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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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If you're looking to forge a business in the world's emerging markets, there is plenty of promise beyond the BRICs.

McCormick & Co., the US-based spice firm, grew its sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by 3% in 2011 and - in the face of a deep economic crisis that has dented consumer spending across its key markets - the company plans to drive expansion in the region during the current fiscal year through a focus on innovation, marketing and new emerging markets, regional chief Brice de Forsanz suggests in this month's just-food interview.

Turkey's biscuit giant Yildiz Holding is planning to strengthen its UK arm and looking to expand further overseas.

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Ülker Bisküvi is in talks to take on a business in Saudi Arabia owned by United Biscuits, one of the Turkey-based snacks group's sister companies under the ownership of Yildiz Holding.

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Pladis, the UK-based biscuits arm of Turkey's Yildiz Holding, is reportedly looking to sell French brand BN and Dutch business Continental Bakeries has been named as a potential buyer - although both companies declined to comment today (17 November) when contacted by just-food.

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Turkish conglomerate Yildiz Holding has announced plans for its domestic market to become the group's "base" for chocolate production and for the manufacture of new chocolate products for its snacks subsidiary, Pladis.

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Yildiz Holding, the Turkish owner of brands including Godiva and McVitie's, has said it plans to list its recently established food unit, Pladis, in London by 2020 as part of a push to become the world's largest snack group. 

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Godiva and McVitie's owner Yildiz Holdings has decided to bring its snacks brands under one unit in a bid to drive growth internationally. Unilever's CEO, Paul Polman, sounded a note of caution about trading conditions in 2016. And sugar was once again in the headlines, driving policy agendas in Europe.

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Turkish conglomerate Yildiz Holding is bringing its global chocolate and biscuit businesses – including Godiva, DeMet's, Ulker and United Biscuits - together in a single umbrella subsidiary, called Pladis.

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Yildiz Holding has promoted CFO Dr Cem Karakas to executive deputy chairman, a position the Turkey-based food giant described as "the top professional position within the group".

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This week, Turkey's Yildiz Holding struck a deal - said to be over GBP2bn - to buy United Biscuits and the Turkish group's CEO took to Twitter to hail the agreement. Meanwhile, German dairy giant Muller agreed to buy Dairy Crest's liquid dairy business in the second big deal of the week. Elsewhere, quarterly numbers continued to come in, with Mondelez International lifting its forecast for annual earnings.

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Higher sales and lower tax expenses have lifted net profit levels at Turkish biscuit maker Ulker Biskuvi despite a fall in operating income in the first nine months of the year.

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United Biscuits, with owners weighing up whether to float or sell the business, has named Thomas Cook chair Frank Meysman as chairman of the UK biscuit manufacturer.

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The private equity owners of United Biscuits, Blackstone Group and PAI partners, have reportedly appointed three banks to oversee a potential float of the McVitie's owner.

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Blackstone Group and PAI Partners have reportedly shortlisted three potential buyers as they look to exit their investment in UK Jacob's and McVitie's maker United Biscuits.

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Philippines food and drink group San Miguel Corp. has reportedly joined the race to acquire UK-based snack maker United Biscuits.

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United Biscuits is understood to have received first-round takeover bids valuing the UK biscuit maker "north" of GBP2bn (US$3.3bn).

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Kellogg and Burton's Biscuit Co. are reportedly among the companies who have submitted first-round bids for United Biscuits.

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Philippines food and beverage group San Miguel Corp. is weighing up a bid for UK snacks firm United Biscuits.

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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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Turkish food group Ulker saw sales and profits rise in the first half of 2014.

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Turkish snack giant Ulker has confirmed the appointment of Mohamed Elsarky as chief executive of its US-based chocolate business Godiva.

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Turkish confectioner Ulker Biskuvi has offloaded its share in three local subsidiaries - Istanbul Gida, Birlesik dis Ticaret and Rekor - to parent firm Yildiz Holding in a series of deals worth TRY36m (US$17m).

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Turkish confectioner and snack maker Ulker has reported bottom line growth of 13% to TRY51m (US$24.6m) despite negative currency effects for the first quarter of 2014.

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Swiss food manufacturer Hero Group has acquired Yildiz Holding's stake in Turkish joint venture Hero Gida.

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Japan's Nissin Food Holdings plans to start selling and manufacturing instant noodles in Turkey through its joint venture with local food giant Yildiz Holdings.

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Turkish food group Ulker aims to grow its revenues by expanding in the Middle East and Africa after attracting "record breaking" interest from investors through its share placement, a senior executive told just-food.

Kellogg CEO John Byrant has reportedly flown to London to meet with United Biscuits as part of the US company's bid to seal a deal for the UK biscuits group.