The Consumer Goods Forum has unveiled a new set of industry-wide resolutions designed to promote health and wellness. On the first day of its annual global summit in Barcelona today (15 June), the Forum committed to improving access to healthier products, providing “transparent, fact-based” information to allow consumers to make informed dietary decisions and promoting educational programmes that raise awareness of healthy lifestyles. The collaborative work to promote these resolutions... ...Read more »

General Mills said today yesterday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase a controlling stake in French yoghurt maker Yoplait for EUR810m (US$1.15bn).Under the agreement with Yoplait’s current owners, private-equity group PAI Partners and French dairy co-operative Sodiaal, General Mills with acquire a 51% stake in Yoplait and a 50% stake in a related entity that holds the worldwide rights to the Yoplait brand. Sodiaal, which founded Yoplait, will hold the remaining interest... ...Read more »

Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), a joint venture between General Mills and Nestlé, plans to invest CHF35m (US$39.8m) over the next two years to build a breakfast cereal factory in Malaysia. The factory, which is due to begin production in 2012, will manufacture the Australian-developed Milo cereal, Koko Krunch, Honey Stars, Cookie Crisp and Koko Krunch Duo for sale in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. Located in Chembong, Negeri Sembilan, the 6,500 metre square factory will enable the... ...Read more »

With the Easter bunny looming large, comedian and Jenny Craig ambassador Magda Szubanski, who has shed 25kg with the program, offered her tips this Easter for avoiding overindulging in the season’s biggest temptation – chocolate. “The Jenny Craig program has taught me some nifty tricks which allow me to socialize and have fun but still keep the weight off,” Magda said. “Easter can still be fun. You don’t need to completely avoid sweet treats such as chocolate, just learn to consume... ...Read more »

General Mills yesterday booked a 1% increase in year-to-date earnings and sales and insisted that it expects growth to accelerate in the final quarter of the year.For the first nine months of fiscal 2011, General Mills said net sales increased to US$11.24bn, with a 2% rise in volumes slightly offset by a 1% dip in price realisation and mix. Foreign exchange had “no material effect” on sales, the company added. Segment operating profit totalled $2.27bn, also up 1% on last year’s... ...Read more »

General Mills is reportedly set to buy the 50% stake held in dairy business Yoplait by private-equity firm PAI Partners. According to reports in Le Figaro, The Wall Street Journal and from the Bloomberg news agency, General Mills, which has held the US licence to Yoplait since 1977, is set to emerge as the winner in what had become a fiercely competitive race to buy PAI’s half of the French firm. The reports said a deal between General Mills and PAI values Yoplait at EUR1.6bn (US$2.24bn). Citing... ...Read more »

Private-equity firm PAI Partners, which is in talks to sell its half of Yoplait, has said it wants to find the “right partner” for Sodiaal, the French dairy co-op that plans to keep its stake in the yoghurt business. PAI has received nine offers for its 50% stake in Yoplait and, while the buyout house has refused to name the identity of the bidders, reports have linked the likes of Nestle, General Mills and Lactalis to the race. There were also reports this week that claimed China’s... ...Read more »

Private-equity firm PAI Partners has reportedly received nine bids for its 50% stake in global yoghurt business Yoplait. According to a report in French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche yesterday (6 February), Nestlé, General Mills and Lactalis are among the bidders for PAI’s stake. French cheese maker Groupe Bel, Mexican dairy processor Grupo Lala and China’s Bright Food are also each said to have submitted an offer. Three private-equity firms – Lion Capital, Axa Private Equity... ...Read more »

Cereal Partners Worldwide, a global joint venture of Nestlé SA and General Mills Inc, announced today that 44 of the company’s Australian cereal brands – including Uncle Toby’s, Cheerios and Milo cereals – will carry the Heart Foundation Tick in 2011. Only two of the cereal brands, which are marketed by Nestlé in Australia, missed out on the tick – a new achievement for the category. “CPW is delighted that almost all of our cereals have earned the Heart Foundation... ...Read more »

General Mills has said that its new Australian acquisition Pasta Master is “a great fit” for the US food group’s operations in the country. The company announced on Tuesday that it had struck a deal to buy Pasta Master, which makes Italian meals, pasta and sauces. The sale, which is expected to complete in March, includes the Victorian business and a production facility in Bendigo. General Mills’ Australia and New Zealand division forms part of the firm’s international... ...Read more »