Nestle and Unilever have reported sales that beat estimates as the European food giants pushed through cost increases to combat slowing purchases by pickier consumers opting for quality over quantity.

Kraft Heinz has made a $143bn (€134.5bn) offer for Unilever in what would be the largest-ever takeover in the food or beverage industry, opening a campaign to create a consumer-goods giant with household names from Dove soap to Heinz ketchup.

Billionaire Warren Buffett said on Saturday that Berkshire Hathaway is poised to do well no matter who wins the White House in November, and the billionaire investor defended the performance and tactics of the conglomerate’s several large investments.

Shares in Diageo — owner of Guinness and Smirnoff vodka — fell yesterday after it said the Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into its distribution practices in the US, adding to its woes as frustrated investors question the performance of the distiller’s chief executive officer.

Shares in Guinness maker Diageo built up a head today as investors responded to reports that Brazil’s richest man was preparing a bid for the British drinks maker.

With a merger of Kraft and Heinz expected soon, entrepreneur-led food firms are wide-eyed with optimism for the future, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Warren Buffett may be most famous for the billions of dollars he has made from investing but he is also well known as a cheerleader for the United States.

American billionaire Warren Buffett has denied Burger King relocating its headquarters to Canada as part of its takeover of coffee chain Tim Hortons is motivated by lower taxes.

The global food giant Heinz, which famously makes beans and tomato sauce, has been bought for $23bn (€17.2bn) by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Jorge Paulo Lemann’s 3G Capital

Food giant Heinz says it has agreed to be acquired by an investment consortium including billionaire investor Warren Buffett in a deal valued at $28bn.

Burger King, the world’s number two hamburger chain that is in the midst of overhauling its menu and outlets, said it expects to be relisted on the New York Stock Exchange within the next three months.

Environmentalists praised Burger King’s decision today to stop buying palm oil from an Indonesian company accused of destroying rainforests.

New York: Burger King has agreed to be acquired by 3G Capital in a deal valued at $4 billion (€3.15bn) including debt, giving the New York investment firm control over the second-largest US hamburger chain.

Fast food chain Burger King is selling itself to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (€2.5bn).

New York: Burger King Holdings, the second-largest US hamburger chain, is in talks with 3G Capital Management LLC about a possible buyout, according to a person familiar with the matter.