France: Cristal Union acquires Eridania
Cristal Union, the French sugar processor and owner of the Daddy brand, has announced that it has reached a deal to acquire Italian sugar and sweetener firm Eridania through its subsisdiary Cristal Co. Eridania, in which Cristal Union has held a 49% stake since March 2011, is Italy’s leading distributor of sugar and sweeteners. The […]
Spain: Mercadona to expand to Portugal
Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona has announced its intention to move forward with its plan for global expansion by entering the Portuguese market. The company’s goal is to open the first four stores in the country by 2019. Mercadona estimates that the initial investment will be in the order €25 million ($27 million) and the expansion […]
Netherlands: Wessanen buys Mrs Crimble’s
Wessanen, the Dutch health foods firm, has announced a deal to buy British gluten-free specialist Mrs Crimble’s, taking the group’s total number of acquisitions since December to four. Within the last eight months, Wessanen has also announced the acquisition of French tea and coffee firm IneoBio, the Dutch tea brand Piramide, and non-dairy drinks firm Abafoods. […]
Portugal: Cerealis launches Milaneza Wok Pasta
Portuguese pasta manufacturer Cerealis has recently launched a new range of pasta under the Milaneza brand that is designed to be cooked in woks rather than in a traditional saucepan. According to the company wesbite, Milaneza Wok Pasta does not require pre-cooking so it can be added directly to the wok. The consumer needs only […]
France: Danone in “exclusive negotiations” for stake in Michel et Augustin
Danone, the French multinational, has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a minority interest in food and drinks firm Michel et Augustin, alongside Artemis and Michel et Augustin’s founders. Launched in 2004, Michel et Augustin markets a range of biscuits, dairy products, fresh desserts and beverages. The firm’s sales in 2015 totalled around €40 million ($44 […]
UK: Nairn’s to open new gluten-free facility
Scotland-based bakery firm Nairn’s is to open a new gluten-free manufacturing operation in Newtongrange in October of this year, according to a report in Scottish Business News Network. The facility is being built with a £6 million ($8 million) investment as the firm’s current site has reportedly reached capacity, allowing no room for future growth. […]
Germany: Fritz launches RTD mate tea
Fritz Kulturguter, a Hamburg, Germany based firm known for its primarily cola-based soft drinks, has expanded into ready to drink tea with a new carbonated mate tea launch, according to a report in About Drinks. Fritz Mate Tea is described as a spicy and smoky-tasting vegan ready to drink tea based on green mate extract […]
Portugal: Mimosa launches half-yoghurt, half-jelly dessert
Portuguese dairy company Mimosa has released a layered product that is said to be half jelly and half yoghurt, creating a new category within its range of yoghurt products. According to a report in Distribuicao Hoje, the new product is described as “double layered non-fat yoghurt and jelly” and aims to constitute “the good part […]
UK: Mars launches trail mixes based on confectionery brands
Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats, the EU confectionery arm of the food multinational, is launching new trail mixes under its established chocolate brands, according to reports in Talking Retail and FoodBev. The new line is described as comprising M&M’s with raisins, cranberries and peanuts, Bounty with chocolate pieces, coconut, pineapple, raisins and sultanas, and Galaxy with chocolate pieces, […]
Italy: Nestle to sell confectionery brands
Nestle, the FMCG multinational, has announced that it is rearranging its confectionery business in Italy, including the sale of six of its brands to the Italian-based sweets firm Fida. The brands changing hands are Rosanna, Fondenti, Glacia, Fruttallegre, Lemoncella and Spicchi. The deal comes only three months after Nestle announced plans for a €60 million […]