Ferrero SpA is interested in buying Campbell Soup Co’s international business, which includes biscuit brand Arnott’s, two sources close to the matter said on Monday.
The Italian group based in the Piedmont region is working on a possible deal with Rothschild as advisers, one of the sources said, confirming an earlier report by Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore. According to the newspaper, the deal could be worth more than $2 billion.
Campbell started the process of selling its international and fresh refrigerated-foods units in August following a strategic review, joining the likes of other packaged food makers such as Kraft Heinz Co and Kellogg Co who have also been offloading some brands.
Campbell recently settled a months-long proxy battle with billionaire Daniel Loeb’s hedge fund Third Point LLC, which had pressured the company to sell itself.
The company said last month, the units which were put up for sale have attracted strong interest from potential buyers.
Campbell’s international biscuits and snacks operating segment also include Kelsen Group, along with the company’s manufacturing operations in Indonesia, Malaysia and its businesses in Hong Kong and Japan.
Ferrero, which also makes Kinder brand chocolates and Tic Tac, declined to comment, while a Campbell spokesman said the company does not comment on rumors and speculation.
By Francesca Landini and Aishwarya Venugopal
Source: Reuters
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The pilot will allow the company to scale circular packaging in about 18 markets over the next three years, an approach that jumps on the success of similar efforts in the company’s Indonesia ecoSPIRITS program, which launched in 2022 and is active in 38 bars.
Unilever’s focus on purpose across its brands has been a source of criticism from some of its investors. Its new CEO Hein Schumacher says the company now recognises there are some brands where the concept is simply not relevant.
