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McCain Foods

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The blame game continues to escalate as to who is responsible for the obesity crisis in the UK. While some point the finger at the Government for not being convicted enough in its approach to tackle the problem, the finger is often pointed back at the food industry for failing to co-operate. Hannah Abdulla explores the complex issue.

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US breakfast cereal group Post Holdings kicks off a relatively quieter week of results with its half-year numbers on Monday. On Tuesday, meat giants Marfig and JBS will report on how it fared in the first three months of the year - as will Wal-Mart on Thursday. The week also includes an international conference in the Netherlands looking at the sustainable cultivation of soy.

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There were, despite continued economic uncertainty in many Western markets and concerns over slowing growth in the East, signs that M&A activity rebounded in the food sector this year. However, a look at just-food's M&A coverage this year shows there have been few big-ticket, transformational deals.

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The unexpected announcement by Tesco that it will incorporate colour-coding, or 'traffic lights', into its front-of-pack nutritional labelling surprised industry watchers but has more importantly left UK food manufacturers isolated, writes Ben Cooper.

European food group PinguinLutosa has undergone a period of significant change in recent years, with two notable acquisitions. And that transformation has continued but this time with a deal to sell one part of its business, Lutosa, to McCain Foods. COO Herwig Dejonghe speaks to just-food about the changes and his thoughts for the future of the frozen and canned food group.

McCain Foods said it has completed the first stage of its AUD57m (US$43m) investment in the "regeneration" of its Ballarat potato plant in the Australian state of Victoria.

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Potato giant McCain Foods is to increase its production capacity again in North America, this time with investment in a site in the US.

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McCain Foods has unveiled plans to "renew" its Scarborough production facility in the UK as part of a proposed investment in its operations of more than GBP100m (US$121m).

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McCain Foods is to add a french fry production line at a factory in Belgium.

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French fry manufacturer McCain Foods has confirmed plans to shed jobs at its dry and cold store operations at its Scarborough facility in the UK. 

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Canadian potato processor McCain Foods has announced plans to expand its production capacity for frozen French fries in North America. 

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Dutch food group Van Geloven, majority-owned by McCain Foods, has snapped up a clutch of brands and plants from local peer Royaan.

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McCain Foods is making a foray into the chilled aisle in the UK with the launch of two lines.

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McCain Foods is launching McCain Marché, a range of snacks that offer "a balance of grains, dairy, meats and vegetables", in Canada.

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McCain Foods has launched a frozen meal range in Australia in response to what it said is rising consumer demand for more protein-dense prepared meals.

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McCain Foods is expanding capacity at its production facility in Florenceville-Bristol, Canada, to meet "growing demand" for hash browns and other speciality products. 

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McCain Foods has acquired a majority stake in Dutch frozen convenience snacks supplier Van Geloven.

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McCain Foods is rolling out a new range of Sara Lee-branded desserts and ice creams in Australia and New Zealand.

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Food manufacturing giants PepsiCo, McCain Foods, Unilever and Ardo, plus foodservice group Sodexo, have teamed up with the World Wildlife Fund, to create the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC), which aims to combat food waste in the sector.

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Companies including Danone, Kerry Group, Singapore-based agribusiness and food group Wilmar International and South Korean business Pulmuone Co. are eyeing Quorn Foods, joining the likes of McCain Foods as possible bidders for the UK meat-free firm.

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A sale of Quorn Foods, the UK-based meat-free business, is expected by the end of the year with potential suitors receiving information memoranda this week, just-food understands.

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McCain Foods and Nomad Foods are reportedly to be mulling a move for UK-based meat-free business Quorn Foods.

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Kellogg and McCain Foods are reportedly on a list of firms that have seen some of their products rejected for approval by India's food safety watchdog.

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McCain Foods has announced plans to invest in a plant in Australia, building a new packing line and upgrading storage.

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McCain Foods is to close a plant in the US state of Wisconsin.

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McCain Foods has launched a frozen roast potato range in Australia.

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McCain Foods is rolling out a new line of frozen meals containing whole grains under its Healthy Choice brand in Australia and New Zealand.

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McCain Foods is launching a line of McCain Pizza Toasties in Australia, a pizza snack aimed at "families on-the-go".

With emerging markets becoming a central focus for many food companies, there is growing interest in the Middle East and Africa - and this week we are at the Gulfood expo in Dubai to speak to those building their business in the region.

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Today, the UK government revealed which companies had signed up to a new front-of-pack nutrition label. However, while the likes of Mars, PepsiCo and Premier Foods will slap the label on their products, others, including Kellogg and Unilever, have decided against it. And so the "consistency" trumpeted by the Government is, for now, only going so far.