News

Reeling from sales declines, Masterfoods USA is yanking underperforming “hobby” brands,slashing its estimated $300 m in promotion spending to retailers, and putting the savings into advertising. According to TNS Media ... SG

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company on Monday announced the appointment of the first chief marketing officer in the company s 115-year history. The company said Martin Schlatter, 40, in his ... SG

A its annual meeting of shareholders, Bill Wrigley,Jr said that the newly required expensing of stock options will impact Wrigley earnings by approximately 11 cents per share in 2006. He ... SG

Groupe Danone said it plans to sell its LU biscuit factory near Perigueux, in the Dordogne region of France, to DPI, a food company owned by Alain Teot, confirming a ... SG

The floral and gift basket delivery company,1-800-FLOWERS. com,is buying the Fannie May candy brand from Alpine Confections Inc.The company will pay $85 m. The acquisition includes Fannie May, Harry London ... SG

Mexico’s largest baking concern, Grupo Bimbo SA, has informed the Mexican Stock Exchange that it had struck a deal to acquire the Chinese subsidiary of Spanish Baker Panrico SA for ... SG

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company announced the early retirement of Ron Waters (54) as the Company s Chief Operating Officer to pursue other endeavors. His responsibilities will be re-aligned within ... SG

Barry Callebaut,the world’s leading manufacturer of highquality cocoa and chocolate products, announced its halfyear results for the period ended February 28, 2006. Operating profit (EBIT) strongly increased by 10.8% to ... SG

Cadbury Schweppes plc, London, announced that it intends to sell its Monkhill business, which principally manufactures sugar confectionery and popcorn for the UK market. It is intended that the sale ... SG

Danone has entered into an agreement for the sale of Griffin s Foods to Pacific Equity Partners for around NZ$385m (€184,6m). It is selling the biscuit and snack business in ... SG

The British food company Northern Foods publish the second profit warning in two months as consumers shun biscuits,pastries and pizza.The manufacturer of Fox’s biscuits - among other products – said ... SG

The Cologne chocolate museum and Chocoladenfabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG,Kilchberg, signed a production and marketing cooperation agreement on March 23rd 2006. Under the terms of the new agreement Lindt & ... SG

Swiss concern Nestlé SA has reported an organic growth of 6.2% results in record sales of CHF 91.1 bn in year 2005. Net profit increases 20.7% to record CHF 8.0 ... SG

According to the British online-service just-food, for the first time, Cadbury Schweppes has overtaken Mars to become the world’s number one chocolate manufacturer. In terms of sales Cadbury have got ... SG

The Swiss sugar confectionery industry reported sales volume growth in 2005 of 4.8%, up to 25,970 tonnes worth CHF 300 m, an increase of 4.4% compared with the ... SG