French group Groupe Danone has signed a partnership agreement with
the Egyptian Rachid group for the Egypt, Near and Middle East
region, in respect of its three core businesses, Fresh Dairy
Products, Biscuits and Beverages.
The US Justice Department on Tuesday approved plans by the largest
U.S. dairy, Suiza Foods Corp. to acquire rival Dean Foods Co. after
the companies agreed to sell 11 of their U.S. dairy plants.
Companies worldwide could save on aggregate $2.3 trillion (€2.6
trillion) a year by using the Internet to purchase resources
ranging from office supplies to plane tickets, a study released on
Monday said.
Danish ingredients company Danisco this week reported a five per
cent increase in net sales in the company's main business areas -
Ingredients, Sweeteners and Sugar.
The Spanish may not have managed to persuade the British to leave
Gibraltar but UK retailer Marks & Spencer Plc finally pulled
out of Madrid on Saturday.
Neither a price hike nor the added strain of life in the United
States since the terror attacks of Sept 11 have deterred some
chocolate buyers from getting their dose of sweets, say industry
watchers.
Consumer food group H.J. Heinz Co.'s reported this week a rise in
second-quarter earnings of 9.6 per cent on the back of strong sales
of ketchup and frozen foods.
Italian food group Parmalat said on Tuesday it would spend a
maximum of 100 million euros ($89.13 million) if it bought Danone's
Galbani unit while a financial partner would take a majority stake
in the firm.
Dutch ingredients company DSM embraced new technology this week
when it announced the completion of the first transactions through
its new online store, part of an e-business development plan
launched by the company in August this...
In a bid to provide a wide range of dairy products at competitive
prices, food manufacturers in Canada are demanding a freeze on the
price for industrial milk.
Rhodia Silicones, a subsidiary of ingredients company Rhodia,
announced this week Kosher certification for 21 silicone release
coating and emulsion products for direct and indirect use in
processing of Kosher food-grade products.
Natural specialty ingredients manufacturer Kemin Foods, has filed a
lawsuit in the US contending that fine chemicals company, Cognis
Corp., continues to make false claims that blur the differences
between lutein esters and the purified...
US natural and organic food company Hain Celestial Group, announced
this week that it has completed its acquisition of Lima NV, a
Belgian natural and organic foods manufacturer and marketer.
Investment group 3i Group plc and the Swedish Industrial
Development Fund are making a first-stage investment totalling SEK
10 m (€1.06 million) in a microwave fast-food enterprise MicVac AB.
Australian food group Goodman Fielder Ltd said on Tuesday it will
look for a strategic partner for its Australian milling and
commercial mixing business.
Danish enzyme maker Novozymes A/S has sued the Enzyme Bio-Systems
Ltd. unit of Corn Products International for alleged infringement
of two Novozyme patents.
Grain processor Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is to increase
its ownership in InTrade and Alfred C. Toepfer International, the
company announced this week.
Canadian consumer confidence, like that in the United States, has
rebounded since the September 11 attacks despite the deteriorating
economy, according to a new consumer sentiment index.
DSM, requested by the French COB (Commission des Opérations de
Bourse) to state its position on press comments about DSM breaking
off its contacts regarding Rhodia, made the following statement on
Thursday.
Coca-Cola is poised to add nutrients to a new line of bottled
water, to be called Dasani Nutriwater, taking on arch-rival
PepsiCo's own enhanced Aquifina.
Markbeech Products, a UK food ingredient importer, processor and
distributor, has sold its flavours business to Flavex
International, a UK company based in Hereford.
The European Union said on Tuesday it would seek agreement in the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) for all food aid to poor countries
to be in the form of cash payments for purchases in local markets.
European-based starch producer Cerestar announced recently that,
together with Chinese company, the Jiliang Group, it is to open a
maize processing plant in Northern China.
US grain company Archer Daniels Midland Co. said that it expects
big price increases for corn sweetener next year as tightening
capacity and industry consolidation give them more bargaining
power.
The Philippines' leading food and beverage firm, San Miguel Corp
said on Wednesday it would take a second look at acquiring RFM
Corp's processed meats and poultry unit, Swift Foods Corp.
The U.S. ethical nutrition market is divided into four very
distinct categories: the infant formula market, adult enteral
formula, parenteral formula and ethical nutrition supplies and
equipment markets.
US almond co-operative Blue Diamond Growers is to issue cheques
totalling $40 million to its nearly four thousand member growers on
January 4, 2002, the group announced this week.
Spice acreage in Saskatchewan continues to increase, as research
scientists at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), at the University
of Saskatchewan continue to help growers improve their crops.
Lithuania's top court ruled on Thursday that a government move
clearing the way in 1998 for Danish sugar group Danisco to buy
stakes in local producers was unconstitutional due to technical
reasons.
UK sweets and soft drinks group Cadbury Schweppes on Wednesday
shrugged off weakness in the U.S. beverages market to say it was
confident of meeting its earnings target this year.
Montedison food subsidiary Cereol said on Wednesday it planned to
focus its strategy on oilseeds and suggested it could sell its
Carapelli olive oil unit.
Agribusiness processing giant Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s
prospects have brightened as the outlook for its mainstay soybean
products and high-fructose corn syrup improves amid favourable
commodity trends, analysts said.
Japan's Prima Meat Packers Ltd said on Tuesday it would slash its
workforce by about 30 per cent by March 2005 to help it weather
damage from price falls and the outbreak of mad cow disease in
Japan.
One out of every three loaves of bread produced around the globe by
a commercial bakery contains emulsifiers from Danisco, the company
claims this week. An increasing demand for emulsifiers worldwide
are helping the statistics.
People in Parma love food and many live by producing it so they see
every reason why their city should be picked to host the European
Food Safety Agency.
The outlook for the dairy market is concerning, although payouts
would hold at forecast levels in the short-term, New Zealand dairy
processor Fonterra Cooperative Group said on Wednesday.
Cuban President Fidel Castro's government was expected to buy more
U.S. food products this week, as executives of major poultry
producers headed to Havana, a group that tracks U.S.-Cuba trade
relations said on Monday.
Brazilian beverage leader AmBev, the world's fourth-largest brewer,
said on Monday it would issue $500 million (568 million euros) in
bonds to pay off short-term debt and make other investments.
Spanish food group Sos Cuetara said on Wednesday it would consider
a merger with Koipe after it completes its 414.7 million-euro
($364.7 million) takeover of the edible oils company.
Muller yoghurt and Flora margarine enjoyed the biggest gains in
Britain's top 20 grocery brand rankings while two Proctor &
Gamble products were among the big loosers, market researcher
ACNielsen said on Wednesday.
US flavour group Technology Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. has
entered into a letter of intent to merge with another flavour and
fragrance company Belmay Holding Corp., the two companies announced
on Wednesday.
When Americans get queasy about the economy, they reach for comfort
food like chocolate and ketchup and don comfort clothes like Levi's
jeans, research from the University of Michigan showed on Monday.
Due to a lack of raw materials to supply food manufacturers at
home, Japanese food producers are showing an interest in their Thai
counterparts, claims a report this week in the Thai publication,
Business Day.
U.S. antitrust authorities could give the green light to an
Anglo-French bid for Seagram's drinks portfolio as soon as today,
an industry source said on Monday.
French drink and food company Groupe Danone has shown
disappointment that the independent directors of takeover target
Frucor Beverages have rejected its bid.
