Lactalis has the European Commission's blessing to complete its
takeover of Italian cheese producer Galbani, opening up new avenues
for the French giant in speciality cheese.
The UK dairy industry could profit from a drop in milk production,
said the chief executive of Arla UK on Tuesday, enabling the
industry to add value and raise earnings through the supply chain.
Number one dairy producer Danone has recorded strong results for
the first quarter of 2006, bolstered by a focused leadership and
continuing record sales in Asia.
French dairy giant, Danone, has launched an action against Glanbia,
Yoplait International and Yoplait Marque Internationales in the
Dublin High Court, after alleged infringments on trademark after
the launch of the Yoplait Essence...
Fonterra, the world's biggest exporter of dairy products, said
today that it has gained approval from the Chinese government for
its purchase of a 43 per cent stake in dairy company San Lu.
Early signs suggest a recovery on Britain's dairy market as both
Arla Foods UK and Robert Wiseman halt the margin rot with brand
development and price rises.
France's Danone has announced a three-year licence with US-based
Integrated Genomics for access to the ERGO database and genomic
discovery system to enhance the group's probiotic understanding and
R&D.
Arla Foods has said the boycott on its products in the key Middle
East dairy market was slowly lifting, thanks to its dominance in
certain areas of the Middle East dairy market.
As Arla Foods begins on the long road to recovery in its Middle
East dairy markets, DairyReporter.com delves into the nature
of consumer boycotts and the effects they may have.
French food giant Danone is set to announce plans for a new dairy
plant in Bangladesh to provide nutritious foods to low-income
consumers, following successful entry into a number of similar
emerging markets.
Sales of a DHA-fortified children's yoghurt launched last month in
Canada are already exceeding expectations, with parents keen to
improve their children's brain development through nutrition, says
manufacturer Danone Canada.
Arla Foods says a boycott on its dairy products in the Middle East
will cost it at least €53m this year, as the firm tries to remain
positive about the long road to recovery.
Dairy group Arla Foods has signed an organic dairy supply deal with
discount retailer Lidl, as big food firms increasingly move in on
rising consumer demand for organic food.
A Danish court has fined Arla Foods €670,000 for abusing its
dominant position on Denmark's dairy market, further jeopardizing
the group's public image in the country.
Fonterra, New Zealand's largest dairy co-operative, has formed a
research partnership with the US dairy industry, in an
international approach to promoting and proving health claims for
dairy products.
Arla Foods said its future on the key Middle East dairy market was
in jeopardy, after the group stopped production for the area amid a
widescale boycott on Danish products by Muslim consumers.
Danish dairy group Arla Foods said sales had come to a standstill
in the firm's key Middle East region as Muslim consumers in several
countries boycotted Danish products.
The dairy group's new, lower calorie milk technology may help it
re-gain ground on its home Danish milk market, after dropping
almost 10 per cent in market share and losing another supply
contract to a smaller rival.
Two of the world's largest dairy firms, New Zealand's Fonterra and
Europe's Arla, are looking to increase their operations in the
Polish dairy industry, according to a recent report.
Lactalis, France's largest dairy processor, has carried its
wheeling and dealing on into 2006 after signing a deal to buy
Italian cheese producer Galbani.
Dairy group Arla UK is set to launch Cravendale One Shot milk
drinks this month to compete directly with soft drinks and begin
making use of the firm's record investment in 2005.
Dairy Crest, Britain's biggest dairy processor, has denied holding
takeover talks with French dairy giant Lactalis, despite the
emergence of Lactalis documents weighing up the pros and cons of a
deal.
Early success for Fonterra's chocolate-flavoured cheese in Taiwan
has the firm planning to expand the product across Asia in an
attempt to "re-define cheese".
Danone, France's iconic dairy group, is working with a prestigious
French research institute to find new probiotic strains for dairy
products and understand more about how the 'friendly bacteria'
work.
A supply deal with US space agency NASA has helped Scandinavian
dairy firm Arla Foods to develop a raft of cutting edge products it
now wants to adapt for consumers on earth.
The New Zealand dairy co-operative has bought a 43 per cent stake
in one of China's biggest dairy processors, as the world's dairy
giants scramble for position in one of the most promising markets.
Arla Foods UK has announced promising progress for the year but
warned farmgate milk prices were likely to fall and consumers will
have to pay more for steep input cost rises.
Unilever said yesterday that it had signed a deal with Maaf
Assurances that will see the French insurer reimbursing
policyholders for consumption of its cholesterol-lowering Pro-Activ
range.
A reverse osmosis machine capable of extracting excess water from
milk is expected to significantly cut transport costs for New
Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra.
Lactalis, the largest French dairy processor, has struck a deal
with Dutch dairy Friesland Foods to combine the two groups'
marketing teams in Germany.
Technology able to isolate genetic information has uncovered a new
generation of enzymes in dairy cows' stomachs, as New Zealand dairy
group Fonterra looks to capitalise.
The French group launched its first dairy research centre in Asia
at the same time as raising its stake in China's Bright Dairy &
Food Co to 11.55 per cent.
Fonterra, the New Zealand dairy co-operative, is set to build a new
multi-million dollar research and development centre to help it
move ahead in global added value product trends.
The European Court of Justice's feta ruling may give sole rights to
Greece, yet one of Europe's leading dairy producers has been
preparing for years to find a way round the new rules.
The French dairy group will launch its successful Activia probiotic
yoghurts in the US at the start of next year as American consumers
catch on to the benefits of 'friendly bacteria'.
Added value dairy and soft drinks lead Danone to a sales rise in
the third quarter, but the firm is banking on a new pricing and
innovation strategy to re-ignite itself at home in France.
The EU's CAP reforms continue to force changes on Europe's dairy
firms as Arla Foods announced it will close a Danish milk powder
plant that is no longer vital for production.
The UK branch of dairy processor and ingredients supplier Arla
Foods told investors yesterday that it is still on track to reach
revised profit targets for the year, boosted by its brands
performing well.
French yoghurt and biscuit maker Danone said today that it is not
looking to acquire the Dutch infant nutrition firm Numico, after
rumours that Danone was making a bid pushed up the Dutch group's
shares.
France's largest dairy processor, Lactalis, wants the industry to
introduce fixed prices for dairy products in order to cope with
unstable markets and insulate against cuts to EU export subsidies.
Danone's chairman appeared to defend French government proposals
for more transparency from firms during takeover rumours, in an
internal interview concerning the recent PepsiCo gossip.