Campbell (NYSE: CPB) maybe a household name in the west, but its famous soup cans are unknown in China where homemade broths are the norm and instant soups are a foreign concept. But that could change soon, with word that Campbell has purchased a Danish cookie company with a strong presence in China. Normally I’d say this purchase alone doesn’t mean that Campbell will necessarily use Denmark’s Kelsen as a platform to roll out its soups in China. But in this case Campbell seems to be making extra effort to highlight the China angle in its announcement of the deal, which makes such a move seem more likely. Read Full Post…
Shanghai’s historical place as a mixing point between east and west has burnished the city’s reputation as a hub of revolution and experimentation, which is appearing now on the breakfast table as a leading local food group tries to sell Shanghainese on western-style breakfast cereal. Shanghai watchers will know of course that I’m talking about local food superstar Bright Food Group, which has just closed its purchase of a controlling stake of British breakfast cereal giant Weetabix for more than $1 billion.
As inventor of the western-style breakfast cereal that is typically eaten cold with milk, Kellogg (NYSE: K) is a household name in the US and many European markets. But it has yet to find the right formula for Asia, where rice porridge and soy milk served hot still dominate the breakfast market. Now the US breakfast giant is preparing to try to change Chinese tastes through a joint venture with a Singaporean company that will sell Kellogg brand products, presumably including its trademark breakfast cereals, to millions of Chinese.
