By Martinne Geller and David Jones

(Reuters) – Molson Coors Brewing Co (TAP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) struck a deal to buy East European brewer StarBev from CVC Capital Partners CVC.UL for 2.65 billion euros (2.1 billion pounds) as the North American brewer seeks a greater presence in developing markets.

Molson Coors, whose beers include Carling, Blue Moon and Coors Light, outbid rival Asahi Group (2502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) of Japan, an early front-runner that was unwilling to pay more than $3 billion for StarBev, the maker of Czech beer Staropramen, according to people close to the deal.

April 3 (Reuters) – Molson Coors Brewing Co struck a
deal to buy East European brewer StarBev from CVC Capital
Partners for 2.65 billion euros ($3.5 billion) as the
North American brewer seeks a greater presence in developing
markets.

Molson Coors outbid rival Asahi Group of Japan, an
early front-runner that was unwilling to pay more than $3
billion for StarBev, according to people close to the deal.

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Wendy’s Co says it never has used so-called “pink slime” in its hamburgers and ran ads in eight major daily newspapers around the United States on Friday to let diners know that.

The nation’s second-largest hamburger chain is the latest company to join the public relations war over so-called “pink slime” — an ammonia-treated beef filler product that the meat industry calls “finely textured beef” — that is at the center of one of the biggest U.S. food fights in recent history.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – PepsiCo Inc (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Chief Executive Indra Nooyi had total compensation worth $17.1 million last year, up 6 percent from 2010, even as the food and drink company failed to meet its key internal performance targets.

The increase is largely due to a 23 percent jump in Nooyi’s base salary – her first raise in five years as CEO – and a gain in the value of her retirement benefits.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – ConAgra Foods Inc (CAG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by price increases, but stood by its full-year target, citing difficult business conditions.

Shares in the maker of Banquet frozen meals, Chef Boyardee pasta and Hebrew National hot dogs edged down less than 1 percent in premarket trading.

March 22 (Reuters) – ConAgra Foods Inc reported a
higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by
price increases, but stood by its full-year target, citing
difficult business conditions.

Shares in the maker of Banquet frozen meals, Chef Boyardee
pasta and Hebrew National hot dogs edged down less than 1
percent in premarket trading.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Move over Accenture, Verizon, and Diageo – there’s a new made-up name coming to Corporate America.

Mondelez International, inspired by Latin and other languages, will be the new name of Kraft Foods Inc’s (KFT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) snack business. The change will occur once the maker of Oreo cookies, Cadbury chocolate and Trident gum is carved off from the rest of the business, which is expected later this year.

March 21 (Reuters) – Move over Accenture, Verizon, and
Diageo – there’s a new made-up name coming to Corporate America.

Mondelez International, inspired by Latin and other
languages, will be the new name of Kraft Foods Inc’s
snack business. The change will occur once the maker of Oreo
cookies, Cadbury chocolate and Trident gum is carved off from
the rest of the business, which is expected later this year.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – General Mills Inc (GIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a quarterly profit in line with Wall Street expectations and stood by its lowered full-year forecast as it faces higher costs for raw materials.

“Fiscal 2012 has represented a challenging operating environment, with the highest level of commodity inflation that we’ve seen in 30 years,” Chief Executive Officer Ken Powell said in a statement on Wednesday.

March 20 (Reuters) – U.S. carbonated soft drink consumption
fell faster last year as strength in energy drinks failed to
offset weakness in traditional sodas from Coca-Cola Co
and PepsiCo Inc, according to a leading beverage
industry newsletter.

Total sales volume of soda fell about 1 percent in 2011 to
9.27 billion cases, according to Beverage Digest, about the same
level it was in 1996. Sales volume fell 0.5 percent in 2010.