The Pillsbury Company today announced that its Pillsbury Australia unit reached agreement to acquire van den Bergh Continental Bakeries Propriety Ltd. (Australia) from Unilever Australia. Van den Bergh is a market leader in Australia for the development, manufacturing, and marketing of frozen value-added dough-based products to the bakery and foodservice markets. The product range includes croissants, Danish pastries, muffins, bagels, cookies, and savory items. The acquisition marks another key step in Pillsbury's strategy of expanding its global reach in value-added dough-based products for both foodservice and retail channels. Completion of the transaction, terms of which were not disclosed, is expected in October. Direct employees will remain with van den Bergh Continental Bakeries Propriety Ltd. Pillsbury Australia is a leading manufacturer and marketer of retail packaged goods in Australia with its Old El Paso line of Mexican foods and fresh chilled pasta and sauces under the Latina and Dorato brand names. Pillsbury is the packaged food division of Diageo, one of the world's leading consumer brand companies. Diageo's key brands include Pillsbury, Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs, Burger King, Johnnie Walker and J&B Scotch whiskies, Smirnoff vodka, Gordon's gin, Baileys cream liqueur, and Guinness stout. The Diageo group operates in over 200 markets worldwide. The company is listed on the UK (DGE), New York (DEO), and Paris Stock Exchanges. Additional information on the Diageo group and its brands is available at http://www.diageo.com ots Original Text Service: Pillsbury Company Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Julianna Chugg of Pillsbury Australia, 61-3-9239-8777