Milling & Baking News - September 20, 2005 - (Page 1)

April 2005 Theinewsweeklyiofigrain-basedifoods bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com New Orleans baker hopeful about future of his business and city BATON ROUGE, LA. - In the face of what he said could only be described as a "surreal experience," the president of a venerable New Orleans independent baking company last week voiced optimism about prospects both for his business and the Crescent City. "The bottom line is that we're a resilient city, and we're going to be back," said Robert J. (Sandy) Whann IV, president, Leidenheimer Baking Co., New Orleans. "I don't think it's mere talk to say New Orleans is going to be back better than ever before." Mr. Whann spoke to Milling & Baking News from the company's temporary offices in Baton Rouge. He said Leidenheimer may resume operations at its LATE New Orleans plant within two weeks. A baker of hearth bread items such as po-boys and muffalettas (Italian round bread), the Leidenheimer baking plant is located on Simon Bolivar Ave., a site that is a few hundred yards from the Louisiana Superdome and less than a mile from the city's famed Garden District. Damage at the baking plant, and through much of the city, was not severe, Mr. Whann said. He has been back to the plant twice over the past two weeks. "It's nowhere near as the television media would have you believe," he said. "The looting was confined to a very small area. Things are getting cleaned up. The Continued on Page 12 WHITE HOUSE Bush: Free trade is 'surest path' toward international prosperity President Bush spoke before the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 14. That same day, President Bush, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, center, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, right, attended a meeting of the international launch of the United Nations Democracy Fund. NEW YORK - Tying the fight for free trade to the fight for a freer and more secure world, President George W. Bush last week pledged to work toward the elimination of agricultural subsidies. Mr. Bush spoke Sept. 14 at United Nations headquarters to the largestever gathering of world leaders. He promised to "eliminate all tariffs, subsidies and other barriers" to free trade if other nations will do the same. After thanking the 115 nations that offered assistance to the United States after Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Bush likened the cooperative response to what occurred following last year's tsunami and he spoke of the importance of continued global cooperation in the war on terror. To fight terror longer term, improved Continued on Page 22 inside SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 NEWS NORTHFIELD, ILL. - Beginning later this month, Kraft Foods Inc. will offer 100% whole grain versions of several of its popular cookies and crackers, including Chips Ahoy! and Wheat Thins, Roger K. Deromedi, Kraft's chief executive officer, said at California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity held last week in Sacramento, Calif. Also at the summit, Mr. Deromedi said the company will Continued on Page 10 Kraft details healthy initiatives Cargill agrees to buy Degussa ingredient unit for $670 million MINNEAPOLIS - Cargill, Inc. on Sept. 9 reached agreement to acquire the food ingredients operations of Degussa AG of Dusseldorf, Germany, for €540 million ($670 million). The transaction is contingent on the approvals of the Degussa supervisory board and relevant regulatory authorities. "This agreement marks a very significant step in Cargill's strategy of becoming a leading provider of specialty ingredients and ingredient systems to food and beverage companies globally," said Warren Staley, chairman and chief executive officer of Cargill. "This will be our largest acquisition since Cerestar in 2002 and greatly strengthens our range of texturant systems and flavoring capabilities. It supports our strategy of becoming the recognized global leader in providing food and beverage Continued on Page 14 THIS WEEK Mrs Bairds brings bread to Kansas City 14 Ingredient Pepperidge performance boosts Campbell net 24 Snack Food Association to shift priorities 42 Week 47 http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

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Milling & Baking News - September 20, 2005