CAOBISCO and 22 other associations representing a wide array of European industries, including food-related sectors, sent a joint letter to the three EU Presidents to call on the EU and Mercosur leaders to rapidly conclude the trade negotiations on the remaining open points.
The European Commission approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed merger between Novozymes A/S and Christian Hansen A/S. The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by the parties.
Joe Park was promoted to the role of Chief Digital & Technology Officer starting from March 1. He will be reporting to Chris Turner, Yum! Brands Chief Financial Officer. Park, who most recently served as Chief Digital & Technology Officer for Pizza Hut Global, succeeds Clay Johnson, who will continue with Yum! Brands as a Senior Advisor.
Starbucks announced new members were elected to its Board of Directors: Daniel Servitje – CEO and Chairman of Grupo Bimbo, Neal Mohan – YouTube CEO, and Mike Sievert – President and Director at T-Mobile US. Servitje has served as CEO of Grupo Bimbo since 1997 and as Chairman since 2013.
The shareholders of Evolva Holding AG approved the sale of Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG, a Swiss affiliate of Lallemand Inc., for CHF 20 million – on December 21. One week later, the parties closed the transaction. Evolva Holding SA will seek the delisting of its shares from SIX Swiss Exchange and expects the delisting to take place after a customary period of 6-12 months.
The liquidation of the company is currently expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
FDL, with USD 120 million in projected 2023 sales, offers significant innovation capabilities along with a strong presence in the USD 900 billion European foodservice channel. ADM intends to complete the transaction by end of January 2024.
The Neubrandenburg district court opened insolvency proceedings over the assets of Unser Heimatbäcker GmbH – Lila Bäcker, on January 1, after failed negotiations with investors regarding an overall solution for the bakery with 232 branches and 1,600 employees. Insolvency administrator Christian Graf Brockdorff continues to operate 160 branches in which other investors are interested.
Sarah Boddy is the new managing director of St Pierre Groupe, after previously being in charge of the commercial direction and strategy of the US and UK business. She succeeds David Wagstaff, who became managing director after St Pierre’s acquisition by Grupo Bimbo at the end of 2022.
