Tiger Brands Ltd Seeking Biscuit Plants Outside South Africa

Tiger Brands Ltd, South Africa's largest food company, which has  businesses covering  baked products, flour , snacks and beverages  this week announced it had formed a venture in Ethiopia and agreed to buy biscuit-maker Deli Foods Nigeria Ltd to diversify earnings away from its home market.The company is pushing for a presence outside South Africa.
Tiger Brands Ltd, South Africa's largest food company, is in talks to acquire a 49% stake in one of Zimbabwe's largest and oldest bakeries - Lobels Bakery   business digest has learnt.


Market sources say officials from Tiger Brands have been in and out of the country to carry out a due diligence examination into Lobels and recently toured the operations of the company.
Lobels resident director and acting CEO, retired Brigadier General David Chiweza, on Wednesday would neither confirm nor deny his company was in talks with Tiger Brands.
He said: "All I can say is I will neither confirm nor deny that. At this stage, we have very confidential negotiations. We are in an equity mobilisation programme and in discussions with various people."
But sources say Lobels shareholders will sell a 49% stake in the company for around US$10 million in a bid to raise capital for the troubled bakery.
The sources added that shareholders had opted to retain control in Lobels in line with the country's empowerment laws that compel foreigners to sell 51% stake in businesses valued at US$500 000 or more.

source :
allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: SA Firm Set to Acquire Lobels Stake

Dubai Hot Spot For Indian Biscuit Brands

My stay  in  Dubai  has few surprise  as  all  major Indian biscuit brands could be found in retail  shop  as well as mall supermarkets  and hypermarkets   with  other international and local brands . We could also  find few brands from   south east  asian countries such as  Philippines , Thailand , Malaysia  and Indonesia .  . Local brands    from countries like   Oman , Iran , Syria, Saudi Arabia  and Turkey . Other major international brands most visible were Mcvities , Oreos , Bisca , Locker  and  local favorite Tiffany .

What   has drawn my attention of  the volume and  shelf  space Indian brands occupied on  malls  such as Carrefour and  the Brands displayed  on Vans   carrying this products

Retailers displayed  all major  brands such as  Britannia's , Parle , ITC  and even Priya Gold  . Dubai have a very sizable Indian populations which  prefers Indian biscuits  to other brands thus making it a lucrative market to Indian manufacturers .

All  major Indian brands  which  have to  face stiff competition at home have started scouting for markets overseas   and Dubai  being the favorite destinations for them . Most of them  operates through authorised  distributors  except  for  Britannia Industries Ltd  as they  have  bought  local company  Strategic Foods Intl Co LLc  from Khimji  Ramdas  . Britannia  is now promoting  both its Indian brands such  as Good Day , Marie Gold , 50-50 , Milkbikis  as well as local brand  such as  Nutro  biscuits   and wafers .