News briefs: Nestle, squeezy chocolate and Cadbury

By Karen Willmer

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Chief executive officer Nestlé Executive officer

This week's news briefs include Nestle's new CEO, squeezy chocolate
in a bottle, and Cadbury closing factories.

Nestle's new CEO will stick to company's strategy ​Nestle announced yesterday that Paul Bulcke will be a new chief executive officer of the company from April 2008. "The board chose a strong and pragmatic business leader, ideally suited to lead the group in a period that will be marked by a phase of strategic and operational consolideation and a continued broadening of our nutrition, health and wellness business,"​ said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, a Nestle chairman and current CEO. "At the same time Nestle will maintain its strong growth momentum in the developing and emerging world." ​Bulcke told media in a conference call today that he will continue to work towards the company's strategy of focussing upon the nutrition, health and wellness segment. "We've made huge strides in 2007," said​ Bulcke. "We have the right brands to take this transformation further." ​ Brabeck-Letmathe will serve as an active, non-executive chairman from April 10. Bulcke is currently the head of Zone Americas for Nestle, and "played a decisive role in transforming this region not only into the group's largest, but also into its most profitable one",​ said Brabeck-Letmathe. Squeezy chocolate on sale soon ​A leading chocolate spread brand will now be sold in a new easy-squeeze format, according to the manufacturer. Belgian company All Crump claim that the new 250ml polypropylene bottle, manufactured by RPC Verpackungen Kutenholz, will also help protect the chocolate treat from oxygen damage. The product is already on sale in the Netherlands and France, with further launches across Europe planned, the company said. Cadbury to closeNew Zealandfactories ​Cadbury said this week that it will close two of its factories in the Southern Hemisphere, and may move some of the product lines to China, according to local news sources. Factories in Auckland and Melbourne are rumoured to be closing, cutting up to 200 jobs in the region, according to various news sources. Machinery for the Jaffas, Pineapple Lumps and Pebbles confectionery brands will be moved to the company's factory in Dunedin, while other brands may be moved to China, sources say. "In order to continue to compete in the extremely competitive confectionery industry, we need to make the right decisions today, even if they are sometimes difficult,''​ March Callaghan, director of Cadbury's New Zealand unit, was reported to have said. Closure is expected to be complete by 2009, reports say.

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