KYGA Kerry Group Plc

RNS Number:1876L
Kerry Group PLC
5 October 2001



Kerry announces EURO94m further development initiatives in flavours and food
ingredients markets and establishment of new global flavour division.


Kerry, the global ingredients and consumer foods Group, today announced the
acquisition of two flavour businesses, furthering the Group's global flavours
business development strategy; and two further strategic acquisitions in the
UK and Brazilian food ingredients markets.  The businesses with a combined
turnover of approximately EURO60m are being acquired for a total consideration
of EURO94m.  Together with the eight bolt-on acquisitions announced previously
during 2001 and the acquisition of Golden Vale plc, this brings total Group
development activity to-date in 2001 to approximately EURO600m.

In line with Kerry's global flavour business expansion and development
programme and complementing the Group's other flavour company acquisitions
including Mastertaste based in the UK, San Giorgio Flavours in Italy and the
former Burns Philp flavours business in Australia, the following flavour
company acquisitions have now been concluded.
The Geneva Group; comprising Flavtek Inc., Geneva Flavors Inc. and Gilette
Food Flavorings LLC, with technical and product development facilities based
in Madison, WI, Los Angeles and New Jersey, USA; is a leading provider of
flavours and technology for savoury and sweet applications to foodservice and
processed food manufacturers.  Geneva Flavors and Gilette Food Flavorings
produce a complete line of savoury, dairy and cheese flavours.  Gilette is
also a specialist fruit flavour provider through distillates, essences,
extracts and concentrated natural fruit and juice flavours.  Flavtek, Inc. is
a producer of sweet flavours serving the dairy, beverage, bakery, snack food
and confectionery sectors in the USA.
Hickory Specialties, Inc. is one of the worlds leading producers of liquid
smoke flavours under the 'Zesti Smoke' brand for application in sauces,
marinades, glazes, smoked meats, snack seasonings, smoked seafood, soups, food
coatings and prepared meals.  Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, USA, with
manufacturing facilities in Crossville, Tennessee and Greenville, Missouri,
the business has a well established customer base in the US market and a
strong international sales network in particular in Japan, Brazil and Europe.

Kevin Lane, currently President of Kerry Mexico and Central America, has been
appointed President of the new global flavour division.  Carlos Gonzales de
Cossio, currently Director of Operations in Mexico, succeeds Kevin Lane as
President of Kerry Mexico and Central America.



The Group has also concluded two further acquisitions in the UK and Brazilian
markets.  

Kerry Ingredients (Europe) has acquired the sauces and flavoured butters
division of Voyager Foods in the UK.  Operating from a world-class production
plant in Sunderland, the acquired business manufactures a range of formed
flavoured butters and a variety of authentic savoury sauces for fast growing
segments of the prepared foods, food processor and foodservice industries. 
The acquisition is consistent with Kerry's mission to be a leading
pan-European provider of culinary systems and ready-to-use ingredient
solutions.

The acquisition of Siber, located near San Paulo, represents a further
strategic expansion of Kerry's food ingredients operations in Brazil.  Siber
is a leading branded supplier of ingredients to the artisanal ice cream and
bakery sectors, with a well-established nationwide distribution network.  The
acquired business also expands Kerry's ingredients offering in Brazil to
industrial manufacturers of confectionery, ice cream and bakery products,
through its focus on sweet flavour development, including low-water activity
sweet-fillings.




For further information please contact:          Telephone: + 353 66 7182304
Frank Hayes,                                     Fax: + 353 66 7182972
Director of Corporate Affairs,                   Email: corpaffairs@kerry.ie
Kerry Group plc.                                 Website: www.kerrygroup.com 

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