Latest food industry news & insights

Pladis, the international snacks arm of Turkey's Yildiz Holding and home to brands including McVitie's and Godiva, said today (21 September) CEO Cem Karakas has decided to step down with immediate effect.

Greenyard focusing on profits, M&A off near-term agenda 21 Sep 2018

Greenyard has struck new banking deals as the Belgium-based vegetables supplier focuses on improving its balance sheet and profitability in the wake of a listeria recall that hit the business this summer.

France's Bel plans to cut domestic jobs 21 Sep 2018

Bel, the France-based food manufacturer behind brands including The Laughing Cow cheese and GoGo Squeez fruit snacks, has drawn up plans to cut jobs in its home market.

Canada's Agropur to shut Quebec plant 21 Sep 2018

Canadian dairy cooperative Agropur has announced the closure of its Saint-Damase plant in Quebec's Montérégie region.

Italy's Gruppo Orsero eyes banana trade expansion after Spanish acquisition 21 Sep 2018

Italian fruit and vegetable importer Gruppo Orsero has acquired Spanish wholesaler Sevimpor for EUR1.65m.

Atria invests in local plants to boost poultry output, exports 21 Sep 2018

Finland-based meat processor Atria is investing EUR3.4m (US$4m) in two local plants as it seeks to increase production of poultry products and open up further opportunities for exports.

Tayto's Real Pork Crackling buy in competition spotlgiht 21 Sep 2018

Tayto Group's acquisition of fellow UK snacks group The Real Pork Crackling Company is being looked at by the country's competition watchdog.

Barry Callebaut-Burton's Biscuit deal comes under UK spotlight 21 Sep 2018

The intended acquisition by B2B giant Barry Callebaut of chocolate manufacturing assets of UK-based Burton's Biscuit Co. is being looked at by the country's competition watchdog.

Seachill growth leads to new jobs at UK site 21 Sep 2018

New Products - Unilever brings Ben & Jerry's Moo-phoria ice cream to UK; Nestle breakfast cereals go organic; Quirch Foods unveils frozen brand Mambo; PepsiCo launches Kurkure sub-brand in India 21 Sep 2018

UK-based seafood business Seachill, a subsidiary of food manufacturer Hilton Food Group, is creating 120 jobs at its plant in the north-east fishing town of Grimsby.

just-food.com

This week, the more eye-catching new products announced to market include Nestle taking some of its breakfast cereals into the organic category, high-protein, no-added sugar yogurts from Chobani in Australia and the first chilled milk product from the UK's Good Hemp.

Welch's names ex-Schwan's exec Trevor Bynum as next CEO 21 Sep 2018

Lucy Britner

US food and beverage group Welch's has appointed a new president and CEO.

Danone joins Sonoma Brands in funding round for kids meal start-up Yumble 20 Sep 2018

The investment arm of Danone has teamed up with US investor and food incubator Sonoma Brands to provide funding for kids' meal delivery start-up Yumble.

Chobani founder adamant will never sell the business, but open to IPO 20 Sep 2018

Hamdi Ulukaya, the entrepreneur behind the innovative Greek-style yogurt business Chobani, says he would never consider selling the US company he founded more than a decade ago to a global food heavyweight after a number of approaches in recent years.

"Micro-influencers" can drive brand awareness - TrendHunter 20 Sep 2018

Lucy Britner

Brand owners should look to micro-influencers in the social media realm in order to drive consumer awareness, the president of consumer trends specialist TrendHunter has recommended.

Ferrero ads banned in UK as deemed to breach advertising rules 20 Sep 2018

Confectionery giant Ferrero has been investigated by the UK's advertising watchdog over a range of adverts for its Kinder chocolate brand which have been banned on the grounds they breached rules promoting foods for children that are high in fat, salt or sugar.

Nestle explores strategic options for skin health division 20 Sep 2018

Nestlé is exploring strategic options for its skin health division as the Swiss food giant "sharpens" its focus on food, beverage and nutritional health products.

Fairtrade warns developing nation food producers at risk from no-deal Brexit 19 Sep 2018

Certification body The Fairtrade Foundation has warned that if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal - a so-called no-deal Brexit - it could lead to an increase in the cost of trade with developing nations.

Confectioner Halloren to install Ralf Wilfer as CEO following sale of Weibler subsidiary 19 Sep 2018

German chocolate maker Halloren Schokoladenfabrik is installing Ralf Wilfer as its new chief executive from the start of next month, a matter of weeks after the company sold its confectionery subsidiary Weibler Confiserie.

Food safety pressure group hits out as Lactalis re-opens salmonella-linked plant 19 Sep 2018