Nestlé today confirmed the successful take-over of Novartis Medical
Nutrition in a deal worth US$2.5bn - and one which will catapult
the Swiss firm into the top end of the medical foods market.
The European Commission has extended the deadline for its decision
on Nestle's proposed buy of Novartis' medical nutrition unit for
US$2.5bn to allow time for responses on proposed remedies to
competition issues.
Nestle is eyeing organic growth in health, wellness and nutrition
of five to six per cent over the next ten years, the chief
financial officer was due to told investors at a seminar today.
France's Danone and Japan's Yakult will continue their strategic
alliance involving closer cooperation on R&D and entry into new
markets, maintaining their positions as leaders in the probiotics
market.
Nestle has reported strong overall organic growth in its first
quarter, said to be fuelled by the move towards nutrition, health
and wellness and a strong basis on which to reiterate its full year
targets.
Nestle Nutrition has signed an agreement with BLIS Technologies to
investigate the use of probiotics to combat upper respiratory tract
infections in infants, for which there is said to be no effective
prevention at present.
Phytopharm and Unilever are expecting progress in their efforts to
develop products using the active extract of Hoodia gordonii in
2007, and report they are satisfied with efforts to address the
problem of ineffective weight-loss...
Danone is planning to introduce a new line of cosmetic yoghurts
next year, according to press reports, as it seeks the next level
of differentiation in the increasingly competitive functional dairy
market.
French dairy giant, Danone, has launched an action against Glanbia,
Yoplait International and Yoplait Marque Internationales in the
Dublin High Court, after alleged infringments on trademark after
the launch of the Yoplait Essence...
France's Danone has announced a three-year licence with US-based
Integrated Genomics for access to the ERGO database and genomic
discovery system to enhance the group's probiotic understanding and
R&D.
Unilever said yesterday that it had signed a deal with Maaf
Assurances that will see the French insurer reimbursing
policyholders for consumption of its cholesterol-lowering Pro-Activ
range.
French yoghurt and biscuit maker Danone said today that it is not
looking to acquire the Dutch infant nutrition firm Numico, after
rumours that Danone was making a bid pushed up the Dutch group's
shares.
