Professional Business Network

NESTLé’S confectionery business has recorded its fifth consecutive year of growth, following a good performance by the Aero brand, which is made in York

The global business reported the division had grown by 54 per cent during 2011 in its results for the full year

Paul Grimwood, chairman and chief executive of Nestlé UK & Ireland, said shoppers looking for value for money without sacrificing the occasional affordable luxury, had driven sales growth

Aero was up 176 per cent, the Rowntrees brand 176 per cent and Rolo increased by 315 per cent

The business has continued to innovate within its existing brands, developing KitKat Pop Chocs, Rolo and Aero biscuits, Aero Caramel, and the expansion of the Rowntree’s offering including Sour Pastilles, Jelly Aliens And Very Berry Jellies

Mr Grimwood said: “2011 was a strong year for Nestlé UK & Ireland despite the difficult economic climate UK shoppers are adapting to challenging times, they still want to provide their families with good quality food and drink, and the occasional luxury – they’re just looking for value in the way they do it We are helping them by offering brands they can trust, great quality products, value for money, and the occasional affordable luxury

“2012 will be tough, but our focus remains on developing new products to meet changing demand to drive growth If we continue to invest in our business during challenging times we will be in a much stronger position when the economic climate improves”

Such sweet success

MORE good news, this time in the form of Nestlé’s trading results The company’s confectionery division has recorded its fifth successive year of growth – partly due to the popularity of Aero, sales of which were up 176 per cent

Nestlé is one of York’s biggest companies, so this is news worth celebrating: particularly given the general economic circumstances, and the downbeat unemployment figures released earlier in the week

Ferrochrome producer International Ferro Metals agreed to shut two of its furnaces to help South African utility Eskom manage tight electricity supply.

International Ferro did not say how much Eskom was paying as compensation but said it was a “net financial benefit to the company”.

The company said it did not expect the shutdowns to significantly impact other mining and ore beneficiation operations, nor its contracts with customers. No job cuts were anticipated either.

South Africa has been struggling to meet demand for power as new power plants meant to plug the shortfall have been delayed. Read Full Post…

Four Labor ministers, including Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, have backed a leadership comeback by Kevin Rudd, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard sought to bring an end to his campaign of “destabilisation” against the minority government.

Mr Rudd announced his policy priorities while in Washington before getting on a plane back to Brisbane, ahead of formal confirmation he will contest the leadership at a caucus ballot called by Ms Gillard for 10am (AEDT) on Monday in Canberra’s parliament house.

As she announced the vote she expects to win, the prime minister also promised to go to the backbench and never recontest the leadership if defeated, and called on Mr Rudd to pledge the same.

Ms Gillard told reporters in Adelaide her government had made “mistakes” over the past 18 months – Labor is languishing in the polls – but she was the best person to lead Labor to the 2013 federal election.

For the first time she elaborated on why she seized the job from Mr Rudd in June 2010, saying his government – in which she served as deputy leader – had suffered “paralysis” and lost voter support.

“It became absolutely clear to me that one of the overriding problems of the government that Kevin Rudd led is it was very, very focused on the next news cycle, on the next picture opportunity, rather than the long-term reforms for the nation’s interests,” Ms Gillard said.

Despite Mr Rudd’s assurances he was not campaigning against her, it was clear there had been a “long-running destabilisation campaign here”.

The prime minister accused Mr Rudd of sabotaging Labor’s 2010 election campaign by leaking to the media, saying it was her “personal fortitude and sense of calm under pressure” that got the party into minority government.

Mr Rudd said he had held conversations with caucus colleagues who regarded him as the “best prospect to lead the Australian Labor Party successfully to the next elections”.

“I do not believe that Prime Minister Gillard can lead the Australian Labor Party to success in the next election,” he added.

“That is a deep belief.

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BUSINESSES in York can take part in a series of free masterclasses and seminars to find out more about exporting their goods and services around the world

The first North Yorkshire International Trade Week starts next Tuesday, and runs through to Friday, at the Royal York Hotel, and will give local businesses information and suggestions on getting into overseas markets

David Bruce, director of Nestlé and LEP board member, said the week would address some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding international trade, and help companies, especially small-to-medium enterprises, to compete on the world stage

He said: “Many of the business people sitting on the LEP board, myself included, have first-hand experience of the massive opportunities available in overseas markets

“We are delighted to be working alongside UKTI to help our business community gain a better understanding of this potential and to inspire the business growth that the economy desperately needs”

The programme will include a masterclass on selling services internationally and a Latin America roadshow, and guests will include overseas trade officers representing 11 markets in Latin America

Mark Robson, UKTI International Trade Director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We want the week to provide a real catalyst for more North Yorkshire businesses to discover what’s out there, whet their appetite for international success and ultimately realise their global potential

“Whether you’re new to export and taking the first tentative steps on selling goods or services overseas, or you are an established operator looking to expand, we hope to provide the necessary answers, knowledge and support”

All workshops, masterclasses and seminars are free to attend, but advance registration is required

To book a place, or for further information, phone UKTI events coordinator Sarah Padgett on 0300 3651000, email info@uktiyorkshirecouk or go to latinamericauktigovuk to register for the event in York

The 2013 Dodge Dart is unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in Detroit, Mich.

Dodge CEO Reid Bigland poses for photos next to the new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in Detroit, Mich.

DETROIT — If the new Dodge Dart sells anything like the original, Chrysler will have the small-car hit it needs.

The reinvented compact, unveiled at the Detroit auto show Monday, is nothing like its predecessor from the 1960s and ’70s. B

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It is the addictive email phone that became a must-have for high flying executives. But service outages and failure to keep up with the iPhone mean the BlackBerry’s popularity is waning and its creators have paid the price.

Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have stepped down from their roles as co-chief executives and co-chairs of Research in Motion, the Canadian company they brought to international prominence by inventing the first successful smart phone, years before Apple appeared on the telecoms stage.

Hoping to pacify investors horrified at the 88% decline in RIM’s share price since its $148 peak in June 2008, the board has named long-serving chief operating officer and former Siemens employee Thorsten Heins as chief executive.

“As with any company that has grown as fast as we have, there have been inevitable growing pains,” said Heins in a statement. Read Full Post…

THE Grange Hotel in York has launched a new short break package to coincide with new TV drama Eternal Law, the first episode of which was shown on ITV on Thursday.

The Eternal City Break, created by The Grange Hotel, on Bootham, aims to attract viewers who are expected to tune into the drama, by the writers of Life On Mars, in their millions.

It includes a one-day York Pass, which gives free admission to many of the attractions featured in Eternal Law, and an exclusive Locations Information Sheet, which highlights other films and TV series which have been shot in York.

Comments(23)

The Mc says…
9:44am Sat 7 Jan 12

And what a load of crap that programme turned out to be….. And what a load of crap that programme turned out to be….. The Mc
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pedalling paul says…

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