Unilever - food industry company news 
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.
Best bits: Food makers look ahead to another tough year
6 February 2012
2011 was a year of low consumer confidence, pressure from raw material costs and ever-increasing demands from retailers. This year is set to see more of the same.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
6 February 2012
The appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour caused a flurry of comment throughout the industry, with pundits outlining what the new chief's priorities ought to be. Unilever and Kellogg were among manufacturers that announced annual results, while Hain Celestial, reporting its half-year numbers, said it saw a number of acquisition targets in the US. Elsewhere, suppliers expressed anger at a decision in Europe to block the use of new nutrition claims.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
6 February 2012
Hershey and Unilever were among the major food manufacturers that this week were the first to report their 2011 financial results. Unilever's profits inched up 1% and CEO Paul Polman pointed to the performance of its home and personal care operations - casting some questions over the prospects of its food operations. In the retail sector, this week saw the long-speculated appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour and analysts expressed concern about the outlook for Ocado despite narrowing full-year losses.
UK: Unilever agrees to union talks over pension changes
3 February 2012
Unilever is set to meet again with union officials to discuss moves to change the company's UK pension scheme, plans that have enraged staff and led to a series of strikes.
In the spotlight - Question marks over Unilever's food unit return
3 February 2012
Unilever's food division has been under the microscope in recent months, with a series of disposals and growth in many categories slow, lagging behind its more buoyant non-food businesses As Michelle Russell writes, this week, as Unilever reported its 2011 results, the scrutiny returned.
UK: Unilever defends food performance after Q4 volume slide
2 February 2012
Unilever CEO Paul Polman has defended the performance of the consumer goods giant's food business after the recent decline in the division's sales volumes accelerated in the last three months of 2011.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
27 January 2012
Carrefour again grabbed the headlines this week, with speculation intensifying that there could be change of leadership at the company. just-food understands an announcement is due in days. Elsewhere in retail, Asda outlined its expansion plans in the UK and we spoke to the CEO of Spar International about the symbol group's ambitions in India. Meanwhile, Premier Foods admitted more jobs could be lost at the company, we took a look at why US baker Hostess Brands filed for Chapter 11 and, in our latest Sustainability Watch, we discussed HJ Heinz's CSR strategy.
UK: Unilever revamps flagship spreads brand Flora
25 January 2012
Unilever has decided to relaunch its Flora brand in the UK after developing technology it claims will create a better-tasting product.
UK: Confectioner Zetar cautious over Easter sales
24 January 2012
Shares in UK confectioner Zetar fell this morning (24 January) after the company warned its sales this Easter could be lower than last year.
UK: Pension trustees back Unilever reforms
23 January 2012
The trustees of Unilever's UK pension fund have agreed to the company's plans to change the scheme, despite a series of strikes at its factories across the country.
GLOBAL: Barry Callebaut signs Unilever supply deal
23 January 2012
Swiss cocoa and chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has signed a deal to supply Unilever's ice cream business.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 January 2012
Müller's decision to bid for UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies was the first major M&A move of 2012 and sparked plenty of debate, with industry watchers arguing the German yoghurt maker will face challenges in a fiercely competitive industry. Strikes at Unilever, job cuts at Kraft Foods and US dairy processor Dean Foods and continued gloom over the prospects of retail giant Carrefour also attracted headlines this week.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 January 2012
Executives at Müller and Robert Wiseman Dairies espoused the benefits of the German yoghurt maker's decision to buy the UK milk supplier, a deal that divided analysts. Industry watchers also scrutinised the latest trading updates from Premier Foods plc, the UK's largest food manufacturer and Carrefour, the French retail giant, while Kraft Foods chief Irene Rosenfeld said the US group's 2011 results means it is one of the industry's better performers - on the day job cuts of 1,600 were announced.
UK: Unilever workers announce 11 days of strikes
16 January 2012
Unilever workers in the UK will down tools over 11 days in their latest protest over changes to the company's final salary pension scheme.
Quote unquote: just-food's week in words
13 January 2012
Major UK retailers reported a bit of a mixed Christmas, with Tesco's shares sliding following a trading announcement, while Sainsbury's claimed a "record-breaking" festive period. The fortunes of US baker Hostess Brands are more clear cut. The company this week entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time.
Talking tech: IBM's DemandTec buy shows value in price optimisation
12 January 2012
With shoppers looking for value and commodity costs volatile, margins are under pressure, meaning pricing decisions have never been more important. Manufacturers and retailers are looking for technologies to help them optimise prices and suppliers of that technology are in demand - as shown by IBM's deal to buy US analytics firm DemandTec. Glynn Davis reports.
UK: Unilever workers to stage more strikes
9 January 2012
Unilever faces a fortnight of industrial action after unions stepped up their protests over changes to the company's pension scheme.
Street talk: Four resolutions for an uncertain 2012
9 January 2012
The consensus is that those hoping for an easier year in 2012 could be disappointed. Consumer confidence will remain in the doldrums, competition will remain fierce and economic uncertainty will continue. In his first column of the year, SymphonyIRI's Rod Street suggests some ways in which manufacturers and retailers could look to improve in 2012.
UK: Wiseman, A2 milk JV names Uprichard chief exec
9 January 2012
Recently-launched UK milk producer A2 Milk (UK) today (9 January) confirmed the appointment of Sean Uprichard as chief executive.
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.
The most-read news articles on just-food in 2011
23 December 2011
As well as our raft of insight articles, just-food continued to provide all the breaking news throughout the food industry in 2011. Below are the ten articles that had you clicking the most throughout the year.
UK/FINLAND: Unilever completes Finnish ice cream deal
22 December 2011
Unilever has completed the acquisition of Finnish firm Ingman Ice Cream.
2011 in review - Sustainability
22 December 2011
The year began with predictions that sustainability would continue to rise up the corporate agenda this year, and so it has proved.
US: Hormel names Berry sales executive
22 December 2011
Hormel Foods has appointed Cheryl Berry as international sales and marketing manager for Canada.
PORTUGAL: Jeronimo Martins names former Unilever exec Johnson CFO
20 December 2011
Portugal-based retailer Jeronimo Martins has appointed former Unilever executive Alan Johnson as its CFO.
The just-food interview - Patrick Cairns, Kallo Foods
19 December 2011
The UK organic sector may be in the doldrums but Patrick Cairns, the chief executive of UK natural and organic food maker Kallo Foods, believes organic has its place and that the underlying demand for healthier, natural food will stand the company in good stead. In this month's just-food interview, he talked to Dean Best about his moves to refocus Kallo and his strategy to grow the business.
NETHERLANDS: FrieslandCampina restructures credit
15 December 2011
Dutch dairy company Royal FrieslandCampina has amended its EUR1bn (US$1bn) revolving credit facility.
FRANCE: Lion calls off talks to sell Findus France to Permira
14 December 2011
Private-equity firm Lion Capital has suspended talks to sell its Findus unit in France to a potential buyer, thought to be rival buy-out house and Iglo Group owner Permira.
NORWAY: Dairy co-op Tine backs away from Diplom-Is sale
13 December 2011
Norwegian dairy co-operative Tine has decided against selling its Diplom-Is ice cream unit.
Related research
Unilever - Strategy, SWOT, and Corporate Finance Report
Datamonitors' Unilever’s SWOT, Strategy and Corporate Finance Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company’s structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings, detailed financials, and corporate actions, providing a 360° view of the company.
Unilever PLC (ULVR) - Financial and Strategic Analysis Review
Unilever PLC is one of the parent companies of the consumer goods supplier, Unilever Group (Unilever). Unilever has a strong and well differentiated portfolio of 400 global and regional brands operating across 14 categories of home, personal care and foods products. Unilever offers its products under four business segments namely, Personal Care; Home Care; Savoury, Dressings & Spreads; and Ice Cream & Beverages. Key brands of the company include Knorr, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Wall’s/Algida (Heartbrand), Becel/Flora (Healthy Heart), Rama/Blue Band (Family Goodness), Omo, Lux, Dove, Rexona (including Sure and Degree) and Axe/Lynx.
Unilever - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's Unilever - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Unilever - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Unilever (or ‘the group’) is one of the world's leading fast moving consumer goods companies. It offers products across foods, home and personal care categories. The group primarily operates in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. It is headquartered in London, the UK, and employs about 167,000 people. The group recorded revenues of E44,262 million ($58,722.4 million) during the financial year ended December 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 11.1% over 2009. The revenue growth was driven by improved performance of Western Europe segment as well as favorable currency translation. The operating profit of the group was E6,339 million ($8,410 million) in FY2010, an increase of 26.3% over 2009. The net profit was E4,244 million ($5,630.5 million) in FY2010, an increase of 25.9% over 2009.
