Franchised Food Company (FFCo) is continuing its restructure of Cold Rock Ice Creamery, moving its Queensland support office from the Gold Coast to Brisbane and appointing three new support managers to grow the brand across several states.FFCo’s business manager Michelle Sprenger said the office had moved from Arundel to Lang Parade in Milton in Brisbane’s inner west. “The new office gives us room to grow given our plans to expand by 15 stores in the next 12 months,” Ms Sprenger... ...Read more »

Wine firm Constellation Brands has announced the completion of the sale of its Gaymer Cider Company business to C&C Group PLC of Dublin. The ASX and NYSE-listed company sold their UK cider business for a purchase price of £45 million (A$80m). “The company expects to use the proceeds from the sale to reduce borrowings,” they said in a statement a week after reporting a four per cent drop in third quarter sales.  Read More →

Wine company Constellation Brands has reported a four per cent decline in sales for the third quarter and 47 per cent decline in net profit as trying conditions in the wine industry force a restructure of the business. “During the quarter, we continued to execute well against our strategic goals of generating cash, paying down debt and reducing costs,” Rob Sands, President and CEO, Constellation Brands, remarked. “U.S. branded wine net sales were impacted by continuing economic... ...Read more »

Sara Lee has announced a further step toward their plan to focus on food and beverage products with the sale of the air care business to consumer products giant Procter & Gamble. The binding offer of €320 million (A$524 million) was accepted earlier this month by Sara Lee as long as certain, unspecified conditions are met. In fiscal 2009, this business generated annual sales of approximately €260 million. “The proposed sale of our air care business is the next step in our plan to focus... ...Read more »

Patties Foods today announced a merger of their In-Home and Out-of-Home sales operations under one reporting structure, with the positions of GM Sales In-Home and GM Sales Out-of-Home being made redundant as a result. The news comes after a strategic review of the company’s sales operations. The company reported that Tim Peters would take charge of the newly combined division – accepting the role of Head of Sales, effective 18 January 2010. Mr Peters’ most recent role was with... ...Read more »

Sara Lee has reported a binding bid of almost A$2.2 billion (€1.275 billion) from consumer products giant Unilever to acquire its global body care and European detergents businesses. Sara Lee announced plans to divest the business, which includes brands like Radox, earlier this year to allow for a heightened focus on their food divisions. They are still looking for a buyer on the remainder of their household care division. The proposed transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions... ...Read more »

Foster’s Group Limited yesterday announced the appointment of Andrew Leyden to the newly created senior leadership role of Chief Information Officer. The news follows last Wednesday’s appointment of Donna Watt to another new role, that of Transformation Director. Both began in their new positions yesterday. Ms Watt, who has 16 years of experience in large scale transformation programs, will play a key role in their extensive restructure plan following a major review of operations last... ...Read more »

Sara Lee Corporation, famous for its Moccona and Sara Lee brands, is contemplating the sale of their International Household & Body Care business after receiving expressions of interest. They advised that consideration was being given to a divestment of the business, which includes grocery brands in Australia such as Ambi-Pur, White King, Radox and Kiwi. Sara Lee began a restructure of their company in 2005, which has already led to divestitures and spin-offs worth US$3.8 billion. “Our... ...Read more »

Foster’s has announced the outcomes from the ten month review of its Global Wine business, with no plans for a sale or a demerger. Background on the Review Foster’s wine review was initiated in April 2008 “as a result of unsatisfactory performance following the acquisitions of Beringer and Southcorp, a period which had seen quality of earnings deteriorate, competitive positions weaken and Foster’s failing to achieve required returns from its investment in wine.” Since... ...Read more »

Consumer goods giant Unilever has reported 2008 represented the fourth consecutive year of accelerating organic sales growth, to 7.4%, although this time they were primarily price driven as volumes remained flat. Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, remained optimistic about the future with plans in place to counter market difficulties. The company has now completed the transformation program specifically associated with disposals, their CFO advised, following the sale of the... ...Read more »