Business & Deals 2010

• MegaMex Foods to Acquire Mexico's Don Miguel Foods Corp
  MegaMex Foods LLC, a joint venture between Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) and Herdez Del Fuerte, S.A. de C.V., announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent of the stock of Don Miguel Foods Corp.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ebro Concludes Sale of its Dairy Business to Lactalis
  Once approved by the European antitrust authorities, Ebro and Lactalis signed today the contract of sale of Ebro's dairy business. This division is now wholly owned by Lactalis.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coca-Cola closes Nidan Juices buy
  Coca-Cola has finalised the acquisition of Russian juice producer Nidan Juices, the US soft-drinks maker said Wednesday without providing any financial details.
  read more >>
  
  
• George Weston to Enhance US Bakery Sector Presence with Maplehurst Bakeries Acquisition
  Canadian food producer George Weston Limited, via its subsidiary Maplehurst Bakeries, is planning to acquire Keystone Bakeries, a US manufacturer of frozen cupcakes, donuts and cookies for USD 185 million.
  read more >>
  
  
• San Miguel Foods and Monterey Foods Merger Approved
  San Miguel Pure Foods Company Inc today announced it has received approval for the merger of its subsidiaries Monterey Foods Corporation and San Miguel Foods Inc.
  read more >>
  
  
• Japan Coca-Cola West says to buy juice maker Q'sai
  Japan's Coca-Cola West (2579.T), a Coca-Cola bottler, said on Monday it has agreed to buy vegetable juice maker Q'sai Co for 35.9 billion yen ($420.5 million).
  read more >>
  
  
• Kirin to Buyout Wine Unit Mercian in $127 mln Deal
  Japan's top beverage maker, Kirin Holdings, said it would acquire the shares it does not already own in Mercian Corp for about $127 million in stock to get a tighter grip on the scandal-hit wine maker.
  read more >>
  
  
• Buhler Strengthens Position in the Coffee Segment with Acquisition
  The Buhler Technology Group has acquired a stake in the Italian company Petroncini Impianti S.p.A. With this technology-driven partnership, Buhler is strengthening its position in the medium and top coffee market segments and thus offering the coffee processing industry new, targeted solutions for producing roasted and ground coffee.
  read more >>
  
  
• Vion given the green light for EU expansion
  European competition chiefs have signed off on a deal that will see meat giant Vion expand its operations on the European continent.
  read more >>
  
  
• Viterra Focused on Integration, Eyes Buys
  Viterra Inc , a leading grain handler in Canada and South Australia, is well-positioned for further deals and continues to seek them, but Chief Executive Mayo Schmidt would not comment on the possibility of bidding for AWB Ltd.
  read more >>
  
  
• SABMiller may offer $10.9 billion for Foster's: report
  SABMiller PLC, the world's No. 2 beer maker, reportedly is considering spending up to $10.9 billion to acquire the beer operations of Foster's Group Ltd., the largest brewer in Australia, according to a media report Sunday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Singapore: Wilmar Intl Announces Acquisitions
  Asian agribusiness group Wilmar International has today announced the acquisitions of sugar trading company Windsor & Brook Trading Pte Ltd and sugar refining company PT Jawamanis Rafinasi.
  read more >>
  
  
• Campbell Soup May Buy Biscuit Ops of Utd Biscuits
  Campbell Soup Co, the world's largest soup maker, is considering making a 1.5 billion pound ($2.3 billion) break up bid for Britain's United Biscuits, the Sunday Times reported.
  read more >>
  
  
• Emmi Acquires US Cheese Specialist Cypress Grove Chevre
  Emmi has acquired the US cheese specialist Cypress Grove Chèvre based in Arcata, California, thereby strengthening its market position in the US cheese industry.
  read more >>
  
  
• San Miguel Wants to Retain Control of Pure Foods
  Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp effectively scrapped a planned minority stake sale in its unit San Miguel Pure Foods Co Inc after talks with bidders hit a deadlock over the amount of shares being sold.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: Ice Cream Cone-Maker Announces USD21 Mln Expansion Plans
  More than 375 jobs will be created or retained as one of the world's largest ice cream cone companies expands operations in Mercer County, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lotte Group Obtains Approval For Wedel Takeover
  Competition authorities have approved the takeover of Polish chocolate producer E Wedel by Lotte Group, it has been announced.
  read more >>
  
  
• Refresco Agrees to Buy Germany's Soft Drinks International
  Refresco Holding B.V. announces its intention to acquire Soft Drinks International (SDI), a German producer of soft drinks and water.
  read more >>
  
  
• Danisco Acquires South African Dairy Research Firm Research Solutions
  Today, Danisco has acquired the shares in the company Research Solutions in Cape Town, South Africa.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kerry Group buys Springthyme Oils for undisclosed sum
  Kerry Group has acquired Lancashire-based infused oils maker Springthyme Oils, FoodManufacture.co.uk has learned.
  read more >>
  
  
• Italy's Barilla to Sell German Bakery Chain Kamps
  Italy's Barilla is poised to sell German bakery chain Kamps, a spokesman for the pasta maker said on Wednesday, after having failed to dispose of the unit two years earlier.
  read more >>
  
  
• Seneca Foods Completes the Acquisitions of Unilink, LLC and Lebanon Valley Cold Storage, LP
  Seneca Foods Corporation announced today that it has purchased the assets of Unilink, LLC from Pennsylvania Food Group, LLC and has purchased Lebanon Valley Cold Storage, LP and its subsidiary, Lebanon Valley Cold Storage, LLC, from its partners.
  read more >>
  
  
• Unilever Acquires Diplom-Is Operations in Denmark
  Unilever has today signed an asset purchase agreement with the Norwegian dairy group TINE, to acquire the activities of Diplom-Is in Denmark, as of 30th September 2010. The value of the transaction is undisclosed.
  read more >>
  
  
• Northern Foods to Sell Dalepak Frozen Foods
  Northern Foods plc today announces it has reached agreement to sell Dalepak Frozen Foods to the Irish Food Processors Group, for an expected cash consideration of £6.4 million.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestlé to acquire majority participation in Malher Group in Guatemala
  Nestlé and Malher today announced an agreement for Nestlé to become the majority shareholder of the Guatemalan group.
  read more >>
  
  
• Belgium's Duvel Buys Rival Brewer De Koninck
  Belgian beermaker Duvel has expanded its range of specialty beers through the acquisition of pale ale specialist Brouwerij De Koninck group.
  read more >>
  
  
• Russia Approves Danone-Unimilk, Coca Cola-Nidan Deals
  The Russian government's foreign investment commission on Wednesday approved the merger of France's Danone with Unimilk and the sale juice maker Nidan to Coca Cola.
  read more >>
  
  
• Agthia Group and Yoplait Group Announce Business Partnership
  Agthia Group has signed a franchise agreement with Yoplait Group, France, for exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute fresh dairy products under the Yoplait brand, starting in UAE and expanding eventually in the rest of GCC.
  read more >>
  
  
• French Malteurop Buys Italian Malt Maker Diamaletria
  French malt maker for the brewing industry Malteurop Group said on Tuesday it bought Italy's Diamalteria for an undisclosed sum, as it diversifies into production of malt-based food-processing ingredients.
  read more >>
  
  
• SensoryEffects Acquires Cargill's Liquid Vitamin Ingredient Business
  SensoryEffects® Flavor Systems announced the acquisition of the liquid vitamin ingredient business for the fortification of dairy products from Cargill, Incorporated.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: Northwest Dairy Association Merges with Country Classic Dairies
  Northwest Dairy Association (NDA) and its marketing subsidiary, Darigold, Inc., announced today that it will be combining its respective business operations with the Montana dairy cooperative Country Classic Dairies (CC).
  read more >>
  
  
• Asahi Considers Selling South Korea Soft Drink Unit Haitai
  Japan's Asahi Breweries said on Tuesday it was considering selling its loss-making South Korean soft drink unit Haitai Beverage as it moves to revamp operations in the country.
  read more >>
  
  
• Bunge Seeks Palm Plantation in Indonesia
  U.S. agribusiness group Bunge Ltd is actively scouting out for palm plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia to cater to rising demand from Asian economies led by India and China, the head of its Indian unit told Reuters on Monday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestlé to enter fast-growing global market for clinical nutrition products for people with inherited metabolic disorders
  Nestlé today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Vitaflo, a Liverpool-based global provider of clinical nutritional products which has enjoyed double-digit growth in the order of 30% over the last 3 years.
  read more >>
  
  
• Australia's GrainCorp to Buy AWB to Create Wheat Giant
  Australia's GrainCorp has agreed to buy smaller rival AWB in an A$855 million ($769.6 million) deal designed to combine forces against big global rivals like Bunge Ltd, Cargill and Glencore.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dean Foods sells U.K. yogurt manufacturer
  Dean Foods Co. said Wednesday that it had sold U.K.-based yogurt maker Rachel’s to B.S.A. International S.A., a subsidiary of France’s Groupe Lactalis. Terms were not disclosed.
  read more >>
  
  
• Pierre Foods to Merge with Advance Food Company and Advance Brands
  Senior management from Pierre Foods, Inc., Advance Food Company, Inc. and Advance Brands, LLC, announced today that the Boards of Directors of all three companies have unanimously approved and entered into a definitive merger agreement.
  read more >>
  
  
• PureCircle in JV with British Sugar
  PureCircle, the world's largest producer and marketer of high quality stevia products, today announces a further acceleration in its strategic developments with the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding with British Sugar Group Plc.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lion Makes Early Bid for Food Firm Picard
  Lion Capital made a pre-emptive bid over the weekend to buy French convenience-food company Picard Surgeles from rival buyout firm BC Partners, two people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Campbell's Not Keen on Sara Lee Bread Unit
  Campbell Soup Co is not interested in buying Sara Lee Corp's bread business, sources familiar with the situation said on Wednesday, countering media reports that the soup company may bid for the asset.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: Snack Food Firms Lance and Snyder's of Hanover Announce Merger
  Lance, Inc. and Snyder's of Hanover, Inc. today announced they have signed a definitive agreement to combine in a stock-for-stock merger of equals that will create a combined company to be called Snyder's-Lance, Inc.
  read more >>
  
  
• Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Announces Sale of Barton & Guestier
  As part of a previously-announced review of its wine operations, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines announced today that it has sold its Barton & Guestier Bordeaux business to French Wine concern Castel Freres SAS.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: Iconic Brands to Acquire Specialty Beverage and Supplement Inc
  Iconic Brands, Inc a developer and marketer of high-quality, celebrity branded alcoholic beverages, announced that it signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Specialty Beverage and Supplement Inc.
  read more >>
  
  
• India: Temptation Foods Acquires Karen Anand Brand
  Temptation Foods Ltd has informed BSE that the Company on July 17, 2010 has amicably settled a pending legal issues and the ongoing arbitration proceedings with Karen Anand Gourmet Kitchens Pvt. Ltd. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Unilever Sells Italian Frozen Food Business To Birds Eye Iglo
  Unilever today announced that it has signed a binding agreement for the sale of its Italian Frozen Foods business, Findus to a company in which Birds Eye Iglo has a significant stake for a consideration of Euro 805 million.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: SensoryEffects Acquires Juice Pac Inc
  SensoryEffects® Flavor Systems announced the acquisition of Juice Pac(TM) Inc., a Bowling Green KY-based company that specializes in juice bases for 50% and 100% juice drinks sold to school foodservice and other institutional markets.
  read more >>
  
  
• San Miguel Says Evaluating Bids for Pure Foods
  Philippine food-to-power conglomerate San Miguel Corp said on Friday it has received bids for its food unit, San Miguel Pure Foods Co Inc., and was evaluating the offers.
  read more >>
  
  
• Greencore to Sell Greencore Continental To Convenience Foods
  Greencore Group plc today announces its intention to sell its Dutch based convenience foods business to Convenience Foods Europe B.V. a subsidiary of Parcom Buy Out Fund IV B.V.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: Sysco to Acquire Foodservice Distributor Lincoln Poultry & Egg Corporation
  Sysco Corporation today announced that it has acquired Lincoln Poultry & Egg Co., a leading broadline foodservice distributor based in Lincoln, Nebraska.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lion and Permira Neck and Neck for Findus Italy
  Lion Capital and Permira are neck and neck in the race to buy Unilever's Italian frozen food unit Findus, people familiar with the matter said, with a winner likely to be announced in the next few weeks.
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF Plant Science and Monsanto to expand their collaboration in maximizing crop yield
  The world’s largest plant biotechnology collaboration just got larger. Today, BASF and Monsanto announced an expansion of their joint efforts to develop higher-yielding and stress-tolerant crops to include a fifth crop, wheat.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: NutriPure Beverages Acquires Brenlin Distributorship
  NutriPure Beverages, Inc. announced today that it has purchased 100% of the assets of Brenlin, a privately held distributorship serving the Southern California market.
  read more >>
  
  
• Tesco in 950m Property Sell Off
  Tesco announced a new sale & leaseback transaction in the latest phase of its ongoing programme to release value from its UK property portfolio.
  read more >>
  
  
• Pfizer Invests USD100m to Expand Singapore Nutrition Plant
  Pfizer Inc. announced a $100 million (U.S.) investment into the expansion of its Singapore Nutrition Plant, helping it continue to set the standard for the manufacture of high-quality, safe and environmentally sustainable nutritional products for infants and children
  read more >>
  
  
• San Miguel Says Selling 49 pct of Pure Foods
  Philippine food-to-power conglomerate San Miguel Corp is selling 49 percent of its food unit San Miguel Pure Foods Co Inc and a decision on the buyer will be made by Friday, company president said Ramon Ang said on Monday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ajinomoto and Kellogg Company Create Research and Development Alliance
  Ajinomoto Company Inc. announced today that it has entered into a global R&D alliance agreement with Kellogg Company to jointly develop products aimed at meeting consumers' health and nutrition needs, consistent with both companies' commitments to open innovation.
  read more >>
  
  
• UPDATE 1-Brazil's JBS seeking acquisitions - report
  Brazil's JBS, the world's largest meat producer, is looking for acquisitions to stay ahead of a spree of takeovers by rival Marfrig, Valor Economico reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed market sources.
  read more >>
  
  
• Tate & Lyle to Sell EU Sugar Operations for GBP 211 Million
  Tate & Lyle PLC announces today it has signed an agreement for the sale of its EU Sugar Refining operations to American Sugar Refining, Inc
  read more >>
  
  
• Atlantic Grupa to Buy Slovenia's Droga Kolinska for 382 Mln Euro
  Croatia's largest food and healthcare company Atlantic Grupa reached a deal to buy Slovenian food maker Droga Kolinska, Droga's owner Istrabenz said in a statement on Thursday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Axfood to Acquire Reitan Servicehandel Sverige AB's Cold Storage Distribution Centre
  Axfood Närlivs AB is acquiring Reitan Servicehandel Sverige AB's cold storage distribution centre in Kungens kurva, Stockholm. Axfood Närlivs AB will take over the operation on 1 October 2010.
  read more >>
  
  
• China: American Lorain Corporation to Acquire Shandong Greenpia Foodstuff
  American Lorain Corporation, an international processed snack foods and convenience foods manufacturer based in Shandong Province, China, today announced that the company signed a letter of intent ("LOI") to acquire Shandong Greenpia Foodstuff Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of retail-packaged, Korean-style kimchi cold dishes.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kraft Foods to Sell Wedel Business in Poland to Lotte Group
  Kraft Foods today announced it has signed an agreement to sell Cadbury's E. Wedel-branded chocolate and sugar confectionery operations in Poland to Lotte Group for an undisclosed sum.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lantmannen Unibake Acquires Hungarian Baker Elso Pesti Malom-es Sutoipari
  Lantmännen Unibake has reportedly acquired Hungarian retail baker Elso Pesti Malom-es Sutoipari for an undisclosed sum.
  read more >>
  
  
• Mexico: Breadmaker Bimbo Buys Sweets Maker Dulces Vero
  Bimbo, one of the world's biggest bakeries, said it is buying Mexican sweets maker Dulces Vero for an undisclosed amount as it strengthens its snack division.
  read more >>
  
  
• Newly Weds Foods Acquires Witwood Food Products
  Newly Weds Foods, Inc. has acquired UK-based food ingredients manufacturer and coating specialist Witwood Food Products Ltd for an undisclosed sum.
  read more >>
  
  
• Greek Coke Bottler Says May Make Acquisition
  Greek Coke bottler CCH, the world's second-largest maker of Coca-Cola drinks, said it may make an acquisition by the end of the year, as it seeks to expand its water and juice portfolio to boost sales.
  read more >>
  
  
• Heinz to Acquire Chinese Soy Sauces Producer Foodstar
  H.J. Heinz Company announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Foodstar, a leading manufacturer of soy sauces and fermented bean curd in China, from Transpac Industrial Holdings Ltd., a private equity holding company, and various Transpac Funds.
  read more >>
  
  
• Corn Products International to Acquire National Starch from AkzoNobel for USD 1.3 Bln
  Corn Products International announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire New Jersey-based National Starch from AkzoNobel for USD 1.3 billion.
  read more >>
  
  
• Diamond Ranch Foods Completes Acquisition of Executive Seafood Accounts
  Diamond Ranch Foods, Ltd., a meat, poultry and seafood processing and foodservice distribution company, is pleased to announce today that the Company has officially concluded the acquisition of all customer accounts of Executive Seafood.
  read more >>
  
  
• Russia's Wimm-Bill-Dann Eyes Foreign Acquisitions in Dairy
  Russian juice and dairy maker Wimm-Bill-Dann plans acquisitions in the dairy and baby food sectors abroad this year, board member and co-owner David Yakobashvili said on Friday.
  read more >>
  
  
• France Nutribio to Form JV with Ausnutria Dairy Company
  The board of directors of Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd is pleased to announce that, on 16 June 2010, Ausnutria Dairy Company Limited, a whollyowned subsidiary of the Company and France Nutribio SAS entered into a binding letter of intent for the possible establishment of joint venture, Ausnutria Nactalia.
  read more >>
  
  
• Hain Celestial Acquires Churchill Food Products
  The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., a leading natural and organic products company providing consumers with A Healthy Way of Life(TM), today announced the acquisition of Churchill Food Products Limited, a manufacturer and distributor of food-to-go products in the United Kingdom.
  read more >>
  
  
• French Dairy Cooperatives Glac and Eurial Plan Merger
  Leading French dairy cooperatives Glac and Eurial have announced their intent to merge operations.
  read more >>
  
  
• ConAgra to Acquire Frozen Foods Maker American Pie
  ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to acquire the assets of American Pie, LLC, based in Woodbury, N.Y.
  read more >>
  
  
• Austrian Dairy Firms Tirol Milch and Berglandmilch to Merge
  Austrian dairy companies Tirol Milch and Berglandmilch are reportedly planning to merge operations and create the nation's largest dairy company.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coke CFO Sees More Bolt-on Acquisitions
  Coca-Cola Co plans to continue to do small, bolt-on acquisitions, even as it integrates the North American operations of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc, its chief financial officer said.
  read more >>
  
  
• Vandemoortele Acquires Fats Business From Van Dijk Food Products
  Groep Vandemoortele has concluded an agreement to take over the margarine and frying fats activities from Dutch company Van Dijk Food Products. Van Dijk Food Products is part of the EFS Group BV. This agreement still is subject to the approval of the competent competition authorities.
  read more >>
  
  
• Buhler Acquires Chinese Specialty Flour Firm Bangsheng Bio-Technology
  The Buhler Technology Group has acquired 100% of the Chinese company Bangsheng Bio-Technology Co. Ltd. Bangsheng, the Chinese market leader in the field of flour improvement solutions for specialty flours, is opening up additional opportunities for Buhler in a market segment that is extremely promising for the future.
  read more >>
  
  
• Danone to Acquire Medical Nutrition USA for USD 62 Million
  Danone today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Medical Nutrition USA, Inc. (referred to herein as “MNI”), pursuant to which Danone would acquire MNI.
  read more >>
  
  
• Netherlands: Food Ingredient Firms SFINC & JADICO Merge; Plan Expansion
  In order to continue its growth, SFINC, a Benelux-based manufacturer of ingredients for the food processing industry, has merged with the Netherlands based JADICO group, which operates in the same market.
  read more >>
  
  
• J & J Snack Foods Acquires Californian Churros Manufacturer
  J & J Snack Foods Corp. announced today that its subsidiary company, J & J Snack Foods Corp. of California, has acquired the assets of California Churros, a premium manufacturer of churros located in Colton, California.
  read more >>
  
  
• Baker Aryzta Makes Acquisitions, Q3 Revenue Falls
  Swiss-based baker Aryzta has made two acquisitions for a combined $1.08 billion in deals that it hopes will boost earnings per share and expand its reach in Europe and the United States.
  read more >>
  
  
• Belgian Ardo Buys Dutch Ploegmakers Food Ingredients
  Ardo has taken over the Dutch company Ploegmakers Food Ingredients in Veghel. Ploegmakers Food Ingredients' activities, procedures and company culture correspond closely with those of the Ardo group.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dairy Group Sodiaal in Draft Deal to Buy Entremont
  French dairy group Sodiaal said on Thursday it had reached a preliminary agreement to acquire loss-making rival Entremont Alliance to form what would be Europe's fourth-largest dairy group.
  read more >>
  
  
• Martek Signs Multi-Year Agreement in China with Feihe Dairy
  Martek Biosciences Corporation announced today that it has entered into a multi-year DHA and ARA agreement with Feihe Dairy, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Dairy, Inc.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dean Foods May Sell British Dairy Company Rachel's Organic
  Dean Foods has reportedly hired bankers NM Rothschild to look at a number of options for its UK organic dairy business Rachel's Organic, including the sale of the company.
  read more >>
  
  
• EU Opens In-depth Probe into Unilever, Sara Lee Deal
  The European Commission said on Tuesday it had opened an in-depth investigation into the $1.3 billion bid by Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever's for Sara Lee Corp's personal care brands.
  read more >>
  
  
• Tereos Gets Approval to Acquire Quartier Francais
  French sugar producer Tereos has obtained the green light from French antitrust regulator Autorite de la Concurrence to take over La Reunion's sugar and spirits company Groupe Quartier Francais.
  read more >>
  
  
• France: Agrial Plans to Acquire Elle & Vire Milk Collection Business
  French agriculture cooperative Agrial is currently preparing the acquisition of the milk collection business of dairy cooperative Elle & Vire.
  read more >>
  
  
• DairiConcepts Acquires U.S. Cheese Business
  DairiConcepts, L.P., a joint venture between Fonterra and Dairy Farmers of America, has acquired the U.S. hard Italian cheese business of Swiss Valley Farms (SVF).
  read more >>
  
  
• Viterra to Acquire 21st Century Grain Processing
  Viterra Inc. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 21st Century Grain Processing, a US based processor of oats, wheat, and custom-coated grains, for an all cash purchase price of USD $90.5 million, subject to adjustments for debt, cash and working capital levels at the time of closing.
  read more >>
  
  
• UK Takeover Panel criticizes Kraft over Cadbury
  Britain's Takeover Panel on Wednesday criticized Kraft Foods (KFT.N) over its purchase of Cadbury, forcing Kraft's lead banking adviser Peter Kiernan to pull out of his designated role as the panel's new Director General.
  read more >>
  
  
• Novus International Grows Human Nutrition Business with Spanish Acquisition
  Novus International, Inc., a leading animal health and nutrition firm, yesterday announced that it acquired the IQF Group, a Spanish producer of natural carotenoid pigments, essential oils, and other products for the feed industry, as well as a range of human health products under its IQF Nutrition division.
  read more >>
  
  
• Norway: Rieber & Son to Sell King Oscar
  Rieber & Søn is selling King Oscar. – This is entirely in line with our plan to prioritise core business and areas where we have key competence, says CEO Patrik Andersson.
  read more >>
  
  
• Unilever's Sara Lee Deal Buy Delayed By EU Probe Extension
  Unilever's acquisition of the Personal Care and European Laundry business of the Sara Lee Corporation is expected to move to Phase II of the European Commission's approval process.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: Michael Foods to be Sold for USD1.7 bln
  Michael Foods, Inc. announced today that its parent, M-Foods Holdings, Inc., has signed a definitive agreement under which its owners, affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and certain current and former members of management, will sell Michael Foods to affiliates of GS Capital Partners.
  read more >>
  
  
• Petra Foods in JV with French and US Chocolate Makers to Help Ivory Coast Farmers Improve Cocoa Bean Quality
  Petra Foods Limited, the Cemoi Group and the Blommer Chocolate Company today announced the formation of a tri-partite joint venture to produce fermented cocoa beans in Africa's Ivory Coast.
  read more >>
  
  
• World's Biggest Orange Juice Company Formed
  Brazilian orange juice companies Citrosuco and Citrovita have agreed to merge operations, which will create the world's largest producer of orange juice accounting for about a quarter of global production, surpassing Brazilian market leader Cutrale.
  read more >>
  
  
• Britvic Thirsty for More Deals After French Buy
  British soft drinks firm Britvic Plc is buying French group Fruite Enterprises for 237 million euros ($292 million) and said on Tuesday the purchase would provide a platform for further European expansion.
  read more >>
  
  
• Listed Estonian Ice Cream Maker Acquires Two Firms in Russia
  TCS Invest OÜ, a subsidiary fully owned by AS Premia Foods, concluded an agreement to purchase thesole share of St Petersburg based ice cream manufacturer OOO Hladokombinat No 1.
  read more >>
  
  
• Venezuela to Take Over Gruma's Local Unit
  Venezuela decreed the takeover of a local operation of Mexican food-processor Gruma Thursday as the country's socialist government tightened its grip on food production amid shortages and soaring inflation.
  read more >>
  
  
• UPDATE 1-Sara Lee selling stake in Indian joint venture
  Sara Lee Corp (SLE.N) said on Wednesday it would sell its 51 percent stake in Godrej Sara Lee Ltd joint venture, which markets insecticides in India, to Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GOCP.BO) for 185 million euros ($233.7 million).
  read more >>
  
  
• Hearthside Food Solutions Announces Acquisitions
  Hearthside Food Solutions has acquired Consolidated Biscuit Company and the Cereal Division of Golden Temple of Oregon.
  read more >>
  
  
• Acomo to Acquire Tea and Seeds Business from N.V. Deli Maatschappij
  Amsterdam Commodities N.V. (Acomo) has reached an agreement with N.V. Deli Maatschappij (Deli) to buy its tea and seeds businesses for a total consideration of about EUR 100 million. The trading house specialized in spices, nuts and food ingredients is doubling its size
  read more >>
  
  
• Glanbia Members Reject Acquisition of Irish Dairy and Agri Businesses
  Glanbia plc (Glanbia), the international nutritional ingredients and cheese group, announces that at a meeting today of Glanbia Co-operative Society members the required majority of 75% needed to progress the acquisition of the Group's Irish Dairy and Agri Businesses was not achieved.
  read more >>
  
  
• John B. Sanfilippo & Son to Acquire Certain Assets of Orchard Valley Harvest
  John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets and assume certain liabilities of Orchard Valley Harvest, Inc. of Modesto, California
  read more >>
  
  
• Viterra Closes Acquisition of Dakota Growers Pasta Company
  Viterra Inc. announced today that it has closed the acquisition of Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. a leading producer and marketer of dry pasta products in North America.
  read more >>
  
  
• Orkla's Felix Abba to Acquire Kalev Chocolate Factory in Estonia
  Felix Abba, a subsidiary of Orkla Foods, has signed an agreement to acquire Estonian confectionery maker Kalev Chocolate Factory. The amount of the deal was not disclosed.
  read more >>
  
  
• Perrigo Closes Acquisition of Infant Formula Manufacturer PBM Holdings
  Perrigo Company today announced that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of PBM Holdings, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of infant formula for store brand markets.
  read more >>
  
  
• France: Soup'Ideale Acquires Bongrain Cheese Plant
  Soup'Ideale SA, a producer of vegetable soups, has reportedly acquired Bongrain's unused Paul Renard plant in Flogny-la-Chapelle (Yonne department) for an estimated 10 million euro.
  read more >>
  
  
• RPT-Bunge to buy land from abandoned Brazil cane mill
  U.S. agribusiness group Bunge (BG.N) plans to buy around 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of Brazilian land from local firm Acucar Guarani (ACGU3.SA) to grow cane for its sugar and ethanol mills, a Brazilian paper said on Friday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ireland's C&C to Sell Spirits and Liqueurs Division to William Grant for 300 Mln Euro
  C&C Group plc, a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded beverages in Ireland and the UK, today announces that it has agreed to sell its Spirits & Liqueurs division to William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd.
  read more >>
  
  
• General Mills Divests Federalsburg Manufacturing Facility to Kraft Foods
  General Mills announced it has signed an agreement to divest the manufacturing facility, land and assets of the Federalsburg, Md., plant to Kraft Foods.
  read more >>
  
  
• Netherlands: Orkla Food Ingredients Acquires Sonneveld Group
  Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI) based in Oslo Norway, has acquired the shares in Sonneveld Group B.V., based in Papendrecht, the Netherlands, including all subsidiaries.
  read more >>
  
  
• Slovenia: Istrabenz Studying Numerous Takeover Bids for Droga Kolinska
  Slovenian energy, tourism and food group Istrabenz has said that it has received numerous bids for its food and beverage group Droga Kolinska.
  read more >>
  
  
• Diamond Ranch Foods to Acquire Executive Seafood, Inc
  Diamond Ranch Foods, Ltd. , a meat and poultry processing and foodservice distribution company, is pleased to announce that the Company has executed a 'Letter of Intent' to acquire the business operations and customer accounts of Executive Seafood, Inc., which the Company anticipates to close within 30 days.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coke Deal to Buy into Russia's Nidan May be Postponed
  A Russian law on bacteria used in food processing may postpone Coca-Cola Co's acquisition of juicemaker Nidan Soki, as it places the deal in the strategic investment territory, a Russian regulator told Reuters on Tuesday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lotus Bakeries NV Approves Merger with Bisinvest NV
  On 8 March 2010 Lotus Bakeries announced its intention to merge with Bisinvest NV. Today the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Lotus Bakeries NV approved the merger by means of takeover of Bisinvest NV.
  read more >>
  
  
• R&R Ice Cream Plans to Acquire France's Rolland
  R&R Ice Cream Limited, a British manufacturer of ice creams, is planning to acquire Rolland SAS, a French producer of dairy products and ice creams, for an undisclosed amount.
  read more >>
  
  
• Unilever Confirms Intention to Sell Findus Italy
  Consumer goods giant Unilever Plc/NV confirmed it is to sell its slow-growing Italian frozen foods business to boost overall growth in Italy for a price estimated by analysts of over 600 million euros ($800 million).
  read more >>
  
  
• Rembrandt Foods and Kallbergs Form Strategic Egg Ingredients Partnership
  Källbergs Industri AB and Rembrandt Foods, INC have united in a Strategic Partnership to bring functional egg ingredients to the food industry in Europe.
  read more >>
  
  
• LDC to Invest in Newly-Integrated Marie
  French poultry and prepared meals company LDC has announced that it will invest in Marie, a French chilled and frozen convenience foods business, acquired from Uniq last year.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ireland: Arrabawn to Acquire Dawn Dairies' Galway Milk Business
  Arrabawn Co-op, an Irish producer of dairy consumer products and dairy ingredients, has reportedly agreed to acquire Dawn Dairies Limited's milk business in county Galway in a deal understood to be worth between 5 and 6 million euro.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coffee Holding to Acquire Organic Products Trading Company
  Coffee Holding Co., Inc. today announced that the Company and Coffee Holding Acquisition LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Buyer"), entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Organic Products Trading Company, a Washington corporation (the "Seller").
  read more >>
  
  
• Jamaica Signs Sugar Deal with Tate & Lyle
  Jamaica has agreed a USD 46 million sugar marketing deal for its 2010 crop with Tate & Lyle, said the country's Prime Minister Bruce Golding in a speech to the national Parliament.
  read more >>
  
  
• USA: Full Motion Beverage FMBV Acquires Pure Water Solutions
  Full Motion Beverage, Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Pure Water Solutions, Inc., a direct store delivery (DSD) beverage enterprise.
  read more >>
  
  
• Glanbia Agrees Sale of Irish Dairy and Agri Businesses
  Glanbia plc, the international nutritional ingredients and cheese group, announces that it has conditionally agreed to dispose of its Irish Dairy and Agri Businesses to Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited, its 54.6 per cent shareholder.
  read more >>
  
  
• French Bakery Firm Brossard to Sell Frozen Food Activities to Iceland's Alfesca
  French bakery and snack firm Brossard has announced that it has entered exclusive negotiations with Icelandic seafood group Alfesca over the sale of its frozen food business for an undisclosed amount.
  read more >>
  
  
• Wessanen Plans to Sell US Unit American Beverage Corporation in 2011
  Royal Wessanen's interim CEO Frans Koffrie told shareholders yesterday that the company plans to sell its US unit American Beverage Corporation (ABC) next year.
  read more >>
  
  
• San Miguel Sets Up for Diversification Push
  The Philippines' San Miguel Corp will seek shareholders' approval to sell more than 51 percent of core businesses and create a common stock as it looks to fuel its aggressive push into heavy industry.
  read more >>
  
  
• Emmi to Acquire Fromalp and Strengthen its International Business
  Emmi has signed a purchase agreement for Fromalp Ltd (Zollikofen/BE), an international company which manufactures and distributes speciality cheeses.
  read more >>
  
  
• ConAgra Foods Acquires Elan Nutrition
  ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced that it has acquired Elan Nutrition, a privately-held formulator and manufacturer of snack and nutrition bars based in Grand Rapids, Mich.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kraft Hires Bankers to Sell Polish and Romanian Cadbury Units
  Kraft Foods has hired bankers from HSBC and BNP Paribas to sell Cadbury's Polish company Wedel and its Romanian unit, according to British financial reports.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coca-Cola Increases Stake in UK Smoothie Maker Innocent
  Innocent is pleased to announce that they have agreed a deal for Coca-Cola to increase its investment in the company. Under the terms of the deal, innocent's founders retain operational control of the business.
  read more >>
  
  
• Tata Tea, PepsiCo To Explore Joint Venture
  Tata Tea Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Tata Tea Ltd approved a non binding Memorandum of Understanding with PepsiCo Inc. on April 09, 2010, with the intention of exploring the formation of a Joint Venture in the area of non-carbonated ready-to-drink beverages, focused on health and enhanced wellness.
  read more >>
  
  
• French Cheese Firm Bel Plans to Sell Jaromericka in Czech Republic
  French dairy company Fromageries Bel has announced its intention to sell Czech cheese producer Jaromericka, a company acquired only 2 years ago.
  read more >>
  
  
• Raisio's Acquisition of Glisten Comes into Force
  Raisio's growth phase is proceeding according to plan when the acquisition of British snack foods manufacturer Glisten plc came into force on 8 April 2010 after the completion of related legal conditions.
  read more >>
  
  
• Constellation Brands and Australian Vintage End Discussions Related to Australian and UK Wine Operations
  Constellation Brands, Inc., the world's leading wine company, today announced that it and Australian Vintage Ltd (AVL) have ended discussions for the potential combination of a portion of Constellation's Australian and U.K. wine operations with AVL.
  read more >>
  
  
• Sweet Leaf Tea Acquires Tradewinds Beverage Co.
  Sweet Leaf Tea , an Austin-based company specializing in premium homemade quality organic teas and beverages, is proud to announce the acquisition of Tradewinds Beverage Co.
  read more >>
  
  
• Unilever to Put Findus Italy Up for Sale This Month
  Unilever, which is considering the sale of its Italian frozen food business Findus Italy for up to 800 million euro, is expected to start welcoming takeover bids this month.
  read more >>
  
  
• USA: Sterling Foods Acquires Bakery Company Caravan Trading
  Sterling Foods II, Inc., a portfolio company of TGF Management Corp. and Austin Ventures, today announced Sterling Foods' acquisition of Caravan Trading Company. The financial terms were undisclosed.
  read more >>
  
  
• Mead Johnson and Almarai Announce Agreement to Form Pediatric Nutrition Joint Venture in GCC
  Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, the global market leader in the infant formula category, and Almarai Company, the leading food and beverage company in the Gulf region, announced today that they have agreed to form a pediatric nutrition joint venture.
  read more >>
  
  
• Chiquita Announces Joint Venture With Danone
  Chiquita Brands International, Inc. today announced a joint venture with Danone to market fruit beverages based on Chiquita's Just Fruit in a Bottle® platform in Europe.
  read more >>
  
  
• Premium Brands Announces Acquisition of Specialty Pasta Manufacturer
  Premium Brands Holdings Corporation a leading producer, marketer and distributor of branded specialty food products, announced today the acquisition of an 80% interest in Vancouver, BC based Duso's Enterprises Ltd. ("Duso's") for approximately $5.6 million.
  read more >>
  
  
• Bongrain Invests in Romanian Dairy Firm Delaco
  French dairy products manufacturer Bongrain has reportedly acquired an estimated 84% majority stake in a Romanian dairy product importer Delaco.
  read more >>
  
  
• France: Tereos to Spin off International Assets in IPOs
  Europe's third-largest sugar maker, Tereos, said on Monday it planned to regroup key international businesses and spin them off through initial public offerings on the Paris and Sao Paulo stock markets.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lallemand Health Ingredients and Lal'Food Join Forces
  With the objective of strengthening their global presence and serving the dietary food supplements and food markets better, we are proud to announce that Lallemand Health Ingredients (LHI) and Lal'Food have merged.
  read more >>
  
  
• Perrigo to Buy Private Baby-Food Maker for $808 Mln
  Generic drugmaker Perrigo Co said it would buy privately held PBM Holdings Inc, a store-brand baby food manufacturer, for about $808 million in cash to expand its store-brand market into infant formula and baby food.
  read more >>
  
  
• US: CSM Finalizes Acquisition of Best Brands
  CSM announces that it has completed the acquisition of Best Brands, one of the largest premium bakery manufacturers in the US, effective as of March 19, 2010.
  read more >>
  
  
• Hansen Natural an Attractive Buyout Target
  Energy drink maker Hansen Natural Corp could be an attractive acquisition target for a public beverage company that owns an U.S. distribution system, particularly Coca-Cola Co , Stifel Nicolaus analysts said.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestle Seeks Brazil Dairy, Water Takeovers
  Nestle, the world's biggest food group, may spend 650 million reais ($363.5 million) in acquisitions to expand its mineral water and dairy business in Brazil, Valor Economico newspaper reported on Friday, citing comments from the company's CEO in the country.
  read more >>
  
  
• Diamond Foods Nears Completion of Acquisition of Kettle Foods
  Diamond Foods, Inc. announced today that it has received notice of early termination of the antitrust waiting period for its pending acquisition of Kettle Foods, and now anticipates the transaction will close by March 31, 2010.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coke Seeks Approval to Buy Russia's Nidan
  Coca-Cola Co, the world's largest soft-drinks maker, has applied for Russian regulator approval to buy into juicemaker Nidan Soki, sources said on Thursday, as it seeks to challenge rival PepsiCo's market dominance.
  read more >>
  
  
• UK: Bon Bon Buddies Acquires Kshocolat
  Bon Bon Buddies Ltd, a Welsh character licensed novelty confectionery and biscuit company, has acquired certain assets and intellectual property of Kshocolât Ltd and Brand 1602 Chocolate Ltd from the administrators, RSM Tenon, for an undisclosed sum.
  read more >>
  
  
• Russia: Orkla's Krupskaya to Buy Chocolate Spread and Biscuit Producer Peterhof
  Krupskaya, a Russian confectionery company part of Orkla of Norway since 2006, has said it will acquire 100% of OOO Peterhof, a producer of chocolate spreads and cookies based in St. Petersburg.
  read more >>
  
  
• UK: Kraft Under Fire After Cadbury Somerdale Plant U-Turn
  Kraft Foods came under heavy fire from UK parliamentarians on Tuesday for raising false hopes about the future of a Cadbury plant as it battled to win control of the British chocolatier.
  read more >>
  
  
• San Miguel Says Open to Sell San Miguel Brewery Stake to Kirin
  Philippine food-to-power conglomerate San Miguel Corp said it is willing to sell its 51 percent in flagship firm San Miguel Brewery to Japan's Kirin Holdings, although no offer has been received.
  read more >>
  
  
• UK: Fuerst Day Lawson Acquires Regency Mowbray
  Fuerst Day Lawson is pleased to announce that with effect from today it has acquired the activities of Regency Mowbray, including all staff and production sites.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dole Europe Acquires Green Vision Stake
  Through its Swedish division Saba Fresh Cuts AB, Dole Europe has acquired a 25 percent stake in Green Vision AB.
  read more >>
  
  
• NutraCea Completes Sale of Non-Core Cereal Ingredients Business
  NutraCea, a world leader in stabilized rice bran (SRB) nutrient research and technology, today announced that it completed the previously announced sale of NutraCea's existing cereal ingredients business and certain related equipment to Kerry Inc.
  read more >>
  
  
• Viterra to Acquire Dakota Growers Pasta Company
  Viterra Inc. and Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. are pleased to announce today that they have signed a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which a subsidiary of Viterra will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Dakota Growers, a leading producer and marketer of dry pasta products in North America.
  read more >>
  
  
• DSM and Fudan Renew Food Ingredient Cooperation Agreement
  DSM Nutritional Products (DNP), part of the global life and materials science specialist DSM Group, and Fudan University announced today the renewal of their five-year cooperation agreement.
  read more >>
  
  
• Glanbia in Talks on Sale of Irish Operations
  Irish food group Glanbia said it was in talks to sell its Irish operations and had met forecasts with a 14.4 percent fall in 2009 earnings per share, lifting its stock price on Wednesday.
  read more >>
  
  
• AB InBev to buy Modelo this year: broker Evolution
  Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR), the world's largest brewer, is likely to buy the 50 percent it does not own of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo (GMODELOC.MX) this year for around $10.8 billion, said broker Evolution Securities.
  read more >>
  
  
• Reed's & Jones Soda Enter Into Letter of Intent Regarding Potential Merger
  Reed's, Inc. maker of top-selling sodas in natural food stores nationwide, and Jones Soda, Inc., a leader in the premium soda category and known for its unique branding and innovative marketing, announced today that the two companies have entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding a merger, with Reed's as the surviving company.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kraft probed over Cadbury buyout
  Kraft is under investigation by UK regulators over whether it misled Cadbury employees and investors in its battle to take over the confectioner, it has been reported.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ebro Puleva Sells Dairy Unit to Lactalis
  Spanish food company Ebro Puleva announced a deal on Monday to sell its dairy business to Lactalis, Europe's largest dairy group, for 630 million euros ($862 million).
  read more >>
  
  
• Fresh Harvest Completes Acquisition of AC LaRocco Pizza Co.
  Fresh Harvest Products, Inc., a developer and marketer of natural and organic products, is pleased to announce that it has completed its asset acquisition of AC LaRocco Pizza Co., a 12-year-old privately held purveyor of organic and natural frozen foods, located in Washington state.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestle Completes Acquisition of Kraft Foods' Frozen Pizza Business
  Nestlé has concluded the acquisition of Kraft Foods' frozen pizza business on 1 March 2010 after the completion of closing conditions.
  read more >>
  
  
• PepsiCo Completes Transformative Bottling Acquisitions
  PepsiCo announced today that it has completed the $7.8 billion strategic acquisitions of its two largest bottlers, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. and PepsiAmericas, Inc.
  read more >>
  
  
• UK Pomegranate Juice Company Announces Partnership with Afghanistan Fruit Factory
  Pomegreat, the UK's leading pomegranate juice company, has become the first international company to purchase any form of fruit juice from Afghanistan, committed to purchasing a minimum of 500 tons of pomegranate concentrate and 500 tons of fresh fruit from Omaid Bahar Ltd, Afghanistan's first fruit processing facility.
  read more >>
  
  
• Rieber & Son Announce Divestment of Cake Factory in Poland
  Rieber & Søn ASA has signed an agreement to divest the cake factory in Poland producing ambient shelf stable ready cakes (previously referred to as "Anja Cake").
  read more >>
  
  
• Diamond Foods to Buy Kettle Foods for USD615 million
  Diamond Foods, Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Kettle Foods, makers of premium potato chips, from Lion Capital LLP for $615 million in cash.
  read more >>
  
  
• Chavez Threatens Food Company with Takeover
  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned brewer and food processor Empresas Polar, the country's leading private employer, that the government would take over its operations if its production does not match quantities and prices specified by the state.
  read more >>
  
  
• Coca-Cola Company Announce Intent to Buy CCE's North American Operations
  The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. announce that they have entered into agreements that will strategically advance the Coca-Cola system in North America and drive long-term value for all shareholders.
  read more >>
  
  
• Sparkletts / Alhambra To Acquire Yosemite Waters Bottled Water Company
  DS Waters, owner of the Sparkletts® and Alhambra® bottled water brands, is pleased to announce that it has acquired the assets of Yosemite Waters' home and office bottled water delivery, coffee and filtration service business.
  read more >>
  
  
• PureCircle and Imperial Sugar Co Form Joint Venture
  Imperial Sugar Company and PureCircle Limited are pleased to announce the launch of Natural Sweet Ventures LLC a joint venture created between Imperial, one of the largest marketers of refined sugar in the NAFTA region, and PureCircle, the global leader in the production of high purity stevia products.
  read more >>
  
  
• SABMiller Acquires Uganda's Rwenzori Beverages
  Brewer SABMiller has acquired Uganda's leading bottled water producer, Rwenzori Beverages Ltd, expanding its footprint in east Africa's third largest economy, a company official said on Friday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Wolfgang Puck Coffee and Van Houtte Sign JV Agreement
  Wolfgang Puck Coffee and Van Houtte Inc. announce they have signed a Joint Venture Agreement for the roasting, packaging, and distribution of Wolfgang Puck K-Cups® in the U.S. and Canada.
  read more >>
  
  
• Altria to Keep Wine Business, SABMiller Stake
  Tobacco company Altria Group Inc will be staying in the alcoholic beverage business for the foreseeable future.
  read more >>
  
  
• Canada: Mosaiq Acquires Lemon Hart Rum from Pernod Ricard
  Mosaiq Inc. announced today that it has acquired the global rights to the Lemon Hart Rum brand from Pernod Ricard.
  read more >>
  
  
• ConAgra CEO more willing to make acquisitions
  ConAgra Foods Inc (CAG.N) is looking to make more acquisitions now that Chief Executive Gary Rodkin has gotten company to the point where it is regularly cutting costs, developing new products and able to price its goods correctly.
  read more >>
  
  
• DSM Food Specialties and Anchor BioTechnologies Join Forces for OenoBrands: A New Company Providing Advanced Bio-Technological Solutions to the Wine Industry
  DSM Food Specialties B.V., (The Netherlands) and Anchor BioTechnologies (South-Africa), announce today that they have signed an agreement for the creation of a new company, OenoBrands SAS (France).
  read more >>
  
  
• NutraCea Announces Sale of Non-Core Cereal Ingredients Business
  NutraCea, a world leader in stabilized rice bran nutrient research and technology, today announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement to sell NutraCea's existing cereal ingredients business and certain related equipment to Kerry, Inc., a global food ingredients company.
  read more >>
  
  
• Pernod Ricard Sells Selected Local Nordic Brands for 82 Million Euro
  Pernod Ricard announces that it has signed an agreement to sell a number of Swedish and Danish assets to Altia for a cash consideration of SEK 835 million, or Euro 82 million at current exchange rate.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestle buys into Chinese mineral water producer
  Nestle SA, the world's largest food and beverage company, on Monday signed an agreement to buy a 70% stake in Chinese mineral water producer Yunnan Dashan Beverage Co Ltd, sources reported.
  read more >>
  
  
• After Glisten, Raisio Plans More Acquisitions in Europe
  Raisio's CEO Matti Rihko today said that his company is now moving to a growth phase after turnaround and improved profitability.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kirin: Will Actively Pursue M&A, Alliances
  Japanese beer maker Kirin Holdings will actively pursue acquisitions and alliances in a bid for growth, Senji Miyake, who has been appointed as the firm's next president said on Wednesday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Spain's SOS Cuetara Puts Rice Arm up for Sale
  Spanish food group SOS Cuetara has put its rice business in Spain, the Netherlands and the United States up for sale in a move to reduce a 1.1 billion euro ($1.50 billion) debt pile and appease creditors.
  read more >>
  
  
• China's Rodobo to Expand Raw Milk Processing Capacity
  Rodobo International, Inc. announced its completion of the acquisition of three dairy companies in the People's Republic of China, through the mergers of Ewenkeqi Beixue Dairy Co, Ltd, Hulunbeier Beixue Dairy Co., Ltd, and Hulunbeier Hailaer Beixue Dairy Factory.
  read more >>
  
  
• Japanese brewers Kirin, Suntory end merger talks
  Japanese brewers Kirin Holdings (2503.T) and Suntory SUNTH.UL dropped plans to create a combined food and drinks group with $43 billion in annual sales after disagreeing over levels of control in a merged firm.
  read more >>
  
  
• Iceland's Marcel Announces Sale of Stork Food & Dairy Systems
  Marel has reached an agreement with the Dutch investor Nimbus on the sale of the Food & Dairy Systems division of Stork Food Systems, excluding its operations in Spain.
  read more >>
  
  
• Norway: TINE to Sell Swedish Ice Cream Company Diplom-Is
  Norwegian dairy company TINE has announced it will sell its Swedish ice cream company Diplom-Is to Swedish businessman Anders Müntzing.
  read more >>
  
  
• CSM Extends US Bakery Presence by Acquiring Best Brands Corp
  CSM, Bakery Supplies North America, announces the newest addition to the growing bakery portfolio of its US division. Best Brands of Minnetonka, MN will join the entire CSM family of companies.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lactalis Linked to Acquisition of Spanish Forlosa's Cheese Business
  A few days after being rumoured to be interested in Ebro Puleva's dairy activities, France's Lactalis has been linked this time to the acquisition of the cheese activities of Forlasa in Spain.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lactalis, Arla Foods and Parmalat Interested in Ebro Puleva's Dairy Unit
  France's Lactalis, Denmark's Arla Foods and Italy's Parmalat have been linked with the acquisition of Spanish Ebro Puleva's dairy products unit.
  read more >>
  
  
• France: Northeastern Dairy Cooperatives to Merge
  With a view to strengthen their presence in the labelled cheese market, the French dairy cooperatives of Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comte regions will reportedly merge into a new entity.
  read more >>
  
  
• Crispin Cider Company Acquires Fox Barrel Cider Company
  Crispin Cider Company announced today the acquisition of California based Fox Barrel Cider Company in an all stock transaction.
  read more >>
  
  
• Noble Foods Acquires Majority Stake in Gü Chocolate Puds
  Noble Foods, the largest supplier of eggs and egg products in the UK, has today announced it has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in London-based premium chocolate dessert company, Gü Chocolate Puds.
  read more >>
  
  
• UK: Nichols Plc Announces Aquisition of Ben Shaw
  Nichols plc today announces the acquisition of the trade, brand and assets of the Ben Shaws 'soft drinks on draught' business, for an undisclosed sum.
  read more >>
  
  
• Hershey Will Have to Think Smaller with Cadbury Gone
  The maker of Hershey Kisses and Reese's peanut butter cups was roused to assemble a counter offer after Kraft Foods launched a hostile bid for Cadbury. Many in the candy business saw it as Hershey's last chance to bust out of the mature U.S. market.
  read more >>
  
  
• Bunge Confirms Discussions Regarding Potential Sale of Certain Fertilizer Assets in Brazil
  Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) today confirmed that it is engaged in discussions with Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE) regarding Vale’s potential acquisition of Bunge’s assets in Brazil relating to its fertilizer mining business, including its interest in Fertilizantes Fosfatados S.A. (Fosfertil).
  read more >>
  
  
• Cadbury Board Agrees to USD 19.7 Bln Takeover Offer from Kraft Foods
  Cadbury's board agreed to a GBP 11.9 billion (USD 19.7 billion) takeover offer from Kraft Foods this morning, ending more than four months of resistance.
  read more >>
  
  
• Unilever Agrees to Sell Shedd's Country Crock Chilled Side-Dish Business
  Unilever today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Hormel Foods Corporation to sell its Shedd's Country Crock® branded chilled side-dish business in the US.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kraft nears agreed takeover deal for Cadbury
  Kraft Foods was finalising terms of a recommended deal to buy Cadbury for around 11.7 billion pounds after late-night talks in which the U.S. giant offered more cash to break a four-month impasse and create the world's largest confectioner.
  read more >>
  
  
• Cadbury Fires Final Defence Amid Hershey Bid Doubts
  Cadbury Chairman Roger Carr attacked Kraft Foods' 10.5 billion pound ($17.1 billion) hostile takeover bid and its past performance on Thursday, but was uncertain over the prospects for a rival bid from chocolate maker Hershey Co.
  read more >>
  
  
• Hershey Still Working on Cadbury Bid
  U.S. chocolate maker Hershey Co is still working on a bid for Cadbury Plc that would top Kraft's hostile $17 billion takeover offer, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Heineken to Buy Mexico's FEMSA for $5.4 Bln
  Global brewery Heineken NV on Monday said it will buy the beer business of Mexico's FEMSA for 3.8 billion euros ($5.44 billion), giving the Dutch brewer a top position in the Mexican and Brazilian markets.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestle CFO Sees Only Small Confectionery Buys
  The world's biggest food group Nestle said it had sufficient scale in confectionery and only expected small buys, having ruled out rivalling Kraft Foods' bid for British chocolate maker Cadbury.
  read more >>
  
  
• Olam to Acquire Crown Flour Mills Limited, a Leading Port-based Wheat Miller in Nigeria
  Olam International Limited, a leading global, integrated supply chain manager of agricultural products and food ingredients, announced today that it has agreed to acquire 99.5% of the outstanding shares and voting rights in Crown Flour Mills Limited.
  read more >>
  
  
• Cadbury Shares Drop Below Kraft's Bid for First Time
  Cadbury shares dipped below the level of Kraft Foods' 10.6 billion-pound ($17 billion) bid for the first time on Thursday as prospects of a rival bid receded and analysts reckoned Kraft now needs only to slightly sweeten its offer to win.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ferrero Discusses Cadbury with Hershey, Private Equity
  Italian confectioner Ferrero has met with private equity firms as well as Hershey Co to discuss a possible bid for Britain's Cadbury Plc, Il Sole 24 Ore daily reported on Saturday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Nestle to Acquire Kraft Foods' Frozen Pizza Business for USD 3.7 Bln
  Nestlé has agreed to acquire Kraft Foods' frozen pizza business in the US and Canada for USD 3.7 billion in cash.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kraft Gets 1.52% Acceptance for Cadbury Bid
  Kraft said it had a 1.52 percent take-up from Cadbury shareholder for its hostile bid, but most shareholders are expected to wait to see if Kraft raises its bid before making their decisions.
  read more >>
  
  
• Cold Stone Creamery Announces Plans for Thailand Expansion
  America's most innovative ice cream concept, Cold Stone Creamery, along with the brand's parent company, Kahala, announced plans today for the concept's development in Thailand.
  read more >>