Ireland: Ornua to acquire FJ Need
Irish based dairy group Ornua has agreed to acquire FJ Need for an undisclosed amount . British based FJ Need supplies Irish and British cheese and cheese ingredients to the food manufacturing and foodservice sectors. Ornua is considered Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products with brands such as Kerrygold, Beo Milk and Pilgrims choice. The […]
Germany: Rapunzel Naturkost buys Zwergenwiese
Rapunzel Naturkost, the German natural and organic foods firm, has announced that it is acquiring Zwergenwiese, a producer of organic vegetarian spreads, sauces and other products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded over 30 years ago and located in Legau (Bavaria), Germany, Zwergenwiese produces a range of over 100 organic vegetarian foods, including […]
Italy: Campari acquires Bulldog Gin
Italian spirits company Gruppo Campari has announced the acquisition of Bulldog London Dry Gin, an independently owned brand, for $55 million (€50.9 million) plus working capital and assumed liabilities for $3.4 million. Campari has been distributing the premium gin since 2014 through its own distribution channels as part of a five-year agreement, with the option […]
Netherlands: Heineken’s DB Breweries to acquire Tuatara Brewing Company
Tuatara Brewing Company, a New Zealand has been acquired by Heineken-owned DB Breweries. Tuatara will continue to product its beer at its current facilities and other beers. Tuatara brewing was established in the year of 2000 based in Paraparaumu, and grew from a small operation to one of the larges craft breweries in New Zealand. The company […]
UK: Reckitt Benckiser in talks to buy Mead Johnson
British consumer goods multinational, Reckitt Benckiser is said to be in advanced negotiation to take over US infant formula Mead Johnson in a $16.7 billion deal, according to a report in Reuters. Infant nutrition company Mead Johnson is known for its Enfamil brand and is considered to bethe world’s number two infant formula maker with a large […]
USA: Sovos Brands acquires Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods
Advent International, a large global private equity investor, has announced that Sovos Brands, a new food and beverage company, has completed the acquisition of Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Food, a frozen Italian food firm. Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods, described as a family-owned and operated business with a passion for quality and talent for making authentic Italian prepared meals, […]
USA: JM Smucker to build new facility in Colorado
The US food manufacturer JM Smucker has announced plans to build an additional Smucker’s Uncrustables sandwiches manufacturing plant in Longmont, Colorado by 2019. The Longmont facility, which will be built in two phases, will be supported by a total investment of $340 million. During phase one, $200 million will be invested to build and operate the new plant […]
UK: Weetabix to invest £30 million in the UK
British cereal firm Weetabix has announced that it will invest £30 million ($38 million) across its UK manufacturing sites in Burton Latimer and Corby. The investment, claimed to have been made possible by Weetabix’s market share for cereals and drinks rising 1.1% in the past year, will allow Weetabix to create new facilities in Burton Latimer and Corby by […]
Ireland: Diageo to build distillery to sell premium blended Irish whiskey
Diageo plc, the leading alcoholic drinks multinational, has announced a plan to build a new distillery to produce a new “premium blended” Irish whiskey called Roe & Co. Claiming to have identified an opportunity in premium whiskey, the UK firm is set to invest a total of €25 million (£18.6 million) in the new facility in the former power station at St. […]
Ian Wright CBE, Director General
Food and Drink Federation
Gama spoke to Ian Wright MBE, Director General, Food and Drink Federation. What key trends do you expect to shape food and drinks innovation in the UK in 2017? Healthy eating will remain a key trend this year and I believe we’ll continue to see popular products reformulated with reduced sugar and calorie content. This, I […]