Inside food & drink manufacturing
The City is uncertain about Ranjit Boparan’s plans for Northern Foods, with analysts divided on whether he needs to sell brands such as Fox's Biscuits and Goodfella's to pay down debt following his £342m takeover.
Unseasonably hot Easter weather dented Thorntons sales for the crucial third quarter sales period up to April 30 2011, while the firm has predicted a drop in full-year profits.
Increasing division over food labelling proposals has reignited fears that the entire process of updating the EU Food Information Regulation (FIR) could collapse, wasting years of work and substantial investment by industry.
Greencore has refused to comment on rumours that it has appointed bankers to explore a possible £100m takeover of chilled food group Uniq, while Brookes/Avana may also be on the firm's radar after Premier Foods said it is willing to consider offers for...