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.

Aga Rangemaster Group plc has warned that second half profit will plummet as orders are down more than 15 percent on the prior year.

Premier Foods, Britain's biggest food manufacturer, said on Friday it expected to pass the next stress test of its bank loans on December 31, denying market speculation it was on the verge of breaching covenants.

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a Maltesers advert led viewers to believe that it was a low-calorie snack, claiming that each sweet was “less than 11 calories”.

Regent Inns reported full-year losses of £58.1 million as it became a victim of the credit crunch.

Cadbury, the world's second-largest confectionery maker, argues that even when times are tough, chocolate is an affordable treat and one of the last to be scratched off people's shopping lists.

Soft drinks maker Britvic said on Thursday total 52-week sales rose by 29 percent, matching expectations, and reiterated earnings for the period will be in line with expectations.

Diageo , the world's biggest alcoholic drinks group, said on Wednesday sales growth slowed in its first quarter but it maintained its full-year profit target despite the financial crisis and lower global growth.

Fyffes plc has announced that it has not been found to have breached EU Competition Rules and no fine has been imposed on the group.

German-owned low-cost supermarket chain Aldi has achieved its best ever share of the UK grocery market as budget-focussed groups continue to outpace rivals in the consumer downturn, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Whitbread hotel and restaurant operator reported first-half pretax profit ahead of expectations as its budget Premier Inn hotels benefited from customers trading down from more expensive accommodation.

Confectionery giant Cadbury reported a 6 percent rise in third-quarter underlying sales as it announced a further 580 job cuts to keep it on track to meet its annual sales and profit margin goals.

Global brewer SABMiller reported a 1 percent rise in second-quarter worldwide underlying beer volumes on Tuesday, showing half-year (April-September) volumes marginally ahead after a 1.6 percent fall in its first-quarter.

Brands owned by food producer Bernard Matthews fell in value by £20 million in 2008, according to a report.

Premier Foods , Britain's biggest food manufacturer, said on Monday it is examining ways to cut debt and has been approached by several parties with proposals to enable it to do so.

UK food maker, Duchy Originals, has named Michael Jary as Non-Executive Chairman as the group prepares for expansion in UK, US and India.

Bakery chain Greggs has cut its full-year profit forecast by 3 million pounds, blaming a weather-related dip in sales and a decision not to pass on higher costs to cash-strapped customers.

Entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz has sold his 25 percent stake in pubs group Mitchells & Butlers , a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday.

Chocolate maker and retailer Thorntons posted a 6.4 percent increase in first-quarter sales and said its financial position remained strong.

Chocolate maker and retailer Thorntons posted a 6.4 percent increase in first-quarter sales.

Lancashire breadmaker Warburtons has launched a £22 million advertising campaign to increase its presence in the south and edge further ahead of its rival Hovis.

Food manufacturer Northern Foods reported increased first half sales on Tuesday, with sales of its Fox's biscuits brand boosted by a TV advertising campaign.

Pizza Hut’s UK business is to change its name to Pasta Hut in a £100 million relaunch of the restaurant chain.

InBev expects high single-digit revenue growth and a slight contraction of its EBITDA margin in the third quarter, the company said in a statement today, October 3.

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Cadbury plc, Ken Hanna, has informed the board that he will step down from his position in April 2009.

Domino’s Pizza UK and Ireland plc reported today, October 1, that sales soared 17.8 percent to £83.3 million in the third quarter as its store openings progressed.

Dairy Crest Group plc has confirmed that it performed in line with expectations in the first half but that it will be increasing prices to offset its rising cost base.

Cadbury plc has recalled 11 chocolate products in Hong Kong Monday, September 29, as a precautionary step.

Robert Wiseman Dairies has said today, September 26, that half year sales and volumes will be in line with revised estimates.

The Real Good Food Company plc has reported a pre-tax loss of £1.59 million as market conditions in its core sugar division remain challenging.