Stollwerck, the German confectionery group, is to close two ageing
production facilities and transfer production of its Gubor brand to
the Van Houten plant near Hamburg, according to parent company
Barry Callebaut.
Premium chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli has reported a rise in
sales for 2002 despite tough trading conditions in most of its key
markets - a performance it attributed to a consistent strategy of
expansion and innovation.
US flavours and fragrance giant International Flavors &
Fragrances saw fourth quarter 2002 sales rise 5 per cent to $424.3
million (€391m) from $405.6 million for the same period in 2001,
despite weak economic conditions in Latin...
Christmas sales fell compared to the particularly strong
performance in the previous year, but UK chocolate manufacturer and
retailer Thorntons said it was happy with its overall performance
in the first half of 2002/03.
Finland's Raisio group has sold its Swedish ice cream business
Carlshamn to Ingman Foods, another Finnish dairy producer, for an
undisclosed sum. Raisio is selling off non-core businesses to raise
cash for its more important...
A slowdown in biscuit sales of around 6 per cent took its toll on
third quarter results at Northern Foods, the UK's leading producer
of own label foods for the supermarket sector. But while there is
little sign of improvement...
Increased marketing expenditure to back the relaunch of the
flagship McVities brand helped United Biscuits increase its sales
in 2002. But it is the possible future of the company - and the
likelihood of a bid from minority shareholder...
Cargill Sweeteners North America forms marketing alliance with
sugar beet cooperative to sell and distribute its sugar products to
food and beverage manufacturers. Both companies hope the agreement
will lead to the development of...
Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has reported an
increase in pre-tax profits for the 2001/02 year despite a decline
in volumes and higher raw material costs. Nwe product launches at
the premium end of the market have helped...
After months of bitter negotiations with staff at its Fontaneda
biscuit unit in Spain, Britain's United Biscuits group has agreed
to sell the company to Siro, another Spanish biscuit maker which
has agreed to maintain staff levels...
Thorntons, the UK chocolate maker and retailer, has continued to
post good like-for-like sales growth in the first four months of
the financial year, but Christmas will be the key test of its
business plan.
A good third quarter sales performance in Finland helped Nordic
confectionery group Cloetta Fazer to a 33 per cent increase in
pre-tax profits for the period.
In a major U-turn, the Hershey Trust has decided to scrap its plans
for the sale of its stake in confectioner Hershey Foods, rejecting
all the bids which had been made. A sound business decision or an
inevitable bowing to pressure?
Barry Callebaut completes its takeover of Stollwerck with an offer
of €295 per share for the remaining 3.9 per cent. The Swiss firm
said it would welcome investment from former Stollwerck
shareholders in its ongoing business.
The UK chocolate maker and retailer has recorded its first rise in
underlying sales for three years, but still believes there is
potential for improvement through existing operations.
"We have seven production plants on five continents," Ted
Nixon, CEO of US caramel colour company DD Williamson, told
FoodNavigator.com. Based in Kentucky, the company started producing
caramel colours in 1865. Today, it...
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) yesterday warned that technical
problems at one of its food flavour plants in Holland would wipe
£10m (€15.83m) off second-half profits, reports The Guardian.
Conglomorate Sime Darby of Malaysia has entered into a joint
venture agreement with Singapore-based Petra Food to manufacture
and trade finished chocolate confectionery products.
Danisco announced its acquisition of Belgian-based flavouring
company Perlarom, boosting its position in Europe to the sixth
largest flavourings manufacturer. It said its flavour sales
worldwide will amount to around €240 million...
Barry Callebaut, the world's top manufacturer of cocoa and
chocolate products, has confirmed that it will buy German chocolate
firm Stollwerck from Imhoff Industrie-Holding in a CHF256 million
(€174.9m) deal.
UK drinks and confectionery group Cadbury Schweppes this week
announced a strong financial performance for 2001.Sales rose 21 per
cent to reach £5,519m (€9.02m), up from £4,575 m in 2000 and
underlying profit (before tax) was up 18...
