Latest snacks news and analysis articles 
Easy-to-digest news and insight on the snacks business
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
24 May 2013
Campbell Soup Co. became the third major multinational to invest in the buoyant organic baby food sector in a month with a deal to buy US firm Plum Organics. Danone is another of the three food giants to do business in organic baby food - and this week it continued its investment in faster-growing categories and markets with a fresh attempt to crack China's booming yoghurt sector.
Deal or no deal: UK crisp firm Tyrrells could attract snack majors
23 May 2013
Private-equity firm Langholm Capital was this week reported to have put UK crisp group Tyrrells on the market. Langholm has declined to comment on the reports but the investment firm are said to have put a GBP100m (US$151.9m) price tag on the company.
AUS: PepsiCo's Smiths launches air-popped snacks
23 May 2013
PepsiCo's Australian snacks division, Smith's Snackfood Co, has added to its range with the launch of a line of air-popped products.
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.
JAPAN: Ezaki Glico forecasts higher FY profits
22 May 2013
Japan-based food group Ezaki Glico has forecast an increase in profits in its current financial year after a mixed performance in the previous 12 months.
UK: Langholm "puts crisp firm Tyrrells up for sale"
20 May 2013
Langholm Capital, the owner of UK crisp group Tyrrells, has declined to comment on reports it has put the company up for sale.
US: Campbell ups FY earnings forecast after Q3 profits rise
20 May 2013
Campbell Soup Co. has lifted its full-year forecast for earnings after seeing higher sales boost profits in its third quarter.
US: The American Popcorn Co. teams up with Boulder Brands on NPD
20 May 2013
The American Popcorn Co., the owner of the Jolly Time brand, has worked with US group Boulder Brands to develop popcorn for "health-conscious" consumers.
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.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
20 May 2013
After UK organic baby food firm Ella's Kitchen was snapped up by a US buyer a fortnight ago, last week a peer across the pond revealed it agreed to sell to Danone, representing the Aptamil and Cow & Gate owner's move into the category.
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.
US: Peltz ups Mondelez, PepsiCo stakes
16 May 2013
Trian Fund Management, the investment vehicle of activist shareholder Nelson Peltz, has upped its stakes in snack food giants PepsiCo and Mondelez International.
In the spotlight: Wrigley wins FDA plaudits amid caffeine scrutiny
16 May 2013
At first it appeared the villain of the piece with the launch of its Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, which prompted an FDA review of caffeine in foods. However, Wrigley was subsequently praised by the regulator for showing "leadership" when it halted production. So far, however, no other food companies have shown that level of support for the FDA's move. Ben Cooper reports.
ASIA: French firm Michel et Augustin expands to China, Taiwan
16 May 2013
French food firm Michel et Augustin has signed a deal to launch its products into the Chinese and Taiwanese markets.
RUSSIA: Nestle invests to strengthen supply chain
16 May 2013
The world's largest food maker Nestle is investing CHF29m (US$925,092) in new distribution facilities in Russia in a bid to strengthen its supply chain in the country.
US: China Marine returns to profit in Q1
15 May 2013
Snack food group China Marine said it sees "tremendous" growth opportunities ahead after returning to profit in the first quarter of the year.
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.
UK: Mondelez brings Oreo manufacture to UK
10 May 2013
Mondelez International is bringing the manufacture of its Oreo biscuits to the UK for the first time as part of an investment in its Sheffield production facility.
just the answer: Walkers Shortbread on expansion in the breakfast aisle
10 May 2013
Walkers Shortbread recently launched a line of Weight Watchers breakfast biscuits, which are being produced under license in the UK. The company is hoping that the move will help it build on the growing demand for healthier options as well as the massive growth of the breakfast biscuit category. Katy Askew spoke to David Guest, commercial manager at Walkers Shortbread, about the group's hopes for the category.
JAPAN: Calbee books FY profit increase
10 May 2013
Snacks group Calbee has booked an increase in full-year profit, despite what it claims was an "uncertain" Japanese economy.
On the money: Mondelez to "fortify and expand" emerging market position
9 May 2013
Mondelez International has said it will reinvest some of its profits in emerging markets in a bid to "fortify and expand" its position in those countries.
UK: Industry targets food waste, carbon with new pledge
9 May 2013
Manufacturers including Nestle and Mars, as well as retailers like Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, have pledged to further cut food waste and carbon emissions in the UK.
US: Post buys Hearthside cereal, snacks assets
9 May 2013
US cereal group Post Holdings has signed a US$158m deal to buy cereal, granola and snacks assets owned by Hearthside Food Solutions.
On the money: Snyder's-Lance drives core brands
8 May 2013
US snack group Snyder's-Lance intends to drive continued top line growth in its key brands and will ramp up investments in marketing and product development in the coming months.
EU: Brussels proposes reform, tougher fines after horsemeat saga
7 May 2013
EU food safety laws are facing reform under new proposals from the European Commission, which wants to "simplify and strengthen" controls in the wake of the horsemeat contamination saga.
BRICs and beyond: International SMEs testing the water at Hofex
7 May 2013
The rapidly expanding Chinese food sector has long been a focus for multinationals looking beyond developed western markets for expansion. However, it isn't just the international food Goliaths - with big bucks to spend on M&A or organic expansion - that are looking to China for growth. just-food caught up with some smaller enterprises hoping to tame the dragon at Hong Kong trade show Hofex - an event that prides itself of being the largest of its kind in Asia.
US: B&G Foods snaps up TrueNorth nut brand from DeMet's Candy Co.
7 May 2013
US food group B&G Foods has acquired nut brand TrueNorth from confectioner DeMet's Candy Co.
US: Snyder's-Lance Q1 profit up, reaffirms guidance
7 May 2013
US snack manufacturer Snyder's-Lance has booked an increase in first-quarter earnings and reiterated its full-year outlook.
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.
