May 8 (Reuters) – Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc
(GMCR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) stripped its founder, Robert Stiller, of his role as
chairman and demoted another director for selling company shares
at a time when trading by insiders was prohibited.

The maker of Keurig single-serve coffee brewers said on
Tuesday the two men sold their shares to cover margin calls
following a near 50 percent drop in Green Mountain’s stock price
since it reported disastrous quarterly results last Wednesday.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted higher-than-expected second-quarter profit, as price increases helped offset weak beef sales, and expressed optimism about the full year.

The nation’s largest meat processor said it expects to gain momentum in the third and fourth quarters.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Kraft Foods Inc’s (KFT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) quarterly profit slightly exceeded Wall Street estimates, helped by price increases and an earlier Easter holiday.

North America’s largest packaged food maker also said on Thursday it was on track with plans to split into two companies later this year. It also reaffirmed its full-year growth targets.

May 3 (Reuters) – Alcoholic beverage maker Beam Inc
posted better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, helped
by higher sales and lower interest expense, sending shares up
3.6 percent.

The maker of Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbons also stood
by its full-year target to grow earnings per share by a rate in
the high single digits.

May 3 (Reuters) – Packaged food maker Sara Lee Corp
reported lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday and
tempered its full-year outlook, helping to send shares down more
than 5 percent in premarket trading.

Sara Lee said full-year earnings per share should fall in
the middle of its forecast range of 89 cents to 95 cents per
share. But net sales and operating income will be at the low end
of their ranges, the company said.

By Martinne Geller and Michael Erman

(Reuters) – Coca-Cola Co took the unusual step of shooting down a report on Monday that said it was in talks to buy energy drink maker Monster Beverage Corp, valued at more than $11 billion (6.7 billion pounds).

The statement from the world’s largest soft drink maker came in response to a story in the Wall Street Journal that said Coke was in discussions to buy the fast growing energy drink maker, whose brands include Monster Energy and Java Monster.

NEW YORK, April 30 (Reuters) – In the 1980s Michael Jackson
pitched it as “the choice of a new generation.” In 1990 Ray
Charles told people they “had the right one, baby.” Now, Pepsi
wants people to “Live for Now.”

A multi-year campaign featuring that tagline, as well as
various online components, ads and partnerships will roll out
globally for the cola brand this year, starting on Monday in the
United States.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – PepsiCo Inc and Coca-Cola Enterprises reported higher-than-expected quarterly profits and stood by their full-year forecasts, helped by price increases on sodas.

Like most food and beverage companies, PepsiCo and Coke Enterprises raised prices to offset higher commodity costs. But those price increases can often hurt sales volume.

April 26 (Reuters) – PepsiCo Inc reported a smaller
dip in quarterly profit than Wall Street was expecting, helped
by price increases, and stood by its full-year outlook.

Net income was $1.13 billion, or 71 cents per share, in the
first quarter, down from $1.14 billion, or 71 cents per share, a
year earlier.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Hershey Co (HSY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a higher-than-expected first quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by price increases, and raised its full-year outlook, sending the candy maker’s shares up nearly 3 percent.

The maker of Reese’s peanut butter cups, Twizzlers and Kit Kat bars said price increases were responsible for its 10.7 percent increase in first-quarter sales. Volume, which declined due to those increases, was still better than expected.