KERRY Group’s strong cash flow gives it the scope to spend a minimum of €250 million a year on acquisitions without increasing borrowings, according to chief executive Stan McCarthy.

STAFF at a 4HOME store in north Cork yesterday began a sit-in after being told they were to lose their jobs from the weekend.

THE closure of a further three 4HOME-controlled stores with the loss of 40 jobs in north Cork and Limerick has been announced.

Food group Kerry in an Interim Management Statement released to coincide with its AGM in Tralee today said it was "confident" of meeting its forecasts for the year despite a reduction in group revenue.

Food giant Kerry Group has today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Breeo Foods, a subsidiary of Irish-based Reox Holdings plc.

LEGAL proceedings have been initiated in the High Court by the managing director of Carraighdubh Holdings Ltd, Michel Hogan, aimed at preventing Reox Holdings plc, formerly Dairygold, from confirming his dismissal or from replacing him.

Kerry Group has filed a Notice of Appeal in the High Court against the decision of the Competition Authority to prohibit the group’s proposed acquisition of Breeo Foods, a subsidiary of Irish-based Reox Holdings plc.

DAIRYGOLD has had to pay back a €750,000 grant to the Welsh Assembly government, stemming from last year’s closure of its Dairygold Food Products cheese company packing plant in Wales.

DIY AND homewares group 4HOME Superstores is set to hit its target of 600 employees by the year’s end following the opening of its 12th store.

THE future of the Galtee Meats plant in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, was in doubt last night, despite an assurance by Reox Holdings that there are no plans at present to cease manufacturing operations in the town.

Reox Holdings Plc announced the appoint- ment of three new directors to its board, Liam McGreal, Michael Jacob and John Fitzgerald.

DAIRYGOLD has outlined plans to split the group into two independent operating divisions.