DuPont’s €4.9bn acquisition of Danish probiotics and sweeteners specialist Danisco this week is vindication of the increasing economic viability of functional foods, according to analysts.
German food ingredients giant Südzucker has reported ‘sound’ third quarter results despite lower yearly sugar yields, with profits boosted by the success of its special products division.
More deals in the mould of Danisco-DuPont could be feasible, as analysts predict other ingredient firms with small bio-business, such as CSM, will generate acquisition interest.
Gourmet and specialty chocolate, and emerging markets, drove sales volume growth for Barry Callebaut in Q1, but Western Europe and the US are still showing mixed results.
Soy ingredients company Solae opened a food application centre in Shanghai yesterday, promising to cut product development times for Asia-Pacific customers.
Danish bioscience firm Chr. Hansen is raising its revenue predictions by 11-13 per cent for 2010/11 after what it describes as “strong growth” in its first quarter from the September 1, 2010 to the end of November.
Royal DSM says it stands to make €129m if it accepts DuPont’s bid and sells its 4.95 per cent stake in Danish supplier Danisco, but has not stated it would accept the offer.
Cargill Texturizing Solutions has made a number of upgrades to its hydrocolloids plant in Baupte, northwest France, as it works to improve efficiency and working conditions.
DuPont expects to become a ‘premier specialty food ingredients provider’ as a result of acquiring Danisco, and expects it to be particularly complementary to its Solae soy protein business.
UK consumers are increasingly keen on ethnic cuisine, but the market in mainland Europe remains ‘fragmented’, according to a new report from market research firm Keynote.
Danisco is to be snapped up by DuPont for $6.3bn, in a deal Dupont says could create a global leader in industrial biotech – and help drive science-based solutions to the world’s food and fuel challenges.
London-based Bompass & Parr says its flavour-changing chewing gum that brings Willy Wonka’s famous three-course meal confection closer to reality could be on sale within 12 months.
Indian multinational Jain Irrigation has acquired a controlling stake in UK-based food ingredient supplier Sleaford Quality Foods for a sum believed to be around £10m.
Prof Dr. Karl-Heinz Maurer has been appointed as AB Enzyme’s director of business development, focusing on the company’s 2nd generation biofuels from biomass initiatives.
Change4Life healthy food vouchers are just the ticket for food industry marketers. But changing eating habits requires consistent, co-ordinated policy – not hand-outs to ease the population’s post-Christmas conscience.
Frutarom has agreed to acquire the industrial savoury spice division of Scandinavian company Rieber & Son ASA for approximately US$4.2m (25m Norwegian Krona), the company has said.
UK poultry and ingredients firm Rectory is preparing for a new growth spurt with a move into a central Manchester location and a corporate restructuring to create Rectory Food Group as a holding vehicle for its divisions and brands.
PZ Cussons has spied opportunities in edible oils and spreads in Nigeria, and has established a two-pronged joint venture with Wilmar International to ensure the necessary ingredients will be available at the right cost and quality.
Stern-Wywiol Gruppe has set up a new company to tap opportunities in the Brazilian food and beverage industry, offering initially flour and bakery ingredients from its Mühlenchemie and DeutscheBack businesses.
Flavourings supplier Symrise claims it is now in a leading position for serving local clients in bakery and confectionery goods in the Middle East after establishing its own manufacturing site in Dubai.
Danisco has nudged up its full year outlook after a strong Q2, and is cautiously positive that mitigation measures will protect its enablers division from the raw material hikes on the horizon.
Potato starch manufacturer Avebe and BASF are teaming up in a new biotechnology bid to bring farmers modern and fungal resistant starch potato varieties.
Cargill is to acquire Indonesian starch and sweetener company PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, deal designed to help it better serve its customers in the Asia Pacific region.
Walmart has announced the closure of its office in Moscow, opened just last year, as it does not see any suitable acquisition opportunities on the horizon.
Confectionery giant Nestlé has officially opened a (USD) $136m manufacturing facility in Dubai which is set to become the third largest Kit Kat plant worldwide.
Clean label functional starch supplier Ulrick and Short expects to harvest and produce its first ingredients from sweet potato in early 2011; and is investigating new nutritional combo offerings.
DSM Special Products and DSM IP Assets look set to be sold to equity investor Sun Capital as the European Commission has given competition approval with no strings attached.
PepsiCo has revealed its intention to buy 66 per cent of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods for $3.8bn with plans to acquire the remaining shares following completion of the initial deal.
Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut is still aiming to dispose of its consumer confectionery unit, Stollwerck, but such a divesture is not urgent, according to the chairman of the board of the industrial chocolate supplier.
Danisco has completed the next phase of its cultures capacity expansion with the opening of modernised and enlarged facilities in Epernon, France, allowing it to reduce response times for DVI cultures.
The owners of Unifine Food & Bake Ingredients are seeking a buyer for the pastry ingredients supplier, with Royal Cosun saying it has retained an investment house to conduct a “comprehensive review of all strategic options.”
Cognis is anticipating record results in full year 2010, as higher demand, better capacity utilisation and a portfolio shift towards high-value products has delivered a bumper set of results for the first nine months.
Tate & Lyle has agreed the sale of its molasses business to W&R Barnett for £67 million cash, a deal that is consistent with its strategy to dispose of its bulk ingredient operations and focus instead on specialty ingredients.
Unilever has just launched its very ambitious sustainable living plan, which includes a pledge to source all agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020. FoodNavigator.com speaks to VP of sustainability Karen Hamilton about how the company will go...
New, mainly natural, products with higher than average margins have helped flavour and specialty ingredient firm Frutarom to widen its overall margin performance in the third quarter.
While the proposed merger of Northern Foods and Greencore will inevitably mean job losses at both companies, it is unlikely to result in scores of factory closures, City analysts have predicted.
Galam Group has signed an agreement with Czech company VUC Services to develop new liquid sweetener blends, as part of its strategy to spread its reach into new European markets.
“Strong organic growth” has led Kerry Ingredients to acquire US ingredients firm Agilex, as its flavours and ingredients business grew 6 per cent relative to the first nine months of 2009.
The three top reasons for buying a particular bread brand are consistent quality, health, and value for money, according to a Novozymes consumer survey which investigated the habits of 3794 consumers in the UK, France, German and Sweden.
The Hochdorf Group has relocated its wheat germ processing from Steinhausen to Hochdorf after space was created at its headquarters by the termination of certain packaging activities last year.
Investment in research and development, including new product development, is a key growth strategy in the food industry, but how does the current investment in research compare to investments in advertising current products.
