Orkla - food industry company news 
NORWAY: Orkla profits dip, looks to strengthen consumer foods
2 May 2013
Orkla has said it aims to drive continued improvements at its consumer foods unit as it booked a decline in operating profit during the first quarter.
The week ahead - US retail conference; Kellogg, Kraft Q1s
29 April 2013
Wal-Mart, Kroger and Supervalu are among the US retailers presenting at a Barclays sector conference next week. The first-quarter results will continue to roll in, with Kellogg, Kraft Foods Group and Canadian retailer Loblaw part of a group of companies to publish numbers.
UPDATE: NORWAY: Orkla "open" to snacks M&A
8 April 2013
Nordic consumer goods group Orkla has said the new CEO of its recently-formed confectionery and snacks business will look at potential M&A opportunities.
NORWAY: Arla exec Aberg to lead Orkla's snacks business
8 April 2013
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla has appointed Arla Foods executive, Christer Åberg, as CEO of its confectionery and snacks business.
EXCLUSIVE: CAGE: Nordic FMCG group Orkla develops "multi-local" strategy
21 March 2013
Norwegian consumer goods group Orkla is preparing to take on multinational food giants in the Nordic markets through the development of its "multi-local" strategy.
just-food's research round-up: UK breakfast cereals market, baby food in Mexico, social media in food
15 February 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes the UK breakfast cereals market, baby food in Mexico and social media in food.
just-food review of 2012: M&A revival but caution hinders big deals
19 December 2012
There were, despite continued economic uncertainty in many Western markets and concerns over slowing growth in the East, signs that M&A activity rebounded in the food sector this year. However, a look at just-food's M&A coverage this year shows there have been few big-ticket, transformational deals.
NORWAY: Rieber & Søn sells fried onion unit to Top Taste
4 December 2012
Norwegian food group Rieber & Søn has sold its "under-performing" crispy fried onions business in the Netherlands to local firm Top Taste Holding.
NORWAY: Costs hit Rieber & Søn Q3 profit
25 October 2012
Norwegian food group Rieber & Søn has booked a drop in third-quarter profits, hit by one-off costs.
NORWAY: Norgesgruppen H1 profits, sales rise
31 August 2012
Norway-based retailer Norgesgruppen has reported rises in both sales and profits for the first half of its fiscal year.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
24 August 2012
Europe's food sector saw its latest piece of consolidation this week with Orkla's bid to buy Nordic rival Rieber & Son. Elsewhere, US food group Hain Celestial continued its UK expansion with its deal to acquire brands from Premier Foods. Tesco grabbed the headlines with its U-turn on nutrition labels and we had a run of retail results from grocers including Ahold, Delhaize and Russia's X5 Retail Group.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
24 August 2012
M&A was certainly on the agenda this week as Norwegian conglomerate Orkla announced a deal to buy local food group Rieber & Søn. In addition, Hain Celestial purchased Premier Foods plc's spreads asset, and Greencore acquired the UK own-label chilled ready meals unit of Hain. Here is a selection of quotes from this week's news.
In the spotlight: Orkla praised for Rieber deal despite high price
22 August 2012
Orkla, the Norwegian conglomerate with interests in aluminium and finance as well as pizza and chocolate, wants to focus on consumer goods. This week, Orkla agreed to buy local food group Rieber & Son and, although analysts expressed misgivings at the price it paid, they believe it is a sensible move from the company. Dean Best reports.
UPDATE: NORWAY: Orkla CEO champions Rieber & Son "strength"
20 August 2012
Orkla CEO Åge Korsvold today (20 August) defended Rieber & Søn's recent performance as the Norwegian conglomerate announced a deal to buy the local food group, which has had a challenging 18 months.
NORWAY: FMCG-hungry Orkla to buy rival Rieber & Son
20 August 2012
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla, which is reshaping its business to focus on consumer goods, is to buy local food group Rieber & Søn.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 July 2012
While the row over UK farmgate milk prices rumbled on this week, elsewhere first-half results hit the just-food news desk. Safeway sounded an upbeat note on the performance of its loyalty programme and the group's dominance in retail personalisation for consumers. Elsewhere, just-food spoke with Mizkan EuroAmericas president Craig Smith who spoke about the firm's plansfor the business long-term.
On the money: Orkla branded focus "on track", says CEO
20 July 2012
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla has said plans to focus on brands are "on track" despite the unit delivering a drop in first-half profits today (20 July).
NORWAY: Orkla reports branded consumer profit decline
20 July 2012
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla has booked a decline in first-half profits from its FMCG division.
NORWAY: Orkla unit heads to join executive board
30 May 2012
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla has appointed four of its divisional heads to the group's executive board.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
8 May 2012
Bright Food, the Chinese food group, this week at last planted its first flag in Europe with an investment in UK cereal firm Weetabix. Elsewhere in Europe, the CEO of Norway-based consumer goods company Orkla quit amid a disagreement with the company's board and German retailer Metro Group reported a quarterly loss. We also published our latest Sustainability Watch interview, which focused on US food giant General Mills. Click on the headlines for more.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
8 May 2012
Bright Food, the Chinese food group, was full of confidence this week about the prospects for UK cereal firm Weetabix, its first investment in Europe after missing out on companies including United Biscuits and Yoplait. Elsewhere, Orkla explained why its CEO had resigned from the Norwegian consumer goods group, German retailer Metro Group insisted its sales were improving after it reported a quarterly loss and UK peer Morrisons said it would not chase unprofitable volumes despite a fall in like-for-like sales.
On the move: Orkla pledges to step up FMCG focus as CEO exits
4 May 2012
Seven months ago, Orkla CEO Bjørn Wiggen announced the Norwegian conglomerate would focus on the FMCG sector, earning praise from analysts in the process. This week, Orkla stunned the market with news that Wiggen had decided to resign. Eyebrows were raised further yesterday when it emerged the boss of Orkla's FMCG unit would also leave the business. Industry watchers believe the departures will not mean a change in direction but could suggest Orkla's owners were frustrated with the slow progress of the company's new strategy.
NORWAY: Orkla Brands CEO Nordberg to step down
3 May 2012
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla today (3 May) announced its second senior executive departure this week, with the exit of Torkild Nordberg, CEO of Orkla Brands.
NORWAY: Orkla CEO resigns, Q1 profits slide
30 April 2012
The CEO of Norwegian conglomerate Orkla has stepped down as the company today (30 April) reported a 56% drop in first-quarter earnings.
UK/NORDIC: Lion "shelves Findus Nordic sale plan"
9 March 2012
Private equity firm Lion Capital has shelved plans to sell the Nordic operations of Findus Group, according to reports.
NORWAY: Q4 weighs on Orkla profits
9 February 2012
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla today (9 February) booked "satisfactory" operating profit for fiscal 2011, as its consumer goods unit Orkla Brands maintained a "strong" position in "challenging" market conditions.
NORDIC: Nestle, Orkla "in talks to buy Findus unit"
7 February 2012
Nestle and Norwegian consumer goods group Orkla are reportedly among the companies interested in buying Findus Group's Nordic unit.
NORWAY: Orkla sells Bakers unit to NorgesGruppen
18 November 2011
Norwegian conglomerate Orkla has sold its Bakers unit to local retailer and wholesaler NorgesGruppen.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
31 October 2011
This week, key M&A announcements dominated the headlines with US food maker Hain Celestial acquiring UK chilled foods firm Daniels Group, in a bid to expand the international presence of both companies. Ireland-based Greencore was in sales talks with unnamed sources. Meanwhile, rival confectioneries Ferrero and Hershey look to expand overseas.
NORWAY: Nordic foods and ingredients hit Orkla FMCG profits
27 October 2011
Orkla, the Norwegian conglomerate, has seen third-quarter profits from its FMCG arm drop after earnings from its Nordic food and food ingredients operations fell.
