Food group Glanbia has reported an 18% growth in operating profit to €161m and revenue is up 23% to €2.7bn for 2011.

GLANBIA Plc, the largest cheese maker in the US, may spend €200 million next year on acquisitions to boost the nutritional products business it has built up from the by-products of dairy goods.

GLANBIA has upgraded its full-year earnings forecasts for 2011 on the back of a strong first half performance driven by acquisitions and its Global Nutritionals business.

THE international nutritionals and cheese group, Glanbia, is expecting a strong first-half result, according to a trading statement issued yesterday.

Food group Glanbia in a half-year trading statement issued this morning said it had a "strong" six months to the end of June.

GLANBIA chief executive John Moloney is buoyed up by prospects for the group given the improving outlook for global demand.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight insisted the Government would do everything it could to help 280 employees facing redundancy after cosmetics giant Procter & Gamble announced massive cuts.

Up to 600 jobs are under threat at a multinational cosmetics manufacturer in Co Tipperary, it was revealed tonight.

IT was a day of mixed fortunes on the jobs front yesterday with 125 jobs created in Drogheda, but 80 workers in Thurles being told they have lost their jobs.

The FTSE 100 Index ended the week above the 5400 threshold for the first time in four years as bid speculation showed no sign of quietening down.