Tag: cereal

  • Ferrero Group Acquires Wk Kellogg In $3.1 Billion Deal, Bolstering North American Presence

    Ferrero Group Acquires Wk Kellogg In $3.1 Billion Deal, Bolstering North American Presence

    The Ferrero Group, a major player in the confectionery industry, has recently announced its acquisition of WK Kellogg in an all-cash transaction amounting to US$3.1 billion. This significant development marks a critical milestone in Ferrero’s ongoing expansion in the North American market.

    In exchange for WK Kellogg’s manufacturing, marketing, and distribution operations in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean, Ferrero will pay $23.00 per share. Ferrero, a company employing over 14,000 individuals across 22 plants and 11 offices in North America, has plans to maintain WK Kellogg’s historical headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan as the central hub for its North American cereal operations.

    Gary Pilnick, Chairman and CEO of WK Kellogg, believes that this merger with Ferrero will afford his company greater resources and flexibility, thus facilitating the growth of its iconic brands in a highly competitive and dynamic market. He stated, “As a family-owned private company with values in line with our founder, WK Kellogg, Ferrero provides a great home for our people and has a track record of supporting the communities where it operates.”

    Established nearly 120 years ago, WK Kellogg became an independent entity in October 2023 after parting ways with the Kellogg Company. The company owns several popular breakfast cereal brands, including Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Kellogg’s Froot Loops, Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, Kashi, and Bear Naked.

    Lapo Civiletti, CEO of the Ferrero Group, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, asserting that it would play a significant role in extending Ferrero’s reach across more consumer occasions. He added, “This also reinforces our commitment to delivering value to consumers in North America.”

    The transaction is slated to be finalized in the second half of this year, contingent upon the necessary regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of the Ferrero Group’s acquisition of WK Kellogg?
    The acquisition represents a major development in Ferrero’s expansion in North America.

    What does the acquisition mean for WK Kellogg’s operations?
    Ferrero plans to maintain WK Kellogg’s historical headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan as the central hub for its North American cereal operations, thereby preserving WK Kellogg’s operational continuity.

    What is Ferrero’s ultimate aim with this acquisition?
    Ferrero sees this acquisition as a means to extend its reach across more consumer occasions and reinforce its commitment to delivering value to consumers in North America.

  • Nestle India plans up to 3-dozen product launches in 2019, eyes higher exports

    Nestle India plans up to 3-dozen product launches in 2019, eyes higher exports

    FMCG major Nestle India has lined up nearly two-three dozen products that it plans to launch in calender year 2019 across categories in the country to drive its aggressive growth plans, Chairman and Managing Director Suresh Narayanan said.

    According to a report, the company, whose 6 percent revenues come from exports, is now looking to tap more overseas markets by targeting countries with higher Indian diaspora such as SAARC and South East Asia.

    “In 2018, our core brands have performed well…We look forward for greater acceleration as we go forward….We have two-three dozen projects (products) in pipeline for launch in 2019. These products are across categories,” Narayanan said.

    Reiterating the company’s focus on the Indian market, he said, “As an organisation the one clarion call that we are working to is that we are in the business of growth to thrive and not to survive…It is not a survival mode that we look at the opportunity in India or the opportunity for growth..but a thriving mode.”

    While the domestic market has been driving its growth, Narayanan said Nestle India would now look at expanding its export basket.

    The company is looking at tapping overseas market with higher Indian diaspora such as SAARC and South East Asia to expand its exports, he added.

    Commenting on fake news on nutrition, Narayanan said it was affecting choices and lives of people.

    Therefore, Nestle India in partnership with Google, using a chatbot mechanism, will launch a personalised information dissemination website called ‘Ask Nestle’, he added.

    “Ask Nestle seeks to be a reliable and anchor platform for nutrition and lifestyle information for customers. India is the only market where this website is being launched,” he was further said.

    When asked if the company will in future also link Ask Nestle with its own e-commerce website for selling its products, he said it is a possibility.

    “…Going forward it could morph into something bigger in terms of linking up with our own e-commerce intentions, if at all it happens. But today it is only for information sharing, dissemination and helping,” he said.

    When asked if there has been any impact on sales of Maggi noodles after Supreme Court revived government’s case in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) against Nestle India seeking damages of Rs 640 crore for alleged unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements, Narayanan said “No”.

    When asked if the company is looking for manufacturing capacity expansion, he said: “…This is a question that is coming up with active consultation. That exercise is on but I can not share more at this stage”.

    Typically, our approach is to augment (capacity) at our existing factories, but it does not rule out a new manufacturing facility, Narayanan said.

    Nestle India, at present, has eight factories across the country.

    The company also did not rule out evaluating inorganic growth in the country and said it may consider it if any opportunity arises.

  • Burger King Is Launching an Ice Cream Shake Made from Cereal Favorite Fruit Loops

    Burger King Is Launching an Ice Cream Shake Made from Cereal Favorite Fruit Loops

    Restaurant Brands International is launching the Fruit Loops shake. Yes, for real. The company confirmed to TheStreet the shake will be available for a limited time only at participating restaurants nationwide starting April 17 for a recommended price of $2.99. It’s made from vanilla-flavored soft serve ice cream, Fruit Loops cereal pieces (compliments of Kellogg’s) and sweet sauce.

    Burger King is no stranger to thinking outside the box when it comes to fast-food. The company teamed up with beverage and snack giant Pepsi  last year to develop what it called Mac n’ Cheetos. The snack mashup was a portable combination of mac n’ cheese covered with crispy Cheetos flavor. Last March, it unveiled the “Angriest Whopper,” a burger with a red bun, jalapenos and hot sauce.

    And in September 2016, Burger King sold a black-bunned burger filled with Kraft Heinz’s A1 steak sauce called the Halloween Whopper for a limited time.