PMMI expands food packaging horizons in Africa
PMMI and Ipack-Ima are launching East Afripack to capitalize on opportunities in the booming regional market.
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is joining with Italian trade fair producer Ipack-Ima Spa to launch East Afripack
The event (scheduled September 9-12 in Nairobi, Kenya) will connect technology providers with producers working in or looking to enter the region.
Jorge Izquierdo, vice president of global markets for PMMI (the producer of the annual PACK EXPO processing and packaging exposition and conference), spoke with FoodProductionDaily about the event, and what it can provide for food and packaging companies looking to take advantage of the region’s economic growth.
Hillshire acquires rival food firm Pinnacle for $6.6bn
Hillshire's brands include Jimmy Dean, Ball Park and Sara Lee, while Pinnacle is known for Aunt Jemima and Duncan Hines.
The combined company, which will be based in Chicago, is expected to generate $6.6bn in annual sales.
Following the news, shares in both companies were up on the New York Stock Exchange in pre-market trading.
In a statement, Hillshire said it would acquire all outstanding shares of Pinnacle Foods in a cash and shares transaction.
"The acquisition creates a leading branded food company with enhanced scale, reach, and capabilities, while providing margin expansion," said president and chief executive of Hillshire Brands, Sean Connolly.
Mr Connolly will run the combined company, which will retain the Hillshire name.
Pinnacle's chief executive, Bob Gamgort, said the deal "speaks to the value Pinnacle employees have created".
Konica Minolta seeks enhanced presence in Kenya
Konica Minolta, a global leader in provision of office business solutions, is seeking to take advantage of the developing business infrastructure in the region to enhance its presence in the market.
Visiting Business Support Manager for East African Countries Mr. Paul Tihn said the fast expanding business and Information Technology sector offers opportunities for Konica Minolta to provide the market with office equipment that will enhance efficiency and productivity.
Mr. Tihn spoke at the Pride Inn Hotel in Nairobi while launching the Konica Minolta on the Move campaign where buses on key routes in Nairobi will be fully branded with Konica Minolta's Office and Production Printing Solutions products as the company gears to launch new products mid-this year. The campaign is in partnership with some PSV operators and Konica Minolta's local partners Express Automation.
Chinese Cuisine Delights Taste Buds of Kenyans
The way to a Kenyan's heart is through his stomach. Chinese restaurants are offering Kenyans diverse cuisine to their taste buds.
Eliud Ekiring is a chef who has worked at Fang Fang, a Chinese restaurant in Nairobi, for seven years. He learned the Chinese cuisine as a quite exotic skill, just because he loves it.
As most of his local colleagues did, he has learned the art through experience while serving in the kitchen under the tutelage of the Chinese restaurant owners. It took him about six months to be fully compliant in the skill.
"Although I cannot say that I can cook all types of Chinese foods, I am very conversant with those that are served in the eating place. However, given a recipe, it wouldn't take me long to come up with a tasty meal," Ekiring said.
More and more Chinese restaurants pop up in Kenya, especially in Nairobi, an indication that the Chinese presence in Kenya is not only technological, but also gastronomical.
