United Biscuits - food industry company news 
2012 - Supermarket battles to drive supplier M&A
6 February 2012
Some of the world's largest retailers struggled in 2011, which promises to mean even more intense competition in 2012. What could this mean for suppliers? Ultimately, it could mean the industry witnesses more consolidation this year.
UK: Ex-Heineken exec named Sainsbury's marketing chief
23 January 2012
Sainsbury's has named former Heineken executive Sarah Warby as its new marketing director.
UK: United Biscuits launches savoury biscuits range
5 December 2011
United Biscuits is to launch bize-sized savoury biscuits in an echo of Nestle's Rowntree's Randoms confectionery range.
Logistics - the role of the logistics service provider
30 November 2011
Logistics companies, far from being simple hauliers, have adapted to meet the increasingly complicated and specialised needs of customers in the food manufacture and retail spheres, such as tracking and traceability and flexible volumes. In the second part of his feature on logistics, Stuart Todd gains insight from major logistics providers about this fascinating industry.
UK: United Biscuits launches KP Nutty Nibbles
22 August 2011
United Biscuits has launched a snacks range in the UK that combines nuts, sweet biscuits and fruit.
In the spotlight: Bright Foods reveals global ambitions with Manassen deal
19 August 2011
Bright Foods announced the acquisition of Australian manufacturer Manassen Foods this week. With speculation that it has shown interest in a number of other international players hints at the scale of its plans. What exactly are Bright Foods' ambitions? Dean Best reports.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
19 August 2011
M&A talk has continued unabated, with ConAgra revealing its disappointment around its latest offer for Ralcorp being rebuffed. The owner of former Bright Food target United Biscuits has cooled reports that it is looking to split the manufacturer in two. Happier news for Bright Food this week, however, with the company reaching an agreement to buy Manassen Foods.
CHINA/AUS: Bright Food takes control of Manassen Foods
18 August 2011
Bright Food, the Chinese food group, has sealed a deal to buy 75% of Australian food manufacturer and importer Manassen Foods.
US: Commodity costs hit Smucker food profits in Q1
18 August 2011
JM Smucker has reported falling quarterly profits from its consumer food business as higher commodity costs ate into earnings.
UK: Blackstone cools United Biscuits split talk
15 August 2011
Private-equity group Blackstone has cooled reports that it and United Biscuits co-owner PAI Partners are looking to split the UK biscuits and snack maker in two.
CHINA: Bright Food "nears Manassen Foods takeover"
15 August 2011
Bright Food, the Chinese food group, is reportedly set to take control of Australian branded food manufacturer and importer Manassen Foods.
UK: Mastercard's Horgan named Sainsbury's marketing director
11 August 2011
Sainsbury's has hired Mastercard executive Mark Horgan as its marketing director.
UK: Food makers to promote half-portions of fruit and veg
1 August 2011
Food manufacturers in the UK plan to promote half-portions of the fruit and veg in products from baked beans to lasagne in an initiative to encourage consumers to eat more of their five a day.
UK: United Biscuits launches larger Hula Hoops
25 July 2011
UK snacks manufacturer United Biscuits has launched a sharing pack of larger versions of its Hula Hoops crisps.
AUS: Bright Food "in talks" to buy Manassen Foods
12 July 2011
Chinese food group Bright Food is reportedly in talks to buy Australian branded food manufacturer and importer Manassen Foods.
UK: United Biscuits creates "business transformation" role
6 July 2011
United Biscuits has promoted Helen Warren-Piper to the newly-created role of business transformation director.
UK: United Biscuits launches McVitie's brand extension
4 July 2011
United Biscuits UK is expanding its McVitie's biscuits range with the launch of the brand extension McVitie's Quirks.
Demand for "premium", healthy snacks drives UK sales
12 May 2011
Sales of sweet and savoury snacks in the UK continued to rise in 2010, underpinned by demand for premium brands and products beneficial to health, writes Euromonitor International's Anastasia Alieva. Innovation is focusing more on reformulation and the creation of nutritionally-balanced indulgent snacks, which will pave the way for future growth.
UK: UB launches McCoy's curry promo
9 May 2011
UK snack maker United Biscuits UK has launched an on-pack promotion in conjunction with the British Curry Club to stimulate sales of its McCoy's crisp brand.
On the move: Critics line up as Premier's Schofield announces exit
28 April 2011
The markets aren't always right but perhaps it was indicative of the City's opinion of Premier Foods plc's chief executive Robert Schofield that shares in the UK's largest food maker rose when he announced his plans to retire earlier today (28 April).
Focus: India - healthy market with bright future
21 April 2011
Demand for healthier food is a mainstay of the industry landscape in markets like the UK but it is increasingly gaining traction in emerging markets. Euromonitor International's Mickael Dominguez analyses the growth of the health and wellness category in India.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
15 April 2011
Flowers Foods, Supervalu Inc and Kraft Foods gave the top just-food headlines a distinctly American flavour this week. Flowers struck a deal to buy Tasty Baking, Supervalu, one of the largest grocers in the US, announced its annual results and Kraft said it was giving some of its smaller brands a marketing push. On this side of the pond, issues of reformulation and functional foods remained high on the industry's agenda. Click on on the headlines to find out more.
Quote, unquote: Food and Drink Innovation Dialogue - reformulation, functional foods and EU health claims
12 April 2011
This year's Food and Drink Innovation Dialogue, held in the UK town of Windsor this week, has heard what factors are affecting NPD in our sector. The likes of Heinz, United Biscuits, Baxters Food Group and Mead Johnson Nutrition have headed to the event to discuss issues including reformulation and the EU health claims legislation. Here are some of the more notable soundbites.
UK: United Biscuits extends McVitie's range
11 April 2011
United Biscuits has announced plans to extend its McVitie's range with a breakfast muffin and a line of fruit loaves.
Best bits: The BRIC markets are still emerging
21 March 2011
just-food's BRICs and beyond column aims to highlight the risks - and rewards - of operating in the world's emerging markets. The interest in markets like Brazil and Russia remains intense and, due to the demographic, geographic and economic differences between the four countries - as well as their potential for growth - the clamour for information on what makes each market tick grows by the day.
BRICs and beyond: Foreign firms face fight for India's biscuit market
18 March 2011
Kraft Foods' recent move to launch its Oreo biscuit brand into India has drawn attention to what is a growing sector in the country. India's biscuit market is attracting growing multinational interest but powerful domestic players already dominate the market and the jury is out over whether foreign companies can easily grab market share. Mini Pant Zachariah reports for just-food from Mumbai.
UK: United Biscuits launches "indulgent" McVitie's Temptations
7 March 2011
United Biscuits is set to launch a line of "indulgent" chocolate biscuits under its McVitie's range in the UK.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
25 February 2011
The annual CAGNY investment conference, where leading US food manufacturers meet Wall Street analysts to discuss company performance and outlook, dominated our coverage this week - but the likes of US retailers Wal-Mart Stores, Safeway Inc and Maple Leaf Foods grabbed the headlines with their 2010 results. Elsewhere, Kerry Group indicated it could be interested in Danisco's ingredients assets and United Biscuits announced plans to cut jobs in the UK. Click on the headlines for more.
UK: United Biscuits to shed jobs at McVitie's site
21 February 2011
United Biscuits has confirmed that it plans to restructure its manufacturing operations at its McVitie's production site in Glasgow.
UK: United Biscuits appoints UK boss Testard as chief executive
16 February 2011
UK biscuit and snack producer United Biscuits has appointed Benoit Testard, the head of its domestic business, as group chief executive.
Related research
United Biscuits Topco Limited- Strategy and SWOT Report
United Biscuits Topco Limited - Strategy and SWOT Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company’s structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings and corporate actions, providing a 360° view of the company.Features:- Detailed information on United Biscuits Topco Limited required for business and competitor intelligence needs- A study of the major internal and external factors affecting United Biscuits Topco Limited in the form of a SWOT analysis- An in-depth view of the business model of United Biscuits Topco Limited including a breakdown and examination of key business segments- Intelligence on United Biscuits Topco Limited’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic partnerships and alliances, capital raising, private equity transactions, and financial and legal advisors- News about United Biscuits Topco Limited, such as business expansion, restructuring, and contract wins- Large number of easy-to-grasp charts and graphs that present important data and key trends
United Biscuits Topco Limited
Datamonitor's United Biscuits Topco Limited - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. United Biscuits Topco Limited - 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.United Biscuits Topco Limited (UB) is engaged in the manufacture and marketing of biscuits and snack foods. It is owned by Blackstone group and PAI. Both the companies have an equal holding in UB. The group primarily operates in Europe. It is headquartered in Middlesex, the UK and employs 8,500 people. The group recorded revenues of £1,201.4 million (approximately $2,228.8 million) during the financial year (FY) ended December 2008, an increase of 5.2% over FY2007. The operating profit of the group was £128.4 million (approximately $238.2 million) during FY2008, a decrease of 3% compared to FY2007. The net loss was £36.3 million (approximately $67.3 million) in FY2008, compared to a net loss of £24.0 million (approximately $44.5 million) in FY2007.
United Biscuits Topco Limited - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's United Biscuits Topco Limited - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. United Biscuits Topco Limited - 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.United Biscuits Topco (UB or ‘the group’) is engaged in the manufacture and marketing of biscuits and snack foods. It is equally owned by Blackstone group and PAI. The group operates in Europe. It is headquartered in Middlesex, the UK and employs 8,367 people. The group recorded revenues of £1,262.3 million ($1,976.7 million) during the financial year ended December 2009 (FY2009), an increase of 5.1% over FY2008. The operating profit of the group was £157.1 million ($246 million) in FY2009, an increase of 22.4% over FY2008. The net profit was £7.1 million ($11.1 million) in FY2009, as compared to a net loss of £36.3 million ($56.8 million) in FY2008.
