Ireland’s Kerry Group yesterday revealed it is in exclusive talks to buy Cargill’s flavours business. The Ireland-based company, which owns consumer brands like Wall’s sausages but derives over two-thirds of its revenue from food ingredients, said a deal would “advance” its ability to serve food and drink manufacturers. “Kerry is a leading global food ingredients and flavours provider and a leader in development and delivery of consumer-preferred taste solutions.... ...Read more »

Early last Thursday, Greenpeace activists whipper-snippered a genetically modified wheat experiment on the outskirts of Canberra. Two women, one of them described as a mother concerned for the health of her family, wore protective clothing and set up a protective cordon before destroying the CSIRO plantation. “This is about the protection of our health, the protection of our environment and the protection of our daily bread,” said Greenpeace Food campaigner Laura Kelly in defence of the sabotage. Her... ...Read more »

The public has only been given a month to comment on an issues paper guiding the formation of a much-needed national food plan – a period which is inadequate and must be extended, according to advocacy group the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance (SFFA). The Alliance, a network which describes itself as “advocating for a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable food system in the Sydney region and beyond”, said it will be making a submission by the August 5 deadline but says... ...Read more »

New Zealand dairy group Fonterra has appointed former Friesland Foods executive Theo Spierings as its CEO.The dairy co-operative said today (14 July) that Spierings would replace departing CEO Andrew Ferrier from 26 September. Ferrier announced plans to resign last March. Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said Spierings would bring 25 years of knowledge of the global dairy industry to the company. “Spierings has a wealth of experience in managing dairy businesses across Asia, Latin... ...Read more »

The Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, industry body for the food technology industry, has announced the election of Mrs Jo Davey as President of the Institute, a veteran of the Australian dairy industry. “Jo brings to the position a wealth of experience in the Australian food industry through her participation in numerous facets of the industry including leadership roles in food industry associations and industry technical and research committees,” said a release from... ...Read more »

Cargill has pledged that the palm oil products it supplies in markets including Europe and the US will be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) or originate from smallholder growers by 2015.The US agribusiness said the commitment also covered customers in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It added that the pledge would be extended across all of Cargill’s oil and trading businesses to cover 100% of its palm oil products and all customers worldwide, including China and India,... ...Read more »

Lactalis has claimed it has become the world’s largest maker of dairy products, after the French company sealed the takeover of Italian rival Parmalat, owner of Australian milk brand Paul’s. After the deadline for Lactalis’s EUR3.4bn (US$4.8bn) offer for Parmalat passed this afternoon, the company said it had secured 83.3% of the business. With the takeover of Parmalat, Lactalis has an estimated turnover of EUR15bn and has become the “worldwide leader in dairy products”,... ...Read more »

Australian cheese manufacturer Bega Cheese has confirmed that it is in the final stages of preparing a $35 million IPO to list on the Australian Securities Exchange. Bega plans to issue a 15% stake in the company with shares sold at $2 each. The issue will value the company at $254 million. David Williams from Kidder Williams, an advisor working on the IPO, told just-food yesterday that the company plans to release a prospectus next week. He said that cheese products manufactured or cut, packed and... ...Read more »

Chinese food group Bright Food is reportedly in talks to buy Australian branded food manufacturer and importer Manassen Foods.Manassen Foods sells its own brands – including dairy products under the Margaret River label – and acts as a distributor for products owned by the likes of Arla Foods, Premier Foods plc and Groupe Bel, with a portfolio including Babybel, Laughing Cow, Jelly Belly, Carr’s, McVities, Ryvita, Bovril, Globus, Sharwood’s, Castello Cheese and Lemnos Fetta. A... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced that it will not oppose the proposed merger of the meat processing operations of Teys Bros (Holdings) Pty Ltd and Cargill Beef Australia. “The ACCC formed the view that the proposed merger would be unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any of the markets examined,” ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said. Cargill operates two abattoirs and a feedlot in New South Wales which supply both the domestic and export beef markets,... ...Read more »