Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor, the publicly listed Retail Food Group Limited (RFG) has announced it is in the midst of a number of acquisitions which, if successful, will raise the number of food outlets it operates by around 15 per cent. RFG currently owns the Australian franchises of Donut King, Michel’s Patisserie, Brumby’s Bakeries, bb’s cafe, Esquires, and Big Dad’s Pies. The latest announcement was made by RFG’s CEO, Anthony Alford, at the company’s Annual... ...Read more »

Submissions to the ACCC closed on 31 July 2011 for parties interested in relation to the proposed acquisition by Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, the large Japanese beverage maker, of P&N Beverages Australia Pty Ltd. After their initial bid was rejected early this year, Asahi Holdings have revised their offer to P&N, limiting it to only the water and juice business. The ACCC has indicated that it will announce its findings about the proposed acquisition on 18 August 2011. If the ACCC find... ...Read more »

ASX-listed retail food brand manager and franchisor Retail Food Group (RFG) is set to reacquire the Brumby’s Bakeries master franchise territories for Western Australia and the Northern Territory just over a month after purchasing the North Queensland and New Zealand master franchise territories. “The combined Brumby’s WA and NT master franchise territories achieve the highest average weekly sales in Australia,” RFG CEO Tony Alford commented, “and, except for the relatively... ...Read more »

Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor Retail Food Group today announced that an agreement to acquire the Big Dad’s Pies franchise system. Big Dad’s Pies brings to four the number of acquisition transactions announced by the ASX-listed firm in the past month. “The Big Dad’s Pies franchise system comprises 37 South East Queensland based outlets renowned for their specialty pies produced fresh daily,” Retail Food Group CEO Tony Alford said. “The menu... ...Read more »

ASX-listed Retail Food Group has told shareholders that they expect a 10-15% increase in profit for the first half, while expansion activity continues apace with a deal to acquire a Donut King competitor and the Brumby’s master franchises in north Queensland and New Zealand. “The Brumby’s North Queensland master franchise territory represents the best performing Brumby’s territory in Australia,” RFG CEO Tony Alford said during the company’s AGM on Friday. “Further,... ...Read more »

Consumer products giant Unilever believes acquisition opportunities will present themselves in the coming year as consolidation in the CPG sector continues apace. “Times are good right now” for purchasers, CEO Paul Polman said on the sidelines of an IGD conference in London, according to Bloomberg. “There are good brands out there. We’ll see even more consolidation than before.” Mr Polman indicated that his company was likely to be a major player in consolidation as... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil is set to meet their forecasts of a record profit but are still not interested in a play for Foster’s while they are anchored with a struggling wine division. Managing Director Terry Davis yesterday indicated to delegates at an American Chamber of Commerce event that his company was looking into the prospects of acquiring smaller competitors but remained aware of their size and consequent difficulties with getting regulatory approval. “I think Graeme Samuel has come out... ...Read more »

Food and household goods manufacturer Sara Lee is mulling the potential of food and beverage acquisitions as the company fields offers for its households business. Chairman and CEO, Brenda Barnes, told Bloomberg last week that, with an extensive cost cutting process underway and the potential of a sale of their $3b International Household & Body Care business, they were in a position to expand their food and beverage business. “We now have the capability to do this,” she said of the... ...Read more »

The world’s largest yoghurt maker, Danone, has announced a 3 billion-Euro (A$5.4 b) rights offering, to secure acquisition funding as it predicts long-term market difficulties. The French-based dairy firm will use the funds to reduce their debt to position themselves for minor acquisitions and growth in emerging markets. However, they have distanced themselves from any immediate takeovers, with CFO Pierre-Andre Terisse indicating they won’t make any purchases in the “coming weeks... ...Read more »