Whole Foods Market Inc is in the process of cost reduction. To promote sales volume, it's offering discounts and building relations stronger with suppliers. Whole Foods is expecting a savings of $300 million annually.
Hospitality/Food
American Fruits and Flavors Acquired by Monster Beverages for $690 Million
It was agreed that Monster Beverages will take over on American Fruits and Flavors, its leading supplier of fruit concentrares, flavors and mixes. The beverage company paid $690 million for the acquisition. Since 1990's the two companies have been working together.
Change in Starbucks Rewards Program Makes it Harder to Earn Points and Free Item
Flustered customers complain about the change in the Starbucks Rewards Program. Starting April, points or stars can be earned based on the purchase and not on the visits that customers make. The coffee restaurant said that the change came from the No. 1 request among the loyalty program members.
Van Dieman’s Land Co. Sold to Chinese Moon Lake Investment for A$280 Million
Van Diemen's Land Company has been acquired by the Chinese business man Lu Xianfeng and his company Moon Lake. The country's approval of the dairy farm's sale to a foreign firm was made possible with certain conditions that the Moon Lake needs to comply with, especially with the taxation policies.
India's Ajay Piramal sees value in VC investing
Indian businessman Ajay Piramal has entered into venture capital (VC) space by establishing a new VC funding entity 'Montane Ventures.' The new VC fund focuses on early-stage funding requirements. Piramal has infused $50 million into Montane Ventures will mobiles $150 million additionally from external resources.
Latest News
Import of palm oil by India bounced after its first drop in a year. The growing demand coupled with harvest failure boosted the purchase of palm oil from overseas suppliers.
The company announced that it had broken even in India and six other foreign countries, making the Indian e-commerce the first to achieve that milestone. Zomato, valued at over $1 billion, is going to start another funding round before becoming profitable by mid-2016.
Just Eat said that it has agreed to purchase Rocket Internet's businesses in Italy and Spain as well as Mexican and Brazilian arms from Foodpanda. The company believe that the acquired assets will help it to broaden its vision.
Nestle has decided to acquire the remaining stake of 36.3% in Osem and take the Israeli food company fully private. An offer of $840 million has been made to buy out the shares, and a shareholder meeting has been scheduled in March which should reveal the final decision arrived at by the company.
The Gulf establishment, Adeptio LLC has approached Kuwait's fast-food chain, Americana, for buying out the 66.8% controlling stake held by the Al Kharafi family valued at $1.7 billion. Currently, the investor is conducting the due diligence but the final outcome will be based on the approval of the Americana franchisers.
The lawsuit is cast out by more than 40 customers, led by Chris Howe. The lawsuit stated that McDonald's aired unfair advertisements with the claim that its new menu item contains 100 percent pure mozzarella cheese, while according to Howe they contain filler. The lawsuit tests support the claim, but McDonald's has refuted the claim.
Hershey, the leading chocolate maker, has shifted gear in 2016 and plans to focus more on its newly acquired meat brand, Krave Pure Foods Inc. With changing food habits, the market is now ready to accept snacks that are more rich in protein and less in sugars, and with this move, the sweet maker is all set to tap this niche market.
E.coli outbreak which contaminated nationwide Chipotle restaurants last year will be declared over. However, CDC has not been able to find the source of the outbreak.
Brazil, the world's number one coffee grower and exporter, has been hit by El Nino from last year, affecting the coffee crops and harvests. The weather has affected prices expectations and investors moves, as demand rise and supply declines. Coffee bean prices rise has been seen in Brazil.
