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Symington's

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ConAgra Foods, keen to tap into the growing private-label market in the US, has made a higher bid for Ralcorp Holdings. Its takeover target, however, has again rejected the company's advances.

UK convenience food maker Symington's has announced the appointments of Tim Whiting as chairman and Clare Urmston as CFO.

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UK-based convenience food maker Symington's has promoted its chief operating officer, John Power, to the post of CEO. 

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Simplot, the US-based agri-food group, has acquired three cooking sauce brands in Australia held under licence by UK food business Symington's from Unilever.

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A busy week in the food industry calendar, with the SIAL exhibition in Paris, ended with a shock announcement: Chiquita Brands International's shareholders rejected the company's plan to merge with Ireland's Fyffes. Elsewhere, we heard third-quarter updates from Unilever, Premier Foods and Mead Johnson.

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UK food manufacturer Symington's has acquired Tanfield Foods.

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This week, the EU announced more measures to help out dairy farmers hit by the Russia ban. Chiquita and Fyffes insisted again a merger between the two would be the best outcome for shareholders. Our latest just-food interview saw us discuss Agropur's M&A strategy with the Canadian dairy co-op's CEO, while we chatted to Scandinavian free-from firm Fria about its expansion across Europe.

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UK food group Symington's intends to expand its presence in Australia through the introduction of more of its brands into the market.

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Salad producer Florette has added croutons to its portfolio in the UK through a tie-up with local food group Symington's.

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Symington's has teamed up with confectioner Thorntons for the launch of a range of home baking and dessert mixes in the UK.

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Symington's has announced the launch of Robinsons Jelly.

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Symington's has expanded the Five Brothers range of pasta sauces in Australia with the launch of three Pasta Bake sauces.

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Unilever has refused to comment on reports it is looking to sell off its Ragu pasta sauce brand.

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Allied Bakeries' Kingsmill brand has entered the snacks category in the UK with the launch of Kingsmill Mini Toasts.

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Symington's has added a premium sauce line to its Chicken Tonight range following a redevelopment of the brand last year.

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Symington's is to launch a line of soups under the Ainsley Harriott brand in the UK.

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UK food group Symington's has signed a licensing deal with Unilever that will see the firm expand its reach to Australia and New Zealand.

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Symington's has announced plans to invest GBP15m (US$22.7m) to establish a noodle production facility in Leeds.

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UK food producer Symington's has confirmed plans to launch a Turkey Tomorrow sauce.

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Much of the talk for manufacturers on the release of their first-half and second-quarter results last week was focused on weakness in Europe and the knock-on effect from the impact of the US drought on corn prices. Elsewhere, Haribo said it would not appeal a decision by Germany's competition watchdog over a fine for sharing sales information with rivals, and the CEO of Fresh Del Monte insisted the company is looking at building a business that focuses not just on produce and not just on the developed markets of the West.

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UK food group Symington's has announced plans to close its recently-acquired Victoria Foods plant.

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The top stories on just-food this week had a distinctly French flavour. Danone issued a profit warning, with Spain's problems affecting the Activia maker. Meanwhile, French retail giant Carrefour's new CEO Georges Plassat made his first public appearance since taking the job, with the industry keen to hear how he planned to revitalise the world's second-largest retailer.

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Symington's has acquired fellow UK baking business Victoria Foods, a company that supplies products under licence for Nestle and Weight Watchers.

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Senior directors at Symington's have snapped up a majority stake in the UK food group in a private-equity backed management buy-out.

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The headlines had a European flavour this week with the ongoing uncertainty over the future of French poultry giant Groupe Doux and the takeover of Metro Group's UK cash-and-carry division by food wholesaler Booker. Elsewhere, we talked to Swiss manufacturer and retailer Migros about its sustainability, published a management briefing on fat reformulation and took an in-depth look at the UK's challenging milk sector.

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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.

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UK investment fund Intermediate Capital Group has declined to comment on reports it is in talks to buy a "significant minority stake" in UK food manufacturer Symington's.

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Premier Foods plc has booked an increase in first-quarter sales, boosted by the performance of its 'power brands'.