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 »

Goodman Fielder, Australia’s largest food manufacturer, could dispose of A$720 million of assets in the wake of a strategic review that is currently underway, according to reports.The two divisions considered most likely to be under scrutiny are the $200 million commercial oils business and the $520 million New Zealand dairy division, the Australian Financial Review advised, citing the views of analysts at Merrill Lynch and ABN Amro. There were rumours in January that Parmalat had a keen interest... ...Read more »

An auction of the company at the centre of last year’s melamine dairy contamination has found a buyer, with Sanyuan buying Sanlu for 617 million yuan (A$145 million), China news agency Xinhua reported. Beijing-based dairy producer Sanyuan Group won the bidding for all valid assets and stake ownership of Sanlu Dairy Group, which was declared bankrupt last month by a Chinese court. The auction came after Tian Wenhua, the former Sanlu Chair, was jailed for life and fined $3.6 million for her role... ...Read more »

Privately owned agribusiness company Craig Mostyn Group (CMG) has acquired the fresh pork business of George Weston Foods, Watsonia. CMG Chief Executive, David Lock, said the company was looking to strengthen their PPC/Linley Valley Fresh brand. “We are 100 per cent committed to our fresh pork business, with all our pork sourced from WA producers,” Mr Lock said. “I’m delighted this has now culminated in our purchase of the fresh pork assets and business of George Weston Foods/Watsons... ...Read more »

Fonterra, which owns 43 per cent of Sanlu – the company at the centre of the melamine scandal in China, has denied reports it is looking to sell its stake, according to ABC Online. News reports have suggested the New Zealand dairy co-operative has been in talks to sell its share of the company in the wake of the scandal which has led to the death of four babies and the illness of about 54,000 infants. It has been considered a “criminal contamination”, with over 20 people arrested... ...Read more »