Coca-Cola, Danone, Anheuser-Busch InBev and DS Services were the 4 most acquisitive companies of 2014, according to the bevblog.net food and drink transactions database.  "Each was responsible for 6 or more takeovers," commented compiler Richard Hall, Chairman of specialist consultancy Zenith International.  "Lactalis, Diageo, FrieslandCampina, Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated and BBX Capital all made 5 purchases.
"Nestlé and Coca-Cola were the only 2 companies to make 5 or more sales, followed by Unilever on 4, then BASF, Cargill and Constar on 3 each.
"A total of 909 companies were involved across 75 countries, with the United States and United Kingdom consistently most prominent overall."
"Reversing the pattern of 2013, US companies made 11 more sales than purchases, while UK companies made 8 more purchases than sales.  France was the biggest net buyer (+16) and Australia/New Zealand the biggest net sellers (-16)," Richard Hall concluded.