French dairy group Lactalis has submitted an offer for the entire share capital of Yoplait. The yoghurt and milk dessert maker is jointly owned by private-equity firm, PAI Partners and French co-operative dairy group, Sodiaal. In Australia, Yoplait is manufactured and marketed under license to National Foods. Last week, PAI Partners’ chairman and CEO, Lionel Zinsou, said his firm’s 50% stake in Yoplait would be put up for sale “in the coming days.” However, there is uncertainty... ...Read more »

The head of PAI Partners has said the private-equity firm’s 50% stake in French yoghurt maker Yoplait will be put up for sale in the coming days.Lionel Zinsou, chairman and CEO of PAI Partners, told French radio station Radio BFM that the stake will go on the block “in the next few days”. He revealed that PAI had already received “a good deal of interest” in the Yoplait stake from trade buyers but did not reveal the names of the suitors. “It could be a French group,... ...Read more »

General Mills’ dispute over its US licence for the yoghurt brand Yoplait could take years to resolve, the US food giant’s chief executive has said. The company has filed for arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in New York after Sodima, the licencing arm of Sodiaal, one of Yoplait’s owners, said it wanted to end the licence agreement. Ken Powell, General Mills chairman and CEO, told investors at the company’s AGM that the licencing deal, which has run since... ...Read more »

US food giant General Mills booked a 12% rise in first-quarter profits as US sales were boosted by growth in the company’s cereal and yoghurt divisions. The Cheerios and Yoplait maker posted net profit of US$472.1 million – an increase of 12.2% – for the three months to 29 August. Net sales were up 1.5% at $3.53 billion. US net sales increased 2% to $2.45 billion, with General Mills’ Big G cereals division posted a 4% rise in sales. Net sales from Yoplait, for which General... ...Read more »

Private-equity group PAI Partners is reportedly mulling plans to split Yoplait into two separate companies within the framework of a possible sale of its 50% shareholding in the French fresh dairy product brand, according to media reports. At the end of last month, PAI Partners informed Yoplait’s works council that it was considering a possible sale of the stake but said a firm decision on its intentions had yet to be taken. One of the two companies making up the restructured Yoplait would... ...Read more »

It will come as no surprise to those following the food industry news to learn that two of the top five most-read stories on just-food this week are about the potential sale of UK snack and biscuit maker United Biscuits.The prospect of a deal, despite the fact that it is still to be confirmed by the company itself, has captured the imagination as only a large M&A move can. Along with the rumours over the possible change of ownership at French yoghurt maker Yoplait and reported bids for John West... ...Read more »

National Foods announced today an immediate, voluntary recall of its range of Yoplait Go-Gurt and Smackers tube products as a result of a packaging defect. The packaging defect means there is a risk of small pieces of clear plastic film separating from the outside of the tube, which may pose a choking hazard, especially for small children. National Foods believes the risk to be low but are recalling all potentially affected products as a precautionary measure. The products affected are: Yoplait Go-Gurt: Best... ...Read more »