From PBM to PepsiCo, food makers in the US dominated the headlines this week. The sale of infant-formula maker PBM for US$808m highlighted the attractiveness of the category. PepsiCo became the latest to announce plans to cut salt, sat fat and sugar from its products, while bread and cereal makers in Australia outlined their own programme to cut salt. In Europe, Swiss firm Orior set out plans for an IPO, UK retailer Sainsbury’s reported slowing sales and Danone admitted it will shake up its domestic dairy business. These were the most popular stories on just-food this week.
US: Own-label baby-food firm PBM sold
PBM, the US baby food business, is to be sold to healthcare giant Perrigo Co. for US$808m, it was announced today (23 March).
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US: Smucker to close four plants in revamp
US food group JM Smucker is revamping its supply chain and manufacturing network with a series of moves that include the closure of four plants.
GLOBAL: PepsiCo to cut salt, sat fat, added sugar
PepsiCo today (22 March) set out its plans to reduce the amount of salt, saturated fat and added sugar in its products.
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US: Campbell, Bimbo, Gen Mills lead NPD in 2009 – IRI
Products launched by Campbell Soup Co., Grupo Bimbo and General Mills have been named among the “most successful” new products in the US in 2009, according to industry analysts IRI.
US: Wal-Mart planning promotional drive – analyst
Wal-Mart is planning to reduce the price of 10,000 grocery items in an effort to win customers back to its namesake US stores, a US analyst has suggested.
US: Kroger sees competitive environment easing
US supermarket operator Kroger indicated today (23 March) that it expects to see promotional activity in the US market easing as the grocery sector moves from deflation to inflation.
UK: Sainsbury’s sees sales growth slow
UK supermarket group Sainsbury’s has revealed that its quarterly like-for-like sales growth slowed during the final three months of the fiscal year as lower food prices and a cautious consumer environment took their toll.
SWITZ: Pasta, ready-meals maker Orior set for IPO
Swiss convenience food firm Orior, maker of products from pasta to ready meals, is set to float on the country’s stock exchange.
AUS: Bread, cereal makers target reduced salt
The amount of salt in Australian-manufactured breakfast cereals and breads is being reduced by leading food manufacturers to improve the diets and health of Australians as part of an industry, retailer and government partnership.
UK: FSA sets out sat fat, added sugar guidelines
Chocolate makers selling products in the UK will have to cut the saturated fat in their filled bars by 10% by the end of 2012, according to recommendations set out by the country’s food watchdog today (26 March).
