(Hellmann’s Canada via YouTube)

Kraft walks away from ‘friendly’ bid for Unilever

New York | Reuters –– U.S. food company Kraft Heinz withdrew its proposal for a US$143 billion merger with larger rival Unilever, the companies said Sunday, raising questions about whether Kraft will turn its focus to another target. Kraft had made a surprise offer for Unilever to build a global consumer goods behemoth — an […] Read more



(SABMiller.com)

SABMiller rejects Labatt owner’s takeover approach

Brussels/London | Reuters –– SABMiller, the world’s second largest brewer, has promptly rejected an improved takeover proposal from Anheuser-Busch InBev, saying its 68 billion-pound (C$136 billion) valuation was “very substantially” under par. Refusal of the offer, made public Wednesday after earlier proposals were refused privately, opens the door to a week of intense wrangling before […] Read more


AB InBev’s operations include Alexander Keith’s maker, Halifax-based Oland Breweries, which became part of Labatt in 1971. (Keiths.ca)

Labatt owner AB InBev seeks US$275B tie-up with SABMiller

Brussels/London | Reuters — Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has approached rival SABMiller about a takeover that would form a colossus producing a third of the world’s beer. A merged group would have a market value of around US$275 billion (C$363 billion) at current prices, and would combine AB InBev’s dominance of Latin America […] Read more



Nestle in late 2013 opened this Nespresso boutique bar in the Yorkville area of Toronto. (J.J. Thompson photo for CNW Group/Nespresso Canada)

Nestle says taking action to keep top slot in food industry

London | Reuters — Nestle told shareholders Thursday it is taking steps to maintain its position at the head of the global food industry, where consolidation will create two big new rivals. Nestle chairman Peter Brabeck-Lemathe told the company’s annual shareholder meeting the creation of Kraft Heinz Co. and Jacobs Douwe Egberts, as well as […] Read more