Unilever is set to enter a new phase, “becoming a net acquirer of businesses for the first time in a decade”, according to analysts at Panmure Gordon. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) Director of equity research Graham Jones said: ”We expect infill acquisitions in existing categories to become a more regular feature, supplementing what we believe should be 5% like-for-like sales growth and steady margin expansion.” Unilever’s sales have effectively been... read more →
Forty-five staff have been laid off at the former PoleStar Foods frozen desserts factory at Leamington Spa over Christmas. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) KPMG was appointed administrator for Leamington Desserts Ltd on November 30 after a cash injection from Privet Capital secured 255 jobs at the PoleStar factory in Okehampton but failed to guarantee the future of the Leamington site. Joint administrator Will Wright told FoodManufacture.co.uk this morning that... read more →
The entrepreneur contemplating breaking up the arranged marriage between Northern Foods and Greencore has been told to put up or shut up by January 21. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) Boparan Holdings boss Ranjit Boparan, who revealed he was considering making an offer for Northern Foods on December 22, has been told by the UK takeover panel to show his hand or withdraw by 5pm on January 21 (ahead of shareholder meetings at Northern and Greencore on January... read more →
There will be a temporary ceasefire in the pay dispute at Heinz’s Kitt Green factory near Wigan this week as Unite union members at the site consider a revised pay offer. (Foodmanufacturing.co.uk) A strike scheduled to begin today has been called off so that union members at the site can be balloted on the new offer, said Heinz corporate affairs boss Nigel Dickie. Speaking to FoodManufacture.co.uk last night after a meeting in Manchester with the... read more →
