Robert Wiseman Dairies

2014 in review: the year's most-read interviews on just-food

18 Dec 2014

Our interviews with senior United Biscuits executives - in the year the company's owners agreed to sell the UK snack maker to Turkey's Yildiz Holding - featured highly on the list of 2014's most-clicked interviews on just-food. Interviews with the CEOs of the UK's Premier Foods and Canada's Agropur, as well as the CFOs of Arla Foods and Brazil's BRF were also popular as we continued to gain access to some of the industry's leading lights.

UPDATE: Muller: Dairy Crest deal benefits whole supply chain

6 Nov 2014

German dairy giant Müller has insisted its move to buy Dairy Crest's dairies operations will help the entire UK sector, from farmers to consumers.

Dairy Crest to sell dairies division to Muller

6 Nov 2014

Dairy Crest is to sell its dairies division - including the Frijj brand - to German giant Müller.

UK: Muller Wiseman Dairies eyes depot closures

12 Jun 2013

UK milk supplier Muller Wiseman Dairies has said it may close two depots as it readjusts to the way milk is now delivered to retail customers.

UK: Muller to invest in butter production facility

15 Jan 2013

Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller has confirmed plans to invest GBP17m (US$27.3m) in a new UK facility that will see the company move into butter manufacturing in the country.

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week

17 Sep 2012

Late on Friday, India's government stunned the country with a wave of reforms, including the return of plans to ease restrictions on foreign investment into the retail sector. Further east, Japanese conglomerate Itochu Corp. confirmed it was in talks to buy Dole Food Co. assets - and expansion in China could be a factor in its interest.

UK: Wiseman next to pledge milk price hike

13 Sep 2012

Robert Wiseman Dairies has become the latest UK dairy processor to announce an increase in the price it pays farmers for milk.

Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words

30 Jul 2012

Major food multinationals last week reported their first-half results. Unilever saw food volumes fall, PepsiCo insisted it had "momentum" in Europe, Hershey believed US candy had reached a new growth phase and Danone faced criticism from analysts. Elsewhere, the UK milk farmers' protests appeared to pay off, with processors shelving plans for price cuts.

UK: Asda, Morrisons, Co-op in government talks on milk

25 Jul 2012

Asda, Morrisons and The Co-operative Group will today (25 July) hold talks with the UK government to discuss the future of the country's dairy sectors - as farmers protests over milk prices continue.

UK: Milk protests will continue, says Farmers for Action

24 Jul 2012

UK farmers angry at the cuts to the price they receive for their milk will continue their protests despite a deal on a code of practice to govern relations in the industry.

UK: Aldi next to up milk payments

24 Jul 2012

Discounter Aldi has become the latest UK retailer to increase the amount it pays for milk.

UPDATE 2: UK: NFU calls for retailers to fund milk price increase

17 Jul 2012

The National Farmers Union has suggested the reversal of recent price cuts implemented by dairy processors should be funded "from retailers margins".

UK: Dairy industry nears agreement on code of practice

11 Jul 2012

The UK dairy industry is nearing an agreement on a voluntary code of best practice that would govern relationships down the supply chain, it emerged today (11 July).

Quote, unquote: Farmers speak out at dairy summit

11 Jul 2012

Farmers from around the UK descended en masse on London today (11 July) in a bid to raise awareness of the plight they face. A series of cuts to the farmgate milk price from the country's three largest processors have left farmers supplying milk at a price that they insist fails to meet the cost of production. In a display of unity, dairy producer representatives from the NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru, TFA and Farmers for Action outlined their demands to the capacity-filled Central Hall in Westminster.

UK: Co-op increases milk payments

9 Jul 2012

The Co-operative Group has increased the premium it pays to farmers in its milk pool.

UK: Farmers plan action over milk price cuts

5 Jul 2012

UK dairy farmers are preparing to take action in protest against the "crippling" price cuts that were announced by the country's largest dairy processors last week.

Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words

1 Jun 2012

The global food industry has seen a raft of M&A activity this week with Flowers Food's purchase of Lepage Bakeries, Olam's acquisition of Usina Açucareira Passos, and Booker's deal to buy the local cash-and-carry assets of German retail giant Metro Group.

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week

28 May 2012

The UK dairy sector was in the spotlight this week, with the proposed merger between Arla Foods and local co-op Milk Link and the annual loss reported by Dairy Crest. just-food interviewed senior executives from Arla and Milk Link to discuss the combination and reported on Dairy Crest's plans to increase returns from its troubled dairies business. Elsewhere, we reported on two sustainability events held in London, including the annual conference on the Round Table for Responsible Soy. And, further afield, Heinz revealed it was looking for more acquisitions in emerging markets while US rival General Mills secured a deal to buy Brazilian firm Yoki Alimentos.

Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words

23 Jan 2012

Executives at Müller and Robert Wiseman Dairies espoused the benefits of the German yoghurt maker's decision to buy the UK milk supplier, a deal that divided analysts. Industry watchers also scrutinised the latest trading updates from Premier Foods plc, the UK's largest food manufacturer and Carrefour, the French retail giant, while Kraft Foods chief Irene Rosenfeld said the US group's 2011 results means it is one of the industry's better performers - on the day job cuts of 1,600 were announced.

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week

23 Jan 2012

Müller's decision to bid for UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies was the first major M&A move of 2012 and sparked plenty of debate, with industry watchers arguing the German yoghurt maker will face challenges in a fiercely competitive industry. Strikes at Unilever, job cuts at Kraft Foods and US dairy processor Dean Foods and continued gloom over the prospects of retail giant Carrefour also attracted headlines this week.

UK: Muller secures more Wiseman shares

18 Jan 2012

Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller has secured more shares in UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies, which earlier this week agreed to a GBP280m (US$430.2m) takeover bid from the German yoghurt maker.

Editor's choice: highlights on just-food this week

13 Jan 2012

The performance of the UK food retail sector over Christmas came under scrutiny this week and there were some clear winners and losers. Elsewhere, the M&A rumour mill continued to turn, with German yoghurt giant Müller in talks to buy UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies. In the US, baker Hostess Brands applied for Chapter 11 protection for a second time, Cargill reported its worst quarter in a decade and Archer Daniels Midland announced a swathe of job cuts. On just-food's insight pages, we looked at Bi-Lo's plan to buy fellow UK retailer Winn-Dixie and at the importance of price optimisation.

UK: Muller in talks to buy Robert Wiseman Dairies

13 Jan 2012

Yoghurt maker Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller is in talks to buy UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies, it emerged today (13 January).

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week

21 Nov 2011

Uncertainty surrounds PepsiCo at the moment, with rumours that some directors now want the US food and drink giant to examine whether to split the company in two - a move some analysts and investors demand. CEO Indra Nooyi is reported to be against such a move and is said to be lining up acquisitions to bolster the company. Elsewhere, Unilever again faced claims that it would look to offload more food brands and HJ Heinz said it would close more factories to deal with the "difficult" trading conditions in some markets, Click on the headlines for more.

UK: Wiseman confirms FY guidance but shares slide

31 Mar 2011

Robert Wiseman Dairies expects annual turnover and underlying profits to meet its previous expectations, the UK milk processor confirmed today (31 March) - but the company's shares still fell.

Editor's choice: highlights on just-food this week

28 Jan 2011

After months of speculation, this week Sara Lee finally decided upon its future - and it involves a split of the business. Uncertainty continues to surround the future of the UK's Northern Foods, while local rival Premier Foods took a step to cut its debt pile with a key disposal. Elsewhere, cocoa prices soared after Cote d'Ivoire's president-elect called for an export ban and France's food makers, facing commodity pressure, called on Nicolas Sarkozy to help.

UK: Robert Wiseman H1 profits slide

15 Nov 2010

Robert Wiseman Dairies said its first-half results are "consistent" with its expectations, despite booking a drop in profits.

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week

17 Sep 2010

Hershey, the US chocolate giant, felt the full force of the NGO spotlight this week amid criticism over its cocoa sourcing. Campaigners said Hershey had fallen behind its rivals on labour and social responsibility and urged the company to do more. Meanwhile, Cadbury, one chocolate maker that has emrbaced Fairtrade, is expected to give a US$1bn sales boost to new owner Kraft Foods. On the retail front, Carrefour revealed more detail of its new-look hypermarkets, US grocer Kroger continued to see sales accelerate, while in the UK, Asda saw its market share slip again.

UK: Wiseman rejigs board

17 May 2010

UK milk processor Robert Wiseman Dairies today (17 May) announced changes to its board of directors following the planned departure of chairman Alan Wiseman in July.

UK: Upbeat Wiseman sees shares climb

28 Jan 2010

Shares in UK milk supplier Robert Wiseman Dairies rose this morning (28 January) after the company said volumes and revenues were ahead of expectations.