Aug. 16, 2010 at 6:04 a.m.
Filed under:
Transportation
By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal
When Kraft Foods Inc. packs trucks with weighty items such as jars of Miracle Whip and pouches of Capri Sun juice, 40 percent of the rigs must leave the loading dock partly empty to avoid exceeding federal truck weight limits. Kraft says those rules force it and others to make extra trips and spend more on fuel.
Now, the Illinois food giant is part of a coalition of 150 companies lobbying Congress to allow trucks that are 20 percent heavier on U.S. highways. Supporters of the idea say truckers could pay an extra fee to offset road repairs.
There is an arms race of sorts in the shipping industry — and it is prompting a backlash. Efforts are under way to supersize trucks, trains, and cargo ships as freight haulers look to move more goods in fewer trips. Get the full story »
Aug. 13, 2010 at 10:33 p.m.
Filed under:
Food
By Dow Jones Newswires
Nelson Peltz’s Trian Partners on Friday reported no stake in Kraft Foods Inc. on June 30, according to regulatory filings.
Peltz previously held nearly 4.5 million shares in the food company, a significant portion of his portfolio. The famously aggressive shareholder has generally been selling his one-time massive position in Kraft–once worth more than $1 billion–since early last year, according to disclosures. Get the full story »
Aug. 13, 2010 at 5:55 a.m.
Filed under:
China,
Food,
International
By Dow Jones Newswires
Kraft Foods Inc. is seeking to raise the profile of Cadbury products in China as the U.S. food giant ramps up investments in developing markets, particularly the Asia-Pacific region, which has become Kraft’s key growth driver following its multi-billion dollar acquisition of the British confectioner earlier this year. Get the full story »
Aug. 6, 2010 at 1:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Food
By Reuters
Kraft Foods raised the list price on select Maxwell House and Yuban ground and instant coffees in the United States, a spokeswoman said on Friday. The increases are 30 cents per lb equivalent on ground coffees and 2-1/2 cents per ounce on instant, said Bridget MacConnell, Kraft spokeswoman. Get the full story »
Aug. 6, 2010 at 1:56 p.m.
Filed under:
Agriculture/Farming,
Exchanges
By Reuters
A severe drought in Russia could result in higher prices for bread in U.S. stores, as a spike in wheat costs may lead manufacturers to ease up on the discounts retailers pushed for during the recession.
But consumers and retailers may push back. Shoppers could opt for cheaper options as unemployment remains high, while retailers — who try to drive traffic with discounts — could point out that the spike in wheat is no where near the level of two years ago, when manufacturers raised prices on many goods. Get the full story »
Aug. 6, 2010 at 9:31 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
International,
M&A
From Bloomberg | In an interview with Bloomberg News, Kraft’s European president, Mike Clarke, said the company plans to focus on integrating the acquisitions of Cadbury Plc. and Groupe Danone SA’s LU unit, rather than make more purchases. “I don’t think we need at this time to buy other businesses to grow,” said Clarke.
Aug. 5, 2010 at 3:31 p.m.
Filed under:
Chicago executives,
Earnings,
Food
By Emily Bryson York
Kraft posted strong second-quarter earnings that beat analyst expectations by a penny, with earnings per share of 53 cents. Sales surged 25 percent, following the acquisition of Cadbury, to $12.25 billion. Still, the increase fell short of consensus, which was $12.33 billion. Get the full story »
Aug. 3, 2010 at 7:57 a.m.
Filed under:
Food
By Reuters
J.M. Smucker Co hiked the list price for most of its Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Millstone and Folgers Gourmet Selections coffees sold in the U.S. retail market, effective immediately, the company said Tuesday.
Folgers is considered the trendsetter in coffee price changes and major U.S. roasters like Kraft, which owns Maxwell coffee, typically follow suit. Get the full story »
July 26, 2010 at 3:34 p.m.
Filed under:
Food,
Updated
By Emily Bryson York
(Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune)
Kraft Foods will double the whole-grain content of its Nabisco crackers over the next three years, the company said today. That means Wheat Thins, Premium, Ritz and Honey Maid graham crackers will all be getting an overhaul.
“Nine out of 10 Americans eat less than the recommended daily amount of whole grains,” Rhonda Jordan, president-global health & wellness at Kraft said in a statement. “And a growing number of consumers are trying to increase their consumption of whole grains. By significantly increasing the amount of whole grain in our crackers, we’re giving them an easy, delicious way to get the whole grain they need in the foods they already enjoy.” Get the full story »
July 12, 2010 at 7:35 a.m.
Filed under:
Food
By Tribune staff report
Tootie Pie Co. Inc. announced that it has entered into a partnership with Kraft Foods for the upcoming holiday season. The two companies will co-market Tootie Pie with Kraft’s Cool Whip. Get the full story »
July 7, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
International,
M&A
By Dow Jones Newswires
Kraft Foods Inc. reached a deal to sell Cadbury’s Romanian operations to investment fund Oryxa Capital for an undisclosed amount. The deal — involving the Kandia-Excelent chocolate, soft cake and sugar confectionery business — is the last sale required by European regulators as part of Kraft’s $19 billion purchase earlier this year of Cadbury. Get the full story »
July 6, 2010 at 5:51 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
Jobs/employment,
Layoffs
By Dow Jones Newswires
Kraft Foods Inc. confirmed Monday it has laid off around 120 staff at the global headquarters of the Cadbury business it bought earlier this year for $17.78 billion.
A spokesman for the Chicago-based company said the global headquarters of Cadbury on the outskirts of London has now closed, with the loss of about 120 staff. Only around 50 of Cadbury’s global head office staff had been found new roles within Kraft, he said. Get the full story »
June 29, 2010 at 2:18 p.m.
Filed under:
Food,
International
By Reuters
Kraft Foods Co. is revising the brands and countries it will focus on in developing markets as a result of its acquisition earlier this year of Cadbury Plc.
Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates, Halls lozenges and Trident gum, three Cadbury brands, make the list of 10 “power” brands getting the bulk of the marketing money in developing markets, said Sanjay Khosla, Kraft’s president, developing markets and global categories. They join Oreo cookies, Milka chocolate, Lacta chocolate, Jacobs coffee, Tang drink mix, Club Social/TUC crackers, Biskuat/Tiger biscuits, Khosla said. Get the full story »
June 28, 2010 at 9:17 a.m.
Filed under:
Litigation
By Reuters
The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday that it rejected separate appeals by cigarette makers and the Obama administration stemming from the government’s racketeering lawsuit against the tobacco industry, a case that initially sought $280 billion from the industry. Get the full story »
June 28, 2010 at 6:02 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
International,
M&A
By Tribune staff report
Kraft foods has reached a deal to sell its Wedel chocolate and candy business in Poland, which it acquired with its purchase of Cadbury, to South Korea’s Lotte Group for an undisclosed price. The sale is part of Kraft’s agreement with EU regulators to sell off some units as part of its acquisition of Cadbury.
