Vion Food Group - food industry company news 
What the analysts say: UK meat group Cranswick reports "positive" FY
20 May 2013
UK pork group Cranswick this morning (20 April) booked an increase in adjusted annual earnings and in sales. Profits exceeded analysts' expectations. Overall, analysts offered a positive review of the results.
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.
NETHERLANDS: Vion to divide food, ingredients businesses
25 April 2013
Dutch food group Vion has announced plans to separate its food and ingredients operations into two distinct operating units.
FRANCE: Doux receives UK interest for Brittany plant
18 April 2013
French poultry processor Groupe Doux has received an offer from a UK firm for the purchase of its Pleucadeuc plant in Brittany.
UPDATE: UK: Unite "disappointed" at Welsh Country Foods closure
12 April 2013
Unite, the union representing workers at the now closed Vion UK site Welsh Country Foods, has said it is "disappointed" with the way the firm has let the business "slip away".
UK: Vion's Welsh Country Foods lamb unit to close
12 April 2013
Vion-owned Welsh Country Foods is to close its lamb processing business in Anglesey, putting 310 jobs on the line.
Deal or no deal: The likely suspects to acquire Burton's Biscuit Co.
8 April 2013
The private-equity owners of Burton's Biscuit Co. are "considering options" for the UK's second-largest biscuit maker, a process that could lead to an eventual sale. Katy Askew takes a look at the players for whom an acquisition of Burton's could hit the sweet spot.
IFE: Scotland's Browns mulls new markets following Hall's buy
22 March 2013
Scotland's largest food manufacturer Browns Food Group aims to expand from its regional base and grow distribution in fresh markets on the back of its recent acquisition of the Hall's brand from Vion.
UPDATE: UK: Unite welcomes Vion MBO for Welsh Country Foods
13 March 2013
Unite, the union representing workers at Vion's Welsh Country Foods, has welcomed the firm's interest in a potential management buyout of the lamb processing unit.
UK: Vion eyes MBO for Welsh Country Foods unit
13 March 2013
Dutch food group Vion has said it is evaluating plans for a management buyout of its Welsh Country Foods lamb processing business.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
11 March 2013
Earnings results continued to pour in last week with retailers Carrefour, Delhaize and Waitrose amongst those issuing sales and profit figures. Delhaize told analysts there was work still to be done in the US, while Carrefour insisted it has to invest in order to build on signs of improvement. Elsewhere, Vion was bought by Boparan Holdings, and a BBC investigation uncovered evidence of horse smuggling from Ireland to the UK.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
11 March 2013
In a week of results from major retailers, Carrefour cheered the market with improvement in France, upmarket UK grocer Waitrose highlighted its strong year and Belgium's Delhaize insisted its business in the US would improve. Elsewhere across the Atlantic, meat processor Smithfield Foods faced calls from a major investor to consider dividing in three.
In the spotlight: Boparan continues M&A march with Vion buy
5 March 2013
Boparan Holdings, the parent company of 2 Sisters Food Group, has continued its drive to rapidly expand its footprint with the announcement that it has acquired the remaining Vion meat businesses in the UK. Katy Askew takes a look at how ambitious 2 Sisters hopes to succeed in a market where Vion struggled.
Comment: Horsemeat saga exacerbates ready meal sales decline
5 March 2013
Nearly two months into the horsemeat scandal that has rocked the food industry, UK figures highlighting a sales slowdown in ready meals raise the question of whether this is a temporary blip or a long-term structural decline.
UK: 2 Sisters acquires Vion UK units
4 March 2013
Boparan Holdings Limited, the holding company for 2 Sisters Food Group, has acquired Vion's poultry and red meat processing businesses in the UK.
UK: Vion pork unit changes name to Karro Food Group
5 February 2013
The UK pork operations offloaded by Vion last year have been renamed as Karro Food Group.
UK: Cranswick opens new facility on Asda contract win
1 February 2013
UK pork group Cranswick will open a new production facility on the back of a "significant" contract win to supply fresh pork to Asda, financial director Mark Bottomley has told just-food.
just-food's outlook for 2013: Mega deals unlikely as consolidation continues
31 January 2013
There may be caution over the prospect for blockbuster deals in a dilapidated economic environment, but the food sector mergers and acquisitions table still has plenty to whet the appetite.
UK: ABP buys Debbie & Andrew's from Vion
31 January 2013
ABP Food Group has acquired the Debbie & Andrew's premium sausage brand from Dutch group Vion.
UK: Browns Food Group buys Vion's Hall's brand
30 January 2013
Scottish food firm Browns Food Group has purchased the Hall's brand from Dutch group Vion.
UK: Asda ends contract with Vion's Welsh Country
30 January 2013
Asda today (30 January) confirmed it will terminate its supply contract with Vion Foods lamb business, Welsh Country Foods.
UK: Asda sees "constructive" talks after Welsh Country Foods boycott call
28 January 2013
Asda has insisted that talks with worker representatives at Welsh Country Foods have been "constructive" after the workforce called on consumers to boycott the supermarket operator.
UK: Unite touts Asda boycott over Vion contract
18 January 2013
The Unite trade union is calling on its members to consider boycotting Asda after the loss of a major contract with the retailer has left Vion's Welsh Country Foods facility facing closure.
COMMENT: Vion focuses on core with Oerlemans sale
14 January 2013
The news that Dutch food group Vion has entered into a deal to sell its Oerlemans Foods business may have come as little surprise to many in the industry given the "vigorous" strategy to streamline its portfolio, outlined last summer.
NETHERLANDS: Vion divests Oerlemans Foods to Baltussen Holding
14 January 2013
Dutch food group Vion has entered into a deal to sell its frozen vegetables, fruit and potato products firm Oerlemans Foods to fresh vegetables producer Baltussen Holding.
UPDATE: UK: Unite to work "strenuously" to save Vion Welsh plant jobs
11 January 2013
Unite, the union representing workers at Vion's Welsh Country Foods facility, has said it will work "strenuously" on a business plan to save the 350 jobs at the site facing possible closure.
UK: Vion in talks over closure of Welsh Country Foods facility
11 January 2013
Dutch food group Vion has said it may be forced to close its lamb processing business Welsh Country Foods due to the loss of its contract with Asda.
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.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
17 December 2012
Barry Callebaut CEO Juergen Steinemann last week insisted its acquisition of Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients unit will strengthen its future with the deal making it the world's largest processor of cocoa and high-quality cocoa powder. Elsewhere, the European Commission said it would come forward with ideas for a grocery code adjudicator by next autumn if no system of self-regulation is put into place. Parmalat, meanwhile, confirmed a raid on its offices over tax investigations, and David Heath, UK minister for environment, food and rural affairs said his department was working with the UK Government to identify export priority markets.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
17 December 2012
The top two stories on just-food's pages last week included Barry Callebaut's deal to buy Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients business and the European Commission's warning it will come forward with ideas for a grocery code adjudicator next autumn if no system of self-regulation is in place. Elsewhere, there has been a focus on the dairy sector with FrieslandCampina announcing plans to cut over 200 jobs across its business in Germany, and Parmalat having had its offices raided by Italy's financial police over an investigation into tax. We also brought you news from the FDEA's UK export event in London where just-food was an exclusive partner.
