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FRANCE: Poultry firm LDC eyes foreign M&A
24 May 2013
French poultry processor LDC has set up a team to identity possible foreign acquisition targets.
FRANCE: Administration extended again at poultry group Doux
24 May 2013
French poultry processor Doux has secured another extension to its period in administration.
The week ahead - Citi FMCG conference, Sanderson H1s
24 May 2013
The UK and the US will enjoy a public holiday on Monday and the shorter week is a quieter one for results. However, US poultry group Sanderson Farms and South Africa's Tiger Brands will report H1s, while Tate & Lyle plc will announce annual figures. In New York, Citi will hold a conference featuring the likes of Mondelez International and General Mills.
RUSSIA: Meat firm Cherkizovo sees "extremely challenging" Q1
24 May 2013
Russian meat manufacturer Cherkizovo Group has seen operating profit halve during the first quarter as margins were hit by "historically high" grain costs and declining pork prices.
just-food's research round-up: Baby food in central Europe, biscuits in India
23 May 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes baby food markets in central Europe, biscuits in India, and UK bread production.
FRANCE: Horsemeat firm Fraisnor to close
22 May 2013
French food firm Fraisnor, one of the companies at the centre of the horsemeat contamination saga, is to be wound up.
S AFRICA: Input costs hit Pioneer H1 profits
22 May 2013
South Africa's Pioneer Food Group has booked lower underlying half-year profits, affected by higher input costs and weak consumer confidence.
UK: Bernard Matthews exploring external investment
21 May 2013
UK poultry processor Bernard Matthews Farms has confirmed it is exploring the possibility of an external cash injection into the company in a bid to boost growth.
FRANCE: D&P fund poised to become Doux's major investor
21 May 2013
French investment fund, Développement & Partenariat (D&P), is poised to become the majority shareholder of troubled poultry group Doux.
On the money: UK pork group Cranswick open to more acquisitions
20 May 2013
UK pork group Cranswick has said it is open to making more acquisitions and will continue to chase opportunities for growth in a bid to develop the business further.
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.
UK: Cranswick shares climb on "positive" FY
20 May 2013
Cranswick saw its share price climb this morning (20 May) as the UK pork group reported a "pleasing" set of annual results.
The week ahead - M&S, Dairy Crest FYs, Hormel Foods H1s
20 May 2013
UK meat processor Cranswick, dairy group Dairy Crest and Marks and Spencer, perhaps the most scrutinised name on the country's high street, are all set to announce annual results next week. In the US, Spam owner Hormel Foods will post its half-year results.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
20 May 2013
The week ended on a high note for Morrisons last week after it announced a venture to launch into the online channel with Ocado. The deal has again fuelled speculation that the deal could upset Ocado's current arrangement with Waitrose. Other deals this week included the acquisition of US baby food firm Happy Family by Danone. just-food also spoke with founder of Amy's Kitchen, Amy Berliner about its growth plans.
just-food's research round-up: the CIVETS markets, packaged food in the US
17 May 2013
The latest batch of reports from the just-food research store includes emerging food and drinks markets, packaging for an ageing population and packaged food in the US.
FRANCE: Doux's last fresh abbatoir shut down
16 May 2013
French poultry group Doux has confirmed its last abbatoir for fresh products has been closed after a buyer did not emerge for the site.
FRANCE: Mixed price talks lead Duc to warn on margins
16 May 2013
French poultry group Duc has reported a "significant" impact on margins in the first quarter of the year after only being able to "partially" offset higher commodity costs through price increases.
BRAZIL: Beef sales boost JBS Q1
15 May 2013
JBS, the world's largest beef producer, has recorded an increase in first-quarter earnings as beef prices and sales volumes in its domestic market increased.
S AFRICA: H1 profits slump at Astral Foods
15 May 2013
Half-year profits at South African poultry processor Astral Foods fell by more than 80% as higher feed costs and increased imports hit the company.
UK: Meat firm Hilton trading in line with expectations
15 May 2013
UK meat packer Hilton Food Group said its trading to date has been in line with expectations, despite "challenging" conditions in some markets.
SWITZ/ASIA: Hormel signs DKSH for Asian sales, distribution
15 May 2013
US food group Hormel Foods has enlisted DKSH, the import, sales and marketing agency in Asia, to help expand it in the region.
DENMARK: Pork firm Danish Crown books "stable" H1
15 May 2013
Denmark-based meat co-op Danish Crown has posted what it called a "stable" first-half performance, with sales and operating profit up but its bottom line hit by an asset disposal.
BRAZIL: Q1 losses widen at meat giant Marfrig
14 May 2013
Brazilian food group Marfrig has seen its losses widen in the first quarter, hurt by the cost of integrating plants acquired from Brasil Foods.
SPAIN: Campofrio points to calendar effect in "difficult" Q1
14 May 2013
Spain-based meats firm Campofrio said fewer trading days in this year's first quarter compared to the first three months of 2012 hit sales.
UK: Meat firm Linden Foods to expand
14 May 2013
UK meat processor Linden Foods is to create over 170 jobs to meet demand, the company said.
US: Monogram Food Solutions to launch Butterball meat snacks
14 May 2013
US meat processor Monogram Food Solutions is to launch a range of meat snacks under turkey brand Butterball.
US: Bacon hot dog features in Kraft's Oscar Mayer NPD
14 May 2013
Kraft Foods Group has launched a range of hot dog products under its Oscar Mayer meats brand - including what the US group said was the first bacon hot dog on the market.
CANADA: Premium Brands Q1 profits flat on restructuring costs
13 May 2013
First-quarter profits at Canadian group Premium Brands Holdings were flat as the company incurred restructuring costs.
The week ahead - Wal-Mart Q1s, Post Holdings H1, ProTerra conference
13 May 2013
US breakfast cereal group Post Holdings kicks off a relatively quieter week of results with its half-year numbers on Monday. On Tuesday, meat giants Marfig and JBS will report on how it fared in the first three months of the year - as will Wal-Mart on Thursday. The week also includes an international conference in the Netherlands looking at the sustainable cultivation of soy.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
13 May 2013
The quarterly results continued to roll in this week and we listened to a number of CEOs talk about the challenges and opportunities they face in 2013. Elsewhere, just-food covered Hofex, the largest food and hospitality tradeshow in Asia-Pacific, where we spoke with UK SMEs about their international ambitions. Retailer Delhaize Group has also begun the search for a new CEO following the resignation of Pierre-Olivier Beckers.






