Baker Greggs Wednesday reported a 5.3 percent rise in underlying sales in the four weeks to January 3 as Christmas shoppers flocked to buy its low-price savouries and cakes.

Chocolate maker and retailer Thorntons reported further woes on the high street on Wednesday, posting a 2.3 percent decline in pre-Christmas sales as its Thorntons-branded stores suffer.

Anheuser-Busch InBev , the world's largest brewer, said on Tuesday it would close its newly-acquired London Stag brewery in 2010, with the potential loss of 182 jobs.

The dairy farmer cooperative First Milk announced that it has cut the price of milk by 1.25ppl from January 1, 2009 following a decline in prices in mainland Europe.

Restaurant Group , which owns the Frankie and Benny's and Garfunkel's chains, said on Monday it anticipates reporting 2008 results which are in line with management's expectations.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that Dame Deidre Hutton will step down from her position as Chair of the Board at the end of her four year term next July.

Dairy Crest on Wednesday said it had purchased an annuity policy to insure half of its pension liabilities and had taken steps to reduce the effect of future currency movements on its debt.

Confectionery giant Cadbury on Tuesday warned of slower growth and retailer destocking as the economic downturn starts to bite into the chocolate eating and gum chewing habits of consumers.

Associated British Foods announced that it has reached an agreement with Ebro Puleva to acquire its Spanish sugar business, Azucarera Ebro, for a value of 385 million Euros.

Premier Foods confirmed on Monday that it is in talks with its investors and other parties regarding a possible investment in the company.

Sales of Magners cider in Britain, owned by C&C Group, has soared 7.8 percent according to data from AC Nielsen.

The Executive Managing Director of Dairy Crest’s dairies division, Martin Oakes, has resigned with immediate effect and will leave the company at the end of January.

Pubs and brewing group Marston's said on Wednesday it had agreed with its lenders a three-year extension of its debt facility until 2013, allaying investor concerns and sending its shares higher.

The Clapham House Group plc, which owns and operates Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Tootsies and The Real Greek, has reported a 21 percent increase in revenue to 30.3 million pounds.

Bakery chain Greggs has announced expansion plans which will see it serve customers “at work and as they travel” by moving its outlets into industrial estates, housing estates and bus stations.

Diageo , the world's biggest alcoholic drinks group, said on Monday it was seeing strong growth in British retail sales in the run up to Christmas as price-cutting promotions start earlier than usual.

Whitbread , the country's biggest hotel operator, reported strong 39-weeks sales growth on Monday, sending its shares higher, as its budget Premier Inn chain benefited from businesses looking to save money.

Brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev is expected to cut hundreds of jobs in the UK after a memo to staff outlined "potential redundancies" across the combined group, the Independent Sunday said.

Pubs and brewing group Marston's posted a 13 percent drop in annual earnings on Friday, broadly in line with forecasts, and said it remained cautious about the immediate trading outlook.

The fish supplier John West has appointed Stephen Thorpe to the position of Managing Director, replacing Ian Meadows.

The Real Good Food Company plc has said that the continued deterioration in the economic climate in the UK has affected all its trading divisions.

The economic downturn provides an opportunity for discount grocers to extend their influence in European retailing and in particular make headway in the UK and France, a report said on Friday.

Finsbury Food Group plc has reported that its rate of growth has slowed versus last year, although sales in its cake division were up three percent year on year.

Germany-based coffee shop and retail chain Tchibo is considering exiting the British market, its largest outside its home market, Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

Soft drinks maker Britvic reported a 14 percent increase in full-year pretax profit on Wednesday and said each of its key brands had gained market share outperforming the broader market.

Cobra Beer has appointed Rothschild to assist with either a sale or a "strategic partnership" as its founder Lord Bilimoria seeks brand expansion in India.

Pubs operator and brewer Fuller, Smith & Turner reported a decline in underlying interim profit on Friday as trading conditions remained challenging.

InBev NV closed its purchase of U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc to create the world's largest brewer in the biggest cash acquisition in history, despite a global financial crisis that has stymied other deals.

Premier Foods, the country's biggest food manufacturer, said Tuesday it will not pay an interim dividend in 2008 as it looks to reduce its debt.

Premium pork supplier and pet food maker Cranswick on Monday beat analyst expectations with a 5 percent increase in first-half profit and said it believes cost pressures have peaked.

Global consumer foods group, Kerry Group, reported that its underlying performance across its global ingredients and flavours businesses remained solid in the four months ended October 31.

Bar operator Regent Inns said on Friday that recent sales trends remained unchanged from its last trading update, when it reported a 13 percent drop in like-for-like sales for the 15 weeks to October 12.

Brewing giant SABMiller warned it is looking to cut back investment spending as a global economic slowdown hits beer drinking, after the group reported half-year earnings growth at the top end of forecasts.

Diageo , the world's largest alcoholic drinks group, said it was reviewing a possible collaboration with India's United Spirits after Indian media reports concerning Diageo taking a stake.

Northern Foods reported a drop in first-half profit on Tuesday but shares in the company rose as it trumpeted its new ranges of budget products aimed at cash-strapped shoppers.

Food manufacturer Northern Foods reported a 16 percent fall in first-half pretax profit on Tuesday and said it was cautious about the strength of consumer spending this Christmas.

The following is a round-up of key small cap movers on the London stock market on Monday.

The board of C&C Group plc has appointed John Dunsmore as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, following the resignation of Maurice Pratt on October 9.

(Reuters) - Dairy Crest Group posted a 7 percent fall in first-half pretax profit, mainly on costs related to the disposal of its speciality cheese business, and warned its full-year underlying pretax profit will be 10 percent lower than last year.

Cadbury plc has announced the appointment of Colin Day as a Non-executive Director, with effect from December 1, 2008.

Scottish dairy group Robert Wiseman on Friday warned that lower cream prices may hit its second half profits by 7 million pounds, sending shares down as much as 8 percent.

Sugar refiner and sweetener maker Tate & Lyle beat forecasts with a 4 percent rise in half-year profit and said it was more resilient than many to recession, helping to push its shares higher.

Danish brewer Carlsberg will focus its operations on just one brewery at Northampton after its decision to close its Leeds Tetley's brewery on Wednesday due to falling beer sales.

Pub operator Punch Taverns reported a drop in full year profits on Tuesday and warned of challenging conditions, sending its shares more than 16 percent lower although rival JD Wetherspoon bucked an increasingly gloomy trend for the industry by lifting sales.

Punch Taverns , Britain's biggest pub operator, reported a decline in full year earnings on Tuesday reflecting a 7 percent reduction in the size of its estate following the disposal of less profitable pubs.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has said it plans to power its stores by converting food waste into methane gas which will generate electricity.

Following is a round-up of key small cap movers on the London stock market on Thursday.

Arla Foods has announced its global strategy, October 30, in which the UK will continue to play a ‘fundamental role’ it said.

French grocery giant, Carrefour, has said that it is to focus on expanding and consolidating its operations in key growth markets.

Tesco plc has asked its non-food suppliers to wait an extra 30 days for payment, according to reports, in a bid to free up cash for the Christmas trading period.

The merger of Campofrio and Groupe Smithfield has been approved by shareholders at a meeting.

The iconic British pint has become the latest casualty of the credit crunch with quarterly beer sales slumping to their lowest level for a decade, a report released on Monday shows.

Carlsberg, the world’s fourth largest brewery, is eyeing a five percent share of the Indian beer market this year.

Baroness Hogg has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director and will join the board with effect from today, October 24.

VEVEY, Nestle , the world's biggest food group, reported a forecast-beating 8.9 percent rise in nine-month underlying sales, helped by emerging markets and premium brands, and raised its full-year outlook.

Groupe Danone today, October 22, posted an 8.3 percent increase in like-for-like sales, boosted by growth from its dairy and baby nutrition businesses.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has approved the £1.6 billion takeover of Somerfield by The Co-operative Group.

Tesco is planning to introduce hundreds more discounted brands over the coming weeks, said The Independent newspaper on Tuesday without citing sources.