Dutch divestment

Greencore Group is to sell its Dutch-based convenience foods business, Greencore Continental, to Convenience Foods Europe. Greencore Continental supplies sandwiches, chilled pizzas and chilled sauces to customers based in Continental Europe. It had a turnover of E58.2m (£48.6m) for the year ended 25 September 2009.

Grocery growth

Latest grocery market figures from Kantar Worldpanel have signalled positive growth from UK multiples for the 12 weeks to 11 July 2010. Grocery market growth reached 4.4% the highest since February as World Cup promotions and warm weather boosted sales. The Co-operative saw the strongest rise in this period, with year-on-year growth of 19.3%, while Iceland grew by 11.4%.

New M&S plant

Marks & Spencer has opened a new 1.1 million sq ft distribution centre on ProLogis Park Bradford, just off the M606. It will serve all M&S stores with ambient food from next year.

McVitie’s rewards

United Biscuits UK is to launch a rewards scheme across 360 million packs of McVitie’s biscuits from 16 August. McVitie’s VIP Club will offer consumers the chance to claim tea-break treats or build up a collection of points in order to claim larger rewards.

I

ngredients initiative

Butter brand Lurpak is inviting bakers and retailers to promote their wares on a new website, aiming to help consumers source good food ingredients. The Good Food Finder will allow both consumers and bakery business owners to submit their own food finds into the database. To get listed, go to www.lurpak.co.uk/goodfoodfinder

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