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.
French dairy giant Lactalis has grabbed immediate supremacy in two
former Soviet countries and paved the way for an expansion of its
own brand products after signing a deal to take over dairy company
FoodMaster International.
Delayed product launches will see losses at Swedish probiotics
company BioGaia continue into next year, warned the firm yesterday.
It had been counting on two major contracts to help it back into
the black by the end of the year.
Robert Wiseman Dairies, the Scottish milk processor, is considering
selling 15 per cent of its shares to First Milk, the giant producer
co-operative which supplies it with most of its milk, a move which
could ease the often strained...
Arla Foods UK, the milk processor and dairy product manufacturer,
has announced plans to close two production facilities as it
continues to integrate its business following last year's merger
with Express Dairies, reports Chris...
Finnish dairy products company Valio is to acquire Norwegian firm
Synnöve Finden's 42 per cent holding in Estonian cheese producer
Võru Juust, leaving Valio with a 99 per cent stake in Võru Juust.
Robert Wiseman, the Scottish milk processor, is confident of
reaching its growth targets in the first half of 2004, despite
rising costs for fuel, energy and plastics. But while the recent
increase in volumes following new contracts...
Kraft Foods announced today that in the next few days a number of
its products will be branded as "South Beach diet recommended", as
it attempts to cash in on North America's continuing interest in
low-carb diets.
Dairy Crest, the UK's biggest dairy company, reported a solid first
half trading performance this week, but conceded that its second
half results could be adversely affected following the loss of a
fresh milk supply contract...
The increasing popularity of premium, indulgent or healthy ice
cream products - particularly in the winter months - boosted sales
and profits at the UK's Richmond Foods in 2004, helping the group
match last year's heatwave-assisted...
Sparking growth in the emerging South American food market, Danish
ingredients giant Chr Hansen has opened new facilities in Argentina
designed to serve expanding activities from international
customers, reports Lindsey Partos.
Prices knocked by increased competition, combined with a new move
to process less whey, hit first half figures for Dutch ingredients
firm Borculo Domo.
Profits continue to fall for Russian dairy giant Wimm-Bill-Dann,
despite recording a healthy jump in sales for the first six months
of the year. The company said that both gross margins and net
income were hit by rising costs attributed...
Food ingredients sales at Irish dairy firm Glanbia jumped 20 per
cent during the first half and lifted profits 49 per cent higher
than the previous year, reported the company, which is targeting
strong growth for its ingredients business...
Ongoing demand for healthy products helped Irish food and
ingredients firm Kerry to a strong first half performance. And with
recent acquisitions pushing it into other high growth sectors,
there is little to stop the group from making...
Lactalis, the French dairy group, has been given the green light to
acquire two Spanish producers, Grupo Prado Cervera and Central
Lechera Vallisoletana, by the European Commission's competition
authorities.
Norwegian CLA company Natural has seen profits fall considerably in
this year's second quarter after a major boost to revenue from new
licensing agreements last year.
Parmalat, the Italian dairy company which has been in the hands of
the administrators since collapsing with massive debts last year -
has continued to take legal action against a number of leading
financial institutions in a bid to...
Dairy products remain an important growth driver for Swiss food and
beverages group Nestlé, despite the disposal of a number of assets
and poor weather conditions which affected sales during the first
half. But organic growth was...
Ambitious Israeli flavours firm Frutarom has bought the European
natural fruit preparations business from the world's number two
flavours player just months after completing on the Swiss botanical
extracts firm Emil Flachsmann.
After a recent acquisition, new product launches and nomination as
one of the fastest growing small companies in the US, Lifeway Foods
has ended its second quarter on a high, reporting record revenues
for its functional kefirs.
Family-owned US firm JM Huber has become the number one pectin,
xanthan gum and CMC supplier after yesterday agreeing to buy
leading hydrocolloid firm CP Kelco from merchant bank Lehman
Brothers, reports Lindsey Partos.
Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen has benefited from the growing
demand by food makers for natural colours. Higher sales of natural
colours helped to lift profit figures in a third quarter that also
gained from the increasing popularity...
From this month, German milk will be available at Danish retailer
Dansk Supermarked's stores, a move that could affect milk prices
and production across Europe.
Management at the Royal Schouten group, parent of soy ingredients
business Acatris, has increased its share in the company under a
new shareholder structure designed to allow it to move more easily
on strategic developments, such...
Nestle Cesko has announced a small profit for 2003, following a
loss in 2002 which was caused by a summer of heavy flooding that
led to extensive damage to the company's operations.
The acquisition of Rhodia Food Ingredients by Danisco has finally
been completed today, bringing the Danish ingredients group one
step closer towards its goal of becoming a leading supplier of
ingredients to the food industry. The...
Italian dairy group Parmalat has announced its gross operating
profit for the first four months of the year has steadied, as a
government-appointed administrator prepares to meet creditors next
week in an attempt to ward off liquidation.
Parmalat, the financially ruined dairy group, may be forced to hang
on to its US subsidiaries if it does not receive a suitable bid for
its operations. It was reported today that the company is
considering a "stand alone"...
Northern Foods, the UK convenience food group, has announced today
its plans to sell its dairy division to compatriot Uniq. The
Minsterley fresh dairy products business has struggled financially
in past years, especially after the...
Ongoing growth in cultures sales to the dairy industry and health
markets helped the Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen post a modest
rise in revenue for the food ingredients division in the first six
months. Organic growth for the...
Parmalat Hungaria, the Hungarian arm of the disgraced Italian dairy
group, will receive a HF500m loan from the Hungarian government to
help the plant reach a higher level of output and, in turn, clear
its debts. The site is currently...
Dairygold, the troubled UK co-op, plans to make major cut backs in
its core dairy division which will result in an estimated 300 job
losses. The group said that restructuring an is essential move if
it is to avoid making losses in...
Dean Foods, the US dairy giant, may be planning a Spanish dairy
acquisition. It has been reported that the company is looking to
begin production in southern Europe.
Nestlé, the world's largest food group, has reported underlying
growth of 5.1 per cent for the first quarter of 2004, helped by a
strong performance from its added value dairy business, where sales
were some 7.6 per cent ahead....
Dairy giant Danone posted a sharp increase in like-for-like
revenues for the first quarter of 2004, boosted in particular by
strong sales of 'healthy' dairy products such as its probiotic
range. Like all European dairy companies...
Campina, the international dairy company, is to acquire the Thai
dairy activities of disgraced Italian group Parmalat. Campina said
that the move was in line with its strategy to exploit the Asian
dairy market, and the fallen giant's...
Parmalat, the financially-hit dairy group, has resumed control of
its Brazilain unit this week. Last month the group announced that
it is to sell around half of its assets as part of its
restructuring programme, however, it is unclear...
Almost half of Parmalat's assets across the globe will be slashed
in an effort to swap debt for equity. The company which is one of
Italy's most global companies announced on Friday its restructuring
plan designed to keep...
Moves into higher added-value are likely to pay off in the long
term for Irish dairy group Glanbia, but the company is continuing
to suffer from the short-term effects of offloading a number of
primary food operations.
Parmalat, the financially troubled dairy group, has requested the
help of the turnaround company that recovered Enron's finances last
year - Kroll. The company plans to recover Parmalat's assets, and
the move justifies Parmalat's...
Milk Link the UK's fourth largest integrated dairy business, has
this week announced that it is to continue its trend of acquiring
units by buying Peninsula Milk Processors.
Parmalat's financial problems have forced many of its foreign
business into the red. An Irish unit has this week been declared
insolvent, the US has filed for bankruptcy, but the Mexican arm has
been given the clear to restart...
Driving hard into value added ingredients has paid off for Irish
food group Kerry as the company faces off tougher currency exposure
in 2003 to see a steady rise in sales and operating profit.
European bottom line benefits from greater...
Milk Link and Glanbia plan to embark upon a new business venture in
an effort to exploit the UK cheese market. The new formation will
be 75 per cent owned by Milk Link and 25 per cent owned by the
Glanbia.
