Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Snyder’s-Lance eyes acquisitions to add to high-selling core brands

10-May-2012 - North American snack firm Snyder’s-Lance plans to foster future growth through mergers and acquisitions to complement its core brands which helped it marginally improve sales in its Q1 results

Hostess warns of mass layoffs in union negotiations

10-May-2012 - Hostess Brands has sent letters to its 18,500 employees warning of possible liquidation and job losses, after a federal judge ruled on Friday that the company could cancel all union contracts.

Louis Dreyfus to acquire Imperial Sugar as investors try to block deal

09-May-2012 - Commodities group Louis Dreyfus has reached an agreement to acquire refined sugar processor Imperial Sugar for around $203m.

News in brief

Diamond Foods appoints ex-Hostess Brands chief as new CEO

09-May-2012 - Kettle Chips maker Diamond Foods has appointed ex-Hostess Brands head Brian Driscoll as its new CEO.

Kampffmeyer outlines benefits of Meyerhans deal

07-May-2012 - Manufacturers of baked goods and other foods in Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein will benefit from extended services and capacity following the sales partnership between Kampffmeyer Food Innovation (KFI) and Meyerhans Mühlen.

CSM puts bakery supplies arm on the block to reposition as bio-ingredients firm

07-May-2012 - Ingredients supplier CSM has announced plans to sell its bakery supplies businesses and reposition itself as a bio-based ingredients company.

AAK posts record high Q1 results as food ingredients segment shines

04-May-2012 - Swedish-based firm AarhusKarlshamm AB (AAK) has recorded its highest ever first quarter (Q1) results driven by its food ingredients arm and its Golden Foods/Golden Brands acquisition.

Biscuits, chocolate and developing markets drive growth for Kraft in Q1

04-May-2012 - Kraft Foods is off to a solid start to 2012 in its first quarter (Q1) results driven by sales growth in global biscuits and chocolate and strong performance in emerging markets.

Fresh Start Bakeries invests €27m in new bakery in Poland

04-May-2012 - Aryzta subsidiary Fresh Start Bakeries (FSB) has announce plans to build a €26.2m (PLN 110m) bakery in Poland to improve distribution in Central Europe.

Maple Leaf and Canada Bread profits slump on weak fresh bakery volumes

03-May-2012 - Canada Bread and its parent company Maple Leaf Foods were both harmed by weak fresh bakery volumes in the first quarter (Q1), negatively impacting companies' profits.

News in brief

CSM jobs under threat as profits drop on weak demand in Europe

24-Apr-2012 - Ingredients supplier CSM has suffered a 23% fall in profits in its first quarter (Q1) results driven by weaker demand in artisanal bakery in Europe, which could force job losses.

China’s Bright Food may claim first European 'beachhead' with Weetabix, but others could be lurking – analyst

24-Apr-2012 - Chinese company Bright Food is reportedly in talks with Lion Capital to acquire British cereal maker Weetabix and could make its first mark on Europe, according to an analyst.

Kellogg issues profit warning ahead of Q1 results

23-Apr-2012 - Cereal giant Kellogg has lowered its financial guidance for 2012 as declining European sales led it to perform below expectations in its first quarter (Q1) results.

Greencore strengthens in US with $36m Marketfare Foods buy

20-Apr-2012 - Irish convenience foods firm Greencore has acquired US sandwich and snack firm Marketfare Foods for $36m as it looks to boost its presence in the US.

News in brief

Panera appoints interim financial chief

20-Apr-2012 - The Panera Bread Company has appointed Thomas Patrick Kelly as its interim chief financial officer (CFO) following the departure of former finance chief Jeff Kip.

Kellogg handed negative outlook on back of Pringles deal

17-Apr-2012 - Cereal giant Kellogg has received a negative outlook from the rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) as commodity volatility and integration costs from its Pringles acquisition are expected to harm margins.

Flower Foods pumps $31m in Tasty Baking factory expansion

16-Apr-2012 - US firm Flower Foods has announced plans to invest $31m in a factory in Pennsylvania it required last year following its takeover of Tasty Baking.

Kraft 2012 outlook stable in face of commodity pressures, says rating agency

12-Apr-2012 - Risks remain for Kraft Foods ahead of its planned split as it is squeezed by commodity costs, but it will sustain growth in 2012, according to the rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P).

Kellogg denies involvement in Unite row

10-Apr-2012 - Cereal manufacturer Kellogg has distanced itself from the row over the dismissal of workers at one of its major clients after the union Unite targeted the firm in a bid to draw attention to the dispute.

News in brief

Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld bags $22m in 2011

05-Apr-2012 - Kraft Foods head Irene Rosenfeld was paid $22m in 2011, according to figures in a recent filling to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tate & Lyle reports ‘solid performance’

30-Mar-2012 - Ingredients firm Tate & Lyle reported a solid performance today in line with expectations for the first three months of 2012.

Finsbury Food Group's profits rise but 'no respite expected' in marketplace

28-Mar-2012 - Bakery firm Finsbury Foods saw profits rise in its six month interim results but sounded a note of caution for the period ahead.

Kraft Foods reveals new name for global snacks business

22-Mar-2012 - Kraft Foods has today announced the name of its global snacks spin-off and its North American grocery business.

General Mills sees growth as European sales double

21-Mar-2012 - Food giant General Mills has reported a 13% sales increase in its third quarter results with sales more than doubling in Europe.