UK: Aldi launches ‘supermarket-first’ freezer-ready confectionery range
Aldi, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket chain, has launched a range of hybrid chocolate treats under its Choceur private label. The new Choceur Freeze Me Bites, priced at £2.29 ($3.11) for a 140g pack, are promoted as a ‘supermarket-first’ innovation. The bites can be consumed as standard chocolate or frozen for four hours to create a […]
Italy: Fornaio del Casale acquires three food firms
Fornaio del Casale, the Italian bakery producer trading as Gecchele, has acquired three Italian snack and confectionery companies to form a new group named Equipe Del Casale. The acquisitions of Castelfood, Figuli and Dolciaria Ponte Vecchio mark the first stage of a ‘buy-and-build’ strategy led by the Italian private equity firm Aksìa SGR, which acquired […]
Brazil: J.Macedo inaugurates new industrial complex in Horizonte
J.Macedo, the Brazilian food manufacturer, has officially opened its new industrial complex in Horizonte, Ceara. The project represents a total investment of R$ 300$ million ($60 million), according to the company. The new facility is intended to streamline production and distribution across the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. Named the Roberto Proenca de Macedo […]
Brazil: Ambev expands premium beer production
Ambev, the Brazilian brewing company, is investing R$300 million ($60 million) to expand its production of premium beer in the state of Maranhao. The investment is specifically directed towards increasing capacity for the Spaten brand at its Cervejaria Equatorial facility in Sao Luis. According to a report by Supervarejo, the expansion transforms the plant into […]
Netherlands: Heineken sells DR Congo operations
Heineken, the Dutch brewing company, has announced the sale of its shareholding in Brasseries, Limonaderies et Malteries SA (Bralima), its operating company in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The stake has been acquired by ELNA Holdings Ltd, a Mauritius-based investment firm, which will assume full responsibility for Bralima’s operations, including production, distribution and its […]
USA: Unilever to acquire Gruns
Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant, has signed an agreement to acquire Gruns, a USA-based producer of whole-food gummy supplements. The acquisition of Gruns, a vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) company founded in 2023, marks a further expansion of Unilever’s Wellbeing business. According to the company, Gruns is a leading player in the USA greens […]
UK: Lidl to open more than 50 new stores
Lidl, the discount supermarket chain, has announced plans to open more than 50 new stores across Great Britain over the next 12 months. The expansion is part of a £600 million ($750 million) investment in British infrastructure aimed at strengthening the company’s store network and unlocking regional growth. The move is expected to create approximately […]
Canada: CH Guenther & Son acquires Les Aliments Mejicano
CH Guenther & Son (CHG), the US-based commercial baking and food manufacturing company, has announced the acquisition of Les Aliments Mejicano, a Canadian producer of flour tortillas. Based near Montreal, Quebec, Les Aliments Mejicano manufactures a variety of flour tortillas for retail, foodservice and private-label customers. According to the company, the acquisition is intended to […]
USA: Philip Morris International to close Alabama cigar facility
Philip Morris International (PMI), the global tobacco and nicotine manufacturer, has announced plans to close its cigar production plant in Dothan (AL). The move is expected to result in the loss of 54 jobs, according to reports in Nicotine Insider. Operations at the facility are slated to cease by mid-2026, marking the end of the […]
USA: Valley Milk, Rizo family form Francisco Foods to acquire Rizo-Lopez assets
Valley Milk, a California-based dairy ingredient producer, has partnered with the Rizo family to establish Francisco Foods LLC, a joint venture that will acquire the assets of Rizo-Lopez Foods out of bankruptcy. The newly formed entity is set to take control of Rizo-Lopez’s production facility in Modesto (CA), alongside its portfolio of brands, which includes […]