Nestlé - food industry company news 
Best bits: Danone steps up investment in future growth
20 May 2013
In recent months, Danone has come under scrutiny for the performance of its fresh dairy operations in Europe. However, in spite of - or perhaps because of - the work needed to turn that business around, the French food giant appears to be stepping up expansion in faster-growing markets and categories.
RUSSIA: Nestle invests to strengthen supply chain
16 May 2013
The world's largest food maker Nestle is investing CHF29m (US$925,092) in new distribution facilities in Russia in a bid to strengthen its supply chain in the country.
In the spotlight: Danone to build on baby nutrition success with organic buy
14 May 2013
Danone's deal to acquire over 90% of US organic baby food firm Happy Family is a first for the French food giant in the category and appears to strengthen its fast-growing infant-nutrition division. Michelle Russell takes a look at the deal.
UK: Industry targets food waste, carbon with new pledge
9 May 2013
Manufacturers including Nestle and Mars, as well as retailers like Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, have pledged to further cut food waste and carbon emissions in the UK.
BRICs and beyond: International SMEs testing the water at Hofex
7 May 2013
The rapidly expanding Chinese food sector has long been a focus for multinationals looking beyond developed western markets for expansion. However, it isn't just the international food Goliaths - with big bucks to spend on M&A or organic expansion - that are looking to China for growth. just-food caught up with some smaller enterprises hoping to tame the dragon at Hong Kong trade show Hofex - an event that prides itself of being the largest of its kind in Asia.
Deal or no deal: General Mills touted as WhiteWave suitor
3 May 2013
Dean Foods has formally given the green light for the spin-off of soy and organic business WhiteWave Foods - and analysts are setting out companies they believe could be interested in the Horizon Organic and Alpro owner.
US: Nestle recalls pizza after plastic fragments found
3 May 2013
Nestle has recalled DiGiorno and California Pizza Kitchen branded pizzas in the US after a "small number" of consumers complained they found fragments of plastic in the product.
US: Nestle sells Bit-O-Honey to Brynwood's Pearson Candy
2 May 2013
Nestle has sold US confectionery brand Bit-O-Honey to Pearson Candy Co., which is owned by private-equity firm Brynwood Partners.
Best bits: Unilever likely to stick with spreads
1 May 2013
What will Unilever do with its spreads business? After that part of the company's portfolio was a factor in first-quarter sales that missed analyst expectations, the question has returned to the minds of some in the investment community. Dean Best thinks they will stick with the division.
UK: PAI Partners to buy R&R Ice Cream
29 April 2013
PAI Partners has agreed to buy R&R Ice Cream from Oaktree Capital Management and the European ice cream group's other shareholders.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
29 April 2013
just-food spoke with ABF CEO George Weston this week following the release of the firm's first-half figures. The chief executive spoke about the performance of and prospects for the firm's food operations. Elsewhere, Ocado dismissed reports of a potential takeover by Morrisons, while Nestle defended a trademark lawsuit it has filed against Petra Foods over the Singapore firm's Delfi Take-It chocolate bar.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
29 April 2013
Associated British Foods grabbed the headlines this week - for good and tragic reasons. Twenty-four hours before a factory in Bangladesh that supplied ABF's discount clothing chain Primark, just-food discussed the Kingsmill bread owner's half-year results. Another UK-listed major, Unilever, this week reported its Q1 sales, which missed analyst estimates on weaker spreads and ice cream sales. Elsewhere, we analysed the return of GM to national UK headlines and China's attempts to improve food safety.
SINGAPORE: Petra hits out at Nestle Kit Kat lawsuit
25 April 2013
Chocolate and cocoa group Petra Foods has defended its Delfi Take-It chocolate bar after Swiss food giant Nestle filed a trademark lawsuit against the firm in Singapore.
Best bits: Emerging market operations under more scrutiny
23 April 2013
A decade ago, the conversation around emerging markets was purely about growth. Now, with the developing world accounting for a growing chunk of some businesses, and with some of the faster-growing economies cooling, there is more attention on company performance in the BRICs and beyond. As Nestle found out last week.
BRICs and beyond: China looks to tighten food safety regulation
22 April 2013
The elevation of China's State Food & Drug Administration (SFDA) to a ministry level entity will consolidate the oversight of food safety issues under one umbrella. The Chinese authorities are hoping that the move will convince consumers that the government is serious about tackling the country's food safety problems. Nevertheless, a number of challenges remain. David Green reports from Beijing.
The week ahead: ABF H1s; Unilever, Hershey, Premier Q1s
22 April 2013
A raft of companies report to the market next week, including UK-based food group Associated British Foods, which is set to unveil its half-year results. Data for the first quarter of 2013 will continue to come in, with Unilever, Hershey and Premier Foods plc among those set to publish numbers.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
22 April 2013
The industry's first-quarter results continued to pour in last week and two of France's leading retailers, Carrefour and Casino revealed sales figures that got analysts talking. Carrefour appeared pleased with its domestic performance, while Casino was encouraged by the results of recent pricing initiatives. Elsewhere, Tesco finally confirmed its plans to exit the US and revealed it had received and was pursuing interest in the business.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
22 April 2013
Major food manufacturers began to report their first-quarter results last week. Nestle came under scrutiny for its performance in emerging markets. A cautious Danone saw signs of improvement from its European dairy operations, while its infant formula business was buoyant. Elsewhere, we shone the spotlight on the recent rationing of formula in Western markets amid high demand in China, looked at Marks and Spencer's latest European venture and analysed Magnit's move to Russian retail's top spot.
AFRICA/AUS: Aspen to buy Pfizer infant assets in Nestle deal
19 April 2013
Aspen Pharmacare is to acquire the Pfizer infant nutrition businesses in Australia and southern Africa after a deal with Nestle worth US$215m.
On the money: Nestle expects Asia, Africa growth to pick up
18 April 2013
Nestle today (18 April) insisted it expects its sales growth in Asia and Africa to increase amid concerns among analysts over its performance in some emerging markets.
What the analysts say - concern over Nestle's emerging markets
18 April 2013
Nestle's sales slowed in the first quarter of the year amid weaker sales growth from its Asia, Oceania and Africa division. The performance of the world's largest food manufacturer in emerging markets has become a cause for concern among analysts.
SWITZ: Sales slow at Nestle in Q1
18 April 2013
Shares in Nestle fell today (18 April) after sales at the world's largest food maker slowed in the first quarter of the year.
AUSTRALIA: Nestle launches Uncle Toby's bar
17 April 2013
Nestle's Australian breakfast cereal business, Uncle Toby's, has launched a new muesli bar in the market.
MEXICO: Nestle to sell Pfizer assets to settle competition concerns
16 April 2013
Nestle will sell Pfizer's Mexican business to settle competition issues in the market arising from its deal last year to buy the pharmaceutical giant's infant nutrition operations worldwide.
In the spotlight: Infant formula prices drive Chinese consumers overseas
15 April 2013
Retailers are rationing the amount of infant formula consumers can buy in markets including Hong Kong, Australia and now the UK. The move has been prompted by the huge demand for infant formula in China, with consumers buying products overseas and shipping them home. While you might think that rationing comes in response to supply shortages, in actual fact it is more likely an attempt to protect the power to price the same product differently in different markets. Katy Askew reports.
SWITZ: Nestle "not interested" in chocolate M&A
12 April 2013
The chairman of Nestle has reportedly insisted the Kit Kat maker is not interested in buying any chocolate companies as he rejected the possibly the Swiss food giant could buy Lindt & Sprungli.
UK: Nestle adds "peelable" Rip'Ems to Rowntree's Randoms line
11 April 2013
Nestle has added a "playful and peelable" product to its Rowntree's Randoms confectionery line in the UK.
Interview: R&R chief: We can be "real alternative" to Unilever
10 April 2013
James Lambert, CEO of UK-based R&R Ice Cream, has suggested the company's plan to buy local rival Fredericks Dairies will give retailers a "real alternative" to market leader Unilever.
UK: R&R Ice Cream to buy rival Fredericks Dairies
9 April 2013
UK ice cream group R&R Ice Cream has agreed to acquire local rival Fredericks Dairies in a deal worth GBP49m.
On the money: Integration focus for Barry Callebaut
8 April 2013
Barry Callebaut plans to focus more on integrating recent acquisitions and supply deals this year than buying businesses or striking more supply deals, the chocolate group's CEO has told just-food.
