Latest mergers & acquisitions news and analysis articles 
Takeovers, disposals, mergers and MBOs: the latest in food M&A
US: Diamond CEO, CFO exit after accounting probe
8 February 2012
US snack maker Diamond Foods has replaced its CEO and CFO after an internal investigation found the company had incorrectly accounted for payments to walnut growers.
US/AUS: Sara Lee decides to retain Aussie bakery unit
8 February 2012
US food and beverage group Sara Lee has decided to keep its Australian bakery operations after a review of the business.
GERMANY/UK: Muller seals Wiseman takeover
7 February 2012
German dairy giant Müller has declared its takeover bid for Robert Wiseman Dairies "unconditional" after securing almost 94% of the UK milk supplier's shares.
NORDIC: Nestle, Orkla "in talks to buy Findus unit"
7 February 2012
Nestle and Norwegian consumer goods group Orkla are reportedly among the companies interested in buying Findus Group's Nordic unit.
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.
UK: Rustlers owner Kepak buys ABP's Feasters brand
6 February 2012
Irish food maker Kepak Group, the owner of convenience foods brand Rustlers, has acquired the Feasters brand from Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) subsidiary Eatwell.
2012 - Supermarket battles to drive supplier M&A
6 February 2012
Some of the world's largest retailers struggled in 2011, which promises to mean even more intense competition in 2012. What could this mean for suppliers? Ultimately, it could mean the industry witnesses more consolidation this year.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
6 February 2012
The appointment of a new CEO at Carrefour caused a flurry of comment throughout the industry, with pundits outlining what the new chief's priorities ought to be. Unilever and Kellogg were among manufacturers that announced annual results, while Hain Celestial, reporting its half-year numbers, said it saw a number of acquisition targets in the US. Elsewhere, suppliers expressed anger at a decision in Europe to block the use of new nutrition claims.
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: BC Partners, Bain Capital in "aggressive bids" for Iceland Foods
3 February 2012
Iceland Foods, the UK frozen food retailer, has reportedly attracted bids from private-equity houses BC Partners and Bain Capital.
2012 - Savvy shoppers, online key areas of retail focus
3 February 2012
In part two of our management briefing, Sam Webb talks to experts about the possible changes to the landscape of the food retail sector in 2012, amid power shifts, market volatility, evolving shopping trends and changing consumer habits.
UK: Tayto buys pork scratchings firm Midland Snacks
3 February 2012
Northern Ireland crisp maker Tayto has snapped up England-based pork scratchings firm Midland Snacks.
US/SINGAPORE: Wilmar International invests in Blue Pacific Flavours
3 February 2012
Agribusiness giant Wilmar International has invested in US ingredients firm Blue Pacific Flavors.
NETHERLANDS: FrieslandCampina to buy Balkans dairies Imlek, Mlekara Subotica
2 February 2012
Dairy giant FrieslandCampina has signed a deal to buy Balkans processors Imlek and Mlekara Subotica.
UK: Morrisons acquires meat facility from Vion
1 February 2012
UK retailer Morrisons today (1 February) announced an agreement to acquire a meat processing facility from the UK division of Dutch food group Vion.
FRANCE: Co-op Lur Berri takes control of seafood firm Alfesca
1 February 2012
French Basque food co-operative Lur Berri has announced that it has taken majority control of Icelandic seafood group Alfesca.
CANADA: Adonis aids Metro Q1 profits jump
1 February 2012
Canadian grocer Metro Inc's shares rose after a first-quarter spike in profits, revenue and like-for-like sales.
US: Stevia Corp enters into Southridge purchase deal
1 February 2012
Southridge Partners has secured an option to buy a stake in Stevia Corp.
FRANCE/HUNGARY: Bonduelle acquires Kelet-Food
1 February 2012
French vegetable processor Bonduelle has acquired Hungarian cannery Kelet-Food for an undisclosed fee.
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.
INDIA: Spar in talks to expand in India
27 January 2012
Spar International is in talks with retailers in the India as part of a bid to grow its store network in the country.
UK: Jam maker Duerr's eyes Premier's Hartley's unit
27 January 2012
UK jam maker Duerr's has signalled its interest in buying Premier Foods plc's Hartley's business, which is rumoured to be among the latest of the food giant's assets up for sale.
US: 7-Eleven to buy stores from Sam's Mart
27 January 2012
US c-store retailer 7-Eleven has acquired 55 stores from local rival Sam's Mart in North and South Carolina.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
27 January 2012
The UK government this week launched a series of measures, drawn up with industry, to drive the food sector's growth overseas. The so-called export action plan came in the week that food and drink giant Princes announced a venture in Italy and UK confectioner Zetar opened its first sales office in Europe. Zetar's CEO outlined the company's Continental sales target to just-food and, in a further interview with a top executive, Spar International MD Dr Gordon Campbell told us about the symbol retailer's expansion plans in India.
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.
UK/ITALY: Princes sets up Italian tomato venture
25 January 2012
UK food and drink group Princes, the owner of Napolina canned tomatoes, has set up a tomato processing venture in Italy.
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.
BRAZIL: JBS denies Goias Verde acquisition rumours
24 January 2012
Major Brazilian meat processor JBS has denied rumours that it is in talks to buy vegetable producer Goiás Verde.
UK: Discount retailer 99p Stores "up for sale"
23 January 2012
The founders of discount UK retail chain 99p Stores is rumoured to be selling the company for between GBP500m (US$778m) and GBP600m.
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.
