Drivers’ pasty panel

Peter’s Foods has enlisted its own delivery drivers as pasty tasters. It has recruited 130 drivers to take part in a special tasting panel, and plans to encourage its team to take a pasty pit stop, while touring the country, to taste-test new ideas, and to give feedback on taste, texture, authenticity of flavour and ease of eating on-the-go.

New look for biscuits

Jammie Dodgers biscuits have undergone a full rebrand and packaging redesign, carried out by branding and packaging specialist Robot-food. The new-look brand will hit shelves in January 2011, followed by two new products under the ’Dodgers’ brand.

Bimbo buys Sara Lee

Bread multinational Grupo Bimbo has acquired the North American bakery business of Sara Lee for $959m. Grupo Bimbo will gain the rights to the Sara Lee brand in the fresh baked goods category globally, with the exception of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. All of Sara Lee’s 13,000 North American bakery employees will transfer to Grupo Bimbo, plus 41 plants in the US.

Northern’s profits hit

Bakery profit was up, but falling sales in Northern Foods’ Frozen division hit total profit for the 26 weeks ended 2 October 2010. The firm saw "continued strong biscuits performance" within Bakery, with profits up £2.1m to £10.3m.

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