Italy: Pernod Ricard takes full ownership of Italicus
Pernod Ricard, the French wine and spirits multinational, has acquired the remaining shares in aperitif brand Italicus following its initial investment in March 2020. Launched in 2016 by mixologist Giuseppe Gallo, Italicus is a 20% abv super-premium bergamot-infused aperitif made with botanicals such as Sicilian citrus and Calabrian bergamot oranges. It is distilled with lavender, […]
UK: Unilever puts Colman’s up for sale
Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant, is seeking a buyer for its Colman’s mustard brand ahead of a planned deal to offload the bulk of its food operations to US food group McCormick. The disposal plan has been initiated to proactively address potential competition concerns from regulators, as McCormick already owns the French’s mustard brand. […]
Spain: Patatas Melendez invests €50 million in plant transformation
Patatas Melendez, the Spanish fresh potato producer, has invested more than €50 million ($56 million) in the technological transformation of its Melendez 4.0 production facility in Medina del Campo, Spain. The investment has been allocated to incorporate automation systems, robotics and data analytics across potato selection, packaging, and marketing processes. According to the company, the […]
USA: Sweetmore Bakeries acquires Fantasy Baking
Sweetmore Bakeries, a Chicago-based family of specialty bakeries, has completed the acquisition of Fantasy Baking, a manufacturer of private label and branded sweet baked products. The acquisition marks Sweetmore Bakeries’ sixth facility overall and its first manufacturing site on the West Coast, extending its footprint across the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West. Following Shore […]
Austria: Obersteirische Molkerei plans integration with Berglandmilch
Obersteirische Molkerei (OM), the Austrian dairy co-operative, is in advanced talks to integrate its operational dairy business into rival co-operative Berglandmilch. According to a letter sent to suppliers, other business sectors of the co-operative, including its hardware stores, forestry and agricultural technology divisions, will not be affected by the restructuring. The management and supervisory boards […]
Malaysia: Allied Blenders and Distillers enters local whisky production
Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD), the Indian spirits company, has entered Malaysia through an asset-light co-bottling partnership to manufacture and distribute its Officer’s Choice Blue whisky locally. The agreement marks ABD’s first overseas local production partnership and is designed to facilitate market entry with limited capital outlay. Under the arrangement, ABD will collaborate with an […]
India: Swara Baby Products plans manufacturing facility
Swara Baby Products, the Indian hygiene products manufacturer, plans to invest 558.47 crore INR ($66.7 million) to establish a new manufacturing facility at Pithampur in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The proposed facility will add an annual capacity of 1,464 million baby diapers, 252 million adult diapers and 192 million sanitary napkins. Following the expansion, the company’s […]
USA: Anheuser-Busch to invest $13 million in Baldwinsville brewery
Anheuser-Busch, the US beverage manufacturer and AB InBev subsidiary, has announced a $13 million investment in its Baldwinsville facility in New York. According to the company, the investment is designed to meet growing consumer demand for Michelob Ultra, described as the top-selling and fastest-growing beer in the USA, and add new production capabilities for Cutwater, […]
Japan: Equity fund KKR to acquire Ci Flavors
Funds managed by US private equity firm KKR have signed definitive agreements to acquire Japanese beauty and lifestyle brand platform Ci Flavors from existing shareholders, including founder Yusaku Horiuchi and private equity firm L Catterton. Horiuchi and Ci Flavors representative director and CEO Yoshiaki Okura will both invest alongside KKR in the transaction. Established in […]
USA: Philip Morris International enters manufacturing deal with Altria
Philip Morris International (PMI), the tobacco and nicotine products manufacturer, has entered into a contract manufacturing arrangement for combustible cigarettes with Philip Morris USA, an operating company of fellow tobacco and nicotine company Altria, through its non-US affiliates. According to the company, the collaboration aims to leverage the respective combustible cigarette manufacturing capabilities and expertise […]