Kraft explains its approach to health and wellness in the second of
a series of FoodNavigator-USA.com articles examining the practices
of major US food firms in the face of a growing need to address
human nutrition.
Net sales for Sara Lee increased 7.1 per cent to $12.3bn (€9.1bn)
for the fiscal year 2007 from $11.5bn (€8.5bn) the previous year,
the company has said.
Kraft may be selling the US based cereals business for as much as
$3bn (€2.2bn), because of pressure from new legislation in regards
to advertising to children, according to a report by the Wall
Street Journal.
The European Commission has cleared Nestle's proposed
acquisition of Novartis's Gerber business, saying it would not
lead to an uncompetitive concentration in baby foods and
cereals.
US based food and beverage retailer Sara Lee claimed last week it
is the first in the industry to provide "straight-forward
information about whole grains across our product portfolio".
The Kellogg Company today announced it will adopt nutrition
standards for the products it markets to children, pledging to
reformulate those products that fall short of the criteria, or to
cease marketing them altogether.
Nestle is eyeing organic growth in health, wellness and nutrition
of five to six per cent over the next ten years, the chief
financial officer was due to told investors at a seminar today.
UK food processor Premier Foods remains undaunted by last year's
rising raw material costs and unseasonably warm summer weather -
posting a 12 per cent rise in pre-tax profits in its preliminary
results announced yesterday.
US snack giant Frito-Lay has become the latest manufacturer to
invest in healthier innovation with the launch of fruit and
vegetable-based crisps under the Flat Earth brand name.
In a bid to cut costs, UK-based Premier Foods said it would close
down two of its factories over the next six months, cut about 450
jobs and invest in making three of its plants more efficient.
UK food group Premier Foods is poised to consolidate its leading
position in the British snack market with the £1.23bn (€1.8bn)
acquisition of bakery company RHM.
Changing its entire cereal portfolio to whole grains last year
presented General Mills with a huge opportunity, but also a number
of challenges, said the firm, which yesterday explored the steps
leading up to the launch of its whole...
Following a £15m (€22.2m) investment in research and development at
the company, UK crisp giant Walkers has launched a new 'healthier'
range to attract snack-loving consumers worried about their
waistlines.
American-owned food group Sara Lee is going back to basics with a
new marketing campaign designed to remind food lovers of the joys
of eating - shirking the trend towards functional foods.
Cereal giant Kellogg's has been told to change or ditch an advert
for one of its flagship brands after 19 complaints were made to an
advertising regulatory body.
One of the UK's leading crisp manufacturers, Walkers, has been
reprimanded by an advertising authority for 'misleading' adverts
detailing the reduced salt content in its crisp brands.
European biscuits and snack manufacturer United Biscuits has become
the latest bakery company to eradicate harmful trans fats from its
products, tying in with the industry drive towards healthier
production methods.
Despite set backs to its global expansion plans, the Sara Lee
corporation has revealed that's its North American bakery division
still remains profitable.
The world's leading cereal producer Kellogg's has posted a three
per cent rise in second quarter net earnings, as strong sales in
the Americas help compensate for rising commodity costs.
Swiss manufacturer Nestlé is building new factories in Brazil and
West Africa to manufacture products for low-income families, said
chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.
The UK's Premier Foods is believed to have offered United Biscuits
an initial £1bn bid for its northern European snack food operations
- even though City analysts claim the business is worth £2.3bn.
Kellogg, the world's biggest breakfast cereal maker, is in talks to
buy a Chinese food company as part of its plans to boost sales in
Asia, according to a report.
Leading food manufacturer Kraft has paid £575m (€829.6m) for United
Biscuit's southern European snack business. The deal was signed off
over the weekend, said British daily The Financial Times.
UK food manufacturer RHM remains undeterred by last year's slump in
Mr Kipling cake sales - their financial second half results show
business is improving with the aid of healthy Hovis products.
American manufacturer Kraft will make a bid for United Biscuit's
southern European division, while Premier Foods and a Dutch equity
firm negotiate for stakes in UB's northern European operations.
Kellogg's health and wellness division is about to birth its first
products: protein-fortified waters, snack bars and meal bars that
will take the Special K brand out of cereals and into the pharmacy
aisle.
The race is on to see which of two leading cereal makers will be
the first to place an omega-3 fortified product on shelves,
following a new license and supply agreement between Martek and
General Mills that is substantially similar...
US cereal giant General Mills has indicated year-end earnings will
be higher than previously expected, but admits next year's outlook
may be gloomy as rising commodity costs and interest repayments eat
profits.
Nestle doesn't expect raw material prices to rise further this
year, despite a recent FAO report that forecasts an increase of
over 2 per cent in the world food import bill in 2006.
In a move to avoid a lawsuit, Frito Lay said it will change the
labeling on its 'Light' range of potato chips in order to make it
clearer that they contain the controversial fat substitute olestra.
US food firm Kraft has launched a customer-led research and
development programme, in a bid to re-engage with consumers and tap
growing health and wellness trends.
Yesterday American-owned Sara Lee reported a massive 77 per cent
drop in third quarter operating profit from $189m last year to $42m
in 2006, impacted by a vast portfolio cull.