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Cargill

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The proposed trade agreement between the EU and the US - dubbed the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP - has proved a source of fierce debate, with supporters seeking to emphasise the economic benefits of a deal but critics claiming it would favour big business, endanger food safety and the environment - and even undermine democracy. In recent weeks, opposition has emerged in political circles, with France's President Hollande insisting he would veto the agreement in its current form. Food and agriculture is at the centre of Hollande's concerns and the sector is among the main points of contention. But what could be the impact of TTIP on food manufacturers? Liz Newmark reports.

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The hunter became the hunted yesterday (27 May) as Pilgrim's Pride made a hostile bid for Hillshire Brands. The news comes just days after Hillshire announced its own plans to acquire a third US food group, Pinnacle Foods. Pilgrim's play for the maker of Jimmy Dean sausages leaves that deal looking shaky and has set the market alight with rumours that further takeover bids for Hillshire could follow. Katy Askew reports.

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Food manufacturers based in Venezuela have long struggled to supply the country's oil-fuelled economy amidst strict government controls and shortages of many key industry inputs. And recent changes to the country's currency regime could - say analysts and business leaders - intensify existing problems in the industry. Andrew Rosati reports.

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Marfrig CEO Sergio Rial was upbeat about the progress he saw at the Brazil-based meat processor yesterday (11 March), insisting the company was "more stable" than in previous years despite falling into the red in 2013.

As one of the largest traders of agricultural raw materials in the world, Archer Daniels Midland is probably a direct or indirect link in more food supply chains than it is possible to quantify. Global sustainability director Timothy Venverloh explains how ADM is setting about making its business and those of the companies it supplies more sustainable.

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Cargill this week opened its first animal protein plant in China. With demand for protein soaring in the country, the move looks a sound one from the US agribusiness giant. However, the poultry sector in China can be a challenging place to do business.

US agribusiness giant Cargill has confirmed plans to follow up its recent move into Colombia through M&A with investment of up to US$500m.

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US agribusiness and food giant Cargill has acquired Colombia-based chicken and processed meats products firm Pollos El Bucanero.

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US-based agribusiness and food giant Cargill is investing US$12m in the expansion of its cooked egg facility in Iowa to meet "increased demand" from the foodservice and food ingredients sector.

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Agri-food businesses and meat producers in the US are calling on President Donald Trump to move quickly to strike bilateral trade deals with Asia-Pacific nations because the region is "critical" for US exporters who risk "falling behind" competitors.

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Allied Mills, the Australian bakery products and flour manufacturer co-owned by Australian agribusiness GrainCorp and US agri-food giant Cargill, has been sold to private-equity firm Pacific Equity Partners.

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Eight of the world's major seafood companies have signed up to a ten-point ocean stewardship plan to try to boost traceability and crack down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in their supply chains.

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US-based agribusiness and food giant Cargill is to invest US$50m to expand poultry processing operations at its facility in Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima province, the company announced today (24 November). 

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Institutional investors in the US are calling on some of the nation's biggest producers of turkey and other meats to do more to tackle the "significant water pollution risks" associated with feeding, slaughtering and processing livestock.

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Cargill is repositioning its Rumba line of fresh variety meats to target Hispanic consumers. 

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US-based agribusiness and food giant Cargill has confirmed it has stopped using the antibiotic gentamicin in its turkey business – and has launched an antibiotic-free Honest Turkey product line.

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Mexican conglomerate Grupo Kuo has struck a deal to take full control of Nutricarsa, the Mexican food processing joint venture it operates with Cargill.

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US-based agribusiness and food giant Cargill has signed an agreement to acquire beef products, soups and sauces supplier Five Star Custom Foods.

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US-based agribusiness and food giant Cargill is forming a joint venture with the largest Asian foodservice company, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), to build a poultry plant in the Philippines.

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Ventura Foods, the US condiments maker, is to acquire a Cargill business that supplies products from mayonnaise to tartar sauce to foodservice operators in the country.

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Cargill is to end the production of bread and battered products at a poultry plant in the UK city of Hereford after the loss of a contract to supply Asda, the country's second-largest grocer.

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Cargill's investment arm, Black River Food Fund 2, has entered into a "strategic alliance" with Indian conglomerate Future Group. 

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Nestle and R&R Ice Cream confirmed that they are in joint venture talks, a tie up that could reshape the global ice cream sector. Meanwhile the historic Trans-Pacific Partnership was signed - to mixed reactions from the food sector. Here are just-food's quotes of the week.

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After five years negotiations, 12 Pacific Rim countries - including the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand - have struck a deal that will reduce tariffs and trade barriers in the region. 

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Cargill is to relocate ground beef production at a plant in Nebraska, converting the site into a facility producing cooked meats, a move that will affect 80 jobs.

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Bakalars Sausage Company plans to acquire Cargill's Schweigert brand of hot dogs, summer sausage and breaded chicken products.

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PepsiCo and Cargill are among 13 US companies to issue pledges on climate change as part of a wider commitment drawn up by the US government.

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This week, McCormick & Co. highlighted China as a strength in its first half numbers. Valio made a commitment to halve sugar in its dairy snacks and the Consumer Goods Forum committed to halving global food waste by 2025. Elsewhere, Ebro Foods acquired French sandwich maker Roland Monterrat. Here is the week in quotes.

Cargill's move to buy Archer Daniels Midland's chocolate business has cleared its last regulatory hurdle after clearance from the European Commission. But Brussels has asked Cargill to offload part of the assets.

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The Cargill meat processing facility in Hazleton, Pa., has become the company's first certified landfill-free production site.