Del Monte Foods Inc

While other businesses slow down for the holidays, Del Monte Foods Co. is gearing up to try to capitalize on its biggest acquisition in more than a decade of deal making. This week Del Monte began running a greatly expanded product line that has doubled the company's size. The additions include StarKist tuna and top-selling brands of pet food. The new products, picked up in a $2.3-billion spinoff from Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Co.

Del Monte Foods Co.'s stock rose 5.3% after the firm announced that it was in talks to sell its StarKist seafood division to South Korea's Dongwon Group. Del Monte said last month that it might sell StarKist because of higher fish costs. The San Francisco company bought StarKist in 2002 as part of a $2.9-billion deal.

Del Monte Foods Co. on Thursday said it would buy cat food maker Meow Mix Holdings Inc. for $705 million and sell its private-label soup and baby food business to focus on its higher-margin branded businesses. The San Francisco-based company also announced quarterly profit that beat analyst estimates. Del Monte -- whose pet food brands include 9Lives, Snausages and Kibbles 'n Bits -- will acquire Meow Mix from New York-based private equity firm Cypress Group.

Del Monte Foods Co. posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit and cut its full-year earnings forecast because of soaring costs for ingredients such as wheat, corn and fish. The news sent the San Francisco company's stock down more than 6%. The maker of Del Monte canned vegetables, Meow Mix cat food and StarKist tuna said profit was $25.9 million, or 13 cents a share, in its fiscal second quarter ended Oct. 28, compared with $23.2 million, or 11 cents, a year earlier.

The canned tuna industry is swimming upstream, hurt by health warnings of mercury contamination and a perception that its product is just plain boring. Now the major players are renewing efforts to hook customers. Canned tuna producers are promoting the fish as a low-fat protein, laden in omega-3 fatty acids that are believed to benefit the heart. They're trotting out new advertising.

Del Monte Foods Co., maker of Meow Mix cat food, StarKist tuna and canned fruit, posted a smaller-than-expected drop in profit as it offset higher raw material and fuel costs with strong pet food and fruit sales and with price hikes. Del Monte, like other food companies, has been squeezed by higher corn costs from a surge in ethanol production, but increased prices have helped to offset those pressures. Earnings for the fiscal first quarter that ended July 29 fell to $3.

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Del Monte Foods Co. posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit and cut its full-year earnings forecast because of soaring costs for ingredients such as wheat, corn and fish. The news sent the San Francisco company's stock down more than 6%. The maker of Del Monte canned vegetables, Meow Mix cat food and StarKist tuna said profit was $25.9 million, or 13 cents a share, in its fiscal second quarter ended Oct. 28, compared with $23.2 million, or 11 cents, a year earlier.

Del Monte Foods Co., the nation's largest maker of canned fruits and vegetables, said Thursday that its profit more than doubled in its fiscal fourth quarter but that its first-quarter earnings would be lower than last year because of higher energy costs and commodity prices. Shares of the San Francisco-based firm fell 8.6% on the news, closing at $10.06 on the New York Stock Exchange. Net income in the quarter ending Aug.

Del Monte Offer Reported Near: Del Monte Foods, the century-old food-processing company that has had two owners in as many years, may be sold again. Italian financier Sergio Cragnotti is said to be considering a cash offer of $300 million and would also assume about $500 million of the company's debt, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The paper quoted a source familiar with Del Monte as saying that negotiations are underway and a public stock offering might be made.

Del Monte Foods Co., maker of Meow Mix cat food, StarKist tuna and canned fruit, posted a smaller-than-expected drop in profit as it offset higher raw material and fuel costs with strong pet food and fruit sales and with price hikes. Del Monte, like other food companies, has been squeezed by higher corn costs from a surge in ethanol production, but increased prices have helped to offset those pressures. Earnings for the fiscal first quarter that ended July 29 fell to $3.

Del Monte Foods Co. on Friday broadened its recall of dog treats that may have been tainted with contaminated wheat gluten from China. Del Monte widened the range of Jerky Treats and Ol' Roy and Happy Tails Beef Flavor treats covered by a recall first announced March 31. The latest recall, which also includes some private-label snacks, adds packages with different expiration dates, Del Monte said.

Del Monte Foods Co. reported a 47% drop in quarterly profit Thursday as it was hit by higher costs for fish, peaches and tomatoes as well as expenses for integrating acquisitions. But earnings excluding one-time items exceeded expectations, helped by price increases and cost cuts. The San Francisco-based maker of canned fruit, StarKist tuna and Meow Mix cat food posted a profit of $23.2 million, or 11 cents a share, for the fiscal second quarter that ended Oct. 29. That was down from $43.

Del Monte Foods Co. said Thursday that its fiscal first-quarter profit fell 62% and warned that the current quarter's profit would fall as low as 5 cents a share because of costs to integrate acquisitions. San Francisco-based Del Monte said net income in the quarter ended July 30 fell to $6.2 million, or 3 cents a share, from $16.2 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier. Revenue rose 9.3% to $674.1 million.

The canned tuna industry is swimming upstream, hurt by health warnings of mercury contamination and a perception that its product is just plain boring. Now the major players are renewing efforts to hook customers. Canned tuna producers are promoting the fish as a low-fat protein, laden in omega-3 fatty acids that are believed to benefit the heart. They're trotting out new advertising.

Del Monte Foods Co. said Thursday that fiscal fourth-quarter profit tripled, beating estimates, as price increases and cost cutting offset rising energy and packaging prices. The San Francisco company also raised its long-term sales and earnings targets, even as it planned to cut 85 sales and administrative jobs. Del Monte also said it would revamp its dry pet food manufacturing to lower delivery costs.

Del Monte Foods Co.'s stock rose 5.3% after the firm announced that it was in talks to sell its StarKist seafood division to South Korea's Dongwon Group. Del Monte said last month that it might sell StarKist because of higher fish costs. The San Francisco company bought StarKist in 2002 as part of a $2.9-billion deal.

Del Monte Foods Co., one of the nation's largest distributors of canned fruit and vegetables, said Thursday that it was adding more pet products to its business, agreeing to acquire Milk-Bone dog treats and other brands from Kraft Foods Inc. for about $580 million. The deal comes two weeks after Del Monte announced plans to buy cat food maker Meow Mix Holdings for $705 million and is part of Del Monte's larger plan to focus on having strong brands.

Del Monte Foods Co. on Thursday said it would buy cat food maker Meow Mix Holdings Inc. for $705 million and sell its private-label soup and baby food business to focus on its higher-margin branded businesses. The San Francisco-based company also announced quarterly profit that beat analyst estimates. Del Monte -- whose pet food brands include 9Lives, Snausages and Kibbles 'n Bits -- will acquire Meow Mix from New York-based private equity firm Cypress Group.