Danish food ingredients maker Chr Hansen said increasing demand for low- fat yoghurt and reduced-salt cheese would lift its sales this year after the company reported a 10% rise in revenue in the third quarter.

EUROPEAN food and drink companies have become targets for private equity and venture capital investment, with the ingredients division of Denmark’s Chr Hansen company the latest acquisition to be snapped up from under the noses of bidders within the industry.

THE food ingredients industry is on alert for a €1bn bidding battle between global giants Danisco and Kerry Group, as the impending sale of the ingredients divisions of Chr Hansen and Degussa are set to tip the balance of domination in the industry.

KERRY Group is to spend €20 million to expand its food business in China, chief executive Hugh Friel announced in Shanghai last night.