Asahi Breweries to buy P&N Beverages 26th Aug 2010 — Japanese brewing giant Asahi Breweries says it will buy Australian fruit juice maker P&N Beverages for $364 million. Asahi plans to combine P&N with Schweppes Australia, which it bought from Cadbury in 2009. P&N is currently 87% owned by founder Robert Peter Brooks, previously an executive with the Coca-Cola Company. [source]
Fosters demerger 3rd Aug 2010 — Fosters demerger of its beer and its struggling wine division will be finalised in the first half of 2011. Its struggling wine division will be listed as a new entity called "Treasury Wine Estates". Japan's Asahi Breweries, Belgium's AB InBev, USA's SABMiller and Coca-Cola Amatil are all rumoured to be interested in buying Fosters beer division after the demerger. [source]
Wilmar buys CSR Sugar 6th Jul 2010 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) Diversified conglomerate CSR Ltd has agreed to sell its sugar division, Sucrogen, to Singapore-based agribusiness Wilmar International Ltd for $1.75 billion. Wilmar is the world's largest palm oil trader. [source]
Metcash to buy Franklins supermarkets 1st Jul 2010 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) South African owned supermarket chain Franklins has been acquired by its wholesale supplier, Metcash Trading Ltd for $215 million. The sale is still pending approval from the ACCC.
Metcash will acquire 85 supermarkets (77 corporate outlets and supply to 8 franchises) with a view to selling them to independent IGA retailers. In the meantime, Metcash will operate the Franklins stores. [source]
7-Eleven acquires Mobil service stations 1st Jun 2010 — 7-Eleven Australia has agreed to acquire the retail fuels business of Mobil Oil Australia, comprising 295 company owned or leased service stations, bringing the total number of outlets to more than 650. Most of the Mobil sites will be converted into 7-Eleven stores by the end of 2011 [source]
Kraft buys Cadbury 3rd Feb 2010 — Kraft Foods (USA), the world's second largest food company, clinched a takeover deal for UK confectioner Cadbury, after winning support from shareholders representing 72 per cent of the chocolate company. In Jan 2010 the Cadbury board unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. [source]
Kraft to buy Cadbury. Will they keep fair trade agreements? 20th Jan 2010 — The Cadbury board has unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. Shareholders have until February 2 to accept the proposal. This has possible implications for Cadbury's plans to use Fairtrade cocoa in their Dairy Milk chocolate bars. [source]
Lion Nathan National Foods 28th Oct 2009 — Lion Nathan and National Foods were officially merged into one entity on 21 October 2009. The merged entity, Lion Nathan National Foods, is wholly owned by Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings. Meanwhile the outcry continues from Tasmanian farmers, who are being paid less than 21c for every litre of milk by National Foods, well below the cost of production of about 39c a litre. A Senate inquiry has been called.
Pfizer buys Wyeth 15th Oct 2009 — Pfizer Inc. acquired Wyeth in a US$68 billion deal. Wyeth is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. Both companies are based in USA. [source]
Kirin buys Lion Nathan 18th Sep 2009 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) Japanese brewing giant Kirin bought the 54 per cent of Lion Nathan it didn't already own in a $3.4 billion deal. Lion Nathan is Australia's #2 brewer, after Fosters. Kirin recently bought National Foods and Dairy Farmers, and will combine them with Lion to create Lion Nathan National Foods Pty Ltd, which will be the largest supplier to Australian supermarkets. [source]
Baiada to buy Bartter/Steggles 1st Jul 2009 — The ACCC rejected the deal in Feb 09, but now the proposed takeover of chicken processor Bartter has been approved after Baiada announced they would be prepared to divest all assets currently owned by Bartter in Victoria to La Ionica Poultry. Bartter Enterprises (Steggles) is the second largest producer and marketer of chicken and turkey products in Australia. Inghams is the largest, with Baiada the third largest. Together, the three companies hold around 65 per cent of the Australian market. [source]
Woolworths buys Macro Wholefoods 13th May 2009 — Supermarket giant Woolworths will expand its Thomas Dux premium grocery chain by acquiring Melbourne organic grocery chain Macro Wholefoods. All 8 Macro stores in Victoria and NSW will be rebranded Thomas Dux. [source]
Schweppes Australia sold to Asahi Breweries (Japan) for $1.2 billion 13th Mar 2009 — Drinks giant Asahi Breweries has bought Schweppes Australia for $1.2 billion, in the latest Japanese raid on an Australian food and drinks company. This is the fourth buy-out of an Australian company by a Japanese brewer in just over a year, following Kirin's acquisition of Dairy Farmers and National Foods, and Suntory's successful bid for Frucor. Australia was the last country where Cadbury maintained a drinks operation. US-based Coca-Cola Company relinquished its negotiation right regarding the takeover. Asahi Breweries will complete the deal by the end of April 2009 [source]
Nippon Paper Group buys Australian Paper (makers of Reflex Paper) 17th Feb 2009 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) Australian paper company PaperlinX has sold it's subsidiary Australian Paper (including the Maryvale pulp mill in Gippsland), to Japan's Nippon Paper Group, Inc. for $700 million. [source]
Lion Nathan offer for Coca-Cola Amatil rejected 9th Feb 2009 — Lion Nathan's $7.3 billion takeover proposal for Coca-Cola Amatil, made in Nov 2008, has been rejected. Lion Nathan is 46% owned by Japanese beer giant Kirin Holdings, while Coca-Cola Amatil is 30% owned by The Coca-Cola Company (USA). TCCC wrote to Kirin Holdings rejecting the offer. [source]
Heinz buys Golden Circle 2nd Dec 2008 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) Golden Circle, a 61 year-old Australian company renowned for their canned fruit and vegetables, fruit juice and jam, was bought by US food giant Heinz in Dec 2008, for $288 million. [source]
National Foods acquires Dairy Farmers for A$910 million 28th Nov 2008 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) National Foods (owned by Japanese alcohol and pharmaceuticals giant Kirin) bought Australian Co-operative Foods, which trades as Dairy Farmers, for A$910 million in Nov 2008. Kirin bought National Foods last year, and already owns 46% of brewer Lion Nathan. National Foods owns the Pura Milk and Berri juice brands, while Dairy Farmers makes its own branded milk, Coon cheese and Ski yoghurt.
InBev buys Anheuser-Busch 18th Nov 2008 — In Nov 2008, Belgium based brewing giant InBev bought USA brewing giant Anheuser-Busch for US$52 billion, creating the world's largest brewer with nearly 25% global market share and one of the world's top five consumer products companies. Brands include Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck's. [source]
Primo buys Hans Smallgoods 2nd Nov 2008 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) Hans Smallgoods has been sold to Australian smallgoods company P&M Smallgoods, owners of the Primo brand. Hans was placed into receivership by it's previous owners Japan Tobacco. [source]
Kellogg buys Specialty Cereals 18th Sep 2008 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) In September 2008, Kellogg Australia bought Specialty Cereals, a privately-owned cereals manufacturer based in Sydney. Brands include Vogels, Wild Oats, and Cerevite. Kellogg Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kellogg Company, USA's #1 cereal producer. [source]
Cadbury Schweppes plc demerger 7th May 2008 — On May 7, Cadbury Scweppes plc split into 2 companies, UK based confectionery makers Cadbury plc, and American soft drink company Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. [source]
Mars Inc. buys Wrigley's 29th Apr 2008 — Mars, backed by billionaire Warren Buffett, has agreed to buy Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for $US23 billion to create the world's biggest candy maker. [source]
The Real McCoy Snackfood Co buys Arnotts snack foods 28th Apr 2008 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) A consortium of investors lead by The Real McCoy Snackfood Co purchased the snack foods business of Campbells/Arnotts in May 2008. The combined businesses was renamed ?Snack Brands Australia?. The deal brings several brands back to Australian ownership, including Kettle Chips, Thins, Cheezels, CCs, French Fries & Samboy. [source]
Goodman Fielder buys Paradise Food 7th Mar 2008 — The largest Australian-owned biscuit manufacturer, Paradise Food Industries also make the entire Dick Smith range of biscuits. Paradise was bought by Australia's largest food company, Goodman Fielder, for about $80 million in Mar 2008. [source]
Suntory buys Frucor 13th Feb 2008 — Japan's leading producer and distributor of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, Suntory, bought Frucor (makers of V energy drinks) from French food and drinks giant, Danone, in Oct 2008 for NZ$1.3 billion. [source]
George Weston Foods buys KR Castlemaine 4th Feb 2008 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) British owned George Weston Foods Ltd bought 100 year old Castlemaine smallgoods company KR Castlemaine [source]
Kirin buys National Foods/Berri from San Miguel 8th Nov 2007 — Australia's largest dairy company, National Foods, operates in the milk, dairy foods and juice production industries. It was taken over by San Miguel, Phillipino beer giant in 2005, and sold to the Japanese food and drinks giant Kirin Holdings for $2.8 billion in 2007. Kirin owns 46% of Australia's 2nd largest brewer, Lion Nathan. [source]
Wesfarmers buys Coles Group 1st Nov 2007 — Wesfarmers acquired Coles Group Ltd for $22 billion in November 2007.Wesfarmers now owns Coles, Bi-Lo, Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, Kmart, liquor retailers (1st Choice Liquor Superstore, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars), fuel & convenience outlets (Coles Express), online stores (Coles Online, Pharmacy Direct). Plus other divisions in the areas of coal mining, energy, insurance, chemicals &fertilisers, and industrial & safety products. [source]
Kraft Foods no longer owned by Altria (Philip Morris) 30th Mar 2007 — Kraft Foods was spun off from parent company Altria in March 2007, and is now an independent publicly held company. The Altria Group and subsidiaries had been subject to an international Boycott from 1993 due to another of their subsidiaries being Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world. [source]
Danone buys Royal Numico 1st Jan 2007 — Groupe Danone (France) bought baby formula makers, Royal Numico (the Netherlands) for US$16.8bn in 2007 [source]
Freedom Nutritional Products buys Norganic 1st Jan 2007 — In February 2007, shareholders approved the change of name from So Natural Foods Australia Ltd to Freedom Nutritional Products Ltd. The Perich Group (NSW's biggest dairy farmer) own 78% of the company. They acquired Norganic Foods in Oct 2007, Brunswick Seafoods in 2005, and Paramount Seafoods and Freedom Foods in 2003. [source]
Goodman Fielder buys three bread brands 13th Jul 2006 — Goodman Fielder bought Hawlee Nominees, makers of bread brands Country Life Bakery, Flinders and Early Harvest [source]
Johnson & Johnson buys Pfizer healthcare division 26th Jun 2006 — Pfizer divested its Consumer Health Division to Johnson & Johnson for $22 billion in late 2006. Brands include Listerine, Sudafed, and Benadryl.
Nestle Australia buys Uncle Tobys 26th May 2006 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) Food group Burns Philp and Company Ltd sold snack food business Uncle Tobys to Nestle Australia Ltd for $890 million. [source]
Manassen Foods 12th Apr 2006 — In April 2006, CHAMP together with existing Manassen Foods Australia shareholders created a new company, Food Holdings Pty Ltd which acquired Manassen Foods Australia, Great Southern Foods, King Oscar and Hutchinsons New Zealand. The combined entities which will continue to trade as Manassen Foods were merged to form Australia?s leading specialty branded food supplier with over 350 employees and revenues in excess of A$250 million. Private equity company CHAMP owns 51%.
L'Oreal buys The Body Shop 17th Mar 2006 — In a controversial move, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, sold the business to french cosmetics giant, L'Oreal, in March 2006. A boycott has since been called on The Body Shop.
Unilever sells Miracle to Peerless 17th Nov 2005 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) Unilever sold retail brands of Miracle, Copha, Fairy and Kremelta to Australian owned company Peerless Holdings. In addition, Unilever brands such as Flora, Flora Proactiv, Olivio, Bertolli, and Becel are now manufactured by Peerless for Unilever under a long-term supply contract. [source]
Unilever sells John West Foods to Simplot 1st Oct 2005 — Ally, John West & Seakist brands of canned fish are now owned by Simplot Australia [source]
Smith's Snackfood buys Sakata Rice Snacks Australia 9th Aug 2005 — The Smith's Snackfood Company (owned by Pepsico) bought Sakata Rice Snacks Australia. Under the deal, Smith's has also acquired rights to manufacture, distribute and market Sakata products worldwide, apart from Japan. [source]
Coca-Cola Amatil buys SPC Ardmona 25th Feb 2005 — In February 2005, Coca-Cola Amatil's acquisition of SPC Ardmona Pty Ltd was formallly completed. SPC Ardmona is Australia?s largest producer of packaged fruit and operates 6 principal brands across the processed fruit, vegetables, jams and sauces markets. These brands are SPC, Ardmona, Goulburn Valley, IXL, Southern Cross and Taylor?s. [source]
Procter & Gamble buys Gillette for US$57 billion 1st Jan 2005 — Deal creates world?s largest consumer-products company
Reckitt Benckiser plc acquired Boots Healthcare International 1st Jan 2005 — Upon completion of the sale Boots Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd changed its name to Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd. [source]
Fonterra buys all of Bonlac, and consolidates Australian businesses 1st Jan 2005 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) Bonlac Foods becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonterra (previously Fonterra owned 50%). Fonterra's three separate brands businesses - formerly known as Bonland, PB Foods and Murrumbidgee Dairy Products (MDP) - were brought under the same name, Fonterra Brands Australia, in 2005. [source]
Unilever sells Aim, Close-Up and Huggie to Pental Products 11th Aug 2004 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) Symex announced that Pental Products, which it wholly owns, had acquired the rights to toothpaste brands Aim and Close-Up, as well as fabric softener Huggie, from Unilever for an undisclosed amount. [source]
Roche sells consumer health business to Bayer 19th Jul 2004 — Roche Consumer Health sold to Bayer for a price of 3.6 billion Swiss francs [source]
Cambell Brothers sells brands to Colgate Palmolive 4th Jun 2004 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) In 2004 Campbell sold it's major laundry and detergent brands Hurricane, Love N Care, Fluffy, Moresoft and Castle to Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd. [source]
SCA buys Carter Holt Harvey out of Sancella joint venture 25th Mar 2004 — In May 2004, SCA acquired Carter Holt Harvey's (CHH) tissue business and the remaining 50% of the SCA/CCH joint venture, Sancella. These companies now operate as SCA Hygiene Australasia. Brands include, Sorbent, Tork, Hygenex, Purex, Handee, Deeko, Treasures, Libra and Tena. [source]
Unilever sells Brut and Norsca to Pharmacare 1st Sep 2003 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) Previously owned by Unilever, the two brands were sold to a smaller company, Pharmacare (Australian Owned), in 2003 as part of Unilever's strategy to pare down its product portfolio and focus only on a core range of global brands. [source]
Unilever sells Rosella to Stuart Alexander 22nd Aug 2002 — (FOREIGN >> AUST) Unilever Australia has sold the Rosella brand to Stuart Alexander, as a part of a decision to concentrate on its core brands. [source]
