Premier Foods plc - food industry company news 
UK: Premier rolls out Oxo seasoning shakers
13 May 2013
Uk food group Premier Foods has added a line of seasoning shakers to its range of products under culinary brand Oxo.
Best bits: Ella's Kitchen is Hain's most promising UK buy
10 May 2013
US manufacturer Hain Celestial has struck again across the pond. And its latest acquisition in the UK seems to be the one with most potential, writes Dean Best.
UPDATE: UK: Hain plans to grow Ella's Kitchen internationally
3 May 2013
US natural food group Hain Celestial has indicated it plans to expand distribution of Ella's Kitchen products into new markets such as continental Europe.
US: Acquisitive Hain Celestial gets Q3 boost
3 May 2013
Hain Celestial has reported a jump in third-quarter earnings on the back of "record" sales boosted by M&A in the UK.
US/UK: Hain Celestial buys baby food firm Ella's Kitchen
3 May 2013
US-based food group Hain Celestial has made another acquisition in the UK, this time snapping up organic baby food firm Ella's Kitchen.
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.
The just-food interview - Associated British Foods CEO George Weston
24 April 2013
Discount clothing chain Primark again grabbed the headlines for Associated British Foods as it booked higher half-year profits and sales - and saw its shares hit a record high. But what about ABF's grocery business? Dean Best spoke with CEO George Weston about the performance of and prospects for the UK group's food operations.
Comment: Is austerity Premier too focused on cost?
24 April 2013
Premier Foods' new austere message has encapsulated the mood of the time. Gone are the days of frivolity - this firm is knuckling down and reducing complexity across the board. However, cutting costs may lead to higher margins - but the detail Premier has given on how it plans to invest behind its brands has been scant to say the least.
On the money: Premier Foods eyes more ways to lower costs
23 April 2013
Premier Foods plc has identified three further ways to lower costs that the UK food group said will "reduce complexity" within its business.
UK: Union questions Premier bakery closure consultation
23 April 2013
A union representing Premier Foods workers has questioned whether the company entered into "meaningful" discussions ahead of its move to close its Birmingham Hovis bakery tomorrow (23 April).
What the analysts say - a "solid" Q1 for Premier Foods
23 April 2013
Premier Foods plc this morning (23 April) saw its share price climb as it revealed an increase in group sales in the first quarter. The Hovis maker said its cost savings plan was on-track and that it has the right strategies in place to make further progress this year. CEO Gavin Darby outlined three areas in the business where he felt complexities could be taken out. Here, analysts give their views on today's sales update.
UK: Premier shares up as Q1 sales climb
23 April 2013
Premier Foods plc's share price was up this morning (23 April) as the UK food group booked an increase in first-quarter sales.
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.
just-food's research round-up: Company case studies, food for ageing population, European packaged food
28 March 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes company case studies, the European packaged food industry and food trends for an ageing population.
UK: Premier expands Batchelors Cup a' range
27 March 2013
Premier Foods plc has expanded its Batchelors Cup a' range with the introduction of a Cup a' Noodles, Cup a' Pasta and Cup a' Rise varieties.
UK: Fray Bentos deal, marketing spend hits Baxters profits
7 March 2013
Costs linked to the acquisition of the Fray Bentos brand and "exceptional" spending on marketing have hit annual profits at Baxters Food Group.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
25 February 2013
The financial results continued to roll in last week with Danone adamant it will return to growth in Europe despite the macro-economic environment and the new CEO of Premier Foods plc outlining his focus for the company. The horsemeat saga also rumbled on with Nestle and Birds Eye being forced to pull ready meals in Europe. Elsewhere, Ebro Foods revealed plans for the brands it bought as part of the Riso Scotti deal.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
25 February 2013
Last week ended as it started: with a household brand caught up in the horsemeat contamination scandal. On Monday, Nestle said it had pulled Buitoni products in Spain and Italy after positive tests and, on Friday, Birds Eye said it had recalled ready meals across Europe after similar results. Over in the US, leading executives from some of the largest packaged food companies were at CAGNY to discuss their prospects for the year ahead.
On the money: Premier looks to further savings, not disposal to drive growth
21 February 2013
Premier Foods plc has said it will not actively look to divest any more brands and will instead seek further cost saving in order to accelerate investment in the business.
What the analysts say: Premier Foods full-year results
21 February 2013
Premier Foods plc this morning (21 February) saw its share price climb as it booked an improvement in its underlying results. Analyst reaction, however, was mixed.
UK: Premier shares up as underlying result improves
21 February 2013
Premier Foods plc's share price was up 4.25% this morning (21 February) as the Hovis maker booked an improvement in its underlying results.
UK: Premier Foods COO Eaton leaves company
4 February 2013
The chief operating officer of Premier Foods plc, Geoff Eaton, has left the company as incoming CEO Gavin Darby takes up his new role.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
4 February 2013
The fall-out from the discovery of horse DNA in burgers sold in the UK continued, with the supplier at the centre of the scandal losing and contracts and regulators appearing before MPs. Elsewhere, the European Commission published plans to examine if retailers in the EU trade unfairly with suppliers. Meanwhile, in Germany, Nestle was fined for fixing the price of chocolate.
On the move: Premier has much to prove after Clarke exit
29 January 2013
The surprise news the Premier Foods plc chief executive Michael Clarke has resigned sent shares in the food group down sharply yesterday (28 January). However, the company appears confident that Clarke's replacement, Gavin Darby, is the right man to lead the next phase of Premier's turnaround. Katy Askew reports.
UK: Premier Foods CEO Clarke quits
28 January 2013
Premier Foods plc announced today (28 January) that its chief executive, Michael Clarke, has resigned.
UK: Premier ditches British wheat pledge
10 January 2013
Premier Foods plc has said it will begin using EU imported wheat for its Hovis brand, breaking its pledge to only use British wheat in its bread.
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.
just-food's most-read news stories in 2012
18 December 2012
It's the time of the year when we look back at the 12 months just past to see what was getting you clicking on just-food. The ten most-read news stories of 2012 include UK grocers signing a code of conduct on promos and Tesco announcing it would put traffic-light labels on its food in the UK. Tesco's likely exit from the US also proved popular, as did a series of M&A stories, including major deals by Hain Celestial, R&R Ice Cream and Hershey.
UK: Premier forms two grocery business units
18 December 2012
Premier Foods, which owns brands including Ambrosia custard and Bisto gravy, has restructured its grocery operations and set up two business units.
