat, the bankrupt Italian dairy
company, has agreed to pay former creditor Deutsche Bank an
additional €26 million, a gesture which could...
Number two cultures player Danisco will ramp up production of
frozen pelletised cultures clearing a €7 million investment to
expand facilities in Niebull, Germany.
Bolt-on acquisitions move ambitious Israeli flavours firm Frutarom
a step closer to its ambitions to reach the top ten flavour club
with the firm closing down on the purchase of IFF's fruit
preparations business in Europe.
Campina, the Dutch dairy company, says that innovation and the
sustained demand for healthy dairy products helped it regain its
footing in the Dutch liquid milk sector. Tom Armitage
reports.
Chilled dairy products will remain one of the most important
product segments for the world's biggest food company Nestlé as it
tries to strengthen its position in the market for healthy and
nutritional foods, and move away from...
Novis, now with almost half a million readers, yesterday earned
broad industry recognition with two further publishing awards,
following on from its best publication prize earlier this year.
The Novosibirsk dairy, part of Russia's Nidan group, is hoping to
corner the market for high quality, healthy dairy products with the
launch of a new range called Milk Time.
Japanese functional food company Yakult will next month launch a
new fermented drink designed to lower blood pressure on its home
market, according to a report.
Chr Hansen breaks into the lucrative Chinese market constructing
its first production facilities to provide more flexibility to
serve the burgeoning local food industry, reports Lindsey
Partos.
Fonterra has built a new processing plant in New Zealand as part of
its strategy to move its dairy business away from commodification
and towards producing more value-added products.
Israeli soy proteins producer Solbar is launching a new soluble soy isoflavone extract that can be added to functional foods including drinks, soy milks and dairy products like milk and yoghurts.
UK whey proteins firm Volac International has opened a major new
plant in the Netherlands, significantly increasing its output of
highly concentrated dairy proteins for the health foods market.
One of the leading UK milk co-operatives, Dairy Farmers of Great
Britain, has announced it is to launch a new line of Cadog branded
Welsh cheddar cheese, supported by a line of bilingual packaging.
But will niche brand status alone...
Risk assessment and market predictions translate into new pectin
opportunities for Danisco that will break ground on a new pectin
plant in Brazil, to be up and running by 2007, reports Lindsey
Partos.
French food group Danone has reported steady if unspectacular
growth for the third quarter of the year, with poor weather in much
of northern Europe impacting sales compared to last year's
heatwave-boosted performance.
The boards of Germany's two largest dairy companies, Bremer
Nordmilch and Humana Milchunione, have announced plans they are to
merge. The proposal is due to come into effect as of January 2005
and will allow them to overtake...
Ending months of speculation, the flavours and texturants units at
Degussa, Germany's third largest chemicals group, are up for sale
as the firm looks at selling the food ingredients arm or finding a
partner for its business.
Dairy Crest announced last week that it is to reorganise its
management structure as part of a drive to increase efficiency at
the UK chilled-food company. Tom Armitage reports.
Number one flavour group Givaudan sees beverage and dairy sales
pulled down in Europe but despite slow-down in flavour operations
sales for the division offset a dip in fragrance for nine months to
September.
