Starting on January 1, 2024, Anton Paar took over the global sales and service network of Brabender, following the August 2023 acquisition. Founded in 1922 in Graz (Austria), Anton Paar specializes in laboratory and process measurement technology with 37 global sales and service centers, and more than 650 certified technicians spanning over 110 countries.
On January 1, Chip Czulada started his new role as the president of Reading Bakery Systems. He succeeds Joe Zaleski at the helm of RBS.
ARYZTA announces that it has formally agreed to proceed with the construction and commissioning of a new bakery in Perth, Western Australia. The total investment is estimated to be around EUR 40 million. The project will take two years to complete once construction starts.
A Ferrero-related company, CTH Invest, entered into exclusive negotiations to fully acquire Michel et Augustin from Danone. Michel et Augustin markets premium products including sweet biscuits, savory biscuits and snacks. These brands are sold mainly in France and in six other markets. The business was founded in the French market in 2004 by Augustin Paluel-Marmont and Michel de Rovira, before being acquired by Danone.
McDonald’s is testing a new restaurant format, Cos Mc’s, with customizable drinks and snacks designed to appeal to afternoon eating occasions. Similar offerings can be found at Starbucks and Dunkin’.
Lidl renamed its ‘Sourdough crusty rye bloomer’ to ‘Crusty Wheat & Rye Bloomer’ on December 1, following complaints that included a note from the Real Bread Campaign. The initial name was found to not correctly describe the product, which had a misleading ‘sourdough’ claim although it was made of 56% wheat flour.
Reading Bakery Systems (RBS) appointed Tremaine Hartranft as Vice President of Technical Growth and Strategy. In his new role, Hartranft will be responsible for supporting product line development, overseeing the RBS Science and Innovation Center, serving as the executive team’s primary technical resource, and evaluating opportunities to mitigate risk while growing the RBS business.
Yum! Brands’ KFC Division will acquire over 200 KFC restaurants from EG Group, the company’s largest KFC franchisee in the UK and Ireland, in line with its growth strategy in general and considering the UK and Ireland’s growing chicken market. KFC UK and Ireland have reported consistent growth that has continued this year, with system sales up 7% and same-store sales up 5% across its 1,040 restaurants.
