C11 Food Product Manufacturing

Peanut butter battle leaves Kraft in a jam

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 2-May-19

Australian-listed Bega Cheese has won a trademark dispute with US food giant Kraft over the design of peanut butter packaging. The Federal Court has ruled that Bega has the exclusive right to use the distinctive packaging of Kraft Peanut Butter in Australia after it bought the brand from Kraft spin-off Mondelez International in 2017. Kraft subsequently re-entered the Australian peanut butter market using its traditional packaging, which was similar to that of Bega.

CORPORATES
BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY, MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Polly Waffle to make a comeback after success of Violet Crumble

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 25-Jan-19

Adelaide-based Robern Menz has bought the iconic Australian brand Polly Waffle from Nestle and will relaunch the popular chocolate bar, which was discontinued in 2009. Robern Menz previously bought the Violet Crumble brand from Nestle in 2018, in a deal that has boosted sales turnover by 35 per cent. Phil Sims, the CEO of Robern Menz, says the company is focusing on niche strategies in order to compete with global confectionery groups.

CORPORATES
ROBERN MENZ GROUP, NESTLE SA

Lion to ditch struggling dairy, stick to brewing

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 11-Oct-18

Australian beverages group Lion has flagged plans to divest its Lion Dairy & Drinks division in order to focus on its brewing assets. Lion CEO Stuart Irvine is upbeat about the outlook for Lion Dairy & Drinks in the wake of a turnaround program, but he adds that the Japanese-controlled company has opted to focus on other growth areas following a review of the dairy assets. Lion is particularly bullish about its prospects in the global craft beer market. Lion Dairy & Drinks’ brands include Pura milk, Dare Iced Coffee and King Island cheese.

CORPORATES
LION PTY LTD, LION-DAIRY AND DRINKS PTY LTD, KIRIN HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED, LITTLE CREATURES BREWING PTY LTD, FOURPURE, SAPUTO INCORPORATED, FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED, BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, PARMALAT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WARRNAMBOOL CHEESE AND BUTTER FACTORY COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED, MURRAY GOULBURN CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY LIMITED

Bega’s money not for Capilano Honey: Irvin

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 20 : 11-Sep-18

Bega Cheese announced plans for a $200 million share placement and associated share purchase plan on 10 September. The announcement prompted speculation that it would be using the money raised to launch a counter bid for Capilano Honey, in which it holds a 8.4 per cent stake and which is currently the subject of a $20.06 per share takeover bid from private equity groups Wattle Hill and ROC Partners. Bega executive chairman Barry Irvin claims the money will be used to strengthen its balance sheet and reduce its debt levels, and that it had not made any decisions about Capilano.

CORPORATES
BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, CAPILANO HONEY LIMITED – ASX CZZ, WATTLE HILL, ROC PARTNERS PTY LTD, SAPUTO INCORPORATED, MONDELEZ AUSTRALIA (FOODS) LIMITED

Bega’s all abuzz for stung Capilano

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 & 29 : 7-Sep-18

Bega Cheese has increased its stake in Capilano Honey to 8.4 per cent, after having secured an initial shareholding in the week ending 31 August. Capilano is currently the subject of a takeover bid from private equity groups Wattle Hill and ROC Partners, whose $20.06 per share offer values Capilano at more than $190 million. Bega executive chairman Barry Irwin states he is not perturbed by reports that Capilano may unknowingly be selling "fake honey". Irwin says Bega has not made any decisions about making a bid for Capilano itself.

CORPORATES
BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, CAPILANO HONEY LIMITED – ASX CZZ, WATTLE HILL, ROC PARTNERS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL EQUITY PTY LTD, KIDDER WILLIAMS LIMITED, SAPUTO INCORPORATED, WARRNAMBOOL CHEESE AND BUTTER FACTORY COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED

Murray Goulburn steams ahead to tie up sale deal

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Original article by Sue Neales
The Australian – Page: 21 : 7-Mar-18

An extraordinary general meeting of Murray Goulburn’s suppliers will be held on 5 April, where they will vote on a deal to sell the dairy co-operative’s assets to Canada-based Saputo. However, the meeting is conditional on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission approving the deal by 4 April. Saputo hopes to gain approval from the ACCC in return for agreeing to divest Murray Goulburn’s milk processing plant in Koroit. The sale to Saputo must supported by at least 50 per cent of Murray Goulburn’s suppliers.

CORPORATES
MURRAY GOULBURN CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY LIMITED, SAPUTO INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD

Industry hopping mad over kangaroo cull video

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 6-Mar-18

Australia’s kangaroo meat industry is furious over what it states are outlandish claims in a new video documentary. "Kangaroo: A Love-Hate Story", produced by Michael McIntyre and Kate McIntyre Clere, is yet to be seen in Australia. However, it has been screened in the US for over a month. McIntyre and McIntyre Clere have been accused of using shock tactics and of suggesting that some species of kangaroos are close to extinction. National Farmers’ Federation president Fiona Simson says the kangaroo population has increased to "crisis proportions". The kangaroo meat industry is worth $A200 million.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL FARMERS’ FEDERATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, WAROO GAME MEATS, KANGAROO INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

Chocolate maker Darrell Lea sold for a lip-smacking $200m

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Original article by Nick Toscano, Sarah Danckert
The Age – Page: 5 : 16-Jan-18

Tony and Christina Quinn have sold the Darrell Lea confectionery business to Quadrant Private Equity in a deal worth $A200m. The couple, who acquired Darrell Lea from administrators in 2012, previously sold VIP Pet Foods to the private equity firm in 2015. Quadrant has flagged plans to expand the Darrell Lea brand in Australia and offshore. Darrell Lea booked an after-tax profit of $A8.75m in 2016-17, with revenue of $A81.2m.

CORPORATES
DARRELL LEA CONFECTIONERY COMPANY PTY LTD, QUADRANT PRIVATE EQUITY PTY LTD, VIP PET FOODS

Nestle sells Violet Crumble back into Australian hands

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Original article by Misa Han
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 12-Jan-18

Adelaide-based confectionery maker Robern Menz will hire an additional 30 workers after buying the iconic Violet Crumble brand from Swiss multinational Nestle for an undisclosed sum. Robern Menz CEO Phil Sims says Nestle approached his company about buying the brand in early 2017, adding that Nestle’s focus is on global brands rather than Australian ones. Production of Violet Crumble chocolate bars will shift from Melbourne to Adelaide.

CORPORATES
ROBERN MENZ GROUP, NESTLE SA, BEGA CHEESE LIMITED – ASX BGA, MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT. INVESTMENT ATTRACTION SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, CADBURY CONFECTIONERY LIMITED

Woolies’ abattoir gets the chop

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Original article by Sue Neales
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 31-Aug-17

The imminent closure of the Churchill Abattoir in Queensland has been attributed to factors such as rising cattle prices and a shortage of cattle to process. Some 500 jobs will be lost when the facility at Ipswich closes in late September. The abattoir processes about 20 per cent of the beef that is sold in Woolworths’ stores, forcing the major retailer to seek a new supplier. Woolworths buys about 600,000 head of cattle each year, with between 9,000 and 12,000 being processed each week for sale across its store network.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, CHURCHILL ABATTOIR, JBS DINMORE, TEYS BROS (HOLDINGS) PTY LTD, CARGILL AUSTRALIA LIMITED, OAKEY BEEF, STANBROKE BEEF, THOMAS FOODS, AUSTRALIAN MEAT INDUSTRY COUNCIL