Warburtons - food industry company news 
Comment: US firm Boulder eyes slice of UK gluten-free pie
3 May 2013
US health and wellness firm Boulder Brands has acquired a small UK-based gluten-free company, Davies Bakery. The US gluten-free specialist has ambitions to expand the UK business well beyond Davies' current scale. However, Katy Askew suggests, Boulder is likely to come up against stiff competition in the increasingly crowded space of the UK gluten-free sector.
Gluten free: The UK market
30 April 2013
The UK continues to witness a rapid increase in demand for gluten-free foods. The sector represents the largest within the UK market for free-from foods, targeted at people with food allergies or intolerances, and it is a category seeing dramatic growth.
Gluten free: The marketing and regulatory environment
30 April 2013
As the market for gluten-free foods expands in the future, it is highly likely the way companies target and market their products may undergo some form of change.
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.
UK: PepsiCo's Campbell to join Warburtons as MD
25 March 2013
PepsiCo executive Neil Campbell is set to become the managing director of UK baker Warburtons.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
4 March 2013
UK retailer Tesco grabbed the headlines last week as the horsemeat saga rumbled on. CEO Philip Clarke announced a raft of changes to its supply chain, including a promise to source all fresh chicken from within the UK. Elsewhere, just-food spoke with Genius CEO Roz Cuschieri about its plans for the Finsbury free-from brand it is set to acquire, and the CEO of Hostess Brands announced the successful sales of the majority of its bread units to Flowers Foods.
just the answer - Genius Foods CEO Roz Cuschieri
1 March 2013
UK gluten-free specialist Genius Foods has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception three years ago. Genius has become a leader in the UK's fast-growing gluten-free sector and is set on expanding its presence still further. As part of this drive, it plans to buy out venture partner Finsbury Food Group. Michelle Russell spoke with Genius's CEO Roz Cuschieri.
UK: Warburtons to cut bakery jobs
28 February 2013
UK baker Warburtons is mulling potential job cuts at its Variety bakery in Bolton.
UK: Allied Bakeries launches Allinson high fibre line
5 February 2013
Associated British Foods has added to its Allinson bakery line in the UK in addition to launching a GBP1m (US$1.6m) marketing campaign, which includes the first TV ad for the brand for a decade.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
28 January 2013
This week saw the debate around the food industry's role in the obesity epidemic come to the fore once again, as the UK Government warned that the industry must do more or face the possibility of legislation. The inauguration of Barack Obama for his second term in office gave us a timely opportunity to look at what has been achieved under his administration - and what could be in store for US food makers. Meanwhile, news that Christine Tacon has been named UK Groceries Code Adjudicator put supply chain relationships firmly in the spotlight. We were able to delve a little deeper into Tacon's take on the subject when we interviewed her shortly after her appointment.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
25 January 2013
just-food managed to secure a number of key interviews with leading industry figures this week, including that of the new Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine Tacon, who outlined her new role and the challenges she might face. Other interviews included Warburton's free-from director Chris Hook Plum Organics CEO Neil Grimmer who told just-food about the firm's recent acquisition of Plum UK. Elsewhere, Unilever CEO Paul Polman told of his disappointment at the performance of its food division last year and the horsemeat scandal rumbled on.
INTERVIEW: Warburtons plots free-from drive
22 January 2013
Warburtons has unveiled an ambitious plan for its free-from business. The UK baker intends to double sales of free-from products during 2013. Katy Askew caught up with Warburtons free-from director Chris Hook to find out how this can be achieved.
UK: Warburtons adds rolls to Half & Half line
18 January 2013
UK baker Warburtons has extended its Half & Half bread offering further with the launch of sliced rolls.
UK: Warburtons eyes free-from top spot
16 January 2013
Warbutons aims to double its free-from sales during 2013 with a view to becoming the largest brand in the growing free-from sector.
UK: Warburtons plots major brand spend
4 January 2013
Warburtons has said it will launch a GBP16m (US$26m) marketing campaign to "future-proof" its brand, after confirming the loss of 55 jobs via the closure of its Blackpool plant.
UK: Warburtons confirms closure of Blackpool facility
4 January 2013
UK baker Warburtons has announced the closure of its plant in Blackpool amid increasing competition in the sector.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
4 January 2013
Despite the week being a shorter one due to the Christmas break, the news has continued to roll in. One deal in particular that has dominated the headlines is Hormel's acquisition of Unilever's Skippy brand. Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger is confident the deal will allow it to grow its share of the US nuts and spreads category. Elsewhere, just-food spoke with Tyrrells about the firm's export plans, while Dole got analyst tongues wagging after issuing a worse than expected profit outlook.
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.
UK: Warburtons pulls bread lines from central Europe
10 December 2012
UK baker Warburtons has pulled its bread lines from sale in Tesco stores in central Europe.
UK: Asda delists Hovis in small stores over supply "problems"
3 December 2012
UK retailer Asda has delisted Hovis products from its smaller stores in a further blow to the bread arm of Premier Foods plc.
Analysis: City left wondering if more Premier changes in offing
20 November 2012
"Radical" and "decisive" was how one City analyst described Premier Foods' announcement today (20 November) of how wholesale changes to its bread division. But could the Hovis maker have more up its sleeve?
UK: Warburtons in talks with unions over sales jobs
9 November 2012
UK baker Warburtons said it remains in talks with unions over proposed changes to its sales team.
INTERVIEW: ABF finance chief Bason upbeat on UK, Australia
8 November 2012
Associated British Foods finance director John Bason has struck an upbeat tone on the company's prospects in the next 12 months in the UK and Australia, two markets central to the drop in annual profits from its grocery business.
UK: Warburtons adds to Half & Half line
6 November 2012
UK baker Warburtons has extended its Half & Half bread offering with the launch of a medium loaf.
Best bits: Carrefour, Premier Foods CEOs press on - but questions remain
5 November 2012
The work the chief executives of Carrefour and Premier Foods - two companies with a lot on their plates - has been welcomed by industry watchers but, writes Dean Best, there are questions hanging over both companies, which had lost their way in recent years.
UK: Food industry makes palm oil pledge
30 October 2012
UK food manufacturers have pledged to work towards using only "sustainable" palm oil in their products by 2015.
UK: Premier silent on talk of Hovis "auction"
26 October 2012
Premier Foods has refused to be drawn on reports it has hired Goldman Sachs to talk to potential suitors for its bread business.
Comment: Premier right to shake-up bread business
25 October 2012
UK company Premier Foods had already hinted it had plans to shake-up its bread business and, this week, the Hovis manufacturer underlined it will "fix" that part of its operations. The company decided to walk away from an own-label contract worth GBP75m but the move is a wise one; the status quo in bread is not an option. But what options are out there for Premier in bread?
UK: ABF secures Premier Co-op bread contract
25 October 2012
Associated British Foods has secured an own-label bread contract with UK retailer The Co-operative Group previously held by rival Premier Foods plc.
