Starbucks , whose sales are slowing as U.S. consumers buy fewer premium coffee drinks, said on Thursday it does not expect to meet Wall Street estimates for the current quarter and would double its cost cuts for the full year.

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.