Latest bakery news and analysis articles 
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BRAZIL: Acquisitive Frutarom buys flavours firm Mylner
7 February 2012
Frutarom is set to make its third acquisition of 2012 after signing a deal to buy Brazilian flavours firm Mylner.
Promo Tracker: Waitrose offers deepest promotions
7 February 2012
Waitrose's promotions offered consumers the highest saving on average, according to the latest data from the just-food Promo Tracker.
US: Post shares begin trading after Ralcorp spin-off completed
7 February 2012
Shares in Post Holdings have begun trading in New York after the US cereal maker was spun off from private-label food group Ralcorp Holdings.
US: Restructuring, impairment, spin-off costs hit Sara Lee profits
7 February 2012
Half-year profits at US food and beverage group Sara Lee have tumbled by 75% due to restructuring and impairment charges, as well as costs from its planned split.
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.
UK: Warburtons marketing director Hayes steps down
6 February 2012
UK baker Warburtons has confirmed that its marketing director Richard Hayes has left the company.
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: Revamp leads Premier marketing chief Goldstone to quit
3 February 2012
Premier Foods plc marketing director Jon Goldstone will leave the UK food company after it decided to absorb the department into its commercial structure.
just-food's research round-up
3 February 2012
The US and Russian ice cream markets, and bread and baked goods in Europe and the US are the sector's featured in this week's just-food research round-up.
On the money: Hain Celestial eyes global growth opportunities
2 February 2012
The CEO of Hain Celestial has told analysts that the US food company will look to make more acquisitions this year, in the US and Asia.
NORWAY: Staff costs hit Rieber & Son FY profits
2 February 2012
Norwegian food group Rieber & Søn has posted a drop in full-year profits, hurt by a one-off cost related to job cuts during the year.
NORWAY: Rieber & Son promotes Mohn to CEO
2 February 2012
Norwegian food group Rieber & Søn has named supply chain director Frank Mohn as its new CEO.
UK: Real Good Food Co. FY profits jump
1 February 2012
UK food ingredients and desserts supplier Real Good Food Co. has reported a jump in annual profits thanks to a focus on "value-added" business.
just the answer - Biscuits Leclerc CEO Denis Leclerc
31 January 2012
Last month, Canadian biscuit firm Groupe Biscuits Leclerc expanded its presence in the US, with the acquisition of snack bar brand Go Pure. In the latest just the answer interview, Katie Smith discusses the acquisition and the biscuit company's plans for the future with CEO Denis Leclerc, including setting up in the UK.
UK: Premier Foods in GBP50m ad spend
30 January 2012
Major UK food manufacturer Premier Foods plc has doubled its marketing spend to more than GBP50m (US$78.3m) in a bid to drive growth.
UK: Kingdom Bakers enters into receivership
30 January 2012
UK-based Kingdom Bakers has gone into receivership, putting around 100 jobs on the line.
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: Boparan Holdings cautious on margins
26 January 2012
UK food manufacturer Boparan Holdings has warned stubbornly high commodity costs and increased competition over Christmas has weighed on its margins in recent weeks.
UK: More Premier jobs to go after Cadbury contract loss
25 January 2012
More jobs are to go at UK food maker Premier Foods plc after the country's largest food manufacturer lost one of its contracts to supply Cadbury.
Focus: Why US baker Hostess went stale
25 January 2012
US brands Twinkies and Wonder are so iconic they are known the world over, even in markets where the products are not sold. Yet despite having these cultural touchstones in its portfolio, US baker Hostess Brands has struggled over the last decade, entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection twice, most recently this month. Sam Webb looks at why this baking monolith has started to crumble.
US: Biscotti firm Nonni's buys Canadian biscuit firm V.I.S.
25 January 2012
US-based biscotti maker Nonni's Foods has acquired Canadian biscuit firm V.I.S, maker of the Thinaddictives brand.
UK: Public health goes local in policy shake-up
24 January 2012
Local governments in the UK will have more responsibility for public health in a set of measures announced by the coalition government today (24 January).
US: J & J Snack Foods Q1 profits fall
24 January 2012
US pretzel and cake maker J & J Snack Foods has reported a "disappointing" first quarter to its financial year when input costs hit earnings.
UK: Finsbury H1 sales jump, warns on margins
23 January 2012
UK cake maker Finsbury Food Group today (23 January) revealed a 16% jump in half-year sales but said input costs was continuing to put pressure on margins.
AUS: Food industry body chief Carnell to leave
23 January 2012
The chief executive of the industry association that represents Australia's food manufacturing sector is to leave in March.
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: Sugar helps sweeten ABF revenues
19 January 2012
A jump in sugar revenues, on the back of high prices, has helped drive sales at Associated British Foods.
US: Kraft to cut 1,600 jobs in North America
18 January 2012
Kraft Foods is to cut around 1,600 jobs across North America as it prepares to split the business into two.
UPDATE: UK: Weak trading overshadows Premier job cuts - analysts
17 January 2012
Shares in Premier Foods plc jumped today (17 January) after the UK's largest food manufacturer provided an update on its "growth plans" - but analysts remained concerned about the company's recent trading.
