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Intersnack

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The mature confectionery and snack markets of Europe are not fast-growth environments in which to operate. In this context, innovation has become ever more key to the success of companies operating within the category. This innovative spirit was in full evidence at this year's 45th International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) in Cologne this week.

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Blackstone Group and PAI Partners are progressing with plans to offload UK Jacob's-to-McVitie's manufacturer United Biscuits. The question on everyone's lips is whether the business will be floated or sold. Katy Askew reports.

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Much media attention has focused on whether the private-equity owners of United Biscuits are preparing to sell off the UK biscuit maker. However, Katy Askew suggests, a sale is unlikely to be on the agenda in the near term.

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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.

Germany's Intersnack, already the second-largest savoury snacks supplier in the UK, has sought once again to expand its position in its largest market outside its own backyard through M&A. Last week, Intersnack, which owns UK crisp and nut business KP Snacks, announced a deal to buy the Butterkist popcorn brand from the private-equity-backed Tangerine Confectionery. just-food's Andy Coyne caught up with KP Snacks sales director Andy Riddle to find out more about the rationale for the company's move for Butterkist.

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KP Snacks, the UK arm of Germany's Intersnack, is focused on growing its share of the country's snack sector through a strategy focusing on the strength of its core brands, its retail customers and on growth areas of the market. Katy Askew spoke to Andy Riddle, sales director at KP Snacks, to find out more about how the group hopes to expand. 

Germany's Intersnack is acquiring Hershey's UK-based crisps business Tyrrells for an undisclosed sum, with ambitions to grow sales across international markets.

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Germany's Intersnack has reached an agreement to acquire UK popcorn brand Butterkist from local group Tangerine Confectionery, it was confirmed today (17 July).

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Germany-based Intersnack, the company behind savoury snacks brands KP and Pom-Bear, is reportedly set to acquire Butterkist popcorn from UK firm Tangerine Confectionery.

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Muller CFO Henrik Bauwens is to leave the German dairy giant and join Intersnack, the German group behind brands including McCoy's.

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KP Snacks, the UK arm of Intersnack, is targeting the better-for-you food consumer with the launch of a baked version of its Hula Hoops snack.

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KP Snacks, the UK arm of Intersnack, is expanding the Hula Hoops brand with the launch of Hula Hoops Puft.

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Intersnack's UK arm KP Snacks has confirmed it is to close its Consett plant in 2015, a move that is set to see more than 100 jobs go.

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Philippines conglomerate San Miguel Corp. and Saudi food group Savola are reportedly considering making moves for United Biscuits.

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Up to 186 jobs are at risk at Hula Hoops and Skips owner KP Snacks after the UK company firm announced plans to close two sites in Consett and Corby.

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Kellogg has declined to comment on reports that it is preparing a GBP2bn (US$3.4bn) bid for UK McVitie's-to-Jacob's biscuit maker United Biscuits.

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KP Snacks, the UK arm of German snack group Intersnack, is launching an "American-style" line for its McCoy's brand.

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Confectioners have gathered from all over the world to attend sector-specific trade show ISM in Cologne this week. Many companies are showcasing some of their most recent innovations, providing an indication of the latest trends in global confectionery markets. Here is a selection of some NPD that caught our eye.

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The private-equity owners of United Biscuits are not preparing for an imminent sale of the UK biscuit group, industry sources have indicated.

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Unilever CEO Paul Polman last week met analysts to explain how the consumer goods giant is changing its business amid slowing sales, moves that are set to include 2,000 jobs being cut.

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Intersnack, the owner of KP Snacks, plans to consolidate its UK nut processing and packing to remove over-capacity from its network and to lower fixed costs.

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Plum Organics this week joined Happy Family and Ella's Kitchen as three organic baby food brands set to have new, multinational owners. Campbell Soup Co. is to buy Plum, joining Danone and Hain Celestial as three food majors that have looked to invest in the growing category in just a month.

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Langholm Capital, the owner of UK crisp group Tyrrells, has declined to comment on reports it has put the company up for sale.

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United Biscuits has appointed former Iglo Group chief executive Martin Glenn as its CEO.

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UK snack maker All Good hopes to develop a premium market for tortilla chips in the country through the expansion of its high-end brand Manomasa.

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United Biscuits, which last week agreed the sale of the bulk of its salty snacks, has set out the new products it will add to its biscuits portfolio in 2013.

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The week's two major stories broke within hours of each other on Wednesday - Tesco admitted it was "likely" to leave the US and Germany's Intersnack snapped up United Biscuits' salty snacks business. Elsewhere, ex-Tesco CEO Terry Leahy led a private-equity buy-out of UK discounter B&M Retail and Canada's Saputo agreed to buy Dean Foods' Morningstar arm. Meanwhile, Singapore agribusiness giant Olam International found its finances under scrutiny and we interviewed the head of Nestle's operations in equatorial Africa.

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Tesco's decision to potentially exit the US market shared the headlines with Intersnack's acquisition of United Biscuit's salty snacks unit. just-food spoke with Intersnack's MD Bernd ter Glane about the deal. Elsewhere, just-food spoke with FrieslandCampina's boss Cees Ruijgrok and the chief executive of Nestle's operations in equatorial Africa, Ian Donald.