Noble Foods - food industry company news 
FRANCE: Former Lindt exec Guignon to lead Gu France unit
4 January 2012
Premium desserts maker Gü has appointed former Lindt & Sprungli executive Frank Guignon as director general of its French operation.
UK: Noble Foods to extend premium egg brand
6 December 2011
Noble Foods plans to widen its Posh Birds premium egg range to include hen eggs next year.
UK: Gu extends desserts range
5 December 2011
Noble Foods' UK desserts brand Gu has launched a range of "festive" sweets in time for the Christmas period.
UK: Gu appoints former Diageo exec Martin as marketing director
4 July 2011
Premium desserts maker Gu has appointed former Diageo executive to lead its marketing efforts.
UK: Gu to consolidate Gu and Fru brands
11 May 2011
UK desserts brand Gu has announced that it will consolidate its Gu Chocolate Puds and Fru Fruity Puds under the umbrella brand Gu Puds.
UK: Ex-Findus boss takes up Gu MD role
21 December 2010
Mark Escolme has joined UK premium desserts manufacturer Gu as MD, just two months after leaving frozen-food firm Findus Group for "personal reasons".
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
26 November 2010
This week had a couple of key interviews this week, with Associated British Foods' finance director speaking to just-food about commodity costs and restructuring in the group's grocery division, while we spoke to Gu founder James Averdieck about what the company has been doing since its sale to Noble Foods earlier this year. Meanwhile Ireland announced a series of austerity measures in the country which look set to impact the retail sector and Campbell Soup Co continued to post disappointing results. Here's the best of what was said this week:
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
26 November 2010
As Ireland's economic crisis dominated the business pages, data on the country's grocery retail sector suggested it was returning to growth after months in the doldrums. However, will Dublin's IMF-backed austerity package stall that growth? Elsewhere, management at Del Monte Foods said yes to a US$5.3bn private-equity takeover, Danone snapped up US yoghurt-maker YoCream International and Campbell Soup Co. and Hormel Foods revealed differing fortunes to the market.
just the answer - James Averdieck, Gu
24 November 2010
UK premium desserts manufacturer Gu has seen stratospheric growth, going from inception to a GBP50m (US$80m) business in five countries in just seven years. However, since Gu's sale to Noble Foods earlier this year, its founder James Averdieck has focused his attentions on expanding the brand internationally. Petah Marian spoke to Averdieck about the dessert manufacturer's international ambitions and how it is "growing up".
UK: Dessert firm Gu launches cookie range
25 October 2010
UK dessert manufacturer Gu has launched a range of cookies in its domestic market.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
8 October 2010
The focus this week has been on consumer confidence in the UK, with the Government set to release 'austerity measures' on 20 October and three of the major grocery retailers revealing trading updates. Elsewhere, PepsiCo revealed plans to build a unit to focus on nutrition and Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods announced an efficiency review. Here is the best of what was said this week.
UK: Noble Foods accused of breaching animal-welfare rules
7 October 2010
UK egg producer Noble Foods has been accused of contravening guidelines on animal welfare.
Top stories on just-food this week
22 January 2010
Kraft Foods' patient pursuit of Cadbury this week paid off as the US food giant secured the backing of the UK confectioner's board after tabling a higher takeover offer. The proposed acquisition of Cadbury has been met with raised eyebrows on both sides of the pond but the deal will make Kraft the world's largest confectioner. Meanwhile, in the US, Hormel Foods snapped up the Country Crock side dish business from Unilever and, in the UK, egg giant Noble Foods has added to its dessert business with a majority stake in Gu. And, elsewhere, Tesco and Carrefour hinted at further expansion in India. These are the most popular stories in just-food this week.
UK: Noble secures majority stake in Gu
21 January 2010
Noble Foods, the UK's largest egg producer, has struck a long-awaited deal to buy a majority stake in upmarket puddings maker Gü.
UK: Zetar appoints Stott as finance chief
15 January 2010
UK confectioner and snack maker Zetar has appointed Mark Stott, previously finance chief of Noble Foods, as its group finance director.
UK: Sale of pudding firm Gu nears
16 December 2009
The sale of UK luxury desserts maker Gü is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, the lead adviser handling the deal has told just-food.
Related research
Eggs
This report analyzes the worldwide market for Eggs in Millions.
Functional Foods 2010
Functional foods, as defined in this report, principally comprise: fibre-, mineral- and/or vitamin-fortified breakfast cereals and cereal bars; probiotic and prebiotic yoghurts and yoghurt drinks; cholesterol-lowering margarines and spreads; and soya milk. Smaller sectors of the market include functional breads, milk, cheese, eggs and drinks. The total UK market for functional foods grew by an estimated 9.6% in the year ending October 2009, to a value of £1.46bn. This growth rate was higher than that experienced in 2007/2008 but substantially lower than the estimated 22% growth in 2005/2006. The reduction is accounted for by an apparent peaking in sales of yoghurt drinks and soya milk, after strong prior growth, and gradually declining sales of cholesterol-lowering margarines and functional breads. Strong growth has, however, been shown by probiotic yoghurts and fortified breakfast cereals, allowing positive growth overall.
Organic Food & Drink 2010
Although organic food and drink overall are estimated to account for only around 2% of the value of the total grocery market, organic baby and toddler foods have achieved a leading 45% share of the total branded baby foods market.
