Weight Watchers - food industry company news 
UK: Heinz expands Weight Watchers range with 'Steam & Serve'
6 March 2012
Heinz is adding to its Weight Watchers 'Even More' range in the UK with the launch of 'Steam and Serve' meals.
US: Walgreens innovation chief Watts to take Weight Watchers role
13 December 2011
Colin Watts, chief innovation officer at US retailer Walgreens, will move to Weight Watchers in the New Year to take a similar role at the weight management group.
On the money: Cranswick quietly sizzles despite tough UK market
14 November 2011
Analysts have commended UK pork supplier Cranswick's first-half performance, especially in light of what one called a "demonstrably difficult" UK marketplace.
UK: Heinz introduces bigger Weight Watchers meals
10 October 2011
Heinz is set to launch bigger Weight Watchers frozen ready meals in the UK.
US: Heinz launches Weight Watchers ready meals in US
7 October 2011
HJ Heinz has launched a range of ready meals in the US under the Weight Watchers Smart Ones brand.
Focus: Clamour for health drives French chilled foods
4 August 2011
Chilled processed food was one of the best performers within the broader French packaged food market in both value and volume terms in 2010. Sales were underpinned by strong demand for natural products beneficial to health and wellbeing, combined with increased innovation and consumers eating in more regularly. Euromonitor International's Anastasia Alieva looks at how the channel grew over the last year.
just-food's research round-up
29 July 2011
This week's reports include analysis of the food and drink sectors in emerging markets, a report on chocolate manufacturing and a study of the sugar and sweeteners industry in Brazil.
UK: Tesco to exclusively sell Bio-Synergy low-calorie dessert
7 July 2011
Tesco today (7 July) announced that it will exclusively sell Bio-Synergy's dessert range.
Focus: Pyramid to plate – simplifying the healthy-eating message
9 June 2011
The US government's new MyPlate healthy-eating guide, launched last week, has been enthusiastically welcomed by a broad range of stakeholders, not least because it aims to communicate dietary advice to consumers simply and succinctly. Ben Cooper reports.
UK: Weight Watchers launches Strawberry and Vanilla Sundae
4 May 2011
Weight Watchers has launched a Strawberry and Vanilla Sundae in partnership with Icefresh, its iced desserts licensee.
US: Heinz extends Smart Ones line up
17 March 2011
Heinz has extended its Weight Watchers Smart Ones brand in the US with the introduction of two new frozen breakfasts to its Morning Express line.
Focus: Russian recovery boosts snacks sector
2 March 2011
Economic recovery and growing consumer expenditure on food are underpinning demand for sweet and savoury snacks in Russia. According to Euromonitor International's Countries & Consumers database, Russian GDP grew by 4% in real terms in 2010, reversing the 8% decline registered the previous year.
US: Del Monte Foods appoints Harrison as interim CEO
11 February 2011
Del Monte Foods has named Neil Harrison interim CEO as its US$5bn sale to a private-equity consortium nears completion.
just-food research round-up
25 January 2011
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes analysis of the packaged food market, a look at Weight Watchers, opportunities in dairy and trends in food and drink in Japan.
US: General Mills unveils Green Giant frozen veg NPD
6 January 2011
General Mills has launched Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers in the US, a range of four frozen vegetable products that the US food giant said will provide consumers with more variety when choosing their veg.
UK: Bread, free-from fires Finsbury sales
30 November 2010
Sales of bread and free-from products have boosted turnover at UK baker Finsbury Food Group.
UK: Finsbury chief points to "progress" after mixed FY
30 September 2010
The chief executive of Finsbury Food Group, the UK cake maker, today (30 September) insisted the company had made progress during the last 12 months despite a fall in sales.
AUS: Biscuit maker Unibic opens plant
13 July 2010
Australian biscuit maker Unibic today (13 July) cut the ribbon on a new A$44m (US$38.5m) biscuit and cake plant in the state of Victoria.
UK: Slow economy hits Weight Watchers Q1 profits
7 May 2010
Weight Watchers International has booked a drop in earnings for the first quarter, hurt by poor weather, a slowdown in the economy and “difficult” operating conditions.
UK: Heinz sells own-label frozen dessert unit
25 November 2009
Heinz has sold its private label frozen desserts business in the UK to PoleStar Foods.
UK: Branded pasta sauces fall foul of salt campaigners
12 November 2009
The food industry has hit back at the latest research to question the levels of salt in UK shoppers' food by saying low-salt options are available on supermarket shelves and are clearly labelled thanks to the Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) system.
US: Falling sales hit Weight Watchers earnings
11 November 2009
Weight Watchers International has posted a 0.2% dip in third-quarter earnings as cost savings offset lower sales.
INSIGHT: Finsbury CEO admits promotions will continue
30 September 2009
Finsbury Food Group expects to continue its promotional activity over the next six months even after a year when the UK cake and bread maker had to promote its products more than it wanted to, its chief executive has said.
UK: Shares in cake maker Finsbury soften
30 September 2009
Shares in UK cake maker Finsbury Food Group tumbled this morning (30 September) after the company reported a slide in annual profits.
UK: Glisten savoury MD hails new unit
29 September 2009
Glisten has announced plans to unify its savoury snack businesses into a single operating unit.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
18 September 2009
The M&A spotlight moved away from Cadbury this week and shone on JBS, the Brazilian meat group, which, in two fell swoops, looks set to become the world's largest meat processor. The dairy sector - in the UK, Europe and Down Under - hit the headlines, while Australia's grocery retail sector should soon see more competition after the watchdog struck a deal with Woolworths Ltd and Coles, the country's two largest players.
Top stories on just-food this week
18 September 2009
JBS's bold attempt to become the world's largest meat processor grabbed your attention this week, with its proposed acquisition of US poultry firm Pilgrim's Pride and its planned merger with Brazilian food group Bertin among the ten most-read stories on just-food. The continued rumblings over the future of Cadbury also caught your eye, as did the goings-on with Woolworths Ltd and Coles in Australia's grocery retailing sector.
UPDATE: US: Weight Watchers suit “without merit” - Nestle
17 September 2009
Nestle has insisted that it will “vigorously” resist claims from Weight Watchers International that the Swiss food giant has infringed trademark rights.
US: Weight Watchers sues Nestle over TM claims
17 September 2009
Weight management company Weight Watchers International has filed a lawsuit against Nestle, accusing the world's largest food maker of trademark violations in the US.
US: Heinz expands Weight Watchers Smart Ones
11 August 2009
Heinz has expanded its Weight Watchers Smart Ones range in the US with the launch of Artisan Creations Grilled Flatbreads.
Related research
Weight Watchers International, Inc. - Strategy, SWOT, and Corporate Finance Report
Datamonitors' Weight Watchers International, Inc.’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.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. (WTW) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review
This comprehensive SWOT profile of Weight Watchers International, Inc. provides you an in-depth strategic SWOT analysis of the company’s businesses and operations. The profile has been compiled by GlobalData to bring to you a clear and an unbiased view of the company’s key strengths and weaknesses and the potential opportunities and threats. The profile helps you formulate strategies that augment your business by enabling you to understand your partners, customers and competitors better.
Weight Watchers International Inc in Health and Wellness - World
Weight Watchers is best known for its meeting-based weight management programme; however, the company is also active in the (health and wellness) packaged food market through licence agreements with major manufacturers, an approach that gives the company the flexibility to penetrate various food categories as well as geographic markets – although at present its licensing business remains focused on the US and Western Europe.
